November Update -- 2024

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.  

Community: As most of you know by now, while we as a family are fine, Western North Carolina (WNC) was severely impacted by Hurricane Helene during late September 2024, primarily in its western Appalachian Mountain region, causing an unknown number of deaths and significant destruction of infrastructure and residential areas across a vast swath of the state. Around 31 inches (78 cm) of rain were dumped in about a 24-hour period, which funneled into streams and rivers in the mountains, carrying away homes, vehicles, people, animals, roads, bridges, land, and trees. Hundreds of bridges and roads are still impassable. Part of Interstate highway 40 was destroyed, as well as many secondary roads. Some creeks went from six feet wide to 90 feet wide, and some rivers went from 40 feet wide to 450 feet wide. In some places the water became as much as 40 feet deep.

The area affected by flooding and mudslides in WNC extends across hundreds of square miles. While official reports are citing a death toll of 100-200 people, rescue workers on the ground have said that those numbers are "laughable". In one lake alone, authorities found 70 corpses before they stopped counting. At a hospital in Asheville on the first day, there were 900 or more corpses waiting to be identified. Whole families have been killed and whole towns (eg., Chimney Rock) and villages have been completely wiped off the map. Businesses and homes are destroyed. Many people are still considered missing, so they have not been counted as dead, but the actual death toll is probably closer to 2,000 or more (locals say "thousands" are dead), since this region was home to about 1,149,405 people (link). Reportedly thousands of body bags are being brought in. One local man there reported that thousands of buzzards are circling overhead in the evenings. The area looks like an apocalyptic wasteland of total devastation. General Flynn said it is worse than a war zone. It will take years to recover and rebuild, and some parts may never recover. Many who survived are still without homes and jobs, living in tents or cars, trying to survive, as cold weather begins to set in. 

The government has not been much help and has mostly pulled out, saying they did not have enough funds. So it is mainly the Church folks, the Amish, and Christian ministries that are still there helping the communities recover, along with some compassionate militia men. Private individuals and groups have come from all over the country to help with the initial rescue and the subsequent continuing relief and recovery. If you are interested in helping, brother Wayne Allred has been coordinating Operation Mountain Relief via his Youtube channel called DeepRiverFarm, which is an effort involving several local churches of various denominations across North Carolina that have funneled food, clothing, and financial assistance to those who need it through the church closest to the disaster area, which is Bethel Wesleyan Church in Flat Rock, NC. While they do not need any more food or clothing at this time, you can still donate money or gift cards (Walmart, Lowe's Home Improvement, or Home Depot) to the church to help the people. There is also a Bible drive currently underway, in which people are mailing Bibles with a note of encouragement in them to that church to give to these disaster victims (see here). Another excellent ministry is IDES, which is working with local churches to provide relief in the name of Jesus Christ. And a ministry from Virginia called Cabins For Christ is building small cabins for these folks to live in,  who have lost their homes that are either destroyed or condemned. For those who want to give financially to support that ministry, go to www.cabins4christ.org. 

There have also been many countless reports of miraculous survival, miraculous provision, heroism of rescuers, and even apparent angelic assistance. Praise the Lord! You can read and watch videos about these online (eg., here). Please remember the mountain people of WNC in your prayers.

Ministry: As we continue to administer our discipleship training school (DTS), now in its ninth year, 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 three nations including Kenya, Uganda, and the United Kingdom.

Brother Henry, who is one of our recent graduates in South Sudan, sent the following email to Len in early November: 

"Dear bro Len,

I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am always grateful to God because of the training I received from DTS, I was equipped, trained and prepared for the work of God, above all the work of discipleship, I feel much joy when I see people repenting of their sins and giving their lives to Jesus Christ on daily basis, every time I move out to preach. 

Last week by the grace of God, 20 people were preached to, accepted Jesus Christ, were taught about baptism, and on Saturday, they were all baptised by full immersion in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. By the grace of God I am also organizing another baptism in one weeks time, because I have seven new converts who are under teaching, and I believe by next week they will also be baptised. This was my passion for joining DTS -- to win souls to Jesus Christ, and I am glad to God that I am achieving it.

Attached are some of the photos when I am at the pool to conduct baptism.

Yours faithfully,

Bro Henry."

Praise the Lord for saving these people through the ministry of brother Henry.

Ministries of DTS Graduates

In November, Len received the following email from Grace, a pastor in Uganda, who is one of our graduates and is also our DTS National Facilitator for Uganda:

"Greetings, dear bro Len, 

I thank God for His unfailing love and counting me to be part of His Kingdom and work!

Throughout this year we have reached out to many families here in Soroti city, many coming to the Lord! There have been also numerous healings from various sicknesses and diseases!

We thank God for all this and what He is doing in other places!

Blessings in Jesus' Name!

Bro Grace." 

We give God all the glory for the way He is continuing to use brother Grace to reap the end-time harvest and advance the kingdom of God in Uganda.

DTS Photo Album

His daughter Vicky is one of our current students. She wrote to Len in November:

"This month I thank God for the conviction of the Holy Spirit through the DTS teachings. I have also been encouraged to continue in salvation, and my trust in God has grown, because I am getting to know Him more, [as well as] His promises, how to seek Him through prayer, and other ways.

I am grateful to God, and pray that He continues blessing and strengthening you, brother.

God bless you,

Vicky"

Praise the Lord for what He's doing in sister Vicky's life and walk with the Lord.

DTS Testimonies

Sister Catherine, our student in England, shared about her ministry experiences this month:

"During the last two weeks in Manchester City, on Thursday afternoons, we have joined the Church Group witnessing, and I have been asked to give my testimony on a microphone. Other people have given out gospel tracts about salvation.

Seven people last week and five this week have been saved, plus a few others through the leaders of the Church. Thank and Praise our Lord.

I had a vision in December 2023, in which Jesus came to me and said, "As much as I would like to extend the time for you to witness, Our Father God has put His plans in place, and we are running out of time." Since then I have been regularly fasting and praying for opportunities to witness, and also praying for Revival. Praying for you all. Bless you all.

With love in Jesus Christ our Lord,

Sister Catherine."

All we can say is, "Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord!" What a wonderful testimony of God's hand moving in England through our sister Catherine. 

In November, the Board of Directors of Doulos Missions International is welcoming brother Todd Loudon of Albuquerque, New Mexico (pictured left) as our newest board member. You may remember him from the July update, in which we reported Len's ministry trip to Albuquerque. You may read about Todd and the rest of our board at the new webpage for the DMI Board of Directors here.

Len also sent out the Old News That's Still Fresh in November to pastors, elders, disciples, and laborers in the harvest in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. We encourage you to read it also.  

Attribution notice: Image of WNC flooding copyright Associated Press, used per the Fair Use Act for commentary purposes only.

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 many countless testimonies of miraculous survival, miraculous provision, heroism of rescuers, and even apparent angelic assistance in Western North Carolina's flood devastated regions. 
2. For the amazing testimonies of the souls saved through brothers Henry and Grace, as well as sister Catherine's ministry and the team she went out with. 
3. For the growth in sister Vicky's spiritual life.
4. For the opportunity to assist each of our students in becoming disciples of Christ and fulfilling their callings. 
5. For the Lord's leading, guidance, wisdom, and help administering the Doulos Training School (DTS), and for the progress the students are making.

Prayer needs:

1. For the Lord to help the mountain people of Western North Carolina (WNC) to recover from the disaster caused by Hurricane Helene flooding, and redirect their hearts to Jesus, that they would be saved and comforted in their great loss.
2. For the Lord to help Christopher to find an excellent, well-paying job in the IT field, as well as help him with all of his many responsibilities.
3. For the Lord to heal Christopher's fingers completely with no pain or loss of feeling, form or functionality.
4. For the Lord to provide for all the needs of our DTS students and graduates.
5. For the Lord to continue multiplying disciples through all of our students and graduates.
6. For the Lord to give us wisdom and assist us with the administration of the Doulos Training School (DTS), as well as develop through it many disciples who multiply disciples. 
7. For the Lord to fulfill His purposes for us and our ministry.

Thank you so much for your partnership in this ministry.

with love from all of us,

The Lacroixs

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PO Box 5526
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