It’s Hard to believe that it has been almost a year since I was in the Philippines. Once again we are ready to return, this time for Faith Island Mission’s 25th anniversary Convention. We will be a party of 4 traveling from the U.S. taking the responsibility as convention speakers and ministering to the Graduating class of the Bible school there. This year’s theme is a study of the book of Daniel. Each of us will be doing 3 or 4 sessions during the 3 days of the convention. Pastors, Pastoras, elders and church workers from approximately 50 local churches from a half of dozen islands will come to the convention. Some will travel hundreds of miles by boat & bus just to take part. It is an exciting time and personally humbling to be part of such an event. In addition to the convention there will also be many opportunities to minister in local church, over the radio & in the local prison.
During our planned 4 week stay Gene Stanley will go with Pastor Danden and visit some saints in a neighboring country that is known to be closed to the Gospel. Please keep them in prayer the 2nd to 3rd week of April. I’ll be staying on in Bais City to look at crusade sites for future mission trips with other groups. When they return we plan to head over to the Davao area of Mindanao where several churches have been established in recent years. We will be encouraging them through special meetings and fellowship.
The costs involved in this particular trip in part include much of the annual budget of the convention, transportation cost for Pastors & spouses from the more distant churches and financial blessings to pastors & graduating students. These cost are divided amongst the team traveling to the Philippines. If you would like to help me with meeting my budget this year please follow the directions below.
We also covet your prayers & intercessions that the anointing and grace of Christ rest each & every team member. Our flights have been confirmed to be leaving on the 4th of April with a scheduled return of May 1st 2007.
On a home note while visiting my family in New
Jersey I was invited to share with my puppets
at 2 Presbyterian churches. The first, my brother Dave's church in Franklin Lakes, NJ. The other being a large Korean church in Oakland, NJ. My brother made the comment at lunch that it was like going to another country, Kimchi (spicy Korean dish) and all. The children (and adults) were delighted as we told the story of Saul on the road to Damascus. (Acts chapter 9) Using a volunteer to play the part of Ananias we also emphasized being used of God.
I was particularly touched by the welcome given me by the Korean children's church with a song and a group hug. ("Was that a tear welling in your eye? Russ you old softy.)
God’s Best & Blessings to you.
Russ Rutler
Tax deductible gifts can be made out to & sent to:
CMAI
637 Occoneechee Drive
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
(with a notation “Russ Rutler PI trip”)
PS My home address is still in Gainesville, FL
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