Highways and Hedges

Romans 1: 13-16...I want to work among you and see good results, just as I have done among other Gentiles. For I have a great sense of obligation to people in our culture and to people in other cultures, to the educated and uneducated alike. So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach God’s Good News. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes-Jews first and also Gentiles. NLT


One of my favorite things to do on the field is “Share Jesus Without Fear”. However, I must confess, I’ve been a failure! I have found it impossible to over come the fear factor. Many times I’ve wondered; other than Lottie Moon, has there ever been a missionary that could actually “Share Jesus… Without Fear”. To me it’s similar to being on a safari. You search and walk a great distance until finally, the big 3 in 1; The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit leads you right on top of your big game! The initial encounter can be rather awkward. Right away you get the sense of how the meeting is going to progress. It’s always a good idea to have a partner with you for backup, support and most importantly prayer.

All my life I’ve heard, “practice makes perfect”. During the month of July I received considerable practice. I must admit, my presentation skills improved, and time spent reading my Bible increased as well. But, all this significant practice failed to diminish the fear factor. The butterflies are still in my stomach!

Luk 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filed.

Between Operation Blackout with Cameron First Baptist, and Team Spirit with Cane Creek Stoddard Baptist Association, few stones were left unturned. Lanny’s team from Cameron hit all the highways (14 zones), Bro. Marshall’s team, Cane Creek, came in like a clean up batter and covered all the hedges. Zone 9 (the concrete jungle) was saturated with God’s Good News. In July every highway and hedge in Galati was sown with the word of God. One can only imagine how many seeds feel onto good soil….

Mat 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Mat 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Would you come help?

Teresa

Busy Summer

I have been very busy with teams here from FBC Cameron, Missouri and from Cane Creek Stoddard Association headquarters in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. I was leaving the house at about 8:30 AM and getting back home many times at 11 PM. Usually I would get an hour or so off in the afternoon. The temperature has been near 100 F for several days. Teresa usually went out in the mornings with us. She would stay at home in the afternoon. Many evenings she would rejoin the teams. The morning was spent prayer walking, asking God to guide us and open peoples hearts and minds so that we could share the Good News with them. I took care of errands in the afternoon and in the evening we would “Share Jesus Without Fear”.

Now that the teams have gone, Bogdan and I were able to take some of the people who attend meetings in the valley to the clinic in Braila for dental work. The Serving HIM ministry has a clinic there at affordable prices. We have funding from the “Romanian Yard Sale”, which is a Poplar Bluff area ministry, we use for the cost at the dental clinic. We took three ladies this trip; this is about a thirty minute drive from the valley in Galati.
Bogdan and I were able speak with the Executive Director of Serving HIM, Mike Redeker, who has a heart for helping the people we work with. He is in contact with HIS Bridgebuilders whom Bogdan is working with to improve the living conditions for the believers in the valley. Daniella, who is a member of team Galati, a lady from 89 Dogarei Street, and Sorena’s Grandmother went with us. We thank you for being able to get this care. God is blessing us through you. Teresa and I would not be able to be here without your prayers. We would not be here at this time if you didn’t give to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon offering at your SBC Churches. The clinic is here because Serving Him gives of their time and money for people they have never met.

Paul expresses himself better that I can:
{Paul's Request for Prayer}
(1) Finally, dear brothers and sisters, I ask you to pray for us. Pray first that the Lord's message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. (2) Pray, too, that we will be saved from wicked and evil people, for not everyone believes in the Lord. (3) But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from the evil one. (4) And we are confident in the Lord that you are practicing the things we commanded you, and that you always will. (5) May the Lord brings you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.

Just two sinners saved by grace, Randy and Teresa

More from Galati

Here is another site.
http://gospel4romania.blogspot.com

FBC

We have First Baptist Cameron with us, look at these blogs.

http://iveneverownedabox.blogspot.com/

http://wrecklesspursuit.blogspot.com/

http://pianowiz24.blogspot.com/

http://seekandsave1.blogspot.com/

1John 5:13 "that ye may know that ye have eternal life..."

In the cool hours of the morning Randy, Miahi and I went to the Valley searching for people interested in beginning a Bible study. We ventured down a strada (street) none of us had been on before, Str. Rasaritului. It was very inviting with a nice cool currant, or breeze as we would say in
America and ample shade to withdraw from the hot sun. We hadn’t journeyed far when we met “Toma”, a very cordial white-haired man relaxing and enjoying the comfort offered by a large tree under which he was sitting. With Miahi’s help Randy started a conversation with Toma. We soon learned that Toma has a Bible. Soon, his neighbor, a lady, Petria, joined us on the sidewalk under the wonderful cool shade. I was able to introduce myself in Romanian to Petria. She was a very nice lady. In just a few minutes her daughter Silvia and granddaughter Oana Maria were there with us also. They were very curious about where we were from in America, how long we were going to stay in Galati and if we were Jehovah Witness. We had a very nice visit. Petria volunteered to have a Bible study in her home. She wants to invite Toma, and several other of her neighbors. Petria asked for my cell phone number, she will call me and let us know when to come to her house. Praise the Lord!

We visited another young lady named Dana. She understood English, but said that she could not speak it very well. I could tell by the expression on Dana’s face that there was an interest. She would not commit to a Bible study today. We invited her to our worship service on Sunday, she said that she would come because she was very interested.
















We visited with one of the families evicted from their home and living on the street. Their temporary living quarters was already in the heat of the sun, so they had moved to the opposite side of the street to set in the shade. Randy spoke to them about having a Bible study. The older son said they had to see the Mayor today and had other things they must do. Randy asked permission to pray for the family, they were very receptive and appreciative of Miahi’s prayer there on the sidewalk.

This is what Randy & I enjoy doing. Being out among the people. Not being able to speak the language is such a barrier. By the grace of God, as we continue with our language lessons we will be able to communicate with the people God has sent us to serve in their “heart language”.
Pray for the contacts we made today, that God will move upon their hearts.

1John 5:13 “that ye may know that ye have eternal life….”

My Kingdom Is Out of This World

One thing that God has done in my life since I have been here in Galati is, He has opened my eyes wider to the difference between the people in His kingdom verses the people who live for the things of the world.
John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world”
In the area of the states where we come from there is a large percentage of Christians and lots more who call themselves “christians.”

Act 11:26 He found Saul and brought him to Antioch, where they met with the church for a whole year and taught many of its people. There in Antioch the Lord's followers were first called Christians.

Using the Bible for defining the word “Christian” you will find that it means to be “the Lord’s followers”. The distinction is very easily seen here. Maybe its because I don’t understand what they say. They are unable to influence me with words which would mislead and all I know is their actions. Or maybe it is because many Americans use John chapter three verse sixteen for their doctrine and have never understood it, yet think they are saved.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The word “believeth” means “entrust, put trust in, commit” just like if you were living in, let’s say, Romania and you gave someone in Texas power of attorney. That person then controls your life. You have to turn your life over to that person to make decisions for you. Believe God, entrust Him with your life, turn control over to Him, do as He ask and follow Him. Then follow Him.
Remember:
Using the Bible for defining the word “Christian” you will find that it means to be “the Lord’s followers”.

Then you would truly be able to call yourself a Christian. That’s the Bible definition not mine or yours!

If you are a college age Christian, here is a new way the IMB has opened up for you to follow Him.

Hands On Program:
http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=6801&LanguageID=1709

Time For Prayer

Monday June 23,2008 our nephew James is going to Houston, Texas for an appointment at M.D. Anderson hospital. Please join us in a day of fasting and prayer, asking God to heal James of the cancer he has. Monday is also James' birthday. When we found out about his condition, he asked us to pray that God would make him a good witness as he deals with the illness, please ask God to do that also.