We Appreciate Your Love & Prayers

June 10th, 2008

Over the past several weeks it has been a blessing to communicate with you as we walk these awesome days out.  We have been privileged to weep and rejoice over your prayers, and praises as the Lord moves in and through you.

In fact, "Every time we think of you, we give thanks to our God. Whenever we pray, we make requests for all of you with joy, for you have been our partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.  And we are certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns...We pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For we want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return.  May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation-the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ for this will bring much glory and praise to God.  (Philippians 1:1-6,9-11)

While on the island of Oahu, we have experienced Biblical ministry that reminds us of the Book of Acts.  Many have accepted Christ for the first time, countless have made stronger commitments to our Lord, the gifts of the Holy Spirit have been very active, hungry homeless families have been fed, thousands of our CDs have been freely given & prayer meetings and Bible studies have been a daily event.

We have also done about two dozen outreach concerts or times leading worship at local churches.  It has been awesome seeing God's church work together as we have been serving alongside so many fellowships, all in unity working towards the same goal.  We could go on and on about how wonderful it has been here!

The most important update is that the Take No Glory team has grown from 12 to 19 people.  We are now 6 musician servants, 8 missionary servants & 5 kids (ages 5 months to 14)

While in Hawaii, God has made it CLEAR that the Vierra family of 7 will join us on this three month missionary trip.  It has been confirmed dozens and dozens of ways through: scripture, prayer, Godly counsel, dreams, visions, prophesy, words of knowledge & a great peace that surpasses all understanding.

The Vierra's are a missionary family.  The father's name is Boy (a Christian musician that has done a world tour before as a bass player) & his wife's name is Elena (she is gifted with and passionate about children's ministry).  They have 4 children, ages twenty-one to nine years old: Nailiulaikalani, Kaleihulalionahokulani, Kauhiwaiolaokalani & Kananiowaipiokaainaalii.  They also have a granddaughter that is 5 months old named: Nadiya.

The family has been faithfully serving the Lord here on Oahu and are well respected by ALL the churches we have been working with.  It seems that every believer we have met here knows and loves this family.  They are a righteous addition to the Take No Glory ministry.

During the last few days, the confirmation that they are called has continued with more incredible events. Both Boy and Elena have been unexpectedly released by their bosses to go on this trip.  Also, multitudes of prayers have been answered.  For example, our team was used to fulfill some of Boy's visions and desires to evangelize to his co-workers and clients at work.  In addition, more brothers and sisters in the Lord that know the Vierras have agreed that their family is supposed to go.

Boy and Ellen also found out a few days ago that it will cost over nine hundred dollars for them to get their families passports finalized by Wednesday, June 11th.  Without them ever telling Eric and Ian of this cost, both of the guys felt in their spirits during a Bible study that someone needed to give them $1,000 dollars.  We did not mention this to anyone though.

Well, during that Bible study our team was leading (we crammed about 50 people in a house that fits 20) a friend of the Vierra's came up to Boy and handed him a thousand dollars and told him "the Lord wants me to give this to you".

How awesome and exciting is it to see the Lord moving and directing His ministry for His glory?

Please continue to pray and intercede for the days ahead.  It is our heart that we would follow God faithfully and that our lives would bring Holiness back to His Holy name.

Please pray for the Vierra family and their travel arrangements.  We believe that they will be serving with us in the Philippines by June 13th or 14th.

Please pray for our continued unity.

Please pray for the Philippines.  The pastors, leaders, churches, outreaches, etc.  May God bring fruit that multiplies and remains as He moves through Dumaguete City, and the surrounding areas.

Since we sent our update last week we have recieved over a hundred responces from friends and family encouraging us and telling us they are praying and fasting for us.  Here are some encouraging words and scriptures that you have sent us over the past week that we thought we should share with everyone.  We pray that you are blessed and encouraged by it!

You need to "keep going forward and keep being immersed in the Word.  At the end of the day all we have to give is Jesus.  Nothing else!!!  Just keep going forward. Stand on what God has shown you and keep your mind and your thought life in check.  Being on tour can get demanding.  Watch your Mind, Body and Spirit.  So pace yourself,  you are not on a sprint but a marathon!"

Be ready for "spiritual warfare, when you are out on the frontlines. The enemy loves to use his familiar tricks, but I have found after 20 years of ministry that it is your Peace that he will ultimately go for.  There is all the usual stuff, like: family, your kids, having weird accidents, sicknesses, things breaking, money, and anything that will rattle your cage.  But he ultimately goes for your Peace.  If you keep your eyes on Jesus then pace yourself and keep going forward...   Remember, you only need five stones and a slingshot, not the armour."

"Jesus fed 5000 men, along with women and children with just 2 loaves and 5 fish, and then there were 12 baskets left over.  That is what our God is capable of doing.  He has led you all this way so far and will continue to lead and provide for all of you.  Read Proverbs 3"

I was lead to read (2nd Timothy 3:5) "But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."  The words endure hardship and fulfill your ministry jumped off the page.

Of course Matthew 6:25-34 always comes to my mind so I pray that His word, His truth speaks to you... "Therefore do not worry, sayings, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For after all thes things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own troubles...."

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

NOTHING is impossible for Him and we are able to do all things THROUGH Christ who strengthens us.  Second Thessalonians 3:3 says, "But the Lord is faithful who will establish you and guard you from the evil one." Where it says "faithful," it means literally that the Lord is "utterly to be depended upon." Amen!!!

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12)

"For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; he will also hand Moab over to you." (2 Kings 4:17,18) 

"It is written" 'I believed; therefore I have spoken.'  With that the same spirit of faith we also beleive and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.  All this is for your benefit so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." (2 Corinthians 4:13)

"The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine upon you

and be gracious to you.

The Lord turn His face toward you

and give you peace."

(Numbers 6:23-25)

Another thought that comes to mind as you travel.  In the other countries, women will have in Christ a new freedom that they do not have. Also, marriages will change by watching your families.  The simple holding of hands, smiles, hugs, serving each other, etc will be a powerful message.  Eph 6:5-6  Bondservants, be obedient.......in sincerity of heart not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers.....

"And he said to them: 'Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men.  For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.  After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.  And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing;  but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it-lest you even be found to fight against God.'" (Acts 5:35-39)

There are so many things to be thankful for and I'm reminded of this particular verse in 1Tim. 1:12, which says, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to His service."

Joyfully serving Jesus,

The Take No Glory Team