SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #125 ---- 6/04/00
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
(A letter of Encouragement to People in
Vocational and Lay Ministry)
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #125 ---- 6/04/00
HEART TO HEART ARTICLE
My Dear Friend in the Kingdom Service:
Today I greet you from two cities ---- Sarajevo and Tuzla, both in Bosnia. I
am writing Saturday night from Sarajevo, knowing I will actually finish the
letter and send it Sunday night from Tuzla.
Frankly, I'm having a very hard time concentrating on what to write about,
because this has been one of the most incredible weeks of my ministry. Every
day has been extraordinary in some way. Seldom does a preacher have the
opportunity to minister to so many people with such deep needs, and to do so
in so many places in such a short time.
Last Sunday, as I mentioned in last week's letter, our team ministered in
churches in Sarajevo and Novi Travnik. The services were powerful, and very
special. Monday through Wednesday our team ministered in Sokolovic' Kolonija
to displaced refugees primarily from Kosovo.
In that setting we distributed food, hygiene supplies, and gave away over 200
pairs of reading glasses which we had collected and brought with us from the
United States. We discovered the reading glasses to be a major need, and hope
to make this an ongoing project for years to come. So many of these dear
people had either lost, broken, or had their glasses stolen during their
flight from their homes.
Wednesday evening we showed the Jesus film at the Kairos Center and had at
least two people who came to personal salvation through Jesus Christ.
Thursday and Friday we ministered in a small refugee camp in the town of
Kakanj. These were people are all trying to be relocated to third countries.
None of them want to return to Kosovo or Serbia, from which they all come. I
will speak of that later.
In Kakanj we gave food, hygiene supplies, more glasses, trousers for men, and
crayons and drawing paper for children. On Friday we also did a program of
music, skits, games, and a clear presentation of the Gospel. With the Gospel
presentation we also gave each of them a copy of the "Four Spiritual Laws" in
their language.
Inadvertently we had left our supply of those booklets there the day before.
We were anxious about them, because it constituted most of our supply for the
entire trip. When we returned Friday and asked about them, they joyously
exclaimed that they had distributed them to the children at the camp, and they
had given them to their friends at school. What a blessing! Our mistake
became one of God's primary tools to spread the Gospel in Kakanj!
When we drove away from those 50 people for the last time on Friday afternoon,
they were in tears and deep weeping. We were one of the first groups to ever
come and love on them like we did. They will never be the same ---- and
neither will our team.
Thursday night was an eventful night. Jo Ann and several of the girls led an
evangelistic women's Bible study while the rest of us went into the city
center or Sarajevo and "mingled" with people through music, conversation, and
Frisbee throwing. Then, about 7:30 we went to the front steps of the Catholic
Church and did a series of skits and music. Each time we did the presentation
a large crowd would gather. It was so successful that we've scheduled another
such event next Wednesday with the entire team and sound equipment.
While there were other significant things done last week, let me note a
special series of events that took place yesterday. Because Jo Ann and went
to Tuzla, I asked two of our young men to preach in Sarajevo and Zenica. I
had such personal joy in sitting with and encouraging them to hear what God
was saying, and then just speak from their hearts.
In the meantime, Jo Ann and I had the thrill of being reunited with Troy and
Mary Donahoe, missionaries in Tuzla, and then participating in the baptism of
five brand new believers, including two who were part of a group from Tuzla
with whom we worked last year on our trip.
FOURiny cabinet resting atop a one cubic foot
refrigerator at the foot. She has a small window that looks out onto a dingy
and dirty walkway alongside the building.
In spite of her humiliating surroundings and living quarters, I never saw her
without a smile. In fact, when we arrived the first day, she was the first to
want us to see her "room". When I saw it, I wanted to weep; I wanted to put
my arm around her and tell her just how very much we c was singing, "Jesus,
Lamb of God, worthy is Your Name.
Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is Your Name!"
The contrast was arresting ---- it was like having cold water thrown
unexpectedly in your face. I stood there with my mouth open and my eyes glued
to the back of this man's head.
Then, in apparent abject despair, he slowly rose, and walked away into the
shadows.
I wondered ---- will he ever find the answer he is looking for in this city?
Most certainly he won't where he was looking. But, will someone be available
someday to help him find it?
FINALLY:
It is nearing Midnight, and I must prepare for tomorrow.
I hope you will remember the four faces. They have touched my life in
emotionally wrenching ways, each of them in a special way. I saw the face of
a man rejoicing in the midst of a situation beyond his control. I saw the
face of a man hiding for life and yet so willing to openly share his story. I
saw the face of a woman with hope still in her countenance. I saw the face of
a man desperately looking for meaning to life.
Friend ---- you don't have to go to Sarajevo to find people like that. I
think a couple of them live down the street from your house.
In Christ's Mercy and Grace,
Bob Tolliver
We would love to hear from you ---- prayer requests, insights, etc. Feel
free to drop us a note at <[email protected]>.
If this letter has blessed you and you know of someone else who needs to
be encouraged, feel free to forward it in its entirety to all such people
you know.
If you would like a list of past issues which you could receive upon
request, just let us know. Write <[email protected]>.