WOW! God has been busy! Since our last blog we have seen much change in the church here in Gjakova.
We hosted our first “Encountering God” weekend in Nov. with the help of our oversight and friends from Albania. 9 people came to this 2-day encounter with God. Many were set free from old ways of thinking and became free to express their love for Jesus. The old mindsets that once held them back from expressing themselves are broken and a new lightness in attitude and countenance has replaced them.
God continues to touch people in their bodies, healing them and showing His love for them through revelation and visions. They are seeing that He is real and He loves them. Praise God!!! Our desire has been for the people here to experience the Presence of God and they are.
Two weeks ago a man, who was one of the first members of the church, prayed to receive the baptism of Holy Spirit. He had been baptized in water a few years ago but never had been filled with Holy Spirit. He came forward to ask us to pray for his daughter. We explained that he had the authority, as head of that house, to pray for his family, who are unbelievers. Kathi asked him if he had been “baptized in Holy Spirit” and he said he didn’t know. We told him he simply needs just to ask God for this, and he did. He soon began to speak in an unknown language and said he felt great joy and physically could feel like his body was “filling up”. We then encouraged him to go lay hands on the rest of his family. We expect household salvation to be the testimony of this event.
Another man, who has some physical and mental disabilities for now, has been coming to the church for over 3 years. He was hit by a car when he was 3 years old. He has much anger and has been vocal about his situation and how he has been treated very poorly due to his disabilities. Last Sunday morning the Presence of the Spirit of God was very strong in church. This man came in very angry and upset. Someone had disappointed him yet again. After worship he came up front and could not wait to tell me how bad people are and how he could trust no one. It was not the appropriate time, so I thought, so I just laid my hand upon his chest and asked Holy Spirit to bring a peace and calm on him until we could talk after service. 15 seconds later he was on the floor and stayed there for about 5 minutes. He got up, looking like he could barely walk, with a rare smile on his face and took a seat in the front row. To my knowledge this man has never tithed or given any offerings and usually complains or goes to the bathroom during this part of the service. This time, he was the first one to put his money in the basket. I don’t know how much, and it doesn’t matter. People who live on 40 euro per month grasping the concept of tithing to break a spirit of poverty is awesome! GOD is changing hearts. After service while talking with him all he could do was grin and giggle.
We are seeing a new desire in some of the people to be discipled, and also new levels of faithfulness, not only in the church but, in all aspects of life. We have had visitors almost every week. We are seeing growth in numbers as well as growth in the Spirit.
One of the women has been very faithful and loves Jesus with all her heart. She has been inviting and witnessing to everyone she knows. Her husband is currently in prison here, and she has a 4 year old and a 14 year old at home. Her witness to her husband has led him to Jesus. He sent us a letter from prison telling us of how Jesus has changed his life and he has been witnessing and reading the Bible. He spends at least an hour or more reading daily and spends much time discussing and, as he puts it, debating Jesus and the Bible with other inmates. Remember, the predominant religious view here is Muslim. The following is his letter to us translated into English.
Honorable Pastor,
I, (name deleted) decided that through this letter to salute and wish you, and say Happy Holidays and especially the feast of the birth of Christ. Peace and glory be with us. Because of my circumstances in prison I couldn’t address this letter earlier to you Mr. Pastor, so because of this I believe that the Lord will forgive me this sin, and for this my thanks goes to you and to your family.
We have the warmest thanksgiving and the most sincere from me and from my family for the help that you have shown to me and to my family for the overcoming the difficulties which at the present we are facing. I have the hope and trust toward you Mr. Pastor that will increase more toward you because I see the will of God in you to help me in these difficult moments for me and my family. I as well wish to your son all the best in life and success in giving life to the peaceful mission through which he went by the will of God with hope that Christ and His glory be with him.
I as well thank you Mr. Pastor for the book (the Bible) you gave me, which book I’m determined to adopt with my whole being. From this gained knowledge I inform you that indeed it has transformed me into one trustworthy one of God, and I’m trying to spread the faith in the Lord here in prison, helped also from (name deleted) (fellow prisoner) who is a friend of mine from Pristine.
I inform you that among the prisoners which have sinned has appeared a great interest. So that everyday we hold a debate and discussions on this subject. And sincerely I inform you that every time more and more are accepting Jesus and the forgiveness of sins. On this behalf Mr. Pastor I am mentioning some callings of God which has remained in my heart: (He prays) “Lord, I trust in You that You come with me because You have said that You are always with me. Our Father, in Heaven hallowed is Your Name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our needs and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.” which are a guide for of the goals of His, as well as for our behave and our doings.
I finish this letter with hope, and wish to cast my burden onto God, by which His burden will be easier for me. Let me deeply thank you for your efforts to help me in these difficult moments with your whole being so that I can become a devoted believer of God.
God be with you. With greetings,
Prison of Dubrava (name deleted)
04.01.2010
God is so cool! There is so much more to tell and we will try to update more often!
Blessings,
Al and Kathi
