Worldwide Activity Report -- October 1997
FAR054 -- GP     chr

Copyright 1997 by The Family

         "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone, everywhere," Jesus told His followers. Every day, in nearly 80 countries, Family missionaries share Jesus' message of hope and love with many thousands. Following are some highlights of their recent activities and experiences.

         [Picture caption:] Jan prays with a boy who is in an isolation cell.

Church without a pastor finds pastor without a church
From Henri and Linda, Madagascar
         A few months ago we started a Sunday school for children of a nearby slum. Finding children to attend was no problem. No sooner had we put out the word than 30 turned up at our house--many dressed in rags. Nine weeks later the class had grown to nearly 100.
         We introduce them to God's Word, first through picture stories, then through Scripture memorization and songs. Voanhy, one of the older girls, translates. We give clothing and other donated items to these very poor children and teach them basic hygiene. Those who come all washed up get little rewards.
         One week Julienne told us that the parents of many of the children met at her house each Sunday afternoon, but they didn't have a pastor. They asked if Henri would teach them. On his first visit, Henri found 180 people eagerly waiting for him. Since then he has been teaching every week in their "home church." They love his explanations of spiritual truths, and they always have lots of things for him to pray with them for. The Lord has answered many of those prayers wonderfully, but one stands out:
         One afternoon we prayed for a baby girl with meningitis, and gave her mother money for medicine. It was too late, the doctor told her later that day. The baby hadn't eaten all week, and paralysis had set in; if she survived, she would be paralyzed for life. However, God had other ideas. The next day the baby was on the road to full recovery! His love is doing wonders here!

Immigrant?--Or tourist?
From Angelina,15, Croatia
         It was past sundown in Dubrovnik on the magnificent Dalmatian coast. The moon shone brightly, and its light reflected softly on the light waves as they washed the shore. What a perfectly romantic setting for an evening walk!
         As David and I strolled down the beach, we soon met and struck up a conversation with some other teenagers who invited us to go swimming with them. We made a quick trip back to our campsite for our bathing suits, and I also brought my guitar.
         After a refreshing dip, we sat down on a pier. A small crowd gathered around us as David and I began singing. A few songs later, David asked those listening if they wanted to go to Heaven. They all agreed that they'd rather go to Hell. Yikes!
         "You remind me of Joe," David said to them. "Joe went to Heaven and got bored, so he went and visited Hell. He went to parties every night, there were plenty of gorgeous girls, and he had a great time. So he went back to Heaven and told God that he'd like to move to Hell. God said it was up to him, so Joe packed his stuff and left. Upon arriving in Hell, the Devil was there to meet him with a pitchfork and fire, ready to jail him. 'What happened?' Joe asked. 'Immigrants are treated differently than tourists,' the Devil answered."
         Everyone had a good laugh, and all fifteen of our new friends prayed to received the Lord.

Someone to lean on
         The Family in St. Petersburg, Russia, conducts an ongoing program in a prison for boys ages 14 to 18. Fun yet thought-provoking musical shows are followed by individual counseling and distribution of Gospel literature. Conditions at the prison are very difficult, and The Family's visits mean a lot to the young inmates. One boy said, "You've changed my life; I believe now!"

Black sheep finds the Good Shepherd
From Jonathan and Amor, China
         Li, a university student who tutored us in Chinese, confided in us that she had been a "bad girl" as she was growing up--meaning she didn't always conform to the rigid social order here--and that she has always felt out of step, even with her friends. Poor girl--she has such a happy, cheerful and fun spirit that she doesn't quite fit in.
         When she told us she wouldn't be able to teach us anymore because her final exams were coming up, we felt we needed to lead her to the Lord while we had the chance. However this is would be a risky venture for her and us in this Communist country where proselytizing is forbidden. As it turned out, this dear girl didn't even know what prayer was. That's typical of a Chinese university student, yet she and others we meet are so hungry for spiritual truths. Amor explained briefly about the Lord, and then prayed with Li to receive His love and forgiveness. Before the short prayer was over, Li was crying. Afterwards she kept hugging Amor and told her over and over that no one had ever shown her so much love before; no one had been so concerned about her and her heart and life. We were so thankful we ventured out to pray with her!
         As it turns out, both Li and we are planning to move, and it seems we may be going to the same city. She gave us her parents' phone number, and we'll be staying in touch. Thank You Jesus for such a jewel!

"Drunk monk" gets a new start
From Dan and Joy, USA
         Fifty-something Xavier had begun studying for the Catholic priesthood at the age of 17, and later spent several years in a monasteries He had also worked to reconcile warring factions in Belfast, Northern Ireland. You may have seen a widely published picture of him--an image of a Catholic priest hugging a British soldier.
         But all was not well in Xavier's personal life. He had a drinking problem and wanted to get married. Several years ago he left the Catholic Church, became an Episcopal priest, and got married. That solved one problem, but his other problem worsened. When we met him he was at the bottom. His marriage was on the rocks, and he had been jailed once for domestic abuse.
         We gave him a copy of the tract "I Love You, Just You," in which Jesus explains His unconditional personal love. Xavier said he had never read anything so inspiring, and that it was just what he needed to lift him from the pit of condemnation he had fallen into. We prayed with him to be able to quit drinking, for solutions to his marital problems, and for his service for the Lord. It was a thrill for us to be able to help this dear, previously dedicated man reconcile with the God he had pointed so many others to.

Lek finds Jesus--and a family!
From Heaven, Thailand
         We first met 20-year-old Lek about one year ago at an anti-drug program we held at his school. Lek was raised by monks in a Buddhist temple, or wat, because his parents were too poor to support him. He still lives there. Lek really liked our program, and he asked for our address so he could keep in touch by mail. Since then we have been writing him and sending him Christian literature.
         During a recent visit to his province, we went to the wat to see him. He was beaming as he told us about the effect the Word we've sent him has had on his life, and about how it helped him pull through a life-threatening sickness.
         "I was all alone," he said, "but the Word came to life and I knew that Jesus was near me. That gave me hope that it was not the end. I realized I was needed here."
         From then on he started telling others about the Lord and His love and salvation. He told his mother and his friends in the temple.
         "I'm here in body," he said, "but my heart belongs to Jesus and I'm close to The Family in the spirit."
         We invited him to visit us and see how we live and serve the Lord, and he may join our work full-time. We could sure use his help, as in this country of 50 million "the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few" (Matthew 9:37).

A few casual words change a life
From Paulo and Nina, Brazil
         A couple of months ago when Nina stopped for gas, the station manager noticed some oil dripping from the engine of our old car. He could have sent one of his workers to check it out, but he went to look at it himself. Unshaved and unkempt, he looked more like a down-and-outer than the manager of anything.
         As he worked, Nina said a few words to him about the Lord--nothing particularly pointed or profound. The man replied wistfully that he once had been close to the Lord, but that was long ago. Both he and Nina had others waiting for them, so she left it at that.
         Last week Nina stopped at the same gas station, and asked if the manager was in. There was a new manager, she was told, as the one she had met had changed jobs. He was now the general manager of a fancy new restaurant in our area. Nina went to congratulate him, and found a completely different person--clean-shaven, well-groomed and bursting with enthusiasm. He said that her witness to him at the gas station made him rethink his life, and that now he could consider himself a Christian again! He was very thankful when Nina offered to send him weekly mailings of literature to strengthen his reborn faith, and to stop by from time to time to talk.
         What a difference we each can make in the lives of those who cross our paths, if only we'll point them to the Lord and show them His love!
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         The Family is a nonprofit, volunteer organization. Each of the activities you have just read about was made possible through donations from businesses, associations and concerned individuals. If you would like more information about The Family, or if you would like to help sponsor Family volunteers or projects, please contact us at one of the addresses below:



Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family