Go Forth Mission News
Go Forth Mission News Winter 1999/2000
These things REALLY happened!
Joanie here. I
am giving Bill a break from writing the newsletter
this time. I’ve
always had it on my heart to share a bunch of the
testimonies or personal profiles that really touched
my heart. God
has so many wonderful ways to get people saved here.
This is a vignette of some. I will call this
revival news because when you live here, and on
occasion visit the states you come to the realization
that something special is going on here, something
wonderful and something that is just GOD!
These are stories THAT REALLY HAPPENED.
Just before Christmas on a cold Sunday morning, a young man
from our
A woman in the church found him on the commuter
train where homeless people go to get out of the
weather. He
was a hardened, but broken young man, who had a
wonderful conversion, beaming with new life. Later we found out he had walked without hardly any food for
25 days all the way across the Ukraine (from the
west). He became despondent after a terrible turn of fortune
in which he suddenly lost every-thing in The Czech
Republic. Having lost the prospect of having the good life he had
worked so hard for he returned to Ukraine, but nothing
worked out and, and he started walking.
The Lord led him to us.
Within a week, the next time we saw him he was
radiant and within a short time began serving as an
usher in the church.
God manifests His power in…
Jordan!?!
Vera is one of our long-standing part-time
members. She
also lives part-time in a village, Ostapovka, where we
had such a great evangelism a couple years ago.
There she coordinates the fellowship.
A woman who I just love, she just glows with
the love of the Lord, so sweet and gracious and full
of the Holy Spirit. Well, she went to visit her daughter in the Kingdom of
Jordan. Her
daughter is married to an Arab there.
While there they had a vision of a certain
church. After
unsuccessful attempts to find it, through many amazing
happenstances they were brought to it.
Upon arrival, while simply greeting and shaking
hands with the people the Holy Spirit began falling on
everyone she touched.
She knew NONE of their language – they
likewise. They
then began to take her by the hand to visit their sick
– healings occurred, and people were spontaneously
getting filled with the Holy Spirit wherever they took
her. They
are eagerly awaiting her return for another
“speaking” engagement.
GLORY!
Did that really happen?
Gotta tell you about our church administrator.
Some of the testimonies we hear are so
super-natural and amazing!
Sergei and his family were very distraught
after their stepfather-committed suicide. Someone
invited him to our church informing him that an old
acquaintance sings there.
Sergei went to high school with Igor our
worship leader. His
first service sitting there with his wife, at the
altar call he felt something grab his ear and lead him
forward – he went forward dragging his wife with
him. He
wept and wept. Soon after at another service he was mightily touched by the
Holy Spirit and was crying for at least 3 days.
His wife (a
nurse) didn’t understand and wanted to call the
ambulance to have him taken away.
Here was her husband, one of the new business
class, a tough kind of guy, all broken down and
crying. One
of the local pastors, a neighbor of theirs assured her
that it was just God!
Not long after this, he went to work to find a
disaster. Somehow,
from a nearby warehouse a sulfuric fog used to kill
vermin had leaked into his warehouse coating all of
his 60 tons (yes,
that is correct 60 tons) of apples with a fine film of
light gray, toxic dust. The only human method to remedy the problem was to pick
up each apple and wipe it.
They checked carefully and found all the apples
were uniformly spoiled with this dusty film.
Sergei was totally overwhelmed and thought this
was surely the end of his job.
Only a few of the other workers there knew what
had happened. He
went home, went to church service that night, and
again the Holy Spirit powerfully touched him.
Woke up, next day, back to work, and to his
amazement saw the normal hustle and bustle of men
loading apples on to trucks etc. The other men
(unbelievers) who knew of the situation excitedly told
Sergei – “God must have sent a bunch of angels in
the night to wipe off apples!”
THEY WERE ASTONISHED!
Several men from his place of work repented.
Sergei after feeling led of the Lord, stopped working at
his lucrative produce business to be the church
administrator, for half the pay he used to get.
He was the one responsible for getting us in
our new building, oversees the food distribution to
the poor, deals with the Beaurocracy (a huge task
here) and much more, solving most of the practical
problems that kept the other pastors tied up.
Isn’t God wonderful!
Sergei’s mother, by the way, got saved around the same
time, after her husband’s tragedy.
One day she was witnessing in her neighborhood.
A man responded and came to the service and was
radically saved, very much like Sergei.
Some time later Sergei’s mother, (the widow)
married this fine man! Segei’s wife also has grown in the Lord, no longer thinks
her husband is weird because he cries.
They have a new baby who the grandma just
loves. Just
think of it that whole family is now saved and happy
after such a tragedy!
(Sergei’s sister and her husband were also
saved, another great story, but not now.)
Buckle up for a paradigm
shift!!!
A very broken down, extremely unattractive middle-aged
mother with her slow, slightly handicapped son were
saved in our church.
They were always going out with the evangelists
in the winter distributing tracts and invitations and
were at every prayer meeting.
They, like many other outcasts in the society
here have found a loving home in the church.
She lives (like many) in very poor conditions, can’t even
afford a light bulb for the dark hallway to her
apartment door (not uncommon).
Well, she told me that she was always so very
frightened walking through there and would really pray
every time. Not
long ago a strange thing occurred and is happening up
till now. When
she enters that dark, pitch black walkway, praying, a
small glowing little ball of light goes before her and
stops in front of her keyhole to help her find the
place to put her key!
She was so amazed and full of wonder, totally
astounded and excited as she told me; then asked (like
I am the spiritual expert), “ What could this be?”
Remember before you let your cynicism take over, that the
Israelites had light in their camps when the thick
darkness fell over Egypt!
And there was a pillar of fire to guide them
through the wilderness.
Thick darkness has been here for centuries,
with no reformation or revival EVER.
Over 40 people help with one
miracle…
Just the last Thursday night a lady with her daughter
testified. We
have prayed for this dear woman and her severely
epileptic 30-year-old daughter over an extended period
of time. Not
long ago the mother went through a powerful visible
deliverance in the middle of a sermon.
She was so changed after that!
She got up declaring how wonderful the Lord is.
The mother testified that she had a lot of
unforgiveness toward people who had hurt her and when
she started to forgive, her daughter just got better
and better! Her
daughter now after having grand mal seizures every day
of her life has just been given a clean bill of health
from the medical profession here.
Her seizures have stopped completely!
Not only that, but she was retarded and barely
able to speak, and could not do even the simplest task
or housework, much less hold a job.
She now speaks well, works, does not need her
mother’s constant attention, and starting to go out
on here own. She
told Bill that it was if she had been a sleep all
these years and she awakened.
Bill asked for everyone who prayed for them to
rise, about 40 stood up!
Isn’t that amazing!
Who got the Glory? GOD.
White Slavery…Nowadays?
Here is one, even more recent. On a recent Sunday an older lady told an incredible story.
Her daughter 7 months ago never returned home
from college- just disappeared.
She started going to “babka’s” (Russian
type home-spun mix of witchcraft and traditional
religion) and other spiritualists and ESP and the
like. She
wasn’t helped, so went to the Christian community
and ended up in our church and quoted Bill as telling
her after she accepted Christ at an altar call, that
she needed to get baptized then she would get her
daughter back. She
did that and prayed and prayed for her daughter.
When she got a call from the local police to
come in and they told her they found her daughter in
Chechnya (white slavery/ prostitution market) she (the
Mom) had a heart attack on the spot.
They brought her to the hospital, she was in
bad shape, but she was so desperate, in the night
escaped from the hospital and along the road flagged a
car and told the driver, “ I found my daughter, give
me a ride”, he responded, “ what is that to me
lady” but took her home anyway. Her heart problems continued through the night and she prayed
and prayed, and was healed in the morning.
She got her daughter and rushed to church to
show and tell everyone!
She pleaded with people in the audience who had
not yet given their life to Christ, telling them to
not be embarrassed and come forward and accept him.
Her and daughter were photographed together on
our photo Sunday, beaming!
Drugs and Alcohol- just a No-God
problem
A lady friend of mine said, that a couple of weeks ago when
a lot of men went forward to get saved (about 20) that
a wave of conversions have started with men who are
called over here “groosavshies”.
This is the lowest job you can do here after
street sweeping, they are men who muscle big carts
back and forth in the open-air bazaars/ open-air
markets. It
is reported that at the main central market (we always
called it ‘the filthiest place on earth’) 8 of
these “ groosavshies have repented in our church.
The first was a man whose life had sunk to the
depths, losing all he had to drugs and vodka
consumption. He
was gloriously saved the first service he went to.
Then he was counseled by one of our ushers
(formerly into narcotics) to be bold at work about his
faith. At
work they start heavy drinking at 7 am. When his
buddies offered him vodka He straightaway told them,
“no, I go to church now.”
Shocked, they came to church themselves and
were saved! The
first man said, that immediately he stopped shooting
up and drinking with no ill side effects, he has no
desire for these things any more, as if they were
never a part of him.
Glory to
God !
Last night, Bill and his wonderful team initiated the first
night of the new Alpha
course, modeled after the one that has had so much
success in England.
It is a course for interested unbelievers and
new believers. 12
weeks of talks about Jesus, the Bible, Prayer, The
Holy Spirit, Godly living etc. followed by discussion,
with a light meal and tea.
This has really caught on, 140 – 150 people
came! The
testimonies from just one table Bill visited were
outstanding! At
that one table, there was one person delivered from
prostitution, another healed who could barely stand,
and young man healed of severe clinical depression.
Actually right now things are really
snowballing and the volume of incredible testimonies
is hard to keep up with.
But as the evening drew to a close a young
woman who had been saved for a few weeks, and healed
of a strange blood disorder we had never heard of
before, brought up her guest, a little neighbor boy of
about 12-14 years old.
He had just accepted Christ, and wanted prayer
for his deaf ear.
Bill prayed in the name of Jesus, and the boy
was filled with wonder and joy when he began to hear.
He jumped up and down saying - PRAISE
Jesus.!!!
There are many other testimonies that happened years ago I
will tell you later.
The Lord really put this on my heart to do
because I sense these stories must be told.
“Peace on earth and GOOD TIDINGS TO MEN!”
I hope
you like these good tidings, I did.
I love you all.
I for one wouldn’t try to add a word to any
of this so I will sign off without commenting.
Amen!!!!
Hi Everyone,
This is Bill, just to say a few words.
For some time now I have been walking in kind
of a holy awe. God
seems to be present in a an almost tangible way so
much of the time now, especially when the saints are
gathered. He
is doing such great things.
Why now? Why here? He alone knows.
It seemed to me that He was doing this
everywhere. I
am learning that He is moving powerfully in many
places in the earth, but not all.
Thank God we are in one of them.
I hope that most of you are as well.
If not, pray that God begins to move by His
Spirit where you are.
He is certainly ready.
Probably one of the reasons for the move of God here is the
hunger of the people.
They are physically hungry, and as often
happen, this produces a spiritual hunger.
My Dad used to say, “There are no atheists in
a fox-hole”, was a common saying in the 2nd
World War. Extremes
of trouble just seem to produce openness to God.
I am thankful for whatever works. “For what
does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose
his own soul.”
We
baptized 41 people yesterday, including a former
Muslim. This is wonderful for a person who for many
years thought my job was only to sow, so others could
reap. Now
we are reaping with joy.
So we could reap more we started to run the “Alpha”
course which Joanie mentioned.
We were hoping for 20-30, we ended up with
140-150. Good
problem. Although
I was sweating a bit when we realized what this kind
of success was going to cost more money.
But Praise God, some wonderful brethren in the
US heard about it and are investing in it with us.
Thanks to them and the Lord!
This time it is “Boga-Dukhov” which means
Spirit of God. It
is one of the few towns that refused to be re-named
under communism.
As a consequence 90% percent of the people were
shipped off to who knows where.
I am sure their prayers are being answered that
the light of Christ will shine there again.
When I was hungry you fed me…
Did I tell you before, we started a home for the homeless
that has developed also as discipleship training
center. We
also have greatly expanded our program to feed the
hungry. Hunger
is still a huge problem with the endemic unemployment
and low or no wages for those who work.
Annie, found out one girl in her home group had
not eaten for 2-3 days.
We of course sent food to them right away. Besides helping hungry Christians, we are also feeding
unbelievers, and it opening many doors for the Gospel.
We are always hearing comments like, "no
one has ever shown us this much love before".
Just recently a funny thing happened.
Each neighborhood has a neighborhood
"snitch" that reports goings on in the
neighborhood to the higher authorities.
She duly reported we were feeding the poor.
Well, we got an "official "visit.
But it turns out the local authorities were
hungry and needed food as well.
God has his ways!!
Here again some wonderful brothers and sisters in the U.S.
have helped us immensely to make these programs
possible, and we are so truly thankful, Glory to God!
Partners in the Harvest…
We want to thank you for praying and giving over the years
to make all this possible.
You are partners with us in the harvest,
producing fruit to the Glory of the Father.
It just amazes me that we have been out here
this long and been able to do so much, and God has
never let us down, faithfully meeting our needs, mostly
through you who have responded to His prompting to
help. I
know it is God who has led all of you, because we have
done almost nothing in the way of fund-raising, partly
because it is not comfortable for us to do so, but
mostly because it takes so much time away from actual
ministry. So
God bless you for your sensitivity and generosity.
In case you were wondering, the needs are great as always.
Finances are always a factor when things are
growing fast, and God is at work. Plus we have been out here so long, support has dropped off
some. So
if you would like to have a share in what God is doing
here, we thank you in advance, as we need to increase
as the work is expanding.
We have some help on some specific projects as
I mentioned, but there is so much more we could and
would do if we had the resources. Not to mention the fact that we have to survive here, which
seems to cost more all the time.
May the grace of God be with you,
and above all may your fellowship with Him
increase,
Bill Lynch
P.S. Our
oldest daughter, Anne Grace, recently returned to the
USA to go to Bible-school at the Pensacola revival.
It was a very hard loss for us and so many here
because of the incredible amount of ministry she did.
Not to mention the love and blessing she gave
to so many, especially us.
She left all her ministries in the hands of
several people she had trained, and they are doing a
good job. But
we all miss her terribly.
PPS. Last
night a Gypsy woman brought a girl, who could only see
in front of her face, to be healed.
God healed her.
Thank you Lord! We will be forever grateful to have a God like you!!
Bill and Joanie
Lynch can be reached by e-mail at:
gospel@kharkov.ua
bill.lynch@go-forth.net
Donations and correspondence can be sent to:
Go Forth Ministries
PO Box 26863
Salt Lake City, UT 84126
(801) 972-0420
Bill and Joanie Lynch
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