France BRIEfly
e-Newsletter No Greater Poverty than the Need for the Gospel
Unity and Maturity in the Body of ChristEphesians 4:1-6 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the UNITY of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is ONE body and ONE Spirit, just as you were called to ONE hope when you were called; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism; ONE God and Father of ALL,
who is over ALL and through ALL and in ALL."
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BRIEf Vision:
If Rev.Martin Luther King, Jr. were alive today I believe he would be focused like a laser on reaching the Lost around the globe and on unity within the Body of Christ, world-wide. He would challenge African Americans on their apparent absence from the Foreign Mission field, both in sending and in going. He would not rest until ALL people's are FREE in Christ.
Thank you to the Carolina Forest Men's Group who studied this passage in Ephesians and welcomed me so thoroughly on Tuesday Night. After I shared about France, I sat in awe as they studied and chewed with maturity and deep insight into Eph. 4:1-17. My heart rejoiced to see these 10 men sharing so passionately about living out our ONE calling and doing the work it takes to maintain unity and peace among Jesus's followers regardless of denomination or race.
One has already joined our support team! He said "I had a chance to sign up and contribute today and I want you to know that we will continue our [$] per month donation until Jesus calls us home too! God willing, maybe we will be able to donate more as our business grows!"
Everytime someone new commits to this ministry...EVERY TIME...I bawl. My heart cannot contain the emotion your commitment stirs in me. It is one part awe and nine parts gratitude!
I think every follower of Christ, when his or her begins to break for the Lost like Christ's does, can echo the words of Rev. King's most famous speech, for the Dream of God's Kingdom come both now...and not yet. Here and advancing as YOU and I join HIM where He is working to draw ALL PEOPLE to Himself.
Read, and Dream again with Dr. King, and with me...
I HAVE A DREAM (EXCERPT) "We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" ...We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.This is ourHOPE. This is the faith that I will go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew, out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation [and WORLD] into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work TOGETHER , to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day, this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning,...
From EVERY mountainside, let freedom ring!
...
And so let freedom ring -- from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring -- from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring -- from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring -- from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring -- from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that.
Let freedom ring -- from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring -- from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring -- from every hill and molehill of Mississippi,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual,
"Free at last, free at last.
Thank God Almighty, we ARE FREE at last."
BONUS VIDEO - "I AM" - One of the Worship Songs
that I would offer if invited to your group.
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Here's what new supporters, prayer warriors and monthly supporters are saying:
"Calling Monday morning. Still got your back Bro."
"You are such a wonderful inspiration and true servant of our Lord. I wish you all of the best as you complete your fundraising and please know that we will be praying for you and your ministry from this point forward!"
"You now have a new sponsor!! took me forever! ha!!! I will be praying for you too! I will also be praying for more sponsors!! Be blessed my brother! Rooting for what Jesus will be doing through you!!  "
"Hello Ricardo. This is *****'s mother. My husband and I would enjoy sponsoring you monthly for $**. We would like to know how we can set up a bank transfer. God Bless you Ricardo for still feeling that God is leading you with this."
"Hey Ricardo, I was able to hear you speak at the Your Next Step conference the other weekend. Hearing about you being a missionary and going to France to spread the Lord's Word. He really put it on my heart to send you a donation and pray for you. I was really moved listening to you talk. I never realized France would be a place that is lacking the Gospel and thus salvation. I am grateful that you are able and willing to spend time there and spread God's word and change people's lives, I believe you will do a great work for the Lord! God Bless!"
" I mentioned you in church and they're pretty interested in you coming by to speak one Sunday." (Appointment SET!!!)
Thank you ALL for helping make these moments happen! |
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