Nelson Newsletter – February 2013

Climbing The Berlin Wall

Dear Christian ­Friends, ­­­­­­­­­­­

God is working everywhere, and if we look, we will see it! When we see it, then we can join Him in transforming lives for eternity. Once Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman who was transformed, and then she went and told her city about Jesus. The disciples had gone to get lunch, and when they returned, they were amazed that Jesus was speaking to a woman, and a Samaritan one at that! “Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.”” (John 4:35) What harvest? The Samaritan woman! Why did Jesus tell the disciples to “lift up your eyes?” Because they missed the harvest right there in front of them! God was working, but they had failed to see it, or participate in it. Let’s lift up our eyes and look on the harvest of thirsty souls around us, and join God in His work.

In Berlin with Dieter and Lucy Schade

Germany Mission Trip Danelle and I were able to join God in His work in Berlin, Cologne, and Dusseldorf, Germany this month to build into the churches. I taught on lifestyle evangelism in Berlin, and the pastors said they had been talking about writing their testimony tracts, so my message was a good reminder to finish the task. The Lord surprised us by giving us many open and transparent conversations and the wisdom to help meet the needs. We know He was leading and answering your prayers! Thank you! After 5 days we left to visit Daniel and Lori Goering and the church in Cologne. One special gift was getting to spend the day with Sarah Bedi, a dear sister from Columbia, SC, who is temporarily in Cologne on her way to minister in Sweden. We taught my seminar on  relationships most of Saturday to an enthusiastic group. As is often the case, after hearing God’s word and embracing His love, several decided to change or end unhealthy relationships.

Dusseldorf church. Daniel and Lori (far right) joined us

Next we went to encourage our friends in Dusseldorf. They were amazed that we came all that way to support them during their difficult times. Like John Maisel (former president of East-West Ministries) says, “90% of ministry is just showing up!” We are so thankful we showed up! God knew they needed encouragement and a listening ear.

Prayer Requests

Germany: Pray for the believers to apply the truth they heard, to share Christ, and for God to save more people.

Atlanta: Pray for Mohamed whom we just met, and others to come to Christ. Danelle recently printed her testimony tract for the first time. Pray for God to use her and everyone in our house church to reach the lost we see each day.

Emory: Pray for the students to grow in Christ-likeness, their outreach to unbelievers. Pray for them to put God first.

 

Grace and Peace to you,

 

Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter – January 2013

Dear ­­Prayer Warriors, ­­­­­­­­­­­

Germany Trip Danelle and I will travel to three cities in Germany from February 7-18 to teach and build the churches. Daniel and Lori Goering and other leaders have invited us to visit these churches and encourage them. Berlin will be our first destination, where we will teach a conference on relationships and how to raise godly children. On that Sunday the pastors, Dieter Schade and John Goering, also asked us to speak about lifestyle evangelism and discipleship. The second half of our trip we will be in Dusseldorf and Cologne to encourage the believers in these two cities. Some of them have been through difficult times lately and need encouragement and hope. We covet your prayers, since they make all the difference!

Some of the Dusseldorf leaders and their wives		Missionaries Dieter and Lucy Schade in Berlin

Lifestyle Evangelism. Danelle and I, along with those in our house church, have been asking God for opportunities to love the lost and share the gospel with them. It is amazing how God answers that prayer! Here are some recent stories of how God has directed our paths to share the good news with those in darkness.

My son Matt and I meet weekly for fellowship, encouragement, and prayer. We talk about needs and people we want to become Christians. Then we walk around in the parking lot and pray together. A few weeks ago we were walking and praying behind some buildings, where we won’t get run over, when Rasheem stepped out to empty the trash. I gave him my testimony tract as we passed and said, “Here is something I wrote about how God changed my life,” not expecting any response. But, he immediately stopped in his tracks and asked, “You said that God changed your life. How did that happen?” Matt and I spent the next twenty minutes explaining the gospel, answering his questions, and having an amazing dialogue. I have never laughed so much sharing the gospel while still being serious. Rasheem was eager to hear. He mentioned his difficulty with relationships, so I gave him a copy of my book, where he will hear the gospel again as he reads it. We plan to go and see him again soon.

Faithwalkers While we were at the Faithwalkers Conference after Christmas, I was told a beautiful story by Courtney, one of the college students from Florida. She attended the discipleship training program, LINC, in St. Petersburg, Florida this summer. Danelle and I were there for a week in July to evangelize at the college and teach the students at LINC. We prayed for God to lead us to ­­­­­students who were open to the gospel, and we met a young coed named Kiosha. Little did we know that Courtney had been praying for her good friend Kiosha to become a Christian! Kiosha responded to our invitation to dinner and ran into her friend Courtney! Courtney told us the rest of the story at Faithwalkers –“Kiosha read your book, broke up with her boyfriend, and gave her life to Christ!” God answers our prayers and orchestrates divine appointments!

Danelle and I were eating dinner with our son and his family at a restaurant where we overheard two mothers speaking a foreign language. We all tried to guess, was it Spanish, Italian, or Russian? Our curiosity got the best of us, so we asked them, “Excuse us, but we have to know. What language are you all speaking?” They replied, “We were speaking all three and English.” One of the women, Olessya, was a Russian from Moscow. She immediately connected with Danelle, and as a result, they got together this past Saturday to talk for several hours. They discussed what it meant to know Jesus Christ personally. Olessya had an experience with some American Christians when she was a teenager, but now she is not sure what she believes. Please pray for her. Danelle plans to meet with Olessya again this week, as well as her friend Lindsay. It is exciting to see that God is sovereign, by providing opportunities to share His love when we are looking for them, even when we go out to dinner.

Our daughter Grace and I had a prompt answer to our prayers during a recent run. One of our requests was for opportunities to share Christ with others. Less than five minutes later, a man named Steve, asked to join us about 3 miles into our 8 mile run. We talked about our lives, families, and jobs. He had been married two times and recently his dog had died. We shared the good news that life was not in a person - spouse or children, but in Jesus Christ. He said he was lost, but did not think he was selfish. Please pray that he would know he is selfish and that is why he is lost. Pray that he would humble himself and come to Christ for real life. God answers prayer! Sometimes immediately!

Prayer Requests

• Germany February 7-18. Pray for discernment and wisdom to encourage and teach the German saints.
• Unbelievers. Pray for Rasheem, Steve, Olessya, Lindsay, Kevin and others to understand their need for Jesus. Pray for our house church to grow in our love for the lost and boldness to witness for Jesus Christ.
• Emory Ministry. We start next week with the desire to see more saved and multiplication of disciples.
• Finances. Pray for our ministry finances to improve. Our trip to Germany will be expensive, but we think it is a wise investment. Please consider a special gift to help us with this need. We sincerely appreciate all of you who support us in this work!

 

We are yours in Christ,

 

Steve and Danelle

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Nelson Newsletter – December 2012

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Dear ­­Friends,

Our Creator loves us dearly and desires a personal relationship with us! This time of year we can especially reflect on His amazing gift of Jesus Christ that makes this relationship possible. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) God loves sinners like us! He came to forgive us, not to condemn us! If we simply turn from our selfish life (in sincere repentance), and to Christ by trusting in His sacrifice on the cross to pay for our debt, we will be forgiven (saved eternally), and enter this personal relationship. Can you think of anything more magnificent, anything that gives more peace and hope, or anything our world needs more than this? Now, let’s “Go tell it on the mountain. Jesus Christ is born!” Let’s seize the opportunities to share the good news this Christmas with our family, friends, and strangers.

Raleigh Marriage Conference Berk and Barbara Wilson invited us to speak to the NC State students in their church about marriage and relationships. On November 2-3 Danelle, Grace, Ward, and I taught using material from my book, Secure In An Insecure World. We were pleasantly surprised to see over 60 students show up on a Friday night for the first session! They were eager to learn how to have healthy, godly relationships. Grace and I then ran the hilly Raleigh Marathon (26.2 miles) the day after the conference. Yeah, Ouch! It was her first and my 16^th. I was so proud of her!

Faithwalkers After Christmas Danelle and I will attend the GCM annual Faithwalkers conference in Asheville, NC. Steve will teach a seminar on lifestyle evangelism, and we will both help lead a seminar about marriage.

New Grandchildren David and Stephanie welcomed Nathaniel David Shirley into this life on December 1^st. All are doing well. Danelle is there now helping them get some rest! Whitney is expecting a baby girl around Christmas and Maria is expecting a little girl in March. We love being grandparents and being able to love and influence them! We look forward to each of them coming to Christ some day for salvation!

Financial Blessings Danelle and I thank you with all of our hearts for your generous and faithful support this year. We are honored to be on the receiving end of your sacrificial giving which enables us to serve our Lord Jesus in this ministry. Please pray for our support to stay strong and consider giving a special gift at this time. You can give on line on the GCM web site (see below). Our account number is 5951. Thank you so much!

Prayer Requests

• Many Saved in 2013. God would save many people at Emory, and throughout Georgia and the Southeast.
  
• Disciples. Pray for faithful and fruitful disciples who are passionate about Jesus and people.
  
• Faithwalkers Dec 27-31. Pray for our seminars and for all to grow in our devotion to Christ and His cause.
  
• Our Financial Needs Pray for provision for our ministry in America and overseas in 2013.
  
• New Grandchildren A safe labor for Whitney at Christmas time, and for Maria in March.

 

 

We love you all,

 

Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter – October 2012

Dear ­­Fellow Missionaries,

Ukraine Mission Trip Thank you for praying for Danelle’s mission trip to Ukraine. She said, “I was delighted to have the opportunity to travel to Ukraine for a women's conference in early October. We were together for 4 days at a retreat center outside of Kiev. It was a special blessing for me because most of the women I was close to when we lived there were at this conference. Our speaker, Audrey Jose, used the stories of Rahab (a prostitute), and Esther (an orphan), as the basis of her teaching. Her messages obviously spoke to the ladi­­­es from the rehab centers and the young women who had been orphans.  This led to many deep conversations during our small groups sessions and free time, especially since I already knew the personal needs of so many of the women.  It truly was a gift of God for me to be able to be there and minister to some women that I dearly love.”

Danelle (center, 2^nd row from top) with the ladies

 

Atlanta Drug Rehab Center Steve was invited again by our Russian friend, Maxim Bagdon, to speak at the drug rehab center in Canton where he works. It is always a pleasure to teach these young men the Bible and explain how God can change their lives, give them hope, and empower them with His love. They are eager to listen and interact with me, even speaking in Russian at times.

 

 

 

Clemson University Outreach Brian Bridgeman and I had a fruitful two days evangelizing on the Clemson campus together. I did some public preaching which led to some in-depth personal conversations, and even one student dumping water on my head. ☺ Two young ladies we met attended the church service the following Sunday. Thank you for interceding!

 

 

 

 

Prayer Requests

1. Oct 25-26 Southeast Leadership Meeting in Columbia, SC.
2. November 2-3 Conference. Teach students about marriage and relationships at NC State, using Secure In An Insecure World.
3. Nov 4^th Raleigh Marathon. On Sunday my daughter Grace & I will run the 26.2 miles. Her first marathon!

 

Yours in Christ’s love,

 

Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter - September 2012

Dear Ministry Partners,

­­­Ukraine Mission Trip Danelle leaves Monday, October 1^st to help with a women’s conference in Kiev. She will assist Kenyon Powers in serving women from the rehab centers, post orphans from Kiev, and others from the churches in Odessa and Kiev. Danelle will also spend time with numerous women she discipled while we lived there. She will ret­­­urn October 9^th. Pray for a safe trip and a fruitful time!

Atlanta House Church God has been answering your prayers for the ministry at Emory University. A few weeks ago a student named Abe gave his life to Christ! It is curious how God works when the circumstances aren’t what we expect. This young man was the only new person to show up to our first meeting, when we thought there would be four or five. Somewhat disappointed, I decided to begin by sharing my testimony. Forty years ago some Clemson students asked me, “Steve, if you died today, would you go to heaven?” I told them I was unsure, and I really didn’t know how. Then I explained to Abe how I turned from my selfish life to Christ, surrendered control to Him, and from then on I knew that I was going to heaven. The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 God says we can be sure of going to heaven, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13

I asked Abe how he would answer that question. He didn’t think he had eternal life, and thought he had to earn his place in heaven. He revealed to us that he had been very upset over his failure to obey God, and it became obvious to us that this was a Divine appointment and God had prepared his heart. We explained to him the gospel of grace, and he responded by asking God to forgive him for his sins and for Jesus to save him! My son in law, Ward, has joined us in this outreach too. Please pray for Abe to grow and for many other students to be saved.

Clemson University Outreach I was invited by GCM staff Brian Bridgeman to join him in evangelizing on the Clemson campus October 4^th and 5^th. I will do some public preaching too. It has been many years since I have spoken on the college campus, so your prayers for Brian and me, and for those we meet, are coveted! Thanks.

 

Yours in Christ’s love,

 

Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter – August 2012

Nelson Newsletter August 2012

Dear Friends, “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14 What do you boast in? This verse, which we used to sing in our meetings years ago, reminds us that we should only boast in the cross of Christ. I have no other basis (achievement) which makes me pleasing to God, other than the work of our Lord on the cross. With that fact solidly in mind, we are free to live for Christ, His glory, and His purpose. Thank you for making it possible for us to spread the gospel of God’s grace here in America and around the world! We boast in the cross of Christ as we share our latest news!

Steve teaching about the church to students at LINC	Removing 100,000 Africanized bees!

LINC, St. Petersburg, Florida In July Danelle and I were invited to speak in St. Petersburg at LINC (Laborers Impacting Nations for Christ), a Great Commission Ministries training for college students. We went for a week, participated in prayer, evangelistic outreach on a local college campus, taught on the church, and spoke at the local church service on Friday night. Before we left Atlanta, Pastor Mark Trujillo asked if I would do a bee removal in his rental property. We discovered, after we opened the wall, that the bees were Africanized killer bees! Brandon and I were stung, along with many others in the neighborhood. But, we got the job done. Praise God! On our return trip we stopped in Gainesville, Florida to speak with some church leaders for three hours about starting house churches and making viral disciples. Pastor Matt Gordon invited us to help them. God blessed the time, and we enjoyed seeing their desire to reach the lost and grow.

Ukraine Danelle is going to Ukraine, October 1-9, to participate in a women’s conference. Kenyon Powers invited Danelle to come help with a women’s conference she organized. Danelle will also spend time with numerous women she discipled while we lived there. Please pray for her time to be fruitful!

Atlanta House Church Our house church has been growing in their love for the lost. Recently, we have been saying our testimonies to each other on Sundays, and now we are writing them to get them printed. One lady led her brother to Christ recently! Also, one young man will begin college at Emory University, and he wants to reach the lost and make disciples on his campus. He asked for our help, so we plan to go weekly to help him. Please pray for students to be saved. Our daughter, Grace, and her husband, Ward, plan to help us in this outreach too. Pray for our daughter Merry as she begins her new job with Habit for Humanity in Americus, Georgia at the end of this month.

 

Steve removing killer bees		Danelle evangelizing on a local college campus

 

Yours in Christ’s love,

 

Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter – June 2012

Dear Friends, thank you for your effective prayers for Tanzania! Our first week was spent at a school for orphans in southern Tanzania way out in the bush. There was no electricity or running water. We held Bible studies for the students, and 3-4 of them gave their lives to Christ at the end of the week!

Then we traveled to Mwanza, in northern Tanzania. We spent two entire days listening to the pastors describe their ministries and the challenges they face. We taught them and reminded them of God’s faithfulness and all sufficient grace. We drilled wells in two of their villages. We would drill the well and then share the gospel with the crowds which gathered to watch. Another 10-12 gave Christ their lives!

Some of the most encouraging results were with young Christian men like Detrick and Alfred, pictured below. They exhibited teachable hearts, and could be some of those we work with in the future to spread the gospel and make disciples across the country. Please pray for us to maintain communication, which is not easy. Another blessing was how our team became close as we loved and served one another, working hard drilling wells and preaching Christ. There are more pictures of the mission on our web site.

Detrick (goggles), Alfred (center), Lee( hat), Luke (far right)	Steve sharing the gospel after a day of well drilling

Prayer and Praise

1. Tanzania: Hundreds heard the gospel and about 15 gave their lives to Christ!
2. All had diarrhea, some got stung, others had infections & parasites, but nobody got hurt. Praise God!
3. Dozens of pastors and leaders were encouraged and trained. Pray for them to grow and reach the lost.
4. Two New Granddaughters: Danelle arrived in NY on May 16^th, just in time to help Julie deliver Emilia Dewey Newton. Amanda gave birth to Wilhelmina Hart Nelson on May 25^th. Thank God, all are healthy!
5. Danelle and I enjoyed the Great Commission Pastors-Wives conference June 18-20 in St. Louis. The fellowship was rich and the teaching challenging and refreshing to our faith. Thank you for your prayers!
6. July 15-21 Pray for Danelle and I as we teach students at LINK in St. Petersburg, FL. We will stop in Gainesville, FL on the 21^st to speak to some Gators who are interested in functioning as a house church.

 

Neanda, a Christian teacher at the orphan school
Our team taught & encouraged pastors and leaders for 2 days	Detrick (far right, in glasses) leading Bible study at the school
Some students I shared Christ with on the ferry	Carrie and Melinda leading women’s Bible study

 

Yours in Christ’s love, Steve and Danelle