Nelson Newsletter–May 2014

David’s Testimony This month we feature David Shirley’s story of how he came to faith in Christ. We all have questions about the meaning of life and God always answers us if we ask with sincerity. Enjoy reading how God spoke to David, our son-in-law, and answered his questions, even those he was not asking initially, but those that we must all come to grips with.

Spain Mission Danelle and I leave on Wednesday, May 14^th for our mission trip to Pamplona, Spain. God provided our expenses through you. Thank you! Please pray for us as we will be sharing the good news with college students at a local university, as well as teaching our team, and having an outreach seminar, “Finding the Love of Your Life” with Steve’s book (now in Spanish). We return June 2^nd. (We don’t plan to run with the bulls this year!)

Kevin It has been a pleasure to help this young man grow as a new Christian. Today, as I write this letter, he is one month old in the Lord. Please pray for him to continue to see his need for reading the Bible, seeking God, fellowship, and following Christ in baptism. Danelle and I had a fantastic Bible study with him and his girlfriend last night and he wants to get baptized!

Orlando LINC Shortly after our return from Spain, we will travel to 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.

                                                                        Prayer Requests

1. Spain Pray for God to love through us and bring many into a personal relationship with Him. Ask God to use us to build the local church & our team. Pray for strength, health, & safe travels.

2. House Church Pray for our growth and compassionate outreach to unbelievers.

3. Orlando Pray for the team to be prepared to serve others and love unbelievers. Pray for Danelle and I, for stamina, and that our teachings would be life transforming and helpful.

Yours on Christ’s mission,

Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter–May 2014

David Shirley’s Story

At an early age I began questioning some simple things. For example, why did I need to wear anything but pajamas, why couldn’t I play in the room with the nice furniture, and why couldn't I eat candy for every meal? As I got older, things started to make sense through explanations like culture (why no pajamas), finance (nice furniture was expensive), and science (candy diet..yikes). But, as I got into college I still could not answer questions that were beyond any human explanation: What would really happen after death? Is God real? Many times, these questions would even keep me awake at night.

I was raised attending church, listening to church music, and believing there was a God. But  as I got older, did it still not make sense. I started a full investigation of the things I believed. After about a year of reading the Bible, great philosophers, and historical books, I began to see things differently. The Bible (John 1:3) claims that all things were created by God, and without God nothing exists. An engine alone isn’t enough to describe a car. If God is the greatest and biggest of all things, then I can’t expect science or even my own intellect to be enough to explain or prove God. Instead of dismissing the idea of God, or questioning who God was, I began to ask what He wanted. The crazy part was, I found God only wanted me to love Him. Because God was perfect, I realized that I wasn’t. I had a tendency to make a mess of my life. I lied, got jealous, and the list went on.

But, God said there is a way for me to be free of my wrongs and be worthy to have a relationship with Him! God wants all people to experience forgiveness of their wrongs (sins) and believe that through Jesus’ we can be free from God’s judgment and our guilt, and can truly love God! (see 1Timothy 2:4 & John 10:9) Now, I know this could sound strange, but this free gift from Jesus changed my life and truly answered my questions about God!

Even questions like, if God is really good, then why is there: evil in the world, natural disasters, or people doing horrible things? Maybe you have faced these questions too. Here is a favorite quote I remember when I contemplate these questions.

“When we begin an argument with ‘Well, I wouldn’t believe in a God who would…’ Who would what? Do something that you wouldn’t do? Or think in a way that’s different from the way you think? Do you ever even consider the possibility that God’s sense of justice is actually more developed than yours, and that His love and mercy are perfect, and that you could be the one that is flawed?” Does it even enter your mind that maybe He knows something that you don’t? Or, is it always ‘I have this ability to reason and I have this level of morality, so something in Him must be off here and I won’t believe in Him.’”

I hope that my short story can give you some hope as you investigate your own questions. The good news is that there is a way to live without guilt, with purpose, and not trust in things that disappoint and will only disappear when we die. We must place our hope in Jesus and follow Him!

If you would like to chat more, please send me a text or an email! Thanks for reading!

- David Shirley

Davidgarfieldshirley@gmail.com

Having A Child

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a child? Maybe you already have children. Being a parent is both an awesome privilege and huge responsibility.

I was child number five in a family with seven children, yes seven! I was the most mischievous and spiteful of the bunch, and I tested my parent’s concept that having children was indeed a privilege. I poured wet gravel from the aquarium on my friend’s head, painted nail polish in books, shoved my cousin down the stairs, and the list goes on. My rotten behavior did convince my parents that raising children was a huge responsibility! They prayed a lot for me (and for themselves), and God answered them before I had to go to prison. What happened?

I noticed a joy in my older siblings, which I knew came from their relationship with God, and I wanted to experience this myself. Therefore, when I was six years old, I asked God to forgive all of my sins, and trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.  Even at that young age, I understood that God had changed my heart, which resulted in me loving others. The joy followed; like any relationship I grew over time in understanding how much God loved me and where I needed to change.

Now I am married, and we recently took the crazy leap to parenthood.  And what a sleep-deprived, yet fantastically joyful experience it has been.  I discovered the most amazing revelation was being able to relate to God who also had a son. God the Father allowed His Son to be beaten, bullied, and killed! I’m not sure I could allow my son to go through that….so why would the Creator of the universe allow this? His motive: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)  

The depth of His love has become so much more real to me after the birth of my son. Jesus came to earth knowing that it would cost His life to purchase our salvation. Wow! How do we respond? He is not asking you to do good deeds and try to earn eternal life, because we can’t. "It is by grace (an undeserved gift) that you have been saved through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works that no man should boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9 All that is necessary to become God’s child is for you to agree with Him that you are sinful (self-centered), and sincerely ask for His forgiveness, and then invite Him into your life to take control (be your Lord).  That is how you receive His Gift! Would you like to make that decision today?

The fact that I met you today to tell you this amazing news was God trying to tell you how much He loves you!

Stephanie Shirley

Nelson Newsletter April 2014

Happy Spring! We welcome the warm weather, flowers, honey bees, and new life. This letter targets a few new life stories from our neck of the woods. We trust they build your faith in God!

Stephanie’s New Life This month we feature our daughter Stephanie’s testimony, “Having a Child.” She has been faithfully sharing Christ by using her tract featuring her family as a point of common interest. She tells us that God has been using it to keep her actively involved in outreach, even though she is a mother of a toddler and expecting in September. She asked that we pray for her and her husband David to inspire others in their small group to reach out. Enjoy!

Kevin’s New Life! A young man named Kevin, our lifeguard at the pool, is a new creation! (2 Cor. 5:17) Our house church has been praying for Kevin’s salvation, and Danelle and I have befriended him and shared truth with him for three years. I finally had an opportunity to share the entire gospel with him two weeks ago. We discussed his anger with God over his grandparent’s health problems, the purpose of the commandments, and salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Then I asked him what prevented him from giving his life to Christ. He thought for a moment and then said, “Nothing!” I told him that the decision was between himself and God, and I explained what he needed to do. Since he was working, I encouraged him, “Later on get alone with God, and talk to Him out loud, because it will help you think about what you are saying. Then tell Him that you a sinner and you want to surrender control of your life to Jesus.” Three days later he did just that! Praise God! He has come to our house for dinner twice in the last two weeks so that Danelle and I could help him get started in his new relationship with Jesus Christ. He is eager! Please pray for Kevin’s growth and desire to share Christ with others.

New Lives In Pamplona, Spain Danelle and I are headed to Spain in one month to teach, train, and bring new life in Christ, May 15- June 2. We will assist Dominic Marrone (in the photo) and the church with outreach to college students, as well as training the American LINC team. Please pray for us to prepare for the numerous teachings and the relationship seminar using Steve’s book – now in Spanish! We will take both the English and Spanish copies to use to reach students. Please ask the Lord to provide the remaining funds for the trip as well. We still need $2,000 in special gifts. If you want to help us, go to www.gcmweb.org and click “Give.” Enter 5951 and follow the prompts. Thank you very much!

Yours in Christ’s love,

Steve and Danelle

Grace’s Testimony–Gift of Hope

 

I was home-schooled up until middle school, but I had many friends in church and in our neighborhood. When I went to public school in seventh grade, I noticed that many of my friends there seemed different. They were tired, hopeless and desperate.

When I was fifteen, I went on my first mission trip to Ukraine. My dad asked me to explain to the students in our English class how Jesus Christ had changed my life. I was scared and nervous because they were all college students, and I felt that I didn’t have an impressive testimony. But, I did find myself with an overwhelming desire to tell them all about the hope, freedom, and forgiveness that I had and wanted all of them to have as well. This verse expressed my hope….

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13. I wanted them to have that hope and peace throughout their lives. That was the first time I recognized how truly awesome and beautiful the relationship I had with Christ was. God wants you to have that same relationship with Him. We all have pasts, baggage, and sin, but God says that it is "by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8. A gift by definition is free and simply received. It is the same with God’s gift for you. "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9.

I would love to talk with you more if you have any questions. My email is :

graciegrace23@gmail.com

Your friend,

Grace

Nelson Newsletter March 2014

A Personal Testimony This month we included our daughter Grace’s personal testimony tract. She and her husband, Ward, are a vital part of our house church. Grace and Ward have been building friendships with their neighbors, sharing their testimonies (verbally) and the gospel in the comfort of their living room or while walking in the nearby park. Please pray for these precious lives to be transformed by the power of the gospel!

House Church Last Sunday our house church had a Spirit-led discussion about how to win our lost friends and family members to Christ. Danelle and I were greatly encouraged to hear the practical ideas and Scriptures that were shared for each unbeliever we discussed. Here is one verse we discussed that shows the loving heart of God, “Do I actually delight in the death of the wicked, declares the sovereign Lord? Do I not prefer that he turn from his wicked conduct and live? Ezekiel 18:23 When was the last time you had a discussion with a fellow believer about how to meet the specific needs, or answer the specific questions, of your unbelieving friends? Strategizing about how the Lord can use you to speak into someone’s life is worth the effort.

Clemson Past Isn’t it fascinating to find out something you did in the past that had a positive effect on someone? Here is such a story from my days as a student at Clemson almost 40 years ago! I played soccer and our goalies were Greg and Jeff. I received this note from Jeff just this week…

Steve --                                                                                                                                                                                 I just joined a new church a few months ago and as part of the covenant with the church, I got to give my testimony. You were part of that story.
Joyce (you may have met her at Clemson) and I have been Christians since a few years after we left Clemson. Part of our conversion story was the witness we experienced while at the university. In my case, that was you. I specifically remember a conversation you had with Greg in which you were arguing the validity of the Bible. After he vented his disbelief, you asked him if he had ever read it -- he said no.
It is the classic example of planting a seed. Your conversation with him may have had little effect on him, yet to me, an innocent (really bad choice of word there) bystander, it had a life changing effect.
Anyway, thank you for your stand for Jesus. I appreciate the difference you made in my life.  - Jeff

                                                                                  Prayer Request

Pamplona, Spain Finances Danelle and I believe that God wants us to go help missionary Dominic Marrone and the young church in Pamplona for two and a half weeks in May. We will also train the Americans involved in LINC. It will cost $3,000 for this mission trip. Please pray and give as God leads you. You can use the GCM website if you wish. www.gcmweb.org Thank you to all who support us regularly!

Yours in God’s love,

Steve and Danelle

Leadership Lessons from the Sandhill Cranes

“We are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16

My friend Neil introduced me to the majestic Sandhill Crane many years ago on a cold sunny day in December. He said, “Look up! Do you know what those are?” as dozens of large birds soared overhead, almost out of sight because they were so high. They made a constant, distinct, high pitched gaggle as they flew south for the winter.

So when I was running last week, and heard the familiar high pitched gaggle, I knew I would see the cranes when I looked up. Have you ever tried to run and stare up in the sky at the same time? I probably looked like I had been drinking to the other runners on the trail. It was worth the inconvenience, because God reminded me of how the growth of body of Christ, the church, depends on “the proper working of each individual part.” As I studied the cranes, I noticed how they constantly changed leaders. The first bird, or leader, does the most work by breaking the air/wind for the other birds. Therefore, God designed them to constantly rotate the hard work of leading, just like God designed His church to function.

We attended a Christian gathering recently where one of the young men was greatly relieved to learn how to share the leadership of the group with everyone, just like the Sandhill Cranes. Everyone was learning to practice their priesthood, bear one another’s burdens, listen to the Holy Spirit and rest under Christ’s headship. Remember and imitate the Sandhill Cranes!