Check out my @constantcontact newsletter

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter

God Changed Their Hearts

After seven years of evangelism campaigns in Romania, we know that follow-up news is hard to come by once we return home.  (Hence our plan to live there and be involved in discipleship training!) We stay in touch with translators and other church leaders but they may or may not live near the villages where the gospel was shared in homes and on the streets.

A few days ago, we received an email from Miriam, Jim's wonderful translator from 2009.  Her father is a Pastor in Vaslui and she gave us good news!  "The village where we were, now has new Christians coming to the church."   She also writes, "in the gypsy village, ...God changed their hearts."

In the overall scheme of things, this may seem small.  Knowing that God is faithful, we are satisfied that the Holy Spirit will do His work in those who respond to God's grace.  We don't have to know, but how great of God to allow us to see the persevering fruit of His work!

 As Ray Boltz sang in the 1980's...  (Yes, we're showing our age!) 

For only one 

He would have suffered

And given up His life

For only one

He would have borne the shame 

And made the sacrifice

For God so loved the whole world

He gave His only Son

But I believe He'd have done the same

For only one

Now some may say "Why bother?"

With only one or two

But Jesus knows the feeling

When the only one is you

So if you hear Him calling

Don't be ashamed to come

Even if... you are the only one

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes......  I Timothy 1:16

Our trip to Romania is only 4 weeks away!  Hundreds will hear the good news that Jesus Christ died to pay for the sins of those who believe in Him.  Please pray for us and all who will be reached!

Blessings,
Jim and Brenda

Update to Summer plans!

Great news!!  After recent BTCP training in Romania, several Pastors from Romania and surrounding countries spoke to Mike Scheer, our DBC Missions Director and requested Man of God, Foundations of Biblical Manhood training.  Plans were made and we have opportunity to help with this teaching in two cities in June.  The study will be provided to churches in Timisoara and Suceava, along with The Titus II Woman, Living a Godly Life study. 

We (Jim and Brenda) will both be leaving for Romania at the same time and traveling together with a few others!  After the training sessions in these 2 cities, we will join the Medical/Evangelism team in Sibiu.  This will be an ongoing opportunity for us once we are on the ground overseas!  God is opening doors we never expected!  Isn't He just always good that way??

Both studies are aimed at the pursuit of holiness and therefore changed lives.  John Brown states "Indeed, relationship issues between people can always be traced back to their relationship issues with God.  Therefore, it is important to first focus on improving relationships with God so that we can then improve relationship with our families and others."  Our desire is to equip national leaders who will then teach others.  Please pray that in teaching this study, we will not be merely providing information, but it will be received by open hearts who truly seek to please God.  May we only glorify our merciful and gracious God as we attempt to explain His never-ending love!