February 2019 360 Spotlight by Light for the Lost

FEBRUARY 2019

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THE “FOUR” LOVES EXPRESSED WHEN YOU SUPPORT LFTL…

Words

FROM RICK

his issue of 360 Spotlight is about Love. No surprise, right? It’s February. But today, I’m thinking of four kinds of Love that have been the soul and inspiration behind LFTL for 65 years strong. Love for God’s mission (Mark 16:15). Love for God’s Word (Psalm 119:105). Love for the lost (Acts 26:18). Love for the “unloveable” (Jonah 4).

On the following pages are stories illustrating how LFTL helps missionaries and national partners express and live out these kinds of Love, and be witnesses of Christ, by providing them with evangelism tools. In addition, since every man should learn to “love himself,” Jimmy White has written an article about two Men’s Ministries resources which help men in this area. I think you will enjoy reading Jimmy’s insightful article on this timely topic. I am so grateful for your Love of the gospel. We appreciate all your expressions of love when you give to support this ministry. On behalf of our team, thank you and we LOVE you! Rick Allen National Director MM/LFTL

LOVE FOR GOD’S MISSION Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’”

od’s call to missions and ministry has come to thousands of people since 1953, the year LFTL was founded. Since then, LFTL has invested more than $330 million to provide them with evangelism tools. Their love of missions is inspiring.

duce visual, audio and print resources in Asia Pacific. Here is a group of their colleagues working to spread the gospel throughout Asia Pacific. Over the years, thousands have met Jesus through their ministry. We are so

We appreciate missionaries like Bill and Kim Snider who use LFTL funds to pro-

Filipino believers using resources we provided. Bill and Kim Snider, Asia Pacific media ministry.

thankful to have your partnership in missions so that missionaries like the Snider’s are well-resourced for the work.

LOVE FOR GOD’S WORD Psalm 199:105 “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

igerian pastor Bulus Tsetu loved the Word of God so much that he dedicated years of his life to help translate the Hausa FireBible despite threats from Muslim radicals who wanted to stop his ministry. Tsetu never got to see the Hausa FireBible completed.

360 SPOTLIGHT

Tsetu was taken by a mob of men who tortured and dismembered him, and then set him on fire. Tsetu’s sons found their father’s body the next day. LFTL was honored to help complete the Hausa FireBible. Today many Hausa pastors use it in Nigeria. The love that Tsetu had for God’s Word is very inspiring to us.

Artistic rendering of Pastor Bulus Tsetu before his death.

LOVE FOR THE LOST Acts 26:18 “…to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in [Christ].”

lorisvaldo Oliveira was serving life in prison for more than 50 murders. But love, and a strong belief in God’s mercy, brought two spirit-filled women to visit him in 1992.

Oliveira at his arrest in 1990.

At his ordination in 2012. The women shared the gospel with Oliveira and gave him a Bible and a tract provided by LFTL. That tract helped Oliveira understand his need for God’s mercy. He was saved and discipled in that prison. Oliveira eventually led hundreds of prisoners to Christ and was even ordained. It all began with an act of love. Every prayer and every gift you invest in missions is an act of love. Thank you for expressing your love for lost people through LFTL!

LOVE FOR THE “UNLOVEABLE” Jonah 4:4,11 “Do you have any right to be angry ... Should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left?”

uslim rebels murdered several of Danilo Milan’s family members, so he joined the marines hoping to kill as many Muslims as he could. But God found Danilo, saved him, and called him to reach Muslims—the people he’d hated most of all.

Two years later, Danilo was shot twice in the chest by Muslims he was trying to reach. He miraculously survived! We asked Danilo about his Muslim ministry. “We must go to them, no matter what. Jesus saved me, so why can’t He even save these people also?” Love for the “unloveables!” LFTL is thrilled to help people like Danilo express this love through Christ Jesus.

Danilo Milan, evangelist to Muslims.

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? MEN’S MINISTRIES SAYS, “A LOT!”

en are stereotyped as unable or unwilling to connect deeply in relationships—romantic, friendly, or professional. Here’s a thought about why this could be: maybe some men don’t truly love themselves! Men fail, as all humans do. But for men, failure can be deeply wounding. In all things great and small, men want victory and success. We’re built for it. So we berate and punish ourselves harshly when we sin, or otherwise

fail. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if a man can’t love himself, how can he love his neighbor? How can he follow Jesus’ command? Men’s Ministries has two FREE resources that can help a man discover how to love himself in the ways God intends. At men.ag.org/discipleship/identity is a lesson series titled Fruit of Failure. I recommend you review this series, as it deals specifically with loving oneself even in failure.

The next resource is at men.ag.org/discipleship/relationships, titled Courage. This series teaches men how to build solid relationship principles that will help them love others. In closing, here are two action steps you might consider taking: 1. If you’re a man, take this month to learn to love yourself, and then others, in a deeper way. This can help you alter your family, your home, and your life. 2. Ask God to recommend to you a man, or men, who really need to hear this message. Pray for them and encourage them to look at these resources. May God bless you this month. We love you and are praying for you! Dr. Jimmy White is director of discipleship for Men’s Ministries. You can email Jimmy at jdwhite@ag.org or call him at 417.862.2781 ext. 4171

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ANOTHER LOVE STORY: THE BIBLE “HUG PHOTO.”

was in Malang, Indonesia, several years ago where I met an Indonesian pastor reading a Bahasa FireBible. When I asked about his FireBible, this pastor (whose name honestly escapes me, sorry) said he loved it. He added, “I read it every day and preach from it. This has transformed my knowledge of the Word.” He hugged his FireBible tightly as I snapped a photo. This image has been published many times. I love seeing it. Wow, the look on his face! This man truly LOVES God’s Word, and especially his FireBible. Over the years, people like you have made tens of thousands of “hug photos” like this possible because you also love God’s Word, God’s mission, and lost people. Sending the gospel to the nations through LFTL is part of who you are!

The Bible “hug photo.” today, please send an offering, so we can see more “hug photos” like this! We appreciate and value every prayer and gift you invest into this ministry. Dan is Director of Communications and Development for LFTL and MM. He was a ‘missions journalist’ from 2004 to 2018, during which time he wrote and directed LFTL’s Celebrate the Light. Email Dan at dkersten@ag.org or call 417.862.2781 ext. 4174. He would love to hear from you.

Thank you for helping LFTL share the gospel all over the world. If you are able

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To receive a digital version of the LFTL© 360 Spotlight, sign up at lftl.ag.org or e-mail request to lftl@ag.org. 360 Spotlight is the oﬃcial voice of Light for the Lost, an evangelism missions focus of the Assemblies of God. National Light for the Lost Director: Rick Allen; LFTL Advisory Committee; Designer: Josh Thomassen. LFTL may be reached at 1445 N. Boonville Avenue, Springﬁeld, MO 65802. Please feel free to visit our website: lftl.ag.org or send us an email at: lftl@ag.org. If you are a missionary or missions partner that utilizes Light for the Lost funds and would like to send us your story, please email us at lftl@ag.org.