March-April 2014 Newsletter
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| Lucy, David, Simri, Philip and Vanessa |
The Christian life is about how God transforms lives. Being taken out of the kingdom of darkness and being translated into the kingdom of light. It is not a change. It is a complete makeover and a total change of life style. As I meditate on the work that God has given us to do, some notable stories come to my mind of lives that have been transformed.
The year was 2001 when Hector was invited to meet with Jesus. We were holding a 6 weeklong revival in a big old circus tent on one of the main streets of the city of Tepic. Hector was invited by a Christian girl in his class to attend and God really touched his life but Hector wasn´t ready to give up his old life yet. Over the next couple of years Hector would visit the church once in a while but there hadn´t been a transformation. Somewhere along the way the Word took seed and Hector ´s life was transformed. Today, 12 years after the initial encounter, Hector now has a Christian wife and a young daughter. They are both very involved in the church, in the music ministry, in the children´s ministry as well as attending Bible school classes on Saturdays. Hector has become a successful businessman but Jesus is first place in his life and that of his family. They will be part of the ministry at our youth camp and his wife will be in charge of our children´s camp in April. They are both proof that lives can be transformed.
Erick was 22 years old when he had his first encounter with Jesus. Nobody really invited him, he just invited himself. He had heard about our camp and asked one of his neighbors who was planning on attending of he could go also. In his searching for a meaning for life he had committed errors and had filled his life with darkness instead of light. The first couple of days of camp were very difficult for him as he struggled to leave the world of darkness and it fought to keep from getting thrown out. The last day of camp Erick was baptized and his life was totally transformed. One of the first things that he did after returning from camp was end an incorrect relationship that he had been living. His girlfriend asked to get presented to this Jesus that was so important for him and she was transformed too. They were married in May and are both putting Jesus in first place in their lives. Erick is enrolled in our Bible school and as a couple they minister in one of the ranch works as well as being part of the music ministry in the main center. They are both proof that lives can be transformed.
As the years of missions work roll on we have found that our job is not only getting people saved but it is also changing their whole mindset through the Word of God. We start our Christian walk as receivers and we are transformed into givers. We lived for ourselves and we are transformed into living for others. This transformation has to take place in all of the areas of our life. Our new role as missionaries is implanting our vision from missions into the churches under our covering so that they can become missions’ senders and not only receivers.
This month we are gearing up for our annual camps next month. Our youth camp we have Easter week and then the next week the children have their camp. This is one of the highlights of our year as we celebrate a feast of Tabernacles as we dedicate a whole week 24 hours a day to our youth and their walk with God.
Please continue to pray for Lucy as she continues to battle with internal hemorrhaging. We are still believing God for a miracle in her life. The doctors now say that the only solution is to operate but to do that they need to transfuse 6 more units of blood (She has already received 13).
Thank you for your prayers. Your monthly support is much needed. Blessings in Jesus name.
Philip, Lucy, & Vanessa Tolman
