Worldwide Activity Report -- November 1998
FAR081 -- GP CHR

Copyright 1998 by The Family

         "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone, everywhere," Jesus told His followers. Every day, in over 85 countries, Family missionaries share Jesus' message of hope and love with many thousands. Following are some highlights of their recent activities and experiences.

[Caption for front page photo:]

Teach the Word. Family members worldwide give hundreds of Bible classes every day. Here two Family missionaries in Brazil (seated left) give a class to some slum dwellers, most of whom are illiterate.

"Isn't God wonderful?!"
From Angie, Nepal
         I have been corresponding with Nick, a young Nepali who was led to the Lord by some Family members while in India. He is now living in Hong Kong. In a recent letter, he explained the turns his life has taken because of his new faith--a touching story that I'll let him tell in his own words:
         After receiving Christ, I thought that my walk with Him would be one happy journey. But alas, it seemed that would not be so. My father reacted very negatively to my conversion, and eventually asked me to leave home. He said that now that I have God to take care of all my needs, I didn't need him or his financial support. He also told me that I had to go to Hong Kong, and nowhere else. I don't think that he liked the idea of having an estranged son on his doorstep. So with a heavy heart, I packed my bags and said a sad goodbye to my mum, my sister, and my friends. My father was on holiday in India at the time.
         Arriving in Hong Kong with only the luggage I carried and a little money my mum had given me, I felt quite uncertain about my future. I managed to find a place to stay, but finding a steady job was a bigger problem. After more than a month of searching and temporary jobs, I finally found work as an unskilled laborer at a construction site. The work was hard and sometimes dangerous, and I was underpaid.
         During the first few months I struggled a lot, and sometimes asked God, "What have You brought me to?" I couldn't help feeling bitter, being away from my family and now working as a common laborer in the midst of dust and dirt.
         But God is gracious. After a series of incidents He brought me back to His presence and lifted me up from the dumps I had sunk into. I felt Him telling me, "Hey, Nick, don't worry about it now. Just work hard, honestly and with diligence, and I'll take care of everything else!" This gave me hope and new energy, and I did just that with the Lord right by my side. Remembering that Jesus was also a laborer before His ministry began further encouraged me.
         Within a few months, many changes came in my work. I was promoted from a helper to a skilled worker, and eventually I was put in charge of one, then two, then three workers. Now I'm the foreman of an eight-man team. Isn't God wonderful?
         Of course, I do not think that I will now lead a problem-free life, but I do take comfort in one fact: As long as I abide in the Lord and put full trust in Him, then everything will be OK! I don't know how long I will be in this position, but I sure wish that I could do more for God.
         Well, I hope that my story did not take up too much of your time. Please do not hesitate to let me know if I can be of any help to you and The Family. God's grace and peace be with you always. --Nick.

Miracle healings at children's hospital
From Emanuel, Joy and James, Venezuela
         A few members of our Family community have been visiting the cancer wing of the children's hospital in Caracas every week for nearly a year. We have cheered and comforted many young patients and their parents, but hadn't seen any special manifestations of God's healing power.--Not until recently, that is!
         The first to be healed miraculously was a four-year-old girl who the doctors expected to live only two more months when we met her. Each time we visited the hospital, we prayed for her and her mother, who was understandably very distressed. Then one day we were told that the little girl was being released because she had been healed of cancer! Her mother was overflowing with joy, and gave God the glory with her whole heart.
         Since then, four other children have been miraculously healed, and the Lord is bringing another five-year-old boy with cancerous tumors all over his body out of a seemingly impossible situation.
         When we started visiting the hospital, one doctor had asked us not to come on Mondays, as that is the busiest day of the week in that wing. But after these miraculous healings, she is happy that we do come on Mondays, as that makes it possible for us to talk and pray with more people. The director of the Association of Children with Cancer has said publicly that this hospital is experiencing miracles due to the healing power of God.

Heaven's children
From Mira, Croatia
         This was a very full and exciting month for us here! We did shows for thousands of enthusiastic children in 10 kindergartens and six schools, in both Croatia and Bosnia. Between the different schools, we gave out 30 of The Family's educational children's videos which were sponsored by one of our supporters in Finland, and 15 audio tapes. All will be used to teach the children English and character-building lessons. Best of all, over 2,700 children prayed with us to receive the love of Jesus into their hearts. We also gave each of the children a piece of gospel literature to take home, so their families could also learn about God's gift of eternal salvation in Jesus.
         We're all so thankful that the Lord is able to use us to bring His love to these children whose lives were once shattered by war!

Peace in the Midst of Storm
From Gideon, Heidi, Mary and Sam, Pakistan
         Our new tract, "Peace in the Midst of Storm," contains a wonderful message for this strife-torn, economically-troubled country. So many people are worried about what the future might hold for them. The tract has had quite an impact on the people we've given it to, but perhaps none so much as Mr. Rafiq, a long-time friend and supporter who previously had not shown much personal interest in our literature. He was always too busy for that, he said.
         Then one day when we went to see him, he was quite distressed. Some crooked officials had just been there, trying to extort a large sum of money from him under threat of being sent to jail on trumped-up charges. When we arrived, he told us that he was so discouraged and upset that he felt like giving up.
         We offered some words of encouragement, and gave him a copy of "Peace in the Midst of Storm," which he began to read out loud. His phones started ringing and his secretary came in to tell him that his next appointment had arrived, but he told her to hold all calls and appointments until he had finished reading the tract. Wow! You would have to know Mr. Rafiq and his usual work habits to appreciate what an outstanding occurrence that was!
         When he had finished, he looked up and said, "So all I have to do is trust God and have faith that He will work things out!" He really got the point!
         Mr. Rafiq decided to trust God rather than give in to the extortionists' demands, and nothing has come of their threats!

Healed on the operating table!
From Esteban, Virginia and Michael, Brazil
         One of our close friends had been praying for a long time for her father, who was quite distant from God. She had offered several times to pray with him to receive Jesus, but he always declined. Then he was diagnosed as having a very serious heart condition, and was scheduled for a delicate emergency operation.
         When our friend brought us the news, her father was already at the hospital, undergoing more tests before having surgery that same day. We prayed for him together, and then she and her brother rushed off to the hospital.
         When they arrived, they persuaded the head doctor to let them see their father, who was already on the operating table and about to be anesthetized.
         She asked her father again if he would like to receive the Lord, and this time he accepted. They also prayed for a miracle of the Lord's healing.
         Just as they finished praying, the head doctor came in and said he wanted to do some more tests before operating, which he completed within a few minutes. Suddenly a puzzled and amazed look came over his face and he hurried from the room.
         A few minutes later he returned and asked, "Was God in this room a little while ago?" Then he told the father, "You're healed! You don't have to have this operation! You're fine!"
         Immediately they all started praising the Lord together and thanking Him for the miracle He had just done.
         Since having that close call with death and getting saved, her father's life has changed dramatically. He now joins his daughter for Bible classes in our home, where he tells the others attending of the miracle Lord did for him. Prayer is powerful!
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         The Family is a nonprofit, volunteer organization. Each of the activities you have just read about was made possible through donations from businesses, associations and concerned individuals. If you would like more information about The Family, or if you would like to help sponsor Family volunteers or projects, including any of those mentioned in this issue, please contact us at one of the addresses below:



Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family