Monday, October 30, 2006

what a month!

October 2006 goes down as a month of exciting things. It seems like everyday we are making great progress. This past weekend for example, many people were baptized in the Holy Spirit, for which I am so grateful to God. Last weekend we worked on a plan to plant many more churches in Armenia and surrounding countries. Again very exciting. Earlier we have seen major progress toward several new Master's Commission's here in Central PA.

And so many more good things happened.

Please pray with me that God will continue to move among us, healing hearts and lives, and setting people free. Pray that we will be good stewards of his great grace, and that we will grow in skill to lead His precious people. Also, pray for my leadership team, which has been mercilessly attacked in their marriages, finances, and health.

We have an upcoming Friend Day. Pray that hurting people all over the county will get an invitation to church somewhere.

Friday, October 06, 2006

my Armenian brothers are coming!

I got good news! Pastor Karen (pronounced Car-en) Kachatryan and Hayk Kirakossyan are coming to the US for a visit! October 19-31, they will be with me every day. These are great men of God who will serve us well for encouragement, annoited preaching, and the cross-cultural insight. God has knit our churches with their in so incredible ways in the past few years, and we look forward to many more. Pray with me that we find the best ways to relize their value and friendship through this time!

Thursday, October 05, 2006

great things are happening again

Again, I feel more thankful than needy. God is pouring Himself out on us again and things are exploding all over! It's been a long tough year, but I feel like the corner has finally been turned, and we are well on our way.

Today, for example, started with some huge battles, but ended with some huge victories.

God help me rest well tomorrow. I can hardly wait to get my motorcycle to the car lot and get it all taken care of. Help me find a buyer quickly and get that money sowed into missions where it will do some real good. While I rest, talk to my spirit about that sermon and help me think it through well so that people can really benefit.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

sad Amish families

Yesterday i learned that my good friend, Sam Zook lost two nieces in that schoolhouse murder incident among the Amish. I can hardly think about anything else. If I lost my daughters to something like that...

Last week I felt led to offer my motorcycle to God as a sacrifice for missions. I also felt that the Holy Spirit said I should not do this privately, but publicly declare and demonstrate God's supernatural provision in it, so that i can become a much better missions giver. I am very excited about this and looking forward to what God will do. I am asking God to use me to give more than $50,000 to missions in the next few years instead of living a more comfortable life myself. I am eager to watch God work and make that all possible.

Pray with my daughters as they decide what to do with their lives. God is really challenging them to great things these days, perhaps even world missions. What an honor to have a call like that on their lives!

Monday, October 02, 2006

the Amish-school shooting lose to my home

Prayer team,
Please pray for the Amish families whose daughters were lined up and executed by a gunman today- about a mile from the Amish-Mennonite school I attended. I believe some of those murdered and injured kids were probably daughters of my school mates, although names have not yet been released. I feel so much sadness for my Amish friends and community.
And pray for the safety of all of our schools. The last few days have been horrible here in the USA, with so many school shootings. Our kids need our prayers of protection.
On another note, this weekend is Friends' Day at Freedom Valley. We are asking God to bring us people who are searching and ready for a relationship with their Heavenly Father, and eternal life. We want to be part of making it hard to go to Hell from our city!