Soia was an engaging young man from Manipur in northeast India. Christianity has been in that part of India for about 200 years, so most of the tribal groups have a rich history in the Christian faith. While at the seminary, he joined a singing group of students from that state called the Manipur Tribal Singers. Their songs and hymns touched many and were interspersed with traditional dancing and motions.

   In the early 1990s, we decided to bring the group to the States through New Directions to sing and give their testimonies to a wide variety of audiences. Our oldest daughter, Trish, and my brother Ed traveled with them along the east coast on two different occasions. Many people were blessed by the group’s singing and obvious devotion to Christ.

   When Soia graduated from MBS, he returned as a pastor to his home state and began ministering among his people. His heart was also in evangelism and he traveled by foot to surrounding villages, winning others to Christ as well. He eventually married and had two daughters, Ruth and Khummi.

   But very difficult days were ahead for him and his family. His wife became pregnant with their third child and as the time came for the baby to be born, she went into great distress. At the end of a very hard labor, both she and their little baby boy died. The loss of both was almost more than he could bear and he leaned heavily on God to comfort and sustain him and his daughters. Soia’s mother went to live with them and for some time the new family grouping overcame their sadness. And then, his mother died. It all seemed impossible to comprehend!

   Soia had to keep working and ministering to provide for Ruth and Khummi, so his sister moved in to help with the housekeeping and care of the girls. And then she died! What can we say, except it was grief upon grief! The sadness and loneliness was oppressive and began to affect Soia’s health. It was almost as if he were going through something like post-traumatic-stress-syndrome.

   And then he met Moipi, a lovely Christian woman! They were married and she became both a wonderful wife to Soia and a great mother to the girls. She got pregnant and, as you can imagine, Soia and his family were in a heightened state of anxiety as the delivery date approached. But, praise God, a healthy baby boy was born and mother and baby, whom they named Joseph, have done very well!

   Although Soia continued to minister locally and evangelize the surrounding villages, he still struggled with health issues. When Dr. Keith Thompson, (my brother-in-law and the subject of a recent email blast) was recently in West Bengal, he arranged for Soia to meet him and get a thorough examination. We are happy to report that Soia is improving daily with some very helpful medication.

   As he travels to distant villages and baptizes the converts, he sends pictures back to us as you will see in this slide show. The only thing he asks is funding for Bibles to help the new believers grow in the Lord. Enjoy the pictures that show him “doing his passion”! Thank you for your prayers for Soia, his family, and for any financial support you can give for his Bible distribution.

Always grateful for Godly partnerships!
J.L. and Patt
&  

After their marriage, Keith and Hannah spent a summer of medical ministry in Africa – an experience which forever confirmed their passion for medical missions. As a result, they continued to have an extensive medical mission ministry abroad while running a very large and successful practice in America. Since Hannah is a gifted Bible teacher, she would accompany Keith on most of his medical missions to teach the Bible – especially to women. Across the years they traveled and ministered in Haiti, Africa, Russia, China, India, Nepal, South America – virtually every country I minister in – and more!

Recently Keith retired from a wonderful medical practice in Thomasville, NC. After turning 70, he now gives even more time to minister medically and spiritually in America and around the world as the Lord leads him and Hannah. I know you will be blessed by this brief report on his recent medical ministry journey to India. Without his annual medical trips to India, we could not have seen the advancements spiritually and medically at the Holy Palace Hospital. He has become a great friend, partner and mentor to Dr. Rai – just as Hannah has to his wife, Mary (pictured together, above right). Their faithful involvement there is another great example of the power of long-term partnerships! In addition to going over themselves annually, they have also recruited other doctors and medical people to go along to work at Holy Palace Hospital and help enhance and advance the medical facility. So we are so thankful to all those who have invested their time, love, compassion and medical expertise in Holy Palace and their rural medical ministry to the poorest of the poor.

Please take a moment to click on these latest reports by Dr. Rai. I know you will be blessed and challenged as you see something of the extensive ministry they are having medically and spiritually!

- Medical Ministry
- Nurses' Training Program
- Mobile Clinics
- Children's Ministry
- Church Ministry

In the love and compassion of Jesus,
J.L.

PS: Since one of our dear friends and partner from Manipur, India, visited with Dr. Keith at Holy Palace, we will be featuring our partnership ministry with him in our next report. I know you will be blessed and encouraged since this partnership also goes back over two decades to the "Manipur Tribal Singers." Be watching for the report next week on Pastor Soia from Manipur in Northeast India.

   That has certainly been the case in all of our partnerships and projects in other countries where God has led us. None of them started BIG. They all started small – literally with nothing but vision and faith. And we have learned this essential principle: “Partnerships must precede projects." In other words, no project is any stronger than the partnership it is built upon."  The Bible also reminds us that projects are temporal but partnerships are eternal. That's because God is a relational God. So from His perspective, partnerships are far more important than projects. None of us will take any of our projects to heaven – only our partnerships based in Christ!

   So it has been a great joy to spend my life building partnerships. First of all in marriage and family. Then in the family of God. I certainly have not built perfect relationships or partnerships – in either marriage or in ministry. Since there are no perfect people, there are no perfect relationships or partnerships. But we should strive for relationships that are constantly maturing through the Spirit and the Word.

   Certainly, one of the joys of my life has been the relationship and partnership God has given me with Stakwell Yurenimo in Kenya. It was another of the "sovereign serendipities" God surprised me with as he connected me as a white American with a young Samburu adolescent – whose father was a polygamist with several wives. His first wife was the mother of Stakwell. So, with Mother's Day coming this weekend, I honor two Samburu women and mothers in this introduction to the last report on our recent time of ministry in South Horr, Northern Kenya. The first is Stakwell's mother (pictured left).

   The second woman and mother is Chairlady (pictured right). As I shared in an earlier report, she was the very first convert among the Samburu. It was my joy to help baptize her nearly two decades ago. Her son, Isaiah, is now one of the elders of the local church we helped them build, as well as an evangelist who is bivocational – as you will see in this report.

   In the final slideshow, we will be focusing on the Camp and work team that went with us. Like other building teams in the past, they helped us make some important additions to the Camp – little by little...line upon line…stone upon stone…board upon board…row upon row…flower upon flower...building upon building. As a result, in less than a decade, we have seen the facility develop from the raw "African Bush", as pictured below, to a thriving Sports Camp and Guest Lodges alive with activity that you will see in the slideshow.

   But most of all, each one of them left a finger print and foot print – not just on the Camp, but on the hearts of our beloved Samburu people – child after child…teenager after teenager…worker after worker…Moran after Moran…mother after mother. And just as certainly, each of them came back with the Samburu people stamped indelibly upon their hearts, minds and memories! So we thank God for this latest team of partners who went with us and made such a positive impact in both partnerships and projects: Craig Burr, Wally Fonville, Jack Franck, John Fraser and Rob Rose!

   So come walk with Patt and me (and Meribell Yurenimo and me as pictured below) on this third and final report on our recent time of ministry in Kenya with Stakwell.

In His Love for the Samburu People,
J.L. & Patt
 & 

RAGING RIVER

WATCH THE SHORT VIDEO OF THIS RAGING RIVER

VIEW PREVIOUS REPORTS

                      
PART ONE:                                      PART 2:
SAMBURU WOMEN'S CONFERENCE       MINISTRY TO SAMBURU WARRIORS

   This horrific bombing at the finish line of the famous Boston Marathon is a good example of the many "soft-targets" that will become the scene of more and more Islamic jihaddist terrorism.  It is virtually impossible to stop fanatics and suicide bombers from inflicting carnage and mayhem at social events and sports events where thousands of Americans are gathered – with their defenses down. It is not that I am a prophet in predicting this. It does not take the gift of prophecy to see the obvious! All we have to do is to get our "heads out of the sand" as a nation and quit ignoring the reality of this worldwide Islamic Jihad against America, Christianity, Judaism and all we stand for. With their pan-Islamic mentality, they are still out to dominate the world through the imposition of sharia law under a global Caliphate, or Islamic Ruler – like the fanatical Ayatollahs who rule in countries like Iran today. 

   All over America today there are thousands of "sleeper cells" just waiting for the right opportunity to activate. Many more are in the making as more and more young Muslims are being "radicalized" by the vitriolic rhetoric of mullas in Mosques and Islamic Training Centers all over America and the world! Just like the Tsarnaeu brothers were "radicalized" – the same is happening to untold thousands of others on a daily and weekly basis. And just like these two brothers, many of them have come to America as immigrants, been granted Green Cards, attained citizenship, enjoyed good educations, have benefited from our social welfare programs and seem to have been completely "civilized" and "socialized" into our American way of life! For years they seem to live normal lives as students, workers, athletes, friends – neighbors down the street where we live. All the while many of them are being "radicalized" by Islamic Fundamentalism. And then the right moment comes – the bombs explode…people are killed…others are maimed…others are traumatized…all are "terrorized!"

   Add to this scenario the reality of highly toxic chemical weapons, dirty bombs and nuclear explosives that can be smuggled in a suitcase or brief case – and you have an apocalyptic reality of epic proportion! Again, I am not trying to be an alarmist – just a realist. We are in a life-and-death-winner-take-all "War on Islamic Terrorism." And while we must become even more diligent and resolved as a nation, as Christians we must "wake up," as Paul exhorted the Church at Ephesus (Eph. 5:14)! We too must become "radicalized" in our faith! Nominalism will never win against fanaticism! We must quit buying into the spiritual and theological non-sense of universalism and multiculturalism with their gods and goddesses of plurality and tolerance. The only thing that can compete against "Radical Islam" is not nominalism – but "Radical Christianity!" And by "radical," I do not mean fanatical. I mean that we must be captivated and motivated by radical love…radical compassion…radical forgiveness…radical mercy...radical good works! We must break out of our bondage to materialism…prosperity…upward mobility…comfort…safety…security – or "middle class mediocrity!" We must wake-up…stand-up…study-up...speak-up…act up for the Lord Jesus and the principles of His Kingdom – which are truly radical!

   To help in that spiritual and cultural radicalism, I want to again direct many of you to my book and DVD study series entitled: "A Christian Perspective of Islam." In light of the Boston Bombings, I have also reposted several Power Points on some of the true differences between Christianity and Islam. I hope you will click on them and study them for your own edification. Hopefully in the process you will become a more "Radical Christian!"

In His Radical Love & Truth,
J.L.

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON ISLAM

Book

- Download Free PDF Version
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Free PowerPoint Presentations

- Part 1: The History of Islam
- Part 2: Jesus vs. Isa
- Part 3: Twin Towers

During their 12-14 years as a Moran, they do not go to school, get married or socialize with the rest of the tribe. They live “on the land” and “on the move.”  They are dedicated to being “brave warriors” – just like David’s Mighty Men – or like the Green Berets, Delta Force or Navy Seals.

Because they live apart from the rest of the tribe, they are basically an “unreached people group” spiritually. But we started ministering to them almost two decades ago. To gain rapport with them, we invited them to do their famous singing, dancing and jumping for us. Afterwards, we sponsored a “goat roast” and our partner, Stakwell Yurenimo, and I preached the Gospel to them. Because Stakwell was also a Moran, he was our cultural bridge in reaching them. I could never have reached them without him.

WARRIORS FOR CHRIST

Many in that first class of Morans became Christians – “warriors for Christ!” Now, after their years of being warriors, they have graduated to being “junior elders” in the tribe because a new class of boys was recently circumcised and has taken their place. Today, several of those Christian warriors are elders and leaders in the local church we helped establish among them. We continue to mentor them today through our on-going partnership with Stakwell. This spiritual break-through to the Morans has been one of the most exciting “Kingdom Adventures” of my life!

But it doesn’t stop here because we are continuing our outreach to this new class of Morans with the Gospel.  On this most recent trip we sponsored another time for them to sing, dance and jump. Then we took them into the new Samburu Chapel and showed the Mel Gibson movie, “The Passion.”  Appropriately, we planned this event for Good Friday. They were joined by some of the older men and young boys. The Chapel was full and quiet as they watched the passion of the Greatest Warrior who ever lived – Jesus Christ! Many were visibly moved as they watched the graphic portrayal of Christ’s suffering and crucifixion. At the end, Stakwell and I gave a challenge for them to give their lives to Him and become a “warrior for Jesus.”

As with the first class of Morans we ministered to, decisions for Christ were not made immediately. But the seeds of the Gospel were sown in their hearts and minds. We are confident that in time many from this class will also become believers and followers of Jesus. Pray with us that they will respond to the seeds of Truth that were sown this past Good Friday.

A SAMBURU EASTER

After our ministry to the Morans on Good Friday, we enjoyed a very special Easter Sunday worship with the Samburu Christians at the Kurungu Church we had built back in the early 1990s. The church was packed to overflowing with Samburu men, women, teenagers and children.

There was wonderful congregational singing and special songs by the women’s church choir as well as by the girls’ choir and boys’ choir. Please click here to listen to some of their Easter songs I recorded for you. I know you will enjoy their exhuberant singing and dancing!

After the music, it was a special privilege for me to preach the Easter Message alongside Stakwell – who is a great preacher himself!  Since we have preached together many times through the years, he is a wonderful translator who interprets my message and reflects my every gesture. He is such a joy to preach with!

Stakwell and I preached about the people that Jesus appeared to on that first Easter Sunday Morning: the one who had been defiled (Mary Magdalene) … the one who had denied (Peter) … the one who had doubted (Thomas) … and the ones who had been disillusioned (on Emmaus Road). In other words, Jesus appeared to people just like them and us!

Thank you for your prayers for us for this special “Samburu Easter Outreach.” Now, let me connect the dots between that Easter and to the Easter taking place this Sunday…

EASTER IN AFRICA & ISRAEL

It is very timely that I am sending you this report on our recent “African Easter” this particular week. That’s because the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Easter later than the Western Church. In fact, this Sunday, May 5^th, is “Easter Sunday” for Orthodox Christians in the Holy Land and around the world. Let me explain…

In the Western World, we celebrated Easter this year rather early, on March 31^st. That’s because Western Christendom goes by the Gregorian Calendar while the Eastern Church goes by the Julian Calendar. The early church fathers wanted to celebrate Easter right after the Jewish Passover since that was the time Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. And since the Passover is based on the solar and lunar cycles, it can vary widely – as early as March 22nd or as late as April 25^th. But our Christian Arab brothers and sisters use the Julian calendar. (If this sounds a bit confusing, just find an encyclopedia or Google it!)

This is especially significant for us this year as a ministry because of our partnership with Pastor Hani Billan at the Cana Baptist Church in the Holy Land.  God connected us with them on our last trip to Israel this past November. As you know from the New Testament, this is the town where Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding feast (John 2). Pastor Hani is a Christian Arab ministering to Arabs.

Sadly, Cana of Galilee has increasingly become a hotbed for Islamic radicalism. In addition, both the Orthodox Church and Catholic Church have been hostile to their evangelical presence. But they are still growing spiritually and numerically among their Arab neighbors. As a result, when we were there, they were in the midst of expanding their church to the third floor for their new and larger Worship Center. But they had run out of money. So, by faith, we committed to help them financially. God led us to buy new chairs for their new Worship Center ($8,000) and many of you helped make that a reality. Their goal was to use them for the first time this Easter Sunday, May 5^th! 

So please be praying this Sunday – Easter Sunday – for Pastor Hani and the dear Arab saints at the Cana Baptist Church! We pray that they will have a blessed Easter Sunday Celebration in their new Worship Center – with their new chairs provided by JLPF’s partners like you!

Now, please take a few more moments to enjoy the slide show of our Good Friday and Easter Sunday ministry with our beloved Samburu friends and partners – all made possible through your prayers and partnership.

In His Great Love for the Samburu of Kenya & Arabs of Cana,
JL & Patt
& 

P.S.: Please be watching next week for our final report in this series on our ministry with Stakwell among the Samburu. As always, we pray that you will be blessed and encouraged!

PART ONE
"SAMBURU WOMEN'S CONFERENCE"