Notes from a young missonary, Kara Henrickson

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A Teenager grows in the lord.

"God did a lot of amazing things while I was there. We
saw people get healed right before our eyes. It was so
cool to see how God could use me.

I can’t wait for next year. I will be going back
again. But, next time I want to go for 2 months. I
feel like God is telling me there is more he wants me
to do in Peru. There are a lot more people that need
to be
saved.

Even though most of our team was sick for most of the
trip God helped us to give it our all. To give it all
we had each and everyday. It was awesome to see
people’s lives transformed right before our eyes.
When we were doing our drama, I saw peoples hearts
softened by God and I got to see them go up for the
alter call and give their life to Christ. The total
number of people that got saved when I was there was:
2,488 people. For the whole summer it was: 26,415
people. It was so awesome.

God also helped/told me that I don’t need a guy to
fulfill the love that I need. He said,”I can fill that
love/ that hole in your heart. I will help you get
through the things that you go through in life. I am
here for you.” He sent me people on my team to help me
with my separation anxiety when I was there. I am so
thankful that I got to have this opportunity. We had a
team of 62 people and we all became like family for a
month and we are still family. And God did a lot of
things for us.

He provided us to be able to share the gospel wherever
we went and helped us to always have permission when
we got there. So, we didn’t have to go find somewhere
else to go. We got to go into a catholic church and
see what they do in their services and we did a prayer
walk in the church. I prayed and asked God to show
them that they don’t need to worship idols. That they
need to worship him and the only way they can get to
heaven is through Him.

When we were out ministering we asked each person a
question, “If you were to die today would you go to
heaven or to hell? Why? It opened up a way for us to
tell them that they could know where they were going
to go right in that moment. It was cool to see what
people said. Because, you could tell that God was
working in them through that question.

On this trip I lead someone to the Lord for the first
time. I really thank God for letting me go on this
trip. He really taught me a lot of things. And He
changed my life completely. I will never go back to
the way I was before.

I’m so excited about the things God is going to do
here. I have a passion for the people here in Peru.
I’m going to keep winning people for God. I want to
see people here on earth in heaven. I don’t want the
blood to be on my hands if they go to hell, because I
didn’t share the love of God with them. I want to
spend eternity with them. I want them to know how much
God loves them. I want them to know that God wants to
be their friend and that he wants to hear from them,
and what they are going through. God broke my heart
for the people of Peru.

He also broke my heart for the nations. I want to keep
telling the world about Jesus Christ and His love for
them. I hope that a lot more people will get saved.
I’ve learned how to talk to God about everything that
is going on in my life. During the whole trip God kept
giving me a verse and it was so true. The verse was:
Luke 11:9-10  “So I say to you, ask, and it will be
given to you, seek, and you will find, knock, and it
will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives,
and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will
be opened.”

Those verses hit me really hard. If I ask God for Peru
or for the nations, God will give them to me. God has
been speaking into my life a lot lately. God is
telling me who to pray for and He tells me verses that
He wants me to tell people. He gives me things like
prophetic words to tell people. God is so amazing. He
is going to help me win more people to him.

God blessed me to meet a lot of new people/friends on
my trip. And we are all going to keep in contact all
62 of us. He helped me to find an accountability
partner her name is Amber and a mentor her name is
Lydia
from my team. It was awesome to see how many people
were passionate for the lost. God changed a lot of us
while we where there. It was cool to see the people on
your team be changed by God right in front of you.

God has been telling me the people who haven’t come to
know him yet. And he tells me that I need to talk to
those people. God is telling me that if I have any
problems with people that I need to talk to them about
it and not go to higher authorities on it. It’s better
to make up with those people than going through
someone else.

God revealed so many things to me on this trip. He
helped me know that he is always there for me even
though it doesn’t seem like it. He will always be
there no matter what I’m going through. I don’t think
I will ever be the same again after this trip. My life
is changed forever. I believe that God is going to
keep changing it. He’s going to make me a new person
in him. God helped me to make so many new friends on
this trip. It was so cool.

God has done so many things in my life and the life of
some people in Peru. It was awesome to see so many
people give their lives to Christ. It was so cool to
lead my first person to Christ in Peru. That shows me
that God really wants to use me for his glory. He
wants me to do work for him. I’ve noticed that the
people that I see everyday may not be going to heaven
and if I don’t talk to them about Jesus and that he
died on the cross for their sins that I may not see
them in heaven. It was so nice to go a month without
having an option of listening to any secular music.

But, now that I’ve come back I start to pick up the
habits that I’m used too. Please pray that God will
help me give them up to him and that it won’t be too
hard. We were at this place where we were going to do
the drama and we went over to this lady and invited
her to come and see the drama. Well, she was deaf and
we think she had forgotten how to talk. And so we
prayed for her to be healed and I’m still praying for
her. I wanted her to get saved but we didn’t know how
because she was deaf. But, God will put somebody in
her life to help her come to know him and I will
hopefully be able to do it next year. But, if I don’t
get to I hope that somebody can. I’m not for sure
where I’m going next year. All I know is that I am
going on another mission’s trip and God is going to do
a lot of things in me and in the people of wherever I
go. He will also change my life some more and it’s
going to be awesome.

God does so many amazing things each and everyday.
Satan was totally attacking our team on this trip. He
attacked us by making us all sick for the whole trip.
Some of the team got hurt and all of that was a work
of Satan. But, God helped us to give it our all no
matter how we were feeling. And God is still helping
me to get through each and everyday even though I
still don’t feel good. I’m still trying to win people
to Christ. I wake in the morning and say,”where is my
team we’re supposed to go out for ministry today. And
I think that I will keep doing ministry until I die or
until I go next summer and then when I come back after
that I will keep doing it."


We grow throughout our life if we will let Jesus lead.

Jesus is Lord!

28 August 2005, God is a personal God

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There is a Strong tendency by all of us, myself included, to take on responsibility equal to the world we live in. This world is a mess. This world was a mess when we came into it, it will be a mess when we leave.

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. John 12: 3-8

Note that last line, for the poor always ye have with you.

We are not going to solve poverty. The scripture makes it plain we are to help the poor, but we will not solve poverty. The world is not your responsibility.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. I peter 5: 6-11

Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. It is not your responsibility to change the world. Humble yourself before God, that is your task; then let him lift you up. Keep it simple, don't worry about everything, just keep getting closer to the living God.

Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Quench not the Spirit.

Despise not prophesyings.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. I Thessalonians 5: 16-24

In everything give thanks. God is big enough to handle your life, give it to him fully. God loves you more than you love yourself, he will not give you more than you can bear. God is smarter and wiser than you are, follow where he leads.

Do not take on burdens that are not yours to assume, cast them on Jesus, he cares for you. God is a personal God to you. Get close and personal with God, do it now. The future and the past do not matter, follow God today, give your cares to Jesus.


In Psalm 119: 105 we have the prescription; one step at a time, stay on course. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.


Jesus is Lord!

Midweek service, all things

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And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8: 27, 28

All things means all things.

Things we did and things we neglected to do. All Things

Plans that went wrong, and plans that we regret going right. All Things.

What we said, and what we feel we should have said.

words said to us we misunderstood, and words said to us we understood very well.

All Things.

Now we know it requires faith to please God. Here is a chance to pray in faith.

Remember that irritant you don't want to think about, and thank God for it.

Thank God and keep thanking God for it.

God is big enough to work it all out for good.

God loves you enough to want to work it all out for good.

God has called you according to his purpose.

Love him back.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Jesus is Lord!
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Risk and Action, Sunday 21 August 2005

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Philippians 4: 4-8

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

We have had one report from our young missionaries. Perhaps next Wednesday we shall have another.

These teenagers have spent their summer in service to our Lord. Some may become missionaries, many will grow up to serve on mission boards, all have been changed.

As Paul said in the first chapter of Philippians "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

As Helen Keller said " Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure."

My own kids have explained it to me in a folksy way, "Everyone dies, not everyone lives."

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16: 24-26

There is risk in sharing the gospel. There is a greater risk in not sharing the gospel. If you chose to follow Christ; follow him. Do not look to the right our the left, just keep following Jesus.

Often what is emotionally easy and has a short term positive effect is a disaster in the medium and long term. Follow Jesus. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

God loves you more than you love yourself. God is wiser and smarter than you are. If you want the real best, and not just what sounds best, do what God tells you to do. It will be the best for everyone involved, including yourself and God.

God is love!

Jesus is Lord!

Allan
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Lydia Wallace, a Young missionary's message

The missionary's stories ....

I had never thought of myself as a life changer, or as a Bible thumper.

Going to Peru to do missions a year ago never even crossed my mind. I thought I would just spend another summer sitting in front of the ocean, relaxing in the hot sun while working on my tan.

But thats not what happened.

I found myself on a plane to Peru in early July. The anxiety kicked in somewhere over the ocean. I realized I had made a mistake.

Little did I know how wrong I was.

I have just a few stories of my own. later on others will be sending in their own stories..

On our first day of ministries we met up with the chief of police. He escorted us to what I thought of as a the poor part of town. Trash lay along the streets and the houses are old and worn down. He pulled over and used his car to block the street We proceeded to minister in middle of the street, we had a crowd gather, and we had a movement of people giving their lives to God... in middle of a street in Peru. Right then I knew I was meant to be in Peru.

7/23/05 we were in Lima and we pulled up near a park that at one time I'm sure was full of beautiful flower beds and trees. Now all that is there is dirt and dead remnants of a better time. Needless to say I didn't see much potential. The gangs in the area were supposed to be pretty strong. Local gang members played in the soccer court. Our translators said it wasn't a very good area... we started walking towards a market place... we set up a sound box. This made it easier to preach because the city is so loud, Cars are constantly honking horns, and people are yelling; we have the sound box set up and we start to minister. This site sticks in my mind because the people were hanging out windows over looking the market place to hear every word we said. At the end when we asked if any one wanted to give there life to Christ people up in the windows raised their hands and prayed the sinners prayer. I was shocked by the gang bangers walking up asking questions, a group of them gave their lives to Christ. it really touches you to know you made a difference in someones life; from that moment on life will be a little different for those people and for me. That place didn't seem like much good would come to it and that the people wouldn't be open to what we had to say. I guess some times its not what you expect but what God has planned.

7/24/05

We went to a hospital where sick people come in and out every day. You don't know sick until you have seen it in a third world country. We were getting ready to leave a site when we decided to go talk to this little old lady who was sitting with 2 kids. We talked with her a little while and she gave her life to God. We asked her why she was at the hospital; she said she had been having chest pains for a few weeks. We asked to lay hands and pray for her.. she said that would be ok. We started to pray for her and when we were done she was crying and she said it didn't hurt any more. She was so moved by the whole thing she kissed each one of us an abundance of times. She was an amazingly warm woman.

These are just a few stories, more will be coming. Thank you for your time and prayers. I will probably return to Peru next year, along with others who were with me.

It is nice to know the next generation is seeking and finding God's best.

Jesus is Lord!

Allan

14 August 2005, The Whole Gospel

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There is a group of young folk that just got back from a month of ministry in Peru. I am going to see if they are willing to write a Wednesday service or two. They have wonderful stories to tell, and I have only heard a few.

One advantage these young ministers of the gospel have; they do not need to please us. They are not headed back to large needs in the field and want our funds so they may continue to minister.

A sad fact of many local churches is that missionaries have to tone down the gospel they preach at home so as not to alienate their support teams. The first world countries have become luke warm and frequently do not want to hear that God is moving. If God was moving wouldn't they be the first to know? Some local churches have gone so far as to say "the Holy Spirit no longer works miracles, the Bible is complete, we don't need signs and miracles any more."

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58

God will not force the miraculous on them, and they can honestly say they know their god no longer works, because they have never seen him work. I have seen God work, I have heard God speak, and he wants to work in and through you.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. II Chron 9a

God does still work, the Holy Spirit is active in leading believers and in convicting sinners, Jesus still desires a close relationship with you. Those that talk about God not working usually make one very good point. Emotion can lead you away from the truth.

As a Christian be sure your actions and worship are based on the word of God. Do not be led about by your emotions. Emotions should follow the truth, truth does not flow from emotions.

Back to the missionaries that need to refrain from telling the whole gospel. There are local churches that would cut of the mission's funding if they knew singing was allowed in worship, or dancing, or a sick man was made well, or.... well you get the idea.

Many times in the mission field someone is healed and as a result many that know them are brought to the lord. If the blind see, and the lame walk, all glory to God. Just don't talk about it to the frozen chosen at the First church of the open refrigerator; you will get the right foot of fellowship, booted right out the refrigerator door.

That might be a good thing. Just shake the dust off your feet as you leave. Matthew 10:14

Getting back to our young missionaries, welcome home. Thank you for ministering to the least, the last, and the lost for us. Say what God tells you to say, say what wonderful things you have seen God do. You can not please everyone, so focus on pleasing Jesus; you will be with him for a very long eternity.

Jesus is Lord!

Allan

Mid Week service; Are you Called?

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This is not a plea for you to serve in the missions field.

If you have accepted Jesus as your lord and savior, he has a plan for your life. Often we let inertia direct us. A little push here, an impression there, and we stumble along toward a goal not picked by us or God.

A well meaning Pastor suggests we attend the denomination's college. A speaker Mentions that his large missionary group is always looking for qualified (college graduate) missions candidates. We head off to school, never having asked God what he wants.

STOP!

This is the rest of your life you are talking about. Take some time, a week up at a cabin in prayer and fasting might be a good start. Study God's word, the Bible, and get to know God's voice. Don't commit until you are sure it is God leading.

Once you are following God's direction, allow him to tell you to change direction. God may point you toward a school, head that direction, but don't lock yourself in. God may have had you go there to meet someone, then he can send you in a new direction, if you will listen.

You have free will, and you are surrounded by people with free will. This is like a huge chess game where the pieces can decide to move themselves. It is a good thing that God is smart and wise enough to direct your life on a "real time" basis. The Christian walk is played out minute by minute, for eternity.

American Football is played on a field of 100 yards, but the winner is determined by several results controlled by inches. A first down just missed, a field goal bouncing in rather than out, a catch made on the fingertips; these close decisions keep changing the course of the game.

Your life is played for eternity, the success of your life is determined by several results controlled by following God's smallest direction. When God has you moving, expect to get changes in direction as the game board changes. Keep studying the playbook, the Bible, so as to be ready for what is coming next.

The world is changing, we are leaving the industrial society, and moving toward an information age. As the size of an enterprise necessary to be effective shrinks, your most effective ministry organization may be small; but to be effective it must be Christ led. God may have you work in a large ministry, just be open to any call the Holy Spirit makes. In I Corin Paul said "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."

Rather than being part of a large ministry Jesus may have you working on your own, or with a few similar small ministries. He may have you start today, or give you the vision today and start in thirty years. God may have you change your outreach, as God pulled Philip out of the great revival he was conducting and sent him walking off into the desert, Acts 8: 5 to the end of the chapter.

If you think you are called, read the four gospels and the whole book of Acts; this is your first training in missions. If you know you are called, go out and do as you have just read. If you are not ready to go, ask God to lead you to those that can train you; and spend much time in study of the Bible and prayer. Don't listen to any man that tells you to ignore what God said, and what he will say to you. God is not dead, he is not just a historical figure, he does not slumber, he wants to do great works through those that are dedicated to him.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. II Chron 9a

Don't be loyal to men or men's organizations; be loyal to Christ. Seek God as to where, when, and how you will serve.

Stay flexible, listen to God. Act!

Jesus is Lord!
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Sunday 7 August 2005 read and watch

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Partners,

If you are in the L.A area around December 8, I'd like to invite you to a movie premier. Only 50 seats, so please respond soon.

The first book of the Chronicles of Narnia finally becomes a big screen epic. It will be in general release December 9, but may be quickly swallowed by the Christmas season. This is the time to enjoy it on the big screen.

If you have a group that would like to see it outside of LA Calif, sign up for your own batch of preview tickets. There is a nice trailer for the movie here also.

Get and read the books first, then re-wrap them as a present to yourself. You will want to read them again.

And again.

These books were written by Lewis for his nieces, and are just plain fun. If you want to hit some solid theology by Lewis, also a pleasure to read, try Mere Christianity, You will better understand Christianity once you are done.

I have hit you with heavy stuff the last few meetings, it's time to relax with a great book or two.

Jesus is Lord!
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The Deal is on the Table

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God has offered you the perfect deal.

When you are shopping for a big ticket item, you are frequently told, "this is the deal of the century." If you keep shopping you will find the deal of the century comes about every two weeks.

God is not talking hype, he has an offer in front of you right now. It is the deal of eternity.

I used to manage real estate offices. If someone came in and looked at houses to buy, and didn't buy, they probably wouldn't return. Even if the house was perfect for them, the price and terms great; they probably wouldn't return. A salesman's job was to ask enough questions to discover what the client wanted, and then help the client make the decision that was best for the client. If the client insisted on "thinking it over" they became overwhelmed by the complexities of a transaction and usually would not return.

God makes contracts with men. Another word for contracts is covenant, another word for covenant is testament. The Bible has an Old and a New Testament. There is an Abrahamic Covenant that God made with Abraham and his descendents. There are many other covenants made in scripture between God and man. The most recent and final covenant is between you and God, with Jesus as the mediator. This contract does not have a list of laws, it is a blood brotherhood with Jesus, you can be adopted into the family of God.

God, who is worthy of praise and worship, has put a contract in front of you. Jesus gave up his life so you could have a more abundant life. It is now time for you to give up your life and become part of God's family. Your citizenship will change, you will become a citizen of heaven, and an ambassador of Christ to Earth. Everything will change, there is no way to grasp from the outside how total a metamorphosis is involved.

A type of the change is the picture of Noah. God determines what you will keep, you will go through a period of rapid change, and you will emerge into a brand new, very different world.

This new world is the reality you have sought. All around you have seen glimpses of a spiritual dimension that you could not apprehend. Take God's offer and the Spirit of God will apprehend you.

You could put it off. You can "just think about it." If you do you will probably not return.

The offer will still be there, but the cares of this world will wrap you up so that you consider it a close escape; rather than a possibly final opportunity at the deal of eternity.

God loves you more than you love anything, including yourself. God gave himself for you that you might have the best available life and eternity. God is wiser and smarter than you are. Accept his offer, accept Christ as your lord and savior. Make the commitment to let God change you, then follow where he leads.

Even if you don't die tonight, right now is the time of your salvation. If you walk away you will probably never come back to this opportunity.

Paul said "To live is Christ, to die is gain." If you want the best, and only the best, live your life for the one who gave his life for you.

There will be no better price, there will be no better terms. The offer is on the table, make the commitment to yourself, God, and everyone else by doing the right thing.

God Bless,

Jesus is Lord!

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