1000
young people receive God's touch in Indonesia
There was dancing and
overflowing joy, as we praised our Lord together, and almost everyone
ran for the altar call, with tears and a new commitment to follow Him
in this 4 hour meeting. In the morning we had almost 200 students aged
13-15 also receiving God's touch. We couldn't believe what God has
done to these youngsters, so touching and beautiful. And today we had
300 youth leaders trained on holiness and God's fire. Now Jesus is so
real for them, and our goal is fulfilled.
Name removed for security reasons.
§ Indonesia is one of the world's most populous Islamic nations and
some Christian believers have had a very hard time over the years,
which makes reports like this all the more exciting. There is a move
of God amongst the young and the students, everyone is talking about
it. We at DCI are honoured to be part of what is happening there.
Les and Pilar
One very special day in Liberia
Recently we had the first graduation of the Liberia School of Mission.
We invited 6 pastors, 8 turned up, we invited 6 men of God, 12 turned
up, we invited 10 churches with 380 people, 13 churches showed up with
565 people but all ate and food was left over. The Lord provided. Many
pastors are asking us for training in their areas. Then the ladies
received their Banking for the Poor loans, all of them expressed their
best appreciation to the DCI family. Here are some photos of the women
in their markets. Thanks a million again for this high level of trust,
we hope to justify same.
Pastor John Duco, Monrovia, Liberia
§ After all the years of diamond driven civil war Liberia is becoming
stable and secure again. Pastor John now has his hands full trying to
handle all the requests for preaching, teaching, training and economic
empowerment that are coming his way. The Lord has a big heart for the
poor and we are happy that He has put us together with this good man
and his family.
Les and Pilar
Amazing time with Zimbabwe orphans
We were looked after like royalty and people shared their time,
thoughts and homes with us. It was a life changing experience and we
were sad to leave. Thank you so much for the money to bless the
orphans, we bought school uniforms, shoes and groceries in bulk. We
are both looking forward to seeing how we can assist them with the
self sustaining projects which they so capably run.
Anna and Loulou, Nottingham, UK.
§ This was a first visit to see first-hand what is happening in
Zimbabwe. There is clearly a great opportunity here with men and women
of integrity to start training leaders, to start community and
micro-industry, and to help the orphans. The atmosphere in Zimbabwe
was peaceful, people are happy, except with the prices that rise daily
with inflation running at 2000% pa. Obviously local polictics is a red
hot area and best left alone.
Les and Pilar
The people of Picapiedras are poor,
so much so that they often have nothing to eat
A lady, Janet, invited us to have lunch with her at her house. She is
a mother of four but her husband has abandoned them. The house was
meticulously clean although there was no furniture, not even a chair,
just two beds and a table with a bottle of fizzy drink and 2 paper
cups on it. One of her children served the lemonade to my wife, my
daughter and me and that was the meal. It turns out that they never
cook, they have no pots or pans. Whatever money they had was spent to
treat us with the lemonade. Can there be more love than this? How do
you give thanks when you realize what has happened? Les, sometimes
love is too painful, it goes beyond anything you can expect. The Lord
has given me many a moment like this in Picapiedras village.
Juan Campos Ballesteros, taxi driver in Lima,
Peru.
§ As Juan says, it is painful to see women and children abandoned in
poverty, but with the help of our God of love and compassion and His
love coming through people like Juan, the taxi driver, the poor have
hope. The move of God that started with Juan's visits to Picapiedras
goes on . . .
Les and Pilar
New church doubles from morning to evening on
first day. .
We met in the morning for worship in front of my house with
nine people but by the evening worship time we were sixteen.
Pastor Moses, Lilongwe, Malawi.
§ Thank God for African faith. Moses only moved there five days
earlier. Over here in the UK it might take a year, even years, of
talking before we got round to planting a new church. Let's learn from
Africa.
Les
DCI Free School of Mission starts in Ivory
Coast
I have had 3 years of theological training but I have to
admit that the simple methods that you put forward in the School of
Mission are a true blessing for me and the 11 students. We made a
start 2 months ago and we meet twice a week outside my house. News is
spreading by word of mouth and people from other churches want to come
as well.
Pasteur Mah Albert Malachie, Danane, Cote
D'Ivoire.
§ Training for leadership in church and missions doesn't have to be
for the privileged few, and it doesn't have to cost a lot of money.
With these free materials, a Bible, an anointed teacher and somewhere
to sit and learn many new pastors, evangelists and businessmen for
mission can be raised up. This move of God is happening all over the
world.
Les.
I am living in Saudi Arabia for over 20 years
. .
With too much racism, oppression, harsh conditions,
injustice and lack of freedom. I want to leave or rather I want to
commit suicide. I want to see light that I always dreamed of, I want a
new life, I want to live a happy life.
Name removed for courtesy, via this
website.
§ Dear friend, I am sorry to read about your hardships and sufferings
and I am sorry that we do not have any way to help you leave the
country but we will always read what you write and pray for you in
Jesus' name because in Jesus there is always hope and a way forward.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy
burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach
you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest
for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you
is light.” You can find this word of hope in Matthew 11.28 in the
Bible. With our love and a hand of friendship, write again.
Les Norman.
Next Nigeria School of Mission starts . .
I want to know if there are some of the rules of your
organisation that are not in the Leader's Manual because I don't want
to braek any of your principles. Thanks very much for your good
direction.
Evang. Samuel A.E. Nwadigo.
§ Dear Brother Samuel, Apart from the good advice and experience in
the Leader's Manual the only rule book we have is the Bible. Follow
the word of God and you will not go wrong in life or in ministry, this
has been our testimony for 30 years. See how Jesus loved and cared for
His disciples and if you are wise you will do the same for your
students. "If you will be a servant to this people, be considerate of
their needs and respond with compassion, work things out with them,
they'll end up doing anything for you." That's 1 Kings 12:7 (The
Message) Onwards for Jesus, please stay in touch.
Les.
Bad news, sad news and opportunities . . .
Dear Les, hope you are doing fine. Over here our two year
old car was stolen at night and the police cannot find it. This comes
as we plan to open 13 more Mercy Homes in Andhra, Orissa, Chattisghat
and Tamilnadu. Kids there are sold for $12 to $15 each. We are
planning to give 100 sewing machines to 100 women for self employment
and by June we have to send 500 Mercy Home kids and 100 slum kids to
school with uniforms and school books. There are 40,000,000 kids in
the streets of India abandoned by their families. We need your prayers
to do all this.
Pastor Daniel, Kerala.
http://www.mercyhomes.org
§ Dear Daniel, This car theft is very bad news for a man like you
who has to travel far and wide all the time. When something similar
happened to me many years ago, the Lord gave me a promise from the
curses of the Law in Deuteronomy 28.31, yes - from the curses, saying:
"Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will eat
none of it. Your donkey will be forcibly taken from you and will not
be returned."
I
said, "Lord, if my donkey is forcibly taken from me it is a
curse for disobedience but I am neither wilfully disobedient nor
am I under the curse of the law because Christ has taken all those
curses for me and on the Cross He exchanged them for blessings if
I am obedient to Him. Therefore I claim the return of my donkey
in Jesus' name." Daniel, I had another donkey within a matter
of days at no cost to me at all, and since that time the Lord has
always provided m with a "donkey." On top of that according
to the same law when a thief is caught he must make full restitution
for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person
he has wronged" May it be so, may the Lord squeeze the neck
of the devil behind all this until he looses restitution upon the
man of God. And may the thief return, confess his sins and find
forgiveness in Christ. I am believing with you for the return of
your donkey.
Les.
Professionals giving it their best shot for
mission . .
We are a married couple with experience in finance,
auditing, law and management –everything related with businesses. God
has allowed us to set up our own firm so we can fund our short-term
missionary trips to help churches in other nations. If we can be of
any help to your church or ministry, please contact us in Spanish.
Elizabeth Mondaca, 30, Quilpue – Chile
Poor Burundi children and families dying of
hunger.
These children need food, clothes, soap, same of them are
even prisoners in Burundi hospital.
Gilbertine Harerimana, Bujumbura-Burundi
§ We are trying to verify this story and the identity of the writer,
almost certainly both are genuine.
Les Norman
Banking for the Poor and Business for Mission
in Jakarta
After the floods that came unexpectedly we are still moving
ahead with the first, second and third cycles of DCI Banking for the
Poor funding. Repayments of $490 have been used to fund a new catfish
project and a small shop. The catfish project is to be repaid in 3
months. The first try went well, we got 250 kilos of fish and much of
the profit was used to buy baby fish with a further added $200 to it.
This business is quite easy to control and maintain, and so far the
result is good. The doormat business gives an average profit $56 a
month with 5 employees. After the flood, we struggled harder. There is
an opportunity to open an internet shop with 10 PC's for people to use
and we can do a cheap computer course. The total set up cost would be
$1200. The location is very good, safe, and easy to get to. We want to
run a pornography-free internet shop. May God bless you for everything
you have done for us.
Yoppi Margianto, Jakarta, Indonesia.
For everyone who has missed Andre in Cameroon
Thank God for friends like you who really bother. I have
had three symptoms of stroke but the Lord delivered me. The doctor
says to stay away from the PC and normal work for some time. I can
write for three hours a week but still have serious migraine. I spend
my time in counseling and planning, many people are now working with
me as team and we have opened a new school in Douala with many
students.
Andre Talla, with DCI in Cameroon and West
Africa.
What does fund-releasing look like?
I mean, as opposed to fund-raising which I know you don't
do.
PS, United States.
§ One of our web pages
goes at least some way to explaining how we have gone about things. I
have to say that our way is probably a little more peculiar the most
of the classical ways of funding ministry but this is the way the Lord
has led us and I certainly do not think badly about any of the other
very valid ways of making ends meet provided they are honest. I think
that in a nutshell it will be safe to say that all we do is to pray
with the faith the Lord has given us, but even so we do not pray very
much about money. We do our best to be generous givers way beyond
anything to do with tithing knowing that giving is the trigger that
releases the blessing of God. In 30 years we have never made any
serious efforts to raise funds nor have we ever made appeals, taken
meetings to publicise DCI or asked for offerings, or sent out the
magazines and tapes which seem to flood the Christian world. After
prayer I think that it is a case that we trust the Lord to do the
speaking for us wherever he sees fit to go and to whoever he sees fit
to approach. I must admit that we would never have expected some of
the givers that he has raised up for us.
Humanly we would go for the tall, the dark, the handsome and the
wealthy but he has surrounded us with with the weak, the infirm and
the elderly as well as with some people over above our social station
in life. Some of the poorer ones are far more generous pro-rata than
some of the more well-to-do people, isn't that strange? Our best
contribution is to try and make the traffic two-way so we take a
personal interest in everyone, writing notes, sending small gifts,
making phone calls, inviting people for meals and doing our best to
make our supporters feel that they are our friends and know that they
also can rely upon us in their own times of need. After all these
years our circle of supporters is still quite small but so many of
them love us and support us with a dedication which leaves us
astonished and breathless on so many occasions, humbled before the
Lord and before their kindness. Now, if you want to follow the route
of support raising or better said the raising of supporters then it
seems to me that the finest manual you can buy is called
Funding the Family
Business by Myles Wilson who is a gentle Ulster man who
really knows his stuff and follows in his fathers footsteps to be a
totally committed generous supporter of mission and missionaries. You
can buy the book from
here or
it may be that Amazon can get it for you as well. He goes much further
than we ever do in teaching ways to find and approach supporters and
the techniques of relating to them. With every blessing and
encouragement in Jesus,
Les.
We are seeing physical, even financial
miracles
People are being awakened and deciding to follow Jesus, the
power of God is working in the lives of many people. We have made the
local TV and now we are fasting for 21 days.
Pastors Leonardo Garcia & Heuz Moises
Acuña, El Zulia, Colombia
Anyone got the book “Why Revival Tarries”
by Leonard Ravenhill in Spanish please?
Austin Velasco, 57, Juli, Puno - Peru.
Team of 12 offers you 30 days in July
We are part of a School of Mission called “Immersion”.
Tabaré Monzalvo Curiel, 37, Hermosillo,
Sonora - Mexico
Researching Arab Muslims in Colombia
Please, if any one has books about this that may help me.
Nelson Buitrago Alvarez, 33, Medellin -
Colombia
Free English Bibles for the blind in Braille
You only cover the postage and shipping, blessings.
Andres, 22, Santiago - Chile
Are you in missions in Venezuela?
Please write, I am coming to work with you in missions
Jose Rubens, 29, Jundiai-Brazil
God commanded me to commission you:
Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this
way of life, marking them by baptism in the name of the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit. Instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded
you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right
up to the end of the age.
Jesus, Matthew 28, 17-19, The Message
Dear Lord, So far today I am doing alright .
. .
I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy,
nasty, selfish or self-indulgent. I have not whined, cursed or eaten
chocolate. However I am going to get out of bed in a few minutes and I
will need a lot more help after that.
Amen and Anon
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