Reaping gospel fruit

Last night we had a wiener roast and bonfire service at ACTION's 2nd Mile campus to close this week's Honest Hands' boot camp for 12 street boys. The service was wonderful for several reasons:

1. The campers were referred to the camp by partner ministries located in Metro Manila.

2. Two junior staff, both grads of Honest Hands who are walking closely with the Lord and involved in ministry with their respective churches, served at camp and are learning what it means to be an example to others.

3. Pastor Lino, a former street boy, who is now serving as a co-pastor in his church and at Honest Hands full-time is an excellent Bible teacher, literacy tutor and house "dad".

4. Carl, Honest Hands' leader and Mel his partner, are solid leaders and veteran street kid workers who provide stability and practical wisdom to this life skills ministry.

5. Attending the service also were my beloved Street Impact Team co-workers Dave, Becky (husband and wife), Luv and Mary Ann (my wife) who have invested much for many years in Honest Hands' development.

6. I gave a fired up message from Matthew 11:30 exhorting us to carry Jesus' yoke which is light and easy which provides freedom, life and power to serve Him and not to revert back to carrying the heavy and impossible yoke of religion and sin which leads to slavery to sin and death.

7. Pray for Mel, Lino and Carl as they now have the difficult task of selecting 10 boys from their two recent boot camps (total of 22 boys) for their next 10 month class which opens June 25.

8. I also had a nice chat with Barb, the Mustard Seed director, about their opening week of classes. After interviewing 29 girls from very difficult backgrounds they've selected 10 for their discipleship-vocational training program. This ministry is providing first-class sewing instruction and practical discipleship training for girls who otherwise wouldn't have a chance to gain a marketable skill and solid Bible training. Pray for Barb and Mustard Seed as they minister God's Word and grace to needy girls.

9. Ron, my colleague in ministry to street kids and their families serving in Olongapo City with Calvary Chapel, said to me today after I told him about last night's bonfire service "I'm hearing from the Lord these days to continue doing what we know is right no matter how hard and He will bless usually more than we expect." Ron and I have worked shoulder to shoulder among street kids for almost 23 years so he knows what he's talking about and he's right.

10. This morning Erin arrived. She's from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and going to do an eight week internship with us. She heard Mary Ann and I speak at MBI's missions conference in October '05 so we're really glad to have her with us.

11. I'm very pleased with Ken's growth in the Lord and ministry with us. Ken was the first person in Minnesota to be classified as having dyslexia when he was a boy growing up in Minneapolis. He's preparing to teach Bible and PE again this year at the Jabez Christian School.

12. Gary and Melita continue with their wood-tech class with their out-of-school youth boys. I'm so blessed with their love for the Lord and ministry at Working Hands.

13. The 2nd Mile community of ACTION staff and missionaries were very gracious in their hospitality in providing a fun bonfire, good food and warm friendship.

It's a joy to know and serve with all the people mentioned in this blog.

Sowing and reaping is a principle taught in the Bible (Galatians 6:7-10) and we're seeing it fleshed out in the lives of Filipino youth who are being redeemed from the street by the power of the gospel and through the faithful sowing of the gospel seed by many faithful laborers.

Keep sowing the gospel seed trusting the Lord for a bountiful harvest.

Jeff