Dearest Nexus Family

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. II Cor 4:1

It was minus 20°F when the Nexus team went out. We saw hundreds of young students marching in the street, shouting long life to their leader. After the march was over, we met a little girl who ventured eye contact with us. She looked hungry. When we offered her a chocolate bar, she carefully made sure no one was watching before grabbing it and carefully putting it into her pocket. We offered other snacks, but it seemed she couldn’t fathom “Freely receive, freely give.” When we said, “I love you,” she ran away. Later we asked our local friends about it, and they replied, “We don’t say ‘love’ to each other, not even to our parents. The meaning of the word ‘love’ is different in our country.”

Icy City’s frigid winter (temperatures plunge to minus 40°F) and chronic famine are matched by its spiritual climate. For those in power, especially in the party, having many mistress lovers is considered honorable and enviable. Children are taught to hate passionately all “enemies of the state” and to report all anti-state conversation, including words spoken at home by fathers, mothers, and siblings. Countless families have felt compelled to risk everything, trying to flee the country for food and freedom.

It is an enormous challenge to Jeong…and to all of us.

Though actually in her early thirties, Eun Jeong is less than five feet tall and looks barely into her teens. Her growth was stunted by the meager diet she had growing up. Thank God, she has now found not only warmth and a nutritious diet, but also food for her soul–the Lord Jesus! But how can she, who has received the same calling as many of us–a duty given by God–not lose heart? How can she not tremble with fear to accomplish her ministry? It is an enormous challenge to Jeong…and to all of us.

We (Jeong and Nexus) have this ministry; we need your prayers that we will not lose heart to share the Good News. The Nexus team is serving in Icy City, providing relief aid including food, medicine, clothes, Bibles, and books.

Please pray for Icy City:
1) “The LORD sits enthroned over the flood”… May God work through international alliances and conflicts to establish His Kingdom in Icy City!
2) Icy City’s fortunes are changing and there are many uncertain variables; may God lead us into doing what He wants done.
3) For souls there who need the Lord, for their lives of intense suffering, for people to be awakened.
4) The “John the Baptist Ministry”, that with Nexus’ help they can fulfill God’s purpose and prepare the way for the Gospel.
5) For the four main Icy City team members.

East Africa, Beauty City: Letter from Andy & Lisa:

Thank you, all churches and members of the Body, for your loving support and prayers! Here’s a report of our recent doings:

Discipleship Training Class

In the latter half of 2016 we ran a five-month discipleship training class. Brothers and sisters were very hungry for God’s Word. They eagerly finished all their assignments and memory work, and we’ve also learned a lot ourselves! One thing we learned was that if you want to give people a drink of water, you have to have a bucket of it yourself! (In order to teach, you have to work much harder than your students!)

New Church Sign

To make it easier for both Chinese and locals to find our church, we’ve put up a new sign. Many people come just because of it. Locals can hardly imagine that we have faith; they think there is no such thing as a Chinese church. Once I was arrested and taken to the police station. When I told them I am the pastor of a Chinese church, they didn’t believe me. But when I showed them pictures of our church and our countryside work, they were amazed. They very respectfully drove me back home, right up to my door!

Distributing Gift & Bibles

We wanted to let our countryside kids experience a blessed Christmas, so first we purchased a lot of gifts–clothing, slippers, stationery, biscuits, and candy. We had a meeting, sang praise songs, and shared the Word of God. After worship we distributed the gifts, and the kids’ joyful faces showed how blessed they felt. May our very small love offering become a happy childhood memory for each of them! It’s hard to describe the knotty feelings we get every time we see these poor kids. What we can do is so limited… may God watch over them forever!

Visiting Sudanese Refugees

South Sudan has been in civil war for years, and people’s lives are very hard. Some have fled to a border area of Beauty City to survive. A local pastor there gives them a place to stay but can’t supply all their food–they only get to eat their fill every other meal. There are many children and ten or twenty university students. A lot of the kids have no money to attend school. May God have mercy on Sudan’s refugees! We bought food and daily necessities for them. Our earnest prayer is that our gifts can in some small way meet their needs. May God bless South Sudan with peace from war!

Thank God for granting us such rich grace; may He continue to pour out His grace in this place! Please pray more for our safety. Lisa went to the hospital by motorcycle taxi to visit a sister, and on the way her necklace was stripped off and her neck injured. May God continue to watch over us and give us His grace! May He strengthen our love, our resolve, and our faith; may He show us the way through the difficulties; may every step of service be anointed with the oil of His grace!

Yours Andy & Lisa