November / December 2006

As Judy and I stood in church to be prayed over with the other missionaries of the church, on Sunday, October 22, we experienced such a refreshment to our souls as we were encouraged by the people who came forward, praying over us for protection, wisdom, and strength for the ministry. It is so exciting to stand with you and so many others who are part of this ministry, as we reach out to the nations to call men and women to Jesus - to tell the old, old story; to give relief, love, and hope to so many; to pray for, and preach to those in remote areas that are very rarely reached. What a blessing to be sent by such faithful supporters!

The four weeks I was home between trips were so very busy. Making plans, meeting some local needs, helping in all the ways we could, trying to get everything done before I left, and of course visiting our granddaughter in Michigan. She’s six months old now, and such a sweetheart.

On October 20 we went to Nashville, Tennessee where we attended the funeral of Dr. K.K. Mattox, a great soul-winning layman and retired dentist. Dr. Mattox was a dear friend, supporter and fellow missionary. He had taken 19 missionary trips where most of what he did and why he went was to pull teeth for those in need. I was privileged to be with him two times in Kenya. He is one of the most precious and holy men I have ever known. He will be missed in so many ways - his kind and encouraging words, his gentle way, his missionary heart, his love & prayers, his desire to give care to those who could never have received it - and now he has entered into his rich reward!

As you read this I am in India on the 15th trip I have taken to this land of such great need for the Gospel. I departed for this trip on Monday, October 23 and after several mix-ups because of delayed planes, I arrived a day late at my first stop, Nagpur, where my dear friend Shudi Bansod and his family live. Shudi is the head of L.E.A.D.S. ministry which I was a part of from it’s beginnings in the 1970’s. At that time I would go there and preach at youth conferences where so many gave their lives to the Lord, and became involved in the L.E.A.D.S. ministry programs. On this trip, I was again privileged to preach at youth conferences, and to my great delight, many of the attendees there were the sons of the young men who attended the youth conferences in the 70’s. What a blessing to see the fruit of work done so many years ago, as the second generation follows Jesus!

My second stop is in Dehra Dun, India at the New Theological College. This is my 5th year of going to the college where I am privileged to teach the students for a little over a week. Many of the students come from villages throughout India where they return after graduating from the college to minister and preach the gospel. This is not always an easy, or even a safe, task as there is so much opposition to the gospel throughout India.

Please be praying for me, as from Dehra Dun, which is in the northern part of India, I will then travel thru central India, the east coast, and then southern India visiting eight different cities, where I will preach in churches, pastor’s conferences, leprosy colony churches, denominational conventions, Bible schools and all kinds of small home churches. This is the eighth and final trip of this year, and it will be so very busy and demanding. India is always full of challenges to face, some risks to take, some unusual and unexpected doors to open. No matter what I face, I know God is faithful and I am trusting Him that “it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony” - Luke 21:13. I look forward to telling you great stories of how wonderful our Savior is and how effectual doors opened to preach here in India when I return.

I saw this wonderful Word in Zechariah 8:23… what a great testimony it will be when God is moving and people are seeing the Lord in and through us as we preach Jesus and live the Christ-like life!

“In those days 10 men out of every language of the nations shall take hold of the robe of him who is a Jew (a believer) saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Oh! that God would be with me, and that 10’s of 10’s would see Jesus and go with me, hear the Word, believe on Jesus, and come to know the True and Living God! What signs, wonders, miracles, blessing would follow, that joy and love, peace, grace and mercy would be experienced!

Believe God with me for a great harvest of such are the fields of India!

October 2006

“The Lord did not set His love upon you and choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the fewest of all people. But because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which he had sworn to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage.” - Deuteronomy 7:7-8

We know that when Moses penned the above verse in Deuteronomy God’s fullest intentions were for Israel to know of His love for them. It was not on their merit or muscle, but His great mercy, that He loved them. When I read this, I can’t help but think of the little villages I was in last month: in Rwanda - a Rhode Island-sized country of Africa, and in Burundi - a bit of a forsaken and forgotten Bethlehem, and in the Congo where there are some of the most impoverished and primitive untouched tribes of people in the world.

My first stop was the Congo, and what an experience it was, as there is a great hunger for the Lord in the area the Lord sent me to. We held a pastors conference which 100 pastors were invited to, but to our delight 300 pastors showed up! The Republic of Congo has been a dangerous place for so many years, and very few have gone in to minister to the people, let alone the pastors, so they came with great anticipation for encouragement, training, and fellowship. Many connections were made between these pastors and when the conference was ended they left with great confidence to continue to spread the gospel throughout the Congo. How exciting! And, while I was there, the Lord opened the door for me to preach on a radio ministry broadcast several times. During the first broadcast, while I was preaching, listeners began to phone in, in response to the prayers for salvation and healing, with many giving amazing testimonies of God’s miraculous power. It was quite amazing, and the same thing happened each time I was on the air. Later, I was asked if it were possible for me to have a regular radio broadcast in the Congo, so, we are praying about it, and seeking God’s will and direction for this possibility.

After the Congo, I went to Rwanda where the Lord had me preach three to four times a day in some very interesting places, including two pygmy villages. In the first one, near the base of Volcano Savienio, where the silverback gorillas are (and where many people from many countries go looking for the gorillas) the pygmies are so removed from all that is around them, because they never leave the security of their village. In fact most people who go to see the gorillas have no idea how close they are to the location of the pygmy tribes, and the pygmies are so much removed that they had never even known of, let alone seen, such a thing as a mazungu (white man). They were so intrigued by me, and were very eager to touch and pull on my hairy arms! They also were very open to the gospel and what a joy it was to see the chief of the tribe and 12 others give their hearts to Jesus. There was joy in the camp that day!

The next day we were headed to another pygmy Village in a different direction, and as we arrived there, the atmosphere seemed a bit dark. We soon found out that the pygmies were all Muslims and were not happy to see us in their village, so we decided we needed to leave, but first the pastor wanted to leave the food we had brought to the village for the people. I told him if he was going to leave the food then they would have to hear the gospel, so in the next ten minutes I got up and told them about Jesus, and how he died for them and wanted to be their Savior, and I prayed that their ears would be opened to the truth of the gospel. By now you could tell they were really upset, so we skedaddled out of there in a hurry! I just pray that some seeds were planted in that village that day.

The last week of my trip I had the privilege of going to Burundi where I was able to preach in several churches of various sizes; on the streets in front of store front; and on a smoldering garbage dump where families live and scavenge the dump for survival. On the dump we had four nights of open air crusades with many coming forward for salvation every night. Since I’ve been home I’ve received an e-mail saying the church has tripled its size since they have followed up on these decisions for Christ!

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

September 2006

In Acts 16, as Paul extends his next mission trip, seeking direction and confirmation, in a vision Christ gives him the OK to go a new direction - to Macedonia.

We all have come to doors in our lives, that no matter how important they look and how anxious we are to go in a new direction, God keeps the door closed. Which way to go? - then, suddenly there is light, with new direction, and the Holy Spirit guides us forward.

I have been praying for direction into an area I have knocked on many times to enter, but always not getting peace from the Lord to go. I have been invited four or five times to go into various areas of this country and each time hearing God again saying no. On the last trip I took to Rwanda, I was introduced to a pastor and Bible college founder from Bakavu, Congo (DRC). With this meeting I felt again the door could be opening, and after praying over the past couple of months, God has indeed opened the door and given us peace to put together a pastor’s conference in this area of the Congo, with anticipation of about 100 pastors attending! Praise God for his faithfulness to protect and to release! While I’m there we will also hold a crusade for the community, and the Lord has also opened up opportunities for me to preach on the local television and radio stations.

There has been much opposition and many challenges I have had to face in preparing for this trip. With talk of Northwest Airlines stewardess strikes, finding luggage large enough to fit the equipment I’m taking (a large fender sound system, a 5 Disc CD player, a Casio keyboard, 20 suits, 40 ties, two laptop computers, jewelry for the pastor’s wives, and several Bibles), the possibility of longer lines and delays at airports, and disturbances caused by recent elections in Congo and Burundi, I still know I am to take this trip, and am going on the light that I have that God has opened this new door. I will not have much interior flying on this trip, as I will be flying into Rwanda, and then driving into Burundi and Congo. With all the things I am taking, this tends to create some excitement and a great need to pray for safety and easy passage through Customs without any harassment or extra duty costs. Customs can be difficult, so we’re praying for favor and trusting the Lord to get everything through.

The one request I have this month is that you would please pray for safety and favor for me. By the time you get this letter I am already in Rwanda (I left Louisville on August 27), but I still have to travel into Burundi and Congo, and back into Rwanda. Pray also that the people will have open hearts to receive the Lord everywhere He allows me to present His precious Gospel. I will be returning on September 15, and look forward to giving a good report to all of you as we extend into this new area!

My time at home the past several weeks was filled with meeting with people, visiting family, speaking in classes at Church, and to many of you on the phone. Thank you so much for your support and prayers for this ministry. We pray the Lord blesses you abundantly in unusual ways as you help in reaching some of the uttermost places of the world for Him. You are so greatly appreciated!

August 2006

Getting the gospel out to the nations, both in the cities and the villages, has its challenges, but there is a must to get the Word out about Jesus! The cities and villages are so filled with people and problems. The masses of population that can cram into some of the poorest cities in the World is sometimes hard for us to imagine; and villages can be so far out, into the remotest of areas, sometimes almost impossible to reach. They are distant geographically, but also in their character. Many of these villages are separated from the cities for a reason. There are also communication problems, water and food shortages, health issues, and fear and suspicion. All these things can be hindrances to spreading the gospel. But once barriers are broken and trust is built, the people of these remote villages and impoverished cities have such open hearts to hear the Word. Getting the gospel to these places, sometimes for the first time, is such a privilege and there is no effective way to explain the feeling of joy and excitement, and even a little anxiousness as to how they will receive it. The most intimidating times are when witch doctors throw curses at us during the meetings, BUT God is far stronger than their curses and cannot stop the message of the gospel, as so very many give their lives to the Lord in full surrender!

While in Uganda in July, I went to one of these far out villages called Liwingi, which is five hours into the rural bush country. There on a little path - not for cars, but just bikes and foot - we stopped, set up our equipment and the singing, dancing, and preaching began. In last month’s newsletter I told you of how I had the privilege of taking one of the Fender sound systems, and a Casio keyboard with me. Well when these two were put together the music and preaching could be heard 2½ miles away, drawing over 1,000 people from every direction, most hearing the gospel for the first time, and most never seeing a “mazungu” (white person) before. So many gave their hearts to the Lord, and so many were in need of healing and help. Still after hours of preaching, praying and sharing, still more came forward surrendering their lives to Jesus! It was amazing how many young men gave their hearts to Jesus, bravely stepping forward for Christ. Most of these people are poor farmers, with so little gain in their lives, and with needs that are so great. But always, their first desire is for a Bible - a real treasure to them - and being able to give one to them is so exciting!

In Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya I was in many villages doing open air crusades in various places including on street corners in slums. What a great blessing to preach and worship openly in these depressed and impoverished conditions and see so many come rushing to hear the Good News of Jesus! Many who stumbled in with drunkenness walked out delivered and saved, while others who came sick, went away healed, and so many more who heard the gospel were wonderfully transformed and saved.

Although this was just a three week trip it was a very tiring trip as it was fast moving and I preached two to four times a day, traveling on dusty roads, and eating village foods, when not traveling between countries. But it was worth it, as so many lives were changed in those three weeks, and I was able to return to some of the villages I had preached in last year in Uganda & Rwanda, seeing and being encouraged that those who made decisions for Jesus last year were growing strongly in the Lord. Do you remember the 120 year old man in Rwanda I told you about in last October’s newsletter, that gave his life to the Lord? Well since then he has passed on to Glory, and as I thought of it, I was just so amazed that God had waited so patiently for him to hear the gospel and surrender to the Lord - even though it took 120 years. God is so faithful, so great and so merciful!

Thank you so much for your financial support, prayers, and material donations, without which very little could be done. Presently we have hundreds of books, Bibles, and reference materials on the way, by “M” mail, to Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, the Congo, Kenya, South Africa & India. They usually take about 5 months to arrive at their destination, and their arrival is greatly anticipated by the pastors, Bible schools and the children’s homes we work with. And although we have sent so many things out, there is still a need for more to send. We are also in need of one more portable keyboard, a video camera, a digital camera, and suits, shirts and ties. Your generosity has overwhelmed us, and we are so very grateful. Thank you for sending me.

July 2006

With summer in full swing, my time at home in May and June was quite busy, but oh so blessed! One of the highlights was being able to go to Detroit with Judy and Bobbie Bro to meet our new granddaughter, Grace. She was born on April 2, while I was in Malawi, so it was a priority to go up and see Barry and Dawn and little Gracie the first weekend I was back. What a blessing to be a Granddad to a precious little girl! While I was home we were also blessed to be able to work at Vacation Bible School with 5th graders, pray with people, tend to household things, visit several Sunday School classes each week, go to Bobbie’s baseball games, speak at church on a Wednesday night, and attend several milestone events, including two 50 Year Wedding Anniversaries, and the promotion of a dear friend, Mr. John Colbert, to Glory. Now, as you read this letter I am in Central Africa, in Uganda. I began this trip on Monday, June 26, and did not arrive at my first destination until Wednesday evening the 28th - two full days of continuous travel. I am presently in a remote village of people who have never seen a white man before, so I am somewhat of a mystery to them. They were told by my friend, Pastor Okello, that I was coming, and have prepared with much prayer and anticipation of seeing God move in the meetings. When I arrived they were already celebrating and worshipping!

I met Pastor Okello on my first trip to Uganda, last summer, and found him to be a very reliable man of God. He is Bishop of about 30 churches and highly esteemed in the area, and I’ve had the honor to work with him several times now. We are helping him with monthly support of $100.00 for the orphanage he oversees that is run by two widows in Tororo, Uganda. They have 300 kids that they feed and educate, and they do this from a house that is the size of a two-car garage, and it is in terrible shape. You may ask, “What can $100.00 do for 300 orphans?” Well, it will feed ALL of them and educate them too. That’s right, 43 cents a day can feed the whole bunch and the little left over (approx. 29 cents for each) is enough to get them in schools and places of education. I know that seems impossible, but it is true. This will be an ongoing monthly commitment, and we are grateful to those who help regularly with this project since we first mentioned it in the February newsletter.

As usual, when I left for this trip, I was loaded down with precious cargo to take with me that included one of the Fender sound systems, three VCRs, a large cassette duplicator, a portable keyboard, a brand new camcorder, two digital cameras, jewelry for the prison guards, and 15 suits, 15 shirts, and 30 ties! All of these things were donated specifically for this trip, praise God! Two of my bags were overweight, but again, God gave me favor with the airline personnel, and I did not have to pay extra for them. I did have to pay for a third bag I carried in, but the cost for that was donated also! Everything went well going through customs when I arrived in Uganda, except they did not want me to bring in the suits, shirts and ties! I had thought I may have trouble bringing in all the electronic equipment, and was surprised that the suits were an issue. In order for me to get them into the country, the man who had come to pick me up had to negotiate a price with the customs officials that would be acceptable to them. After a bit of going back and forth they finally agreed on a price, and although it was a bit more than I would have expected, once it was paid, we were free to leave the airport. Had I not promised suits to Pastors in Uganda and Rwanda I wouldn’t have paid so much, but I knew they were looking forward to receiving a suit, several for the first time in their lives, and it was important to have them with me.

I will be in Uganda until Monday, July 3, when I will head to Rwanda. While there I will be with pastors from Victory Churches of Rwanda, who have recently started a small Bible school, and are making plans to open an orphanage there also. We have recently been blessed to be able to send many mail bags full of Christian books, Bibles and school materials to help get the library started for the Bible school, thanks to so many of your donations of not just the books, but financial support that enables us to send the books, which is always a costly endeavor.

After Rwanda, I will be heading to Kenya on July 10 where I again will be ministering in the Kisumu area, and, have been told, will be meeting with the Vice President of Kenya regarding why Americans would want to dig wells for people in Kenyan prisons (people in prisons there are considered the lowest of the low, especially the ladies, and are treated more like animals than the human beings that they are). I also will be checking on the progress of Joshua’s well in the ladies’ prison, and another well being built in the men’s prison also. Each well costs about $2,500.00 to build to completion, and we are grateful for financial donations to be able to have these wells built for the people.

On July 17 I will begin my trip back home, so although this trip is shorter than usual, it will be very busy. Please remember to pray for me. The summer season in this area is extremely hot and humid with mosquitoes everywhere, and I will be in several areas where conditions will be primitive, with no electricity or running water, as I live amongst some of the poorest peoples in each of these countries.

Once again I want to thank all of you for your participation in Dave Walker Ministries, Intl. Your financial gifts have caused this ministry to reach into the far-off areas of Africa and India, to pastors, orphans, Bible schools, prisoners and so many who had never heard of Jesus! Your material donations have brought joy and blessed so many in so many ways, and your prayers have allowed me to be protected and to move freely wherever God has sent me. You are so greatly appreciated and I’m looking forward to coming back and reporting all the good things that God has done.

June 2006

Being in South Africa is always a privilege and a joy. While there I work with Joey Chetty in Johannesburg, and Stanley Moodley in Durban. They always keep me busy in so many different locations and situations, from the big city churches to the small village groups. I have also been privileged to help with starting churches in the townships and rural areas; pitching tents and doing crusades that last for weeks, and then starting a church out of those who came to the meetings and were born again!

On my last trip to South Africa, in April, I stayed in various suburbs and cities to work in local churches, holding several crusades, tent revivals, visiting door to door in villages, and even preaching in schools and factories. Anywhere to get the Good News out! Can you imagine preaching in factories?! But, that’s where we went; and preach we did! How exciting it was to see people who just came to work, like any other day, have their lives transformed by Jesus, in their work place, as they surrendered to him and were saved!

While there I was also able to help start another orphanage of about 100 children in a Zulu township. We have committed to paying for the food, clothes and education of the boys and girls, most who have been left orphans by AIDS and tuberculosis. Many of these children have AIDS because their mother had it before they were born. Life expectancy of those with AIDS in Africa is not much more than three years, so we are trying to do our best to make life livable for the children with this terrible disease. I don’t always set out to start, or help, an orphanage or Bible school, but seeing the great needs in the smaller countries of Rwanda, Uganda, Malawi, and some parts of South Africa, I can’t help but reach deeper into any resources I have to help, love and bring the Good News of Jesus to them.

Thank you for your help in so many ways. For reaching the unreached, touching the untouched, and loving the unloved. Through many of you, God has been providing such amazing things to take into these countries for the schools, churches and pastors. Thank you Eric Sullivan, of First Quality Music Store, and Steve Coffman, for the generous donations of two Fender portable sound systems! Can you imagine how many more people will get saved because of these sound systems as the Word of the Lord will carry farther into the crowds at the tent meetings and crusades?! Thanks to all of you who have donated Bibles, commentaries and other Bible resource books. In May, I was privileged to send 15 bags of “M” Mail containing over ¾ of a ton of materials for the Bible schools in India, Malawi, Kenya and Uganda. With “M” Mail the books don’t usually arrive for at least 5 months, but we are praying the books to Malawi will get there before the October graduation of the Bible students, as each graduate is to get a Bible and a resource book when they graduate.

We have also been blessed with computers and suits, shirts and ties for pastors, clothes, microphones, monies for digging Joshua’s well in the ladies prison in Kisumu, Kenya, and for food for the orphans in South Africa, and Uganda. In the near future we will be receiving choir robes to send to a church in Rwanda, and we have already sent hundreds of toys to an orphanage in Lotvia (old Russia) that were donated by the Carlisle’s and others. All of these generous material donations have met most of the material needs we had requested. Besides always being in need of Bibles and Christian books, right now the only material items we need are large duffle bag-type suitcases and a couple of portable Yamaha keyboards!

To all of you who have committed to support this ministry whether it be with fmances, prayers, or material items we are so grateful. Your help has blessed so many in places that have not been reached until now, and we pray God will abundantly return the blessing to you in miraculous ways for your generous support of this ministry.

May 2006

It truly is “more blessed to give than receive!” I wish you could have seen the faces of our Bible college students in Chitipa, Malawi light up when they received the suits, shirts and ties! They literally jumped for joy, and danced in jubilation to have their own set of clothes for ministry! The students consisted of 19 men and three ladies, and each piece of clothing they received fit them perfectly! It was amazing! Even the ladies dresses I received from Elaine Eggerling, in Arizona, and Miss Betty Fluhr, in Kentucky, fit the ladies wonderfully! After receiving the clothes they worshiped and praised God for hours. Never was there such joy in the camp!

As I wrote in my last newsletter, I also carried in two laptop computers, a VCR, and a cassette player for the students, and a set of wedding rings for Celeste Richard, who is a missionary in the area, and is being married to a gentleman there. All of these items were donated, and so greatly appreciated. Giving them to the people is always so exciting and fun as they are gratefully received with awe and joy.

Chitipa is a village in the extreme north comer of Malawi. To get there it takes 20 hours in the air, 14 hours on a cattle car truck, and a very long walk down a small path into the village, crossing a small deep river by foot, holding my suitcase over my head! There are no roads there, only paths through the village that are in between the corn crops. About 100,000 people live in this area in a cluster of villages. They are extremely remote from any city, and there is no electricity and very few comforts. But God is there!

The church has been in continual revival since last year and has grown to an enormous size, becoming a great influence in the area, and the meetings this year were even more powerful than last year. The church building was packed, with people all over the place, even in windows and doorways. We finally had to move outside, as the crowd was so large. The services lasted for hours and hours, only breaking for time to get something to eat and drink, and then continuing on for many more hours. I believe the key to the hunger of these people for the things of God is that they get up at 4:00 am every morning and pray, preparing for and expecting a great day in the Lord.

One of the amazing things about the people is the Lambian language they speak. It is an unwritten language and therefore there isn’t a Bible in their language, but yet, the people are so precious and so filled with the love of God and the Holy Spirit. In each service wonderful things happened, and God’s presence was so real. So many different miracles occurred; the lame walked, the blind could see, and there were healings in bodies from all sorts of diseases. Others came for freedom from devilish things of their past, and release from generational curses. One man came to break up the meeting. He had been known to harass and hurt Christians, BUT, he got too close to the presence of God, and got saved and delivered for the Glory of God!! Hallelujah!

One of our new projects will be supporting a new missionary in this area. She is an American girl from Maine who is here to teach in the Bible college and preach the gospel in the area. She has such a heart for the people. We will be supporting her monthly. We also have other projects to invest in in Malawi as follows:

• Bible college student support - $50.00 a year each
• Building a room for the school that will house 40 students - $5,000.00
• Providing a tent that will be used for church and crusade meetings - $1,000.00
• A generator for power for PA systems at the meetings - $500.00
• Mats for 30 students to sleep on as they are now sleeping on the floor - $300.00

If you feel led to participate in any of these extra projects, please designate on your contribution as to what project you want to help.

Presently, we are also collecting all sorts of Christian literature for a Bible college in Nigeria, and we have also decided to make a commitment to help build up a good Bible college library with Christian books, Bibles, reference materials (such as concordances and commentaries), preaching tapes and CD’s in Malawi. This Bible college is the only one in the north Malawi area, and we will also include teaching materials and Christian books for children. I am grateful for the large number of Bibles received this past month trom people back home. Thank you Charlie Thomas, C.J. Morgan, Paul & Judy Dewitt, Janet Samuels, and Pastor Frank Ciresi. They will all be put to good use!

We continue to always be in need of VCRs, DVD players, Bibles, suits, ties, shirts, sports coats, and finally, in order to get these things to the people, large lightweight suitcases or large duffle/hockey type bags. Thank you for considering donating any of these items, and thank you so much for participating in special projects, and upholding this ministry financially and with your prayers. Your help in all areas, including monthly support, has made this ministry effective to so many people in so many places. We are so grateful for your desire to be a part of this ministry, and could not do it without you.

April 2006

It was so nice, this past month, to be able to visit with so many of you, whether it was at Church, in a Sunday School class, at a small group meeting, at home, or while visiting in Phoenix. I need to thank all of the teachers of the Adult Sunday School classes I spoke in, for allowing me to take up their class time with their precious people, and also to Pastor Paul Farmer, and Pastor Joe Grochocki, for allowing me to speak at their churches while we were in the Phoenix area. We had a wonderful time in Phoenix, getting reacquainted with old mends, visiting with our two sons who still live there, and meeting and ministering to new acquaintances.

After returning ftom Arizona, we had just four days before I was off again to Africa. I left on Monday, March 27, with my first stop being Malawi, in the remote northern area of Chitipa. I will again have the honor of teaching and preaching to the wonderful people of the Langian language group. Although they do not have the Bible interpreted in their language yet, they are a precious group of people, and their churches are rapidly growing. This is the place where, last year, over 1,000 people came each night, crowding the church that was built for 300. I can’t imagine what will happen this time, but I know God will be glorified, and many many souls will be saved!

While in Malawi, I will also travel to the capital city of Lilongwe, to hold pastor conferences and crusade meetings. I have taken with me 20 suits, shirts & ties, and three sets of ladies’ clothes, along with two laptop computers, a VCR, and several study Bibles. With all those things, my suitcases were quite heavy, but, praise God, the airlines let me through again without paying extra for the additional weight of each suitcase! (The new limit per bag is 50 pounds, but mine were each 70 pounds or more!)

On April 10, I will be headed to Johannesburg, South Africa working at several churches in and around the area, and speaking at Christian Ministries International’s Annual Easter Conference. Then, on April 17, I will travel to Durban, South Africa, where I will be working with Faith Centre International Ministries, until April 30. In the past, I have had the privilege of starting several churches for Faith Centre in the Zulu areas, where I will visit again. After that, I will travel along the coast of South Africa, to Port Elizabeth, to hold several crusade meetings. This trip is not as long as some I have taken, but it will be a very busy schedule with a lot of travel to many different places. Please pray for me.

While I was home in March, we were busy planning and looking over the special projects this ministry is involved with. Each month we forward funds for these projects. I thought to list them, so you can see all that is being done.

1. In Tororo, Uganda, we are feeding 300 orphans and are starting some building plans for a better facility, in a better location, for them. Bishop Okello, a good friend of mine, and a very trustworthy man of God, watches over this project. All monies designated for this need have bought food (our first priority),and what is left each month is being saved to build the new facility.
2. In Kisumu, Kenya, we are lining up all that is needed to drill a well to provide fresh water at the Kisumu Ladies Prison. Presently their water is brought up from a dirty creek. Chaplain Washington is coordinating these efforts to bring it all together, and has located a company that will drill and build the well. Once everything is in place, it will take about three months to complete.
3. In Bujunibara, Burundi, we are supplying a school of 200 students with desks, school books, and supplies. Bishop Mukeni is the founder and superintendent of the school and the church on the campus. Buildings are still in need of floors, more desks, and more school supplies.
4. In India. we are supporting two new pastors at $25.00 a month each; Ashish and Sooraj. Ashish has already started a church for the local people, and there are about 40 - 45 people meeting on a regular basis already!
5. In South Afiica we have plans to help build an AIDS Clinic among the Zulu tribes; an area with one of the largest populations of people with AIDS in the world. Pastor Stanley Moodly will be working with us on this project. He is the pastor of Faith Centre International, and has several churches and health clinics.
6. In Ikepoma, Nigeria we are helping to equip a large church of 3,000 with a soundboard.
7. Last month we were blessed with a major contribution of a very large number of laptop computers. We will be taking these computers to various areas of Afiica and India where Pastors are in great need of them.

Sometimes you may think your financial gifts and/or material gifts are small and insignificant. But they are great in the Lord’s eyes, and in the hands of so many in Africa and India. I think of the finances that are sent regularly for this ministry to operate effectively, and the designated monies for the projects. Also, the wedding rings that were donated for me to take to a couple getting married in Malawi on this trip; the suits, shirts and ties for the pastors, that so many of you have donated; the two computers I am carrying with me to give to the pastors who can now study and communicate more efficiently; the VCRs and ministry tapes that have been taken and sent for teaching and training; and the Christian books, and Bibles that have been sent for Bible colleges, Christian schools, and for pastors who may have had only a New Testament, or no Bible at all. One special brother, at Valley View Church, Rick Samuels, was led by the Lord to gave me a brand new study Bible a couple of weeks ago to take to a pastor on this trip. Rick unexpectedly went to glory this past Sunday morning (March 26), leaving this one last gift for the ministry, to be given to another. It will be a great honor to place this Bible into the hands of a worthy pastor in Africa who will use it to tell the Good News of Jesus.

Thanks 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 part of this ministry, and could not do it without you.

March 2006

As I write this newsletter, I am enjoying a rest at home until the end of March when I will be headed to Malawi and several areas of South Aftica for six weeks. It’s always so good to be home with my family and to be able to fellowship with so many of you at church, sharing in Sunday school classes and special meetings, and just meeting in hallways. These times are very precious to me. Also this month, before I leave the country again, I will be going to Phoenix from March 14 - 22 to visit and speak at several churches and get reacquainted with so many of our friends there, a trip I always look forward to.

As I have traveled the past several years it is ever apparent to me that whatever the results that are needed for someone’s life, the key ingredient for success, blessings and fulfillment is the present reality of Jesus. When Jesus shows up, things happen; always good and always redemptive. The mark of a real meeting of God’s people with God is the presence of the Lord to meet needs and minister life. It’s always exciting to visit the places unfamiliar with Jesus and His power that changes and restores lives. To share the Word of Life, and then to see Jesus do things to transform and renew people is always beyond the description of words on paper. To see eyes brightened, bodies healed, hope restored, families rebuilt, churches revived, and most of all souls saved for the Kingdom of Heaven is amazing!

So many times I see what the devil has done in robbing people of their rightful place, physical health, mental soundness and to see countries that are wastelands. What a privilege it has been to carry the message of rebuilding the nations. In Chronicles 7:14 - “If my people who are called by My Name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins, and heal their land.” Something I have seen turn into reality in several places.

While in Kenya on my last trip, I visited as many as 50 schools and 20 churches - speaking, preaching and telling the story of Jesus. Places on the outskirts of Sondu and Kisii that were so high in the mountains, with many times the roads being so rough we had to get out and walk up the rest of the way to preach at the outpost schools, and local churches. While climbing up those rough roads, I thought of Isaiah 52:7 - “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings Good News, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation and says to Zion, Your God reigns.” Something I could never do without your support of this ministry.

In the last newsletter I wasn’t able to share a whole lot of the great things the Lord did in Kenya and then in Nigeria, so I’ll take the time to do that now. But first I wanted to say that I am indebted to my wife, Judy, for keeping you informed and up to date with things that are happening while I am away through the newsletter. We always hope that it will be an encouragement to you, seeing the direction of our ministry overseas and the great harvest God has given to us in places that are so often forgotten. Your support makes these trips possible and the projects a success. And your prayers are so effective battling the spiritual warfare I must face in many of these remote areas. I think of the witch doctors casting spells and curses just beyond the grounds where the crusade - planned and carried out by Roy Brunson of The World Light Ministries of Nashville, TN. - was held in Sondu, Kenya. As we preached, they were in our eyesight, down by a local river chanting and casting spells and curses into the air. I think also of several times evil men having bad intentions of trying to rob us or do us harm, but we were guarded and protected by God’s angels and His caring hands of refuge. We were safe and sound in His tender and protective custody.

Despite the efforts of the witch doctors, the crusade was a tremendous success with 80,000 in attendance and 2,000 pastors attending a pastor’s conference. So many souls have been saved and lives touched by these crusades, along with marvelous miracle that we witnessed in these meetings.

After spending two weeks in Kenya, I headed for Nigeria where the climate was extremely tropical and quite different from Kenya. Wow, was it ever hot and humid! The accommodations in Nigeria are a bit more primitive, most of the time without electricity and running water, and their foods are different too. One memorable meal I had was made of bitter herbs with goat meat and little tiny fish all mixed together to make a stew, and roasted poni worms that puffed up like marshmallows were a treat too!

While in Nigeria I preached in about eight different locations, making it a real road trip, covering parts of the southern and the northern areas of Nigeria. Most of the churches were really on fire for the Holy Spirit and very hungry for a fresh Word from God. One of the real distinctions of Nigeria is that there is a real move of God in the churches and amongst the people. There are many churches in the cities this way, and even though there are many signs of corruption in high places of government and commerce, the people are very open to the Gospel. The people I worked with were very giving and loving people and were always trying to make me more and more comfortable with the climate and the change of environment. I am sure you have seen in the news the political problems in Nigeria and the real concern for safety, but they always took good care of me.

With new projects of supporting orphans and sending books and Bibles to so many places, in setting up schools and Bible colleges, we thank you for each and every effort you make to help us in the continual challenge of giving help to those who need it. I would like to encourage those of you who have not supported this ministry yet to get involved! We are always in need of support for special projects, along with regular support to operate this ministry, and items such as suits, ties, shirts, large suitcases, Bibles, Christian books, Christian school materials, electronic equipment such as keyboards, microphones, and PA equipment. And this month I have a special request of a man’s wedding ring for a young lady who is a missionary in Tanzania (who I worked with last year) who is getting married there, and needs a wedding band for her new husband, but is unable to purchase one in the remote village where she lives. There are so many ways you can help, and I thank you ahead of time for assisting us in meeting these needs.

February 2006

As you read this newsletter, I am back in Africa again. My first stop was Tororo, Uganda, where I had been for a week last September. Over the past several months I had been putting together plans for a pastor’s conference and a training time for youth in the area when I returned. Because I would need help with the youth training there, a fine young pastor with a mission heart trom Nashville, Tennessee, Prophet Dwayne Lewis, accompanied me. For 10 days we ministered two or three times each morning to a crowd of 300 - 400, and than at open air crusades each evening. We would only stop to eat lunch with the native pastors. The people there are so precious and so hungry for the Word, and to see God move. Many souls were saved at the open air meetings where a stage was set up in the market place and the band would begin to play, as we sang and danced and then preached. What great and open-hearted crowds we had! The people in Uganda were very receptive, and after making decisions for Jesus, were coming to church services we preached at later in the week. God moved in miraculous ways, and there were many wonderful testimonies of stands of faith, with blessings and healings as the results, while others who were moved and encouraged by the preaching are stepping out in faith to obey God in their lives.

On this trip we were blessed to carry four very large duffle bag suitcases that were filled with suits, ties, and shirts for 35 Pastors who I have committed to work with. WOW! Were they ever blessed! Every one of them received a full set of clothes to minister in. It was a moment of tears and rejoicing for them, most never having had a full outfit. They were so pleased and proud of their blessing! I wish you could have seen them. Thanks to all of you who have sacrificed suits, ties, and shirts to this ministry. You have brought such joy to these pastors! I also had the privilege of bringing a computer and microphones to the host pastor, Geoffrey Okello, a dear friend and fellow laborer of Uganda. He is Bishop of about 30 churches and highly esteemed in the area, and I’ve had the honor to work with him several times now.

We also ministered to an orphanage that two widows have in Uganda. They have 300 kiddos that they feed and educate, and they do this from a house that is the size of a two-car garage, and it is in terrible shape. I have seen this condition over and over throughout Africa, but these folks grabbed my heart. I have committed to help this work. We are going to feed these precious and highly gifted children and two widows. I can feed ALL of them and educate them too for just $100.00 a month! That’s right, 43 cents a day can feed the whole bunch and the little left over (approx. 29 cents for each) is enough to get them in schools and places of education. I know that seems impossible, but it is true. This will be an ongoing monthly commitment, so I am hoping that some of you who have not yet been able to help, would be able to contribute to the orphanage’s needs. I am praying God will stir your hearts as He has stirred mine for these precious people.

After 10 days in Uganda we traveled by van and truck to Kenya, crossing the border with no problems. God has been so gracious to make all of our connections smooth and easy on this trip. In Kenya we prepared for a three day crusade that was held January 27 - 29. In the 12 days before the crusade we spent many days in schools and churches, preaching sometimes four to five times a day. We traveled up and down roads, and when we found them impassible, we would get out of the vehicle and walk to tell the people of Jesus, and the upcoming crusade. So many surrendered their lives to Him! Some of these places were so far back, and the roads so rough that our bodies would feel as though they were been battered as we traveled. One of these far off areas was Sondu, Kenya, which is just a place in the middle of nowhere with a roadside market and several thousand people living around it.

While in Kenya I also went back to the Kisumu Ladies Prison. The ladies there have sentences from 14 days to life, and others are condemned to death. When I was there a couple of months ago, there were 250 prisoners, but since then 100 were granted amnesty, many who had been misjudged, not judged at all, mistreated by husbands, or officers of the law, and some who were political prisoners, so now there are just 150 left, praise God! To get into the prison I had to bring gifts to the 54 lady guards - necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and pins - that several of the ladies at my home church gathered for me to bring. And to the prisoners, I passed out more cloth for prison uniforms, plus toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste that were donated for them too. What a sight of blessing and joy it was at the prison, as the officers and prisoners danced and worshiped the Lord! They allowed me in so easily, and let me take more pictures and a few short movies. While there I saw so many needs that can be met in the future, and some immediate needs too. There are 10 children of the prisoners in a ward where they live in terrible conditions, with no toys, blankets or anything,! My heart was so moved and I was prompted by the Lord to help, so I returned a few days later with a toy and a blanket for each of them. Those little innocent children were so amazed that Jesus cared.

The crusade meetings were held on schedule, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, all day and all night long, and the Lord moved mightily at all the meetings. So many people attended, and thousands and thousands were saved! There must have been 80,000 people there on the last night! Just amazing! Last year after the crusade many new churches were started from it, and now those churches are expanding even more for the glory of the Lord!

On Tuesday, January 31, I headed over to Nigeria where I will be until I return to Louisville on February 14. I have eight villages to visit in 10 days, so I know it will be a very busy time. I will give you more details about it in next month’s newsletter, but for now I would like to thank so many of you for making this trip possible. Thank you for sending me.

January 2006

As we finish a year of great events and crusades, and we look to a new and exciting year of expecting even greater opportunities and open doors, I thought to list the many occasions of support, projects and ministry that occurred to those in the countries you sent me to in 2005.

In 2005, I traveled overseas six times, going to 10 different countries speaking to dozens of different tribes throughout Africa and India. Most of the time God had me preach three to four times daily, and as many as 10 times a day on a few occasions. I stayed in so many different homes, huts, and hotels (most ranging in price from $5.00 - $12.00!). Most of the places had little accommodations with none more than a bed to sleep in and precious people to fellowship with. Thousands and thousands were led by the saving grace of the Lord Jesus to surrender their lives to Him, and thousands and thousands more were healed of all sorts of diseases and conditions, and delivered and set free to serve Jesus! What excitement the people of the villages had, to realize that God loved them, way out in the middle of a jungle, or in the slums of South Africa, or the grassy plains of Transcry, or the deplorable conditions of a Zimbabwean village. And then there were the students of Bible schools in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, India, and Zambia; so eager to learn everything about God and the Bible so they can take the message back to their own villages, many of them with risk to their own lives for daring to preach the gospel. And I can’t forget the faces of the women prisoners in Kenya when they received cloth for a new prison uniform, and how they were so overwhelmed that someone would care so much to clothe them and tell them about Jesus. So many tears, so many hearts softened to receive Jesus as their Savior. And the joy that was brought to the pastors who were clothed with a suit, a shirt and a tie - so many of them having never had a suit in their life!

Those are just a few of the ways DWMI touched so many last year. The following is a list of more things that were accomplished through this ministry in 2005:

• Tents were purchased to be used for church startups - 1 in India, and 2 in South Africa
• Many new churches were started especially after the Pastors Crusade in Kenya
• We were blessed to feed hundreds of orphans in South Africa, and clothe as many as we could too
• 100 beanie babies were given to orphans in India - most never having had a toy of their own
• Helped with the opening and set up of an orphanage in the Willie Mandella Slum Purchased generators for rural evangelists in India to be able to have electrical power for their meetings
• Supporting 4 Bible College students in Zimbabwe
• Supporting 2 Bible College students in India
• Gave over 100 suits and ties to Pastors in South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Rwanda, and Kenya
• 1.5 tons of Christian books, Bibles, & tapes mailed to several places in South Amca, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Burundi, Tanzania, India, Malawi, Uganda and Rwanda.
• Gave 100 T-shirts to Pastors at a Conference in Zimbabwe saying “Zimbabwe for Jesus”
• Purchased enough cloth to clothe 240 women inmates in a Kenyan Prison
• Gave clothes for Bible College Students in India, and Tanzania
• Gave Bibles to Pastors - most of whom only had the Gideon New Testament before receiving an entire Bible.
• Purchased books and desks for students at the new school in Burundi
• Gave a lap top computer to a church in India, and microphones to another church in India
• Gave VCR’s and tape recorders to churches in Uganda, and India
• Helped in bringing medicine to hospitals in Kenya
• Helped two short-term missionaries to Australia, and one full-time missionary in Malawi
• Purchased bicycles for transportation for pastors in Kenya
• Gave money for church equipment to churches in Zimbabwe, India and Zambia
• Helped with monies to a couple new works in America
• And most of all giving ourselves to love the unloved, touch the untouched and reach the unreached

None of these things would have been possible without the strong financial support and so many items given by so many of you. God’s grace and mercy and so many of your prayers (especially those in the middle of the night!) gave me safe travel throughout the 10 countries I was blessed to minister in. Words cannot express our thanks to each and every one of you who gave us monthly support, prayer support, suits, shirts, ties, baby clothes, microphones, tape recorders, VCRs, money for special projects, one time money gifts, books, bibles, computers, encouragement and love.

I thought of Paul’s words to Rome in Romans 15:13-21, as he celebrated both the rich harvest of ministry, and also the personal and sacrificial contributions of those who helped him. So also, Judy and I are so grateful as we look back upon this great year and look forward to another promising year on the mission field. Thank you for being such a big part of this ministry, thank you for sending me.