Johnson Journal

February 2010

On February 13 we had a Valentine's day event, a light dinner and the movie "Fireproof". There were about a dozen non-Christians there, and a positive response to the movie that includes a clear presentation of the gospel. Pray particularly for our friends Marcus and Sofia, and Armando and Mayte. There will be a follow up talk in church on Sunday the 21st regarding forgiveness, on of the key themes of the movie, by a Spanish couple involved in the Marriage Encounter ministry. They are good friends, Juan Antonio and Mariángeles, who are involved in the Mostoles church on the other side of Madrid. We hope many of our non-Christian friends will come.

Edgar has been a leader in the CCC since we started more than a year ago. Now his company has asked him to work in a middle eastern country. There are no missionaries allowed there, no public Christian meetings. Here is a quote from Operation World: "Life is difficult for expatriates...they live under strict surveillance. Secret gatherings are hunted down with diligence and leaders sometimes subjected to humiliating beatings, imprisonment, expulsion and even execution." So here is Edgar's dilemma: he is a committed Christian and would like to have a testimony. He would like to consider himself a missionary, in fact we prayed this for him today. But he must tread carefully and wisely. He does not want to go, especially because he leaves his wife and family behind. He needs our prayers, and not just to survive. He wants to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to a place that allows no missionaries, no public Christian meetings.

Edgar preached a powerful message from Genesis this morning, Abraham's call to leave. Then he asked people to come forward who are struggling, who need to trust God as Abraham did. Javier, one of our leaders who battles depression, came forward. Teresa, who leads the food distribution ministry, came forward. And we prayed for Edgar and his wife Betzaida. The good news is they all know they need to depend on Jesus Christ.

And so our church grows, sometimes numerically, but I think this morning in the commitment to carry forward the Great Commission, knowing that we need to trust God to be able to do it.