Wednesday, July 14, 2021

July Update -- 2021

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

Family
: In June, we celebrated Charity's twenty-third birthday with cake, cards, gifts, and prayer. The Lord blessed us with wonderful fellowship and a beautiful sunny day for it. 

Faith graduated from High School home education, but the ceremony was delayed due to extended family illnesses. It has been rescheduled until late July, so we're praying for the Lord's presence at the ceremony and for good weather, and would love for you to agree with us together for that.

The boys finished their school year and took their standardized year-end exams.

Meanwhile, we began distributing Len's new book, A Willing Heart to Please the Father: The True Life Story of Dr. Andrew C Stenhouse, MD.  A Christian bookstore called Morning Star, in Nashua, New Hampshire agreed to hand out a few of the free books to customers. One of our board members, Dave Wenrich, who is a pastor in Boston, is also helping to distribute it. And Dr. Stenhouse himself has already handed out nearly twenty-five copies of the book to people with whom he has had contact. If you would like to be involved in helping distribute the book where you are in the States, please let us know, and we will tell you how. It's very simple, easy, and free.

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. By the grace of God, we currently have disciples in six nations including Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Len received the following testimony from brother Justus, one of our students, who is a pastor in Uganda. The Lord recently used him to raise someone from the dead. He wrote:

"GOD is good and worthy of praise. Last week June 13, 2021, l was called for a family deliverance in Boke Lira City, Uganda. There was a son born in this family named Odongo Hosman, 13 years old. The boy was paralyzed, could not walk, sit, or turn off to the other side of the bed...

The condition [grew] worse and unbelievable. His parents tried their best caring for and taking Odongo to Hospital, but there was no improvement, to the point where the boy died.

As l ministered to the family from Rev.5:5 the boy began to sweat. Life came back [into him], when I was holding up the boy in my chest.

[A week later] on June 20, 2021, the father gave a testimony through the phone call saying [that] because of the lock down they have gone to the village; and he continued saying that the boy is walking, running, eating and completely healed.

We give God the glory and honor. For in Him (CHRIST) life is complete with all the fullness thereof.....(Col.2:9-10).

Thanks.
Justus"

He later clarified that the parents could not continue taking the boy to Mbale Regional hospital, to which he had been referred by the local doctors in Lira, who had been puzzled at the boy's condition and had referred him to that hospital. As the boy was brought home on June 12th around 9:00 pm, he stopped breathing, his body became very cold, his eyes turned white, and the elders pronounced him dead. The report went to the village where the father comes from, and they were waiting for the body in the village. The following day (June 13th) was when brother Justus was called in to minister to the family, and the boy was brought back to life.

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord for what He has done for this boy and his family. Some people don't believe this is even possible. But Jesus said, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (Jn 14:12, NIV). For more on this miracle, as well as photos, please see here.

Brother Mike in the US shared the following testimony in July:

"The DTS and my local Christian relationships have helped me focus first and foremost on God during an extended absence from my spouse (visiting family for first time since Covid). While the marriage is the second most important relationship, mine can become too high of a priority. The focus on God during DTS is really helping me ensure priorities are correct.

The DTS has helped with key Scriptures in witnessing to a man who believes a mix of Jesus and Hinduism. I struck up a conversation with him, and he shared his created belief system. I've been sharing Scripture, prayer, and whatever the Holy Spirit tells me. Pray for the veil to be removed and for him to see Christ."

Richard Balikalaba, one of our students in Uganda, has an LTG partner named Bakalu Bogeres that he meets with each week. Bogeres' wife, according to Richard, has positively changed. He now likes reading the Bible with their whole family as a result of the husband's membership in an LTG. By God touching Bogeres' life, it has influenced the entire family. Hallelujah!

DTS Photo Album.

Sister Catherine in England had an accident in early July. She tripped over a hole in the street crossing and broke her wrist when she fell. We are praying for her healing. Here is her testimony:

Dear brother Leonard and sis Jennifer.
...in Blackpool hospital, the x-ray [originally] showed two broken bones, and they put a temporary plaster on. When I read your prayer [in the email], I felt a deep heat, and then I could move all my fingers without pain, (whereas before it hurt to move one finger), although there was still pain in my wrist. Then [during the follow up visit] at the Bolton hospital, the x-ray showed only [a] dislocated bone. No broken bones. 

And the same at the operation, which was very successful. They said they put a bone that was out of place, back into the right position with a small metal plate and two screws. So a Miracle did happen. Thank and Praise the Lord. I patiently await the next miracle later, when my wrist heals up and our Lord makes the metal plate and two screws disappear. I will get back to you soon. 

Thank you so much for your support and prayers. 
I am praying for you all 
Bless you all 
With love in Christ. 
Sis Catherine" 

She also shared the following testimony in July:

"Since The UK lock down, I lost my Job, I prayed for the Lord to guide me to witness.

A friend, John from Church, came asking me to teach him about how to live as a Christian as he got saved but had not had any guidance. So he asked me what causes Christian to miss heaven, as he was very worried about it. I looked it up on the Internet, and I found your amazing article about Heaven; this answered his question. I also saw the information about the Doulos Training School. After texting you, I decided our Lord will show me another way, but all day I could not get the [DTS] out of my mind...So our Lord prompted me to go on the course...I was sure that our Lord wanted me to do [so].

I have a burning desire to witness, and I don't feel equipped, as so many people ask lots of questions, and I don't have all the answers yet. 

I have found the [DTS] Bible study course a brilliant course, very scriptural and clear and helpful. I have learnt what It means to be a true disciple of our Lord, and I have learnt to change things in my life...I  found surrendering more to our Lord daily is vitally important...And as I abide in our Lord, He is changing me to be more fruitful and a witness, giving Glory to God. I am sure I could not have grown without all the help and teaching of this course. I still have far to go...I thank you all so very much. Bless you all.

From sister Catherine"


Len received the following email from brother John in Uganda, who is one of our first year students:

"Hi Bro Len,

Thanks for the great work you are doing to advance the kingdom of God. May the God Lord bless you more, [so] that there be abundance and no lack in Jesus' name.

I have been doing the reading. Oh my...! My faith and stability is ever increasing in the Lord. Just the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ has raised up my belief in God, that nothing is impossible with God! He can do anything at anytime, and anywhere, so [there's] no need to worry whether you are barren, or whatever situation you are in. God can help you in His supernatural way. I am blessed with DTS lessons. thank you."  

Resources: We would like to remind you that Len's 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 enabling us to celebrate Charity's birthday and for giving us beautiful weather for it.
  2. For healing Jennifer's finger so that she has almost no pain at all in it.
  3. For enabling Faith to complete all of her high school education.
  4. For the testimony of Justus, and the miracle of the boy who was raised from the dead.
  5. For the testimonies of Mike and Catherine, regarding how the Lord is impacting their lives through the DTS, and especially for the miraculous healing of her broken wrist, as well as the successful surgery.
  6. For the opportunity to assist each of our students in becoming disciples of Christ and fulfilling their callings. 
  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.
Next steps and prayer needs:
  1. For the Lord to heal Faith and Len from eczema.
  2. For the Lord to bless us with his presence for the upcoming graduation ceremonies for brother Charles in Uganda and our daughter Faith.
  3. For the Lord to provide for all the needs of our DTS students in the hardships they're experiencing due to the lockdown, especially those in dire need in Uganda. 
  4. For the Lord to assist all our DTS students in any life challenges they may be experiencing.
  5. 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. 
  6. For the Lord to help all of our DTS students to find LTG partners (another Christian to meet with weekly for discipleship in a Life Transformation Group), and help them finish all their course work for the current quarter by the end of this month. 
  7. For the Lord to fulfill His purposes for us and our ministry.
  8. For the Lord to raise up new faith partners, 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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Doulos Missions International
PO Box 5526
Manchester, NH 03108-5526


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