May and June 2019
This last month and a half has been ridiculously busy and blessed! As you know, I am working full time for the Army in the middle of the Mojave desert, but the Lord has blessed us with an abundance of ministry.
Starting in May, I had the opportunity of sharing at The Pursuit Christian Fellowship in Gilbert Arizona. This was an extra special blessing because Tina and I got to hang out with a couple of our best friends, Tim and Jenny Lee, and Greg and Lori Ward. Tim pastors The Pursuit. Tim and Jenny haven’t laid eyes on Tina for close to 20 years. So you can imagine the blessing that reunion was.
June 2nd I was asked to share at another friends church, Calvary Chapel Paradise, in Las Vegas Nevada. I gave a brief highlight of our current ministry with Saving Grace Worlds Missions and then shared on the Purpose of the church.
I find it interesting that the purpose of the church is to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have yet to hear it. With an estimated 3 billion 234 million people who have never heard of the name of Jesus, much less the free gift of salvation offered in His name, I’m surprised so many of us in the church are not engaged in taking the gospel into all the world. In reality, if we don’t do it, who will?
Jesus in Mat 7:12 “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
What Jesus is basically saying is put yourself in the other guys shoes and treat him the way you would want to be treated should the tables be turned. I know, knowing what I know now, if I were unsaved I would desperately want someone to share Christ with me. I’m so thankful for those who did share the love of Christ with me when I was lost.
I know that we are not all called to be missionaries, but we are all called to care about the state of those who are dead in their sins and trespasses, with no hope of heaven.
The message finished with a gentle invitation to get involved. Everyone has a part to play in the Great Commission. We all can do at least one of three things.
- We can Pray first and foremost. There is a lot we can do after we pray but there is not much we can do of any value until we pray.
- After we pray we can go. I invited everyone at The Pursuit Christian Fellowship and Calvary Chapel Paradise, and I invite everyone reading this update, pray about going on a trip to South Asia or the Middle East with me. We’ll visit the colleges I oversee and spend time ministering and pouring into the students there.
- Finally, for those who can’t go, but would really like too, they can send. Some people have the means but not the time. Some, have the time but lack the means. When a person serves as a “Sender” they share equally in the rewards.
If we will be involved in the Great Commission is any combination of these ways, we will hear from our Savior, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
I have started to lay the ground work for a new Bible College in the Middle East. I’m really excited for this work to get off the ground. I had hoped it would start this semester but there are a few more things we need to work out before we launch it. I have spoken to a number of people who are interested in teaching and we have approximately 20 muslim background believers waiting for classes to begin.
Lastly, we are about to start a new Semester at the Bible Colleges in South Asia. This will be the first semester we be teaching via Skype to the Northern and the Central campus simultaneously. This semester we have many returning students, as well as number of new students. The student body is growing. We have teachers teaching via Skype from Pakistan, Oregon and across Southern California. The classes this semester include Church History, The Prison Epistles, The Pastoral Epistles, and The Book of Proverbs, which I will be teaching this semester. Our staff on the ground will be teaching the book of Hebrews, the Gospel of Mark, New Testament Survey III (Matthew – Acts), and Practical Christian Ministry. On Thursday nights we have various Calvary Chapel pastors teach a Chapel via Skype. This semester the topics that will be covered are Missions: The importance of taking the gospel to the world, The attributes of God, and a Biblical View on the Spiritual Gifts. It’s going to be such an exciting semester.
My last lastly is this, I have applied for a 10 year visa and I will be returning to South Asia with a group of pastors sometime mid October – November. We will be holding a pastor’s conference for the local national pastors serving in South Asia. Our prayer is to refresh and equip them for the work of the ministry. We will also be holding a Leadership conference for the leadership and staff of the three Bible Colleges. We will be pouring into them fresh vision and strengthening them in the work. Lastly, half the team will continue on to Nepal for a pastor’s conference there while I take a team of pastors to the south to finish out the semester at the Southern Campus. I will have the pastors with me teaching block classes and interacting with the student. Imagine having a group of pastors hanging out with you for a week and you can ask them anything and just sit and soak up all their teaching. It’s going to be a glorious trip. Please be praying
If you are not currently a financial supporter, I would invite you to please pray about joining us in raising up pastors and missionaries who will take the gospel place we could only dream of going? Our ministry is to raise up men and women and send them out to the truly unreached people of the world.
For those of you who are standing with us in the work, thank you. Tina and I are so thankful for your prayers, love, friendship and support. I hope one day you’ll be joining me on a trip that will change your life and spoil you for ordinary living.
And for my last lastly, If you would like me to come to your church and share a message on missions and God’s heart for the unreached of the world, I would be more than happy to do so. Please just email me and we can make those arrangements.
God bless,
Gary and Tina
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