Testimony: Duane Wessels

Duane Wessels, a You Can Tell It! master instructor for EvanTell, recently traveled to Nigeria and Ghana to equip ministry leaders to train their fellow believers in personal evangelism.

“The benefit of what God is doing is already evident. Church leaders are being re-energized to reach more and more unbelievers, not just fellow Christians. EvanTell’s new resources for children are enthusiastically received by the leadership. The demand is great. Thanks for your prayers.”

Humility, Sincerity, and a Desire to be used by God

I had an unexpected, but welcome visitor today. He’s a civil engineer by trade, getting ready to finish up a major construction project at a local church. He’s in his 70’s, and lately has been particularly burdened by the recent tragic events in Myanmar and China. This burden has sparked his interest in being used by the Lord overseas, particularly in “third world” countries. He’s not sure what his next assignment will be, but has made himself available to the Lord. He asked me if I would be on the lookout for ministry opportunities where his expertise and experience would be of value. His humility, sincerity, and desire to be used by the Lord were obvious.

Here’s a man in the last half of his life who is totally open to be used by the Lord. He has what I refer to as “eternal perspective,” the desire to make a difference for the kingdom. I pray that the Lord will open just the right door of opportunity in His perfect timing. It is a privilege to meet and work with people who have put their future plans in God’s hands and are willing to go anywhere, anyplace, at any time for the sake of the gospel and the kingdom.

Letters From Myanmar – Funds reach Partners

From one of the missionaries to the orphans. She is detailing how they are using the funds we were able to send her:

“I thank God so much for His provisions and using you as our parents. I am carefully using the resources you have given for most needed area. We went to the market and got some ambrelas (umbrellas), slippers (sandals), under wares, and school needs for the children (orphans). We will pray and use wisely the rest for helping the children as much as possible. Please tell everyone who are helping us; we have unspeakable thanks to them and pray for them too.”

Prayer:

Father, thank you that the funds we sent made it to our partners on the ground in Myanmar. I pray that you would continue to meet their most basic needs and protect them in Jesus name. I also pray that you would abundantly provide for us to send even more resources to this country in desperate need of the hope of the gospel.

Letters From Myanmar – Thank You

Here is a letter from one of the indigenous missionaries relaying a big thank you from those receiving food and water and the gospel:

“As I mentioned before, our friends stay in small temporary tents. (This refers to a house church among the very poor Buddhist people and another area about 30 miles out of town which is nearby a prison. They have started another house church there with a prison guard who has accepted Christ. In both areas, they lived in bamboo shacks - now obliterated). They were thrilled for your love gifts of food and water and it means so much for them. There is no ferry boat to get across the river anymore so we have to take a small boat which is very dangerous because of the floods. Please pray for our safety.”

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for their bravery and heart for the lost. I pray that you would continue to keep them safe as they bring food, water, and your love to those who are now homeless.

Letters From Myanmar – Meeting Needs

From one of our main partner evangelists who is using some of the funds we provided for the basic needs of the people:

“Our friends in that regions have lost their homes and they stay in small temporary tents. The needs are so huge and it is more than we can do for them. So we visit them every day and tell them how our heavenly father love them and care for them. Some friends were sick because of the rain and we give them medicines. When we give them rice and the next day thousands of their friends have come to us.”

Prayer:

Father, I pray that You would abundantly provide for the needs of the believers and for those they are ministering to in Burma. Give them boldness as they let the people know the provisions come from You.

Letters From Myanmar - For the Sake of the Gospel

Here is another letter from our director of operations:

“I myself with some of my friends had personally been to the storm-hit areas and saw how great the basic needs of the victims was, such as food, shelter, water etc. I am still collecting whatever we can get here with my friends to visit those suffering people as I am convinced that this is the right time to show the father’s love to the victims by sharing what we have. In doing so, we expect a future approaching bridge through which the life-giving Word can be easily communicated to them. Please share with all of your friends there the very great needs we have here that are not being yet being met.”

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the servant leadership of our Burmese partners who, in the midst of trying to survive themselves, are reaching out to their neighbors for the sake of the gospel.

Letters from Myanmar - Continue to Pray

In my most recent correspondence I am amazed by their perspective. Regardless of circumstances they are praying to our faithful Father. Please join them and pray for them daily. Here is another letter from our partners on the ground:

“To get access to e-mail takes two to three hours with very low connection. I am very concern now that I have not heard from the neighboring region. Their area was one of the worst areas where the storm hit. Please continue to pray for them. The road is still blocked so we can’t send anyone by bus to see what happened there. [In "good" times it is about and 8 hour bus ride]. The rest of the outreach people are OK but need to fix their houses. One of the roofs is wide open and water is up to their knees now inside their house. Other houses are completely under water. Please continue to pray for that God will take care of us as He did in the past many years.”

Prayer:

Father, thank you for your faithfulness to your children throughout the ages. I pray that you would take care of the believers in Myanmar as they try to survive and help those in desperate need.

Letters from Myanmar – Eyewitness Account

Eyewitness account from one of our partners in Myanmar who heads one of the Bible Schools:

“Half of the orphanage building where the younger children and girls stay is destroyed. The roof are removed by cyclone and inside was flooded. The children abandonded their house and take refuge at the other orphanage building. Their house need much renovation. Many things are broken.

My house is affected and damaged. Everywhere rain is leaking and only one room is saved where we stay there. Besides, what we all face is the lack of foods and water. Every prices are lifted up to fourthfolds. Other teachers and leaders of the school and orphanage, their houses are also effected.and their families are also running to other house. Others friends. I am not yet able to visit them and do not know the situation in detail. I will try to find out soon. Now, although we were severely affected by cyclone, yet no one in our families is injured. We All are safe! This is our cry, Please SOS!”

Prayer:

Father, thank you for your promises throughout your Word that you care for those who are orphaned. I pray that you would show your love and grace to those devastated by the storm and provide for their needs.

Letters from Myanmar – First Contact

This was our first contact with our indigenous partners on the ground in Myanmar after the cyclone hit. Charles is the director of operations:
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First of all, I thank God for His loving cares! Our family members are in good care of our father. Thank you for all of your prayers. I wish I could share you about the situation, but unfortunately, I am not able to do that for this time. Please for give me for that. Please continually pray for the homeless peoples. Please pray for them. Thank you.

In His Grace,

Charles

Prayer:
Father, thank you for keeping Charles and his family safe during the storm. I pray that you would use him and our other partners in Burma to help those in need and let them know of your great love and care for them.

Draw Closer to Jesus Christ

We must recognize that unconcern for unbelievers is—at least in part—a spiritual growth issue. If we take the Scriptures at face value, there is simply no way of getting close to Christ without seeing how much He cares for those for whom He died. Luke 19:10 is quite explicit: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” In light of that clear statement, is it possible to get close to the Master’s heart without getting close to the Master’s mission? Consider Matthew 4:19 where Christ extended the invitation, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

How, then, can we follow closely in His footsteps without being captivated by His concern for the lost? If we would like to think of ourselves as growing Christians, a good biblical barometer of our growth would be, “How concerned am I for lost people?” Does that mean if we do not witness to one person a day, we are not close to Christ and have no concern for the lost? Not for a moment. He wants our lives to be motivated by relationships, not regulations. It is to say, however, that if we draw close to Jesus Christ, we will find His concern for the lost rubbing off on us. Known as the friend of sinners, His whole life revolved around lost people. Since they are so close to His heart, the closer we draw to Him, the closer we draw to the people for whom He died.

Therefore, we ought to ask ourselves the question, “Are we spending the time daily getting to know Christ better, talking to Him through prayer, and letting Him talk to us through the Scriptures?” Or are we like Martha in Luke 10 who was so “worried and troubled about many things” that she neglected just sitting down and talking to Him and letting Him talk to her? A genuine, growing relationship with Him should lead to a growing closeness to non-Christians.

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