August Update - Maximum Impact

What if you had an opportunity to reach a few that could reach millions?    Would you please pray for Dezi & I as we seek to determine the direction the Lord is taking us and that we have the heart, the passion and the determination to stay faithful and stay the course he has set before us?
    We thank you for your continued support to keep going in our effort to mobilize more workers for the Harvest. My time in Atlanta, GA was very challenging. John Maxwell’s Equip program is literally reaching millions all over the world with Christian Leadership Training. They go into an existing network of church leaders, and offer them leadership training to help them reproduce themselves, more leaders to start more churches. We want to take this into China using the network we have and it certainly appears the time is ripe. We would travel to various locations twice a year and gather house church leaders, businessmen and other entrepreneurs and go through a series of seminars teaching them Biblically based values and roles that they are held accountable to pass on to others. Over six years of curriculum has already been produced and translated into Mandarin Chinese and this is already being used in a few locations including Taiwan. We have been given an opportunity to be trainers and while it is completely self-funded, we have found no other way that is making as big an impact in China as this has the potential of being. Chinese are migrating all over the world now. The picture above was taken in Nairobi on my trip in June. Chinese restaurants were in places where there were no churches. Remember, there is an urgency to getting the Gospel out. With every breath there is someone passing into eternity.
    God is amazing as he has raised up faithful supporters like you to help us in ways beyond we could ask or imagine. We have been given a closing date of September 24th on a house in Surprise, AZ and my mother is settled in to a new apartment near by. The kids have started their new schools and are enjoying their new youth group. The last year has been the hardest of our lives and we are striving to learn the lessons that God is gently teaching. One of which is being more thankful. We never want to take you for granted. Thank you… for believing in us.

July Update - FIRE!!

There was a fire just starting on our street. I tried calling 911 on my cell but they wanted a lot of personal information and data from me before they even asked what the emergency was and the fire was growing. I looked down the street and there was a fireman checking a hydrant so ran to him to tell him. He kept on fiddling with the fire hydrant and said, “Yeah, I’ll call it in.” The fire was now engulfing the house. Many trucks came and a lot of fireman were all scrambling and getting hoses ready and connecting them, talking on their radios, getting out equipment and raising ladders. But not one hose was spraying on the fire yet. The fire was spreading to the nearby trees, yards and the roofs of neighboring homes. By the time the water was flowing, the fire was consuming the entire block. Then, I woke up….   It was only a dream. Or was it. I was really disturbed by the dream. Angry actually. Frustrated. I felt it was real. That it could happen. And then I realized it is happening. Christians are really busy. Doing a lot of things. Administrating this. And that. Gathering all kinds of seemingly important information that really doesn’t matter if it is in your computer or iphone or file cabinet at all because that’s where it sits. People are made aware of the danger of so many people all over the world, oppressed, in poverty, lost, but also your next door neighbor. They continue not knowing about the grace that can quench the guilt and rescue their souls. We are busy. Reading our Bibles. Going to ‘how to’ evangelize classes. Encouraging each other to worship. Having BBQs with our church friends. Discussing the need. Getting counseling. Praying for needs and wants. But, the world is engulfed and very little water is being poured on the flames. We need firemen actually fighting the fire.
   I’m heading to Atlanta this month for a one day conference with John Maxwell’s Equip and meeting with their International Director on an opportunity to train Chinese pastors in China to multiply their efforts. Perhaps firemen can be found within the neighborhood. When the dream fire started, a few garden hoses probably could have done the job. Put out a fire this month. Tell someone about Jesus.