One of the other little buildings on our walks (Taken with instagram)
One of the other little buildings on our walks (Taken with instagram)
Hi,
March of the $10
When I was out for a walk the other morning I was thinking about how to get more people involved in this part of the Great Commission that we are responsible for. I was thinking we certainly need more human resources, that is what Jesus had his disciples start to pray for in Matthew 9 … pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth more laborers into His harvest. And we also need more money, both major donors and the faithful ones that keep it all going every month. We love to look back and see all that the Lord has done but not for to long since there is such a long way to go.
What if all those who aren’t involved in anyway started by praying for 10 minutes and giving $10.00/month? Would that make a difference? YES!!
Let me illustrate. Do you know the story (short version) of the March of Dimes?
The March of Dimes is one of the most successful and well-known nonprofit foundations in the United States. It was founded to fight polio, and after the disease was controlled by the invention of a vaccine, the March of Dimes turned its efforts to eradicating birth defects.
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/march-of-dimes#ixzz1IYsRzgOL
I don’t know if anyone thought Polio could be dealt with so successfully in a short period of time. But when so many people got involved by giving, even a dime, it made a HUGE difference in the research and development of a vaccine.
What difference can a lot of people make by praying for 10 minutes and giving $10.00/month in an area of the world where only 4% are born again? One way to find out. We have a plan that we are expanding on greatly this next year, it is a great time to become a part.
How and where to join this Team please go to the bottom of the email.
God’s geographical view of Greater Europe. Our first phase goal is to establish 100 RHEMA Bible Training Center Campuses in this green area by 2018. There are other phases like evangelism and church planting, that I will share more about soon. Save the Lost, Establish the Saved, Train the Established and Position the Trained.
Spencer and Gabi to Panama in July
Spencer and Gabi are getting geared up for their missions trip to Panama in July. They are looking forward to seeing a completely different culture than what they have grown up in and how the gospel can be preached to the people on these small islands off the coast of Panama. They are both doing great and God is speaking to their hearts about their future.
You can be a part of this trip thru giving also. http://grunewald.org/invest
Kilimanjaro - January 2012
This is a repeat of last month. Might have some more specific info during May.
In January 2012 we (Zack, Spencer and I) are going to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. For me this has been a long time desire. Why you ask? Not sure, just always wanted to do it. Wish I could have done it 30 years ago but I didn’t so now will be a good time since both boys will be able to come along.
Now if you’re saying, “I want to come along also”, well, come along! One of our RHEMA Germany graduates and Pastors did the climb about 4 years ago with some men from his church and he is organizing the trip. This is not a technical climb, no ropes or anything like that it is just a 5 or 6 day hike to the top. You will go thru every climate zone and finally reach 19,341 feet. Do some reading up on Kili so you have a good idea what it involves. The following paragraph is from Wikipedia.
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is an inactive stratovolcano in north-eastern Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres or 19,341 ft above sea level (the Uhuru Peak/Kibo Peak).[3] Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain as well as the 4th most prominent mountain in the world, rising 5,882 metres or 19,298 ft from the base.
How much will it cost? We are working on that. For now I would like to start an “I am interested list”. I would need your names and email address’s. Please put in the subject line “Kilimanjaro”. After we get the final info I will let all the interested know and turn the list into “I’m going to Kili” list.
Right now there are over 20 people on the “I am interested list”.
Mt. Kilimanjaro
What’s this? No, it’s not the Richter scale.
Here is a picture of the Euro/USD exchange rate from the inception of the Euro in 1999. If you are a missionary or business person who lives overseas and is paid in $$ this has not been a steady 12 years. The higher the line goes on this chart the worse it gets for the exchange rate. The best was for awhile in 2001 when you could buy 1 Euro for about 84 cents. Today 1 Euro costs about $1.45 This is one very good reason why a person’s trust should NOT be in money.
With the exchange rate, the cheap gas right now is $8.07/Gallon. Makes a person want to laugh very loud.
Becoming a part of the Team
To become a part of the Team that is reaching Europe, Africa and the Middle East you can send donations to the USA address below or go to http://grunewald.org/invest If you will commit to pray for us and these areas even 10 minutes a month please let us know.
We are stronger together,
John and Michelle
Grunewald Ministries Inc.
Europe
Wald Strasse 38
53343 Wachtberg
GERMANY
+49(0)228.932 5129
+49(0)173.21 22 578
USA
3728 S. Elm Place, #546
Broken Arrow, OK 74011
918.808.4545
Grunewald5@gmail.com
Garage Project
You know when you decide to clean out the garage or the basement and it seems like a good idea but as you get into the project you realize it is going to take more than just organizing? And more than just a few hours? You’ll need shelves if you are really going to clean up, some things will have to be hauled off … That good idea just consumed your day or weekend. It was still a good idea, it just involved more than you had originally thought or planned.
Over the years I have found the ideas, dreams, mandates or vision God gives us to be much the same … in our mind we see a cleaned up garage or basement, the end product of our work. So we start but then realize the amount of time and effort it will take to get to the end. That is why we see so many unfinished projects in people’s lives. Experience is sometimes a good teacher for the future. Plus learning how to plan so we can take all of our good and God ideas and turn them into “End Products”. Sometimes that good or great idea is just a seed and God wants us to grow it into something that becomes an important part of “The Church”.
That one seed of vision God put in Michelle’s and my heart 30 years ago is still growing and involves more people, places, travel, money and and and then we had envisioned. For some years this was almost overwhelming until we realized that God would continue to give us more to do, that is how He works. But in His design for all of us was also the plan to disciple, delegate, entrust, empower, build, grow, train etc. It is only by multiplying ourselves that we can ever finish with the “Garage Project” that God entrusts us with. If we have the vision but don’t understand the rest of His plans and patterns we can easily burn out and quit. How many times have we seen this happen?
Our churches must be filled with vision, but also with these other parts of how God functions and wants us to function. Better to take the time and learn how to function than to be dysfunctional. God wants everyone involved in His Garage Project and He has a way for this to be a reality.
Training Centers Europe
In the beginning of February I was in Athens, Greece again and Michelle was in Nice, France. We were both teaching classes in RHEMA Bible Training Centers. In March I was in The Netherlands ministering in a church and their church Bible School, Michelle went to Ulm, Germany to teach Prayer at the RBTC Campus and the end of the month I am in Bavaria ministering. Our network is growing and working.
Mountains in the area of Albania and Croatia
Training Centers Africa
In early April I will be in Nigeria teaching at RBTC Abuja, Nigeria, meeting the leadership, speaking to alumni and ministering in a local church. I was going to go to RBTC Lusaka, Zambia on the same trip but decided to go there separately. Plane connections in Africa aren’t as smooth as many other parts of the world.
Church
I am gone many Sunday’s now and Alex Harten our associate has taken over much of the Pastoral duties. The church is strong and growing, just where we wanted it to be. I do minister some when I am home, but I also like to sit in the front row and listen.
Kilimanjaro - January 2012
In January 2012 we (Zack, Spencer and I) are going to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. For me this has been a long time desire. Why you ask? Not sure, just always wanted to do it. Wish I could have done it 30 years ago but I didn’t so now will be a good time since both boys will be able to come along.
Now if you’re saying, “I want to come along also”, well, come along! One of our RHEMA Germany graduates and Pastors did the climb about 4 years ago with some men from his church and he is organizing the trip. This is not a technical climb, no ropes or anything like that it is just a 5 or 6 day hike to the top. You will go thru every climate zone and finally reach 19,341 feet. Do some reading up on Kili so you have a good idea what it involves. The following paragraph is from Wikipedia.
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is an inactive stratovolcano in north-eastern Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres or 19,341 ft above sea level (the Uhuru Peak/Kibo Peak).[3] Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain as well as the 4th most prominent mountain in the world, rising 5,882 metres or 19,298 ft from the base.
How much will it cost? We are working on that. For now I would like to start an “I am interested list”. I would need your names and email address’s. Please put in the subject line “Kilimanjaro”. After we get the final info I will let all the interested know and turn the list into “I’m going to Kili” list.
Mt. Kilimanjaro
Team
Become a part of the Team that is reaching Europe, Africa and the Middle East. I will explain more about this in future Missions Notes. It is good to be a part of something much bigger than your selves but where your part and contribution is still valuable and necessary. There is something for everyone and I will explain what this is soon. One easy way to become a part is by becoming a prayer and financial team member.
I want to encourage you to check out www.grunewald.org You can find out more about what we are doing, read current FB entries, find our itinerary and easily donate.
Kids
Spencer and Gabi will be going on a missions trip to Panama in July. Primarily they will be on some small islands sharing the Good News with children and adults in a variety of ways. Even though our kids have grown up on the mission field it is important for them to reach out in other areas of the world and experience different cultures. If you would like to help them “GO” on this trip you can donate through http://www.grunewald.org/invest Anything is much appreciated.
Creation and Evolution
Spencer is also becoming quite the expert where Creation and Evolution is involved. He has a presentation made that he can use in Youth groups etc.
Other
The painting below is by Allan Bruce Zee titled “Waiting for the Believers”.
That is much of the world, people with empty hearts waiting to be filled with God. We have a message to take to this world … and they are waiting.
Hi from Germany,
I get a lot of emails, many which are junk but I received this cute one the other day from crosswalk.com.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HYMNS AND PRAISE CHORUSES
An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was. ”Well,” said the farmer, “It was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns.” ”Praise choruses,” said his wife, “What are those?”
“Oh, they’re okay. They’re sort of like hymns, only different,” said the farmer. ”Well, what’s the difference?” asked the wife.
The farmer said, “Well, it’s like this. If I were to say to you, ‘Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well that would be a hymn. If on the other hand I was to say to you, ‘Martha, Martha, Martha, Oh Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA, the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows, the white cows, the black and white cows, the COWS, COWS, COWS, are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn,’ well, that would be a praise chorus.”
2010/2011 (see attached letter at bottom for more on 2010)
The end of 2010 finished and 2011 started with me traveling. In December I was in Athens teaching a 15 hour course on the Believers Authority and then to Geneva teaching the same course. Both places are unique, lovely and the students were outstanding. Both of these trips were a planes, trains and automobile experience. Snow was causing problems for some airports. It was 72 degrees F when I left the Athens airport and we had about 8” of snow when I got back into Bonn. In December we had the most snow we have seen in the 17+ years we have been here. Most of it has melted, we just have the remains of the largest snow pile.
In the first week of January I was off to Austria to teach 15 hours of Leadership. Another great group of students and no travel problems this time. In January I will also be in other parts of Germany ministering.
Then in February back to Athens for a few days then 2 weeks in USA.
More and more as we travel to take care of the growing aspect of of the Training Centers I am away from the church. We knew this day would come and prepared for it. Alexander, my associate, has taken on a lot of the responsibility for the church and done a great job. He is married with 2 children, German, and has a very good understanding of the church. Even with me gone so much in 2010 the church continued to grow.
RHEMA Athens, Greece December 2010
RHEMA Geneva, Switzerland and Nice, France combined December 2010
I attended a Teen Challenge Dinner Fund raiser in Milwaukee in November and got to meet President Bush. I have always wanted to meet a President, #43 was the first, who is next?
Meeting George Bush November 2010
Perfect Plan, Imperfect People
Save, Establish, Train and Position
In Ephesian 4 after it talks about the Spiritual Leadership offices that God placed in the church, it goes on to say how SL’s are to help other members of the body of Christ into position to do the work of the ministry. Being a leader isn’t easy and being a follower isn’t easy. Why? Because leaders are imperfect and followers are imperfect. Spiritual growth and maturity are to help alleviate many of the problems in this process of leading and following.
Seems like so many people are searching for their position in life and the Body of Christ. Seems like so much of what we do is about getting people into position. This is true for the individual, the local church, the Training Centers and new church plants. Our partners help keep us in a position to minister to all these groups of people. We say a very big “Thank You” to our partners and friends!!
Coming this Summer
What’s coming this summer? For us we will be in the States some, visiting churches and sharing the vision. If you would like us to come, let me know.
Spencer and Gabi will be going to Panama with their Aunt Lauren who works with Go International. This is a 10 day trip and will expose them to another part of the world where they can give out what is in them. Germany isn’t so much missions to them in the traditional sense since they have grown up here. I really wish I would have done some things like this when I was younger. But I din’t even become a Christian until I was 17 so missions was not something in my vocabulary.
If you would be interested in helping us with this mission trip for the kids you can donate thru our website or by the USA address below. These trips always include many people coming to Christ so it is a double good investment.
Quotes
When those around us overlook and forget things unintentionally, we need to overlook and forget some things intentionally.
Fear brings failure like faith brings success.
The farther you go with God, the less options there are.
I want to encourage you to check out www.grunewald.org You can find out more about what we are doing, read current FB entries, find our itinerary and easily donate.
Working together to reach the world,
John & Michelle Grunewald
Hi from Germany,
Thought I would start off with a quote this month.
To walk in victory we must all take a daily dose of dominion.
Dominion was one of the first gifts/responsibilities God gave to man, and then he said be fruitful and multiply. You can multiply w/o dominion; the results just aren’t as good. This is true of society and a family.
Home
Ok, so the other day Spencer and I were going to do some work outside getting rid of the rest of the leaves in the yard. As Spencer is looking for gloves he pulls something out of the box where we keep gloves and says, “what is this?” It was about the size of an ipod but the little bit of writing on it didn’t help us to determine what it was. So, I go back to putting by boots on when I hear this sound like when you fire a pellet gun, Spencer goes “uh oh, I’m sorry”. I asked “for what?” He points to the ceiling and there is this big red dripping splotch on the ceiling. Then our eyes start burning and it is hard to breath. I had been gone for about 2 weeks right before this and while I was gone someone had given Michelle this little device that dispenses a red pepper spray. Now our foyer looks like someone had been shot in there recently. Might be time to paint over the holidays.
Spencer, 14 years old, August 2010. This moose is made out of barbed wire. Jackson County Colorado
Just returning from teaching at RBTC Athens, Greece. Great time with a group of hungry students.
Here are a couple of pictures from on the way there.
Swiss Alps
Athens Coastline
Be a part of something bigger than your self
What are God’s thoughts about the people of every nation?
Here is a good reminder from something Max Lucado wrote.
We gain great insight into Who God is, what He thinks, How He feels .. in scripture. In Act 2 .. The Day of Pentecost comes and some strange things happen. Some things many people have found difficult to explain. But no matter your interpretation of the events of Acts 2 consider this.
At least this much: God loves the nations. He loves Iraqis. Somalians. Israelis. New Zealanders. Hondurans. He has a white-hot passion to harvest his children from every jungle, neighborhood, village, and slum. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” (Ps. 96:1–3 ESV). God spoke to us through Isaiah: “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isa.49:6 ESV).
His vision for the end of history includes “people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9 NCV). God longs to proclaim his greatness in all 6,909 languages that exist in the world today. He loves subcultures: the gypsies of Turkey, the hippies of California, the cowboys and rednecks of West Texas. He has a heart for bikers and hikers, tree huggers and academics. Single moms. Grayflanneled executives. He loves all people groups and equips us to be his voice. He commissions common Galileans, Nebraskans, Brazilians, and Koreans to speak the languages of the peoples of the world. He teaches us the vocabulary of distant lands, the dialect of the discouraged neighbor, the vernacular of the lonely heart, and the idiom of the young student. God outfits his followers to cross cultures and touch hearts.
Years ago when Michelle and I met as students at RHEMA (1980) we had no idea what the future would hold. We are glad to be involved in something that is way bigger than us. Together with our family, friends and partners we have been involved pioneering churches and Bible Training Centers. Today RHEMA is a great team of people all over the world with more than 80 campuses worldwide. (see list below)
The Americas (53 Campuses)
RHEMA USA—Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
RHEMA USA CEB RHEMA—Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
RHEMA Montreal—Quebec
RHEMA Drummondville—Quebec
RHEMA Mexico
RHEMA San Jose—Costa Rica
RHEMA Bogotá—Colombia
RHEMA Barranquilla—Colombia
RHEMA Cochabamba—Bolivia
RHEMA Peru (13 Campuses)
RHEMA Santiago—Chile
RHEMA Brazil (29 Campuses)
RHEMA Angola, West Africa
Europe/Middle East/Africa (22 Campuses)
RHEMA Germany (3 Campuses)
RHEMA Brussels—Belgium (Opening in 2011)
RHEMA Wels—Austria
RHEMA Lienz—Austria
RHEMA Italy (2 Campuses)
RHEMA Athens—Greece
RHEMA Romania
RHEMA Geneva, Switzerland
RHEMA Nice—France
RHEMA Egypt
RHEMA Abuja—Nigeria
RHEMA Lusaka—Zambia (Opening in 2011)
RHEMA Belfast—Ireland (Opening in 2011)
RHEMA Manchester—England
RHEMA Coventry—England
RHEMA Aylesbury—England (Opening in 2011)
RHEMA Sevastopol—Ukraine
RHEMA Sumy—Ukraine
RHEMA Kiev—Ukraine
Asia/Oceania (10 Campuses)
RHEMA India
RHEMA Singapore
RHEMA Thailand
RHEMA Myanmar
RHEMA Indonesia
RHEMA South Pacific—Apia, Samoa
RHEMA Australia
RHEMA Papua New Guinea
RHEMA Russia Far East
RHEMA Northeast Asia
Check out www.grunewald.org and www.rhema.eu for what is going on in our part of the world.
Thanks again for helping us to reach the world,
John, Michelle, Zack, Spencer and Gabi
Contents
Zack, John, Michelle, Gabi, Spencer
What’s up?
September and October have been good months with lots of great ministry.
We did a variety of messages in church during this time. Normally we do series but decided not to on purpose for a little while. All messages can be downloaded free at www.rhema-germany.de/downloads
In the Bible training Centers Michelle and I were teaching weekends on Pastoral Care, Prayer Principles, Giving and Receiving ….. we love teaching hungry students knowing lives are being changed and that some will go out and lead change to even greater numbers of people.
We continue to open more Training Center campuses.
These are vital in the process of planting more churches in Europe and beyond. This is one area that is way bigger than we are and requires teamwork and partnership. ( See Bigger below) We have a great team in Europe and know that we can do more together than by ourselves.
All this is part of the Save – Establish - Train – Position or Send.
Michelle was in the USA for a short trip during September. First in NC for a long weekend and then attended the Kindle the Flame women’s conference in Tulsa and got to see Zack some.
The kids and I did a lot of Man Cooking during Michelle’s trip. We grill all year but did a little extra. This isn’t Florida so it isn’t that the weather is great all year but through rain, sleet or snow …… except for Sunday’s and maybe Saturday’s in the near future.
Towards the end of October we have our European Directors meeting where the directors of all the RHEMA Campuses in Europe come to Bonn (this year) and we take care of a lot of business and laugh a lot.
Do something you love with people you trust and enjoy. We do and it makes life what it was meant to be.
Bigger
It’s always good to be a part of something bigger than you.
This is a concept that is very normal for me today but I had limited understanding of many years ago.
When I was single I struggled with the idea of marriage. This was due to upbringing and observing most marriages.
After I met Michelle and had the idea of marriage I was still struggling with this whole thing and had many talks with God. He is a good listener and every now and then He speaks in a way that gets through to me.
So one day as I am driving along thinking about marriage I kind of asked the question, “Give me one reason why I should get married?”. This had nothing to do with Michelle and everything to do with my observations and me. I heard very clear that day, “The vision that I have given you is not a ME vision but a WE vision”.
Ok, marriage isn’t just about fulfilling a vision, but He was speaking to me in a way I would understand at that time.
I am glad I listened, October 11th, Michelle and I had our 30th anniversary.
But the bigger part of what He said that day is true for all of us and what we are to do with our lives here on the earth.
Get involved in something so big you cannot do it without a lot of help. My suggestion, Help Build the Church!
This project is so big it will take many people, many partners and lots of teamwork to fulfill the vision.
That is where we find ourselves today.
The job, the vision, the mandate, the calling … it’s all bigger than we can do by ourselves or even with the faithful team, volunteers or partner’s we currently have.
As we reach out further into Europe, Africa and the Middle East we need more of WE! WE could be you!
Click here to go to http://www.grunewald.org/how-to-help and see how you can be a part of something much bigger than yourself. Big Thanks!!
Righteousness exalts a nation
These are just a few thoughts on a subject that could use a lot of time.
Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. NKJV
Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. NLT
This is just one verse out of a great chapter. Please read it if you haven’t lately.
From our own life to the decisions we make, our actions and even when we vote this has great implications.
God has never needed a Christian in political office to get His will done. But He does need His people understanding His will and His ways and praying for those in authority to make righteous decisions.
Having said that, let’s please vote Biblically smart.
George Barna of Barna Group wrote a book called Think like Jesus and here is a short explanation of why he wrote it.
Have you ever wondered why research consistently shows that most born again Christians are indistinguishable from non-Christians in their attitudes and behavior? Have you been concerned that the Church is not having the influence it ought to have on our society?
Based on years of research and testing, George Barna addresses these important issues in his compelling new book, Think Like Jesus. The premise is simple: you cannot act like Jesus until you think like Jesus. So, how can we think like Jesus?
Barna contends that the key is developing a worldview that incorporates critical scriptural principles and translates those beliefs into specific action. In this practical, readable book, Barna describes what his research revealed about the people who think and behave on the basis of a biblical worldview. He found that rather than simply participating in numerous church programs, completing studies on books of the Bible, or memorizing Bible passages, the people who are able to think like Jesus are the ones who ask themselves seven key questions prior to making critical life decisions. In addition to identifying those questions, Barna provides the reader with extensive biblical references and discussion to help unfold the answer to each of those questions, enabling the reader to conceive a biblical worldview that leads to consistently better choices.
The book provides evidence of the impact that this approach makes in a person’s life, as well as thought-provoking explanations of how to apply such information in daily situations.
If we don’t have a Biblical view of the world then we must have a worldly view of the Bible. Ouch! That doesn’t help anyone or any nation and it will bring disgrace.
What does history tell us about the path a nation follows?
How is it possible to make correct decisions with a worldly view of the Bible? The book that teaches us all about life.
The church is more important to a nation than the government. But then the church must take its place or the government will lead, and quite possibly with the wrong people, motives, values and goals.
All on this for now.
Our prayer for you can be found in Colossians 1 and Ephesians 1.
We appreciate you and the difference you are making,
John, Michelle, Zack, Spencer and Gabi
GM Missions Notes September 2010
I just got back from Ireland (N. Ireland) where I took part in a one year church anniversary celebration.
One of the things that we really like to see is a good new church being planted. David and Claire Cullen and their church family, (Life Triumphant Church) have a lot to be thankful for from their first year. Their church has the feel of a church that has been around longer than one year so “Congratulation David and Claire, the future looks bright”.
Just before traveling to Ireland I taught Pastoral Care and did personality profiles with 2nd year students. We did this over a long weekend (my part was Thursday and Friday) so we can spend more time getting to know each other. What a great class. I was impressed with all of their input during discussion times.
In August we finished up our summer trip to the USA. Like every year it was a very good trip seeing some family, ministering around in different churches. We were in AL, MO and CO …. Great time everywhere. Thanks to everyone along the way for making it a great summer for our kids.
We are extremely blessed with great friends.
We arrived back in Germany just in time to get the kids back in school a few days late. Didn’t seem to bother the kids. Spencer is in 9th grade and Gabi in 8th and both are growing up into such nice young adults.
Zack, you are in Tulsa so you don’t get much mention in this issue of GM - MN’s. But we do miss you!
“Life is good”
This could get me in trouble but I am just wondering.
I see this on FB a lot. Glad to hear “life is good” but I often wonder if that means the last 10, 20 or 30 years have been good overall? Or, the last hour or day? Or is it a momentary feeling? Or ???
Peter told us (1 Peter 3:10) He who would love life and see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
hmmmmm. Again, just wondering.
Life is Good!
A testimony from a church member
13 Aug 10 was the last day of a weeklong Christian retreat my son took part in. Parents and siblings were all there, kids did presentations, a day full of games and laughter. There was also a fire were the kids grilled pieces of bread on sticks.
Suddenly I saw a father with his 5-year-old daughter on his arm running up and screaming: “Call the ambulance, she is bleeding to death.” The girl had fallen from the swing and got hurt at the neck with the sharp tip of a stick that was used to grill bread.
I am a nurse and saw lots of blood bubbling out from the neck and thought immediately it must be the artery. I knew without God’s intervention the child would die, so I immediately started to pray.
My friend pushed me to the girl and said: “You must pray” She said later: I did not have faith but knew you had faith.
The girl was put on a table, I held her feet up and put the other hand on her forefront and kept praying.
The father was leaning over his girl and (as I was told later) another nurse tried to stop the bleeding with cloths and then with a whole kitchen roll.
The only thing I could think was: Father, intervene! Still the bleeding! Keep her conscious! Don’t let her die!
Emergency doctor and rescue helicopter were called. People ran around screaming, looking for dressing for the wound.
The woman who was trying to stop the bleeding also prayed. When she finished, I started to pray in German and suddenly heard God saying: She will live and not die, and declare the works of the Lord. Ps 118,17
I kept on praying and knew everything would be alright. I did not have any special feeling.
Later the father and the other woman told me, that there was a tremendous power flowing when I prayed and they had never heard such powerful prayer.
The only thing I remember is that I commanded the bleeding to stop, and I spoke healing and life in that situation. I did not feel anything special and can hardly remember anything else.
I only know that this prayer came out of my spirit and not out of my head. I had heard God and I knew: Whatever happens, this girl will not die but live and declare the works of the Lord! So I was full of joy and peace. And that spilled over to the father and the other woman. We did not talk but knew: Everything will be alright.
And she was conscious the whole time!
The ambulance came and the young girls circulation was pretty stable. The doctors worked on her and put a special cast on her neck. I saw that the bleeding had stopped.
The helicopter came and took her to the pediatric clinic.
Only then the anointing on me waned. I got goose bumps, shivered and only knew one thing: If God had not intervened, this child would have died before my eyes and I could not have done anything!
In the clinic they saw that the stick had pierced completely and ripped up a big vessel in the neck. The doctor asked the parents if they believe in miracles, because normally this wound would also cause internal bleedings and effusions of blood that then cause death.
The wound started bleeding again, a specialist from Bonn was called and he decided to put her in superficial coma and said to wait.
The next morning I knew on the inside that the outside of the wound was fine but that there was something wrong on the inside.
Immediately my friend and I prayed together and I also prayed the next day after the church service with someone from church. We spoke again life and health over the life of the girl and asked for God’s wisdom for the doctors and that they will do the right things. And we commanded every cell in her body to heal up and function right and that no harm would be able to remain but 100% restoration.
On Sunday afternoon a specialist from Bonn was consulted again, it was a different doctor who decided to operate right away to check the nerves and take out foreign substances if necessary. They found little pieces of wood which they removed. Nerves, vocal chords and trachea were fine and she would not have any lasting harm. This doctor also told the parents that her girl had been in acute life danger and that normally with a wound like that she would have died.
God is great and he is a God who does miracles!
Now the real healing process could start. After 3 days she moved from ICU to normal ward and 2 days later she was dismissed from hospital, because her mother is a pediatric nurse.
A few days before all of this happened, I read in psalms, that God has put his power into our hands.
A few years ago God gave me a word during church service, that we should put God’s Word into our hearts and pray with our understanding and in the spirit to be strong in the inner man because there will be times and situations where we would need it.
This is exactly what I experienced on that Friday. What was on the inside of me flowed out to the girl and she is living.
God is not a respecter of person. He wants to use everyone in this way. So take God’s word in, sing it into you heart. And you will experience what Ps 45:5 says: Promote the truth, in meekness and righteousness, and then your right hand will work wonders. (directly translated from Luther Bible)
Zieh einher für die Wahrheit, in Sanftmut und Gerechtigkeit, so wird deine rechte Hand Wunder vollbringen.(Luther)
God needs people who work together with him! He needs every single person, wherever they are!
Hope you enjoyed this and realize what a difference you are making in the lives of so many people.
We love and appreciate you all,
John, Michelle, Zack, Spencer and Gabi
Gabi, Zack and Spencer
Grunewald Missions Notes May/June/July 2010
Hi From Germany, the airplane and America … seems this is getting written in as I travel.
Right now it’s already August and we have been in the States doing some traveling and ministering, visiting partners and sharing the vision for the part of the Church that we have been assigned to lead and build. This is our “other” job that makes the one we spend the most time on possible. Thanks to all of our great partners who make this possible.
We never get to see as many friends along the way as we would like. If we missed seeing you, let’s try to get together next time.
Thoughts
Years ago my dream was to move to Alaska, homestead property and live there the rest of my life. Not sure it was a totally well thought out plan but I was 17 so give me a break.
Obviously this was not Gods plan for my life. I am glad He knows better than me what I should spend my time on during this life.
Early on my thoughts were about “me” and “my life”. Then somewhere along the way I got the revelation that it wasn’t about me at all really.
There is always a little struggle in this but He who is in me is winning!
If I had followed my dream to Alaska I never would have met all of the amazing people I have met in this life. Never would have found Gods plan for my life and been able to touch the lives we have all these years.
I still plan on visiting Alaska sometime in the near future but for completely different reasons and I won’t stay.
Connected thought
A connected thought with this is no matter what your dream, vision, goal or … might be it will take the grace of God, faith in God and patience to see it come to pass.
First it must be God given otherwise it is a waste of time as far as this life is concerned.
30 years ago God put some things in Michelle’s and my heart .. just now we really see it coming to pass … 30 years!
And now that we see these things working and growing God gives us some extra assignments.
There was an old commercial on TV about hair coloring and the lady said, “If I have just one life to live I am going to live it as a blond”. Remember that?
Well, my version (since I don’t have enough hair to live by what she said) is “If I have but one life to live I am going to live it for God”.
More thoughts
We passed the 4th of July a while back. I love being in America for the 4th but I wasn’t again this year. I love what the 4th of July stands for and the stories behind it. Recently I heard something interesting that tied into the 4th of July and had a great connection to faith.
When Noah Webster published his first American Dictionary it was full of words that up until then had not been a part of the official English language. The American Dictionary added many new words that came from the American Indians, the Dutch, German, French and other people who had come to America. Webster’s dictionary was in essence a 2nd Declaration of Independence saying we also speak differently than those we have declared our independence from.
We as Christians also have our own language of faith. Every time we speak that language we declare that we are free from the authority of darkness and have submitted and committed ourselves to God.
We are in this world but declare our freedom from this worlds system. Sickness, poverty and death will not rule over me! Does your new vocabulary include this?
May and June
There was a lot of travel in May and June. In early May I made a quick trip to Tulsa for some meetings and then ministered in CT and PA while in the US, met some pastors I did not know and also saw some friends I hadn’t seen in some years.
As soon as I got back to Germany I taught a weekend class on The Authority of the Believer. What a great subject and truth.
Michelle was holding down the fort while I was gone.
At the end of May we had graduation in Germany, Austria and Italy. Pastor and Mrs. Hagin were over for this before they traveled on to Africa.
Our Germany graduation this year was an all day event which included a luncheon for graduates, students and family and other special guests.
Then we had a short break and went right into a one hour Prayer school that Michelle led, another short break and a one hour Healing school led by Pastor Erich Engler.
This was all in preparation for the evening graduation service that included a Healing meeting. It all went together well and over 300 people came for healing. Many came forward at the end during the altar call. All in all a very good day for everyone involved.
After Germany we traveled to Austria and Italy for their graduations. It is great to see what God is doing in different parts of the world.
Right after the graduations I made another quick trip to the USA and Canada. The main purpose of this trip was for the graduation at RHEMA Quebec. But first I was in WI, MI and OH ministering and seeing some more friends we have not seen for awhile.
Last year I did the graduation message in Quebec also. I decided to drive from Boston up to Drummondville and did it again this year. What a beautiful drive. It is only about 5 hours one way. On the way back to Boston to fly home I detoured and took a little longer route through Maine. Again, beautiful!
While I was gone, everything continued in Bonn. The Church and Training Center never stop. We have a great team with a lot of experience.
I think this will do it for this Missions Notes.
Thanks,
John
GM Missions Notes April 2010
Hey from Germany again,
Whoa! I am behind on Missions Notes.
Just a thought to start out with. No matter what is going on in your life today, if you have been complaining or thinking about it, just remember the Apostle Paul and what he wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:21-28. With all he had endured for the sake of the gospel he was not a whiner. I haven’t lost anyone yet have I? Smile, your life is probably going a lot better than 2 Corinthians 11.
I was home most of March, which is a rare these days. Just one day in The Netherlands for a Dutch RHEMA Day lunch. (Group picture below) These are always fun with food, fellowship, meeting new friends and planning for the future. It is good to never under value friendship, new friends or divine connections and where they will lead in building the Church. Gods plan is always more amazing than we can see at any given moment.
We hosted a one-day Pastors training in our home. I think everyone went away with something very specific and useful. Then, the next weekend I was in southern Germany teaching Church Pioneering to 2nd year RHEMA Students and stayed and ministered in the Sunday morning service. Michelle was in Northern Germany for an extended weekend ministering at a graduate’s church and also taught a weekend course in Bonn.
April
April travel took Michelle to southern Germany and me to Zurich to minister.
Fortunately the volcano ash didn’t affect our flights. But one of our staff members got an extended stay in England. The Englanders took great care of her and it turned out to be a productive week. Not so good from many thousands of others on the continent.
Church and Training Centers
All the regular church activities took place as usual. Church is healthy and growing, Training Centers are healthy and growing. We did a series in church on Knowing God and His Presence. Simple but great truths that every believer needs to know and be reminded of often. When God was designing a place to live, His first choice wasn’t a gold plated box or Solomon’s Temple, as beautiful as that must have been, but His first choice was to live in us! How can we say, “It just seems like God is so far away” when He lives in us? Paul told the Corinthian church, “Don’t you know that you are temples of the Holy Spirit?”. Again, God’s plan is amazing.
Website
If you haven’t gone to our redone website yet for a look please do so and give us your comments, submit a prayer request and you can invest and partner in every life we touch. www.grunewald.org
And now that I mention it … BIG THANKS to all of our faithful partners who have made this journey so awesome for us and the lives we have been able to minister to. It’s not over yet and there is much more to do.
What’s next?
Always a good question and sometimes we only have hints, other times much more clear direction. What we know for sure is that we are going to keep doing the same things we have done in Europe for the past 17 years. Build the church, by continuing to plant more Training Centers and more local churches. Plus we are starting the expansion of the same things into Africa and the Middle East. Two big projects in themselves. First step, build a leadership team in each place. You can certainly pray for us in all of this. We need all the right people, places, favor, and finances for this to move along as quickly as possible.
Zack, Spencer and Gabi
I saw Zack while I was in Tulsa for a few days in early May.
Spencer and Gabi had a 2-week Easter break but we stayed home instead of traveling.
Gabi had a play at school and Spencer continues to play American Football with the club in Bonn. They had their first game of the season in the middle of April. Spencer started at quarterback but in the 2nd half he got tackled and dislocated his left kneecap. Ambulance had to be called (no choice) and the doctor put it back in place and then he had to have x-rays. Everything looks good but he will have to be out of football for a few weeks at least. The season(s) don’t follow the US football season. They have practice all year and a only few games because there aren’t that many football clubs to play. But the kids love it and they are a good group.
Ok, that will have to do it for this one.
May will take it’s own Missions Notes.
Thanks,
John & Michelle
Grunewald Ministries Inc.
Europe
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USA
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Grunewald5@gmail.com
1. Everyone has some.
2. No matter where you go to school, work or church there wil be problems.
3. You may be someone’s problem.
4. Learn to turn problems into opportunities.
