FAMILY UPDATE NEWS #22 -- JUNE, 1994. DO
"A time of mighty harvest is at hand! My currents are bringing forth the fish of My stream into the nets of David. Be prepared to take in this mighty harvest that I have set before you, for this is a year of golden treasures that I shall bring to the feet of My David." ("The Lord's Tribute to Dad & the Family", paragraphs 41,45, GN 589.)
Copyright June, 1994, Home Services, Zurich, Switzerland.
(Required reading for JETTs & up. Selected portions may be shared with children younger than JETTs at the discretion of their teachers, parents or Shepherds.)
Thanks and Love to All!
Dad sends his love and heartfelt thanks to all of you who sent greetings, cards, photos, poems and letters to him for his Birthday.--And to each of you who express your love for him through your various communications throughout the year. He is proud of you for your dedication to the Lord and His Family. Dad and Mama pray that you too will have a challenging, fulfilling and fruitful year in His service. God bless and continue to keep you a mighty blessing to all!
Thank You, Witnesses!
Dad & Mama, Peter, WS & Pearl all wish to personally thank each of you Family Members who have testified on Pearl & the Family's behalf, or otherwise been directly involved in the British Isles court case.
Some of you testified on the witness stand; others wrote affidavits which were submitted as evidence. Either way, the Lord called you His "candles," & said that you would give light to the courtroom. "It is then that the judge ... will see the Truth & know & understand. For My Light is much stronger than the darkness of your enemies.... The darkness shall not stand against My Light." (ML# 2912:78.) God bless you all for boldly holding forth the Word, & shining as lights in this dark World! (Phi.2:15,16.)
Other Family Members travelled to London to testify or write affidavits, but, due to changing circumstances & court strategies, did not. Your readiness & willingness--even eagerness--to "stand up & be counted" helped to strengthen & inspire those who "went forth into battle." Thank you for your invaluable contributions!
Others have also made considerable personal sacrifices over the past two years in order to help on the court case team: cooks, secretaries, drivers, childcare workers, researchers, etc. We greatly admire each & every one of you for your love, loyalty & dedication to Jesus & the Family. Surely it will be worth it all when you hear your Master's "Well done!" A heartfelt thank you to you all!
EUROPE
* OPEN DOOR TO REACH BOSNIAN REFUGEES IN SLOVENIA. The Family in Italy is working with a Catholic organization that ministers to the Bosnian refugees in Slovenia. Several Family teens & YAs attended a recent meeting hosted by this group to organize an upcoming trip to visit the refugee camps. The entire programme is being carried out by youth groups from local churches, from fund-raising to provisioning the educational materials & toys for the children in the camps, & they welcomed the Family's participation.
* EE MAIL MINISTRY UPDATE: A few months ago the Eastern European & Russian Mail Ministries sent a "Meet the Family" mailing to virtually everyone who had ever written to any one of the addresses on Family literature distributed in those countries. This mailing included an explanation of The Family, & Statement summaries. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, including letters from many people who hadn't written the Family for months or years.
Regular Mail Ministry Members also received an appeal for statements explaining how the Family has helped them personally, & hundreds responded with heart-touching letters!
* "UNTO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH!"--Acts 1:8. The EE & Russian Mail Ministry reports: "We now have over 70,000 Mail Ministry addresses from all over Eastern Europe & Russia, & have sent out over 400,000 letters to date! It's thrilling to receive the beautiful letters of appreciation & testimonies of the far-reaching effects of our witness in unexpected places. For example, a revival in a village in the Ukraine led by a man who gets our mailings; churches in Romania who love our lit; a small group in Siberia who now call themselves `The Family' & say they desperately need our lit in order to carry on their work.
"One of our long-time sheep is now a representative of an international humanitarian organization. He recently wrote us an official letter, thanking us for our correspondence & the personal contact he had with our team. He suggested that we look for ways to work more closely together, including organizing meetings, concerts, & distributing lit--whatever is needed. `Together we can do so much more,' he wrote.
"We also received a sweet letter from a girl who lives in war-torn Sarajevo. The letter was passed on to us via the Red Cross & took several months to reach us. She said that she was writing in response to a Poster which someone had given her on the street. From her letter, we feel it is safe to assume that our catacombers in Sarajevo have received the packages of Posters we sent them, & that they are continuing to witness.
"Since Russian TV stations began broadcasting the Kiddie Viddies, we have received over 5,000 responses. The Russian Mail Ministry team have put together a `Kiddie Mag' mailing course. About 2,000 kids--40% of all who have written in to date--have already responded to a follow-up mailing which introduces the `Kiddie Mag' course. Also included in the first mailing, separate from the magazine, is the Reflections article `Children Are Forever.' Attached to it is a coupon which reads: `Attention! Publication for parents!'"
* ARTICLES APPEAR IN FINNISH MAGAZINE & BOOK. From the Family in Finland: "The May 10th issue of Finland's best selling TV guide magazine, Seven Days, contained a beautiful article about home schooling. The article was part of a series about school violence, & said that the Family has the solution!
"Members of our Home are also featured in a recently published book. Last year an author interviewed us for a book he was writing. That book, Islands of Hope, contains the stories of various Christians, & the underlying theme is how their faith is a source of peace & tranquillity in times of distress. One chapter, entitled `The Family as Refuge,' is about one of our families & gives a clear, ringing testimony about our way of life."
* ARTICLE IN ITALIAN NEWSPAPER PRAISES FAMILY'S WAY OF LIFE. From the Family in central Italy: "Due to the low birth rate in Italy, there has been a campaign to encourage more births. The provincial newspaper for our area has a feature column which includes a mother-&-baby photo for each birth in this district. When Charity delivered her tenth child at a local clinic, it generated considerable interest.
"The newspaper took the usual photos, but three reporters & photographers also showed up unannounced at the Home wanting to do an article. They `happened' to come on our Family day, which was ideal as everyone was home & busy in fun family-oriented activities. They took lots of candid photos of mommy with her young children, & also of our singing team who performed for them. We had a very good interview & discussion, & all three newspaper people got saved!
"The article, which was published in a local edition (circulation 250,000) of the national newspaper La Nazione, gives a very enthusiastic account of our beliefs & way of life. We heard that the article was discussed in a local TV programme which previews the next day's newspaper stories. It was also reprinted in the national edition of La Nazione."
* "WE DID WHAT WE COULD, & THE LORD DID THE REST!" From a Home in England: "Several months ago our Home was in desperate need of some major equipment. We prayed specifically for a new mini bus, computer, photocopy machine, washing machine & video camera. We got busy doing what we could, & the Lord began supplying a little bit here & a little bit there. In the meantime we tried to be faithful stewards of the equipment the Lord had already entrusted us with. Then to our surprise, the mother of one of our Members offered us a donation of almost $12,000 toward these major needs! God bless her! What an answer to prayer! He never fails!"
* KIDDIE VIDDIES WIN NEW FRIENDS AT PARENTING EXHIBIT. From a Home in England: "This month we took part in the `Practical Parenting' section of the Ideal Home Exhibition. This is a well-known annual event which attracts thousands of visitors from all over England. Our stand, which was sponsored by our printer, was open each day of the four-day exhibit from 10 a.m. till 8 p.m.
"We distributed thousands of flyers & order forms, sold Videos, witnessed to many people, won souls & provisioned two van-loads of children's materials, including pushchairs, nappies, books, toys, baby soaps & creams, & juice. We have a number of new friends & possible provisioning contacts to follow-up, & made lots of parents happy with our materials.
"Six people told us they already had KVs. All were extremely enthusiastic about them, & wanted more. One couple said they bought their first one on the street two years ago & have looked everywhere for us since! Another lady wanted not only KVs, but other Family materials to use with her Sunday School class.
"We met teachers who are very interested in using our materials, including some who are involved in `special education' programmes for people with learning disabilities. We have also been asked to attend more exhibitions, including a parent/teacher exhibition & an international exhibition for occupational therapists, to name just two. Several people have approached us about promoting our Videos or marketing them in stores. In every case, people are very impressed with the quality & content of our Videos."
* LATVIAN NATIONAL ATHLETIC STAR JOINS FULLTIME. Former Latvian track & field champion Peter has joined the Family fulltime. For the past year, while waiting to join, Peter has been an active witness for Jesus wherever he went, GBH! At one track meet he was so engrossed in giving a Bible class to a friend that he nearly missed his call for the high jump! Totally unprepared, he went out & set a new Latvian national record! "You must have had some supernatural help," his coach admitted afterwards. Peter hadn't even remembered to take off his warm-up suit!
That was a miracle indeed! But the even greater miracle was that Peter's father, whose greatest goal in life has been to see his son compete in the next Olympics, has finally given Peter permission to be a fulltime missionary! "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? ... Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (1Co.9:24,25). Hallelujah! Welcome to the "team," Peter!
ASIA
* KIDDIE VIDDIES LIKENED TO "MANNA FROM HEAVEN!" From a Home in India: "During a road trip to Calcutta, we presented several sets of sponsored Videos to schools there. The principal of one Catholic school said with tears in her eyes, `This is like manna from Heaven, a real windfall!' Her reaction, as well as those of other teachers & children we met, helped us to remember how special our tools are!"
* POSTERS HELP SLOW LEARNERS. From another Home in India: "The principal of a prominent primary school we visited was very excited about our Posters. `One of my teachers has been begging me for more of your Posters,' he said. The teacher has been using them with her remedial students, the ones with the most serious learning problems, & is having tremendous success!"
* VIDEOS HELP OTHER SHEEP WITNESS. Family Members in India met another missionary family who lives by faith. They have a full collection of our Videos which they take, along with a TV & VCR, on their visits to many remote villages. Like Dad used to do with his slide shows, this couple uses our Videos to draw a crowd, then they explain the Videos & witness to the people in the local language.
* THE WORD NEVER RETURNS VOID: Family Members recently met a mullah (Muslim religious leader) with this surprising testimony: After memorizing the entire Koran, he began studying the Bible, & in so doing, received Jesus. He soon became so full of the joy of the Lord that he wanted to share that joy with Christians, & started attending a church. But almost immediately the Lord spoke to him, "I called you to share the Gospel with the Muslims!" He now invites other Muslims to his house, where they read the Bible together in Eastern fashion. Sometimes their group is as large as 12, other times as small as four. "It's a small beginning," he says with shining face, "but I know what I'm doing is of the Lord. I'll keep going!" God bless him!
* INDIA PRISON MINISTRY UPDATE: From a Home in India: "A psychiatrist watched our musical performance at a large jail, then asked us to help in a rehabilitation programme which he conducts for inmates with drug addictions. We have now had three `movement therapy & drama' sessions with the 200 inmates, & they have gone very well. The inmates enjoy learning our action songs & really get involved in the skits. The doctor told us after one programme that that was the most response he has seen from the inmates in the seven months he has worked with them. Previously, this programme has relied on professional drama teachers, but the staff now prefer our simple, personal touch which gets results."
* PSYCHOLOGIST IMPRESSED WITH FAMILY'S HOME SCHOOLING. Following a visit to a Home in India, a highly respected psychologist is writing a thesis on the Family's Home Schooling for her laymen's journal, which is published in both English & the local language. She also plans to use the Family Video "Fantastic Friends" in her therapeutic classes.
SOUTH AMERICA
* LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN ARGENTINA: Media Progress: The Family is scheduled for more interviews with La Maga magazine & a cable TV network, & are continuing to supply the media with factual information about the Family.
Consider the Poor: The Family is now working with a friend met during the persecution to help supply food to inmates at a jail & children at several orphanages.
One of the Family's lawyers introduced them to the owner of a large frozen foods company. This man was also unjustly accused & jailed by Judge Marquevich in the past. Our lawyer defended him & they won the case. As a result, the two became good friends. Upon meeting us, this man offered to donate 150 kilograms of meat every week.
* LIMA FAMILY CONDUCTS HOSPITAL MINISTRY. The Family in Lima, Peru, is now making regular visits to various sections of Lima's National Rehabilitation Institute where Family teens perform for hospitalized children, teens & adults, & out-patients who attend rehabilitation courses. In addition, they minister to the doctors & to a group of lady volunteers. These ladies are especially impressed that our teens are so fully dedicated to missionary work, when most young people in the World today are self-centred.
* FINDING COMMON GROUND WITH MUSLIMS. From a Home in Colombia: "Local Muslims invited us to participate with them in an hour-long programme titled `In Search of the Truth,' which was broadcast by one of the largest radio stations in the country. A Lutheran pastor was also included on the panel. We were given the opportunity to present the Salvation message, as well as a summary of Endtime events. Since the show, we have been invited to several social gatherings by members of the local Muslim community."
* BOY HEALED OF TERMINAL CANCER. From a Home in Chile: "We were asked to pray for a boy who had been diagnosed as having terminal cancer. On our first visit we prayed for his overall healing, & specifically for his lungs. His whole body was so swollen that it was difficult for him to breathe. He also got saved that day.
"A couple of weeks later a teen team went with us & sang for him, & we all prayed for him again. After a few more weeks, the clinic sent him home, as they couldn't do anything more for him. We all kept praying for him during our Home's prayer vigils.
"Miraculously, he has recovered & now carries on a normal life! When the new school year started, off he went just as any other boy. The last time we saw him we were amazed at the transformation that had taken place. It was like meeting an entirely different person! His hair has all grown back & he's full of life & spunk! Hallelujah!"
AUSTRALIA
* MELBOURNE HOME GETS HIGH MARKS FROM EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. The first visit to one of the Melbourne Homes by the Education Department went very well. The inspectors were particularly interested in the master curriculum & teachers' planners, & asked very specific questions about how the curriculum for each subject is applied to each group. The inspectors commented that they were pleasantly surprised at the Home's well-organized & thorough programme. They commended the teachers for striking a good balance between following their curriculum, & making allowances for the children to spend more time on the subjects & projects which most interest them. The Childcare Handbooks, especially Volume 3, also drew special commendation: "This provides excellent summaries & jumping-off points for more detailed studies," said one inspector. "It would take [public] school teachers years to come up with something as useful as this!" The Education Department representatives also made a number of helpful recommendations regarding what they feel are the teachers' weak areas. At the end of their visit, they met the YCs, MCs & OCs in their learning areas, & seemed touched by the children's friendliness, spontaneity & enthusiasm. PTL!
PACIFIC
* GOD'S MYSTERIOUS WAYS: From a Home in Japan: "In a dream, the Lord told our provisioner the name of a man who would donate a pre-fab building which our Home needed. We made phone calls & visited pre-fab companies, but were unable to find this man. Then one day she called a small leasing company, & the secretary put her through to the owner. This man's name was the same as the name given her in her dream, & moments later he offered the exact pre-fab that we had been looking for!
"In another dream, the Lord showed her that a certain kitchen supplier would help us with our needs. After making initial contact, the situation seemed almost hopeless. Time passed. Still nothing. But she held on, believing that this was the company that the Lord wanted to use to supply our need. Then one day they called to say that a kitchen set was being delivered to our door! Praise the Lord!"
* FRIEND FINDS NEW PURPOSE IN RAISING FUNDS FOR THE FAMILY. From a Home in Taiwan: "One of our dear supporters who has helped us faithfully for over six years explained that he had recently lost interest in making money, as he has all he needs. But after we explained the needs of our new Home, he said we had given him a new challenge & goal--to help raise funds for us. He gave us a very generous donation on the spot, & pledged a large monthly gift. God bless him!
ANSWERED PRAYER
* DAD HAS BEEN HEALED OF THE VERY SEVERE COUGH which hindered his eating, sleep & work for several weeks. Thank you for your prayers which helped pull him through!
* MELBOURNE PROVISIONING: The Family has been able to resume weekly provisioning at the large Melbourne produce market. This is the market that Sgt. Gibbs & cohorts visited, & attempted to turn the Homes' contacts against them.
PRAYER REQUESTS
(Note: Many other requests will appear in Prayer Lists 19 & 20, which will be published soon, D.V.)
Critical or Life-&-Death Situations: (For age 14 & over.)
1. For Australian Crystal (of Hab), who has a breast tumour which has been diagnosed to be in the pre-cancerous stage: That the Lord will honour her stand of faith with complete healing, help her to learn all that He wants to teach her through this experience, & give her grace for the battle.
2. Magda & Matthew Polish: Strength & encouragement, as her doctors say the baby she is eight months pregnant with will not survive the delivery. Thank the Lord, we know that it will go Home to be with Jesus right away.
3. Gabriel (of Miracle) (FUN #11:17 & PL#18:64): Deliverance from cancer, which has taken a sudden turn for the worse. That the Lord will comfort his family as well as lead them in their decisions about treatments.
4. Lizzy (4, of Jerry & Julie): Serious kidney malfunction which may require surgery. For the Lord's miraculous intervention & healing; for special faith & grace for Lizzy & her parents during this time; for the Lord to really anoint the medical staff involved in her care.
(The following prayer requests are all for JETTs & up. Some may be shared with OCs & under with guidance.)
Dad & Mama:
5. For the health, safety & security of Dad, Mama, & their staff.
Worldwide:
6. For the financial situation in our Homes worldwide: That we will all be desperate with the Lord for His supply & obedient to the Word so that He can bring the blessing.
7. For fruitful Summer outreach in Europe, North America & Asia. Nearly every Family Member in Europe will be involved in Summer road trips this year, & many Homes in North America & Asia are involved in special Summer outreach projects. Please also pray for their safety & provision. "He that goeth forth & weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him!" (Psa.126:6).
Court cases:
8. Pearl's case: July 4th will be a very important day in court. Please pray fervently that Pearl's barrister will have a fiery anointing as he cross-examines key witnesses for the other side, and that facts will come to light which will effectively discredit the opposition. Please also pray desperately that the judge will be open to this cross examination proceeding, and that it will significantly turn the case in our favour.
Please also continue to pray that the Lord will speak clearly to the judge as he prepares his ruling, & that he will "judge righteous judgement" & allow Sammy to remain with Pearl in the Family.
9. Barcelona case: That the Spanish Constitutional Court will rule against the DA's appeal in the civil case, & that the Spanish Supreme Court will rule against the DA's appeal in the criminal case.
10. Argentine court case: The Attorney General will give his recommendation to the Supreme Court by the end of July or early August, then the Supreme Court judges will give their final ruling on our case. Please pray specifically that the Attorney General & Supreme Court will decide in our favour, declare our case out of Marquevich's jurisdiction once & for all, & accept the resolution written by the appeals court judges in which they found the Family innocent of any of the charges made against us.
11. French case: That the French judge will drop the investigation against the Family, & clear them of the criminal charges.
Europe:
12. Against negative repercussions from a Hungarian religious group's newsletter. Recently, a New Religious Movement (NRM) in Hungary unwisely sent a newsletter to thousands of influential people, including many of the country's politicians. This newsletter was extremely dogmatic & irrational, & attacked specific politicians & political parties. Strong anti-"cult" elements in that country are now playing this up in the media, claiming that this group is representative of all NRMs. Please pray that this will not adversely affect the Family in Hungary or other EE countries.
13. For the shipment of humanitarian aid to Siberia. Just as final arrangements were being made for a 30-car block train to take the 29 containers of food aid to Siberia, the Family in Russia was told that 460 of the 600 tonnes of food had been "misplaced"! No one seemed to know whether it was in St. Petersburg or Moscow. Some of it has now been recovered & should soon be on its way to Siberia, thank the Lord! Please pray for the officials at the various governmental & private organizations to all work together with Family Members to locate the missing goods, that the transport services will agree to move the shipment for the amount which the Family has raised for this project, & against any further delays or red tape. "He which hath begun a good work will complete it until the end" (Phi.1:6).
Australia:
14. For the filming & editing of a TV programme on the Melbourne case by a New Zealand network. That this show gives an accurate account of events & unbiased portrayal of the Family.
Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family