After tweny-two days in South Africa, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I touched down in Lynchburg briefly before taking a flight to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for a seminar this past Sunday (which added another three days away from home). The eleven seminars and four evangelism clinics in Africa could not have gone better. Over three hundred gathered in Uvira on the north end of of Lake Tanganyika in eastern Congo, some traveling long distances to be there. The Swahili translation was well received. Seldom have I sensed the moving of the Holy Spirit any more powerfully than during this seminar. One of the six seminars in South Africa was Seminar #1,300 (which I considered a milestone). In spite of snow and ice, the seminar at First Baptist Church, Mifflintown PA, was well attended and well received. I was blessed with perfect health and physical stamina for the arduous travel and many hours teaching. However, for me, the best part of a trip is getting home. Home Sweet Home! It feels good to be with Sue and to be home.

During the past few days, I have taken a respite from writing "My Blog" to concentrate on myriad items that needed attention before leaving for South Africa, Kenya, the Congo on Thursday, November 8. These seminars have been in the planning stage for over one year. Much work has been done in each country. Actually, I will not be back in the office until the afternoon of Monday, December 3, since I have a prayer seminar in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania on December 2. I am scheduled to be back home on Friday, November 30, but will leave at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning for PA. The PA seminar ends my itinerary for 2007. It has been a very good year of service. There are times that I say to myself "Nehemiah 8:10." Why don't you read that verse for yourself and see why it means much to me.

There has not been a day since the first prayer seminar was conducted in 1980 that we have made a charge for our ministry. We are a faith ministry, which means that we trust the Lord to provide for our needs. We give everyone who attends a prayer seminar a prayer seminar workbook whether there is a contribution or not. Although we suggest contributions be made for our books and tapes, we do not sell them. Most are able and willing to contribute for the materials, but some cannot. Our internatonal ministry, which began in 1985, and has served forty-nine nations (Congo in November will be #50) is the best example of how God has provided through brothers and sisters who believe in what we are doing. For the upcoming seminars in South Africa, Kenya, and D. R. of Congo, the budget is $13,100. Ninety-three have contributed and we are just $1,900 from reaching the goal. Many sacrifice to provide the financial resources for brothers and sisters in other nations to experience the seminar. I am glad we are a faith ministry depending on the Lord to touch hearts to provide for the needs. 

Tomorrow I plan to spend some time answering e-mails that have been received during the past few days. Since both the November and December Reflectors had to be completed, most of the time I have read incoming e-mails. I continue amazed at the number soars so quickly. One of the e-mails was from John McSween, our coordinator for theTrinidad & Tobago. He said that many are still talking about the seminars. He is offering additional prayer seminar workbooks through his radio program and said the result has been good. Certainly, the people in this nation are blessed that there is an openness to the Gospel. When this is true, it is easy for God's children to get into a rut and coast along. Let's pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to press upon those who made commitments to follow through.

Last Wednesday night, one of the specific items for prayer mentioned during our weekly prayer meeting was the need for rain. God's people prayed in agreement. One week later, today, the rains have come. It was raining heavy when we went into church and even heavier when we came out. This is the second time since the prayer meeting that the area had rain. Last Friday, I drove many miles in heavy rain. It stopped about forty miles north of Charlotte. Sue said that she could see the green returning to the grass in our back yard before the day was over. God is good and sends rain on the just and the unjust. It pleased Him to answer our prayers because we acknowledged our dependence upon His grace and mercy. James 4:2b states that "you have not because you ask not." In James 4:3, it says, "You ask and don't receive because your motive is wrong." The right motive is that God will receive glory out of the answer. Tonight we are giving Him glory for sending the rain.

The past few days I have been writing copy for the November and December issues of the Reflector. Since I will be gone most of November to South Africa, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the December issue must be ready before I leave in order for it to be in the homes by December 1. This is a pleasant task. Since I began writing copy fifty-three years ago (that Reflector was for my church and folks in the community), I have asked the Lord to guide my words to the end that readers would find what they need. Sometimes a person needs a "charge." At other times he needs a "shock." One of my college professors used to say that the purpose of sharing a message is to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comforted." Well said. There is no subscription charge for the Reflector. Anyone who wishes to receive it is welcomed into the Reflector family. I count it an honor to visit in homes around the world through the Reflector. My desire is that God will get glory out of each issue.

One of my favorite activities is doing yard work. Through God's goodness and grace, Sue and I been blessed with large yards. When we moved to 1127 Lakeview Drive, all that we had was yard. There were no flowers. A side yard had a big tree stump right in the middle. We had to get rid of the stump and bring in several loads of dirt. I started preparing flower beds the first spring that we were here. That was five years ago. Season by season, I added additional beds until we now have in place all the beds we want. Since the weather is still mild in Lynchburg, we still have several flowers blooming. Since 1983, I have tried to have one major project either related to the house itself or the grounds. This year, we removed a rail fence that was quite old. I had seen a fence in South Africa composed of small brick columns with a pole between them. It was beautiful. Since our grandson, Beau, is in the masonry business we have a new fence that features thirty-three brick columns with a heavy chain between them. This has added a sense of stability to our enviroment. We have lots of trees. Today I have mowed and have worked in the leaves. Actually, the grounds are very beautiful. If you are in the Central Virginia area, come visit with us. Sue and I would love to see you.

I am in Robeson County, North Carolinia (Red Springs) for the weekend. Yesterday, I conducted a prayer seminar and was thrilled to see the response of God's people gathered to receive His Word. One thing that was special was having five pastors present for the entire six-hour seminar. Not only was this an opportunity encourage each pastor, but to share truths that the pastors can use with their own congregation. Today, I will lead an evangelism clinic teaching people how to share their faith using their personal testimony and a passage of Scripture. Then, I will bring the morning message at one of the churches. As soon as possible this afternoon, I will begin the journey home thankful for God opening the door for a North Carolina weeken.

One of the realizations that Sue and I had, when God began to impress upon us His call to enter into a traveling ministry, was that we could not do it alone. As we prayed, the Lord work me up early one morning and spoke to me through I Chronicles 9:22 in the Living Bible. "There were 212 Doorkeepers in those days; their genealogy was right; and God entrusted them with work." The answer was to allow Him to touch hearts of His children to become partners with us to provide prayer and financial support. It has worked beautifully for over one quarter century. As I leave in a few minutes to travel to the seminar/evangelism clinic/preaching assignment in Red Springs NC this weekend, it is encouraging to my heart to know that there are Doorkeepers around the nation that are praying for me. What a wonderful plan the Lord had in mind. His ways are the very best.

My first ministry in another country was an evangelistic crusade in Cuba in 1960. Since then,I have ministered in over fifty other nations. Monday night was the gathering of our family at our house for a dinner to celebrate two birthdays--Beau (our grandson) October 2 birthday and mine September 30 birthday. Beau and I had some private time together and we talked about a number of things including his aspiration to expand his masonry business (which he operates while doing full-time work with a major masonry company in Lynchburg. He said he loved everything about Lynchburg. I shared a project that I had been working on--alphabetizing currency from other nations beginning with Argentina and ending with Zambia. He was intrigued as he looked at the different bills and wanted any duplicates. This is an interesting exercise--seeing the money used in so many nations--and knowing that God loves each person in each of the nations, regardless of language or race, and that He sent His Son to pay for our sins when we trust Him. Our work is to share this Gospel and to equip His children to serve.