God's Word Will Not Return Void!

ISAIAH 55:11 "SO IS MY WORD THAT GOES OUT FROM MY MOUTH: IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY, BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I DESIRED AND ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH I SENT IT."

Raven Ministries Canada has been blessed to be hosting two house churches in our home. We meet most Thursdays.

The Thursday morning group has just finished a Bible Study on the book of Jonah. Just recently we have decided to start the Gospel of John. The study is predominantly to equip newer Christians through descipleship, while getting a good grasp on the word. These group of ladies are a great encouragement to one another.




Just recently the group has decided to take on a Mission Project sending the word into the Dominican Republic. This project involved the colaboration of many ministry groups. We would like to thank Jane-Anne Shortly who has been involved in fascilitating a ministry group called 3R's Ministries. They were able to connect with the National Bible Leauge to get some Spanish New Testament Picture Bibles.




The RAVEN Ministries Home Church gathered up some toiletry items and put some packages together to be distributed in the Dominican Republic by Lori Lei and Lance Hetherington members of Newmarket Community Church an evangelistic minded church.



PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WOULD GO BEFORE THESE BIBLES AND THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD START MOVING IN THE HEARTS OF THE CHILDREN THAT WILL BE RECEIVING THEM.

Next Wednesday we hope to be able to be involved in assisting an organization called Lindsay Outreach Centre with meals for the homeless. This organization is involved in evangelism in the Linsay area. They reach out to the homeless and less fortunate in the area they have a meals ministry outreach every second Wednesday in the Upper Room. They hold services every Saturday night lead by Pastor Marion Jacobs.

Hot Chocolate, Warmth for the Body and the Good News Heat for the Soul

The three of us can only maintain and do the ministry that God allows us to handle. On Saturday made some hot chocolate, and I baked some apple cake from some apples which my parents had given me. We proceeded into Oshawa to minister to the people. We found a perfect spot beside a bus stop where there was an hour wait between buses. There we set up a card table with our hot chocolate and apple cake.

To be truthful, I didn't feel quite as bold as I normally do, missing the encouragement from my RAVEN friends in the United States. Ed and Emily felt a little bashful too. "Dear God, give me your boldness I prayed." I knew that this was something that had been laid on my heart. The first customer was on the bus . He swung his body hanging from the doorway. "Hey, Sister," he yelled," is that hot chocolate?" "Yes," I replied as I handed him a cup. "Thankyou,that's exactly what I needed." He replied with contentment.

Some people wondered why we were doing this. "We would tell them that we were just sharing the love of JESUS."

One man stopped by with his children. "Just sharing the love of Jesus, eh?" He repeated this twice. Well, you will never know what kind of inpact that had on his children. I am sure that they will remember the occasion some day when they hear the mention of his name.

Another young man named Jessep came by the stand. He told us the story of how he had gotten expelled from school lived a rough life. We talked about Jesus. He did have a Bible at home so I encouraged him to read it. I gave him my cell phone number and encouraged him call me. I was able to tell him about an outreach to young adults in his area and offered to give him a drive sometime and talk to him some more. Please pray for this young man.

It was a cold night. Hot chocolate was helped provide warmth for the body, but what the people really needed was heat for the soul!

Sharing the love of Jesus is all about learning to be "fishers of men."

I want to remind you of the scripture....."COME FOLLOW ME,"JESUS SAID, "AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN. AT ONCE THEY LEFT THEIR NETS AND FOLLWED HIM." Mark 1:17.


After John the Baptist was put in prison Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news and carrying on his work of spreading the gospel. He instructed the people to repent and believe.

What is REPENTANCE? It is recognizing and turning from sin, and confessing it to God. Repentance and faith in God go hand in hand. Everyone is called to repent--Those who are not yet believers and those who do believe. Being repentant is not enough. You must believe and have faith in Him and allow him to be Lord and Saviour of your life.

As Jesus walked along Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew casting a net into the lake for they were fishermen. Jesus instructed the men to leave their nets and to go follow him for he would make them "fishers of men." They obviously obeyed with willing hearts for they were willing to leave their means of making a living to go follow Jesus.

What about us? Are we willling to take a stand, even if we end up in prison like John the Baptist? Are we willing to unashamedly share the Good News of Jesus? Are we willing to surrender it all to him? Are we willing to go out into the battlefields (the work place, our homes, the coffee shop,the highways and biways) putting on the full armour of God(Ephesians 6:10-20), while we spread the gospel?

As we go out to do the work of the Lord, we personally would request that you pray this prayer for Ed, Emily and I. "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it FEARLESSLY, as I should."Ephesians 6:20.
We would also pray that God would provide a vehicle for us and that more people would be added to the team!

Let Us Call Urgently on God

When exploring the book of Jonah we realize that the Ninevites were a pagan people. They plotted evil against the Lord(Na 1:11), plundered in war(Na 2:12-13;3:1, 19), prostitution and witchcraft(Na 3:4) as well as commercial exploitation(Na3:16). It's not much wonder that God wanted to use his prophet Jonah to bring about a message to the people. Jonah in his rebellion disobeyed God. This cost him a pretty rocky ride in the stomach of a large fish for three days and nights.(Jonah 1-2) Later,Jonah was approached a second time to deliver a message. Jonah reluctantly obeyed the word of the Lord. (Jonah 3) The city was to be overturned in 40 days. The people believed the word of the Lord and declared a fast. They put on sackcloth. This was a symbol to show their repentance and mourning for the things they had done wrong. When the king heard the message, he himself was humbled. He tore off his robes and put on sack cloth and sat in the dust. He told his people to fast. He asked everyone to call urgently on God. They were to give up their evil ways and violence with hopes that God would show compassion, relent, and turn from his anger so that the people would not perish. (Jonah 3)

What about us do we call urgently on the Lord to answer our prayers? Do we humble ourselves before the Lord with repentant hearts. Are we asking him to relent and have compassion on us? Do we urgently call on him in all circumstances? We all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God(Romans 3:23-25) but, if we urgently call on him he does show compassion and allows us the opportunity to have eternal life. It's his will that non should perish but that all should have eternal life. (JOHN 3:16) Let us remember that Jesus came into the world to seek and to save those which are lost.

HE IS URGENTLY WAITING FOR YOUR CALL!

Raven Canada Goes to New Orleans Voodoo Fest 2007

I headed for Buffalo to board a plane for New Orleans knowing that the Lord had prepared many hearts for this out reach. The plane landed and I was picked up by Billy MacIroney. We seen Ben off to Virgina, had supper then headed off to Jesus Miracle Power a rehabillitation home overseen by "Mama Janice". We had church service to equip all the labourers for the harvest field. The message was brought forth by Pastor Don, Raven Gulf Coast. Worship was lead by Wanda and Emmet, Raven Gulfcoast and a special number in song was sung in acopalo by Boogaloo(Raven Gulfcoast). Following the church service we excitedly headed down to the French Quarters with other Raven Members from Raven Gulf Coast, California,Texas, and Daytona Beach. It was great doing ministry for the Kingdom. Eileen and I started off together ministering in the French Quarters just outside of Cafe Demonde. We approached a young man named Derrek. He had all the jargon downpat but was one of those young men that weren't willing to give their life completely over to Jesus. He wanted some money for some food so we headed off to buy him something. As we were on our way we ran into another young man who we prayed with. He was caught up in selling drugs. He too new all the right "religious gargon" gut again was not willing to totally be sold out to Jesus. It was great being able to minister with my sister Eileen!

Saturday, we headed downtown to pickup a few items. Pastor Troy met a man who had set up camp in the downtown section amongst some artists. His plan was to cook some chicken for a cooking demonstration then, hand out chicken for free in the downtown section. The artists weren't too happy with where he had set up his trailor. The officials asked him to move. He had 100 lbs. of chicken that he needed to get rid of. It's amazing how the Lord works things out for His glory. Our plans for the day changed and we were off with the trailor to the Iberville projects--The epicenter of crime and drugs and poverty. One of my favourite places for ministry! Raven Deb and I partnered up to do ministry. We talked to a few people and invited them out to the free luncheon that we were going to be having.

We stopped at one unit. There were two moms with their children sitting on the concrete steps. We wandered over and spoke to these young moms. They had a knowledge of Jesus and seemingly they had once dedicated their lives to the Lord. We explained the importance of repentance and quoted some scripture. They had prayer and rededicated their lives to the Lord. Afterwards Raven Deb encouraged the two girls to partner up and have Bible Study together. They requested that we talk to their friend, and that we did. She gave her heart over to the Lord for the first time ever. Following our prayer Sheva requested that we speak to her brother Darnell.