"COME AND SEE…GO AND TELL"
Matt. 28:6-7
When the women came to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His dead body, they were
surprised by an angel who told them the glorious Good News of the Resurrection.
His message was simple, the Great Commission in a nutshell. "Come and see the
place where the Lord lay and then go and tell" the world what God has done –
purchased eternal life for who will believe the message.
The message of the angel is for all of us. Come to Jesus personally. Spend
time where He is, worshipping Him and listening to His voice. Then go out to the
world and tell those you meet about the wonderful things Jesus has done in your
life and what a loving Savior He is. That is the heart of the Great Commission
and you don’t even have to be a preacher or stand on a street corner passing out
tracts to be involved in making it happen. Just spend time alone with Jesus and
then share with others the difference He has made in your life. It’s that easy
and that powerful. "Come and see…then go and tell" about Jesus and the power of
His resurrection.
Go to the Philippines
God is at work in the Philippines because we were willing to go. Another
group of students has graduated from our Bible schools and 15 new churches are
being started in villages in South Cotobato, a region that is predominantly
Muslim. You can help these recent graduates "go and tell" by making it possible
for us to build churches for the new Believers who are coming to Christ through
their efforts.
Other students who just graduated are going to plant churches among the
mountain villages of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley where the people are
hearing the Good News for the first time and are renouncing their pagan deities
to worship the Creator God and His Son, Jesus Christ who died for them and rose
again to give eternal life to all who believe.
A team from Seattle, Washington led by Beth Lemm and her pastor has also gone
to Mindanao to minister at our annual youth camp that is currently in progress
(April 9-13). God is moving powerfully among the more than 400 young people who
have gathered to seek His face. Pray for them that they will not only come to
see the mighty works of God but also that they will go and tell others of the
great things that God is doing in their lives.
Go to America
While Beth and her team are ministering on Mindanao at the youth camp, we
will not be sitting down on the job. God has opened the doors for us to be
traveling and ministering throughout the Southwest and Northwest, speaking in
churches and encouraging our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Not only are we
going and telling about the good things that God is doing but we are also
helping local churches to set up Bible schools like the ones we started in
Romania and the Philippines. In this way, pastors can more effectively disciple
their people so they also are equipped to go and tell others about the goodness
of God and reach the lost within their own communities.
A recent survey revealed that 50% of the current population in the United
States has never attended church – any church – not even for Christmas and
Easter! It is time to wake up and realize that we are all living on a mission
field. Each one of us is called by God to "come and see" then "go and tell" our
world about the good things of God. There are people living right in your
neighborhood who will never attend church unless a friend invites them. We need
to ask God to help us to be that friend that He can use to draw the lost and
lonely unto Himself.
Go to Romania
God is calling for volunteers to go and tell the Good News of His salvation
to a hurting world and He is ready to use any willing vessels that will make
themselves available. He doesn’t even require that they wait until they are
"grown up". We are thrilled to share the enclosed letter with you for your
prayerful consideration. Our granddaughter JoLea Gard is only 11 years old but
she wants to be used by God to go to Romania to tell the orphans there about the
goodness of God who has promised to be a Father to the fatherless. JoLea
remembers the years we spent in Romania and the short term mission trip her
parents took to Romania in 1991 when they were in Bible school. She wants to let
God use her to go and tell the children of Romania about His mercy and grace.
She wants to go with Teen Mania who hold the "Battle Cry" youth rallies here in
the States and challenge young people to a total commitment to Jesus Christ and
a biblical lifestyle of discipleship for the sake of the Kingdom.
The entire trip costs $2,762, more than JoLea’s parents can afford. So she is
asking for our help. If you would like to help JoLea reach her goal of sharing
the Gospel with the children of Romania this summer, you can send your gift to
Church Triumphant designated for "JoLea". Will you prayerfully consider adding
an extra $27 above your regular giving to help meet this need? If 100 people
will do this, the need will easily be met.
Any funds received for "JoLea" over and above what is needed will be used for
ministry to children in Romania through one of our other outreaches. If you wish
to help, please send your gift as soon as possible so we can get it to her to
send in before the deadline. Whether or not you feel led to support this
outreach, do remember to pray for her and her teammates. We are so proud of her
for her willingness to serve.
There are so many opportunities here at home and around the world to come and
see what God is doing and then to go and tell others of His goodness and His
grace. We pray that God will open your eyes to see Him at work and open your
heart to be a part of His great harvest field as we are laborers together to
fulfill the Great Commission in this generation. May God bless you abundantly as
you share in this great work of telling the world the Good News of the eternal
salvation available to all through the power of His resurrection.
Howard & Barbara Gard
30 Day Prayer Focus
We thank God for His faithfulness in answering prayer and we thank you for
your faithfulness in praying with us. Please continue to join us in daily prayer
for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ in the Philippines and around the world.
Allow the Holy Spirit to direct you in prayer as you pray what is on His heart
for each situation.
Day 1 – Pray for Beth Lemm and the team from her church as they minister at
the youth camp in Tagum City. Pray that God will continue to anoint them and use
them mightily during their time on Mindanao.
Day 2 – Pray that all the financial needs of the youth camp will be met so
that it will not be a burden on the local churches.
Day 3 – Pray for the young people who attend the youth camp that they will
become effective witnesses for Jesus Christ as they return to their home
villages. Pray especially for those from non-Christian homes who come to Christ
during this week that they will lead the rest of their families to Christ as
well.
Day 4 – Pray for our granddaughter JoLea Gard as she tries to raise the funds
she needs to go to Romania this summer to minister in the orphanages there.
Day 5 – Pray for all the young people who are trying to gather the funds for
short term mission trips this summer. Pray that God will supply their needs and
use them mightily for His glory.
Day 6 – Pray for all the churches here in America who are planning summer
evangelistic outreaches that God will raise up the laborers and finances
necessary to reach the lost within our own communities.
Day 7 – Praise God that we were able to buy a new chain saw to replace the
one that was worn out building churches on Mindanao. Now we will be able to
build even more churches to reach the lost and equip the Believers.
Day 8 – Pray for Howard and Barbara Gard as they travel throughout the
Western states ministering in churches and encouraging the Body of Christ. Pray
that God will keep them safe and supply all their needs. Pray for open doors and
open hearts everywhere they go.
Day 9 – Pray for the students who recently graduated from our Bible schools
on Mindanao as they go forth to plant churches in unreached areas.
Day 10 – Pray for the churches and pastors here in America who are starting
Bible schools locally to equip their people to be more effective witnesses for
Jesus Christ.
Day 11 – Pray for the 15 new churches that are being planted in South
Cotobato. Pray that God will provide the finances to build sanctuaries for these
new congregations.
Day 12 – Pray for the young people on Mindanao that God is calling to attend
our Bible schools when classes begin again in June. Pray that they will be
obedient to the call to prepare for full time ministry as pastors and church
planters.
Day 13 – Pray for Albert and Emma Asang as they lead our Bible school and
church planting ministries in the Philippines. Pray that God will supply all
their needs and give them wisdom and direction in knowing His perfect will
concerning students and teachers for the coming school year.
Day 14 – Praise God for His promise that the king’s (governmental leaders’)
heart is in His hand and one day the leaders of all the nations will bow their
knees and declare that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Day 15 – Pray for the upcoming elections in the Philippines that men and
women of integrity will be elected to positions of authority at every level of
government.
Day 16 – Pray for Datu Oscar Bug-ot who is running for the position of mayor
in Talaingod. Pray that God’s hand of protection will be upon him and that God
will give him great wisdom to be a blessing to the people of that region.
Day 17 – Pray for Pastor Renel Sabino and his congregation in Ampawid that
they will be effective in reaching their area for Jesus Christ.
Day 18 – Pray for Pastor Tony Asang as he travels each month to the remote
village of Magimon to bring God’s Word to Datu Laris Dagansina and his people.
Datu Laris is one of the leaders among the 300 tribal chieftains who came to
Christ in May, 2004, after hearing the Gospel for the first time.
Day 19 – Pray for the churches in Tubay and Tigpangahoy in Agusan del Norte
that are being led by elders since their pastors moved away. Pray that God will
give these elders great wisdom as they minister to His people.
Day 20 – Pray for the churches in America that are partnering with us to
reach the tribal people on Mindanao. Pray that God will anoint them and make
them effective in reaching their own local communities with the Gospel as well.
Day 21 – Praise God for the churches in America that are starting Bible
schools to train more workers for the coming harvest in this nation.
Day 22 – Pray for Pastor Jakel and his large congregation in the village of
Maligaya in northern Mindanao.
Day 23 – Pray for Pastor Ruben Salbame and his congregation in Maribulan in
Sarangani Province, an area often hit by Muslim terrorists.
Day 24 – Pray for Pastor Rudy Tohay and his growing congregation in Lumuyon.
Day 25 – Pray for Pastor Ricky Carado and his congregation in Surallah, an
area that is predominately Muslim.
Day 26 – Pray for Pastor Mateo Khan and the effective work that he is doing
in the village of Laconon.
Day 27 – Pray for Pastor Dino Daham and his church in the town of Tibula.
Day 28 – Praise God for the large number of Muslims who are coming to Christ
in southern Mindanao and around the world.
Day 29 – Pray for more open doors to take the Gospel into new tribal areas
where people are still waiting to hear about the Creator God for the first time.
Day 30 – Pray for God’s Kingdom to come and God’s will to be done in your
life, your family, your church, your community, throughout your nation, and
around the world.
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