June 2008 - Posts

• The Secrets Behind a Smile

  The following is the story of one young Chinese woman whose smile hid the pain and hopelessness she was feeling. I have a brother and a sister. When I was very young my parents quarreled all the time and did not pay attention to us children. When I was in middle school, my dad moved away, and we had very hard lives. I studied very hard to make my mom feel better, so I was able to enter college. About the same time my dad came back, but the war never stopped between them. I thought being away in Macau would change things. But that was a silly idea. My first summer holiday from university, I returned home. I thought I could do something to help change the fighting. But I couldn’t, so I didn’t stay long and returned to Macau very sad. When I returned to Macau that summer, some things began to change. I complained my parents never cared for us and I decided to never go back. With this decision I felt like I escaped from that burden, but at the same time I felt very guilty. It was at this time a Christian friend shared a Bible verse with me. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This gave me great comfort. I began going with her to church and began to learn about Jesus. I learned the real pain in my life and in my family’s life was because of our disobedience to God. I learned Jesus died to pay the penalty for my disobedience to God. All I needed to do was to decide to follow Jesus and I could have God’s peace in my life. At Christmas in 2004, I made my decision to follow Jesus public by being baptized. As I followed Jesus, I learned how much God loves me, and how much he loves my family. And he began to teach me how to love my family. Christian friends began to pray for my family and for me. I looked forward to going home, even with all the quarreling. I tried to rebuild the relationship with my dad. I started to care for my brother and sister, and told them about God’s love. Life is still difficult with my parents, but my brother and sister and I have a nice time together. God is rebuilding my family. I joined a Bible study small group with other students and continued to learn more and more about God’s love and power in my life. And even though I am a very emotional girl, God continues to encourage me and strengthen me in the difficult times. God loves me. God loves you. And His love will never change. Several of the students we are working with have similar stories. The good news is the Good News is bringing them hope.  Posted Jun 20 2008, 05:36 AM by Transformed

• Fruit of Evangelism

  The Thiès Baptist Church held two evangelism campaigns, one in Serer country and one in the city of Thiès. More than 2,500 people heard the gospel. The Lord Jesus miraculously healed 10 people and this attracted more people for the remaining days. People from Thiès came in great numbers, and more than 350 people gave their lives to Jesus. Posted Jun 20 2008, 05:32 AM by Transformed

• An Angel on the Street

  I joined my 6th grade class in handing out stockings full of useful supplies to give out to the homeless in the downtown area of the city. The whole group stepped into a park with a lot of benches circling it, and almost every bench had a homeless person sitting on it, but out of all the people, I felt led to go to a certain person sitting a few benches away from us. I grabbed a couple of people and we walked over to him. We handed him a stocking and then asked if he wanted prayer. “No hablo inglés” he said which means “I don’t speak English” in Spanish. Immediately my face lightened up and I started speaking Spanish with him. It turned out he was from Barcelona, Spain. We started talking a little about ourselves and our lives. Somehow, the conversation became a talk about God, faith and all types of questions I couldn’t answer because I’m not an expert on the Bible. Thankfully there is a boy in my class and his father who both speak Spanish and helped me out. We prayed over him and he asked for our phone numbers to talk more about it. I started crying as we left because of the emotion and my passion for speaking to people about God in Spanish. God really put me through an amazing experience I will never forget. written by Angela (Angel) Gudeman Posted Jun 20 2008, 05:19 AM by Transformed

• Baptized in a Sento

  Our church held its first ever baptism in a "sento," a public bath. The journey to this moment began at the end of s six-month spiritual journey of a young Japanese businessman. As he explored faith, he read everything we put into his hands, and constantly asked questions. The Truth led this young man to faith in Jesus Christ. In his testimony he said, "I had denied God for 28 years since I was born. I used to think religion was for weak people who cannot live by themselves. But from this day on, I will be united with Jesus Christ, and would like to be used for God." He is an eager learner and worker, in many ways he is already being used by the God he did not know until recently. Posted Jun 20 2008, 03:43 AM by Transformed

• Pastors Profess Faith In Jesus for Salvation

  Is it possible for churches to be led by pastors who are not Christians? Yes! At the end of a course on "The True Gospel," one pastor stood up and said, "I am a pastor. I oversee multiple churches. But, in these lessons I've come to realize that I'm not even a Christian. What do I do?" And, he was not alone. Of 36 pastors in training, 22 stood to publicily show that they were trusing in Jesus alone for their salvation for the first time. Many Rwandese believe that salvation is turning from sin to the church or religion. These pastors understood for the first time that salvation is a relationship with God through the work of his Son, Jesus Christ. Posted Jun 20 2008, 03:12 AM by Transformed

• Twenty-two pastors come to trust in Christ

  Twenty-two pastors realize for the first time their need to trust in Christ as Savior Is it possible for churches to be led by pastors who aren't Christians? Sadly, yes! In January, at the end of a course on The True Gospel, one pastor stood up and said, "I am a pastor. I oversee multiple churches. But, in these lessons I've come to realize that I'm not even a Christian. What do I do?" And, he wasn't alone. Twenty two of thirty six pastors in the class stood to publicly show that they were trusting in Jesus alone for their salvation for the first time! Many Rwandese believe that salvation is turning from sin to the church (religion). These pastors understood for the first time that salvation is a relationship with God through the work of Jesus Christ. Posted Jun 06 2008, 09:53 AM by Transformed

• Japaneese seeker comes to faith

  A young man comes to faith after 28 years! "I had denied God for 28 years", says a young businessman for whom we have asked you to pray for. As is true with many Japanese seekers, he was logical and methodical in this six month spiritual journey with us. He read everything we put in his hands and was constantly asking questions. Recently he shared his testimony saying, "I used to think religion was for weak people who cannot live by themselves. But from this day on, I will be united with Jesus Christ, and would like to be used by God." He was baptized this Easter and is eager to be used by God! Posted Jun 06 2008, 09:45 AM by Transformed

• Rick & Mirian Sturz

  Access To A Public School Praise God that recently we had a public high school evangelism week. One pastor and his wife have been praying for two years to gain access to a school. The school had repeatedly denied them access. However, because of the ongoing drug issues and the inefficacy of all other attempts to deal with the problem, the school has begun to allow them access. While there, Rick and Mirian were able to minister to the whole high school, offering them the spiritual solution to life’s problems. The result is that the pastor’s ministry in the school has been solidified. Posted Jun 06 2008, 07:30 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Diana Muenzenberger

  Loving God "Right" During a recent retreat I had the opportunity to speak with one of our Middle School girls who was struggling with a sin issue and was worried that she wasn't loving God "right". I shared with her that the most important thing is not loving God "right", but what is going on in your heart. Pray for this young girl as she continues her walk with the Lord. Pray that she would continually seek Him with all her heart. Posted Jun 06 2008, 02:31 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Tim & Janet Hall

  Summer Evangelism Camp Pray for a good summer of evangelism. Tim has several basketball camps and other opportunities in which he can share his faith. Pray also for three women who are attending our ladies Bible study, that they would continue to be drawn into a personal realtionship with our Lord and Savior. Posted Jun 05 2008, 10:17 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Dave & Sherie Henderson

  Saying Goodbye To Russia When some are retiring at our age, we are looking to the Lord for new work. After 14 years Russia, we are preparing to transition into a new ministry. Pray for us as we say our goodbyes to our Russian and international friends, sell furniture, and transfer many responsibilities to other colleagues. Pray for us as we seek the Lord's will for our future. Posted Jun 05 2008, 09:04 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Allan & Baska Vance

  Young Engaged Couple Seek Godly Counsel About a month ago a young couple started visiting our church. They had come to the Lord about three months prior while experiencing a rough time in their relationship. As new believers they are lost as to what a Christian marriage is about. Please pray for this young couple and their marriage. And praise the Lord that there has been true and notable transformation in their lives. Posted Jun 05 2008, 08:50 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Dan and Esther Penney

  Property Resolution For over a year now, we have been negotiating with the Finnish Lutheran Mission, which owns the property that is connected with ours down at our beach campsite at Ngaparou. They want to sell, we want to buy, but there have been a number of issues to resolve. Finally, two weeks ago, the regional director agreed in principle to a purchase agreement that Dan had written up. We were pleasantly surprised that he was suddenly so helpful and agreeable. Pray that as he meets with his superiors in Finland, that they will be equally agreeable to the arrangement that he and Dan arrived at. Posted Jun 05 2008, 08:39 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Titus & Helen Loong

  Finding Homes For MKs Please pray for us as Helen helps to locate summer jobs and housing for six returning MKs involved in our Third Culture Kid ministry. Posted Jun 05 2008, 08:24 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Jeff & Sarah Fry

  Understanding Forgiveness Our psychologist friend, who recently decided to become a member of our church, was sharing with us that one of her work colleagues was telling her that she just could not and would not forgive a good friend of hers. Since we have been studying about unforgiveness in our Truth Encounter (Freedom in Christ), she began to share with her colleague about how unforgiveness affects the one who does not forgive in a very negative way. Praise God for how this friend of ours is growing in Christ and for her boldness. Pray for her continued growth in our new church family. Posted Jun 04 2008, 07:53 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection