We as humans act upon what we believe, whether good or bad, we act upon our beliefs. We build structures in which to build our lives based upon both personal experience, our understanding of the world around us, and what we are taught. However, many times these pillars of belief are wrong and simply don’t hold up when the storms of life come crashing down. Jesus knew this and came to give us a structure that will stand, namely: Himself. Jesus said it this way, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)
Life here in the Middle East is hard and ever changing. Most of the people in our church are new believers who have not only turned from an old way of life, but are also trying to learn how to live as light in a dark world. We as a church wanted to focus on the essential doctrines in the Word of God to point the people of God to the unfailing-never-changing Rock of God. We believe that when the Bible is opened in and through the power of the Holy Spirit it not only trains our minds and focuses our hearts, but it also leads us into a living relationship with God Himself.
One project we have been working on is a small pamphlet, in the local language, which answers 14 of the most common questions we are asked by both new and non-believers. The first person I gave it to was a new believer in our community. He immediately took it and began reading and teaching it to his unbelieving wife. As she listened over the next hour she began responding, “Ok, ok, now I understand.” At the end of our time she was repenting of sins, renouncing old beliefs, and putting her faith in Christ alone. She will be baptized this coming Sunday. I gave a copy to the men at the hotel where we meet and they were fighting over who got to read it first. We have several other projects we are working on that we hope will help us spread the good news throughout this country. Please pray that the Lord will lead us into all truth for the maturity of the church and glory of God.
In regards to the local church I am thankful to say that God is continuing to answer prayers for unity. We also have had a lot of favor with the hotel where we meet and they recently built us a building for the church (see picture above). We have now been meeting there for three weeks and it has been a huge gift. The church here is sometimes an emotional bumpy ride, but by God’s sovereign grace we are growing and clinging on to the promise from Philippians 1:6: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Finally, we as a family are doing great, language is progressing, and we are thankful to be laboring together in this land. Please pray for us that we might have the strength, grace, and boldness to continue what God has called us here to do. Thank you to all of you who have faithfully supported us in so many ways. We could not be here doing what we are without you. We continue to pray for you all. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14)