Eric’s Testimony

(I met Eric when he was a student at the University of Georgia and I was working with our campus ministry. May Eric’s story inspire you to be active in sharing your faith. Maybe you want to write your story some day. They are great tools! Enjoy!)

I grew up in a Presbyterian family, but religion never meant much to me and I became disillusioned with the church as I got older. I went to the University of Georgia and took full advantage of college life - drinking, dating, and debating philosophy and religion with my friends.  I also sought fulfillment through running on the UGA track team.  According to conventional wisdom, this should have been the best time of my life, but I still felt empty and unfulfilled.  I started seeking more extreme pastimes and over-the-top friends, hoping this would help.

Fortunately some of my teammates were believers who realized that I had lost my way.  Two in particular, Adam and Whitney, shared their faith openly and encouraged me to attend a campus Bible study led by a pastor named Steve.  Steve took the time to build a friendship with me, and I came to realize that he had something I hadn't know was possible - a personal relationship with our Creator. 

Being naturally skeptical, it was hard for me to accept Christ "cold turkey".  But eventually I prayed to God, confessing my sins and asking Jesus for a new life. As I studied the Bible, my hope grew that I could be forgiven.  I discovered how faithful God is.  Life didn't always go my way, but He helped me handle my problems with His grace. I began learning to be thankful and joyful in good times.  In turn these spiritual gifts increased my faith.

Later I had the opportunity to teach English and share the gospel in Ukraine. Although I am not outgoing and get very nervous talking in front of groups, God gave me the ability to speak boldly without difficulty in Ukraine.  If that was not enough of a miracle, I also got to know my wife (now of ten years!) on that trip.

Though I still struggle with faith from time to time, my relationship with Christ has been the most liberating experience of my life.  It has given me the fulfillment I was seeking for so many years.  Praise God!

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4 13)

Please write if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Eric Morris

eric.al.morris@gmail.com

Nelson Newsletter–December 2015

Merry Christmas!

We pray that you and your family will have a most wonderful Christmas season. May it be filled with good memories, rich times of fellowship, and sincere worship of the Christ child! We pray that you would make time to be alone with Jesus and let him tell you again how much He loves you! Romans 8:32-39.

Danelle and I are most grateful for your support, prayers, and friendship. Some of you have been our partners in evangelism and discipleship for many years! We could not do it, and would not choose to do it, without each of you! Teamwork is always more productive, more fun, and God alone gets the glory!

 

Atlanta House Church

Mason Last month we told you about, Mason, the young man who had a brain tumor removed a few months ago. His wife, Charisa, came to our house church meeting today and was filled with praise to God for His grace that saved her husband’s life. She also expressed heartfelt thanks to us for our prayers and support. She joyfully informed us that Mason has been recovering his mobility, and even this past week he was significantly better. Praise God! Thank you for praying. Please continue to intercede for this young couple as this will take a long time.

Mario Over this past year I have been reaching out to Mario at the car wash - giving him some Steve’s Bee’s honey and a copy of my book. He enthusiastically read it and said how much young people today need the wisdom it contained. This week Danelle and I finally were able to meet with him at his apartment; he works 6 days a week, 12+ hours a day. We used the bridge diagram to share Christ with him and found out that he trusted the Lord Jesus as his Savior about 7 years ago – on his own! Praise God! Mario also explained why he works so hard. His wife, Emilia, had stage 4 breast cancer, and had to be treated with double the chemo therapy in Mexico. Although she is cancer free at the moment, the treatment caused her to lose her teeth, and to have severe arthritis. She will have knee replacement surgery this month. Mario has not seen her in 3 years, but talks to her daily! Now that is true love! We hope to continue to meet with Mario and to reach out to his friends with the gospel together.

Eric This month we included Eric Morris’ recently completed testimony tract. (See Below) It is so encouraging to recall how God used one of our daughters years ago to help Eric find a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We are thrilled to be reunited this year with Eric and Sarah seeking to reach the people of Atlanta with the good news. Enjoy!

Faithwalkers Conference

Danelle and I will attend our annual Faithwalkers Conference in Asheville, NC from December 30 – January 2, 2016. There will be about 700 people, mostly teenagers and college students. I will be speaking on “How to Win Your Family to Christ.”

2015 Family Highlights

 Ian, Ellsworth, and Ferris Three little grandsons entered our lives this year as tremendous gifts from God! All are growing and doing well. The parents are a different story – they are still sleep deprived.

Merry and Nathan. Our last child, Merry, married Nathan Evans in August. They live in Americus, Georgia and work for Habitat for Humanity. They are still enjoying their “honeymoon” and love being together, serving the Lord Jesus and His people. They will go to Thailand in March with Habitat to build homes. Then they will go to Taiwan to visit Nathan’s family who are serving there as missionaries.

Stephanie’s Expecting David and Stephanie are expecting their third child next July. (15^th grandchild!) Maybe this one’s a girl? The granddaughters are way behind 5 to 9! Come on girls!

Our Financial Support

We are so grateful for your financial support all year! We have seen God do some amazing things through our ministry in 2015, but our finances for the year are short by $4,500. Please consider an additional gift by December 31, 2015, it would really make a difference on meeting our shortfall, and would be encouraging as we focus on the coming new year of ministry. Thank You! To give, please go to www.Reliant.org/Steve.Nelson . Of course you can always mail your gift to the address below if you wish. Thank you very much!

Prayer Requests

1) Mason - Pray for his continued healing, as well as peace & strength for his wife Carissa.

2) Mario – Pray for Emilia’s health and salvation. Mario just sent their son an English copy of my book. Pray for him to have an open heart as he hears the good news!

3) Faithwalkers Conference – Pray for Steve and all who teach to be Spirit-filled. Pray for all who attend to grow in their relationship with Jesus.

4) Finances For God to provide for our financial needs and for Danelle and I to trust Him.

5) Atlanta House Church - Pray for 2016 to be a year of salvations and multiplication of disciples and churches.

Yours in Christ’s love,

Steve and Danelle

Ministries www.gcmweb.org 11002 Lake Hart Drive, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832 www.gcmnelson.com

Effective Evangelism

It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. Philippians 1:15 NLT

 

Danelle meeting her distant relative, Tom Cahill, (his mother was an O’Toole) in Ireland. We shared Christ with many while we were there celebrating our 40th anniversary! Pray especially for Karolina, a young mother, to come to know the Lord Jesus, She read 100 pages of my book in one night!

 

When we live for Jesus Christ and others, instead of ourselves, unbelievers will see Him alive in us! “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

It’s easier to communicate a message than it is to communicate by our actions isn’t it? Paul reminded the Thessalonians who he was, “you know what kind of men we proved to be among you.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5. And Jesus told His disciples they would BE witnesses, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8.

Ultimately, we trust God to use us to develop men and women of character - witnesses of the life- transforming power of Christ in them. Your message should flow from His life in you. It must! Unbelievers want to see the love of Christ for them. They want to see specifically how your life has changed.

I am not saying that a new Christian must reach maturity before they can share Christ. The message is always greater than the messenger. I am saying that the more God transforms your character, the more evidence the lost person will see that He is alive. Heed Paul’s admonition to Timothy, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching.” Then you will be an effective evangelist!