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