Nelson Newsletter - December 2107

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people!”  Luke 2:10

Merry Christmas Dear Friends!

It is difficult to escape the constant barrage of bad news from the radio, television, and internet. Murders, car accidents, hurricanes and floods, immorality, and deadly diseases are common stories that can leave us depressed and feeling hopeless.

Praise God there is “good news of great joy which will be (is) for all the people!” God does love all people and can change any life willing to come to Him in sincere repentance and faith. He is using you - your prayers and gifts to make this happen through our ministry. Here are some highlights from 2017.

We began the year with a God’s Will For Your Life conference in Clemson, SC for students (2 photos below). In addition, I returned a number of times to evangelize with Brian Bridgman and their student ministry.

In May we traveled to Ukraine. Danelle taught a seminar on prayer (below #1), and together we taught students about healthy relationships (below #2).

Our Southeast House Church Conference in August was just what God ordered (3 photos below). The churches from Gainesville, Raleigh, and Atlanta enjoyed rich discussions and support for one another as we learned how to hear from God together. It was different. We all left loved and envisioned.

Atlanta Outreach God has given me a passion to help the “average” Christian be faithful and fruitful in their relationship with Him, their family, and in the marketplace.  Here are some ways God is using this in Atlanta. Danelle and I continue to meet weekly with Abel and Francesca. They came to Christ two months ago and we are impressed by their desire  to read God’s word, as well as by the questions they have written down each week to ask us. They also have a passion to see their son, Abel Israel, and other family members to hear the good news & come to God too. Several weeks ago, I met Jesse from Eritrea at our local coffee shop. He had only been in America less than a month. I gave him my personal testimony tract the first time we met. He is eager to meet. Pray for us to find the time to meet, as well as his salvation. God continues to help me model taking every day situations and turning them into gospel conversations with the men at the car wash and lifeguards at the pool.

Danelle & Francesca

House Church Our church is growing in faith in God through responsibilities at work, raising families, and serving one another. God’s plan is to use each of these to help us grow our faith in Him and His word. Sometimes it may seem insignificant to live faithfully and be responsible, but it is His seminary training and extremely important. If we fail to be faithful servants at work, at home, or with one another, then the world is not drawn to Jesus. They don’t see the Lord alive in us if we grumble and complain about our work, or we are lazy and selfish at home. Please pray for us to keep growing in faithfulness to Christ, dependence on His Spirit, and living under His grace.   

                Alex & Oksana                    

                                                                                      

Faithwalkers Conference (Dec 28-30) Danelle and I will teach a seminar at our annual conference in Asheville, NC. Pray for us and the 600 students to hear from God and apply truth.

Prayer Requests

1 Atlanta House Church Pray for us to grow in faithfulness in little things, godly character, our devotion to prayer, and compassion for the lost in our city in 2018.

2. Local Outreach Pray that Jesse and I would be able to meet & for his salvation. Pray too for Jairo, Michael, Harvey, Ken, & others to see Christ living in us & receive the good news!

3. Faithwalkers Conference Pray for Danelle and I as we teach a seminar, “How to Start Spiritual Conversations,” at the Faithwalkers conference, December 28-30 in Asheville.

4. Our Personal Support Finally, please pray for God to supply our needs. The last few months we haven’t been able to receive our full paycheck due to a shortage of support. If you wish to give a special gift at the end of the year, please follow this link to give on line. We appreciate it very much! https://reliant.org/steve.nelson?newGift.  Thanks to all of you who support us month after month, as well as with your special gifts!

Yours in Christ’s love,  

Steve & Danelle    

                                        (Nelson Family 2017)                                                       

                                                                                                                                                        

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

         

When Women Are Vulnerable

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.    

Let all that you do be done in love.  1 Corinthians 16:13

One morning at the pool where I swim the ladies were trying to figure out how to swim around the man who continually strayed into their lane. The man did not care that he irritated them. When they spoke to me about it later, I tried to encourage them. Then it hit me—no woman should have to fight for her rights. It is unnatural. Instead, the man was created to be her defender, protector, warrior, and provider. But from the fall it has not been so.

Adam failed to protect his wife: “She took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” Adam was with Eve or close by. And yet he did not protect her when she was tempted to disobey God. Then she gave Adam the fruit, and he ate it too. Adam failed to man up!

How about you, brother? Are you protecting the women in your life? How? Pray for them. Pray with them. Share relevant truth (promises) with them when they are tempted to doubt God’s love, when they are vulnerable to fear about finances, or they are discouraged about the children.

Whatever the ladies are facing, they should not have to fight for certain things alone, or at all. They need you to man up. Lead! Speak up. Don’t let pornography, your job, or your hobbies rob you of your spiritual power to protect the woman or women in your life. Choose godly men to befriend and learn from them how to protect women. Men learn how to be men from other men. Ask God to help you be strong and act like a man!

Nelson Newsletter - October

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. Go!” Luke 10:2-3

Dear Ministry Partners,

House Church Our church continues to learn how to reach unbelievers. Our most recent activity is reading God Space by Doug Pollock. He does an excellent job explaining how to make unbelievers feel safe to share their hearts with us, and how to start spiritual conversations. He is a practitioner who has learned how to ask sincere questions and draw people out. I highly recommend this book to you.

Clemson Outreach In September Rich Suplita and I took a team to Clemson University where we joined Brian Bridgeman (in photo above with Issac Baum) to share the gospel with students. God answered your prayers by giving us many good conversations. Julia is a Christian involved in their student ministry. The two of us shared our testimonies and the gospel together with several students. She expressed how the training was very helpful for her. When I returned home, she sent me her personal testimony to edit. She is excited about using it to reach other students! Please pray for Brian & students -Julia, Issac, Sarah and others to be faithful witnesses on the campus.

Local Outreach Danelle and I continue to meet weekly with Abel and Francesca to read the Bible and pray. They are eager students of the Word of God. It is a joy to see how they support one another in their new life. Last week I met Abdulla from Morocco. He works at the car wash with our Christian friend, Chris from Ecuador. When I asked Abdulla if he would like to read my book, he was excited. I brought it a few days later and he insisted on me signing it and then gave me a big hug. Pray for his salvation and Chris’ witness to him and all the unblievers there, including Jairo, Joel, and Michael.

Southeast Pastors Conference Pastors of Great Commission Churches met in Jacksonville last weekend to seek God for direction for our region. We also shared our personal and church needs and prayed for one another. We prayed for the younger leaders, as seen in this photo. It’s always refreshing to be with men of like heart and passion to serve Jesus Christ! 

  

Prayer Requests

1. Atlanta House Church Pray for us to care enough about unbelievers to serve them, listen to them, and learn how to ask sincere questions that lead to spiritual conversations.

2. Outreach to College Students Pray for Brian and the Christians at Clemson to multiply. Pray for their lives to be holy and examples of Christ. Pray for their love for one another to grow.

3. Local Outreach Pray for Abdulla and other unbelievers to come to Christ. Continue to ask God for Abel and Francesca’s growth and desire for their family and friends to come to Christ. Pray for their son, Abel Israel, to come to Christ. Pray for Danelle and I grace to train them well.

Yours in the Harvest,

                                                                                                                                                              

Steve & Danelle    

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