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 June 2011
* David Wilkerson 1931-2011
* On the ground in Joplin, MO
* NEW! Leonard Ravenhill Bio
Dear Friend,
Two weeks ago my first granddaughter was born! She is beautiful, healthy and such a delight to our family. Her happy parents, Rachel and Bobby, are totally overjoyed, and a bit overwhelmed, as their two little boys don’t plan to slow down any time soon! I feel so very blessed. I took this photo when she was just a few hours old.
Remembering David Wilkerson
As you probably already know, David Wilkerson, a spiritual father, and a personal friend of mine went to be with the Lord. What a rich legacy he has left behind! With over 1000 Teen Challenge centers around the world, a worldwide missions ministry, a new ministry to feed the poor, and countless lives changed, his life was marked with obedience and honor to Jesus.
My Memories of David
David and Gwen Wilkerson were neighbors when our families lived in Texas. David and Keith would talk and pray often. Besides being a profound evangelist, David was extremely generous. He gave away cars, forgave large debts, and sold large pieces of property for 10 cents on the dollar. He never said anything about it, but people spoke of his blessings to them and their ministries.One night, when Josiah was a few years old, David walked into my kitchen and handed Keith and me a framed piece of artwork. David said, “Hold onto this and one day it will put Josiah through college.” I still have it – Josiah "graduated" early along with Keith and Bethany.Please keep David’s family in in your prayers, especially his wife Gwen who was pretty broken up in the car crash, and is still recovering.We’re sharing David’s final blog, to the right. It was written the day he met the Lord. It’s a great look into his faith in the Lord he is now with face to face.
Weather Warnings Everywhere
Our hearts and prayers go out to all of you, and those you love, who have been and are being, affected by so many natural disasters all over the world. May the Lord turn your ashes into beauty in ways that only He can do.
In 1987 while living in Texas an undetected tornado hit my 100 year old farmhouse. My girls and I had to be rescued through “live” power lines tangled in huge trees ripped from my yard. It hit our LDM property too, tearing buildings and flipping trucks -- I praise God no one was hurt. Last month in Kansas City we had a few tornado sirens go off and I had to spend some time in my basement. I’m so grateful the winds lifted.
LDM Ministry in Joplin MO.
Joplin is about a 3 hour drive south of my home and as you know was devastated in May by the EF-5 tornado. The images shown on the TV cannot come close to what it must have felt like to go through that terrifying time.
Alyssa DeGraff, who is on LDM part-time Staff went to Joplin just four days after the tornado. She is now committed to bringing volunteer ministry teams to Joplin every week. I've known Alyssa since her birth! Below is her account of how God is changing lives amidst the rubble of tragedy.
In Everything Give Thanks
In everything let's always remember that God is with us, loves us, and laid down His life for us. He walks with us every moment. He rejoices when we rejoice and feels our pain in tragedy. He knows everything. And in Him we will overcome all that might come against us.
With great hope in Jesus,
JOPLIN, MO
A City in Crisis
by Alyssa DeGraff
"You who love the broken things,
Come to Joplin and make her sing."
I will never forget the morning I wrote that chorus as I cried out to God in a prayer meeting, asking Him to comfort those in Joplin.
So many were displaced, wounded, and in utter despair, having lost their homes and loved ones to the tornado that ripped through the center of town on May 22nd.
Little did I know, an hour later I’d be invited to travel from KC to the closed-off disaster zone with a small ministry team. We wanted to survey the damage and see how we could help, and connect with the local churches.
My Heart Was Hooked
As soon as I arrived, I immediately sensed my heart being "hooked" by the Lord like never before. The devastation was utterly overwhelming, but I knew those affected would soon have plenty of food, water, and clothing rushed in by the Red Cross, FEMA, and others. The debris too would eventually be cleaned up (probably taking years) and homes would hopefully be rebuilt or replaced. But the people themselves were devastated and needed immediate comfort and ministry.
Who would care for the hearts of the people?
As I walked the wind-torn streets almost every survivor I talked to told me how they hid in some obscure part of their house, that ended up being the only part of their home still standing. These people were left in shock at the destruction, but even more in shock at their own survival. They would say to me, “I know that God saved my life, but why?" I suddenly realized I was seeing a a display of God's mercy in the midst of a horrible tragedy.
Mom and baby Chloe, happy to have each other!
I began to see that in this tragedy there was also a divine window of opportunity for God to touch hearts and lives. Most people were very in touch with the mercy of the Lord and their own unpreparedness to die. Nearly every person I talked to was eager to receive prayer and talk about the things of the Lord. I have never before sensed such hunger and spiritual openness in individuals, let alone an entire city!
Quincy's Story
When the tornado hit Quincy’s house and blew out the windows, he was thrown behind a sofa. When it passed, he climbed out of the rubble, to find his entire house gone. Only the sofa remained! Two-by-four's had even been stabbed through the couch like spears, missing his head by inches! Several days after the tornado, Quincy layed on an inflatable bed at a relative's home, wondering why he, an “old man” had been spared.
Above, Quincy showed us the remains of his house
and the sofa that God used to save his life.
Quincy gave his life to the Lord for the first time, saying, "Lord I'm Yours. There is no other reason why I'm still alive." With tears in his eyes, he told us, "I know that God has a purpose for me.
Miss Minnie
I remember sitting to pray with Miss Minnie a sweet elderly woman, whose home had blown ten feet off its foundation and was demolished. Behind us our team was removing debris and looking for anything to salvage, such as the precious Singer sewing machine she loved. She was in great need of comfort and personal encouragement and I’m so glad we were there to help her, at least just a little.
Here I am, sitting with Miss Minnie
Local Churches
In the same way the tornado stripped walls from homes, schools, and businesses, the Lord was tearing down walls in many hearts. I was blessed to sit in on a meeting where two pastors from local churches laid down years of offense and agreed to join forces and work together to reach out to their crippled city. This was such a powerful thing to witness and all of Joplin will certainly benefit.
These are but a few of the incredible stories I have encountered that display God's redemptive power in the midst of tragedy. I feel like a bit of a pearl collector, searching for beauty in the ashes, just grateful to be a small part of what the Lord is doing among the people of Joplin. (He truly loves the broken things.)
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IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY
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WHEN ALL
MEANS FAIL
by David Wilkerson
written April 27, 2011
To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (Jn 20:29).
Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.
Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.
That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”
Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”
Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.
To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let Me embrace you in your hour of pain.”
Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.
©2011 WorldChallenge.org
Used by permission.
Joplin Missouri
Disaster Relief Fund
Joplin is still in Crisis. LDM has created a fund to bring relief directly to those who’ve been left with little or nothing.
We have a unique chance to see the needs firsthand. LDMer Alyssa DeGraff is ministering there four days a week. She will be working with people who've lost their homes or places of employment.
This might mean buying groceries, necessary medications, shoes, clothes, or even paying bus fares to relocate with relatives, etc.
We’ll use the funds in the most effective way. Alyssa is working with individuals and with local churches.
To help the people in Joplin, simply click on giving button above and you can donate online or by check.
Summer Sale!
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Visit the Music and/or Songbook section of our store, and receive 15% off any CD or Songbook Quantity - UNLIMITEDThrough July 15thUse Voucher code SUM15 at checkout.
Read David Wilkerson's inspirational articles he wrote for
The Last Days Magazine
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