Strengthening the Disciples

Thursday  2-11-16 (Home in Modesto)     

Scripture reading for today:    Lev 15 - 17     Acts 18

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Acts 18:22-23  And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.  After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. NKJV

O.  Paul had just returned from his second missionary journey which had taken him, along with Silas and Timothy as far as Corinth near the southern tip of Greece.  Now after visiting the leaders of the church in Jerusalem he returned to his sending city of Antioch.  But now he launches into another journey, this time not seeking new territory, but returning to cities where he had started churches with the purpose of strengthening all the disciples.

A.  Sometime in the late 1980s Frances and I, after 25 years of church planting, were encouraged by Rev. Daniel Grasso, National Superintendent of the Argentina Assemblies of God, to purchase a mobile home and devote ourselves to traveling the length and breadth of Argentina to “strengthen the brethren.”  He explained that there were many isolated pastors who had never had a visiting “encourager” to come representing the Assemblies of God.  Later the newly elected Superintendent, Jose Manuel Carlos, who knew nothing of this, came up with the same idea.  Then while in the USA on our regular furlough in 1991 we felt released by the Lord to take this step.  After importing a large fifth wheel trailer which we called our “Mobile Ministry Module” (MMM) and a special ‘Speed the Light’ pickup to tow it, we began a new and exciting ministry reaching out to every corner of Argentina.  After 6 ½ marvelous years of this ministry we sold the MMM and pickup and retired from Argentina.  However, 9 years later, in October 2010 only a week after Frances passed away, God suddenly and unexpectedly called me again and sent me back to Argentina to continue this work of “strengthening” our pastors and their churches.  Now in five days, Lord willing, I will return to continue this thrilling ministry in 2016.

P.  Dear Lord, You have been so good to allow me this blessed ministry.  What a joy to preach in distant little villages and large cities and to witness the growth of Your work.  I can congratulate the successful pastors and their families and encourage those that are struggling.  In some cases You have allowed me to help lift the load in a more tangible way.  I am blessed beyond measure.  You know that I am retired.  Retired people are supposed to do whatever they most enjoy doing.  I enjoy ministering Your Word bringing salvation to the lost and new strength to the saved.  And You have flooded my senior years with unlimited opportunity.  I pray that You will call many youth into Your ministry during this next 120 days in South America.  I ask that You go with me... for without You, I can do nothing.  Amen.

Ralph