URGENT PRAYER REQUEST FOR FAMILY MEMBERS IN DANGER!

In the last few years, I have met some new “Family Members” through Facebook and our weblog. 

Bro. Thampie Joseph
works in several
areas all over India.

There is Bro. Thampie Joseph, who has been (by his own definition) an independent, fundamental, KJV only, Baptist pastor/missionary in Chennai, India, for the past 36 years (www.nibaptist.org). He has missions and works all over India.

Bro. Koteswara Rao

Bro. Koteswara Rao, who is at Baptist Church Jeedimetla in Hyderabad, India, hosted a 24-Hour Prayer Summit this past September.  At that prayer summit, in which  there were about 250 in attendance, they prayed for us and our ministry!

Bro. James Ochwo
in East Africa

Then, there is  Pastor James Ochwo, in Uganda East Africa, and also John Wood, a  21 year old believer in Pakistan who, for the last 2 years, has been preaching and leading Bible studies in his country, in spite of the danger. I hear from these brothers on a fairly regular basis - AND THEY NEED OUR HELP AND PRAYERS!

Bro. John Wood
in Pakistan

These precious Christian brothers live in countries where they are not just “made to feel a little uncomfortable”, but genuinely persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ!  They live in countries where it is not uncommon to be beaten, imprisoned or even lose their lives for professing that Jesus is the Christ, the only Son of the Living God. These dear men and women, MY brothers and sisters in Christ, are TRUE heroes of the faith! 

Bro. John Wood distributes Bibles
to the people of Pakistan.

These men have a burden and vision of reaching their people for Christ!  They have asked for our prayers and support, and although our hearts ache because we are not able to help them monetarily at this time, they are in our constant thoughts and prayers!  

My correspondence and contact with these esteemed men of God prompted me to try to learn more about their countries and areas of ministry. My search lead me to a particular website: www.persecution.com. This site represents the ministry/organization called Voice of the Martyrs.  What an eye opener this site was to me!

For a couple of years now, I have been getting their newsletters and email updates. This has opened a whole new, heartbreaking, yet inspiring, world for me. It has changed my attitude and viewpoint concerning my own life and ministry!!  My burden, my prayer life, my awareness and perspective for service to the King of Kings has changed!  My sense of urgency and desire to do something - ANYTHING - to reach the world with the Gospel of Christ has become more desperate, critical and urgent!! My determination to stand firm and unwavering in my Christian faith has been reinforced and strengthened!

Please take a moment to watch this video.  You rarely see or hear of any of these happenings… but it is happening!!! Every Day!!!

It is high time that we, as Christians in America, open our eyes to what is happening in the world today.  We need to pray for our brothers and sisters world wide and do whatever we can to help.  There are those, in other lands who truly know what persecution is... they live it every day. If they are willing to give their lives that others may know Christ and His salvation,  are you not at least willing to live yours for the same reason?

I challenge you to sign up for the updates and news letters from Voice of the Martyrs.  I challenge you to live your life in such a way as to not bring shame to the name of Christ. I challenge you to stop living your life for self and to PLEASE, for Christ’s sake, strive to make a difference in this world... in YOUR world! Do you love Him? Do you appreciate the sacrifice He made to forgive you of your sins and provide a home for you in Heaven?  If your answer is ‘YES’, then LIVE for Him, TELL others of His love and saving grace!  Don’t be afraid to STAND UP and STAND STRONG for the name of Christ, and PRAY for the salvation of the lost as well as for those “family members” that are in danger around the world!

LET’S 

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

November Prayer Letter from Mike Lane (Photos Added!)

Below is a reprint of our latest prayer letter that was recently sent to our supporting churches.  I tend to be a bit long winded (No comments please!), but Mike seems to be able to put A LOT of info in a one page letter.  Unfortunately, because he tries to keep it on one page, we rarely have room to post photos. BUT... if I reprint his prayer letter onto my weblog, I then have plenty of room to post a few photos to show you a little of what he is talking about in the following letter!  Enjoy!

**********

November 2011

Greetings beloved co-labourers,

Well it has been another one of those years...full of opportunity and challenges, hard work and blessings. Paul said it best in I Cor. 16:9, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, AND there are many adversaries.” They seem to always go together, don’t they?...open doors and adversaries. Satan always tries to block, camoflauge, and distract us from taking advantage of the open doors of opportunity that God makes available. But my God is ABLE!!!

My Parents -Mildred and Ted Hastings

61 Years Together!

I took this picture on Mom and Dad's 61st Anniversary

on October 6, 2011.  The following evening, Dad went

into a skilled nursing and rehab facility. At this writing,

he is still there and does not seem to be regaining

his strength.  We greatly covet your prayers. 

Most of you know that the night before we were scheduled to depart for Honduras in January, Deb’s father had a heart attack, so I she stayed and I went back home. We nearly lost him, but a delicate surgery and a long recuperation finally brought him home, but now he is back in a skilled nursing facility. While here in the states Debbie has been able to address some long-standing health issues and is doing better also.

Meanwhile, I was able to visit when a church brought me back for a conference in March. I visited some of our churches until the first of May. I had another mission conference in the middle of September and also it was time for my cancer check-up so, I’m back visiting our supporting churches and a few new ones. As most missionaries, we’ve lost some support as a few churches have had to cut back. Thank God for 3 new churches that have taken us on! I also received a better Cancer check- up report this year than last, which was a good one! Praise God!

Pastor Jim Callen and the Mission Team from

Eastern Avenue Baptist Church, St. Cloud, Florida

Standing in front of the Iglesia Bautista En Cristo

(In Christ Baptist Church) of Naranjitos.

In Honduras, we’ve completed an addition with two classrooms and bathroom in our mountain church (Calvary Baptist in Ojo de Agua) in the Lenca Indian reserve.

Then, in July, we put up the walls and roof of a church building in Naranjitos with the help of Pastor Jim Callen and his church, Eastern Ave. Baptist,St. Cloud, Fla. What a great blessing this hard working church has been to the work in Honduras! We are currently trying to plaster the walls and lay the floor, weather permitting.

Lincy and Hotir, who used to be students in my

Sunday School class, are now faithful young men

willing to do whatever is needed.  Mike has

considered Hotir his "right-hand man" for some time.

Thank God, in addition, we’ve been able to put the roof on the two 25 x85 side additions at our church in La Esperanza (our home). We’ve waited several years to be able to do this. Now we can finish out classrooms on one side and the muti-purpose assembly and kitchen on the other side, allowing more ministry in the days ahead! Also, we are buying land for the work in Quebrada de lajas. I still owe several thousand for this land.

It seems that keeping the vehicles

in running order is a

CONTINUAL job!

All this building plus the purchase of a small bus-van and bringing our donated F450 to Hondudras, paying transportation, import taxes, and MANY repairs on ALL our vehicles has really drained our funds.  

We can see the bottom of the barrel and yet there is still SO MUCH TO DO! Dear co-labourers, if there is anything you can do extra now, it would be really appreciated! Special thanks to Pleasantview Baptist, Arlington, TX, for a gift of $1,000 for vehicle needs and their visit in August, and the VBS and Adult S.S. Class of Aurora Baptist, Aurora, TX, who gave another $1,000.

God bless you all for your expressions of love and your investment in Honduras. We love working together with EACH of you to reach the REGIONS BEYOND!

Loving Serving Him, 

Mike and Debbie Lane

**********

To see more photos of the mission teams that visited and some current photos of the ministry, please click on the slide show below.