Bernie, Cheryl, and Little Ben on his baby dedication Sunday Tell your story!
“Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor,” (Luke 7:22).
When the disciples of John the Baptist approached Jesus to ask whether he was the promised Messiah, Jesus responded, “Go back and tell your story: the story of what you have seen and heard!” Well, he didn’t say that exactly—his precise words are above—but this is what his reply meant.
We are grateful for the opportunity we had last month to tell stories during the North American Convention of the Church of God in Anderson, Indiana. Not only did we share personal stories of God at work in our lives, but we also rejoiced in telling other people’s stories through the “Eyewitness to the World” conference we led; through the Kid’s Place children’s program in which Cheryl was involved; during the Asia-Pacific Conference that Bernie chaired; and in the publication of Yet I Will Rejoice, the 13th international testimonies book that Cheryl has compiled and edited for Church of God Ministries. (By the way, this book is available for sale from Warner Press, Inc. and/or through the Global Missions department of Church of God Ministries.)
While some of these are annual activities, the “Eyewitness to the World” conference was a first-time event. What a joy it was to share stories from Japan, India, Tanzania, Cuba, and Lebanon to the glory of God. While the room was difficult to find, the conference scheduled right after lunch (a dangerous time for afternoon nappers), and with many other choices at the same hour for convention-goers, response was very positive. We hope we’ll have the chance to share again next year. After all, we’ll run out of stories to tell when God runs out of miracles to perform. May we encourage you to open your eyes and ears to what God is doing in and around you so that you can also tell your story?
Kid’s Place: China
As always, participating in the Kid’s Place program was especially thrilling for Cheryl. It was fun to help the children look forward to the Olympics in China next month. Our hope is that whenever they see any coverage, they’ll be prompted to pray for China. Our special joy was to take Choki, our “Chinese daughter,” with us to the convention so that she could become China in person to the children. Since she “only” speaks Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, Cheryl served as translator during the three-day program and was really pleased with the kids’ great questions. They were particularly impressed to learn about the underground church and how it is prospering, that there are 60,000 written characters in the Chinese language, and the fact that Chinese parents place much emphasis on choosing names with special meanings to bless their children.
Perhaps they were most moved by the sharing about China’s tragic earthquake in May. Many children had heard news of this horrific event that killed more than 70,000 people and displaced millions, and they expressed their genuine sadness to Choki. We encouraged them to turn their sadness into prayers for the nation and believe that they will do this. And, as always, we encouraged the kids to remember that God has a special assignment for each one of them—perhaps even for some to become cross-cultural missionaries. It truly is a highlight of Cheryl’s year to share with children at Kid’s Place.
Looking ahead in prayer
Please remember these matters in your prayers:
1) That the Holy Spirit will move in an exciting way on students who participate in Tamagawa Seigakuin’s Bible Camp, July 21-23;
2) For the Church of God in Japan as it celebrates its 100th anniversary August 1-3. Pray that the Holy Spirit will infuse this church with a new vision for the future;
3) For Bernie and Cheryl as they travel in India, August 8-22. Pray that they may be a blessing and encouragement to colleagues there;
4) For our upcoming home assignment, August 25-November 23. Pray that our travel schedule will be worked out smoothly and that these three months will both encourage us and the churches and individuals we visit;
5) For Shigemi Tanaka as she prepares for baptism at Tarumi Church;
6) That all details related to the Sakatas becoming pastors at Tarumi Church will be worked out smoothly and quickly;
7) That summer visits to the States for two special assignment missionaries (Alina Croall and Millie Michael) will encourage and refresh them for their work in the fall; and,
8) For our grandson, Benjamin Donbor Lyngdoh, whom we had the joy of dedicating to the Lord on June 22 in Anderson. Pray that he will grow to become a man of God. Pray also for his parents, Stephanie and Donald, as they begin their third year as special assignment missionaries in Central Asia in August.
