MAY 20th, 2009
PSALM 146:5 NIV “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them---the Lord, who remains faithful forever.”
LUKE 2:14 AMP Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men on whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor].
JUDE 24-25 NKJ “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.”
Dear Friends,
Warm greetings to you in the name of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Emie and I pray the Lord will grant you the desires of your heart and bring incredible and surprising blessings upon you this year of your life and in the years to come---as you faithfully love and follow Him. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” ---I CO 2:9
This month we enter into the beginning of the 18th year of the ministry outreaches of Eternal Life Ministries International. In the past 17 years, as we have shared the gospel of Jesus Christ [Mark 16:15], we have been blessed to see many people come to know Jesus as their Savior & Lord. In preaching and teaching God’s word [Matthew 28:19-20], we have seen hundreds of Christians strengthened and encouraged in their faith and service to the Lord. By giving to the poor in a variety of ways [Isaiah 58:10-11]: food, medicine, cloths, and other helps---we have seen people’s lives blessed in the name of Jesus; and also seen many of them come to receive Jesus and their Savior & Lord. We thank God so very much for the honor of serving Him and give Him all the glory for the many people’s lives He has touched as we simply shared His love with others.
Once again, Emie and I would also like to express our thanks to you for your important and special help through your prayers, encouragement, and financial investments in God’s work through the ministry outreaches. We greatly appreciate your friendship to us and partnership in the ministry. As I have shared in the past, much of the success in missions work is the combined result---of positively responding to the call & leading of God---- and the faithful partnership between those who are willing to go and those who are willing to help send. You have helped us lead many men, woman, teen-agers and children to pray and receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord. We always pray for God’s best blessings for you and trust Him to reward you. As you have helped people in other parts of the world receive Christ---we pray God the Father will touch the lives of many of your friends and relatives that you have been praying for---and may He bring them to know Jesus as their Savior & Lord.
[So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ---Acts 16:31]
While I was ministering in Africa [which I will share a little more about later in this newsletter], the ministry in the Philippines was expanding. Our local church in Tacloban grew by significantly and particularly in the youth group. Emie would like to share a few words about the youth:
Dear Partners
Greetings to you from Tacloban City, Philippines! Allow me to share what God is doing to our youth ministries. As pastors, we have been praying to God that He will raise up: “Soul Winners committed to bring hope and transformation to the families, communities, cities, and regions beyond….”
For the past few months God has been changing the lives of the young people. In 2 recent youth camps, (one in Leyte and one in Biliran Island) we made a sacrificial investment in sponsoring students so they could attend camp. It was worth sponsoring the young people because they came back with fire, focus, and freed from sin that entangled them. The youth is now growing spiritually and in quantity; and the Lord has put compassion in their hearts because they now have passion for God. They are now reaching out to the youth who are involved with drugs and other vices. We are blessed to see them changing and soul winning youth for Christ.
I want you to know that your partnership in the gospel ministry will not be in vain. One soul that came to know God is worth more then all the riches on earth. Thank-you for your help, prayer, and partnership with God and Eternal Life Ministries. The Lord reward you generously.” Love, Emie
Regarding my missions trip to Africa, I was able to minister in 30 meetings in my combined 34 days in Kenya and D.R. Congo. During the church services, crusades, seminars, conferences, and small leadership meetings---many people’s lives were touched in special ways by the Lord. I shared His word as led by the Holy Spirit and I received many positive testimonies from individuals about how God encouraged and blessed their lives during our meetings. As I shared from my heart some of the truths the Lord has given me over the past 17 years of missions work and because I was also blessed to have the prayer support of many people in the States, the Philippines, and other countries---God moved in special ways in most of these meetings. We praise & thank the Lord for this fruitful and positive mission’s trip to Africa. Many people would like to have me come back next year and they would also like me to bring Emie, but I shared with them it may be 2 years before we could come again. It depends on the Lord’s leading, timing, and provision.
On my scheduled return flight from Kenya to Thailand to the Philippines, as I went to the check in counter I found out that my flight had been canceled. I was uncertain how that was going to work out but I texted a message to Emie from Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” I also sent that scripture to myself and quoted it to the lady at the check in counter. After about 40 minutes a Kenyan airlines representative came to me with a whole new flight plan that went from Nairobi, Kenya to Dubai, United Arab Emirates and then to Manila, Philippines from there.
As I was filling out the forms to exit Kenya and to go to the boarding area I noticed 6 Muslim men in white robes, caps and beards who were also apparently going on the same flight. One of the older men with kind of a strange look in his eyes-when we were in the waiting area prior to boarding the plane---he was chanting some sort of prayer out loud and I was kind of hoping they did not have any unusual plans for the flight that night. When I boarded the plane my seatmate was a Pakistan military man who worked with a United Nations force in Congo and we became friends and had a long and good conversation about Christianity and the Muslim faith. His name is Jimi Kahn and he happened to make note of the 6 robed Muslim men and indicated they were simply very religious people and not dangerous. I found that reassuring as I later went to use the bathroom and one of the white robbed Muslim men was bowing down in the isle and chanting some prayer to Ala. It was an interesting flight and we got to Dubai just fine and after making the connecting flight, I arrived in Manila 3 hours earlier then if I would have been able to take the flight that had originally been scheduled via Thailand but had been canceled. [God worked it out for good.]
We continue to pray for all of you who receive this newsletter and believe God to bless, strengthen, and encourage you. Thanks again for your faithful partnership in helping us to share the gospel and lead new people to Jesus. In Christ’s love, Gordon & Emie
P.S. Please pray: That in this 18th year of ministry outreaches, God will grant us strength, wisdom, knowledge, fresh anointing, excellent health, abundant provision for all the works of the ministry, special protection, and all else needed to faithfully, effectively, and fruitfully serve the Lord and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Finances: We have need for some extra financial help at this time for the ministry outreaches. Please pray for the Lord to touch the hearts of a few people who have the ability and willingness to give special donations at this time. Also please pray and ask the Lord if He would have you give a special gift at this time. Thanks and God bless you always. [2 CO 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound towards you ,that you, always having sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”]
