MISSION EXPLOSION INTERNATIONAL “Striving to be Ambassadors for Christ around the World”

Rusty Swafford, Evangelist PO Box 1331, Athens, TN 37371 (865-292-4411)

MEI@MissionExplosion.com www.MissionExplosion.com

*Announcement* we have a new Email address and Web Site

September/October 2014 Issue

Rusty Writes: Back from Mexico!

We have just returned from Mexico. Thank you so much for your prayers! It was a safe, healthy and productive trip. We distributed

many Bibles to church members and to several folks in the community, handed out tracks and canvassed the neighborhood around the

church building for future outreach programs, hosted Bible studies in our apartment, met with the men of the church to discuss future

leadership, met with the ladies to discuss their role in the church, planned projects and programs for the remainder of the year and

preached Sunday services.

The church is in a very high crime area where gangs are prevalent. We were saddened to see the newly refurbished playground

vandalized by the gangs and the ongoing poverty in the area. Most homes are substandard and many are built out of wood pallets and

scrap lumber. We are planning another trip to Playa del Carmen this year and hope to ordain elders and continue our evangelism

efforts. If you would like to go with us this fall please let me know ASAP! If you are unable to go this fall we will be taking another

group in the spring.

We still need Bibles for India “Satan’s greatest weapon is peoples’ ignorance of God’s Word” We distributed many Bibles in Mexico and have a shipment of 200 more on the way. We also gave study Bibles to the men of the church who are preparing to become church leaders. I would like to personally thank those of you who have been sending money for Bibles. We still need to purchase many more Bibles for distribution in India. There’s a Bible distribution center in Chennai India. I will be sending funds

again for more Bibles in October, so please send your donation soon. Thanks! $100 will buy 35 Tamil or Telugu language Bibles $250 will buy 85 Bibles $500 will buy 170 Bibles

Jose, a future elder

receiving a study Bible Childrens Sunday School Homes built out of pallets and scrap lumber

Latest News From “Freedom House” Children’s Home

We now have 14 children in FH. The children are back in school and

have had their annual medical checkup. William reports that all children

are doing well. We purchased a set of back to school clothes and bought

water bottles and toiletries for each child. Please make it a matter of

prayer for the children this year. I have provided each of their names so

you can personally pray for them.

The children are in need of more clothes, shoes or sandals, bed mats, bed

covers, tables, desks, fans, a closet to hang their clothes and several other

items. More money is needed each month to help feed the children.

(the photo below shows the room where they eat, sleep, study and live)

As you can see they are in need of even the basic items we take for

granted here in the USA. There are several more children in need of

rescuing who are in a slave labor or a child trafficking situation. The

seven local churches are doing the best they can to help provide for

Freedom House, but their resources are very limited.

I am making a personal appeal to you, our supporters, to

prayerfully consider giving to Freedom House on a monthly basis.

These kids and others like them deserve to grow up free from bondage

and to enjoy their childhood. If you will increase your giving then we

will be able to rescue more children from this horrific situation. I am

also asking for you to appeal to your church for a one time offering to

help us through the remainder of this year. Please help us get the word

out concerning these precious children. It breaks my heart to know they

are in need of several items and that I personally can’t carry this burden

alone.

The Lord knows I am not boasting but Audrey, Joey, Jordan and I are

sending as much as we can each month, I could not in good conscience

ask you to give if I was not doing my part as well. If we all give a little

then it will add up and the needs will be met. We will be able to rescue

many more children who are suffering at the hands of these thugs and

useless, so-called parents who sell their children into slave labor. Please

send a little extra every month, even $10 a month extra will help! Share

this need with your mission’s ministry, Sunday school classes, youth

groups and your fellow church members. Everyone knows this is a very

worthy cause to support and now you personally know the names and

faces of each child. I want to thank you in advance for helping these

children. You will change their lives forever and will be providing an

opportunity to train future preachers and Christian workers for the Lord

and His Church. “It doesn’t get any better than that”

2014 Christmas for México and India Yes you read it right! Christmas! I heard that Sam’s already has their Christmas

trees and lights out, and it’s not even fall. But seriously, this year we will be in

India during the Christmas season and we need the funds sent in a little earlier. Each year we try to help the widows and widowers with a new set of clothes and

give the Sunday school children a party and a small gift. We also try to support the

churches with their evangelism outreach in the communities - things like caroling,

track distribution, street preaching and Christmas dramas. We have over 25

churches, we will need all of our supporting partners and Churches to give

generously. In your giving please don’t forget the Freedom House children; they do

not have families to be with them during this wonderful season. However we are

excited to spend this Christmas season with our FH kids. Start now promoting

this project! We will need to have your donation in by November 25th

This

will enable us to bring the funds with us for purchasing the gifts and distributing

the financial help to the churches for their widows, Sunday school children and

outreach programs. Mark your checks “Christmas” and let’s put forth a great

effort to raise the money needed to give those who are less fortunate have a

Chris- filled Christmas.

December trip to India If you would like to go with us this year we need to hear from you soon. The group will be leaving on December 2

nd.

Those who will be traveling with Audrey and I are Linwood Smith, Ray K. Fumea, Wayne Jocelyn, our son-in-law Joey Schools, our

daughter Jordan and, making her first trip to India, our granddaughter Kylee. We look forward to spending Christmas with the

Freedom House children and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

“Take off your Sandals you are on Holy Ground”

Hebrews 12:28-29, “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” The India Churches show their reverence to God by removing their shoes before they enter into Worship. The women also cover their heads with a scarf and a white cloth is usually placed over the Lord’s Supper trays. Is all of this necessary? Verse 28 says we should show gratitude and offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe because the Kingdom/Church is everlasting and unshakable. Maybe the USA churches could learn a lesson on reverence to God from the brethren in India. It seems we are losing the reverence and awe for God and His Church in America today. James 4:10 “Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” If we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord we will receive forgiveness from our lack of reverence and God will heal our Nation.

MEI T-Shirt Fundraiser Buy It. Wear It. Talk About It. We are taking orders for our new Mission Explosion International T-shirts! More than just a “day off” tee shirt, this is your opportunity to EVANGELIZE! This top-quality, soft-style shirt will be your new favorite SHIRT WITH A PURPOSE! 2

nd Order Deadline is October 1st

for a donation of only $17 plus $3 shipping Sizes are from Youth M-5XL (add $3 extra for 2XL-5XL) Send your $20 donation per item, list of sizes and quantities to MEI, PO Box 1331, Athens, TN 37371 (Make checks payable to MEI)