March 2009

Weeping for the lost

Samantha came home from school on Wednesday praising God. She was able to lead one of her new friends to the Lord. While on a school trip, the girls began discussing God and creation during the bus ride. Samantha was able to explain to her friend all that the Bible has to say about Heaven. Her friend professed to believe in God, but didn't know whether she would go to Heaven or not. Samantha told her she could know for sure and explained salvation to her. Reminding her friend that this is serious and not just a "club for kids", she lead her in prayer asking God for salvation. The girls in the seat in front of them then popped up and said, "Tell us more. We want to know too." They discussed God and the Bible during the whole trip. The next day, Samantha took devotional books to school for each of the girls. Now she keeps a couple of extra ones in her backpack, just in case. Oh, so cool!

We have been studying the great commission in Sunday School and focusing specifically on China. This morning we talked about the great population of China and the number of people who die there every day. Have they heard? Have they read the Bible? Were they saved? Where do all of those souls go? One of the boys piped up and asked about all of the "good people" in the world who don't believe the Bible. Where do they go? Knowing that his Dad is an Atheist, this question was very pointed and real. During the discussion that followed, I noticed another child with her head down. She is a very shy little girl, so I did not think much about it. Then, Samantha stood up and walked over to her and put her arm around her. Then I saw it. This dear little girls was weeping. Both her mother and father are atheists. We immediately stood together with those children whose parents are unsaved and pleaded with God to save them. The hour ended in sweet songs of praise as we all thought about God's love and salvation and how sweet it will be to join Him in Heaven one day.

A lesson about missionaries half way around the world hit home with our kids. Will you please pray with us that hearts will be softened and lives changed here within our city as well as half way around the world in China? Please pray for the five children in our Sunday School who have unsaved fathers.

Thank you for your faithful support in prayers and finances.

Chelli Sudbrock

Editing article

I'm sorry. I didn't clearly state that the exchange student from Germany is looking for a church to attend when she returns to Germany. She has a good church in Texas where she is currently staying. However, we she returns to Germany at the end of the school year, she will be without a church family.

Thank you for your prayers for Nicole and for workers in the field of Germany.

Chelli

Receiving from the Lord

We received an encouraging email this week from a German teenager who is an exchange student in Texas right now. She writes, "Last September, I received Christ as my savior. The Lord changed my whole life. Unfortunately, I am not getting any support from my family in regards to my faith. They think I am crazy. I am looking for a good church in my area. I don't want to take the risk of being taught false doctrine. Thank you so much for your Website. You have given me hope and encouragement. May God bless your church."

Oh how I wish I could tell her that there is a good church in her area, but I am afraid I can't.

We receive letters and calls each summer from German exchange students who return home and are looking for a church. We are here laboring to build those churches. And now is where you come in. It is your financial support and prayers that make our work here possible. The other thing you can do to support missions is to take in an exchange student and share the Gospel with them. Invite the mission field into your home. What an awesome opportunity. Would you take some time this spring and pray about opening your home up to the mission field. Hosting is not for everyone, but if it is for you, God will let you know. We can use all the help we can get . . . on both sides of the ocean.

We also received an invitation this week to accompany Samantha's third grade class on their field trip to the home of Martin Luther. We were excited about the opportunity to get to know the teacher and the students better and prayed that God would just allow us to be a witness during the trip. Little did we know that we would be the ones who would receive the "Eye opening" witness on this trip. As the tour of the house began, the students proudly showed how much they had studied by answering all the questions about Martin Luther and the first German Bibles and printing presses and many other details about the Great Reformation of the middle ages. Just before leaving the house, we were in a room with a 15 foot painting of the crucifixion by Lucas Cranach. One of the girls was drawn to the painting and I did my best to keep her focused on the tour guide and the topic at hand. Finally, we came to the painting, and I said, "Linda, now you can ask your questions." Here came my eye opener. Linda asked, "Who is that man and what did he do that was so awful that they would punish him like that? Look, he has nails through his feet. Is that Luther?" Not a single east German child in the group knew the answer to her questions. All heads turned toward the tour guide in search of truth. She hesitated. She faltered and simply said, "This is a painting of the crucifixion. It is not Luther. Now let me tell you about the artist." There stood a group of 10 year olds who had never heard the truth of Easter. I drew Linda to the side and told her where she could read the story of Jesus Christ, but no one in her family has a Bible. Directing her to the library near her house, I made a mental note to pray for Linda every day. Would you also pray for this generation of Germans every day? The Gospel is here. It is available to them. It is no longer hidden by the iron curtain. But they still do not know. That is why we are here. These 3rd graders are only one example of why the Lord has called us to Germany.

Chelli