SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #21 ---- 6/14/98

#1 · June 7, 1998, 1:54 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on June 7, 1998, 1:54 pm
Posted by: root <root@...>

Standing Shoulder To Shoulder in the Trenches,
Encouraging One Another as we "Fight The Good Fight"

Title: IT'S A B-I-G FAMILY!

Dobar Dan! Kako ste? Ja sam puno dobro, hvala vam.

Ja sam Bob Tolliver iz puno vruc' Crikvenica, Hrvatska.

"Which being interpreted is", . . .

Good day! How are you? I am very good, thank you very much.

This is Bob Tolliver in very hot Crikvenica, Croatia.

I pray that this note finds you doing well, and that you are faithfully
receiving God's boundless provision for you. He has proved Himself
faithful in our behalf regarding the trip thus far. We are just
concluding our first full week of ministry in this country, a part of the
former Yugoslavia.

OSIJEK/VUKOVAR:

Since writing last week, we have had 39 victims of the war arrive from
Osijek in eastern Croatia last Monday evening. Most of them are formerly
from Vukovar, one of the most severely damaged cities from the war in all
of Croatia. About 20 of them are unbelievers; many of the others are
newer believers We have been meeting twice daily for services during
which time I have been teaching simple principles about what it means to
follow Jesus Christ.

Jo Ann and I enjoyed a special blessing when we recognized five of them
who had worked at Fuzine twoyears ago with our team. One of the men
began to wave at me and talk up a frenzy in Croatian. Of course, I
recognized very little until he said "Fuzine!" Then I immediately
recognized Marco with his jovial smile and the spark of love in his eyes.
It was a great reunion.

Since they leave Tuesday morning, I have two more sessions with them
Monday at which time I'll try to summarize and lead them to some type of
response for Christ. It has been one of the most receptive groups we
have ever worked with. We have also done skits, crafts, and held chess
tournaments. We will be giving them a farewell party Monday night at
which time we will give them T-shirts, special pictures we took of each
of them, team pictures, and some miscellaneous gifts.

One of the most poignant moments came after our Tuesday night "fun night"
following the evening service. One of our guys, Jeff, did some juggling,
and then we did some wordless skits. Following the evening's activities,
one of the ladies told our translator, Hilda, that she had not laughed so
much since before the war. Their was a "sad happiness" in my heart as I
heard that. How easy it is for us to forget the little things.

More tragic is how easy it is for us to forget the big things ---- like
there are still many people here who cannot go home because someone else
has taken it or they are of the wrong ethnic group or religious
background. The fighting with weapons ended with the Dayton Peace
Accord, but the need to sign the treaty with the Prince of Peace is more
crucial now than ever. That's why we're here.

Whatever else comes out of these three letters from Croatia, I am praying
that God will put Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro,
Kosovar, and Albania on your heart in such a way that you cannot shake
it. I'm asking God to burn those words deep into your mind. For the
past nearly four years Jo Ann and I have literally lived with those words
in our minds and on our lips. I can honestly say that there has hardly
been a single day when we did not think of the people of Bosnia and
Croatia.

KIEV/CHERNOBYL:

The second day we were here 48 children and 8 adult workers from Kiev,
Ukraine arrived down the road at the Peace Center. These are children
suffering from various diseases and physical problems caused by the heavy
metal fall out from the nuclear accident at Chernobyl. I mentioned them
last week. We have now seen them, and many of our team members have
worked with them.

They are so small! Most of them look two or three years younger than
they really are.

We are giving them a packet of special gifts (crayons, soap, etc), along
with T-shirts, socks, underwear, and a new pair of shoes each. Quite an
undertaking, but we know God is in it. The shoes alone will cost us over
$1,000.

In fact, I have a VERY SPECIAL AND URGENT PRAYER REQUEST! One of our
supporting churches had indicated they wanted to pay for the shoes, so we
came expecting money in hand from them when we arrived. However, when
the pastor tried to pursue the matter, some of the older members balked.
(Perhaps you have had similar experiences.) Numerous younger famliies,
however, wanted to do something. So, he is trying to find a happy
balance.

In the meantime, Jo Ann and I are committed to 48 pairs of shoes. The
request is that you join us in prayer that God will provide the funding.
$25.00 will easily buy one pair.

A MIGHTY BIG FAMILY:

My friend, there have been times when in the middle of my ministry I felt
like I was alone or at least surrounded by only a handful of believers
who felt the heart of God. Trips like this will immediately dispel that
imagery as totally false. You and I are really a part of an
extraordinarily H-u-g-e family.

On our trip twoyears ago we met a group of young adults from Every Home
For Christ who were canvassing this town with Gospel literature. The
leader and his wife were from Croatia. Now Franjo Spicak and his wife
are dear friends in whose home we have stayed and in whose church we have
since ministered. Then there were people from the Netherlands, Holland,
Switzerland, South Africa, Australia, Uganda, and the United States ----
all believers ---- all brothers and sisters.

On that same trip we also met another group involved with the
"Reconciliation Walk" strategy of retracing the routes of the Crusades
and asking forgiveness from every Muslim they see on the way. They were
walking to Instanbul, and then eventually to Jerusalem by 2,000 A.D.
They came from England, Holland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, France,
Kenya, Bosnia, and Romania.

Last year Jo Ann and I sat around a small table at a sidewalk ice cream
stand with seven people from five countries speaking four languages ----
and communicated clearly the unity and kinship we sensed we had in Christ.

Earlier today, before I spoke briefly at a church in Rijeka, I sat in the
balcony with part of our team. The music, prayers, scripture reading,
and sermon were all in Croatian being translated into English by a
beautiful young Croatian woman who had been in schooling in the U.S. for
four years. In our group were also two young women from the Chernobyl
children in the Ukraine. Because she understood English, she translated
into Ukrainian for the other woman. Think of that ---- from Croatian to
English to Ukrainian. And then just across the aisle another Croatian
gentleman was translating into German for another couple visiting the
Life Center.

Friend, ---- whenever you feel you're fighting a lonely battle in a
God-forsaken and even forgotten place, remember this. You are part of a
Mighty B-I-G Family that blankets the world. Our Father is the
Creator God, our Saviour is the King of all Kings of all the Ages, and
our guide and Strength is the all encompassing and ever-present Holy
Spirit of God.

And, on top of all that (as if that were not enough), you are one of
millions who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ! As the Bible
promised, His Kingdom Is Without End! And, if you feel bogged down,
somebody is up and running. If you feel discouraged, someone is around
to pick you up! (Just get on the phone and talk to someone.) If nothing
is happening where you are, something is happening somewhere ---- and it
will eventually happen where you are!

You are not alone ---- so don't be lonely!

You are not forgotten ---- so remember and rejoice!

You are not forsaken ---- so be diligent and faithful!

YOUR RESPONSES:

Because I am not home to receive your responses, it would be very helpful
if you would not send them until after June 20. My mailbox will hold
only so many, and I cannot retrieve them from Europe. Thanks for the
help.

HAS ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED TO YOU?

A pastor visited his church members one Saturday. At one house it was
obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door, even though
the pastor knocked several times.

Finally, the pastor took out his card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the
back of it and stuck it on the door.

Revelation 3:20 ---- "behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone
hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with
him and he with me."

The next day the same card turned up in the collection plate. Below the
pastor's message was the notation "Genesis 3:10" ---- "I heard your voice
in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself."

(Thanks to Roger Parris for sending me this story.)

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

And, forgive all the typo's ---- I'm using totally unfamiliar equipment
with no spelling check.

In Christ's Bond,

Bob Tolliver
Copyright June, 1998. All Rights Reserved.

LIFE UNLIMITED MINISTRIES
Route 1, Box 87AB
Collins, MO 64738
Ph 417-275-4854. Fax 417-275-4855
E-mail: [email protected]

Life Center International [email protected]
V. Nazora 55 Fax: 385-51-241-300
51260 Crikvenica
Croatia www.welovegod.org/outreach/life_center

Posted by: root <root@...>

Standing Shoulder To Shoulder in the Trenches,
Encouraging One Another as we "Fight The Good Fight"

Title: IT'S A B-I-G FAMILY!

Dobar Dan! Kako ste? Ja sam puno dobro, hvala vam.

Ja sam Bob Tolliver iz puno vruc' Crikvenica, Hrvatska.

"Which being interpreted is", . . .

Good day! How are you? I am very good, thank you very much.

This is Bob Tolliver in very hot Crikvenica, Croatia.

I pray that this note finds you doing well, and that you are faithfully
receiving God's boundless provision for you. He has proved Himself
faithful in our behalf regarding the trip thus far. We are just
concluding our first full week of ministry in this country, a part of the
former Yugoslavia.

OSIJEK/VUKOVAR:

Since writing last week, we have had 39 victims of the war arrive from
Osijek in eastern Croatia last Monday evening. Most of them are formerly
from Vukovar, one of the most severely damaged cities from the war in all
of Croatia. About 20 of them are unbelievers; many of the others are
newer believers We have been meeting twice daily for services during
which time I have been teaching simple principles about what it means to
follow Jesus Christ.

Jo Ann and I enjoyed a special blessing when we recognized five of them
who had worked at Fuzine twoyears ago with our team. One of the men
began to wave at me and talk up a frenzy in Croatian. Of course, I
recognized very little until he said "Fuzine!" Then I immediately
recognized Marco with his jovial smile and the spark of love in his eyes.
It was a great reunion.

Since they leave Tuesday morning, I have two more sessions with them
Monday at which time I'll try to summarize and lead them to some type of
response for Christ. It has been one of the most receptive groups we
have ever worked with. We have also done skits, crafts, and held chess
tournaments. We will be giving them a farewell party Monday night at
which time we will give them T-shirts, special pictures we took of each
of them, team pictures, and some miscellaneous gifts.

One of the most poignant moments came after our Tuesday night "fun night"
following the evening service. One of our guys, Jeff, did some juggling,
and then we did some wordless skits. Following the evening's activities,
one of the ladies told our translator, Hilda, that she had not laughed so
much since before the war. Their was a "sad happiness" in my heart as I
heard that. How easy it is for us to forget the little things.

More tragic is how easy it is for us to forget the big things ---- like
there are still many people here who cannot go home because someone else
has taken it or they are of the wrong ethnic group or religious
background. The fighting with weapons ended with the Dayton Peace
Accord, but the need to sign the treaty with the Prince of Peace is more
crucial now than ever. That's why we're here.

Whatever else comes out of these three letters from Croatia, I am praying
that God will put Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro,
Kosovar, and Albania on your heart in such a way that you cannot shake
it. I'm asking God to burn those words deep into your mind. For the
past nearly four years Jo Ann and I have literally lived with those words
in our minds and on our lips. I can honestly say that there has hardly
been a single day when we did not think of the people of Bosnia and
Croatia.

KIEV/CHERNOBYL:

The second day we were here 48 children and 8 adult workers from Kiev,
Ukraine arrived down the road at the Peace Center. These are children
suffering from various diseases and physical problems caused by the heavy
metal fall out from the nuclear accident at Chernobyl. I mentioned them
last week. We have now seen them, and many of our team members have
worked with them.

They are so small! Most of them look two or three years younger than
they really are.

We are giving them a packet of special gifts (crayons, soap, etc), along
with T-shirts, socks, underwear, and a new pair of shoes each. Quite an
undertaking, but we know God is in it. The shoes alone will cost us over
$1,000.

In fact, I have a VERY SPECIAL AND URGENT PRAYER REQUEST! One of our
supporting churches had indicated they wanted to pay for the shoes, so we
came expecting money in hand from them when we arrived. However, when
the pastor tried to pursue the matter, some of the older members balked.
(Perhaps you have had similar experiences.) Numerous younger famliies,
however, wanted to do something. So, he is trying to find a happy
balance.

In the meantime, Jo Ann and I are committed to 48 pairs of shoes. The
request is that you join us in prayer that God will provide the funding.
$25.00 will easily buy one pair.

A MIGHTY BIG FAMILY:

My friend, there have been times when in the middle of my ministry I felt
like I was alone or at least surrounded by only a handful of believers
who felt the heart of God. Trips like this will immediately dispel that
imagery as totally false. You and I are really a part of an
extraordinarily H-u-g-e family.

On our trip twoyears ago we met a group of young adults from Every Home
For Christ who were canvassing this town with Gospel literature. The
leader and his wife were from Croatia. Now Franjo Spicak and his wife
are dear friends in whose home we have stayed and in whose church we have
since ministered. Then there were people from the Netherlands, Holland,
Switzerland, South Africa, Australia, Uganda, and the United States ----
all believers ---- all brothers and sisters.

On that same trip we also met another group involved with the
"Reconciliation Walk" strategy of retracing the routes of the Crusades
and asking forgiveness from every Muslim they see on the way. They were
walking to Instanbul, and then eventually to Jerusalem by 2,000 A.D.
They came from England, Holland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, France,
Kenya, Bosnia, and Romania.

Last year Jo Ann and I sat around a small table at a sidewalk ice cream
stand with seven people from five countries speaking four languages ----
and communicated clearly the unity and kinship we sensed we had in Christ.

Earlier today, before I spoke briefly at a church in Rijeka, I sat in the
balcony with part of our team. The music, prayers, scripture reading,
and sermon were all in Croatian being translated into English by a
beautiful young Croatian woman who had been in schooling in the U.S. for
four years. In our group were also two young women from the Chernobyl
children in the Ukraine. Because she understood English, she translated
into Ukrainian for the other woman. Think of that ---- from Croatian to
English to Ukrainian. And then just across the aisle another Croatian
gentleman was translating into German for another couple visiting the
Life Center.

Friend, ---- whenever you feel you're fighting a lonely battle in a
God-forsaken and even forgotten place, remember this. You are part of a
Mighty B-I-G Family that blankets the world. Our Father is the
Creator God, our Saviour is the King of all Kings of all the Ages, and
our guide and Strength is the all encompassing and ever-present Holy
Spirit of God.

And, on top of all that (as if that were not enough), you are one of
millions who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ! As the Bible
promised, His Kingdom Is Without End! And, if you feel bogged down,
somebody is up and running. If you feel discouraged, someone is around
to pick you up! (Just get on the phone and talk to someone.) If nothing
is happening where you are, something is happening somewhere ---- and it
will eventually happen where you are!

You are not alone ---- so don't be lonely!

You are not forgotten ---- so remember and rejoice!

You are not forsaken ---- so be diligent and faithful!

YOUR RESPONSES:

Because I am not home to receive your responses, it would be very helpful
if you would not send them until after June 20. My mailbox will hold
only so many, and I cannot retrieve them from Europe. Thanks for the
help.

HAS ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED TO YOU?

A pastor visited his church members one Saturday. At one house it was
obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door, even though
the pastor knocked several times.

Finally, the pastor took out his card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the
back of it and stuck it on the door.

Revelation 3:20 ---- "behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone
hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with
him and he with me."

The next day the same card turned up in the collection plate. Below the
pastor's message was the notation "Genesis 3:10" ---- "I heard your voice
in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself."

(Thanks to Roger Parris for sending me this story.)

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

And, forgive all the typo's ---- I'm using totally unfamiliar equipment
with no spelling check.

In Christ's Bond,

LIFE UNLIMITED MINISTRIES
Route 1, Box 87AB
Collins, MO 64738
Ph 417-275-4854. Fax 417-275-4855
E-mail: [email protected]

Life Center International [email protected]
V. Nazora 55 Fax: 385-51-241-300
51260 Crikvenica
Croatia http://www.welovegod.org/outreach/life_center