Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 2:10 PM

Subject: Texas Fires

From: Doug Horchak, Pastor Dallas / Sherman, Texas and Britt Taylor Pastor Ft. Worth / Coleman, Texas

As most have heard, North Texas and Southern Oklahoma have faced the worst brush fires in decades resulting thousands of acres burned and 100's of homes destroyed. We want to ask for the continued prayers for our brethren in these areas; however, there are a few very inspiring accounts of God's hand in protecting His people:

Two of our member families in the Sherman, Texas congregation that live in Cooke County - (near the small town of Walnut Bend, TX) were evacuated on Tuesday evening. One member called me as he was watching the flames and smoke engulf his neighbor's property--as his wife and 5 children drove through the smoke and wind out of the area to stay with another member/family in Sherman. Jason Brock told me he was sure his "home would go up in flames"...but was thankful his family was safe. They asked for our immediate prayers. Down the road about a mile was the home of Betty Mask (widow that lives with her adult son). Her son, David, runs a saw mill in the back of the property. The Masks also evacuated. They lived on the main road that goes into the small hamlet of Walnut Bend. As it turned out both the Brock's and the Mask's homes were spared. But the next morning, the "burn line" on their properties both showed that the fire either stopped short of their buildings, or in the Brock's case burned "around" their property and structures. Many of the 6,000 acres of fire that burned in the county surrounded the homes of God's people, but fortunately their houses were spared.

In another member's case in Cross Plains, TX, Mrs. Daisy King property was spared in similar fashion. As many have heard, Cross Plains, Texas (about 160 miles SE of Dallas/FW) suffered the greatest loss of property and lives as over 100 homes and 4 people lost their lives as over 7,000 acres burned on Tuesday and Wednesday. The fires that burned in that areas west of Cross Plains came within a few blocks of her home, but she and her home were also spared. In the Ft. Worth congregation fires came within three blocks of Randy Hooser's home in Arlington, TX.

The dry weather and high winds are expected to continue through the weekend, and forecasters are saying that more fires could crop up in the next 3 days. While the members are very thankful for God's protection, prayers are requested for God's Hand in continuing to protect His people and their property in this region in the days ahead.

Doug Horchak and Britton Taylor