Dear Partners,      (Please print so other family members can read)    April 2013

We truly mean “partners”.  You have each done a great deal to be called partners because without you we believe that many of the things we have see God do through the work with a mercy ministry might not have become a reality.

Some of you pray.  The more we’re involved in the ministry the more we realize how much we need your prayers.  Some of you say that you pray everyday for us.  For others it may be just once a week but you faithfully pray.  And others may just pray when you get our letters or cards or when it is time to send your donation.  The important thing is that you hold us up in prayer.

The best time for us to pray is right after breakfast before we leave the table.  We know if we get involved with something else we’ll never make it back to pray.  We pray using 3 X 5 cards with your names, missionaries letters we have received, countries that we have worked in, those who have come to Christ, those who are still seeking, and our church staff and missionaries our church supports.  Through prayer, we feel like we are partners with what God is doing in your lives and others.  Thank you for partnering with us in prayer.

For over 25 years some of you have been standing with us in a financial way.  Without your sacrificial giving we could not have carried on what God has done and is still doing through us.  We thank God for you as financial partners.

Internationals are on our radar screen all the time!  We not only tutor on Monday nights with the ESL class, we are intentionally planning activities that bring our students together in our home or an entertaining event to build meaningful relationships.

Easter Sunday we had 8 Chinese and their spouses over for brunch and then we were able to take them to their first church service where they heard the message of the Resurrection again.

Next month another event is being planned to deepen our friendships and enjoy quality time with them.  This is all to show them we care and value their relationship.  As trust is built, we can answer their questions, share our personal testimonies, and the “How to” of becoming a believer in Christ.

The following is an overview of what GAiN (Global Aid Network, International) is doing and we have the privilege of being a part of because of you.  May you use this as a guide in knowing how to pray for us generally and know that as GAiN staff members we are in some small way a part of what GAiN is doing.

-Relief and Development Aid:  Shipping containers of clothing, food and medical items to foreign countries to like-minded and trusted partners who are committed to meeting physical and spiritual needs.  Relief and development programs include initiatives to provide food, seeds, clean water, health programs, and community care items such as shoes, clothing, and school supplies.

-Mobilization:  Each year hundreds of volunteers join with GAiN to travel on short-term mission trips to foreign lands.  Typically 20 -25 teams are deployed to countries around the world.  While the outreach methods may vary among the multiple outreach trip opportunities, the common thread of each is caring for hurting and needy people through compassionate aid while proclaiming the Good News of Christ.
-Emergency Disaster Response and Ongoing Relief:  Mobilizing resources when disaster strikes and ensuring that people continue to receive aid long after the crisis is over.  Emergency food, water filtration systems, and medical supplies are sent immediately following a disaster followed by a process of rebuilding homes and businesses.

Mission trips: GAiN USA has 15 mission trips planned this year to places like Russia, Haiti and Guatemala.  Visit www.gainusa.org to learn more.

Packing school supplies

Packing projects:  Help prepare aid to be sent overseas by joining a packing event at GAiN’s Mt. Joy, Penn. Distribution Center.  Events are held multiple times a year.  Visit www.gainusa.org.

Church partnerships:  Get your church involved with GAiN, with Care-Packs, disaster relief and clean water.  Download a church partnership network flyer at www.gainusa.org.

May God bless you, our Partners,

Frank & Ruth Luter,  frankluter@sbcglobal.net  (517) 347-1514

Dear Partners,

January has come and gone and much has happened. But we must share one of the most important events that have taken place. On January 21st, our youngest daughter, Juleen and husband Jim (Noob) gave birth to a 6 pound 11 ounce daughter, Emma Grace.  She was about three weeks early and both needed to remain in the hospital about a week because of an infection.  This makes our seventh grand child.

August and November also brought excitement when we had two great grand daughters born.  I guess this was the year of girls, Piper Louise and then Cora Joy.  It is hard to believe that our daughter, Andrea, and Mark are now grand parents.  What blessings from God!

We are looking forward to more adventures that God has in store for us as 2013 rushes on.

Every year we start off with a whole new group of internationals coming to the US to study at Michigan State University.  They are graduate students, visiting scholars and their families.

What a joy it is to work mainly with Chinese and helping them to improve their speaking of   English.  We introduce them right away to the Bible and how much of our culture has been influenced by what it has to say.  Most of them have heard of the Bible and are very curious as to what it is.  How exciting it is to begin with Genesis 1:1 and begin to teach them there is God and how we know this to be true.  They become very hungry to know more.  Over the months we give them the full gospel story.  Not one has express that they are not interested.

The important thing is for them to build a trust relationship between us.  This may take spending much time with them; dinner at our home, playing games, going sight seeing and sending them emails.  They are anxious to be with us.  We are looking for that time when they will commit their lives to Jesus.  Sometimes we have the privilege of seeing this happen.  Others have done this after they return to China.  We are glad that this is not dependent on us but this is God’s business.  The important thing is that we live the Christian life before them and that we communicate the message.

We wish that we could share with you all the stories of how the humanitarian aid with GAiN (Global Aid Network) is changing lives.  We will try to share a few.

You will remember the mobile medical clinic we were able to ship to Zimbabwe.  Recently the Mobile Medical Clinic brought a ray of hope to 3500 people in three rural areas.  The people in these communities have to walk for hours on foot or by ox-drawn cart for up to 25 miles to get to the nearest clinic for medical treatment.  The clinics are generally short-staffed and sometimes not adequately stocked with drugs.  In addition, most people stay home with illnesses that can easily be cured because they don’t have the money to pay for medical treatment.

Thanks to the generous donations of our partners, GAiN was able to provide medical supplies and medicines to our local distribution partners in Zimbabwe to establish the MMC.  From September through November, the MMC traveled to various communities, targeting the most remote areas to offer medical treatment, HIV testing and counseling for free.

The Mobile Medical Clinic is equipped so they can show the JESUS Film in the evenings.  Through this, many hear the gospel message for the first time and others make commitments to follow Jesus.

Another story:  Elson, 11 years old, is an orphan living in Chinhoyi with his 15 year-old brother lost both parents to AIDS when Elson was just seven.  After the death of their parents, Elson and his brother were left without a guardian and have been alone ever since.

The elder brother dropped out of school to find work and take care of him.  Fortunately for them, a local church stepped in to give them some guidance and counseling,

Water supply is erratic in their location.  Most of the time they have to resort on unsafe water sources to get by.  GAiN was able to provide a bucket stalled with a water filter.  It was reported Elson face lit up with a smile.  He said that he could not wait to get home to show his brother and drink clean water.

Thanks for all you do to partner with us and make our ministry possible.  It would be great if you could find the time to go with us and work at our Pennsylvania Distribution Center for a few days  in June 2013.  Please be sure to contact us if you have any interest.

We can be reached at (517) 347-1514 or frankluter@sbcglobal.net

Blessings, Frank & Ruth Luter

Dear Caring and Praying Friends,

Today, on November 27, we at New Life church received court summons from the Supreme Economic Court, in which our church is to vacate its building, then make an extra set of keys for representatives of the Moscow District Household Management Department of the Minsk City no later than December 5, 2012.

Transfer of the church building and its keys to the representatives of the Minsk City Household Management Department is to be carried out on December 5, 2012 at 11 AM.

We are not going to give up our church nor our right to worship the Lord there!

Please forward and share this news with your friends, your Congressman, your Senator (s), newsmakers, media outlets, reporters and send protest letters to the Belarusian Embassy in your nation.

We are meeting tomorrow morning (Wednesday, November 28) at 10 AM Minsk time with our church’s spiritual council for urgent prayer.

You can follow recent developments and news at: www.newlife.by/eng_index.php

In Christ, sergei for all of us there

We have just returned from a nine-day-trip to the GAiN Distribution Center in Mt. Joy, Pennsylvania.  What a place to have a joyful time, Mt. Joy. 

Traveling through the mountains there were some breath-taking sights with the changing of the leaves.  However, they weren’t quite as brilliant as they have been in past years.  It seems that everywhere we go in the U.S. we see the evidence of the lack of rain.

Break time

Among other things we had the privilege of greeting the over 4,000 people as they came through the door into this massive warehouse type of building.  It is over 70,000 sq. ft.  We can usually tell those who come for the first time because their eyes are scanning the huge building and the tall rack that hold thousands of cartons of aid that is packed and ready to be trucked to the port, loaded on ships and send to a country where there is great needs and where it will open the door to share the gospel story.  Many of these countries are places where we could not get into to share the gospel otherwise.

School supplies

Not only are the lives of those who receive the aid changed but also the lives of those packing the aid are changed.  Many of those who come have gone to these countries to help distribute the aid and share the gospel.  There are some that have gone on 20 – 40 trips with GAiN.

Although, because of health concerns, we have not been able to go on these trip we are thankful that we can still be a part of seeing these lives changed by serving here with the recruiting, packing aid and getting people involved in this great indevor.

More school supplies

We wish that many of you could join us on a future trip.  We go in October and June each year.  Let us know if you are interested in more information. Below we would like to share with you some of the packing that was done while we were there.

Gospel Aprons sewn                      373

Blankets made                                172

Gospel Bracelets made          48,140

CarePacks made                            21,810

(school supplies)

Used clothing bailed                        315  bails,  27,951 pounds

Tents ready to go

Used coats                                     8,791 pounds

New clothing                                  15.263

New shoes                                 2,068 pairs

Art supplies                                15,138 kits

Dolls packed                              58,560 dolls

Harvester Packs (seeds)          52,725  8 pks. of vegetable seeds

Rice and Beans                         158,088 meals

Medical equipment                  Walkers      224

(cleaned, repaired &                       Canes         74

Ruth needed a tent for a nap

packed)                                        Crutches     131

Tents                                                                830

(cleaned dried & packed)

Letters written to go with                           168

CarePacks

Total Volunteers for the week                         4,675

During 2 half hour breaks and during lunch hour reports were given showing many videos of how God is using the aid they pack to touch the lives and hearts around the world.  All the food to feed the volunteers was donated by local businesses.

We thank you for all you do in financial support, praying and some donating aid items to make it possible for us to do what we do.

With grateful hearts, Frank & Ruth Luter

We are encouraged by the progress that is being made on the projects in Zimbabwe.  We feel privileged to have been a small part of some big things happening in that country.  There is now a state-side church that is partnering with Maranatha Worship Center.  They are helping develop a farm that will provide food for their people as well as some income for some of the church members.

In the Northeast part of Zimbabwe, where we held medical clinics, GAiN is now raising funds to build a new clinic.  This will make it possible for those that are too far from medical care to receive help.

Recently, our GAiN office received a call from Dr. Farai Katsande, who is the South and East Africa Area leader for Cru (Campus Crusade) telling of an urgent need.  He told about the community of Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, which is about 18 miles south of Harare, the Capital.  There are 300,000 people in this region.  Because of the economic situation, the government can no longer pump city water to this community and they have not been able to maintain repairs on the sewage system.  The people have dug for themselves open shallow wells to get water.  Because of the sewage issue and lack of clean water a dangerous outbreak of Typhoid is affecting Chitungwiza.  Farai shared that he personally saw 10 cases of Typhoid infected people and the next day 15 more cases were reported.

Life Ministry Zimbabwe is the name for Cru in Zimbabwe.  Farai and his team have been working to train  45 pastors in this community and surrounding areas.  The timing of this training has provided a great opportunity to help the community as well as share the gospel.  The training is called Transformational Development.  The pastors have learned that even though the do not have the financial resources to help in a crisis like typhoid outbreak they still have the ability to help.  Farai and his team took the 45 pastors into the hospital where they were able to help clean the hospital.  This showed the community that the churches are getting involved.  The pastors are also trained to use the Four Spiritual Laws Booklet and the JESUS Film.

Farai has asked for help in two ways.  First, pray for this community and second, to provide 1000 water filters.  The water filters take out all of the bacteria including Typhoid.  Each filter will produce over 400 gallons of water per day.  Farai’s plan is for the pastors to take the water filers to their church members who will be trained to use the filters and trained to share the gospel.  The church members would share clean water from the filters with five to six other families from their community.  Through this method, the churches would be empowering their congregations to help give their neighbors clean water and also share the gospel.

Each filter cost about $100 to purchase, ship and distribute.  Half of the money has been raised to send the filters to Farai.  Our GAiN office has already air freighted 500 filters for this ministry outreach.  Please pray that all of the money comes in that is needed.  Both Farai and GAiN believe that these filters along with training will not only help the community but will make a huge spiritual impact in the churches of Chitungwiza.

This past summer went rather fast.  We put on a mini retreat for some of the Chinese we have been working with.  We also conducted two marriage retreat called the “Art of Marriage”.  Attendees expressed how much they appreciated taking this time to do a check up on their marriage.  One couple expressed how their marriage was experiencing some rough spots at the time and how it helped them work somethings out.  Another involvement was helping with Vacation Bible School at one of our supporting churches.  I know we will all remember the warm time we had this summer.

We also became great grand parents.  Andrea’s daughter, Lauren & Seth had a baby girl, Piper Louise Edgar.  Her other daughter, Emily & Nathan Moore will deliver our second great grand child in November and in February our daughter, Juleen & Jim (Noob) Kenney will give us another grand child.  We are multiplying.

Please continue to pray as we partner with Farai and other ministry organizations to provide hope and share the love of Christ.  We appreciate you continued prayer and support for our ministry with GAiN and Cru.  It is such a privilege to serve on your behalf.

Love, Frank & Ruth Luter

Greetings!

We have been wanting a warm summer but I think it has been a little on the HOT side. 

Fifteen years have flown by so fast.  Fifteen marks the beginning of the adventure we began when deeply impressed by God to return to serve under Campus Crusade for Christ working with the Jesus Film Project. Since then in 1997, we have transitioned through two other different ministries of CCCI, Global Hope Network & Global aid Network. We were drawn into humanitarian aid seeing the success of sharing the Good News through compassionate aid.

Our love for China has grown over the years and we have seen how God could use us working with International students, mostly Chinese from MSU.

All these years, a great number of you have joined our team linking arms making it possible for us to spend full time in ministry. You have been our safe haven, for this we gratefully thank you!

One of our GAiN assignments this summer was giving leadership to the Pennsylvania Distribution Center’s huge project week where over 3600 volunteers showed up to work processing humanitarian aid for overseas.

The event was like a massive “hands on” missions conference where exciting stories were shared as returning overseas teams and missionaries gave reports of how humanitarian aid breaches the gospel gap.  As volunteers worked preparing the goods that will soon be sent in huge containers to multiple countries, they were able to interact with those who have gone to these countries and delivered the aid.

Two weeks ago, Ruth and I had a mini retreat for four of the Chinese friends we have been working with.  One of them committed to following Jesus and the others are seeking.  This was a good time to build into their lives and establish good relationships.

Last week we gave leadership to an Art of Marriage seminar.  This material is development by Cru Family Life Ministry.  Those attending, all of whom have been married a long time, said that it was extremely helpful and wished they had had it early in their marriage.

 We are scheduled again for another The Art of Marriage seminar. Pray that God will use this excellent training to save marriages and build stronger relations.

Thanks again for standing with us in this team ministry.

Frank & Ruth Luter

How Long Does It Take?

How long does it take for a Asian to come to a point of committing his life to Christ?  Of course, that is in Gods hand, but it could take considerable time.

You see, many Asian have been raised to believe that there is no God and that there is no life after death.  They also highly respect their parents and would not want to do anything that might hinder that relationship  or that trust between them.

Let’s consider “Z”, a visiting scholar who came here from a well known university in China where he is a professor.  He knows how to read and write English but needs quite a bit of help in speaking so that he is fluent in English.

He has been raised to believe that there is no God and no Life after death.  His mother became a Buddhist about 15 years ago and she has encouraged him to study Buddhism.  Because of his respect for his mother, he has read several books that she has recommended.

“Z” came to us to brush up on his English and get opportunity to speak it in daily conversation.  Each Monday night we spent teaching him conversational English.  In order to build a trust relationship with him we had him as well as others over for a party.  A lot of fun was had trying to understand their  language and them wanting to learn English.  After several Game nights; playing Chicken Foot with dominos, and having “Z” take over our kitchen to show us how to make dumplings and even going to a large dumpling making party in a community room at the university,  “Z” asked me if he could meet with me alone, just the two of us.  We began to meet once a week.

Each Monday in our English As a Second Language (ESL) we spend the second hour of the two-hour session in teaching English from the Bible.  During the approximate 6 months we meek we try to give them an overview from Creation to Christ resurrection and ascension.   This is quite extensive for someone with no background to grasp in this short time frame let alone believe it.  Every day we pray for them and trust the Lord to help them understand and to draw them to Himself.

Back to “Z”.  I found him to be like a sponge, soaking up everything I could share with him, asking important questions.  Several times he heard me share my personal testimony, both in a group and individually with him, of how I came to give my life to Christ.

We invited him to the Christmas program at our church, then to the church worship service.  This was all new to him; he had never been to a church program or service.  I suggested he began to read the Gospel of John and bring his question to me whenever we would meet.  Such good questions he brought!  When I questioned him about what he read he would always say that it was very good.  But he was not sure that he could say he believed it because it would show disrespect to his mother.

I spent much time explaining that it wasn’t believing about Jesus but it was trusting in Jesus.  He came to the Easter service.  When we met, I ask him if he believed what he had heard, he said yes.  I ask him what was keeping him from becoming a Christian.  He said (in spite of me having shared several time with him) “I don’t know how to become a Christian.  Can you tell me?”  I again explained that it was by faith and that it had to be the attitude of his heart.  I shared a simple prayer with him. I asked again, knowing a little bit of what this could mean for him, if he wanted to become a Christian.  He said yes.  I asked if he wanted me to help him pray and he said no.  And he began to pray  “God, I am a sinner …”.  His prayer was so humble and touching and I am sure that God took it the same way.  I said “Z” you are I are now my brother.  The biggest smile came on his face.

This is one of several Chinese that Ruth and I are relating with.  Some learning quickly, others take a longer time, and some go back to there homeland without making a decision but we hear from some that they have the decision to follow Christ after they return home.

How long does it take?  Only God  knows.

Thank you for partnering with us and giving us the opportunity to serve the Lord in this ministry.  With your prayer and support you each have a part in what we do.

Blessings, Frank & Ruth Luter

Dear Partners,                                                                                    February 2012

Greetings in the New Year!  We are looking at where 2012 will take us –another adventure in trusting God in a fresh new way.  We are so appreciative of all our ministry partners who pray, give and encourage us so that we can be involved in a humanitarian relief work through Global Aid Network. Just last week a GAiN team left for Haiti to serve for ten days bringing in food, clothing, water filters and other humanitarian goods. The “pillowcase” dresses will be packed in the team’s luggage and personally delivered to the little Haitian girls.  This is always a delight to see their faces light up when these adorable dresses are shared with them.

For your information, pillowcase dresses are darling creations made from gently used bright-colored pillowcases.  Just a touch of ribbon, lace or rickrack will add a feminine touch to the dresses.  Last June we delivered over a hundred dresses 

to our GAiN distribution center in PA that our group of gals from our church had sewed.  We meet regularly for sewing dresses, Gospel aprons, stringing colored beads for Gospel bracelets or making fleece cut and tie blankets. All these humanitarian goods are ultimately sent to aid our overseas partners and to share the love of Christ. The doors that are opened are incredible for further ministry.

A story we recently read brought home the meaning of how a gift given in the name of JESUS can change lives and how they view God.

It was a blustery day in New York City. It’s frigid in December.  A nine-year old lad was standing before a shoe store on Broadway, barefooted, peering through the window and shivering with cold.  A lady approached the boy and said, “My little fellow, why are you looking so intently in that window?”  “I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,” the boy replied.  The lady took him by the hand and went into the store and asked the clerk to get a half-dozen pair of socks for the boy.  She then asked if the clerk could get her a bucket of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet and dried them with a towel.  By this time the clerk had returned with the socks.  Placing a pair upon the boy’s feet, she then purchased him a pair of shoes, bagged up the remaining socks, and gave them to him.  She patted him on the head and said,” No doubt, young man, you feel more comfortable now?”  As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: “Are you God’s wife?”  (Excerpt from Frank  Damazio’s book Biblical Principles for Releasing Financial Provision).

Humanitarian aid gives hope to the hopeless and opens their hearts to the God of all hope and comfort.  This is why we have dedicated ourselves to the work of Global Aid Network and you have  been part of all this as you have joined shoulder to shoulder with us.  You might want to consider going with us to our Distribution Center in Pennsylvania in June.  Others have said that this is a wonderful experience.

God has continued to bless as we continue to work with Internationals (primarily Chinese) graduate students, visiting scholars and their families.  At this time we do not feel we should be sharing their individual stories.

We can’t say thank you enough for your supporting roles.

Gratefully in JESUS,

Frank & Ruth Luter

Representatives for Global Hope Network, Inc. (GAiN)  a ministry of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ)

Here it is, the first day of fall!  Where did the summer go?  It seems like it just began and now it is over.

Ft. Collins

July was mainly taken up when we went to Ft. Collins, Colorado to our every other year all staff conference.  With a full time staff of over 27,000 scattered all over the world it would be difficult for all of them to get together, however, we did have over 5,000 there.  We take over the campus of Colorado State University.

We were blessed by the challenging speakers, the workshops and the fellowship with other staff that we haven’t seen for two years, some of them were people that we had recruited to serve in missions.  The drive there was beautiful but very hot.  We were grateful that the car air-conditioning worked great.

UP Time

We were able to squeeze in some time for vacation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as well a visit some our supporters from that area.

Church Partnership

We are happy to see our home church beginning a partnership with our staff in Zimbabwe.  Five people from Trinity Church went to Zimbabwe to meet with a similar group from Maranatha Worship Center.  The two churches will be partnering on a farming project to provide food and employment for the people of the church.  Also, food will be grown to sell in the market place.  The first step is to help them by providing a well and irrigation system.  Next will be a greenhouse.  The success of these projects will determine what further help is given.

Horn of Africa

By now you have probable heard of the great need in Kenya and the Horn of Africa.  For the protection of our staff working in this area we are being cautious about sharing country and staff names.  Because of civil unrest and famine in this area hundreds of thousand of people have been migrating into Kenya is search of food and safety.  In one refugee camp alone there are over 400,000.  Many of these have walked for months and many have died along the way.   The camps are much in need of food, wells for water, sanitation facilities and clothing.  GAiN is shipping food, clothing and other humanitarian aid as quickly as funds allow.

I have just finished reading reports of the conditions and needs in these camps.  We are being asked to contact churches here in Michigan to see if they can provide funds to help care for these desperate people.  Please pray with us that God will place in on the hearts of many to give towards this cause.  If you would like to help, send your check to GAiN, 2001 W. Plano Pkwy. # 2200, Plano, TX 75075.

PDC

October 9^th we will go to GAiN’s Distribution Center in Pennsylvania for 9 days.  During that time we expect 4000 -5000 volunteers to show up for one of our packing events.  We will be involved in helping staff the event.

Art of Marriage

The end of October we will be helping the Community Bible Church put on a seminar on the Art of Marriage.  At this point we will be taking some of the church leadership through the material and showing how they can use this to help build stronger marriages in the church and the community.

Thankful

We are so thankful for faithfulness to us by partnering with us through your investment of prayer and financial support.  Your support is used to cover our salary, medical benefits and ministry expenses.

As you remember us pray:

1. That we would live holy lives that are acceptable before God.
2. That we would be faithful to His calling of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
3. That we would be sensitive to the needs of those we work with.
4. That we would build good relationships with the internationals that will serve as a bridge for the Gospel.
5. That we can communicate across cultural and language barriers.

Please print for others to read.

Our prayers are with you,

Frank & Ruth Luter

4506 Marlborough Dr.

Okemos, MI 48864

frankluter@sbcglobal.net

ruthluter@sbcglobal.net