‭And‭ he said‭‭ unto them‭, Go ye‭‭ into‭ all‭ the world‭, and preach‭‭ the gospel‭ to every‭ creature‭.‭ (Mark 16:15, AV)

Since our last report, we have been very busy with meetings in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Pakistan. Yes, Pakistan!

On September 30, I was in my study preaching at 9 a.m. for an evening meeting in an unreached village in Pakistan by Skype. The meeting was organized by Pastor Rizwan Faxal of Abundant Life Church in Lahore, Pakistan. I preached on the Prodigal Son and about how all of us have gone away from our Creator, but that through Jesus Christ we can be restored Since our last report, we have been very busy with meetings in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Pakistan. Yes, Pakistan! to the family of God. It was wonderful to speak to a large village crowd about the wonderful riches of Christ. 

I received this report from Pastor Faxal, “Thanks very much to share powerful Word of God with people of Pakistan in unreached village yesterday. Thanks Lord, 294 souls are saved and 29 persons are healed.” 

The pictures I received from the event were very touching. Many of these were taken when I asked the people to lay hands on themselves as we prayed for various ailments. 

I calculate that this is the fourth open-air meeting that we have preached this year, including Detroit Lakes, Janesville, and Waseca, Minnesota.

The Waseca meetings were held on October 1-2. Sharon Brandt of Waseca was inspired by the meetings in Janesville, and coordinated the effort with other believers from Waseca. Susan and I preached the Gospel and encouraged the believers, as we all worshipped and praised the Lord in a city park. We also prayed for the sick and ministered by the Holy Spirit. 

Pastor Jeff and Karol Kapelle of New Life Fellowship

Ministry in the Churches

We love evangelistic meetings, whether they be at a park in the U.S. or a schoolyard in Africa. But as much we enjoy interdenominational outreaches outside the church walls, we also recognize that our work in individual local churches is just as much a part of our mission. We are called to reach the lost, encourage believers, and strengthen churches. So, when we minister in local churches, we are there to be a help to the local leadership and to encourage the believers to work with their local church and to reach their world for Jesus. This was the case in three local churches where we ministered in October. 

New Life Fellowship in Tolna is a strong rural church in northeast North Dakota. The church began as a group of women prayed for six to eight years that a church would be raised up in the area. Finally in 1988, out of a Bible study and then Sunday morning services held on the lawn of a farmstead, the church was established and a building was constructed. Pastor Jeff and Karol Kapelle, fresh out of Bible School, began to lead the church that same year, and have been there ever since.

The church has grown in strength and numbers over the years, reaching people from a wide swath around the church, as well as internationally through their missionary work and support. Pastor Jeff says that one of the keys to the growth has been guest speakers from the 5-fold ministry gifts (Ephesians 4:11-12), who regularly minister at the church. From my perception, another great key has been the love and respect between Pastor Jeff and Karol and the congregation. Having been a pastor myself for over 20 years, I know what a challenge it can be to keep the love fires burning in a local church, and I have great respect for those who can do so successfully, especially for a long season. 

At Tolna, we had a three-day revival (Friday-Sunday). I spoke on “The God of Miracles”, “Grace for Miracles”, “The Compassion of the Lord,” and a new message I have been preaching called “No More Bitter Waters.” This message, which is a warning to avoid anger and bitterness in our hearts, is very crucial in the times in which we are living. 

The next weekend, Susan and I traveled to Prairie Faith, a local church in Glenfield, North Dakota. This is a church that came out of a traditional background and has become an independent church. They have been without a pastor for about a year, but we sensed a strong unity in the church, a determination to go forward, and people working together to keep the church functioning well. It was very encouraging to see!

Susan spoke on “Grace” to a group of ladies at a women’s brunch on Saturday morning. The message was a great encouragement to them and to her. On Saturday night, I spoke on “The Baptism of the Holy Spirit” and prayed with the believers for a greater release of the Holy Spirit in their lives. On Sunday morning, I once again shared the message on “No More Bitter Waters.” The comment I heard most afterward was, “You were speaking to me!” 

We also ministered at the Country Church in Ruthton, Minnesota, where we were filling in for Pastor Frank Vanderbush, who is recovering from Covid-19. In early October, he was rushed by helicopter from the Pipestone hospital to Sioux Falls, South Dakota in critical condition. The church and others around the nation began to cry out to God for him. He began to improve, and we started getting encouraging reports by text. Now, he is recovering at home, and we received an email from him concerning the progress of his recovery that stated, “No time for a funeral, there is work to do!” 

I think that might be a good confession for all of us. The devil wants to take us out, but we need to let the devil know that we are too busy to listen to him. We need to say as Nehemiah said to his detractors, “I am doing a great work, so I am not able to come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3, MEV)

The dormitory in Benin is nearing completion.

Benin Dormitory Update

We are rejoicing that the dormitory for the Mt. Moriah Bible School in Danzounmey, Benin, West Africa is nearing completion. The plastering is completed, the painters are at work on the inside and outside of the building. More than enough designated offerings came in for the completion of the building last month. We plan to use the additional funds to purchase beds for the pastor and his family, who are living in the building and sleeping on the concrete floors. Rejoice, partners! You have helped to facilitate the training of many much-needed ministers for rural Benin. 

Your Partnership in the Gospel

We are so thankful for your partnership in this mission of taking the Gospel to the world. You are helping us to reach the lost, encourage believers, and strengthen churches around the world. Let us continue to hold one another up in prayer that we can finish our course with joy and fulfill all that God has for us to do in our generation. God bless you!