victory magazine march 2014

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March/April 2014 Hidden With Christ Ministries Victory Magazine

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Exciting stories and photos from the International work of Hidden With Christ Ministries.

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Page 1: Victory Magazine March 2014

Pray For Ukraine!

Page 11

March/April 2014 Hidden With Christ Ministries

Victory Magazine

Page 2: Victory Magazine March 2014

By Christina OberstChaplain

Treasures of Africa Children’s HomeMoshi, Tanzania

After many days of watching the excitement rise in our six year olds, as thoughts of starting school filled their hearts, they are now officially our “youngest students” here at Treasures of Africa Children’s Home. Justice, Moses, Diamond, Zoe and Maria started Standard One (first grade) at Moshi Academy this past January. They were so excited for their first day of school to come. But the biggest excitement came when they got their school uniforms a few weeks after school started. They could hardly wait to get home to show us. It was truly a joyful experience. Hearing their sweet voices squealing with delight, “Mama, Mama, look at me! Come and see, Mama!” was so precious. Each of them waited for us to tell them how “smart” they looked. Their facial expressions as we affirmed them were unforgettable. We just received their first report cards and they all received A’s and B’s. We are so proud of them!

We wanted everyone to share in their personal insights about school by hearing straight from them. So I interviewed our new little students and will let them share with you in their own words what they think about school. Here is their “report card” on school. Enjoy!!!

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TeachingCorner

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Mama Christina: “What do you like best about school?”Justice: Answering right away in a loud, excited voice and with a big smile on his face, said, “Reading and writing!”Zoe: With a big smile, loudly shouted out, “Food!”Mama Christina: “Is there anything else anybody would like to say about school?” Justice: With much excitement, “Yes, Mama! In the school, I am marching and then we jump like a frog. And, Madame, she is calling me and I am reading on the blackboard.”Mama Christina: “What is your favorite thing about being in the classroom?” Zoe: “I like to read.”Moses: “We write on paper and on cards, Mama. And, I like to play.”Mama Christina: “Do you like to play with the other kids at school?” Moses: “No Mama, I only play with my friends.” (looking very serious!)Diamond: With a big smile and bright eyes, “I like to play and to jump rope.”Mama Christina: “What is your favorite thing to do in class?” Diamond: “To write.” Mama Christina: “Is there anything else you want to tell me about school?”Diamond: “I like my teachers. Sister Roati is my favorite. Then there is Babu Mosha and even Mr. Ismial. (Diamond was able to tell me how to correctly spell their names.)Maria: Smiling, she answered, “I like to write to my friend and to play.”Mama Christina: “What is the hardest thing about school?”Justice: “Science is hard, Mama.”Zoe: Shouting out, “Math!”Moses: “Math.”Diamond: Smiling and shaking her head, “Nothing is hard, Mama.”Maria: Looking at her friend, Diamond, and joining in on her answer while laughing, “Nothing! Nothing, is hard.”

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Your love and generosity to Treasures of Africa Children’s Home have made our six year olds’ dreams of starting school possible. But we still are in need of Academic sponsors for our youngest students. We have them enrolled in Private English Medium School because they are all fluent in both English and Kiswahili. Our next installment payment for their School Fees is due soon. If you would like to help – you can make a financial donation to the Treasures of Africa Education Fund.

Make checks payable to: Treasures of Africa and in the memo section write: EDUCATION FUND.

Or donate online at:www.treasuresofafrica.org

Thank you for your support!

Treasures of Africa’s youngest students - our first graders - Zoe, Maria, Diamond, Moses

and Justice

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Page 4: Victory Magazine March 2014

by Rita LangelandExecutive Director

Hidden With Christ Ministries

In May of 2013, Ryan Shankles and two hiking buddies from his church men’s group made newspaper headlines after being lost on San Gorgonio Mountain. They spent four days and three freezing nights dressed only in shorts and t-shirts with only a few granola bars for food before a rescue helicopter spotted smoke from their signal fire.

A combination of unexpected bad weather and a wrong turn landed them huddled in a makeshift cave for days while family and friends back in Oceanside prayed for their safe return. That hike had been intended as a first step in training to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for a charitable cause.

Shankles is a man with a vision. That vision led him and his wife Jill to start a fledgling non-profit organization with several friends, named “AIDING CHILDREN’S VILLAGES.” The heart of the vision was to raise money for orphanages around the world by a strategic combination of efforts - “flipping houses” (remodeling homes and selling them for a profit) and doing Charity Climbs up mountains to raise donations for the chosen orphanages. Conquering Mt. Kilimanjaro was at the top of their list.

I distinctly remember driving home from the Hidden With Christ Ministries office one evening last May when a news reporter came on the radio and described the rescue of three lost hikers on Mt. San Gorgonio. He ended his report by saying that the trio was training to climb Kilimanjaro to raise money for orphans. I murmured, “Lord, I sure wish they were raising money for Treasures of Africa!”

LOST HIKER CONQUERS

(L to R) Jarrot Stanford, Teacher and Ryan Shankleson the Machame trail of Mt. Kilimanjaro

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Page 5: Victory Magazine March 2014

Some four months later, I received an e-mail from Ryan, stating that his group was interested in raising money for TOA through a Charity Climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro. He mentioned that I might have heard about them on the news, being lost on Mt. San Gorgonio some months before. I read that e-mail and laughed out loud, thinking how faithful God is to answer even the simplest prayer!

Ryan’s team successfully remodeled and sold their first house and promptly planned their trip to Tanzania and their climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro for January, 2014. We were able to connect them with our favorite Kilimanjaro Mountain Guide - Edward “Teacher” Lazaro from Zara Tours. “Teacher” is a wonderful Christian man who started a small orphanage project years ago, called Kilimanjaro Orphanage Center, which he has supported out of his earnings as a mountain guide. As it turned out, Teacher’s Orphanage Center was one that Ryan had researched on-line and had planned for his organization - Aiding Children’s Villages - to help when they came to Tanzania.

Ryan and his friend Jarrot Stanford, successfully reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro with Teacher guiding them all the way. Afterward, they were able to spend some quality time at Treasures of Africa Children’s Home. They had carried many needed blessings for the orphanage in their baggage. They accompanied TOA Directors Warren and Christina Oberst out to the new TOA property where the TOA Village will be built and pray over that land. They also sponsored a wonderful “Children’s Day” at TOA which was opened to friends in the Moshi community as well as 20 children from “Teacher’s” Kilimanjaro Orphanage Center and featured a sumptuous barbecue feast. One of the highlights of that day was a “survival camp” that the two men taught, in which the children learned keys to surviving in the wilderness.

Commenting about his experience at Treasures of Africa, Jarrot Stanford shared these thoughts: “What touched me so much was how well-behaved the TOA kids were. Their demeanors just shined with the character of Jesus. Both Samweli and Mary took me on a tour of the place as if I was the next permanent resident! They really touched my heart.”

Ryan Shankles made these observations: “All of the kids have an anointing that is just amazing. Justice has this quiet but bold spirit at the same time. We got to bond because we went on a brief road trip to the Lutheran Boarding School for the Deaf to visit Awadhi. So, that trip really provided me with a special opportunity to get to know him. Moses wrote on my hand before we left on the final night. He wrote his name twice, and also Justice and Mary’s names so that I would not forget them. That really got to me. Samweli is just an amazing kid. I look forward to when he is old enough to make the climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro with us. That will be a special day. He has a precious anointing over his life, no doubt, he will be a pastor among many other things.”

We are very grateful to Ryan Shankles and Jarrot Stanford and their team from Aiding Children’s Villages for their generous donation to Treasures of Africa Children’s Home. They are planning to return to Tanzania in December of this year to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro again to raise more funds for Treasures of Africa. Would you like to join them?

If so, you can e-mail Ryan at [email protected]

KILIMANJARO FOR THE KIDS

Jarrot Stanford and Ryan Shankles (on left) with mountain guides on the summit

of Mt. Kilimanjaro

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By Warren OberstAdministrative Director

Treasures of AfricaMoshi, Tanzania

Since our Secondary School graduates – Benny, Margaret, Irene and Sifa – have all been awaiting the results of their National Exams before they can move on to advanced studies, we enrolled them in a local Computer School in Moshi town to give them some very useful training while they wait. It has been great to see the increasing excitement they have expressed as they progressed in their Microsoft computer classes. They’ve been learning to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and

Outlook along with email etiquette and the internet during their break from school. In Tanzania, there are no computers to be found in the education process prior to the University level, unless it’s a privately sponsored program. Even the Private Schools we have had the children attending, have no computer labs. Their exposure to computers has come solely from the Computer Lab at Treasures of Africa Children’s Home which was donated by a generous donor 7 years ago.

Our four Secondary School graduates, who have diligently attended these classes along with Sunday Joseph (one of our TOA staff members we are developing for a leadership position) are well aware of the special opportunity they’ve had and are passionate about working on their new skill sets. Our recent visitors from Aiding Children’s Villages donated two computers which are now up and running with newer software and a program we previously didn’t have installed on any of our TOA computers – Powerpoint.

Margaret learning the basics of Microsoft programs

Preparing For

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Benny looks intently at computer during class

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Our students have been pressuring me to have Powerpoint installed and to make sure our computers are ready for them to hone their new skills. (I keep pushing Excel as a necessary skill but Powerpoint has been the clear winner!) Needless to say, there will soon be assignments in place and projects to be completed. The creative juices are flowing as the kids decide upon the subject matter that interests them and ways to enhance their presentations. They will have a big head start on their way to University thanks to these special donations given to TOA and HWCM.

We are thrilled to report that Benny, Margaret, Irene and Sifa ALL passed their National Exams so congratulations are in order. To appreciate what a momentous achievement that is - you have to understand that last year - on a national basis - over 70% of the Secondary Students in Tanzania that took that exam - FAILED it! So statistically speaking – the fact that 100% of our students PASSED – is quite miraculous! We thank God for His help in giving this important victory to our teenagers. We also want to thank everyone who has prayed for academic success for the children at Treasures of Africa Children’s Home. This is fruit of your prayers. Now we can focus on trying to find the proper place for the next step in their education. Please pray for that. We will need academic sponsors to help pay the school fees for their advanced education. If you would like to help - you can make a donation to the TOA Education Fund. Thank you!

www.treasuresofafrica.org

TOA employee Sunday Joseph attends computer class with TOA students

The Future

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Page 8: Victory Magazine March 2014

Treasures of Africa

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TOA Resident Benny holds our newest treasure -

Gabriella

Page 9: Victory Magazine March 2014

Our orphanage Chaplain at Treasures of Africa, Christina Oberst, was at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center with one of our children when she ran into a doctor that

she knew. Dr. Esther told her that the police had just brought into the hospital a tiny infant that was found in the trash. She wanted to know if Treasures of Africa would take in the child. Christina took the child in her arms and just wept.

When God first gave us the name “TREASURES OF AFRICA CHILDREN’s HOME” as the name for the orphanage - we knew that the name was significant because it spoke of the value that the children have in the eyes of God - not the value they have in the eyes of the world. What humans consider to be “TRASH” - God calls “TREASURE.”

Our newest TREASURE is a baby girl. She was named “Gabriella” by the lady doctor who cared for her at the hospital. She was brought to Treasures of Africa Children’s Home on January 30, 2014. The other children at TOA rejoiced when the baby came and the older girls are thrilled to be able to help care for her. They have already appointed themselves as “mamas” for the baby!

It has been a long time since we have had any infants at the orphanage. It has been almost six years since our youngest children - Maria, Justice, Moses, Diamond and Zoe were babies themselves. Our staff had to scramble to get the cribs out of storage and dig through our storage bins to find infant-sized clothing.

With an infant comes the added expense of buying Baby Formula and diapers each week, and paying for extra staff since we need to provide 24 hour care. As the children at TOA got older and more self-sufficient over the years, we cut back on staff at the orphanage. Now we have had to add an extra two positions to have baby Gabriella cared for 24 hours per day.

So we are looking for several child sponsors to help us care for this precious TREASURE who was rescued from the trash. If you can sign up to give $10, $25, $50 or even $100 per month - you can help us cover the cost of her formula, or her diapers or even help us pay for the additional care givers we have added to the orphanage payroll.

Please consider making an investment in this PRECIOUS TREASURE named Gabriella! Also - please share this article with anyone you think might be interested in helping. Thank you!

www.treasuresofafrica.org

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Baby Gabriella

Welcomes a New Gem

Mama Christina holding baby Gabriella at TOA

Page 10: Victory Magazine March 2014

by Christina OberstChaplain - Treasures of Africa Children’s Home

Moshi, Tanzania

It was a typical day in Moshi, and I had stopped by a small local market to pick up some things I needed for dinner that evening. As always, the owner, Mr. A., greeted me warmly and asked about the T.O.A. kids. He has been a very kind friend to the orphanage, generously donating fresh bread from the bakery for the children every single Friday for several years. As I was looking for some items in his shop, he called me over and said he had some good news to share with me.

I came near to where he was sitting behind the counter and he told me about his oldest son, and his daughter-in-law. He said that they had been living in Arusha, but had just recently moved back to Moshi and would be helping with the family business. He also said that they had wanted to give some gifts to help the children in the community and Mr. A. had told them about Treasures of Africa Children’s Home.

After hearing about T.O.A., the young couple told their father that they wanted to meet with us and bless us with a gift of 500,000 shillings for the orphanage. This is more than $300 U.S. dollars - a very large gift here. I began to cry as my heart was so touched. Then Mr. A. began to tear up as well. He hugged me several times and said to come back soon to meet with his son. You could feel the tangible presence of God’s sweetness and love. It was a beautiful moment and I sensed an opening into Mr. A’s heart that I had not observed before.

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God ’s Love is Opening

Mt. Kilimanjaro towers above adowntown street in Moshi Tanzania

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The next day, Warren and I were driving past the market and we felt prompted to stop in and talk to Mr. A. When we came in, his son was there and happily greeted us. He asked us right away to come with him to his house to meet his wife. We sensed that it was God’s appointed time. Before we left the shop, Mr. A. pulled Warren aside and asked if we would pray for his daughter-in-law in our meeting with her at the house. He told us that she was pregnant, but had started bleeding and was in the hospital the night before. We later found out that they had been trying to have a child for 10 years and were not able, so they resorted to the medical procedure of In-Vitro Fertilization. This pregnancy was their second attempt using this method, after experiencing the loss of their first baby.

We followed him to his house and sat with he and his wife, Roshan. It was a great time together and we really enjoyed them. They thanked us for the work we are doing with orphaned children and told us of their heart for the kids in the community. They also told us of the things they had been doing in city of Arusha to help the street kids there. We could see their love for children. Then they presented Warren and I with an envelope with 500,000 shillings to be given to T.O.A. We told them we would like to pray together over the gift that they were sowing into the children at Treasures of Africa.

We also asked if we could pray over them, especially Roshan and the baby in her womb. They happily agreed. We held up their offering to the Lord and asked His blessing upon it and as I was praying I began seeing a picture of their gifts and offerings going up to heaven before the throne of God. I began to cry as I could sense the sweetness of their giving. I heard the Lord saying that He sees their gifts and He will not forget them. I continued speaking to them what I heard the Father saying. God ministered His love and His word to their hearts.

Then we prayed over Roshan and her baby and spoke words of blessing and life. We asked the Lord to protect her and the baby and watch over them. We thanked Him for the life of the baby. We declared that the baby is His, and that He is the One who gives life. I began calling upon the name of Jesus in my prayers. When we finished praying Roshan said, “AMEN!”

Later, she told me that when the Hindus pray, she cannot say, “Amen” to their prayers, because she does not know which god they are praying to, as they have so many. She went on to say that she felt she could say “Amen” to our prayers because she knew to whom we were praying. “You call upon Jesus as God, but we call Him a prophet.” (they are Muslim)

After our time of prayer, they asked us to eat with them. It was a delicious lunch and we continued to talk about the children and helping the community. We really enjoyed them and know God is doing something amazing in this family. We also ended up talking about true life stories that have been made into movies, something we both enjoy. I mentioned the movie that had been made about Mother Teresa’ life. Though they had heard of her and her work with the poor in India, they had never seen the movie. I decided to order the movie as a gift for them. Rita will bring it over on her next visit to Tanzania as the Lord put that on my heart. They are looking forward to seeing it. I also asked if I could give them some scriptures for Roshan and the baby from the Bible to comfort her heart as they have mine. She said it would be alright. We will continue to pursue friendship with them in God’s great love and we are believing for their salvation. We want to be sensitive and obedient to God in our relationship with them as He knows just how to capture their hearts.

Later that night, I could hardly wait to call Rita to tell her the great news, as she also is familiar with Mr. A. since the HWCM missionaries have done business in his shop for years. She was so joyful and encouraged. Together we thanked and praised God for His goodness. She told me it reminded her of the story of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10, where Cornelius, a man who did not know God, had a heart for the poor, and God honored that and brought salvation to his household. It was as if a light bulb went on when she said those words. I remember having the thought when we at their house, “I feel like the disciples in the New Testament!” and thanking God for that divine appointment.

I reread the story of Cornelius and realized that it was exactly the picture I saw when I was praying for them. In Acts 10, God spoke to Cornelius in a vision, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.” When Cornelius recounted his vision to Peter, he responded by saying, “Cornelius, your prayers have been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.” And when Peter preached to the household of Cornelius, he told them, “... in every nation, whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

It is such a blessing to be a part of God’s amazing works across the world. Please pray for us as we continue to share God’s love, not only with the children at Treasures of Africa, but also in the community of Moshi. Without a doubt, His love is opening hearts!

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Hearts in Moshi Tanzania

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By Andy LangelandOperation LazarusSevastopol Ukraine

The recent news headlines have been filled with the crisis that has been unfolding in Ukraine. And most recently, the focus has shifted to the southern Crimean peninsula. The photos and video you may have seen on the news are all taken from the very places that we have lived and walked and done the ministry of Operation Lazarus around the city of Sevastopol.

Our plans to return to Sevastopol in April have been delayed as a result of the turmoil in the nation and the fact that the airport in Simferopol that we fly into has been intermittently closed to civilian air traffic. The roads between the airport and the city of Sevastopol have also been intermittently closed or otherwise blocked by Russian military convoys as well as pro-Russian paramilitary groups. The U.S. State Department has issued a warning to U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Ukraine at this time.

Despite the chaos, we are thankful to God that none of our friends and contacts in Sevastopol have suffered any ill consequences or physical harm as a result of the political upheaval. It has become very clear though, that even on a local level there is great confusion about the future and even what is happening politically at any given moment. Only time will tell what the outcome will be for Ukraine itself and especially for the people who live in the heavily contested Crimean peninsula.

One thing that may not be clear from the news reports is that this is not just a battle between sovereign Ukraine and Russia over the geographical territory known as Crimea, but there are a multitude of local factions competing for their own interests. Some want Crimea to become an autonomous territory, some want it to become reintegrated into Russia and some want it to remain part of Ukraine.

The best thing we can do as Christians is to pray for peace in Ukraine. Nothing will be gained by war in the region. For the sake of the people of Ukraine, pray for a speedy resolution to the crisis because the economy (which was already fragile at best) is being devastated. This affects every area of life including the people’s ability to buy food. Because of its location on the beautiful Black Sea, Crimea’s economy is largely dependent on tourism. And as Spring approaches, and no tourists arrive because of the military presence, this will have a crushing effect. Let us join together to pray for peace in Ukraine!

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Pray for Ukraine!

Russian Naval ships in the harbor of Sevastopol Ukraine

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By Andy LangelandMedia for Missions

In light of the events unfolding in Ukraine, and our decision to shift our ministry focus from our work in Sevastopol to a wider Media for Missions emphasis, we stand in awe of the amazing timing of God. Two weeks after our leaving Ukraine, the crisis there began. We had come to a decision that

God was speaking to us to begin a new ministry thrust in a new direction. All this was decided before the political environment in Ukraine changed so quickly and dramatically, closing doors to the area. We are so grateful for God’s leading in our lives!

For those of you who did not read my article in the last Victory magazine, I will explain the shift we are making. As my wife Jaimee and I prayed and brainstormed as to what the next step for us would be, we realized that one way that we could continue to assist in missions work, especially with those serving orphans and doing mercy ministries, was to come alongside and provide a way to help missionaries “tell their story.” The power of digital images in today’s media saturated generation, cannot be overstated. Most missionaries don’t have the means or skill to produce materials which include professional level photography and video to share the work they are doing. Our goal is to travel to the site of the missionaries’ work and document their ministry in the field through photography and videography. Then we will provide the missionaries with the digital images and video we have captured for use in their promotional materials and updates to their donors. We believe it will not only encourage their hearts - but it will practically assist them in getting more support to continue the important work they are doing.

With that said, I wanted to share with you our first Media for Missions ministry project which will be undertaken this month. I am traveling to Tanzania to gather photo and video content for the development of a short promotional film about the Treasures of Africa Children’s Village building project. This will be my first time back to Tanzania since 2006! We hope that our “pilot project” can be used to raise funds to build this amazing vision which will serve 120 orphaned and abandoned children on a solar powered 5.4 acre campus outside of Moshi Tanzania. Please pray for a successful trip! We will share the results in the next issue of the Victory Magazine.

In launching this new Media for Missions Ministry, there are a few vital pieces of equipment needed that will enable us to develop the professional materials that we will provide to the various missionaries and missions organizations we will be serving. The immediate needs are for videography equipment. As a professional photographer, I am donating the use of all my personal photography equipment, but we lack the video equipment needed to produce professional level videos. So if there is anyone out there that would have a heart to help us obtain the needed equipment or is willing to help with the travel expenses, a donation can be made to Hidden With Christ Ministries and in the memo section of your check write “Media for Missions.”

Thank you for helping us to launch this new “helps ministry” aimed at assisting small missions organizations and missionaries serving overseas.

Andy Langeland shooting video footage on a missions trip to Tanzania in 2006

Divine Timing

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By Rita LangelandExecutive Director

Hidden With Christ Ministries

One of the biggest challenges that faces any person who attempts to walk by faith, is the dilemma of what to do when faced with a major setback that steals all hope for a difficult situation to be resolved well.

This is the exact circumstance that faced Jairus in the story found in the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Mark. Jairus was the ruler of the local synagogue. Though many other Jewish religious leaders were trying to discredit Jesus and call him a blasphemer, somehow Jairus had come to believe in him. In fact, he had faith that Jesus could heal his deathly ill daughter. He said to Jesus, “Come and lay Your hands on her, so that she may be healed and live.” (Mark 5:23)

Jairus was a lot like us. He had a need, he believed that Jesus could take care of that need and he approached Jesus in faith. Jesus responded immediately by agreeing to go with him to his house. And Jesus went with him… (Mark 5:24)

But what happened next almost derailed Jairus’ faith. …there came some from the ruler’s house, who said [to Jairus], Your daughter has died. Why bother and distress the Teacher any further? (Mark 5:35 Amplified Bible)

Suddenly, it was as if Jairus had hit an immovable wall. His faith was stretched to the breaking point with the piercing reality of those painful words. Have you faced a major setback in a faith battle you have been fighting – and now it appears that the only reasonable conclusion is to stop believing God for a good resolution? That is what Jairus’ friends told him to do. “Stop bothering the teacher,” they said. In essence they were telling Jairus to stop believing God for the healing of his daughter.

But we can gain victory for our own lives by studying the three faith keys that Jesus taught Jairus after those men delivered the bad news to him. First of all, the Amplified Bible gives us insight into how Jesus reacted to the announcement of the death of Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5:36 - Overhearing but ignoring what they said… Imagine this – Jesus heard the words the men spoke about Jairus’ daughter being dead. And his response was to intentionally IGNORE WHAT THEY SAID. He knew what they said to Jairus – and Jesus knows what people (and circumstances) have “said” to you. Jesus didn’t ignore the words because he was in denial or pretending it didn’t happen. Jesus understood what a

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ThreeFaith Corner

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person has to do when they are faced with a faith challenge the size of a mountain! And he taught Jairus by example the secret of what to do when confronted with impossibility. The first step was to IGNORE PEOPLE WHO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GIVE UP ON BELIEVING GOD.

Secondly, Mark 5:36 tells us - Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing. Jesus immediately exhorted Jairus to not allow himself to be gripped with fear. A spirit of fear is always the first “devil” that attacks a person when bad news is reported. But we have to make a decisive choice to refuse to be “seized with alarm and struck with fear.” You really can refuse to accept fear as your only option when bad news is delivered! But most people think that they have no choice. They believe fear is “natural” in such circumstances. And because they believe that way – they are tormented with fearful thoughts in times of crisis. Jesus obviously believed otherwise or He never would have told Jairus that he could refuse to fear.

Thirdly, Jesus instructed Jairus to do one more thing - “…only keep on believing.” This was the master key to overcoming what appeared to be an impossible setback. From all natural appearances, there was no point in believing God anymore. But Jesus was adamant - “…only keep on believing.” This is the same counsel Jesus would give you right now if you were standing with Him discussing your impossible situation. This means don’t do anything else but this one thing - “…only keep on believing.”

Jesus walked with Jairus until they arrived at his home. Jairus had to keep on believing when he was faced with the sight of his daughter lying dead on the bed in his house and the crowd of mourners wailing at the top of their lungs. Everything inside of him must have screamed, “It is too late!” But he kept the words of Jesus fresh in his heart, “…only keep on believing.”

Because Jairus was willing to ignore the words of those who told him to give up, and because he refused to fear, and because he obeyed Jesus’ command to keep on believing, Jairus received the impossible made possible. His daughter was raised from the dead before his very eyes. God wants to do the same in your situation. Take hold of these three faith keys that Jesus taught to Jairus, apply them to your case, and you will see God do the impossible for you.

FAITH KEYS

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Hidden With Christ MinistriesP.O. Box 3267 Tustin, CA 92781

Hidden With Christ Ministriescordially invites you to attend

A Benefit Gala D innerfor

Treasures of Africa Children’s Home

an orphanage serving AIDS orphans and abandoned children in Moshi Tanzania

Saturday Evening May 17, 2014 6:00 PM

at

Innisbrook Golf Resort 36750 US Highway 19 North

Palm Harbor, Florida

Tickets are $50 per person

Gourmet Dinner

Touching video presentation from Treasures of Africa Children’s Home

Live Auction of beautiful African artifacts

Door prizes

Don’t miss this amazing evening and opportunity to be a blessing to the orphans atTreasures of Africa. Invite a friend or sponsor a table (10 tickets) and bring people

you think might have a heart for the work of TOA Children’s Home.

Call Margot Toomey at (727) 515-1445 or the HWCM office at (714) 665-0407

for tickets or more information

www.hiddenwithchrist.com - www.operationlazarus.com - www.treasuresofafrica.org