Nations Magazine

NATIONS

CELEBRATING 30 YEARSOF LIFE-GIVING MINISTRY

SPECIAL 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION y WWW.MUTUALFAITH.ORG

UNITED STATES y AFRICA y MIDDLE EAST y LATIN AMERICA y ASIA

LIFE CENTER USA DREAMMutual Faith Ministries has just acquired a beautiful new head-quarters campus, to mirror much of the missions work in thenations and help train a new generation of leaders for missionsand evangelism.

TOP NEWS01 30TH YEAR CELEBRATION

02 ORPHANAGE GROUNDBREAKING

03 SYRIAN REFUGE OUTREACH

Keith & Heidi Hershey - Zimbabwe, Africa (1984)

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1985 - Keith Hersheytraining the MutualFaith team of indige-nous evangelists inLiberia, West Africa.This was our first Mis-sion Center campus,and it was completelydestroyed in 1990during the civil war.Our team memberswere all spared, andfled to neighboringnations.

In the mid 1980’s,India was the first na-tion that Mutual Faithbuilt an orphanageand sponsored thephysical and spiritualhealth, along with ed-ucation of many chil-dren. Over the years,hundred of kids havebeen blessed throughthe Life Homes or-phanages.

In the early years,Mutual Faith shippedmany 40-foot con-tainers to distressednations around theworld in order to pro-vide food, clothing,medical equipmentand vehicles. HeidiHershey is distribut-ing some of theshipped clothing tochildren in Africa.

Throughout thesethree decades, Mu-tual Faith has minis-tered around theworld in over 70 na-tions.

Our newest campus isin Beirut, Lebanonreaching thousandsof people in the heartof the Middle East.

NATIONS• • • • • • • • • • • •

EDITORKeith Hershey

CREATIVE DIRECTION/DESIGNCarlo Krouzian

WRITERSKeith HersheyJoshua HersheyJustin HersheyHeidi Hershey

PROOFREADERCheryl Benedick

QUESTIONS & FEEDBACK

Mutual Faith Ministries10600 Sepulveda Blvd

Mission Hills CA, 91345

TEL818.837.3400

FAX818.837.4686

WEBwww.mutualfaith.org

[email protected]

WWW.MUTUALFAITH.ORG

Nations is published by Mutual FaithMinistries Int’l., a non-profit missionary evangelisticorganization. ©MFMI. All rights reserved. Nationsmagazine and logo are trademarks of Mutual FaithMinistries Int’l. in the U.S. and countries where it

circulates and MFMI offices are established.

Wow! 30 years of Mutual Faith Ministries!I can hardly believe the time has goneso quickly. But it is with great joy that

we celebrate God’s unconditional love for us as wehave had the privilege to dispense His grace andmercy around the world these past three decades.

Heidi and I have been doing a lot of reminiscing– thinking of the places and people that have soinfluenced our lives. Sometimes, it is as thoughthe precious ones in these many nations have min-istered more to us than we could ever give to them.I guess, in a way, that is what Mutual Faith is allabout. Sharing the Love, and imparting the won-derful truth of the finished work of Jesus – soeveryone, everywhere, knows that God loves themcompletely!

Even though we are thrilled with the past min-istry and open doors, delighted with the thousandsof people who have made public commitments tothe Lord Jesus – thrilled with all the churches build,orphans helped, and Life Centers established – weare most excited about what God has for us rightnow, and for the future.

In fact, we are so pleased to introduce Life Cen-ter USA, the new international missions and min-istry hub. From this place, we believe thatthousands of lives will be impacted with the loveof God, and that many will be trained andequipped for missions and evangelism ministry.

Also, the new ground breaking of the Orphanageon our campus in General Santos City, Philippineswill rescue many children and bring countlessblessing to the community.

HERSHEYKEITH

30 YEARSMUTUAL FAITH MINISTRIES

Our Story is telling His Story

The mission’s ministry assignment of MutualFaith is all about Jesus! He is our focus! Wedelight in unveiling the finished work of

Jesus, revealing to all His magnificent love andgrace. This is what Mutual Faith has done for 30years – focusing on imparting Charisma, the un-merited grace of God accessible to all in ChristJesus!

To put it simply – we tell His story! We shareHis Love! And the results have really life chang-ing! Sharing of His death and resurrection, Hisobedience to the cross, His work to qualify all ofus before the Father, is really a thrilling assign-ment.

In three decades of ministry we have seen:• Thousands of people make personal com-mitments to Jesus, as we have preached theGood News all over the world!

• Young indigenous leadership teams havebeen raised up in Africa, Latin America, Asia,and the Middle East. Our relationships withour team leaders have been strong, withmuch longevity – some serving with us sincethe beginning of Mutual Faith Ministries. Also,the buildings, churches and campus’ thathave been established are under local na-tional leadership, where Mutual Faith USAserves alongside as a facilitator and spiritualcovering of the life-giving expression of theseteams in all these nations.• The planting and building of local churches throughout these years has beenabundant! Whether in Africa, Latin America orAsia, we have been blessed to build countlessphysical structures and help establish thelocal church in these communities.

4

• Training and equipping Pastors and leadersthrough our many conferences, and via theLife Leadership Institute where thousandshave graduated from our 1 and 2 year pro-grams.• Providing for the care of orphans by build-ing Life Homes in Asia, Latin America andAfrica. Many of these children have grown upnow, completed their education, found em-ployment, and have established families. Weare grateful for each of the children who havebeen helped, as well as for the ones we

can continue to assist.• Broadcast the Good News of God’s unfailinglove through our television ministry in over100 nations of the world. Additionally, wehave utilized social media, printed publishedbooks and materials to continue to herald thenews that Jesus saves! We love when peoplebelieve and receive what Jesus has done forus!We continue to make our story, about Hisstory! Our life is hid in Christ in God! We likeit that way!

“IT WASN’T UNTIL AFTEr WE WErE CALLEd INTO THE MINISTrY,ANd BEGAN WOrkING FOr A MISSION OrGANIzATION THAT WE HAd A NEW

UNdErSTANdING OF WHAT THAT MEANS. WE BEGAN TO rEALIzE THAT JESUS

CAME NOT ONLY TO rEdEEM US, BUT ALSO TO GIvE US THE WOrLd! HIS LIFE

dEMONSTrATEd THE WILL OF THE FATHEr IN THE EArTH. ANd WHEN JESUS

dIEd ON THE CrOSS ANd WAS rAISEd FrOM THE dEAd, EvErY PErSON WHO

CHOOSES TO FOLLOW HIM IS THEN POSITIONEd WITH JESUS’ AUTHOrITY ANd

POWEr TO CHANGE THE WOrLd! THAT’S THE ESSENCE OF THE GrEAT

COMMISSION — GO INTO ALL THE WOrLd (MArk 16:15-20).”

5

REMINISCING WITH A GR Thinking Back Through 30 Yea

It’s early morning and I amwatching keith as he finishespacking up his suitcase. He is

squatting down on the floor like ayoung man and yet his hair hasturned gray and his step is a littleslower. However, his passion hasnot changed. If anything it hasgrown stronger. His heart is burn-ing with the desire to let peopleknow that they are loved byGod! I have enormous respect forthis man as I have watched him“give life away” these past 30years.

When keith and I first met andmarried, we were in Bible School,I had no idea the adventure in lifewe were about to begin. Sixmonths after we were married wewere off to the nations! I hadnever traveled outside of the U.S.and really didn’t know what to ex-pect. We would be experiencingcultures that we knew nothing

about, and the sights, sounds andsmells, at times would be quiteoverwhelming. We made ourshare of cultural blunders, butsomehow God allowed us toreach the hearts of people and wewere blessed to see many liveschanged in those early years!

As I think back through theyears, I see faces from Africa,India, Europe, the Middle East andCentral America. People with dif-ferent cultures but all with thesame need, the need to know thatthey are loved and that there is aSavior who gave His life so thatthey could have peace withGod. The Gospel is so simple andwhen people hear the good newsthey respond!

I remember a young girl inAmsterdam who had a twin sisterwho had died. She was so dis-traught that she wanted to takeher life so she could go be with

her. We spent time talking to herand praying with her and thepeace of God filled her as she re-ceived Jesus into her life.

There was also a young girl ona college campus in zambia whowas tormented by the devil, andwhen talking to her about Jesusshe was thrown to the ground andstarted writhing around foamingat the mouth. We saw the power-ful name of Jesus set that younggirl free.

We went to some remoteplaces in Africa where the chil-dren had never seen white peo-ple before. When they saw usthey were rolling on the ground,holding their stomachs andlaughing! Our host and inter-preter for the day explained to uswhat was happening. I remembermeeting under a tree in that vil-lage for “church” and praying formany people. At the end of the

6

ATEFUL HEART ars of Ministry

day we were given a goat as agift. It was put in the back of thevan we were riding in. We left thegoat with our host! I rememberpreaching at bus stops, schools,businesses, and venues set upwith masses of people. Every-where we went we met peoplewho wanted this Jesus we weretalking about. These were suchexciting days for us, seeing scoresof people coming into the king-dom!

I remember ministering in anArab community of people andfeeling so rejected because wewere ignorant of their culture andmade many mistakes. God sentsome precious people to educateand help us. An opportunity forkeith to preach opened up andwhen they heard his heart theysoftened to us and started com-ing to us to learn more of thisJesus who could heal their bodiesand help them in life. We did ourbest to “become all things to allpeople that we might savesome”. When we went to theMiddle East in our early twentieswe felt like we stuck out and justtried to learn and walk throughopen doors as they presentedthemselves. Little did we knowthat the Lord was preparing us formany years later and the ministry

that He would allow us to have inBeirut, Lebanon.

Then came the “middleyears”. I had to leave a trip inAfrica early because I wasn’t feel-ing well. Nine months later alongcame our first son Justin and justa year and a half later, Joshuajoined us. This changed our livesdrastically and I am so grateful forthe wisdom that God gave us onhow to balance out family life andministry. It wasn’t always easybut there is truth in the words thatGod gives you grace in whateverHe calls you to do. We learned alot about our callings throughthese years. keith would do mostof the traveling and worked hardto establish the Life Centers wenow have in various nations. Mycalling was to keep our home apeaceful place, a place of refugefor my road-worn husband, a sta-ble home for our children and tokeep our family involved inchurch and school activities. Iwas also called to pray, pray, pray!

We learned from others tonever be separated for more than3 weeks maximum and keithmade sure he was home for allthe special events in our boy’slives as they were growing up. Heeven made time to coach basket-ball while they were in High

School and be there for mostthings they were involved in. Inthe summers we always took theboys with us on the road and trav-eled around America as we devel-oped relationships with manypartner churches and friends.When they became teenagers, wetook them overseas so theywould have a solid understandingof all that Mutual Faith was in-volved with. These were probablythe toughest years but God wasfaithful and always providedevery need. I also am gratefulthat God set us in OvercomersChurch with Pastor Wil and SandyStrong, where we have been forthe past 29 years. It has broughtgreat stability and strength intoour lives.

We have now entered a newstage of life as empty nesters,being grandparents, and havingthe ability to travel together againand enjoy all that has been estab-lished. I love visiting our differentcenters around the world andspending time with the preciouspeople that God has given us“Mutual Faith” with. We have alsohad the joy of watching our chil-dren want to join us in ministryand take their place! I just wantto take this opportunity as well tothank all of our faithful partnersthrough the years that havehelped us to do what God put inour hearts. We have some part-ners and churches today thathave been with us since the be-ginning. Without our partnersbeing willing to take their part inMutual Faith Ministries, we wouldnever have been able to give lifeaway all these past thirty years.

BY HEIDI HERSHEY

7

INTRODUCINGLIF After 30 years of sowing in the nations, God has fi A beautiful landmark facility in the city of San Fernando, a community commited to pay a price of $2,350,000/$100 per sq.ft. (land, building an

FE CENTER USA finally made this ministry dream available to us!

rich in California history dating back almost two centuries. We have nd equipment) and launch our Life Center USA ministry headquarters.



When keith and I first met andmarried, we were in Bible School,I had no idea the adventure in lifewe were about to begin. Sixmonths after we were married wewere off to the nations! I hadnever traveled outside of the U.S.and really didn’t know what to ex-pect. We would be experiencingcultures that we knew nothingabout, and the sights, sounds andsmells, at times would be quiteoverwhelming. We made ourshare of cultural blunders, butsomehow God allowed us toreach the hearts of people and wewere blessed to see many liveschanged in those early years!

As I think back through theyears, I see faces from Africa,India, Europe, the Middle East and

Central America. People with dif-ferent cultures but all with thesame need, the need to know thatthey are loved and that there is aSavior who gave His life so thatthey could have peace withGod. The Gospel is so simple andwhen people hear the good newsthey respond!

I remember a young girl inAmsterdam who had a twin sisterwho had died. She was so dis-traught that she wanted to takeher life so she could go be withher. We spent time talking to herand praying with her and thepeace of God filled her as she re-ceived Jesus into her life.

There was also a young girl ona college campus in zambia whowas tormented by the devil, andwhen talking to her about Jesusshe was thrown to the ground andstarted writhing around foamingat the mouth. We saw the power-ful name of Jesus set that younggirl free.

We went to some remoteplaces in Africa where the chil-dren had never seen white peo-ple before. When they saw usthey were rolling on the ground,holding their stomachs andlaughing! Our host and inter-preter for the day explained to uswhat was happening. I remember

meeting under a tree in that vil-lage for “church” and praying formany people. At the end of theday we were given a goat as agift. It was put in the back of thevan we were riding in. We left thegoat with our host! I rememberpreaching at bus stops, schools,businesses, and venues set upwith masses of people. Every-where we went we met peoplewho wanted this Jesus we weretalking about. These were suchexciting days for us, seeing scoresof people coming into the king-dom!

I remember ministering in anArab community of people andfeeling so rejected because wewere ignorant of their culture andmade many mistakes. God sentsome precious people to educateand help us. An opportunity forkeith to preach opened up andwhen they heard his heart theysoftened to us and started com-ing to us to learn more of thisJesus who could heal their bodiesand help them in life. We did ourbest to “become all things to allpeople that we might savesome”. When we went to theMiddle East in our early twentieswe felt like we stuck out and justtried to learn and walk throughopen doors as they presentedthemselves. Little did we knowthat the Lord was preparing us formany years later and the ministrythat He would allow us to have inBeirut, Lebanon.

Then came the “middleyears”. I had to leave a trip inAfrica early because I wasn’t feel-ing well. Nine months later alongcame our first son Justin and just

BY HEIDI HERSHEY



When keith and I first met andmarried, we were in Bible School,I had no idea the adventure in lifewe were about to begin. Sixmonths after we were married wewere off to the nations! I hadnever traveled outside of the U.S.and really didn’t know wha to ex-pect. We would be experiencingcultures that we knew nothing

about, and the sights, sounds andsmells, at times would be quiteoverwhelming. We made ourshare of cultural blunders, butsomehow God allowed us toreach the hearts of people and wewere blessed to see many liveschanged in those early years!

As I think back through theyears, I see faces from Africa,India, Europe the Middle East andCentral America. People with dif-ferent cultures but all with thesame need, the need to know thatthey are loved and that there is aSavior who gave His life so thatthey could have peace withGod. The Gospel is so simple andwhen people hear the good newsthey respond!

I remember a young girl inAmsterdam who had a twin sisterwho had died. She was so dis-traught that she wanted to takeher life so she could go be with

her. We spent time talking to herand praying with her and thepeace of God filled her as she re-ceived Jesus into her life.

There was also a young girl ona college campus in zambia whowas so tormented, and when talk-ing to her about Jesus she wasthrown to the ground and startedwrithing around foaming at themouth. We saw the powerfulname of Jesus set that young girlfree.

We went to some remoteplaces in Africa where the chil-dren had never seen white peo-ple before. When they saw usthey were rolling on the ground,holding their stomachs andlaughing! Our host and inter-preter for the day explained to uswhat was happening. I remembermeeting under a tree in that vil-lage for “church” and praying formany people. At the end of theday we were given a goat as agift. It was put in the back of thevan we were riding in. We left thegoat with our host! I rememberpreaching at bus stops, schools,businesses, and venues set upwith masses of people. Every-where we went we met peoplewho wanted this Jesus we weretalking about. These were suchexciting days for us, seeing scoresof people coming into the king-dom!

I remember ministering in an Arabcommunity of people and feelingso rejected because we were ig-norant of their culture and mademany mistakes. God sent someprecious people to educate andhelp us. An opportunity for keithto preach opened up and whenthey heard his heart they soft-

Josh ArticleEveryone loves treasure! Every-

one, everywhere is looking forsomething to satisfy, fulfill and

secure his or her life. People want au-thentic hope. People desire real help!

Most treasure needs to be found.You have to look for it! You have todesire it and want it. Are you lookingfor the kind of Treasure that can thrillyou and be your full supply? If so,then I have some very good news foryou.

This is why I want to talk with youabout the Treasure. really! The au-thentic Treasure! Not something thatis cheap or temporary. This is theTreasure you have always been look-ing for… It is the Treasure of God’s un-conditional love and acceptance ofyou.

Jesus spoke of the Treasure thisway, “Again, the kingdom of heaven islike treasure hidden in a field, which aman found and hid; and for joy over ithe goes and sells all that he has andbuys that field.” Matthew 13:44

In this parable, a man found aTreasure hidden in a field. In order to

THE VALUE OF THE

TREASUREBY KEITH HERSHEY

30 YEARSMUTUAL FAITH MINISTRIES

Our story in telling His story

The mission’s ministry assignment of MutualFaith is all about Jesus! He is our focus! Wedelight in unveiling the finished work of

Jesus, revealing to all His magnificent love andgrace. This is what Mutual Faith has done for 30years – focusing on imparting Charisma, the un-merited grace of God accessible to all in ChristJesus!

To put it simply – we tell His story! We share-His Love! And the results have really life chang-ing! Sharing of His death and resurrection, Hisobedience to the cross, His work to qualify all ofus before the Father, is really a thrilling assign-ment.

In three decades of ministry we have seen:• Thousands of people make personal com-mitments to Jesus, as we have preached theGood News all over the world!

• Young indigenous leadership teams havebeen raised up in Africa, Latin America, Asia,and the Middle East. Our relationships withour team leaders have been strong, withmuch longevity – some serving with us sincethe beginning of Mutual Faith Ministries. Also,the buildings, churches and campus’ thathave been established are under local na-tional leadership, where Mutual Faith USAserves alongside as a facilitator and spiritualcovering of the life-giving expression of theseteams in all these nations.• The planting and building of local churches throughout these years has beenabundant! Whether in Africa, Latin America orAsia, we have been blessed to build countlessphysical structures and help establish thelocal church in these communities.

Our story in telling His storyThe mission’s ministry assignment of MutualFaith is all about Jesus! He is our focus! Wedelight in unveiling the finished work of Jesus,revealing to all His magnificent love and grace.This is what Mutual Faith has done for 30 years– focusing on imparting CHARISMA, the un-merited grace of God accessible to all in ChristJesus!

To put it simply – we tell His story! We shareHis Love! And the results have really life chang-ing! Sharing of His death and resurrection, Hisobedience to the cross, His work to qualify allof us before the Father, is really a thrilling as-signment.

In three decades of ministry we have seen:

• Thousands of people make personal

commitments to Jesus, as we have preachedthe Good News all over the world!• Young indigenous leadership teams

have been raised up in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. Our relationships with our team leadershave been strong, with much longevity –some serving with us since the begin-ning of Mutual Faith Ministries. Also, thebuildings, churches and campus’ that have been established are under local national leadership, where Mutual FaithUSA serves alongside as a facilitator and spiritual covering of the life-giving expression of these teams in all these nations.

• The planting and building of local churches throughout these years has been abundant! Whether in Africa, Latin

6

secure the Treasure he hides it again – and thenbecause of the massive joy over the Treasure,he buys a field.

Think about that! This man did a real estatetransaction, without appraising the value of the field.He only was moved by the value of the Treasure thatinfluenced his heart. The Treasure made him happy,and it gave him enough joy to move him to find theresources to buy the entire field!

What does this story tell us? What is Jesus say-ing?

When you know and believe that God loves youcompletely, everything about you can change.Everything! Many people do not know how to valuethis Treasure, so their hearts are not moved with joy,and life continues to be a routine of tradition, fear,worry and drudgery.

But when you find the Treasure, and you knowand believe that God accepts you as you are, and notas you need to be, suddenly your heart can bestirred with overwhelming surprise and great joy!God’s love for you, and acceptance of you, is reallythat good.

You really can find the treasure of God’s love foryou! But where do you look? At the cross of JesusChrist! Jesus came to the earth (the field) to revealto you the heart of the Father. In His life, you can seeby His teaching, and His touch, that He brought a fullsupply of God’s goodness. When you see Jesus inHis life, you can understand that God is good to you!

He is not mad at you, He is madabout you. He longs for relation-ship with you.

However, it is at the crosswhere this Treasure of God’s lovefor you is demonstrated. (rom 5:8)This is the place where Love cangrip your heart, and free you fromevery fear. You see, at the crossJesus took our sin and shame andpaid the price with His own blood.Your sins have been forgiven onceand for all! Think of this; your sinwill never be held against you!Jesus’ work – the finished work ofthe cross – is really what works foryou!

“In Him we have redemptionthrough His blood, the forgive-ness of sins, according to theriches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7

In fact, when you see Jesus inHis death and resurrection, youcan see that you are good to God!In Christ you have become therighteousness of God! Now that isa thrilling Treasure.

“For He made Him who knewno sin to be sin for us, that wemight become the righteousness ofGod in Him.”2 Corinthians 5:21

The Treasure of God’s love foryou is the revelation of what Jesushas done! You see, because ofJesus and what He has done, youare assured that God loves youcompletely! The Lamb of God hastaken away your sin – and the sinof the whole world! (1 John 2:2)

• Training and equipping Pas-tors and leaders through our

many conferences, and viathe Life Leadership Insti-tute where thousandshave graduated from our1 and 2 year programs.• Providing for the careof orphans by building

Life Homes in Asia, LatinAmerica and Africa. Many

of these children have

grown up now, completed their education,found employment, and have establishedfamilies. We are grateful for each of the chil-dren who have been helped, as well as for theones wecan continue to assist.• Published the Good News of God’s unfail-ing love through our television ministry inover 100 nations of the world. Additionally,we have utilized social media, printed pub-lished books and materials to continue toherald the news that Jesus saves! We love

“IT WASN’T UNTIL AFTEr WE WErE

CALLEd INTO THE MINISTrY,ANd IN 1979 BEGAN WOrkING FOr A

MISSION OrGANIzATION THAT WE HAd A

NEW UNdErSTANdING OF WHAT THAT MEANS.WE BEGAN TO rEALIzE THAT JESUS CAME NOT ONLY

TO rEdEEM US, BUT ALSO TO GIvE US THE WOrLd! HIS LIFE dEMONSTrATEd

THE WILL OF THE FATHEr IN THE EArTH. ANd WHEN JESUS dIEd ON THE

CrOSS ANd WAS rAISEd FrOM THE dEAd, EvErY PErSON WHO

MFMI

Africa

M.E.

Latin America

Asia

Imagine being left to fend for your self on thestreet as a child. Scrounging for whatever scraps

of food to survive, going to sleep eachnight in fear, not knowing if you

would wake up unharmed thenext day. Sadly, this is the real-

ity for so many children indeveloping countries, and itis no different throughoutthe many islands in thePhilippines. For the pasttwenty years, MutualFaith has been workingon the southern island ofMindanao in the coastal

town of General SantosCity, helping people where

they hurt, and letting themknow that God loves them com-

pletely! This year we are starting construc-

We are in awe atwhat God has accom-plished in the pastdecade and especiallythe last five years now atour debt-free Middle EastLife Center in Beirut, Lebanon.daily our team is sharing theGospel by helping people with their reallife needs, especially now with the influx of overone million Syrian refugees in the country.Whether it is the free medical clinic, feeding andclothing programs, free school for disadvantagedchildren or various community events through-out the year, people are getting help and learn-ing that God loves them completely, because ofJesus!

Each week our team is reporting that scoresof people are accepting Jesus as their Lord andSavior. No matter their nationality, history, orbackground, people can now rest in Christ’s fin-ished work on the cross. This is the good news!

PHILIPPINEStion on the Philippines Life Home, which willeventually serve up to forty orphaned childrenfrom the surrounding community. In december Iwas able to attend the groundbreaking cere-mony, and we also dedicated the project to thememory of my great friend robert’s late wife,Julie Spina. Julie had a great love for children,and is survived by her two son’s after loosing herbattle to cancer. This project will go on to showthat every child deserves a home and to knowthe love of Christ.

Our team also continues to minister in thesurrounding villages weekly, sometimes havingto travel hours on horseback to reach the remoteareas. In addition to feeding and clothing theneedy, our team also gives literacy classes foradults and kinder care courses for children. In thecity, we have established the Mutual Faith TvChannel, sharing the love of Christ twenty-fourhours a day, seven days a week. Because of this,many churches have been planted in this region.

Justin Hershey travelsthe nations assisting the

Mutual Faith Ministriesnational teams. recently,

Justin was in the Philippines forthe groundbreaking dedication of a

new Life Home orphanage.

LEBANON

13

REPORTS FILED BY:JUSTIN HERSHEY

Ionce heard someone say, “The more I readthe bible, the less I see great men of God andthe more I see a great God of men.” Isn’t that

so true? All of the supposed “hero’s” of the biblewere a bunch of sinners touched by the grace ofGod....

The Bible really isn’t about great men of God.rather, the Bible is about less than great menhaving a more than great God. It doesn’t matterwhat anyone has ever done in their life. It doesn’tmatter how bad or how good you’ve been. Allthat matters is that you have a great God. You canstop being resistant to the grace of God becauseyou think you’re too sinful, or you think you’retoo great, and you can just open yourself up andsay yes. If God used all these “great men”, he canuse me. You see God ever pursues the personwherever they’re at. When God saw Jonah leaveto go to Tarshish, he didn’t let Jonah alone. Hegot on Jonah’s nerves. He said, “I’m not just goingto let you flee Jonah. I’m going to go after you.” Ilike to call it the hurricane of God’s love. It’sGod’s furious longing toward man in his resist-ance. As Brennan Manning puts it, “The furiouslonging of God is beyond our wildest desires… Itcannot be tamed, boxed, captivated, [or] house-broken… It is simply and startlingly Jesus, the ef-fulgence of the Father’s love.”

during my time in Tulsa, some of my fondestmemories are of the great thunderstorms, bigwinds, and occasional tornadoes. I rememberone night there was a giant storm. Every Tv chan-nel was tuned into the weather as the weather-man tracked the tornados across the whole Tulsametropolitan area. Sirens were going off throughthe city warning people of the high winds and

possible tornado touch-downs. Everything inside ofme just wanted to run outsideand see how strong the85mph gusts of wind felt like.It was to beautiful and power-ful a scene to want to pass upon. Jonah however was not

just up against some strong winds and a possiblecategory one or two tornado. Jonah was upagainst a GIANT tempest!

Jonah boarded the ship to Tarshish trying toflee God’s presence, “But the Lord sent out agreat wind on the sea, and there was a mightytempest on the sea, so that the ship was aboutto be broken up” (Jonah 1:4). Every sailor on theship was scared to death. This was a storm likethey had never seen before. They tried pulling allthe religious tricks out of the bag, because theyknew their own efforts to try to make it to landwere useless, and that they were probably goingto die. Jonah knew that the storm was personal.Look what Jonah tells them, “Pick me up andthrow me into the sea; then the sea will becomecalm for you. For I know that this great tempestis because of me” (Jonah 1:12). At this point,Jonah fully realized the folly of trying to run fromGod.

Nevertheless, the sailors didn’t want Jonah todie and have blood on their hands, so they con-tinued to row. “…the men rowed harder to returnto land, but they could not, for sea continued togrow more tempestuous against them” (Jonah1:13)

Excerpt taken from BeLoved’s section written by JoshHershey. See back cover for order details.

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