God can even use stolen cookies to bring a child to Christ
Stephanie Parker's Ministry Update - July 2004
Dear Friend,
Hello! Recently at my home church (Atlantic Shores Baptist) in Virginia Beach I saw a boy crying in the hallway. The leader of our children's ministry told me the boy was upset because someone had stolen his cookies. As I sat beside him, the Lord opened up the perfect door to talk about God's forgiveness and salvation. The boy told me that he didn't remember ever asking Jesus to be his Savior. Praise the Lord that the Holy Spirit opened up his heart and Stephen prayed to ask the Lord Jesus to come into his heart and forgive him of his sins. Thank you for being a part of this through your prayers.
Enjoying Jesus,
Stephanie - Matthew 22:37-39
Sharing the Gospel in the States while working on a Visa and other preparations to return to Brazil -
Please pray for:
1. Missionary Visa to return to Brazil
Please continue to pray with me that the Lord will provide the missionary visa and the other preparations I need to be able to return to Alpha & Omega Children's Home in Garca, Brazil.
2. Neighborhood Bible Club
Each Tuesday afternoon that I'm not traveling to different churches, I lead a Bible club for the kids in my neighborhood. In the past, Andrew would come to the club some of the time, but he did not seem like he really wanted to learn about the Lord. But, God has faithfully been working on Andrew's heart, and now he is growing in his faith and gladly coming to the club every week. Andrew recently told me that he read the Bible to his friend from school and then gave his friend his Bible. Andrew said he wants to be a missionary when he grows up. What a joy it was to encourage him that he already has become a missionary!
3. Evangelism Class for Kids
On Wednesday evenings I teach a group of kids from my church (Atlantic Shores) how to lead their friends to Jesus. Before the class on Wednesdays, some of the children in the class used to walk with me to the 7-11 by our church and share the Gospel. Lizzy told me that from our trips to 7-11 she has learned that she can share the Gospel anywhere and doesn't need to be ashamed or afraid of telling others about Jesus. Praise God!
4. Children's Ministry at my Church (Atlantic Shores Baptist Church - Virginia Beach, VA)
When I haven't been away visiting other churches, I have volunteered a couple of days a week with the children's ministry of my church.
Praise the Lord that around 100 children prayed to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior at our VBS this year at Atlantic Shores. What a joy it was to pass out over a thousand gospel tracts to kids and many Bibles to children at our VBS who didn't have Bibles. I'll never forget Alonzo (who was around 8-10 years old) looking up and asking me what a Bible was. May we never forget that many people all around us have no clue about God's precious Word and Salvation.
5. More Opportunities to Visit Churches before going back to Brazil.
Please pray that God will open up the right doors for me to visit churches and share the Gospel with children and show them how to be missionaries right where they are.
6. My Father's ministry as a Navy Chaplain in Virginia Beach
Thank you for your prayers that God will continue to save our military troops in the Virginia Beach area as my dad faithfully shares the Gospel with them.
Thank you, again, so much for your partnership in sharing the Gospel with children in the United States and in Brazil. I really appreciate all of you who helped me buy hundreds of English Bibles and thousands of tracts recently to reach children for Christ!
By His Grace,
Stephanie Parker
5597 New Colony Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
757-523-6111
Dear Friend,
I want to leave you with a true story that my grandma, Irene McMahan (who is now with Jesus), wrote in her book (Please, Just One More Story). She writes,"There were four people at a table in a restaurant. They had given their order, and the waitress was filling their glasses. She was pouring water from a pitcher when her hand slipped, and she poured it all over one man's suit. She was so embarrassed and was trying to wipe some of it up and was apologizing when he said,
'What was in the pitcher?'
'Water,' the waitress replied.
'Well, only water could spill out,' the man concluded. 'You see, I am a Christian, and Christians have the Holy Spirit inside. When you bump me, His love should overflow - just like the pitcher. What's inside will come out. It's only water. Don't worry about it. You couldn't help it. It's O.K.'"
This really happened back in 1937. It taught me a big lesson about the Holy Spirit. Since He lives in us, when we are bumped, let Him spill out and flow all over everyone."
"That life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." 2 Corinthians 4:10
Your fellow laborer in Christ,
Stephanie