September 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.

Family: In August Charity wrote a lovely new poem, called "Fruit in Every Season" about the nine fruit of the Spirit that we should produce every month of the year. Len had previously shared a message on the topic, and suggested to her that this would be a good theme for a poem. She took it to heart and worked on it for three days. The Lord helped her to compose these beautiful lines, which we hope you will take a moment to read at the link above. Len's article by the same name as the poem is at Fruit in Every Season.

Speaking of Charity, she now needs to have four, impacted wisdom teeth extracted by an oral surgeon as soon as possible, since the teeth have no room to erupt. So we are praying for the Lord's provision for this major expense, which one doctor estimated to be over three thousand dollars. She also needs to get a retainer, which adds a couple hundred dollars more to the equation. God will provide. Please stand in agreement with us for God's supernatural provision for these needs.

Meanwhile Joseph is at the other end of the dental development spectrum, having just lost one of his two front teeth, when he bit into a piece of fruit. He is in the first grade now, and is doing well with his studies.

In September, the Lord protected Jennifer and Charity from nearly having a serious accident in the van. They were traveling home from shopping on the Friday of Labor Day weekend, in the heavy rains that were arriving ahead of Tropical Storm Hermine. While Jennifer was in the left lane attempting to overtake two vehicles, the lead vehicle began to speed up, so she slowed down. Suddenly the lead vehicle hydroplaned and spun around facing the car behind it, then it spun back around facing forward, and this process was repeated once or twice before the car hit the guardrail. Praise the Lord that the car did not hit her and that she and Charity were kept from possibly serious harm. 

More photos.    

Ministry:  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.

Deji in Lagos, Nigeria

Brother Deji in Lagos Nigeria was one of our first students, who began training on September 1, 2015. We are pleased to report that he has just finished the first of his three years of training in our DTS. He is the first and only student to complete all four quarters of his first year. And at the end of August, he informed Len that he evangelized a Muslim brother who then gave his life to the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Last month we wrote to you about brother David O., one of our DTS students in Nigeria, who was accepted for admission to study Medicine and Surgery in the University of Jos, at Jos, Nigeria. Brother David O. actually completed his first quarter in our DTS before the August 31 deadline, while simultaneously taking his first semester at the medical school! Len spoke with him by phone in August on a three-way call with our former DMI president, Dr. Andrew Stenhouse. Dr. Stenhouse, who has retired from practicing medicine for over fifty years, was able to encourage brother David as he begins his studies in medical school. David was so grateful for the encouragement from Dr. Stenhouse.

Speaking of Dr. Stenhouse, Len also posted an article about how the Lord spoke to him in an audible voice when he was seventeen years old, calling him to be a medical doctor, which was not something he wanted to do at all. He had been studying to become a geologist. We encourage you to read the article about him called, The Voice That Changed Everything -- Testimony of Dr. Stenhouse.

Theophilus Ayodelle, MD., David Ogwuche, and David Loh

Brother David O. also shared about the DTS with another brother he knows in Jos, Nigeria, named brother David L., who is studying medicine in the Pharmacy school there. He has since been accepted for enrollment in our DTS and began his training with us on September 1.

In addition to David L., another one of our friends in Jos has enrolled in the DTS, a brother in Christ named Theophilus, who is a medical doctor working with the Nigerian military. Brothers David and Theophilus met together in person in August on the university campus and discussed the DTS. Brother Theophilus has since enrolled in the DTS and began this month. 

Sister Nickeshia, one of our DTS students in Jamaica, has now been in training with us for one year. In September she commented in part, "Bro Len, The DTS had helped me tremendously even though I have not found an [Life Transformation Group] partner as of yet. Most of the information I have read, I never knew they have existed...If others don't want the truth, I will take it."

Likewise a brother in Christ in Nigeria wrote to Len in August saying, "Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised! I thank God for these wonderful revelations revealed by Him through His chosen vessels. They have really opened my eyes to see where I stand in the Lord and to retrace my steps. God is a loving God indeed! Hallelujah! Amen!"

Monde in Germany

A South African brother named Monde, who has been studying theology for three years at a private seminary near Bonn, Germany, has recently posted a translation of one of Len's articles in German, called Christliche Kleidung und Verschönerung.  He plans to translate more of Len's articles into German, which he will post as they are ready. He feels these messages are very important for the people of Germany, but especially for the African Immigrant communities in the German-speaking countries of Europe.

Another brother in Africa named Mugabo wrote a comment to Len after reading his article called Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit -- What's the Difference. He said, "Thank you so much, man of God. This is refreshing. For a long time I had not taken a step forward to learn more about the gifts and fruit of the Spirit until yesterday. Thank God He has made it possible by the power of His Spirit. I am surely blessed to know this. My heart is excited. God bless you richly."

Finally, as usual, Len sent out his monthly edition of Old News That's Still Fresh in September to pastors, elders, and laborers in the harvest in Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the USA in September.

"Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness." (Ps 115:1)

Resources:  This month we would like to suggest some articles Len has recently written called The Wardrobe of the Saints, Fruit in Every Season, The Times of the Gentiles, Rhema vs. Logos – Is there truly a distinction in the word?, and The Voice That Changed Everything -- the Testimony of Dr. Stenhouse. Len's latest articles are available at Old News That's Still Fresh - September 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 protecting Jennifer and Charity on the road from having a potentially serious accident.
2. For helping brother Deji finish his first year of training in our Doulos Training School (DTS).
3. For the salvation of the Muslim man that Deji led to Christ.
4. For the encouragement that brother David O received from Andrew Stenhouse.
5. For the opportunity to assist each of our students in becoming disciples of Christ and fulfilling their callings. 
6. For the Lord's leading, guidance, and help administering the Doulos Training School (DTS), and for the progress the students are making.
7. For the lives being touched for Christ around the world through our writing ministry.
8. 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 multiply disciples. And for the Lord to help each one of them to find a discipleship partner to meet with.
2. For the Lord to help sister Sherry in Kenya to find a job, and to provide for brother Deji in Nigeria.
3. For the Lord to help all of our new DTS students to find LTG partners, particularly Tilia, Willie, Colette, and Nickeshia.
4. For the Lord to fulfill His purposes for us and our ministry.
5. 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. 
6. For the Lord to heal Len from lower spine and sciatic trouble, causing chronic pain. 
7. 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 -- as He releases a financial miracle.

Thank you so much for your partnership in this ministry.

with love from all of us,

The Lacroixs

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