Lost Sheep Ministries News May Mexico

Transcription

1 Lost Sheep Ministries News May Mexico The Great Commission: Matthew 28: is a commission for all Christians to GO, make Disciples, and teach them to OBEY all that Jesus has commanded us. LSM is dedicated to evangelizing the lost and making Disciples of Christ that make Disciples of Christ according to II Timothy 2:2. Notes from Brother Bob: Today is May 7, 2015 and Pastor Tony Okeke, Jimmie Stanfield, and I will travel to Nigeria and to Uganda tonight. I am like a youngster the day before Christmas! I love travelling as a Saint, Servant, Soldier, Priest, and Ambassador for Jesus Christ the King of kings. We will conduct conferences and revival services in both countries. Jimmie will teach a class for one week on Theology at the Bible College in Nnewi, Nigeria at Save the Lost Mission. We really do covet your prayers. MUCH PRAYER MUCH POWER no prayer no power. I eagerly await God s surprises and challenges and blessings. Amen, amen, amen, amen! Yesterday we tested a software package called WebEx which will allow us to broadcast from a studio in Dickinson, TX over the Internet. We are excited about this new capability to expand our borders. We will be able to hold interactive on-line classes domestically and internationally. Our faithful servants, Lazarus and Dalia Vargas provide our International story for this issue. They have returned to a prison on the Mexico side of our southern border to bring hope to inmates in Piedras Negras, Mexico. May 1-3, 2015 Greetings to all our most beloved brothers and sisters and co-laborers in our LORD and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We want to thank our LORD Jesus Christ for the wonderful manifestation of HIS saving GRACE that we witnessed this past weekend. I am always deeply humbled when I am in the presence of the mighty hand of GOD working in the midst of all the chaos that is permeating in various parts of the world - especially in Mexico. Page 1 of 6

2 There are times when I am saddened by the news, the riots, racial division in our land, and so many other issues tearing our nation apart. However, in many parts of the world, GOD is continually turning the hearts of men and women to salvation through HIS son, Jesus Christ! This past weekend in the men's prison in Piedras Negras, Mexico, I saw men shouting for joy, singing, dancing, and offering praises to the LORD just as David danced unto the LORD after victory over the Philistines. The prisoners provided music for all of our services. They played guitars, drums, and a keyboard beautifully. Our brothers from Eden, Texas, Plufergiville, Texas, Pastor Frank Banda and Sister Isabel Banda and their children, joined us. Several of the pastors baptized 24 new converts. Before starting the service, the brothers, who were to be taking part in the baptisms and bringing the WORD, embraced each other and prayed..what a beautiful picture of our brothers seeking God's guidance before beginning the service! My husband, Lazarus, brought a wonderful message about hearing, meditating, memorizing, and applying God's word to our lives in order to become a strong Christian and not be led away by the enemy (Satan). Page 2 of 6

3 Pastor Robert also brought a wonderful message which admonished the men in the prison to stay strong in the LORD and not to let go of their faith in Christ! He told them that in times of temptation, loneliness, despair, hunger, or whatever life throws at them, their strong foundation of faith in Christ will keep them on the right path. Brother Gavino is from Guatemala. He was a drug addict, sold drugs, and wanted to commit suicide. However, he had a praying mother in Guatemala who never lost hope of someday seeing her son saved and preaching the Word of God to bringing others to Christ! Wow!! He was already there preaching and leading worship before we all arrived. I was given the privilege to sing and give a brief testimony of how I was diagnosed with lymphoma, but God said NO to that lymphoma. Thank you, LORD! Below is my husband, Lazarus, preaching,"the WORD of God in your Hand and in your Heart!" He loves to get the men to take part in a "visual" preaching! Pastor Frank Banda, who is standing on stage dressed in white and black, was also a drug addict, a drug dealer, and was radically saved and is bringing many to faith in Christ!! God takes the debased of this world to use them for HIS glory! After the preaching, the new "babes" in Christ were going to make their profession of faith in the LORD public. After being baptized, our new brothers in Christ were given a Bible and a calendar with a memory verse for each day! Page 3 of 6

4 Thanks to our dear brother, Pastor Bob Gibson, for supplying us with those Bibles. Our newborn brothers were so excited to receive the WORD of GOD. Here is a photo of the men who are in line waiting to be baptized by the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Pastor Robert from Freeport, Texas, pastor Frank Banda from Piedras Negras, Mexico, brother Gavino, brother Carlos (shown with the white cap and blue shorts), and pastor Blake from Eagle Pass, Texas all took part in baptizing the prisoners (1 Peter 3:21-22). The baptism water symbolizes a change from a carnal life to new life in Christ. It is not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It symbolizes ones salvation by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God s right hand with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him. The baptism line went all the way to the back of the church! Praise the LORD! The brother in the bottom right, who was also baptized, was in the US illegally, and deported to Mexico and now in prison. Since he speaks fluent English, he was the one assisting another Pastor from Eden, Texas by translating to those who were being baptized about their new life in Christ and about the importance of reading God's word. Page 4 of 6

5 The men were given a bag containing a white t-shirt, and some personal items for their daily hygiene needs. These bags were provided by our dear brothers and sisters from Pflugerville, Texas. The men were also provided a meal. My husband, Lazarus, was so very tired, but so full of joy that he congratulated each and every one of the new brothers in Christ on their very special day. We did not ask them what they had done that had them in prison, we just loved them and gave them the same hope that was once given to us through the love of Christ. Following the message, Pastor Robert gave the altar call and about 30 more men prayed the sinner's prayer and asked Jesus to be LORD of their lives. It was such a wonderful, amazing time to take part in what GOD is doing behind prison walls. I remember when I was a child I would ask God, "Why is my mother in prison, and why am I being taken to a foster home?" I did not understand my situation at the time and I thought it was unfair. Page 5 of 6

6 God was going to show me that I would be used as an instrument to take part in bringing others to Christ, maybe not by preaching, teaching, or playing an instrument, but just by doing what I can - What the LORD enables me to do. I, along with my husband, Lazarus, and all these very loving, godly, unselfish individuals have given of their time, talent, and treasure to go to a small border town in Piedras Negras, Mexico to tell others about the love of Christ. We are deeply indebted to the many of you who have given of your clothes, shoes, money, Bibles, and many other items for the cause of CHRIST! Most importantly, we are very grateful for your prayers and love in the LORD. Please continue to keep us in prayer as the LORD continues to open doors, not only in Piedras Negras, Mexico, but also to other parts of the world. Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Recommended Reading: The Crucified Life by A.W. Tozer. The Apostle Paul declared in his letter to the Galatians that he had been "Crucified with Christ." But what does this mean? Is this a claim every believer can and should make? The Crucified Life is a comprehensive examination of these questions, answered with the deep, Biblical thinking for which Tozer was revered. "God is ingenious in developing crosses for His follower, " Tozer was fond of saying. At the heart of this book, you will find a call to follow Christ to the cross and be raised to new life - a call to live the crucified life. AmazonSmile.com purchases helps LSM: Purchases from AmazonSmile.com will result in financial contributions to the Lost Sheep Ministries. Please use " for your book and electronics purchases and 0.05% of your purchase will be donated to LSM. Tax Deductable Donations to LSM: Lost Sheep Ministries is a 501(c) non-profit organization. Donations may be made to LSM, 2951 Marina Bay Drive, Suite , League City, TX We are seeking funds to travel, equip, and commission others to take the Gospel of Christ to all nations. This monthly newsletter will be distributed by only. addresses may be removed or added to distribution by notifying John Overton at dotnjohn@comcast.net. Our website is at - All of our Newsletters are posted on our website. A Personal Note: With age, we feel like we work as rear guards while others proclaim the Gospel of Christ on the front lines. Pastor Bob is in his early 70's but pushes himself to be obedient to Christ. Though Pastor Lazarus is handicapped with polio since a child, he pushes himself as well for the Kingdom. Such men are depositing great wealth in heaven. Pray for them. Page 6 of 6