From: "suyento" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Eight Keys to Discipling New Christians
Suggestions to help you mentor.
by Janice Thompson
So, what exactly should a Christian do if granted the opportunity to mentor and
disciple a new believer? Here are a few suggestions that I've found helpful:
Be prepared to be used in new ways. Just because he's used you in one
particular way in the past doesn't mean it's going to be the same this time
around. Different people require different approaches. Pray for God's
direction, for boldness, and for vision.
Equip yourself. Go back and reread all of those verses you clung to when you
were a new Christian. Memorize as much of Romans as you can. Look for natural
openings to share God's Word, and use an easy-to-understand Bible translation.
New believers inevitably have serious concerns about theological issues and
always seem to get around to the "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
question. Study the Scriptures so that you are prepared to answer these
questions when they are asked.
Make sure you're "covered." Have a spouse, pastor, or a strong spiritual
friend standing in the wings to help you when you need assistance. Get on as
many prayer lists as you can.
Think long-term. Be emotionally and spiritually prepared to stick with this
person for the long haul, but don't take on more than you can handle. Try not
to think of the person as just a "ministry project"; simply be a friend.
Expect and encourage change. But be patient as it comes about. People don't
drop all of their old habits in a day. Be willing to understand that your
friend hasn't got it all together yet. I've had to walk with new converts who
praised God one minute and cursed the next-not because they didn't love God but
because they were still on a learning curve. Ironically, so was I.
Open your house. You will often be required to "share your space." with
people who need a shoulder, a conversation, or a cup of coffee. Make your home
available. Make sure the others who live there are comfortable with that
arrangement and try to strike a good balance.
Pray. And remind the new convert that you are praying for them regularly.
Also remind her that God has great things in store for her.
Keep it real. Don't be afraid of making mistakes in front of those you are
mentoring. They will probably find you a lot more likeable if you don't attempt
to hide all of your flaws from them. Be genuine. Be honest. Be yourself.
Copyright � 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian
Reader magazine. Click here for reprint information on Christian Reader.
July/August 2003, Vol. 41, No. 4
============================================
From: "Eveline Suryani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
So Blessed I Won't Be Stressed
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When I think of the goodness of God, I'm blessed.
The breath He breathed into my body early this morning.
Yes, I'm blessed.
The sight He placed in my eyes, the hearing in my ears.
Oh yes, I'm blessed.
The walking in my legs, the swinging in my arms, the grip in my hands.
Don't you know, I'm blessed?
The voice in my mouth, the speaking in my tongue, the blood in my veins.
Oh my God, I'm blessed!
With every beat of my heart, every thought in my mind, every problem solved.
Listen to me, because I'm tellin' you, I am truly blessed.
As I think about the clothes that drape my back, the food that graces my table,
Boy I'm blessed!
The place I call home, the furniture on which I sit, the pillow that cradles my
head.
The job that pays my way.
When you sum it up, I'm so blessed I won't be stressed.
~ Author Unknown ~
============================================
From: christina
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: IRAQ'S CHRISTIANS CAUGHT IN CROSSFIRE
By Gary Lane
Erbil, Iraq
CWNews
November 5, 2004
The Islamic extremists fighting to defeat Iraq's new government are targeting
Christians for attack. Some Christians are choosing to leave. Others have
decided to stay and work to rebuild their country.
CWNews.org - The Islamic extremists fighting to defeat Iraq's new government
are targeting Christians for attack. Some Christians are choosing to leave.
Others have decided to stay and work to rebuild their country.
"I saw the mayhem and chaos after a church was bombed in Iraq." Patrick
Sookhdeo, who is with the Barnabas Fund, said, "The more the forces of chaos
are at work, the more it impacts on Christian communities."
Iraqi Christians have been 'caught in the crossfire' in the battle between
America and the Islamic insurgents, so Iraqi Christians are on the move. Many,
especially the more traditional, are fleeing a growing onslaught of violence
and persecution against them.
Sookhdeo asked, "Where are they going to go? Who is going to care for them? Who
is going to look after them?"
It's an exodus of historic proportions. Thousands of Iraqi Christians have fled
to the neighboring nations of Syria and Jordan.
In Damascus, Syria, CBN News caught up with some of the Christian refugees.
A Christian Iraqi man said, "My family has been here for 20 days. We left
Baghdad. We were forced to leave. What could we do?"
We asked an Iraqi refugee Christian woman if she planned to return to Iraq.
She said, "If things get better. But how can I go back right now? Haven't you
seen how the militant Muslims are bombing the churches?"
Recent church bombings in Baghdad induced hundreds to leave their homeland.
On August 17, Christians died in coordinated attacks, and more than 100 people
were injured. In addition, on October 16, in a string of attacks, five churches
were destroyed.
At least 100 Iraqi Christians have perished at the hands of Muslim radicals -
since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
And personal attacks and threats against Christian families are mounting.
We talked to Christian refugees following an Iraqi church service in Amman,
Jordan. Certain young men described the threats and intimidation they had faced
in Iraq less than two weeks earlier.
Islamic extremists threatened to kill a young man's family because his father,
a building contractor, was thought to be working with the United States. He
explained that the extremists view Christians who work with the Americans as
traitors. The result? Earning a living in Iraq is difficult because
unemployment stands at 60 percent and the biggest potential employer is the
United States.
An Iraqi Christian, now a refugee in Jordan, said, "The situation is so bad. We
can't find a job because the Americans control the whole country and my father
is sitting at home jobless now, scared for his life."
One of the refugees we spoke to owned a dry cleaning business in Kirkuk. He
says Islamic militants broke in and wrecked his shop because he did laundry for
American soldiers.
Another Iraqi, yet another refugee in Jordan, said, "I left because I feared
for my life and for the safety of my family."
Fear is widespread throughout the traditional Iraqi church. Some church
buildings are empty. Members are either too afraid to attend services, or have
been urged to stay home by their Chaldean and Assyrian clergy.
About 70 percent of Iraq's 750,000 Christians are Chaldean or Assyrian.
The Chaldeans and Assyrians were among the very first Christians - they began
worshipping Jesus in Iraq more than 500 years before the birth of Mohammed and
Islam. Many Assyrian Christians still speak and worship in Aramaic, the ancient
language used by Jesus.
The Chaldean church in the city of Erbil is nearly 2,000 years old. A guard
armed with a Kalashnikov rifle stands watch at the gate of this church, ready
to protect worshippers from potential evil-doers.
The Monsignor at the Chaldean church in Erbil asked CBN News to leave the
church premises - he explained that Islamic insurgents might bomb the building
if church members were seen with Americans.
Thousands of Iraqi Christians have fled the country looking for safety in
neighboring Syria and Jordan. But a small group of evangelicals here in the
northern city of Erbil have chosen to stay. Some have gone through the fiery
furnace of persecution more determined than ever to remain and lead their
fellow countrymen to Christ.
Members of this Kurdish language house church leave their shoes at the door.
It's an Islamic tradition to take one's shoes off before entering a holy place.
So, why would these evangelical Christians do that? Old habits are hard to
break - 99 percent of the members of this church are Muslim converts.
They've embraced Christianity and many have paid a high price. Most have been
estranged from their families and friends. Some have been threatened with death
for leaving Islam.
We've covered the face of this former Muslim, a young evangelist we'll call
Abdullah, to protect his identity.
Abdullah says in the year 2000 he was kidnapped by five men armed with
Kalashnikov rifles. He was kicked and beaten because of his evangelistic
efforts. He was hospitalized with injuries to his head and a broken rib. His
attackers had warned him that he would be killed if he did not return to Islam.
But Abdullah says the attack against him gave him greater spiritual strength.
Abdullah said, "They tried to make me cold in my faith, but it only encouraged
me to distribute more Bibles and tracts and to share my faith more deeply. If
gold is not put in the fire, it will not be purified."
Leaders of this former underground, secret church have faced trials of their
own. Several were jailed during the reign of Saddam Hussein.
Pastor Hazem was one of them. He suggests in the midst of war and chaos, many
Iraqis are ready to hear the Gospel message.
Hazem said, "Many in our community are wounded, and the Gospel of Jesus is the
answer to their need because it's about peace and love. In the book of Joshua,
God promises His people, if they are holy, He will do big things, a miracle
among them tomorrow. We believe there will be a big change in this part of
Iraq."
Patrick Sookhdeo of the Barnabas Fund suggests that lasting change may only
come to Iraq if Christians pray fervently for divine intervention.
Sookhdeo said, " I can't help feeling that the forces of confusion, of chaos,
of disorder - demonic forces - have been unleashed on the region. But we
believe that Jesus Christ is greater - infinitely greater - than Satan. We
believe that Jesus Christ will keep His church, and the gates of hell will not
prevail against it and ultimately He will be victorious."
God bless you guys.....
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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