Exloring Life Eternal

Igor was 45 last summer when he suffered a serious stroke that left his right side paralyzed. The hospital sent him home after three weeks, and the doctors told his mother that he probably wouldn't live. Here Cheryl is giving him speech therapy, retraining his tongue to form words again. We give him rehabilitation twice a week, and now he can climb the stairs.

The handicapped and elderly -- "the poor, lame, maimed, blind, widows and orphans" who society tends to ignore -- these people receive high esteem and honor in both Old and New Testaments. We are striving to restore this lost emphasis to the church in the 21st century, both in east and west.

Just two days ago Viktor visited us from Ioshkar-Ola, and reported that their house church is still growing: now as many as 30 attend. He and another young man we knew when we lived in Ioshkar-Ola have decided now to "go all out" and grow the house church into a regular congregation. This other young man who has now finished at a Christian university, is married and they have one small child. Write us if you'd like more details and want to help out.

An amazing thing happened last Thursday: Before we left the U.S. I estimated our expenses through March and requested an advance for that amount. But when upon arrival in Moscow we learned that our expenses would be several hundred dollars more than estimated, leaving us about $130 to live on for the next three weeks. What to do? I couldn't use funds that had been designated for other people and purposes, and taking a cash advance on our credit card incurs huge fees. So we prayed that the Lord would send some money somehow. On Wednesday I received an email saying that a lady who we hadn't ever met but who found our website has a Russian coworker who's coming to Moscow, and she asked for our phone number. Then on Thursday she called from the U.S. and said she was sending some money with him for us, to be used however we wish. God answers prayer!

Today at church I spoke again with Dima, a young man who a couple weeks ago had raised his hand to indicate his desire to follow Christ. He told me that he has a gambling addiction that causes him to waste almost all of his pay at casinos and slot machines that are now found everywhere in Moscow. He would borrow several hundred or a few thousand rubles to live on, but instead be pulled by this inner urge to the casinos. Today, however, he prayed and was able to walk past those machines to church without stopping to lose his money in them. I plan to spend more time with Dima.

Moscow has had record snowfalls in February and March. The city is very good about clearing snow from the streets and sidewalks, but by now it's piled up higher than my head in some places, and people who don't move their cars, well.... We've seen other "lumps" under the snowbanks that are barely recognizable as cars. The forecast is for snow every day until the end of March, but today the temperature got above freezing and some snow melted, until the sun was hidden by clouds and it started to snow again! To (mis)quote Shakespeare, "Beware the I'ds of March" -- I'd rather be in Bermuda, I'd rather be in Arizona, I'd rather be in Hawaii.... But we love it here in Russia, because this is where God has called us.

- Robert (& Cheryl) Hosken [stargate@agape-biblia.org]

Agape-Biblia and Agape Rehab Society: http://www.agape-biblia.org

Monday, March 14, 2005

Please pray Colossians 1:10-12 for the workers of our region: "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."

Pray for Sheikha Moza as she encourages further education for the people of Qatar. She wants them not only to be wealthy in material things but to be wealthy in knowledge. Please pray that she will desire to know the God of all knowledge, pray for her salvation. She is playing a major part in bringing Qatar into the 21st century. Sheikha Moza is the favorite wife of the Emir.

Please pray for God's workers in a remote part of this Gulf country. Pray especially for a new couple to be able to make friendships with at least one local family.

Praise the Lord for the fruitful trip a tent maker from a neighboring country had in a large Western Arabian Peninsula country. He was able to meet up with a man that he met previously. While in country he had several long, detailed conversations about the Gospel. Pray that “R” would come to faith in Jesus.

Pray urgently for the men who are detained by the police for their interest in Christianity. Pray for their families. It has been several months since anyone has heard from them. Pray for strength and perseverance. Hebrews 13:3

Pray for the expatriate MBB who recently had the opportunity to meet with two National MBBs in our country. The two National men do not know each other and are fearful yet interested to meet each other. Pray that they would have faith that casts out all fear and that they would be drawn together through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Pray for the key tent making family that is searching for new employment after being terminated by his previous employer. Join with us as we ask God to find a way for this family to stay in our country – they are such a powerful witness for Jesus.


<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
ptap@srginc.org www.pray-ap.info
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches around the world to pray through the heart of the Muslim world so that church planting movements will spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula & beyond.

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SRG - PTAP
P.O. Box 11448
Newport Beach, CA 92658
USA

March 10, 2005

"But that great city of Ninevah has many people who do not know their right hand from their left ... should I not be concerned about that great city as well?" - The Lord (see Jonah 4)

Dear Friends & Family,

May the Lord bless you in every way!!

The verse above was the final deciding factor about 13.5 years ago when I realized that if I were to follow Jesus, then I must do my part to help make the Name of Jesus & His Word known to those who had not heard. The years that followed were filled with study of the Bible, as well as many other things which I once did not believe would be of any benefit. They were filled with many struggles with the ups and downs of life and dealing with the reality that "I can do nothing without Him." And ... finally, the ongoing drama of meeting & coming to love Sheila & grow together in discerning His will for our lives & how to work together in unity.

Although I would just as soon avoid it & settle for a "normal" life, it
seems that in wrestling with the Lord, God has blessed us to reach some
people who are not necessarily in the range of current outreach. I dare say that I have felt as though I limp at times, my weaknesses are so many & so evident. Yet, God's grace is not limited by my lack of strength or wisdom. Those of you who have not had the privilege of getting to know Sheila deeply, do not realize the help that Sheila has been in reminding me to seek the Lord first & foremost. With all our flaws and foibles, we are His. Please pray for us as we seek to put into practice what we believe is His will.

Lord willing, we will be moving to Detroit & be somewhat settled in by Father's Day weekend this year. This is an awesome challenge: There are still more worldly goods to dispense with. There are some folks I'd like to meet before the move. There will be a need for gathering together with some other solid believers & finding just the right niche for service in the Detroit area. However, as I was reminded recently, there are over 500,000 Arabs in that region and many of them Muslim, in addition to other ethnic groups with strong Muslim representation.

PRAISE THE LORD WITH US FOR:
- We are both past the 1/4 of a century mark, & God's mercy is _still_ new every morning (even when we don't recognize it), and He is _still_ faithful!
- He is still Lord of all peoples.
- Mert's brother, Tim, is taking some definite steps in seeking God's best for his life.
- Sheila's skill in quilt-making is growing, as is Mert's skill in basic
house repair.
- The church seems to have a clearer direction for the use of the house.
- Some doors closed ... indicating that there are other doors that will
open! (See Paul's journey & how the Spirit did not initially permit him
to enter Asia)
- Several items Mert shared via a network of folks who love Muslims seem to have be of some use.
- Some trees planted last year in the yard survived the winter ... as did some bulbs!! God guards the garden.
- Continued blessed interaction with various Asians here in South Arkansas.

Please PRAY WITH US REGARDING:
- That God would be glorified as churches & ministries unite to reach those Muslims lost apart from Christ, whether they are in downtown Jakarta, Dubai, Delhi, Detroit, or wandering in a desert.
- God's salvation of all out family members (Some in Indonesia, some in the USA, nearly or distantly-related.)
- God's dynamic boldness, faithful-love, and disciplined restraint in every area of our lives & the casting down of fear (1 Timothy 1:7).
- The anticipated move to Dearborn. (Mert will be traveling around to visit churches & ministries that may be interested being part of the ministry.)
- The continued work of the Lord in churches here in El Dorado. I've heard some good reports. Let's pray it continues ... and that a prayer guide gets posted on the web soon.

OUR NEEDS:
- 500+ regular prayer partners for us (Mert & Sheila) & our ministry.
- Churches & workers who will join in the outreach to the lost in the metro-Detroit area.
- The right agency / ministry partner.
- Provision for daily needs & a base for service in the Detroit area.
- Moving details: selling / giving away unneeded stuff (Praise God we don't have a lot in the first place!!), packing of what we will take with us, transporting the stuff, finding an appropriate residence (We are wanting to buy a house, when the right one is available at the right price in the right location.), unpacking, etc.
- Language learning: Mert needs some sort of gift to communicate in Arabic & Indonesian (language school, personal tutors, computer courses, or ?)

INTERESTED IN PARTNERING?
... If you would like to help encourage churches & saints to pray for us ...
... If you would like to partner regarding any of the above needs, ...
...please email: mailto:mertaka@everybody.org .


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PROVERBS:
When folks only see the problems of men, faith sees the promise of God.

Any dead fish can go with the flow, it takes a live one to swim against the current.

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THE CALL & GOD'S WILL: How can I know if God is calling me to pursue
long-term missions?
==> from an article by Robert E. Speer, chairman of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions in 1901.
"If people are going to draw lines of division between different kinds of service, what preposterous reasoning leads them to think that it requires less divine sanction for a man to spend his life easily among Christians than it requires for him to go out as a missionary to the heathen? Is it not absurb to suggest that a special call is necessary to become a missionary, but no call is required to gratify his own will or personal ambitions? There is something wonderfully misleading, full of hallucination and delusion in this business of missionary calls. With many of us it is not a missionary call at all that we are looking for; it is a shove. There are a great many of us who would never hear a call if it came." (If you found this helpful, and have other questions regarding missions, check out:
www.thejourneydeepens.com )

LANGUAGE:
Are you wanting to learn the basics of a language, translate a word, or just find a proverb in another language? check out: www.yourdictionary.com .
For a more thorough introduction to some major languages of the world check out: www.rosettastone.com .

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CONCLUSION
Be careful of twisting truth, my friend. Of writing volumes, there is no end, and much research wearies the body. Now that you've read this far ... here is the conclusion of the matter: Revere God & do what He says, this is why we are here! In the end, God will evaluate everything, inside & out: Is it good or is it bad?
- Today's Preacher 12:12-14 (IPV - Internet Paraphrased Version)

If you desire to stop receiving these messages, please send an email to that effect, or log on to
http://lists.everybody.org/merts-memo ... or you can also subscribe there. If you know 5 other people who would like to join in praying for us & otherwise be interested in a ministry of advocacy for the Arab Peoples, especially the Yemeni, please pass this email on to them. Also, email me if you would like the quarterly print prayer letter which will be coming out soon.

If you desire to send any other contributions to our ministry, you may send them to
Marrable Hill Chapel
110 Chapel Drive
El Dorado, AR 71730
USA
... just be sure to make the check out to "Marrable Hill Chapel" and attach a note indicating that it is for the ministry of Mert & Sheila Hershberger

Mert (& Sheila) Hershberger
mertaka@everybody.org
1-800-376-5876
www.pray-ap.info

Pursuing God's glory by with ...
the whole Church sharing the whole Christ with the whole person
of every person of every people in every language
of all lands for all time with all confidence,
with a focus on the least loved, the least reached, and the least prominent.

I ask that you keep me in your prayers. My job has just cut me down from
four days a week to two. They are having money problems. They need
construction jobs pray for that as well. I really need three to four
days a week of work. Pray that they will change their minds and let me
have three days. It will help me a lot financially. I must say it was a
little shock to be cut down that many days but I am grateful to have a
job. Thank you. - B.D. [dawless@earthlink.net]

The Vine

I see a vine that spans across the earth.
The land of promise where it set its roots –
a rocky place, despite the blessed birth
of Life and Peace – now has so little fruit.

Untended branches fall upon the ground,
but trimmed, the vine grows fast and full of life.
So either fruit is scarce or grapes abound.
The key is application of the knife.

I long to see the local branches grow
and flourish. Knives are sharp and fires burn,
but better truth be told than truth unknown.
So let our lives be changed and hearts return.

Lord, graft in branches from earth's farthest end,
and let them dwell in you to share your grace
until we see that branches do extend
to every heart and home in every place.

<><
A supposed composer posted the poem.
Promis broken, posed a problem:
& His song fell flat.
Imagine that!
Lying lyres cannot be trusted
for their medals are all rusted.

... Ah, but the Lord, he always can be!
& that is what the poem is about anyways!!

Peace in Christ,
Mert H.
====
(A link with a reference to another site was removed do to their demonstrated falsehood.

Please pray for me: I almost have a missions minor by one class or two, and went to Bible college to possibly be involved in missions. I went on 2 short term mission trips as an intern through the college the first summer. I feel my life has been on hold in many areas and in many ways.

Please pray that I would complete the calling that God has for my life and for my husband to return to Jesus. He is out of church fellowship for 5 years and is very negative about life. I need a miracle! Pray for my health because my husband's attitude has effected me in a very negative way.

Also pray for my family in the loss of 3 loved ones in 15 month period.

- B.J.

1. Near Tajikistan: Rusty (not his real name) is one of 6-7 believers from Tajikistan who were sent to a neighboring country. They were praying at 5 am in their home/office in the small town where they serve. The room was dark and, unbeknownst to them, 6 men had entered their courtyard over the front gate. They stepped into the room carrying machine guns and knives and told the believers that they were being robbed. As Rusty and his team lay prone on the floor with their hands behind them, Rusty realized that the gunmen intended to both rob and kill them. However, he felt a peace and heard the Holy Spirit say, "Get up, get out of the house and call for help." After struggling with the gunmen, Rusty and one of his teammates were able to make it to the courtyard, but by this time two gunmen came and began shooting at them at point-blank range. (Later observation showed bullet marks above, below and on both sides of where they were standing, but none hit them!) Rusty stormed one gunman and was able to go out and call for help.

Five of the gunmen ran out the gate and got into their vehicle to drive off. The ringleader was the last to leave and the other gunmen apparently mistook him for Rusty and gunned him down. By now the neighbors began to gather and the police arrived. In their haste to exit, the gunmen left a small suitcase containing a video camera, video tapes, tape for gagging, narcotics, syringes and a flag of a terrorist organization. The five attackers were apprehended before lunch and later about 40 of their cohorts were also arrested. The villagers now tell Rusty: "God is surely on your side". Rusty reports a growing number of believers in that town, and that religious leaders even visit him at night, in Nicodemus fashion, to hear the Good News.

Rejoice with us for this amazing deliverance. Pray with us for Rusty, his team, and for the people of their town. Pray for many others like Rusty to be sent out

2. Pray for a brother and sister in Tajikistan who have just had a heart-breaking disappointment. Pray for the God of comfort to encourage them and for this experience to draw them ever closer to their Savior and Lord.

3. Please pray for a seminar for women coming up in Tajikistan this spring. It is a conference helping women deal with sexual abuse and should be very useful. Pray the healing of Christ would come on these women who face much abuse growing up and in their marriages.

4. Pray for those who are traveling for the sake of the gospel in Tajikistan to continue to have traveling mercies and smooth travel. That their arrivals in new destinations will speed the day of His Return. Some travel for medical reasons, some for location changes, some for rest and relaxation, and other for training. Pray that each trip will draw them closer to Jesus and somehow bond them closer to the people they are trying to serve in Jesus' name. Pray for those traveling to Tajikistan to serve or pray or minister alongside the local believers.

5. Pray for another worker's neighbor F. The worker's relationship is growing, but they need time and motivation for their relationship to grow and blossom into fruit. Pray for all those who are trying to minister to their neighbors in Tajikistan. This can be a fun, but challenging pursuit that definitely has its ups and down.

6. Pray for this week to be a breakthrough week in terms of Tajik's openness to Jesus. May we pray in faith that every seed planted this week would bear fruit.

7. Pray for the Tajik believers who are planning camps and retreats this coming summer to find places to meet, to have wisdom in dealing with authorities, to continue their powerful evangelistic ministries to people and families of all ages. Pray that this ministry will bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

- Source: HT@HopeTajikistan.com; for more info, visit: www.hopetajikistan.com .

This is a Missions Rap for younger folks.

Hip-Hop! (clap!) Don't stop! (clap, clap)
Get the Worrrd to the world! (clap, clap, clap)

Break it down to the lowest level. (clap, clap)
Bring 'em up to the highest level. (clap, clap)
Break it down to the lowest level. (clap, clap)
Bring 'em up to the highest level. (clap, clap)

Bring 'em out. (clap, clap) Bring 'em in. (clap, clap)
Turn from doubt. (clap, clap) Turn from sin. (clap, clap)

Jesus came to the lowest level. (clap, clap)
Jesus rose to the highest level. (clap, clap)

Hip-Hop! (clap!) Don't stop! (clap, clap)
Get the Worrrd to the world! (clap, clap, clap)

Jesus came to the lowest level. (clap, clap)
Jesus rose to the highest level. (clap, clap)

Turn 'em round. (clap, clap) Turn 'em on. (clap, clap)
Send 'em round. (clap, clap) Send 'em on. (clap, clap)

Break it down to the lowest level. (clap, clap)
Bring 'em up to the highest level. (clap, clap)
Break it down to the lowest level. (clap, clap)
Bring 'em up to the highest level. (clap, clap)

Hip-Hop! (clap!) Don't stop! (clap, clap)
Get the Worrrd to the world! (clap, clap, clap)
Hip-Hop! (clap!) Don't stop! (clap, clap)
Get the Worrrd to the world! (clap, clap, clap)

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(There are motions with this, and, again, if you would like to hear Mert's rendition, call 1-800-376-5876.)