January 24, 2009

Dear Friends,

What an awesome week in the Lord! I am back in Louisa after spending the week in Nicaragua on a vision casting mission trip for our church. It was breathtaking being in sunny 85 degree breezy weather in the middle of January. I will tell more about my trip later on in the update. We had a very busy Sunday at New Life this past week. Stacey Chapman, the Director of the Orange Pregnancy Center, did a wonderful job of giving a presentation on the Center and its purpose and vision. If you ever wonder how this affects us in Louisa, the answer was given when Stacey gave us the statistic of 59 abortions performed this past year on young girls and women from Louisa even married women. These are just the known ones. Yesterday, was 36 years to the day that abortion was made legal through Roe V. Wade. We talked about on Sunday how women and men who have been a part of this horrible act can receive forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ. Isn’t it amazing and to the glory of God that Norma McCorvey who brought the case to court so many years ago seeking to make abortion legal is now a born again Christian who is now pro-life and speaks out against abortion. In fact, Norma never had an abortion but instead chose to have her child and place it in the hands of another couple through adoption. (The media would never tell you this) Please pray how the Lord can use you in this battle to save the lives of many innocent babies from being destroyed. The center always needs volunteers which would be perfect for stay at home moms who have a few hours a week to spare. They always need help financially to be able to provide the services that they do. And if nothing else, please keep this center in prayer. The center not only saves babies’ lives but it helps most importantly by saving souls through sharing Christ with moms and dads.

Also, on Sunday afternoon, we had a wonderful time with Pastor Alonzo Minor and Bright Hope Baptist Church from Trevilians. We worshipped the Lord through song, took communion together, and heard a powerful testimony from Lynn McCoy. Lynn grew up as an orthodox Jew but always had an unsettledness in her heart. It was in college, that a professor shared the message and love of Jesus Christ with her. She knew Jesus was the missing link in her life that she had been searching for. Although this brought shame and disappointment to her Jewish family, Lynn began serving Jesus through various ways. The Lord opened up an amazing opportunity for her to be a representative of the organization Jews for Jesus where she has helped to share Jesus with thousands of people around the world. Please pray for Lynn as she continues to do this wonderful work especially as they witness to the country of Israel.

Now, for my trip to Nicaragua. It was amazing and really words can’t tell it accurately. It is really something someone has to experience first hand for themselves. As I reflect on the state of our country and economy, it compares nothing to what I saw in Nicaragua. The poorest people in America would be considered rich in Nicaragua. The poverty level is incredible. Families of up to 6 or 7 might live in a 10 foot by 10 foot house. Not room but a house! They don’t have much food and water and what they do have is contaminated. There were kids everywhere. It would break your heart to see these kids with nothing, lots of kids who didn’t even have shoes to wear. However, there is something that a lot of these Spanish people have that millionaires and billionaires don’t have and that is peace and happiness in Jesus Christ. Although, this country lacks so much, the one thing they want and crave is to hear the Word of God. I personally had the opportunity to preach before a large crowd with a translator translating every word. It is amazing to see the Holy Spirit not only working in Louisa and the United States, but the Holy Spirit is working in this famished country as well. Literally, the only thing that some of these people have is their hope in Jesus. I look forward to sharing more of my experience in Nicaragua with you this Sunday. There is so much to tell. Just be thankful that even though you may be suffering financially during this time, it could be so much worse. We should all get on our hands and knees and thank God for what he has given us. We are a Blessed nation whether we realize it or not. I have enclosed just a few photos of my trip.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a house.		I am preaching at Carlos' church.
Kids in a church learning about Jesus.
Worshippers having church.		Pastor Carlos Garcia in his children's room.
We are sharing the love of Jesus.		A church service where a new church will be built.

We look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday. We are excited to have little Melinda Staudinger coming up with her parents to be dedicated to Jesus. We are so proud of this family who have grown so much in the Lord. Last Sunday, her daddy got baptized and this Sunday we will be receiving him into membership at New Life Church!

Melinda's Dad being baptized.		Melinda's Dad & Uncle baptized!
How precious!

In addition, Trey and Kelli Singleton feel God moving them into the ministry and we are excited to have them come and stand before the church to make this announcement. Why not invite a neighbor, family member, or friend who may need to hear from the Word of God and who may need to find hope and rest in Jesus. The Bible says in James 4: 8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Pastor Josh