encouragement from discouragement!

Yesterday we had another problem with our children's ministries. It seems as if every week there is some problem. I know the devil does not want this ministry to continue so he fights very hard to discourage it.

After the problem I arrive with the children at Church and I'm explaining to some of the people the events that just took place. I begin to tell them how much the devil does not want us working with the children. I then tell the folks how the devil has fought every step of the way. Before I'm finished with my story I'm sure they are now as discouraged as I am.

Then Brother Alen says, "Doesn't he (the devil) know that he's already lost the war!" The moment this satement was made my discouragement, as well as everyone else that was listening, turned to encouragement! One minute we were all focusing on how strong the devil is, which always brings discouragement. The next minute we were focusing on the Savior and the vivtory He has given to us all!

Too many times I have focused on the enemy instead of the Victor! Brother Alen taught me to focus more on Jesus and less on the devil! Jesus has already won the victory! My discouragement quickly turned into encouragement all because of Jesus!

Working in a Catholic country

Last week some of our bus kids came to me and said, we can't come next Sunday our sister, which is one of our kids, is going to be baptized. What? Where and by whom? The answer, the Catholic Church. The little girl is probably about 6, and I was very disturbed by this. They will throw a big party today after her baptism. They love every opportunity to party and get drunk. I think they will baptize her mainly so they can party.

This is just one more reminder for me of where I'm at. This is a country that is a strong hold for the devil. He has these people bound by religion. I pray that through the preaching of the Gospel many of these people will be set free!

The older sister of this little girl wants to be baptized in our Baptist Church. She has been saved and I will try to get her mom and dad's permission. Please pray that God will open their hearts and allow their little girl to obey God.

I'm back!

Our group from the States are gone. I took a day off and now I'm back in the swing of life in Croatia. We've been having great services. Usually we are way down in the summer and we pray for the fall. This summer has been really good. I pray it continues.

I spent 10 hours yesterday putting in two ceiling fans in our church. If you are wondering why it took so long, it's because I had no idea what I was doing. So far the Church hasn't burnt down. If it doesn't burn before Sunday then I call my work a success.

These fans are going to be a blessing. It's been very hot here lately and it's hard for people to sit in 90 degree weather.

Souls saved in Zagreb!

The vbs and revival are officially over, but the work is not. Monday I took the group to the capital for site seeing and soul-winning. We spent the day there and saw 14 souls call upon the Lord Jesus! That was an exciting day. I led 5 to the Lord myself! This brings our total to 24 souls saved. I was so excited, yet so burdened because there is not an independent Baptist Church in Zagreb. There are 1,000,000 people there and not 1 Independent Baptist Church. Please join me in praying for a laborer to go to this city!

Revival - day #4

Sunday we ended our revival! We were at Varazdin for the morning service. We had one first time visitor. The service was great and Bro. Jeff did a great job.

That evening we finished in Cakovec. We had 34 Croatians there. Bro. Jeff preached to the adults and I preached to the kids. I had 22 kids. We packed both vans out and it was great. My wife has been going to another Gypsy village and picking up kids there. I think she had 9 in here 7 passenger van and I had the rest in a 9 passenger van. We had kids sitting on top of each other.

There was an excitement in the Church and I think that this week was a great blessing to our people.