To our friends in Christ,

These letters are from Pastor George and Linda Henson and are found in each of the newsletters. We pray that they will be a source of encouragement and testimony to each of you as the Holy Spirit directs you in the work that you are doing to build His Kingdom. We are in continual prayer for each of you as the Body of Christ and we are co-laborers with you in spreading the gospel in anticipation of the return of Jesus Christ for His Church.

In Love and Service, to our Savior, Lord and King, Jesus Christ
Your servants and His friends,

Pastors George and Linda Henson

January 2012
There seems to be lot’s of information available to answer questions like, “What is the Church?”,
“Who is the Church?” and “The Role of the Church in the Community?”. All valid questions. Then we have all of the well-worded visions that have been crafted – sometimes by the Holy Spirit, sometimes by the Holy Spirit with man’s help and sometimes, probably – mostly man – and very little Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, it is the Church that Jesus Christ spoke into existence to be the purveyors of His goodness to a lost and dying world. Paul wrote, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…” Ro 8:28-29
Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” Jn 3:16-17
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10
“…and on this rock I will build My Church and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” Mt 16:18
Paul wrote, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us..” 2 Cor 5:20 and “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” Phi 2:5-8
As His Church, maybe we should consider what characteristics would be prevalent in a Church that is “conformed to the likeness of His Son”. Jesus said His Church would not fail. Paul said, “Love” never fails. Without love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal, I am nothing and I gain nothing.
Consider what 1 Cor 13:4-7 would say if we consider “Church” and “Love” to be the same.
“The Church is patient, the Church is kind. The Church does not envy, the Church does not boast, the Church is not proud. The Church is not rude, the Church is not self-seeking, the Church is not easily angered, the Church keeps no record of wrongs. The Church does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. The Church always protects, the Church always trusts, the Church always hopes and the Church always perseveres. The Church never fails.”

January 2012
The last year has been exciting as we have began to focus more on the team that is helping the servants that help the servants by bringing Dina Wilkins and Amber Ranahan into the new Harvest Home and office in Skagit Valley to help us more effectively serve and communicate to the various coordinators in the USA, Mexico, Africa and our contacts in other areas. We have been encouraged by the over-all understanding that David Grove has been given by serving as our liaison to Pastor Martin and the Harvest Vision team in Africa and are excited that he is willing to serve on the board. He will be returning to Africa in January to help Pr Martin and to develop a strategy to help meet the administrative and communication needs that are needed to maintain the ministry before he returns to the USA the end of May to help with the over-all ministry. Linda and I are very grateful for each of the coordinators that are using their gifts and call to be available to the Church and bring hope in our community, locally and throughout the world.
We have been blessed to be a part of the harvest in Central Africa, Mexico and Alert Bay and witness the gospel being preached with a new fire and passion and the love that our brothers and sisters have for God and for each other. Locally, it has been a pleasure to serve the body and see the love of God through being a part of baby dedications, weddings, funerals, preaching and being in fellowship with so many different people from the Church through all the variety of ways in which we choose to fellowship: local church families, house churches, garage sales, worship services, concerts, food banks, car washes, prayer vigils, prison & jail ministry, alcohol & drug rehab ministry, car shows, parades, gospel sings, the county fair and other gatherings and events. This last year we were blessed to establish deeper relationships with the Spanish speaking community in Skagit Valley by having bilingual prayer vigils & worship services and through the worship trailer ministry to apartment complexes and migrant camps. We have also been excited about local church families that are reaching out to the community in new and different ways without compromising the truth of the gospel and the desire for many to start or be a part of house church fellowships that allow some people a more safe and comfortable environment to share their testimonies and become a part of the Christian community.
“It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13 

September/October 2011 Pastor Letter
If you want to inspire someone to build a boat, don’t send them to the forest to cut trees, saw planks and nail them together. Instead, teach them to love the sea.
As I meditate on the simplicity and beauty of this revelation, the Holy Spirit begins to teach me and remind me of the things that Jesus said. (John 14:26) Thomas said to Jesus, ‘Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really knew Me, you would know the Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” (John 14:5-7)
Jesus spent time with the disciples and showed them the love that the Father had for each one of them. He helped them to love the Father. In Mark 3:14, Jesus appointed twelve that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive our demons. The first thing was to “be with Him”. Jesus was surrounded by many religious people that knew the law, but their “knowledge” about God kept them from being “with” God. Doing things “for” Jesus is no substitute for doing things “with” Jesus.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to preach the good news of Jesus to everyone. Soon afterwards, the disciples were brought before the same religious people that crucified Him. Their question and accusation was pretty straight-forward, but so was the response of the disciples. Question: “But what power or what name did you do this?” Answer: “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:7-13)
In these days, many people don’t seem to put much importance on someone that is “unschooled and ordinary”, even if they know they are with Jesus. Who do you know that is “unschooled and ordinary” but because they are with Jesus are being used to do simple but astonishing works for the Kingdom. We are surrounded by a “cloud of witnesses” that are living extra-ordinary unselfish lives to show the love of Jesus to those in their sphere of influence. People didn’t recognize or accept Jesus because of His simple and unselfish life-style. “Lord, help us to have the same attitude as You and consider others more than ourselves. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

July August 2011 Pastor Letter
I have recently been reading “World Aflame” written by Evangelist Billy Graham in 1965 over 45 years ago and I have been comforted, counseled and convicted by the first half of the book and the revealed truth in its pages.
    “Most of the current experts, analysts, historians, scientists, philosophers and statesmen agree that man is sick. But the crucial question is, ‘Are we beyond saving? Are we beyond hope?’ Some of our greatest minds privately agree that we have already passed the point of no return. The people who ask these questions and express these forebodings are the experts, not the rank and file of the people. In a declining culture, one of its characteristics is that the ordinary people are unaware of what is happening. Only those who know and can read the signs of decadence are posing the questions that as yet have no answers. Mr. Average Man is comfortable in his complacency and as unconcerned as a silverfish ensconced in a carton of discarded magazines on world affairs. He is not asking any questions, because his social benefits from the government give him a false security. This is his trouble and his tragedy. Modern man has become a spectator of world events, observing on his television screen without becoming involved. He watches the ominous events of our times pass before his eyes, while he sips his beer in a comfortable chair. He does not understand that his world is on fire and that he is about to be burned with it.
    Into this cacophony of the voices of doom comes the Word of God. This Bible says that it is not too late. I do not believe that we have passed the point of no return. I do not believe that all is black and hopeless. There is still time to return to the moral and spiritual principles that made the West great. There is still time for God to intervene. But there is coming a time when it will be too late, and we are rapidly approaching that time!
    Every hope we have of God, every prospect we have of eternal life, every anticipation we have of heaven, every possibility we have of a new social order – all must be linked to Jesus Christ. It is as we come to Jesus Christ that the unknown become known; and not only that, but as we come to Jesus Christ we experience God Himself. Our limited darkened lives receive the light of the eternal presence of God, and we see that there is another world beyond the confusion, limitation and frustration  of this world.”
    Jesus said, “For where two or three come together in My Name, there am I with them.” Mt 18:20
    Jesus said, “..Who do you say I am?...You are the Christ, the Son of the living God…Blessed are you…for this was not revealed by man but by My Father in heaven…..and on this rock I will build My Church and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.” Paraphrase Mt 16:15-18 ----The battle belongs to the Lord…Pray, listen and obey.

May/June 2011 Pastor’s Letter
Death. Terrorism, earthquakes, disease, starvation, over-dose, accident, murder and suicide. The one reality that everyone lives with. What about the will? Are you going to the funeral? Please pray for the families that lost loved ones in the disaster. Not a topic that we could ever avoid.
The apostle Paul wrote, “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Ph 3:10-11. Obviously, that is not a “death wish” in the sense that we many times think of death. Our flesh isn’t fond of the idea of “death” and will use whatever influence it has to avoid anything that might cause it to suffer and especially to avoid “death”.
What about this verdict which has been directed toward the body of Christ: Many of our churches are filled with people that all want to go to heaven….but no one wants to die!; or, We want resurrection power but no one wants to die!
“When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ He asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, ‘See how He loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’ Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,’ He said. ‘But, Lord,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me.’ When He said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:32-44 I love this display of God’s love and power. Jesus had told Martha, “Your brother will rise again.’ And she had said, ‘I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’ And Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though He dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”
Their question was, “Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind?” Our problem is that we can’t “hear from God, because our flesh doesn’t want to deal with the consequences.” Our problem is not spiritual “blindness”, but spiritual “deafness”. The only one that “heard” what Jesus was saying was Lazarus…the dead man.
 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.” John 5:24-25

MarApr 2011 Pastor’s letter
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be remove,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10.
Earthquakes, tornados, nuclear reactors, wars, rising prices, unemployment, sexual immorality, drug addiction and suicide don’t easily equate with “peace and compassion”. It is impossible as humans to have the “peace that surpasses all understanding” without the Holy Spirit which “having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession - to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” Isaiah 55:8-12.
Many times we find ourselves like the disciples in Matthew 14:22-27. “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd. After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land and buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.” Sometimes we feel like, even though we have been obedient to everything God has asked of us….we appear to be a “considerable distance from the land with the ship being buffeted by the wind and the waves” and with Jesus no where in sight. But He will never leave us or forsake us. It may be a little scary at first when He appears, but He will appear. It might even prompt that “Holy Ghost” experience that the disciples had when they saw Him walking on the water. But Jesus had promised, “My sheep will hear My voice.” And Jesus said to His disciples, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” And He is still saying it to all that will listen.
We can depend on Him. “Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding.” It might even be time for some of us to say, ’Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water.“ It might be worth getting a little wet.

JanFeb 2011 
Just another day. Sitting by the roadside, hoping that the wind would not be blowing the sand in their faces. Of course, they’re not worried so much about sand blowing in their eyes…because they’re blind. Maybe there will be many people walking along the road today that might give them a little money before their family comes to gather them back to the home. Oh yeah…and just the other day they overheard someone talking about a man named Jesus. They said that everywhere He went, people were set free from demons and even the sick were made well. It’s really amazing the stories that you hear as you sit along the road…day after day,  hoping for acts of kindness that might yield some coins in the palm of the hand. Can’t see them, but just feeling their touch gives them some reassurance that someone cares….at least a little.
What is that commotion? What did they say? Jesus is coming this way! What if??????
Why not? What have they got to lose? “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” And now the crowd rebukes them and tells them to be quiet. If they don’t listen to the crowd, they might harm them or at least no longer give them the coins that they need to survive. But what IF? One chance…..what if the stories are true? And even louder they shout, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Jesus stops and calls, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The Creator asking permission to serve His own creation. What an invitation! “Lord, we want our sight.” And Jesus had compassion and He touched their eyes. That part of their lives that was sick and not well. He entered into their circumstance. Later He would ask permission to enter into everyone’s circumstance. “Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. Anyone who hears My voice and opens the door. I will come in and eat with him and he will eat with Me.”
It is possible to have faith that Jesus is God. And that He came as a man and after leading a sinless life willingly sacrificed that body to pay the price for the sin of all mankind and that through His forgiveness, we are assured of eternal life with Him in the new heaven and the new earth.
But do we have faith that Jesus cares about the daily circumstances that we are in right now. Jesus said, “You do not have, because you do not ask.” This is His question to each of us. “What do you want Me to do for you?” As soon as you give an answer, He will come into your circumstance. And even if there is not an immediate change, you will know that He will stay with you in that circumstance until we are all made perfect.”

December 2010
    What an incredible year of growth for the over-all ministry. The ministry in Skagit Valley is really expanding with the use of the new worship trailer, we have seen more participation by people outside of Skagit Valley through the ministry locally and in Mexico and Africa and we are looking forward to more ministry with the native Americans, locally and in Canada. The leadership change in San Luis has opened the opportunity for more local natives to participate in the various ministries in Mexico. We increased our support to a greater variety of ministries in Central Africa and helped bring more stability to local native workers in Africa through increased sustainability projects. We are blessed that Pastor Martin will have the opportunity to minister in China and that we will be able to have a better source of sound and video equipment to maintain existing and launch new coordinators to other parts of Africa. We are also looking for someone that would be willing to leading those that intercede for the ministry.
    As Christians, we are called to be the light and the salt of the world. As we mature in our relationship with our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we begin to hear His voice and we are given the Holy Spirit to over-come any obstacles and to give us wisdom, strength and courage to “listen and obey”. I sometimes find myself confronted with one of two different circumstances: in being obedient to His leading. First, I begin to lose the “fire and passion” that once was the driving force of the particular endeavor that He has called me to, or, second, I can begin to be over-whelmed with the circumstances and storm that I find myself in. Jesus said, “For where two or three come together in My Name, there I am with them.” How comforting are these words that remind us of His faithfulness.
    In Luke 24:13-35, we find two disciples walking sadly away from Jerusalem when Jesus came up and joined them (vs 15), after fellowship with Him, they said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” And they went back to Jerusalem with their faith renewed.
   In Daniel 3, we find three disciples that refused to worship a false god and were threatened and were tied and thrown into a furnace to be burned. “Then the king leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ They replied, “Certainly, O king.’ He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” (vs 24-25).
   “Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.”   John 14:19. “I will be with you: I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous.” Joshua 1:5-6

 December 2010
Many will be sad at the end of the day because they "heard" but did not obey.
"But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13:16-23
"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him', but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit with him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” Be blessed.
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6
"No ones sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." Matthew 9:16-17
Do not be afraid.
Believe and have faith that God has faith to reveal the part of His plan that He has already planned for you and He has given you the precious Holy Spirit so there is made available all the wisdom and power to fulfill that work.
Jesus said, " For where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I with them!" Mt 18:20 The 'two' on the road to Immaeus (Lk 24:13-32) after Jesus had walked and talked with them said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" Daniel's 'three' friends that were thrown into the fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzer (Daniel 3), "Then the king leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisors, 'Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?' They replied, 'Certainly, O king!' He said, 'Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." God is faithful.

July August 2010

Why?

A pretty common question in the Christian community today.

Our teenage grandson looking at another 8 weeks of convalescing since losing  a part of his foot in a motorcycle accident or the news just last week that the company I retired from 8 years ago is discontinuing our dental and medical coverage – why?

Because the Father loves us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for our sins and He has given us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that we will receive the promise of the new heaven and new earth.

How quickly our “faith” can have more to do with our circumstances than with what Jesus has already done for us, including giving us the assurance of eternal life with Him after the day of judgement.          

Jesus asked, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8

“And without faith, it is impossible to please God…” Hebrews 11:16

God’s ways and the methods He allows are always trying to accomplish within us what can not be done without His intervention. We are not to “lean on our own understanding, but to trust in Him.” Faith!

“Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick.’ When He heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’ Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more  days.” John 11:1-6

Many times we find ourselves the apparent “victim” of Jesus waiting for two more days before He comes.

The love that Jesus had for Mary, Martha and Lazarus can not be questioned. But Mary and Martha questioned Jesus and His love for them and their brother Lazarus. They both said to Him, “If you would have been here our brother would not have died.”

It obviously didn’t make sense to them, but He revealed His plan before ever going to see them.

“So He told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” John 11:14

Lord, help us to be filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, so that in all circumstances our faith in You is always increased and that the spirit of doubt, suspicion and fear will not have a place in our hearts. In Jesus Name,

Amen   

June 2010

Have you ever had anyone say – be careful what you pray for? Over the last few years, US economist have reminded us about our over-dependence on foreign oil and how “at risk” we are not developing our own resources so we can have all the oil that we need. Well…..oil seems to be bountiful at this particular time in our nation, but I’m not sure the projections of the economist are going to show that we are being economically blessed because of it. It seems like around the world and for a variety of reasons everyone seems to be talking about “oil”.  Although it may not be an economic blessing – it could be a spiritual blessing if we hear what the Lord is trying to tell us. Jesus said, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” “So you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.” Now is not a time to be even a quart low. He wants to fill you up and He’s already paid the price. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

God has been enlarging our territory as we witness more people coming to salvation, existing church families strengthened and new church families starting in Skagit and Chehalis Valley, Mexico and in Central Africa. We are blessed to have been born and to live in a country in which we have the freedom to practice our religion as well as the opportunity to prosper. Harvest Vision is blessed to be in partnership with men and women who suffer unbearable conditions to carry the good news of Jesus to desolate places and it is an honor to be able to support these men and women through this ministry. We need your help. You are an important and critical part of His plan. Your provision can help us fulfill our God-given vision. Please partner with us as a monthly electronic giver. Your faithfulness sets us free to focus on ministry and not fundraising.

You are welcome to sow on top of your monthly partnership as the Lord provides and leads…but first make sure we have what we need each month by being a consistent supporter. You will save Harvest Vision Ministries money, help us plan more effectively and reach more of the hurting and lost if we are at peace that our basic monthly needs are provided for.

Will you please co-labor with us in His Harvest?

You can go directly to our secure online giving page at www.harvestvisionministries.org

April 15, 2010

There is an all-out, desperate move on-going to deceive even the elect, those that worship Jesus with all their heart, mind, soul and strength. Then, throw in the prophetic confirmation of the many signs that will be used by God to “shake everything in heaven and in earth” and we witness fear, suspicion and doubt inviting us to take our eyes off Jesus. Satan uses that to convince himself that he is “winning” with that same joy he must have felt when Jesus died and gave up His spirit and paid the price for our sin. But what looked like the Satan’s victory, has resulted in his final defeat, the establishment of the Church that is being prepared to be the Bride of Jesus.    

“Jesus, said: But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” Jn 12:32 “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for My Father is with Me. I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jn 16:32-33 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Ro 8:28 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really knew Me, you would know the Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” Jn 14:1-7 

       “Jesus wept.” The shortest verse in the bible. Lazarus was dead. Jesus purposed to delay His coming. What are Mary and Martha to do but come to this conclusion when Jesus finally arrived. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ He asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept. Even when He commanded that the stone at the entrance of the tomb be removed, they only expected the odor of death to come out. “Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” After He reassured them, then they took away the stone. Let us all be reassured that Jesus is faithful and that for those of us that believe…we will see the glory of God. Jesus called Lazarus out of death and into life and then commanded His followers concerning him, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Remove the stone of doubt and fear that breed loneliness, anger, despair and unforgiveness. And as we endure these truths and attacks of the enemy, let us encourage each other.

 February 2010

   “Come, follow Me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19. This verse and many others became very personal to me after I opened my heart to Jesus at 7:03pm on that Monday evening in 1995. My life changed that second and Jesus was no longer simply a picture in my mind, a man from the Bible, the one I learned about in Vacation Bible School or youth camp or the proper way to end a prayer, He became real to me. I began a personal relationship with Jesus and I fell in love with Him. What an incredible journey. Because of His rightful place in my life, I can really love my wife and my family without putting unreasonable expectations on them. How about, 1 John 2:15,17, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”? What a subtle but powerful shift of priorities begins to happen to those that love the Lord. People ask me, “ Don’t you miss playing tennis, fishing, pumping iron, the concerts, motorcycles and jumping out of those perfectly good airplanes?” And nothing is wrong with any of those things, but I definitely would no longer say that I “love” those things like I did before.

It is a surreal transition as Linda and I do our daily devotions and speak and pray for the many people in our lives from around the world, and I am reminded about my old life that focused on what I wanted and what we were going to do with “our” money and time. As I drive over the Skagit River and take note that the river is just “dropping in shape” and it is the start of the steelhead run, I am excited to be going to be with someone making a court appearance or to pick up something for the ministry in Africa or Mexico at the store. As I drive past the tennis court and think about this being the “perfect day” to “hit a few”, only to remember that we are going to encourage and participate with those that are reaching out to those in need at the Reverie BBQ outreach, Hamilton Food Bank or the monthly meeting of Child’s Evangelism Fellowship. The witness of being with brothers from different church families on a beautiful Saturday morning as they worked on a travel trailer that is being converted for local Christian outreach.

Jesus doesn’t change. But we do. The days, weeks, months or years confirm that His words do come true. “Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”           

 January 2010

I would like to share this recent, very simple devotion from the book, “He Dwelt Among Us” by Wayne Taylor. It is the reading for January 5 and is titled, “Discover The Unseen Player” and it is based on John 1:3 “All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

** I want to tell you a story about a piano. It was a beautiful piano, made in 1921. Now, in this piano there lived a family of mice. The mice had lived there a long time, and in the beginning, they would listen to the beautiful piano music, and it would fill all the dark spaces of their piano world. The mice were so comforted because they realized that there must be someone playing the piano, someone they liked to think of as the Great Unseen Player. The Player was the focus of their worship. Then one day, a daring mouse ventured out into the far reaches of the piano, going farther than any mouse had ever gone, and he crawled up and saw some things no one had ever seen. He came back and reported to the rest of the family: “I know how the music happens. It has wires that are wound up, and they vibrate. I saw it myself, so we’re going to have to revise our beliefs. It’s not an Unseen Player, it’s these wires. You’d have to be awfully simple-minded to believe there’s a Great Piano Player out there.” So, they revised their beliefs. Later, another mouse ventured out, and went even farther, and made even more discoveries. He came back and said, “Nope, you’ve got it all wrong. Actually, it’s the felt hammers. There are all these hammers, and they strike the wires. That’s what is making the music.” So, the secret of the felt hammers became the big talk in the mouse family. Through it all, the mice came to believe that their world was a mechanical thing, that there wasn’t anything mystical about it at all. After a while, the Unseen Player became nothing more than a myth. But all the while, the Great Unseen Player kept on playing, hoping that the mice would go far enough to discover Him. John 1:3 says, “Through Him, all things were made, without Him nothing was made that has been made.” Jesus is the Great Piano Player. He’s the one who makes all the music in life, and all creation sounds forth His glory. One of the most beautiful aspects of His music is that He’s playing a song of love for us. Jesus Christ is our creator and sustainer. Through Him, God made it all. And just like the mice in the piano, if you haven’t discovered Him, you just haven’t gone far enough yet

 November 2009 

  “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalms 23:5-6. As I ponder this scripture, the Holy Spirit prompts me to ask the question, “What would we find on that table?” Jesus said, “Open your eyes and look to the fields, they are ripe for the harvest!” As I look at the harvest fields in our communities, I not only see those that are hurting and lost, I also see the workers that God has provided. I see their love for God and desire to share their gifts in the areas in which they have been called. I am enamored and awestruck as I witness His Church of Spirit-filled servants that are leaving everything behind to follow Him into the harvest field to bring light into the darkness and hope to the desperate. Yes. Maybe that is what He puts on the table in the presence of my enemies. His Church.

  As I think about the variety that is on that table – representing every aspect of humanity, I remember Jesus said, ”Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.” We should not let denominations or different callings be a bowl that stops the light from shining. As we witness everyone hearing from the same God to reach out with the gospel, we are encouraged with God’s word in Genesis 11:6, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” The Holy Spirit speaks to each of us with the language of the Father’s heart. The smorgasborg of opportunities on the table allow us to be directed by the Holy Spirit to those that have a similar calling. The table being fully open allows us to seize the opportunities to encourage others in the work that God has called them to do and we are able to recognize and make full use of opportunities to share and work together to more effectively reach the lost as one body.

  1 John 3:16-17 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” This applies not only individually, but corporately. As a Church, we have many gifted servants and resources in our different church families and we pray that these would be shared for the work that we are called to do in preparing the Church for His soon return. 

  We are so thankful for each one of you and the work that you are doing to build His Kingdom. As we reflect on what God has done through this last year, we especially want to thank those of you that have prayed and supported the work that we have been involved with locally and in Mexico and Central Africa.

  October 2009    

    After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and shortly afterwards, the religious leaders of the day “were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead” so they seized Peter and John and put them in jail. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men has been with Jesus.” After much discussion and with much fear about the future if they couldn’t stop the truth of Jesus from being preached, they arrived at this conclusion. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 

     “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” We may be believe that being a part of the “Church” means that you attend certain services and programs, give money, spend time with people in your “church” and then, outside of that don’t steal, kill and destroy and be respectful to your community and others. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be an accurate description of who we are as the Church. Many people, out of respect for their particular faith, such as Mormon or Muslim, or simply because they understand it is more wise to live peacefully, have chosen to not steal, kill and destroy and are respectful of their community and others. The one thing that sets us apart as the Church is that we have the “assurance” of eternal life through our faith and acceptance of Jesus Christ as represented in the Trinity of the living God. Even many good people have a false hope of something after death that they are OK with, but they are deceived and without the truth (Jesus Christ) will spend eternity without the true and living God. As Spirit-filled Christians, the Holy Spirit should be leading us to those that are lost and in darkness to be the salt and the light. Even though we can conveniently confess, “we don’t know what to say”, the truth is the Holy Spirit will do the talking because anything else wouldn’t work anyway. We find many that are willing to talk about their particular denomination or church and many of them even have the shirt and the coffee cup, but Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven.” Another time, Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Having the “pastor” as the only one who has the “job”, is the only one “gifted” or is the only one “responsible” to tell people about Jesus outside the “church” is what Satan uses to confuse people and take away that salt and light that He has called us to be.

 July 2009
          Many of you are aware that we are praying to get two additional sets of sound and video equipment to Central Africa by the end of the year. This will provide nine sets of equipment that will be used by local native Christian leaders from different church families to organize crusades and outreaches into communities throughout Central Africa. The costs for the equipment is $4,000 each and we ask that you prayerfully consider helping us with this work to expand God’s Kingdom. We are praying for an increase in the harvest……even more than a double portion. Last year, through your prayers and support, the leading of the Holy Spirit and the local native leaders we witnessed 9,530 come to salvation, churches were strengthened and many new church families were started. In the first 6 months of this year, we have witnessed 10,642. This is the 4^th year and we will begin the 5^th year in Africa in November of this year. “When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the Lord your God.”   Leviticus 19:23-25
       Many people that haven’t had the opportunity to visit Africa are prompted to ask us why there is such a move of the Holy Spirit there and so little here in the West. I would say that we have stepped away from the Word of God and what is pleasing to God and have allowed the world to shape our lives instead of being the light and the salt. We have lost the “fear of the Lord” and the “fear of the Lord” is the beginning of all wisdom. We have the opportunity to share with many friends throughout Skagit Valley that identify themselves as Christians and although many are involved in church activities, the way they live their lives is not different than the world in which we live. They pursue everything the world pursues with just as much passion and reckless abandon as those who don’t confess any faith in God at all. Jesus said that the world would know us by our fruit, a born-again believer will be living to please the Lord and not the world. When we stumble and begin to live as the world – our loving Father disciplines and corrects us. When we have the opportunity to lovingly confront them, a typical response might be, “I know I shouldn’t” dress or talk this way, try to accumulate wealth and control and spend my money and time on myself and just those close to me…….BUT…..! That is a clear indication that we don’t have the “fear of the Lord!” It is not enough to testify that we are saved because we have entered though the “small gate” – we must also be walking the “narrow road.”
      We love you all and pray that each of you will examine yourself in light of God’s Word. He can’t love you any more than He already does. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Mt 7:7

April 2009

The Father opened His Heart and poured out His Best for the Kingdom. Not a bull or goat or one of His many children – His “One and Only” Son. That Son, Jesus, traveled to Capernaum after being tempted in the wilderness and began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near!” Matthew 4:17

Afterwards His disciples asked the Master how they were to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by Your Name, Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10

I have been blessed during these last weeks in Central Africa…to witness many of our brethren that risk every day for the gospel. What a witness. Kingdom-minded people have a way of not thinking about themselves. In 2 Samuel 18:8-39, are the stories of the “mighty men” that served King David. In verses 11-12, are the testimony of Shammah. During a fight in and for a pea field, when everyone else ran away, Shammah stood and defended the pea field for his king. In verses 13-17, three mighty men risked their lives to get the king a drink of water from the enemies camp – because the king “longed” for it. But the king refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord, “Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this! Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?”

Even the king didn’t think of himself, when he refused to drink the water.

His mind was on the Kingdom.

            I pray that each of you will continue to “pour” yourself out for His Kingdom.

Let your rain and snow fall from heaven as you pray and give to the work of building His Kingdom by preparing the Church for His soon return. We are looking forward to bringing two new sets of equipment to Africa in October that will support the local native missionaries  preaching the gospel and building church families here. That would allow the opportunity for over 400 outreaches in Central Africa with the equipment here in 2010. That might be enough to sound the trumpet.  

There’s a promise for those that will let themselves be poured out in Isaiah 55:10-11, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

February - March 15, 2009
    Sometimes as we seek to witness the impact the Church is having in the world, we realize that the world is having more of an impact on the Church than we are on the world. Our nation has now become a society that disregards the Biblical principals of life at conception and of marriage between a male and a female. Individuals and church families that are identified as “Christian” have now made public proclamations aligning themselves with these issues. Abortion and homosexuality are now a part of our daily lives. As we reflect on such a time as this, we are reminded of Sodom and the city’s destruction by the Lord. Genesis 13:13, “Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.”
   Godly sorrow brings repentance. As our hearts are broken and we suffer for the world, it is a time to reflect on our lives both individually as Christians and corporately as the Church.
   Jesus said, “I was hungry and you fed Me; I was thirsty and you gave Me water; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; I was sick and you tended Me; and I was in prison and you visited Me.” Have we forsaken Him and allowed ourselves to be self-centered and not followed His commands?
   It is easy to see that we might identify with Sodom as we witness the wickedness that so quickly surrounds us. We can’t disobey His commands and expect to be protected from the wickedness. Let us be mindful of the Scriptures. Ezekiel 16:49-50, “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before Me. Therefore, I did away with them as you have seen.”
   Please let us come together and prayerfully consider the words of Christ as He began what we refer to as His time of public ministry. Matthew 4:17, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” We are thankful for everything that is being done to build His Kingdom and we pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to comfort, counsel and convict each of us as we prepare for His soon return.

“Lord, please forgive us if we have put the desire for our own personal blessings before being obedient to your commands to love You with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength and then to love others as we do ourselves.”

December 15, 2008 – January 2009
     We are blessed to witness the Church as described in Acts 2:42-47. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
   The words that really resonate in my spirit are: Everyone, Everything and Every Day. What a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ. But many have trouble having faith that the Church as described in Acts is possible in today’s world. But, “faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you can not see.” We can be encouraged by Paul’s words in Philippians 2:1-2, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” I can surely confess that there are days where I may not have “much” of any of these qualities, but I can always be confident that I always have enough to qualify for “any”.
   After sensing a renewed spirit with these words, Paul again helps us to seek out the key to helping us refresh ourselves even further. Not with some religious tasks, but simply with these words from Philippians 4:8-9. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
   After the birth of the New Testament Church, the disciples were brought before the same religious people that had killed Jesus. This was their findings: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” It isn’t about us…..it is about Him. Do not fear. “Therefore go and make disciples.”

November 15 - December 10, 2008

   We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for each of you and for the many ways in which you have blessed our lives and all the lives of those that are in the sphere of influence of Harvest Vision Ministries. Your prayers, phone calls, letters, emails and giving continue to bear fruit in the establishing of His Kingdom, both on earth and in heaven and our lives are richer because of your support. We pray that the Holy Spirit will expand your territories during the coming year as we prepare for the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
  This is the time of the year that many of us put up the tree and the decorations. Then we might find ourselves thinking about the gifts that might go under the tree. Either those that we might be giving or those that we might be receiving.
  And then we pray that God will help us to be His ambassadors to the world in which we live. A world that is so dark and lonely for many and for others simply a place of seeking earthly pleasures. For others a place to cruelly treat others as “less than” and to judge ourselves and our needs as more important than others.
The magnitude of the work is incomprehensible and staggering for us to even consider.
But Jesus said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
The great mystery is found in the gift that we find at the foot of the Cross which lifted up Jesus.
His last invitation found in Revelations 22.
”Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”
  In the small room in which Linda and I have our morning devotions is a small framed picture of a cross with a purple robe draped over it. Below the cross are these words:

Then I asked Him, “How much do you love me?”
“This much,” He said.
Then He stretched out His arms and died.

October - November 15, 2008

Jesus said to His disciples, “In this world you will have trouble.” What a prophetic word for many of us during these days. His words of truth were followed by His promise, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In 1 John, we are reminded of these words as John speaks to us about the work of the antichrist through his false prophets, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” These are times when we understand deeper the importance of His invitation. “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
“Learn from Me.”
As Jesus came to the end of His public ministry and prepared for the Cross, we know that He was “weary and burdened”. In Matthew 26:1-5, we see that His attention began to be on the work of the Cross. “Learn from Me” would suggest that we should observe what He did during His time of being “burdened” until His triumph on the Cross. In Matthew 26:17-19, we see that He continued to honor the special occasions that God had asked of His people. In vs 20, we see that He continued to fellowship. In vs 26-27, we witness that He continued to serve the people. In vs 30, we see that He lifted His voice in songs of praise to the Father. In vs 36, He invited His friends to join Him in prayer. In vs 37-38, we see that He was not ashamed to share His burden with His closest friends. In vs 44, we see His humility as He was willing to pray the “same” prayer to His Father – three times in a row. In vs 52, we see His faithfulness to the Father’s will as He chose to “not” defend Himself. And in vs 56, we realize His obedience to the “mission” – “Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.” But He stayed the course and didn’t abandon His mission. Just “learn from Him”. It isn’t so important “how” you started, but “that” you did start. The success of the mission is measured not by how you start – but whether you finish. Don’t abandon the mission that He has called you to! Our prayers are forever with you as you allow Him to finish His work through your love and obedience.

August 15 - September, 2008

 Linda and I just returned from a trip through the Midwest, visiting family and friends, and the Lord brought to remembrance thoughts of one of my most significant Christian heroes – my mom. Married to an alcoholic and with four boys, she faithfully did all she could to make sure that we knew the Lord and trusted in Him. Even in times of turmoil and grief, she didn’t despair so much as to not share her gifts of playing the piano at church services, weddings and funerals. Mostly, during all these trials she prayed. But she not only prayed – she trusted. I remember the loving people, including more than one pastor, that came and told her to leave my dad, and after receiving their concerns, she would say to them, “I’ve asked God to help Joe stop drinking and He will.” She would always thank them and encourage them to continue to reach out to our family and always join in prayers for him. When I was 12 years old, my dad made a call to AA and over 38 years later, when my mother and I sat by his beside and witnessed his last breath – it was a sober one. She is now with the Lord herself and I feel myself more lifted up by her prayers today, than when I could see her face and touch her hand. Before we left Oklahoma, we were given her “One Day at a Time” Alanon book. In the front cover and in mom’s handwriting were these words:
Sorrow looks down; Worry looks around, BUT Faith looks up.
I want to be like her because I saw Jesus in her heart. I pray that each of you have someone like that in your life. So how do you know if you are in the will of God? Are you really “hearing” from Him.If you know that you are being asked to “go farther than you want to go” and “stay longer than you want to stay” and that “it is going to costs more than you really wanted to pay”. It’s Jesus! 
Thank you for each of you and the work that you are doing to build His Kingdom. We thank you that we are witnessing the proper emphasis on “Who we worship” versus “where we worship”. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come. All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

 July - August 15, 2008

     Many thanks to those of you that joined with us in prayer for Martin, our ministry director in Central Africa, and Katie, who were both attacked with serious malaria. Our faithful God has lifted them from that suffering, even though Ocitti and Katie lost their unborn child during the sickness. We are blessed that the Holy Spirit has brought healing of heart, soul, mind and body and they are all able to be working again to further His Kingdom. We have purchased the equipment that we needed from the USA for the 6th set of equipment to support outreaches in Central Africa. Please continue to join us in prayer for the needed funding to transport the equipment and pay the duty for entry into the country and for the additional support equipment, such as generator and speaker stands, that we purchase in Africa to complete the set. We also have necklaces from Africa available at the office for a small contribution that are made by the ladies of Mercy Ministries in Kampala, Uganda  to help pay for their children’s school fees, HIV medicine, food, housing, etc.
    We just recently returned from a trip to San Luis, Mexico and our average price for gasoline was $4.10 per gallon. Obviously, the “oil shortage” that is resulting in higher prices throughout the world is influencing every aspect of our society. Jesus shared His concern for the “oil shortage” that would occur prior to His return for His Church. In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ The foolish ones asked the wise ones for oil, but were turned down and then went to buy oil. But while they were on their way, the bridegroom came and the wise ones went into the banquet with Him. Later the foolish ones returned and asked that the door be opened, but the bridegroom replied, ’I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
    We are so thankful for your prayers and we would ask, if you are not presently supporting the ministry financially, to please consider partnering with us. A major part of our funding is used to support the day to day ministry locally, in Mexico and in Africa, which is best met with a consistent giving base. Electronic giving allows us a more steady and reliable funding source to meet the needs and also builds up the faith of those that are depending on the brethren here in the United States, knowing that God has provided a stable support base for the Lord’s work in their area. You are in our prayers and we thank you for the work that you are doing to build His Kingdom.

 May - June, 2008

 Have you ever set and watched an artist or craftsman do their work? Imagine looking over their shoulder as the oils are brushed on the canvas, the hands gently mold the spinning lump of clay, the lathe begins to bite into the wood or the pieces of yarn begin to be knitted together. What mystery. What wonderful treasure are we about to witness? Somewhere the vision that God has put into the heart of the artist and craftsman begins to be manifested. No longer do we see just a piece of canvas, clay, wood or yarn – but something beautiful begins to unfold before us. We are transformed – because we witness transformation. Something arouses in us that might have been buried in years of struggles and misplaced faith or blurred by doubt and disappointment.
The Church – His Church. The melody is in His Heart – even as the trumpet raises to meet His lips.
The Holy Spirit is arousing and refreshing God’s people. Truly those that hope in the Lord will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles! It is His Promise to pour out His Spirit on all His children. No longer a spark. The hope is fanned into a blazing flame by the wind of the Spirit – His very own breath. It is a mountain-top experience that He is giving to us. Just like the disciples that were afforded a “glimpse” of what was to come, as they saw Jesus glorified and talking with Moses and Elijah. 
I can see. My hunger is deeper and more wanting. I have received another measure of faith. Not just see it. It is as if I could touch it. Smell it. Taste it. Hear it. He’s coming! “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” Thank you for everything that you are doing to build His Kingdom. The double-edged sword of truth has prompted us to expand our vision.  We are called to minister to Satan’s victims as the “Lamb of God” and to stand against Satan and his demons as the “Lion of Judah”. 
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:12-13