A Joyful Prayer Update! ❤️

Dear Beloved Friends,

Greetings to you from Canada! In this world of division, chaos, and distress, we are so grateful that we can come to you, our dear friends, and ask for prayer! God's love unifies us across the nations. We are so grateful for your continued prayers and partnership in what God is doing in our lives. It is a joy to share a few family updates with you:

Prayer Requests:

David asks for prayer for our beloved cat, Kit. I know, many cultures will find this request funny. But to David, Kit is a gift of God that brings comfort and companionship. The Bible is filled with animal images that show a world in which animals bring harmony in creation. There are examples of birds feeding Elijah in his times of distress (1 Kings 17:4-6), to Balaam’s donkey lovingly saving his master from imminent death (Numbers 22:21-34), or the story of a fish obeying God’s arrangement to get a prophet to Nineveh (Jonah 1:17). God seems to use animals to care, nurture, and direct humans towards God’s better plans for us. Therefore, at David's request could you pray that our cat would fulfill God's purposes in our family?

Jonathan 3rd from left.

Jonathan's team from school recently won 3rd place in a robotics competition (picture). What a wonderful achievement! He would deeply appreciate your prayers as he prepares for the regional robotics competition this Tuesday, April 21. Jonathan wants to win because he feels God is calling him to biomedical engineering. Pray for his team to have focus, confidence, and to display the wonderful character of teamwork!

November 2025 Food Giveaway

Melanie sends heartfelt thanks for your ongoing prayers for her brain injury and mental well-being. Melanie has been having many migraines recently. She is grateful for your support and asks that you continue to lift her up! Melanie continues to pour out love and care in so many meaningful ways—supporting David at his soccer games, offering comfort to Jonathan, staying connected through a seniors’ Bible study, warmly welcoming others on Sundays, and helping provide fresh food to hungry people. We know firsthand, how God's grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)! As such, we are so grateful for your prayers! Thank you for making a difference in our lives!

Phil is filled with gratitude and wonder as I reflect on all that has unfolded since our January update! God has been so faithful—my broken toe has healed, my hemorrhoidectomy surgery went well, and my latest diabetes appointment brought my best blood results yet! Praise God! There’s also joy in new opportunities, like our church strategically sponsoring the U10 travel soccer team which I have the honour to co-coach, to acquiring Canadian grants to hire summer students to reach our community, to building meaningful connections through a new men’s group with our deacons and a mentoring group which I deeply value! And to top it off, Easter was especially powerful, overflowing with joy through baptisms and renewed life!

Dad's 92nd Birthday Celebration!

This season has also been rich with personal celebrations—Phil turned 55, and his dad celebrated an incredible 92 years! We gathered as siblings and spouses to honour dad and to cherish our precious memories with him!

Whether in our personal life, or in the remarkable movement of the Spirit in our church family life, we can testify that our hearts are full and God's love continues to inspire us!. As Scripture reminds us:

“You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalm 139:5–6).

We rejoice together in God’s faithfulness and invite you to continue praying with us—for strength, joy, healing, and the ongoing work of God's Spirit in our everyday life. I pray often for many of you too, but when you send a note of your own update(s) we are always delighted to pause and pray for you as well!

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).

With much gratitude and love,

Phil, Melanie, Jonathan, David, (and Kit) Styles