David Returns: "God Moved Miraculously in the Republic of Georgia!"
CONCORD, NH
God
did everything he had put in David's heart to do in the Republic of
Georgia last month. He encouraged the churches. He brought Lela's
father, Boris, into the Kingdom. And David served as a spiritual dad to
several who were in need of fathering.
Two stories will suffice:
1. Dato & Megi
Dato,
in his own words, was a very bad man. He drank, fought with people in
his section of the city, and even shot several and was himself shot
twice. He came to Christ, but was not in a good place when David met
him. Dato was struggling. His father died last year. They were very
close.
Pastor Vitali, in the wisdom of the Lord, assigned Dato
to be David's driver for two weeks. They went everywhere together. One
afternoon, Dato (whose name in English is "David") asked David if he
would be a "father" to him. Of course, David agreed, since God had
placed a love for Dato in his heart.
Later, David had many
opportunities to encourage, exhort, and teach Dato. Now they stay in
contact through Skype. Dato has recommitted his life to Jesus and
promised to not break fellowship with his church family in Tbilisi. He
is learning how to love and treasure his wife, Megi. She is grateful
for the relationship between David and Dato. Please pray for Dato and
Megi as the Lord leads.
2. Boris
Boris is Lela's father.
He was an atheist, growing up under Communism. His wife and daughters
accepted Christ years ago. They and the church had been praying for him
for many years. Nothing seemed to change in him, except his distance
from them and his antagonism over their faith in Christ and the people
they fellowshipped with.
After the conflict broke out between
Russia and Georgia, David felt that the Lord wanted him to go to
Georgia. He knew the churches would need encouragement and a sense that
New Life Fellowship stood with them in prayer. He also experienced a
deep burden for Boris to come to know Jesus. As he made plans to go,
God gave him a growing sense that this was the time for Boris to face
God and experience his love and forgiveness.
When he arrived,
David stayed with Pastor Vitali. On the third day there, Vitali took
David to meet with Lela's family--Boris, Raisa (her mom), and Lia (her
sister). Boris told David that he always wanted an older brother and
that David was his older brother from now on. David agreed. As a
result, in their culture, David HAD TO stay with them in their home.
Boris would not have it any other way. So David agreed and got his
clothes and things from Vitali's and went to stay with Boris and his
family.
They spent time together and David asked him to honor
him as his older brother by attending the meeting where he would be
preaching that first Sunday. Boris had NEVER been to church. Wanted no
part of it up until David's invitation. He said, "Of course" he would
come to the meeting. Boris attended and sat up front with David. He
also traveled with David and attended four other meetings.
One
evening, rather late, just before bed. David and Lia felt that the time
had come to talk to Boris about his soul. So with Lia translating,
David invited Boris to turn from his way to God's and give his heart to
Christ. Boris readily accepted Christ as his Savior and Lord and
promised to begin to attend worship with his wife and daughter.
Over
the next several days and weeks, family, friends, and the church
noticed the huge, miraculous change in Boris's life. He had peace. He
loved when the people from church came to the house to visit and
provided lavish hospitality. He began to be loving and considerate with
his wife and daughter. Pastor Vitali said, "This is nothing short of a
miracle for us and the church."
We agree. Thank you for your
prayers and generous support. You have a part in this ministry. One
day, the Lord will reward you for helping these two families and the
many others we could tell about if we had time.
David plans to
return again in 2009. This time, the churches want Marcy to return with
him. Please pray about this as the Lord leads.
David Signs Author/Publisher Agreement CONCORD, NH Thursday., August 7, 2008
David has signed an Author/Publisher agreement for his first, non-fiction book entitled Sons of God: Reigning with Christ Now and Forever.
Sons of God is about our identity in Christ. We are not worms. We are not one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. We are not victims in this world. We are the blood-bought children of the Living God. According to the Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, we are the “sons of God” (Gal. 3.26; Rom. 8.14). Walking in this mindset is counter-culture. Unbelievers don't know who or what we are. They think we are out of our minds. Living out of our sonship identity also flies in the face of everything that we are told by the voices of nominal Christianity.
God has delegated authority to his “sons.” We are those sons. So we need to know what that looks like and how to walk in it. We may suffer in this fallen world, but we do not need to be victims. We may have unbelievable struggles, but we reign from the seat of Christ. In the midst of spiritual warfare, we speak down, not up to demonic strongholds and powers (Eph. 2.6; Col. 3.1). David argues that even the women are “sons.” And this is not, as the world would view it, a put-down. Rather it is a lift-up.
Scripture says, do not be squeezed into the world's mold but instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind--understanding who you truly are (Rom. 12.1-2). Sons of God, read with a sincere desire to understand God’s will for your life, will provide a significant insight in your spiritual transformation. From the grand picture of the purposes of God in Creation, through the tumultuous times the world is experiencing, through the practical chapters on ministry in the 21st century, to the wondrous climax of the final chapters on the New Earth and our place in the kingdom, Sons of Godcan enlarge your understanding and truly be used of God to change your life and future.
The manuscript goes first through editing and set-up stages. Then the publisher is projecting a release date of December 2008. Please pray with us that David can make all the deadlines and the book be launched by this Christmas. Sons of God will be available at Amazon.com, Borders, and Barnes and Noble. We will also make it available on our website bookstore and at our book table during retreats and seminars in the months following its release.
Once galleys are approved, we plan to give a free book to all who give a one-time gift to Frontline, before its release. To those who give a one-time gift in the $25-49. range we will give a signed, first- edition, quality paperback of Sons of God. To those who pledge monthly support of $25 or more for our continued ministry, we will give a signed, first- edition, hardcover with full-color dust jacket.
Check back for updates on the progress of the Sons of God: Reigning with Christ Now and Forever.
