Nelson Newsletter - November 2019

“But know that the Lord has set the godly man for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him.”

Dear Saints, 

King David wrote in Psalm 4 that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself. He created you and I to be His - to be in a relationship with Him. Incredible! He did not set us apart primarily for a task or mission, even though He gave us that. He wants you to know Him personally and to be satisfied with Him, and then for the mission to flow from the relationship. Don’t neglect your relationship! You are precious! Here are some things He has done recently as we have lived set apart for Christ! Thank you for praying!

                                  

UGA Outreach Rich and Mary Suplita (photo above) invited me to join them to speak with University of Georgia students about new life in Christ. There was a pro-life group they knew on the campus that day, so there were many wonderful opportunities to share the good news and to love students who were disturbed by the pro-life message and banners.

                                                              Pro-Life Banners attract students                      

                                                  Rich (center) respectfully interacting with students

 New Church In Virginia Beach David and Stephanie (our daughter) are encouraged by the new church meeting in their home. Michael and Denise are regulars who join them for prayer, Bible study, breaking bread and a meal each week. They have numerous unbelievers they are reaching out to at the park, in the neighborhood and the basketball court. Pray by name for these folks below!

Prayer & Praise

1. Atlanta House Church Pray for more opportunities during the holidays for each of us to build relationships with unbelievers and share Christ with them. Pray for the future of the twins Grace & Ward are fostering and hoping to adopt. Pray for God’s will to be done and for grace and peace to abound whatever happens.

2. St. Pete Church Pray for their meetings to be fresh & edifying because each member is daily living by faith in Christ, hearing from Him through His word and applying it to their lives, loving others, and reaching unbelievers. Pray for the Trunks and Shores to lead the church well by being examples in their love for the Lord Jesus and people, including unbelievers they know.

3. Virginia Church Plant Pray for them to grow in closer as His church. Pray for David & Stephanie’s outreach to Chris & Lewis, guys David met playing basketball, and for Becky and Stacy, Stephanie’s new friends from the park.

4. UGA Students Please pray for these students we shared Christ with - Rachael, MC, Samuel, and Raven to come to Him. Pray for Rich and Mary Katherine as the minister to students in their home and on the campus. Pray for the Spirit of God to convict of sin and reveal God’s love.

Thank you for supporting us and for interceding in prayer!        

Steve & Danelle   

PS Please consider giving a special end of the year gift for our work in evangelism and discipleship. You can do so by following this link, https://reliant.org/steve.nelson?newGift. Or  use the Reliant website below. Thank you for being vital partners with us in this ministry!

    

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

From The Inside Out

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” Luke 6:45

My friend asked, “How does the evangelist equip the saints to do the work of service as described in Ephesians 4?”

First, evangelists equip the saints by being examples. Paul wrote to the elders in Ephesus, “prove yourselves to be examples to the flock.”.  Evangelists model a heart for the lost. People are inspired by examples, stories from your life, and your experience. They want to see how it can be done. They need to know they can do it too.

Second, evangelists equip the saints when they enjoy developing of relationships with unbelievers and celebrate when others do the same. They will share how they showed love, served, and built a friendship with their non-Christian friends. This “pre-gospel” work is essential in preparing the hearts of unbelievers to receive the truth of the gospel. As Zig Ziglar said, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care, about them.” Being a good witness begins with a sincere love for those God brings into your life. If you sincerely care about them, are honest and humble, they will listen.

Finally, evangelists pray. They ask God to draw people to Himself, convict of sin, and to change hearts. They will usually pray for them by name and encourage others to do likewise.

We can attempt to equip the saints from the outside in by being overly reliant on programs, or we can ask God to speak to their hearts, working from the inside out. We can guilt believers into sharing the gospel, “If you are a good Christian, you will share the gospel.” We can work from the outside, hoping that God will change their heart. Or, we can connect people with Christ, and allow Him to reveal to them His love for a lost world. Once someone connects with the Lord Jesus, they will never be the same.

Are You A Watchman?

“Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me.”

Ezekiel 33:7

Did you know that it is God’s will for your life to be a watchman and warn unbelievers? God has commissioned all His children to go and preach to gospel to the entire world. He loves every person He created and longs to restore their relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul stated his life’s purpose “We proclaim Him (Christ), admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose I labor, striving according to His power which mightily works within me.” Colossians 1:28. The word “admonish” means to warn.

We should warn the unbeliever about the judgment of God that is coming if they refuse to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Are you warning your friends, classmates, neighbors and coworkers of the judgment to come, or are you spiritually asleep? Jesus warned people. “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”  Jesus proclaimed God’s love and His judgment. We all know John 3:16 about His love for mankind and offer of eternal life. But, do we finish the message with all of Christ’s words? “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:17 I think many may not coming to Christ today because we are afraid to warn them of His judgment. They think, “All is well!” and do not see their serious problem of offending a holy God.

Do not let the PC crowd make you afraid of doing what is right and loving. Let us be faithful watchmen and warn our friends of God’s impending judgment and call them to repentance. Ask God to move you by His love to “preach Christ crucified” with boldness and prepare their hearts to receive the truth.

Nelson Newsletter - September 2019

“Who does great things, [beyond understanding,] unfathomable, yes, marvelous and wondrous things without number.” Job 9:10 Amplified

Dear Saints, we pray you are giving God a chance to show you the marvelous things that Job spoke about. He wants to do wondrous things in your heart and through you for others. Here are some of the marvelous things He has been doing with us recently…

                                 

Atlanta House Church Our church is seeing God do wondrous things! Growing in faith comes from trusting God with the tests, trails, and responsibilities. Grace & Ward have been tested by fostering twin boys, who are now 3 months old. 😊 Danelle has been at their house several days a week helping Grace get some rest. The boys are beginning to sleep longer. Yeah! Recently, Grace & Ward’s AC died, adding to their challenges. It has been in the 90’s for weeks with no end in sight! They are thankful the new unit being installed this week. Praise God! Our church is also reading The Meaning of Marriage, by Timothy Keller. We highly recommend it!!!

St. Petersburg Church Danelle and I returned to St. Petersburg August 16 -18 for a workshop on living as the New Testament Church. (photo below) It was an excellent time together reading in Corinthians and discussing how to apply it. A group of them have decided to meet as a house church, love one another, and reach out to their community with the gospel. They are excited, united, learning, growing, and enjoying the journey! Danelle and I stay in touch with Jon and Pam Trunk with phone calls and Skype. Please pray with us for them to keep trusting God.

Virginia Church Plant Our daughter, Stephanie, and her husband, David, moved to Virginia Beach a month ago with their 4 children. They have already met several people interested in fellowship. One couple has come the past 3 weeks! They want to start a house church there.

Prayer & Praise

1. Atlanta House Church Pray for our marriages to grow in Christ and be an aroma of Him to our communities. Pray for God’s strength for Grace and Ward. Ask God to bring people to Christ.

2. St. Petersburg Church Danelle and I need discernment and wisdom to build into this church. Pray for them to expect God to do “marvelous and wondrous things” in & through them.

3. Virginia Church Plant Pray for David and Stephanie to love people to Jesus. Pray for this new couple to unite with them to reach people and to grow in Christ together as His church.

4. Young Couples Danelle and I have been counseling 3 young couples who are all getting married this fall. Please pray we would help prepare them for marriage. Pray for them to all find close fellowship in the new places they will be living and to have Christ-centered marriages.

Thank you for your support and prayers,         

Steve & Danelle   

                                

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

Nelson Newsletter - August 2019

Dear Partners,

Secure In China! A Chinese friend of ours, who was in grad school at Clemson University for a few years, moved back home last year. Recently, she contacted me requesting a copy of Secure In An Insecure World in Russian. Yes, Russian! (It’s also in Spanish!) She met Andrey and wants him to hear the good news of life in Christ in his own language. She thought my book would help him understand that life is in Jesus, not in a woman/wife. We prayed for a way to get the book to him and God provided. She got it a week ago and plans to give it to Andrey soon, if she hasn’t already. Pray for his salvation and for our friend and her fellow Christians to continue spreading the good news!

St. Pete Conference Danelle and I will be leading a conference August 16-18 in St. Petersburg for the church as they seek the Lord and His plan for them. We will look at what the Word of God says about change, Christ’s headship of church, what the church is, discipleship, leadership, and being on mission together. Your prayers will make all the difference in our time!

Atlanta House Church The summer has been busy for our church members with vacations, Grace & Ward fostering twins, and­­­ speaking engagements. Danelle and I visited her family in Pittsburgh where we enjoyed meaningful times of sweet fellowship and ate too much. Then we drove to see our daughter, Stephanie, and her family in Virginia. Julie, Jasper, and Emilia Dewey came down from NYC to join us. We all worked hard for several days getting them settled in their new place. We installed ceiling fans, hung window treatments, repaired items broken from the move, and even built a chicken coop for David’s aunt! Yes, we did relax and have fun together at the beach with the 6 grandchildren the last day. 😊 Our church is still adjusting to several precious single ladies leaving. The good news is that they all seem to be doing well in the Lord and connecting with Christians in their new cities. Pray for ATC members to be moved by Christ’s love to build quality friendships and share the gospel with unbelievers. Thank you!

                                     Prayer & Praise

1. Virginia Ask God to give David & Stephanie people with hearts for God who ­­­are humble and gather as a house church in Portsmouth. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel with unbelievers and for the Spirit of God to touch hearts and change lives!

2. St. Petersburg Church. Danelle and I are returning August 16-18 to teach the church and discuss God’s purpose, the church, and how they can follow Christ together. Pray for teachable hearts and a willingness to change & make disciples in simple, organic ways.

3. Grace & Ward Pray for them as they foster the twin boys! They need strength & sleep!

We appreciate your prayers,        

    Steve & Danelle   

    

 wwww.reliant.org (Please visit this website if you wish to support our work. Thank you!)

11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832   

www.gcmnelson.com