May 2026 Prayer Letter

This Consford prayer letter for May covers two graduations, a quiet week in Kentucky, and a deputation truck that decided to test our patience in Atlanta. It was a full month, and we are glad to share it with you.

Home for a Few Good Days

We got home, unpacked, and Bonnie made it to the mother-daughter banquet with both her mother and her grandmother. We even took my mom shopping to find a dress for the occasion. A good few days at home is its own kind of blessing after weeks on the road.

On Sunday we dropped in on Heritage Baptist Church in Jefferson, Texas, and that evening we drove to Indian Hills Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, a church that supported us through our years in Africa. It was good to reconnect with people who have stood with this work for a long time.

Kentucky, Two Graduations, and a Country Church Worth Earning

Monday morning we packed up and headed to Kentucky to stay with our good friends Russell and Teresa DeSpain. We visited several churches while we were there, including Deer Stable Baptist Church, a small country church tucked back in the mountains that you cannot reach without earning it. The roads are something else, but the people love the Lord, and presenting our ministry to them was a genuine blessing.

A Proud Moment From the Road While we were in Kentucky, we missed our son Danny’s graduation. He earned his Associate’s Degree in Paramedicine from Angelina College, graduating Summa Cum Laude after working over one hundred hours a week on the ambulance during finals. He never missed a church service or a bus route. Not one.

Back home, our son Gilbert kept a secret of his own. He works at Bible Tracts, Inc. in Odell, Illinois, and drove all the way home on his own to surprise his sister on the last day of school. When Bonnie opened the car door and saw him sitting inside, she screamed, called him a skunk, and ran off to tell her friends. Bonnie went on to graduate from Central Baptist Christian School, and at the ceremony I was given the Missionary Bob Hughes Award, an honor I will not forget.

Kansas, Missouri, and a Brake Line That Would Not Stay Quiet

A couple of weeks later, deputation took us through Kansas and Missouri before we landed in Atlanta, where a smoking brake line and a dead starter both decided to make their presence known on the same trip. The Lord got us through both, and a cup of Colombian coffee never tasted better once the truck was running again.

In Oklahoma City, Laura’s father, Bro. Adrian Van Manen, came through a successful cancer surgery. We are thankful to the Lord for bringing him through and are trusting Him for a full recovery.

We are grateful for every mile the Lord has carried us through this month. This Consford prayer letter for May only tells part of the story, but we hope it gives you a clear picture of where things stand and a reason to praise the Lord alongside us.

Prayer Requests

1. Pray for Bro. Adrian Van Manen’s full recovery.
2. Pray for Ernie Consford to recover well from dental surgery.
3. Pray for safe travel as deputation continues.
4. Pray for the Lord to provide a dependable vehicle for the road ahead.

Download & Print

May 2026 Prayer Letter — Joe & Laura ConsfordOpen PDF in New Tab

You can find every Consford prayer letter, including this one, on our prayer letters archive page. If you would like to learn more about our ministry or get in touch, visit our about page or connect with us directly. For more on our home church’s school ministry that hosted graduation, Central Baptist Church has more information on their site.