My Dear Partner in Ministry:
In the aftermath of the terrible attack on America of September 11, and amid many threats of more violence against our homeland, I want you to hear and claim two promises that our Lord Jesus has made to those who follow Him.
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The first promise is from John 14:27 . . .
“Peace I leave with you;
my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be
afraid.”
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The second promise is from John 16: 33
“In the world you face
persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world.”
Please take note of what our Lord has promised. He has
promised us peace! Not the elusive peace which the world
offers but cannot deliver, but His peace which is certain.
And, He has promised us His victory over the world.
These are encouraging promises for us to claim as we face
today’s uncertainties. Certain peace and absolute victory.
But also take note that, along with the promises, there are three
responsibilities that we are to take on . . .
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Our hearts are not to be troubled (worried)
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Our hearts are not to be afraid
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We are to be courageous
Clearly, the Lord is telling
us that because we are promised His peace and victory. We are not
to shrink back with worried and fearful hearts, but to move
forward with courage to proclaim His gospel and advance His
kingdom in a hostile world.
My Friend, the people of God
are not “wimps” when confronted by the terrorizing realities
of spiritual warfare (and this IS essentially a spiritual war that
confronts us today). God is calling us to join the battle with
our prayers and our pocketbooks. And I want to show you two
sure-fire ways to wage war against the enemy that is seeking to
destroy the work of God.
Compassion Radio is moving forward on two fronts during the
month of November. On the first front, we’re challenging you to
financially fuel “Project Pakistan”, a
strategically important effort to ‘invade Taliban territory’
with the power of the Gospel.
Less than a year ago, Cher and I were guests in Peshawar,
Pakistan, of the Shelter Now International organization.
Shelter Now International is the organization whose 8
Christian Aid workers are (as of this writing) imprisoned by the
Taliban in Kabul, Afghanistan, on charges of “spreading
Christianity” in that Muslim country.
While we were in Peshawar, we
toured the huge Afghan refugee camp at Akora Khattak to which
50,000 refugees have fled to escape the Taliban regime, as well as
the famine and drought that has afflicted Afghanistan for several
years.
Our hearts were broken by what we saw in that camp. But our
spirits were encouraged as we saw that many of these dear Afghan
refugees are responding to loving outreaches offered in the name
of Jesus Christ.
(I cannot say anything more specific than that.)
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We were also sobered by a quick and nervous photo stop at a
nearby Madrassa (Islamic school) in Akora Khattak (pictured to the
right), where poverty-stricken boys from the refugee camp and
elsewhere are educated
We believe firmly that God put us in that Taliban-oriented
area of Pakistan – right up against the border of Afghanistan
– to bring home the message that we must engage the Enemy on his
own turf. Our courageous friends at Shelter Now International need
our support, and God’s work in the refugee camp must not cease,
especially as new refugees flood in to escape the war.
Will you give to “Project Pakistan” as we
seek to . . .
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Support a gospel witness in a place where young boys are taught terrorism
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Stand by Shelter Now International in a difficult time of spiritual conflict
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Provide aid in Jesus’ name to Afghan refugees in flight for their lives
My friend, terrorism is birthed and nurtured in Western
Pakistan. Only if the power of the Gospel is advanced in this
place can terrorism be stopped at its root level.
On
the second front, we’re enlisting you to support “OPERATION
GOD’S WORD - 2001”
How does this fit in with what’s happening in the world
now? Keep reading!
The most powerful weapon that the believer can carry into
spiritual warfare is the Word of God: “Indeed, the Word of God
is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,” (Heb.
4:12);
“My Word…shall not return to me empty, but it shall
accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for
which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
Since 1995, this Compassion Radio ministry has funded the
sending and distribution of more than a quarter of a million
Bibles into China, as well as into Albania, Kosovo, Thailand,
Vietnam, Indonesia and North Korea through Operation God’s
Word, our dynamically effective program of equipping the
Christians of China with Bibles.
Today, in the context of the battle against
satanically-inspired terrorism, the need to send Bibles to China
is greater than it has ever been before.
Let me explain why that is so…
China borders on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the other Muslim
Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, and Tajikistan.
This Chinese connection to the world of Islam is more than
geographical. Western China is, itself, populated by millions of
discontented Muslims, and they are a threatening influence to
China’s national stability.
Case-in-point: Only months ago, Chinese security forces
arrested and executed scores of Muslim extremists who were seeking
to establish an independent Islamic State in the western region of
the country.
The large Uyghur tribe, which is overwhelmingly Muslim,
populates both sides of the China/Kazakhstan border, and young
male members of this tribal group are among the radical Muslims
being trained in Osama Bin Laden’s terrorist training camps in
Afghanistan.
So, you see, China’s large Muslim population is a
significant ‘player’ in the extremist Islamic revolution that
is impacting Asia and the rest of the world at this critical point
in history.
That’s the bad news.
The good news is . . . these millions of Muslims in
China are being reached with the message of the Gospel by fearless
and effective Chinese evangelists! Cher and I have been in Uyghur
villages, met the evangelists and have seen the work that is going
on for the cause of Christ in Muslim territory. This Gospel
outreach possesses the same dynamism as exists in the house
churches throughout China.
However . . . they must have Bibles!
The fact is that for every Bible provided to Chinese Christians,
at least five converts are won to faith in Jesus Christ. But only
one out of 2,000 Christians in China has a Bible. And, only you
and I, and other Christians in the West, have the resources to
provide those desperately needed Bibles.
Our “Operation God’s Word – 2001” campaign is
seeking to provide at least 10,000 Bibles for the persecuted, but
fast-growing Church in China.
Here’s how you can help: for every $4.00 you contribute to
“Operation God’s Word – 2001” during November, one
Bible will be placed in the hands of a Chinese believer who wants
one. And, for every Bible you provide, you can look for 5 converts
to be won to Christ. Think of it like this . . .
| $20 will provide 5 Bibles |
| $40 will provide 10 Bibles |
| $100 will provide 25 Bibles |
| $400 will provide 100 Bibles |
| $4,000 will provide 1000 Bibles |
. . . and so on.
And, during this campaign, a dollar-for-dollar matching grant
will double your gift of Bibles to China through “Operation
God’s Word – 2001”!
My Friend, the world-wide terrorist menace can be fought most
powerfully through the life changing power of God’s Word and the
potency of the Gospel. And you can energize that spiritual
invasion through your gift of God’s Word.
Get involved!
You can help change the world by your gifts to “Project
Pakistan” and “Operation God’s Word”.
Will you?
Finally, never in the history of this ministry have we needed
your support more. It has always been much easier to raise funds
for our Compassion Projects than for our broadcast expenses. Some
of you will discover the reality of that this month, when the
broadcast disappears from your local station. We have had no
choice but to cut several stations where the giving for the
ministry did not equal the cost of the air time.
Please, if you understand our calling and vision, and share
it with us, won’t you help us rise above this financial
burden, to be free to carry out our mission? I love you and am
grateful to you for your partnership in this ministry in the past,
and pray that it continues to minister to you in a way that will
inspire you to help us now.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Norm Nelson
P.S. To equip and encourage
you to be a prayer warrior in this, and any spiritual conflict, I
want to send you one of the most important books we’ve ever
offered. It’s called, The Peacemaking Power of Prayer.
The author is John Robb, Director of Prayer Mobilization for World
Vision. Perhaps you heard him when he was a recent guest on Compassion Radio. He’ll show you how “Prayer Initiatives” helped
to resolve military conflicts in Cambodia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and
elsewhere. The book is yours on request when you contribute $20.00
or more to Compassion Radio in November. This book proves that
prayer is our greatest power. Don’t miss it!
For an additional $5 to cover cost, shipping and handling, we
would like to send you our 2002 Compassion Radio ministry
wall/appointment calendar. It includes ample space for recording
daily appointments, plus a monthly prayer focus, thought-provoking
quotation, scripture -- plus, on the back page -- room to record
your prayer requests and answers, dates to remember, and list of
holidays.
All photos by Norm and Cher Nelson
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CR/COMPASSION RADIO |
