Lifeline Christian Mission

Thanksgiving Blessings

I got this message from Lifeline Christian Mission.  This is good story for Thanksgiving.

Sometimes our mind-set is that only those who have abundance have reason to give "thanks".  In thinking this, perhaps we are elevating ourselves (though subconsciously) to the status of a "have" when the "have-nots" are also called to give thanks for what they have and to give, even out of their poverty.

The story below is one I have listed in my "Stories To Put In My Book" (that I hope to write someday). It is one that gave me a message that hit me right between the eyes! Let me share it as we think of Thanksgiving and giving thanks...

Around 1988, we had a small work team in Haiti and one day we were scheduled to go to Lifeline's Deuxieme Plaine Christian Church and School to conduct VBS.  This was our newest school.  Pastor Stuart Lismat (pronounced "Es-Twa" Lismat; he is the current pastor and has been serving at the school/church there from the very beginning.  In fact, he's still serving there.) was the school Principal at the time.  Pastor Stuart is one of the most enthusiastic and vivacious people I know in Haiti.  He remains just as exuberant to this very day, as the head pastor at Deuxieme Plaine.

As usual, we prepared to go with our cooler of water, some peanut butter sandwiches, our VBS materials, games, etc.  It was going to be a fun, hot June day!

Upon arrival at the church/school facility, we went in to the main chapel area (which is a large shelter house type structure made of stone, cement, and galvanized roofing).  And what was there to our surprise?  On the raised platform was a spread of food that was unbelievable!  Two long cafeteria style dining tables were graced with beautiful tablecloths and a centerpiece of gorgeous local flowers in a carved Haitian vase.

But the real story is where the food came from: Pastor Stuart had told the parents that he wanted them to bring something to the "banquet" to show their appreciation to the American missionaries.  On the table in little pots, on little plates and in some cases big bowls, were things like:
3 hard boiled eggs, a dozen large coconuts, bananas, a small little coffee-cup saucer of spaghetti with sauce, mangos, Haitian bread, a couple of cooked hot dogs, packages of crackers, some rice and beans, and the list goes on.

You can imagine our surprise. There was so much food that this small team of 8-10 of us could never have consumed or even taken back to the mission; all the offerings that covered the table.

Of course we all were in awe!  How could these "poor people" do this?  But in truth, God provided through them so that He could give them a blessing, and teach us a lesson.  God tells us throughout His Word that we are to give, a good measure, pressed down, and overflowing.  And He will multiply what we give and extend it, just like he does in our lives every day.

Most of the team members were hesitant to eat the cooked foods, but to be gracious receivers (as well as givers) we consumed some fruits and of course, that cold, bottled Coca Cola! :-)

It was my time to gave a little speech and say how grateful we were. The dilemma, of course, was what are we really going to do with all this?  So we told them that we could not possibly consume all of these wonderful goodies, so we gave them back to the kids there to share and, in some cases, take home with them.

So, the lesson learned?  We have no monopoly, as prosperous Americans on the gift of giving.  In fact, our Lord also tells us that the extent of our sacrifice measures our love for Him.

As you give thanks to God for all good things this holiday, consider measuring the extent of your sacrifice for others.  I have no doubt those families who brought in the bounty for us that day were blessed to overflowing because they gave sacrificially.



God bless you & Happy Thanksgiving!

Gretchen DeVoe &
the Lifeline Family

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URGENT: Prayer Request Haiti Tropical Storm and Flooding

URGENT: Prayer Request Haiti Tropical Storm and Flooding.

 

Please pray for Haiti. Tropical Storm Sandy has caused unbelievable flooding in the areas where Lifeline (Christian mission) serves in Grand Goave, the surrounding communities, and all the way out West to Les Cayes. The Haitian staff report this is the worst storm they have ever experienced. It is happening even right now. 

Passion Ministries

A missionary came and spoke at my church this Sunday.  His name is Rana Samuel and his mission is called Passion Ministries.  Rana was born in India and he had a high paying management job at Nike.  He got an even higher paying job with the India’s largest denim producing corporation.  But he gave it all up to go into the ministry full time.  He and his wife have been very generous givers to the poor and needy of India while sharing the gospel with them.  Passion Ministries has many outreach programs.  Rana and his team fix motorcycles (he calls them “motorbikes”) for free for anyone willing to listen to the gospel.  Motorcycles are major mode of transportation in India.  Rana’s wife Simi is a medical doctor and she runs a medical camp and provides medical aid to the members of their churches. 

There is a lot of persecution of Christians in India.  Some extremist Hindus kidnap Christian children, try to brainwash them and force them serve in their militias.  Rana’s ministry helps to provide Christian families and orphaned children with protection from these extremists.  It is illegal to evangelize in the part of India where Passion Ministries serves.  But because the community has been so blessed by Rana’s work, he is able to openly preach the Gospel to people who would never otherwise hear it.  Unlike other missions in India, Passion Ministries is not huge organization and it does not try to hide what it is doing.   

Rana is looking for more churches to sponsor his ministry.  There is great need.  For more info:

http://passionministries.net

Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International

http://www.cpfi.org

This post is about one of my favorite organizations.  The Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International does a lot of good work for the LORD.  They go on medical mission trips, spreading the gospel and at the same time delivering much needed medicines to third world countries.  They go to churches and help their members to get off costly and unneeded medicines, often sparing them from unwanted side effects, while being careful not to take them off of any meds they really need.  They take blood pressure readings, do glucose monitoring and other medical diagnostics in both the mission trips and church visits.  CPFI is also a support group for Christian PharmD students (people who are studying to become a pharmacist).  They work together help each other face challenges that a Christian typically encounters in a secular institution.  They believe in the sanctity of life, that it begins at conception and that no pharmacist should be required to fill prescriptions that would go against Biblical principles.  Therefore they support legal conscience clause protections.

Click here to donate to CPFI.

Help Sponsor a Child in Need

I got message below from Lifeline Ministries. Lifeline is a missions organization serving many North American nations including Haiti, Honduras, and Mexico. They help the poor and disadvantaged as well as teach them about Jesus.  I was especially touched by this particular story. July 11, 2011 Carlos Cojon and his wife Paty are the Directors of the Omoa Children's Home in Honduras.  Carlos wears several hats, including Honduras Administrator, but Carlos and Paty's love for the girls simply radiates from them.  We thank God every day for this ministry, the Cojon's, and the changes we see in the lives of these precious girls. Many precious little girls have come to live at the Home and some have very ugly stories that are hard to repeat.  Most all of these girls have been neglected. Some abused. One was born in prison.  Others molested.  But each grab your heart and within days and weeks they come to recognize that their new-found family loves them deeply.  My hat goes off to Carlos and Paty for what they do.  It is a hard ministry.   It is even more amazing to see how God has worked in the lives of these girls.  Some of them now are getting higher education, thanks to generous donors.  And one of our oldest girls now works at Lifeline's clinic.  The older girls have all claimed their own personal faith and relationship with our Lord.  They have been baptized and are active in the church and community outreach to the youth. Please praise God and join us in praying for a very special little girl that has recently been placed in the home... Karla, the newest "angel" at the Omoa Children's Home Hello everyone! My wife and I have ministered almost 6 years at the OmoaChildren's Home, and God is giving us great experiences, especially when new "angels"  come to our home. This year we were praying for two girls and, in God´s time, they came three weeks ago.  But we did not know that God had another angel for the Children Home.  Last week we got a call from the police and the Public Prosecutor's  Office asking us for a place  for one  special girl. She was at ahospital because she was rescued from a sad situation.   My wife went to see her at the hospital and  really her situation was deplorable.  She is 11 and can´t speak; she could not walk because she was used to being tied up to a chair. And since Karla was used to being tied up she never learned to eat like a normal person, etc. Karla  does not have parents; they  are dead.  Karla was under the care of one of her sisters who is 19 years old  and she tied her up.   The police, together with Public Prosecutor Child  Rescue,  heard about our home and  they asked  us to  have Karla temporarily (I don´t know how long is "temporary") but we accepted this challenge. God knows the best for Karla, I can say, God is working hard on His Creation.   Karla is doing well here.   Thank you for your prayers and love for the children in Honduras; God bless Lifeline's ministry around the world. In His Work, Carlos  If you would like to sponsor a child like Karla or make a one time donation to Lifeline Ministries, please click here.

Art for Haiti

Color of Dawn Creations has created original artwork to benefit Lifeline (a Christian mission to Haiti and other countries).  Each month, a new art piece will be sold through the Color of Dawn Creations website with 100% of the purchase price donated to Lifeline to benefit Haiti. 

The original watercolors are created by artist Amber McNabb.  Amber's artwork includes a beautiful painting of Matilde and most recently of a young boy reading a Bible.  All of the artwork has been inspired from actual photographs taken by Lifeline work team members in Haiti.

If you are interested in purchasing the artwork for yourself or as a gift, please visit Color of Dawn Creations online for additional details and cost.  You can also find Color of Dawn Creations and other products that benefit Lifeline's ministries at Lifeline's website.

When The Ground Stopped Shaking

When The Ground Stopped Shaking - Trailer from The Moving Picture Boys on Vimeo.

Tribute to a Faithful Servant of Jesus Christ

Disaster Relief Needed in Pakistan

In the midst of the turmoil that is going on in the world, we need to remember our missionaries.  With thousands of people in Pakistan perishing in floods, we need to be looking to lend a helping hand and at the same time reach the Pakistanis for Jesus.  The International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES) is a Christian organization which does just that.  Please consider making a difference by donating monetarily to IDES.

The Vision for Bulembu

On this blog you will read many posts indicating that things are getting worse and worse spiritually, economically, and politically. We are losing our freedom to speak freely about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are losing our wealth which may be completely gone tomorrow. Preachers are more than ever preaching watered-down prosperity gospel messages void of any mention of sin or judgment. Now more than ever we need to reach the world for Christ. I'm not an adventist (a Second Coming date-setter), but the signs of the times are here and the harvest is ripe. It’s time to get off our butts. We need to reach people for Christ before Joel Osteen does.



Here is one way you can. Partners in Action needs teachers to help with their evangelistic mission in Bulembu, Swaziland. If God has blessed you with a skill that you can teach, and you can’t find work in this terrible economy, this might be the perfect opportunity for you! They teach these kids English at these schools, so you wouldn’t have to learn a new language. Instead wringing your hands about the future, why not take a step of faith for Christ?

There are many other mission opportunities out there, but this was one that seemed particularly interesting to me. To learn more about the Bulembu Mission and how you can help, click here now!