I just got back from a world-wind two-week trip to my old stomping grounds in NE Ohio. Met with a lot of folks one on one, in groups and at church services. Had the joy of praying with a gal as she received Jesus Christ as her Savior. Many have prayed for her for about 13 years! Dina, the gal I prayed with to receive Christ over the phone two months ago, got married. What a blessing for me to witness that wedding! Gave messages at two churches and at a church staff chapel.
I did a half hour interview on a station that carries my program. Also, distributed a lot of my books along the way. 200 copies have been provided to be distributed to teens incarcerated at a juvenile correctional facility. Pray that God will use these books to touch and transform many lives
At our monthly Vesper service here at Countryside I shared Christ’s testimony, prophetically recorded by Isaiah 700 years before His 33-year mission on earth. Jesus confirmed this prophetic testimony in person as recorded in John 12:49-50. “The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious, I have not drawn back” (Isaiah 50:4-5). If you want to have an instructed tongue so you will know what to say and how to say it in your conversations with hurting people, then follow Jesus Christ’s testimony: Ask God to wake you up regularly, preferably in the morning. Then, ask God to waken your ear to listen so you can be taught. If you need further help, ask God to open your ears. Once you get the message from God, don’t be rebellious and back away from obeying.
Over the years I’ve experienced many Serendipitous Experiences when God has given me a word at the appropriate time to help someone. Following is another such experience:
Mur and I were on a trip to minister to missionaries in two countries in South America many years ago. In the first country we had a new missionary translate for us. The first session was laborious. The leadership of the mission quickly turned to a national who worked with youth. He had spent time ministering in America, and his Spanish was impeccable. What a delight to work with him as our translator for the rest of the sessions.
After the first day I made time to meet him in his office to get better acquainted. Shortly into our conversation it was obvious to me, he was a wounded warrior, wondering if he could ever have a future in ministry. You see, He met his wife in Bible School in America. After marriage they had a son who had a health condition that required blood transfusions, and through it he contracted HIV. Soon after that, his wife left him, informing him that she was gay. His son got a job after his schooling and did well. He felt led to return to South America, to try and put his life back together. At that time, he was helping the youth in his church, but felt this would not work well long term, because in his culture, a man without having a wife would be a major obstacle.
Before our time in this city was over Mur and I went out for lunch with him and talked further about his situation. We promised to keep in touch and pray for him, and especially that God would provide a wife for him. Shortly after we returned, he notified us that his son, who was a believer, had died. But also, that a woman working with him in this youth group, got the group to pray for his support and even give toward it, so he could manage to stay and grow the group.
He later visited our church, and we began to pick up some of his support. While with us, he shared that he was dating the woman who had inspired the youth group to pray for and support him. Mur took him shopping to get some special gifts for her, since it seemed things were moving forward for them to get married.
I just recently found out that he had graduated to his heavenly home to receive his “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” reward. Here is some of what happened during the time from when we first met him and his recent graduation to glory. Please pray for his family and this church.
- He was the youth pastor of that church for 9 years and inspired the development of an inter church youth ministry that impacted not only his city but the whole nation.
- During those years he got married and they had a son and daughter, now in college.
- He translated my book on leadership and used it to train youth leaders throughout his country. He once wrote me, “I want you to know that right now I’m using your Leadership book to teach a group of young people; and I can appreciate even more the wisdom in its content. The young people are very enthusiastic about it.”
- About 20 years ago he became Senior pastor of that church, which has grown to 5000 per week in three locations.
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!’” (Rev. 14:13)