Nelson Newsletter - July 2023

 

“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Ephesians 4:14-16

 

Dear Members of Christ’s Body,

Shirleys In Illinois David and Stephanie’s family now live in Illinois! Danelle and I drove out to help them settle in their new house. We even took Stephanie 3 beehives! That was an adventure! Ask us about it next time you see us. While we were there, we hung many paintings, cleaned, made repairs, played with the grandchildren, spent time with their neighbors, and encouraged their faith with the new opportunities. By God’s grace, and with your prayers, they will be fruitful in the gospel!

Virginia Church The church in Virginia, that the Shirleys started several years ago and recently left, is trying to get find their rhythm (get established) after their departure. This is a normal problem when you have one family that led strongly. Now God wants others to step up and fill the void. They need to seek God in prayer and claim His promises to move ahead by faith.

Atlanta Church We strongly encourage each member to participate in our gatherings, as the verses above from Ephesians describe. This is done for discipleship, to promote ownership of our faith, and to practice the “One Anothers” – “pray for one another,” “encourage one another,” “serve one another,” “forgive one another,” etc. On a typical Sunday we will gather for fellowship and to remember Jesus’ sacrifice with the Lord’s Supper. We worship with songs. We spend time praying for each other and for our lost friends. We pursue the “building up one another” by sharing what God has taught us in His Word that week. We read (out loud) and discuss a passage of Scripture and share personal applications. We read the same Scripture during the week on our own. We often read a book during the week and discuss a chapter on Sundays. We are currently reading A Third Of Us, What It Takes To Reach The Unreached. by Marvin Newell. We highly recommend it! Thank you for praying for us!

Prayer & Praise

1. Atlanta Church Please ask God to enlarge our hearts to love the unbelievers in our lives and to use us to bring the gospel to them. Ask God to lead us to open hears that are ready and to help us speak with confidence. Ask Him to give us deeper love for the Lord Jesus and His word.

2. Virginia Church Pray for the believers there to not give up or give in to discouragement, but to find strength and motivation in the Lord Jesus and His promises!

3. Shirleys In Illinois Praise God for David’s new job, a safe move, and new opportunities to reach out to people in Carbondale! Ask God to lead them to those who are broken and need the Savior’s healing and love. Pray for a new missional church to start gathering in their home.

Yours in Christ’s love,

Steve & Danelle

                                                                               Esther, Malachi, & Granddad                                                                   

                                                                                         Illinois Sunset

 

PS.  Please visit our blog to find our past newsletters and for more encouraging information: www.gcmnelson.com

                

                                                                                                                                         

wwww.reliant.org 11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832    www.gcmnelson.com

Nelson Newsletter - June 2023

 

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13

Dear brothers and sisters,  

LINC in Tallahassee Danelle and I were encouraged by the faith and love we saw in the students in Tallahassee who participated in the training known as LINC (Laborers Impacting Nations for Christ). We joined them in evangelism on the campus, prayer, and fellowship. Josh, one of the students, and myself had several deep conversations with FSU students about knowing Christ. He will have numerous follow-up opportunities. Monday evening, I taught about how we are permanently sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) and the impact that can have on our security, our  confidence, and our relationship with God and others.          

  

                                                             Steve & Josh sharing Christ  

                                                                               Students with LINC                                                          

Virginia Church The church is not a building or a place to meet, it is the body of Christ. Every believer is placed into the body of Christ (spiritual baptism), the church, when they repent and choose to trust what Jesus did for them on the cross to pay for their sin. The moment they believe they are made completely new in Christ. They are forgiven, loved, and given the Holy Spirit to empower them to do all God asks them to do. Water baptism is symbolic step of obedience and a time of celebration for the new believer and the local church family. The church in Virginia recently celebrated with five new believers being baptized! How exciting for these saints!

Shirleys In Illinois As we wrote last month, David, Stephanie, and their four children are leaving Portsmouth, VA and moving to Carbondale, Illinois in a few days. Danelle and I will be driving out to help them get unpacked and settled in their new home. David’s passion is to be an excellent example of Christ at the University and they both want to see faculty, students, professors, and community people turn to Christ. They are asking God to begin a new house church with whom they can make disciples and start other churches. The need the grace of God.

Prayer & Praise

1. LINC Praise God for the students who heard the gospel! Pray for the follow up to be fruitful with more students turning to Jesus. Pray they would learn how to be His disciples and connect with the church there.

2. Virginie Church Please pray for the leadership and for everyone to continue to love people and share the gospel, disciple one another, and to be protected from evil. Pray for God to give the Shirleys grace to continue shepherding their friends from a distance and be devoted to praying for them.

3. Shirleys Move To Illinois Please pray for David, Stephanie, and their four children to have safe trip to Carbondale, IL. Ask God to help them adjust and begin loving people there. Pray for people to respond to Good News of Jesus and for a new church to start. David has started his new job which will provide more opportunities for influence for the gospel. Thank you!!

  Yours in Christ’s love,

Steve & Danelle   

                                                                                                                                                                   wwww.reliant.org 11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832    www.gcmnelson.com

 “This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 7:35

Dear friends of the ministry, 

Virginia Church We have some exciting news! Our son-in-law, David Shirley, got a new job at Southern Illinois University working in the administration. Praise God! He is thrilled about this career opportunity! David, Stephanie, and the four children, will be leaving Portsmouth and moving to Carbondale, Illinois. It is never easy to leave friends you have loved and been close with., but the church they started will continue their undistracted devotion to Lord and to function as His family. Several members have already voiced their commitment to carry on. The Shirley’s want to maintain these precious relationships and to encourage these saints from a distance. They also want God to use them to start churches in their new location.

Anniversary Celebration Danelle and I got married on May 10, 1975, in Clemson, South Carolina. Herschel Martindale presided over the service that was attended by members of our new church and family. God has transformed many lives in the past 48 years, including ours! He has been our constant companion, enabling us to secure undistracted devotion to Him. We certainly have had our ups and downs, doubts and fears, failure, and success. Through it all, He has been faithful to forgive, refresh, and renew us! He has given us 7 beautiful children and 21 awesome grandchildren to love and enjoy! We are excited about working with the Lord!

Danelle and I took a few days to celebrate 48 years together as husband and wife. We visited Providence Canyon near Columbus, Georgia. We took time to look back at how God answered some of our prayers. We also discussed what He wants to do through us in the future and then committed our plans to Him. We want to finish well the race Christ has for us!

Prayer & Praise

1. Virginia Church Please pray for the entire church to continue to love people and share the gospel, disciple one another, and to be protected from evil. Pray for the Shirley’s to receive God’s grace to continue to shepherd their friends from a distance and to pray for them.

2. Family News Please pray for David and Stephanie to sell their house in Virginia soon and for their big move to Illinois next month. It is a 13-hour drive with Stephanie’s bees and chickens joining the journey - of course! David starts his new job June 1^st.

Please join Danelle and I in praising God for His unfailing love and grace in our marriage and family! With the Holy Spirit’s power, and your love, support, and prayers, we will continue to fight the good fight of faith!

  Yours in Christ’s love,

Steve & Danelle  

 Danelle and I (back row, right) attended my 50^th high school reunion –  a few years later, thanks to Covid! North Springs High School Class of 1970. It was fantastic to meet so many Christians!

Nelson Newsletter - April 2023

 

“Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.” Titus 3:14

 

Dear People of God, 

Danelle and I are learning to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs. That means being flexible, noticing pressing needs, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us - even if that means changing our plans. “In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns.” 1 Corinthians 14:31-32

Virginia Church (April 4-7) Danelle and I saw God working in many ways during our visit with David and Stephanie’s family ( first photo) and their church in Portsmouth, Virginia. We met Wednesday evening for dinner with some of the church members. As many of you have experienced, sickness kept some families with children from attending. We still enjoyed fantastic fellowship and a 3-hour discussion about salvation! Sarah (second photo, she is in the middle with her hair up) became a Christian a few weeks ago. Her husband, Josh, asked sincere question after question trying to understand the gospel. Everyone was a part of the discussion about salvation by works vs. grace! Danelle and others shared their testimonies as well, which were relevant to the theme of grace. It was beautiful to see the entire body at work meeting pressing needs! Thank you for praying! God hijacked the time, as I had planned to teach but sensed His Spirit leading to meet pressing needs! I’m so glad I listened to Him and did not insist on my plans!

Atlanta Church. Our 12-week Bible study of faithfulness was fantastic! Each member took a week to share verses they chose, either about God’s faithfulness or our faithfulness, and then they led the discussion on Sunday. Pressing needs were met each week as the saints shared their struggles, cried together, and prayed for one another! It was powerful!

 

Prayer and Praise

1. Atlanta House Church Pray that we would all walk with God during the week, praying for one another, loving our family, and reaching out to unbelievers with the truth of Christ, so that when we assemble, we will come to encourage, to edify, and to meet pressing needs.

2. Family News We celebrated the Risen Christ with a family dinner at our house. Including Grandmother, we had 24 assembled. Small for us. 😉 Praise God for His love for mankind! He loved sinners and sent His Son to die for us and offer us new life! Jesus engaged in the ultimate good deed to meet pressing needs when He died on the cross for our sin and rose triumphant!

3. Virginia Church Please pray for Josh to understand his inability to save himself and repent and turn to the Lord Jesus for salvation. Pray for Sarah to continue growing in her love for God’s word and desire to follow Him.  Pray for the entire church to keep reaching out to unbelievers, as well as building one another’s faith. We can help meet these pressing needs through our prayers!  

  Yours to meet pressing needs,

Steve & Danelle                     

                                                   

                                                                                                                           wwww.reliant.org  

11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832                    www.gcmnelson.com

Nelson Newsletter - March 2023

 "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” 1 John 5:14-15

 

Dear Prayer Warriors, 

Understanding Prayer Prayer is probably one of the most underrated and misunderstood aspects of God and our relationship with Him. He is not the genie in the bottle we can call on to fulfill our wishes. He is not the distracted old man up in heaven who is too busy running the universe. He is also not the cold, calculated, moody being as most of the Greek gods and goddesses were depicted. It is essential we know who we are speaking with when we pray.

He is the one who loved us so much that He came to earth to die on the cross for our sins to give us new life and a relationship with Himself. He is the one who satisfies all our deepest desires if we will allow Him to. He cares about everything that concerns you and He has a plan for your life.

This plan is not for a life of ease and comfort. That would be unloving and feed into our selfish nature. His plan is for us to grow in our faith after we commit our lives to Jesus through repentance and faith in Him. After the new birth, He desires us to become more and more like His Son. Therefore, trials, testing, and responsibilities are what He uses to make this happen.

He promises to give us all the grace we need to grow, to mature as we face these challenges. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 How do we obtain this grace to grow? Prayer! Prayer is our connection with our loving Father, the way we communicate. It is not only asking for our needs and those of others. It is how we express our thanks and praise – it is an expression of our trust on many levels! And our faith pleases God!!!

All this to say, we appreciate your prayers for us and for those we serve! “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16

Atlanta House Church We are also learning how to pray for each other and for our non-Christian friends to come to Christ. God wants to enlarge our compassion for others!

Prayer and Praise

1. Atlanta House Church Pray that each member would grow in their love for one another and for those outside of Christ. Ask God to help us see ourselves leading others to faith in Christ.

2. Family News We recently celebrated the 7 Nelson March birthdays with 31 of us gathering for dinner. (see photos below) Our dear mother is doing very well at 97! We thank God for our loving family and pray for them every day. Thank you for joining us in prayer as well. We need it!

3. Virginia (April 4-7) Danelle and I are going to visit David and Stephanie and to minister to the house church they lead in Portsmouth. Please pray for teachable hearts as we minister to the saints, build into David and Stephanie, and love our 4 precious grandchildren. We are scheduled to meet Wednesday evening with the church. Thank you for interceding!

 Yours in Christ’s faithful love,

Steve & Danelle         

             

                                        

                                                                                                                                             

wwww.reliant.org 11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832                                                                 www.gcmnelson.com

Nelson Newsletter - February 2023

 “Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need

 a strong ox for a large harvest.” Proverbs 29:18

 

Dear Friends,  

Loving Is Messy Have you noticed how life is messy? This verse says that a large harvest requires the use of oxen. Oxen are messy. They poop and pee (a lot!) in the stable and it must be cleaned regularly. But it is worth the effort! Marriage is also messy! It requires a great deal of self-sacrifice (love) to have one that honors God and is fulfilling. It is worth the effort! Family is messy. Work is messy. Church is messy. Are they all worth the effort? The question really is, “Is Jesus worth all our effort?” since He is the one who calls us into these relationships. Absolutely!

Jesus said that messy is a normal part of life with Him. He wants us to bring healing, order, and productivity from all these relationships. Will we pay the price, count the cost, and get messy for the gospel? Are we willing to get dirty or be inconvenienced for others? Will we be hurt or embarrassed by others in our church, our family, and our marriage and still love them?

Of course, we should strive to have order, peace, and do things that edify our family and church. Paul said this in 1 Corinthians14:33, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” And in 1 Corinthians 14:40, “But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.” Order and messy are not mutually exclusive. Love requires that we get down and dirty to meet the needs of others. Here is a good example.

Our daughter, Stephanie, and her husband, David, lead a church in their home in Virginia. (See photo below) She told me this week about how they were excited to have a young mother (with 4 children under 10) come visit them on Sunday. One of her children wrote on their walls. Some others were loud and disruptive. Afterward, the mother said how much she enjoyed the time, and enthusiastically thanked Stephanie for inviting them. She is not a believer yet. Stephanie and David told us, “Our goal is to see this family come to know Jesus and be saved. Our house is not eternal, but this woman is.” It was messy. But people are worth the mess! Jesus is worth the mess!

Atlanta House Church We are also learning how to handle the messy relationships with our spouses, our children, one another, and our unbelieving friends. As we continue our Bible discussions each week about God’s faithfulness and our faithfulness, we gain fresh motivation to sacrifice and our faith in God enables us to press on even when our flesh doesn’t want to. Praise God, we are learning to be His church!                                                                                                

 Prayer& Praise

1. Atlanta House Church Pray that each member would grow in their faithfulness to God by loving others – being willing to sacrifice, forgive, and serve others – to get messy for Jesus!

2. Family News Next month we will celebrate many family birthdays, including mother’s 97^th! We are thankful for her kindness, generosity, and concern for others. We see her almost daily and help her continue living at home. She is a gift from God! Please pray for each member of the Nelson family to be saved and live for Christ. Pray for the parents raising children (our grandchildren), it a messy job that is worth everything they do! They need the grace of God and the Holy Spirit’s power for this task.

3. Ukraine. As we pass the one year mark of the war in Ukraine, their brave army continues to make progress in the east to repel the invaders. The physical, emotional, and psychological cost has been devastating. Thank you for continuing to intercede for their protection, for the war to end, and for God to bring revival in both countries. Thank you too for giving to help with the relief efforts! https://reliant.org/ukraine.relief.fund There are many who appreciate what your giving has done for them.

 

Yours in Christ’s faithful love,

Steve & Danelle      

                

                                                                                                                                                                                       

 wwww.reliant.org 11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832    www.gcmnelson.com

Nelson Newsletter - January 2023

 

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18

 

Dear Saints,  

We hope you are doing well and that your year is starting off with a fresh vision for your life. I remember when I was a Junior at Clemson University in the early 70’s and a Freshman, Lou Ann O’Brien, approached some of us in our Bible study group emphatically declaring, “We need to have a vision for our lives!” Her enthusiasm captured our attention, and we went to hear her friend, Herschel Martindale, speak about God’s vision for reaching the world and our part in it. That weekend in January totally changed the course of our lives as we began to embrace God’s vision for our lives! God captured our hearts with His love for the entire world and united us to follow His vision. Paul described God’s vision this way,

“I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but continually proclaimed to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem, and then all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they are to repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.” Acts 26:19-20

Here are some ways we have been following God’s vision for reaching the world and making disciples.

Faithwalkers (December 2022) Our daughter Julie, and our grand-daughters, Jasper, and Emilia Dewey, had their vision refreshed at this conference. Dewey said she enjoyed learning about SOAP. S for scripture, 0 for observe, A for apply, and P for prayer. We also noticed how she voluntarily asked if we needed anything and cleared the dishes after our meals. Praise God! Julie said she noticed how different it was to go at age 14 versus age 40. She was impressed by the enthusiasm of the youth as well as the older, faithful followers of Jesus. Jasper enjoyed the seminars, especially the one about hope. Even when things were not turning out the way the speaker wanted, she still held onto her hope (Jesus Christ)!

I taught two seminars, “What Is Better Than Free? Restoring the Lost Work Ethic,” and “Relational Leadership.” God helped me rely on Him and teach from my heart and not be bound by my notes. I am thankful that both were well attended and well received. Thank you for praying for us!

 Atlanta House Church We are alternating discussing God’s faithfulness one week and our faithfulness the next week. Each member comes up with verses for us to read during the week and then leads our discussion on Sunday that ends with personal application. We are gaining a fresh vision of God and His purpose for our lives and our church.                                                                                                  

Prayer& Praise

1. Faithwalkers. Pray for everyone to take to heart what God taught them and act on His truth by faith.

2. Atlanta House Church Pray that each member would grow in faithfulness to God and others as they understand and appreciate His faithfulness to them. Pray for our compassion for lost souls to grow too.

3. Ministry Support Thank you again for your support of our ministry in 2022! God appreciates you!!

4. Ukraine. Please don’t forget to pray for the war in Ukraine to end, and for their comfort, peace, protection. Ask God to bring revival in both countries. They desperately need His intervention.

 

Yours in Christ’s faithful love,

Steve & Danelle  

  

             

                                                                                                                                     wwww.reliant.org 11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832    www.gcmnelson.com