Fruit that Remains (John 15:16)

Steve Stewart's picture
“I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain.” (John 15:16)
 
East Samar, Philippines - May 2016.
 
People often ask about the long term impact of a Journey of Compassion on the places where we go. This is a very legitimate question. I usually point out that the immediate impact can be seen in a poor community where many received medical care, water filter systems are provided for a large number of families, and many people are supernaturally healed. (There are many times when, returning to a community a year or two later, that people come and tell us about how they were healed and have remained so.)
 
During a Journey of Compassion, I usually spend a few days with pastors and leaders, providing ministry training and trying to help them see a new paradigm--extending God's Kingdom in their community rather than trying to get people into their church. I put a lot into this, because I am so convinced that with a Kingdom paradigm, they will see great things happen. But to be honest, this is usually a step of faith on my part, because I don't often get to find out if real change has happened after we leave.
 
Today I received some very gratifying news.
 
Last year I met with the East Samar pastors for first time. I taught them about the Kingdom of God, the centrality of the Great Commission, how Jesus made disciples (hint: it wasn't a three month new believers course that they learned in a classroom), healing the sick, how to let the Holy Spirit teach through a relational a Bible study, and how to start house churches. As always, I left hopeful that I had at least got them thinking about some new things.
 
We have been very busy since I got here. Finally today, I sat down with Pastor Sam who leads many pastors here in Samar, and who is our national partner. Imagine my joy when he told me that since we were here last August, he and the pastors have put what I taught them into practice. Now, only nine months later, Pastor Sam has over 100 house churches! Including the other pastors, there are over 200 house churches. Last August the number of house churches was zero. More are being added all the time. And not only that, the groups are growing with seekers who become new believers, not established Christians.
 
Pastor Sam said that for years he prayed that God would bring people to the church. Then, last year, he heard me say that our job was not to get people into the church; our job is to help get the church out to people. Before he heard this, Sam told me he was deeply discouraged. Now, he is joyful and amazed to see all that the Lord is doing in East Samar.
 
So to all those of you who support and pray for Impact Nations, be encouraged.  The Lord is taking what we have to offer Him, and multiplying it beyond what we imagined.
 
        No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has conceived what the Lord has prepared for those who love Him.  (1 Cor 2:9)
 
Add new comment

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Results

Results 121 - 130 of 487

Pages

Rivers of Grace DVD Package

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 1 Book | 1 LEARN Notebook | 1 DVD

You can be the parent God wants you to be: loving, encouraging, trusting and able to raise up your children in the way they should go, fulfilling their own unique destinies. Parenting was not intended to be a burden, and anyone who tells you differently has bought into a lie. You will learn to enjoy parenting as an exciting, joy-filled, divinely-ordained opportunity, not a wearying responsibility.

Price: $36.89
Spirit-Anointed Teaching Package

Spirit-Anointed Teaching Package

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 2 Books | 2 CDs | 2 DVDs

Spirit-Anointed Teaching Materials designed to strengthen ALL teachers including parents, Sunday school teachers, cell group leaders, pastors and educators in every field! These materials will give you the tools to become a Spirit-anointed trainer!

“They were amazed at His teaching; He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22)

Price: $35.85

Take Charge of Your Health DVD Package

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 1 book | 12 Video Sessions

Act Now to save 25% off until July 23rd on...

Or save 50% off the School of the Spirit e-learning module!

Discover how you can take charge of your own health — keeping yourself young, energetic, attractive, and free of degenerative diseases! Discover the biblical injunctions on diet and health, and the amazing correlations between them and modern scientific research. Updated in 2015 with 20 years of fresh insights since recording the previous "Go Natural" series!

Price: $52.43

Through the Bible 1: Pentateuch DVD Package

1 DVD Set by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you from Genesis through Deuteronomy in 10 sessions. This is part one of our Through the Bible series, which gives you an overview of the entire Bible. It contains DVDs of Pentateuch as well as Through the Bible workbook

Price: $44.00

Through the Bible 6: Life of Christ DVD Package

4 DVDs by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the Life of Christ in 10 sessions. This package contains part six of our Through The Bible series, which offer you an in-depth overview of the entire Bible. You may choose to begin with the Life of Christ and work your way through the entire New Testament, and then follow this up by going through the Old Testament.

Why are there four Gospels describing Jesus' life? How are the three synoptic Gospels different from John? What does God want to say to me through the life of Jesus? Can I really imitate Christ and be like him? Yes, Jesus came to model the lifestyle God has empowered us to live!

Price: $44.00
Through the Bible Discounted DVD Package

Through the Bible Discounted DVD Package

1 Book | 8 DVD Sets | 1 Single DVD | 1 Single CD

This package gives you the tools to transform your study of the Scriptures into encounters with their Author Who will personally reveal what He wants to say to you through them each day! First is a CD which teaches you how to meditate on Scriptures so you receive revelation from the Holy Spirit as you prayerfully read the Word (Josh. 1:8; Eph. 1:17,18). You will discover how this is different from, and much deeper than, simple western study. Next is a Through the Bible workbook which guides you chapter-by-chapter through the entire Bible. Finally, we provide the cultural, historical and linguistic insights of Dr. Andrew Hardy, a British scholar in the eight DVD sets which are all part of this discounted package.

Price: $199.00

Through the Bible New Testament DVD Package

3 DVD Sets by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the New Testament in three modules. This package includes parts six - eight of our Through The Bible series,  which provide you an overview of the entire Bible. You may choose to begin with the Life of Christ and work your way through the entire New Testament, and then follow this up by going through the Old Testament.

Why are there four Gospels describing Jesus' life? How are the three synoptic Gospels different from John? What does God want to say to me through the life of Jesus? Can I really imitate Christ and be like him? Yes, Jesus came to model the lifestyle God has empowered us to live!

Price: $89.00

Through the Bible Old Testament DVD Package

5 DVD Sets by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the entire Old Testament in these five modules. This is a part of our Through the Bible series, which gives you an overview of the entire Bible. This package contains five DVD modules which span the Old Testament and includes the Through the Bible workbook

Price: $144.00

Unique Gifts Make Winning Teams DVD Package

2 books | 1 card | 1 DVD set

Can I succeed like others have? What do I need to do? How do I go about it? What if I don't have the gifts necessary to do something great?  The wonderful truth revealed in Scripture is that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary feats, especially when they say, "Yes, Lord" to the destiny He has prepared for them!

Price: $69.95

Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions DVD Package

Book | 14 DVD sessions | CDs of 5 devotionals set to music

Experience Healing for Your Body, Soul, and Spirit through Kingdom Emotions!

In Christianity, emotions are often considered to be misleading and untrustworthy—a lingering part of our fallen nature that distract us from God’s truth. But our emotions were created by God, and though the enemy may seek to manipulate our hearts, Jesus sets us free! This practical teaching will empower you to see emotions as unique channels through which the Holy Spirit works to bring miraculous life-transformation, deliverance and healing.

Price: $95.00

Pages