Nelson Newsletter - January 2016

Faithwalkers Conference 

Danelle and I began the New Year with hundreds of Christians at Faithwalkers in Asheville, NC. We especially enjoyed the one-on-one conversations with friends from other churches, and singing our favorite old Scripture songs. Like Paul said to the Romans when they were together, “that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” My seminar, “How to Win Your Family to Christ,” went very well with good attendance & many heartfelt questions. You can listen to the teaching on line by going to this link: http://www.gccweb.org/podcasts/episode-2746/reaching-your-family-for-christ-steve-nelson.mp3  

Singing the Oldies Together

Barbara Wilson & Danelle

Atlanta House Church Our church recently discussed our vision for reaching unbelievers in Atlanta and multiplying disciples. We want our vision to be God’s vision, not ours. “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.” Acts 26:19-20 Our church discussed specific steps of faith God wants each of us to take. What specific people are we loving, praying for, and wanting to come to Christ? We had some open and honest discussion. Pray for God to give us His love for unbelievers! Especially pray for opportunities for me to speak with Mario, Jairo, Michael, and Carolina.  

Clemson Conference Brian Bridgeman invited Danelle and I to come speak about the family February 11-12^th to their Clemson student group. These students elected to have us speak on the family, because they felt it was a great need of theirs. We were impressed at their foresight and maturity, as well as their honesty in regards to many of their family backgrounds. As we all know, the family has been attacked, questioned, and abandoned by many, making it confusing and difficult to know what to do as a young single person. Please pray for our time to be Spirit-led and encouraging to each of those who attend. Pray too for God to bring all He wants to come.    

                                                                                                                                                                              Our Financial Support                                      Thank you to all those who helped us end 2015 on solid financial ground! Your special gifts, as well as those who give monthly are a blessing to us! If you wish to become a partner, please go to  www.Reliant.org/Steve.Nelson and follow the instructions.

 Prayer Requests   

1. Clemson Conference. Pray for Danelle and I as we teach on the family, February 11-12^th.      

2. Atlanta House Church. Ask God to transform our hearts to care about those without Christ.

3. Unbelievers Salvation. Pray with us for Mario, Jairo, Carolina, and other friends in Atlanta to turn to Christ in true repentance and faith.

We are thankful for you,

Steve and Danelle

God Chose Children

God chose to send His son Jesus Christ to die for our sin. Aren’t you thankful that Mary and Joseph chose to have their son?
 
Here is a recent devotional I wrote about God’s attitude toward children. Remember, you were once a child too. He chose to bring you into this world. He chose you!

God Chose Children

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Genesis 1:27
I notice how God chose to have children. They were not an accident - He wanted them. We continue to read the historical account, "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Some people don't want to have children because of the inherent problems and heartaches. Others may have felt unwanted by their parents. However, God chose to have us, knowing we would bring Him many problems! He knew we would break His heart by rejecting His love, rebelling against Him, and going our selfish way. And yet He still went ahead and made us. He knew that it would cost Him everything to buy us back from our sin. He would have to come and die on the cross and pay the ultimate price to rescue us. Why create creatures who were going to be ungrateful? Because it is His nature: "God is Love."

God wants us to experience the joy of loving others, and that is why we choose to have children. Not because they are easy or pain-free, but because we want to love them. Ask God to empower you to sacrificially love your children (and all those in your life) as He loved you.