"THE HARVEST TRULY IS PLENTEOUS, BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW."
Matt. 9:37
As we begin 2006, we are able to look back and declare the faithfulness of
God to honor His Word to never leave us nor forsake us. We are also able to look
forward and believe God to keep His promises in the uncertain days that lie
ahead. Revival is coming. God is preparing to move in even greater measure. The
battle is heating up all around us. Jesus Himself has given us the prayer for
the hour in which we live. "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out
laborers into His harvest." (Matt. 9:38)
Faithful in the Past
God has been faithful in the past to His promise to never leave us nor
forsake us. Revival is breaking like a tsunami on the islands of the
Philippines. The enemy has tried every thing he can to stop it but he can’t.
When we visited Mindanao in September, we were able to start a restructuring
process that set the stage for healthy, sustainable growth based on biblical
principles. The enemy stepped in to oppose the plan of God. Pastor Allan Asang,
our Filipino Director, was hospitalized by a flare up of malaria and gout. When
he was released, he went back to the field, ministering in many tribal churches
in the mountains in spite of the doctor’s advice to take things easy for a
while. It wasn’t long before he was back in the hospital again. This time the
diagnosis was far more serious – fourth stage tuberculosis! We sent out an
emergency call for prayer by email. God answered. Allan is home from the
hospital, completely healed.
Please continue to surround him with prayers of protection. Pray also for his
father Tony and his brother Albert, also key leaders with Church Triumphant on
Mindanao, who have also been attacked by sickness in their bodies. Pray for a
breakthrough of healing and a shield of protection against further attack.
Construction of the first community center in Melale has been halted by the
rainy season. Heavy rains and landslides have closed most of the roads leading
into the mountains. But that has not stopped the work of God. The Bible school
building in Melale is not yet ready but the students were not willing to wait
any longer so classes have begun in homes, wherever there is a place for
potential laborers to gather to be trained as pastors and church planters. They
know that the harvest is plenteous and they are willing to do whatever it takes
to prepare to become laborers for the King.
Sorrow on the Home Front
God also showed Himself so faithful much closer to home. In November, Barbara
Gard received an email from her sister in southern California that their
mother’s health was failing and she had been placed on hospice. The morning
after Christmas the call came that, at the age of 95, Barbara’s Mom had gone
home to be with the Lord she loved. Mom had spent the last five years in a
special Home for those who were physically healthy but suffered from mental
challenges of confusion and memory loss. Several workers from the Home came to
the funeral. They testified how Mom had been the most loved resident in the Home
because she never complained but always displayed a kind and gentle spirit. She
could no longer recognize her own children or remember how to sign her own name
yet still she could be a witness and testimony to the grace of God. Truly
NOTHING can separate us from His love!
Looking to the Future
As we have sought the face of God concerning His will for us for 2006, He has
given us a greater burden than ever for the need to prepare laborers for the
coming harvest. The work on Mindanao is going forward in spite of opposition as
the laborers there are deeply committed to prepare even more laborers for the
harvest fields in the mountains and in the cities. As soon as the rainy season
ends, work will also begin again on building new churches. We already have land
for a church in the city of Kapalong. All we need is $1,000 to buy the quality
building materials required for church construction within the city limits.
The work in Romania is also moving ahead. Logos Church in Timisoara that we
helped to establish will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in May.
The church there is firmly established on the Word of God and is having a
positive impact on the city and the nation as it continues to prepare laborers
through its school system stretching from preschool through the colleges of
nursing, computer science, and Bible Institute.
The one place we minister where the workers are becoming fewer and the Church
is losing ground is right here in America. The more we pray for our nation, the
more convinced we become that God’s heart is longing to pour out genuine revival
on the nation but He can’t because the Church is not ready. The lost are crying
out for answers but too many Christians are so wrapped up in themselves that
they are not even hearing the questions or don’t know how to respond because
they are afraid of offending someone.
We believe that God is calling us to help the Body of Christ in America to
start a network of Discipleship Training Centers here like the ones we have
established so successfully in Romania and Mindanao. For too long the Church in
America has focused on making new converts instead of making disciples as Jesus
commanded. As a result, we have bigger churches filled with more converts than
ever but we have a smaller impact on the world around us because they are
converts but not yet disciples.
The harvest is ripening all around us. Willing laborers are out there looking
for someone who is willing to train them, equip them with the tools they need,
and release them into their calling. We have the curriculum, the experience, and
the willingness to work with local pastors and churches to prepare qualified
laborers to go forth in response to the call of God on their lives. Each
training center would be locally run and locally funded. We would train the
teachers like we did on Mindanao and help the pastors at the local level come
together to train laborers to reach their surrounding communities for the
Kingdom of God. The purpose is not to help one local church steal sheep from
other folds but the Body of Christ coming together to train laborers to reach
the lost and to provide trained leadership for all the local congregations who
have a heart to build the Kingdom of God and impact their city for good.
If you are a pastor and this vision is in harmony with what God has been
speaking to you and your fellow pastors in your city, please contact us so we
can pray together to confirm the leading and timing of the Lord. If you are not
a pastor but feel this is something your city needs, then feel free to share
this newsletter with your pastor and then leave it in God’s hands. He will give
your pastor direction according to His perfect will. It is never your place to
tell your pastor what to do. That is the Holy Spirit’s job. Your job is to love
your pastor and to pray for him/her daily and to support his/her efforts with
your time, your talent, and your treasure.
God is bringing forth a great end time harvest around the world. Jesus said
to pray for the laborers to bring in this harvest before it is too late. We
stand ready to do what God has called us to do to be a part of the answer to
that prayer. Stand with us. Pray with us. Believe with us for a great harvest
and an army of laborers who are equal to the task. Ask God what part He wants
you to play in this great harvest of souls in preparation for the return of the
King. Perhaps you can help sponsor a student at one of the Bible schools on
Mindanao for $50 a month or help to build the church in Kapalong. Perhaps you
can pray for the establishment of these training centers across America or work
to bring such a training center to your community. May God guide you and keep
you in the center of His perfect will this year and always. Happy New Year!
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