Anyone who loves God in the depths of his heart has
already been loved by God. In fact, the measure of a man’s love for God depends upon how deeply aware he is of God’s love for him.
Diadochus of Photike

    You will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you,
because you have loved Me.
    Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Jesus (John 16:26-27, 24 NKJV, emphasis mine)

Dear precious friends,

   It is so special to be writing you once again. You would have heard from me long before now, but as many of you know, I’ve been quite side-lined by chronic fatigue. That together with general aging is no small combination to deal with. But I’m far from complaining; for the Lord has a way of turning all such situations into prayer and preparations for all that is ahead. Indeed, I don’t think I’ve ever been so aware of God the Father’s love as I am now. It doesn’t get any better than that!

   It is with great thanksgiving and in anticipation of all God has in mind for the upcoming MPC School this July 17-22 at Wheaton College that I am now writing to you. This year the new Ministries of Pastoral Care president, Dr. Gino Vaccaro, has called together both new and familiar speakers to lead the conference. The subject matter, team members, and healing prayer services will continue much the same as they have been down through the years in PCM conferences.

   Dr. Vaccaro and his wife, Cesli, longtime friends of mine and this ministry, served as registrars for the 2007 PCM. They are both graduates of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and actually met each other at a Wheaton PCM in 1990. Cesli earned her second master’s degree in marriage and family counseling and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Gino received a doctorate in clinical psychology and a master’s in theology in Christian leadership while attending Fuller. They are the founders of Agape Counseling, a large ministry that brings together the best in Christian counseling and healing prayer to families in central Illinois.

   Also on the Pastoral Care team this year is Dr. Sarah Groen-Colyn who has her PhD in clinical psychology and a master’s degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary as well. Sarah is the founder of Sanctuary Psychological Services in Seattle, Washington. Sanctuary is a place where God’s people can come to address issues of the heart that help them experience transformation.

   It is no small blessing to me to see this work go forward in such extraordinarily capable and godly hands. These dear ones are people of prayer, and they bring with them great charisms of love and the Holy Spirit. I am so hoping to be able to attend this upcoming School and to see many of you there.

In Christ Jesus, our Lord,

Leanne Payne