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