Chris and Lynne Strange Your missionary connection in the Philippines 
Gratefully, many of the youth are in meetings each week. The teens stay awake 
!
We love and are encouraged by our church family here in the jungle.
Recently eight young people have run away from their homes to “marry” outside of the cultural and Biblical guidelines. We sat with one set of parents and just cried together as they explained what they were feeling and the pain that remained in their hearts. What parent doesn’t experience pain when their children go through struggles?
We asked one of the church leaders; “What now?“
How encouraging to hear his answer. “We are planning out teaching from the Word of God in these areas that deal with this issue. We will start in several locations soon and look forward to what God will teach us. Pray about this with us.“
What a blessing! In the past, there would have been such a different answer! Violence would have often been the response. God has made the difference in their lives and how they deal with the issues that face all Christian families.
Doesn’t the problem sound a bit like some of our own families? Our friends here seem to think that their children should just love the Lord automatically and want to please and obey Him. I have heard friends in our western cultures think along these same lines.
As we pray, especially as parents, let’s remember our dear brothers and sisters in the jungles everywhere, literal or figurative. And as we pray for wisdom that comes from the Word of God, let’s pray for a deepening relationship with Him for each family member; our own families and our larger Family in the Lord.
Please specifically pray for the young people that are stretching out. Of course, we all realize it is not just the young that are tempted to follow their flesh! People are people no matter what the circumstances of their lives are. We are blessed that our Father knows and is constantly aware of our weaknesses, yet loves us so much anyway!
We also love that you count yourselves partners for the Banwaon in prayer. More and more we grow in the knowledge that prayer support is HUGE and within it is POWER. Thank you for being willing to sacrifice your time to pray.
