July Update 2016

Greetings from North Carolina in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!  We're pleased to share with you what the Lord has been doing in our lives and ministry.

Eighteen candles!

Family: In June we celebrated Charity's eighteenth birthday with a party, cake, cards, and gifts. It's hard to believe she is already an adult. She has become a lovely woman of God now, and we know the Lord is going to continue using her for His glory as He already has. Please pray with us for the Lord's blessings on her life.

In July we received the scores for the children's Iowa standardized tests, and they all did well overall. In some instances, their scores were outstanding, indicating that their level of aptitude in a given subject was above the high school level. Christopher and Faith both scored highest in vocabulary, as well as usage and expression. Charity's highest scores were in vocabulary and revising written materials. Hope's highest were in spelling and revising written materials. Praise the Lord for the good test results.

In July, Jennifer took the boys to an attraction called the Aloha Zoo, where they saw tigers, giraffes, water buffalo, camels, bear, ostriches, and many other kinds of animals. They enjoyed their time at the zoo and came home with lots of good pictures of it, which are at the link below.

More photos.    

Ministry:  Fourteen months ago, in our May Update 2015, we mentioned that we had shared Jesus with the neighbors across the street, who were open. So we have been praying for these precious people, whom we called "Steve" and "Nancy", and were looking forward to the chance to share further with them, as the Lord would allow. "Steve", who is an Army officer, recently received orders to transfer to another duty station far away from here. Right before he and his family moved away, he gave his life to Jesus, which actually happened two nights before their final day here. Praise the Lord! Pray that "Steve" will grow in his walk with the Lord and be discipled. Len hopes to stay in touch with him.

As we continue to administer our discipleship training school (DTS), we'd like to update you on the good things that God is doing with it.

Jean Baptiste in Rwanda

Two new students have enrolled and will begin on September 1. They are Willie in Liberia and Jean Baptiste in Rwanda, bringing our total enrollment to thirteen disciples in eight countries, ranging in age from twenty to sixty-two years old.

Jean Baptiste is is a former Jehovah’s witness who never took their teachings seriously. By God’s grace, in 2003, before he was to be married, a pastor invited him, preached, and told him truthfully that if he wanted to be saved he had to run away from that sect immediately. After several days of the pastor visiting and giving teachings, he began to realize what he was telling him was true and that he was a sinner before God in need of a Savior. Before making his decision for Christ, he took time to think about it, and after some time he went and told him that he wanted to receive God’s gift of salvation. They took time to discuss water baptism, and he told the pastor that he was convinced and wanted to be baptized, after which he was baptized. He says, "Now I am born again and I trust on Christ alone. That is how I got saved and up until today, I am still serving my God and my Savior as facilitator in discipleship and evangelism." Praise the Lord for saving Jean Baptiste and calling him to equip the saints for works of service.

Willie in Liberia gave the following reason for enrolling in the DTS: "Upon such burning and strong desire being discovered by calling, I choose to make maximum used of this opportunity to enroll into this TRUE Bible believing school DTS to actually know the word of God in depth of that which I have being wishing for..."

His testimony to the glory of Jesus Christ is this: "I actually grew up in a Christian home. My uncle taught me the Bible in Sunday school, Bible studies, and at home, at which time he was then the Sunday school superintendent for the church (Standard A.G. Church)."

"I knew the Bible, attended all the activities of the Church, but I was not saved or born again. I sang in the choir, but was...lost while...hearing the good messages preached. I was engaged in [a life of sin]. At the age of 20 years old in 2008, I was invited by my friend brother Lavala to his church name Hope of Glory Conqueror Chapel, pastored by Emmanuel Lawrence, who preached on the theme, "[If] you die today, where will you spend eternity?" That sermon touch me. From that moment I repented [from] all of my sins, asked God to forgive me, and I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and personal savior through prayer, and was immediately baptized in the Holy Spirit. Until now I am on fire for the Lord and living in the righteousness, Holiness, and faithfulness of Jesus Christ. Since then the work of the Lord is on my heart. My vision and dream is that through the grace of God to win more souls into the Kingdom of God." Glory to God for what He's done in Willie's life. 

David in Abuja, Nigeria

One of our students in Abuja, Nigeria has started a Life Transformation Group (LTG). His name is David. He wrote in June saying, "Hello Sir! I like to appreciate God for His faithfulness upon my life. I have gotten an LTG partner. His name is Bro. Remi. We have met once on the LTG...I have [also] encouraged some brethren in my Church and they are willing to start an LTG. It will be two groups because there are four [of us]."

Then some time later he wrote to tell us of some good news about his acceptance into a medical school in Jos, Nigeria, which will require him to move to another city. He stated, "Praise the Lord!. I have been given admission to study Medicine and Surgery in University of Jos, Jos. I really appreciate God. I pray that God will give me another LTG partner in the University. Glory be to God alone!"

Praise the Lord for the opportunity to assist David and each of our students in becoming disciples of Christ and fulfilling their callings. 

Faith in Nairobi, Kenya

We continue to get encouraging feedback from those who are benefiting from Len's blogs. One sister named Faith in Kenya wrote to him in June about his article on Eudoxia Varga Testimony of Heaven and Hell. She said: "Dear Brother Len, of all the testimonies I have read on this website, this one has transformed me the most. I feel Eudoxia specifically addressing areas in my life that need to be transformed. I need the Lord to break me, so that I can be transformed and used for His purpose...Thank you and God bless you as you continue with the wonderful work."

She also wrote in July, "Dear Brother Len, May the Lord Jesus indeed be praised...I finally managed to view your collection of blogs this week on Writing for the Master. I am happy to say that I had been searching for content about the Holy Spirit, and what I have started reading on your website is really speaking to me. Please continue letting God use you as He wishes. I will uphold you in prayer. God bless."

She added later a note about how her husband has been blessed by this ministry. "I introduced my husband to your blogs and they have transformed his life. He has grown closer to God and I am seeing a new man in him (completely transformed). Thank you once again for letting the Almighty God use you to reach others. How can we reach even more people? Especially here in Kenya? I have been musing on this..." We give God all the praise for changed lives.

Another sister in the Philippines named Bernadette wrote, "Hello, Brother Len! I am a follower of your entries and I thank God for using your blog to remind me of living a life pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ...I trust that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel is able to carry us through and preserve us for His glory and adoration. God bless you!"

She explained that she had recently stumbled upon the website of a group in Nigeria called TGRM, which brought fear and condemnation into her life. The leaders of the Nigerian group were attempting to get her to establish a branch congregation for them in the Philippines. They even connected her with a Nigerian man who was in the Philippines. She explained to Len what happened next: "I wanted to make sure I wouldn't be misled and deceived and I thank God that I found your entry about them. The points you discussed about their teachings convinced me that their demands can't be right. They projected an angry and unmerciful God who wants to control people." Praise the Lord for helping her not to be caught up in that movement.

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Gal 6:14)

Resources:  This month we would like to suggest some articles Len has recently written called What is That in Your Hand?, If -- A Picture Paints a Thousand Words, Multiplication Illustrations, and TGRM Issues and Concerns. Len's latest articles are available at Old News That's Still Fresh - July 2016. His entire collection of his most popular blogs are at Writing for the Master.

In closing, we have much to praise God for, and many opportunities for you to join us in prayer.

Praise the Lord with us for the many answers to prayer:

1. For the good results on the children's standardized tests.
2. For "Steve" our Army officer neighbor giving his life to Jesus right before he moved away.
3. For the two new students, Jean Baptiste and Willie Johnson, who have enrolled for the fall quarter.
4. For enabling brother David in Abuja, Nigeria to find an LTG partner to meet with for discipleship, and helping him start a second LTG as well.
5. For the opportunity to assist each of our students in becoming disciples of Christ and fulfilling their callings. 
6. For the opportunity to participate in the sufferings of Christ and experience persecution at this time.
7. For the Lord's leading, guidance, and help administering the Doulos Training School (DTS), and for the progress the students are making.
8. For the lives being touched for Christ around the world through our writing ministry, including Faith in Kenya, her husband, and Bernadette in the Philippines.
9. For the words of encouragement we have received from the people being touched. 

Next steps and prayer needs:

1. For the Lord to assist us with the administration of the Doulos Training School (DTS), as well as develop through it many disciples who make disciples, resulting in multiplication for His glory. And for the Lord to help each one of them to find an LTG partner to meet with for discipleship, which is crucial.
2. For the Lord to help "Steve" grow in his walk with the Lord and become complete in Christ.
3. For the Lord to help Sherry in Kenya to find a job, and to provide for Deji in Nigeria.
4. For the Lord to help all of our new DTS students to find LTG partners, particularly Lusindiso, Sherry, Tilia, Willie, Bamidele, Colette, and Nickeshia.
5. For the Lord to fulfill His purposes for us and our ministry.
6. For the Lord's perfect peace and mighty protection over and around us.
7. For the Lord to send His angels with Len’s written messages to those who need them, and for an open heaven over them when they receive his messages. 
8. For the Lord to heal Len from lower spine and sciatic trouble, causing chronic pain, as well as chronic and continuous tinnitus. 
9. For the Lord to move mountains to raise up new faith partners, including those who would sponsor our students, and for Him to provide for all our needs -- not only ours personally, but also those of the ministry.

Thank you so much for your partnership in this ministry.

with love from all of us,

The Lacroixs

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