MARCH 2008
“Mobilizing Families for God’s Kingdom Worldwide”
Dear Friends in Christ,
As Valentines Day is behind us, and Easter is before us, we thought that confluence would be a good time to reflect on biblical love.
Of course the passage that first comes to mind is First Corinthians, chapter 13. So, take a minute or two and read it through with these thoughts in mind: This is how Christ has loved me! Is this how I am loving others?
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into
account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Oh, how these verses mute our petty hurts and complaints. May the Lord fill our hearts with His love that we might be examples of His love, true love, to others.
As we look toward Easter, and toward the Cross, the phrase that strikes me this year is His words of love, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." May we also, love others in that way. Rather than saying, "Can you believe what they have done to me and how they are treating me," we can instead say, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Because truly anyone who falls short of the grace and forgiveness of God, does not fully realize what they are doing, or they would not do it. If they, as unbelievers, knew the truth about their sin, and how it separates them from God for eternity, they would not choose it.
If they, as believers, knew the truth about how their lack of love for other unworthy individuals was bringing God’s condemnation on themselves, ('By your standard of measure, it will be measured to you,' and 'If you do not forgive others, God will not forgive you') and if they knew that they were building strongholds in the sand that will not last, then they would not do it. So our prayer for them should be for them to have wisdom to see the truth, that the darkness of their understanding would be lifted, whether believer or not, and that the truth would set them free from the worldly mindset of fairness.
For if I "know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing."
Nothing.
Let us truly love others, with a love that transforms both our soul and theirs, by the love of Christ, that we might be something, rather than nothing! Then our lives will count for eternity.
Below we have some praise reports and prayer requests. We would ask that you lift them up before our Lord with us! Thank you!!
Praise Reports
Spontaneous Neighborhood Ministry — Interestingly, in this
nice, new housing development in which we live, our neighbors
were evicted right before Thanksgiving. It was heartbreaking to
watch, but as we had developed a relationship with the owners
of the house as well as the tenants, we were aware that rent and
utilities had not been paid for several months, much grace had
been given, and the owners had a mortgage to pay themselves.
Still, as the tenant’s things were put out on the lawn, and they struggled to get truckloads of
stuff into storage, we had the opportunity to love them, by housing the children and their grandmother
from noon when the locks were changed, until we helped with the final load after midnight.
We fed them, played with them, read scripture and shared Christ with them. All three of
the children fell asleep on couches by the time it was over, with Grandma sitting comfortably
by the fireplace. We are not sure what patterns are in place that lead individuals into these
types of lifestyles, but we know who has all the answers, it is Christ. Please pray that this sweet
family learns new ways of living that would free them from these patterns of dependency.
Frederick Rescue Mission — Several families joined us to serve tables and share Christ at a
local rescue mission in November. It was a special
time, and there were many interesting conversations
with many of the men and visiting women, who were
challenged to make Lordship decisions for Christ.
This is a troubled group, trapped in a lifestyle that is
terribly self destructive. Only our King can rescue
them from their darkness. It is good to be around these
down and outers, though, and feel Christ's love and
compassion for them. In scripture, Christ came and
ministered and used even the most unlikely folks. No
life is too hard for God to redeem and make beauty
of. Please pray for these men, women and families.
Caroling & Gospel Tract Distribution — We had a small group caroling this year. Just our family, Josh, Kerin and Abbi, and part of Kerin's family, but we still had fun! We eventually gave over 250 of our neighbors Linda's Christmas tract, "My Mommy's in Heaven," plus a small Gospel of John booklet, and an invitation to join us for a 2 month study of the book of John. We also gave the tract out in restaurants, when shopping, to strangers, real estate agents, postal workers, and anyone in our path. :-) The response was overwhelmingly positive! Even one of the post office ladies who we were told was very negative towards Christianity and the gospel (she actually has anti-Christian bumper stickers on her car) took our tract cheerfully and told us that her mother had died this year, too. The next day, after she read it, she said it was beautiful and expressed gratefulness. She is a bit more pleasant to Bernie now when he is at the Post Office, and Linda hopes to talk with her to see if a transformation has truly taken place. Other people would tear up as they started reading the tract, thank us, tell us their own stories, ask for more to give to others. We pray that the gospel at the end of the tract penetrates many hearts to bring them true rebirth into God's kingdom! Pray for us to have many opportunities to follow up these individuals.
GCF Ministry Advisory Team (MAT) Meeting — We had our second annual MAT meeting, and were encouraged by the input of our godly Ministry Advisory Team. One father encouraged us to consider building a men's discipleship and accountability network as we meet fathers and men who are interested in learning to lead their families in ministry. Another encouraged us to strive to balance the percentages of time spent more evenly among the various ministry responsibilities we have undertaken. The third is interested in being part of a family mission trip to a country where they ministered for many years. We’ll prayerfully take these challenges to heart and are grateful for their counsel, encouragement and prayers as we move into 2008.
Valentines Dinner — Again this year, we were
privileged to prepare a special dinner, and 12 couples
from our church graced our home and blessed us
with their fellowship. Bernie shared about different
good and bad examples of biblical couples and had
us consider how they were like us. We had a fun
sharing time discussing these things! The young
people served tables and did a great job! It’s so fun
for us to use our home in this way, to serve our
church
family.
Weekly Neighborhood Bible Study of John — In the Christmas tract we distributed in our neighborhood, we included an invitation to a two month Bible study of the book of John in our home. We have had one couple join us regularly, plus Josh, Kerin and Abbi. This has proven to be a very special and encouraging time, as the couple that has joined us are believers, also with a heart to join with us in reaching our neighborhood for Christ! Several of our unsaved neighbors expressed interest, but haven't taken the step to attend. We will continue to follow them up with other opportunities. Please pray for them to come to the saving knowledge of Christ.
Visit from Korean Pastor and His Assistant — We enjoyed combining a surprise birthday
party for Josh's 25th with a visit from two Koreans who are bringing family discipleship as well
as homeschooling to their large church (20,000+ people). Kerin's birthday was celebrated, too,
and I think everyone was blessed and encouraged. Our pastor told us later that the party was a
highlight for the visiting Koreans. Pastor Lee said, "We have been given vision, but after talking
with you we better understand the whys behind our vision."
Speaking and Outreach Opportunities at Churches — What a
blessing it was for Bernie to be invited to be a seminar speaker
at an "Iron Sharpens Iron" men’s conference at a large church
in Northern Virginia, actually the church we attended for most
of the time we lived in Northern Virginia. Our whole family
attended with Josh, Kerin and Abbi, and most of us sat in on
Bernie's seminar, while Kerin manned our display table, and Josh gave a testimony. Everyone
did a great job!! The seminar was well received and well attended. Josh said that one man sitting
behind him said (in positive way after the seminar was over), "Wow, this is radical stuff!"
Let us know if you are interested in a CD of the talk,
entitled: "Leading Your Family to Minister Together."
The following day Bernie spoke to a men's Sunday
School class to discuss the possibility of doing an outreach
at their local battlefield (Manassas). We enjoyed
catching up with many old friends in both of these
churches, and were greatly encouraged by what the
Lord is doing in people's lives. God is doing something
amazing, all over, with men and their families,
and we get to be a part!
Our Grandbaby Beall #2!! — We are excited
to announce the growth of the next Beall generation!
Josh and Kerin are again expecting,
due August 13th. Kerin is already in her second
trimester, baby's heartbeat has been heard,
and we are all excited to meet this new little
one. Please pray for healthy baby, mama, pregnancy
and delivery. Little Abbi is already 17
months old, and continues to grow, amaze and
delight us all. She just seems to get cuter and
be doing something new every time we see her.
Prayer Requests
We would be blessed if you could look through our enclosed itinerary, and pray for this wide variety of upcoming ministry and outreach opportunities. Please pray specifically that the Lord would give us wisdom in preparation, oversee all the details, give us favor, and use us in a mighty way to help families, God's first unit of ministry, to be trained and used to disciple their own families and actively grow in helping to fulfill the Great Commission! "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest . . . "
God’s love and blessings to you,
In Christ,
Bernie & Linda Beall and Family
“The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
~ Luke 10:2“And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
~ Gen. 12:3c