Dear Precious Friends in Christ,
I trust this newsletter finds you trusting and embracing the Lord, our Redeemer, Refiner, and Sustainer. These days seem to be going by so quickly. The culture is decaying before our eyes, producing much confusion and chaos. More than ever, even among the people with whom we are acquainted, families are enduring health issues, some that yield catastrophic changes, with family care and financial difficulties. Others are enduring heartbreaking issues with their children or from the deaths of their loved ones. Prayer requests come in almost daily from all around the world asking for us to stand in the gap for them in these trying days.
While I know these things have always been with us, there does seem to be an increasing volume of urgent needs in our days. Sadly, many of these people reach out seeking prayer because they do not know where to turn or what to do in these difficult situations, where money, position, or prestige cannot alter the circumstances. In these times, being fully aware I cannot solve or change the circumstances of their request, I am eternally thankful I know WHO to turn to and where to point them. Only the Lord can work through such things. How thankful I am to know that because of His saving grace and mercy in my life, I am freely invited to enter the Throne room of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Because of His so great a salvation, I can kneel at His feet, crying out for my needs, for the souls of my family and for the requests of others.
In these times, my heart is broken for the ones who do not know the Lord, who do not know how to cry out to Him. For myself, I can testify, I would not have made it through times of suffering and times of grief if my Lord was not carrying me through it all. Even as I write this newsletter, I am recalling an old song we sang in church when I was a child: “Where Could I Go But To The Lord.”
The story behind this song, written by J.B. Coats, is so inspirational. I hope it will encourage you today:
Mr. Coats was born on April 6, 1901, in Summerland, Mississippi. By the time he was fourteen, he was teaching music classes and leading evangelistic singings. The inspiration for the song came years earlier when Mr. Coats was sitting beside a dying neighbor, an old African-American man named Joe Keyes. Mr. Coats asked Mr. Keyes if he knew where he would spend eternity. The old gentleman said, “Where could I go but to the Lord?”
Fast forward to years later: While teaching at a singing school, Mr. Coats wrote this song.
The story and song continue to remind us that whether we are riddled with problems, facing a beautiful day, or making our final journey home, there is no other place to turn except to the Lord.
OPPORTUNITIES AT HOME
AND ON FOREIGN FIELDS
The Lord continues to bless us by opening doors of opportunity. Let me share just a few exciting things with you.
First: With the publishing of Ed’s Evangelism study, ‘The Surpassing Power of the Gospel’, we are receiving many glorious comments along with some exciting results.
- Churches have been very receptive to the teaching. This has sparked their interest in other Christ-centered teaching material. A few churches are implementing other of Ed’s studies to train and equip their people.
- Recently, we received a request for the evangelism workbooks from a Louisiana Prison program that offers training to help repatriate prisoners back into society. This is an ongoing program that will need material monthly for each session.
- After a church teaching through the book, one man testified, saying, “I have never seen these truths about the gospel in this way before. It has shattered me, and caused me to examine my life to see if I am in the faith.
- Another ministry from Florida has requested permission to use the Gospel tract that accompanies the teaching. They are sending them to various countries around the world, including some we have not been to before.
- In addition, it has spurred other ministries to be more diligent in sharing the gospel and in training and equipping their people to do the same.
- People overseas are learning about the book and finding it on book sites we have never heard of. One such pastor in South Africa and one in England notified us and were overjoyed about this opportunity.
- One family in Florida has described the book as a ‘spark’ that reignited their passion for evangelism. They have been praying for gospel opportunities while sharing the book with family members and coworkers. Others have said it gave them practical tools and biblical confidence to have gospel conversations with family members, friends, and even strangers.
Friends, this is the Lord at work. These are just clips of a few opportunities pressing onward. I am humbled by God’s grace and would have never fathomed these scenarios. But we know that our God is amazing in how He works in lives. He alone gets the glory for all He is doing.
SPOTLIGHT ON FOREIGN MISSIONS
Most of you will be acquainted with the Kenya ministry that is this month’s focus. We have partnered with this mission outreach for over 20 years. The pastor, who now presides over this institute, is Dr. George Wafula. We have watched and worked with George from the early years of his new birth in Christ until now, as he leads other men on their spiritual journeys.
Bro. George is a godly man, full of zeal, passion, and integrity. Over the years, George was Ed’s interpreter during those long teaching sessions and diligently translated every Christ-centered teaching workbook into Swahili. He continues to train and equip men from several different countries, leading them with God’s word as a foundation. As a good Shepherd and leader, he is also guiding and practically living out these truths in the example of his life.
Because others faithfully support and pray for Ed Lacy Ministries, we are able to continue to be a source of support for them and others globally. Most of you may not fully comprehend the brevity of the Lord’s use of your gifts. Unlike the world, the Lord’s economy is not suffering and always yields great dividends for the investments. He knows where and how to meet the needs of His people, thereby facilitating the Great Commission to flourish.
For this reason, I would like to share a few words from Bro. George’s latest report. From this one partnership with the Kenya Ministry Training Institute, so many other countries are hearing about the Lord Jesus and His saving work. The training and equipping of literally thousands of men since its beginning are facilitating the flourishing of the Great Commission. They are faithful to strengthen churches by sending men ready to preach God’s word and live holy lives. This is bringing about lasting transformation to individuals’ lives and affecting their communities.
At their most recent training, George reported that 47 pastors attended, representing over 800 local churches in neighboring countries. (Yes, you read correctly. These pastors represent numerous churches). The churches involved are located in Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire, currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak). These churches represent over 45,000 congregants. See, dear friends, these men sense an urgency for the souls of their countrymen. They are willing to spend their lives and endure many obstacles, dangers, and persecution for Jesus’ name’s sake. This causes me to think of what the apostle Paul spoke of:
“I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls”. This is the quote I had placed on Ed’s grave stone: “Willing to spend and be spent for the Gospel”.
Dear one, only God’s economy produces such fruit. Think of it: ‘Your support, your prayers, and your love for the Lord and His Gospel are part of this lasting and encouraging endeavor. Once again, I am humbled and continue to be amazed at how the Lord works in unimaginable ways.
WHERE COULD WE GO BUT TO THE LORD!
THANK YOU
Precious friends, this ministry realizes that it is the Lord who allows us to be the channel through which these blessings flow. But we know, and we diligently inform the pastors, church-planters, and missionaries in the mission fields, that we are the conduit. But it is through your prayers, giving, and love for the Lord and others that keeps the door channels open. They are pushing through the water of life, God’s word, love, and grace to others in the power of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah, what a Savior.
My desire is that you realize what a blessing and help you are to so many. While we may not understand or even know of every victory won, every soul that is saved from their sin, every time these things are used to hold up the arms of weary servants in their duties, our Sovereign Lord knows it all.
Through these partnerships, you have helped support:
- Students who are called into the ministry
- The building of churches
- Pastors who also open their homes to orphans
- Medical needs and food for the poor
- Provide needed biblical teaching and training materials
- Notwithstanding, providing the needs to reach and train others.
These are just a few examples of the different ministries taking place among the believers that we co-labor with. Because of your faithfulness, we are able to continue working among all these faithful men and women in the field.
Thank you for standing with us. The Lord is faithful to carry out His work. However, isn’t it a blessing that He allows us to work with Him? I am eternally grateful that He is allowing me to facilitate the ministry’s work. I am eternally grateful for His saving grace and marvelous mercies. Moreover, I am thankful for each of you. You are one of the tremendous blessings that is the Lord’s grace to me.
So, as I close this newsletter, once again, I share, “Where could we go but to the Lord?” May those words bring comfort, joy, and peace to you today.
Your Servant for Christ’s Sake,
Dianne Lacy Ed Lacy Ministries
P.S. Just a reminder: Join us on Facebook or our website for the 5-day-a-week devotional post. You may want to share them with your contacts. Also, if you haven’t had a chance to read the book ‘The Surpassing Power of the Gospel,’ the audiobook is now available.