Trusting in the Providence of God

Happy Resurrection Day! It is so exciting to think that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ not only lived a perfect life, died on the cross for us, but also rose from the dead! The Apostle Paul told us that if Jesus didn't raise from the dead then none of us have hope! He said, "If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead!" (1 Cor 15:19-20).

Life has been fast and furious lately. But God is faithful. He is continuing to give wisdom and direction regarding our future as a family in ministry. We continue to try to be a witness to our neighbors (see 2nd pic) and to those God brings in our path (Lee and Jacob went witnessing at the park in Winter Park, a very ritzy area in Orlando). The kids are nearing the end of the school semester (praise God!). A big event in our family recently is that Abby just had her 5th b-day! (with a big party that was a hit because a friend of the family, Alyssa Romanacce, dressed up like Hannah Montana). Lee dressed up like her father (Billy Ray Cyrus?). It was hilarious!! The kids had a blast and it seemed the parents had fun too.

Abby wants everyone to know, including Abbie Wells, that she is so happy that she is five years old. Abby Walti wanted to talk with her today but she fell on her bike and wasn't feeling good. And then she even had a bad stomach ache. But one story she wanted to share was after her b-day was over, Abby came up to her mom, in a sweet, gentile way and said, “Mom, it’s not about presents, or having fun, or about doing stuff...it is all about God.” Jeannette was caught totally off guard because she said she felt like she'd been all about the doing of stuff and not a lot about God the last couple months. Isn’t it amazing that He uses the youngest to encourage the “oldest” to look to Himself. So, Jeannette immediately said...”Go tell daddy what you just told me...we all need to hear this. :)” And both Jeannette and I shed a tear together. From the mouth of babes...

On a completely different note, we are praising God that Lee has been able to get an appointment with Mayo Clinic (on the cutting edge of medicine) to get a full check-up (it's unique at Mayo because you have all the specialists in one place instead of the allergy guy saying its asthma and vice versa). So please pray for this as we are hopeful we'll get to the bottom of everything.

THE SPATOLAS

We are finishing a prayer letter to introduce everyone on our support team and prayer letter list to the ministry of S.E.E. Last Wednesday morning, we (Jeannette and Lee) picked up Sam Spatola and his wife, Chris, at the Tampa airport. They are a great couple and it gave us special time with them over lunch and then coffee. We have been in much prayer, seeking godly counsel, looking to God's Word, and just generally watching the providential circumstances God brings our way. Please pray for the Spatolas, for Sam and his direction of the ministry and protection against the attacks of the evil one. And for Chris, who has been having a challenge as far as her balance and walking. Pray that God would help them get to the bottom of it and ultimately, that it would be God's will to heal her.


PEOPLE MATTER

As we've been seeking God's direction for the future, some of asked us, "Wouldn't you want to stay with Campus Crusade?"

We’ve been open to that and so over the last 3-6 months, we have been exploring opportunities to stay with our ministry of some 16 years.

Yet one thing that’s become apparent is there are some alignment issues for us in staying with CCC and JFP. Like CCC, we want our ministry to be about Jesus and the gospel. Yet, we also are highly committed to the use of God’s Word in the day-to-day work of ministry, good for “all of life and godliness” (2 Pet 1:3-4). And this has increasingly become less emphasized in some CCC ministries, especially office-type or more business-like ministries, in pursuit of other admirable goals. Just as importantly, we believe it’s really all about people. Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” It’s hard to explain but as ministries get bigger, sometimes valuing people gets lost in the growth. And it’s vital to us that people are valued and loved well. If people are not valued and loved well, we believe the gospel is hindered.

EUROPE NEEDS JESUS

The good news is that the Presidents Office of Crusade has been more than gracious to us as we've been looking at a transition. As we've been looking at overseas ministries, especially in Europe (with special interest in Italy -- Lee believes that his family is from Italy after finding a draft card for his great, great grandfather - see pic), they have actually been very encouraging of us because Crusade does not have a significant presence in some European countries. What has made CCC successful in countries where they do not have a presence is by partnering with other ministries, secunding or offering staff who actually join other ministries, or giving direct financial support and other resources to help other ministries begin an outreach effort in that country.

We are humbled that God might want to use us overseas in such a great ministry. The director of S.E.E. said recently, “If you want to be lonely, reach out to cold hearts and not see much fruit, join us here in Italy.” After visiting north Italy, we understand. The fruit is present...just very slow. The missionaries in Udine, Italy are true pioneers. You would not think that in Italy (where the R.C. Church started), but it is ground-breaking work for church planters. The evangelical church is almost non-existent. But, praise God He is in the business of changing hardened hearts! Please pray for Italy. To our surprise, most of Europe is so closed to the Gospel...but like all of us, desperately need it. Will you pray for us, including the children, as we consider being ambassadors for him in a foreign land? We dearly thank you.

The most important thing to us is that we glorify God in whatever we do! We want our lives to be about worship. There is nothing and no one more worthy of our worship. We thank God for salvation! We thank God for Christ's death! And we thank God for His resurrection from the dead!! HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!