Rushing Update

Rushing Family Update

10/14/09

God is doing many things in this season of our lives. First, we gave birth to our second baby girl in July: Tahlia Jordyn. She is such a joy! She loves to smile and has just started laughing. Tahlia especially loves to watch her big sister. Eliana is now two (and a big half) and so full of life. She adores her baby sister and is glad to help Mama and Daddy take care of her. Eliana loves to sing and dance, especially at church when Daddy leads worship. She can sing many songs, but her favorite worship tune is Brenton Brown’s “Hosanna.” We have enjoyed adjusting to life with two children and look forward to them growing up together and becoming best friends.

I (Mandy) have stepped down from worship team and IHOP duties to focus on “mommy-hood.” However, as of last week, I returned to teaching piano, flute, and voice lessons. I have 10 students, adults and children. I really enjoy instilling into them the abilities necessary to become skillful worshippers. Plus, it is helping grow the HOP by raising up musicians and singers!

Joshua is continuing his work in the International House of Prayer – Siloam Springs. As the Director of Worship, he heads up the worship teams, training worship leaders and prayer leaders. He leads four sets per week, and spends most mornings from 8am – Noon in prayer.

Our HOP is changing and growing in exciting ways, with more and more people catching onto and committing to the vision of 24-7 prayer. Joshua spends the rest of his work week as the worship pastor at Antioch Church. The church is also going through some changes.

Finally, Joshua teaches two classes at Ecclessia College: Devotional Principles and Biblical Foundations of Worship. It is fun to watch as the Lord is releasing him more and more into the role of teacher and visionary.

Prayer Points – Please join us in prayer as you feel led.

 As the church and the HOP go through some transitions, please pray for us, the other leaders, and the members of both bodies. Obviously, change, even good change, creates pressure.  But, it takes pressure to create a beautiful diamond!

 I (Mandy) am very happy with my role of Mama, but I simply miss the Prayer Room. Please pray that God would meet me in special ways at home (…and the grocery store and library, etc!).

Please pray that Joshua and the other leaders would hear the Lord’s leading clearly as God guides the church and HOP into a new season.

Lastly, we want to say "thank you" for continuing your financial and spiritual support for us. We consider ourselves blessed to have partnership with you for over six years now! Truly, you are a testimony of the richness and abundance of Christ. From the bottom of our hearts, "thank you.

The Rushing Family: Coming to You from the "Remote" Corner of NW Arkansas

Mandy Rushing

October, 2008

Several years ago, Joshua and I were travelling through Arkansas (from Kansas City ) on our way to do ministry in Texas .  We had a (true) conversation that sounded like this:

Joshua: What if God ever moved us to Arkansas ?

Mandy: I don't think He would.

Joshua: Well, let's just pretend.  If we did ever go, I would pray to live in the Northwest area.  It's so pretty there.

Mandy: If God ever called us anywhere, I would pray He would never send us to Arkansas .

Of course, I didn't really mean that I would never move to Arkansas!  I only poke fun at Joshua because he was born and raised here, as I, too, began my life in the Natural State.  It's the age-old Texas/Arkansas rivalry.  So, as you can see, God had plans of His own; or at least, He answered Joshua's prayers!

Thus began our journey into Arkansas.  Joshua, Eliana, our 18-month old, and I moved to Siloam Springs in April of 2007.  Joshua works part-time as a worship leader at Antioch Church, pastored by Tony Nichols.  We both work with the worship team, and are both involved teaching music lessons throughout the week.

We also both work part-time as intercessory missionaries for the International House of Prayer - Siloam Springs (check out their website at ihopss.com). Combined with our time in  Kansas City, we have been working as intercessory missionaries for over 5 years.  The Lord has made it clear that one of our purposes in ministry is to help establish houses of prayer around the globe.  We long to see the earth covered in prayer.  God promises speedy justice (righteousness) to those who cry out to Him day and night.

Based on Revelation 5:8, our prayer meetings intermingle (musical) worship and prayers. Currently, our house of prayer holds almost 30 hours of live worship; which has increased drastically since we arrived!  We even have our first 3 official part-time staff (besides Joshua, Jim Clayberg, the director, and myself).  Praise the Lord that IHOP-SS has been growing, even with a fair share of growth pains.

As for our personal involvement, Joshua and I continue to lead worship for prayer meetings, and train up the singers and musicians who are joined with us.  Joshua oversees all of the worship leaders, who meet together twice a month for leadership training and community building.  Plus, he is one of the 5 directors over the house.

We absolutely love our church and IHOP families.  We are truly a part of the community here.  In closing, I guess God "showed me so" when He called us to Northwest Arkansas (doesn't He just have a way about being right?).

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