messenger Summer 2010 | MessengerInternational.org
Truth. News. Outreach. John & Lisa Bevere
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Don’t you love it when God breathes fresh and vibrant life on the ancient texts? I recently revisited this familiar passage and found another layer of wonder added. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 NKJV In the past I’ve focused on the effective, fervent portion of this scripture as I recognized the importance of passion and accuracy. But this time my attention moved to the close of the verse and landed on avails much. What exactly does this mean? Simply put, it means to make much available. Prayer lifted with authentic passion and earnest intent changes availability. Heaven snaps into action and invades earth with its counsel, connection and provision. Doors previously closed tight…suddenly swing open. Empty spaces and rooms…fill up. The fog of confusion and distraction clears as clarity and direction are restored. Here’s how it works: I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24 NLT Your answer is waiting. Are you ready to set it in motion? Even as you lift your request, God answers. Knowing this is true…how should we pray? Let’s move away from the ritualistic and into the ardent and focused appeal. I understand how overwhelming and daunting the needs of this earth can seem. They range from the travesty of human trafficking and poverty to the heartbreak of loneliness. Please know God wants to be the intimate answer to each and every request. Dear friend, there is an answer coming from the limitless realm of heaven. Together let’s tap into God’s inventory and watch heaven-breathed solutions unfold. With love, LISA BEVERE Editor in Chief
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A few months later we received the amazing news that we would be adopting twin boys! We were overjoyed, as there was no doubt God had handpicked these children for us. We will always remember the first time we held them. True love!
Aaron Ramsay, the CFO of Messenger International, is a treasured employee and friend. Aaron’s passion for Haiti began long before the devastating earthquake grabbed the world’s attention. He is like a son to us, and his heart and concern for Haiti will continue to be shared by Messenger International. Following he shares his story of the days that led up to and followed the massive earthquake that ravaged Haiti. His story is your story… January 12th, 2010 will be a day we will never forget. The news spread like wildfire: A 7.0 earthquake had struck Haiti and the devastation was overwhelming. We never dreamed this quake in all of its destruction and death would give rise to miracles and dreams fulfilled.
True Love Our personal story began 8 years ago when my wife and I were diagnosed with unexplained infertility. We knew God promised us a family but were unsure how or when it would be fulfilled. After much prayer, God put adoption on our hearts, but from what nation? God had a plan and directed us to Haiti. Our first visit to the nation in October 2008 was like going home. We spent a week volunteering at God’s Littlest Angels orphanage, loving on the kids, and falling in love with one of the poorest countries in the world.
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arrive in Haiti within 24-48 hours of the quake, but none of this was slated for the orphanage. Our confidence grew as we realized God had positioned us with both an inside relationship in Haiti and the compassionate connections of Messenger International.Through all these we could partner to bring solution to this problem.
As many of you know, an international We began to get the adoption process word out through every can be complicated, available channel. We were confusing, and overwhelmed by how time-consuming. quickly God began to pull All we wanted was things together. Before to bring our boys we knew it, we were on home and begin our a chartered plane filled family. Talk about with supplies headed for developing patience! the orphanage in Haiti. We were told that Ethan & Brecken at the orphanage in 2009 All this would not have it could take 2 to happened without your generous and 4 years before the adoption would be immediate response. It was nothing short complete. While this was discouraging of miraculous. at times, we believed God would speed up the process and we would see the we knew & believed culmination of His promises. Reports were coming out that the Sobering Reality Haitian airspace was shut down and only military and Red Cross flights were When we heard the news of the allowed to land. We clung to Matthew earthquake, our hearts immediately turned to our twins. We wanted to know 19:26, “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” We they were safe. We received word a knew and believed God would make a few hours later that the orphanage and way. All through this its occupants rescue process we had survived had such a sense of the quake. The being undergirded good news with prayer! was quickly followed with On January 19th, we this sobering received clearance reality from and landed in Haiti the head of with 12,000 pounds the orphanage. of supplies and hearts She said, “We full of expectation. need supplies Supplies delivered to the orphanage The plan that God in order to had put in motion was rapidly moving survive; the entire infrastructure of forward. Immediately after arriving in Haiti has been destroyed.” Aid would
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Port-au-Prince, the U.S. military asked if the plane Messenger International had chartered could transport Haitian Americans back to Miami. This meant Tanya and I had to part ways as she accompanied the citizens back to the U.S. I remained in Haiti to deliver supplies to the orphanage. It was difficult, but we knew it was part of God’s plan.
au-Prince surrounded by heartbreaking stories of children being denied visas yet I maintained faith that God would provide a way for the orphans. Finally, with documentation in hand, we received the visas for the 81 orphans. Walking from the embassy surrounded by destruction and heartbreak, knowing that God had miraculously made a way for the orphans to go home was a sobering experience.
After driving through the devastation of Port-au-Prince, As a result of we arrived safely the continued at the orphanage support of with the supplies. our partners, The following churches, and day was spent ministry friends, distributing The plane chartered to bring the orphans home another plane supplies and was chartered for the 81 orphans. Our providing relief for orphanage workers staff and others worked tirelessly so that who had been working nonstop since adoptive parents were notified, rooms the quake. I also helped the head of were secured and essential supplies were the orphanage with the logistics of gathered for these beautiful children. It getting children home to their adoptive wasn’t long before families. That night the all the pieces were earth shook again as in place and God’s Haiti was hit with a 6.1 divine adoptive plan magnitude aftershock. was ready and waiting We immediately moved for their arrival. Ten all the children out to harrowing days had the courtyard, setting passed since the up tarps and blankets. disastrous earthquake, While the orphanage when 81 Haitian was not damaged by this orphans arrived in aftershock, we knew it Miami. There were was time for the orphans to go home. Orphans right after the 6.1 aftershock many tears as children were united with their 10 harrowing days adoptive parents. They were no longer orphans, they were beloved sons and Our team, both in Haiti and in the U.S., daughters. went into action, appealing to the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, U.S. Senators and orphans no more Representatives, and media personnel, Tanya and I saw the promises of God about the 81 Haitian children who unfold before our very eyes. Ethan and needed to be taken home. I spent an Brecken, our twin boys, were 2 of the 81 entire day at the U.S. Embassy in Port-
children released to their U.S. adoptive parents. The long process is over and they are home. It has been quite a
81 from Haiti arriving in Miami
journey for us. We know it is not over; we believe it has just begun. Surrounded by love, nurture and food, our boys are home and thriving! God’s promise of a family is now our reality.
Ethan & Brecken at home in Colorado
Dear Friends, Partners, and Church leaders, We’ve included Aaron and Tanya’s story because we wanted you to know firsthand the stunning redemptive fruit of your seed. NONE of this could have happened without your generous gifts and compassionate response. Thanks for not only partnering but trusting us with your generosity.
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I finally see there is hope for me after carrying anger from “a childhood marked by abuse and abandonment. ” S.B.
Healing for the Angry Heart provides practical, biblical insights to help you deal with the past and move forward in your life.
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In this series, Lisa Bevere discusses: * Anger Issues * The Power of Confession * Stopping Anger Before It Gets Out of Hand * Letting It Go * Putting It Into Practice * Anger and Depression * Anger and Fear
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