December 2023

Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I trust that you enjoyed a blessed Thanksgiving holiday. I am realizing more and more that no matter the circumstances, we who are born-again can always be filled with thanksgiving. Although many face difficulties and other unimaginable heartaches, this world cannot take away what we have in Christ, for our joy is found in Him. Over these last 22 months, I have continued to learn this truth more deeply. But isn’t this how our Lord works in us? He takes every difficulty, trial, and even time of ease, allowing His child not just to know a verse but to know of Him, the God of the verse, in a deeper and personal way. That is the good that He is bringing about in all things. Knowing Him more is the key to having joy amid troubles and suffering. In Him, we can always have joy and thanksgiving in our hearts. That was the cry of the apostle Paul’s heart as he lived in times of trials and suffering, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection.”

CHRIST-CENTERED EVANGELISM IN ANOTHER NEW LANGUAGE!

The day after I sent out the last newsletter, I received a request from one of our ministry pastors in India, Raj Eleazar. In a previous newsletter, I shared about his outstanding work as he travels in many areas of India. Raj continues to teach Ed’s material in the training of pastors, especially the teaching on Christ-centered Evangelism.

He requested for Christ-centered Evangelism to be translated into an additional language in India, “The Bengali Language”. This is one language Raj does not speak. Consequently, he had to get another to translate the material of the workbook and also be a translator for him as he teaches. This is an incredible opportunity to train and equip an additional 150 pastors in Kolkata, India. Honestly, my heart is full of joy over this news, and it brought tears to my eyes over how the Lord continues to bless this material for His glory. I cannot wait to hear from him on how this training conference was received.

On another front of India, another ministry partner, Pastor Bimal, has scheduled an outreach for young men in January. He is very burdened for his own son and other young men in India who remain lost in their sin and need the Lord. He has put together a study to teach them about the Lord that saves. Please pray for this great opportunity to reach the next generation with the Gospel.

Then, recent news, from within the states. Pastor Craig James, a Louisiana Director of Missions, taught ‘Christ- centered Evangelism’ to approximately 55 pastors and laymen. Bro. Craig was excited about this opportunity, which he said was well received. We continue to pray for fruit that remains. Requests for these bible study materials and tracts continue coming in from many churches and individuals in different states. It is indeed a blessing to continue to get the word of God to others. It causes me to think of the powerful exhortation from Paul in I Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

WEEKEND RETREAT

Again, it was a joy and privilege to be the bible teacher for the Women’s retreat for Grace Baptist of Grand Bay, Al. The 3-day event was held among the beautiful scenery at the Baptist Retreat Center in Baldwin County. These are a precious group of women who desire this time to be filled with the word, requesting seven teaching sessions. In each session, we covered different biblical incidents and how each one reveals something about the Lord and how He works in and through the lives of individuals. We observed familiar and unfamiliar events, people named and some who are unnamed. We visited the Parable of the Ten Virgins and then closed out with a challenge for our lives to look increasingly like Christ. It was a time of being challenged and encouraged by His word, sweet fellowship, laughter and a few tears among sisters in Christ. Also, a time of crafting a Christmas ornament together, and, of course, good food. Below is a statement from Linda Meredith, the pastor’s wife of Grace Baptist.

Linda said, “We have been blessed to have our precious sister in Christ, Dianne Lacy, lead our Women’s Fall Retreat and Bible study for the last two years. It is always evident that much prayer and study goes into her teaching. Her love for the Lord and His Word shines through in each session. During these Bible study times, our ladies have grown spiritually. Additionally, getting to know Dianne more closely and personally has blessed us all. We look forward to future times of study and fellowship with her.”

NIGHT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE

One of my home church pastors and his associate are chaplains for the University of Mobile. They asked if I would meet with the young woman, Abigail (Abi) Mills, who heads up the lady’s outreach for the university, to discuss their upcoming November outreach. I can’t begin to express how refreshing it was to meet this young woman who is passionate about the Lord Jesus. She and other volunteers took this assignment seriously, praying and working diligently to make this opportunity a special time for these university students. Then, on November 7th, I had the opportunity to share the Word of God at their event. This blessing to invest the word of God into this next generation overjoyed me. My text for the event was taken from 2 Corinthians 3, “Beholding as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory”, encouraging these young women to radiate the glory of the Lord through their lives and their lips.

Abi wrote the following about that evening. “The women at the University of Mobile were thrilled to invite Mrs. Dianne Lacy to be featured as the keynote speaker for the annual women’s event, “The Broken Vessels Conference.” The heart posture of this event has long been to create opportunities for women from various sects of the campus to build rich, God-honoring relationships anchored in the Gospel. Our collective prayer is that the Lord will use such evenings to catalyze a Spirit-led yearning for the things of God in the lives of all in attendance before, during, and long after the event’s conclusion.

Following a time of feasting, fellowship, and student-led worship, members of the University’s faculty and staff stood alongside their students as all were stirred toward deeper affections for Christ and challenged to exude the radiance of the glory of the Lord through communion with Him in every facet of our lives.

Ultimately, in the preparation, execution, and conversations following the event, Christ was made much of, and we are eternally thankful for Mrs. Dianne’s obedience to the Lord in imparting such a timely, God-centered message to us!”

 In a world that unabashedly seeks to diminish the value of Imago Dei, (the image of God), the inerrant, unchanging Word of God emphatically bellows the truth of not only who we are but, most importantly, Who we belong to. Those in attendance were encouraged to behold the beauty, grandeur, and unfaltering character of the Father, and the glory of the Lord that is revealed through His word to an extent that few had experienced before.

THE NEED FOR CHRISTIAN VOICES

As most of you know, these past few months have been challenging for our family—first, the passing of my oldest brother, Rickey, from complications of heart surgery. Now, my younger brother, Gordon, having that same heart surgery, has been hospitalized for over 35 days. During this time, he has undergone four different surgeries stemming from the complications of a severe infection that occurred from the initial surgery. While he still has a long way to go in the healing process, we are thankful he is still with us.

During his time in CICU, our prayers have been that he would be awakened to his need for salvation. The Lord has graciously given him more time to hear the gospel again. I am so thankful that I have been able to minister to him and his family through this difficult time. Please pray or him and his family to come to repentance and saving faith.

Throughout these weeks, I have had the opportunity to pray with several families in the hospital waiting room and shared the gospel with other individuals. The gospel tract Ed compiled years ago, “The Claims of the Lord Jesus Christ”, was a vital resource to give to them. It thrilled my heart to see many who had accepted the tract return to their seats and begin to read through those powerful verses about Jesus. Many I spoke with stated that they were Christians. But witnessing how they lived and treated others over those days proved otherwise. Throughout those extended stays in the waiting room, surrounded by many worried and hurting people concerned over their loved ones’ physical condition, the Lord stirred many things within me.

First, I had an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my salvation, knowing that the Lord saved me from my selfish life of sin. Looking at these restless souls caused me to remember that without the Lord bringing me to repentance and faith, I would still be without hope. But secondly, being surrounded daily by different groups of families and individuals intensified my burden for souls. I felt like Noah must have felt, after proclaiming the gospel for so long, but being surrounded by a sea of people playing around with the things of this world, rather than heeding the warning and the message of the gospel. Yet, they never realized they would soon drown in the waters of judgment.

However, these thoughts made me concerned not just about the lost sinners who continue to go their own way, but also disturbed by the condition of the American churches. It appears it has forgotten why the Lord has left us here. All of these things have disturbed and challenged me. Out of these disturbances, I am asking that the Lord disturb me more over the lost souls around me and the condition of this world, lost in sin and wickedness. So my prayer is that the church of the Living God will also become disturbed and AWAKE from their slumber; ARISE from the mire of worldliness that they have embraced; remove the APATHY concerning His kingdom and soon return, and once again become holy ANNOUNCERS of the hope that is in us. Will you pray along with me, “Disturb us, Lord, until we, your church, are passionately and persistently on Your mission, for Your Name Sake?” 

Thank You!

These two words, “Thank You”, are inadequate to express my gratitude for you. Many have inquired how this ministry can continue its mission since Ed is no longer with us to travel from church to church. Although, with great confidence, I can share with them that this ministry has always and remains to be a faith-based ministry. If God desires this ministry to continue, He will continue to supply what is needed, for our God has not changed. For this reason, we do not carry out fundraisers, nor place any particular price on materials, or set an amount and conditions on ministering to a congregation. Thereby, all the glory goes to the Lord. Upon learning that it is upheld by individuals that the Lord has stirred their hearts to be a part of this mission, they are amazed. Even the missionary partners on foreign fields supported by this ministry are astounded by how the Lord provides. This testimony of God’s faithfulness to carry out His assignments throughout the inception of this ministry has been a great encouragement to many, building up their faith.

Friends, be encouraged, the Lord is using your love, prayers, and financial support in many marvelous ways. Each co-laborer standing with us is helping in the work of ministry, some of which you have read about in this newsletter. You are ministering alongside us as we strive to edify and equip the saints and share the gospel to this lost and dying world. I have just given you a glimpse of all the ways the Lord is prospering the labors. Every individual hearing the gospel and the ones being trained with these teaching materials continues to be possible because of your faithfulness to the Lord and to this ministry.

So, as we near the close of another year and embark upon 2024, my hope is to be found faithful attending to our Father’s business and looking for His Coming. When this transpires, I can be assured that I will love Him more, and love others as He has loved me. Remember, precious ones, we have the only message that can change lives for all eternity. Let us endeavor to be more holy, bolder in our witness, and radiate the glory of our Lord, wherever He has placed us.

Please continue to pray for this ministry and for me as the Lord opens doors of opportunity. My hope is that the Christ-centered Evangelism book will be published soon. I can report that every communication from the couple reading through the manuscript has been very encouraging thus far. I am thankful they are meticulously scouring over this study, while at the same time, busy with their own ministry work. If the Lord so pleases, to carry out the publishing of that material, I will then begin the next project, which is to work on Ed’s teaching on the Beatitudes. Let us glorify the Lord together, for great things He has done.

Your Servant for Jesus sake,
Dianne Lacy
Ed Lacy Ministries, Inc.