September 2016
Mission Trip Begins
Rick and Sam Hough are leaving early September 9 to begin their mission trip. Please pray for safety, for wisdom in their teaching, and for God to prepare the way with open hearts to hear His message.
A Bold Example to Follow
Recently I heard a news report on American Family News about a couple in Texas who own and operate a wedding chapel, are devoted Christians, and are taking a bold stand for God’s standards concerning marriage only being for one man to one woman. As I understand the situation, the husband posted a public notice that God created male and female, He is the author of marriage, and any weddings in their chapel would be according to God’s ordinance. Anyone wanting something else can go somewhere else! An interviewer asked him if they are prepared to face the attacks and possibly lose their business over this. He said, “Yes, we are!” He also said that they hope that their open stand for God’s standards will encourage many others to do the same. He pointed out that more Americans need to wake up and realize how close we are teetering on the edge of losing all our freedoms. We need to stand up and speak out while we still can! Amen and amen! Will we become the Soviet Socialist States of America? You choose!
Our Little Champion in the Cultural Clashes
Several people have mentioned how they like my stories about our outspoken little granddaughter, Trinity Hope (who is now 5 years old and going to kindergarten three days a week). Last month I asked her if I could go with her to kindergarten on her first day because she was so excited, anticipating how much she would enjoy it. She pointed her finger at me and said, “No! You’re not ready!” (Well, so much for graduating from high school and college, plus post graduate studies at Ozark Bible College, etc.!) Then she said, “You’re not 5!” Okay! She got me there!
Recently she wanted Sandy to take her to a Target store to buy something, but Sandy is participating in the boycott of Target, so she told Trinity, “No, not yet.” Then Trinity decided she would just march in there and resolve this crazy, controversial issue. She told Sandy she would go in the girls’ restroom and say, “You boys just get out of here. You don’t belong in here! Then she would go to the doors of the boys’ room and shout, “You girls get out – you don’t belong in there!” Oh, for the wisdom and boldness of a child. No wonder that the Word of God declares that a little child shall lead them.
Do you realize that many years ago, long before the craziness of this transgender movement and the bathroom issue, British journalist, Malcom Muggeridge, wrote, “We have educated ourselves into imbecility.” Could it be said more clearly or concisely?
Russia
Observations by David Wright, Vice President of Ministry Services for TCM International Institute
(Used by permission)
“TCM continues to fulfill its mission of ‘developing Christian leaders for significant service through higher learning.’ Of course our intent is the equipping of men and women to serve our Lord as they teach and reach the people of their countries with the Good News of Jesus. As a result, we continue to be amazed at the various ministries TCM’s disciple makers are a part of and even leading.
“Yet, we know that as progress and inroads are made on behalf of the One True God, the enemy continues to place hurdles, road blocks, and snares in the way of those that are called to proclaim Him. Perhaps those obstacles provide evidence that we are headed in the right direction. if we were not a threat to our enemy, who the Apostle Peter described as ‘like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour,’ our enemy would not have a need to stop the progress of the faithful.
“For example, we learned on July 7, 2016 that the President of Russia signed into law a disturbing piece of Russian legislation.
The new law will require any sharing of the Christian faith – even a casual conversation – to have prior authorization from the state. This includes something as basic as an e-mail invitation for a friend to attend church. Even in a private home, worship and prayer will only be allowed if there are no unbelievers present. Churches will also be held accountable for the activities of their members. So if, for example, a church member mentions their faith in conversation with a work colleague, not only the church member but also the church itself could be punished, with individuals facing fines of up to 50,000 rubles (USD770; €700). There are also restrictions on the extent to which churches can have contact with foreigners; for example, any non-Russian citizen attending a church service would be required to have a work visa or face a fine and expulsion from Russia.
“The law appears to be using the excuse of anti-terrorism legislation to clamp down on any churches other than the Russian Orthodox, support for which is closely tied to Russian nationalism. President Putin has in recent years increasingly emphasized his own membership in the Russian Orthodox Church as a means of bolstering popular support for himself. However, even some senior members of the Russian Orthodox Church have voiced concerns about the law.
“The extent that this law is implemented will depend on local authorities. However, it is vaguely worded and, with a heavily politicized judiciary, could lead to a situation similar to that faced by Christians in the Communist era.
“TCM has equipped hundreds of Russian disciple makers during the last 30+ years. Currently dozens of Russian students are enrolled in TCM’s coursework of practical theology. We truly do not know exactly how this new law will affect their approach to sharing the Gospel. We do know, however, from Scripture and our own experience that persecution in whatever form it takes usually results in the Holy Spirit providing amazing ways for the Church to grow. Even amidst the darkness it can shine brightly.
“That is our prayer. We invite you to join us in prayer over this matter asking God to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine as we share Him with a lost world.”
From Our Mailbox
“Our church camp in July went well. I can say that the Lord blessed our time there. We were 40 people in a place about 10 minutes from the sea.
The main theme was the faith and Hebrews 11,6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses and other God’s people were taken from us as examples and we looked at their lives and learned about God and His will. We pondered over our faith, how deep it is and whether God and people can see our faith.
On Saturday that week was the baptism, an important and touching event for the entire congregation and personally for us. Our son Dima and my sister Tanya were baptized! The Lord is gracious!
July was quite busy. After our camp we had an outreach in the part of our town where we gather for Sunday services. Every day during a week we played games with kids on a children’s playground and we told them Bible stories and talked with their parents. We also sang Christian songs in a pedestrian underpass. …..We were walking around our district, having good conversations and witnessing about Christ. We did some social work as well, namely we collected trash on the streets around our place……
Thank you for all your support!
With love in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Y and A
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“Peace to you, dear coworkers on the field of God!
The Good Port Church is sincerely grateful to the Lord and to you for the mercy you showed towards people in need! We sincerely acknowledge your empathic attitude towards the problems of refugees from Eastern Ukraine and Crimea.
The transferred money has helped several families. In the midst of difficulties, which these families are going through, your help enabled them to experience the care of both, God and Church. They could realize that they were not left alone, but there were those who care for them.
Help was provided to the Khabibrakhmanov family (Avdeyevka) and the Pisarev family (Donetsk). The funds have covered the expenses of housing and utilities (bills, maintenance), also for medical care and medications, travel expenses for the delivery of Christmas gifts to the zone of armed conflict.
Thank you for partnership and we wish you abundant blessings from the Lord on your ministry! May God continue to bless you in the work on the field of the Lord!
Our God is Great and generous! Glory to Him!”
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“Thanks for your encouragement, Rick. You are an inspiration to me and to thousands in Eastern Europe. May the Lord continue to give you strength and the resources you need to carry on with the ministry to which he has called you.
With appreciation and brotherly love,
Dick” (Ady)
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“Rick, you have always been tireless in spreading the Good News -Jesus Saves. Thank you. Your inspiration helps me to continue on. The fight looks lost from our perspective, but we know that God is Sovereign and there is Victory in Jesus.
Thank you for sharing.
All for Christ,
Al Cinnamon
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To: Rick Deighton
“I have just most recently finished reading your book, MORE THAN CONQUERORS IN CULTURAL CLASHES! I found it to be most refreshing and bold! A must read for any Christian believer who isn’t ashamed of the gospel of our Lord, Christ Jesus! As a pastor myself for over 46 years, I’ve seldom read of a Christian writer who is more willing to call sin – sin – and to take the dark deception off the term “political correctness” to reveal its true face and agenda! I’ve read many a Christian book, from well known and respected believers….They all have greatly fallen short of providing an unrestricted and totally spiritual revealing of exactly what is taking place in our society today and why! Most would not be willing to put their necks into the proverbial chopping block! Surely you are thoroughly a firm believer of the words of Romans 1:16! May the Lord continue to bless your works for the furtherance of God’s kingdom!….. It is in times like these that our faith must be firmly grounded in truth, in righteousness, in Christ, and nothing but Christ! Amen.
Concerned in Ohio,
Steven P. Holden”
Knowing When to Kneel
“Prayer is the key which unlocks the door of God’s treasure-house. It is not too much to say that all real growth in the spiritual life – all victory over temptation, all confidence and peace in the presence of difficulties and dangers, all repose of spirit in times of great disappointment or loss, all habitual communion with God – depend upon the practice of secret prayer.”
– An unknown Christian, THE KNEELING CHRISTIAN
“You will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”
– Jeremiah 29:12-13
Prayer Requests
1. Please pray for safety for both Sam Hough and me, as well as Holy Spirit power and effective ministry for our mission trip. The departure date is September 9.
2. Please pray for healing, wisdom, and providential leading for Paul Sudhakar in India. He was scheduled to return near the end of August. Christians are now suffering extreme persecution in parts of India – but God is working powerfully there. Pray for favor with his father and effective witness to his friend, Annu.
3. Starting September 2017 we will be celebrating our 20th year of ministry with Overseas Outreach. Please pray with us for ideas of how to make this 20th year a great thrust forward in outreach and ministry.
Praises:
1. God has opened many doors of ministry opportunities for us in Ukraine and Germany.
2. New donors for Overseas Outreach and Northwest Science Museum.
What a relief it is to have the final revisions of MORE THAN CONQUERORS IN CULTURAL CLASHES sent to WestBow Press (a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), and the project is in process of republication and to be available soon for thousands of booksellers, both in print and electronically. Please pray with us that this book makes a positive impact on multitudes of Americans, reaches souls for Christ, and encourages thousands of believers to become bold witnesses for Jesus.
We had more cases than I realized of the first printing, so I can extend the offer we put in our June Prayer Letter:
“We have some cases of the first edition left, so if you want to help us distribute these, you can have a $13.95 book for $6.00 or $5.00 each for ten or more copies. On second thought, you can have them for an offering of any amount to Overseas Outreach. Has there ever been a time when the message of this book was more needed than right now?”
For the sake of His kingdom,
Rick