February 5, 2008

Greetings!

I am writing this letter from my room in Kuala Lumpor, Malaysia. The Lord has been so good to us in these last few months. The last time I sent a letter out was our Christmas greeting. I missed January completely. I am sorry to have been a little out of touch, but these have been times of great prayer and searching for the Glory House team. It has been a good time of ministry too.

In the week before New Years, we were with our friends Phil and Sharon Smethurst in Cocoa for the annual "Overland Missions Conference". I am increasingly impressed with what Jesus is doing through the ministry team there. If I was younger, and looking for long term relationship with true world changers, I would not hesitate to join with Phil and Sharon. It has been my joy to see several of our ministry sons and daughters sign on with Overland Missions. If you're young, and call to ask me how to get involved with missions, that is where I will send you.

Our Christmas and New Year's were full of local meetings in Jacksonville as God reconnected us with Dr. Leon Seymour and his church, Tabernacle of the Temples Fellowship. These were wonderful days full of Gods presence and Glory. We also connected up again with our friends and Glory House minister's Pastors Craig and Sandi Hodge. We combined their fellowships "The River Church" in Fernindina with Dr. Seymour's church in Northside. Wow! We met together for New Years and worshipped and preached in the New Year. What a great thing God does to bring us together for events like this. I don't know about you, but I am very excited and expectant about 2008.

When we were not allowed to renew our visa in Brazil, it was quite a challenge to us as you can imagine. Our move back to the US was not exactly what we had planned, but you know, God was not confused one little bit. He has met us every step of the way. He always has His purposes. Honestly, during the first month or two, our move from Brazil was so fresh and new, that it was a little difficult for me to imagine going somewhere else. I miss Brazil, and out life there. However Brazil is certainly not a thing of our past; it is just not where we can be during these times. God never does anything without a purpose. As much as we miss our family and friends in Brazil, we have to move forward to embrace a new time and broader ministry expression.

When Candi and I had been back for a few weeks, the Lord ministered to Candi about our relationship with Malaysia I have had many invitations from there and other places during the last few years, but with our lives grounded and committed to Brazil, I would not consider going any other place. Candi told me that she had gotten several strong impressions that our ministry to Malaysia was not over. A few days later I was at my desk sorting out old files and one fell into my lap. It was our old file from Malaysia! Now I am not led by things like this, but it was pretty funny. A prophesy that we recorded over 10 years ago fell out of the file. In it the sister spoke that we would have a long term relationship with Malaysia, and even an office there. That was a long time ago. I filed the Word, and gave the fulfillment to the Lord. I am not led by personal prophesy. I believe in it and flow in it myself, but I never try to bring it to pass. I am still not moved by the office part, but evidently the Lord is not finished with us in Malaysia.

I finally called a good friend in Kuala Lumpor and asked her to check around for me. I asked her to find out if there was any kind of invitation still there for us. I was in waiting mode, and really did not want to "make up" something. That is easy to do but most times is simply manipulation. Manipulating the system is not what we need to do. We need a fresh word from God. I got a call back in a few days that said that all would love for our ministry to come back. The doors were open, and the pastors hungry for a move of God!

With this and several other significant confirmations, off I went to this beautiful and hungry place again. The meetings have been wonderful, and the presence of the Lord manifest everywhere I have been. Another thing that I found was a true welcome in the Spirit. That does not always happen, even when the meetings are good. I am praying about our relationship with Malaysia again, to see what Father says. The way has been made for us to come back in April. Pray for us, and stand with us over these new and renewed relationships. During my time here, The Lord opened the doors for multiple church meetings in several different churches, as well as home meetings, lady's meetings and businessman's meetings. When you consider all of this, and add a great deal of time and personal ministry spent with individuals, our mission here was a fruitful time of kingdom ministry. Jesus was there. His presence and the clarity of the message makes it wonderful.

While I was here, the doors opened up for me to travel to Australia for a week. I had never been able to go to Australia before this, so I was eager to go. I was able to spend a week with Pastor David and Hoong Ong. Their church, "The church on Higher Ground", is a wonderful and growing place. Their openness and hunger for the true move and Glory of God is refreshing. They are also making plans for us to return this April. My heart is open to these new doors, and excited that Jesus would love us so much as to send us so graciously.

What about Brazil? I personally believe Brazil will never to be a place of the past for Jeff and Candi. Jesus is simply prioritizing and adjusting our focus during these times. The churches in Malaysia and Australia are glad we were able to come, and send the friends in Brazil their greetings. As I write this letter, plans are being confirmed for Candi and I to travel back to Brazil on Feb. 11, and to stay for 3 weeks. If plans go as expected, I will be in Belo Horizonte, Cianorte, Rio de Janeiro and Umuaramma. I am excited about going home there again. We will keep in touch with you about the events and prayer needs as we know them.

Thanks for your prayers and support. We know that some people are moved or even offended by sudden changes that occur in different ministries. Many view change in ministries like ours as instability or immaturity. Some take it as a sign that "something must be wrong"! In some cases that can be all too true. I have desired many times in the past years to find a place of geographical stability; to find a place where we can nest and operate out from. That has not been what the Lord has had in mind for us though. Every time we have planned and built with permanence in mind, the Lord moves us along a path of change and that can not be denied or resisted. He is the Lord, and I love Him for it. Thank you for your many prayers and for your support over the years. Your faith in God and support of the ministries He anoints and appoints is building a Kingdom that has no end. Let's stay in the River, and live in Heavenly places no matter what changes He brings us through. He is so faithful, so wonderful.

Wow!

Our love and embace,
Jeff and Candi