I will revise and continue my journal entries from Croatia ASAP. Thank you for your patience and interest in ALL that God is doing!

Praise Christ!

08-28-08

Making a Difference for Time and Eternity

An Article by Dr. P. David Nicholas
CEO and President,
Knox Theological Seminary

One of the joys of belonging to Christ is knowing that your life counts for time and eternity. That concept was not part of my thinking when I was a salesman for Hallmark Cards; later, when I sold welding equipment for the Lincoln Electric Company, my thinking had not changed. Everything I did was for the here and now, with no expectation of anything more. I had no higher purpose in life; it was just a matter of “putting in my time” and (hopefully) retiring in comfort. Then God took me from death to life. He opened my mind to what Jesus Christ had done for me through His death and resurrection. It was then that my life became meaningful for time and eternity.

I enjoyed the business world, but God called me to serve Him full time and to plant Spanish River Church in Boca Raton, Florida. After 41 years in the same job, I can state with tremendous enthusiasm that there is no greater calling and no greater source of joy than being part of what God is doing in this world. I have watched in awe as God works over and over again through His gospel and by His Spirit. Let me relate one story.

A few years ago, a young Jewish lady named Allison was invited to Spanish River Church. She began attending, heard the bad news of sin and death and the good news of what God has done about that through Jesus Christ, and placed her trust in Him as her Savior and Lord. Allison radically changed and grew rapidly in the things of the Lord and eventually joined our staff. She began going with a group of our women in a ministry outreach to a local prison.

I received a letter from a female inmate at that prison. She had been convicted of murdering her boyfriend, who had beaten her. She was pregnant with the man’s baby at the time. She had been sentenced to die in the electric chair, but the sentence was commuted to life in prison. Her life, as she had known it, was over, and she was filled with hatred and bitterness. But for some reason she attended a chapel service that was led by Allison and the women from Spanish River Church. This young inmate heard the story of God’s love for sinners and placed her trust in Jesus to forgive her sins and redeem her from eternal condemnation. God raised her from death to life and adopted her into His family. Her life was changed forever.

I recently received a second letter from this young lady, telling me that she has been transferred to another prison. She related how difficult it was, but vowed to stay strong in the Lord. She is 21 years old. And she wrote about the ministry she is now providing to other women in prison, joyfully proclaiming the glorious truth that freedom from sin, despair, and death is available to all who come to Christ.

I never tire of thanking God for the privilege He has given me to pastor Spanish River Church. Our local church has been used by Him to plant more than 200 churches in various parts of the world, ranging in size from small houses of worship (40-60 people) located in tribal villages in Mexico to sprawling congregations of 2000 - 5000 people in Portland, Oregon, New York City, and Les Caye, Haiti. We have learned that church planting is one of the most effective ways to reach people with the gospel—statistics show that more people come to know Christ in church plants than in older, established churches.

God has now called me to be CEO and President of Knox Theological Seminary. Knox Seminary was founded by Dr. D. James Kennedy, a great man of God who had a burning passion for sharing the gospel, who loved training people to share the gospel, and who rejoiced to see people all over the world being taken from death to life by the love and power of Jesus Christ. He never tired of declaring and defending the Christian’s high view of Scripture in the Reformed tradition—the divine inspiration, authority, inerrancy, and infallibility of the Word of God. Dr. Kennedy had a vision for a seminary that would equip pastors, missionaries, church leaders, and men and women from all walks of life who would boldly, passionately, and winsomely proclaim the whole counsel of God to all the world. This is my heartbeat and passion as well. Please rest assured that I take very seriously the calling to train God’s people for a life of ministry that makes an eternal difference.

I ask you to join me in beseeching God’s blessing on Knox Theological Seminary as we labor to communicate that vision and carry it forward to generations to come. We are making a difference for time and eternity by the grace and power of God alone … to the glory of God alone.

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." — Ephesians 3:20-21

September Trip Journal 2008

FAITH is being sure of what we hope for and
certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Monday, September 1st 2008 2:30 p.m.
Labor Day & Departure Date
Location right now: MIA Airport

God you are so awesome. You do all things well! You are my master. The righteous king. Thank you so much Lord for going before us and being with us.
The drive down here to Miami has been great. John Sarris supplied us with a great driver named Roy. J.P. parents also drove down to help out with luggage. We got to share Christ with Roy! Roy was listening to our conversations and asked some great questions. What a way to start a trip!
I must share the “luggage miracle” with everyone. When you go on a mission trip there are supplies i.e. children’s crafts, medical supplies etc. that you must bring. Each person takes their personal luggage and then one or two (depends) additional pieces of luggage with them full of supplies. This trip was no different! Except for we had a smaller team which meant that each person had to have more luggages plus since this is a pioneering ministry we had to bring A LOT of supplies. By God’s grace, He supplied 10,000 REALLY nice flyers for us to bring. Days before the trip, Sue Ann started to pack and repack and repack again ha-ha. God bless you my BIG L! She did an awesome job. I still stand in awe of the gifts God has given my Sue Anny! We expected some issues as we were ready to pay extra if need be or to readjust at the last moment. Honey’s job was to start praying as soon as we got up to the ticket counter and not to stop until we were all cleared. WELL! Let me tell you God did it. Not only did ALL of the boxes and luggage go right through but we didn’t have to pay anything extra. Honey even got to change her seat! (Now that ended up being a mistake ha-ha but that’s a whole another story).
We are sitting here taking a few moments before we enter the plane to Germany (first stop). Sue Ann is on the phone. Honey is reading or talking to somebody I’m not sure. J.P. oh bless his heart, Lord, he is a very brave man to be with all of us ladies on this journey ha-ha.
Oh here we go… TBC.

Tuesday, September 2! Zagreb, Croatia
We have arrived in Croatia! YAH!
You can sense a darkness but the light of Christ is coming!
Let’s see all that God has done so far:
J.P. Parents followed us down to MIA and helped with prayer & luggage.
We got to share Christ with Roy.
All the luggage went through, no issues what so ever.
Flight from MIA to Germany was about 8 ½ hrs. It was grand! I got to sit next to and meet a young sailor named Alab. He is from Morocco and is Muslim but does not practice. We got to share about our faiths and had some great laughs when we couldn’t understand each other’s languages. Lord, I pray right now for him and his salvation. I lift up his mother as she is struggling and his brothers & sisters.
Honey did some crazy, funny stuff already on the plane...like that’s a shocker! Ha-ha
The luggage was also smooth at the end!
Daniele and Pam were there to pick us right up! Along, with a driver named Mario. I got a hug from my Daniele!! I miss her so much.
We arrived at the hotel for the first night so they can check us into the country. It is more convenient then spending a day at MUP (Government agency here).
Right now, everyone is refreshing & relaxing from the trip. We are going to shower and get ready around 4:00 p.m. to head out to have some Croatian pizza with Andrew and the worship leader I think.

Lord, I want to thank you for your amazing grace and never ending love & compassion that you always lavish us with. I praise you for Sue Ann, JP, Honey, Pam, Andrew & Daniele. Lord, we pray for Mario & Martina and all of the other people in this community. May you draw them close unto the cross. Reveal yourself to them- please Jesus we cry out on their behalf. You, oh Lord are capable of ALL things and you, oh Lord are mighty to save, sustain and destroy. Oh my God, save them and sanctify them by your truth. I love you Lord!

Tuesday, 8:45 p.m. Croatian time
Great long day! I met a young girl named Lorena. She is the worship leader’s 14 yr old daughter. God saved her last year. Matt.11:28-30
Weather Forecast: Hot but not humid.
Hair Forecast: I can see this is going to be a long trip with my hair ha-ha the water here is very hard and lack of humidity hmm frizz might be coming.

Wednesday, September 3, 8:00 a.m.
We just finish praying. We met a young couple here named Daniela and Dean. They are a true gift from God AND He is totally at work on them. You can see it! It’s incredible! TBC (TO BE CONTINUED)

Croatia

There is so much to write about my trip to Croatia! Friday will be my day off this week so I will pray and share from my journal. To sum up the trip in one word- SUPER!

leaving on a jet plane...

we depart in an hour to start our adventure to conquer croatia for Christ! please keep us in your prayers. i will try & update with pics etc if the internet works. if not when i return sept.17th i will share my journal. God is incredible and Jesus is my master! Love you all!