A CHALLENGE FOR THE NEW YEAR!
I trust you have had a wonderful CHRISTmas season. We have enjoyed being home for a few days and visits with our children and friends. What a wonderful time of encouragement for Ann and for me.
A couple of things stand out in my mind. The first is a report by our friend, Doug Weed who ministers in Saltillo, Mexico. Doug came to the Lord early in our minstry here in Shreveport. He was an unlikely candidate, but God has used him in a precious way through the years. He is one of the most grateful men I have ever known. Several times a year he will call and just say "thank you" for loving him to Jesus. He is doing the same thing in his ministry - loving other to Jesus!! Here is a report from his ministry:
The area where God has placed us in Saltillo is in a middle class neighborhood of devout Roman Catholics. The Garza family, from whom we rent our house, owns at least 10 other houses in the immediate area. Our land lord, Mrs Josefina Garza, was one of the first people in the neighborhood that the Lord gave us opportunity to witness to. She allowed us about 30 minutes in her home to give a clear presentation of the gospel. She responded by saying, "I'm basically a pretty good person. I've been to Rome and have kissed the Pope's ring. I think I'll be all right." We have had a cordial relationship with Senora Garza, for the past 3 years and her grandchildren have been permitted to attend our services. In October, my wife Roberta began a promotion in the children's class and challenged them to bring an adult to our Sunday services. Senora Garza, who is the Garza family patriarch, decided to visit our church. She didn't make a decision the first time she visited, but she heard, "that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God". She decided to come back to hear more. The next Sunday she heard about the thief on the cross who repented and believed, but had no time to be baptized or to do any good work. She said, "I never realized that he did nothing good, yet still went to heaven." The next Sunday the story of Nicodemus convinced her that religion could not save her and she received the Lord Jesus as her Saviour. She began to bring other members of her family and now two of her daughters, their husbands, and their children have all made professions of faith. Senora Garza has not missed one Sunday since she began in October.
Pray for Doug and Roberta as they minister there in Mexico. What a lesson to me that God still works. The greatest lack in most of the churches I see in our country is that we are getting the order reversed. We are told to go - but most of the time the emphasis is to come. If we don't go - the average person who needs the Lord will never come to our churches. However, if we sow in tears - we will indeed reap in joy. (Psalms 126: 5-6) The excuse used is that people will not be receptive, it's too dangerous, etc. are just not valid. He will protect and bless as we obey his commandments!
The other special blessing was the opportunity to go into the home of our friends, Sharon and Darrell LaCaze. Sharon and Darrell have been married for about tree years. Before Sharon and Darrel married, Sharon was married to Tom Hutchinson. Years ago, I visited in the Hutchinson home to ask if their children could ride our bus to Calvary Baptist. Tom had already decided not to go back to church, but gave permission for us to take the children. Tom and Sharon soon began to attend. My wife, Ann, enlisted them to work in the nursery. Both Tom and Sharon began to sing in the choir, and were such a blessing to our church. Several years ago they went to El Salvador for a mission meeting with Bro. "Step" and me. Soon after Tom died from cancer. What a joy to walk into that home on Christmas Eve and see the children who rode that bus with their children. Sharon wrote me this note on Christmas day. Is it worth it to serve Jesus - to visit - to pray - to love? Yes, yes, yes!
Price & Ann,
We so enjoyed you last night. Everyone enjoyed you. Y'all mean so very much to our family. Rusty (her son) said after you left that you, Price, were one man that he could truly say he loved. All agreed. I wonder how many folks could say that about the two of you. So very, very special.
Sharon
I share this just to remind myself and to remind you that in this crazy world of inverted priorities the only thing that really matters is what we do for Jesus! I believe I'll spend 2008 doing more of the same!
Price Harris
December 26, 2007
A couple of things stand out in my mind. The first is a report by our friend, Doug Weed who ministers in Saltillo, Mexico. Doug came to the Lord early in our minstry here in Shreveport. He was an unlikely candidate, but God has used him in a precious way through the years. He is one of the most grateful men I have ever known. Several times a year he will call and just say "thank you" for loving him to Jesus. He is doing the same thing in his ministry - loving other to Jesus!! Here is a report from his ministry:
The area where God has placed us in Saltillo is in a middle class neighborhood of devout Roman Catholics. The Garza family, from whom we rent our house, owns at least 10 other houses in the immediate area. Our land lord, Mrs Josefina Garza, was one of the first people in the neighborhood that the Lord gave us opportunity to witness to. She allowed us about 30 minutes in her home to give a clear presentation of the gospel. She responded by saying, "I'm basically a pretty good person. I've been to Rome and have kissed the Pope's ring. I think I'll be all right." We have had a cordial relationship with Senora Garza, for the past 3 years and her grandchildren have been permitted to attend our services. In October, my wife Roberta began a promotion in the children's class and challenged them to bring an adult to our Sunday services. Senora Garza, who is the Garza family patriarch, decided to visit our church. She didn't make a decision the first time she visited, but she heard, "that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God". She decided to come back to hear more. The next Sunday she heard about the thief on the cross who repented and believed, but had no time to be baptized or to do any good work. She said, "I never realized that he did nothing good, yet still went to heaven." The next Sunday the story of Nicodemus convinced her that religion could not save her and she received the Lord Jesus as her Saviour. She began to bring other members of her family and now two of her daughters, their husbands, and their children have all made professions of faith. Senora Garza has not missed one Sunday since she began in October.
Pray for Doug and Roberta as they minister there in Mexico. What a lesson to me that God still works. The greatest lack in most of the churches I see in our country is that we are getting the order reversed. We are told to go - but most of the time the emphasis is to come. If we don't go - the average person who needs the Lord will never come to our churches. However, if we sow in tears - we will indeed reap in joy. (Psalms 126: 5-6) The excuse used is that people will not be receptive, it's too dangerous, etc. are just not valid. He will protect and bless as we obey his commandments!
The other special blessing was the opportunity to go into the home of our friends, Sharon and Darrell LaCaze. Sharon and Darrell have been married for about tree years. Before Sharon and Darrel married, Sharon was married to Tom Hutchinson. Years ago, I visited in the Hutchinson home to ask if their children could ride our bus to Calvary Baptist. Tom had already decided not to go back to church, but gave permission for us to take the children. Tom and Sharon soon began to attend. My wife, Ann, enlisted them to work in the nursery. Both Tom and Sharon began to sing in the choir, and were such a blessing to our church. Several years ago they went to El Salvador for a mission meeting with Bro. "Step" and me. Soon after Tom died from cancer. What a joy to walk into that home on Christmas Eve and see the children who rode that bus with their children. Sharon wrote me this note on Christmas day. Is it worth it to serve Jesus - to visit - to pray - to love? Yes, yes, yes!
Price & Ann,
We so enjoyed you last night. Everyone enjoyed you. Y'all mean so very much to our family. Rusty (her son) said after you left that you, Price, were one man that he could truly say he loved. All agreed. I wonder how many folks could say that about the two of you. So very, very special.
Sharon
I share this just to remind myself and to remind you that in this crazy world of inverted priorities the only thing that really matters is what we do for Jesus! I believe I'll spend 2008 doing more of the same!
Price Harris
December 26, 2007
posted by PHarris | 5:52 AM
|
0 comments
