Denny
McKeever
The Harvest Is Ripe
Wherever the FaithSearch message is proclaimed,
a bountiful harvest is being reaped. The prophet Joel said,
"Swing the sickle for the harvest is ripe" (Joel 3:13).
When seeing townspeople coming to Him, Jesus told His disciples,
"Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for
harvest" (John 4:35).
We should not be surprised to see opposition: Jesus warned
us to expect attacks. But God has promised that His Word will
produce a harvest. Therefore, we must keep "swinging the
sickle"–for the harvest is ripe. Our "sickle"
is the Gospel of Jesus Christ with evidence-the FaithSearch
message.
People want to know how to have a relationship with Jesus and
to have certainty of eternal life. Wherever we go, many are
making commitments to follow Jesus Christ as the FaithSearch
message is proclaimed. Though we face opposition, the joy
of seeing the harvest keeps us swinging the FaithSearch
"sickle."
A recent conversation following the FaithSearch
presentation illustrates a frequent response. Sarah said she
had thought she was a Christian. She was involved in church
and even taught Sunday school. Yet deep inside she felt something
was missing-she just hoped she was okay. Then she heard the
clear Gospel presentation through FaithSearch
and immediately knew what was missing. She opened her heart
to Christ and the joy and peace of knowing Him flooded her soul.
Sarah's story is repeated often as we proclaim the Gospel with
evidence. Indians, Russians, Latinos and North Americans are
coming to Christ as we "swing our sickle." And we
must work the fields in the new territory God is opening to
us. Please be a part of God's work through FaithSearch
and enable us—through your prayers and sacrificial giving—to
keep on "swinging the sickle," for the harvest is
ripe.
Oleg
Voskresensky
Russia without Borders
It is said that "no prophet is accepted in his hometown"
(Luke 4:25). That verse was constantly on my mind as I went
back to Russia, this time in a new capacity as FaithSearch
missionary. Would they listen to me or even come to my Discovery
seminars? Who am I to tell these people about God?
As it turned out, my fears were completely groundless: Apparently
it does not really matter who I am considering the fact
of Who God is! It was amazing to see how quickly
people forgot about me once I started talking to them about
Him. They did listen and they did come, as I traveled to
six cities spread over three time zones of Russia in late
October. Unfortunately, I had to reschedule a visit to Petrozavodsk
(just inside the Arctic Circle)—there were no flights to get
me to the next event in time. This reminded me that Russia covers
a lot of space. I will definitely need to share my responsibilities
with others. Gladly, almost forty of the St. Petersburg participants
signed up to be trained as FaithSearch Discovery
presenters—twelve of them university students from all over
Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
FaithSearch ministry has officially began in Russia.
It met no denominational boundaries, and will only be limited
by how much I can travel-and how many suitcases of Surprised
by Faith (Russian edition) I can carry. These are, however,
good problems to have, and we are addressing them: On my next
trip I will start training local missionaries to present FaithSearch
Discovery, and will look for a way to print the book in Russia.
This should not be difficult, considering that Petrozavodsk
(on the itinerary, see above) is the capital of the Russian
paper and printing industry. The Lord has already prearranged
it for us. All we need to do is to show up.
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