Washington, DC

Dear friends,

It was a wonderful week in Washington, DC. Hot, but cool all at the same time!

We had a number of events this week made awesome by the leadership of George and Linda Roller, Shirley Beattie, and Scott Carson.

We had an awesome team from First Baptist Church, Weston, FL come and help. They were great.

One of the events was the award ceremony for the Distinguished Christian Statesman of the Year. This year, we awarded it to Rep. Robert Aderholt from Alabama. He is truly a delightful man, a great public servant, and an awesome Christian.





In this picture you see (L to R) me, my wife Ann, Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy, Caroline and Robert Aderholt, and Linda and George Roller.

I got the chance to connect with several other key friends of the ministry this week as well like Todd Akin, Mike Pence, and Randy Forbes (last year's winner). I am always encouraged when I see folks like this serving on Capitol Hill. Please commit to pray for them daily, as the Bible encourages us to do.

I was impressed this week with three thoughts that impact us as well:

1- it's important to know the right thing to do. I guess you can call this wisdom, although sometimes it's just common sense. The Bible tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And that if we ask God for wisdom, He will give it to us in grand supply. I guess the reason we lack it so much is that we don't ask?

If you act without knowing the right thing to do, you will make a lot of mistakes. And hurt others in the process. Plus, you'll waste your time, doing junk when you could have been doing great things.

Sometimes you have to wait for God to show you what the right thing is. But it's worth the wait. Wait and pray and He will show you. This goes for what you do in life, who you witness to, what key decisions you make, you name it. God's way is what we're looking for.

2- once you know what to do it takes courage to act. This may seem obvious but lots of people know what to do and don't do it. Why? Lack of courage. In a way, this is the difference between knowing about something and trusting in it. Randy Forbes drove this idea home this week. You can't just know it, you have to trust in it.

I was reminded about David. The truth was that the army of God often contained tons of folks that could toss a stone via a sling. Most could split a hair with their shot. But none of those guys went out to take on Goliath, did they? Why not? They didn't trust in it. Oh, they knew about it alright. But knowledge isn't trust. If you don't know the story of Blondin, then google it.

3- grace is critical as we act. We are told that love never fails, yet so much of what we try to do we do in our own strength. Grace changes everything. Love profoundly today. Love radically. Tell people you love them. Tell them that God loves them. This week I was reminded of the power of love. It allows the heart to do what the mind cannot. Go for it! You can't lose.

I pray you have a blessed weekend. I'm preaching Sunday on Proverbs 3:5-6.

Your in His service,

John

Africa

Dear family,

I write from an airport in Nairobi, Kenya as I wait for my flight to Lilongwe, Malawi. It's been quite a few days.

I was just in South Africa for a selection meeting for new staff. There were 19 there recommended by regional and national directors. I am amazed at the quality of young people joining our staff!

Most amazing was the chance to meet again with a young man named Andy. I've been praying for Andy for almost ten years. Andy was one of my trainees at the African Bible College back in 2002. In fact, I only have two pictures on my desk, one is of my wife and mom, the other is of Andy sharing the Gospel with a gal named Angelina. A memory I will never forget. And a reminder of why we do what we do. To see the change in Andy is worth all the efforts we go through to train and equip people worldwide.

Now Andy is joining our staff. I can't wait to support him and his wife Grace. And, some of the way that he is working in the remote villages of northern Malawi will help us to learn how to reach people groups better. What an answer to prayer! And what a privilege to serve in this great work!

Now I head to Malawi to preach tomorrow. Then I have the joy to speak at chapel for ABC on Monday. Then Malcolm Thomas will join me for a ground breaking for a new center in Malawi. Wow. Amazing.

I travel home on Tuesday to speak at Knox's graduation on Friday. My whole family will be there.

I have no words for how blessed I am. Glory to God!

Yours in His service,

John

Location:Nairobi, Kenya

Hope for Kids in the South Pacific

From Sosiceni Dumukuro (taken from Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sosicenid?ref=ts) 4th Kids Evangelism Explosion Hope for Kids Clinic - Equipping Adults worldwide to teach children the Gospel and to clarify the Gospel to Children bring children to saving faith in Jesus Christ and assist them to become witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Location:Fiji

Update from Ghana

This morning I received an update on Hope for Kids in Africa from one of our staff there, Matt Moffett. Matt, and his wife Toni, are doing a great job teaching children, as you'll see from his report.

May the Lord bless you today.

John







From Matt:

Greetings from Ghana,

Though our launch has been delayed we wanted to let you see what God in doing here. Toni has just finished a 14 week KEE training at a church here in Accra. The church is Agape New Testament Church. They have two services with about 150 kids coming between the two. On her 2nd to the last week she went through the Pathway to Hope book with them and gave 1 copy to each child. They came back this last week with stories of sharing with family, friends, and some even shared the books with friends (who are not yet believers). I share all of this as an encouragement to press on even though we have had delays. We are confident God is going to do some awesome things with Hope for Kids.

Serving Him Together,

Matt & Toni

Two Years! Really?

The idea seems ridiculous to us today. Who waits for two years? For anything? And yet, that's how long God made Joseph wait in an Egyptian prison for the butler to remember him. Yes, the fact that the butler forgot him was an injustice. Joseph had helped by interpreting his dream while he was in prison with him. But would it have mattered if he had remembered Joseph? He could have said, "Pharaoh, I met a really good guy in prison. I don't think he did it. Maybe you should let him out..." How do you think that would have went? Do you think the Pharaoh took this kind of advice from his butler? I think many times we underestimate the angst of the real-life situations in Scripture.

Back to Joseph... So here he is, having had a series of injustices inflicted upon him since his youth: his brothers were jealous of him because of a dream God gave him, they talked of killing him, then sold him into slavery to a passing caravan. Just when things seemed to be going OK, his master's wife hits on him, Joseph refuses, and she unjustly accusing him of acting improperly toward her. So here he is, in prison for something he didn't do, at the end of a long history of wrongs based on things he didn't do. Can you feel it? What would you be saying just about now?

It's an fascinating story filled with lessons. A few that I see right away are:

1- God hasn't forgotten about you. No matter what's going on, no matter how hard it seems, He is there. And He cares about you. Just because His timing is different than ours doesn't mean we are right and He is wrong. The Scriptures tell us that His timing is because He cares about us and others (2 Peter 3:9). Maybe we don't see it, but we can trust it.

2- We need to admit it when we are wrong. The butler did and did so publicly. You see in Genesis 41:9 that the butler says, "I remember my faults this day." Better late than never. When we remember, we need to repent and make things right immediately. He could have remember but not said anything to anyone. Then just told the Pharaoh that he knew a guy who interpreted dreams. No muss no fuss. But he said it out loud (and to his boss—not a recipe for advancement!). But it is wise. For you see that God has promised to lift up the humble and put down the proud (1 Peter 5:5).

3- We need to believe in the goodness of God's plan even if we can't see it. Joseph trusted God. He went to work within the prison being useful to the captain. He was a blessing to many. Then when God got him out, he was quick to give God the glory that He deserved. In verse 16 Joseph says (when asked about his extreme dream interpretation skills), "It is not me: God will give Pharaoh and answer of peace." How different this answer sounds from even pastors today who talk about "their" ministry.

So, Joseph refused to become bitter, trusted God completely, allowed his life to be used by God to His glory, and lived joyfully in God's presence. This is what Jesus was talking about in the beatitudes when He said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." Peacemakers don't make peace when it is easy. They make peace when it is hard and there is a "right" to not be at peace. This kind of person, however rare, is said here to be a son/daughter of the Living God (Matthew 5:9).

What a great reminder for each of us. And what a conviction too.

May the Lord bless you today and your serve Him.

John

CLA Conference

Conference can be tough on the seat. I mean, I'm just not built to sit all day and listen. But when I do, I am always blessed.

Today I had the chance to spend the day in San Diego at the Christian Leadership Alliance conference.

I came because one of my mentors, Dr. Jerry White, suggested that I do. What I took away was challenging.

I need to do better in social media. One of the speakers has a blog with over 100,000 readers! His blog is so helpful to encourage communication within his organization.

David Kinnaman from the Barna Group gave a great talk on generations and I'm encouraged with how much God has already done in EE with XEE.




I'm going to get the CDs and share them with some of the leaders that I deal with. And I reminded that we all need to be learning and sharing what we learn.

God bless you today.

Jbs

Fiji Summer Event

Do you know any young person that is considering God's call on his/her life? Then the place for them to be this summer is the island of Fiji from June 12th to July 21st.

This is our Fiji Summer Missions trip. And there, your friend (or you!) will discover God's mission for the Church and our role in that mission. It's a life changing time.

You can find out more about this on our website at:

http://www.eeinternational.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=58711

May the Lord bless you richly today.

John

EE Poised to Meet Haiti's Most Critical Needs of the Hour

The greatest physical need in the Haiti earthquake zone, according to our man on the ground, Don Warren, is CLEAN WATER. The greatest spiritual need, of course, is the LIVING WATER of Jesus Christ!

The water delivery system in the quake zone has been ruined. People are drinking and gathering water from broken pipes, contaminated sources and sitting pools. When the rains come (now over due) this drastic situation will become even more critical further spawning the intestinal diseases already affecting thousands. Within one 48 hour period, Don was able to assemble and deliver 425 bucket-water filters through EE churches in the center of the affected area with tremendous results. The joy among the people was nearly uncontainable as they spread out to offer both clean water and the Living Water of Jesus Christ to their friends and neighbors!


Listen to Don's vision: "Water gathering is simply part of everyone’s daily life. It is part of the culture and embedded, by necessity, into the work of each day. And a bucket in a Haitian family is a badge of association. It is a walking advertisement of who has provided for them. Picture, if you will, thousands of buckets with EE’s two question marks stencilled large on the bucket. Inside the bucket, a water filter, and along with the bucket, Kid’s EE tracts and materials and copies of One Hope books, all in Creole. This is a resource and distribution opportunity poised to flood the seismic zone with the most immediate physical need, clean water, and the greatest spiritual need, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is a tremendous opportunity because there is just no organized way to deliver needed aid that is piling up in area depots and no feasible way to provide bottled water to such a large and needy population. Yet because of EE relationships built among local churches all over Haiti we have the names and contact information of thousands of people and their churches who are prepared to deliver clean water along with the Living Water throughout the affected area. All they need are the bucket-filters and the instruction to use them.

So, in addition to what we are already doing through EE Haiti, we are taking on this Water project as well.

A water filter, clean bucket and Gospel materials are being delivered for $50 each.

If you would like to help with this worthy project you may donate on our website under "Haiti Outreach."


Thank you for your partnership at this critical time.

In His Service,
Ken Silva
VP North America

Haiti Outreach Update - Monday January 28th

Dear praying friends,

I just received an update from Suzi Warren:

Dear John and EE Friends,

Don called on the sat. phone last night, then the line went dead after a too short conversation, but still it was good to hear his voice . We hadn't spoken for several day. He said he has been visiting many churches and camps which he says are everywhere. Some people are living in tents, many are under tarps, others are just staying out in the open. He said some areas look like they had been hit with a nuclear bomb. He is distributing the high quality water filters that can do 500 gallons a day. He is trying to get as many as he can into the hands of churches and church members-who now may be residing in the IDP camps. This effort is being coordinated through the large network of EE churches. So these people are getting not only the critical water they need, but the Living Water of the Gospel.

Don says the stench of rotting bodies is overwhelming in these devasted areas-which must be very bad since he can't smell very well with his allergies.

Praise God for His sovereingty that so many Haitians have been trained and equipped to share the Good News with their family, friends, and neighbor-FOR JUST SUCH A TIME AS THIS.
In Him,

Suzy

for

Donald J. Warren

Thank you for continuing to pray and give. I know it is making a difference. I really don't know of a better example of Christ's Church being the Church!

Yours in His service,

John

Friday, January 22

Dear praying friends,

Here is an update from Suzy Warren:

Hi John,

Just wanted you to know I spoke to Don EARLY this morning. He was getting ready to board the small plane into Haiti. He had made contact with Pastor Banes and Jenny. They all are planning on being in Jacmel. Will keep you posted as I hear more.

In His service,

Suzy for the Warrens

Let's keep praying!

Yours in His service,

John

Interview with Don Warren

Dear praying friends,

I've just had the opportunity to record an interview with Don Warren as he is heading to the airport to fly to Haiti. In this interview he talks about what he hope to accomplish and how you can help to pray for the work there.

You can find the interview HERE.

During the interview, Don refers to the water filter that we are aiming to provide to each EE church in Haiti in the coming weeks. You can check out their website at: http://www.sawyerpointonefilters.com/pointone-filter.php

May the Lord bless you!

John

Link to Vision Haiti slides

Dear praying friends,

Here is the link to Pierre's vision for reaching 1,000,000 children with the Gospel in Haiti. Obviously, the recent earthquake has altered these plans slightly, but the heart of the plan remains intact. I know you'll be blessed.

Link to slides

God bless,

jbs

Haiti Update - Tuesday, January 19

Dear praying friends,

Here is today's update from Devon Linton, our Director for the Caribbean:

"At least two of the 500 adults trained in Kids' EE this past summer have lost family members (confirmed by Jenny Tryhane).

Pierre reports (through Don Warren) that the first batch of materials have been completed and that Pierre plans to deliver these to Jenny soon.

Pierre has immediate plans to ascertain the status of his EE family that are spread all over even as he is receiving reports of widespread damage outside of PAP.

The plan to feed the children is still coming together but the food items have still not arrived at the orphanages that Jenny and Pierre are involved with. For the most part the orphanages remain in very good condition. Food is being stored at the airport and heavily guarded as the authorities coordinate the distribution of same.

That’s it for today team. I will have pictures soon. I am doing my best to have conversation with Pierre through our EE assistant chair for Jamaica who is in Haiti as we speak with a medical team from the government of Jamacia.

Devon"

Please continue to pray that the Lord will provide the resources for food and transportation. The need is certainly great but our God is Greater still!

I will put a link up today to reach the pictures detailing Pierre's plan for reaching the children of Haiti with the Gospel.

Yours in His service,

John

Haiti Outreach Update - Monday January 18th

Dear praying friends,

Just a quick update from Haiti.

Here is a note from Jenny:

"I spoke to Pastor Banes a few days ago and he is well, no damage to the mission house and school. He will be joining me in Port au Prince soon to help with food distibution and spreading the Good News through Kids EE. We urgently need help from EE as we are planning to distribute food and use EE as an evangelism tool to bring the message to the children as they eat physically."

And a follow-up from yesterday:

"Spoke to Pastor Banes last night ... he was on the mountain praying all day... he has started the printing of the materials for the outreach. Praise God! Thanks for all your help."

Don Warren is preparing to travel to Haiti on Thursday to assist with the distribution. It will not be an easy trip. Please pray for his arrangements and the Lord's blessing over his travel.

And please continue to join the staff in Haiti and in the Dominican Republic as they fight discouragement and fear and continue to do the work of the Lord in Haiti at this urgent hour.

May the Lord bless you as you do.

John

Haiti Update - Saturday, January 16

Dear praying friends,

Thank you for your prayers for the people of Haiti. Please pray for God's direction regarding EE's response. Some critical decisions need to be made in the next 24-hours.

Thank you for your gifts. So far, you've given nearly $2,000 toward the $25,000 goal. God bless you!

I just received this update from Devon Linton, EE's Director for our Caribbean ministries (he received it from Bishop Seale):

As we continue to pray for Haïti here are some developments that we should keep before the Lord as we intercede:

• People are leaving Port-au-Prince and moving into the cities and villages all across the country. This is putting significant pressure on communities. Terry Snow, Director of the YWAM base in St. Marc reports that churches there are now being used as shelters for persons from Port-au-Prince and food is becoming scarce. Terry reports: “One of the largest wholesalers in St. Marc has empty depots tonight with no word on when he might be able to get more bulk food! … Fuel is gone, vehicles are being parked! We have to have fuel if we are going to survive, much less help the victims!”
• Terry is working with authorities in St. Marc to open the harbour there. Three small vessels are being assembled to move containers from Florida to St. Marc.
• Word has come of another possible entry point at Gonaives which has a large harbor. This is quite a drive from Port-au-Prince but is an entry point.
• First responders are experiencing exhaustion and depression. You can even see it in the faces of the news reporters as some shed tears as they try to report on the situation. We urgently need to keep the responders in prayer asking God to strengthen them physically, psychologically, emotionally and above all spiritually.
• This tragedy can give Haïti a new opportunity to build and transform this nation. Please intercede for those who will be planning reconstruction as a nation now needs to be built – governmental structures, schools, hospitals, churches, homes, roads, telephone and electrical delivery systems, sewage disposal, water distribution, etc. Pray that God would over rule and bless this nation significantly in the building phase. In disasters we need to move as quickly as possible from relief to reconstruction and engage the people in building their nation. The faster this transition from relief to reconstruction can be made the quicker the spirit of the people will rise in victory.

Please feel free to pass this on to your friends and email contacts as we seek to increase the intercession and awareness of the situation. Please don’t forward it after January 17, 2010.

Bishop Gerald A. Seale, DD,

General Secretary and CEO,

Evangelical Association of the Caribbean

Thank you for your continued prayers at this critical time. I'm going to post Pierre's vision on this site later today.

Yours in His service,

John