• Refiner’s Fire - Dear Friends and Family,
  I have been so far behind as is the story of my life and many of your’s, having kids and now being in south American just made the chronic illness worse. However, it is better late than never, here is the latest update from our side of the world.
  December 2 I had [...]

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• Update
• “Wait”
• Contact Information

Dear Family and Friends,

I have been terribly delinquent with
writing to you and letting you know what is going on here in Grenada.
Please accept my apologies!  With many exciting developments taking
place within GFN, I couldn’t wait any longer to give you a brief report
of what God is doing and has been doing in preparation to spread His
good news to the world in these last days.

Update:

Radio:

• As you may recall, last
  year I was feeling convicted that the time was at hand for the Lord
  to move.  I prayed and searched God’s word for conformation to
  go to the US to attend a broadcasting convention and to order the first
  portion of our broadcasting equipment totaling $20,000 US in expenses.
  The only problem was I had absolutely no money.  While praying,
  reading and praying some more, the Lord clearly directed my attention
  to John 20:21, “…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
  In that moment, God gave me clear direction to go to the US, trusting
  that He would provide.  Soon after arriving at the conference,
  I received word that I had received a $20,000 donation!  God is
  so good!  Since then the Lord has provided miraculously a second
  time and as of January this year we have received two shipments of radio
  station broadcast equipment.  As we speak the radio station in
  St. Paul’s is 95% complete and we are waiting for a final agreement
  with the tower owners on Mt. Maitland in order to install our transmitter
  and broadcast antennas.  Please keep this agreement and the final
  installation of the equipment in your prayers.  Lord willing we
  will be on the air in April!
• In addition to this, after
  several years of waiting, on December 5th, 2008 I signed
  the last of our broadcast licenses necessary to broadcast on 91.3 FM.
  God is opening the way.

Radio Station

Studio to Transmitter Link Antenna

TV:

• We applied for our TV broadcast
  license in December of 1999.  Following the organization of the
  National Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (NTRC) we reapplied
  at their request in July of 2004.  After repeated attempts to talk
  with the responsible minister concerning the approval of our license,
  we finally secured an audience with the Prime Minister.  He was
  very positive and wrote a letter to the minister asking him to grant
  our license.  Still, no license was granted.  I was not worried.
  I knew that when the Lord was ready He would open the way.  I am
  happy to announce that on December 12th of 2008, after 9
  years of waiting, I signed our Channel 4 TV broadcast license!
  Now we are waiting on only two items.  The first is a Studio to
  Transmitter Link license to carry our signal to our main transmitter.
  This license is not a big deal and we expect to have it shortly.
  The other thing we are waiting for is for the Lord to provide for the
  equipment.  This we believe is just around the corner.  Watch
  for a miracle after the radio station is on the air!
• Thanks for your prayers
  on this matter and stay tuned.  The Lord will provide just as He
  did for the radio station at just the right moment.

Volunteers:

• We are sad to report that
  our last volunteer family returned home in January due to their need
  to attend to their business.  We wish them the best and are thankful
  for their service here.
• On a happier note, we have
  another volunteer family who will be arriving near the end of this month!
  We are really looking forward to working with them.  Steve and
  Samra Shedell have already been helping out with collecting hundreds
  of CDs for the radio station and when they arrive they will help run
  the station, produce video for the TV station and provide architectural
  design work for the project.

Larger Vision:

• We at GFN and our parent
  organization Gospel Ministries International (GMI) believe that Jesus’
  coming is fast approaching and that the final time of trouble beginning
  with a law enforcing Sunday rest/worship is just around the corner.
  We also believe that prior to this time, Jesus will have a purified
  people prepared to proclaim God’s truth with great power on a world
  wide scale as symbolized by the White Horse of Revelation.  For
  that reason, by faith (without a penny in our pockets), we are preparing
  TV and radio networks similar to GFN all around the world in many languages
  to spread the truth about Jesus, His soon return, and His ability to
  enable us to follow Him perfectly.  Some of these networks are
  in the countries of Bolivia, Romania, Spain, Germany, Martinique, the
  US, Philippines, Thailand, Australia, various countries in Africa and
  more.  But the Lord has informed us that our vision is too small.
  How can the Lord conquer the whole world with a small number of $1.5
  million dollar TV networks?  Hardly a force strong enough to conquer
  the world for the Lord…  Our vision is too small.  Our level
  of faith indicates that we believe that we serve a “weak” God…
  After adjusting to God’s vision of our weak faith, we have expanded
  our vision as a world organization and right here at GFN in Grenada
  as well.  We still plan to build our small TV station and studio
  in St. Paul’s for efficiency reasons but our plans are expanding drastically.
  We are planning by faith to purchase a large tract of land.  On
  that land we intend to build a number of buildings and ministries/services
  to reach the Caribbean region and beyond including the following: a
  large media center for both TV and radio, a printery to print books
  and tracts, a secondary school with dormitories to educate and train
  young people in harmony with the Spirit of Prophecy, a school of evangelism
  to train Bible workers, a bakery to provide healthful baked products
  and to teach people how to bake healthfully, a wellness center to treat
  and train people in the principals of natural health remedies, and more.
  In addition to this the remaining land will be used for agriculture
  to provide for the volunteers of GFN and all the people in need around
  us here in Grenada.
• This type of planning and
  more is happening in many places around the world.  God has told
  us to plan as BIG as possible to FINISH the work in His strength,
  and according to our faith He will provide.

Exploring Land for the Project

There are many
expenses and needs during this time as you can probably imagine.
There are small monthly expenses for utilities, tower space rental,
license fees, legal fees and rent, on the order of thousands of dollars
and massive expenses for land, buildings, and equipment on the order
of millions of dollars.  There are also needs for dedicated, skilled
volunteers who are willing to sacrifice for the Lord and work as volunteers
without pay.  And there are needs for agreements, contracts, and
a host of details that need to be carefully planned out and prepared.

Please, join
with us in prayer THANKING the Lord for His provision for all these
things He has promised to provide.  In John 11:41, 42, Jesus had
already talked to His Father and He already knew that He was going to
raise Lazarus from the grave.  Therefore He didn’t ask for anything,
He thanked his Father publicly by faith before raising Lazarus.
God has already promised to provide for us on a level high enough and
big enough to send His message to every inhabitant of this world.
It is just up to us to step into the Red Sea…thanking Him as we go
forward conquering in the spirit and power of the White Horse.

“WAIT”

Many of you have no doubt wondered
why this project is taking so incredibly long to get off the ground?
Well I have two answers to that question.  The first is I believe
God has a strategic plan to finish His work in this world and timing
is critical.  So we “wait” for the perfect time as only God
really knows.  Secondly, I believe there is a personal reason for
us and for all those who support us and are watching.  We believe
this poem describes that reason very well.  We hope you will enjoy
it.

Desperately, helplessly, longingly,
I cried:

Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my
fate, And the Master so gently said, “Child, you must wait.”

“Wait? You say, wait! ” my
indignant reply.

“Lord, I need answers, I need
to know why!

Is your hand shortened? Or have you
not heard?

By Faith, I have asked, and am claiming
your Word.

My future and all to which I can relate

Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell
me to WAIT?

I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign,

Or even a ‘no’ to which I can resign.

And Lord, You promised that if we believe
we need but to ask, and we shall receive.

And Lord, I’ve been asking, and this
is my cry:

I’m weary of asking! I need a reply!

Then quietly, softly, I learned of
my fate As my Master replied once again, “You must wait.”

So, I slumped in my chair, defeated
and taut and grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting…. for what?”

He seemed, then, to kneel, and His
eyes wept with mine, And he tenderly said, “I could give you a
sign.

I could shake the heavens, and darken
the sun.

I could raise the dead, and cause mountains
to run.

All you seek, I could give, and pleased
you would be.

You would have what you want ~ But,
you wouldn’t know Me.

You’d not know the depth of My love
for each saint; You’d not know the power that I give to the faint;

You’d not learn to see through the
clouds of despair; You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there;
You’d not know the joy of resting in Me When darkness and silence were
all you could see.

You’d never experience that fullness
of love As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove; You’d know that
I give and I save…. (for a start), But you’d not know the depth of
the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the
night, The faith that I give when you walk without sight, The depth
that’s beyond getting just what you asked Of an infinite God, who makes
what you have LAST.

You’d never know, should your pain
quickly flee, What it means that “My grace is sufficient for Thee.”

Yes, your dreams for your loved one
overnight would come true, But, Oh, the Loss!  If I lost what I’m
doing in you!

So, be silent, My Child, and in time
you will see That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.

And though oft’ may My answers seem
terribly late, My most precious answer of all is still, “WAIT.”

” WAIT “

- Author Unknown

May God bless you richly today!

Sincerely,

John, Sue, Steven and Sarah Bartels

Grenada Family Network

Conozcan a William Amado, a la Sra. Morgan,
y a Carlos Giménez, Director de la Asociación Génesis

La Asociación Génesis es una Corporación que sido constituida en Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

En esta foto, vemos a la Sra. Morgan, quien es la mamá de Yendri, nuestro primer enfermo, con el síndrome de HIV. Yendri tuvo muchas luchas con su enfermedad, pero tuvo la bendicion de conocer al Señor, y entregar su vida a ÉL. También su mamá, la Sra. Morgan, tuvo muchas luchas, tanto por la tristeza de ver a su hijo enfermo, y luego verlo fallecer, pero finalmente, ¡llegó a los piés de Jesús y se bautizó!

No es fácil para los familiares de las personas enfermas, ya que a veces tendemos a culpar a Dios por los problemas que nos rodean o las tristezas que nos tocan sufrir. Pero Dios en su sabiduría, es muy justo y muy misericordioso.

Parte de nuestra tarea es apoyar a los pacientes, tanto como a los familiares, y consolarlos y ayudarles a sobrellevar esta encrucijada, y darles a conocer el evangelio y el amor de Dios.

Yendri duerme en el Señor, y éso siempre es una gran esperanza y una enorme bendición para todos los que le amamos. ¡Nuestras esperanzas se aferran a las promesas del Señor, y nuestro anhelo es poder verle cuando Jesús vuelva en la nube de los cielos! J

OPORTUNIDAD DE APOYO:
Si está interesado en colaborar con este proyecto, puede hacerlo enviando su contribución (deducible de impuestos) a la siguiente dirección::
Gospel Ministries International
P.O.Box 506, Collegedale,
TN 37315, USA
Contacto: Christina Parson
Tel: (+1-423) 473-1841 or 42
Fax: (+1-423) 473-1846
o en Canada:
Lepta Missions International
99 de la Sarcelle, Varennes,
Quebec J3X-2A4, Canada
Contacto: Jean-Jacques Hermans
W (+1-514) 866-4334
C (+1-514) 299-1807

O en Venezuela:

Puede ponerse en contacto con la Asociación directamente.

Contacto: Carlos Giménez, cargimgar {at} hotmail(.)com, Tel: (+58-251) 251-9970, Cel: (+58-426) 654-0611, Dir: Urb. Bararida Vieja I, Vereda 8, Casa 1, Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

O con: William Amado, wilamagu {at} hotmail(.)com

Subject: God Chooses Aircraft in Australia

It is an absolute privilege to share with you the way God has lead in the acquisition of this aircraft.

Firstly to recap the events leading up to this point. Both the CBHI Board and the CBHI Aviation Board had concluded we should pursue the purchase of an older (pre 1985) Cessna 172. Even although a new model Cessna 182 had been found and deemed appropriate, it was agreed that its additional cost could not be justified at this point. By searching all advertising avenues six suitable aircraft were found. We set about the process of contacting each of the vendors and discovering what we could prior to creating a shortlist for inspection. This proved to be significantly more difficult than would reasonably be expected. Bear in mind we are in economic turbulence where luxury items such as aircraft are more for sale than they are being bought. That said, for each of the sellers we contacted - two had been sold within days of us contacting them ??? Two sellers would not return our calls of enquiry ??? Two sellers had decided to remove their aircraft from sale - one quite dramatically…ie after hearing of our intention to view her plane (we were the first to inquire), had a sleepless night and consequently decided the following morning to remove it from sale!

We began asking questions - over this two week period why had every door that we had tried to open closed? What was God telling us?

Some days later I was discussing with our engineer the the lack of progress made. It was during this conversation he suggested a possible next step. He had heard that the 182 we had decided against had just had a price reduction of $30,000. This got my attention, as it had his. We wondered the possibility that God had closed all of the doors we had tried to open to direct us back to this aircraft. From a financial perspective it made little sense - from a practical and value for money perspective it made great sense. We concluded that earnest prayer was required to ask again of God what He wanted. We needed to hear His voice. Some hours later I received a delayed call from our Chief Pilot. I had been expecting this call for a few days. Personal circumstance had prevented him from calling till now. After we had attended to the items for which the call was made, I raised with him our inability to make any progress. Without prompt or prior suggestion he shared with me the thoughts that he had been having only days earlier that we might reconsider our position and take another look at the 182. Clearly God had not only shown our engineer the reduced price, He had also impressed on our chief pilot a desire to reinvestigate. God was moving - through prayer He impressed us to move forward and again look at this aircraft, leaving behind our decision to pursue the cheaper, smaller aircraft. We were encouraged in the knowledge that if we were to be looking still elsewhere God would again close this door.

A week or two passed. Each board had agreed that God was leading in a different direction to that which we had initially agreed - consents were in place to move forward. Even although the price of the aircraft had been dropped to below what it was reasonably worth we still felt impressed that God was asking us to offer a further $10,000 less than the new asking price. It was agreed that the vendor, Peter would fly the aircraft to Cessnock - our home base. We would give it a final inspection and should everything prove OK we would discuss its purchase.

On Thursday Peter arrived and promptly headed for the main terminal building for refreshment. Our engineer and I began looking over the aircraft. It was very quickly noticeable that the engine had developed a significant oil leak - one we were sure Peter hadn’t noticed. On removing some of the cowling it was evident that quite an amount of oil had been lost. Whilst the engineer felt sure he new where it was coming from, it was decided that all the cowling be removed and a proper inspection be carried out. It was concluded that one of two seals had gone - neither a big deal nor expensive to fix. The question was now asked, ‘was the aircraft safe to fly the return leg home?’ By this stage our chief pilot had arrived and Peter had returned. He was unaware that it had been losing oil and offered a reason supporting our engineers conclusion. However the question still remained - for the vendor to fly it home or for other transport to be arranged. Further there was a degree of pressure on quickly establishing a plan as large storm clouds were closing in.

While our engineer had been discussing with Peter the potential cause of the leak our chief pilot suggested we may be able to use the aircraft that had been available for our training (a 172) to take Peter home whilst his was repaired. We now brought our engineer in on this suggestion. It was agreed we would offer this option to Peter and at the same time, as we had satisfied ourselves that the aircraft was suitable, discuss with him its potential purchase. Peter and I found a quiet spot and I shared with him our testimony. In all of our previous conversations I had shared the vision that God had given us. I now elaborated on the events of recent weeks and the way God had lead us back to his aircraft. I acknowledged the excellent value it represented and that our offer to him was not a reflection of what we felt it was worth but rather what we had been impressed to offer.

I waited with expectancy for his reply. I was sure he would consent to sell as in my mind there was no question God had lead us to this point. His response . . . to very politely acknowledge our position but decline from accepting the offer. He confirmed the asking price had just been dropped and that he felt it was excellent value as it was. He could not sell it at our offer and that he at least needed to test the market with a reasonable advertising campaign to ensure a sale for the price he was asking. His current asking price was where it must remain. We both acknowledged a degree of disappointment but completely understood where each other was coming from. It was agreed that we would see what happened over the next weeks and then re-evaluate. Peter also felt that it would be fine to return home with the aircraft leaking as it was and that he would rectify the problem at a later date. We now started reattaching the cowling.

Where was God leading now? Why had He impressed the way He had only for it all to fall over at the last hurdle?

I don’t really know whether any of us had time to really process Peters response. Despite feeling very disappointed we all had to pitch in and get the cowling on to enable Peters prompt departure. The first piece to go on was the bottom half - a large piece that is best placed on by three - one to hold and two to bolt from either side. I had just sat on the ground to support the cowling while our chief pilot and engineer started reattaching when Peter came over and asked when I was finished if he might have a word with me. I readily agreed and shortly made my way over to where we had been before. He said to me, ‘Do you think we might be able to meet half way?’ I was taken by surprise at this question given our previous conversation. Without processing what might have been motivating his question I proceeded to share with him our inability to make this decision now and the uncertainty of an affirmative response. I had not finished explaining this when he broke in on my response with these exact words that are now etched in my mind and will be with me for all my days. He said, “You may have already guessed why I asked you that question. What I am really saying is that God just spoke to me and told me to sell it to you for the price you are offering. Congratulations the plane is yours.“

I can not begin to explain the range of emotions experienced. I can tell you without doubt that my over riding sensation was of complete humility and rejoicing at the feet of our God who had delivered this aircraft into the hands of his servants. I apologise that this testimony is so long. It has however been my absolute desire that all who read it can share in the thrill of seeing God at work, knowing that He is leading us, his soldiers, in battle AND to victory - not by forgetting about us and hoping we somehow win, but by remaining faithful to His promises - to lead us, to equip us, to provide for us, to protect us and to strengthen us for what lies ahead. Let us take the promises of His word and this example of His leading and continue on in battle. Remember, the victory has already been won.

All honor and praise be to God for His unending faithfulness!

•       Southern Adventist University completes successful mission trip on
the Andira river
•       New family joins us as primary base operators

•       The mission plane that disappeared has not yet been found

Full Story

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It has been an exciting month here in Brazil.  We are in the middle
of the rainy season, with heavy rains falling almost every day!

Likewise, we can feel the Holy Spirit being poured out to reach the
lost along the Amazon River!

Southern’s Mission Trip

The village of Ponta Alegre received us warmly and welcomed us into
their home to spend five days doing medical work, kids programs, and
evangelism. Southern brought a group of 16 people. We were also joined
by a doctor and her friend from Australia, and many local Brazilians.
Sunday morning we set up shop and immediately went to work.  Each day

was very similar.  During the morning we ran two programs
simultaneously: the medical clinic and Bible stories for the kids of
the village.  During the evening we had an evangelistic series
starting with songs, a puppet show, a health talk, and then a sermon.
To our delight, the first night we had 112 people at the program.  The
local village told us that there were only 47 SDA members in that
village, and at our meetings we had people from every church in town.

We were so thrilled to be able to present to them the living Word of
God.  We covered the following topics: creation, the fall, the state
of the dead, who is Jesus, Heaven, and the second coming.  The final
night we had over 200 people present at our meeting.
In that village we saw first hand a HUGE need for spiritual food.
People came to us during the day and night asking us for Bibles and

spiritual reading materials.  During the evening programs only one
person had a Bible to bring!  During one evening program we invited
the people to take a stand if they wanted to accept Jesus as their
personal Savior, and almost every person stood!   We praise God for
His blessing and leading in the work that was done in this small
remote location of the world.
The last evening the Tuchaua (the Indian chief), the city councilman

from town, and the village captain invited me to a meeting.  At this
meeting they told me that they had discussed me and our group with the
government organizations that control work in the jungle, and with the
chief over all Indian chiefs for the Andira River (the area where we
worked).  They said they would like to extend a formal invitation for
us to return and enter further into their indigenous lands and do
medical evangelism!   We praise God for the open door to continue

reaching the lost along the Andira River!

New Base Operators

A new family has joined the Brazil Medical Launch program. Cleber and
Denise are Brazilians who lived for many years in the United States.
Cleber has many years of experience in working with land, and despite
being here only a short time, has already started a garden for our

personal needs and planted hundreds of fruit trees.  Denise is
extremely talented with children programs. She accompanied Southern’s
trip and was in charge of all the kids programs. They have two
children: Kathleen (10) and Kevin (8).

Mission Plane

Search continues for the missing mission plane in Venezuela. Nothing

has yet been found. We covet your continued prayers, especially for
the families of those who were in the plane, and for the villagers who
are in daily need of this aviation program.

Please continue to pray for this program in Brazil.  Please continue
to pray for God’s Holy Spirit to daily lead and open hearts for His
eternal kingdom.

–

God Bless,
Brad, Lina, Levi, and Lucas Mills