November / December 2008

One thing that marks this past trip more than any other was the number of people interceding for us. We couldn’t help but sense the fervency and the effectualness of so many prayers for us as we traveled into the northeastern districts of India. Words cannot express our appreciation for your sensitive hearts toward the Lord’s leading you to pray. We know, because of your lifting us up daily, a covering of protection was kept around us at all times. Even while we were in Orissa, there was always a sense of His presence and protection about us. We felt quite secure in all the places we ministered and each situation we were confronted with.

By now you are probably aware of the terrible situations in India these days. Besides the brutal attacks on Christians in Orissa in September and October, the events that unfolded in Mumbai on Nov 26 left over 200 dead and more than 300 wounded. This was the very place where Gary and I were just 36 hours before this tragedy unfolded. But God was so good to protect us everywhere we went! We did have a few confrontations with the police: twice while in the countryside we were stopped by police about our preaching, and once in Orissa where the only thing that kept us out of trouble, and possibly going to jail, was a bed sheet that was hung around a little gazebo we were sitting in. We were on one side of the sheet and the police, who were looking for us, were on the other (outside the gazebo), but they never saw us! When we were in Calcutta preaching in a church near the Bangladesh border, a Border Patrol Officer who was stationed there for security situations, stayed the entire time we preached listening to our sermons. When we were done and started to leave in the car, he stopped us, questioning our motive, but was gracious and allowed us to leave without any problem. And then, not having any idea what was about to unfold in Mumbai, there was the little Indian man in a suit who met us (as if he was expecting us) as we got off the bus at the Mumbai airport. He boldly ushered us through the massive crowd, past security, to the counter, and then handed us passes for the lounge, telling us to stay there until it was time for our flight. When we went to compensate and thank him, he was gone! Without your prayers, we know each of these situations could have been quite different!

While we were in Orissa we ministered to the 50 pastors we support there, and we also held a one day conference for almost 200 more pastors from the area. Despite all thy have been through, they are so eager to spread the gospel and to grow deeper in the Lord, even with their own lives in jeopardy. They are an amazing group of people. Oh!, that we would have all such strong hearts for Jesus as they do!

We also were privileged to minister to the orphans we help support in Shalom Orphanage in Semilguda. There, Gary and I danced and worshiped, and sang, and preached, and prayed. What a great time we had with those darling orphans. Thanks to so many of you, we had enough toys, baseball caps, dolls, cross necklaces and candy so that each of the 140 kids received one of each. You should have seen how overjoyed they were; it was written all over their faces! Thanks so much to all of you who donate these items for the orphans. Your generosity has brought joy to boys and girls who didn’t know there were people who cared so much.

In Calcutta—an enormous city—we ministered to pastors and then went off into the villages beyond the city. The openness of those we met was amazing, especially those in the jungle of Agarattala, part of the peninsula of India. The people of this remote village area are of Mongolian descent and we were the first westerners to travel into some of these remote places, and the first white people they had seen in person.

What a privilege it is to support pastors who take the gospel into these remote and challenging areas, working with men and women who put their lives on the line for Jesus every day. I was again overwhelmed with the presence of the Lord and the total commitment of these dear friends and fellow pastors. The fruit of salvation, healing and deliverance, along with signs and wonders, was present to confirm and demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit at work everywhere we went. Thank you so much for allowing us to get to these locations to support, to encourage, to preach, to pray and to see Jesus move among such soundly committed believers. Without your prayers and support, little would be accomplished. We appreciate you all so very much.

October 2008

We just returned from Kenya and Botswana and I must say that, even though it was just a two week trip, it seemed so much longer. It was most likely due to the fact that we had a lot of travel in between destinations at each location, and we also had some difficulties with the climate. Many of the villages we had to reach were in the desert areas, where it was very hot and dry - really dry! It’s amazing how important water can become.

In both places we were privileged to visit villages beyond the cities. But in both places in the villages, water was seldom available from the tap, so it had to be carried in daily from wells that were quite a distance away. Despite the inconvenience of no electricity, running water, or toilets (because of lack of water), we did quite well. After a few days we got used to the lack of ‘creature comforts,’ and blended in with the people easily.

While in Kenya we ministered to the village church pastors, and also at the little village church of Wengi. There we met nightly in a little wooden church building, where the Lord moved mightily! We also had the privilege of doing some ‘door knocking’ and visited a lot of houses to spend time sharing our hearts with folks who just needed some encouragement. Village life is hard and difficult - they really needed to know they are loved, and a personal visit to their home is a way to show them the personal love of Jesus.

When we finished in the villages, we traveled back to Nairobi where we ministered in the notoriously dangerous slum of “Mathere” with a population of over one million people. The conditions of this enormous slum are beyond description! It is known as the most dangerous slum in the world, and it is riddled with severe poverty, even though it is located right in the heart of Nairobi. It is run by brutal gangs, and so, while we were in the area it was necessary to have bodyguards. And there, in the midst of all the troubles and turmoil of this slum, are Pastor Peter and his wife, Mary, who have lived there for over 11 years having given up all they have to raise up a great church to minister to the poor and desperate people in the slum. It was such a blessing to witness their love for the people, and a privilege to minister with them in this area. It can be very rare to find a humble man (and his wife) in ministry in areas of Africa, but Pastor Peter and Mary are such an example of servants to the hopeless, sacrificing an easier life they could have, for a life among the people in such great need of Jesus in the slum. We plan on returning in 2009 to minister again with Pastor Peter and his wife, as well as visit other villages in Kenya.

After six days in Kenya, we traveled to Gabarone, Botswana to minister in the large village area of 50,000 people called Kanye. There we were able to work with a church of young followers of Christ led by Pastor Henry, and a pair of pastors - Pastor Happy and Pastor Fatima. They are on the cutting edge of ministry in the area of this village where people are surrendering to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and are filled with a hunger to grow. Because the need is so great, these pastors also have a large ministry to children and orphans. Why? Because in Botswana, AIDS is rampant. They say seven out of 10 people are infected. It is the worst ratio in the world, so there is a tremendous challenge of ministry with many children being orphaned daily. While we were there we visited a hospital and prayed with each patient, one-on-one, and were so blessed to see God move as some were totally healed and some were miraculously saved! There is always hope in Jesus!

Our next trip overseas is from November 9 - 25 to northern India. We will be ministering to orphans in Orissa state, and also to the pastors of the persecuted church there. Even as you read this letter the persecution continues as Hindus are attacking the homes and churches of pastors in this area. Several of the pastors I have worked with are ‘missing,’ and we are praying for their safety. We are also praying that the unrest will settle down, so we can safely go there and minister to the pastors. Our friend, Pastor I.D. Suna, is keeping us informed on the situation, and will let us know if it will be safe for us to go or not. Please pray for this situation to stop. The enemy is trying to wipe out the only Light in this area. Please stand with us in praying that the Lord will route the enemy and turn it for good,and that many more will surrender to Jesus.

September 2008

It’s always an “adventure” to go to India, so I want to thank all of you who prayed for us while we were on this past trip in Southern India. India is a great and growing work, but still under the grip of a strong religious-influenced government, causing Christianity to be a minority group that is often persecuted. Many Christians have suffered greatly at the hands of radical groups and prejudiced laws, but, praise the Lord!, the growing para-church of Christians, is multiplying – some say as many as 10,000 conversions daily! WOW!

As Gary and I traveled and preached in extreme areas of southern India, we saw great numbers of villagers, committing to and trusting in Jesus Christ. Although our trip was short, it had been prayed for for over a year by those organizing it and much planning went into it, which was evident, as the Lord moved so mightily, and so many were saved! We visited Gypsy Camps, and a church of slaves on a plantation, but, our biggest challenge was our venture into the secluded areas of the high mountains of the Coimbatore area.

We began this journey by driving four hours to the base of the remote mountains with Pastor Raj and Sam Domonic. From there, the only way to get to the remote village was by foot, so we began the three hour trek on a small path. Higher and higher we went, and narrower and narrower the path got, to the point where we had to cling to giant boulders and shuffle our feet sideways to continue on. One slip or misstep and it would be certain death into the depths of the gorges next to us. As we continued along this path, at one point we climbed up a boulder on a ladder made long ago of sticks tied together, overlooking another ravine. It was only by the grace of God that it held up, as it was so fragile and old. When we finally reached the end of the path, we entered a village of about 100 people, way up there, so far from all civilization.

Although they had never seen a white man before, somehow the people in the village had heard that we were coming, and they were glad to have us there, receiving the gifts we brought for them (clothes) and listened as we preached the gospel of Jesus. The response was wonderful as so many gave their lives to the Lord, and many were miraculously healed of tropical and natural diseases. Oh!, it was so exciting and well worth the treacherous journey! At one point we asked them why they lived there, so far away from everything, and in simple honesty they said they didn’t know exactly, but they thought that possibly their ancestors had gone there to get away from trouble. It was amazing to me that they have stayed there for all these generations, as the only food they have to eat is berries and honey, and they are so impoverished. But now they have Jesus, and He can change their situation to good!

Our journey back was just as adventurous, but again the Lord protected us and we made our way safely back to the city. Thanks to all of you who prayed for us! Your prayers are so powerful and we appreciate them!

Like most trips, we took things with us for the pastors who so diligently work to get us to places we can share the gospel. We weren’t over loaded this time, as India is a little tougher to get items in, but we were able to take a guitar for one of the pastors, a new computer to help start a business, toys and candies for the orphans, and money to support the pastors we work with there. If it weren’t for your financial and material donations, we wouldn’t be able to do this, so we thank you so very much for the sacrifices you make to help people on the other side of the world. The impact you have made on others, because of your giving, is amazing!

Many of you have donated money to build churches, and right now in Uganda, we have 14 churches built, and 12 more in the process of being built – mostly in the swamp areas. This is an amazing accomplishment, and we can’t thank you enough for your help! Others of you support pastors monthly in this area, and in India, and your gifts have literally changed these pastors’ lives!  And still more of you have supplied the funds to provide PA Systems, chairs, and monies to send Bibles. What a great and glorious thing you have done for the Kingdom of God! We are constantly getting reports of amazing revivals going on with great growth occurring as people are surrendering to Jesus! Many of the church buildings are stuffed full of people several days a week, and some are needing expansion just to get them in! This is a wonderful problem, and it’s all because of so many of you who have had a heart to touch the lives of people you may never meet. Words cannot express the gratitude of those you have touched, and our gratefulness for your commitment to this ministry’s work. Thank you for sending us.

July / August 2008

It was a great joy to return to Uganda, to be with our churches and friends who really know how to celebrate! Too many of us in the USA have lost the celebration in our lives, and especially in our worship, so it was good to be back with those who celebrate Jesus with unabandoned hearts!

Taking a team of three couples was a new adventure. Gary & Connie Burkett, Steven & Kattie Peercy, and Judy & I, were on a two-week adventure. What a great team! It was a real joy to serve with them. They never flinched at the difficulties of travel, the “interesting” foods, or the cultural and physical challenges. We started out at the Louisville airport with 16 large suitcases, six carry-ons, and six handbags, filled with over 200 dresses & scarves, 150 Bibles, 500 pens, two keyboards, two PA systems, two sewing machines, and material and notions to go with them, a computer, makeup, and over 50 pounds of jewelry! Most of these things were for the ladies who were going to be attending the first Ladies’ Conference at Liberty Church in Tororo, Uganda.

Our flights were good and when we arrived in Entebbe we were greeted by many of the pastors in the Entebbe area, who helped us get all of our luggage to the hotel. It was a great welcome! The next morning we were on our six hour journey to Tororo. For the girls and Steven, it was their first glimpse of Africa. The sights, the sounds, the roads, the people, there was so much to take in.

Friday morning was the first day of the ladies’ conference, and as we arrived we could hear the ladies singing and rejoicing as they worshipped. Because very few white men, let alone white ladies, come to these village areas, the ladies at the conference were overjoyed to see us. As each of our wives were introduced they gave them an enthusiastic welcome by running up to them and dancing all around them. It was overwhelming! The conference went well, the teachings were well received, and the ladies were encouraged to pursue a deeper relationship with the Lord. At the end of the conference, on Saturday, each lady received a dress, a scarf, a Bible, a cross necklace, and two pieces of jewelry. It was our desire to make sure they knew how special each and every one of them were to God and to us, and these items will always remind them of that.

With the conference over, we were then able to visit and preach in many of the 18 village churches built, or being built that so many of you have helped us with. As the churches have been built the people in the surrounding areas have come to see what’s going on, and as the congregation grows, several of these new churches have already had to add on! Each day we went to a different village and were met with enthusiastic crowds. They are so grateful for the funds so many of you have donated to support their pastor, and build their churches, and they want to be sure we thanked you.

We preached every day, many times, everyone contributing to the cause and God was always faithful to show Himself mighty in the crusades where many were saved, healed and delivered. One instance in particular, were two young men, who had been participating at the local open air tavern near where we were preaching, who, when they heard the call to give your life to Jesus, came running to the pastors to surrender their old lives for a new one in Jesus! Oh! how exciting it was to see the hunger in their eyes for a new chance at life!

We also visited several of the villages in the swamp that Gary and I have been to before, so we were able to talk to those who we had prayed for in the past year. Many testified of their continued faithful walk with Jesus and their healings. One in particular was a lady named Gracie who we prayed for 11 months ago to have a baby. She had been barren for 10 years, but now she is the very happy mother of a two-month old boy, but they had not named the baby because they were waiting for us to come back to their village so we could name him! What a privilege! The Holy Spirit told us to name him Promise.

All in all it was a really great trip, with so many experiences, and new places to go. We’ve committed to support nine more pastors, and to continue to help with the building of more churches. Thank you so much for being such a big part in all that this ministry does. Without you, very little could be accomplished; we are so very grateful.

Gary & I are heading to south India on Sunday, August 17 where we will be ministering in very remote areas and following paths over some mountains to go to an area that has never been reached with the gospel. Please be praying for us and those in this area to have hearts open to receive Jesus. We look forward to returning with good reports!

June 2008

When Manoah, the father of Sampson, got the prophetic word of the birth and purpose of Sampson from the Angel of the Lord, he asked for the name of God, and the answer came back to him: “It is beyond your understanding.” today, what we see of God when He moves in and intervenes in the lives of His people, most of the time, it can be best said - it is beyond our understanding and imagination; that is also the response of God in Ephesians 3:20 - He will answer our prayers above and beyond our asking and imagination.

So many times on our trips, as we heed the Word and pray in faith, we see God respond beyond our explaining. My mere words could never explain how great it has been nor can I explain away the way he moves - always leaving us amazed! So many nights, when I got back together with the others on my team on this last trip, we would say, “Did you see what Jesus did today?!”

What a busy time each member of my team - Gary Burkett, Wally Fluhr, and Doug Pope and myself - had while we were in Malawi! We traveled to three locations, staying at each almost a week, ministering all day, and then holding crusade meetings at night. Daily, Wally took care of the pastor conferences - ministering into the lives of over 225 pastors. He taught them and encouraged them for four hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon. I’ve already heard great reports back from many of the pastors who are implementing the teachings he equipped them with in the areas of achievement, evangelism, leadership methods, and enriching the Body with vision and direction. He was well prepared and very effective in translating these concepts to the pastors, so much so, that now many area churches in Malawi are better led and organized to reach the lost.

While Wally kept the pastors focused on future ministry, Gary and Doug and I ministered in the hospitals, spending hours going form bed to bed, in the halls, around the wards, praying for the sick, ministering to the oppressed and grieving, and preaching along the way. Anywhere there was a crowd, it became an opportunity to share the gospel. Hundreds were healed before our eyes, and so many more saved and delivered! Oh!, it was so exciting to see the Lord change the lives of so many! Then, in the early afternoon, after a brief rest, the three of us would go to the marketplace to preach. Man, marketplace preaching is so exciting, as you never know what will happen, and God was faithful, as at each location and every day, scores were saved, prayers were answered for healing, and many were delivered from strongholds in their lives. At one location, more than one hundred were delivered from powers of darkness, idol worship, and curses that had caused havoc in their lives. With idols destroyed and curses broken, homes and lives are now restored! Hallelujah! These were such powerful effective meetings! So great was the response in the marketplace that at last report, there are still daily meetings where we preached in the marketplace, so many still responding to the gospel, and surrendering their lives to Jesus! And the same is happening with those who were healed and set free at the hospitals; that still today, in Muzuzu, the people who were healed and restored from TB, Malaria, and AIDS, and their family and friends, are showing up daily outside the pastor’s home requesting discipleship so they can learn more about this Jesus who restored their lives back to them!

At the nightly crusade meetings hundreds from the village gathered. The meetings were powerful and lasted late into the night, and although there was hardly any light to see, God continued to work with signs and wonders as we preached the saving gospel message of Jesus Christ! Thank you for getting in the battlefield of prayer and intercession for us while we were there. We sensed your heart cry out for us to the Lord and saw His intervention daily in all of our meetings - so powerful, so full of wonder of our mighty God.

And thank you so much to all of your who have invested in this ministry. So many of you are supporting pastors, and the building of new churches in Uganda, Malawi, and India, and so many others are investing financially so we can get there. Words cannot express our thanks for all you have allowed us to do, and how so many lives have been, and will continue to be, changed because of your financial sacrifice. With all that happened in Malawi this past trip, we have more pastors to support, more churches to build and more people who are lost and need to be found. If you haven’t yet helped with the building of a new church, or monthly support for pastors it is just $300.00 - $500.00 to build a church, and $25.00 a month to support a pastor. The lives you touch when you help support a pastor, or build a church are unimaginable, and it is all for the glory of the Lord!

April 2008

This past month I had the privilege of ministering in the Ukraine, a part of the world I had not been to before. The first week there, I was greeted at the airport by a gentleman who didn’t speak English - in fact very few people speak English there at all, so I was very dependent on the interpreters, and was able to spend a lot of time alone with the Lord. As I arrived in Zaporizhya I noticed the starkness of the land and surroundings left over from the communist rule of the USSR. The area still holds a heaviness of oppression, and the stoic expressions of so many of the people show it, but praise the Lord!, several older people were gloriously saved that week, and their faces began to show a new countenance because of Jesus!

The second week I was in Kresnoamaisreisk where the Church I ministered in is interesting in many ways. Having come out of communism, the people of the church have faced great economic and political challenges. Also, this is a Messianic Church and it is the fastest growing church of its kind in this area as there are a great number of Jewish people still in this part of the world, and so many are turning to their Messiah, Jesus, and not only being saved, but being filled with the Spirit too. They are still very traditional, and they tend to hold in their emotions, but one night, after preaching for about an hour and a half, I announced we would take a break, and when my interpreter did not speak, I turned to him and saw that he was weeping as the Lord was breaking him! Then, as I looked at the crowd, they began to weep and break too! It was a glorious move of the Holy Spirit on these precious people! Afterwards, I called all of those who wanted to be prayed over to come forward, and after 2½ hours so many had been miraculously saved, healed and changed! As the prayer line was ending, I saw two, nearly 7 foot tall, big, tough men waiting for me. They were coal miners, and at first I was a bit intimidated, but, praise the Lord, I found out they had waited for the prayer line to end so they could talk to me privately, as they wanted to know more about Jesus! After they were gloriously saved, they were concerned about whether or not they would be able to keep their jobs as miners, because the men are so hard and tough, and they thought they may be beaten up if the other miners found out they had surrendered their lives to Jesus. After praying with them for protection and that the Lord would use them in a mighty way, they went on their way, completely changed, new creatures in Christ Jesus! Since I’ve been home, I’ve been praying for them and wondering how they were doing, and then just yesterday I got an e-mail from the interpreter and he said the two miners have taken the Youth Pastors of the Church to the mines to explain what the Lord had done in their lives, and that they can be saved too, and a real revival is breaking out amongst the miners!  HALLELUJAH! Our God is so great and mighty and even the toughest souls can be changed by Him! Needless to say, this trip to the Ukraine was full of the wonders of our Mighty God!

As I finish this newsletter it is so important that I thank so many of you who have a burden for the persecuted pastors in India, and the need to help support them monthly, and help rebuild their churches that were burned down by the High Hindu Guard. The response to this need has been amazing, and we are so thankful for your hearts to minister to those whose lives are on the line everyday because they spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are putting together a list of the pastors so you will know their names and faces and can pray for them too. Thank you for your continued support for these precious pastors, and their congregations! We also want to thank those of you who have a burden for the Pastors and people of the swamps of Uganda. Thank you for your monthly support for these pastors, and the monies to help build churches in that area too. As this is being written, 8 churches are completed and there are 4 more under construction with 8 more in the planning stage. Hunger for the Lord is growing so much in these areas that we have been asked to conduct a Ladies Conference this year in Torroro, something that has never been done before in this area, as the pastors and men are the ones who are ministered to more often. This is something new and we are excited about putting it together!  So, Gary & Connie Burkett, Steven & Kattie Peercy and Judy and I will be traveling to Uganda at the end of July to hold this Ladies Conference, and we will also be ministering to the churches in the swamps. Thank you so much for your prayers and support for this area. The Lord is moving mightily amongst the churches we support in both India and Uganda, and we are so thankful for your help! There are still pastors to support in both places and more churches to be built, so if you haven’t already gotten involved in this way, you still can. Thank you so much for your commitment to supporting DWMI whether it is financial, material or prayer support. We appreciate you all so very much, and without you, little would get done. Thank you for sending me.

March 2008

What a discovery I made last month! I discovered that February is February in all parts of the Northern Hemisphere, because, no matter if you are in America or in India, it is cold, and especially so in the foothills of the Himalayas!

After traveling 2 days in flight and then having a layover, and a 6 hour train ride, I arrived at Dehra Dun, India. There the New Theological College is home to some 300 Bible College students and professors. It is one of the finest Bible Schools in all of India and even in the World. They put me right to work after arriving, speaking two times in the afternoon and then again at the Chapel in the evening. I was blessed to be able to share, preach and teach daily 4 - 5 times, to students who are preparing to graduate and then go back to their home areas to start Churches and preach. Many of these students are from Northern India where it is very difficult to be a Christian, let alone a preacher of the Word, as persecution and opposition run high.

While in Dehra Dun, I also preached at the church of one of the former students of the College who is now a preacher in Nallipani, who we support monthly. His Church is a village Church, mostly attended by lepers and suffering people. But, oh what a wonderful fellowship of believers and precious souls! I have had the privilege of preaching here several times before, and it’s always an experience that is hard to explain as these precious souls, most outcasts from their society, worship and praise the Lord, and attentively listening to the Word of God with such open hearts. It is always a humbling experience to be amongst them.

After about 10 days in Dehra Dun in the cold weather, but where hearts were so warm, I traveled to Northeast India to the Orissa area. There I joined Pastor I.D. Suna and Sindu Pani in ministering to 300 plus Pastors and Leaders, at a Pastor’s Conference, fifty of whom are Pastors of the Persecuted Churches of India. Orissa is an area where there is great suffering and persecution of Christians as the High Hindu Royal Guard is determined to stop and eliminate them. You may have seen on the news or in your local paper something about persecution in this area of India, but the reports are far from what is really happening there.  Hundreds of Christians have been killed for their faith; Churches and homes of Christians have been burned down; and those that are left are scattered throughout the forests praying for protection and a way to survive. You may remember, but this is the same area where the missionary and his sons were killed about 10 years ago. 

One of the reasons there is so much persecution going on in this area is because the Lord has been moving and there have been great revivals in the Orissa area, with many turning from Hinduism and other false religions, to the Lord Jesus Christ. This has angered the Hindus and they have taken drastic measures to stop this move of God, as described above. Many Christians have been stabbed, shot, and even stoned to death, while others are put out of their homes, including children, some of whom have come to Pastor Suna’s orphanage to have a place to live. Even family members are attacking family members who have left the Hindu faith, and have surrendered to Jesus, causing unsightly wounds, in many cases, as warning to others who may consider giving their lives to Jesus. One lady I met had been stabbed numerous times, and then had her lips cut off, all by her own mother, because she had become a Christian. Her appearance is startling, as she cannot close her mouth, but she is still loves the Lord with all her heart, and is just one example of the persecution taking place in the Orissa area of India today.

After meeting and ministering to these Pastors of the Persecuted Church, the Lord told me we need to help support and join hands with these pastors and their families as they reach out to these hard, mostly Hindu, communities in Northern India, and share their burden. I have never seen such commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ with a hunger to serve Him, despite the circumstances that wait these Pastors outside the door. It is our hope to support at least 25 of these young pastors who love the Lord, and are willing to do whatever it takes to spread the Gospel, as they gather their people back together and prepare to go back to the same areas they were run out of, to minister again, despite the great threat of bodily harm and even death. You may ask, why would we want to help in this dire, almost hopeless looking situation, but I would ask you, isn’t it right that we should care about our brothers and sisters in the Lord, who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus, as it’s only by the Grace of God that we haven’t experienced that degree of persecution in our country? In order to support them, we will need the help of at least 25 new commitments and/or supporters, of just $25.00 per month, or a one time commitment of $300.00 for the support of one of the Pastors and his family for a year. All monies collected and designated for Pastor’s support will go through my dear friend, Pastor I.D. Suna, one of the most humble, honest and trustworthy men I know, who will then distribute it to the individual Pastors.

In the meantime, please be praying for the Persecuted Church in Orissa for protection, and boldness in the continued spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Glory of God!

February 2008

What a way to start the new year! Last November the Lord spoke to my heart that in 2008 we needed to push further back into unreached areas, and I heard him say “find the unfound”. Our trip in January was one such trip where we pushed a bit deeper into the swamps, outside Tororo, Uganda, to reach as many people as we could. I took along with me Gary Burkett and Chris VanMeter of Louisville, and Prophet Lewis and Evangelist Nelson Chambliss from the Nashville Tennessee area, and, Oh!, how the Lord was with us!

As we arrived in Uganda we found such a great anticipation of moving forward with our co-worker there, Pastor Okello. One of the first things we did was purchase the long awaited vehicle for Pastor Okello, and what a blessing it was! Now we were free to travel without having to pay $100.00 a day for transportation, and we are able to minister to so many more places. And, because of the new van, Pastor Okello is able to reach the churches that he oversees much easier and more regularly too. What rejoicing and gratefulness there was over the van!

Our first meetings were in Entebbe were we held a Crusade Meeting and then a Pastor’s Conference, so many hearts, so willing to hear the Word, with a desire to live strongly for the Lord, attended these meetings, and how grateful the pastors were as we passed out new Bibles, and a suit and ties for each of them. Our next stop was 5 hours away in Tororo where we all preached and ministered to the people there for several days, and we also ministered to those in the churches around the swamp, outside of Tororo. Our next destination was to the churches deeper in the swamp that are only assessable by canoe, which is quite an experience!

While in the swamps, we were blessed to preach in one of the new churches that was built with the monies several of you donated for that purpose, and we were happy to find out that two more are under construction. One of the highlights in the swamp area was when one of the churches asked Gary to baptize their new believers. He baptized 66 people in the swamp water that day, with Chris assisting. What a great and wonderful event!

We were very pleased with the progress of the churches in those areas. This year, we are hoping to build at least 6 more with a completed cost of $300 to $500 each. We thank those of you who collected money last year for churches to be built, and hope more of you will want to help in the same way this year, knowing that these new church buildings will make a great difference in the lives of the people who live in this very poor area of Uganda, as the Gospel is proclaimed.

As you read this, I am in Dehru Dun, India at the New Theological College where I am teaching 4 - 5 times a day. It is always a great pleasure to teach the students who, after they graduate, will go back to their home villages and cities to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, at great risk to themselves, as persecution is great for Christian in many parts of India. Many will be laying their lives on the line for Jesus.

Later in the week, I will be headed for Oressa, another place where the Gospel is a challenge to share. My dear friend, Pastor I.D. Suna has made much progress there where he oversees over 100 small churches and an orphanage with over 100 children. I will be preaching in many of those churches, and I have brought with me a huge duffle bag full of small stuffed animals to give one to each orphan. Most of these children have been abandoned and have no material possessions at all. One little stuffed animal and stories about a Savior who loves them, will brighten up their lives, and give them a hope and a future.

Thanks so much to all of you who have made this ministry effective by your encouragement, prayers, financial and material support. We are so grateful for your desire to be a part of DWMI, and could not do it without you. Thank you for sending me.

January 2008

What a year 2007 was! Having made 10 trips, I was ever amazed to see so many different tribes and language groups respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 2007. The year was packed with so many meetings where the Holy Spirit came and ministered to the multitudes, and the few, no matter what their background. Oh!, what joy it was to see so many surrender their lives to the Lord with weeping and repentance, and witnessing miraculous healings just about everywhere we went was amazing!

The Lord also allowed us to cross into areas where there were barriers, both politically and religiously; we have gone to some countries that had very few roads, where we had to walk many miles on straight paths and up steep hills; and we found ourselves at some places where it seemed to be an intersection for great numbers of people to come and hear about Jesus. And, because of your donations, we were privileged to provide seven village church choirs with choir robes, and watched them rejoice as they put them on with joy and jubilation; we carried in five Fender PA systems to remote areas that have been changed by the sound of the Word being heard over the open plains and drawing crowds of people to the meetings, who would not have heard about Jesus without the projected sound; we have literally clothed hundreds of preachers with a complete set of suit, shirt and tie; something they had only hoped to someday have, and supplied Bibles to remote village Pastors and Bible School students, along with concordances for graduating students. We also carried in keyboards, laptop computers, cameras, DVD players, VCRs, video cameras, Sunday School materials and worship materials; and we sent Children’s school material and books, and thousands of Bibles, and when the postage rates went up, and it became too expensive to send them, we carried them in. The gratefulness of those who received these items was so expressive as they danced and sang and thank God for providing their needs!

With your generous financial donations we have also been able to support monthly fifty pastors and teachers for $25.00 a month, and we also support nineteen Bible Schools for $75.00 a month. We also have bought meeting tents that are now being using in villages prior to building a church building, and when a request went out in October regarding the desperate need for churches to be built in Burundi, Malawi, and the swamps of Uganda, the response was so great that there are now three churches completed, two under construction, several roofs of existing churches repaired, and plans to build 8 more!

Your generous contributions, and much coveted prayers have overwhelmed us. So very much was accomplished, and the Kingdom of God was expanded because of your desire to be a part of this ministry. Words cannot express our appreciation for all of you who so generously supported us in 2007. Thank you so much.

And, as 2008 has now begun, as you read this, I am in Uganda with Gary Burkett, Chris VanMeter, Prophet Dewayne Lewis, and Evangelist Nelson Chambliss. Our trip started out at the airport with fifteen large overweight bags – three for each of us to carry. After much deliberation, the people at the counter decided that only 11 would be allowed, and we would have to pay for the other 4, as the normal limit is 2 unless you are a very frequent flyer. The cost of $150.00 each was unexpected, but we were thankful for all the other times we had been allowed to take extra bags at no cost.

Our first stop will be in Entebbe where we will hold Crusade Meetings and a Pastor’s Conference in the city. You may remember that in March of 2007 we had a need to purchase a vehicle in Uganda for Pastor Okello, as hiring a car cost at least $100.00 a day when we are there. Several of you responded for this need, and it was just recently that a wonderful gift was provided for the complete purchase of the vehicle, and while we are in the city, we will be helping him with that too.

On Friday, the 11th, we will head for the village of Tororo for a couple of days, where we will hold more meetings, and a Pastor’s Conference, then, we will spend the last part of this trip pushing into the swamps a little further where we will hold several Crusade meetings, and a specific meeting for the Pastors of the churches in the swamp, to encourage them and provide for each of them a suit, tie and shirt, and a Preacher Bible. We are also taking choir robes and two PA systems, so please be praying for us as the canoe is small to transport us and all these things! When we return we will have many stories to tell of how God moved in His great and mighty ways. Thank you so much once again!