It was on my heart to thank everyone again and share a few testimonies. Be blessed as you read these testimonies…
I really want to thank everyone again who prayed, gave and participated in the Christmas Ham outreach. Words cannot do justice to the thanks I feel in my heart for everyone who was a part of this Outreach. I know many of you were in a hardship yourself and you still gave. Many I personally know were laid off from their jobs and you still stepped out and did something by either helping or giving. Again I say thanks! I know the Lord was pleased.
One of the highlights I had in the outreach was ministering to a man named Hosea.
Amos and I teamed up going door to door. Amos is a brother from my Church, Elijah’s Fire, and this was his first time doing outreach and he did a great job. It was a pleasure ministering with him.
Well, we met a man named Hosea. Hosea is a Hispanic man I’d guess around thirty years old. He met us at his door with a smile and he invited us right into his house. I didn’t even have to ask if I could come in. This man was talking to us like he was expecting us. It was really kind of funny. We talked and ministered to Hosea for about twenty minutes. His house was old, probably a rental but it was peaceful. We shared the Gospel with Hosea and prayed over his family. Hosea shared a struggle he has with drinking beer and how he wants to stop. So we laid hands on him and prayed for his deliverance. I’m trusting God that that spirit was broke off of him in Jesus name!
Hosea also shared with us his concern for his brother Salvador, who lives in Mexico. Salvador is mixed up in a bad relationship with a lady who is into Witchcraft. Well, we know there is no distance in prayer, so we prayed for his brother. We prayed that God would break up this ungodly relationship and for Salvador to come to know Jesus. By this time God was really touching Hosea as his eyes were tearing up and he was visibly moved by the Holy Spirit.
We had some children’s winter coats with us, so we ran out to out vehicle to get them to see if they would fit Hosea’s little son and praise God they fit perfect! We were able to bless them with a winter coat.
I know that God had us on assignment this day to minister to many people but Hosea was a special one to me and I’m continuing to pray for him. Thanks everyone for making this happen.
I want to share a brief testimony from Steve Trautmann that really encouraged me. Steve is a brother from a Church in Nappanee, Indiana. Steve drove up some thirty miles from Nappanee to take part in this outreach. Steve teamed up with Mike Martin from Elijah’s Fire and both guys had a great time ministering. On two separate occasions as they were dialoging with families the people said how in the last six months the neighborhoods seems safer and more peaceful. The neat thing about this is that it has been about six months that we have been ministering in the area with park outreaches and Friday night street ministry! To God be the glory!! This just reinforces to me the truth that consistency makes a difference. Amen. When you go into an area and constantly meet the people and walk the streets and pray over the area. When you crying out to God to touch lives and to reach people-God is faithful!
A quick note in regard about Steve Trautmann from Nappanee, were planning on assisting him and some local Churches down in Nappanee this spring. This is the cool thing about networking we can assist one another to continue to reach the lost in our areas. Steve has been to two of our outreaches here in Elkhart and he desires to minister in his local area. We will go down there to help him build a team to continue to reap the harvest.. Amen!
Here’s another cool testimony… One obstacle we occasionally run into is communication. Several families we met can only speak Spanish. Obviously, we do the best we can. Well three of the young guys we have on the team: Darrin, Jason, Thad were ministering in an area and they had a Hispanic women open the door and they tried their best to communicate to her and give her a ham and Bible. But she did not understand them. So after a few minutes the guys reluctantly stepped off the porch and met a person on the street whom they were able to minister too and pray and bless with a ham. Well, the Hispanic lady who didn’t understand them was watching through her window. So she ran and opened her door and yelled for them to come back and she grabbed their hands and bowed her head to receive a prayer…Hallelujah!! I guess prayer is the universal language we all know.
Also, at Church this last Wednesday night we had a lady show up who we met during the Christmas outreach. Her name is Norma, she has a Pentecostal background and she was so blessed to be able to come and worship with us.
I want to testify to the Lords faithfulness and provision. Right from the get-go for this Christmas Outreach we felt the Lord leading us to get 300 hams and 300 Bibles. This was a stretch for us at the amount of $3237.00 but we stepped into it trusting God to provide. Well, the total of $3400.00 came in and we are praising God for His faithfulness. He is more than enough!
The lady Norma who showed up at church Wednesday night was sharing with us her hardships and her need for groceries. So were planning on using some of that extra money to bring her some food, as she is an elderly widow and in need. Praise God! Our God is awesome!
Again, I want to thank God for everyone who prayed, served and gave for this outreach. God used you to make this outreach possible. I pray the Lord bless you back abundantly!
Steve Ignowski (Igy)
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