Great is Thy Faithfulness is a wonderful hymn of testimony that exalts our God and Savior. In Psalm 89, the word faithfulness or faithful appears seven times. The Lord has been so faithful to us, and we praise His holy name. Muriel and I want to thank all of you who prayed for her knee replacement surgery on July 29th. She never experienced one day of pain---incredible! We just finished our first ministry trip together since her surgery. We traveled to Canada, driving 500 miles each way, and she had no difficulties at all. We leave again on Friday, October 3rd for three church mission conferences in Fredericton, Prince Edward Island, and Moncton, New Brunswick. Again, thank you for your prayers, cards, phone calls, emails, etc. We have been moved to tears on several occasion with the expression of love from our many family and friends around the world. Above all, we praise God for His faithfulness.
Travel Updates
Due to Muriel's surgery, I stayed home the month of August and even learned new culinary skills! In September, we had productive meetings with the Good News staff in Richmond, as well as our quarterly Board of Directors Meeting. It was also a privilege to speak in the Sunday morning services at Grace Baptist Church in Bowie, Md. Grace Baptist is one of our major supporting churches for our personal support needs, but they also support our ministry in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia at $20,000 per year. It was a special joy to spend time with Pastor and Mrs. Steve Lane. It was also a wonderful time meeting new friends while speaking at the Missions Conference at Devon Park Baptist Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick the last weekend in September. Pastor and Mrs. Terry Woodcock lead a church with a great heart for world evangelism. It's such a privilege to spend time with these choice servants of Christ!
Country Spotlight---Latvia
In September I had to make a quick trip to Latvia. Good News Latvia was established in 1997, and they were the first chaplains I visited in October 1999 when I became Vice President of Ministry. Ivans Naidjonoks, Good News Director---Latvia, has provided outstanding leadership for us in Latvia since 2005. Due to various reasons, and assured of the leading of the Lord, Ivans accepted a new position with Hjalp Till Live International in Sweden. Mareks Sarnovskis was recommended by Ivans, and affirmed by our Latvian chaplains as Ivans' successor. Mareks has served as a volunteer, Senior Chaplain, and Assistant Director-Latvia. Latvia is a country that was under Communist rule for many years and still suffers from economic issues that were created during that time. The world wide economic crisis has been extremely difficult for the people of Latvia as the cost of some basic necessities have increased dramatically. The government, having been forced to cut budgets, has had to cut much of the support to prison chaplains, making live even more difficult. Latvia currently has 13 chaplains and one national director, and is one of our stellar ministries.
Finances
In August I wrote concerning the great financial need in the International Ministry. I told you that without a substantial influx of funds, I would have to make some significant financial reductions in the countries where the Lord had not supplied donors. I am thrilled to tell you that He answered our prayers with the provision of $152,000 in special gifts. How we praise the lord for His faithfulness and for the generosity of His people! Thank you for praying!
As we look to the last quarter of this calendar year, we are trusting the Lord to provide what is needed in order to end this calendar year in the black. Please pray that God would provide an additional $100,000 over and above the regular giving through the end of December. The possibility of having to decrease the funds sent for chaplain support in order to keep the ministry financially viable, is still a reality that I will have to address if we do not see God's provision of these funds. Thank you so much for your prayers.
I wish that each of you could read some of the many testimonies and reports that are being received regularly from each country. God is doing a great work in the prisons throughout the world. The International Ministry (with figures through the end of July) has already seen 66,359 first time decisions and 27,914 recommitments to the Lord Jesus Christ. While this is very exciting to us today, it pales in comparison to the joy we will experience when we see those in Heaven who trusted Christ as Savior through the Good News International Ministry of which you are such a vital part.
In closing, I want to thank you for your prayers and generous giving. Muriel and I often talk about the wonderful friends God has given us through the years. Ten years ago on October 1, 1999, we stepped out in faith to serve the Lord with Good News Jail & Prison Ministry. Sometimes His leading has been very clear, while other times we learn to live with the mystery of God's will. Charles Spurgeon wrote, When you can't trace His hand you have to trust His heart. God has been so faithful to us! As the Lord gives strength and health, we want to serve Him with all our hearts.
In His Mighty Love,
Harry E. Fletcher, D.Min.
Praises:
- For the surgery and recuperation for Muriel from knee replacement surgery.
- For the fruitful 10 years of ministry God has given with Good News Jail & Prison Ministry
- For His provision of funds to support the 321 international chaplains and staff in 22 countries.
Prayer:
- For God's provision this last quarter of our calendar year. Normally this is the best time of the year for income, however, in the last two years we experienced severe financial setback due to the economy.
- For the Lord to be glorified through the faithful service of our chaplains serving in very dark and difficult places in 22 countries.
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