Departure-Stage 1
June 6th Training in NC
May Newsletter
Link= http://j.mp/ivrKP6
¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them. He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled. 
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, 

   for they will be called children of God. Mt 7:1-9
Hunger = la faim, to be hungry = avoir faim
There is NO greater poverty than the lack of the Gospel.
The French are hungry and empty. They take more antidepressants than any other nation on the planet. They have left their catholic roots so far behind that they really have no point of reference when Christianity comes up. They have faith in nothing...but down deep they WANT to! France is more than 98% unreached! They think that Gospel is just Black people singing. The few who know Jesus do not share their faith and the gospel with their neighbors or friends!
Something must be done for this to change. THAT is why UWM has planted a new kind of church that avoids the stigma that church is boring and draws even the cautious French into relationship with bold thriving believers. But the church only has a few families.
Truly the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.
That's where I come in. My hands, feet, heart and voice are needed to support this Kingdom Work. In addition to training and mentoring  small groups leaders I will teach English and perform as a Gospel Singer. Our hope is that my students and musical relationships will lead to opportunities to draw a wider range of French people to small groups and to the church as a whole.
I am only $54 short of 58%. I am sure I will reach 58% by Monday 5/23 which will clear me to depart in Stage 1. Stage 1 is leaving for training in North Carolina for 2 and 1/2 months. After that training ends on 8/18 I will continue to raise partners and support until I reach 100%. I can then immediately depart (Stage 2) for France!
"Some places take years of work and cultivation to grow a crop but it's always worth it."
This dream has been a long time in the making but I can see how God has timed everything so perfectly. Could you...WOULD you pray about becoming a MONTHLY partner to support this permanent ministry. I have committed my service to the Lost of France until Jesus returns. You can help send a committed laborer to the harvest fields and JOIN GOD in the exciting work of Bringing a Nation back to Him! I long to see that day, when all of us from every Nation, Tribe and Tongue are worshiping Him as ONE Church.
This song has at it's heart that kind of longing and dreaming for that Perfect Day.

MAY UPDATE EXCITEMENT

¹ You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. ³ Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. ⁵ Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. ⁷ Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Tim 2:1-7

News!!!!!
In order to attend training in June I have to be authorized/given the greenlight THIS week by my Coach, the Europe Director AND the Candidate Leader at UWM. They ALL have to agree and believe I'll be at 70% by June, or close enough, in order to give me the go ahead.
My coach just called to make sure I'm pushing for June to go to Union Mills, NC for training. He agrees this makes sense so I can leave as early as possible in the Fall.
He also informed me we have to make sure there is an opening/room. Apparently many have already "registered" for the June-August Session.
Will you pray for the next 3 days with me for a YES and for an OPENING? For those who can I will also be fasting Lunch the next few days until he calls with an answer.

Here's the link to our latest update:
France Church-Planting May Newsletter
http://j.mp/ivrKP6
Audacious Goal for May-Raise $1100 per month in new pledges!

Here's how to get involved and GIVE : )
1-Go To www.uwm.org (United World Mission)
2-Click DONATE NOW (bottom middle block (Donate Online Invest Globally)),
3-Click NEW DONORS (unless you've given before),
4-You'll be asked to create an account where you can make a one-time OR recurring donation.
5-In comments section put Ricardo L. Walker 31348

The Song of Lazarus

The Song of Lazarus

In his own words!

I know why you’re here. Don’t worry I’ll get to THAT story in a minute but I have to start at the beginning. Do you mind?

Well… the first time I met Jesus, He had been travelling for several days. After teaching ALL day in Bethany, where we live, he had been planning to travel on by night to the next town!

My sister, Martha, insisted Jesus stay the night with us and then continue his journey the next morning, refreshed. The look of gratitude that crossed his face could not be feigned. So Mary and Martha prepared refreshments and we all shared a late meal.

Now Jesus was nothing like what I pictured. Frankly I expected the guy to be 10 feet tall and to glow the way Moses’ face did when He came down from the Mountain! But Jesus just looked like a regular guy. Well regular but humble and really intense. You knew when he was looking at you or talking to you that he meant every word and when he smiled at you it pierced heart deep.

After that Jesus would stay with us when he was in town. My favorite memories are talking late into the nite when Jesus should have been asleep. Often he challenged me to rethink how I treated the others in our home. Truth be told I was pretty spoiled. My sisters waited on me hand and foot. They couldn’t wait until I was married so they would have some help getting me to do my share in the family business! But after spending time with Jesus I was never the same. Sometimes he had me laughing for hours. Even when we were just hangin out I never felt like Jesus saw it as wasted time. A few times Jesus left me ashamed of something I had said or done but the next time I saw him I realized he just wanted the best for and from me. And little by little I really began to believe he MUST be the Messiah that the scriptures foretold. Then one day I realized I would follow this guy anywhere and do whatever he told me to…because I knew that it would always be right and good! But he wasn’t just the Messiah or our teacher. Jesus was my friend. The brother I never had.

Then one day I got sick. You’ve heard some of this right?

At first we were sure it would pass. We thought it was the just a cold. But I could tell Martha was worried when I stopped eating. I mean she’s a great cook and I rarely left the table without seconds! But I just kept getting worse.

I couldn’t get warm enough. My fever refused to break. Nothing we tried worked!

Finally Mary sent for Jesus to tell him I was sick. And I just knew that he would come. Several days passed, no Jesus, and I got weaker and weaker. And all I could think was if Jesus was really my friend why didn’t he come!

And it wasn’t that I expected him to heal me. I mean he didn’t heal every sick person in Bethany. But he always left them better than he found them on the inside if they let Him! I just thought he would come because we were friends and he would want to see me one last time. I thought about the times when God had showed up for the prophets. But then I began to remember some of the passages Jesus told me were his favorites like Psalm 22 and 23. They reminded him to stay strong like David did even when he felt forsaken or faced overwhelming circumstances. I thought about how passionate Jesus became when we studied how Job responded to the loss of his family by falling down to worship the God who allowed it. Finally I just couldn’t stay awake any longer. I told my sisters to remember Mishael, Hananiah and Azariah. Our God is able to rescue us…but even if He doesn’t….Let us do likewise

I fell asleep with my sisters holding my hands and crying and wondering how I could have been so wrong?

Then the next thing I remember was thinking somehow I had gotten tangled up in my bedclothes. Then I realized nothing else mattered because Jesus was calling,

Shouting my name

and I just had to

GET TO HIM!

I was pretty shaken up when they explained what had happened. And I know you have more questions about what I remember while I was dead but this is what I want you to remember.

The spoiled young man in need of a brother and a friend that Jesus met that first night….was dead long before Jesus called me out of that tomb. I met Jesus face to face and now

I am not the same. That’s the real miracle.

If my heart is overwhelmed and I cannot hear your voice

I hold onto what is true, though I cannot see

If the storms of life they come, and the road ahead gets steep

I will lift these hands in faith, I will believe

I remind myself of all that you’ve done

And the life I have because of your Son

Love came down and rescued me

Love came down and set me free

I am yours

I am forever yours

Mountain high or valley low

I sing out and remind my soul

I am yours

I am forever yours

When my heart is filled with hope, and every promise comes my way

When I feel your hands of grace, rest upon me

Staying desperate for you God, Staying humbled at your feet

I will lift these hands and praise, I will believe