Nelson Newsletter - February

“Pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified.” 2 Thess. 2:3

Dear Friends,

Here are some ways the Word of the Lord has spread recently,

Faithwalkers (12/28/16-1/1/17) Danelle and I always enjoy our annual conference in Asheville. Thank you for praying for our two seminars which were well attended by students eager to learn. You can listen by using these links.  “Whole Health” http://gccweb.org/media-and-resources/audio/whole-health/ and “Secure In An Insecure World” http://gccweb.org/media-and-resources/audio/secure-in-an-insecure-world-2016/

Abel’s Story (Continued) God is answering your prayer to save Abel and his family! His parents invited us to have dinner with them this Saturday. This is the first time they initiated meeting with us. Please keep asking the Lord to use His word and our love to save Abel and his parents, Francesca and Abel!

                                    

Clemson Conference God did many beautiful things last weekend in Clemson with the students that

   

Brian and Miriam Bridgeman are working with. Danelle and I led a “God’s Will For Your Life” conference to help them know His vision for their lives and how to follow Christ and fish for men. We taught Friday evening and Saturday morning. Then we went to the campus to share Christ with students.  In our prayer time together (pictured below), several students  prayed that they wouldn’t forget what was taught.   It was the first time for several of them to share the gospel.  Please pray for these young men and women to have hearts for God and be fruitful workers in the harvest!  

    

Ukraine Mission Trip (May 9-22) Danelle and I are returning to Ukraine in May to equip the believers in Kiev and Odessa. Among many things, we will teach a “Finding the Love Of Your Life,” conference for the youth in Kiev one weekend. Danelle will also be teaching a seminar, “How To Pray For Your Husband.” We plan to travel to Odessa to encourage our dear friends Gennady & Lena & their family. We are excited for this opportunity. Please pray!

  

Prayer Requests

1. Unbelievers in Atlanta Pray for those we are seeking to win to Christ in Atlanta -including Jairo, Paul, Michael, Abel, Francesca, Abel, Carolina, & Christian. I gave Christian my book today!

2.  Clemson Ministry Pray for Brian & Miriam to faithfully love and train the students. Pray that the  word of God would spread rapidly through the students.  Pray their serving would come from an overflow of their relationship with Christ and that their love and commitment to one another would grow as well. Finally, ask God to save the students that we spoke with.

3. Ukraine Mission Trip Ask God to show us exactly who to serve, as there are many opportunities, and to meet their needs by His Spirit. Please pray for God to provide for our travel expenses.  

Thank you all for your generous and faithful support!

Yours Secure in Christ,

                                                                                                                                                               

Steve and Danelle  

                         www.reliant.org 11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832    www.gcmnelson.com

Women in Combat

All these, being men of war who could draw up in battle formation, came to Hebron with a perfect heart to make David king over all Israel.  – 1 Chronicles 12:38 A group of young men and one woman ran toward me along the trail. My first thought was how their pace was much faster than mine. Of course, I was probably 40 years older! My second thought was how the young lady must be fast to keep up with the men. I started thinking (you have a lot of time to think while running!) about how runners are separated into men’s and women’s groups at the Olympics and other races. They don’t compete with the opposite sex. Generally, men are faster than women. How does this difference in physical ability play out in the military? Should women serve in combat? Of course, there will be women who are stronger than some men and physically more qualified. But is there more? What about their emotional makeup? Why didn’t God require Jewish women to fight, as the passage above affirms? God created men to protect women. Adam was created to protect Eve. He failed, and the rest is our sad history. Men are uniquely gifted to protect women physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Men and women are equally valuable before God, but they are very different—uniquely special. Until men and women understand this design, there will be confusion, endangerment, and discord. When we understand, we will complement one another.  Men, let’s man up and lead and protect women with sacrificial love and servants’ hearts!

How Do You Receive Correction?

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla.”  – 2 Chronicles 18:7

I work with young, single men to help them grow up and mature, to learn how to make wise decisions and break free from generational family problems. The irresponsible behavior due to faulty thinking must be exposed and replaced. These men need loving correction, guidance, encouragement, and hope. I do my best to be their friend and be open about my own failures. My desire is to win their trust, as well as strengthening their faith in God and His Word.

There are various responses to this mentoring. Some are eager to learn and change. They all have their fears that they must face. Some will argue or have excuses why they can’t take steps of faith in the Lord to change and break free. Their family dysfunction can make it hard for them to gain freedom.

Ahab, the king of Israel, was such a man who rejected correction. He resisted the counsel of the prophet Micaiah because he never told him what he wanted to hear. Ahab simply wanted a “yes man” to go along with his schemes. He did not want to hear the truth.

Are you like Ahab, or is your heart tender and open to loving correction and wise counsel? Do you reject the truth and disavow the messenger because he or she doesn’t tell you what you want to hear? Are you open to the Spirit of God in others who care enough to challenge your thinking?