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

There are two ways to donate to Doulos Missions International. You may either send a check or money order by mail to:
Doulos Missions International
PO Box 5526
Manchester, NH 03108-5526

Donate Online

August 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 we celebrated Faith's fourteenth birthday with a party, cake, cards, and gifts. It was a picture-perfect day in the upper nineties. Please pray with us for the Lord's blessings on her life.

Since we last wrote to you in July, we've taken a couple picnics in the park. Meanwhile Jennifer has been buying the home school curriculum for the upcoming school year about to start in a couple weeks.

More photos.    

Ministry:  As we continue to administer our discipleship training school (DTS), which we established one year ago by the grace of God, we'd like to update you on the good things that God is doing with it.

Last month we wrote to you about brother David, 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. Len spoke with him at the end of July and he had already moved to Jos and begun his studies.

David in Abuja, Nigeria

Len has put him in touch with one of our friends in Jos, a brother in Christ named Theophilus, who is a medical doctor working with the Nigerian military. Brothers David and Theophilus have already made contact with each other by phone, and it turns out that their places of residence in Jos are actually very close to each other. Brother David plans to start a Life Transformation Group (LTG) on the university campus like he did back in his home town of Abuja. Praise the Lord for the opportunity to assist David and each of our students in becoming disciples of Christ and fulfilling their callings. Please pray for the Lord to help him with his difficult studies and help him to start an LTG on campus.

Last month we mentioned a sister named Faith in Kenya who wrote to Len in June about his article on Eudoxia Varga Testimony of Heaven and Hell. She has stayed in touch and been praying for us, as well as encouraging us through our trials. Len has connected her with one of our DTS students, Sherry, who has recently moved back to Kenya from Lebanon. Although they are in different cities in Kenya, and are far apart, they have been speaking by phone and encouraging each other.

Len has also connected sisters Faith and Sherry with sister Collete, one of our other Kenyan DTS students, who is currently residing in Mali. When he spoke with Collete in July, she said she is prayerfully planning to move back to Kenya by December of this year. Hopefully she will be able to connect in person with Faith when she does so.

Collete in Mali

Sister Collete wrote to Len in August, "Brother Leonard, may God continue using you massively through your blog to bring light and truth. I cannot hesitate to say that it is through your blog I have grown spiritually. We return all glory to the Lord. May you abide in His abundance grace. Sister Collete."

Sister Tilia, one of our disciples in Liberia, has begun preaching on the streets.

A brother in Christ in Kenya wrote to Len to express his appreciation for our ministry. He wrote, "I'm Solomon from Kenya. I have read some of your articles and the divine revelations you collected from different sources..I can say that am really blessed and may God continue to expand your territories in JESUS NAME."

One of our DTS students in Kenya, sister Sherry, whom we have already mentioned, wrote to Len with an update in August. She said:

"Hello, brother Len. We praise God for everything. He is so wonderful. And our Lord Jesus who is so true, and doing great wonders. I am doing ok. I have an LTG partner and we are doing village evangelism together.  Sometimes I preach and teach women on holiness. But I don't have a job yet. I am thinking of going to Qatar or Dubai for one year as a receptionist, so I can support Gods work in a better way. Mostly when we go for evangelism we find people hungry. Also there is a lot of witchcraft here and  people value the old African traditions. But God is doing great things in the church I attend, 'King Jesus Faith Ministry,' because some women have indeed embraced holiness. Thank you so much. I am in contact with Sister Faith and she is a wonderful person. Bless."

Praise the Lord for the report that Sherry has started an LTG, is doing evangelism, preaching, teaching, and attending a local church. Pray that the Lord will lead her to find work locally, and that she would receive clear direction from Him about whether to move again to another country for employment.

A former Muslim lady named "Momina" (name changed for her security) in a Muslim country, where there is restricted access to the gospel, wrote to Len in early August to tell him how she has recently become a follower of Christ. Incidentally, the country she lives in is nearly 100% Muslim and it ranks among the ten worst countries in the world for persecution of Christians. She wrote in part:

"Hi, brother Len. How are you? You don't know me but I've become an avid reader of your blog Eternal Destinations since I've discovered it a few weeks ago."

"I have come to the conclusion that I wanted to follow Christ about two months ago, it was at the beginning of the month of Ramadan. You see, I used to be a Muslim. Although I never continually practiced the five prayers a day, I still considered myself a Muslim at heart and strongly believed it to be the ultimate truth and that everything else was corrupt."

"I wanted to personally thank you for your wonderful blog. Thanks to you I was able to find all the resources gathered in one blog and taking in all the information I could get, it was very scary and overwhelming at first, but with the Grace of God I have started repenting and applying those advices in my life one by one and it's not as bad as I thought it'd be."

"God bless you and your family, looking forward to your answer!"

She also asked for advice about water baptism, and began translating Len's blog into French after receiving permission to do so. She stated:

"Concerning the blog translation...I just want the information in your blog to be also available in French to reach more people (so basically it will be a blog identical to the one you have now but in French). I'm doing this because I want to preach the gospel too, but I can't do it physically from where I am. However, I can at least contribute on the internet which is a huge platform that can help reach people all over the world, I don't even want credits for translating those articles because it is simply my duty as a disciple of Christ."

She has also enrolled in our DTS to begin her first quarter on September 1, making her the fourth new student enrolling for this fall, and bringing our total enrollment to thirteen disciples in nine countries. If you would like to read her full testimony that Len has posted online, we highly recommend doing so! It is called Muslim Woman Now Follows Christ. It's truly amazing. Glory to God for her conversion to Christ from Islam. Please pray that she will follow Jesus all the way, no matter what persecution she may face.

"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 Muslim Woman Now Follows Jesus and Who is God? Len's latest articles are available at Old News That's Still Fresh - August 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 Faith's fourteenth birthday celebration. 
2. For helping sister Sherry in Kenya to start an LTG.
3. For the glorious testimony of "Momina's" salvation and deliverance from Islam.
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, and help administering the Doulos Training School (DTS), and for the progress the students are making.
6. For the lives being touched for Christ around the world through our writing ministry, including sister "Momina" and Solomon in Kenya.
7. 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 give sister "Momina" grace, fortitude, courage, and protection, as she serves the Lord now as a new disciple of Christ in a Muslim country. Pray that she will follow Jesus all the way, no matter what persecution she may face.
3. For the Lord to help sister Sherry in Kenya to find a job, and to provide for brother Deji in Nigeria.
4. For the Lord to help all of our new DTS students to find LTG partners, particularly Lusindiso, Tilia, Willie, Bamidele, Colette, and Nickeshia.
5. For the Lord to fulfill His purposes for us and our ministry.
6. 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. 
7. For the Lord to heal Len from lower spine and sciatic trouble, causing chronic pain, and from tinnitus. 
8. For the Lord to move mountains to raise up new faith partners, including those who would sponsors 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

There are two ways to donate to Doulos Missions International. You may either send a check or money order by mail to:
Doulos Missions International
PO Box 5526
Manchester, NH 03108-5526

Donate Online

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

There are two ways to donate to Doulos Missions International. You may either send a check or money order by mail to:
Doulos Missions International
PO Box 5526
Manchester, NH 03108-5526

Donate Online

June 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 May we celebrated Christopher's eleventh birthday with a party of cake, cards, and gifts.

In May, Len was ill one day and thought he might need to go to an emergency room. We prayed as a family, and others also prayed. Later in the day, his pain became severe, so he called a friend named Freddy Clark, an evangelist who has the gifts of healing and miracles, and has been in ministry for over fifty years. Brother Freddy prayed for Len, and the Lord instantly healed him. Praise the Lord.

In June, the children took their usual, year-end, Iowa standardized tests. After four days of testing, they celebrated on the fifth day with pancakes for breakfast and a field trip to the park. In June, Len traveled to Florida for the annual convention of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions.

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.

In May, Sherry successfully moved from Lebanon back to her home country of Kenya with her son. She is currently seeking employment, as she is the breadwinner for her family. Praise the Lord for guiding her safely back home, and pray that she will find a good paying job.

Two of our students have had to suspend their studies due to financial issues that prevented them from continuing. One is Emmanuel in Nigeria, who had to move to a home that is off the electrical grid. So naturally he has no internet service, since he has no power. Of course, this is a hardship for him, just as it would be for any one of us, but he has a great attitude and says it gives him more time to pray and read the Bible. He recently wrote:

"Thank you, Bro Len, for your concern. We are hoping to use a generator this month, since connecting to the grid don't look feasible for now. And connecting to the grid will not solve the issue, since power supply is so unstable. Yes, its part of the challenge for God's children, but we are more than conquerors. I am glad it did not affect my spiritual life, because I get more time for the Word. I will continue reading your Spirit-inspired articles, but as soon as the power is stable I will let you know. In Christ, Emmanuel."

The other student, whose studies in the DTS are on hold, is Onor in Cameroon. He has moved to a different city, seeking employment. He has been conducting morning devotions with his cousin and her children, who are Catholic. He asked for prayer that the Holy Spirit would convict them of sin. So we are praying accordingly, and ask you to join us, so that they would all be saved. He recently wrote:

"Dear Len, Thanks very much for your spiritual support and for all you are doing for for the body of Christ. Bro. Len, please pray for me...It's not easy for me spiritually. Please remember me in your prayers. May God uphold me in this neighborhood. Thanks." Please also pray that he would find gainful employment.

Since Nickeshia in Jamaica enrolled in the DTS last September, she has invited seven people to join her as Life Transformation Group (LTG) partners, but none of them have accepted her invitation. She has been serving the Lord faithfully, even using her lunch break at work to go out evangelizing the lost. Please pray that she will find an LTG partner soon.

Meanwhile, we have enrolled five new students, who began with us on June 1, as we begin a new quarter. One is a man in London, England, by the name of Bamidele, who is the pastor of our other London student, named Dina. Another student in London has enrolled by the name of Joy, who is a friend of Dina's and will be her LTG partner. A third student is a sister named Collete, who is a Kenyan woman living in Mali, Africa. A fourth student is a brother named David in Nigeria. A fifth is a sister named Tilia in Liberia. This brings the total to eleven DTS students now in seven countries. We would like to share with you the testimony of sister Tilia, who wrote:

Sister Tilia

"I am grateful to the Lord God Almighty for granting me long life to reach this far. I got save when I was a youth, but I lived a double life as a Christian. I was born and raised in a Christian family, but I had no idea about the true meaning of salvation until April 2013, when I heard Linda Paul Rika's testimony about hell. I repented of all my sins and begin a new journey with the Lord. It was not an easy journey from the start, but by the grace of God I have been going on. After my conversion I realized that the Church I grew up in was not feeding me spiritually, and so I found a Church that teaches about Heaven and Hell, Holiness, contentment, self-control, etc. My soul has been fed in this Church. I got baptized with the Holy Spirit in 2014 during the last day of a twenty-one-day fast and prayer that is held in January of every New Year. Since then I have been walking with the LORD."

"I got a call from the LORD on my life to preach to His people. My calling is specifically in preaching to women and married couples. I believe the DTS can help me in fulfilling my calling. Thanks to DTS in advance for this opportunity given me to enhance in carrying out my assignment. Thank you so much for opportunity. Let the LORD reward you."

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

"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 an article Len has recently written called Oral Account of Creation from Adam to Abraham. Len's latest articles are available at Old News That's Still Fresh - June 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 helping sister Sherry to move safely back to Kenya from Lebanon.
2. For enabling sister Dina in England to find an LTG partner to meet with for discipleship.
3. For the opportunity to assist each of our students in becoming disciples of Christ and fulfilling their callings.
4. For the Lord's leading, guidance, and help administering the Doulos Training School (DTS), and for the progress the students are making.
5. For the lives being touched for Christ around the world through our writing ministry.
6. For the words of encouragement we have received from the people being touched. 
7. For healing Len from illness, and the improvements in his back.

Next steps and prayer needs:

1. For the Lord to heal Len from lower spine and sciatic trouble, causing chronic pain. 
2. 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.
3. For the Lord to help Sherry to find a job and an LTG partner in Kenya.
4. For the Lord to use Onor to reach his relatives for Christ in Cameroon and to provide a good job for him.
5. For the Lord to help Emmanuel get stable power, so he can resume his DTS studies.
6. For the Lord to help all of our new DTS students, as they are getting started with their training.
7. For the Lord to fulfill His purposes for us and our ministry.
8. 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. 
9. For the Lord to move mountains to raise up new faith partners, including those who would sponsors our students, and 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

There are two ways to donate to Doulos Missions International. You may either send a check or money order by mail to:
Doulos Missions International
PO Box 5526
Manchester, NH 03108-5526

Donate Online

April Update 2016

Greetings from sunny 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 April we continued with home school. A few of us have been battling sinus colds, sore throats, and coughs. Right now Christopher and Joseph are recovering, Jennifer is nearly finished with it, and Charity is just starting. We are praying for the Lord to bring healing to each one.

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.

We mentioned last month that in March, one of our board members, Olugbenga (Gbenga) Oladejo, a pastor in England, met with one of our DTS students in Lagos, Nigeria. Brother Gbenga, who is a native of Nigeria, was in that country for over a month for both business and ministry. He experienced many hardships and difficulties during his trip, but the Lord delivered him through them all. In fact, he said he nearly lost his driver, but Jesus took control. He is back home safely in England now with his family once again. We would like to share with you some excerpts from his trip report:

"Beloved Brother Len,
Grace, peace and mercies of our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied unto you, amen.

I was glad that I obeyed the Lord to visit Nigeria. Nigeria has changed since the last I visited. Things have gone really bad. Spiritually, Nigeria is dying because many people have departed from the Lord and His holiness. What I saw in Nigeria was darkness ruling in churches with many abominations among Christians. First, I noticed ungodly dressings to Sunday services in most churches. Pastors are not bothered about ungodly dresses or holiness. Rather they are preoccupied with making money and getting self recognition...I felt really sad and sorrowful. Pastors have also become prideful and flamboyant as they display riches among the poor."

"There is massive unemployment among young people and Christian youth are included. Many are university graduates and have no jobs for many years after graduation. Many are just wandering about looking for what to do. Armed Robbers are many and Christians are praying daily for work. Many even beg for food."

"I am very grateful for all your prayers for me and the trip. I thank Jesus Christ for escaping armed robbery attack. The robbers cut the bars and possibly used chemicals to make [the other] three men in the house to fall asleep while they robbed. My house was the last house they robbed before they were caught. In the morning, I gathered people to pray for God's mercies for them. A few days after robbery they were caught by the police. They have arrested about 22 people who were part of the gang. I have notified the police that I am not interested in pressing charges against them but they refused to let them go because they have robbed seven other houses. The sad news is that I understand that the police are planning to kill three of the robbers without trials, because they think they are notorious. This is what people are saying and I don't know if that is true or going to happen. I have prayed for all of them and asked the Lord not to let them die."

"There are more updates coming. God bless you. Brother Gbenga."

Praise the Lord for protecting brother Gbenga through all of this and bringing him back home safely. We praise the Lord also for giving him the heart of Jesus for his enemies. This is consistent with the kind of character he has demonstrated since we have known him. Not only does he love the brethren, but he also loves his enemies. Glory to God. We are thankful to have him on our board.

The three DTS students in Lagos, Nigeria continue to meet together for discipleship. They are also prayerfully considering employment with Brother Gbenga, doing sales and marketing of his new product. In England he has built a software system called SAMS that will facilitate schools in Africa with the administration of their programs. Not only will this fill a great need for the private schools in Nigeria and other developing African nations, but it will also provide employment for Christians who market and sell the product to schools there. Praise the Lord for giving brother Gbenga the wisdom to develop this product. Let's prayerfully support the three brothers in Lagos, as they seek the Lord for direction and take steps of faith to generate much-needed income.

Sherry in Lebanon is prepared to return in May with her son to their home country of Kenya, Africa, following a long-term employment contract she is about to complete successfully in the Middle East. She will be very glad to be back home, and is eager to begin a Christian reading room ministry where she hopes to have Bibles and other edifying Christian literature for the people in her village to come and read.

Dina in England has found an LTG partner to meet with for discipleship. Praise the Lord for that, because the LTG is a critical component of our program. Her LTG buddy will also be applying for enrollment in the DTS for the next quarter that begins in June. Dina has also shared about the DTS with her pastor, Bamidele, who has since applied for enrollment and been accepted for next quarter.  So by the grace of God, the school continues to experience the slow and steady growth of the kingdom. To God be all the glory.

We continue to minister to the DTS students, as they have needs, and to others whom the Lord brings to us for help from various places around the world, often with very serious and urgent needs. One of them was a lady named Michelle, who identified herself as a newborn Christian, who reached out to us for help getting her many questions answered. Afterward, she said, "Thank you thank you thank you!  I am really blessed to have been led to your website.  Thank you for responding so quickly." Praise the Lord. Please pray for her as Jennifer follows up with her by phone to provide counseling and guidance to help her become a disciple.

We continue to see traffic to Len's blogs from all over the world, and on some blogs the traffic is quite heavy as usual. But one encouraging observation we would like to share is that this week the number-one nation visiting Len's blog about making disciples, called "Be Fruitful and Multiply," is a restricted, Arab nation in the Middle East. That nation happens to be about 92% Muslim, and Christians there are under strict surveillance, including where they go on the internet. Even meeting together in homes for worship is forbidden. Those caught doing so can be severely punished with beatings and imprisonment. The number-one articles they are reading on that particular blog right now are Being a Witness for Christ, Multiplication, and The Sin of Silence. Praise the Lord for that! This is just one example of how this ministry is reaching unreached people for Christ with the gospel.

"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 End Time Plagues, Wars and Rumors of Wars, The Land Mourns in the Last Days, and Thy Kingdom Come. All of Len's latest articles are available at Old News That's Still Fresh - April 2016. 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 protecting brother Gbenga on his Nigeria trip and the new product he has built that will bless others.
2. For enabling Dina in England to find an LTG partner to meet with for discipleship.
3. For the acceptance into the DTS of brother Bamidele, the pastor in England who will begin next quarter.
4. For enabling us to be non-residential missionaries conducting Special Ministries.
5. For the Lord's leading, guidance, and help administering the Doulos Training School (DTS), and for the progress the students are making.
6. For the lives being touched for Christ around the world through our writing ministry.
7. For the words of encouragement we have received from the people being touched. 

Next steps and prayer needs:

1. For the Lord to heal Len from lower spine and sciatic trouble, causing chronic pain. 
2. 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.
3. For the Lord to help Jennifer as she disciples Michelle and that He would bring about spiritual growth in this woman's life, as she seeks the Lord.
4. For the Lord to place military people in our path who are ready for the gospel, and who will later be used by the Lord to reach many others for Christ here and in the uttermost parts of the earth.
5. For the Lord to fulfill His purposes for us and our ministry.
6. 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. 
7. For the Lord to move mountains to raise up new faith partners, including those who would sponsors our students, and to provide for all our needs -- not only ours personally, but also those of the ministry. For the Lord to provide the necessary financial miracles for us, so that this important ministry may continue.

Thank you so much for your partnership in this ministry.

with love from all of us,

The Lacroixs

There are two ways to donate to Doulos Missions International. You may either send a check or money order by mail to:
Doulos Missions International
PO Box 5526
Manchester, NH 03108-5526

Donate Online

March Update 2016

Greetings from sunny 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.

Len on his 50th birthday

Family: In February we enjoyed more mild weather. It climbed to the mid seventies on a couple of days, which was beautiful. But at the same time, on one of those warm days we had extremely high winds and a tornado warning for our area. By the grace of God, we did not experience a tornado or any damage from the winds.

In March, we celebrated Len's fiftieth birthday -- that's fiftieth, not fifteenth. He's now hit the half-century mark, but has made it his goal to remain childlike before the Lord. He received homemade cards and cake, as well as a couple gifts. The Lord blessed us with a beautiful, very warm, sunny day with clear blue skies. Since then we have continued to enjoy warm weather in the 70's. Praise the Lord!

Hope took some amazing photos of a beautiful, tiger swallowtail butterfly in the tree in front of our home, where the flowers are beginning to bloom. They are in the album at the link below, if you want to see them.

More photos.    

Ministry:  As we begin a new quarter in our discipleship training school (DTS), we'd like to update you on the good things that God is doing with it. We now have nine students enrolled in seven nations, six of whom are pictured below.

Some of our DTS students

In addition to the three new students we mentioned last month, who started on March 1, another person decided to enroll, whom we previously mentioned in our October Update 2015. His name is Lusindiso from Capetown, South Africa, whose testimony Len previously published online at Prodigal Restored to God. He and his wife Pumeza were responsible for sharing Len's articles with their pastor, who has since embraced a life of true holiness unto the Lord. At his pastor's request, Lusindiso has been reading Len's articles each Sunday at a designated time. He has translated many of the articles into the local language, so that the people can understand them. And he has also created DVD packets with the articles, which he has been handing out publicly to people. Here is a recent testimony he sent to Len:

"Dear brother Len, It’s been a while since we talked.  I hope everything is ok by your side...I have finally  done the DVDs and we are distributing them in various public places. I have noticed that these testimonies have been positively  received by people who are not attending church, [more so] than ‘church people’. There have been more skeptics  amongst ‘church people’  which concerns me. Me and my wife have started some afternoon bible classes with kids (with age ranging from 6 to 17) in our area and the numbers are increasing. There have been a lot of positives thus far  and I thank the Lord for that. God bless. Bro Lusi."

Praise the Lord for what He is doing in South Africa through our brother Lusindiso and sister Pumeza, as well as their pastor. Please pray the Lord would continue to bless them as they serve the Lord there in Capetown, especially their youth ministry and their DVD distribution project.

Please pray for the Lord to incline the hearts of people to sponsor a student, so that each of them would be sponsored, and that everyone else who wishes to receive this discipleship training through our DTS may do so.

Aside from administering the DTS, our ministry continues to go well, by the grace of God. There is a fairly new, Christian group in Nigeria called the True Gospel Revival Movement Worldwide, which has been expanding its reach into other African nations. In February Len published an exposé on this group, titled TGRM Issues and Concerns. While the group itself has not given any rebuttal to it, the article has gotten positive feedback from others. Sister Rachael from Zambia, whom Len has previously written about in his article Rachael Mushala Testimony of Hell, reviewed the article and commented: "Wow! That was great work. A well researched and balanced article and very useful. I didn't know about this group until now. But their teachings and prophecies are not from the Lord. Good work! I know many people will be helped. Shalom."

Children are a gift from the Lord

Likewise, Len published another exposé regarding a preacher in Togo, called Gabriel Doufle Issues and Concerns. In these times we live in, the Lord is calling us to discernment, and everything must be judged based on the Word of God.

Len also recently published a series of articles that show how amazingly close we are to the Lord's return. They are The Land Mourns in the Last Days, The End Time Plagues, Wars and Rumors of Wars, and Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster. The combined messages of these articles give considerable proof found in our current events for the skeptics to grapple with.

In March, one of our board members, Olugbenga Oladejo, a pastor in England, met with Deji, one of our DTS students in Lagos, Nigeria. Afterward, Deji wrote, "I met with brother Gbenga today, sir. He encouraged me in the Lord and we also talked about business. He spent quality time counseling me and answering questions on issues I needed more clarity on...It was a nice time with him sir, we talked for hours and I bless the Lord for the patience of brother Gbenga in answering my question and counseling me...I look forward to meeting with you someday, sir." Praise the Lord that their visit went well.

"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 Called to be Blameless, The Priesthood of All Believers, The Land Mourns in the Last Days, and Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster. All of Len's latest articles are available at Old News That's Still Fresh - March 2016. 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 the lovely weather He provided, as we celebrated Len's birthday and since then, as well as protection from tornadoes.
2. For enabling us to be non-residential missionaries conducting Special Ministries.
3. For the Lord's leading, guidance, and help administering the Doulos Training School (DTS), and for the progress the students are making.
4. For the lives being touched for Christ around the world through our writing ministry.
5. For the words of encouragement we have received from the people being touched. 
6. For the blessing that brother Olugbenga was to brother Deji during their visit together in Nigeria in March.

Next steps and prayer needs:

1. For the Lord to heal Len from lower spine and sciatic trouble, causing chronic pain. 
2. 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.
3. For the Lord to bless the youth ministry of Lusindiso and Pumeza in Capetown, South Africa.
4. For the Lord to place military people in our path who are ready for the gospel, and who will later be used by the Lord to reach many others for Christ here and in the uttermost parts of the earth.
5. For the Lord to fulfill His purposes for us and our ministry.
6. 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. 
7. For the Lord to move mountains to raise up new faith partners, including those who would sponsors our students, and 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

There are two ways to donate to Doulos Missions International. You may either send a check or money order by mail to:
Doulos Missions International
PO Box 5526
Manchester, NH 03108-5526

Donate Online

February 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 January we had a severe ice storm in North Carolina, as Winter Storm Jonas passed through. It left a coating of ice on all the trees, resulting in six fatalities, and 147,000 people without power. However, the Lord kept us safe, and we did not lose power. We are thankful for that, because our heating system runs on electricity.

While we got mostly ice and almost no snow where we live, the location that got the most snowfall in the US from that storm was Mount Mitchell, right here in this state, with accumulations peaking at 66 inches.

Then immediately afterward we enjoyed temperatures in the low 70's at the end of January and the beginning of February, which was quite a treat! The children enjoyed playing outside without even a sweatshirt (see photos at the link below). In fact, the sun felt quite hot, even when wearing just a short-sleeve shirt. We thank God for that break in the winter.

In February we celebrated our nineteenth wedding anniversary. We also celebrated Joseph's seventh birthday with a cake and party, where he received gifts and cards. Jennifer prepared a homemade strawberry cake with frosting at his request, which was delicious. On another note, Charity and Hope have posted some new art, which is listed on their site under Recent Artwork.

More photos.    

Ministry: Last month we highlighted the Special Ministries of Doulos Missions International, including our literature ministry and online evangelism. We want to make it clear that we were not making a case for eliminating all foreign missionaries, nor did we intend to disesteem them or diminish their value, nor to elevate ourselves above others. After all, we ourselves are foreign missionaries, formerly based overseas, and we did not return to the States because we wanted to. No one of you should become arrogant on behalf of one against the other (1 Cor 4:6b). Rather, we intended to dispel the myths that foreign missions always requires the missionary to live abroad, and that all those who go overseas as missionaries are actually called by the Lord to do so.

From a Scriptural perspective, there is no such thing as the term "missionary" anyway. The word used in the Bible is "apostle," meaning "sent one" (Eph 4:11). This is one of the ministry gifts the Lord has given to the Church, and one must be called to this role. No one takes this honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God.

We honor and appreciate those who have truly sacrificed their lives, and followed a genuine, apostolic call of God to the foreign mission field to help complete the Great Commission, especially those who are preaching the true gospel with the demonstration of the Spirit and power, making disciples of Jesus Christ. The Lord knows those who are His, and every plant that is not planted by the Father will be pulled up by the roots (Mt 15:13). "Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God." (1Co 4:5)

This month we would like to feature a specific outreach we have to Jews, which we have mentioned previously, called Yeshua Messiah. Not only is it reaching people living in many Gentile nations, like the US, Russia, and Ukraine, but we have even had visits from Israel. Praise the Lord! One of the most popular articles on that blog is called The Brit Chadashah is Jewish, which means "the New Testament is Jewish." Another popular one is Yeshua is Yahveh, meaning, "Jesus is Lord!"

Len has also published a new blog called Doulos Military Ministry with four of the six articles being Onward Christian Soldier, Reaching the Military for Christ, Before You Join the Military, and Military Suicide Epidemic. As you probably already know, the military has become antagonistic to Christianity. Reports have indicated that Christian military chaplains in the US are being prohibited from using their Bibles and praying "in the name of Jesus." They are being censored and coerced to compromise their standards and to accept non-Christian religious groups as valid, which is essentially the New Age movement. According to a Wikipedia article on US Military Chaplains, there is pressure to prevent chaplains from evangelizing. It stated, "Numerous complaints have been made against chaplains for mandatory prayers, coercion, and using government money to promote Evangelical Christianity."

These are supposed to be the pastors of our military personnel, and they are not being given the freedom to do so according to the Bible. In fact, they are being given training that is anti-christian in nature. The military is not only silencing our chaplains, they are also doing so to our servicemen and women as well. They are prohibited from sharing their faith, forbidden from praying publicly, and even dismissed from duty for refusing to surrender their religious convictions. Many of our military personnel are stationed far away from home, away from Church and family, and they may have little or no Christian fellowship. Many are stationed overseas in places where the light of the gospel is very dim, and even in Muslim nations, fighting various wars our nation is involved in. The purpose of this new blog is to touch the lives of those who are on active duty in the military (both domestic and foreign), or who are considering joining, and point them to our other online resources to help them grow in Christ. So this will give them a way to stand firm in the Lord in an environment that is very difficult for Christians to live in. And it will also help to evangelize those who are lost, as well.

On a different note, regarding our Christian literature ministry, Len received the following reply from a Kenyan sister in Christ in Lebanon, in response to a question he had asked about his English articles:

"Thank you very much, sir. In my country Kenya, English is a second language, but very well embraced, especially in towns where people use internet all the time. It's an official language with Kiswahili, which is the real official language and widely spoken in East Africa. We have more than 47 different native languages. If it's a matter of addressing the public or a crowd like street preaching or crusades, people use [the] native language or Swahili. But when it comes to written articles, especially the internet, they are better received in English. You will effectively reach a very good number way more, than the local language. In fact, I wanted to ask if you can make your work to be printed like brochures and with your permission we can print it also, it will benefit many people. who are not able to access internet. like schools, hospitals, bus stations. With some testimonies etc. English books/articles are most read than local language. It's easy for people to read articles written in English and take it seriously for positive impact than local language.  If an elderly person does not understand he will always ask his children or grand children to read the article and explain the meaning. Ok thank you, and God bless."

Afterward once Len sent her an electronic link to a number of his articles in PDF format, she replied: "Thank so much, Brother. This is great. It's perfect. Good teaching. God bless you. I will print this and distribute."

These encouraging comments from this sister help to further confirm the effectiveness of our English articles in countries where English is not the first language. The sheer number of people in these countries accessing our websites is proof that there is a high demand for this kind of ministry. We also know by the feedback that we are receiving from our foreign readers around the world that the Lord is using it for His glory. One example is a woman in Zimbabwe, who got saved through our ministry. In our correspondence with her afterward, she testified how the Lord saved her through our articles, although English is not her native language. By the grace of God we were able to provide counsel and discipleship to her, and through prayer she has also received victory from an area of bondage that she sought us for help with. We checked back about a month later and confirmed that she is still free. Praise the Lord!

The Lord continues to encourage us, regarding the effectiveness of online ministry. We have learned that in one of the restricted nations that we are reaching in the Middle East through our online ministry, the Muslim religious scholars there frequently warn their citizens against the dangers of Christian Web sites, which they say entice young Muslims to change their faith. Please pray that the Lord will continue to reach Muslims with the gospel in restricted nations through our ministry.

Elsewhere, in January, Len received a comment from a sister in Christ, named Amber, who had read his article called, The New Wine. She stated: "Praise The Only Good God in heaven! I have wondered and wondered exactly what Our Master meant when He spoke of old and new wine and wine skins... I also was concerned; for the Word (in the Parable of the Sower) says the devil steals away what Word we do not understand. Now, I know. This is a direct answer to prayer. I had Googled "Holy holy holy" found a picture I liked that is on THIS page that answers my [prayer], "Father, please help me understand what your holy Son meant when He taught this teaching. In Jesus' name, Amen." Hallelujah! Thank you, Father God. Thank you for posting this! May you be blessed in the Lord God Almighty, and this seed sown bring forth fruit even a 100-fold!"

In January, we continued to minister by email and phone to Kyle here in the US, whom we have mentioned previously is in need of deliverance. We first began ministering to him around October, and after a recent call in January, he wrote to us saying, "Hi, bro. Len. Thank you and your family so much for praying for me. I feel more free tonight! I'm going to continue to pray and read my Bible, so that Jesus Christ will work on my behalf and free me even more. My head feels lighter and less burdened, less oppressed. That's how they attack me. But I'm not feeling it as much. Thank you so very much! God bless you!"

During the past couple weeks, Len has also redesigned one of our original evangelistic websites, Jesus Reigns! This was unexpected but necessary, since the web hosting provider moved to a new systems platform. However, we retained the same address at Jesus-Reigns.org. If you are interested, we invite you to check out the new site and share it with others.

During this current month of February, one of our board members, Olugbenga Oladejo, a pastor in England, is traveling to Lagos, Nigeria for business and ministry. While he is there, he plans to meet with our two disciples there, Deji and Emmanuel.

Doulos Training School (DTS) Update

We'd like to close with a quick update on our discipleship training school (DTS). One of our existing students, Deji reported that he and Emmanuel in Lagos now have another member in their Life Transformation Group (LTG), which the Lord has added. The new member's name is Olasunkanmi (pronounced "o-la-soon-con-me"), who is a young, newlywed man. He attends the same church as Deji and Emmanuel, and he has also decided to enroll in our DTS. Praise the Lord for this new development.

When he wrote to inform Len of his decision to enroll in our DTS, he said:

"Thank you sir (bro Len), for allowing me to be part of the vision and I want to thank God for using you as a vessel for changing our world for JESUS CHRIST. I truly believe that God has reasons why you and your ministry showed up at this point of my life in Christ. I pray that the pruning, building, raising, sharpening and leading from you and your ministry will produce [an] eternal effect and reward in me and in you in JESUS NAME."

"As for bro Deji and bro Emmanuel, these brothers have been great instrument and influence on my Christian life since we came together through [our] LTG. My Christian life has been experiencing a new phase of growth since our coming together. I really appreciate God for their life. I am ready to be part of the next batch of Doulos students come 1st of March 2016. Finally my brethren, I want to say thank you for coming into my life at this point. May prayer is that, the Lord will hold us firmly till we get to heaven on the last day in JESUS NAME. Yours in Christ, Olasunkanmi." We give God all the glory for Olasunkanmi's testimony.

The third quarter begins on March 1st, and we have three new students joining us. Olasunkanmi in Nigeria, whom we just mentioned will be joining us, as well as Dina in the UK, and Sherry in Lebanon. That will bring our total enrollment to eight students in six countries.

Sherry shared with us her testimony and the burden the Lord has laid upon her heart to do for Him. With her permission we would like to share a bit of that with you from an email she sent to us, which Len edited for clarity, and which she approved:

Sherry in Lebanon

"I got save while I was eleven years old in a crusade, and I loved going to Sunday school. I participated in children crusades, but after in college I began living a double life. The Lord was merciful! He stretched His hands and reached out for me and gave me a second chance. Now more than anything I wish to work for Him and spread the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. I feel so much joy and awed, just like the Samaritan woman, as she went shouting in the village for people to come and see who the Lord is. Hallelujah!"

"Thank you, Brother Len and Sister Jennifer, for accepting my application…I wish I could reach out to some of these people [in Lebanon]. Sometimes my heart is broken, because many people here know nothing about Jesus Christ and salvation. They think its just an illusion. Many people believe when you do good things here on earth you will live well in your after life. I pray the Lord will raise a great army here. My dream is once I arrive home to Kenya in April (I will not return to Lebanon), I'll start going to my neighbors immediately. I have saved some money to buy Bibles, and study Bibles. In the villages many Christians depend on their Pastor’s Bible on Sunday in the church when it is read from the pulpit. They don’t have heir own Bibles to read at home. There is so much to be done there and I feel so tied here. I feel so charged to serve the Lord. Thank you so much brother, Len and Jenny, for your Kindness, and the great Mission you are doing. May God bless you so much."

Praise the Lord! However, Sherry was concerned that those who read our newsletter may not understand why she feels restricted from doing gospel work in Lebanon. She explained that it's like slavery there, where she works as a housekeeper, and she is always afraid. The agency in Kenya lied to her and others, before they went to work in Lebanon, and when they arrived there they discovered that everything was a lie. She said they cannot go back once they arrive. They have no freedom to move around. Their boss takes their passport and resident papers. No cell phone is allowed. She can call once or twice a month to speak with her family from a call office. She and the others are in survival mode. Many people commit suicide trying to escape. She said the computer she has is a miracle from the Lord. It's like prison. We were shocked when she told us all this, which she only disclosed to us over two months after we began corresponding with her.

Please pray for Sherry's safety until her work contract in Lebanon is completed. Please lift her up as she prepares to return from Lebanon to her home country of Kenya in April that she will faithfully fulfill what she feels led to do for the Lord.

Finally we believe that it glorifies God to present the need to fund this DTS. Normally in any school there is tuition to pay, in order to cover the cost for administration. All schools have operating costs, and ours is no different, except that we do not charge our students tuition. We operate by faith and accept offerings to support our ministry. We do not ask anyone for money. All of these students are outside the US and most are not in a position to give offerings to DMI to defray the costs of the ministry they are receiving.

Therefore, in order for us to continue giving each student the individual attention they deserve, we need faith partners and churches to sponsor these students. As the school continues to grow each quarter like it has been doing, the cost per student will decrease, but our overall operating costs will remain the same. At our current enrollment level, if someone is prayerfully considering sponsorship of a student, a good starting point to consider would be $2,000 per student per year. Please pray for the Lord to incline the hearts of people to sponsor a student, so that each of them would be sponsored, and that everyone else who wishes to receive this discipleship training through our DTS may do so.

"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 Keeping a Good Conscience, Repentance That Leads to Life, Not Enduring Sound Doctrine, Remember Lot’s Wife,
All of His Works Praise Him, The Cult of Mormonism, and Demons Disguised as Humans. All of Len's latest articles are available at Old News That's Still Fresh - February 2016. 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 be non-residential missionaries conducting Special Ministries.
2. For the Lord's leading, guidance, and help operating the Doulos Training School (DTS), and for the progress the students are making.
3. For the three new students enrolling in our DTS on March 1.
4. For helping Deji and Emmanuel to find another person to join their LTG.
5. For beginning to lift the demonic oppression off of Kyle.
6. For giving Joseph a wonderful, seventh birthday party.
7. For protecting us and keeping our power on during the ice storm.
8. For the reach of our evangelistic outreach to Jews.
9. For our newest outreach to the military.
10. For the lives being touched for Christ around the world through our writing ministry.
11. For the words of encouragement we have received from the people being touched. 
12. For the lessening of Len's back and sciatic symptoms.

Next steps and prayer needs:

1. For the Lord to heal Len from lower spine and sciatic trouble, causing chronic pain. 
2. For the Lord to assist us with 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.
3. For Sherry's safety until her work contract in Lebanon is completed, and the Lord's purpose for her to be fulfilled when she returns to Kenya.
4. For the Lord to deliver from evil our brother Kyle, who's suffering from mental illness and demon possession.
5. For the Lord to place military people in our path who are ready for the gospel, and who will later be used by the Lord to reach many others for Christ here and in the uttermost parts of the earth.
6. For the Lord to fulfill His purposes for us and our ministry.
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 move mountains to raise up new faith partners, including those who would sponsors our students, and 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

There are two ways to donate to Doulos Missions International. You may either send a check or money order by mail to:
Doulos Missions International
PO Box 5526
Manchester, NH 03108-5526

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