week of Soul-winning in Cakovec

Dear Praying Friends,

Our week of soul-winning as come to an end for this year. God was good to us as we stood up in the town and park sharing the Gospel to as many people as would listen to us. In Cakovec for the week we gave out the Gospel 105 times, and there were 35 professions of faith in Christ. 

God did so many wonderful things during the week, that we can truly say God was working and moving in lives and in our city. One event that sticks out in my mind to illustrate this point is a story of a young man that was an Agnostic. He met Brother Sam Ward in the park and Sam tried to witness to him. The young man told him he was an Agnostic and Sam said in his normal sarcastic way, "you've got to be kidding!" Sam then began to preach to him that creation declares the glory of God as well as a few other things. Before the young man left Sam he said to him, "good speech", and then left. The next day Sam and I were in the park and this 18 year old came up to me and said, "I've decided to believe", I was shocked because this does not happen everyday. Sam quickly told me the story and said the young man needs to hear the Gospel. I went through God's wonderful plan of salvation and he bowed his head and received Christ as his personal Savior! Thank you all for praying God truly showed up this week in Croatia.

We ended the week with Friend Day, and God blessed that as well. We had many visitors and four first time visitors. There was a great spirit in the church as God's people fellowshipped together. The visitors stuck around as well.

Again I want to thank all of you who prayed. I believe your prayers made a big difference here in this dark place. If you would please continue to pray as we try and follow up on these contacts.

Because of Jesus,

Brother Johnny

Croatian Christmas project underway!

We've been back in Croatia and have been as busy as ever! It's been Christmas time and that is always a busy time for us. The Lord has been good and already we've had some saved! Praise the Lord!

Our biggest thing going now is our Christmas in Croatia project. Scott Holcomb and Kevin Brown raised money for food baskets and we were able to distribute them last week to many down and out families. What a blessing it was to so many, as strangers came to their door with a basket of food. I believe many contacts have been made through this ministry. We would covet your prayers on behalf of these people we've contacted.

We were also able to bring back many gifts for poor children on our container. The container did not arrive until a few days after Christmas, so we got a late start, but better late than never. Our team, The Telebar family, Sam Ward, The Holcomb family and the Brown family worked hard sorting everything and getting it all ready to be distributed. What a joy it has been distributing the many gifts, and scarfs that were in the container. We've brought smiles to many children and through this ministry they have seen the love of Christ.

We want to send a special thanks to all who have participated in sending money and gifts, which makes this all possible. God bless you and I hope you enjoy the few pictures below!

What a day!

What a day! I'm not usually late to anything, but this morning we showed up late to soul-winning. It all started when I couldn't find a tie. It seems we've packed them all to send to Croatia. This started us late but no problem I always leave early, because you never know when your ties have been sent to Croatia. We're making good time until we get ready to get on 30 from 360;  it seems they had the freeway shut down. No problem I know all the short cuts in Arlington. However, Every street I chose was shut down. Thanks Jerry Jones for building that big stadium right in the middle of Arlington. We're now 10 minutes late, but no problem we'll press on. I finally get around all the closed streets, and then look up in my  rear view mirror and see red and blue flashing lights, no I was not speeding. I have no ideal why he is pulling me over, by now I think the devil must be in this thing. Come to find out I had no break lights they went out and the policeman almost hit me. He was kind and let me go, and I replaced the fuse that was blown and we were back in business. Finally made it, late though, and Tori and I were able to go through God's plan of Salvation with two people. They did not get saved, but the seed has been planted. Maybe the Lord was testing us to see if we would still go and witness for Him!

New Testaments have arrived!

After waiting much our Bibles have finally arrived from Tennessee! We unloaded them today and Thursday will put them on a container bound for Croatia. We are so excited about it. There are 10,000 New Testaments with the Psalms! They were printed by Bible and Literature missionary foundation in Shelby, Tennessee. Beams out of Mississippi, put hard back covers on all 10,000 Bibles they look sharp and I can't wait to share them with the Croatian people! We are so thankful to Bible and Literature and to Beams for their great sacrifice!

Prayer Letter!

July & August 2011

Dear Fellow Laborer,

     

        Greetings to you from the state of Michigan! We are a little over half way through with our three month road trip. I think by now we are all road weary, and tired of living out of a suitcase. I guess it will make our arrival home to Croatia that much sweeter. Up here in Michigan it has turned cooler and the climate is much like Croatia. This has left us home sick and we are getting excited about returning home. There was a time we didn’t consider Croatia home, but after eleven years God has done something in us. He has knit our hearts with the people of Croatia; they have become like family to us. Praise the Lord for His work of grace in us!

       The Gypsy Christmas program is going well. Many have responded to it and we are excited about this great work. We were just at Covenant Baptist Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan and they had 50 shoe boxes ready for us. We loaded them in our trailer to take back to Texas and then on to Croatia. We’ve also been in touch with Calvary Baptist Church in Mulshoe, Texas, and they are sending 100 packages for the Gypsy children. Praise the Lord for this and God bless all of you who have helped with this project.

     We would like to give a special thanks to Pensacola Baptist Temple in Pensacola Florida, and also to Grace Baptist Church in Louisburg, North Carolina. Both of these churches gave what was needed to get our container shipped! Yes we do have the money for the container now! I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was to see our God once again answer prayer. I didn’t even have a meeting at Grace Baptist in North Carolina; we just dropped in on a Sunday morning. Brother Bailey gave me a few minutes to report, and while I was up there he asked me if we have any needs. I told him we still needed 1,000 dollars for the container. (We actually needed 1,500 I miss spoke.) Brother Bailey then began to raise money in that service for our container. By the end of the service they gave 1,500 for the container. I miss spoke, but God knew what we needed! It never ceases to amaze me when God shows up and answers prayers. All I can say is, Glory to God!

       The Bible project continues forward. Brother Lemmon out of Tennessee has the New Testament and the Psalms and has begun printing them, all 10,000 copies. I’m planning on picking them up towards the end of October and then get them to Texas and place them on the container. Please pray with us that all will go smoothly as there will be much paper work to get done to get the Bibles into Croatia.

Brother Rich continues to translate while I’m in the States. Please pray for him as he translates that God will give him wisdom and grace. Also please pray for his health. He hurt his back moving a refrigerator, and is waiting for an MRI. He was told that he might have to have surgery.

       I’m still getting good reports from the field. They are passing out many tracts and have had visitors in both churches. Brother Scott Holcomb has got a burden for the many surrounding villages around the cities where our churches are. He is led people from the church to put John and Romans and gospel tracts in each mail box of these villages! I know they have already covered several thousand homes. Praise the Lord for their faithfulness!

        As I close, I want to thank you all for your love and support of our family! We are truly grateful to be a part of your missions program! Thank you for giving to the Lord!

Please remember to pray for:

1.      The container, much paper work to be done, and possibly might have to pay 1,500 for taxes!

2.      Safety as we travel!

3.      Power as I preach!

4.      Souls to be saved!

5.      The money needed for a car in Croatia!

Because He Lives,

Johnny Leslie