We do thank you for your prayers on our behalf.

Following up: Both Liz and I have been trying to follow up on a number of people we have witnessed to over the years, but have either made no profession or have not come to church. Last Tuesday, while Liz was counseling two young ladies, I went back to see a man about 35-40 who was on my prayer list. He had been open to listening to the gospel, but had not made a decision. This time I outlined to him how Christ not only calls us to follow Him, but also He comes to live in us and enable us to live in a way we could not live without Him. On Sunday, I was preaching at Ephraimzegen church, and to my joy, he traveled there with his entire family. He apparently enjoyed the service (amazing as I was preaching on the need to give tithes and offerings!) and plans to return.

Laat de kinderen tot Mij komen, en verhinder ze niet... Let the children come to me and do not stop them... Last week and this week we went to a number of places in followup. Two different days we were able to see three young people accept the Lord. I am concerned that often parents who are believers fail to speak to their own children about salvation. I plan to preach on that subject when my turn comes up next Sunday night. Some are concerned about “the lost” in general forget that their own children may be in that group. Some are very faithful and concerned, but others need a reminder. Also, when we go soulwinning, we may seek out a particular person, but he is not present. However, there are others who can be reached who are sitting there ready for the Word if we will only give it.

Liz has had several opportunities to counsel ladies and young ladies these last few weeks. We thank the Lord for the chance she has had to serve Him in that capacity. The Lord has blessed.

Cleaning house: A man in our church came from a family heavily involved in witchcraft. He came under attack about 2 weeks ago. One of our deacons visited him and prayed with him. He was better, but not completely so. Liz and I went to vist there last Saturday, and I asked if there were any witchcraft items in the home. The man and his wife had stopped using the items after they were saved a few years ago, but had tucked them off in a storage area. So I asked for them, and carried a barrel and a couple sacks of stuff to the car. I also prayed through the downstairs of the home.

When I had emptied the barrel into some plastic sacks and returned it, the family asked me to go upstairs. An adult daughter living there reached behind the headboard of her bed, and started pulling out bottles of stuff. When we finished, we had another large sack full. I prayed through the upstairs. We then drove off and found two rather quiet areas to dump off the witchcraft items in some large gutters. The family was in church the following day, and the husband said that he was feeling better on Monday.

My approach in these situations is that we should not give the devil a foothold. While some say that the witchcraft items are without power, I would hesitate to agree. Many missionaries have had problems holding witchcraft items as curios in their homes. The Israelites were commanded to destroy all altars and idols of the heathen nations of Canaan, and not even keep the silver and gold on the idols. So we get rid of the items. I believe that many who have been involved previously are afraid of handling the items, but we pray to the Lord, put them in the car, and drive carefully away until they are gone.

Sometimes the newly saved has been given witchcraft items for their family or clan to hold. I then recommend that they send the items back to the family stating that they are saved, and cannot hold them any more.

Prayer requests:

1. Health and strength
2. Spiritual growth and insight
3. Safety traveling
4. Continued soulwinning and discipleship
5. Independence of the churches. We are having another meeting tomorrow night and would appreciate your prayers.
6. Some building repairs needed for the Efraimzegen church
7. Further outreach by our national church