September Partner Letter 2017

Dear Partners,

“…Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? (Rom. 10:13-15a)

“Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior?” I asked this of the young man who stood in the altar at our service last week. “I’ve considered it”, he answered. “Would you like to do it today?” I asked, to which he immediately said “Yes”! In that precious moment, he received Jesus as Lord & got filled with the Holy Spirit without hesitation!

Just a few days earlier, our hotel’s 17-year-old front desk clerk asked me, out of the blue, “Do you know anything about the Bible?” (I thought… DO I!) It reminded me of the question in Acts 16 …”What must I do to be saved?” This young man then wanted to know if I could tell him what to read in the Bible, literally asking “What page should I turn to?” After Ray went to the church to get him a Bible, I read John 3:16 to him, to which he replied, “That sounds really great”! He then said from his heart the words that change everything! “I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and I receive Him as my Lord and Savior.” It was just glorious!!

Then there’s this wonderful testimony from over 20 years ago: a young man jumped over pews (yes, he really did!) in a church to run to the altar at the end of the service. That night he stood in front of Cindy, who looked him in the eyes and told him that from that night forward he would never be the same. Today, that now-grown man and his wife pastor a strong church, their entire family serving God together – glory!

For the last 39 years, we’ve seen it again and again: there is no greater testimony than a life changed by the power of God. We have the answer to the cry of this generation, and changed lives bring change to the world! People’s hunger is not decreasing – it’s increasing – it truly is harvest time! I don’t know what you’ve been thinking, dear friend and partner, but don’t stop now – we have a job to finish! Your prayers and support make it possible for us to continue to go and tell the Good News. We are greater together than we are alone, and it is an honor to stand in partnership with you.

Jesus is coming soon!

Because He first loved us,
Cindy, Lois and Ray