November 2017 newsletter

"Is not this the carpenter's son?" Matthew 13:55 His birthday is coming! November 2017

You Are Their Blessing D i c k

E a s t m a n

International President

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” — John 13:14 (NIV)

efore the Christ Group could meet at night, they had to turn off all the lights and tightly draw the curtains. Persecution in this closed region had forced these steadfast believers to meet in secret. One of them took out a Bible and began to read aloud by the dim light of a mobile phone. The other believers in the tiny room listened with rapt attention, hungry to hear the Word of God. This story fills me with joy to know the power of God’s Word and the perseverance of His Church. But at the same time, I feel a weight of responsibility. Stories like this remind us of the great spiritual need experienced by millions across the globe. God has chosen us, His Church, to meet that need. And when we rise to the challenge, amazing things happen. People living in countries closed to the Gospel hear about Jesus’ love for the first time. Believers who have

longed for years to read God’s Word for themselves receive Bibles of their own. And pioneer missionaries who face great risk and persecution find courage in knowing that friends like you prayerfully support them. Right now, our pioneer missionaries are preparing for their Christmas Outreaches. These annual outreach opportunities use the holiday season to bring in an amazing harvest. Last year, they reached over 57 million homes, and more than 8 million people responded to the Gospel. Christmas is the time when we come together to thank the Lord for His many blessings — both physical and spiritual. But perhaps the greatest blessing He has bestowed upon us is our unique ability to also bless others around the world. As you read the stories in this issue of Every Home, I pray that God will show you how you can bless those in need this Christmas.

by Guy Burgo

Editor’s Note: Guy Burgo is Every Home for Christ’s Stewardship Advisor. He has worked as a consultant to over 100 ministries and has helped more than 2,300 Christian families design their wills.

"In over 20 years of ministry, I’ve yet to meet an unhappy generous person. They simply don’t exist. On the contrary, I’ve found that generous people tend to be contented

and spiritually mature prayer warriors who have strong personal relationships! I can’t explain why exactly, but after working with thousands of givers, I’ve observed a pattern of amazing personal benefits connected to being generous. In addition to these personal benefits, Christian generosity also makes the world more beautiful. It feeds and clothes the poor and provides for widows and orphans. It blesses people with the message of the Gospel and provides funds for missionaries to share the love of Jesus. It’s contagious, it makes people smile, and it brings thanksgiving and glory to God! This world is a dramatically better place thanks to the generosity of God’s people. As you approach the end of the year and reflect on the blessings that God has bestowed upon you and your family, I hope you will be inspired to be as generous as possible. In doing so, you share God’s blessings with your neighbours, your church and the ministries you love. Significant generosity often inspires us to go beyond giving from our income".

At the End of His Rope G o s pel li t er a t u re

by Josh Skaggs

ften, EHC pioneer missionaries show up in the exact moment they are needed most. A person needs healing, and God sends someone to their door to pray with them. A family is in crisis, and a missionary shows up with Good News that changes their lives. Many times, we have even seen people pulled back from the brink of death. This was the case with Yiandro*. After a long day fishing on the ocean, he sent his partner home early and then stayed behind to wash the tools. He wanted to be alone, because he was thinking about committing suicide. Yiandro had lived a hard life, losing an eye and serving time in prison. But even now that he was released and working a stable job, he felt like he had nothing to live for. He felt ashamed of the life he’d lived, and he couldn’t see what worth his life had. He waded out into the ocean and dipped his tools in the water. Then he felt something brush against his leg. He reached down and picked up a blue booklet with wet pages clinging together. Spreading it in the sun, he kept working and resumed his dark thoughts. When he was finished cleaning, he walked to shore and started reading the paper. It was a gospel booklet from Every Home for Christ. Yiandro read about the God who loved Him enough to give His life for him. This God offered salvation and a new life. Yiandro’s heart began to awaken. Yiandro ran home and showed his wife, who felt a similar pull on her spirit. Together, they went to their local church and gave their lives to Christ. Shortly after, they were baptized.

Through that gospel booklet, Yiandro connected with Every Home for Christ. He was so grateful for his new life that he decided to give Every Home for Christ a piece of property. He dedicated the property for a church. Construction has already begun. Yiandro has changed completely — from a hopeless man contemplating suicide to a believer who is creating space for his community to worship. Consider for a moment how much God orchestrated to deliver the Gospel to Yiandro. His family lives in a Creative Access nation, a place where the government directly opposes evangelism. Bypassing political difficulties, God engineered for a stray EHC gospel booklet to find its way into the water where Yiandro stood. Around the world, Every Home for Christ often delivers the Gospel to people in their exact moment of decision. When people are at a crossroads, deciding between light and darkness, life and death, sometimes it is even EHC paper missionaries that find them and offer them hope. These moments are more than chance encounters. As Yiandro’s story so beautifully displays, God is moving through us in ways that exceed our abilities. We work to provide gospel literature to those who need it, but God arranges the timing and opens people’s hearts to His Word. *Name changed for security purposes.

Gospel Literature More than any newspaper or magazine printed on earth, gospel literature carries news that changes people’s lives. Gospel literature makes an announcement: The King has come, and He is inviting you into His Kingdom! Would you announce the Kingdom to those who are waiting for Good News? To supply gospel literature to our workers on the front lines, use the enclosed Reply Slip.

Hope by the Box-Full Chri s t m a s O u t re a c he s

four-year-old living in Ukraine today has never known a Christmas without warfare. In 2014, a political protest over trade agreements escalated into civil war and the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula by Russia. Since then, about 55,000 people have evacuated Ukraine’s eastern war zone — often under gunfire — to flee west with only the belongings they could fit into their cars. A single mother named Valeria* was one of those thousands who left their lives behind to escape the violence. She arrived in western Ukraine with her two children and no means to make a living. For 16 months, their situation remained unchanged. “They sat together and wept,”one Ukrainian pastor recounts. “The children were hungry.” With another Christmas fast approaching, highlighting how little she had to offer her family, Valeria felt overcome. Facing the bleak turn her life had taken, she confessed that she had contemplated taking her own life. “If you feel that way,” her daughter replied, “My own life doesn’t make sense either.” But that Christmas would prove different for Valeria’s family. Even amid the chaos of

by James Holt

warfare, God saw Valeria and her children, and He sent a pastor working with Every Home for Christ to find them. “We met with this woman and gave her food and gifts for the children,” this pastor shares. “And we told her how much God loves her.” Not only did Valeria’s family finally have the help they needed, they also had hope. She and her children were not forgotten. Their lives still have purpose, because they matter to God, and now they are connected to His Church. This is the message Every Home for Christ Ukraine spreads throughout this war-torn nation every day, but the Christmas season is an especially important time. For the past six years, they have conducted a special Christmas outreach, bringing gift boxes to children like Valeria’s — and messages of hope to entire families. “This Christmas project is special for us,” says Anatoliy Kushnir, EHC National Director of Ukraine. “In the last few years of the war, church members have taken these boxes and found despairing families with small children to bring them love.” These boxes are provided by Every Home

for Christ, but they are filled with gifts by believers from over 100 Ukrainian churches. Each box comes with a Scripture-filled gospel message to share the love of Jesus with the family who receives it. “The boxes are such nice quality,” Anatoliy shares. “Children use them to store things afterwards, extending our time of communicating the love of God and the gift of Jesus throughout the year.” When this outreach began in 2011, 30,000 gift boxes were prepared to spread awareness about 30,000 Ukrainian orphans in need of adoption. Anatoliy says they wanted to bring the Church’s attention to these lonely children, challenging believers to make a difference. It worked. Today, more than 20,000 Ukrainian orphans are in the care of Christian families, and 23 Christian children’s homes have been established. However, thousands of children are still waiting for families, and that number climbs as the conflict continues. “We have a part in shaping the culture of Ukraine, starting with the Church,” Anatoliy shares. “We hope to make 30,000 boxes every year until Christians solve this problem.” Amazingly, these boxes aren’t only reaching refugees in the west. Every Home for Christ also takes them to those still living in the eastern war zone itself.

1 An EHC worker happily distributes gifts and literature at Christmastime. 2 Children hold special gospel ornaments. 3 An EHC worker stocks up on practical gifts, like diapers, to deliver to homes along with gospel messages. 4 Uniquely designed gospel literature ornaments tell the story of Jesus’ birth. 5 Christmas boxes filled at an EHC partner church are ready for delivery.

“The Gospel is well received there,” Anatoliy says. “In the buffer zone of the war area, we know of 55 new churches. That is how the love of God evokes a response.” God is moving through the Ukrainian Christmas outreaches in a mighty way. Thousands of families receive the Gospel each Christmas. Christian families are providing homes to Ukrainian orphans. And the Church is growing in the most dangerous region of the country. *Name changed for anonymity.

Christmas Outreaches Anatoliy reports that more than half of the families who receive EHC Christmas gift boxes respond by putting their faith in Jesus. Christmas has a way of opening people’s hearts to the love of God, and we want to meet them in that moment with the Gospel. To give toward Christmas outreaches, please use the enclosed Reply Slip.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

In INDIA and BANGLADESH 1200 boys and girls from poor families are being given an education, school uniforms, a hot meal each day, school stationery and books, health education and access to clean water and toilets thanks to the many sponsors who give $30 each month. Now it is Christmas and the only gift they might receive is the gift given to them by Every Home for Christ and your gift for a Christmas present will help us to bless them this Christmas. See the Reply Slip if you would like to help.

GIVE A CHRISTMAS GIFT OF NEW CLOTHES TO A CHILD FROM A POOR FAMILY IN INDIA OR BANGLADESH

CHRISTMAS GIFTS In INDIA and BANGLADESH unskilled, uneducated women from poor families are being taught how to sew so they can earn an income and help provide for their families. Many of these women are mothers of the children in the EHC schools. and it is wonderful to see them increase their self-esteem. Now it is Christmas time and your gift of a sewing machine for $120 will truly bless a woman and her family this Christmas (and for years to come) as she sews clothes for her family members and her neighbours and, for the first time in her life, is able to add money to the family budget. See the Reply Slip if you would like to help .

GIVE A SEWING MACHINE FOR $120 AS A GIFT FOR A BANGLADESHI WOMAN WHO HAS JUST LEARNT TO SEW AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IS ABLE TO EARN AN INCOME AND HELP WITH FAMILY NEEDS

CHRISTMAS GIFTS In BANGLADESH families living below the poverty line are being given the opportunity to improve their own world and control their own future through ownership of a rickshaw or van. Now it is Christmas and what a blessing it would be for Every Home for Christ to be able to provide rickshaws or vans to needy families on your behalf. See the Reply Slip if you would like to help.

GIVE A RICKSHAW OR VAN FOR $320 AS A GIFT FOR A STRUGGLING RICKSHAW DRIVER IN BANGLADESH

Can We Know When Jesus Will Return?

Can we know when Jesus will return? No. When it comes to the exact timing of His return, we can't know. Jesus Himself said "no man knows the day or the hour of my return, not even myself. Only my Father in heaven knows" (Mark 13:32). Jesus reiterated this concept when He said He would come like a thief in the night "when least expected" (Matthew 24:43-44). This idea, coupled with the statement "no one can know the day or the hour" of His return, has led many Christians to believe they can't know anything about the timing of His return. After all, if Jesus comes like a thief in the night when least expected, how could you know when He's coming? That's a good question. And while it's true we can't know the day or the hour, the idea no one has a clue as to whether it's tomorrow or a 1,000 years from now is just plain wrong. The Bible is clear we can know the general "season" of His return.

Like a Thief in the Night Many people who believe we can't know anything about the timing of Christ's return base their belief on the idea Jesus "will come like a thief in the night." Jesus did say He would come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night (Matthew 24:43-44). And Paul said the same thing (1 Thessalonians 5:2). But if you read the rest of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, you'll see he said something else as well. Paul said those of us who live in the light will not be surprised. While Jesus will come like a thief in the night when least expected, those who know God's Word will not be surprised. Here's the full context of that passage (emphasis mine): "But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation." 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 (NLT) How can this be? If Jesus comes unexpectedly like a thief in the night, how is it Christians are not surprised? It's because we know to expect Jesus at any moment, and we obey His command to be alert and ready at all times. We also know the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to establish His Millennial Kingdom comes with many signs. Why Would God Mention Signs? If we can't know anything about the timing of the Second Coming, then why did Jesus tell us to look for signs? When His disciples asked Him to describe the signs of His return, He told them. He didn't rebuke them. He didn't tell them to forget about such things. Instead, He described the signs. Why would Jesus say to look for signs if they don't exist? Why would He mention them if we can't know when He's coming?

The answer is clear. We can know the general time frame of His return. We can't know the day or the hour, but we can know the season. Numerous signs precede the Second Coming. Jesus and the prophets told us what those signs are. And Jesus said when you see them, you'll know He's near - right at the door (Matthew 24:33). We see those signs today. So we can know with certainty Jesus is coming soon. A Command to Watch Jesus also commanded us to "Watch!" (Matthew 25:13). This begs the question. Watch for what? Over and over again, Jesus says, "Watch! Don't let me find you asleep when I come back without warning" (Mark 13:35-37). This is a clear command. But what does it mean? Jesus is telling us to be spiritually alert. If we live a life of faithful service to Him, the day of His return won't catch us like a trap. Jesus says a faithful servant lives life expecting His return at any moment (Luke 12:35-38). But Jesus is also telling us to watch for signs of the Second Coming. After all, if there are no signs, what are we supposed to be "watching" for? Again, it's clear. Signs will precede the Second Coming. And Jesus expects us to recognize those signs. If He didn't, why would He command us to watch? He wouldn't, because we would have nothing to look for. We're supposed to be watching for the signs. And Jesus says those who are ready and waiting when He returns will be rewarded (Luke 12:37). Recognizing the Signs In reference to His first coming, Jesus told the Pharisees, "You can recognize the signs in the sky and know what type of weather is coming, yet you don't know how to recognize the signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3). The prophets had written extensively about the coming of the Messiah. The Pharisees knew when the Messiah was supposed to come. They knew the Messiah would perform many miracles.

Jesus fulfilled these prophecies right before their eyes. Yet the Pharisees still didn't recognize who He was. Just as He did with the Pharisees, Jesus expects us to recognize the signs of His Second Coming. He told us what signs to look for. And the same prophets who wrote about His First Coming also wrote about His Second Coming. Like the Pharisees, we're expected to recognize "the signs of the times." Those signs tell us the Second Coming is drawing near. Conclusion While we can't know the day or the hour of His return, we can know the general season. The Bible tells us what signs to look for. And Jesus Himself said when you see all these signs come together, you know His return is near (Luke 21:28). Today, we see those signs. Israel is once again a nation (Isaiah 11:11-12). The Jewish people are back in Jerusalem (Luke 21:24). And the Gospel is being spread to the ends of the earth (Matthew 24:14). These and other signs are out in the open for everyone to see. You can't miss them. For 1,800+ years of Christianity, these signs didn't exist. Today, they do. God said He will hold us accountable for letting others know about the signs (Ezekiel 33:1-6). We're expected to point out these signs to others. We're expected to tell others Jesus is returning soon. If the world ignores us, so be it. But if anyone tells you we can't know the timing of His return, tell them what the Bible says. The truth is we can know the general season of His return. And given all the signs we see today, we can be certain we're living in it. The time is near. Jesus is coming soon! Britt Gillette is author of the ebook Coming to Jesus: One Man's Search for Truth and Life Purpose as well as Signs of the Second Coming.

Australia: PO Box 168 Penshurst NSW 2222 Telephone: (02) 9570 8211 Facsimile: (02) 9570 4738 New Zealand: PO Box 31-260 Milford North Shore City 0741 Telephone: Free call 0800 900 200 Facsimile: 0061 2 9570 4738 www.everyhome.org.au ehc@everyhome.org.au

NOVEMBER 2017

Bible Readings: This month the daily text will be taken from Joshua and Judges. For those wanting to do the one-year Bible reading program these chapters are in brackets.

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA Pray for the Every Home for Christ advertisement for people to request the booklet "The Way to a Happy Life!" as sent by direct mail to 1.2 million homes in Sydney. Pray the Lord will prompt many people to request the booklet and, as a result, many will come to know Christ. We need salvation for Sydney. Joshua 3 (Nehemiah 1-7) DIPLAVE POKHREL Praise God that Diplave has been granted a Visa for 2 years. Please keep praying for Diplave to get an Australian Permanent Residency Visa. Joshua 4 (Nehemiah 8-10) LORRAINE LEACH Thank you for praying for Lorraine who has Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia; she has now been taken off some of her medication. Joshua 5 (Nehemiah 11-13) NIGERIA Pop. 186,000,000 Map. 35 Thank God for a successful outreach in Makoko. The medical team from Foursquare Headquarters in Nigeria supported the team immensely, and all the volunteers and staff gave their best. Praise God for this Good News! Joshua 6 (Malachi 1-4) RWANDA Pop. 12,000,000 Map. 17 Praise God for the ministry taking place in Rwanda! Over 235 people devoted their lives to Christ, 40 were baptised and two new Christ Groups were started recently. Please pray for these new believers to grow in faith as they continue with follow-up discipleship. Joshua 7 (Matthew 1-2) CREATIVE ACCESS Pioneer missionairies met with Mr. Z., who had many questions. He has recently been asking about Jesus and is seriously reading the New Testament. Pray that Mr. Z. would find Jesus. Joshua 8 (Matthew 3:1 to 4:11) MYANMAR Pop. 56,300,000 Map. 135 Our team trekked through flooded terrain to pray and share the Good News with families in Hlaingbwe and Hpa-an. Some were instantly healed after prayer! Please pray for all those reached to know Jesus as their Saviour. Joshua 9 (Matthew 4:12 to 7:29) CAPE VERDE Pop. 540,000 Map. 43 Last year, our team helped 19 year old Baresi fulfill his dream of being a Pastor. They sent him to Praia, where he could learn how to read and write. Pray for Baresi as he continues to study and that God would prepare for his calling. Joshua 10:125 (Matthew 8:1 to 11:1) SRI LANKA Pop. 21,000,000 Map. 131 Praise God for the open door He has given the team in Sri Lanka in reaching 56 high schools through drama performances. Please pray that God would water the seeds that have been planted in 67,000 students and teachers. Joshua 10:22-43 (Matthew 11:2 to 13:53)

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UNITED STATES Pop. 323,000,000 Map. 176 Before a large prayer gathering in Cleveland, the American team partnered with The Call to share 10,000 gospel messages throughout the city. Please pray that these gospel presentations would bear fruit among the people of Cleveland. Joshua 11 (Matthew 13:54 to 16:28) CREATIVE ACCESS Please pray for our workers in this closed nation who face persecution while sharing gospel messages. Pray that these pieces of literature would come into the hands of people open to the message of Jesus and that many would come to know Him despite hostility. Joshua 12 (Matthew 17:1 to 19:2) MOLDOVA Pop. 4,000,000 Map.102 EHC missionaries in Moldova have eagerly advanced the Gospel. They have recently hosted youth camps in many villages and reached over 15,000 homes. Please pray that God would be known in Moldova. Joshua 13 (Matthew 19:3 to 23:39)

VENEZUELA Pop. 32,000,000 Map.214 A pioneer missionary in Venezuela has started a church with new Christians that he and his team reached. We praise God for this new family of believers, and we ask you to pray with us that God would firmly root them in His Word. Joshua 14(Matthew 24:1 to 26:2)

UGANDA Pop. 41,400,000 Map.26 For years, the team struggled in bringing the Gospel to the Karamoja region. After many prayers, God has opened a door for the pioneer missionaries to the region. Please pray that the Gospel will take root among the Karamojan people. Joshua 15:1-31 (Matthew 26:3 to 27:66) CREATIVE ACCESS In this closed nation, several new believers stopped following Jesus after their community took away their food and finances. Please pray that God would restore them. Joshua 15:32-63 (Matthew 28) ETHIOPIA Pop.102,400,000 Map.29 One of the pioneer missionaries is reaching homes in an area where hostility and violence is common. Please pray for him and the team's safety, and that the Holy Spirit would use their boldness to bring many in the area to Him. Joshua 16 (Mark 1:1-13) PHILIPPINES Pop. 103,300,000 Map.169 The Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches is inviting ministries and churches to unite. Partnering with other believers, EHC missionaries are also helping plant churches in villages that lack a strong Christian presence. Please pray that God would grant unity for these efforts. Joshua 17 (Mark1:14 to 3:35)

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GERMANY Pop.82,700,000 Map.83 Please pray for a 73-year-old man who gave His life to Jesus after reading an EHC gospel booklet. Poor health confines him to his home, but the team have given him a Bible correspondence course to help him grow spiritually. Joshua 18 (Mark 4-5) MALAWI Pop.18,000,000 Map.15 Praise God that the teams in Malawi are finding support from village headmen. Please pray that God will open the hearts of local authorities and that His Kingdom will advance through the country. Joshua 19:1-26 (Mark 6:1 to 8:26)

SEYCHELLES Pop. 94,700 Map.145 Please pray for the growing EHC work in the Seychelles. The team is continously searching for and mobilising local leaders to partner in reaching every home with a face-to-face presentation of the Gospel. Joshua 19:27-51 (Mark 8:27 to 10:31) FIJI Pop. 898,700 Map. 150 On a recent

outreach in Fiji, the team met up with a village chief who remembered them visiting years before when they were hated and chased from almost every village but now are a blessing. Praise God for the seeds of harvest. Joshua 20 (Mark 10:32 to 13:37) GUINEA Pop.12,400,000 Map.45 Please pray for lcoal churches in the prefecture of Dinguiraye as they face persecution in the area. Pray that God would grow these believers in faith and boldness to preach about Jesus to their neighbours. Joshua 21:1-23 (Mark 14-16) MONTENEGRO Pop. 622,800 Map. 73 Milivoje, an EHC Montenegro field worker, just came back from an evangelism outreach in the north of the country where people are more open. Please pray for the people to respond to the message of God's love. Joshua 21:23-45 (Luke 1-2)

TOGO Pop. 7,600,000 Map.38 Please pray over the BFAM discipleship courses being taught among the Kpessi people in Togo. Pray that the Holy Spirit would give a deeper understanding of God's word being taught to them. Joshua 22 (Luke 3:1 to 4:15)

See Enclosed Reply Slip

CREATIVE ACCESS Praise God for several new Christ Groups recently started in this nation where Christians are persecuted. Pray that God would encounter new believers gathering together and make them bold witnesses of His love and mercy. Joshua 23 (Luke 4:16 to 6:49) UKRAINE Pop. 45,000,000 Map. 101 The team in Ukraine went through parks, beaches, squares and other public places to listen to people's cares and lift them up in prayer. Pray that the Holy Spirit would touch hearts as the missionaries pray with them. Joshua 24 (Luke 7:1 to 9:50) SIERRA LEONE Pop. 7,400,000 Map. 44 Workers prayed with Marion for a miracle, asking God to restore her marriage. Later, her husband asked for forgiveness. Pray that God uses this family and others to glorify His name thoughout Sierra Leone. Judges 1 (Luke 9:51 to 12:59) CHRISTMAS OUTREACHES As we celebrate Jesus's birth soon, please pray for the ongoing Christmas outreaches taking place around the world. Pray that during Christmas, people would be more open to the Good News. Judges 2 (Luke 13:1 to 18:30) MEXICO Pop. 127,500,000 Map. 177 "We want to win Queretaro for Christ," says Miguel, an EHC Mexico missionary. Please pray for local churches to be passionate in seeing Jesus's name lifed up in Santiago de Queretaro. Judges 3 (Luke 18:31 to 21:38) CREATIVE ACCESS Please pray that the peace of God would reign in this country where violence and persecution is prevalent. Pray that the Holy Spirit would give a love to the workers that will enable them to preach the Gospel with boldness. Judges 4 (Luke 22-23)

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