Philippians 1:3-5 NKJV
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.
Mark’s Fuzz Buzz
During my day while on duty, I have the opportunity to not only connect with other officers in North Texas, but with citizens (and yes, criminals). While I am there in a law enforcement capacity for either a civil or criminal issue, I am always looking and listening to the Lord for ways to show the love of Jesus to those we encounter.
One recent example was during an eviction of a young lady from her apartment complex. As deputies, we are there to ensure that the process goes smoothly and to act accordingly if things start to get out of hand. After the lady was out of her apartment and in her rental truck, we were all preparing to leave when The Lord laid it on my heart to approach her and pray for her.
As I approached the truck I asked this young lady if I could pray for her. Her response is what I hear so often when I ask to pray for someone.
“You would do that for me?”
I told her absolutely I would do that! So, as I prayed over this young, scared lady, it became evident that just a simple act of showing that someone cares was like water on a dry sponge. Her soul was tired and lonely, and she shared through tears afterwards that she had felt unseen and unimportant for a long time. She admitted that she had turned to using drugs to numb the pain. She thanked me and said that she never imagined that a cop would be so kind and compassionate.
This is not an unusual or isolated incident. It happens almost every day in some form or fashion as an opportunity to show a lost one that they matter to God.
Top: Mark and Laurie recently attended a First Responder/Chaplain training in Tyler hosted by Serving Heroes. Another opportunity to make connections with officers from other areas.
Left: Mark recently had a civilian rider who is running for election and wanted to see what we do and how we do it. Got to pray with and for this man during our ride-out as he got a first-hand look at what we see and do every day.
Right: Part of our Precinct crew at a team-building exercise (aka lunch…)
We are thrilled to announce our updated website!! A friend of Laurie’s creates websites and did an amazing job capturing our hearts behind 99Behind. If you’re needing a website created, please reach out to Laura Mapstead with Bloomworks (bloomworks.us) at lmapstead@gmail.com. She is a Kingdom Content Creator: Weaving Digital Threads for Ministry and Mission.
Laurie’s Cozy Corner
I was surprised and humbled to see this on Facebook the other day from a sweet young mom that I’ve had the honor of mentoring… Again, this is not meant to bring attention to me; Rather, it is another story of God going after the one!
“It’s my birthday, so I get to share a sweet story that is so special to me! Please know, I am seeing every single birthday post and message and it means so much to me! I will reply to all of them! 💕💕 Words of affirmation is my love language and I feel so seen today, thank you! 🥰
This is a special message I wanted to time stamp on my page! 5 years ago, in 2020 if you guys can remember that?? I had lived in Dallas 2 years and was a newly married woman. I applied for a mentor through our church’s mentorship program. I knew I wanted someone to walk through the new season of marriage with me and pour wisdom into my life. The criteria I put on the application was short but powerful: “Someone that is nurturing, preferably a mom, with lots of love and wisdom to share.”
** I didn’t realize how much the church prayed over these applications and that it could take weeks to be matched to a mentor. And it had been weeks since I applied. Maybe my application got lost? (nope!)
Fast forward to September 28, 2020 (my birthday 5 years ago) on a Monday morning around 10 am. I got an email from the church confirming Laurie Munden was my mentor ! Did they know it was my birthday? Nope! But did God? Yes! Such a sweet little detail. I drove to The Hope Center to meet with Laurie for lunch on a Tuesday. Chicken salad and sweet tea became our weekly staple. I sat in her cozy, inviting office and poured out my heart as she so sweetly poured into mine. Newly married just 3 months, Laurie provided so much wisdom, love, and encouragement into my life and our marriage. What it meant to be a praying wife, a submitted wife and how to rely on the Lord in all seasons. Fast forward 5 years later, and although we don’t have weekly lunch dates anymore, she is still praying and interceding on my behalf and will text when the Holy Spirit prompts her to. (Just like this birthday text I got from her this morning 🥹) Always something I needed to hear in each text. (That’s how good God is) She inspires me. She leads her family with love, grace and faithful devotion. She is an amazing wife and mother. She is filled with the Spirit and you can feel it in her presence and in her hugs. She’s the sweetest lady I’m so thankful to know !
I hope this is also a reminder to anyone still reading that when Holy Spirit prompts you to pray for someone or send a text message, make a phone call etc. that you listen and obey! It’s truly the Lords work and makes a world of difference in their heart and life. How special it is to have someone praying for you ! 😇”
Such a sweet testimony of what God is doing! All glory and honor to Him!
As always, thank you for praying for us and for those to which we get to minister. We are seeing the Lord set captives free to live life fully for Him. It’s incredibly rewarding but very messy at times too. It’s worth jumping into the mess with them, throwing that spiritual life ring, grabbing them and bringing them to lasting freedom.
Thank you for your faithful and generous financial giving and prayers!
Your generosity also helps pay for:
Office rent at The Hope Center
Supplies, Bibles, Books
Coffees/Lunches/Dinners for our ministry meetings
Our new website!!
99behind.org
Our wee Scottish grand lad (boy) is going to be a big brother!! Lydia is due with a wee bonnie lassy (beautiful girl) in November! Jack and Lydia are chuffed (very happy), as are we!! We can’t wait to meet her!! Please pray for Lydia as she finishes her last weeks and for labor to go well. In Scotland, midwives help during labor and then deliver the baby at the hospital with a doctor on call if needed. It’s truly an amazing experience.
WAYS TO PRAY FOR US
- That we would always be led by the Spirit as we minister to the men and women He sends us (John 16:13)
- A protection over Mark and all men and women in blue as they protect and serve. (Ps 91)
- Continued relationships built in the various Law Enforcement agencies for Mark. (1 Thess. 5:11)
- Openness for the Law Enforcement wives to connect with Laurie. (Eccl 4:9)
Thank you for continuing to partner with us, making it possible through your prayers and financial support to take the Gospel message to the ones who matter to God but are often forgotten or left behind (Luke 15:1-7).
