A Great Commission Resurgence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We would like to urge our friends and family to check out the www.pray4gcr.com website. Though the content there, and what I will mention below are primarily related to the Southern Baptists, it applies to us all!  Check out the website and be in prayer for a Great Commission Resurgence across our denomination and throughout the Church of Jesus Christ.

Do you know what is going on in the Southern Baptist Convention?

Did you know that:

• the Chairman and CEO of the SBC has announced his retirement after 18 years of serving that post?
• the position of President of the North American Mission Board is vacant?
• the President of the International Mission Board has announced his retirement for next year?
• the President of the SBC, Johnny Hunt, has appointed a task force to evaluate the SBC and bring recommendations for change to next year’s SBC Annual Meeting?
• the International Mission Board is looking to downsize their field personnel from 5,700 to 5,000 over the next year or so?
• that the International Mission Board has had to limit and in some cases freeze the number of new missionaries being sent out this year and next?
• that due to shortfalls in giving in the SBC to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering that our overseas missionaries have been told that they are facing a decrease in ministry budgets, and in their personal pay and benefits?

I believe we stand at the threshold of new day for the Southern Baptist Convention.  Would you join others in praying for our convention and a call to rally around and refocus on the Great Commission?

As we head into the last quarter of 2009, and will soon be upon the “missions giving season” in our churches, may I challenge you to think what if:

• every person in the SBC (15 mil people) gave just $15 to the LMCO this year? (that seems kind of low, don’t you think, let’s say $50)
• every family decided to match their giving to missions to their spending on Christmas presents this year?
• during the economic crunch, missions wasn’t the first budget item to be considered for cuts?
• churches moved the missions budget line from the bottom of the spreadsheet to the top?
• churches tithed on their budget to the Cooperative Program in the upcoming year?
• the percentages of money churches spend on their buildings and what they spend on missions were switched?

What if “God’s people, who are called by His name, humbled themselves, prayed and sought His face, and turned from their evil ways?”

Would you pray for this renewal in the SBC and in the Church of Jesus Christ in the USA?

Would you pray that God would, once again, rally Southern Baptists around the common vision of the Great Commission?

Can you imagine what would happen in your local church if these things happened? Your community? Your family?

Join us in praying for a Great Commission Resurgence!  Check out www.pray4gcr.com.

Aunty Rose follows too!

Dear all,

Greetings from the Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia!  Beautiful and cool up here.

Just received word from our house group partner family that Aunty Rose accepted Christ this afternoon after meeting with Angela (the wife of our partner family) for several hours.  No other details yet, but praise the Lord for this report!

Be praying, too, for Jeffery and Vincent, 2 men that we have been getting to know in our neighborhood area.  Both of them have gone into the hospital the last 24 hours and Min Khang (husband of our partner family) has been able to visit and minister to them both. Pray that there would be good opportunity to share the Gospel with these men this week.

More to come.

Thank you for praying with us!

The Carter Fam

Brother Koh

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I introduce to you Brother Koh!  That’s right, you’ve been praying for Uncle Koh now for a few months as we’ve been sharing the Gospel with him.  Last night (Sunday) he finally took the step of professing faith in Jesus Christ.  Praise be to God!  I feel he already knew and believed in his heart, but that he just wouldn’t confess with his mouth due to pride and ego” (in his words). 

After a mishap in communication about our house group last night, we ended up in Koh and Rose’s living room, hanging out, talking and watching/listening to worship DVD’s. (Uncle Koh has been buying them and watching them)  I sat down next to him, and Crystal’s Mom (Linda) was on the other side of him, as I began to share with him again.  Linda had tremendous input and effect as well.  After sharing with him for a while, I told him that it was his individual decision and that I could not “push” him to do it.  He said, “But Scott, if you don’t push me, I’ll never do it.”  Well, okay then…..

So, I shared from Romans with him, then simply asked him if he were to die tonight, what would be the verdict before the throne of God?  He said, “Let God deal with me as He should.”  To which I replied, “But Uncle Koh, if you know the Truth, and you have the option of receiving it, why would you let it come to that?  Why not profess now?”  That ’set the hook’.

We talked a few more moments and (long story not too long) we gathered the group together and allowed Koh to confess his faith before his family and friends, and pray with him.

God has already been doing an amazing work of transformation in Koh’s life, and Koh knew it all along.  We told him that manypeople in the US have been praying for him for several months, and to you he says “Thank you!”.

After it was all said and done, he looks at me and says, “Oh no, this means that Satan is going to attack me now doesn’t it?!”  Well, yes it does, but it’s better than living in bondage to Satan, and you have God’s spiritual protection, and victory is already yours.  Easy? No!  But God’s promise of salvation!

Pray for him now as he enters this new week, going to work, etc.  Pray that God would protect his mind and his faith, that Koh would be bold in confessing his faith before all men.

Pray too, for Rose, his wife.  We gave her the chance to accept last night too, but she just couldn’t.  She feels there is something else she ‘needs’ before she can take that step.  Pray that God would speak to her very clearly, meeting her where she is, and that she would come to know salvation in Jesus too.

Thank you for your prayers!

We are off to the mountains for a few days.  We’ll have more next week.

For the Cause,

The CarterFam

Continued prayer for Koh and Rose

Dear Prayer Partners,
Below is an email that our Cell Group Co-leader wrote to me on Monday morning after Cell Group on Sunday nite. Our family was unable to attend.
FYI – Min Khang and Angela are our co-leaders. Koh and Rose are the ones you’ve been praying for. Joanna is their daughter and is a believer. Alex is their son and his wife is Helen, both are believers.
Thank you for your prayers,
The CarterFam

Dear All,

Thank you for praying last nite.

When I was preparing the bible study for the cell meeting on Saturday, the Lord impressed upon me that I need to share the John 3:16. I was troubled as I did not know how exactly to fit this John 3:16 into my bible study…. and struggled for the whole day. Nevertheless, I read through the material for the John 3:16 presentation. I did not understand what the Lord had in mind and got stressed up for the whole day.

When Koh’s family ( without Joanna, but with Alex and Helen ) came last nite, I started doing some casual chit chat with them. I went on sharing our vision of planting a house church in Putra Heights, the Autie Rose and Uncle Koh was surprised, and also curious about house church. Alex then asked me if we are going to be an independent church. I told them that we have decided to adopt Baptist believe for our house church.

At this time, Uncle Koh asked me what actually we are believing in….
He asked if we are worship God the Father, or God the Jesus, or what kind of cross we are worshiping ( the cross with Jesus hanging on it, or without Jesus hanging on it ). He also said that he is confused with so many denominations such as Roman Catholic, protestent, Baptist etc….

I started to share the church history started from Act Chapter 2 from the day of Pentecost to the reformation. I stressed to him that regardless what denomination, most have a common believe on the doctrine of salvation. At that point, Angela signaled me to start sharing the John 3:16 presentation. Only then I realised the purpose of God asking me to prepare for the John 3:16 presentation.
I did the presentation and Angela continue to ask if he has invited Jesus into his life.

That was the point I sms both of you to start praying. At this time, Joanna came, and I asked her start praying too.

Uncle Koh started giving execuses that he is open minded about everything and this and that. We went round and round from this point onwards.

Autie Rose also confessed that she has never invited Jesus into her life, and she has been put God aside until she fell ill recently.

Angela and I did an analysis after that, and here is our observation of Uncle Koh’s objection to the Gospel:

1. His family commitment. His farther is now 93 years old, and he has an obligation to go through the ritual when he pass away 2. He also hinted that he still want to enjoy. He mentioned that recently his friend asked him to go to Sabah to have a good time there ( up to you to guess what sort of goot time is that ) 3. He is too old to make the change 4. He don’t know if Christian God is the true and living God, instead of his Toa Pek Kong

However, there are few possitive points:
1. He mentioned that he wanted to be with Rose and his children at the final resting place ( not the grave, but in term of spiritual relm ) 2. He mentioned that he will consider accepting the Lord when his father pass away 3. He mentioned that if he become a Christian, the funeral will be very easy for his children

At the end, we gave him a track and challenge him to ask God to show to him that God is the living God. He asked us what if God say his Toa Pek Kong is the greater God, and I immediately told him that if God told him his Toa Pek Kong is the true and living God, he should go ahead to worship his Toa Pek Kong. He was a bit shocked to see my confident.

Uncle Koh briefly flip throught the track. We noticed Autie Rose took the track from Uncle Koh and keep it in her bible. Angela told Uncle Koh that once he accepted Jesus into his life, the next step will be baptism.

We concluded with praying that God will reveal the truth to Uncle Koh.

Sorry we did not had any worship and bible study session. This took all the time for the whole nite. Anyway, in the process when we went through Act2, John 3:16 and Roman 3:21-26 with Uncle Koh. We also went through the concept of trinity with him as he was confused with God the farther, the Son and Holy Spirit.

Alex, Helen and Joanna worked with us well throughout the nite. Helen came in a few times to help us when Uncle Koh throw us some difficult questions.

Let’s continue to pray for Uncle Koh and Auntie Rose.

Jumpin July

After yummy steak at Victoria Station

Celebrating Mommy’s birthday

Thanks for your prayers for our family as July is jumping with activity. Caden had a great time at Camp Buddy and his favorite thing was Bible Quiz Bowl. He busted out two pair of tennis shoes and lost his crocs but thankfully they were found before the next meetings started.Independent child that he is,  he told Scott he came to camp for friends not family. Our family all went out to the camp to celebrate the 4th with a BBQ and fireworks.

4th of July party at Camp Buddy

He was on his own for the rest of the week as we all left to get ready for the annual summer meetings.  I was helping to coordinate the programs for all the kids. We had a fantastic team from Trussville, AL that came to do VBS and lead our worship times. I am praising God that everything went so smoothly, few sicknesess, and everyone worked together well.  It was a busy time but also some time for refreshment and  fellowship with friends. We said goodbye to one chapter and welcomed in a new one as we will be leaving the region we’ve served in for the last nine years and transferring  to another one. Pulling off big meetings like this and coordinating it all with a team from the states is another one of God’s miracles in my book.  Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers and for answering in mighty ways above and beyond all we hoped for.

I was overwhelmed with birthday spoilings this week. My family made it a very special day for me and topped it off with a SUPRISE party. After our steak dinner I walked into our dark house and suddenly cake and friends faces were popping out everywhere. I am so blessed with such a great husband, family, and friends.

Crete singing with his VBS Boomerang Express Buddies

Please pray for Crystal and the Expedition team that will be traveling to Tokyo from July 20-27. This will be a group of 27  youth from our company that live all around Asia. I was a journeyman in Japan and haven’t been back for 12 years. I will help to chaperone, encourage, and do whatever is needed for the team. We will be visiting local parks and meeting friends whom we hope to invite to dinner and get to share more with. At the end of the week there will be a big celebration at one of the parks for everyone to worship together. Pray that we will experience God in mighty ways and that many Japanese will be touched with the love of Jesus. Pray for Scott as he is home with all four kids— that he will have strength and patience and good Daddy time. Scott was the one who thought I should go so I’m praying God’s grace over him while I’m away and hoping he doesn’t change his mind

Thank you for your prayers as we begin the new work that Father has set before us here in KL. We seek his guidance for this city and for our neighborhood. Uncle Ko came to the bday party and he is going with his daughter to a Greek Bible class that is offered over the weekend. Keep praying him in, he is so close. Thank you for being a part of our team through your prayers. Many lives are being touched because you took the time to pray today! Blessings!!

Caden is gettin down with VBS friends

Shake it up Keaton in the VBS program

Summer Swings Thru

Alex and Helen's Wedding tea ceremony

Thank you for your prayers for the wedding weekend with Uncle Ko’s son. The wedding ceremony was in the morning at church, then in the afternoon we went to Uncle Ko’s house for the traditional Chinese tea ceremony. This is a special time for the new bride and groom to serve all of Alex’s dads side of the family. Uncle Ko has nine brothers and sisters and his father is 93. The parents are served first and then each of the aunties and uncles. After they drink the tea they give special red envelopes with money gifts to the bride and groom. It was a fascinating cultural experience and we enjoyed getting to know more of the family. We discoverd a few family members who are Christians. The Lord continues to surround Uncle Ko with a cloud of witnesses. He came along with his daughter to Bible study again this week. He asked if gambling was a sin as he had gone to the casino with his brothers after the wedding. He also shared that he felt like others manipulated faith to get what they wanted, like bargaining with God. We are thankful for his questions and the evidence of  God’s work in his heart as he searches the Bible. God is drawing him near. His daughter Joanna is praying and seeking what God has for her future and the possibilites of attending Bible school. Pray that Uncle Ko will truly know what it means to walk by faith in the freedom of Jesus Christ. Pray for the plans God has for Joanna and how God is preparing this family for his good works.

Soccer season finale One Day Tourny. Now the boys play tournaments on the All Star teams. Please pray for these families as we spend time with them on the field and over meals.

The summer whirlwind has arrived. Caden and Scott left this morning to travel to Chiang Mai for Camp Buddy. Camp Buddy is a special time for all our coworkers children to get together and study God’s word, do fun activities, and just hang out with others who can relate to their lifestyle. Following that week will be our Annual Summer Meeetings. Crystal is helping to coordinate the childcare for the meetings. We have many volunteers coming to lead VBS with the kids while the parents have worship and training times. This is a special family time that we all look forward to, especially getting to catch up with friends who are spread across SE Asia. Please pray that this will be a time of spiritual refreshment and that all the meeting logistics will fall into place.

Today July 1 is the official day for all the company reorganzations to be set in place. We sadly say goodby to the PacificRim and will now be a part of the East Asia  Region. Change is not easy but we serve a God who is faithful and we are trusting in His ways as we all go through these transitions. We will be staying here in KL and focusing on CP work through training and mentoring others. We are so grateful for you prayers and support as we continue on through changes and what God has in store. Pray that our hearts will be attentive to the Holy Spirit as we seek direction in this new position.

It was a very Happy Fathers Day at Krispy Kreme

Thank you for standing with us through your prayers and reaching out with hope to the hopeless!

The Things a Father Will Do for His Daughter

Thank you for praying for Uncle Koh! Koh and Rose’s daughter returned from Australia this past week, and Rose asked if it would be okay if Joanna came along. “Of course it is!”
At 7:45 last evening, Rose and Joanna came to our home group, and guess who was walking behind them? You got it! Uncle Koh comes strolling in with them. We were surprised (well, maybe not really) and delighted to have him. Yes, the things a father will do for his daughter. Can’t you just hear Joanna, “Come on Dad, you’re coming with us!”?
Our co-leader was leading Bible study last night, and the topic was “False Worship”. I saw the paper, and just thought, “Oh, this ought to be good!” (since we had a man with us who practices ANCESTOR WORSHIP)
Before we began the study, we sang a few songs, and after we finished singing, Caden leaned to my ear and said, “Daddy, Rose and Koh were both singing!”.
The study was good, and we were proud of Joanna’s jumping right in and participating with us. While living in Australia, she came to know the Lord, but we weren’t sure of her maturity and discipleship, and the like. So, there sat Koh watching and listening as his daughter participated in Bible study. (he followed along too)
During our prayer time, we were discussing prayer items, and there is Joanna, sitting next to her father, leaning back behind him a bit, and wtih both hands, pointing to him, wanting us to pray for him. “Oh, Joanna, we are!” (but let’s not put him on the spot tonight)
This week, their son, Alex gets married, so I was praying for their family to have a peaceful and enjoyable week. Crystal told me later that while I was praying for their family, Joanna reached over and took her father’s hand.
As we were walking to our cars, Uncle Koh was telling me how impressed he was with Joanna’s knowledge of the Bible. He had asked her some of the same questions he has posed to me. (either to test her or me, one) I just said, “Yes, it comes simply from reading and studying.”.

Pray this man into the Kingdom with us! I’ll be sure and introduce him to you in Glory so you can meet this precious man.

Pray this week:
1) for Koh and Rose’s family as Alex gets married. Pray for peace in their household, and that their wedding celebration would point to Jesus.
2) Pray that Uncle Koh would continue to read his Bible.
3) Pray for Joanna’s time with her parents, that she would be able to witness to her father.
4) Pray that Joanna’s transformed life would point Koh to Jesus.
5) Pray that Uncle Koh would place his faith in Jesus!

Pray for Uncle Koh

We first met Uncle Koh back in December, at our cell group Christmas outreach party. He is Malaysian Chinese, a Taoist, and can be very antagonistic toward Christianity. His wife, Aunty Rose, is a Catholic, and regularly attends our cell group. It has been exciting to watch her grow. Uncle Koh has been to Mass with her several times, and she claims that he tries to argue with her about Christianity.
A couple of months ago, Rose “dragged” Koh away from his favorite TV show to join our cell group. To this point, she did not want to bring him for fear of what he might say to us. We finally convinced her that it would be okay. For the most part, he was fine, though at one point, he tried to be antagonistic.
After the group adjourned, I (Scott) was able to talk to him 1-on-1. I found him, in that situation, to be very soft and receptive as I answered his questions. He asked me, “How do you know so much about the Bible?” I told him that it comes from just reading and studying it, and that yes, I do have a degree from seminary, BUT most of what I know from the Bible is from personal reading time.
I challenged him to read the Bible for the next couple of weeks and gave him a list of what to read, and gave him my Bible. 2 months later, he still had my Bible, though he felt bad about keeping it, even though he was still reading in it. I got to the point that I needed it back because of all my personal notes in the margins. I emailed Rose and asked if I could come by and get it. Before I did, though, I went to the Christian bookstore and bought Koh his very own large print, NIV Bible, and wrote a note in the front that I would be praying for him, and gave him a note with what to read next. I figured that if he had his own, that he would not feel sorry (for having mine) and that he would cherish his.
On Sunday, I received an email from him, thanking me for the Bilbe, and I quote, “First and foremost, thank you very much for the very nice Bible book. I told Rose that I don’t deserve it. Anyway, very much appreciated adn once again THANK YOU. I will try my best, or make an effort to read it.”
Last night, we had dinner as a cell group, and Uncle Koh came along. After the meal, he and I had a chance to talk. He had many questions, and he also said this, “I just don’t know how when I have a lifetime of sin, how God can just forgive it and make it go away.” WOW! What an opporutnity! He also told me, “I just cannot convert yet, because my father is still alive. If I convert he will have no one.”
You see, Koh’s brother has become a follower of Jesus, as have Koh’s son and daughter.
Rose also told me that while she was at cell group with us Sunday night, Koh was listening to Rick Warren! They receive Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven daily devotionals by email, and he reads them.
It was a great evening talking with him.
I left him with a handshake and 1 final illustration regarding our sin, comparing it to our mortgage debt. No matter how much we seem to pay, the mortgage just never seems to go away. The debt seems eternal. That is our sin (but to a true eternal degree). Nothing we do will ever pay down our debt. When Jesus breathed His last and said, “It is finished!”, He was exclaiming, “Paid in full!.” When we place our faith in Jesus, our debt is paid; we don’t “owe” God anything.
Oh, if you could have seen his face! His expression changed, and he understood what I had said (in light of his previous statement about his sin going away).

Please pray for Uncle Koh. Pray for his salvation. Praise God that he is reading his Bible, and listening to Rick Warren! Join the battle for his soul with us and pray that he would make the decision to follow Christ.

Happy He’s Alive Day!!!

Carter kids on Easter Sunday

Wishing all of you a very Happy He’s Alive Day. We had a great morn of Easter worship and a big lunch with friends. The kids had fun hunting for eggs in our yard. We are praising Father so much that the mom and children of the JEE family were able to join us today. The kids loved Sunday School and the mother said that the service was very different from what she had experienced at church before. The father did not attend the service but he did join us for lunch. We believe that God is really at work and is drawing this family to Himself. Please continue to lift them up and the softening of their fathers heart towards church. Keaton prays for this family and his friend every nite. Many attended today for the first time or their annual Easter visit to church. May they see the difference that Jesus makes in lives and seek after Him.

Crete turned four on April 1st and Scott turned a little more than that on April 5. Lots of birthday celebrations around our house the last few weeks. Keaton had a great Daddy trip to Cambodia where they played baseball with the national team, helped connect others with local workers, and comforted friends in a time of grieving. The next week Scott was back in our former country of residence to help with a basketball coaching team who were continuing relationships with players and coaches for the country’s basketball federation. They had opportunities to share more directly than before with those they have been building relationships with over the past few trips. They shared the plan of salvation with several friends. Please pray for all these ongoing sports relationships as we pass the baton to them and will no longer be the middle man. God has done some really amazing things through these sports outreaches and the time has come for us to step back and let it run.

We also want to praise God for his answer to prayer in bringing Uncle H to our Bible study group last week. His wife has been coming faithfully since the new year  and we’ve been seeking to involve Him. He is very intellectual and has many questions. He took a Bible and agreed to read some select pasages he was given. They have seen the Lord transform their son and are hungry to learn truths from the Bible. Please pray for Uncle H that as he reads Gods words will pierce his heart. We don’t want to argue with him, and are challenging him to seek the Word for answers.

We count each of you our faithful prayer warriors as a mighty blessing. We celebrate the Living Savior today and the many prayers that are transforming our lives and the lives of those around us.  Please be encouraged that your prayers are making a difference. We have much to praise him for.  Happy Easter!

March Madness

Caden and Daddy traveled out into the forest for a Father Son Campout last weekend. It was sponsored by Focus on the Family which has a very active branch here in Malaysia. There were about 40 sets of Fathers and Sons who camped out in tents, went hiking , played in a waterfall, and cooked their own meal over a charcoal fire. There were sessions on communication, personality types, and bonding activities for them. Pray for the family relationships that they will continue to grow and build strong father son relationships. Many parents here work very long hours and see their children only a short time.

Caden turned 9 on St. Patrick’s day. We celebrated with a few other families over a cookout. The JEE family came and heard testimony from another family. The mom shared that she wants her children to have a religion but her husband does not. Her heart is very open, please pray that her husbands heart will soften. We are so blessed to have these special families to spend time with. Pray that they will receive the love of the Father as we hang out together.

Mommy is heading off  today for a ladies retreat in the Highlands. This is in the central part of the country where its mountainous and they say its cool. Looking forward to some good fellowship with other sisters and some focus time with the Father. Please remember Scott and the children and Fathers strength and protection over them.

Mommy returns on Sunday and Daddy and Keaton are leaving on Monday for Cambodia. They will go to join the baseball team and share with some friends. Pray for them as they encourage the partners there and for others who can carry on the work.

So March has taken off with lots of activity. We are seeking to hear a clear word from the Father for the plans he has. We are so thankful to have you on the journey with us as we reach out to others with a HOPE like none other.