Nelson Newsletter–July 2014

Orlando LINC Danelle and I had a delightful time with the students in Orlando last week. It refreshes our hearts to see young people who are serious about following Jesus and sharing their faith with others. We joined them several times to meet UCF students, and tell them how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God gave us many quality conversations with students open to the gospel. I also taught several seminars. Please pray for those we met, and others they will contact this summer, to experience God’s love from a new birth.

Kevin. Danelle and I left Orlando left Orlando on Saturday morning in time to join our house church for a special evening event. Our new brother in Christ, Kevin Ware, was baptized June 14^th in the Chattahoochee! He obeyed the Lord while our house church, and his girlfriend Victoria, gathered to support and celebrate. We praised & thanked our risen Savior, who continues to forgive sinners and give them new life - eternal life! Then we enjoyed sweet fellowship during a cookout at Grace and Ward’s place on the river.

   

GCC Pastors Conference I joined several hundred pastors in Kansas City for our annual pastor’s conference. Josh McDowell (on left) came to speak to us about communication. Josh was instrumental in my becoming a Christian in Clemson 41 years ago. Danelle and I heard him speak about the family in Ukraine (right) about 6 years ago when we served there as missionaries.

                             

Prayer Requests

1. Please continue to pray for Kevin’s spiritual growth, and for his desire to share Christ with his friends and family.  Pray for Kevin and Victoria to serve God and others together.        

2. Pray for our time with our daughter, Julie, and granddaughters, Jasper and Dewey. They will be visiting in Georgia for 6 weeks.                                                            

3. Pray for our house church to grow deeper in our devotion to Christ, one another, and the lost.

Yours on mission,

Steve and Danelle

Timmy’s Testimony

The Good News I Have Discovered On My Journey Through Life

If you have this piece of paper in your hands, it is because somehow our paths crossed. If time allowed, there is some good news that I would like to sit down and talk about with you, and with everyone I meet.

This good news was announced by an angel over two thousand years ago- “Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord!”

Like many people, I heard about Jesus Christ from the time I was a child. I understood that he was a very significant person of history because even our calendar is based on the time of his birth. However, it was not until later in life that I understood clearly that Jesus is much more than a historical figure. When he walked the earth, Jesus said that He was God become man. He said that by watching him, you were actually seeing what God is like. It was a monumental and eye-opening discovery for me to realize that in reading the words of Jesus and seeing the actions of his life, I could understand the character of God and the purpose for which he made me.

Let me share with you just a few of the important observations I made. Jesus was loved by and considered a friend of “the sinners”, but was despised by many of the religious people. Why? The religious people wanted to make sure they would be in heaven one day, and they thought that by their own moral behavior and good works they could guarantee themselves a spot.

Jesus explained that it was impossible for any man to earn eternal life, and that in reality God was proposing much more than just everlasting life in a beautiful place. Jesus said that eternal life is a relationship with him that can begin now and will last forever and that will satisfy the deepest longings of your soul, because it is the purpose for which you were made. Jesus said that anyone can have this real life if they would simply turn from their sin (living life independent from God and contrary to his desires) and come to him in humility and dependence. Jesus life and message was good news for even the worst of sinners because they realized no matter how bad they had lived, they could come to Jesus and he would forgive them of their sins and transform their lives.

The Bible is full of stories of how needy and broken people turned to Jesus and how he transformed their lives. He is alive today and he is still transforming lives. He changed my life when I discovered more than thirty years ago the good news that Jesus came to this earth and became the Savior and friend of all who would truly trust in him- by his perfect life, by his death on the cross to pay for our sins, and by his resurrection from the dead.

I wish I could sit down and tell you more about the good news that Jesus loves you and he wants to give you real life. Please feel free to write or call me if you have an interest in hearing more.

Timmy Powers

(614)619-3507

timmy.powers@gcmweb.org

Nelson Newsletter–June 2014

Spain Mission Danelle and I had an excellent mission trip to Pamplona, Spain. Thank you for interceding on our behalf! Please pray now for the dozens of college students and others who heard the gospel to respond to God’s voice. A personal relationship with God was foreign to most of them. Steve taught on The Word, The Church, and Conflict Resolution to the LINC team. The “Finding the Love of Your Life” weekend seminar impacted lives. The three discussion sessions after each part proved to be beneficial for practical application of the truths. We also had numerous informal counseling sessions that God initiated and led.

                                                                                     

Dom Baptizing Iris, a Chinese student.

One such miraculous God-ordained meeting was through AJ Ozanich, one of the college students on our team. AJ met Oksana, a Ukrainian woman, near our apartment one Sunday morning. With his limited Spanish, he told her that there were some Russian speaking people on our team. She came to the Spanish church service where we met her briefly. We arranged a meeting with her the next day, and she brought her good friend, Katarina. Danelle and I were amazed at their hunger for God and His word! God gave us grace to speak with them in Russian. J We met with them four times, each time having deep discussions about how to grow in Christ, their marriages, and getting to know them.

Kevin Here is a photo of our friend Kevin, who recently trusted Christ. This picture was taken after dinner and Bible study at our house. He will be baptized June 14^th in the river! Then our house church will celebrate with a party at Grace and Ward’s place.

                                                                                                                    

Kevin and Steve after Bible study

Orlando LINC Next week we will be in Orlando to help Mark Groff and the students with the LINC program from June 10-14. This will be similar to the training and outreach in Spain. We will teach several seminars and share the gospel at the university and do outreach through sports. We covet your prayers.

Timmy’s Testimony Read how the good news of Jesus Christ transformed Timmy Powers’ life. This month’s featured testimony tells Timmy’s journey through life where he discovered that Jesus was much more than a historical figure. I for one am very thankful that he did, and because of his relationship with Jesus Christ, we have been close friends and coworkers for 25 years! Enjoy Timmy’s story and share it with others!

                                                            Prayer Requests

Spain Follow Up   

1. Pray for Iris (pictured) when she returns to China in July, because she does not know any Christians in her city. Pray for fellowship, continued growth, and courage. Her parents aren’t happy about her new faith.

2. Pray for Oksana and Katarina as they both have difficult family situations. Pray that we would be able to Skype regularly with them to study the Bible together. Pray they would find Ukrainian speaking Christians in Pamplona.

3. Pray specifically for Tomas, Eduardo, Echum, Filipe, Isabelle & Andor to become followers of Christ.

4. Pray for Serg, Martin, Maria and Julio, Filipe (a different one) to continue to mature in Christ.

5. Pray for Dom & Domaris Marrone and their three children to rest in God’s grace as they serve as missionaries in Pamplona. Pray that they would see breakthroughs with Spaniards coming to faith in Christ.

Orlando           

Pray for the team of students who are already there to be good testimonies at their workplace. Ask God to save students and others, and to unite them with the church. Finally, pray for us to be effective communicators and loving servants while we are there.

Yours on mission,

Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter–May 2014

David’s Testimony This month we feature David Shirley’s story of how he came to faith in Christ. We all have questions about the meaning of life and God always answers us if we ask with sincerity. Enjoy reading how God spoke to David, our son-in-law, and answered his questions, even those he was not asking initially, but those that we must all come to grips with.

Spain Mission Danelle and I leave on Wednesday, May 14^th for our mission trip to Pamplona, Spain. God provided our expenses through you. Thank you! Please pray for us as we will be sharing the good news with college students at a local university, as well as teaching our team, and having an outreach seminar, “Finding the Love of Your Life” with Steve’s book (now in Spanish). We return June 2^nd. (We don’t plan to run with the bulls this year!)

Kevin It has been a pleasure to help this young man grow as a new Christian. Today, as I write this letter, he is one month old in the Lord. Please pray for him to continue to see his need for reading the Bible, seeking God, fellowship, and following Christ in baptism. Danelle and I had a fantastic Bible study with him and his girlfriend last night and he wants to get baptized!

Orlando LINC Shortly after our return from Spain, we will travel to Orlando to help Mark Groff and the students with the LINC program from June 10-14. This will be similar to the training and outreach in Spain. We will teach several seminars and share the gospel at the university and do outreach through sports.

                                                                        Prayer Requests

1. Spain Pray for God to love through us and bring many into a personal relationship with Him. Ask God to use us to build the local church & our team. Pray for strength, health, & safe travels.

2. House Church Pray for our growth and compassionate outreach to unbelievers.

3. Orlando Pray for the team to be prepared to serve others and love unbelievers. Pray for Danelle and I, for stamina, and that our teachings would be life transforming and helpful.

Yours on Christ’s mission,

Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter–May 2014

David Shirley’s Story

At an early age I began questioning some simple things. For example, why did I need to wear anything but pajamas, why couldn’t I play in the room with the nice furniture, and why couldn't I eat candy for every meal? As I got older, things started to make sense through explanations like culture (why no pajamas), finance (nice furniture was expensive), and science (candy diet..yikes). But, as I got into college I still could not answer questions that were beyond any human explanation: What would really happen after death? Is God real? Many times, these questions would even keep me awake at night.

I was raised attending church, listening to church music, and believing there was a God. But  as I got older, did it still not make sense. I started a full investigation of the things I believed. After about a year of reading the Bible, great philosophers, and historical books, I began to see things differently. The Bible (John 1:3) claims that all things were created by God, and without God nothing exists. An engine alone isn’t enough to describe a car. If God is the greatest and biggest of all things, then I can’t expect science or even my own intellect to be enough to explain or prove God. Instead of dismissing the idea of God, or questioning who God was, I began to ask what He wanted. The crazy part was, I found God only wanted me to love Him. Because God was perfect, I realized that I wasn’t. I had a tendency to make a mess of my life. I lied, got jealous, and the list went on.

But, God said there is a way for me to be free of my wrongs and be worthy to have a relationship with Him! God wants all people to experience forgiveness of their wrongs (sins) and believe that through Jesus’ we can be free from God’s judgment and our guilt, and can truly love God! (see 1Timothy 2:4 & John 10:9) Now, I know this could sound strange, but this free gift from Jesus changed my life and truly answered my questions about God!

Even questions like, if God is really good, then why is there: evil in the world, natural disasters, or people doing horrible things? Maybe you have faced these questions too. Here is a favorite quote I remember when I contemplate these questions.

“When we begin an argument with ‘Well, I wouldn’t believe in a God who would…’ Who would what? Do something that you wouldn’t do? Or think in a way that’s different from the way you think? Do you ever even consider the possibility that God’s sense of justice is actually more developed than yours, and that His love and mercy are perfect, and that you could be the one that is flawed?” Does it even enter your mind that maybe He knows something that you don’t? Or, is it always ‘I have this ability to reason and I have this level of morality, so something in Him must be off here and I won’t believe in Him.’”

I hope that my short story can give you some hope as you investigate your own questions. The good news is that there is a way to live without guilt, with purpose, and not trust in things that disappoint and will only disappear when we die. We must place our hope in Jesus and follow Him!

If you would like to chat more, please send me a text or an email! Thanks for reading!

- David Shirley

Davidgarfieldshirley@gmail.com

Having A Child

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a child? Maybe you already have children. Being a parent is both an awesome privilege and huge responsibility.

I was child number five in a family with seven children, yes seven! I was the most mischievous and spiteful of the bunch, and I tested my parent’s concept that having children was indeed a privilege. I poured wet gravel from the aquarium on my friend’s head, painted nail polish in books, shoved my cousin down the stairs, and the list goes on. My rotten behavior did convince my parents that raising children was a huge responsibility! They prayed a lot for me (and for themselves), and God answered them before I had to go to prison. What happened?

I noticed a joy in my older siblings, which I knew came from their relationship with God, and I wanted to experience this myself. Therefore, when I was six years old, I asked God to forgive all of my sins, and trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.  Even at that young age, I understood that God had changed my heart, which resulted in me loving others. The joy followed; like any relationship I grew over time in understanding how much God loved me and where I needed to change.

Now I am married, and we recently took the crazy leap to parenthood.  And what a sleep-deprived, yet fantastically joyful experience it has been.  I discovered the most amazing revelation was being able to relate to God who also had a son. God the Father allowed His Son to be beaten, bullied, and killed! I’m not sure I could allow my son to go through that….so why would the Creator of the universe allow this? His motive: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)  

The depth of His love has become so much more real to me after the birth of my son. Jesus came to earth knowing that it would cost His life to purchase our salvation. Wow! How do we respond? He is not asking you to do good deeds and try to earn eternal life, because we can’t. "It is by grace (an undeserved gift) that you have been saved through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works that no man should boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9 All that is necessary to become God’s child is for you to agree with Him that you are sinful (self-centered), and sincerely ask for His forgiveness, and then invite Him into your life to take control (be your Lord).  That is how you receive His Gift! Would you like to make that decision today?

The fact that I met you today to tell you this amazing news was God trying to tell you how much He loves you!

Stephanie Shirley

Nelson Newsletter April 2014

Happy Spring! We welcome the warm weather, flowers, honey bees, and new life. This letter targets a few new life stories from our neck of the woods. We trust they build your faith in God!

Stephanie’s New Life This month we feature our daughter Stephanie’s testimony, “Having a Child.” She has been faithfully sharing Christ by using her tract featuring her family as a point of common interest. She tells us that God has been using it to keep her actively involved in outreach, even though she is a mother of a toddler and expecting in September. She asked that we pray for her and her husband David to inspire others in their small group to reach out. Enjoy!

Kevin’s New Life! A young man named Kevin, our lifeguard at the pool, is a new creation! (2 Cor. 5:17) Our house church has been praying for Kevin’s salvation, and Danelle and I have befriended him and shared truth with him for three years. I finally had an opportunity to share the entire gospel with him two weeks ago. We discussed his anger with God over his grandparent’s health problems, the purpose of the commandments, and salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Then I asked him what prevented him from giving his life to Christ. He thought for a moment and then said, “Nothing!” I told him that the decision was between himself and God, and I explained what he needed to do. Since he was working, I encouraged him, “Later on get alone with God, and talk to Him out loud, because it will help you think about what you are saying. Then tell Him that you a sinner and you want to surrender control of your life to Jesus.” Three days later he did just that! Praise God! He has come to our house for dinner twice in the last two weeks so that Danelle and I could help him get started in his new relationship with Jesus Christ. He is eager! Please pray for Kevin’s growth and desire to share Christ with others.

New Lives In Pamplona, Spain Danelle and I are headed to Spain in one month to teach, train, and bring new life in Christ, May 15- June 2. We will assist Dominic Marrone (in the photo) and the church with outreach to college students, as well as training the American LINC team. Please pray for us to prepare for the numerous teachings and the relationship seminar using Steve’s book – now in Spanish! We will take both the English and Spanish copies to use to reach students. Please ask the Lord to provide the remaining funds for the trip as well. We still need $2,000 in special gifts. If you want to help us, go to www.gcmweb.org and click “Give.” Enter 5951 and follow the prompts. Thank you very much!

Yours in Christ’s love,

Steve and Danelle