Nelson Newsletter December 2013

“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Dear Friends,

We pray that you are doing well and that your soul prospers because of our Lord Jesus. He came to rescue us! Aren’t you eternally grateful for His love? “We love, because He first loved us.” He loved us beginning with His humble birth and ending with laying down His life on the cross to save us from our sins. Hallelujah! We pray that you and your family will enjoy our Savior, each other, and your friends during this holiday season and all year long. Here are some of our family highlights from this year

Our Family

Scott and Maria were blessed with the birth of their daughter Sophie this year. Her two older brothers, James (5) and Seth (2) adore her. The boys were active in soccer and gymnastics, as much as their attention spans would allow. God prospered Scott’s business, now called Nelson Exteriors, this year. Maria enjoys the fellowship of the women in her book club, and she is an avid novice gardener. Recently they have been attending Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.    

Whitney and Micah thank God for their sweet red haired daughter Corabelle who was born last December. Ezra (3) loves to read, play golf, and baseball, just like his daddy. This year Micah has exhibited work in New York, Atlanta, and Miami and continues to expand his company with an aerial photography helicopter. Whitney loves teaching art at a Christian school.  Micah and Whitney also recently competed in a national art competition creating a zoetrope and were awarded first prize!    

Julie and Matthew live in New York City where Matthew works for an art gallery and continues to paint his own pieces. Julie has grown her sewing business, Curtains for You, this year. She does quality work with a cheerful attitude which places her in demand all over the city. Jasper (7) is an excellent student known for her kindness. She dearly loves her little sister Dewey (1). Dewey climbs on everything, is very bright and interactive, and she is finally getting some hair! We are looking forward to their visit.                                                                                                                                                                              

Matt and Amanda Matt’s business, Crux Retail, has expanded into a new office with a large warehouse. He and his partner thank God for helping their business grow. Matt and Amanda lead a home group and Matt leads a men’s group. Amanda continues to work for Jack Cooper where she is able to be with both of their children, Briscoe (4) and Wilhelmina (1). Briscoe can really smack a baseball and loves superheroes. Whereas, his sister can hold her own around someone who is 100% boy!                                                                                                                                                                        

Stephanie and David are both very active in their church and lead a home group. David works for Georgia Southern while pursuing his doctorate in higher education administration. Stephanie loves staying at home with active and cheerful Nathaniel (1), leads a mom’s group, and mentors a teenage girl.                                                                                                     

Grace and Ward love being married and just celebrated their 3^rd anniversary! Ward now works for Scott, along with Grace. Ward is learning how to manage a crew of workers and communicate with home owners. Both of them are an integral part of our house church. They continue to reach out to their neighbors as well as to Hispanics in some local apartments with the gospel.                                                                                                                                                                          

Merry continues to work for Habitat for Humanity in Youth Programs. She leads a women’s Bible study and volunteers to tutor at-risk teenagers. Merry gets her “animal fix” by visiting cats at the local shelter, since they don’t allow pets in her apartment. She has enjoyed performing in the local theater with roles in The Crucible, Hairspray and White Christmas.                     

Danelle is working for Scott part time.  She stays very busy with a women’s Bible study, prayer group, and frequently using her gift of serving. This coming year she is going to begin to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing the piano by taking lessons from Grace! More than anything, it has been a year of growing more deeply in love with Jesus Christ and learning what it really means to have a heart full of joy.                                                                                                                                            

Steve’s God-given passion for the lost opened many conversations this past year from the pool to Pizza Hut. He constantly looked for ways to share Christ using his testimony tract or his book, which was recently translated into Spanish! He relished weekly discipleship meetings with Scott and Matthew, praying with Grace three days a week - using running as an excuse, and loves doing ministry side by side with his bride of 38 years! He enjoys keeping bees and was surprised when his honey won first place in the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association honey competition this fall.

                                                                                    Ministry

Clemson. The outreach to the students last month was fantastic! Timmy Powers and I joined campus staffer Brian Bridgeman. We teamed up with students in his ministry to share Christ on the campus. Brian and his wife appreciated our coming up, and we were so thankful we did!

Faithwalkers Conference. December 27-31 Danelle and I will again travel to Asheville, NC to participate in the annual Great Commission conference. We will be teaching a seminar on marriage, and Steve will also be co-teaching another seminar with Brian Bridgeman on, “Avoid the Comparison Trap.” Please pray for us and all who attend to meet with God and come down off the mountain changed!

2014 Plans Danelle and I are planning to travel to Pamplona, Spain for several weeks this summer to teach college students with the LINC program. We also plan go to Ukraine and Mexico next year. Our desire is to also serve various churches in the Southeast. Steve will attend the annual pastor’s conference in St. Louis in June. Your gifts now will make it possible for us to make these plans.

Ministry Support First of all a great big “Thank you!” to all of you who have supported us, making it possible for us to proclaim the gospel to many here in Atlanta and all over the world. Please consider a special year end gift. Or, consider starting to support us at $10, $25, or $50 a month. Go to www.gcmweb.org to give and use #5951 to help us this next year. You can always make a check out to Great Commission Ministries and mail it to us using the envelope enclosed, and then we will send it in for you. We are deeply grateful for your gifts. God bless you for your generosity & passion for those in need!                       

Praise and Prayer                             

1. Rocio. She is at home in Mexico! It has been difficult. Pray for her encouragement, and for her family’s salvation. Pray for us to know how to minister to her long distance. 

2. Secure In An Insecure World. Praise God, the Spanish and English versions are now on Amazon! I also have English and Spanish copies here at our house if you need any. Great gifts for all occasions!   

3. Faithwalkers About 800 students will gather Dec. 27-31 for this conference in Asheville, NC. Pray for Danelle and I as we teach a seminar, and for all to have an enhanced knowledge of Jesus and His will.

Yours in Christ’s love,

Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter–November 2013

“Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land.” Proverbs 25:25

Rocio You may remember our friend Rocio. We recently celebrated her new birth at her baptism in the Chattahoochee River! Her infectious joy overflowed to all of us who were there, including the three Jewish families who paddled by in canoes at the exact moment! Rocio was supposed to return to her family in Mexico 10 days ago. We know she did not make her flight, and we are not sure where she is, since we have not heard from her. Pray for her safety and encouragement, and for us to hear from her soon.

 

A Story of Hope My longtime friend Doug Keefe called me one evening last week and enthusiastically said, “I have great news for you!” He went on to tell me how he had gathered some employees at a dealership, where he details cars, to share the gospel with them. Doug has a passion to help the lost find new life in Jesus. He bought these men lunch and shared the good news with them. A few days later one of the men, Antonio, asked Doug if he would marry him. Antonio had been in prison, where he came to know Christ. He told Doug that he was living with his girlfriend, Doreen, and they had a child out of wedlock. After praying about it, Doug agreed to do the ceremony, but he wanted to find out if Doreen was a believer. He decided to give Antonio a copy of my book, Secure In An Insecure World, for her to read. Then, last Thursday, Doug met with both of them, went through the gospel again, and asked Doreen if she had ever given her life to Christ. She told him that when she finished reading my book she asked Christ to save her, right there on the couch. That was indeed great news! Please pray for Doug as he helps these new believers grow spiritually, and to share the good news with their friends.

Prayer Requests

1. Rocio. Please pray for Rocio’s safety, encouragement, and her family’s salvation.

 2. Secure In An Insecure World. Both the Spanish and English versions will be available on Amazon, hopefully about the time you receive this letter. Pray for God to use this book to bring many to Christ, and to help Christians have secure lives and marriages. Consider ordering some copies to give as Christmas presents to students. It is also available on-line as an e-book.

3. House Church. Pray for a young man named Ben to grow and find fellowship. He recently asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior, and will be on a ship for 4 months! Pray too for newlyweds Robert and Tershel to start off well, learning to live for Christ and others together.

4. Apartment Outreach. Pray for Grace and Ward and the three families with whom they are having a discovery Bible stud. Pray for many to come to Christ.

5. Reaching Russians. Pray for opportunities to reach Russian speaking people here in Atlanta.

6. Clemson. Finally, pray for the students at Clemson Timmy Powers, Brian Bridgeman and I shared Christ with this week to be saved. We had a fantastic time working with Christian students who are involved with Brian at Clemson. They worked with us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Steve and Danelle

Deep Sorrow

“I have deep sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart for my brethren according to the flesh.” Romans 9:1-4

“Do you see? Do you see… all the people sinking down? Don’t you care? Don’t you care? Are you gona let them drown? How can you be so numb not to care if they come? You close your eyes and pretend the job’s done. “Bless me Lord, bless me Lord” you know it’s all I ever hear. No one aches. No one hurts. No one even sheds one tear. But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds, and He cares for your needs.” Keith Green-Pianist, Songwriter, Singer (1953-1982)

Why did Paul have “deep sorrow and unceasing grief?” Because God weeps over people who are lost! Paul had the love of God in his life to such a degree that it caused this deep sorrow over their lost condition. What did Paul do with this grief? He prayed! “My heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.” Romans 10:1

He preached! “And Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am,

except for these chains. Acts 26:28,29 He paid. It cost Paul to preach the gospel to lost people. Paul was stoned, beaten, and imprisoned, laughed at and homeless. It will cost you too, but it is worth it!

When was the last time you cried in prayer for a lost person’s soul? Have you ever had deep sorrow over someone’s eternal separation from God? I can tell you of only a few times in my life where I was moved to tears over someone’s need for Christ. I find it hard to relate to Paul’s great emotion and radical commitment to his fellow Jews over their salvation. He was a radical extremist for Christ! Are you? How can you become so filled with self-sacrificial love? I ask God to show me anything that hinders His love. Is there sin to confess and turn from? Then I ask Him to fill me with His Spirit and love through me. I challenge you to ask God to put His love in your heart for lost people. He will.

Nelson Newsletter October 2013

Dear Praying Friends,

“Faith is this extraordinary principle which links man to God; faith is this thing that keeps a man from hell and puts him in heaven; it is the connection between this world and the world to come; faith is this mystic astounding thing that can take a man dead in trespasses and sins and make him live as a new being, a new man in Christ Jesus.” – Martyn Lloyd Jones. We trust that you are living with faith (an expectation of God working) in God doing new things in you, no matter how long you have known Him! This is how we should live isn’t it – not by sight, but by faith? Here are some recent steps of faith we have taken and how your prayers offered in faith brought God’s blessings to others. Thank you!

House Church Retreat Six people from our house church had a faith-building time with Ray Vaughn and other Christians from Columbia, SC at a fall retreat. The house churches gathered to study the book of Philippians together, worship God, relax, and enjoy the fellowship. Thank you for interceding for them!

Florida State Beach Retreat Danelle and I had the privilege of speaking with college students at the Florida State Beach Retreat the last weekend in September. About 40 people gathered to hear Steve speak on salvation, assurance, baptism, and the local church. The students brought a number of unsaved friends to hear the good news of new life in Jesus. Three students were baptized (see photo) on a beautiful Saturday afternoon on the beach. Finally, Danelle and I shared Saturday night with the men and women separately. All in all God did many beautiful things in everyone’s life! Thank you for praying!

      

FSU Students Luke Gordon & Conner Moon

Rocio's Story We are happy to tell you that Rocio is headed back to Mexico to be a mother to her two daughters, ten and fourteen years old, which she has not seen in nine years! We are also sad to tell you that Rocio is going back to Mexico because we will miss her so much! We have developed a deep fondness for our new sister and have enjoyed her enthusiasm for God and His word. Please pray for Rocio, as it will be difficult for her children to overcome the hurt feelings of abandonment after nine years of absence. Pray for her to win their love as well as lead her whole family to Christ. 

Thank you to all who have faithfully supported us through the years. We are planning trips in 2014 to Mexico to help Rocio, to Ukraine, and to help with LINC again this summer for a longer time. If God puts it on your heart to start supporting us monthly, or with a special gift, it would help make these possible. You can go to the GCM website below to give, or use their mailing address. The account for which we are responsible is #5951. We greatly appreciate it!

 

Prayer Requests

1. Rocio. Pray for Rocio’s return to Mexico-that there would be real healing in her relationship with her girls. Pray that she will be safe, and that she would be able to get a job. Most importantly, pray for her continued spiritual growth, and that her family would to come to Christ. Finally, pray we would have God’s wisdom about going to help her find a healthy church family, and/or potentially starting a church there.

2. Secure In An Insecure World. The Spanish translation is finished! The English is almost ready to print. Pray for the money to print both books. Pray for us to get the Spanish on Amazon.

3. Financial Support Please ask God to provide for our financial needs, as He has done so faithfully through many of you for years.

4. Clemson vs. Georgia (38-35) for the college football National Championship? Our children would like to see a rematch. GO TIGERS!

Thank you for your love, prayers, and gifts!

Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter August 2013

“We are fit for the work of God only when we have wept over it, prayed about it, and then we are enabled by Him to tackle the job that needs to be done.” Alan Redpath (1907-1989)

Dear Ministry Partners, ­­­­­­­­­­­

House Church Outreach Our outreach last month to people in a local apartment complex was very productive. Thank you for praying! Timmy Powers and our daughter Grace met a family that invited them back to their home to read the Bible. They have gone a few times to share the good news with them. The first person that Danelle and I met was a Mexican lady named Rocio. We told her we were out speaking with people about spiritual things like God and the Bible. We asked her if she thought about these things very much. She said, “All the time!” We then said we were telling people how to know God personally. She said, “I want to know God, but I need someone to show me the way.” We discovered that Rocio’s boyfriend, the father of her two daughters, was going to leave her for another woman. She was hurting and afraid. God had prepared her heart through these terrible circumstances to receive Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. She prayed with us that morning and God brought her peace, hope, and forgiveness through her spiritual birth! Jesus promised, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) Celebrate Rocio’s salvation with us and the angels of God! We are meeting with her several times a week to discuss God’s word and pray. She is reading the Bible daily, and sharing her testimony with others. We have never seen anyone so eager to know God!

House Church Retreat Five members of our house church are going this weekend to join Christians from Columbia, SC for a retreat. Believers from the house churches in Columbia are having a retreat for the purpose of seeking God together, fellowship, and relaxation. They will discuss what the Bible says about the family and how to rest in, and rely on, God. Please pray for a life-transforming weekend.

“We need, men so possessed by the Spirit of God that God can think His thoughts through our minds, that He can plan His will through our actions, that He can direct His strategy of world evangelization through His Church.” Alan Redpath

Prayer Requests

1. New Contacts. Pray for Rocio’s growth, and for all those we have met in the local apartments.                        

2. House Church Retreat. Pray for Ward, Grace, Merry, Robert, Tershel & all to grow this weekend!

3. Secure In An Insecure World. Pray for the editing & printing in Spanish and English to be excellent.

4. FSU Conference. (September 27-29) Pray for Danelle and I as we teach these Florida State students.

5. Clemson vs. Georgia Pray for us to avoid any family conflict over the big college football game this weekend. Five of our children graduated from UGA! GO TIGERS!

Thank you for your prayers and gifts!

Steve and Danelle

Having Difficulty Providing?

Are you currently faced with a difficulty meeting your needs? If not now, you will be. It is simply a matter of time. Here is a story that contains some principles which can give you hope and courage.

“And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has lead you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:2,3
The Jewish people were between the proverbial “rock and a hard place.” There were several million hungry people in the middle of the desert. There wasn’t a Kroger for hundreds of miles! The responsibility for the life or death of all these Jews was completely God’s. The Jews had no control. If God did not provide they would die! What can we learn?
First, remember that God has been faithful to you in the past (forty years).
Second, God lets us get hungry. He allows trials. They are part of His plan.
The third lesson is that God does not always do the expected. He will feed you with manna, which you do not know. He needs you to give Him the freedom to provide in His way.
Last of all we need to trust His word (promises) and provision. It may seem like it is completely up to you to provide for your needs, and everything is under your control. It is not! God wants you and I to be responsible, work hard, spend wisely and give cheerfully to the work of the gospel, but He wants you to know it all comes from Him!

Christianity is like a Marathon- Part 2

Entangled
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” Hebrews 12:1
We must lay aside all the things that slow us down to run for Christ. If you have ever run in a race, you are know that the lighter you are, the greater your chance for success. If you have to carry extra weight, like the soldier running with the full backpack, it will take longer to get to the finish line. If you are overweight, it will take you longer to get to your destination and you may even quit. A few extra pounds carried for the 26 miles of a marathon feels like a few tons by the end of race! This is why God says to “lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us.” He knows we run well without the weights of sin. Sin slows us down and makes us want to stop running.
What sins are slowing you down today? Greed, apathy, fear, worry, lust, anger, pride, bitterness, slander and materialism are some common weights that entangle us. Is there something God has pointed out to you that you need to repent of, surrender to Him and experience His forgiveness for? Do not ignore Him. You may need a “teammate” to help you become free of these weights. Ask a trusted friend to help you with the weights, pray for you and hold you accountable. Just like someone who is “in shape” feels better (stronger and more confident), so will you if you lay aside the sin that is entangling you

What Do You Want For Lunch?

But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." John 4:32
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 whom He transformed, and then she left to tell 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.
Jesus informed His disciples as to the source of His energy: "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work." The work, in the context, was leading the Samarian woman to salvation. Jesus was energized by showing her respect, speaking the truth in love, and meeting her deepest need.
Lift up your eyes and look on the harvest of thirsty souls around you, and join God in His work. Get your eyes off yourself, your problems, and your needs by trusting God with them. Then look and notice the lives around you-prayerfully enter their world, listen to their anxious thoughts, and point them to the Living Water, who alone can satisfy their thirsty soul.

Listen to Your Conscience

It is rather easy and painless to ignore or silence the little voice within us, our conscience. It is our conscience where God speaks to us about right and wrong, good and evil, and what is loving or selfish. John Stott said of our conscience, “It was your great American wit, Mark Twain, who once said, "Man is the only animal that blushes, and the only animal that needs to." We are ashamed, are we not, of things we've done in the past? Nobody is free who is unforgiven. Instead of being able to look God in the face or to look one another in the face, we want to run away and hide when our conscience troubles us.”

Let us all determine to listen to God when He speaks to our hearts through our conscience and obey all that He tells us. If we have sinned, may we be quick to respond to the Spirit of God speaking through our conscience and repent. Godly sorry finds forgiveness from God and the grace to change. Paul determined to please God with a blameless conscience, “There shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.” Acts 24:15-16 What motivated Paul to always maintain a blameless conscience? The resurrection - his resurrection! He knew he would see God, and His love for Jesus Christ motivated him to please God with a blameless conscience.

You will see Jesus too! Are you keenly aware of that fact? Are you living your life with a blameless conscience? Ask God for the grace to do so. Ask others for their prayer and support to follow the little voice of the Holy Spirit.

Christianity is like a Marathon

Encouragement

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” Hebrews 12:1

We are going to learn how the Christian life is similar to running a marathon (26.2 miles/42 kilometers). It is a long race, not a sprint. It is a lifetime spiritual journey that is compared to a physical race.

First of all, are you aware that you are in the race? You are not in the stands watching. You were entered the moment you gave your life to Jesus Christ. You may not be doing well in the race because you did not know you were in it! The race is not just for the pastor, professional or paid staff. It is for all believers! There are NO spectators!

Our instruction for running a good race for God begins with the crowd. There is a crowd of spectators in heaven watching you. Jesus, the Father, Moses, Sarah, Abraham, Paul, David, Mary and thousands of others are watching you run this race. They are not watching passively. They know this is a matter of eternal consequences. Lives are in the balance. They are cheering for you! Jesus Christ is praying for you constantly! “He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

When I run a race it makes a huge difference to have people cheering for me! There are many times I have wanted to quit and someone on the sidelines has said an encouraging word, offered a cup of water or clapped. It is hard when you are alone. The crowd can play a significant role. In football they can be the 12^th man, in basketball they can be the 6^th player and in running they are your teammates! Know that you are not alone. God is with you all the time. (Hebrews 13:5,6) There are thousands encouraging you here and from heaven. Look up and see them cheering for you and you will keep running to win for Christ!

What Do You Want For Lunch?

But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." John 4:32

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 whom He transformed, and then she left to tell 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.

Jesus informed His disciples as to the source of His energy: "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work." The work, in the context, was leading the Samarian woman to salvation. Jesus was energized by showing her respect, speaking the truth in love, and meeting her deepest need.

Lift up your eyes and look on the harvest of thirsty souls around you, and join God in His work. Get your eyes off yourself, your problems, and your needs by trusting God with them. Then look and notice the lives around you-prayerfully enter their world, listen to their anxious thoughts, and point them to the Living Water, who alone can satisfy their thirsty soul.

Nelson Newsletter–July 2013

The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.' - Billy Graham

Dear Praying ­Friends, ­­­­­­­­­­­

We thank God for friends like you who know God personally and understand that life is not a constant high, but rather filled with challenges to our faith, our emotions, and our hearts. Your prayers sustain us and keep us encouraged. You are making a difference!

Couples Conference Danelle and I had an excellent time teaching a marriage seminar in Columbia, SC in June. We stayed with our good friends Russ and Kim Humphries and met with their home group. Their openness and hunger for God’s truth about relationships and raising children made it a pleasure for us to lead. The photo is from our Saturday morning session.

GCC Pastor’s Conference Steve always enjoys the GCC national Pastor’s Conference teaching, and time to catch up with fellow pastors. The theme, “Just Sow It” - training every church member to sow the gospel daily, is what our house church has been trying to practice for months. It reinvigorated some of us to complete our testimony tracts and others to keep on being faithful in the gospel.

LINC in St. Petersburg, Florida Danelle and I saw God answer your prayers for us and the college students at LINC in St. Petersburg. God gave Steve grace to teach relevant and helpful seminars. We also joined in the outreach on a local college and in the city. The photo below is of Jean Wan from Clemson (Go Tigers! ), and Steve. They were able to share the gospel with many students; one of them has met with Jean since then for discipleship. Every day we had individual meetings with the interns as well as counseling sessions - it was a rewarding and meaningful time!

House Church Outreach We will have an outreach July 27^th at several apartment complexes here in Atlanta. Some believers from Columbia, SC are coming over to share the gospel with us. Please pray for boldness and for the Spirit to bring conviction to those we meet.

                                                                                              Some of our grand children at our house –July 4th. All 25 members of our family were able to be together! 

Prayer Requests

1. Outreach July 27^th – pray for an effective and fruitful time in us and unbelievers we meet.

2. The finances to print Secure In An Insecure World in Spanish and reprint it in English.

Thankful for your faithful partnership! ­­

Steve and Danelle

A Clean Conscience

I love to have a blameless conscience, don't you? Some of you may have never had one and wonder if it is even possible.

What keeps us from having a clean conscience? We rename our sinful thoughts and actions. We rationalize our greed, jealousy, and lust. We justify our anger. “They deserved it!” And one of the most common ways of evading our conscience, we blame others for our mistakes and poor decisions. Oh, and finally, we try to conceal it. Besides, what we do in the privacy of our bedrooms is seen by God and does effect others. None of these actions will remove our guilt and the harmful consequences. But, this does...

"People who conceal their sins will not prosper,
but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
Blessed are those who fear to do wrong,
but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble."
Proverbs 28:13, 14 NLT

Confessing our sins, or agreeing with God that they are wrong, will allow us to receive His love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! It is so simple, but we must humble ourselves, and admit our failure. God will graciously clean our conscience.

"There shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men."
Acts 24:15-16 NASB

Columbia, SC Marriage Conference

We had a very productive conference June  7-8 with Russ and Kim Humphries and the folks from their home group. Most of those attending were couples, but we were also very happy to have 5 singles join in. It was a joy to see their hunger to learn.

“How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” Jesus, from Matthew 5.

God reminded us that in the same way that HE began a good work in us at salvation, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns,” Philippians 1:6, that HE began our marriages and would complete them! “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” Matthew 19:6 It was encouraging to be reminded that our marriages were His idea, have His blessing, and His strong support.

We simply need to align ourselves under His Spirit and His leadership to help complete this beautiful work. We looked at Ephesians 5:15-33 and noticed that we can not love our wives, or be subject to our husbands (respect), without first being filled with the Spirit. We also discussed 1 Peter 2 and 3 about how all of us are called to be humble; to be subject to one another, just as Jesus Christ was subject to His Father, and suffered to do so. Saturday morning Danelle spoke about how to be godly wives, and how to raise children who love God. (photo of the Saturday morning session)

Thank you all for your prayers for this time! Please pray for the saints who attended to apply the truths they heard. God knows Columbia and South Carolina need to see Jesus alive in our marriages and families! Marriages where Jesus is seen and love is abounding are a powerful testimony of His grace!

Nelson Newsletter June 2013

I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me,

Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. Psalm 116:1-2

Dear ­Friends, ­­­­­­­­­­­

­­­­­­­­­ Danelle and I understand more and more how this ministry is totally dependent on God’s grace. Thank you for praying for us and believing that God hears our supplications. God promises in James 5:16, “The effective prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much!” Here are some of God’s recent accomplishments and plans for us.

Spanish Translation Steve’s book about relationships and marriage, Secure In An Insecure World, is currently being translated into Spanish! God provided the necessary funds in an answer to our prayers. Praise Him! Now pray for the funds to print it. Thank you!

House Church Another specific request of God was for the house church conference “How to Hear from God,” in Columbia, SC. Several members of our house church traveled to Columbia to hear these relevant teachings – “Abiding in Christ,” “How to Hear from God with Our Unique Personalities,” and, “How to Hear God (through His Word and personal application).” Please pray as we plan to do some outreach together later this summer here in Atlanta.

Couples Conference Danelle and I have been invited to teach a marriage conference in Columbia, SC this weekend, June 7^th and 8^th. Russ and Kim Humphries and their home group have invited us to speak using materials from Steve’s book, and to address other issues for couples and raising children. Please pray for God’s leading and for life transformation.

GCC Pastor’s Conference Steve will attend the GCC national Pastor’s Conference in Kansas City June 17-19. Please pray for our faith to grow, meaningful fellowship, and a renewed love for the lost. The theme is “Just Sow It,” training every church member to sow the gospel daily.

LINC in St. Petersburg, Florida Danelle and I will return to Florida to teach college students again this summer. We have been asked to speak on the family, and about how to control our thoughts. We covet your intercession for June 24-29. Pray for open hearts and minds. Also, please pray for our evangelistic outreach in the city.

Prayer Requests

1. Please pray for quality translation into Spanish of Secure In An Insecure World.

2. Pray for our financial support to increase to keep up with the cost of living, and the book printing.

3. Pray for the marriage conference in Columbia this weekend, June 7-8

4. Pray for God to refresh and motivate Steve and the pastors in Kansas City June 17-19.

5. Pray for Steve and Danelle’s teaching and outreach in St. Petersburg at the LINC program June 24-28.

Thankful for your faithful partnership!

­­Steve and Danelle

Growing Is For Everyone

Growing is for Everyone

My daughter and I have been observing the baby geese (goslings) along the river where we run. There are various sizes, from the new born, fuzzy softball size, to the football sized teenage version. One thing they all have in common, they are all growing quickly, because they love to eat! Why were they different sizes? Some were older and had eaten more bugs and worms.

What can we learn from these creatures? We should all be growing in Christ! To grow spiritually, we must eat. Do you love to eat like the goslings? No, not bugs and worms, and not pizza or scrambled eggs either. Christians grow by reading the word of God and acting on it.

We too are commanded to grow. “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 1 Peter 2:1-3. Every believer should be making progress in their relationship with God, in their faith, “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.”1 Timothy 4:15.

In Ephesians 4:14-16 we read about each member of the body of Christ show grow and mature, “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Growth is not only for goslings. Growth is not only for pastors, leaders, or professional Christians. It is for all of us!

You Can Know What God Wants

Just read this from a doctor who will remain anonymous,

As I see it, very little truth of any kind comes out of churches, local or global. How could it? The central business of churches, religious guidance, is based on the mass delusion that the church knows what "God" wants. But how can anyone possibly know what "God" wants or doesn't want? To repeat: how can any human person possibly know what "God" wants or doesn't want?

And is it not the height of egotism for one human being to imagine that he or she knows the rules of the universe (if there even are such rules) and so can explain them to others? What nonsense!

And, if there really is a God who hears prayers and answers questions by speaking to my small, still self, why would I not want to find Him/Her myself, apart from what anyone else might believe? Why would I not want to find out for myself what "God" thinks is right and wrong?

While there are many churches which have little or no truth, there are many that do. It depends on the specific church, the pastor, priest, and the people in the church.

The real question though is, can anyone know what God wants? Absolutely! God has revealed Himself (truth) through the prophets, the Bible and through His Son Jesus Christ.

"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." Hebrews 1:1-3

Jesus claimed to be Truth, "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6

The good doctor was right, God wants you to find the truth for yourself. If you sincerely look for the truth, you will find it. Jesus promised this when He was accused of having His own teaching that was not from God,

"If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." John 7:17-18

Are you willing to do His will? If not, you will never know the truth!

God wants you to find the truth! He loves you and wants you to find Him!

"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

Controversial Issues

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It seems like we love a good argument! At least some of us do. Talk shows and television thrive on endless debate over controversial issues. But, it really does not matter what I think about any controversial issue. It does not matter what your opinion is either. It only matters what God says!

King David wrote this, “Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:128 Only God is Love, the Creator, Omniscient, Omnipotent, and perfect in all of His ways! He alone is Truth, and         right in all of His judgments. We would do well to let Him have the final word!

King Solomon, one of the wisest men to ever live, said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 Wisdom begins with a healthy respect (fear) for the Lord.

Nelson Newsletter April 2013

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Dear ­Friends, ­­­­­­­­­­­

Pastors – Wives Conference Danelle and I attended the Southeast regional pastors/wives conference this month. It was a joy to hear Herschel and Mardean Martindale speak about marriage. They have been happily married for 60 years, and their love for Jesus, one another, and people is an inspiration to all. They also exemplify devotion to Jesus Christ and His mission.

House Church News I have been greatly encouraged recently as a number of us have printed our testimony tracts, and built relationships with unbelievers. Recently we have shared the gospel with several people who we prayed for this past year. God granted us boldness to ask them these thought provoking questions about eternal life, “If you were to die today, would you go to heaven?” And, “If you were to stand before God, and He were to ask you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” what would you say?” Over 40 years ago I was asked these same questions by students at Clemson. It helped me understand I was going to hell, and needed Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior. I realized that doing good deeds was not going to save me. Praise God! Now we are using these same questions to reach people in Atlanta with the gospel of grace.

Publishing Steve’s Book in Spanish Most of you are aware how many Hispanics live in America and many don’t understand that salvation is­­­­­­­­ by grace through faith in Christ. They also need help with relationships and marriage. Recently, we have an opportunity to help meet this need. We found someone who is willing to translate Secure In An Insecure World into Spanish at for a very reasonable rate. Please join us in prayer for God to provide the funds necessary to get it translated and published. You may know some Hispanics who would benefit from reading it.

Family News We have had 5 grandchildren born in the past 10 months, with Sophie Alice Nelson the most recent addition to Scott and Maria’s family. We thank God for all these gifts! (Psalm 127:4) Our youngest daughter, Meredith, will finish her job with Habitat for Humanity in July and is looking for a new job. Please remember her before God.

 

 

Prayer Requests

1. Please pray for the people in Atlanta, with whom we shared Christ, to understand their need and turn to Him.
2. Pray for the funds for translating and printing Secure In An Insecure World into Spanish.
3. Pray for our house church conference in Columbia, May 3-4. Steve and others will teach.
4. Pray for God to provide a job for our daughter Merry where He wants her.
5. Pray for our financial support.

Thankful for your prayers and partnership!

Steve and Danelle

34 Years Ago Today

34 years ago on this date I was ordained as a pastor with Great Commission Churches. Herschel Martindale recognized me as a pastor/elder of the church in Clemson, South Carolina. I was a mature 26 years old at the time. Ha! God’s grace has been sufficient all these years. “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”  1 Peter 2:6 Thank you Lord Jesus!

The Power of a Testimony

My son and I were working on writing his testimony today. In his spiritual story he reminded me that it was I who shared the gospel with him using the bridge diagram while sitting on the steps in our garage. He was about 7 years old at the time he gave his life to Christ. I rejoiced again hearing about his spiritual birthday. Sharing the gospel has a profound effect on us, as well as those we share with!

I pray that you will be active in sharing what you believe. Then you will completely understand every good thing we have in Christ. Philemon 1:6 NIV (Readers)

If you don't understand every good thing you have in Christ, what is one thing that could be missing?

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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