In my 20’s, passionately in pursuit of Jesus, I said, “It is my desire to show my attachment to the Cause of Him who died for me by devoting my life to His service.”

I wanted to go to China but the Opium War there prevented it.

At age 27 God used Robert Moffat to challenge my heart for another distant land. “Sometimes seen in the morning sun the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary had ever been.”  —- AFRICA!

In 1840 I would go to the “dark continent” and learn more about Africa than any one had ever known before. I even studied the African fever, and the deadly tsetse fly, that brings disease.

After 33 years of sharing Jesus in hundreds of villages, across borders, jungles and mountains I would meet my Savior.

On that morning in 1874, my African servants found me on my knees alongside the bed. They would bury my heart under a tree, and carry my physical body on their shoulders a thousand miles to the coast — a nine months’ march, then send it home to England.

I am David Livingston and my calling in life was to faithfully share the gospel message to the beautiful people living in Africa~.

Consider the principles of Galatians 6:7-8 about sowing and reaping.  Gods ability to bring a significant harvest is largely dependent upon the faith in which we sow!

Christian growth in Africa is nothing short of astounding. There were only 8.7 million African Christians in 1900 (just after Livingston) but today there are 389 million African Christians!  Most researchers believe that by 2025 there will be almost 600 million African Christians!!

Can one life make a difference?  Can YOUR life make a difference?!!  The answer is yes!!!!!!!

Consider today that there are still more than 1.5 billion people who have never heard the Good News.  What will you do about it?

Greetings, thanks for your love and passion and praying for our nation, thank you for remembering us in this time of pain. Your prayers are valuable and meaningful. we also want to draw your attention that Pakistan’s deadliest floods in decades killed more than 1,500 people. Million of people are homeless and many are dying without the food. Our ministry is praying and committed to help as many as we can. Currently we are willing to help the neighboring parts of our cityKarachi. where many many people are effected with the flood.we are requesting to God’s people local and international to help us to raise $12,000 to help more than 300 families.
Hope to hear from you soon
God bless you

Please be in prayer for all of Pakistan. 

Cyclone Yemyin in Pakistan
Monsoon floods kills more than 1,100  

Latest estimates indicate at least 1,100 people are confirmed dead, and an additional 1.5 million have been affected. Cyclonic winds of more than 80 miles per hour, coupled with heavy rains and subsequent flooding, have left some 150,000 to 200,000 people homeless. Fourteen districts in Balochistan and four districts in Sindh province have been affected. Balochistan’s power and water supplies have reportedly been destroyed.

 Our partners in Pakistan are positioned to help alleviate the suffering of the Pakistani residents who were hit hardest. This decision is in response to the Pakistani government’s request this week for donors and aid agencies to contribute toward the massive relief and rehabilitation efforts that are required. The Pakistani government is still obtaining final damage figures, since the Balochistan province makes up 44 percent of the country’s landmass, and the scale of loss and destruction is so vast. A state of emergency has been declared in the province’s worst-affected districts. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that a low-pressure system is expected to reach Sindh and Balochistan provinces this week; this weather development is considered dangerous, as more gusty winds and heavy rains will hit areas already severely damaged by Yemyin.

Your donation of any size will help us rush life-saving emergency supplies, food, water, blankets, and shelter to victims. Right now, children and their families are grieving, homeless, hungry, and exposed to disease. Your gift will help us respond to these and other emergency areas quickly!

Flood victims

The fact is that these precious women will form a listening group and listen to the Word of God for 1-2 hours every day!  Not only that but they will also establish a group of at least 12 people who will join them.  In most instances these people have NEVER heard the Bible in their lives.  Imagine the impact that this will have???!!

Isaiah 55:10-11 

 ¹⁰For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

    ¹¹So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Think of the overall impact when a new listening group is identified in month #2 and again in month #3 etc… etc…. etc….  THE TREASURE DOES NOT SIT STILL!!!

Here is what I am telling you has occurred in 2010, from January until July.  More than 432,000 have been exposed to structured listening groups during that time.  The majority of these dear ones are hearing the Good News for the first time in their lives!!!  What is the impact?  We trust that Isaiah 55 is true and KNOW that lives are being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thanks for being a participant through your prayers and financial support.  It takes all of us.  Just so you know………we will keep counting in 2010 until we pass 1 million historic listeners of the Word of God in unreached people groups!

Together in the Harvest,

Greg

I spoke about walking the Obedient Life.  That is such a mystery for so many Christians.  What does God want me to do?????  I can’t begin to count the number of people that I’ve met over the last 2 years who were in some form of transition, unsettled, searching, discontent, ready, ready for a breakthrough!!!  I’m very sure all of us have asked the Lord about the next assignment at some time or another.   Transition and change are part of life, so we had better become accustomed to discovering how to determine that next step. 

I admire people who have enormous amounts of faith to step out of the boat of familiarity into the unknown.  Into the place that they feel God has called them to go.  I think of Abram (soon to become Abraham) in Genesis 12 or Philip in Acts 8.  These are two of my heroes for going when God called.  But, even more than that is the fact that they never questioned!!  After God called them to a seemingly big question mark, the next words are something like “so they started out”.

I like what Henry Blackaby says in Experiencing God.  He discusses the importance of balancing the Bible, your prayers, the voice of your spiritual mentor and circumstances together to help you determine God’s direction.  Always remember that the direction you are led will not always make sense.  In fact, it has been my experience that the significant markers God establishes in your life are many times leading you into what might appear to be a confusing direction.  Remember this important fact.  There is always a greater purpose in mind that you are not initially seeing!  

Go back to Isaiah 55:8-9.  God’s ways and our ways are usually not in sinc.   When he says jump our flesh says walk.  When he says run, our flesh says sleep.  You get the idea.  Just because it does not make sense, does not mean God is not in it.  How many opportunities do we pass by because through our human gogglesit did not make sense??  We could not piece it together so we took the safe route.  The route of inaction.  The route of status quo.   I want more!  My hearts desire is to act upon every action the Lord calls me toward without knowing the outcome!!  I am sure his purpose is for my benefit so that is good enough for me.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” – Jeremiah 29:11

That is one of the reasons why I love working among unreached people groups.  I frequently feel completely helpless in determining direction because it is such an unkown, hostile environment to minister and there are no paths to follow.  Here is the beauty……it makes me and our organization more dependant upon the Lord!  That is God’s ultimate objective for each one of us.  To get you and I to a place of total surrender.    Psalms 85:13 ”Righteousness will go before the Lord, and he will make a path for my steps”

As you seek The Obedient Life, remember Abram and Philip.  Don’t be afraid.  Trust in His direction and take that step of faith.  You will not regret it!

Greg

“I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed! I have the Holy Spirit’s power! The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made-I’m a disciple of His! I won’t look back ,let up, slow down, back away ,or be still.  My past is redeemed ,my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I’m finished with low living ,sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams ,tamed visions ,worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence ,position, promotions ,plaudits ,or popularity.  I don’t have to be right ,first ,tops ,recognized, praised ,regarded ,or rewarded.  I now live by faith ,depend on His presence, walk by patience , am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. That’s what it means to be a disciple of Jesus”!!

When we know that our future is secure, everything else seems so much easier!!  Just imagine what we could accomplish if every follower of Christ dedicated themselves to living by faith.  If we chose to avoid at all costs sight walking, tamed visions and worldly talking?! 

The only way we will efffectivley live Acts 1:8 is if we live with the same type of commitment as our brother from Zimbabwe. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,

and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Lord, give me a passion for those who have never heard the name of Jesus.   Give me compassion for those who live near me that are hurting and need your love.  I want to be a vessel of grace and mercy among those in my circle of influence.  I want to be used for your assignment today!   Amen.

In order for anyone to evaluate the idea of being successful, they first need to be wearing the ‘right’ kind of goggles.   Your worldview has everything to do with how you’ll view success!  If you are all about getting more, bigger, better….did I mention more?!!  If these are your standards, you’ll never be content and therefore you’ll never feel successful.   

The world’s definition of success is to have a favorable outcome.  I think that is our problem.  It is so easy to get fixated on “having a favorable outcome” that we totally diminish the value of the journey!  I am a firm believer that some of life’s most precious and valuable experiences come when you are in the valley, not on the mountaintop.  If I am always trying to avoid the valley (working for a favorable outcome) how will I learn the most important lessons God has for me??  Take a look at the first chapter of James and you’ll see it laid out for you.   Actually, all you need is the first 8 verses.  Gods Word has a way of saying it plain but it can sting a little bit.

Do yourself a favor and bag the worlds definition of success and look for God’s standard instead.  I’m glad my friends in northern Nigeria who see loved ones kidnapped and murdered for coming to faith in Christ have on the right set of goggles.   Actually, I’m glad I serve a God who trusts me and loves me enough to allow me to walk through a few valleys.   Every time they occur it becomes one of the best opportunities you’ll ever get to showcase his love and grace.  HUH???  Yep, when you walk through the valley, Jesus gets all the more glory……………IF YOU HAVE ON THE RIGHT SET OF GOGGLES. 

I’ll leave you with this today.  My favorite life verse is 2Cor 12:9.  “My grace is sufficient for you and MY power is made perfect in weakness”.  I want his power, how about you? 

Greg

I’m not sure about you, but it seems incomprehensible to have such a large people group in 2010 without any type of measurable gospel witness?!!  I am confused, saddened yet optimistic all at the same time. 

1. Confusedbecause of all the advancements in technology, transportation and time (2,000 years from the assignment!) and we still haven’t made a dent.  Then I think of how crafty our enemy is and how HIS PLANS have been successful. 
   

   2Cor 4:3-4 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2. Saddened because I know that tens of thousands of Yadav are going into eternity each day.  While we are not their judge, I do know the Word of the Lord to be true.  For that reason my heart is deeply burdened for those who have not responded to the Good News. 
   

   1John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

   Will Those Who Have Never Heard the Gospel Be Lost? 
   

3. Optimistic,even though the enemy has had all of the success with these dear ones over the past hundreds of years.  I know that the Body of Christ will rise up and take its proper place among the Yadav.  That the glory of the Lord will become known!!!  
   

   Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song: 
      ”You are worthy to take the scroll 
         and to open its seals, 
      because you were slain, 
         and with your blood you purchased men for God 
         from every tribe and language and people and nation. 

I also remain optimistic because we are already seeing God do a great work among the Yadav!!  Just recently we received testimony that a large group had been baptized by our national partners who are distributing the Treasure.  They are seeing these formerly Hindu’s embrace the gospel message in its audio form.  Many of them live very simple lives, in rural settings with little educational opportunity.  Therefore the Treasure in their native tongue of Hindi has been an extremely effective tool!!  Please be in prayer for the Yadav.  We are trusting the Lord for 2,000 Treasures in 2010 for the Yadav.

Karl and Ann Olsson (missionaries in Haiti) told us that if the proper equipment were in place it would take crews working 2 years around the clock to remove the concrete piles. The amount of debris would fill the Louisiana Superdome 5 times!!

No one individual, government, church or ngo is going to make a dent in the recovery of Haiti. Remember we are not talking about normal circumstances. The reality is that this country had enormous challenges prior to the earthquake. Consider:

• Gross national income per capita is US$520, about half the total for Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the Americas. (World Bank)
• In rural areas, poverty and extreme poverty rates are estimated to be 84% and 69% respectively. (Institut Haïtien de Statistique et D’Informatique et al., 2001)
• Half of children under 5 are malnourished. (UNDP Human Development Report 2004)
• Less than 20% of schools have electricity; 39% have potable water; 15% have a library. (HICF Report 2004)

Combining these gloomy statistics with the devastation of the January earthquake seems insurmountable. But, I can still see a vibrant and prosperous Haiti one day! Why? Because I believe the focus of the people of that great land is turning a corner. They are realizing that outside aid is only one piece of their countries future. Dependence upon the one and true living God is where their hope rests!

Thousands of Haitians have been driven to their knees in genuine, authentic, passionate pursuit of the Lord. Let’s join them and watch the Lord heal their land!

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

2Chron 7:14

Greg Kelley
Executive Director

What is our ongoing response as follows of Christ?

The Bible says that pure and faultless religion is caring for orphans and widows in their distress.  James 1:27

Isn’t it amazing how our Christian witness does not always require words?!   In 2Corinthians 2:15 Paul talks about our lives being an “aroma”.  I believe that whatever we do we should strive to leave a sweet aroma so that the lives we encounter will be drawn to the ONE who is the ultimate provider of  peace and comfort!  In fact, He specializes in the most difficult of circumstances!

We still need people who are willing to leave an aroma that blesses those who have been so discouraged over these past few months in Haiti.  We’ll be sending down needed resources to help rebuild an orphanage and clinic.  We’ll be sending short-term teams to become the hands and feet of Christ.  We’ll be encouraging people to pray and ask the one who comforts to show up in a mighty way in these dear ones lives.

Give our office a call.  Pray for what we are doing.  Tell someone else and challenge them to make that same impact that Paul is speaking about.

Because of HIM,

Greg