What A Thanksgiving!

There is a prison in south Texas, near Huntsville, where God had the builders put a chapel over 40 years ago. To this prison, God sent missionary Chris Athey, with the Eternal Word of the Living God in hand. Brother Athey is a fervent witness for Christ, and is passionate about seeing people gloriously saved. Through his years at this facility, God has built an incredible work. Thousands have come to know Christ as their personal Saviour while in this prison. Many have enrolled in Bible courses, and grown greatly in their walk with the Lord. Many have graduated the 3-year Bible course, gotten out of prison and gone on to serve the Lord in full-time Christian service.
Others have graduated the 3-year Bible course and serve the Lord fervently right where they are. This prison is a special place that God has used to save many souls, and change many lives for the glory of God.
To this prison I was privileged to go on Thanksgiving Day this year. I had the opportunity to report to these faithful brethren about what God is doing in my life and what He has done in Croatia through their prayers.
We had a glorious time rejoicing together in the greatness of God and His great blessings that He has bestowed upon us, and in preaching the Word. These men love to hear the Word of God preached, and the louder the better.
Many of these men know that God used prison to get their attention, and save them and turn their lives around. Some will never see physical freedom again, yet they rejoice in the Lord daily. Contrary to the popular (and offensive) stereotype, not everyone in prison claims or believes they are innocent.
These men are my faithful brethren and prayer warriors and I am so thankful to God that I have the privilege of knowing them and serving the Lord with them.

God Bless Brother Chris Athey and my faithful brethren!

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ ..... Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

English Class IS Such A Blessing

The English class for the Chinese is such a blessing.

I love these precious people so much! If I, being only the dust of the earth, can love these people as much as I do, just imagine how much God loves them.
Sometimes I don't think we really get it. God SO LOVED the world ....
All the great love that is bound up and presented to us by the word "SO" is amazing to me. The gift of anyone's son is unfathomable, let alone the perfect, Holy SON of Almighty GOD.
As my own son, Lance Corporal Kevin Ward, fights terrorism on the battlefields of Afghanistan, I think how I long for his safe return (7 months to go). Then, I think of God my Father, purposely sending his only begotten Son to die for me, intentionally, out of His great love for my soul.
It is His love, His sacrifice, His mercy and His grace that compels me and propels me to take His message to others.

Please whisper a prayer today for these precious Chinese people, for whom Christ so willingly and so lovingly gave His life:

(Some have adopted American names, but others have yet to do so)

Ling
Peter
Ying
Angela
Annie
Ping
Tsing
Christine
Fu
Tara (Xao Fing)
Ronnie
Albert
and Christopher who is due to be born in February (I pray his mom and dad (Christine and Fu) will be saved and he will be raised in a Christian home.)

"Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me."

Glory to the God of Heaven !

God gives us the desires of our heart and then He fulfills those desires.
Words cannot adequately express my joy, my jubilation, my exhilaration at what God has done for me.
My employer at the plastic company where I have worked for 25 years came to me and asked if I would like to go to Croatia and be a missionary full-time.
Having been on 3 trips to Croatia and been filled with joy upon each return, my employer took note.
He decided he would assist me in getting into full-time mission work, and as of Tuesday, I am preparing to depart to the country that God has called me to. My employer has promised two year's worth of support, and I will let God worry about years 3 through 50.


I knew after my first trip to that beautiful land in 2006 that God was telling me He wanted me there. He has richly blessed me on every subsequent trip, and my heart has overflowed with joy while also being so broken for the lost. Only God can make such joy and such sorrow reside in the same heart, and yet sustain us through it all.
I have repeatedly begged God for a greater burden for souls and for a broken heart. He has faithfully delivered, and I am so blessed.
Being crippled with MD and virtually unable to walk just 10 years ago, this is amazing to me. Not only can I walk again, but now I am headed to the mission field...to the dream of my lifetime. I suppose I shouldn't be too amazed. After all, this is GOD we're talking about.
I am praying to get there by early January, if not before.

The Bible does say, "Launch out into the deep".

Here I go.

Glory to God.

Soulwinner Spotlight - Cody Leslie

Today's Soulwinner Spotlight is on Cody Leslie - Eldest son of Johnny Leslie, Missionary to Croatia.
This photo was taken during the Croatia Soulwinning Marathon of 2009, shortly after Cody had led someone to Christ in the Croatian language. Glory to God! The Croatian language isn't easy, and yet he tackles the task of witnessing in the streets with boldness and zeal.



Cody has spent nearly ten of his seventeen years in Croatia and is a great help and blessing to his family and to the work there.

I was so blessed to partner with him this year during the soulwinning marathon, knowing that he would step forward with boldness, holding forth the Word of life.

Thank you Cody for a great testimony, and for your love of souls.

Proverbs 11:30

Please beg God for the soul of young man named Dean

Today in Varaždin we were thrilled to see 6 precious souls come to Christ in spite of the cold and the wind.

But one young man named Dean, who did not get saved, broke my heart in a big way. He was obviously a rebellious young man and he joked with me when we first made contact. However, after some discussion, his countenance changed and he began to see the seriousness of his situation, and to understand the truth of the gospel.

We had a very serious talk about sin and hell. He clearly understood, but put off a decision for Christ. It could be that he was negatively influenced by his friend who was not serious. After more than 30 minutes of direct eye contact and solemn truth from the Word of God I could tell he was shaken, but he would not get saved.

Please join me in crying out to God and pleading for Dean's precious soul.

Dean is headed straight for an eternal burning hell, so please don't send any comments to comfort me. I cannot be comforted in this regard. Just pray.

The battle for souls rages on.

2 Peter 3:9

Soulwinning Marathon

Hundreds have been warned.

People are being saved.

Thank GOD! People are praying.

For progress reports please click:

www.getoveryourself-croatia.blogspot.com

and

www.johnnyslifeinthefiled.blogspot.com

If ye love me, keep my commandments

Jesus said, If ye love me, keep my commandments.

He also said, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

The 2009 Croatia Soulwinning marathon begins on Saturday, 10/3 !

Brethren, pray for us.

OH GOD! SAVE CROATIA!