Exloring Life Eternal

Okay, I will correct my spelling, to what I believe the above is really about: the ministry of delivering. It is the ministry of midwives. A ministry all mature Christians can share in to some degree.

This is the work of coming alongside the church (i.e. God's people) & helping them through the birth-pangs of change (repentance at the heart).

====== True story, retold as best I was able. ======

There were 4 or 5 CNA's across the parking lot from our house: hootin' & hollerin' trying to shew in a granny back into the nursing home. (I hope they wouldn't treat their own grandma's like that ... though I fear that they would ... and I think their own grandmas would be afraid too if they treated them in similar situations as they treated this woman.

The Lord was working way faster than I could, but I believed that He was wanting to help that dear lady. She feared God, but the devil's minions were attacking her for some reason. She is elderly. She was weak. But, Oh, my friend, the Lord Jesus loves her!!

I knew that. She knew that. But, for those who have never lived in a nursing home, let me tell you: it is hard for a God-fearing woman or man to remain strong in the midst of all that goes on in many nursing homes: CNA's discussing all their latest marital & relational woes, others gossipping about this, that, & the other. Also, the constant reality of seeing people hauled out of there on stretchers never to return in their site "to the land of the living." It can _seem_ like a scary, scary place! To top it all off, you have a bunch of pill-pushers, trying to get you to take drugs. Okay, I think you get the picture. It ain't easy to live for the Lord in a place like that.

The only way it is possible is the grace & mercy of our Almighty Father! Oh, that we might trust Him more.

Well, after watching these women "harass" the lady ... and I say that cause that's just how I would have felt if they had done that to me ... "Go inside, Mrs. ___" "You know you don't need to be out here, Mrs. ____." "We're gonna have to call your family, Mrs. ____."

I couldn't take it any more. The Spirit of the Lord moved me to walk over there & bend my face down so the dear Mrs. ____ could see me. "Uh, hello there Mrs. ____, can you help me?"

All of a sudden, the Spirit of God was released in her heart again! "Oh, uh, yeah, I remember you."

"Can you help me?"

"Help you? ..." Things kind a quietted down real quick there. Here I was, barefoot, short-sleeves in cool weather ... and the poor CNA's are probably thinkin'. "Oh, great, here comes that puddin' head preacher again!"

Well, by that time, Mrs. ___ looked down at my feet, and she said, "Son, what you doin' out here without no shoes on." Praise God! She had common sense even when I lacked it!! "Oh, well, uh, could you help me get in there and get some shoes on?"

"Uh, yeah, but take it easy, I go kinda slow."

"Okay."

We slowly shuffled back to the nursing home. The buzzer-alarm thing was turned off. With a little help, she made it into the main lobby, and I remembered how to get there too. The CNA's were in full form, as though this dear Mrs. ____ was royalty ... and here I was a little slave boy makin' sure that she didn't have any trouble following Jesus to a safe place.

It was scary. Technically, I'm not really supposed to be in the nursing home with barefeet.

Hey, who cares!! She's alive! She's safe! She didn't fall down in the street!!

A nurse or CNA said, "Whew, okay, we can call off the code blue, she's back in." (or whatever they call that code.)

Finally, I was standing an inch or two away from a pool of urine, but I just said, Mrs. ____ can you pray for me?

She sweetly prayed for herself. Which made my job a whole lot easier. I prayed & walked into the night ... full of the joy of the Lord and so, so happy that this one who was lost had been found. Not a young woman, a very old woman. But she found peace ... yet again!

And that is why we need to pray Matthew 9:37-38 for nursing homes ... cause they need folk in those places that know Jesus.

These are things that hinder the spread of the Good News:

(Pray that they would not be present anywhere in you or your fellowship)

1. People want praise from men or personal pleasure more than praise from God.
2. Churches don't preach it.
3. Churches do not love their neighbor.
4. People fear men rather than God.
5. Churches mistake their good works for the good news.
6. Churches teach the traditions of men rather than the commands of God.
7. We value worldly treasure more than the treasures of heaven.
8. People buy into the doctrines of demons.
9. People gossip & become bitter rather than forgive & reconcile.
10. Rebellion against God's authority, directly or via mediating people in authority.

** Please realize that many of these things are used by the devil to keep people from coming to know Christ & to damage the Lord's work.

We must pray that the Lord would send out laborers.
Preachers must be sent.
The good news must be preached boldly.
The good news must be heard.
Hearers must understand as ears are opened.
The Lord must draw people to Himself.
They must believe.
New believers must confess their faith.
New believers must obey the Word of the Lord.
The "strong man" must be bound and "strongholds" torn down.

Why are you who you are?

By God's grace. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
For your good. (1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 4:5)

I exist because God is Awesome, Glorious, Honorable, Just, and True ... and He loves me ... and you ... and everyone on this earth.

Also, I am on this earth to help others grow towards the Lord Jesus & live life to the fullest.

<><
Mert Hershberger

HT Email Update #8 - April 5, 2005

Here are the latest prayer updates and requests for April 5,2005. God bless you richly for taking the time to pray!

1. Give God praise for His work in recent weeks in bringing more unity to the Body of Christ in Tajikistan. There had been many instances of division, but now there are again movements towards unity and peace. Let's remember Philippians 2 and pray it over those in Tajikistan. "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ...then make my joy complete...having the same love and being one in spirit and purpose." May God bring it to pass in Tajikistan by the power of His Spirit!

2. Give praise for safe travel of those leaving and arriving in the country! Many times prayer and supernatural perseverance are the only things that make travel smooth in Central Asia. Thank God for those who are willing to give up so much to endure these hardships.

3. There is a new sense of opening crossing the lands of Tajikistan. A sense that God is on the move and He is moving. Pray that this sense among all the people of Tajikistan will grow; an anticipation of the coming of the Lord!

4. Pray for the continual development and growth of Tajikistan's national Christian leaders. They are worship leaders, youth leaders, witnesses, pastors, and children's leaders. But all are in need of maturing and growing in their relationship with Jesus and their vision for God's Coming Kingdom.

5. Pray for house church leaders that are meeting to network, pray, and support each other. May their times together be characterized by love, vulnerability, the filling and direction of the Holy Spirit, and renewed vigor to serve Jesus among their communities.

6. Pray for the coming together of a Christian singles conference. This has been an event that has long been prayed for, especially by the many singles who have little opportunity to meet each other, but need peer support. Pray that these events would also lead to the formation of more new Christian families. This is a great need in Tajikistan!

7. Pray for those who are trying to reach out in new and innovative ways into the villages. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to direct their steps and guide their path. Pray that they would have wisdom from on high to operate in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

8. Pray for God to raise up many new believers with professional skills to influence and the upper classes of Tajik society. Pray that God will raise up new networks of house churches and believers to reach every neighborhood in the cities.

9. Praise God for a wonderful Tajik partnership meeting. All reports have come back positive. This is a big step in continuing the ongoing process of working together and seeing His Kingdom advanced.

10. Give praise for words of favor and interest now among some movers and shakers in the Tajikistan area. Their interest and and favor can mean lots for the advancement of God's Kingdom of Peace.

11. Pray for the healing of R, who needs healing of her eyes. May God be glorified through this miracle as we pray together!

12.Pray for a planned upcoming meeting to teach believers how to story the good news! Their are logistic needs such as place, teachers, students, etc. But those involved are moving forward in faith and planning, believing that this will be a catapult for the work being done there.

13. Pray that a groundswell of local support will raise up for the Hope of Tajikistan in 2005. Pray that local pastors and churches will be drawn to get actively involved together in praying for the lost and praying for their communities and city. Pray that Jesus will be more and more lifted up in all these things.

14. Praise God with us that the printed prayer guides are ready and waiting to be ordered. Just send an email to PrayerGuides@hopetajikistan.com for yours today. Suggested donation amounts for the cost of the books will be sent with your order. You just pay for postage and handling.

15.Close out your time of prayer with a recomittment to the central theme of John's writings and of the Bible as well: LOVE. "Dear friends, let su continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God--for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

Thanks for praying!

Humbly Yours,

HT Prayer Update Coordinator
HT@HopeTajikistan.com
http://www.hopetajikistan.com/

A young man from a Middle Eastern country first heard the Good News from a worker who was subsequently murdered. At the time, he was a committed Muslim and didn't respond, but he had friends who were believers. One of them began calling him by a biblical name and said he would be praying for him. Later he went to another country and met another believer from his home country who continued to witness to him. In this country's capitol city, he found himself sharing a house with a believer from a neighboring country who also witnessed to him and took him to a church. He asked many questions and then became a believer! Recently, he was baptized in this land and has taken the biblical name. He is very hungry for the Word of God, devouring Bible study materials. He is poor and has to work long hours but arranges for a friend to cover his shift whenever he can so that he can make the two-hour journey for teaching.

Will you rejoice with us for this decision, lift this new believer before the throne, and pray that the Father will raise up many like him?