Encouragement From Kinshasa To Eugene To Hawaii
“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25)
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
It is very encouraging to realize that our efforts as a church are reaching all nations. God has been glorified, as his family here in Eugene gave sacrificially for special missions this year. We had originally set a goal of $15,000 for our missions contribution. God blessed the hearts of the disciples here as they gave willingly and sacrificially - over $27,000 for missions! It reminds one of the words of Paul the Apostle:
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
Certainly, our generosity is resulting in thanks to God - Lola and the brothers and sisters in Kinshasa express this on their website where the Eugene, Corvallis, and Portland churches are lifted up for their generosity. (You can read the article “Hurricane in Kinshasa Congo” on the Kinshasa Church Website)
Please be praying for Lola Lof, as he is striving to acquire a visa that will permit him to visit us here at the 2007 World Missions Jubilee in August. The process of getting a US visa is not easy. Part of our missions is supporting him in this visit, so he can become better connected spiritually and personally to the family of churches and leadership here. It will be a very special time to meet our brother building the church there face to face. Again, please keep Lola in your prayers, as well as the other brothers and sisters there.
God has blessed us with more missions than we expected, and we are very encouraged to announce that we have hired not one, but two new campus interns! Ryan Keenan and Iyonna St. Gerard are now working in the ministry full time. Both are already helping tremendously with the church administration as well as in many bible studies and discipling relationships. To God be the glory that the church is growing, and we can set our hearts and minds on building God’s kingdom and show it by our sacrifice. More and more opportunities are going to be made to inspire people to love God and become disciples as our faith (and our staff) grows.
It was amazing to see Tony Terril (below left, in the middle) be baptized into Christ last month. His life changing bible studies and radical decisions to follow Jesus were inspiring to all the brothers who shared the word with him to help him become a disciple. Also, Whitney DiLoreto (below right, in the middle) was baptized into Christ as well. Originally living in Ashland, Oregon, she visited the church in Eugene on the weekends, studying the bible with several Campus ministry sisters. It was powerful to hear about how hungry she was to learn, as the sisters would often study with Whitney while on speaker phone! She moved to Eugene to be a part of the fellowship a week after she was baptized, and has been an encouragement to brothers and sisters since!
Recently, Amy and I were able to visit the church in Honolulu, Hawaii led by Joe and Mary Santos. Joe and Mary are an encouragement to Amy and I as they give us hope for our families who live on Oahu. Amy was privileged to be a part of several bible studies with the women, and this past week one of the women that Amy was in a study with was baptized. Her name is Nave Pilate and she is a part of the Campus ministry there on Oahu now. Both Amy and I were converted on Oahu in the early 90’s at the University of Hawaii at Manoah and also began our dating relationship there while in the campus ministry. 
To see God working again on the campus and being asked to teach their Tuesday bible talk for the new campus ministry there was an honor. There were several friends there visiting who were interested in becoming disciples. It was moving to spend Sunday worship service with the church on Oahu: the singing was encouraging, the hearts of the brothers and sisters there were soft, and they had about 1 friend visiting for each member of the church there. While at service there was an answered prayer: For the first time in 15 years of my life as a disciple, my mother visited the church and she enjoyed it!
God is powerful, God can change anyone and anything around. He is moving all around the world, from Kinshasa to Eugene to Hawaii and beyond.
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16)
Jeremy Ciaramella
Evangelist
