Dear Friends,
Warm greetings once again to each of you, Emie and I pray that the Lord will greatly bless and encourage you in all areas of your life, family, ministries, and faithful service to Him. Jude 1:1b-2 “To: Christians everywhere---beloved of God and chosen by Him. May you be given more and more of God’s kindness, peace, and Love.”
We hope you have a nice Thanksgiving Holiday and pray that the Lord will continue to reach out to all your family and friends. Emie and I will be celebrating Thanksgiving with two other missionary couples later this afternoon and we are looking forward to that. When we count our blessings and consider the incredible Love of God---we all have very much to be Thankful to God for.
We are continuing to reach out to the youth. Here at the astrodome meeting area, Emie and I spoke to the 20 new young people who had been shared the gospel by our youth leaders. They gave their lives to Christ and some of our ministry team members are continuing to teach and help encourage them in their new faith in Jesus.
The apostle Paul in I Timothy 4:12 >“Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” We find and honor and blessing to be able to reach out to these young people. They have enthusiasm and a lot of energy in their prayers, praise, worship, and service to the Lord. They are the future of the church and we will continue to do our best to reach them and people of all ages---with the Good News---the Gospel of Jesus Christ. { Acts 1:8} Jesus also had some important advice to all of us in regards to Children. In Mark 10:13-16:
Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. We continue to also reach out to the children in the churches the Lord has led us to establish and other outreaches in the community. And of course there is the responsibility we all have to our children and/or grandchildren. We are to do our best to teach them to love and serve the Lord.
WE RECENTLY HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR OUR YOUNGEST GOD GIVEN DAUGHTER NOREEN.
Noreen was really happy and enjoyed her 2nd Birthday celebration. It is a blessing as well as a real challenge to do a good job in raising children as any parent can testify. All of us can pray for each other in regards to God granting us each wisdom, insight, and strength, and plenty of love to help us be a blessing to our kids.
Emie and I would like to thank all of you for your prayers for us and our children. “Whoever in My name and for My sake accepts and receives and welcomes one such child also accepts and receives and welcomes Me; and whoever so receives Me receives not only Me but
Nov. 26th---Yesterday at our 2 youth meetings at the Astrodome they had a total of 107 youth attended. In the early afternoon meeting there were 60 attending that 1:30-4:30 and 47 the evening meeting. The 1st group are mostly new people who our youth leaders are evangelizing. We do not have enough room for all the youth to meet together at one time.
Three Sundays ago Emie and I traveled the 3&1/2 hour trip to Calbayog, Samar-- where she was the guest speaker for the church anniversary of a pastor friend and I spoke to our Eternal Life Ministries Church there. They were encouraged and it was a good time of fellowship with the people there.
The following Tuesday, Nov. 13th, Emie joined a national prayer team who were traveling by bus for 5 days to different parts of Leyte and Samar. On the 2nd day of travel the bus they were using was breaking down and they had to change for a while to a Jeepney and it had no shock absorbers to speak of and as a result Emie’s back was hurt. When they returned to Tacloban mid-trip Emie had to stop traveling and she could walk but needed help. Then her back went out completely and she could not get out of bed for 48 hours. We prayed a lot, and she took prescribed medication for pain and muscle relaxing, but the medicine was not helping much. Finally after 2 days and much more intense prayer---she could get out of bed and began getting better. As of this time she is okay. We thank the Lord for restoring her.
Two days ago we had a 10 A.M. ministry outreach to children in one of the villages on the outskirts of Tacloban. The team shared the gospel and gave the children some home cooked Philippine snacks. Next Saturday we will hold the outreach later in the afternoon so more of the parents can attend as well. This is a poorer neighborhood and they appreciate our ministry there.
Today I sent money to help a poor elderly lady named Josepa Machado. Most people call her Nanay-( grandmother). She is in her 80’s and worked for many years for a ministry in Samar with their Sunday school. She still has an amazing burden for children. She needs prayer for healing as I just got word she is bedridden as of now. Due to the help of one donor, we are able to send her some monthly assistance.
Emie & I would like to once again express our heartfelt THANKS to you for your prayers, encouragement, and financial investments which combined are a very important help to us in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and see many people of all ages get saved. God bless you greatly.
In His Love, Gordon & Emie P.S. PLEASE PRAY FOR US: for wisdom, health, protection, provision, strength, and very fruitful ministries. Finances: for the Lord to continue to touch the hearts of willing & faithful partners to help us win souls.
