Light the Darkness

Need Prayer

Over the course of the last few days Kristen Levitt, Director for Project Partner, who is leading an ESL (English as a Second Language) team from Indian Creek  in China has been sick with gastrointeritis.  She had to go to the emergency room two days ago.  Thank Mindy Davey for going with her.  She was released the same day with some meds and restricted to a rice and soup broth diet.  She is participating as much as possible in the teaching and activities but she needs your prayers for strength.

Matt Saunders and Mindy Davey have stepped up BIG time!  What a blessing to have MIndy on this team since this is her second trip.  And the timing couldn't be better for Matt to go.  As the Journey Student Ministries Pastor at Indian Creek he is well prepared to lead our kids when Kristen rests.  All in all the next few days will be very staining in terms of leadership needed because the ESL classes rap up and travel begins. 

Let's pray and see God do what He does best--BE GOD! Thanks for helping to pray them home.

Gary Kendall

You Are Invited

I invite you to Project Partner's Partnership Dinner. We will enjoy a traditional Chinese meal and Kristen will share about Project Partner's work. I will share about my recent trip and also about new opportunities for 2009. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the ministry and how you can partner with us. We hope that you can attend.

DATE: March 17th, 2009

TIME: 6:30 - 8:30pm

LOCATION: Indian Creek Community Church , room 018 (basement)

12480 Black Bob Rd.

Olathe, KS 66062

Feel free to pass along this invitation to anyone you know who might be interested in learning more about Project Partner. Please RSVP via email or phone by March 15th. If you cannot attend but would like to set up an appointment to discuss Project Partner, contact Kristen Levitt.

China Report

I wrote a blog last week about the privilege of traveling to China with one of my mentor's Enrique Cepeda.  Here are his thoughts on what he observed and experienced. 

 

Every time God has given me the privilege to visit countries like India, South Korea, and now China, I come back with new insights of how the Church of Jesus Christ is growing.  Their spirituality is a challenge to me.

It seems that the world is moving East-politically, economically and also spiritually.  As I have been in South Korea about 5 times.  The Korean Church has a vision for the rest of the world particularly for the countries along the silk route. As I visited China on this trip I can visualize how God is preparing the Church in China to be used of the Lord to take the Gospel to Jerusalem and the rest of the world. 

Let me share what I have observed about the Church in the East.

• The Church in the East has a simple faith, but effective.  We in the West we have such a sophisticated faith that it takes us forever to see results.
• The Church in the East is a praying church.  We have so much to learn from their prayer life and their prayer life and their passion, but also their joy.
• The Church in the East is a spiritual church. We have here in the West our spirituality has become rather cold and formal (but we thank God for those churches here in the West that has not lost their passion and their love for our Lord).
• The Church is the East is a missionary church. God has been preparing the churches in India, China, and South Korea to become missionary sending countries.  Already the South Korean church is the second missionary sending church in the world. 

• The Church in the East is a visionary church. These churches have a vision for the rest of the world, especially for the countries along the silk route.  I was in a meeting where the Chinese church is praying for 100,000 Chinese missionaries to take the Gospel to Jerusalemand touch the countries along the silk route. Wow!

 

It was a privilege for me  to be part of this trip, where I saw first hand the Church of Jesus Christ in action in China.

Please pray:

• For workers, “the harvest is pletiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into the harvest field” (Matt.9:37-38).
• For funds. To build churches, for missions, evangelism and discipleship
• For training. For well prepare leaders with world vision and passion for the lost.
• For us in the West.  To be more sensitive and consecrated to the Lord, to make a commitment to the great commandment and to the great commission and to be able to influence not only our generation, but the one of our children and grand children.

Thanks again for your prayers and please be willing and available when the Lord knocks at the door of your heart to go.

 

Dr. Enrique Cepeda

Executive Director Thomas School of International Studies

Thank you Enrique.  You are right on target.  Gary Kendall

The Church in Hong Kong

It was a privilege to reconnect with Jamie Nachtigall who along with her husband Patrick, lead in a Church of God here in Hong Kong.  We spent the morning exploring the New Territories, checking out the church facility and catching up on the ministry here in HK over Dim Sun at a nearby restaurant.  Patrick is writing a book and doing research in Kenya so he was unable to join us.  Jamie is the one on the right.

The history behind this church is inspiring.  When Hong Kong was about to be turned over to China most of the adult leaders left in concern for what might happen after the turnover.  They suggested to the youth that they be very careful.  However, the youth determined that they wanted to keep the church open and assume the leadership roles and they did.  Now ten years later they have a vibrant church of nearly 200 and almost all are in their twenties and early thirties.  Many are single.  Last year they had 8 marriages!  There are only 5 children in the church.  It goes to show what the younger generation can do if they have the opportunity. 

Their church is located on the second story of a corner just across from McDonalds and above the Jockey Club where many come to place bets on a Sunday race!  More importantly it is two blocks from the train station.  Most of the people do not own a car as they can get everywhere they need to go by mass transit or by walking.  We've put in many miles ourselves getting around Hong Kong.  The church is very active in the community and is outreach oriented.  Several like this young lady pictured, Jeanette, are preparing for ministry through their training.  Jeanette has taken it an extra step to become a Pastor by attending seminary.

This week has been a very full week and it is a privilege to hear so many inspiring stories.  If you want to keep up with Patrick and Jamie Nachtigall on their blog you can click on this link www.chinatimesonline.com

Gary Kendall

Healed to Serve

When this pastor was a young man he developed severe bleeding in his stomach.  When he slipped into a coma his family prepared for the worst.  His mother was a believer in Jesus so she asked her pastor to come pray for her son.  She also wanted him to baptize him.  The pastor came, prayed and baptized the young man.  The next day  he woke up.  The bleeding stopped and he was healed! 

When the mother told her son what happened he wanted to be baptized again because the first time it wasn't his choice.  The mother called the pastor to ask him to come.  When the pastor got the call he was sure it meant that the son had died.  He was thrilled when he heard the good news!  He came back over and there was great joy in that baptism.  An interesting side note is that this pastor walks with a very noticeable limp.  It is difficult for him to get around but he doesn't let it stop him.  He has to work twice as hard as everyone else to get where he is going but he does it all with an infectious smile.

He then told God he would serve him in whatever way He wanted.  He felt led to prepare to be a pastor.  He made the appropriate preparation and returned to his small village to lead the church.  The church was less than one hundred believers.  But this man has a spirit about him that is joyful and passionate.  The church began to grow.  The church outgrew the home. You can see the pastor's home last year in the adjacent picture. It outgrew a small meeting place and when we saw it last year it was under construction. The first picture is from this time last year. The members built it themselves.  We could imagine what it might look like but there was question in my mind as to whether they could fund it or finish some of the more difficult parts.  However this year I didn't even recognize it when we drove up.  It is beautiful.  And the pastor is just as charming and dynamic as ever.  

  If you would like to help his children attend school that would be a great blessing.  He has to pay for two of the children because of the one child policy here and he has two in high school which is optional.  The cost is $150 per student per year.  Project Partner can make sure the donation gets to him.  He is a great example of faith and perserverence.  God is Good to those that love Him and He is faithful to hear our prayers.  We are a blessed people!  

Gary Kendall

We are Donkeys!

Here is a picture of our team. Miguel and Nilsa Pinell are the leaders of the Heart to Honduras ministry.  They are in the center.  They lead 40 churches and 5,000 members.  Miguel has wanted to go to China for 30 years.  They are praying to see if there is a next step for Heart to Honduras .  We discussed the benefit of the churches there having a Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the utter most parts of the earth mission.  They already reach Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua locally.  China could the be global mission.

Most of you know Dr. Enrique Cepeda who is my mentor.  He is the Professor of International Studies at Mid America Christian University .  Enrique will be recruiting students for the China trips and hopes to have the MACU online Master's degree translated into Chinese.

Steve and Scott Igarta are a father and son combo from California.  Scott is a marketplace professional in Operations and Steve is a Pastor and Church Planting Coordinator for the Vineyard.  Guess what we've enjoyed talking about?  Steve found Project Partner on the web when he was looking for a way to be involved in China.  They are praying about next steps. Steve would be a good team leader if God directs him that way. They also have doctors in their church who have an interest in the medical clinics. 

Of course you can't tour China without two other very important persons a translator and a driver.  Maria did a yoeman's job putting in very long hours and handling three different languages, Mandrin, Cantonese and English.  Her skills are excellent but her passionate intercessor's heart gave her just the right spirit for the opportunities God gave. Mr Wong has been driving for 13 years.  Last year on a trip like this he gave his heart to Christ.  His skill is excellent but what I liked best was the obvious joy in his heart.  They made this trip a lot of fun.  We laughed a lot and we cried too both over the difficulty and the awesome wonder of God's presence.  We had another translator, Angela, who had to leave early because of sickness in her family.  She did a super job.  She is a medical doctor and in between jobs.  Together we made a great team.  Our favorite saying on the trip was, "we are donkeys." I guess you had to be there!  Yes, I know you are thinking something else--let it go!  Miguel shared a devotional thought early in the week about the donkey who didn't do much but he was in the right place at the right time and as a result he got to share in the Triumphant Entry of Jesus to Jerusalem.  We want to be in the right place at the right time doing what Jesus wants us to do.

Gary Kendall

Gary Kendall