Abundant Life Crusades |
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CHURCH PLANTING & SUPPLYING HELP |
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The three photos below are of church
Top - they are putting up the very much need insulation. Middle - is the finished walls and ceiling. Bottom - the building almost completed. The hard Siberian winter can make it difficult to complete. |
Our ministry has bought buildings and converted them
into local churches.
We have done this in the past 26 years in the former USSR (at present 195) or the ones which we have lost count of in Asia and Africa. We have done this mostly in villages and small towns. Recently we have been able to build 10 simple village churches in Madagascar for only $1,500.00. Church planting is tough, but rewarding work. Although Marge and I do not do church planting personally as when we were young, however, our ministry is supporting workers and ministries that are doing it for the Glory of God. Early prophecy given us when we were young, was that in our latter days we would be ‘Dispensers of God’s finances.’ We know that for this to happen, the Lord of the Harvest has to provide the supply. Our ministry has always been a work of faith. During these 60 years, except for the two years I was working with International Missionary Evangelist T. L. Osborn, (one of my 3 mentors) I received a guaranteed salary. Church planting is difficult work that can challenge most workers. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. A ministry must be committed to this work. Church planters are fulfilling Christ’s request Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house, that my house may be filled. Church plants typically don’t have the luxury of relying on a church building to draw in visitors. Church planting may start in a home, backyard, under a tree, in a tent or rental building, etc. In our early ministry where we had very large crusades, we saw as many as 25 local churches planted. There’s a strong sense that the church building has to be brought into the community or else it will not grow and will die. If we were to think that church planting is only about saving individuals, we’re thinking too small. As people encounter Jesus, their lives are changed by His Salvation. Those changed lives come into contact with other lives. The effect on our communities is profound. Paul was right, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (Gal. 5:9) This is what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. |
Sukhumi, Abkhazia is building #195 built or bought for Churches in the three photos above. The top photo is Marge and I in Moscow Russia. |
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