Hello Everyone,

As you may know, I have been in Miami over the past 4 months although I previously was living in Nashville, which is where the Artists in Christian Testimony International Offices are located. Below, please see a note from Byron Spradlin of A.C.T. International on ways that we can help those that are a part of A.C.T. and were recently affected by the flooding. If you are unable to click on the link below, you may go to www.actinternational.org for more information on how to help. Thank you so much and I again, thank you for your prayers and support for my father!!! I will be writing an update on his progress in the next few days! Lynette

A.C.T. Intl Families Hit Hard by Flood

It was a very humbling experience to watch people I do not even know try to salvage my photo albums, wash mud off of my furniture, mop floors, and pump out water from under my house.  When I was completely exhausted another wave of helpers would drive up in a truck with great joy and comfort to strengthen our weary hands.  It is an awesome and beautiful experience to see the body of Christ rally together and help those in need. We also had the most unique experience of having the National Guard evacuate us.  Five huge trucks came to get the people out of the neighborhood.  They had to use boats to get people out around my house.  They said the water was rising another four feet and we had 15 minutes to gather our things and get out.  Through all of this the Lord gave us great strength of spirit and peace of heart.  There was even great laughter in the truck as we realized that some of the men had grabbed the women's shoes in the crazy rush. I am thankful for all the people who came to help after our house was surrounded by a 4 foot river. Churches came by & brought water, food & hands ready to work. We tore out all the damaged drywall in the garage. AC unit, furnace, & hot water heater were destroyed. Because of the fast current, our landscaping was torn up. Today, we begin the process of trying to salvage some of our landscape. Thanks again for your prayers, emails and FB posts, Sharon and Bob

Would you like to help?


Flood Relief Fund, we will distribute these funds to those within or partners with our ministry who need help.

To make a donationClick Here

Thank you for your support and prayers.

The testimony above from one of our A.C.T. Intl ministry staff is just one of many stories of families across the state of TN devastated by the record breaking flood last weekend.  Some of the hardest hit families are right here in the Nashville area, including some of our A.C.T. Intl staff. If you would like to make a tax-deductible gift to our special

Hello Everyone!!!

God is working miracles in my father's life and I thank you so much for your prayers for him!!!! I wanted to send you an update of what has been taking place over the last week and a half!

Spiritually, my dad is so hungry for Jesus and so honest and vulnerable in his crying out to the Lord for help. He continually asks me to pray for a miracle for him to be able to use his legs and walk again. Often we pray together while I am at the hospital, and many times my father prays out loud saying things like "Jesus, I need you. Jesus I want you in my heart. Jesus I want you to guide me and show me the way..." These prayers are precious, and I know God hears every one of them and is right there at my father's side!

My church in Miami uses a CD sermon series by Andy Stanley to help new believers grow in the faith and in their understanding of God's Word. My mom gave me a copy of one of these lesson books including the CD's, and I have been taking it, along with my computer, and most importantly the Bible, when I go to see my dad.

We have listened to at least 4 sermons already, including topics such as grace and salvation, eternity, intimacy with the Holy Spirit, God's promise to Abraham and the implications of how we are to trust God in our lives, and a sermon about "how good is good enough", and the idea that we don't get to heaven by being good, but rather by being forgiven. My dad is so eager to hear God's Word and has been listening attentively to all of the teachings, while sometimes asking questions about God when we are just sitting and talking.

Sometimes, we sing worship songs. The other day, I played him a DVD clip from Nicole C. Mullen singing "Redeemer". Little did I know, that the sermon we woud listen to immediately following this clip would talk about the idea of being redeemed, and would refer to the life of Job, who himself said "i know my redeemer lives."

My dad is also very eager to pray. We spend a lot of time praying together in the hospital and agreeing together in prayer. Sometimes I pray, and sometimes he prays. I must say that his prayers have really touched my heart, as they are so vulnerable before the Lord and are a sincere cry to Him.

Thank you so much for your prayers for my father to be rooted in Christ!!!! I can so evidently see how God is rooting him in HIS truth and it is truly awesome!!!! Please continue to keep him in your prayers!!!!! I have told him that many people are praying for him, and it is a real encouragement to him. Also, I have read some of your notes to him, and will be taking over more of your notes later this week:) They are truly an encouragement to him as well, and they provide a breath of fresh air from the world outside of the hospital. They remind him that you really are out there, and you really are praying:) If you would like to send a note of encouragement or prayer to him, please feel free to send it to Lynettederey@gmail.com and i will be sure to pass it along to him.

Physically, my dad is still in ICU. The infection that they were battling late last week, seems to be gone and this is another huge answer to prayer. Additionally, he had a stage three bed sore on his back, that I believe is healing much better using special equipment at the hospital to work with these kinds of wounds. They took out the remainder of his drainage tubes from the surgery, took out some of the stitches, and then apparently did some re-stitching. I'm not exactly sure why.

His doctor has been talking ahead towards rehabilitation and therapy, which is a huge blessing and something to look forward to! We don't know exactly what the process will be, as my father does not have medical insurance. However, I trust that God will lead the way in everything!

Being in a hospital for an extended period of time, really helps to put a lot of things in perspective about life and what really matters in life. Yesterday, I met a woman whose husband has been in I.C.U. or C.C.U. for over one year due a a stroke. She faithfully comes to the hospital every morning before work, and every evening after work to be with her husband until about 11 PM. She acknowledged how lonely and difficult the journey can be, as many times family does not even come to visit any longer. Her husband is 58 years old. I told her that I would keep them in my prayers as well, and ask you to join me for full healing and recovery for her husband also.

I am truly in awe of how God is at work and what He is doing in my father's life! Please continue praying for continued growth and rootedness in Christ, and total and complete healing and restoration for the glory of God and for the growth of His kingdom!!!!

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'" Mark 10:27


Thank you so much!!!

Blessings, grace, and peace in HIM,

Lynette:)
(305) 431-6494 Cell

The last few weeks have been filled with a whirlwind of emotions and I am wanting to take time to share with all of you what has been taking place in my family, with the hopes that you will join me in prayer.

Two weeks ago, my father went to the hospital for terrible back pain. After an M.R.I., the doctor determined that my father had an infection in his lower spine, that needed immediate emergency surgery. Every second counted and from what I understand, within about half an hour of the decision, they had my father prepared for surgery.

I went to the hospital that evening to wait while my father was in surgery. When the surgeon came out, he informed us that the infection in my father's spine was amongst the worst he's ever seen. He informed us that he removed the infection and tried to give us a better understanding of what he saw. He said that he did note some nerves in the lower spine that the infection seemed to have started damaging. He informed us that recovery varies from person to person.
They allowed us to go back to the recovery room, where my father was recovering from surgery. Although his eyes were closed, and he was on the respirator, I began to talk with him, pray for him, and sing worship songs to him. He moved a bit as we shared with him as if trying to respond.
He later told my sister that he could hear everything I said and that he could hear me singing. Praise the Lord!

Later that day, they removed the respirator and my father was much more alert and speaking- Praise the Lord!

Two weeks after the surgery, my father is still in I.C.U., where they are continuing to treat him with massive antibiotics to combat any and all infection. Thus far, my father has feeling all of the way down to his toes. He has moved his right toes a little bit- Praise the Lord!!!

I ask you to please join me first and foremost in praying for my dad spiritually. Last week he asked Jesus to come into his life and to be the king of his life!!! Praise the Lord!!!! He has been asking a lot of questions about God and truly desires closeness with him. Please pray that He will experience Jesus's peace in a way that surpasses all understanding. He has been asking a lot of questions about God and he truly desires closeness with him. Please pray for believers to come to the hospital and encourage him in his faith and to help him to continue to grow in Christ! My grandma's pastor went to the hospital yesterday, and is planning on returning today! Another huge praise!!!

Please also pray for all of my family members who may not know Jesus, to truly surrender their lives completely to Jesus in this time.

Please pray for my father's physical healing. We know that God is the divine physician and that he can do what no earthly doctor can do. Please pray for the removal of any and all infection in my father's body and for his immune system to be strengthened. Please pray for full healing of all wounds in his body. Please pray for full restoration of the nerves and the ability to move his legs, walk, and run!

Thank you so much for joining with me in these prayers!!! I know that when God's people pray, great things happen, because we lean on and depend completely on God, and we know that with God, all things are possible!

If you would like to send an e-mail message for me to give to my father, please feel free to send it to Lynettederey@gmail.com, and I will be sure to pass it along to him.

Thank you again with all of my heart for your prayers and support in this time!!!

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:13-16


Grace and Peace in HIM,

Lynette

Hello Everyone! I thank you for your prayers for Haiti, and ask that you continue to keep the people of your Haiti in your prayers as the journey of restoration and healing continues. As of this January, I am living at home in Miami and am working here as well. I came here primarily in an effort to spend a season of time closer to my family and grandparents. It is my desire to continue the ministry projects taking place through De Rey Ministries in Nashville, while continuing to expand and grow in new ministry opportunities as well! As many of you may know last fall, we began a Junior Dance Company in Franklin, TN. The focus of the company is to mentor young people, ages 8-18 in the arts, and to help them use the gifts and talents that God has given them to share the truth and love of Christ with others in our local communities and beyond.



This last Christmas, the Junior Dance Company had a chance to perform at the Brentwood Baptist Christmas Concert. It was a joy for these young women to get to share God's love with others through dance, and their faces showed that they were truly grateful for every moment of the opportunity! Please keep the Junior Company in your prayers, as they began the spring season of rehearsals a few weeks ago! Missy Tillman is currently working as the company's choreographer for the start of this season. I am grateful that Missy has been so enthusiastic about working with this ministry and sharing her love for the Lord, and her gifts and talents in the area of dance and choreography. Please pray for Missy as she works with the Junior Dance Company, that the Lord will accomplish all He desires to in and through this group of young women.


I also wanted to share with you about an opportunity I was given several weeks ago, to lead a dance workshop for teen girls at a Korean church in Broward County! It was a really great experience of being able to encourage the girls in the dance ministry and choreography that they have been developing, as well as to pray for them, and share new choreography with them, all the while remembering that the reason we can do anything that we do is because of Christ! I am hoping to have lunch with the director of this dance ministry in the next few days. She has a tremendous heart for the Lord! Please pray for these young women as well as for all of us, that we will grow in Christ and be all He desires us to be!