News
Report: Sibanga and Kitale, Kenya, Africa
October, 2009
I
am so glad that I responded to the invitation to be the speaker/teacher at the Intimacy
with God Pastors and Leaders Conference
in Kenya last month sponsored by Liberty Christian Ministries!
As you read in my emails from the field, God ministered deeply during
that conference. The greatest areas
of impact were:
Forgiving
even the unforgiveable
Learning
the Ministry of Presence during grief in the Body of Christ
Understanding
ones spouse during the pressures of ministry
Bringing
the family into the mission
Overall
restoration of passion for the call
Inner
healing
Preaching
both Sundays in the African Inland Church and Liberty Christian Ministries
churches gave me a wonderful opportunity to reinforce the freedom that comes
from forgiveness and also to challenge them to win the spiritual battles that
are inevitably ahead.
My
greatest personal takeaways were:
How
hungry for encouragement and responsive to truth they are
How
willing they are to sacrifice for the cause of the Gospel
How little difference there is in leadership there and in the U.S. The problems and the joys are the same.
Please pray for Christian leaders in Kenya, both in the church and in the government. May integrity flow through both as all is submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
I
have been invited to return next year to speak at the African Inland Church
Women's Conference. I am seeking God's will concerning this invitation.
Report:
March 2009 Mission Trip to Russia
This was the most Spirit-filled and Spirit-led trip to Russia I have ever had. The sense of God was in everything, and the freedom He gave me was amazing...
Here are some of the highlights:
-
Hearts of many believers and leaders were healed of deep wounds.
-
A chronic bleeding nose was healed when I prayed with a woman in St. Petersburg to forgive her mother.
-
Relationships were restored.
-
Decisions for Christ were made, especially in the Murmansk Christian Church, and scores of men and women forgave those against whom they had held bitterness for years.
-
Pastors and leaders were encouraged.
-
There was good fruit from the evening and next day's ministry to students at the Step by Step Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center in Zeleneborsky, and discussions with the staff were valuable.
-
We experienced the work of the Holy Spirit in the Women's Conference in Murmansk, the Women's Meeting in Olenegorsk, and the services in both cities.
-
There was great joy over the release of the new books, especially When God Lights the Fire and Journey to Joy. Books sold quickly and proceeds went to benefit the local Russian ministries.
-
I built new relationships with leaders in Velikiy Novgorod and St. Petersburg, and deepened the relationship with Vera Tsys, Evangelist and Russia's National President of Aglow Fellowship. The meetings in those two cities were truly guided and blessed by the Holy Spirit. It was a joy to watch Him change and encourage hearts.
-
It was a tremendous blessing to baptize five new believers who are now part of the New Life Church in Kolomna, south of Moscow.
-
I have been invited to appear on Russian Christian TV the next time I am in Russia.
-
God gave me complete safety (especially on the overnight express train from Moscow to St. Petersburg and back) and good health throughout the trip.
-
God anticipated and met our every need.
-
Amazing peace and rest throughout the trip.
I can't thank you enough for surrounding us with your prayers and love. Thank you for taking this trip with me! May God bless you and meet all your needs, just as He did mine.
I will now continue to:
- Focus steadily on what He has called me to do without wavering or being
distracted.
- Pursue knowing His heart for the world at a deeper level than ever before
and letting what I learn of it continually fuel my passion and shape my
life.
Footnote
describing the books: