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May 8, 2006
Peter said to Jesus, “You must never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” – John 13:8
PRAISE:
We are so thankful that suitable housing has been found with a young believing couple for an MBB from the region living here. He was going to be living in a house without some mature Christians to disciple him.
PETITION
Pray for MBBs to have faith and trust in God’s way as they face all kinds of trials and persecutions. Pray that their desire to follow Jesus would be strengthened.
Pray for Christians living in remote regions. Pray for opportunities to meet with other believers. Pray for God to encourage them and bless them in their work. Pray for them to be envisioned to reach out to their friends, employers and work colleagues in the name of Christ with all kinds of loving deeds and expressions of God's truth.
A couple new to our city has moved into a neighborhood with local neighbors. This is not common in our city. It is not easy to find housing in local neighborhoods. Please pray that God will give them opportunities to show God's love to their neighbors and to share the truths of kingdom life with them as well.
Please keep praying for healing for a key tentmaker’s 7 year old son’s left eye. His vision is improving but it still has a long way to go. May God be glorified through the healing.
Please pray for two young women here who have expressed great interest, and then been heavily bombarded with opposition to the point of discouraging them from continuing to seek truth. Pray God's protection on His little lambs, & His enabling them to hear & follow their Shepherd in spite of all efforts to hinder them.
TESTIMONY
Sandra was horrified! She protested loudly and said this was too low of a thing to do. She also made it clear that we just did not understand her culture. On the contrary, we did. Jesus was a Middle Easterner and he understood exactly how offensive this act of service was for his disciples.
Samantha, the daughter of Sandra's uncle and the newest in the faith, upon hearing of how Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet during the last supper, suggested that we do the same. Sandra did not like the idea, to put it mildly.
Sharon, along with teammate Joy and another co-worker, Shirin, had gathered for an Easter celebration with Sandra, her daughter Melanie and her cousin Samantha, all of whom are Muslims who are now actively following Jesus. They spent the evening reading Luke 22-24.
The foot washing had not been in our plans but we were happy to do it. Once we reached that part of the story, Samantha got up, wrapped a towel around her waist and started to wash Joy's feet. Sandra was so upset that both she and Melanie refused to have their feet washed.
Sandra had read this passage before, but it came to life in a new way that night. Jesus' words to Peter broke through. Would Jesus really have nothing to do with her if she refused? Sandra understood the symbolism of servant-hood but struggled with the physical action of allowing her younger relative actually to do it. Melanie relented and allowed Samantha to continue. Sandra finally stood up, dipped her feet in the bowl and allowed Samantha to dry them off.
The week leading up to Easter had been especially tough for Sandra's daughter Melanie. She had doubted her new faith and almost did not come.
As we looked at Peter's claim that he would never leave Jesus, only to deny him later that evening, and Jesus' love for him through it all, Melanie heart broke. Despite her hard heart towards Jesus that week, she had received many blessings. She could not understand why that would happen. In Islam, she has feared God her whole life. She was always afraid of punishment. She could not believe that God still loved her and that He would still bless her even when she was not faithful.
The evening as a whole was incredible. Sharon felt it was her best Easter celebration ever and when shared with a trio of local believers who all endured tremendous opposition in the days and hours before the meeting, the event was nothing short of miraculous. It is such a privilege to be a part of God's team here.
Peter said to Jesus, “You must never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” – John 13:8
PRAISE:
We are so thankful that suitable housing has been found with a young believing couple for an MBB from the region living here. He was going to be living in a house without some mature Christians to disciple him.
PETITION
Pray for MBBs to have faith and trust in God’s way as they face all kinds of trials and persecutions. Pray that their desire to follow Jesus would be strengthened.
Pray for Christians living in remote regions. Pray for opportunities to meet with other believers. Pray for God to encourage them and bless them in their work. Pray for them to be envisioned to reach out to their friends, employers and work colleagues in the name of Christ with all kinds of loving deeds and expressions of God's truth.
A couple new to our city has moved into a neighborhood with local neighbors. This is not common in our city. It is not easy to find housing in local neighborhoods. Please pray that God will give them opportunities to show God's love to their neighbors and to share the truths of kingdom life with them as well.
Please keep praying for healing for a key tentmaker’s 7 year old son’s left eye. His vision is improving but it still has a long way to go. May God be glorified through the healing.
Please pray for two young women here who have expressed great interest, and then been heavily bombarded with opposition to the point of discouraging them from continuing to seek truth. Pray God's protection on His little lambs, & His enabling them to hear & follow their Shepherd in spite of all efforts to hinder them.
TESTIMONY
Sandra was horrified! She protested loudly and said this was too low of a thing to do. She also made it clear that we just did not understand her culture. On the contrary, we did. Jesus was a Middle Easterner and he understood exactly how offensive this act of service was for his disciples.
Samantha, the daughter of Sandra's uncle and the newest in the faith, upon hearing of how Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet during the last supper, suggested that we do the same. Sandra did not like the idea, to put it mildly.
Sharon, along with teammate Joy and another co-worker, Shirin, had gathered for an Easter celebration with Sandra, her daughter Melanie and her cousin Samantha, all of whom are Muslims who are now actively following Jesus. They spent the evening reading Luke 22-24.
The foot washing had not been in our plans but we were happy to do it. Once we reached that part of the story, Samantha got up, wrapped a towel around her waist and started to wash Joy's feet. Sandra was so upset that both she and Melanie refused to have their feet washed.
Sandra had read this passage before, but it came to life in a new way that night. Jesus' words to Peter broke through. Would Jesus really have nothing to do with her if she refused? Sandra understood the symbolism of servant-hood but struggled with the physical action of allowing her younger relative actually to do it. Melanie relented and allowed Samantha to continue. Sandra finally stood up, dipped her feet in the bowl and allowed Samantha to dry them off.
The week leading up to Easter had been especially tough for Sandra's daughter Melanie. She had doubted her new faith and almost did not come.
As we looked at Peter's claim that he would never leave Jesus, only to deny him later that evening, and Jesus' love for him through it all, Melanie heart broke. Despite her hard heart towards Jesus that week, she had received many blessings. She could not understand why that would happen. In Islam, she has feared God her whole life. She was always afraid of punishment. She could not believe that God still loved her and that He would still bless her even when she was not faithful.
The evening as a whole was incredible. Sharon felt it was her best Easter celebration ever and when shared with a trio of local believers who all endured tremendous opposition in the days and hours before the meeting, the event was nothing short of miraculous. It is such a privilege to be a part of God's team here.
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