Dear Nexus Family

Every favor and blessing granted us has its burden of responsibility.

Many thanks for your participation with us in 2016!  Serving the Great Commission, God gives us favor, which carries its responsibility.

Every blessing has its burden: it’s a blessing to have a baby, but it’s not easy to get up in the middle of the night! When God enlarges your ministry, it gives you more opportunity and influence; but with greater blessing come bigger burdens: more critics, more objections, more funds, more responsibility!

The more we serve others, the sweeter our walk with Jesus; but we are not in heaven yet, free of all difficulty. However, we have Christ…we have hope!  Syrian refugee Dawud said, “We are considering returning to our country.  Going back to our ancestral land means we’ll have to rebuild everything that has been destroyed, to start life all over again.”

We are preparing to return with them to their land, moved in our hearts by the love of Christ, taking with us the great love that China has received through the gospel.  We are moved by hope, and we have a holy ambition to help rebuild the ruins of the Levant (the forgotten temple of God).

Gal. 3:4 (CEV) “Have you gone through all of this for nothing? Is it all really for nothing?”

We (Nexus) are ready to undertake this vision–this blessing of God–together with its difficulties and responsibilities.

Celebrating Christmas in Banana City:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

In December we took three or four tons of goods to Banana City, including used clothing, shoes, mattresses, a motorcycle, tires, used household appliances…. We invited poor villagers to come choose things they needed for free.  There is so very little available in that place, that when they received used clothing, they were as happy as children who just got candy after having none for years!  They took away things we had brought, and they also took the gospel.  Through our goods distribution we met many Banana City residents.  Forty-five were willing to receive the gospel, and seven of these have been baptized already.

We have five local coworkers who went with us to visit people, distribute goods, and experience His power!  In Banana City, we saw with our own eyes the lame walk, the mentally ill healed, and sinners return to the Father.  Now we have a house used for training coworkers and as a dormitory to receive guests.  Please ask for our work to be under His covering and protection.

Brother Tai, Banana City

Water City
Christmas Activities for Slum District Children

Our Children’s Center has 70 children.  During the Christmas season we organized singing, dancing, and drama for them, and we invited their parents to the performance,150 people came. We used the story of the Prodigal Son to share the gospel with them.  The children had a happy Christmas, and parents were very pleased to see their children’s growth.

Preparing Clothing:

One thing that touched us very deeply happened as we were preparing the dramas.  We wanted the children to wear local traditional clothing, but they said they didn’t have any!  We were very surprised, because they have to wear such clothing when they go to the mosque to pray.  They said, “None of us go there; it’s too much trouble!”  (They have to wear clean traditional outfits and go through a washing ritual before they can go in.)  When we heard this, we truly understood what Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers…”

Prayer Items

1) For our safety, health, and provision; may God’s gracious hand be upon us always!

2) For our staff who back home, may Father
remember their sacrifice and provide for their needs.

3) For our work, may Father protect our local coworkers and the work we all are doing here.

Your servant from Water City

Alex & Ruth & Lily