Covenant Church

Laila and I are traveling...First day we spent with ministers in a country more expensive to live than the USA...thank God for friends who hosted us...Thank God for the dedication of his servants who work under adverse circumstances in a country where religion is bigger than God...lots of celebration of religion, while churches are empty on Sundays...formality without heart...holidays, weddings, baby dedications and funerals are times for priests to collect fees that financially sustain religious organizations...

We flew out and landed in a city of some 18,000,000 people, with about 6,500,000 living in slums and more about 100,000 prostitutes. Oh, but we found there the grace of God. On a Sunday we visited a house in a militant neighborhood. Inside of locked gates we found mothers standing with their children. Only later did we come to know that prostitutes were dropping of their children to be watched by precious Christian brothers and sisters before the night began.

Inside we found a room full of beautiful children who sang praises to God...who danced for joy that Jesus had sent someone to love them...to feed them...to help clothe them...

Before leaving that room of over 50 children they gathered around us to pray...oh the beauty of that moment...I knelt...Laila was there...little children from the slums...rescued by love...laid their hands on me and prayed for me...not a moment to forget....

Upstairs we found over 40 boys about age 6-13. They too sang and then one stepped forth and gave a careful testimony of his love for Jesus...age 8 he had been alone in the streets...no parents...sleeping outside... being a thief...a drug addict...until love found him and invited him into the care of people who love Jesus and children...his testimony could have been repeated more than 40 times with different circumstances in that room.

Three days we spent in that city with not a moment to lose...criss-crossing, teaching, preaching, sharing, learning, listening, praying...busy we were, but energized by the Holy Spirit in a way that is beyond description...

We met a former brothel owner who today is a devout follower of Jesus and spiritual mother to scores of chidren...We met a former drug addict who today is standing tall, dedicated to ministry...

I write from a country that I dare not tell about the religious tension...Nor can I tell about persecution and name the country...Did I forget to tell you that we changed countries... yes, we have taken a flying leap to another piece of geography...Here we are with dear friends who have started more than 100 churches against tremendous adversity... Our friends have also hosted a conference of 500 pastors of all Christian denominations-- a first in the history of this country...

Tomorrow a Christian brother is loaning a private plane and we will fly to look at churches and the work of the Lord in remote areas.

Tomorrow there will also be a holy day in this country as people celebrate a religious holiday...cows and goats will be slaughtered by 10's of thousands of families in a religious ceremony...the shedding of blood is a ritual act that invites the favor of God...1/3 of meat is for the poor...1/3 of meat is for public purposes... 1/3 is to be eaten by family and friends...though how the meat is divided may be different for different families or sects of the religion...

As we came through the city today there were thousands of cows...being sold for the sacrifice... families were leading the animals through the streets to their houses...It is a holiday for families to be together in religious celebration...We were told some 25 airplanes arrived about the same time as our plane bringing in holiday celebrants...

We had to rejoice for the goodness of the Lord...for the grace of God...for Jesus who shed his blood for the remission of our sins...and to take away the need to offer the blood of animals in sacrifice!

Yes, we are well. We assume all is well in Charlottesville. We will leave here and go to the Philippines for contact and ministry with three other wonderful works...then we will be on our way home...

Thank you to all our Prayer Partners...Thank you to all who are fasting and praying for us...Thank you Covenant Church for standing with us in reaching out to touch peoples of many nations...for whom Christ gave his life.

Much love,
Pastor Bare

'And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."' Matthew 28: 18-20 (NASB)