Wanted to give you an update on your intercession on our behalf. Thanks tons for your efforts on behalf of God’s kingdom. May He richly bless you. We see only in part. What all God was doing – we don’t know, but like what He revealed to us.

Phillipines:

What a beautiful picture seeing our kid’s laugh with kid’s and share with them the truths of Jesus through two evenings of a VBS. Barriers or differences of language, culture, education, and economics somehow disappeared in play and love. How beautiful seeing children not only being ministered to but also ministering. Children were lead in an opportunity to act with Jesus in them and stepped out in ministry to one another, praying for healing and for God’s blessing on one another.

I saw the face of God as children and adults came together in an after church celebration with eruptions of laughter that were nothing other than from heaven itself.

God seemed to use this time primarily for reconciliation and unity within His body. Groups that had not come together and individuals carrying longstanding grievances with one another came together in the same room in the presence of God. God was gracious and moved among us. We got to experience God moving among His people, humbling them before each other with tears, repentance, embracing and groanings that are nothing other than the healing work of the Holy Spirit. He exposed our hearts as well and we got to follow Him in humility and in seeking and extending forgiveness. Pray that this walking in humility and forgiveness becomes a spark that sets on fire the church united in the Philippines. We heard the words, "awakened," multiple times, as if God "woke up" something among His body there.

I think also that we were also able to envision or plant seeds of simple church. I think new thought patterns formede of how much church tradition may actually be hindering the movements of God throughout the land. We got to share stories of what is happening in Phoenix and around the world, stories of the church meeting in homes, finding persons of peace, and reproduction of leaders through discipleship in the context of reproduction of groups. While I did not see in our time there evidence of subsequent change in the essential elements of how the body of Christ comes together, I think seeds were planted and a degree of openness created to other ways for the body to come together and effort church reproduction.

It was awesome and humbling thinking that persons of a simple 4 family church, can be part of the movements of God in a distant place. We stood in your prayers – insecure in our own abilities yet confident that the way had been prepared in worship and prayer for God to move and expectant that when his people gather – He is in our midst.

We experienced the movements of God in your willingness to pray and for financial help that came through the extended Phoenix house church community that covered the two day seminar expenses. It was nothing short of the experience of His upside down kingdom. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Taiwan:

Candace and I, a subset of the Phillipines entourage, visited a 33 year old single female believer who is investing her life loving children in the name of Jesus. She had lived with our family for four years, 10 years ago while studying in the states. We were able to partner with her in taking 30 kids for a two day overnight camping experience with 4 sessions of story telling of Jesus built into the two day camp. These kids are kids she works with in an after school program – common in Taiwan. Imagine yourself as a kid in Taiwan being in school from 7-3pm and then in an after school program from 3pm to 8:00pm. Ouch. Welcome to one culture’s high importance on education. About 8 of the kids are believers. The other kids and parent helpers were not. I have no idea how God used that time in the children’s lives as I was unable to discern a response to the message that Jesus makes possible life with God. The kids acted out drama stories of Jesus healing, Jesus feeding the 5,000 and of his death and resurrection. We got to share in the life and ministry of our friend and encourage her in her work and faith.

Again, thanks for your prayers. Remember the worldwide bride of Christ. Pray they are we are united, strengthened, emboldened, and empowered to prepare the way for the King.

Jeff Evilsizor