Dear Deborah and Doves,
      Thank you Deborah for your post on May 14, 2005.
 
  http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2005/deborah514-2.htm
 
   Such an encouragement!  I have thought about asking for the prayers of the Doves before, but never did it until the Holy Spirit really prompted me to do so after reading your Praise Report.
 
       For the last five years, I have served as Pastor of a Baptist Church in Rocky Point, North Carolina, USA.   Riley's Creek Baptist Church in Rocky Point, North Carolina USA   Last fall I was diagnosed with MS, and since that time the condition has been progressing rapidly, and is now impairing my ability to function and continue in pastoral ministry. I am now having to use a wheelchair to remain mobile. Just typing this post is a tremendously difficult task. My finances are also under severe attack,and I know these attacks are from Satan.  (John 10:10)
 
      Jesus is the love of my life! There have been times in my life when He was all I had, but He showed me that He was all I needed. For the last twenty-five years I have been proclaiming the soon return of Jesus, and fully believe all of God's Word, and have been preaching the full Gospel of Jesus Christ for many years.  At church we regularly anoint with oil, and the Lord Jesus has wonderfully Blessed our obedience.  I am fully persuaded Jesus is my Great Physician and that "By His stripes I was healed", and "He heals all our diseases".
 
        I have done all I know to do, from spending much time with Jesus through fasting and prayer, to confessing, forgiving, and repenting of everything that the Holy Spirit brings to my remembrance!   My church as been so wonderful and have provided everything I need in order to continue to function.  They have touched my heart as they have tearfully pleaded with me not to resign, but to continue to minister, and I have wept with them. I don't want to have to go!  I have been so Blessed by so many!  But I must confess, that the battle has taken a toll, and I am weary.  I don't understand why I have not yet seen the manifestation of His Promises.
 
         As Paul tells us in Eph 6:13  "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."  That is where I am now!  I am so thanking for good friends and prayer warriors who are standing with me.  We are so close to finishing the race, but I don't want to be taken out of the running now.
 
         Doves, will you please stand with me in this battle and help hold me up.  Please pray that the Lord Jesus will restore all that the devil is trying to destroy, and that the Holy Spirit will reveal to me any area in my life that needs to be more fully surrendered to Him.  Above all, that Jesus will be wonderfully glorified in this, and that I might know Him and the Power of His Resurrection more than ever before.
 
         Thank you,  IHS,
          Blake Hayes
 
  Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.