First Free Family,

We are so eager to gather again for Sunday morning services and hope that can happen sooner than later. We sure miss you! But we also know that it will be a long time before it’s back to business-as-usual. Please pray for our ministry staff as we begin to plan. We’ve put together a team to think through the adjustments that will be needed so we can be ready as restrictions are lifted. We’re also planning for the precautions and measures we’ll need to take to make First Free a safe place. We’ll be updating you more as we develop plans but want you to know at the start that we are planning with the entire church in mind (especially those of you at high risk) and will continue to follow state and local guidelines regarding gathering sizes. Ron is leading this team and would be happy to receive your input.

We trust you were able to spend some time this past week with Psalm 100 and let yourself be formed by its lessons in praise. If you haven’t already, share with someone else the ways you’ve seen the goodness of God in your life recently and what you are thankful for. It’s a perspective-changing practice. This week we’ll be looking at Psalm 102, which teaches us how to lament in times of crisis. Please spend some time reading it in preparation, and join us Sunday morning over on our livestream page at 10:45 to access the video.

Financial Update
April Giving Goal: $213,048
Still Needed to Meet Goal: $36,370
General Fund Giving Last Week: $49,720

Missions Partner Highlight
Each week, we’ll be highlighting one of our missions partners in our weekly emails so you can learn more about their ministries and be praying for the gospel to go wide through their work. If you would like to send one of our missions partners a note, please email Pastor Lucas and he’ll connect you.

Mike and Mary Dicke are TUMI Field Representatives, based in Denver since 2008. They have built a large network of relationships among the marginalized and poor in their city through volunteer work and their local church. They teach and train others in the TUMI (The Urban Ministry Institute) curriculum. TUMI is a seminary curriculum designed for the urban poor who are working full-time jobs and it’s open to anyone who cannot attend seminary. The Dickes help establish TUMI sites in Colorado and around the world. They shared the following requests:

1. Praise God! Local pastors and leaders in India and three African countries continue to teach God’s Word through Zoom using TUMI curriculum during strict coronavirus restrictions. Mike mentors these leaders whose aim is to plant churches in their cities and villages. Pray for teaching to continue and for other growing needs to be met where food and work are scarce.

2. Praise God that Mike and Mary received visas to visit a restricted African country where local church leaders asked for TUMI material. Pray for the church in this country where brothers and sisters have been martyred and face retribution for their faith. Ask God to grant their request for theological training through the TUMI curriculum and for Mike and Mary to be able to visit before their visas expire next summer.

3. TUMI classes in Denver continue to meet via Zoom, but many students are struggling and have lost their jobs due to current shutdowns. Ask the Lord to provide for their needs. Four TUMI classes in prisons are on hold due to coronavirus restrictions. Ask the Lord to provide spiritual and emotional support for the students in prisons since they are unable to connect with their families or TUMI teachers on the outside.

In Christ forevermore,
Pastors Josh and Ron