Highlights.
- One of the Muslim students asked me to share my belief about God 2 weeks ago and I was able to give her my entire testimony! :)
- I gave out 4 tracks to the students this week on the message of the Bible. I also gave the one girl I shared with 2 weeks ago a very good book about the Bible from an Islamic worldview so we can have further discussions.
- We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with 12 of the FLC students at my house. It was a blessing to me to see everyone holding hands around the table as I said grace and thanked God for each student.
- One of the teachers from FLC also came to our Thanksgiving dinner and asked me to do even more activities with her students at the Rancho Cordova campus and to start a Bible study there! :) The plan is for me to start there in the second week of January.
- I was asked if I could provide 10-20 volunteers of American students and/or adults who would speak English 1/1 with the FLC ESL students 1x/week. This a magnificent opportunity for you to befriend and share Christ with very special students (to me). Also, my church told me they will help me raise 10-20 volunteers from the congregation.
- My wife continues to get more involved and is enjoying it. The girls take to her naturally and it is perfect timing as I have been able to share the Lord with a few of the girls and now my wife can do the follow-up. She did a great Thanksgiving dinner for the students.
- Our financial support looks sufficient to get us through the end of the year :)
Lowlights.
- My support account went low last month and ISI was able to pay me only half of my salary. Not a problem though. I received 3 donations that same month totaling $4,500 (blessing!) so I should be back on track for a couple months.
- Microsoft contracts out their matching donations now and a friend who gave me $2,500 will not get to see his donation matched to me.
Story 1 - Megan*
Megan* is the Muslim girl I mentioned above. She has been coming faithfully to Talk Time and our dinners since she found out about us. Even though she was raised Muslim she does not believe it and is searching for God in her own way. At Talk Time 2 weeks ago she just came right out and asked me- how do you know there is a God? By feeling? Wow. It is not too often that I get that clear of an opportunity to share my testimony. I did share how I did not know God as child but did indeed feel Hi. Then I saw Him in the world around me- creation, beauty, love, the laws of science... Then, I got to share how I met God personally in the person of Jesus Christ and that is how I know for sure there is a God and that He loves and accepts me. I gave her a book to read so we could talk some more and then I gave her my wife's phone # so she could talk further and ask questions.
Links
Metrics: http://isiervthomas.weebly.com/metrics
Nations in the US: http://www.ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Document/2015/by-the-numbers.pdf
CSUS Club: http://sites.google.com/site/csusweave/
My Talks: http://isiervthomas.weebly.com/my-talks.html
Pics: https://plus.google.com/photos/+ervthomas/albums/6053038271389882641
Prayer Requests
- For Megan*. That God would show Himself to her so she knows for sure she has found the relationship with Him she desires. Pray for my wife to be able to follow-up with her soon and say the right things.
- That I can find 10-20 Christian volunteers to meet with the students 1x/week
- That my wife can come with me to the Rancho Cordova campus starting in January.
- For our Christmas party on Dec 19. Christmas is one of the best opportunities to really share the Lord in a powerful way to all the students. Pray that I can do all I can to drive the message deep into their hearts.
- That our charter/constitution is accepted and we are an official club at CSUS once again. Our renewal request was approved which is a very good sign but we still have one more hurdle. If it is not God's will that we will all accept their decision graciously. <<Yes! Approved>>
- Wisdom if I should pour all of my energy into FLC or continue to do both FLC and CSUS. Wisdom for my wife as to how much she can help me at FLC. <<Yes! My wife is fully on-board and one of the FLC teachers has asked me to also do the Rancho Cordova campus starting in January>>
- More ministry opportunities at FLC. I sense something special about the new group that is forming there. I think if I did a weekly dinner and Bible study in my home many of them would come. They all seem to care for each other and are interested in the things of God. I know I need to do more for them. <<The dinners are going extremely well. The ministry is now expanding to Rancho Cordova campus. We now have an opportunity to bring in 10-20 Christians to meet 1x/week with the ESL students. Current plan is to start a Bible study also at the Rancho Cordova campus in January>>
- Our Thanksgiving dinner for the FLC students. That we have a good turnout and we are able to share the gospel clearly and effectively through the Thanksgiving historical story. <<Great time with 12 of the student including the ESL teacher. I didn't get to share the Christian message as well as I hoped but I was able to say a lot in the prayer before the dinner>>
Admonition
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth. And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty,Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it - Is 55:10,11