With great sadness I’m writing this
final blog entry of my time in the Philippines. As many of you already know, I
am back in Georgia. If you don’t know what happened, here is a little recap by the Head Pastor of Uncle Tom's church in Ohio, who has been in contact with Uncle Tom throughout:
It is hard to process all that has
gone on in the past week, and having Uncle Tom send me home for my own safety
has been beyond tough. I want to let everyone know that I was there with the boys and
girls everyday for 6 months and I saw nothing that would indicate any of these
allegations were even remotely true. Here is a link to a support page on Facebook.
Since this page was created early
last week, word has spread to people all over the world. In just under a week
already 20,000 people have joined the group. There are a few videos on the site
where you can see Uncle Tom in action. They also are adding up-to-date news on
what’s going on with the case. On Monday, you will be able to listen to a sermon
by Pastor Joe Coffey of Christ Community Chapel in Ohio about what is going on,
and how to pray.
Having the kids ripped away has
really broken me, and I can’t even imagine the hurt they now feel. Please pray
for all of them! Pray that their faith in Christ is still what they rely on,
and that they don’t fall into despair. It’s hard to fathom the hurt that they feel, and I ask you
to remember them daily.
Please
pray for Toto and Jake Luchavez as well as their family. I have spent everyday
with them for the past 6 months, and I know these charges cannot be true.
Please pray for the staff at Sankey.
The
basketball trip was an amazing success with over 7,000 people signing up for
Bible studies. We come back to Sankey, and find out a few days later how angry
Satan is that the Gospel is being preached. That’s the only explanation I can
see for all of this. I know that God has already won the war, and with that I
can draw confidence in this darkness.
Finally,
I want to talk about the name of my blog. It is Rak Chazak. It is a Hebrew war
cry meaning, “be strong and courageous.” I wanted this to be a constant
reminder for me while I was in the Philippines to never be afraid. I could always
be strong and courageous because I knew God was going before me in everything I
did. Now I have to continue that prayer for my Philippino family I had to leave
behind.
To Uncle Tom, Aunt Karen, Toto, Bebes, Jake, the 31 boys and
girls, and all the staff: RAK CHAZAK FOR THE LORD IS WITH YOU!!!
Psalm 34
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips. 2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us
exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he
delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and
the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of
the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in
him. 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack
nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the
LORD lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will
teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires
to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from
speaking lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their
cry; 16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off
the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the
LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The LORD
is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them
all; 20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. 21
Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 22
The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in
him.
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