URGENT PRAYER REQUEST! HAITIAN PASTOR

I wanted to post a special prayer request, on this Thanksgiving Day, for Pastor Michel Ilbert Leblanc who lives and ministers in Southwest Haiti in a village near Torbeck.  This is one of the pastors and in the area we worked with this past summer.  From what I understand from Pastor David is that Pastor Michael is very sick and under much persecution.  From personal experience in working with this pastor I wanted you all to know he is a great example of the shepherd caring for flock.  He continually rises early to tend to his fields and work, works with the people throughout the day and late into the night ministering, praying for and waging war with the spiritual forces in the area.  I was extremely impressed with the hardworking humble spirit about him.  Please make it a matter of prayer to specifically prayer for Pastor Michael Ilbert Leblanc, his family and the church there in this village.  Pray for his complete healing, renewed strength and for the Lord to encamp and place a hedge around him.

Prayer Update For Haiti!

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti -- The death toll this morning rose to at least 1,344 in the cholera outbreak in Haiti that has sickened almost 57,000 people, the Haitian government said Monday.
This information came as international health officials predicted that the scale of Haiti's cholera epidemic will exceed initial estimates of 200,000 over coming months.
"Having seen how the bacteria is behaving in this environment with these people, having seen just how poor and how hungry the people are, we know we have to revise our numbers up," said Nyka Alexander, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization, in a phone call with CNN.
Health workers say the Haitian population lacks immunity to cholera and Haitian medical workers lack experience treating the infection because the bacterium has not been detected on the island in more than a century.

With the violence spreading across Haiti and the impoverished country's weak health and sanitation systems are only compounding the problem. The perfect storm for cholera in Haiti. "Another factor why this epidemic has spread as far as it has and why it will continue to spread, is dirty water, poor sanitation, no toilets, malnutrition and poor access to health centers," Alexander said. "People have to walk five hours to a health center and if you have diarrhea you're not going to make it."

Tropical Storm or Hurrican Tomas Approaching Haiti

Within the next 4 to 6 hours this storm is going to hit Haiti.  Please pray for the people throughout the nation.  Many people are still living in tent cities and makeshift shelters that will not take the wind and deluge of rain.  This will most likely effect the entire nation.  With this storm approaching a nation hit by the earthquake several months ago and now the Cholera epidemic the situation could worsen without the hand of the Lord making a difference in the nation and the people.

YOUR PRAYERS ARE EFFECTIVE!

There are special areas of prayer for several areas, people and places that could use your prayers worldwide.  YOUR PRAYERS ARE EFFECTIVE!
"Jas 5:16-18 … The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." NKJV


Pakistan:  The people of Pakistan will feel the effects of the flooding more months.  This country and people will have been hit hard by the loss of life, homes and shelters, crops and their way of life.  It has been said that the disaster in Pakistan is greater than most of the disasters for this year, including the earthquake in Haiti, all put together.  With all these things going, then there is the persecution of the Christians and the withholding aid for them on top of all this.


Haiti:  Although the earthquake was so many months ago, there is so much that still has yet to be done.  There were three groups that went down to the Southwest part of Haiti this year associated with Youth Quests and there has been success in starting the sustainable agricultural projects, improving a couple of homes and ministering to, evangelizing and showing the Jesus Film to many people within the village and surrounding areas.  There are also mission trips to Haiti planned for two areas of Haiti for 2011.  Contact us for more information if you are interested.


Peru:  There was an earthquake in Peru south of Lima that woke up a missionary in Piura, several hundred miles away in the northern part of Peru.  The epicenter was near the city Chincha which lost all phone and cell phone communication to the whole city among other things.  Youth Quests has a missions trip to Peru this summer in Piura and much was accomplished through Jesus Christ working through us.  Youth Quests is currently planning to return to Peru for a medical missions trip in January of 2011 and then another work/evangelism missions trip for the summer of 2011.


Africa:  This year Youth Quests has donated to help with feeding the hungry and ministry outreaches to a ministry in northwestern Kenya.  We would love to continue help with the less fortunate and ministry outreaches in this area.  Also, it is our desire to take a Kenya missions trip team there this coming summer of 2011 to help out with these efforts.  Please pray for these requests for Kenya.


Please pray for these several areas and requests, as well as, the several other areas of outreach and missions that Youth Quests is working with.  This is your chance to be a partner with us in these successful outreaches and the vision to touch many lives for the gospel of Christ.  Contact us for more information at Youth Quests International.

A Florida Pastor States He Would Publicly Burn The Quran - Is that a Christian Act?

Today was the day this pastor was to burn the Quran.  After many news reports on the web, TV and in print regarding this intent the following news report came out on Yahoo News:  "NEW YORK – A Florida pastor says his church will "not today, not ever" burn a Quran, even if a mosque is built near ground zero.

Pastor ***** ***** had threatened to burn the Muslim holy book on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks over plans to build an Islamic center near where terrorists brought down the World Trade Center nine years ago.

He flew to New York and appeared on NBC's "Today" show. He says that his Gainesville, Fla., church's goal was "to expose that there is an element of Islam that is very dangerous and very radical."

He tells NBC that "we have definitely accomplished that mission." He says no meeting is planned with the imam leading the center but he hopes one will take place.

A "Burn a Koran Day" banner outside his church has been taken down." 

(Copied from: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/quran_burning)

I have been very concerned over this news regarding these statements and actions.  I have been concerned for our missionaries and indigenous pastor who are laboring in harms way and the needless risk that has been placed upon them.  I know I have been praying that this would not happen, but I wanted your opinions on what you think is right?  What do you think is Christian behavior?  And I also wanted to ask you to pray for us as a nation, the Christian missionaries or even people taking short term mission trips, which are diligently working to share the Love of Christ to a lost and dying world.

Before you answer lets look a few scripture from the Word of God in light of a Christian.  The word Christian means to be like Christ.  (Wikipedia states: The Greek word Χριστιανός (christianos) -meaning "follower of Christ")

(Heb 12:14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Gal 5:19-26 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Mat. 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

John 3:16-17  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Mar 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 

Mar 12:31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

1Jn 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us. 

1Jn 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Jesus condemned religious intolerance.  When He and His disciples entered a Samaritan village, and the Samaritans were less than hospitable, James and John told Jesus they wanted to call down fire from heaven on the whole place (see Luke 9:54).  Jesus flatly rebuked them, saying "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them." (v.55-56, NASB).

God is Love!  What is love?  What is the opposite of love?  Many people would say hatred, but it's really selfishness.  Hatred comes from the root of selfishness.  

Now I ask you these questions:

Was this act out of love or selfishness?

Do you think this mans actions and words promote peace, love and joy?

Do you think this mans actions and words will draw the lost to Christ or drive them away?

Do you think these actions and words promote peace or discord?

Do you think these actions and words endanger unnecessarily the lives of our missionaries on the mission fields?

This pastor was saying, just a day or two previously even though much of the churches congregation leaving the church, that he was going to go on with this and burn the Quran no matter what and today stating that "his church will "not today, not ever" burn a Quran, even if a mosque is built near ground zero"… and says that his Gainesville, Fla., church's goal was "to expose that there is an element of Islam that is very dangerous and very radical."  I ask you what is it when someone states one thing, then says that he was not going to do it?

Is this the behavior of someone who is to be Christ-like?

What does the book of wisdom, Proverbs, say about someone who stirs up strife and contention?

Let’s pray that there will some confession of wrong and asking for forgiveness instead saying that he never intended to do this act.

Let’s pray that the people of the world who are lost will see the love of Christ in us who really are Christians and know that everyone calling themselves a Christian may not be Christians.

To conclude let us take these scriptures to heart and live them: 1Jn 4:7-8  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Pray For China, It's People and the Trip in 2011

We have an amazing cultural and educational exchange trip planned for Southwestern China and the Beijing area for the summer of 2011 with a group from Florida.  The plans are to spend a couple of days in Beijing and travel by train to the southwest area where we will be sharing with local minorities and after a about a week we will travel back to the Beijing area where we will be sharing there until our return home.  Check out the China Cultural Trip event on Facebook.

Please keep this trip, all the participants in your prayers and the local people of the areas where we will be.  You may find out more about this trip and the opportunities to participate yourself, help those who wish to go and/or donate to these projects or others at Youth Quests International

For more information on estimated costs and other information go to China Cultural Trip page at YQI.  If you would like to schedule a trip to China please contact us for information and possible dates that will work for your group at Contact Us.

Continue Prayer For Kenya Ministries

Remember to continue to pray for Pastor Lucas, his family and the ministry in Northwestern Kenya.  They are in need of assistance and your prayers for the ministry and it's outreaches.

Bhutan Pastor and His Wife In Need of Your Prayers

Today I wanted to bring to your attention to a very small country, but very closed to the gospel from the government and very much in need of hearing the Good News and the Love of Jesus, Bhutan.  Also today I wanted share with you a very special prayer request from a Christian minister whom we have been communicating with for a few years.

Here is the letter I received today:  "I write to you this with great sense of urgency.
My wife Reeta and I have been going through very testing times for the last few months.
I need a vey special and urgent constant prayer my wife, She have been carrying for over two months now. She is diabetics and we are monitoring her sugar level. Doctors have admitted her to the hospital off and on. Please pray for her. We are trusting God for the normal health of both the mother and the baby.

In times such as this, our faith is being attacked by fears and doubts within, what doctors say, the word of discouragement that comes from outside and the reasons that seem valid
God has been encouraging through His words. Faith is beyond reasons. God is able to perform miracles beyond our comprehension.
Current prayer requests:

• Healing of my wife from Diabetes
• Our Bhutan churches, that they may withstand all persecutions and persist in it’s goal of winning the community
• Students to whom we have been reaching out to with the gospel.
• The door for evangelism may be open and grow."

Please pray for these needs and that the walls of deception, persecution and the strongholds of the enemy be brought down!

For more information on how you may help go to: Youth Quests International or Christian Mission Trips or go to the Christian Social Network for Missions.

Haitian Mission Project Updates and Prayer Requests

Hello from Youth Quests,
I am writing to let you know the progress of the Haitian project we are involved with, the current needs and prayer requests, as well as, our future plans for this project.
The previous team had worked on some crucial and much needed improvements for the following teams who will be working on the projects in this local village area.  They were involved in ministry to the local people as well. The team arriving in the village near Torbeck in just a few days will greatly appreciate all the previous team has done in preparation for them.

Project Updates and Prayer Requests

Will you pray about the following needs? The dollar amounts mentioned are still needed for the projects.) For donations go to: http://hopeforhaiti.shutterfly.com/news

Water Well
While we were there, we were able to talk with some government officials about drilling a well in preparation for the orphanage we are planning on building there in the area.  Even though they said that they only drill on government or public lands, they agreed to drill the well for a very reasonable $2000.00 for the orphanage project.  We are praising the Lord for this good source of water for the orphanage and ministry.  Pray for the project to progress and the doors to stay open as well as the funds to come in for this project for a good water source for the people.

Poultry Business
The team leaving for Torbeck on July 18th will be working on building the poultry business. The aim of this business is supporting the pastors to be self-sustaining in working with the local people and income generating for the operation of the orphanage.  As of right now, we are currently $2000 short on funds to get this poultry business fully up and running complete with facilities, equipment, chicks and feed.  

Orphanage Projection
We are currently in contact with a Christian man who has been building several homes in Haiti in cooperation with the Haitian government.  He has agreed to build the orphanage in this area employing local people and using good materials for the low cost of $15 per square foot!  Our goal is to start with a 2000 square foot facility that would only cost $30,000; then with the water available, the orphanage would be in a good position to be a blessing to many in that area.

Adoption in Progress
Orphans in this area need hope and a future; currently it is our turn to help an orphan girl be adopted into a Christian family in the USA.  The lawyers in the country have been working on the adoption. All the family needs is another $3,000.00 to complete the adoption process.

Thank you so much for your interest in missions and may the Lord richly bless you,
Haiti Mission Trips  from  Youth Quests International

Looking Into The Future To Pray For Haiti

Even while numerous organizations continue to provide relief supplies for the Haitian people, the current focus is to pinpoint long-term recovery plans for this nation and to share Jesus in a real personal way. The devastation from the January 12 earthquake killed more than 200,000 and left innumerable people homeless.  The Haitian people are looking for help and answers.

We are working together with the Haitian people now as well as with plans for long-term development. Our fundraising pertaining to Haiti is in progress to have adequate funds for the projects currently planned. We are thankful for the generosity of those who are praying and have already given to the Haitian people. 

Emergency Recovery with 3 Stages for your prayers

Bhutan - A Closed Country

This week I want to introduce you to Bhutan, a nation that is closed to the gospel and a young man with whom I have been in contact.  For his safety I will call him Joe.

Joe contacted me regarding mission trips and ministry some time ago while he was away from home and his country getting an education.  He had many questions and wanted prayer support and encouragement.  After graduation, he returned home keeping in communication with me for a while.  Suddenly he dropped out of contact for quite some time until this last week.

Bhutan is a closed nation in many ways even beyond religion and evangelism.  Another man that I have also been in contact with even longer than Joe, told me that an outsider can only visit Bhutan as a tourist with one of the Bhutan owned tour guide companies and you are limited to their agendas and locations.  In further conversations, I was told something that really struck a cord in me.  You know how many young people, and I was one of them, would go camping or back packing to get away to do what you wanted in peace and not be caught by the law or authorities?  Well this pastor told me that that is what they have do to have prayer meetings and worship services.  They all back pack into the mountains and meet together for prayer and worship.  The thought came to me how we used to do this to do ungodly things and they have to do this to pursue God and pray together. 

I have included Joe’s message to you in this post, which I have edited, so that you will be able to pray for Joe, the House Churches and Christians in Bhutan.  Please also remember they are in need of Bibles as well. 
John, I am sorry for not being able to keep in touch with you.  I had been to a very remote part of our nation, Bhutan, where there is no motor roads.  We have to walk and carry our things on horse back to get to these very remote villages where there is not electricity or internet facilities and etc.  Despite difficulties, we have begun a house cell church with 15 members. This is the first fellowship in this area of Bhutan.  Previously to our arrival no one had heard what and who Jesus is, but now more people are coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Please keep praying for these new believers. 

New Prayer Request From India

Thenlal Kipgen has sent you a message on Youth Quests - Christian Social Network - Teen Missions - Trips

If God Willing I will be moving into a new mission field in the eastern part of New Delhi. Please pray for me that God will prepare and open the heart of people to receive the Love of Jesus Christ.

When we work we work, but when we pray God work.
In Him
Thenlal Kipgen