Latest Prayer Requests

See the prayer requests on the updated June 5th post for more and check back frequently.

UPDATED 06/25/12


** Denver PD Officer Celena Hollis was shot and killed on May 24th.  Please keep her family and colleagues in prayer.

** Officer Adam Lopez in Abilene (TX) writes, "Please lift up prayers for my family. My Mother Dora Lopez has just passed away. She has been battling cancer for two years. We had a good conversation and she stated she couldn't imagine the beauty she was about to see and speak with her mother who is already there."  Amen!

** Sherman Palmore, a Reserve Sergeant with the San Diego PD, was killed this week in a vehicle accident in Arizona. His wife is in the hospital in serious but stable condition. Please pray for her recovery and HIS peace and comfort for Sherman's family and colleagues.

** Please pray for us here in CO -- my state is on fire and many first responders have lost their own homes while fighting to save those of others. 

** A Deputy is seeking prayer for a family member and writes,
"The dreaded results confirmed yesterday that the original breast cancer has returned to her liver. She'll be starting a new treatment plan in a few weeks after they can get her lungs stabilized. Docs are thinking they might have to keep draining her lungs, even after she gets home in a few days."  Let's pray!


** From Gene Hall in FL:  "I just learned that the daughter of a police officer Dad from South Florida (Pompano Beach area) took her life on Father's Day. Both parents are devastated and need our prayers. This is also the second police family suicide in the past 30 days. PLEASE pray for these families. God knows what is going on and will comfort and strengthen them."

** A brother recently lost his job and is seeking another position.  Pray that he will have favor and grace in same. 

** Pray for a Christian police supervisor who is having to deal with some tough personnel matters (wisdom, grace). 

** Pray for a colleague who is undergoing surgery today (not duty realted but still...) -- recovery, healing and more.

On Cops and Marriage: The Rob Parks Story (TCLEM Newsletter for Week of March 25, 2012)

Veteran Denver PD Officer Rob Parks was our special guest speaker at last Thursday's Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry/FCPO-Denver "Cop Church" fellowship at Calvary South Denver in Littleton.

In the RECAP below, I've attempted to summarize Rob's presentation for all our readers throughout the country in the hope that you will prayerfully use/adapt these biblical principles to your own lives and devotions. We'll have Rob back again in the near future for "Part 2!"

As previously announced in last week's newsletter and here on our website (see schedules on left side), the is NO MEETING this Thursday (we typically take off the last Thursday of the month -- especially if we've got 5 of them in a given month)! That said, we'll be back at on Thursday, April 5th, at Calvary South Denver in Littleton. Stay tuned for more (next week's newsletter) and by all means read on for the RECAP, news and other announcements on the national level.

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Living a Life Worthy of a Cop's Calling


A number of recent events involving my fellow officers both here at home and across the country has served as a Holy Spirit-inspired prompt to share a brief devotion/reminder about both who we are in Christ (if we know Him as Lord and Savior) and as his ordained ministers for good and a terror against evil (Romans 13:1-4). Fellow servant-warriors, God has CALLED us to life a life worthy of the calling (Ephesians 4:1-6) both on and off duty. Are you leading others astray or into sin by your example? Are you leading others to Christ? Are you glorifying God in your work or are you a ROD ("retired on duty")? Are you spending time in fellowship with other believers ("church," Centurion Ministry and/or FCPO/POFCI fellowship)? Do you allow yourself to be held accountable by your brothers and sisters in Christ? Are you daily spending time in His Word (the Bible) and in prayer? Are you striving to be the godly father and husband our Lord has called/commanded you to be?

Rest assured, God is calling us to train like warriors and athletes in seeking/growing in our relationship (not religion) with Him (click on 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 for more on this).

My friends with the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry have an outstanding short study on the concept of living a life worthy of the calling that I highly recommend. Click on LIVE WORTHY OF YOUR CALLING and ask our loving Lord to help you do just that.

Retired LAPD officer and fellow Bible teacher Bill Rhetts has produced a great short video (under 4 minutes) that serves as an excellent great conclusion to this concept: When Christians Help Others to Sin.

Finally, if you have not yet made a decision for Christ (what it means to become a "Christian" -- a follower of "The Way"), let me again encourage you to do so today -- NOW -- as tomorrow is promised to no one and there are NO SECOND CHANCES if you pass away without being in a right-relationship with God in Christ. How? Go to the left side of this website and scroll down to the links under How Can I Be Saved (aka True "Officer Safety"). Feel free to contact me if you need help in making this all-important life-changing/life-saving eternal choice.
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Message RECAP: On Cops and Marriage -- The Officer Rob Parks Story


Denver PD Officer Rob Parks is an eleven-year veteran who not only understands God's call on his life in law enforcement but also has a heart for biblical marriages. Last Thursday Rob shared with us what I've called "Part 1" of what we hope to be a series on law enforcement marriage and family issues.

Rob shared part of his powerful testimony (certainly not always a "boy scout") and rightly pointed out that God is calling husbands to evangelize their wives and to take a stand against the "police culture" that makes it "cool" to "slam" our spouses in front of our fellow officers (marriage is often de-valued or not valued at all in the law enforcement culture). Rob added, "How we talk about our spouses at work and in front of the kids has a direct impact on our marriages." He also asked the questions, "How do you talk ABOUT your spouse?" and "How do you talk TO your spouse?"

Rob talked about the importance of "debriefing" with our spouses during which we can identify spiritual attacks on our marriages and prayerfully develop a biblical, tactical defense and response to those attacks (rest assured, the enemy -- Satan -- will do everything in his power to undermine biblical marriage).

Rob concluded his presentation with this statement and question: "As cops we are willing to take a bullet for our spouses but are we willing to LIVE for them?"

Officer Parks shared the following passages from God's Word that I strongly recommend you study and apply to your marriages:

On taming (controlling) the tongue:
James 3
Proverbs 18:21
Proverbs 12:18
Proverbs 18:6
Proverbs 21:23

Finally -- on sacrificially loving and serving one another: Ephesians 5:21-33.

Next week I'll post some additional points from Rob's presentation dealing with marital communication -- stay tuned!

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News, Prayer Requests & Announcements...


...are posted here on our website and updated regularly. This newsletter has also be re-posted on our Facebook pages (don't forget to "LIKE" and share with us there -- see the FB links on the left side of this website). That said, here are just a few more pressing announcements and a great short video from Ron Moore about praying for your friends and family who either don't know Christ as Savior and Lord or who do are in a backslidden state.

(1) Sgt. John Baker Golf Classic (A Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers national charity event)

(2) Cops Fighting Cancer Benefit

(3) How to Pray for your Unsaved Loved Ones

(4) TRUTH (formerly "Tuesday Night Dialogue") Retreat, April 13-15 in Estes Park, CO. The remaining slots are filling rapidly. EMAIL me ASAP if you're interested in attending this life-changing event held in one of America's most beautiful places. Diana and I serve in this powerful ministry and can't recommend it enough!

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Time to once again go "10-8" and Run to the Battle. Let's continue to stay battle focused and fully engaged in "the fight" while at the same time always training hard and exercising solid offficer safety in the field.

As always, feel free to CONTACT me if I can be of service.

Det. Sgt. & Chaplain M.C. Williams
Director, The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
Vice President, Fellowship of Christiain Peace Officers - USA

Prayer Requests and FCPO-Denver Meeting Schedule

PRAYER REQUESTS (updated 04/01/2011):

** From Ret. WV State Police/Rev. Ronald Jones: My granddaughter, Dakota, 2 yoa, is hospitilized in FL with a very serious staff infection in both ears, she has not responded to treatment at this point. Please keep her in prayer.

** Michelle Jones sends the following: I'm requesting prayer for my youngest son Brent. He and his girlfriend, that he had a little girl with, have split because of emotional problems on her end. She's had alcohol problems and heavy spiritual issues as well. She is on the run with my granddaughter (5 mos.) and he is beside himself. He is a newly committed Christian and knows he messed up and is heart broken. Pray he will let God do His work in him and that Amber (his girlfriend) will see that everything she is looking for is found in Jesus. Also, protection and covering on the baby.

** Pray for Park Co. Dep. DJ Hannigan who was injured by a suspect tonight. Injuries likely not serious but very painful. Suspect is in jail and was charged accordingly.

** Pray for a Federal agent and his wife as they go to court tomorrow at 1500 hours CMT seeking to adopt two children. God's will and protection for the children.

UPDATE 03/30/2011: Our loving and gracious Lord has answered our prayers!! Todd and Amy are now officially the adopted parents of two precious children. Praise God! Todd writes, We just wanted to thank everyone who has been praying for us and reassuring us during this long adoption process. We have felt the results of your continued prayers and Gods presents. It is right at one year since we started the lengthy process. Through many delays in background checks with CBI and the FBI, home studies, several court continuances and painful testimony of untruths from the opposition we are finally able to say we have concluded the adoption process. On March 28th, 2011 the judge signed the papers granting us the adoptive parents of Taeja and Keelee. Although they have been with us nearly five years now we are truly comforted knowing they will be raised in our home. Praise be to God. Please join us in Spiritual celebration by thanking the Lord Almighty. In Him, Todd, Amy, Gracie, Hannah, Taeja and Keelee.

** Update on Keith Adams (see updated 3/9/2011 post): Keith writes, This past week I got the results from my 6 month follow up tests from my stem cell transplant and the doctors could not find any sign of cancer in my blood, bones or marrow! they told me I was in 100% full remission, praise God!! I still have damage in my bones from the effects of the cancer but that is the least of my concerns. I wanted to share that with you and just simply say thank you, thank you for sharing my prayer requests with fellow officers as I received numerous e-mails from all over! Keith (You can reach Keith at keithwadams@gmail.com)

Praise God indeed!

** From a brother in CA: Please lift up in prayer San Diego Ca. Motor Officer Bruce Byrd. He was involved in a traffic collision Wednesday morning and rushed to the hospital. Condition unknown. May the Lord be with him, his family and police family.

** From a colleague in New Mexico: Please pray for Los Lunas NM Police Sergeant Robert Ferreyra, who was involved in a fatal police shooting on Wednesday, 29 March. May the Lord comfort him, sustain him and grant him peace which is beyond human understanding. May the Lord assure him that we do not bear the sword in vain. And let us pray for the family and friends of the deceased suspect. Grant them comfort and understanding.

** Please pray for Gulfport PD Chief Alan Weatherford and his family ref. the death of his daughter at the hands of a drunk driver. See http://www.lawofficer.com/article/news/gulfport-police-chiefs-daughte.

** A Park County (CO) deputy sends the following: "Please pray right now for Bryan and Ann in Indian Hills. They lost their 17 year-old son on the 23rd of March. The family are believers."

** Retired Denver PD Ofc. Mark Roggeman sends the following and I join him in this prayer request. Morale at DPD is at an all-time low with officers either afraid to do their jobs out of fear of termination or they are refusing to respond to calls. Both are untenable and this is an issue of leadership -- the LACK of it. Much more to the story(s) than what some may have seen in the media. Mark writes, "I just found out that Whitman Fired both the officers involved in the event I talked about last night - today Randy Murr and Devin Sparks. Pray for these guys, put it out on your list please. Randy has a medical condition and needs his insurance which ends today. Officer are going to set up an account. It is hard to do your job right this day and age no support from the people or the chief."

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FCPO-Denver Meeting Schedule:

-- Thursday, March 31st, 7:00 PM, Calvary South Denver (http://www.calvarycsd.org/) in the High School Room -- last room on the right all the way past the main sanctuary.

-- Thursday, April 7th: NO MEETING as I'll be in Tulsa on the 7th with Travis Yates and Col. Dave Grossman. I will then be returning the following day to join quite a few of you for our annual Tuesday Night Dialogue retreat in Estes Park on April 8th-10th. The theme for this year's retreat is Obedience (a great in-depth follow-up to my teaching on that subject -- see last week's recap here on the website).

-- Friday, April 15th at Calvary Chapel AURORA (http://www.calvaryaurora.org/) starting at 7:00 PM in Room 144. Investigator James "Jimmy" Wattles (noted outlaw motorcycle gang expert and featured on the History Channel's Gangland series) will be teaching a special message. More details to follow -- stay tuned!

-- Thursday, April 21st, 7:00 PM, Calvary South Denver in Littleton. There is a possibility that Colorado State Trooper Scott Hinshaw will be our very special guest speaker. Scott has come a long way since being critically injured in October of 2007 and his recovery is nothing short of a miracle. Stay tuned for further details!

-- Thursday, April 28th, 7:00 PM at Calvary South Denver in Littleton. This will be our chartering event for FCPO-Denver and Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers National Executive Director Lamar Moore will be our very special guest speaker. Please make a point of joining us for a free (well, for you guys) catered meal and more. Stay tuned for additional details!

Late Breaking Prayer Requests and News

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS (Updated Oct. 4th -- see the 9/15 entry for more):

-- Ask God to give Erv Meyer health and traveling mercies.

-- Praise Report! Our own Matt Wallenburg has been accepted into the Colorado National Guard AND may have as many as three other job offers on the table! Praise God!! Let's keep our brother in prayer as he pursues God's calling on his life.

-- Pray for me this coming Saturday (10/9) as I will the guest speaker at Creekside Bible Church in Castle Rock (CO).

-- David Greenhalgh (Canada) covets your prayers for a family situation - especially today (Monday, 10/04/10). Just pray (justice, truth, intervention, and most of all God's will) -- our Lord knows the need.

-- I announced in my September 17th post that Denver PD Detective Danny Veith was donating a kidney to fellow DPD Det. Ed David. Englewood PD Ofc. Reid McGrath informed me tonight that the transplant surgery has taken place and they are in recovery. Please lift them both in prayer for complete healing and good health. There is a benefit planned for them at the Celtic Tavern (1801 Blake Street, Denver) on Sunday, October 10th (10/10/10) from 3-8 PM.

-- Dennis Casida is asking that we be in prayer for a relative who is having trouble with her pregnancy. Ask God's intervention and protection for both the mother and her as yet unborn child.


NEWS!
Colorado Springs-Area Christian Law Enforcement Fellowship:

Sgt. Greg Maxwell of the El Paso County (CO) S.O. is leading a Bible study for officers in the Colorado Springs area. In fact, their next meeting is Friday, 10/1/10, at 0700 hours at the Solid Rock Cafe inside Rocky Mountain Calvary, 4285 N. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO. They generally meet every-other-Friday with scheduled meetings in October on the 1st, 15th and 29th.

Contact Greg at gregmaxwell@elpasoco.com or (719) 520-7153, box 40053, to be added to his mailing list or for more info.