Volume 12 - Number 1, Spring 2013

Paraclete: in Greek "one who comes alongside in order to help."




Back to the complete Spring Edition.

Monday, April 1, 2013

From Paraclete Ministry Recipients...


Be encouraged, as we are, by the words of those to whom we ministered in 2012.
From pastors and missionaries:
"You've changed my life!" — A frequent comment after three days of training with ministry leaders in SE Asia
"The Spirit of God has said to us that your hearts are the same as our hearts.   We can trust you.” — A house church pastor in Asia, through a translator
 “Thank you for caring enough to come so far to love us, and to challenge us to think differently about marriage at our pastors conference.” — During a predawn walk with a Ugandan pastor
"What we loved was the way you teach  - with passion and joy.  Thank you for coming and for the messages you brought to us.  May God bless you, and the work in your hands.  Jesus loves you, I love you also ." — An Asian ministry leader after several days of training
From people who received the Word:
“We will never forget you.  Thank you for helping us understand who Jesus really is and what he did for us.” — A young Persian refugee in Europe
"My, oh my!  What a tremendous blessing to be honored with the privilege of sitting at Jesus' feet and hear His words through your beautiful ministry.  Praise God for the delightful taste of eternity today." — A note received after a day of teaching
“You are not like other speakers from other countries when they come.  You are warm and gracious.  The others seem to be cold.  They do not talk with us." — An Albania teenager
"Thank you for delivering God's word for us in a powerful and gentle way. Thank you for the message!" — After a retreat message
"Thank you for a powerful message and for reminding me about the joy in John 10:10, one of the verses that brought me to Christ 40 years ago." — After a sermon by an associate
From those who received counsel and mentoring:
"I want to ooze Jesus like you  do when I grow up, and by the grace of God, I will!" — Received from a "mentee"
" I love our times together and always leave feeling refreshed --the fellowship builds up my spirit and I feel ready to tackle the world!  Thank you for gently guiding us through the Word, for your insight and encouragement."  -- A mentoring group member
“God has used this time challenge and deepen my intimacy with the Lord. I have been equipped to better love, listen, obey and serve my Savior in the ministry He has for me." — A person receiving spiritual direction
"God has been so good to me, but He's used you to help me to identify some more stuff.  I have some healing to do!!   Thank you and God." — A note received after teaching on Soul healing
“When you explained how 'speaking the truth in love' caused you to grow up in your faith, I knew I wanted the same thing."­ ­— Leading to a discipleship relationship
"Just wanted to let you know how much you helped me  with the relationship with my mom.  Once I stopped seeing her as the problem and realized that I can choose my own reactions, things immediately became so much better between us.  I was not so easily irritated and upset as I would have been without your help." — A counselee
From ministries to the poor:
“As a result of this training I have seen that through this kind of work I can greatly improve how I help and reach people. It has changed my mind totally and my compassion for the poor has been greatly enlarged. I've been greatly inspired.” — After an empowerment workshop in India
“My mind has been changed so much from what I had previously understood. I am so inspired to put what I have learned into practice.” — Attendee of training on advocacy for the poor in South Asia
 “Since 2001 I see that my ministry has done some good things, but so much has been lacking. This has encouraged me so much that we can help/empower people to solve their own problems and by that have a much larger and longer lasting impact.” — After learning about empowerment
“Before this training, when I thought of trying to help people in practical ways, it seemed overwhelming because of all the problems (e.g. filling out forms, the intimidation of officials asking for bribes, delays in the process, even finding the government offices or the person in charge). But now with what we have learned, I don’t see this as impossible at all.” — After a seminar in South Asia
From retreat and seminar attendees:
 “I was really blessed and encouraged!  Putting into practice some of the things I learned has been even more rewarding!” — A veteran missionary in response to the Inter-Mission Philippine Women’s Retreat
“I am so thankful the retreat was not a how-to seminar or a cheer clinic for "more faithfulness" which inevitably leads to guilt and exhaustion.  I need to hear honest testimonies from real people, so I’m thankful you were honest and vulnerable!” — A seasoned missionary in the Hispanic world
"This is great -- you really do have a Christian worldview of Information and Technology now. Please write this  up for journal publication so I can cite your work in my upcoming textbook." — Christian university computer science professor
 “The retreat signaled a need for me to do some restorative care, which is probably overdue at this point.  I am grateful that God is showing me that I need to “come away with Him” and tend to my relationship with Him in ways that I have neglected.” — A missionary  in Mexico
“Your prayer and spirit of support and encouragement was a special blessing across our staff team.”  Director of a Christian camp in California
From small group participants:
 “I finally feel like I am ‘getting it’ as far as how much God values me.  I am better able to recognize my false beliefs and I’m doing better at leaving them behind... my walls are finally coming down. Learning to trust others in God's family is huge." — After a study course
"Thank you for shepherding our flock through this challenging time  with ‘integrity of heart and skillful hands.’ (Ps 78:72)   Your sacrifice of time, energy, prayer, and diligent study of God’s word for the sake of God’s glory, and God’s people, is deeply appreciated, valued, and esteemed!  Thanks for serving us so well!" — From a ministry board member
"This is an expression of our HUGE appreciation for you. You have invested your lives in helping valued people get in touch with their dark hard life-lumps, then holding them in such a way they can see all of life better... especially God!” — Aphesis course participant

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