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Praise & Prayer Weekly Update - 8/4/2026
Prayer at MBC
It is our desire to be available to support you every day of the week, not just Sunday mornings. If you are in need of prayer or would like to share a praise, please fill out the email request below.
“I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.” ~Psalm 17:6
Praise God:
- Praise God that John Rickershauser’s son, Paul, who serves in the U.S. Space Force, has been reassigned to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, beginning next summer. Following that assignment, he will spend two years at NRO in Chantilly, Virginia. This new assignment will place Paul just four hours from family, allowing them to spend much more time together.
- Praise God that MBC Teens mission trip was a blessing to the over 41 teens and 10 adults that participated. Praise that they returned home safely this past Saturday. To see their video blogs, click HERE.
- Praise God Bill Miller’s sister, Ellen, is back home at her daughter’s and is feeling so much better!
- Praise God that Bill Miller’s brother, Paul, & his wife, Nancy, who live in Florida, are going to be visiting Bill & Marian. A miracle since he hasn’t been able to go anywhere for a couple of years. Please pray for their salvation.
- Praise God after 3 months, Kayley Garcell has been approved to take the NCLEX-RN nursing test on August 29. Thank you for all your prayers.
For our MBC Family & Friends, please pray for:
- Please continue to pray for Marian Miller as she navigates post- concussion syndrome
- Continue praying for Pastor Peter Pendell as he decides on a surgeon and the timing to remove a cyst on his pituitary gland. He was encouraged as he met with one on Tuesday and will see another on Thursday.
- Dennis Beam’s cancer has become more aggressive after last treatment, leaving him extremely fatigued and very little appetite. Headaches have diminished but still experiencing double vision. Please also pray he can gain strength to move on to the next treatment.
- Winnie Pine requests prayer for her parents. Winnie’s dad had surgery for a hernia in his groin last Friday which went very well. He has minimal pain at the incision site and feels good. Winnie’s mom has had diarrhea on and off since Friday and that can be an issue. Please pray for the entire family.
- Ellen Sterman, Amy Acker’s mom, is requesting prayers for positive outcomes to multiple health concerns she is experiencing right now.
- A recent test result has revealed a growth on Dennis Beam’s skull that is causing pressure on his optic nerves resulting in persistent headaches, double vision and imbalance. In the next two weeks, treatments will be administered. Until this is complete, other treatments recommended for cancer will be on hold.
- Tony Cassera had a fall and hurt his shoulder recently. He is exploring the possibility of a procedure called “reverse shoulder replacement” to repair the ligament damage and remove some arthritis, possibly next month. Please pray for successful surgery and healing.
- The Cassara’s also request general prayer for their grandchildren, and particularly, Duke (5 years old) who is struggling with anxiety.
Our Church:
- Pray for our guest speaker Todd Williams, as he prepares his sermon for next Sunday. He will be preaching on Mark 5:21-43.
Our nation & those in authority.
1 Timothy 2: 1-2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
- Please pray for the those in authority in our nation.
- Continue to pray for First Choice. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in its favor, allowing First Choice to argue in federal court that the Attorney General’s subpoena violates its constitutional rights. While this is a significant victory, the legal battle continues as the Attorney General seeks to enforce compliance in state court. Pray that this ruling will provide lasting protection for First Choice and strengthen protections for pregnancy resource centers across the nation.
Our Extended Family & Friends:
- Amy Puskas would like prayer for her 90-year-old father, Joseph Puskas, had another minor stroke on Wednesday, July 22. He is currently in the hospital, and they are recommending he have a Watchman put in. Amy’s father has A-fib. Please pray for the best treatment for him and his salvation.
- Aaron Dunn would like prayer for his good friend Drew’s niece, Harper. She nearly drowned on Sunday, 07/19. She was pulled from a pool and was given CPR. She’s currently undergoing testing and treatment at Morristown Medical Center but currently there is not much they are able to do because she is in such a fragile state. Testing revealed that she has severe brain damage due to multiple strokes. Please pray for a miracle, that God would heal Harper as well as the comfort for her parents and family.
- Andrew Strain requests prayer for his sister, Maryann, who was taken to the emergency room this weekend. She underwent gallbladder surgery. She is doing well. Please pray for her continued recovery at home, along with overall health. Although she is single with no children and has lived alone since their mother’s passing, she is blessed with a loving and supportive church family.
- Please pray for Kristie Gall’s uncle, Allan, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week. Please pray specifically for the right treatment plan is provided at his appointment at Sloan Kettering and peace about the diagnosis amongst the family.
Missionary Partner for the week:
John and Stella White – World Venture
John and Stella White are World Venture partners serving at the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) in Kyiv where both serve as instructors. They are currently in the US and have been delayed in returning to Ukraine since 2022 by the war. Give praise that four John’s students just graduated from the Urban Missions program. With large changes in the Ukraine government, please pray for a good outcome from this and for wisdom for President Zelensky, Mykhailo Fedorov, and others in leadership. Please pray for the restoration of the campus and for safety for the teachers, staff, and students after being hit by Russian fire in July. Pray for justice and peace for Ukraine and the Middle East and that both would come soon.
Pray for our World:
Christians, Former Extremist Face Persecution
Four Christians, including a former extremist, are in hiding after being harassed. As a young man, Mukesh joined a Hindu extremist group but became interested in dating a Christian woman who shared the gospel with him. After he placed his trust in Christ, they married and began a church that grew to more than 60 Christians. In 2025, Mukesh, his wife and two associates were returning home from a ministry trip when three vehicles followed them. The men in the vehicles were armed with bamboo sticks and forced the four to stop, accusing Mukesh of changing the religion of other men and harassing Mukesh’s wife. A local leader of the extremist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) arrived with the police and fabricated stories that the Christians had come to his home and tried to convert him. These four Christians are now in hiding because they fear that, if arrested, they would be trapped without help.
Would you like your prayer request to remain active longer?
Prayer requests will remain active for two weeks. If you would like your request to continue please update by contacting us here or via a connection card on Sunday. All long-term prayer requests (chronic illnesses) will remain active for one month. If you would like your request to continue, please update by contacting us here or via a connection card on Sunday.
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