 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Romania
Dear Folks, Just a note to let you know that again this year the Lord our God has chosen to Bless Camp Hope for the future with the abundance of His blessing that can only comes from His presence. First of all we are experiencing the largest camps we have ever had since we moved to the new property in 1996. This week we had over 350 children present and with leaders and staff over 450 total. One of the amazing things about the camp is that all of this is accomplished with two missionary families and three fulltime staff families. Because of the mass exodus of young people we were afraid that the churches would not have leaders to send with the children. The Lord moved and instead of the teenage leaders that we normally have there were many young married ladies as well as several grandmas and grandpas. We ended up with a kindergarten with more that 20 children some as young as 2 years old. What a blessing it was to hear how some of these young marrieds had been saved in the camp in the early years. This week we were also blessed by the largest group of Americans that we ever had in a camp. A team of 15 from Shasta Baptist Church came, got the job done, and left rejoicing. I think that it is safe to say that they had a trip that they will never forget. As for the alter call, what can I say. It had been raining so the only room big enough to hold all that came forward for salvation was the dinning room. While they were praying with this group I said a few words, and another group came forward. I do not have all of the statistics but I am sure that well over 90% of the lost in the camp came forward to receive Christ. The blessing of all of this would not be complete if I did not share with you how the Lord provided for all of this. We have some dear friends in Luxemburg who keep a sign on their refrigerator that says, "We do not believe in miracles, we live by them". Not only that but they allow God to use them to bring about miracles. Driving home late one evening last week sharing with the Lord the fact that not only were we in dept but we did not have funds for the coming week of camp (as if He did not know), Brother Emanuel called with a simple message; "Make all your requests known onto God". After he repeated this about three or four times I though maybe the Lord had put it on his heart to call and rebuke me for having so little faith. Very tired and slightly irritated, I was just about ready to tell him alright already, I got the message when he very sweetly adds: "go to the bank, He has heard you and it is already there! The it turned out to be $2700! This does not mean that we are free and clear for this year but it does mean that we have a God who hears and answers our prayers. Trust me when I say that being part of a miracle is mush better that just believing in them. Thank you for your continuing prayers and support that make the miracle of this ministry possible. We praise God for you and all of your kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Pray for Romania Brother Tom and Marguerite Gentry Sometimes even a wide angle camera is not enough to get the whole picture!  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dear Folks, I trust that this picture will warm and comfort your hearts with the joy that God is still in the business of saving souls. Even after over 200 young folks between 12 and 16 years old have responded to a call for salvation, and another 75 or so have come forward to dedicate there lives and pray for those being saved, the Spirit of God is still working. In this picture is a young man that was saved in camp six years ago as he is leading a boy to Christ. Another leader is comforting a young girl as she weeps uncontrollably; struggling between the darkness of a religion in which there is no hope and the offer of the free gift of eternal life, in Christ Jesus. Over half the others are weeping, fighting to comprehend a Gospel that contradicts everything they have learned from childhood: wondering, how could it be so easy? How could it be a free gift in a world where nothing is free? If this picture were taken a few minutes later you would see me kneeing in the middle of this group of young girls, rejoicing while leading one soul to Christ; weeping inside for those that remain unsaved. In a short time this space will be filled with the joyous sounds of many, many young people rejoicing in the knowledge that their sins are forgiven, that they belong to God, that they have eternal life. It does not get any better than this. Please continue to pray and know that you have a God that hears and answers prayer. Pray for Romania Brother Tom  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dear Folks, I usually do not write this often but since it is your warfare in prayer, and your sacrifice in giving that makes this ministry possible you need to know how the Lord is responding to your faith. It would have been a great week if all that I had to share with you was the fact that 90% of the teenagers that came to camp unsaved trusted Christ as their personal Savior during the alter call on Thursday night. Yes, I am talking about teens form 14-20 years old with all the goodness and problems as other teens from all over the world. 90% is unbelievable. Now for "the rest of the story". At this same alter call I also made a call for those who were already saved to ask the Lord to try their hearts and to make things right with Him; to dedicate their lives and to live for God; and to seek His will and to serve the Lord with all of their heart. Then I invited only those that has seriously done business with the Lord to join me on the steps to pray for the souls of those that were coming to Christ and for those that were still having difficulty yielding to His love. As you can see from the pictures many came and wept and prayed and wept and went on their way rejoicing!!! knowing that God had heard and answered their prayers!!! It does not get any better than this. I recommend that you ask the Lord to allow you to see how your love and kindness has and is being multiplied with the sacrifices of thanksgiving going forth to the throne of God. The changed lives of these young people will affect their families and their relationships for years to come. Then when God chooses one of them (some of them) to go forth preaching the gospel in other lands........................ I'll let you fill in the blanks. Right now you are saying, " but Brother Tom we only gave a little. How could the results be so great?". That is the whole point: IT IS NOT WHAT YOU GAVE BUT THE GREAT GOD THAT YOU GAVE IT TO. Please allow this picture from the alter call to speak to your heart and know that we do appreciate you. Pray for Romania Your Rejoicing Missionaries Tom and Marguerite Gentry  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
