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!

Nelson Newsletter–November 2015

Dear Teammates,

It has been an exciting month since we last reported. Here are a few highlights of what God has done…

Atlanta House Church One of our members has a son-in law, Mason, who had a brain tumor removed recently. His headaches got so bad that they performed emergency surgery. God answered prayers and it was successful! Afterwards though, Mason suffered from a condition called ataxia that inhibited control of his muscles, including his eyes and mouth. But, God answered our prayers as his father-in law wrote recently, “His left side continues to have ataxia, so it's a little harder to control his movements. All this said, they are still confident in a 100% recovery and the doctor said that he will get most of it back within the first few months but it could also take a year . God is awesome and we are thankful for His healing hand! Isaiah 41:10.” Pray too for Mason and his wife Carissa to keep trusting God and experience His peace during this long process.

Nathan Langley, who was baptized recently, enlisted in Coast Guard and begins training in January in Maine.

Virginia Tech Danelle and I had a refreshing time with the Ablaze Church in Blacksburg, Virginia last weekend. It built our faith to see what God has done through Tony and Desire’ Pierson and the church. We spoke and led a discussion about marriage Saturday night, and Sunday Steve spoke on “The Life Transformation of God’s Love”.

One of the students wrote this thank you note to the church after the weekend. “Thank you to all who have touched my heart…I was blessed numerous times over the past week as I attended a worship night and I was honored to meet Mr. Nelson who wrote "Secure in an Insecure World". This book, which I have been reading for the past 24 hours, has greatly impacted my life for the better. And for those who know me well, Ya’ll know I do not read for fun!” Praise God for how He answered your prayers! Thank you so much!

Prayer Requests

 1) Nathan – leaves in January to serve in the Coast Guard. Pray for his growth & good fellowship.

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

3) VT Conference - For God to continue His life-transforming work in those who attended our meetings and more students would turn to Christ.

4) Thanksgiving - Pray for all the Nelsons who will gather over the holidays to edify one another.

Yours in Christ’s unfailing love,

Steve and Danelle

Go Tigers!

Hope Is A Choice

O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is loving-kindness, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Psalm 130:7-8

God commanded Israel to hope in the Lord, where they would find love and forgiveness for all their sins. Wow! It doesn't get any better than that! Knowing they were loved by the Holy One, and totally forgiven would make anyone shout for joy! Notice that hope is a choice.

Hope is not something that happens to us, like circumstances. It is independent of all circumstances. Our hope is Jesus Christ! We must choose to hope in Him day by day, moment by moment. It is not automatic. It is like the command, "Walk in the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh," which is also a choice. So too hoping in Jesus Christ is a constant choice.

Choosing to hope in Christ also means choosing not to put our hope in other people, things, events, or outcomes we desire. It doesn't mean you can't cheer for your team to win, or expect a raise at work, or to look forward to a relaxing family vacation. It is a matter of perspective. God, "richly supplies us with all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17). But we must to be careful not to put our hope in these things ahead of God. He must be our main hope and source of joy and peace. Otherwise, we will be tossed around by our emotions and circumstances, instead of hoping in the Lord who is solid and unchanging. God's Word helps us choose wisely. Real fellowship with other Spirit-filled Christians will also motivate us to choose to hope in Christ. What are you choosing to hope in?

Nelson Newsletter–October 2015

Dear Friends and Partners, We praise God for each of you! Here are some recent activities and answers to your prayers.

Atlanta House Church Baptism Last Sunday we celebrated Nathan Langley and Eric Morris’s eternal life in Christ with their baptism in the Chattahoochee. The water was cold but our spirits warmed by their obedience and love for the Lord Jesus. We celebrated with a cookout afterwards. My mother, Alice Nelson, graced us with her presence too! She’s on the far left of the group photo.

Riverbend Community Church Danelle and I had a delightful time in Columbia, SC a few weeks ago. We spoke to Riverbend about our ministry highlights, the most recent being our fantastic regional house church conference, and then Mike Bledsoe & the church prayed for us. We enjoyed meeting new friends and catching up with many others we have known since our years in Clemson. It was encouraging to see them faithfully following Christ after all these years. Praise God! We love you all!

Word Play (for Jerald Rush and all who like clean humor!) The Bible says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 May these help you smile today…

1. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.                                                                     2. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.                                                                      3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

Virginia Tech Conference Tony and Desire’ Pierson invited Danelle and I to speak to the students and the church November 7-8 about relationships. Please pray for us to rely on the Spirit to prepare. Pray for everyone to have teachable hearts and act on the truth they hear – to become more secure in Christ.

Prayer Requests

1) For Nathan and Eric to continue to obey Christ and for God to use them to make other disciples.

2) VT Conference – For God to use Danelle and I to meet the needs of all who attend the conference.

Your friendship and support bring us great joy!

Steve and Danelle

Yes, GCM is still becoming…  

 

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

Whose Story Would You Tell?

I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons. Acts 22:4 The people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. And while they were seeking to kill him . . . .Acts 21:30-31

We are fascinated by Paul courageously explaining to a hostile crowd of Jews how he came to faith in Christ. One could conclude that Paul was insane. Who in his right mind would ask to speak to this group after they displayed such hatred? Paul did: "I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people." He was compelled by the love of Christ to speak to them. He told them his story.

Are you prepared to share with unbelievers when opportunities arise? Do you look for these opportunities like Paul did? What would you say? Would you rather tell Paul's story than your own? His was dramatic indeed. But who knows your story better than you do? You lived it! You were there. Tell your story with confidence, my friend! Of course, you can tell Paul's story, or anyone else's testimony of salvation. But you alone can share your story with conviction and passion.

Others may question the validity of God, the Bible, and the deity of Christ. One thing they can't deny is your story. You are standing there in front of them as living proof that God is alive, the Bible is true, and that Jesus forgives sins. He brings new life to a lost sinner. Your life is undeniable evidence that Jesus Christ changes people!

Nelson Newsletter–September 2015

Dear Friends and Partners,

Danelle and I thank God for your faithful support of our work. It has been a very busy August for us personally with the highlights being our last child getting married and our house church conference. Here is a brief report. Enjoy!

Atlanta House Church I meet during the week for Bible Study and prayer with several men. One of them wants to get baptized soon! He is also facing some major life decisions, and could use your intercessory prayers to have wisdom and a willingness to do whatever God shows him.

Last weekend we held our second regional Organic Church Conference near Savannah. Folks from Gainesville, Clemson, Atlanta, and Raleigh came for the teaching, fellowship, relaxation, and worship. Our speaker was Ed Waken from Phoenix, Arizona (front left). Ed showed us how evangelism should be an overflow of our relationship with Christ, and not cause us to be anxious or uptight. He read the Scriptures where the Father, Jesus, and the Spirit each said they would give us the words to say when we need them. He helped us understand how each situation and each person is unique and requires us trusting God and not in a packaged presentation. Of course it is good to know different gospel presentations, have gospel tools ready, and use illustrations, but not to feel trapped by them. God wants us to be free to be ourselves, be sensitive the Spirit’s leading, and simply show sincere love for those who don’t know Him yet.

Wedding - Child #7 Our baby girl, Meredith, married the man of her dreams, Nathan Evans, on August 23^rd. We praise God for Nathan, and the entire Evans family! They are wonderful people who love Jesus. The wedding was at Redtop Mountain State Park on beautiful Lake Allatoona - and the rain stopped in time! It was a joy to celebrate their union with many friends and family. Praise God for His love and grace!

Prayer Requests

 1) The men I meet with each week to be teachable and faithful to God.

2) House Church Conference – We would all apply what God taught us.

3) Meredith and Nathan Evans to have a Christ-centered marriage.

4) Our speaking @ Riverbend Community Church Sept. 13^th to be edifying.

5) Pray for our support. We still have significant back pay for travel expenses. If you wish to give a special gift, please go to www.gcmweb.org, or use the address below. Thank you!

Deeply grateful for each of you,

Steve and Danelle

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

Soon to Be…