How marvellous! I just read this mail that has come in to our main pool of responses today:

“I want to accept Christ but do not know how? I read the bible but when I attend church, I do not have the courage to step forward when they announced to welcome new comers. I supposed I have not know more about Jesus yet.”

- A.  (Female, 46-60)

Doesn’t this bring rejoicing into your being, and a smile to your face?

When the Spirit of the Lord touches someone’s heart, it is marvellous to hear the simple testimony of a child-like faith, eager to know more. As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you…

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” – Psalm 105:1

“It’s so simple!” A new e-mentor recently remarked to me.
She was referring to the GMO (Global Media Outreach) sites from which we were getting responses.

Have you gone to take a look at the sites?
The mobile ones (ending with .mobi) are even simpler than the websites (mostly ending with .com)

Go take a look below and make a comparison!

http://www.4stepstogod.mobi/
http://4stepstogod.com/

The mails keep coming… in fact, there were 2 days in the month of May when more than 30 mails were received within one day! Here are some actual comments just in the past couple of months:

- “Is there really a God?”
- “I want to know more about Jesus!”
- “I love God. I want to make changes to my life.”
- “I wish not to commit more sins because I can’t follow Jesus anymore if I commit sins, right?”
- “My parents forbid me to go to church and said that I can only choose my religion when I’m 18 so I was wondering how do I pray at home?”

The need for online missionaries also increases proportionately with the mails… so, would you like to prayerfully consider coming alongside and volunteering as an e-mentor, or sharing with someone about it?

To sign up online as an e-mentor, go here.

It takes about 20-30 minutes to complete the application process.
Be prepared to type your personal testimony and provide a reference (name/email).

Thank you.

For further information and help, please contact CLiCK! via our email:
click@creativecommunications.sg

Netcasters: Using the Internet to Make Fishers of Men
by Craig von Buseck

Today (1 June 2010) sees the publication of this very significant title which gives a broad overview of digital evangelism. It is a much-needed initiative, for there has been no comparable study like this since Andrew Careaga’s books in the early days of the Web.

Von Buseck presents a unique overview into the vast and growing potential of the digital media to share the good news of Jesus. Its well-researched and visionary coverage, interviews and case studies are indispensable to anyone needing to understand the nature of the new media and how to use them effectively. And since we all now live in a ‘digital communication culture’, this surely means all of us: Jesus-followers at any stage of our spiritual journeys, as well as pastors and leaders, college students and faculty (it’s an ideal textbook), or mission staff and believers from diverse cultures and countries. And remarkably, we don’t need technical knowledge for this!

Here’s an interview with the author.

Here’s an excerpt I found meaningful for us as e-mentors.

“… in order to help someone you have to meet them where they are. You need to understand what he or she understands and then walk with them gently and lovingly in their discovery of the truth. The good news is that in all of this the Holy Spirit is there to help to have the words to share. And then the Holy Spirit will bring those words to life in the heart of the person on the other end of the Internet connection or mobile phone.”

Indeed words are life-giving as the Holy Spirit works in people’s hearts!
We need to pray and type them out!

It is the 1st time an e-mentoring session was conducted for our staff in training at Solead (School of Leadership).  That was about 2 weeks ago on 14th April. The class was very attentive during the lesson and a few of them commented that they found it interesting.

During the training, they had a “hands-on” section and started responding to actual mails, beginning a 10-week challenge as e-mentors. They have to record down the people they write to on a contacts list and send the form and share their experience at the end of that time. After which they can decide if they will come on board to continue volunteering in this ministry.

So… 2 weeks down! And all of them have each written to between 3-7 persons in the past fortnight.
3 of them have gotten a reply from at least one of those they wrote to.

As I went through the training, I remember mentioning about the reply template; why I put the question at the end asking how the visitor actually found the website. Here are 2 replies from two of the contacts:

“When I was updating my Friendster site I saw a message above my profile telling about God. I click it and I found your site. I prayed and things just turn out amazingly!”

“Actually I was just browsing my mobile since I was connected to wi fi in our house. Then as I was browsing I just noticed your website on the top. So I don’t hesitate to open and read.”

I am constantly amazed how God is prompting people,  to “stumble” on our websites, many times just simply browsing or when active on a social networking site. He prepares their hearts to be willing, at their point of readiness, to send in a response. This is also a testimony of the “rise” of the mobile sites where people are accessing the internet from their smart phones.

Praise God for the wonderful work He is doing!

“You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.” Psalm 40:5 ESV

What do you know… another very meaning devotional I read on The Word For Today, that has bearings on our roles as e-mentors.

26th April 2010
Learn to Respect Differences
“…be…gentle, showing…consideration for all.”  Titus 3:2 NASV

None of us escapes adversity; Jesus told His disciples, ‘…In this world you will have trouble…’ (John 16:33 NIV) But Verdell Davis writes, ‘Though we may endure the same disease, broken relationships, disability and failure, trying to compare sufferings is to ignore the unique dynamics of each individual life. To listen to stories in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting where all are brought together by their common addiction is to find that each pain, each heartache, each loss, each interplay of relationships is highly charged with some twist no one else in the room has experienced in quite the same way. We must resist seeing our own sorrows as more devastating or less important than someone else’s. Mine are unique to me, and if I’m going to deal with them honestly and openly, I must accept that what’s going on, deserves my respect.’

Paul writes, ‘…be…gentle, showing…consideration for all…’ (Titus 3:2 NAS) Respect the differences between yourself and others, even when you’ve been through a similar experience. Don’t barge in with a three-point sermon and a pre-planned speech. ‘The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.’ (Proverbs 16:21 NLT) You can’t go wrong with somebody who’s hurting by simply showing up, giving them a hug, letting them know you care and that you’re praying for them. It may be cliche, but it’s still true: people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care! You don’t demonstrate the love of God by being pushy, opinionated and acting like a know-it-all. You only do so by being ‘…peaceable, gentle, reasonable, [and] full of mercy…’ (James 3:17 NAS)

What do you glean from the sharing?
Here are some of my thoughts:

- I wouldn’t say to a person “I know what you are going through.” The fact is I don’t even if I have been down this road. I believe that God gives to us each the portion that we are able to handle, remembering I Corinthians 10:13 NASV, that He provides a way… that we will be able to endure.

- I don’t know it all. We don’t have all the answers, and we are not about giving answers. We just have to care. We “show up” virtually… ready to care for the person whose mail we receive.

- I continue to pray for us to be wise and have understanding, and the “right” words to type… to be peaceable, gentle and full of mercy. Amen!

Came across this today (16th April 2010) and thought it was a very helpful reminder.

Have a Not-to-Do List
“‘…My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.’ ” John 10:10 NLT

Jesus wants you to enjoy a ‘…rich and satisfying life’ (John 10:10 NLT), without getting bogged down by things that don’t add value or meaning. Life coach Robyn Coffman says, ‘Clutter isn’t only what you can see; it’s what you can’t see. It perpetuates your overloaded schedule, endless commitments and overwhelming fears. A cluttered mind means over-thinking, over-reacting, over-analysing, over-worrying and over-committing.’

So, de-clutter your mind by giving yourself permission to have a not-to-do list: Not to feel guilty for saying no to something that may be good, but not right for you. Not to worry about how well-adjusted your kids will be as adults. Not to hang something new in your wardrobe without giving something away. Not to feel over-responsible for everybody else’s well-being. Not to answer the phone after a certain time each night. Not to say yes just because you’ve been invited. Not to schedule busy activities on Sundays and family days. Not to buy something just because it’s on sale. Not to think you have to make a meal requiring more than three ingredients, do laundry, clean the house, and spend quality time with your family all on the same day. Not to ruminate over your own, or other people’s mistakes. Not to compare yourself.

The more you give yourself permission not to do, the more you free yourself to live a God centred, abundant life. And God will help you to live this way. Listen: ‘He gives power to the weak…those who trust in the Lord will find new strength…’ (Isaiah 40:29-31 NLT) Make spending time with God each day a priority, and everything else will fall into place.

P.S. Eh… don’t put e-mentoring on your NOT-To-Do list! Well… at least not for too long. Thank you for your help… many of you have been more regular this year!

Sometimes, days from the 30-Day Guide for New Believers goes missing and you get a mail asking about this. You can get all of them at http://www.30daynextsteps.com/

It is good not to give them this URL directly. Just copy and paste the day they are missing and keep the correspondence going. You may want to ask some questions about what they have read in the earlier days.

Keep up the good work!

I’ve been writing to a lady who has been struggling with her finances. I have had to do some research in this area to address the practical aspect of her need and also praying for her to “take charge” when it comes to spending instead of “giving in”, for e.g. to her children’s wants. I praise God that her heart is postured to be giving to God in the midst of her struggles.

GMO has a webpage at http://www.financesandgod.com/ though I have not seen many mails coming from it. Maybe it is not so much “money no enough” versus “I not enough”… because how we spend money reveals a lot about ourselves, our priorities and what/who we are living for.

Again, my favourite site, The Word For Today has 3 days addressing this issue recently and I’d like to repost some of the thoughts here, but you should go to the site to search for each day’s devotional:

19th March 2010 – God & Your Money (1)
” …where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ”
Matthew 6:21 NIV

Bottom line: if you want to know what’s really important to you, observe what you do with your money.

20th March 2010 – God & Your Money (2)
” Honour the Lord with your possessions… ”
Proverbs 3:9 NKJV

When you give God your heart, you’ll have no trouble giving Him anything else.

21st March 2010 – God & Your Money (3)
” …a foolish man devours all he has. “
Proverbs 21:20 NIV

True financial freedom comes when giving no longer threatens your sense of security, because you’ve learned that consecutive sowing into God’s Kingdom generates consecutive reaping.

My favourite devotional site is one I discovered while studying in Sydney. It is found at http://www.thewordfortoday.com.au

Today, 8th March 2010′s post is on marriage, and we have quite a number of responses coming in from marriageandgod.mobi as well as trueloveandgod.mobi recently.

So I thought it would be great to repost it here:

Improving Your Marriage
by Rev Bob Gass

“‘Love never fails…’” 1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV

Here are five ideas for putting new life into your marriage.

First, renew your commitment. Rough spots are normal in marriage. What else would you expect from two imperfect people? Decide, ‘I’m going to win my mate again.’ And start with an act of your will, not a feeling in your stomach. Say, ‘I’ll do what I need to do for the highest good of my mate.’ Yes, it’s tough when only one partner makes the commitment. But when you do, that gets you on track with the Lord and frees Him up to deal with your mate. Any marriage will work when two people say, ‘Lord, tell us what to do.’ God can make a difference in your marriage, but it takes work. The feelings will come back, but feelings can’t be the determining factor in your decision.

Second, start dating again. Nobody likes being taken for granted so adopt the attitude, ‘I’m going to keep wooing and winning my mate.’

Third, give up something for your mate. It sends the right signal when you say, ‘Yes, I know I planned to do that, but I’d rather be with you.’

Fourth, pay attention to little things. The little stuff gets forgotten too easily, like paying your wife compliments or buying her a card to say, ‘I love you.’ Or surprising your husband by wearing his favourite dress and making him a special meal.

Finally, accentuate the positive. Anybody can be a critic. If you look hard enough you’ll never run out of things that aren’t perfect about your mate. Try looking that hard for something good, let them know what you find and watch what happens!

To keep updated on what’s happening lately in Global Media Outreach,
you can…

- read the blog from GMO’s website.
- join the Facebook group.
- follow them on Twitter.

There are also resources at http://www.ichristianlife.com/ that can help you with your responses.