The King's Shepherd

Seeking to See Redemption Brought to a Broken World

Welcome to the web world of Doug and Lori Kothe!

Since we have come to seminary it has been challenging, hard, sanctifying, busy, but amazing nonetheless. In some ways it is hard to believe that we are in our final year here and will graduate in December. We have learned so much, both through the classes we are taking and through the hands-on ministry that we are doing where we actually get to apply what we are learning.

We love working with the different couples God has brought into our life, whether they are dating, engaged, or married. As we see hard things around us or hear hard things from others elsewhere, we are continually reminded of why this is important. At the same time, we are continually encouraged as we see couples who desire and are living out God’s plan for marriage through their unconditional commitment to one another through the good and the bad. What an example of God’s unconditional love for us!

It has also been neat to see all of the many ways we have been able to connect into our community and build relationships with people, loving them right where they are at. We love the conversations we get to have and the questions that come up.

We feel so blessed to be doing hands on ministry while we are going to seminary to get our Master of Divinity degrees! And we are so grateful for all of you who pray for us, support us, and enable us to be here doing this! God is transforming our hearts, our minds, and how we do ministry! We are so thankful for you!!!

Prayer Requests

Ministry

• We are just starting to do premarital counseling with another couple. Please pray that this would be a good time for them of continuing to build a strong foundation and of growing closer to the Lord and to one another. Their names are Dave and Ann Louise.

• We continue to have several couples that we walk alongside, along with a couple women for Lori and a couple men for Doug. Please pray for wisdom for us, perseverance, and servant hearts.

• Continue to pray for our studies at seminary, that we would learn much and that God would use it to equip us for ministry, and to continue to conform our hearts.

Personal

• After 2 straight years of daily back pain for Doug, we have found out that in addition to his spondylolysis, he has 2 bulging discs, stenosis, and a bone spur. He is currently going to physical therapy 3 times a week, which has definitely improved his movement and helped a little with the pain. We are grateful to finally know what is wrong with his back. Please pray that the physical therapy would continue to improve things and for strength for Doug (emotionally) as physical pain is extremely difficult to deal with daily and he cannot currently do a lot of the things he enjoys doing like playing sports, exercising, etc.

• It’s been a year and a half now and Lori still continues to deal with head pain behind her eyes. As you know, none of the tests she has done (MRI’s, CT scans, blood tests) have revealed anything. That is good on the one hand, but difficult on the other. She is continuing to pursue the possibility of it having to do with both sides of her jaw being dislocated. She has been wearing two different mouthpieces 24/7 now for almost 8 months. She also continues to go to physical therapy regularly.