Ashley Ministry Updates

What a blessing! Dori was able to come with me this past Sunday to evangelize in Adria! It was the first Sunday afternoon that she has had free since June. The Lord gave me much encouragement in being able to go out evangelizing with her once again. She truly is an example to me in the clarity with which she shares.

There was a large crowd in Adria this past Sunday due to a religious festival. Stands with fried foods, colorful candies, toys and knick knacks crowded the streets and so did the people. Dori and I were slow getting started. At one point we found that we were stopped in the middle of the street staring at the crowds of people, both wondering where to begin. So we prayed (how aware we are in those moments that we are in desperate need of God's help!) and then “warmed up” by doing a quick distribution of about 70 invitations to the family course which Marco will be teaching starting in the middle of October. Many people rejected the invitation while others asked questions which opened up doors to talk and share with people about the God who created and ordained relationships.

The most encouraging conversation of the evening was with 5 high school students. We started with our “normal” questions (are you all from Adria? Are you students? Etc.) and then I began talking with them about true hopelessness: how could we stand before a holy God when we all have committed the gravest of sins – not honoring God for who He is or giving thanks to Him (Romans 1:21)? God had every right to send us, in our wicked sin against Him, to eternal separation from Himself. Dori closed with the hope of the gospel, talking with them about God's justice and love in sending Christ. We urged them to consider Christ, to seek God, and to do so by reading His Word. Typically when Dori and I talk with teens, several of them will make faces behind our backs or roll their eyes or suppress giggles. I observed these 5 as Dori talked and was amazed at their attentiveness. One of them remained fixated on Dori's face as she passionately shared about her Savior. Another made comments - “that's so true. You're right.” We left them with information and Dori's phone number (which they wanted). They mentioned wanting to contact her after they have finished with their confirmation classes. We all need to pray hard now! These students are heavily involved in the church's youth program and usually when a potential Bible study with a group outside the church comes to the leadership's attention, they put a stop to it immediately. Praise be to God that nothing is impossible for Him!

Dori and I had a few more conversations here and there with various people, some whom she knew through work. We also saw a deep coldness in many whom we approached. Furthermore, Dori and I were both struck by the blindness of so many. One lady with whom we talked briefly declared that each person has a divine spark within them and that we are all inherently good. “Oh, that's crazy!” we all think. God's Word is so clear. Man is not divine and good but destitute and depraved (Eccl. 7:20; Luke 18:19; Rom. 3:10, 3:23, 5:12). However, were it not for the immense grace of God would we not all be in the same blind and hopeless condition?

He [the Father] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col. 1:13,14).

As I continue to learn and grow, one of the things in particular which struck me that evening was how needy I am! Sometimes I deceive myself into thinking that I am so capable. Oh, but I can ONLY accomplish things in the power of Christ, in His strength. I not only desperately need Christ but I want to grow in learning how to depend on Him more. The sins of independence and fear of men and self-love need to be fought constantly but in the midst of the battle I have opportunity for hope when I remember the sweetness of forgiveness and the depth of God's immense grace.

Depending on the Spirit's strength, God's grace, desiring to grow in deeper love with Christ . . . these remind me of Paul's prayer for the Ephesians in Ephesian 3:14-21. Would you pray this for me and our body as well?

… I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.