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July 5, 2008
It has been some
time since I have posted a ministry update. A number of people have
been asking as there has been an apparent drop off of ministry
reports. Hopefully, this update will adequately explain what I have
been doing and our plans (Lord willing) for the future.
Anyone who has followed the ministry will know that this past year
has been a difficult one for my family and myself. While I have
always been committed to telling the truth, taking a stand against
current popular trends this past year, brought opposition that
impacted us in many ways.
A number of false rumors and innuendos intended to damage the
ministry of Understand The Times have been spread worldwide. I
suppose this should not be surprising considering that we are in a
time of apostasy and Satan has pulled out all the stops to destroy
those who are taking a stand for truth. In March, I had the
opportunity to meet with my pastor, Pastor Chuck Smith. I am
grateful to report the meeting was a time of blessing and
encouragement. While the Calvary movement has its detractors, I will
stand with Pastor Chuck and all those from any fellowship or
denomination who are committed to teaching the Word of God.
The past few months, I have been in Canada, reading, researching,
writing and preparing for further ministry. I have been able to
spend time with my son Wade who manages the family farm. Time on the
tractor and alone with the Lord has been a blessing for me.
I am also trying to recover from a disease that I picked up in
January in the Philippines which has caused a reoccurring allergy
that can only be described as frustrating. Please pray for my
health. I have a very busy international schedule ahead that will
require a lot of traveling and time away from home.
While the major thrust of the ministry of Understand The Times
remains contending for the faith in the area of apologetics, we are
also being led to proclaim the gospel, especially in the darkest
places on planet earth. Two areas that have been concentrating this
past year are Myanmar and the Philippines. In both places we have
established UTT ministries by working together with like-minded
brothers and sisters who are committed to serving the Lord.
In May, our people in Myanmar were in the midst of the terrible
cyclone that destroyed so many lives. Without question, God placed
us there at a strategic time for a specific purpose. When we made
people aware that we were establishing a relief fund, God's people
provided in an incredible way. Over the past several weeks we have
been administrating the funds that were channeled through us. The
fruit of this work has been incredible. It is like experiencing the
book of Acts before our eyes. In later Missions Updates I will
provide some of the details.
Also, I want to let you know about Yangon Grace Bible School that we
have been able to establish in the city of Yangon. God has raised up
30 students who are studying the Word of God and who are committed
to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in a country that is over 90%
Buddhist. Once again, I will be reporting on this when we send out a
Missions Update later this month.
Where does UTT go from here? First we are committed to aggressively
expose last days deception that is taking place in the name of
Christ. We have been praying and asking the Lord for direction. We
will continue to operate from Santa Ana, California and Eston,
Saskatchewan as we wait for the Lord to give us direction. We feel
that we have been called to expand the ministry by various means and
ways using the Internet.
This past month people in 104 countries and over 2, 600 different
cities around the world visited our web site. I never imagined this
would be possible when I first started in ministry. Our desire it to
web-cast teaching programs and have time for providing commentary
with regard to end times events. Soon we will launch UTTTV where
your will be able to view these programs on your computer. We want
to be a vehicle the Lord can use to help people understand the times
in light of the Bible.
Please pray that God would provide the resources and the manpower to
do this. Please pray that others would catch the vision to help us
spread the gospel in Myanmar and the Philippines. Please pray that
God would give me the vision and the strength to be able to continue
proclaiming the truth wherever He opens the doors.
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