Because of our interracial profile, we were thrust into the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement in Alamance County where we were based.   And everywhere we traveled with our "Action Experience in Christian Love," we sought to model authentic reconciliation.  As a group of excited young Christians, we were just naively seeking to be a positive incarnation and demonstration of the reconciliation that we were finding in the Lord Jesus!  We believed and taught that "Racism is not a skin problem -- but a sin problem!"  And only the Lord Jesus could forgive the sin and transform the heart to the degree that racism and prejudices could be laid aside for authentic reconciliation in Christ!

As I watched the domestic workers in the movie get on and off their buses that were taking them 'across town' to the 'other side of the tracks,' I could not help but reflect on our weekly bus trips -- first on the old YMCA bus, then later, on our refurbished Greyhound bus.  But we didn't get on and off the bus as a segregated group.  Nor did our Black members ride on the 'back of the bus!'  We traveled together as an enthusiastic group of young people who were on a journey of falling in love with the Lord Jesus and with each other!  And most of those covenant interracial friendships exist to this very day and hour!

We musically invaded every venue that would open its doors to us from 'Maine to Miami!"  We traveled and ministered in all of the bastions of racial segregation from West Point, Mississippi…to Charleston, SC…to Myrtle Beach…Lynchburg, Virginia.  We also penetrated the ghettos and inner cities of the North.  In most places we traveled and ministered, we were the very first integrated group to ever be in that town…church…school…prison…mall.  Frankly, it is a wonder that we did not get arrested or killed!   God was gracious beyond our comprehension -- even to this very day!

So as Patt and I watched 'The Help,' we did so with both pain and praise.  We still are pained by the lingering scars of those awful decades of prejudice and segregation.  In those earlier days, none of us fully realized just how radical and revolutionary we were!  We were definitely 'ahead of the times' we were living in.  As such, we often found ourselves out-of-step with parents, siblings, friends and church members -- Black and White.  But we were in-step with a great spiritual and cultural wave of the Holy Spirit!

So if you haven't seen 'The Help.' I hope you will do so.  And while the language is very raw at times, I would even recommend that you take your teenage children to see it for their edification -- depending on their level of spiritual and emotional maturity.  Sadly, their generation is almost totally ignorant of the horrible realities of that era in American history.  And as we often preached: "He who is not aware of his history is condemned to relive it."  Because millions of Americans today have still not honestly dealt with their racial prejudice, our nation still struggles with the legacy of latent racism -- always lurking just beneath the surface and ready to raise its ugly head of hate!  And it seems to especially do so during times of political activity leading toward congressional and presidential elections -- like the 2012 political season.

Finally, watching the movie only strengthened my desire and resolve to try and capture some of the history of our ministry.  It is not 'my story' -- but 'our story.'  At my request, many of our ND Alumni have written significant chapters about their involvement in the NDs.  They have been a blessing and encouragement to read and reflect back on.  We hope to make all of them available in book form sometime in 2012.

Thanksgiving Blessings to each of you…JL & Patt

Because of our interracial profile, we were thrust into the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement in Alamance County where we were based.   And everywhere we traveled with our "Action Experience in Christian Love," we sought to model authentic reconciliation.  As a group of excited young Christians, we were just naively seeking to be a positive incarnation and demonstration of the reconciliation that we were finding in the Lord Jesus!  We believed and taught that "Racism is not a skin problem -- but a sin problem!"  And only the Lord Jesus could forgive the sin and transform the heart to the degree that racism and prejudices could be laid aside for authentic reconciliation in Christ!

As I watched the domestic workers in the movie get on and off their buses that were taking them 'across town' to the 'other side of the tracks,' I could not help but reflect on our weekly bus trips -- first on the old YMCA bus, then later, on our refurbished Greyhound bus.  But we didn't get on and off the bus as a segregated group.  Nor did our Black members ride on the 'back of the bus!'  We traveled together as an enthusiastic group of young people who were on a journey of falling in love with the Lord Jesus and with each other!  And most of those covenant interracial friendships exist to this very day and hour!

We musically invaded every venue that would open its doors to us from 'Maine to Miami!"  We traveled and ministered in all of the bastions of racial segregation from West Point, Mississippi…to Charleston, SC…to Myrtle Beach…Lynchburg, Virginia.  We also penetrated the ghettos and inner cities of the North.  In most places we traveled and ministered, we were the very first integrated group to ever be in that town…church…school…prison…mall.  Frankly, it is a wonder that we did not get arrested or killed!   God was gracious beyond our comprehension -- even to this very day!

So as Patt and I watched 'The Help,' we did so with both pain and praise.  We still are pained by the lingering scars of those awful decades of prejudice and segregation.  In those earlier days, none of us fully realized just how radical and revolutionary we were!  We were definitely 'ahead of the times' we were living in.  As such, we often found ourselves out-of-step with parents, siblings, friends and church members -- Black and White.  But we were in-step with a great spiritual and cultural wave of the Holy Spirit!

So if you haven't seen 'The Help.' I hope you will do so.  And while the language is very raw at times, I would even recommend that you take your teenage children to see it for their edification -- depending on their level of spiritual and emotional maturity.  Sadly, their generation is almost totally ignorant of the horrible realities of that era in American history.  And as we often preached: "He who is not aware of his history is condemned to relive it."  Because millions of Americans today have still not honestly dealt with their racial prejudice, our nation still struggles with the legacy of latent racism -- always lurking just beneath the surface and ready to raise its ugly head of hate!  And it seems to especially do so during times of political activity leading toward congressional and presidential elections -- like the 2012 political season.

Finally, watching the movie only strengthened my desire and resolve to try and capture some of the history of our ministry.  It is not 'my story' -- but 'our story.'  At my request, many of our ND Alumni have written significant chapters about their involvement in the NDs.  They have been a blessing and encouragement to read and reflect back on.  We hope to make all of them available in book form sometime in 2012.

Thanksgiving Blessings to each of you…JL & Patt

It was also significant to me that I was with Pastor Man for this special Thanksgiving Service on the same weekend as the "International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church" (IDOP) -- November 13th.  We began the day with the baptism of 17 new believers in a local river -- something Pastor Man had been arrested and imprisoned for in past years.  Then we went to his church, the Bijay Church, for a day of services -- a church we had built for him through New Directions back in 1994.

Since they were building a larger worship hall on the second floor of their old church, I spoke on the importance of a "Strong Spiritual and Physical Foundation of Thanksgiving."  Here is the brief outline of my message that I hope will add special praise to your Thanksgiving Day and weekend.  Due to time and space, I am only giving representative verses without commentary (except #8) -- which the Holy Spirit will give to your heart as your prayerfully read this outline.

Thanksgiving is the foundation of our…

1. PRAISE:

• "Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song" (Ps. 95:2).
• "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.  For the Lord is good and His love endures forever, His faithfulness continues through all generations" (Ps. 100:4-5; 107:1).

2. PRAYER:

• "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Phil. 4:6; Eph. 6:8).
• "I urge…that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (I Tim. 2:1-2).
• "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (I Thess. 5:16-18).

3. PARTICIPATION:

• "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'This is My body, which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me'" (I Cor. 11:23-24).
• "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ?  And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?  Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf" (I Cor. 10:16-17).

4. PEACE:

• "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful" (Col. 3:15).
• "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith…and overflowing with thanksgiving" (Col. 2:6-7).

5. PARTNERSHIP:

• "I thank God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now…" (Phil. 1:3-5).
• "We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.  We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thess. 1:2-3).

6. PROCLAMATION:

• "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name, make known among the nations what He has done.  Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts…Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.  For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise" (I Chron. 16:8-9; 24-25).

7. PROVISION:

• "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proven yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel of Christ and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.  And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift" (II Cor. 9:7-15).

8. PLEASURE:

• "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons…They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.  For everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received withthanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer" (I Tim. 4:1-5).
• "Eat anything…without raising questions of conscience.  For the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it…So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (I Cor. 10:25-26; 31).
• So enjoy your Thanksgiving Dinner!

9. PERFUME:

• "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in trimphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.  And who is equal to such a task?!…in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God" (II Cor. 2:14-17).

10. PERSPECTIVE:

• "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.  The words 'once more' indicate the removing of what can be shaken -- that is, created things -- so that what cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe" (Heb. 12:26-28).
• "But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 15:57).

On that note of victory, Patt and I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving filled with His praise!

JL & Patt

It was also significant to me that I was with Pastor Man for this special Thanksgiving Service on the same weekend as the "International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church" (IDOP) -- November 13th.  We began the day with the baptism of 17 new believers in a local river -- something Pastor Man had been arrested and imprisoned for in past years.  Then we went to his church, the Bijay Church, for a day of services -- a church we had built for him through New Directions back in 1994.

Since they were building a larger worship hall on the second floor of their old church, I spoke on the importance of a "Strong Spiritual and Physical Foundation of Thanksgiving."  Here is the brief outline of my message that I hope will add special praise to your Thanksgiving Day and weekend.  Due to time and space, I am only giving representative verses without commentary (except #8) -- which the Holy Spirit will give to your heart as your prayerfully read this outline.

Thanksgiving is the foundation of our…

1. PRAISE:

• "Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song" (Ps. 95:2).
• "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.  For the Lord is good and His love endures forever, His faithfulness continues through all generations" (Ps. 100:4-5; 107:1).

2. PRAYER:

• "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Phil. 4:6; Eph. 6:8).
• "I urge…that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (I Tim. 2:1-2).
• "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (I Thess. 5:16-18).

3. PARTICIPATION:

• "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'This is My body, which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me'" (I Cor. 11:23-24).
• "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ?  And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?  Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf" (I Cor. 10:16-17).

4. PEACE:

• "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful" (Col. 3:15).
• "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith…and overflowing with thanksgiving" (Col. 2:6-7).

5. PARTNERSHIP:

• "I thank God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now…" (Phil. 1:3-5).
• "We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.  We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thess. 1:2-3).

6. PROCLAMATION:

• "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name, make known among the nations what He has done.  Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts…Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.  For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise" (I Chron. 16:8-9; 24-25).

7. PROVISION:

• "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proven yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel of Christ and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.  And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift" (II Cor. 9:7-15).

8. PLEASURE:

• "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons…They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.  For everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received withthanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer" (I Tim. 4:1-5).
• "Eat anything…without raising questions of conscience.  For the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it…So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (I Cor. 10:25-26; 31).
• So enjoy your Thanksgiving Dinner!

9. PERFUME:

• "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in trimphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.  And who is equal to such a task?!…in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God" (II Cor. 2:14-17).

10. PERSPECTIVE:

• "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.  The words 'once more' indicate the removing of what can be shaken -- that is, created things -- so that what cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe" (Heb. 12:26-28).
• "But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 15:57).

On that note of victory, Patt and I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving filled with His praise!

JL & Patt

One of the greatest farmers I ever met was the late Aart VanWingerden.  He was the founder of Double Harvest, a practical agricultural ministry that sought to help people "double their physical harvest" while experiencing a "spiritual harvest" in the process.  After the Lord called him and his wife, Cora, home, their 16 children took up their mission mantle and mandate to continue to expand the philosophy of Double Harvest.  It has been my joy and privilege to be in partnership with them for over 3 decades in Developing Countries like Haiti and the Bahamas in the Caribbean, as well as Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Mali, Ghana and Zimbabwe in Africa.  

Another partner in this practical and compassionate agricultural ministry is Dick Chapin, known as the "father of drip irrigation" in the world -- who is a great Christian entrepreneur.  Through his ministry, Chapin Living Waters, his various drip irrigation kits are made available to people for their backyard kitchen gardens.  These kits have now gone into more than 150 countries of the world!  It has been my joy to network and install them in virtually every country of the world I travel and minister in.  Mr. Chapin is now 93 and still going strong for the Lord!

Across the years and decades, I have learned so much from mission entrepreneurs like these men.  They are dedicated, visionaries, bold, creative, generous, patient, persistent and tenacious!  They just will NOT give up!  Aart used to say: "JL, we do not have the option of failure -- because when we fail, God fails in people's eyes!  So we MUST succeed regardless of how long it takes or how much it costs!"  I love that spirit that his sons continue to manifest through Double Harvest projects in many countries.  This report focuses on two of those countries: Sudan, which is a fledgling new project; Ethiopia, which is a mature project over a dozen years old.  I know you will be blessed and encouraged by the following pictures of both.

But before you start the slide show, I want you to start praying for me as I leave for Asia.  On Monday, Nov. 7th, I fly to India and Nepal -- after just one week turn-around from Africa.  Unfortunately, I came home with a bad cold and cough that I have now passed on to Patt!  So please pray for her.  While I am on the upswing, she is on the downswing.  So please pray for Patt for a quick recovery so she can get back into her regular schedule -- especially her grandmothering routine!

As always, I will be a "pack-mule for Jesus" on this next trip -- which is getting harder with air line restrictions!  Here are some of the items I will be carrying in to bless our partners and strengthen their ministries:

• A Digital Recording System for our Tibetan partners 
• 20 'Solar Digital Players" with the Bible in Nepali
• A new laptop computer and camera for one of our church-planting partners in the Mt. Everest region
• A digital video camera for one of our partners
• Drip irrigation kits for one of our Children's Homes on the Bhutan border
• Trekking boots for one of our "yacks for Jesus"
• A suit case of clothes for one of our children's homes in Delhi, India
• Gifts for one of our pastor's who is having his "40th Ministry Anniversary" that I will speak for;
• Copies of as many of my books for as many pastors as I can take in

So pray that I will be able to carry ALL of this in on this trip and that the luggage scales will be broken at the check-in counter!

For His Kingdom & Glory in partnership with you,

JL

PS:  Finally, PLEASE take a moment to click on this brief newsletter of our new Anugraha Children's Home in Delhi -- which will be my first stop.  We need 6 people who will "adopt" one of these needy Nepali children for just $30 a month ($25 for the child; $5 for the staff).  It would add great thanks to your Thanksgiving -- and to theirs!

One of the greatest farmers I ever met was the late Aart VanWingerden.  He was the founder of Double Harvest, a practical agricultural ministry that sought to help people "double their physical harvest" while experiencing a "spiritual harvest" in the process.  After the Lord called him and his wife, Cora, home, their 16 children took up their mission mantle and mandate to continue to expand the philosophy of Double Harvest.  It has been my joy and privilege to be in partnership with them for over 3 decades in Developing Countries like Haiti and the Bahamas in the Caribbean, as well as Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Mali, Ghana and Zimbabwe in Africa.  

Another partner in this practical and compassionate agricultural ministry is Dick Chapin, known as the "father of drip irrigation" in the world -- who is a great Christian entrepreneur.  Through his ministry, Chapin Living Waters, his various drip irrigation kits are made available to people for their backyard kitchen gardens.  These kits have now gone into more than 150 countries of the world!  It has been my joy to network and install them in virtually every country of the world I travel and minister in.  Mr. Chapin is now 93 and still going strong for the Lord!

Across the years and decades, I have learned so much from mission entrepreneurs like these men.  They are dedicated, visionaries, bold, creative, generous, patient, persistent and tenacious!  They just will NOT give up!  Aart used to say: "JL, we do not have the option of failure -- because when we fail, God fails in people's eyes!  So we MUST succeed regardless of how long it takes or how much it costs!"  I love that spirit that his sons continue to manifest through Double Harvest projects in many countries.  This report focuses on two of those countries: Sudan, which is a fledgling new project; Ethiopia, which is a mature project over a dozen years old.  I know you will be blessed and encouraged by the following pictures of both.

But before you start the slide show, I want you to start praying for me as I leave for Asia.  On Monday, Nov. 7th, I fly to India and Nepal -- after just one week turn-around from Africa.  Unfortunately, I came home with a bad cold and cough that I have now passed on to Patt!  So please pray for her.  While I am on the upswing, she is on the downswing.  So please pray for Patt for a quick recovery so she can get back into her regular schedule -- especially her grandmothering routine!

As always, I will be a "pack-mule for Jesus" on this next trip -- which is getting harder with air line restrictions!  Here are some of the items I will be carrying in to bless our partners and strengthen their ministries:

• A Digital Recording System for our Tibetan partners 
• 20 'Solar Digital Players" with the Bible in Nepali
• A new laptop computer and camera for one of our church-planting partners in the Mt. Everest region
• A digital video camera for one of our partners
• Drip irrigation kits for one of our Children's Homes on the Bhutan border
• Trekking boots for one of our "yacks for Jesus"
• A suit case of clothes for one of our children's homes in Delhi, India
• Gifts for one of our pastor's who is having his "40th Ministry Anniversary" that I will speak for;
• Copies of as many of my books for as many pastors as I can take in

So pray that I will be able to carry ALL of this in on this trip and that the luggage scales will be broken at the check-in counter!

For His Kingdom & Glory in partnership with you,

JL

PS:  Finally, PLEASE take a moment to click on this brief newsletter of our new Anugraha Children's Home in Delhi -- which will be my first stop.  We need 6 people who will "adopt" one of these needy Nepali children for just $30 a month ($25 for the child; $5 for the staff).  It would add great thanks to your Thanksgiving -- and to theirs!