Friday, December 19, 2014

Facing Discouragement? We Need Protection in God’s Encouragement

By Ronnie Floyd

Discouragement is one of the enemy’s most effective tools against the people of God. How many small group leaders begin with great dreams of seeing spiritual growth in their group members only to become discouraged and quit? How many pastors assume leadership in a new church only to run afoul of a power structure, become discouraged, and lose heart?
How many men and women enter the world of business with big goals and high expectations but end up experiencing discouragement? How many people enter marriage in love with one another and soon become discouraged with each other and marriage itself?
Let God Encourage You
Writers in the Psalms knew discouragement well. They also knew God was faithful to provide encouragement. Consider Psalm 42:1-2, 6 as it says, “As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God? I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar” Have you ever been that hungry for God while feeling detached from Him? You are in good company! Chase after God when you face discouragement.
God Gives You Hope
But the psalmist didn’t stop there. He expressed great hope in God’s encouragement. “The Lord will send His faithful love by day; His song will be with me in the night–a prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm 42:8). Then he asks and answers his own questions: “Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 43:5).^{1, 2}
Philip Nation writes, “We can learn to be thankful even for the difficulties of life because even those difficulties remind us of God’s presence.”³ Even the best known of Psalms, the 23rd, reminds us of God’s presence in the valley of the shadow of death.
Ways God Encourages Us
Encouragement from God can come in many forms. Sometimes it is a timely verse of Scripture during our quiet time. Sometimes it is the overwhelming sense of His presence while we are in prayer. At other times it is a word from a friend spoken at the right time. At yet other times it is a refreshing spirit of worship. God is not bound in His ability to encourage us, nor stingy in His willingness to do so.
When Discouragement Overwhelmed Me
There have been several times when discouragement has overwhelmed me. I could account several times through the years when I believed with a deep conviction that God wanted us to do something in our church. Yet, it did not happen. Discouragement overwhelmed me.
There have been times when laypeople or various members of our staff team have left our fellowship. It has been especially discouraging when it was not done in the highest manner biblically and spiritually. In some of those moments, discouragement overwhelmed me.
There have also been moments when I thought God was going to do something with me. Yet, it was not His plan. Discouragement overwhelmed me. These have been the moments I have rebounded from the quickest because I have a consuming theological belief in the sovereignty of God for my life.
God is Always Faithful, Abounding in Grace
Through each of these personal moments of discouragement, God has always been faithful to me. He has lifted up my life with an encouragement and confidence in Him that far surpasses any level of encouragement.
I leave you with this confidence today because of God’s faithfulness and grace in my life:
“Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement, and death will be part of your journey, but the Kingdom of God will conquer all these horrors. No evil can resist grace forever.”⁴
And all of God’s people said…. Amen!
¹- All scripture, Holman Christian Standard Version.
²- “Depressed” in this context refers to discouragement, not deep or clinical depression. Clinical depression has roots not yet fully known. I believe God can work through the medical community in cases like these.
³- Bible Studies for Life, Storm Shelter, Philip Nation
⁴-Brennan Manning, http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/brennanman531767.html
photo credit: theloushe

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Garments for God’s Glory

Through her sewing ministry, Namdita mentors young women and helps them develop skills that will lead to employment opportunities.

To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3, NKJV)

Betrayal was the least of Namdita’s* worries when her husband left her for another woman. She wondered how she could possibly provide for their three small children on her own.
Given the circumstances, she eagerly accepted whatever menial jobs she could find. Namdita labored in factories and in private homes. She worked herself to the point of exhaustion. It was therapeutic in a way, keeping her from thinking too much about her broken heart.
She desperately looked for comfort and sought it through various religious rituals that were practiced in her Hindu village in Uttar Pradesh. Nothing gave her the peace she longed for.
But God had a special message of forgiveness and healing for Namdita, and He delivered it to her through an evangelist from a local Indian ministry. After hearing the gospel, she accepted an invitation to attend a worship service at the evangelist’s church.
That was 20 years ago. Now a passionate evangelist herself, Namdita is a spiritual leader in her church and community. She conducts prayer meetings at her home twice a day for people in her village. And with support from the same ministry that helped lead her to Christ, she oversees a sewing school that serves as a platform for sharing the gospel with other women.

The business of saving souls

For Namdita, the brokenness she experienced as an abandoned wife took a long time to heal. Although her husband did not return, God was faithful to Namdita and to her three children. She was able to continue raising her family because she had acquired valuable skills needed in the workforce.

Vidya became a follower of Christ and introduced her parents to the Savior.

Her personal heartbreak—and gratitude for God’s provision—are what fueled Namdita’s desire to help women believe in themselves and develop their full potential.
When the Indian ministry began a tailoring training program for teenage girls and young women in Namdita’s village, she jumped at the chance to pass her knowledge along to others. The aim was to give underprivileged or undereducated women employable skills that would help them earn extra income to support their families. Vocational classes would also present opportunities for students to hear about Christ’s love and receive Him as Savior.
Namdita knew this was God’s special calling for her at this time in her life. She teaches the class to groups ranging from five to 15 students. Funds for the sewing machines, fabric, thread, and other course supplies are provided by Christian Aid Mission.
Stitching seams may help these women find jobs, but Namdita is most delighted when her students put their faith in Jesus Christ and allow Him to sew the torn places in their hearts. She encourages them through the ups and downs of marriage and child-rearing. Inspired by her example, they, too, have come to know Jesus and experience release from both emotional and spiritual bondage.
A teenage girl named Vidya* enrolled in one of Namdita’s sewing classes. Vidya had multiple health issues, and her concerned family took her to several temples and witch doctors to seek deliverance. Even after offering the recommended sacrifices, Vidya’s health did not improve.
Namdita was worried, too, and asked the girl to come to a prayer service in her home. At first Vidya was reluctant, fearing her staunchly Hindu parents would not approve. She decided to go secretly, however, and felt a great sense of peace that brought her back to the prayer circle repeatedly.
During one of these prayer gatherings Vidya began her own spiritual journey with Christ.
Later she started accompanying Namdita to church services—until her parents found out about it. They beat her and ordered her to stop attending the Christian worship center. But Vidya’s deep and growing faith in the Lord kept her coming.

Some of Namdita’s “success stories”

One day Vidya told her mother she wanted to give an offering at the church. Her mother was distressed to learn of Vidya’s intention and urged her not to act foolishly. Then Vidya’s mother suddenly became sick and her condition worsened. She realized it was she who was opposing God, not her daughter.
Convicted, she asked Vidya to go to church that day and give an offering. Vidya obeyed, and her mother’s health was restored.
This episode became a turning point for Vidya’s parents, who gradually opened their hearts to the gospel. They no longer prevent Vidya from attending church, and her faith in the Lord is growing stronger.
Christian Aid Mission has helped the ministry start similar tailoring centers in the inner city of New Delhi and has provided sewing machines for some of the graduates. As with Namdita’s outreach, leaders report that over 60 percent of the women in the classes are receiving Christ.
Northern India is one of the least evangelized sections of the country, where missionaries face opposition from Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs. Praise God for the sewing centers and other community-based programs that are breaking down the walls of hostility and making the gospel message accessible to all.
The ministry would like to purchase additional sewing equipment at a cost of $80 to $100 per machine. Typical startup costs can vary from $3,500 to $5,000. This covers the expenses of a master tailor, two or three machines, and class materials.
*name changed

Use the form below to contribute online. Or call 434-977-5650 to contribute by phone. If you prefer to mail your gift, please mail to Christian Aid, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Please use Gift Code: 600SAM. Thank you!

Lives on Hold: Ukrainian Refugees Find Solace through Good Samaritan Charity

Elias and Catherine Butt fled with their daughters from Crimea to western Ukraine. The family’s temporary home is an orphanage run by Good Samaritan Mission-L’viv.

Father’s House in Kiev and Good Samaritan Mission-L’viv are among several Ukrainian ministries that have received long-time assistance from Christian Aid Mission. Both groups operate children’s homes that have recently opened their doors to shelter individuals displaced by the conflict with Russia.
Last week we featured a story about orphans who were relocated to Father’s House to escape instability in eastern Ukraine. In part two, we share the heartbreak and hope of one Crimean family who found accommodations at Good Samaritan Mission. They wonder when, if ever, they will be able to return home.
While Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists face off in the embattled east, thousands of displaced families are seeking what they hope will be a short-term sojourn in the western part of the country.
According to a May report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), political turmoil has prompted the movement of some 10,000 civilians. At least one third of the internally displaced are children.
About 45 percent of the IDP families are moving to central Ukraine, while 26 percent are relocating to western Ukraine, the report stated. Most are Crimeans who did not want to live under Russian authority.
Elias and Catherine Butt are among an estimated 2,500 refugees who made the journey from Crimea to the city of L’viv. They left everything behind and fled with their two young daughters to western Ukraine the day before the referendum for Russian annexation was held.
The Butt family lived in Kerch, very close to the highway that connects Ukraine with Russia. It was a common occurrence to see convoys of military vehicles rolling past their neighborhood. Their children trembled with fear when they saw soldiers.
Deciding to get out before the border closed, the Butts risked their lives in the hopes of making a fresh start elsewhere. Their exodus was difficult—and dangerous. In one town they were forced to stop at a Russian-manned checkpoint. It was a harrowing moment when the family sat helplessly in their car with rifles pointed at them.
Elias pleaded with the guards to let them pass through, explaining that his wife was seven months pregnant. Finally the guards lifted the gate and motioned for them to proceed. Breathing a prayer and a huge sigh of relief, the foursome kept driving until they crossed out of the disputed area. Their lengthy journey eventually ended in L’viv, near the border with Poland.

House of mercy, haven of rest

Displaced families enjoy fellowship and a peaceful meal, but they long to return to their home communities.

Through contacts the Butt family heard about Good Samaritan Mission-L’viv (GSML), a Ukrainian ministry that operates an orphanage and supports evangelistic work in the region. The ministry was offering temporary accommodations at the children’s home for families like theirs that had been displaced by the political situation.
The Butts are grateful to have a comfortable and secure place to stay. The family was exultant last month when Catherine gave birth to a healthy baby—another girl. Elias is frustrated, however, as he has not been able to find stable employment since they moved to L’viv in mid-March.
That search may become more challenging as refugee families continue to stream into the city and other sections of western Ukraine. Already the ministry has taken in 12 families, totaling 59 adults and children, from Crimea and the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine. At the House of Mercy orphanage, they are providing shelter for 37 people, including 23 children. In addition, orphanage administrators are awaiting the arrival of 23 more boys and girls from Luhansk.
Christian Aid Mission has been a long-time supporter of GSML, having helped them plant several churches in Crimea and western Ukraine and assisted them in prison ministry and children’s outreach programs.
Assisting refugees, however, is a new arena for GSML workers. No one can guess how much longer the conflict will last. With each passing month the ministry’s resources grow more strained. The director says expenses to care for the displaced families and orphans amounts to some $5,000 per month.
“All this work we are doing voluntarily with donations from Christian people,” the director said. “Ukraine is experiencing a difficult economic crisis and utility bills have risen by 40 percent. In times like these, we are looking for support to meet these needs.”

A Good Traveling Companion

A Good Traveling Companion

Missionaries who visit isolated villages in the jungle terrain of western Colombia do not have the luxury of automobiles and paved roads. Even motorcycles are not practical in some areas. That leaves horses as the best mode of transportation for crossing rocky paths, thick underbrush, and flowing streams. Christian Aid Mission provided funds for the Lord´s Vineyard of Colombia to purchase several horses last year (as well as a motorized canoe and motorcycle), but more animals are needed. A horse costs approximately $500. The ministry held a weeklong Bible training conference earlier this year that was attended by 900 people, including children. The event was open to pastors, Sunday school teachers, women´s ministry groups, youth, and anyone who wished to participate in the sessions. Some people traveled three days to reach the training center.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Be Thankful In Tough Times

Quick Study: Be Thankful In Tough Times

By Rick Warren

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 NLT)

When the Apostle Paul says, “Always be full of joy in the Lord,” he doesn’t say to only be joyful in good times. Even when times are tough, the Bible teaches we can be joyful if we follow this simple strategy:
Don’t worry about anything.Worrying doesn’t change anything. It’s stewing without doing. There are no such things as born-worriers. Worry is a learned response. You learned it from your parents. You learned it from your peers. You learned it from experience. That’s good news: The fact that worry is learned means it can also be unlearned.
How do you unlearn it? Jesus says in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (NIV). He’s saying don’t open your umbrella until it starts raining. Live one day at a time.
Pray about everything. Instead of worrying, use your time for praying. If you prayed as much as you worried, you’d have a lot less to worry about. Is God interested in car payments? Yes. He’s interested in every detail of your life. That means you can take any problem you face to God.
Thank God in all things. When you pray, pray with thanksgiving. The healthiest human emotion is not love but gratitude. It actually increases your immunities. It makes you more resistant to stress and less susceptible to illness. People who are grateful are happy. But people who are ungrateful are miserable because nothing makes them happy. They’re never satisfied. It’s never good enough. So if you cultivate the attitude of gratitude, of being thankful in everything, it reduces stress in your life.
Think about the right things. If you want to reduce the level of stress in your life, you must change the way you think, because the way you think determines how you feel. And the way you feel determines how you act. The Bible teaches that, if you want to change your life, you need to change what you’re thinking about.
This involves a deliberate, conscious choice where you choose to think about the right things. We need tochoose to think on the positive and on God’s Word.
What is the result of not worrying, praying about everything, giving thanks, and focusing on the right things? Paul says we will then “experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NLT).

What do you worry about? Talk to God about your worries and honestly tell him why you worry.
If you prayed as much as you worried, how do you think your life would change?
God says he has your best interest at heart. Thank him in all things, even if you cannot understand what God is up to in your life.
What do you think about most? What do you think God wants you to think about?
Are these two things in alignment? If not, then why?

Photo by Pearl via LightStock

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Bringing the Joy of Jesus to Children in Syria

Syrian children hold up crafts they made during an Easter celebration in April. The outreach received an enthusiastic response from parents and prompted the startup of Kids’ Clubs this summer.

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise?’” (Matthew 21:16, NIV)

Kids are kids everywhere, and that includes Syrian boys and girls whose country is embroiled in a horrific civil war.
At this morning’s gathering, the music leader begins by telling the children he is thankful. He praises God for the talent given him to sing and play the guitar. He is thankful for God’s love that changed his heart. He is thankful for life and health and all the precious boys and girls in the room.
The young musician has a captive audience. His ministry team expected a low turnout this weekend due to summer activities. Instead, they had more children than ever show up—75 kids accompanied by their moms and some dads.
The church sanctuary livens up as the children stand and sing a song about Jesus. One girl is wearing a lime green Mickey Mouse shirt. A boy adjusts his baseball cap and turns to say something to his brother beside him. They are smiling and enjoying themselves. Since most come week after week, the children have the lyrics memorized.
They sing with zest. To an outsider, the music may sound more like joyful noise than sweet harmony. It is joyful nevertheless, and that’s what counts.
Near the front of the pews, about 20 three- to five-year-old kids clap to the music and try to sing along.
The team leader invites the assembly to give thanks to their Heavenly Father, but he is surprised when six youngsters in this group raise their little hands to pray.
“Dear God, help my daddy find a job,” began one.
“Please make people stop hurting each other,” interjected another child.
“Thank you for our teachers. They are nice to us and give us hugs,” added another.
The leaders were touched and speechless. If they needed a demonstration of proof, this was it. God is indeed doing a great work in the hearts of these boys and girls.

Putting a song in their hearts

These youth are finding lots of reasons to sing and praise Jesus for His blessings in their lives.

Wars are waged by adults, but children cannot escape the consequences. During the past three years of outreach to traumatized Syrian families, relief workers from a Christian Aid-assisted ministry saw that children’s emotional and spiritual needs were being overlooked. Some type of activity or program was needed at least once a week to help them be kids again, a safe haven where they could have fun and learn about Jesus.
As a result, the ministry launched a program called Jesus for Kids (JFK) during Easter weekend. Originally called the Easter Clubs, these meetings provided opportunities for a team of Syrian Christians to introduce children to their risen Savior, Jesus Christ.
The two initial programs were a whopping success. Some 700 kids, the majority from Muslim households, packed the church for the first event. They watched a skit about God’s greatest gift and were invited to pray to receive that gift. At a follow-up gathering, 350 children attended, of whom over 100 were Muslim.
Seeing the potential, the ministry had bigger plans for JFK as an ongoing outreach to Syrian children, but financial difficulties were a great concern. Thanks to the generosity of Christian Aid Mission donors, however, the workers are now able to focus full-time on ministry, not fund-raising. The team still faces physical danger on a daily basis, but that has not deterred them from seeking to bring a ray of hope and light to hurting hearts.
The response has been astounding. Since the launch of JFK , the program has already reached over 15,000 Syrian children in Aleppo, Damascus, and other cities!
The team of mostly young adults travels to different churches, leading the children in songs, crafts, Bible games, and prayer. Currently there are 18 full-time JFK workers, but the ministry would like to put additional teams into service soon.
“For the children of Syria, seeing Bible stories portrayed through flannel graphs or with puppets can make the Bible come to life,” said Stephen Van Valkenburg, the Middle East area director for Christian Aid. “These wonderful tools for evangelism bring laughter and joy to a room full of children.”

Lives transformed

Children who have witnessed the ugliness of war can enjoy a stable and fun environment at club events.

This simple ministry is having an impact on more than the kids. Parents and other family members accompany their children to the events, so they are listening to the gospel message too.
JFK team members also conduct follow-up visits with families in their homes during the week. This aspect of their ministry is critical, as the individual visits afford them one-on-one opportunities to build relationships and disciple new believers. Parents attend home Bible studies and gather for prayer. Their faith blossoms when they see those prayers answered—sometimes in miraculous ways.
Recently a team member was summoned to the hospital bedside of one of the children who regularly attended club meetings. The boy was seriously wounded by a bullet that had entered through his neck and had lodged less than a centimeter away from his heart.
The child’s mother could not hold back her tears when the team member walked into the room.
“It’s a miracle that the bullet stopped before it struck my son’s heart,” she said. “Jesus stopped the bullet.”
Then it was the team member who cried. “This boy and his family had never been in a church before. They were from a Muslim background,” he said. “I sat down and prayed that Jesus complete His healing work in this child’s life, and that He be glorified through this family.”
The ministry leader estimates that about 90 percent of those being reached through JFK are Muslim. He said it is possible that, since Easter, 20,000 Syrian children, their parents, and other family members have believed in Christ through the JFK programs.
“When you hear the children sing the songs, and they know the words, that’s when you realize they really have been listening. It’s not just about having fun,” he said.
“You can see a huge difference in them, especially the older kids. Only God knows how the seeds planted through this ministry will come to fruition in the future.”
The ministry would like to expand its Jesus for Kids outreach from just one to a dozen teams in order to cover additional locations in Syria. The leader’s wish list would include 50 full-time staff and some 300 volunteers. Craft supplies, crayons, flannel graphs, ministry props, and audiovisual materials are also needed.

Escape from Mosul

Mosul has been a Christian stronghold in Iraq for centuries. With the takeover of the city by the radical Islamic group ISIS, many Christians have fled to the more hospitable Kurdish region.

After nearly 2,000 years of Christian heritage, Mosul was emptied of the remnant of its faithful believers July 19 by order of militants who seized control of the Iraqi city last month.
Leaders of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) issued a decree a week ago stating Christians in Mosul had three options: convert to Islam, pay a special tax called a jizya, or face execution. Families were given a deadline of noon on Saturday to evacuate. According to the announcement, if Christians did not comply, “They will have nothing but the sword.”
Several hundred Christian families were believed to still be living in Mosul just two weeks ago. Most Christian residents had already escaped the city, heading north to the Kurdish-controlled region of the country.
Those remaining families who were part of the final exodus left with only the clothes they were wearing. Some were stopped at checkpoints at the edge of the city, where armed men confiscated their cars and any personal belongings, including cell phones and money.
Elderly or sick believers who cannot travel out of the city face a very different challenge. According to the Assyrian International News Agency, 15 Assyrian families with members who were not healthy enough to flee opted to convert to Islam. The New York Times reported that five Christian families consented to a forced conversion to Islam because they have members who are also too ill to venture away from Mosul.
A ministry based in the Middle East has helped 40 families escape from Mosul during the past six weeks. Christian Aid Mission has supplied funds to provide food, clothes, medical assistance, and shelter. All of the families are Muslim-background believers (MBB) who have faced great peril due to their conversion to Christianity.
The ministry leader sent this first-hand account to Stephen Van Valkenburg, the Middle East area director for Christian Aid:

I picked up eight new families from Iraq last week. Things are extremely hard on those who stayed and don't want to leave. Those MBB families that arrived looked like wounded soldiers coming back from the battle. Of course they had nothing with them except some clothes. They couldn't talk much. Even when we reached our destination where they are currently staying, they were too frightened to talk. They were in shock.
In Mosul they had been living through hell—trauma after trauma after trauma, taxing them beyond what they could endure. They left everything behind. They have been emotionally and physically abused for the past month. They were permanently scarred by barbarian tactics. They love Jesus and wanted to stay in Mosul to be a witness, but beatings and killings were more than they could endure.
We had a cup of tea together before I left them at their temporary living quarters. I said, “Sorry, but I need to go now. It is late and you need to rest.” One man grabbed my arm and said, “Please stay. Don't leave us.” You could see they were scared. I was their only human source of security.

Iraqi Christians are weary of persecution and war.

As I started to pray, tears started running down my face. I couldn't finish praying. I looked at them and could see that they had been through a lot. I decided to stay with them until almost everyone went to sleep. One brother asked that we pray for some MBBs who refused to leave and want to serve the Lord in Mosul, even with all the threats they are getting.
Please pray with us for these new families. Pray especially that we can find a place for them to stay. We only have this current place for a week, and we need to find them another location. Pray for the kids, as they are still in shock.
Pray for two of the women. We could see that they were deeply wounded, even on a physical level with rape and extreme abuse. Pray that the Lord will give them strength during these difficult days. Without God’s help, they will never recover from this trauma.
These new families are now with us. We have no choice but to care for them. They need rest, a place to live, food, prayer, and much, much, much grace from God.

A decade ago, an estimated 60,000 Christians lived in Mosul. Those numbers plummeted after several waves of attacks on Christians following the 2003 American invasion and ousting of Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein.
The Christian population in the city prior to the ISIS takeover in June numbered around 35,000 people.
Mosul is the capital of the Nineveh Province of northern Iraq, located across the Tigris River from the ancient Assyrian city where the Old Testament prophet Jonah preached around the 8th century BC.
The Mosque of Prophet Younis (Arabic word for Jonah), located east of Mosul, houses a sepulcher that is believed to be the burial place of Jonah. Earlier this month there were unconfirmed reports that ISIS militants destroyed the tomb, along with many other ancient shrines in the region.