It has been a pleasure to work in conjunction with Missionary Electronics (M/E), (the former Cassette Discipleship Program).  Prince Paul Konu, whom you have read of in this blog has been an evangelist and lead trainer in Ghana West Africa with M/E for the past decade.  Dave and Paul have worked closely to develop leadership over the past few years and the Board of Directors of M/E has been observing the leadership development process as it has developed in Ghana.  M/E has been pleased with the training materials and seminars that have been developed for Ghana.  As a result the M/E Board has asked Dave to join them in the US as a board member with a primary purpose of advising evangelists on spiritual development and discipleship.

Though this may appear to add to my responsibilities of writing, I have worked with them for several years and built a relationship.  Now it is an official one as a board member.  Part of what M/E has done successfully has been to network with other tribal mission groups and coordinated efforts with them. M/E maintains an office at the World Center for Missions in Pasadena and has numerous working relationships with other agencies.  By coordinating efforts we can each focus on our areas of giftedness and share assets. Each agency is able to accomplish more and in their efforts to accomplish the Great Commission.

It is great to work with so many people who are not in the least bit competitive but are motivated by the imensity of the mission and the glory of God.

Volume 1 & 2 of Letters To Prince Paul have been completed.

Volume 1 – “Foundations for Your Walk With God” has also been translated into Spanish.

Volume 2 – “The Six Essential Functions of the Church” is in the process of being translated into Spanish at this time.

We are looking for translators for  Volumes 1 & 2 into French and the main Chinese dialects.

M/E has posted both Volume 1 & 2 on their web site for anyone worldwide to be able to download them via the internet at no cost.  Several other mission groups are also posting them for free download.

VOLUME THREE – “The Servant Husband” is in the process of development.

So you can see that we have been busy and are humbled as we watch God expand the influence of the ministry that He has prepared us for and continues to guide us through.

With the expanding opportunities placed before us we more than ever are hopeful that supporters will join us to give Dave the freedom to work full time in the ministry.  Right now he is picking up some part time  security work and selling books on eBay to help with our basic needs.  These projects take time and energy that we would like to expend working with writing projects.  We live very simply and pray that at this time financial supporters will be moved by God to consider this a work worth supporting.

If you are one of those people or are thinking of referring us to a church or another person please  make contact with us.  You can find out more about the ministry at davenjoni.googlepages.com or call us at 619-227-7414.

Peace Community Church (PCC) an RCA Church from Illinois will be joining us for a week of ministry, service, and spiritual development in Mexico on July 19th.  PCC has been involved with Mexico ministry at the camp near Tecate since 2000.  Their Youth Pastor, Matt Sharpe, brought the fist short term mission team to the area.  From the onset of these visits God has worked in these teams and through these teams in a mighty way. The camp and local churches look forward to them every year and are extremely blessed.

This year the PCC team will be preparing the camp for a Mexican Church retreat and then move on to Vacation Bible School for a local church and then back to the camp to clean up after the retreat.  We are also planning a spiritual emphasis for the team.  Pastor Matt and Dave have worked together as team teachers in Illinois, Iowa and Mexico.

We are looking forward to a special visit from God during these days.

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We will be traveling to Ghana west Africa again this next month to hold leadership training conferences in two areas of Ghana.  Joe Vogel, Sean Sheele and myself will be teaching through “The Six Essential Functions of the Church” as we visit two areas of Ghana.

Last year we held five leadership training conferences throughout the country.  This year it has been decided to visit the eastern Volta region and the western jungles.  38 churches have been started in the western jungles which we are looking forward to visiting and working with to develop their ministries.

The text that will be used is the second volume of “Letters to Prince Paul”, “The Six Essential Functions of the Church.”  This can be read or downloaded for free from our web site at davenjoni.googlepages.com.

Please join us in prayer as with prepare for this wonderful journey. 

Pastor Dave

It was my great pleasure to introduce Prince Paul Konu to friends this past month.  Prince Paul had come to the USA to speak at the annual report dinner of M/E International.  While he was here I was able to corral him for a weekend and bring him to speak at my church (Murrieta Valley Church), visit with several families and come to our Sunday night Bible study.

Each visit gave Prince Paul and I the chance to share the great things God is doing in Ghana among tribal people.  On the Monday night after his visit with my church Prince Paul spoke to the attendees of the annual report dinner.  Jim Ford, executive director of the board, also interviewed me during the meeting and I had a chance to share first hand accounts of what is happening through the ministry of M/E International in Ghana.

Jim Ford has invited me to join the board of directors with a primary role of developing the discipleship program for churches that are growing out of the immense response to the Gospel in tribes and villages in countries throughout the world.

M/E is especially burdened for China.  There about 4000 village evangelists whom M/E has participated with and the hope is we can multiply this 100 fold.

God had called us as missionaries and I had a dream of where I wanted to go.  BUT GOD…  God spoke to us about Mexico and we spend 15 years working in church planting and discipleship there.  We thought that our ministry was all but over when both Joni and I became ill, Joni with Lyme Disease and myself with 2 strokes.  This brought us back to the USA living basically and wondering how God could use us.  I began to write to Prince Paul and those letters had a huge impact of the ministry in Ghana.  Now Jim Ford wants me to put them to use in many countries and develop even more.  “Death of a Vision” it’s called.  When things die in ministry God is faithful and invited us to be even more fruitful.

And by the way, the place I had always had a heart for and finally figured I would never be a missionary too…

CHINA

What a way to live!!

Pastor Dave

Proverbs 2:1

The last blog was designed to be one to encourage each of us to be mining the treasures of the Word of God with due diligence.  It is very common for us to see or hear the Word of God approached much like it was in that blog.  It is fine to do so but there is a significant difference between writing a motivational devotional using a text and a study of the text.  When we look into the differences between these two you might think that what you are commonly hearing from the pulpit in the 21^st Century is primarily motivation devotionals.  It seems that as I visit churches I am not hearing as much of the expositional form of preaching as I once did.  Oh, it is being called expositional, but when the difference is understood these sorts of motivational devotionals will begin to seem more like a snack than a real meal.

What the previous blog did was illustrate a motivational devotional.  There was nothing inherently wrong with it but it was not the sort of thing that left you full and energized for very long.  It could be compared to the pep talk a coach gives before a game or the pep rally that was so common on Friday afternoons at the end of the school day in high school.  They are meant to get us excited and often do.  But the pep rally doesn’t win the game.  It was the hard work of the players, the skills that they had worked on all week, and the coach’s knowledge of the game that could account for the victory that we experienced.

So how differently can we approach Proverbs Chapter 2?

An over all reading will give us the sense that there is an outcome that is to be gained from a proper response to wisdoms appeal.  I’ve entitled my outline of Proverbs 2 as:

STABILITY RESULTING FROM

A RIGHT RESPONSE TO WISDOM’S APPEAL.

The opening appeal utilizes the simple qualifier “if” letting us know that there is a condition to be met.  “If you will receive my words” (vs. 1).  Over and over we need to be reminded that the New Testament parallel to Proverbs is the book of James. James 1:22 tells us to “be doers of the word and not merely hearers only, deluding ourselves.” Receiving God’s instruction from throughout Scripture always requires a response.  Each time we read or hear the Word of God we have a response.   We either respond with a “yes” or a “no”.  We are either willing recipients or stubborn rejecters.  It is easy to be a rejecter and still be so self deluded that we are convinced that we are obedient servants.  It is quite common to listen to Biblical advice, be excited about what we should do, but then seek out other “advisors” that will give us a reason not to follow sound wisdom.  Usually they are a peer that has about the same perspective on life as we do and not an older wiser brother.  Often and wise teacher of the Word will share some truth with us and we feel as if we are in agreement only to find that we have subtly subverted the truth by acting on a contrary advise.  Why do we do such a thing?  The Scripture illustrates this well in the garden.  Adam and Eve had a “better idea”, and look where it got them.  It always comes back to our pride.  We want to be in control of “our” universe and place ourselves in the place of God.  As silly as it may sound to think we can take over Gods role as sovereign of the universe, it is exactly what we do more often than not. 

Repentance is the call of the day.  I need to repent, we need to repent, everyone needs to repent and let God be God.  Who owns the universe?  Who created it?  Who sustains it?  Did I invent money?  Did I invent my brain?  Am I master of my destiny?  Until we repent of our proud, self-centered approach to everything and repentance becomes a way of life we will struggle with who is lord.  I may say Christ is Lord, but act in ways that says I am.  Who is the “I AM”?  Not me!

Proverbs 6:23 says, “The commandment is a lamp and teaching a light and reproofs for discipline are the way of life”.  Not “a” way of life but “the” way of life.  God’s ways are right.  My ways are wrong.  “Lord You are right and I am wrong! Please forgive me. “

So, as we consider the difference between a motivational devotional and really digging into the Word what can you discern?  The answer should be clear.  Motivational devotionals are OK, but OK is weak when compared to a thorough look at the Scripture.  A motivational devotional may seem to cover a dozen verses but exposition will give us feast from one word or one verse.  If you are a student of the Word or a teacher of the Word my appeal to you is: dig. Dig out the precious treasure that we all need so desperately.  The church is becoming anemic from a diet of fast food motivational devotionals.  Prepare a table before those in your charge just as God has. Awaken to the Word and the Word Giver!

What A Joy To Know Christ As Lord!!!

Recently Joni has three seizures in one week.  Each one exhausted her.  A common symptom for Lyme patients is something they refer to as “BRAIN FOG”.  Among many infected with Lyme Disease the brain is affected.  The Bb bacteria most commonly attacks joints first but is also know to make the journey inward to affect various organs, one of which can be the brain. 

How is the brain affected? 

First of all: any infection hurts the tissue where it is located.  In the case of Lyme patients who are taking massive doses of antibiotics the affect of the Bb infection is held somewhat in check.  Since It is a hardy bacteria and it is hard to kill many patients can only be treated to try to keep it from getting out of control.

Secondly: I was reading a research article that described another way that nerves are affected by Lyme and most commonly in the brain.  The Bb bacteria releases a toxin that inhibits the functioning of nerves.  This could account for the “brain fog” that is such a common symptom.  Add to that some of the bacteria being killed and the toxicity that these dead critters have on the area in which they die and you can understand the complications that ensue and the symptoms that accompany.

In a recent “BRAIN TRAMA EXAM” Joni underwent Vestibular Cochlear testing.  These tests determine to what extent the brain stem and junction between the brain stem and brain are failing to function properly. Seizures pointe to a serious problems for Joni in this area and the tests objectively confirmed the location.  Both visual and auditory input can trigger seizure for Joni.  The doctor administering these test has produced a set of glasses that limit the spectrum of light that Joni sees through and as a result have been very helpful to relieving stress upon her brain. These glasse also limit the amount of light input to the inside and outside of her visual field also.  Each of these working together help to relievea great deal of tension on Joni’s nervous system.  The doctor expained that normally we all filter out noisesaorund use but that in Joni’s cast she is not and that leads tothe brain being overloaded and the reulting seizures.

Though this is not a cure by any means it does provide a degree of relief to every day stress that Joni endures.  And as any Lyme sufferer can attest, anything that gives you some relief is welcome.

I had the great fortune to speak with Prince Paul this past Saturday morning.  The week before he had been driving through the jungle with his family and some associate evangelists on the way to visit a new area.  The van that they had just purchased to travel in caught fire and was completely destroyed.  When it caught fire the doors locked and everyone should have been burned alive but every person was able to escape.  All their possessions, Bibles and training materials were destroyed.  It was late in the evening and they were 10 miles from the new village with the sun going down.  Together they walked the 4 hour treck to their destination.  The next morning a service was held in the village and 38 people responded to the gospel. God 38. They Devil 0.

Prince Paul and I talked about the upcoming trip.  This year we will hold two five day seminars in the Volta area of Ghana.  We will most likely be using the the second series of letters written to Prince Paul: “The Six Essential Functions of the Church”.  In this seminar we will cover the Biblical model of the church found in beginning of Acts.  I am hoping to bring along several men who can also do some apologetics training and field applied theological questions.

The Study Bible project is going well. I have collected about 20 very nice used study Bibles and and number of Bible tools as well.  These will be forwarded on the Ghana very soon.  We are adding a request for good theological books for a library as well.  Prince Paul is working on getting a training center built.  Church’s have gotten together in several areas of Ghana and aquired land and cleared these areas to get them ready for training centers.  Considering that many churches do not have roofs it is quite a feat for them to move ahead toward making these centers a reality.  This attests to the value that is placed upon knowing God and His Word.

I can’t say that the bike project has been as successful.  You might say that so far it is an entire failure.  I haven’t gotten a single motorcycle yet but I will keep telling people about the pastors needs. 

If you have an extra study Bible or have Bible study tools or good commentaries we would sure appreciate them.  If you have a motorbike, motorscooter and motorcycle that you can give to a pastor they would be thrilled.  Pastor Paul asks about the motorbikes each time we speak.

Pray for each of us who are involved in this great movement of God.  Saftey for Prince Paul, his family and each of the leaders in Ghana.  Pray for Joni and I as I write for the Ghnaian leaders and we work toward another trip. 

What A Wonderful Way To Spend a Life,

Pastor Dave

If you have read “Letters To Prince Paul” either volume 1 or 2 you will have noted the mention of Desiring God or Bethlehem Baptist Church and John Piper.  During Prince Paul’s visit to “The Children Desiring God” conference he was able to meet with members of the conference and church.  The result of these meetings are that Desiring God materials in the form of CD’s are being provided to Prince Paul at no cost for the initial materials and note licensing fee to make copies for the churches in Ghana.

The “Letters To Prince Paul” were written because of the enormous costs that were demanded by organizations for the use of their materials.  It is quite a pleasure to see that John Pipers Church is Kingdom oriented and more interested in expanding the kingdom than receiving royalties.  This is the true mark of the people of God.  Those who truly belong to God want to see the Kingdom expand and are willing to share all that God has given them with others as freely as God has given us all things in Christ Jesus.  My heart is warmed and encouraged by this abundant gift and the pastors and leaders in Ghana are praising God for His provision of instruction in the doctrines of grace and opportunity to gain a greater knowledge of the Holy One.

To God Alone Be All The Glory,

Pastor Dave

It has been great to be part of the development of leaders in the great movement of God in Ghana.  During our visit to Ghana this past February, Pastor Joe Vogel and Idiscussed with Prince Paul the value of healthy doctrinal teaching and recommended that he visit the “Children Desiring God” conference held at Bethlehem Baptist Church.  Funds were made available for him to attend he came to the USA and attended the conference.

Because of the doctrinally sound emphasis that is seen in John Piper’s church we wanted Prince Paul to see how he could use this sort of training in Ghana.  We recommended the children’s conference because of the nature of the educational levels of the third world.  He agreed with us and after spending time at the conference was very encouraged by what he learned that could be done in the area of teaching sound doctrine.

Though the idea of using children’s ministry programing might sound a bit juvenile, you must investigate “Children Desiring God” before jumping to a hasty conclusion.  From our experience with most childrens’ Sunday School material it is hard to imagine how it would not be an insult to adults to use such simple material with them.  That is why it is important to examine both the culture that we are working in and the source of materials that we plan to use. 

1.  The national language of Ghana is English but the primary language spoken by most people will be their tribal language of which few of these have a written form.  The Bible that is most commonly used in Ghana is a very simple English version.  With this in mind it is important to have discipleship and doctrinal material that is very easily understood in the form of English that the Ghanaians possess.

2. “Children Desiring God” is not your run of the mill SS material.  This material teaches “the doctrine of the Apostles” and points all who use it to a high view of the doctrine of God.  Where there is a high view of the doctrine of God there is a high view of God.  The movement of God in Ghana is notably one that is God centered rather than man centered and we would like to guard this and keep it that way.  In the Americas we all can see that a man centered gospel has replaced a God centered Gospel.  How often have we all heard, “the church doesn’t meet my needs!”  Yet the same people who ask this question can’t quite explain what they need. 

What is our greatest need?  Many are “trying to find themselves”, but are not looking hard enough.  We define the idea of finding ourselves as finding some purpose that defines me in terms that bolster my sense of importance.  But the Scripture describes “self” as a hindrance to knowing God’s will and good pleasure.  From the Biblical perspective it would be good if we truly “found ourselves”.  What do I mean by that?  If I became fully aware of what my “self” was like I would be appalled.  Self is at odds with God.  The big “I” wants to “be like God”, or put in modern terms “be the god of my own universe”.  Finding myself is elusive as long as I am looking for something high quality, grandiose or special.  Truly “finding myself” will lead me to Calvary.  Knowing what my heart is like will reveal the utter depravity of my soul, the ugliness of my absolute self centeredness and all the barriers that I have carefullyconstructed  and  maintained to protect my enormous ego.  Simply put, “I should be broken before God and sorrowful to the point of death” at a true knowledge of myself.  Sounds terrible but… it is the best thing that could ever happen to us.  This won’t happen without God’s involvement.  Because we are so self protective we wont’, or better put can’t, let this happen.  It takes a work of a sovereign God to reveal our hearts to us.  This is an act of love on the part of God.  We need to see our awfulness and when we do it is a work of God drawing us to HIM.  God doesn’t reveal our awfulness to put us in our place.  He reveals our awfulness to make us aware of our desperate need for grace and in the following moments pours out His marvelous grace upon us.  It is after He has let us see our sinfulness that he reveals His mercy and grace and forgiveness and pours His Spirit into our spirits to redeem us for all eternity and make us His own.

Once we have understood our sinfulness and His wonderfulness why would want to return to living for ourselves?  From that day forward we want His life to be manifest in us.  When a person truly seeks God it is because God has opened his heart.  We are too stubborn, too proud , to self centered, and too self protective to be able to overcome these characteristics and become seekers of God.  We “Desire God” because, in His mercy He overshadows our sinfulness with His power to draw us to Him.

Remember to continue to pray for Ghana, Prince Paul and the next series of letters on marriage that are being formulated for the leadership there.

What a Way To Live

Pastor Dave