Jun2007
Mexico
When we have work teams it is a great help with our construction projects. The biggest thing it accomplishes is interaction with the children and the love our children receive. Our director’s love the children and show them that in many ways. Our children have been abused and need much reassurance that they are loveable.
In June we will be having another work team come and help us build at the Children’s Home. We will be finishing the bath rooms we are building onto the girl’s dormitory on the farm. Once again we find ourselves building and it is a slow process. Just about the time we think we have things all done along comes God with another idea for us. That is what keeps life on the mission field exciting and interesting.
Philippines
3 MOSLEMS SAVED AND BAPTIZED IN WATER.
Last month 40 students and young people were baptized in water. Three of them were Moslems. Here is the testimony of one of the three whose life Jesus has turned around.
We are withholding information that might hurt one of these precious new converts for their safety and the safety of their families.
My name is xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx, (name withheld for security reasons) my parents are pure Maguindanao Moslems. I am a student at Mindanao State University in Dalican. It is here that I met a Christian girl who became my best friend. She was the first one to tell me about Jesus and she encouraged me to attend a Student Christian Fellowship.
At first I resisted but because of her persistence I eventually went with her. After my first time I began to attend regularly until at one meeting I felt the power of God. I was trembling and I didn’t understand what was happening to me. Finally I shouted "Jesus you are real and I want you to come into my life as my savior. Please forgive me my sins."
That evening I was so happy and I went back to my boarding house with unspeakable joy. Now I am continually attending fellowship meetings at the Student Center and I thank God for the brother who is mentoring me in the word of God.
Last week I went home to get my food allowance and I returned back the same day. Since I had no classes that day I went back to my boarding house and went to sleep. According to my room mate I began to snore so they tried to wake me up but they couldn’t. My body became very stiff and they became worried and afraid as they did not know what to do.
One of my room mates slapped me in the face several times. I was awake but still I couldn’t move. I heard a voice right behind me telling me several times that I was going to die but I said "no" and shouted, "Jesus help me".
The only word I could get out of my mouth was the word Jesus.
As I said the word Jesus I was able to move my body again.
I sat down and cried and prayed thanking Him for allowing me to live and for saving my life.
Really, calling the name of Jesus my Savior is real. That is why last month I joined new believers to be baptized in water.
My parents do not yet know that I have been converted and have become a believer in Jesus Christ. I am praying for them too. I don’t know what is ahead of me once they know that I am now a Christian. Please uphold me in your prayers.
When someone converts from Islam there life is in danger. In this part of the Philippines the Moslems do not want to see conversion to any other religion, especially Christianity. According to Sharia law conversion from Islam is punishable by death. This means the family no longer considers them alive. The Philippines is not under Sharia law but there are many Islamic extremists in that area who would like to impose it on the entire population. This is an area that has seen much violence including bombings, kidnappings and Christian Churches being burned. Ron has been there at times of violence and seen many of these things.
This month we are beginning two new church plants and a new Campus Ministry outreach. Pastor Jane Flauta will be doing double duty beginning the new church plant in Gen Santos City and she will also be in charge of the new Campus Ministry at the University in Gen Santos. Pastor Janet Valera, a widow of Pastor Valerio Valera will be overseeing the new church plant in Tagum City.
These new outreaches will help us reach some of the more populated areas of Southern Mindanao. While it is important to reach the tribal people in the mountains, it is also important to reach the large population centers of the island.
There are already four or five families in each of these cities who have attended Refuge New Life churches in the past and have moved to these cities. They are ready to help with the new church planting efforts so there is already a small congregation in each of these cities to begin the work.
Please pray for these new gospel outreaches and for the support we need to help the pastors while the works are starting.
Thank you for your prayers and support. Ron & Bernadette Gartner
25th Anniversary Year
Ron and Bernadette Gartner
Your Evangelists to the world.
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About Refuge Ministries and the Gartners
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Africa - Philippines - Mexico
Click Here for Ron & Bernadette's 2005 report from their trip to Africa.
