Lost Sheep Ministries News September 2015 - Nigeria The Great Commission: Matthew 28: 18-20 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 Pastor Bob: We hope you are not tiring of our International mission newsletters. Following a brief rest from trips to Moscow, Russia and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I traveled to Nigeria to speak at their National Pastor's Conference. This return to Nigeria was to be an equipping mission of many pastors who will, in turn, take the Gospel across their nation and the continent of Africa. We must follow Christ's mandate of making Disciples that will sustain a Christian movement following our departure from the local scene. I believe this mission was accomplish and I was personally rewarded by helping seventy seven new converts enter our eternal Kingdom of Heaven. -- Pastor Bob Sunday, August 16, 2015: I departed Houston on Sunday or I should say Monday at 2:30 am as the scheduled departure time was not met due to mechanical problems. Therefore, we arrived about 4 hours late at 6 pm in Lagos, the capital city of Nigeria, West Africa. As usual, it took about 1 and ½ hours to claim the luggage. I had four boxes filled with choir robes from FBC Texas City. I was met at the airport by two men from Nnewi, Nigeria who would deliver the luggage to Nnewi by car and I would fly to Asaba, Nigeria on Tuesday morning. I also was met by Emmanuel Dada s friend, John, who picked me up to stay at his home and give me a ride to airport on Tuesday morning. It was about 10 PM when we arrived at John s home. It is a very large home with dinner waiting. I really was not hungry but sat at the table with John and his 85-year-old mother conversing and eating a little so as not to offend them. I went down stairs after a restless night to breakfast at 6 am. Then John s driver Kevin drove me to the domestic airport. I departed Lagos at 9:30 am for a 45 minute flight to Asaba. My ride came and then I slept in the car the entire 2-hour ride to Save the Lost Mission Church in Nnewi, Nigeria. It was about 4 pm when we arrived. Page 1 of 5
A crowd was already gathering for the Annual Pastor's Conference to begin at 7 PM. I went to the hotel and showered and rested but still don t have any clothes since my suitcase is still in route from Lagos along with the 4 boxes of robes. I was picked up at 7:30 and brought to the Save the Lost Mission compound. Wow there are people everywhere. The Inside of the building was packed with about 900 people and approximately 300 others were standing in and around doorways. For the next 3 hours, I was blessed beyond description. Choirs from 18 different Save the Lost locations throughout Nigeria participated in praising the Lord. Each choir was dressed in different and very beautiful robes or other clothing. It is hard to explain; They all sang the same song and were then critiqued by 4 judges. This was very difficult competition. The judges were fair I believe in their critiques, which were always uplifting and encouraging. Repeatedly the choir members were reminded that they were ministers of music to the Lord Jesus Christ and He was their audience not the crowd of people in front of them. This time of witnessing the praise from these groups really made me aware of how awesome heaven is going to be. I am tired but blessed to be here. This afternoon I will share with the pastors and others a message God has given me. 9 PM on Wednesday: What an awesome service; Indescribable! PastorTony and I both shared messages God had place on our hearts. I actually began working on mine in Moscow, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I combined Church Sent with I Am messages. God sent angels, Abraham, Moses, the prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Church and me. I am a saint, servant, soldier, priest, anointed, ambassador for Christ. God placed on my heart to challenge them to pray the prayer of Jabez each day: Expand my borders. Who will be first to plant a Save the Lost Mission church in China?, Vietnam?, Cambodia?, Saudi Arabia?, and other countries? Page 2 of 5
When Pastor Tony gave the invitation, hundreds flocked to the front. I prayed that Jesus would put His mind in them, that God the Father would put His love in their hearts, the love He had when He sent His son Jesus to the cross to die for them. I asked the Holy Spirit to fill them, and gift them and when they opened their eyes, they would see the world as Jesus sees the world. Friday 12:30 pm 8/21/15: I just preached a message on forgiveness and more than 100 came to the altar to ask God to forgive them for the unforgiveness they had in their hearts towards others. Tonight I will share on Hannah s prayer from 1 Samuel. Saturday 8/22/15 2:45 pm: I prayed, praised and rested. Amen. Deborah picked me up at 9:30 am and we returned to the Pastor's Conference. God put the icing on the cake today by calling His choir to the altar and then having ministers of Save the Lost Mission distribute the choir robes donated by FBC Texas City. The joy was indescribable. I can t wait for the members of FBC Texas City to see the video of the choir being donned with robes and then singing and dancing and singing and dancing. It was beautiful. I then shared a message God laid on my heart last night. The seven saddest words in the Bible Depart from me I never knew you! I shared that the Holy Spirit laid on my heart that there would be many under the sound of my voice who have called him Lord but can t call him Savior because they have never repented. They never have been truly born again. Oh, they may have come to the altar and prayed the sinner s prayer but they knew in their heart that they never repented. The old man is still alive in them. There is no Holy Spirit present in them. When I gave the invitation I believe more than 70 came forward many were weeping loudly. Page 3 of 5
Wow, God, You are amazing. Thank you Holy Spirit for allowing me to be your minister to these that God sent His Son Jesus to die for today. Holy Spirit you convicted their hearts that they were religious but not righteous. As I reflect on this wonderful annual Pastor's Conference in Nigeria, I am amazed at the preparations and planning necessary to make it happen. Taking care of 1,300 people is no small task. It requires many volunteer workers to handle the logistics of housing, feeding, and transporting that large a crowd for a week. The workers all seemed so very happy working together. Saying good bye to eternal friends is never easy for me. I can only imagine the reunions we will enjoy when we all get to heaven with our Saviour. I am at the airport in Asaba waiting for a 5 pm return flight to Lagos. Just when I was thinking that my role this week was to equip the saints the Holy Spirit gave me a harvest of souls. Thank you Holy Spirit for gifting me with the gift of Evangelism. Page 4 of 5
Saturday 8/22/15 10 pm: I m on the flight to Houston. Seat 1E. Thank you Lord for your favor. I had a wonderful time at the airport waiting for the plane sharing with a young 29 year old Christian man. We viewed the videos and photos together from the Save the Lost Mission Pastor's Conference. I am returning home again in awe of the Holy Spirit and how I am learning more and more to be still and LISTEN. I completely changed my message for this morning from Hannah s prayer confident that the Holy Spirit wanted me to speak on Repentance. I look forward to attending Citymark Church in League City, TX in the morning and then departing for the Houston, TX airport again to fly to Amsterdam to pick up Pastor Yoes and his family As one of my Texas friends often says, I m drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup runneth over -- Pastor Bob Recommended Reading: The Spirit of the Disciplines by: Dallas Willard. One of today's most brilliant Christian thinkers and author of The Divine Conspiracy presents a way of living that enables ordinary men and women to enjoy the fruit of the Christian life. He reveals how the key to self-transformation resides in the practice of the spiritual disciplines, and how their practice affirms human life to the fullest. The Spirit of the Disciplines is for everyone who strives to be a disciple of Jesus in thought and action as well as intention. AmazonSmile.com purchases helps LSM: Purchases through AmazonSmile.com will result in financial contributions to the Lost Sheep Ministries. Please use "http://smile.amazon.com/ch/76-0364036" 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 130-144, League City, TX 77573. 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 email only. Email addresses may be removed or added to distribution by notifying John Overton at dotnjohn@comcast.net. Note: All of our Newsletters and Power point presentations along with student manuals are available free from our web: www.lostsheepministries.com Page 5 of 5