Dear Friends & Partners,

Our JESUS Film Partner Trip found us in Cali, Colombia (South America), up and about at 5:00 a.m. headed to church!

When we walked into the sanctuary there were already over 1,000 people praying. All the chairs had been removed and for the next hour we prayed as we walked around and around the sanctuary. It was an unbelievable experience. The power of prayer in seven years has grown an initial five intercessors into a church of over 8,000 that has astounded church growth experts.

As I walked, prayed and cried, the Holy Spirit asked me the following questions: Who controls my prayer time or lack thereof? Who controls my money? Who controls the people with whom I surround myself?

These praying Colombians work just like you and me; however, all of their time is committed to the Father. None of those “I-deserve-my-free-time-outside-of-work” thoughts. Tomorrow would be a 3 hour “prayer and fasting” day---6 a.m. until 9 a.m., or 9 a.m. until 12 noon, or 7 p.m. until 10 p.m., whichever time people signed up for. Everyone was being discipled in a group of twelve and everyone was also responsible for discipling twelve additional people. Who controls their time? God!

What about money? Their lives spoke resolutely that all belonged to God. They only kept what was needed for their basic necessities of life. It was obvious that God was first, others were second, and they put themselves last.

There was no hoarding of goods for a family inheritance or an accumulating of wealth. It reminded me of John Wesley who taught that we should leave our children only enough to care for their basic needs and all else to the work of God. These people were actually living this principle.

For example, the hours of prayer the week we were there, were focused on the drug infested neighborhoods where the JESUS Film was to be shown and the JESUS Film Team that would share Jesus. As a result, hundreds showed up to watch the JESUS Film and hundreds accepted Jesus. The cost of renting the chairs and stage, providing popcorn, Coke and ice cream for the viewers came out of the pockets of these dedicated praying people. The following Sunday morning, six buses transported their new brothers and sisters in the Lord from these neighborhoods for whom they had prayed and sacrificed to church. Wow!

These praying people were a living picture of not leaving anything behind. Their legacy—to invest all for the Kingdom while here on earth. And, yes, they chose to hang around like-minded people. It was contagious and powerful, even convicting—a people who were free. I experienced a little bit of heaven. It's no wonder why God is blessing them and adding to their numbers.

Where are your priorities for your time? How about your resources? And who are the people around you? Maybe it’s time for you to raise the bar--for both yourself and within your circle of influence. God desires for His presence within you to be contagious and powerful and even convicting! You just might experience a little bit of heaven.

Blessings on you,

                               

Chuck Watson
chuckwatson@JFHP.org
817-427-4900

P.S. - CLICK HERE to enjoy a 9-minute video of a Cali church worship event

P.P.S. - If you would like to experience a JESUS Film Partner Trip, please join us on one of the upcoming trips! These trips are a great opportunity to personalize missions and experience the ministry first hand.

• Sri Lanka $650 + airfare/August 10 -21, 2008. Hosts: Scott Rainey & Ted Diehr; Country Hosts: Ron Gilbert, Hermann Gschwandtner, Rich Crow & Dave Argabright; Team Leader: Chuck Watson
  
• Dominican Republic ARK Shelter Trip $900 Double or $1,050 Single + airfare/October 11-18, 2008. Hosts: Bud & Janet Welch, Todd Burton & Glenn Shanahan; Team Leader: Darrell Leber
• El Salvador $725 Double or $875 Single + airfare/December 1-5, 2008. Country Host: Bernie Slingerland; Team Leader: Chuck Watson
  
• Bangladesh $775 Double or $950 Single + airfare/March 8-15, 2009. Team Leader: Chuck Watson
  
• Zambia $1600 Double or $2000 Single + airfare/September 3-12, 2009. Host: Ray Cook; Country Host: Gary Sidle; Team Leader: Chuck Watson
  
• Philippines ARK Shelter Trip Price TBA/November 29-December 10, 2009. Team Leader: Darrell Leber