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Living Foundation Ministries
Seminar Director Martyred
Email - November 9, 2006
”My name is Pastor Vic L. Vicera. I have attended your Biblical Counseling last August 2006 at Davao City, the two days seminars have a great impact in my life, and change the perspective of my life. Thanks to you Rev. Chuck Lynch for the manuals that we received and the impartation to us about Biblical counseling. After we attended the seminar we share to some church key leaders and pastors in Davao del Sur, about my personal experienced in that two day seminars.
Pastor Vic with the LFM Team
Maybe you remember one person that get your microphone after you limited only three persons to give personal testimony “How shame affected you”. That’s the first time I shed tears in front of numbers of people attending that seminars, Rev. Chuck Lynch I never cried that way, but you know that what happen after that wonderful experienced – I feel the feeling that never been before. Yes, I have been a Christian and a pastor for numbers of years, but that seminars really change me, the turmoil deep inside me was gone. I say that…that seminar is really intended for me. And I thank the Lord for you all for the sacrifices you made through to have this Biblical Counseling available for us here in Davao del Sur, in Mindanao and in the Philippines.”
Email-July 8, 2007
“God put the burden in our hearts to reach out to tribes in the mountains, after three consecutive times, we received letters from pastors of these areas begging us to come. Our hearts were pierced for the people who suffer of the famine of the word of God. But going wasn’t that simple, these places were the battle ground here in Mindanao Island; are seen as Satan’s stronghold; where danger run rampant, gunfight between government forces against communist rebels and Muslim extremist, religious & political hostile unrest wars between Muslims and Non-Muslims. So please do pray for us!”
Email - January 18, 2008
“We are happy to be able to write to you and take this opportunity to say ‘Thank you’ to you LFM International Team, the LFM Philippine team and to all the brethren there. The past year was an unprecedented success and all of you have contributed much especially to the body of Christ here in the Philippines through your teaching and training seminars of the Basic Biblical Counseling particularly here in Digos City Davao del Sur, it would not have been possible with out you all there in the U.S. & Philippine LFM team.”
The Word Spread
“At present of time, we have already formed a team for Basic counseling design for the tribal. After the Basic Biblical Counseling held here in Digos City, the report spread out in the neighboring provinces and even to the remote areas where me and wife are ministering – of what God had done during the three days Seminars. We received of lots of invitation to conduct this kind of Basic Biblical Counseling in the remote tribal areas.”
Email - March 17, 2008
Breathless in Mindanao
“The brisk pace of ministry has left us breathless since we last wrote. The growing nature of the ministry here continues to occupy our focus and inexorably consume our time. As the Lord’s work continues to grow, so do our responsibilities and the demands placed upon us. We praise the Lord for the apparent growth taking place of our tribal mission outreach. This past months has seen God add some solid tribal families to our number! As a result we now have a few men who are potential leaders for this gospel opening we have. This means that 2008 will see us begin leadership development, we begin grooming and mentoring these men. The crises that we are facing try to hinder us from our call, but despite of everything we will continue to do the task that God has called us to do. Financial struggles, political crises and insurgency problem here in Mindanao cannot hinder us neither discourage us to advance the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the places of un-reach.”
May 2008
Email - March 29, 2008
Greater Joy before the End
“We are happy to share our testimony about our short time missionary trip to the remote distance tribal high mountain village people. We traveled commuting a rented military jeep with our (7) personnel evangelistic crew who works with us, in the long and winding stony rugged country road. Three times we were standby in the isolated road, because the radial tires of the jeep was running flat, in the isolated road mostly no houses we can see. In our way we feel hunger, first and above all we feel fears anticipating the communist rebels or Muslim rebels will attack us or shoot us while heading to the three tribal remote villages of Malalag where the “Kaulo tribe” living. We cross five rivers. Village tribal people testified that our team is the first native gospel minister enters to their remote place bringing to them the gospel of peace.
In short story, me and the evangelistic crew went back home to our respective home with greater joy and gladness, bringing the untold victory serving hundreds of (Kaulo tribes) who welcome us and receiving the gospel of Christ. Rebellion in Mindanao is one of the factors of our crises, however we never cease praying and evangelizing, terrorism is not the issue to stop the evangelizing instead these will be our great opportunity to win souls for Christ.”
Vic and Beth Vicera
Email - April 21, 2008
Sent Home to Jesus
(From Beth Vicera, Vic’s widow)
“I send you today an urgent letter to inform you that your friend and brother in the Lord Jesus Christ (Bro. Vic Vicera) was shot dead last Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 6:30 pm while we were chatting with our friend in our house terrace unknowingly a killer man, a well known muslim rebel, suddenly rushed to our residence gate and pointed a 45 caliber pistol to my husband and instantly shot my husband and was hit with (4) bullets in his right leg, hips and his tummy. His kidney bladder was damaged that caused him to be dead. I was also hit by (2) bullets, my right palm was damaged and my right leg was hit also. I was confined to the hospital with our pastor friend that was also hit on his left leg.
I didn’t know what to do, and I don’t know where I am going, my friends and close relatives rejected me, cause of my faith in Jesus. Our church meager income was already drained. I need your prayers and financial support to help us to unload to our hospital debt and of my husband funeral services, etc. Our unpaid bills reach to the amount of ($3,781.00).”
Many have sent gifts for Beth and her two daughters, ages 14 and 3. 100% of those gifts have been forwarded to her. LFM will be sending her monthly support for at least a year. You may pray about sending a gift that we can forward on your behalf.
Venezuela
June 3-26, 2008
A Big Opening in a Closing Door
Doors are closing in Venezuela but opportunities to teach and train are exploding daily. Anger, frustration and family conflict are everywhere due to the severe economic and social crisis. We’re told people are turning to the church for answers as never before.
Pastor Alvaro Rea is one of the most well known evangelical pastors in the country. We have held many trainings in his church in Barquisimeto. He has been flooded with requests to address the crisis. We have learned that they are using “God’s Peace in Your Home” (How to Reduce Anger in the Home) as the primary resource for the small study groups they are establishing throughout the country to address their current crisis. Pastor Alvaro has asked us to return to Venezuela and join him to team teach and train key leaders as the author of their text. Plus, we will be doing additional counselor training in other churches as we have done in the past.
As missionaries are leaving Venezuela, we are slipping back in. Please pray that we make it very clear how practical the Word of God is in times of crisis. Thank you in advance for investing in this limited open door of opportunity in Venezuela.
Gratefully serving Him,
Chuck and Linda Lynch
Living Foundation Ministries
611 R.D. Mize Road
Blue Springs, MO 64014
816-229-5000
Lfmlynch@yahoo.com
Website: Lfmtools.org
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Florina Marcellus Seminar Conferees Roger Daum Joel & Lisa Martinez Rural Churches
Living Foundation Ministries
Mission Focus - Fall ’07
Philippines - China - Germany
Training People to Help People at Home and Around the World
New Team
God has brought two great marriage and family biblical counselors to join the Living Foundation Ministries (L.F.M.) training team this September in the Philippines.
Roger Daum brings over 30 years of pastoral and marriage experience, plus extensive training with L.F.M. and John Regier of Caring for the Heart Ministries. He is currently director of Restoration Ministries in Cozad, Nebraska. Roger served on the L.F.M. team in Puebla, Mexico in January ’07 and did an outstanding job of training trainers.
Jerry Purviance also brings both pastoral experience and major counseling experience having served years as dean of students and a faculty member of Calvary Bible College. He is now a full time counselor in Kansas City, Missouri. He, too, is a terrific trainer of trainers.
Florina Marcellus served on the L.F.M. training team both in Puebla, Mexico and China in January and February ’07. She is a graduate of Calvary Bible College with a major in missions and a minor in music. She used her beautiful voice and music training well in both Mexico and China. She was further mentored by L.F.M.’s lead counselor, Shelia Benzon, and was able to utilize that extensive training with women in Mexico and China.
New Focus
We e-mailed the new marriage and family topics to our Philippine representatives and they are excited with the new emphases for training this fall. Last year they asked us to add that material to the basic training that they are now teaching. Both the basic and marriage and family topics will be covered in various forms depending which of the six venues we are in.
Marriage and Family Topics
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How to Identify Damaged Relationships (symptoms, case histories, characteristics of a hurting marriage)
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How to Identify the Sources of Damaging Behavior and Attitudinal Patterns (wounded hearts, negative emotions, core beliefs, entitlements)
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How to Identify the Historical Source Behind a Hurtful Pattern (events done to them, by them or around them)
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A Biblical Approach to Healing Damaged Marriage Relationships (forgiveness, emotional and spiritual freedom , circles of responsibility)
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How to Grow and Nurture a Healing, Healthy Marriage
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What are the Basics in Child Nurturing, Parenting, and Discipline?
The teaching notes for these topics should be available on our website (Lfmtools.org) for free downloading in late August. All the basic notes are already there under “Training.”
New Venues
Word has spread throughout the southern island of Mindanao, Philippines of the practical value of these biblically based seminars. Please begin to pray for the huge undertaking of these six training seminars.
Sept. 10-11 Panabo City (200 conferees)
Sept. 14-15 Digos City (350)
Sept. 17-18 General Santos City (200) This is right in the heart of a Muslim area. Our host director has a brother who is a leader in the guerilla movement in the area. Please pray.
Sept. 20-27 Davao City – teachers & parents (100)
Sept. 24-28 Davao City Bible College and Seminary students, week long training (150)
October 3-5 Lligan City (500) City and ministry leaders are going all out to promote this event. Some attended the past training.
Four Sundays in September the Living Foundation Ministries team will be divided up to share in churches.
New Challenge
We thought the trainings in the Philippines in ’06 were a big step of faith and they were. God used many of you to cover us in prayer, encouragement and financial investment. Our Philippine outreach in Sept. is an even bigger challenge. L.F.M. is responsible for the six seminar facilities, the sound systems, promotion, lunches, seminar manuals and copies of I Should Forgive, But..., housing and transportation for the Filipino and US teams. Six local directors have to enlist many volunteers for promotion, registration, preparation of hundreds lunches and some transportation and housing.
This is a massive undertaking to train and develop over a thousand biblically based counselors. Pray for Pastor Joel and Liza Martinez, our L.F.M. directors in the Philippines who are responsible for the six seminar committees. They did an outstanding job coordinating our Philippine seminars the past two years. They will also team teach with us along with Filipino team members Ric and Linda Labos. Both couples will be learning the new material in preparation to train others.
Mission Investment Opportunity
The US team members are responsible to raise support for their travel, food and housing. Above that is the $26,000 to conduct the six seminars. We share this enormous faith investment opportunity as a prayer target with our Living Foundation Ministries’ friends.
No Debtor
Last August I quietly sat on my deck a little bummed that we were about $5,000 short to cover our training outreach in the Philippines and China. I found myself upset that God hadn’t come through to cover it when we were obeying Him to make disciples of all nations. (I hate to confess this.) I had no more framed that thought when Linda said I had a long distance phone call. A friend shared that she was the executrix of her dad’s estate and just wanted to alert me that in the next few days a check for $5,000 from his estate would be coming. I was thrilled yet chagrined. I struggled to share with her what I had just complained about to God. Was I ever embarrassed and ashamed and rightfully so. I profusely thanked her and sheepishly returned to the deck to finish my quiet time. I could hardly lift my eyes up to God. It was as if He said to me “Son, I’ll never be in debt to you for obeying Me.” Rebuked, humbled, chastened and misty eyed, I wondered to myself, “Will I ever learn?”
I don’t know who God is going to encourage investing in this challenge, but on behalf of the hundreds of fellow believers in Asia we share their heartfelt thanks in advance.
We will be sending a detailed prayer journal of when, where and what we will be doing for the month of Sept. in the Philippines. To receive it by e-mail, contact us at lfmlynch@yahoo.com.
More Opportunities
China
Plans are still on the drawing board for two weeks of training in Guangzhou, China, Oct. 7-20. We will share as much as we can without putting the planners in a difficult position with the authorities.
Germany
Keith and Debbie Gandy, church planting missionaries in Germany, have asked us to come November 4-10 to train their people in how to deal with anger in relationships and to further train other church planters in their region. The details are in the planning stages. Thanks for praying.
How incredibly grateful we are to each of you who invest in this team of biblical trainers to the Philipines led by a guy who is both reproved and loved by our great God.
Awed by His grace,
Chuck and Linda Lynch
Your tax deductible gift may be sent to:
Living Foundation Ministries Missions
611 R.D. Mize Rd.
Blue Springs, MO 64014-2424
816-229-5000 - email: Lfmlynch@yahoo.com - web:Lfmtools.org
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Thanks for the Tips “We want to thank you especially for the Discipleship Tips you so often enclose with your missions trips updates.”
Counseling Tools “I can’t number the times I’ve told people about Chuck’s advice to me long ago: ‘Every day a married person must go to their tool box and pull out a tool to tweak their marriage … and the day they stop going to the tool box is the day their marriage begins to fall apart.’ Ironically, I ended up marrying a carpenter who frequently reminds me of the same principle because of the work he does.”
Thanks for the Example “Thanks so much for the newsletter. I really appreciate you sending the extra info on relationships in with your newsletter. Its obvious God is using your ministry around the globe. I was especially encouraged when Chuck could help clean up after one of the sessions, knowing he indeed did pass the baton on to a national leader. God allowed him to see his goal. How wonderful.
Let me just say that knowing Chuck could humbly step aside and let the other leader be the ‘expert’ was a bit of healing for me based on a very painful experience I’ve had with a prominent Christian leader in the past. I’ll not say more, except that Chuck’s example was an encouragement to me and helped renew my confidence that there are indeed Christian men in leadership who have humble hearts.”
Tips too Late “We did enjoy your latest newsletter about the Philippine ministry and how it is blessing many people. I wish I had had the paper (tips) on conflict a couple weeks earlier as it was the perfect solution to a two-day meeting our church planters had on that very topic a couple weeks earlier. Oh well, better late than never. I must say that the conference was a complete waste of time in my opinion. The short paper (tips) said more than the people did in two days.”
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Living
Foundation
Ministries
Disciples in Mexico and China
January & February 2007
Another Mantle is Passed On
What makes training biblical counselors in other countries exciting? When we see eager learners pass on what they’ve learned. That’s what we experienced in Mexico in January ’07. I was thrilled with how effectively Bernard Lopez taught in the five seminars we did in Mexico. When we met in Venezuela five years ago, he began translating our written material and then translated for some of our seminars. Little by little he began to teach the biblical principles on his own in churches, prisons and drug rehab centers. Since coming to the States, he has conducted seminars in English and Hispanic churches and in jails.
In Mexico we saw firsthand Bernard’s passion for effectively communicating God’s Word. It became increasingly clear that it was time to pass on the mantle to Bernard who has proven to be a faithful disciple. After he preached at the Bible Church in Celaya, Mexico, the elders had a special commissioning ceremony and dedication prayer.
Bernard & Carmen Lopez
proudly display their mantles
It was then Linda's and my joy to bestow on Bernard and Carmen the brightly colored mantles. At the same time there was a tinge of sadness. Investing you life in others is like now 'having your heart walk outside your body for the rest of your life.' You've passed on part of yourself that you'll never get back.
This may have been what the Apostle Paul felt when he wrote to his disciple Timothy. “My son, pass on to proven leaders the things you’ve heard me teach so they in time will be able to teach and train others “(2 Tim. 2:2).
Role Reversal
After a biblical counseling training seminar, it is not unusual for people flock to the speaker with application questions or words of appreciation while the rest of the team packs the props and camera equipment and mingles with the people.
For years as the primary trainer, I was the one people sought out afterward. In Mexico in Jan. ‘07 all that changed. Bernard Lopez was given the bulk of the training responsibility for two of the three weeks. Rev. Roger Daum, a marriage and family counselor from Cozad, Nebraska, did an excellent job training biblical counselors in Puebla the first week.
Something new happened in Queretaro, Mexico. Bernard finished teaching on How to Identify the Lies behind Negative Emotions (such as fear of failure, abandonment or rejection). It was powerful! Afterward people began streaming up to him. I stood, looked around and walked over to the table and started packing the props. What a strange experience! After all these years as the speaker, now I was the one packing the props for the roles had changed. Then a huge sense of gratefulness swept over me. God allowed me to live long enough to see another dream fulfilled – a disciple going beyond his mentor and doing a great job.
With mixed emotions I welcomed the reversal of roles which is, after all, the ultimate goal of discipleship - to train leaders, let go and leave.
Miracles through Forgiveness
We never could have guessed what would happen during a question and answer time at the Bible Church in Puebla, Mexico. The first question came from Roberto. “What do you do with feelings of rejection?” With only 25 minutes left, I asked if he would let me talk to him in front of the audience. He agreed. First, we looked for the source of the rejection and he said it was his father. Roberto was willing to list all the hurts he had experienced. With only 20 minutes left, we went to prayer. It had to be translated into Spanish, then into English. Roberto told the Lord in detail all that his father had done to him. Then he pictured sending his father to the “Jesus Jail” (a word picture for forgive which means ‘to send away,’ not just to release). Next, we identified the lies his father’s hurts had injected into him. “I can’t do anything right.” “I’m unlovable.” “I’ll never amount to anything.” “I’m a failure.” We came against these lies in the name of the Lord Jesus and renounced them. Then, going back over each lie, we affirmed the truth from God’s Word, the opposite of the lie.
Finally, I asked him, “Ten being high and zero being low, where is your feeling of rejection now?” His answer brought tears. “It’s ZERO!” God did in Roberto what others try to do all their lives – find freedom from the pain of rejection and fear of failure. That was a miracle. But another one also took place. For anyone, especially a man, to open up and share his emotional pain with a foreigner, in front of family and friends is truly a miracle of God’s work in his life.
Now I Know What I’m to Be
An invitation to China took us to Guangzhou (Canton) Feb. 21-Mar. 12 to train foreigners studying at the university or working in business in China. I shared I was not a psychologist or therapist but a practical theologian giving personal lessons in applied theology. After explaining how to restore personal power through the biblical tool of circles of responsibility (Rom. 2:18), Mr. So, a businessman, eagerly told me, “God has finally told me what I’m to do and what I’m to be. I want to be a practical theologian like you. Would you mentor me?”
Mr. So, a new disciple in China
Later in an e-mail he wrote, “I believe God wants me to use my years of business and life experience to help people in the business world (in China) to understand the Gospel, to use the biblical tools to fix problems on earth and to apply the biblical principles in our daily lives.” He really connected with God’s purpose for each believer, to “make disciples” (Matt. 28:19). People all over the world want to know who they are and why they are here. Brother So is now well on his way to tell them.
Doors have opened wide for the Living Foundation Ministries team to do more training in China in October ‘07 following the three weeks of training in the Philippines. We also are looking into requests to do biblical counseling training in Italy and Germany.
Prepared to Go
Florina Marcellus visited Living Foundation Ministries to work through some personal issues. This Bible college graduate and gifted soprano volunteered to join our Mexico training team in Jan. 07. We were all in for a big surprise. In several cities, after she shared how she worked through her struggles, Mexican women of different ages and economic backgrounds came to Florina for help. That was only the start.
Florina singing and sharing
in Mexico and China
She stepped out of her comfort zone to join our China team in Feb. ‘07 and sang and shared her story in many venues. As she related the struggles she has faced, more women asked to meet with her. They, too, found freedom through forgiveness.
Where did God find this messenger of hope and healing? In the midst of her struggles, she sought help and learned to apply the biblical tools in her life. Then she was willing to share her story with others and how God could bring healing and freedom to them. What has been her lifelong goal? Foreign missions! Now, she is better prepared to go.
Tons of Thanks
THANK YOU to each one of you who have invested your time, love, prayers, letters, e-mails and finances. Without you, we’re grounded. Your partnership is making it possible to go and “make disciples of all the nations” – the desire of God’s heart.
Yours in Christ,
Chuck and Linda Lynch
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Good News
All the training materials developed by Living Foundation Ministries are now on our website: Lfmtools.org under Training and can be downloaded FREE.
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Miracle in Mindanao
July 28 – August 26, 2006
Dream Fulfilled
How do you put into words the feeling of elation at the fulfillment of a lifelong dream? It happened in Venezuela after teaching five years in various cities as we passed the mantle to capable nationals in 2005. The miracle in Mindanao, Philippines happened in ten months.
Hit by a Freight Train
The island of Mindanao in southern Philippines was our target for three weeks of training in August ‘06. We met first with our Filipino lead team of five couples for two days of ministry preparation. The following day 360 pastors, leaders, seminary and Bible college students eagerly gathered for the Basic Biblical Counseling Seminar in Davao City. Many of them returned a week later for the two day Advanced Seminar. Sandwiched between those two seminars was an Advanced Seminar three hours away in Nabunturan. Back to Davao an all day Parents Seminar on Reducing Anger in the Family drew many non-Christian parents. Then it hit like a loaded freight train - total exhaustion and we still had one seminar to go.
Pastors and leaders gain helpful tools at the Basic Biblical Counseling Seminar in Davao, Philippines
A Time to Divide
After five hours on winding mountain roads, we arrived in San Francisco, our final seminar location. Now came the crucial time to launch our Filipino lead team in co-teaching with us. Were they willing? Yes. Fearful? Yes. As Joel Martinez, our Filipino director, asked who would teach each section of the Basic Seminar, we watched a miracle unfold. We expected they would feel comfortable teaching perhaps 25% of the seminar. To our amazement, they divided up 85% of the training among themselves.
The Philippine team taught effectively in Cebuano using our English notes
Yes, we prayed for this. Yes, we hoped it would happen. Yes, they had taught smaller sections the previous two weeks, but now they were willing to take on the majority of the teaching. A little voice inside me said, "I had to wear you out so you would be able to feel the full impact of what was about to happen." As exhausted as I was, I knew I could not teach those two days and do a half way decent job.
We Watched in Awe
Little did we know that the Filipino team on their own decided to get up at 3:00 am both days to study, pray and practice. It was amazing to see them take the English master notes and teach in Cebuano, contextualizing the training in their own culture. They used the props, drawings and role playing just like we did. We watched in awe as it became obvious they were doing a better job than we could because they were teaching in the heart language of the people. We had prayed for them to teach at least 35% of the seminar, but God said, "No, 85%!" Why not 100%? Because we inserted a section they had not heard and they wanted to watch us teach it first.
Sammy Lu commends the Philippine team for their outstanding teaching
They Didn't Ask Us
Following the last session, the Filipino team stood in front holding the teaching props. We explained to the audience that our goal was to train Filipinos who in turn would train others. When the audience realized that is what took place, they rose in a standing ovation and filed by to congratulate the Filipino team. We were thrilled as pastors began asking them to come and conduct this training in their churches. They didn't ask us! We became bystanders as we watched the miracle in Mindanao unfold before our eyes.
Sammy Lu, a retired businessman, traveled six hours by bus to the seminar in San Francisco just to observe the team. He told us privately and then publicly, "I can see this team is ready for Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia." Even their peers believe they are ready to train the trainers throughout Asia because of the miracle in Mindanao.
The End was Just the Beginning
In 2007 we expect an explosion of biblical counseling training in southern Philippines. An Advanced Seminar is being planned for 700 pastors and leaders in Davao City by Sammy Lu, Pastor Tito and Chaplain Libre with our lead Filipino team. Seminaries and colleges are joining together
to sponsor an additional intense week of training. A Basic Seminar is in the planning stages for General Santos City in the heart of a Muslim area with a large concentration of Christian churches whose days may be numbered. Delegates from that area attended our Basic Seminar.
Living Foundation Ministries only goes where we are invited. All the leadership teams are made up of nationals who must do all the groundwork and organization for the seminars.
What's Needed?
The one thing the southern Philippines lacks is financial resources to put on these requested Biblical Counseling Seminars. We saw God answer prayer as many of you dear friends generously provided the $20,000 needed in August '06 for the five trainings. Through them people made first time decisions for Christ, others came forward in tears for prayer after the forgiveness session, pastors sobbed as they forgave and were healed from deep hurts. This is only the beginning of what God is doing through your prayers and support.
We value your prayers as we train biblical people helpers in 2007. Our first training will be in Puebla, Mexico in January.
A person's last words before he dies may be the most significant words he will ever say. Jesus' final words before ascending into Heaven were, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..."
Serving our incredible God,
Chuck and Linda Lynch
Living Foundation Ministries
611 RD Mize Rd.
Blue Springs, MO 64014
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St. Vincent Highlights… and Beyond
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Double Blessing
Biabou Church on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent came up with a creative idea as an outreach to the community. The first night of the L.F.M. family conference was held in the only restaurant in town. A number of unchurched guests came to hear How to Heal Family Hurts. But something else also happened. As we recruited several people for impromptu skits to illustrate aspects of forgiveness, we noticed the restaurant owner and all the staff stopped to listen intently. Little did the Biabou Church know that not only would they impact their neighbors but an entire restaurant staff as we bowed our heads and I led in prayer to both give and to receive forgiveness.
The Power of Influence
It was our privilege to have dinner with Pastor Maxwell Providence, the superintendent of the Evangelical Churches of the West Indies. He was given a sabbatical this year to finish his master’s degree begun 20 years ago. Yet his schedule was so full, he felt he did not have time to complete his thesis - a comparison of Rastafarianism and Christianity.
I visualized the impact that project could have in equipping Christian to discern truth and error. Later he thanked me for restoring his enthusiasm for the thesis and for motivating him to delegate other responsibilities so he could to begin to write crucial materials for the Evangelical Churches of the West Indies. God knew this highly respected and admired leader in evangelical circles needed some strong encouragement to motivate him to pass on a legacy of godly wisdom and experience. God also used him in another crucial way.
A Nation Who Honors God
The week before our arrival in St. Vincent, Keith Miller, the Royal Police Commissioner (equivalent to our Attorney general), organized a national prayer and peace march. “Move forward in 2006 with the Church in the redeeming power of God in prayer, repentance, and thanksgiving for the Nation.” Commissioner Miller said it would be “the first of many steps in order to address lawlessness in the country.”
After reading about it in the paper, we asked Pastor Maxwell if he could arrange for us to meet the Commissioner. I wanted to thank him personally for his example to the nation of the need to call on God for wisdom and direction. Two days and tons of phone calls later, Pastor Maxwell escorted us into the chambers of Commissioner Miller. He shared his heart, how he came to this position and how he needed God’s wisdom. We explained our purpose for being in St. Vincent and gave him a copy of I Should Forgive, But… and God’s Peace in Your Home. Before we left, we joined hands and prayed for him and his huge responsibility to lead the nation in honoring God.
Chuck expresses appreciation to Police Commissioner
Timothy Spotted in Sweden
While in St. Vincent, we received an e-mail from Marie Stevens, a missionary in Venezuela for 30 years. She helped coordinate our training seminars in Puerto La Cruz where we passed the mantle on to Emiliano and Anita. We were surprised to hear that the three of them are in Sweden ministering to the large Spanish speaking population and also to English and Swedish speakers. Anita and Emiliano are teaching every night and counseling during the day. Marie wrote, “Now they have found their ‘Timothy’ and they want him to come to Venezuela to be trained in counseling…They are talking with pastors about the possibility of you (Living Foundation Ministries) coming to Sweden to train. What you did in Venezuela, the passing of the mantle, came from the Lord and here we are.” We praise the Lord that ‘Timothys’ are being spotted all around the world.
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Honored for their effort
A New Lesson in Sacrifice
A little woozy after 100 plus hairpin curves on a narrow road, we were delighted to find the church in Troumaca three fourths filled on a Thursday night. A guest pastor and wife from a neighboring church came for the counseling seminar on How to Work through the Pain of Rejection and Favoritism in the Family. They told us they had attended the seminar we conducted five years ago in Kingstown. In amazement I asked, “You drove all the way to Kingstown from here every night for a week?” “Yes, of course,” they nonchalantly replied. And I thought I was in line for a martyr’s button after traveling there for just one night. I quickly excused myself and retrieved two medallions from my props and hung them around their necks. “I honor you for the huge effort you made to receive training in biblical counseling!” It was like God tapped me on the shoulder and said, “This is sacrifice.” This punctuated for us the need and desire of nationals to be trained to help fellow brothers and sister in Christ to work through their problems in living from Scripture.
A First for Linda
When Chuck was asked to record eight 10 minute radio programs in St. Vincent on Effective Communication, he drew on years of experience managing KLJC’s FM station.
Linda records first mini radio program
Then Linda was asked to do a program. It was her first and out of her comfort zone, but she did it and shared her journey of forgiveness and reconciliation. For a free CD of the programs, just call or e-mail us.
I'm Going to Write My Letter
In the four zones where we conducted the training, attendance ranged from 400 to 60, but the impact was the same. They may have expected us to be the perfect role model of everything we taught, but we honestly shared where we failed with our own children and the steps of correction we took. Linda unzipped her heart and read a letter she wrote to one of our daughters admitting again how she wounded her spirit as a child. She affirmed that having received her forgiveness many years ago was only the first step in healing and reassured her of her love and support. Following the session, one person after another would slip up to Linda and whisper, “I’m going home to write my letter.” As we shared our own corrected failures, it gave them the encouragement to take the first step.
Where to Now?
Malawi - The word from Sue Harrell, our Malawi, Africa contact, is that they envision a bigger ministry in Africa for us than they originally projected and need a year to make the arrangements. So 2007 is the new target date for Malawi. We will probably combine it with the request for a seminar in Kenya.
Puebla, Mexico - The publisher of our Spanish book on reducing anger has scheduled a city wide seminar on How to Reduce Anger in the Family May 19-20, 2006. They have acquired a neutral site for this seminar. Michelle Lynch will sing at each session and then Sunday evening in a large theater, she will do a full scale concert geared to reach unchurched friends. Last fall she did a number of evangelistic concerts in Venezuela while she was studying Spanish.
Philippines -In Nov.’05 we had 100 pastors and wives at each of our two biblical counseling seminars in the Philippines. A businessman and the head chaplain of Davao City who also attended are now planning a seminar of 500-700 pastors and key businessmen this August. The budget they sent us for this one training alone is $5,000. (Gulp!) This will be in addition to doing two advanced seminars and team teaching two basic seminars with the leaders who attended last year. Our goal is to train nationals to train others in practical biblical counseling. Please pray for stability in the Philippines in the midst of major political unrest. Our key men to pray for are Chaplain Eliseo Libre, businessman Sammy Lu and our L.F.M. coordinator, Pastor Joel Martinez.
Heaps of Thanks
We never get tired of thanking you for your prayers, encouraging e-mails and letters and generous financial support. Praise the Lord that your generosity covered all travel, housing and seminar expenses for our trainings in the Philippines (11-05) and St. Vincent (2-06). Our next two target challenges are the Puebla, Mexico seminar in May and the Philippine seminars in August. Thank you for putting your “necks” in the harness with us as together we follow Jesus’ command to “make disciples of all nations.”
Yours in Christ,
Chuck and Linda Lynch |
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