Good News Jail & Prison Ministry

Dear Friends,

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.

Manilla Flood Video Report

To Help, Send Relief Funds To:

Megacity Ministries - Philippine Flood
CMC
PO Box 219228
Houston TX 77218-9228

or

BBFI
Greg Lyons - Philippine Flood
PO Box 191
Springfield, MO 65801

Manilla Flood Update

When word came that upwards of 70% of Metro Manila was under water, we began praying for specific areas where our churches were located. Trusting God that He will protect in the midst of the storm, we were still very concerned for the many believers that would be devastated by the calamity. According to Philippine authorities, this is the worst flood to hit Metro Manila in forty-two years. Find below a brief report and pictures of what is happening. Please join us in prayer for the needs that this disaster has brought.

Sincerely,
Greg & LuAnn Lyons

Megacity Ministries

Community Baptist Church, Floodway, Pasig City
The name of the area is descriptive of where this community is located. Right on a river! When the floods came through, hundreds of the shacks along the river were washed away. Loss of life is still being determined. These folks, who have very little to begin with, have nothing now.

We operate the Global Impact Feeding Center at this location. The Feeding Center building's foundation is severely damaged. Even though, the facility is being used as an evacuation and relief staging area for the community. Mothers and their babies are staying in the facility and trying to understand why this has all happened and seeking hope for their families. Praise the Lord for Pastor Julius Veloso who is working very hard to meet their needs and care for the many families that have decended on this location.

Antioch Baptist Church, Cainta - Missionary Roger Akers
This church, planted by Missionary Roger Akers, and now led by Pastor Sonny Tamparong (saved at Camp 2001), has become a relief staging point for this part of the city. Three feet of water came in to the ground floor of the church. Clean up has begun and ministry to the people is ongoing. Damage to their equipment on the first floor will need to be assessed and replaced.

Community Baptist Church, Marikina - Missionary Isaac Basilio
This part of the city was hit hard by the flooding. Missionary Isaac Basilio was over helping one of our pastors whose wife just had a baby. While at the pastor's house, the flood hit. The flood waters rose to over 6 feet. Isaac survived on a ladder in the house! All the belongings in the house were destroyed, but everyone survived. Additionally, Isaac's vehicle was submerged by the flood and will need to be replaced.

How To Help!
These are just a few of the hundreds of situations that we now face. On one hand, a great tragedy, on the other, a great opportunity to express God's love to so many in need! Will you help? We need relief funds to help families rebuild their lives. Would you consider a special love offering from your congregation to be used in this relief effort?

Our current goal is $25,000 for initial needs in this effort!

Please send funds to:

CMCMegacity Ministries - Philippine Flood

PO Box 219228

Houston TX 77218-9228

or

Greg Lyons - Philippine FloodBBFI

PO Box 191

Springfield, MO 65801

Sincerely,
Greg & LuAnn Lyons

Megacity Ministries

Pray For Metro Manila!

Letter from Austria

Dear Friends,



Have you ever thought about how Europeans communicate with each other? In English! So why not offer English lessons in Austria in a camp setting? For several yeas now, in cooperation with a few Christian organizations from American and Austria this is being done. I was able to be the Bible teacher at one of the English Camps this summer, along with my brother Brent. Can you believe it! Most of the kids that come are unbelievers. We spend the day with them in an "English-speaking" world with American games, food, activities, and language lessons; each evenings we do a chapel service with them. By the second evening I was able to invite kids to make a decision to follow Christ. Fifteen campers prayed to trust Christ as their Savior. By the last night, another five took that decision. At the end of camp we informed them about the location of local youth groups they can join. :lease pray for each of these kids.



Lost Friends

While in Austria, I had the chance to visit a couple of my friends. First there is Mario. Just days before travelling to E-camp, I was informed that his 24 year-old son, Christian, had killed himself by jumping in front of a train. HE had painted on a rock in his room, "The world is black." Mario asked me, "Where does it say in the Bible that Jesus is the light?" I was able to share the entire Gospel with him again, and with tears in his eyes he clutched onto my hands and we prayed. I am not sure that Mario has personally accepted Christ at this point. When I ask him he doesn't say anything. I think he is under great pressure in the village because his son Christian had told people that I am a cult leader and warned his dad about meeting with me. Another great opportunity opened up when my old soccer coach from 25 years ago contacted me and was wondering where I live and what I do. I gave him the full story, and told him that by "chance" I will be in his neighborhood near Munich in the next few weeks. We made out a time to meet, and I was able to share the Gospel with him clearly. Please pray for Mario and my old soccer coach, Peter.



Skater Event in Spittal

As you may know, it is difficult in Austria to organize events as an evangelical community because we are not a part of the official state church. We are so excited about the fact that God allowed Mathias and Marco, graduated of our discipleship school, to arrange a huge skater event in their home of Spittal. The were able to invite a professional skater, Josh Harmoney, (find him on youtube) from California to be with hundreds of skater kids over the weekend from Sept. 11-13th. Even the local mayor got excited about this youth event and made it an offical part of city events. They received lots of recognition and sponsorships, and were able to share the gospel with hundreds of kids. The mayor spoke to the skaters about the dangers of doing drugs, and two of the youth from church gave their testimonies about how they were able to become drug-free through the help of their relationship to Jesus Christ. Please pray for the kids who heard the Gospel, for those who made decisions to follow Christ, and for the church in Spittal to continue to be a light in their city.



The Biggest Evangelical Church in Austria
The first church we worked with in Graz has grown from 130 to around 280 people. The have been able to buy up three properties bordering their own in the middle of Graz. Now their plans are to build an auditorium that seats 450 people and is expandable to 600. This Fall, I will be bringing a group from the USA to help them with some of the construction. Can you help contribute for our travel expenses? The work has already begun, the nationals are excited, but they need reinforcements.

Born to Burn--Youth Convention
Please remember to pray for the annual nationwide youth convention coming up in May of 2010. I have been asked to be the main speaker for this. There will be young people from all over Austria challenged with the topic: Born to Burn! The committee is already working on all the preliminary planning, but they need our prayers.

Jen and I want to thank you personally for your prayers and your support. On September 11th, Jen turned 40! My college soccer coach on facebook wrote that "it is another token of God's grace that he has given a beautiful wife to such an an ordinary looking guy!" (Nice choice of words coach.)

With love and prayers, Bobby, Jen, and kids Parschauer