When the economy got tough and the missions offerings did not come in, Pastor Pool took the money from the general fund to make sure that the missionaries did not come up short on their support. God has honored his faith, and they are once again “in the black”, doing more for missions than ever. Praise God for pastors like Milton Pool and churches like Humble First Assembly! Check them out: www.humblefirstchurch.com.

My Mom, Gertrude Jeter, has been an example and inspiration to me all of my lfe. She has modeled the unselfish, productive, modest, godly Proverbs 31 woman, not only for our family, but for many others. On November 22nd she celebrated her 100th birthday! This is a picture that my older brother posted on Facebook of the birthday celebration for her in Virginia Beach, where she lives with Stan and Rhoda and their family. Just two weeks ago she made the road trip to Marshfield and Branson Missouri with Stan and his family to attend my sister Betty’s daughter’s wedding. While she was here in our area the family got together for an early celebration of her birthday. Happy birthday, Mom! I love you!

I get inspiration from any source I can. Today it was my very persistent petunias in the window box of our home in Ozark, MO. I planted these flowers back in the spring. They have survived summer drought, and now several frosts and a hard freeze. They are a little worn, and somewhat ragged around the edges. I can somewhat identify with that. But there they are, still “hanging in there”, keeping on doing their job of making our lives brighter. I trust I will be able to do the same to those around me.

VETERANS DAY is a time to honor our veterans who have served around the world in defense of our country and our liberties. Our military veterans are our national heroes, and I honor them. I think it is also an appropriate time to honor one of my “heroes”. I am speaking of a veteran of spiritual warfare who has spent his life bringing spiritual freedom to countless persons by the communication of a message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

In my lifetime, I have had many heroes. My Dad was one of them. As it is with the veterans of some of the greatest wars this world has known, the longer I live the fewer of these veteran heroes are still alive.

However, I do have an outstanding hero I want to honor today. John Bueno is a true veteran of spiritual warfare. He is a godly man of character and principles. In addition to these wonderful characteristics, John is one of the most personable, compassionate, and redemptive men I have ever known. He is a prince of a man, with a heart of gold. He has done an outstanding job as the Director of World Missions of the Assemblies of God. He has led us in the battle to save souls all around the world. He has now retired as Director of AGWM. As a boss, he has been the greatest. However, I am even more proud to call him my friend.

John Bueno, you are my hero!

Have you ever wondered if the seed you are sowing is producing fruit? The French Christian website, TopChrétien was started around ten years ago by a friend by the name of Eric Célérier as an evangelism outreach, mainly for France. Since then the outreach has branched out and partnered with different organizations, including Global University, to evangelize and follow up contacts with discipleship and a church home. The Godrev.com , connaîtredieu and Jesus.net sites were created to give the opportunity to people all over the world to get the Gospel message and respond with a prayer of commitment to Christ.

Joy in Heaven gives us the possibility of tracking conversions in real time on a world map or even on Google Earth. Joy in Heaven as of this writing has recorded 27,363,231 visits with 2,701,876 people who have accepted Christ as Savior!

How fascinating to be able to trace results of this unique form of evangelism on the Internet and knowing that the Lord is building his Church all around the world. And as you partner with us, you have a part in the harvest!

Click here to view the video testimony of French convert. It is one of many testimonies of people who have come to Christ through this network of ministries. If you do not understand French, here are some testimonies in English.

Blaise works in Haiti with the Salvation Army as coordinator of their HIV & Aids Project. He came across the Network 211 website,  a partner ministry for evangelism and Christian discipleship and wrote an inquiry in French.→

→Fred, who serves as a moderator for Network 211, forwarded a short note to me that Blaise had written asking about the availability of courses for training young Christians. I help Network 211 with their inquiries in French.→

→I answered Blaise, and referred him to our GlobalReach website where we have materials available online and available for download for evangelism and Christian training. He wrote me a note in French saying he likes the courses, but wondered if there might be a residence Bible School in Haiti where he could get further Bible training.→

→I then referred Blaise to Stephen Aldrich who is our Global University director  in Haiti and is director of the Haitian Ministry Training Center, using our GU curriculum in French. Stephen then established contact in Haiti with Blaise. It looks like he will be studying the curriculum we helped produce in the French language for Bible Schools around the world such as Stephen’s in Haiti.

Partnership—Teamwork—Networking!

Call it what you will, it is essential for success in furthering the Kingdom of God. We are not the only ministry on the block…  and I am so grateful! God has given many different talents and ministries to his body. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the many churches and friends who support these ministries with their prayers and finances. Some go and some send. Some preach, some teach, and some prepare the materials to train the teachers and preachers. We all have a part in winning the lost and training the found. Working together with God’s help we can and we will “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19 NIV).

Tomatoes From Our Garden

Tomatoes from our garden in November in the Ozarks! The tomatoes were late coming on. The plants produced blooms, but did not put on tomatoes. I kept watering and tending to them. I wondered if we would even get one decent tomato for all my work.

Finally they started to produce. Some were cracked because the wild variation in temperatures they had to endure. But then some nice tasty ones matured. I had to cover the plants to prevent them from the frost, but then uncovered them for some more sunshine. Now November is here. We have had dozens of delicious tomatoes, and still have dozens more on the vine!

Doesn’t the Bible say something about reaping a harvest if we work and don’t faint? I need to remember my delicious November tomatoes the next time I am disappointed that the fields in which we are sowing do not produce souls immediately for God’s harvest.

Assemblies of God World Missions is a “Faith-based” missionary sending agency. That means that each of our world missionaries partners with individuals and churches who, by faith, promise to support them through prayer and finances as the Lord enables them. Without this partnership, the world-wide missionary ministry of the Assemblies of God would not be possible. Before we can obtain clearance for doing our international ministry, we are required to have pledges of support for an amount determined by AGWM. It is calculated according to our type and place of ministry, the size of our family, and the cost of living in the location where we will be stationed.

Then every four years the missionary is required to spend another year in itineration, travelling around to the different supporting churches to report on the ministry results. We also have to acquire new or increased pledges of support to make up for those who have not been able to continue with their commitment for one reason or another. We are currently receiving 30% less than our original support pledged four years ago.

I enjoy ministering and meeting with the churches and individuals who have partnered with us and made our ministry possible. What I do not enjoy is the many thousands of miles that I have to travel, and the separation from family for so much of the year. So, that is why I smile and say, “See you soon!” But at the same time I ask you for your prayers that everything will go well in booking services, and all the practical details that accompany this year of itineration.