Hi Everyone,

"60 Minutes Overtime" reported last Sunday on the shrinking Christian population in Israel. "The Last Christian Village in the Holy Land" featured Taybeh which is about 20 miles north of Jerusalem and the same village that Jesus visited in John 11:54 when it was then the Biblical city of Ephraim. This village lies in the Judean hills and is one of the most beautiful spots in Israel. I love this place and the people that live there. There is no doubt that Taybeh is unique.

But is Christianity really dying in the Holy Land and in the Middle East? It's interesting to note that the Palestinian Authority has reported that Christianity has been growing in the West Bank since 1967. But whether you think the church is dying or growing in Israel and in the Middle East, that is just part of the story. The statistics cited by the PA and the media in general are merely reflective of the above ground church in Israel and the Middle East. The real story however is what's happening in the underground church.

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Clif and Roxanne Olson are Bible translators in Papua New Guinea. They are working with the Amphlett people, translating the Bible into the Gumawana language. Here is a sample that Clif has given us.

John 3:16
Ame nakae Yaubada da poyapoya imatakoiyeda. Natuna tayamo toito ikasale bego avatau neta natunayana inumise, geya ikamaseta, go sem yawoina vata ibabane.
Like this God people.of ground he-loved-us. Offspring-his one only he-offered-him intending who if offspring-his he-trust-him not he-die rather life-his indefinite he-receive-it.
"God loved us the people of the ground like this. He offered his only one Son that whoever trusts in him, will not die, but will receive eternal life."

1 John 1:9
Go neta ida goyoinao tatalavaitedi Yaubada yaina, e Tauyana todedevina be aba numisa, e ida goyoinao bei inuwotaoidi be nakae goyoyadi madabokidi bolotodi yaidi goi isayoyoida.
but if our bads-pl we-announce-them God to, then he one.who.is.good and thing.for trusting, then our bads will he-forgive-them and also bads all effect from he-rinse-us.
"But if we announce our bads (=sins) to God, then he who is right and faithful will forgive our sins and also cleanse us from the effect of all those sins."

Please remember to pray for the Olsons and the Amphlett people.

Christian intentionality- the divinely driven response to who God is and what He has done... As I walk in this life and face the challenges and the blessings that are thrown at me on a daily basis, the resounding call is: “Be intentional in all that I do and say”, beginning in my thought processes. I have been challenged to be intentional while in the home as well as in the ministry, to make the Lordship of Christ known to all around me and to those generations after me. I have been challenged to be intentional even in my glorification of my King because He has given me the ability to respond to His worth.

“For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name.” Psalm 18:49

Our Family: Clay’s keyboard recital... Our precious 9 year old just finished his second music book and was posed with the challenge to perform in front of his peers. Clay presented several pieces before both Kenyan and missionary friends. We were so proud of how maturely he handled himself, pressing through, making the most of the time to honor the Lord. Joram our warm, second born bursting at the seams with creativity is such a blessing to our family. He is also our little encourager, full of mercy and bubbling over with love for everyone who seems to be his best friend. We have been watching him turn to the Lord in child-like faith to find the ability he needs to do the challenging tasks in his life, and we as parents have enjoyed seeing Joram experience the grace that our faithful God has been granting him to enable him to do what God has set before him. Ezra is running after his brother’s heels, pushing himself to read, write, and do what big brothers do. He is a sharp kid and very determined, frequently asking questions, often thinking about what’s needing to be done and taking the initiative to do it, especially finding joy in serving others. We are grateful for the work God is doing in our little 4 year old. Please join little Ezra in prayer as he frequently prays for himself that the Lord would help him to put his trust in Jesus and that God would help him to obey his mom & dad.

Our Ministries:

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This year we had teams in Nairobi, Kenya and in Uganda. Take a look at the BLOG to get the Kenya story. Also check out the 2010 Trips page to see pictures and video. Thanks to everyone who supported the team financially and prayerfully. Be on the lookout for stories from the next trip this year. The team to Bolivia will be leaving in a couple of weeks!

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, Deut 7:6-8

Our Savior came from Israel and through Him we are connected, we are grateful and we love Israel and the Jewish people. Our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a covenant-keeping God. He is faithful. He has kept His promise to reestablish Israel in the land of inheritance and He is still calling Jewish people throughout the world to Himself. As we pray for Israel, we are blessed.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Psalm 122:6

Pray for wisdom for the leaders of Israel.

Pray for our nation’s leaders that they will continue to stand with Israel with the understanding that those who support Israel will be blessed and those who oppose Israel will be cursed.

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 12:2-3

Pray that Jews worldwide will accept the Gospel.

Pray that Israel’s enemies will accept the Gospel of Salvation. Though peace treaties are being discussed, only in

Jesus will they find everlasting peace.