John Cook's Monthly Newsletter Report
Guyana Activity Report, John Cook, One-Way Evangelistic Ministries- May 2010
Greetings in the world's only Savior, Jesus the Christ.
This has been a fun month with Mothers' Day. I had asked the Ladies to lead and conduct our worship Service that day. I told them only that I would be speaking on Mt 20:17-21,24: We should admire the Mother of Zebedee's Sons. Because of her I) faith, II) intercession, and III) love. The ladies did a marvelous job, and we all had a wonderful day. The kiddies from Sunday School did a skit the Teachers and Aides had conceived arranged and directed based on 1 Kings 3:16-24. It was very well done. I am especially proud of them all as I had nothing whatsoever to do with it. They did it all. We also celebrated my 64th birthday as well. Unfortunately, later that week I came down with a nasty stomach flu which lasted 5 days. Fortunately, I had completed my sermon for the following Sunday (Josh ch 7) just before I took ill. So I was able to teach our Revelation class and preach to a full house the following Sunday, even though I was a bit wobbly. Having the men lead the Service helps a lot.
The afternoon that I had recovered from the flu, Steven Sadik (age 13) came to visit saying he was bored. I had been thinking about him as he is one of those we Baptized the year before. He has been very faithful helping in Sunday School and in helping leading the Service and cleaning the Church as well. (He comes from a Hindu home, and his Mom is a non-practicing Muslim). I said, Steven, you need a ministry of your own. What do you think? He said, Well. So I discussed strategy with him for reaching the kids in the neighborhood, I gave him a copy of The Lamb Picture Book (GoodSeed Int'l) and a Teacher's Packet that I put together for it. He began using it with some of the kids on the block that evening. He is also using it during the children's Sunday School.
We are progressing well with our series on the Book of Joshua as it applies to victorious Christian living. This Sunday I will speak on Ch 8:1-29. Our study of Eschatology and the Book of Revelation is going well without interruption. We have completed our introductory material and just completed Chapter 1 of Revelation as well.
I had another opportunity to visit the Nursing Home in Stanley Town and preach from God's word. Mk 14:3-9 Everyone should have bold faith in Jesus. Because of this woman's I) sacrificial love (3b,5b), II) courageous love (1,5c,9), III) familiar love (6,8). The ladies said they were very happy to get meals that day because the only food they had left was some oatmeal! I have asked our congregation to meet together about providing groceries for this Old Folks Home once each month. The Congregation will discuss it after our Service Sunday and decide how to handle this. Whether on a rotating basis among families, or a special monthly collection for this purpose. I am trying to mobilize them into finding ministries for themselves to take on, as the Lord leads them.
Our monthly Hospital visitation continues. I had three people accompany me last Sunday. And we went from bed to bed in two wards until visiting time was up (2PM). We sang hymns, and praises, prayed and visited people and I preached several brief homilies. And we gave out tracts. One of the fellows I preached to was chained to his bed with his Mom and an Aunt seated on one side and a policeman seated on the other. After preaching on Jn 3:16: You should believe in Jesus. Because God I) illustrated his love (the world), II) demonstrated his love (He gave), III) proved his love (have everlasting life). When I gave him a tract afterward, he picked it up and began reading it. He seemed to really connect with the things we shared with him. His Mom was very thankful, but the policeman was bored! We also visited a Sister from Canje-Turn Bible Church.
Little Udish Ragubir (2 yrs old) is home now from the Hospital after his open heart surgery. He is not doing well. He can now take food from a baby bottle. He also has a tube that goes into his stomach so he can take food that way as well. He can move his arms but his hands are clamped shut. He can move his legs, but suffers from leg cramps. He cannot talk. I believe he can take some soft food by a small spoon as well. He cannot move about on his own, nor can he crawl sit or stand. He is essentially helpless.
His parents asked me to come over and pray for him today. I just returned from there. It was an opportunity I have been praying for for quite some time. I read Revelation 21 to Udish and his parents. When I had visited Udish in the Hospital in April, I had shared John 1:23, 29 with them: Everyone needs to trust in God's Lamb as payment for their sins. Because of I) the Lamb, II) takes away sin, III) Behold the Lamb of God is Jesus.
So I focused on the words, The Lamb, and the Lamb's Book of Life. I explained to them that if we want to have part in this golden city covered with jewels, we need to have our names written in the Lamb's Book of Life. I reminded them of John's words in Jn 1:29. I also took them to Phil 4, where it speaks of believers having their names written in the Book of Life. So I was able to tie it all together saying if you believe that Jesus is God, who came down from Heaven to die for your sins as God's Lamb, and if you believe he came back to life, then Jesus promises that your name will be written in His Book of Life and that you will go to Heaven when you die. Both Richie and Urmila said they believed that Jesus is God and that he is the one who died for their sins (they both admitted that they are sinners), and that they both believe that Jesus came back to life.
Thanking the Lord for this opportunity to share the Gospel with two Hindus. Please pray that they will discard their images and leave Hinduism.
All for now. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
In Christ Jesus.
Brother John Cook,
One-Way Evangelistic Ministries
