A MINISTRY TO THE NATIONS
Laborers Together with God--1 Corinthians 3:9
A MINISTRY TO THE NATIONS
SOUTH AFRICA
September 12-28, 2012
Prayer is the work that must come before “greater works” can be done for the Lord Jesus Christ. Slip into the Upper Room and listen to Jesus explain this truth to His disciples (John 14:12-14). For the past twenty-six years, God has opened doors throughout the world for prayer seminars to equip believers to establish Lighthouses of Prayer for their families, their communities, their nations,and the world. God has stirred up His children to provide the needed prayer and financial support. Since 1998, we have centered on nine nations in southern Africa. The Southern Africa Story is thrilling. We are praying that 100 will become partners with us in the 2012 effort (the 14th year for my personal involvement). Will you be one of them? We need you.
This is the seventy-third time that I have sat down to draft an “initial letter” to our Doorkeepers regarding prayer seminars in other nations. Since there has been a follow-up letter providing a progress report on how the funds were coming in, you could say this is the 145th letter. That’s a lot of letters and a lot of years. Each time I am reminded of the awesome responsibility that God has placed upon JGHM to teach God’s children the purpose and power of prayer and to mobilize prayer warriors to man lighthouses of prayer. By faith, we have trusted God to stir His children to become partners in each venture firmly believing that where God guides, He provides. He has faithfully answered our prayers and I am persuaded that He will continue to do so.
This is the fourteenth “initial letter” to focus on South Africa. We have witnessed the change from a white dominated apartheid system where the vast majority of the people were disenfranchised and looked down upon to a democratic system where everyone can participate. From the beginning of our ministry there in 1996, we have primarily worked in Black townships with indigenous churches where there has never been basic teaching related to the Christian life—the Word of God, Spirit-filled living, prayer, witnessing, and stewardship.
The first year (1996), God brought a remarkable couple, Leslie and Tabitha Motsalane, into our lives. The second year (1997), Leslie was the one who arranged the venue. When Sue and I returned for the third year (1998), Leslie was again in charge. Seminars were scheduled to begin in Lesotho, the mountain kingdom. Then we were to go to Botswana and return to South Africa for a series of seminars. When we arrived, we found that a virtual civil war was going on in Lesotho following a questionable election. People were being murdered in the street in front of the palace. Chaos reigned. We rearranged the schedule to begin in Botswana and then conduct seminars in South Africa and pray for the Lord’s direction concerning Lesotho. Things settled down and we decided to go.
During the drive from Welkom, Leslie’s home in the Free State, Sue was sitting in the front seat of the van talking to Leslie. I was sitting in the back seat, studying the Bible. Leslie looked around and said that God has spoken to him. The content of the prayer seminar was what the believers in Southern Africa needed and he was determined to see that this teaching continued until Jesus returned! That is the genesis of J. Gordon Henry Ministries—Southern Africa Branch.
Year by year, we returned until it was concluded in 2008 that Leslie was ready to carry on the seminars freeing us to work in other countries. In 2011, it was determined that I needed to return and the flame was rekindled. Leslie has built a large church, developed leadership, and is talking of retiring and devotion the rest of his life to the prayer seminar ministry. To encourage and support him, I will return for the fourteenth year September 12—28 with seminars in ten cities.
So, here we go again! We need 100 partners to provide financial support. The budget is $9,000 (which includes international travel, domestic travel, 2,000 prayer seminar workbooks, food/lodging for the team, and support for Leslie). Again ,$9,000 is a MOUNTAIN to climb for a small ministry. I am glad to be your missionary-teacher. Knowing that many of you sacrifice to support the prayer seminars, I promise to give my best. The biggest need is PRAYER SUPPORT. Whether you can give money or not, you can pray knowing God will hear and answer.
BACK TO KENYA—EAST AFRICA
BACK TO KENYA—EAST AFRICA
May 3—22, 2012
Since that infamous civil war following the last election, we have received frequent communication from brothers and sisters in Kenya. The following are statements that I have pulled out of recent e-mails allow us to keep the proper focus on what we can continue to do to help—not only in Kenya, but other nations as well.
“Our country needs healing after being deeply fractured by the post-election violence in 2006.” “Kenya needs a lot of prayer work.” “What you have done is to teach us how we can mobilize prayer warriors and how to train them in this vital work.” “Through the Swahili Prayer Seminar Workbook, you have provided materials in an easily read format to teach and follow—materials that bring the Bible alive.”
May 3—22 are the 2012 dates for ministry in Kenya. Beginning on Saturday, May 5, the first of sixteen prayer seminars will be conducted in Total, three hours west of Nairobi. Then a seminar is scheduled for the next fifteen days in each of the following localities located in West Kenya: Timboroa, Bruntforest, Cheptieret, Kiambaa, Eldoret West, Kipkarren, Turbo, Jua Kali, Iten, Ziwa, Kapsabe, Langas, Chekinioiyo, and Eldoret. Among the items for your prayer list, please include traveling safety, physical stamina and a measure of health for both me and my interpreter, receptive and alert minds for the participants, and for freedom for the Holy Spirit to do a mighty work that will bring God the Father and Jesus the Son great glory. Since he accepted the call of God to conduct prayer seminars, Martin Shikuku, pastor, Glory Baptist Church, Eldoret, has faithfully done an exemplary job. Keep him, his family, and his congregation on your lips in prayer.
Latin American Prayer Seminars It all started in Los Angeles!
Latin American Prayer Seminars
It all started in Los Angeles!
I recall the 1992 telephone conversation vividly. A Lutheran pastor in the Los Angeles suburb of Gardenia shared that he was retiring from his pastorate at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and wanted to give his people a special leaving gift. He wanted to “give” them the prayer seminar ministry bearing any expense personally. Then he explained that he actually had three congregations, English, Korean, and Spanish, and wanted the gift for each of them. One problem that we discussed was the prayer seminar workbook. At that time, there was an English translation and a Korean translation, but no Spanish translation. He quickly said that would be no problem. He would be responsible for providing a Spanish translation. Thus, the Spanish edition was born. The approach that we used was different than we had ever followed. In the main auditorium, I taught the seminar. In one room, the Spanish-speaking believers gathered with a Spanish interpreter and a Spanish workbook. In another room, this approach was duplicated, a Korean interpreter and a Korean workbook. I will never forget the Gardenia seminars. Interestingly enough, a few days later Los Angeles was burning. The rioting moved closer and closer to the Lutheran church building, but as God’s people prayed, it ceased a few blocks from the building.
A few months later, Sue and I headed to Puerto Rico with a large supply of Spanish prayer seminar workbooks to accommodate seminars in that nation, in Venezuela, in Costa Rica, and in Mexico. On that trip, we arrived in Caracas, Venezuela and had to move the workbooks on a baggage cart to the domestic airport nearby for our flight to Bolivar State. As the trek began, a cart wheel came off and there we stood with boxes of workbooks (for Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Mexico)! Oops! During this trip, we profited from the work of the Lutheran pastor and his secretary. Now, we have distributed thousands upon thousands in many nations beyond the initial four nations—Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, and Chile.
Over the years, God has allowed us to travel throughout Venezuela teaching God’s children the purpose and power of prayer. Now we are ready for the fourth year of prayer seminars primarily for the Baptists who are celebrating their 60th year as a national convention. Consequently, many churches have been revived, thousands upon thousands of prayer warriors have been mobilized, and thousands have been saved. In my spirit I am simply praying, “Do it again, Lord!”
FEBRUARY 24-MARCH 12
FEBRUARY 24-MARCH 12
The venue is established for ten prayer seminars February 24-March 12. The first six days will be in Caracas and the next ten days will be in Bolivar, the country’s largest state. We will return to Caracas from one additional seminar before returning home.
We have learned that when we have one-hundred partners to join us in providing prayer and financial support, we have funds to cover the budget. As Sunday, February 19 (five days before I leave for Venezuela), we have received forty-four contributions totaling $3,463.75--$2,536.25 short of the $6,000 projected budget. As you see, we need additional help. We are grateful for the 44 and are praying for 56 more to partner with us. Spanish workbooks are in the process of being printed. Thank you for allowing me to be your emissary to Venezuela. I will give a full report when I return.
Latin American Prayer Seminars
Latin American Prayer Seminars
It all started in Los Angeles!
I recall the 1992 telephone conversation vividly. A Lutheran pastor in the Los Angeles suburb of Gardenia shared that he was retiring from his pastorate at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and wanted to give his people a special leaving gift. He wanted to “give” them the prayer seminar ministry bearing any expense personally. Then he explained that he actually had three congregations, English, Korean, and Spanish, and wanted the gift for each of them. One problem that we discussed was the prayer seminar workbook. At that time, there was an English translation and a Korean translation, but no Spanish translation. He quickly said that would be no problem. He would be responsible for providing a Spanish translation. Thus, the Spanish edition was born. The approach that we used was different than we had ever followed. In the main auditorium, I taught the seminar. In one room, the Spanish-speaking believers gathered with a Spanish interpreter and a Spanish workbook. In another room, this approach was duplicated, a Korean interpreter and a Korean workbook. I will never forget the Gardenia seminars. Interestingly enough, a few days later Los Angeles was burning. The rioting moved closer and closer to the Lutheran church building, but as God’s people prayed, it ceased a few blocks from the building.
A few months later, Sue and I headed to Puerto Rico with a large supply of Spanish prayer seminar workbooks to accommodate seminars in that nation, in Venezuela, in Costa Rica, and in Mexico. On that trip, we arrived in Caracas, Venezuela and had to move the workbooks on a baggage cart to the domestic airport nearby for our flight to Bolivar State. As the trek began, a cart wheel came off and there we stood with boxes of workbooks (for Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Mexico)! Oops! During this trip, we profited from the work of the Lutheran pastor and his secretary. Now, we have distributed thousands upon thousands in many nations beyond the initial four nations—Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, and Chile.
Over the years, God has allowed us to travel throughout Venezuela teaching God’s children the purpose and power of prayer. Now we are ready for the fourth year of prayer seminars primarily for the Baptists who are celebrating their 60th year as a national convention. Consequently, many churches have been revived, thousands upon thousands of prayer warriors have been mobilized, and thousands have been saved. In my spirit I am simply praying, “Do it again, Lord!”