On Tuesday, August 16, 2016 PRMI board members, partners, volunteers, and friends of the ministry gathered from around the world to celebrate the realization of a vision that is the fruit of years of prayer and planning.
The Sheepfold Prayer House is located outside the gates of the Laurel Ridge Community, just down the road–a five minute walk–from the gates of the Community of the Cross.
A Legacy of Prayer
Enter Beth and Dick Osgood, friends and neighbors of PRMI for many years.
From their home in Laurel Ridge, they served the Lord with a ministry of hospitality, often hosting event teachers and leaders for PRMI.
They also shared with Brad their love for Israel and the Jewish people, ultimately encouraging the connection between PRMI and the Messianic Jewish ligament of the body of Christ.
After her husband, Dick, passed away, Beth’s heart’s desire was to move back to Black Mountain and to continue their ministry of providing space for God’s kingdom work in her home.
She began plans for building a house that she would live in on their lot just outside of the Laurel Ridge gate. She also continued to partner with the work of prayer at the Community fo the Cross.
Challenge and Perseverance
Shortly after this, she was diagnosed with cancer. We all joined with her in praying for her healing. In the meantime, she felt–and I witnessed to this–that she was to “stay the course” of building the house that she planned to move into.
Brad shared the story with us in these words:
“Last June (2014), while I was on a mission trip to Taiwan, I had a very strange experience. I was in jet lag and so woke up early one morning with an urgent leading to call Beth Osgood immediately.
I argued with God about this as my habit is to call my wife Laura first thing every morning that I am away.
The Spirit said, ‘No! Call Beth Osgood first!’
I argued further, ‘Lord, how about a shower so I can be a little more awake?’
The response was, ‘NO! Call Beth Osgood NOW!’ ‘
Lord, how about checking my e-mail so I can verify that it really is important to call her?’
‘NO!!! Call her NOW!’ said the Lord.”
“So I did, and when she answered she said, ‘Oh, thank you for getting back to me and for responding to my calls to your home and the emails I have been sending.’
I said, ‘Beth, I am in Taiwan. I just woke up and have not checked e-mail nor called home, so I have not gotten any of your messages. The Holy Spirit moved me to call you right now and so I have just obeyed.’
Beth’s response was, ‘Well, that is a strong confirmation that the guidance I am getting really is from the Lord! Thank you for listening and obeying the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That is all I need to know. We can talk about it when you get back.’
She hung up.
“When I got back, Beth and I met at the Community of the Cross with Kay Blaisdell, and Beth said she was still believing for her healing, but that the Lord had told her that she was to consider giving the house she was building for herself to PRMI.
This was the first conversation that we had together, and there were many more to follow as the vision of the house was refined to both fulfill the vision of she and her husband and also be consistent with vision of the Community of the Cross as a place of encounter with Jesus Christ for prayer, equipping, and sending.
This was all finalized and put into the will when I drove down to Durham where she was in hospice care.
This was done in the presence of her oldest son representing her family, who were all 100% supportive of her bequeathing the lot, the house plans, the furniture, and the money needed to build the house.”
“Beth went to be with the Lord a few days later! We then took over the management of the building process. This wonderful gift that she wanted named the Sheepfold Prayer House is now an extension of the Community of the Cross.
This means that it is governed by the same faith principles and intended to fulfill the same purposes as the Community of the Cross.
This extraordinary gift is part of our overall development plan of building the Community of the Cross where the work of prayer, equipping, and sending can take place to advance the Kingdom of God worldwide.”
Read more . .
Read more about the dedication of the Sheepfold Prayer House
