Greetings from Addis Ababa Ethiopia!  Thank you for your prayers, I made it!

My connection at Dulles went off without a hitch.  I took the shuttle to my terminal and found the gate for Ethiopian Airlines.  I wasn’t there long before I ran into my friend Mark Hollingsworth from Compasssion International; the leader of our trip.  Soon , the rest of the team of other radio people started showing up from their various locations.  We quickly began to get to know each other and joke around.   This will be such an experience to have together.  There are several of us that are new at this.

While we waited for the last few radio people to arrive, we sat around, looked at a map of Ethiopia and talked about the upcoming trip.  Soon after that we had dinner and boarded the plane for our 14 hour flight!    The descent and departure in and out of Rome (our fuel stop) was beautiful.   I peeked out the window every once in a while to see mainly water or dessert.   I was able to see the sun set as we made our descent into Addis Ababa and it looked like the sky was on fire!  So gorgeous…thank you Lord!   I can’t believe I’m across the world!

The airport experience and drive from there to the hotel we are staying at was already eye opening and definitely affected me.  I am looking forward to seeing the hope and the provision that Compassion is providing to so many (and through many of you!) and I know that they can provide for so many more like those I saw today!  It will be great to hear the first hand accounts from the children and families.

Looking forward to sharing more of my experiences with you in pictures and reports.

Stacey  Gagne

-Experiencing Compassion in Ethiopia

JOHN SHIRK – Psalm 119, verse 105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

In a world that is darkened by sin, we need light to be able to move forward without stumbling.  God’s Word here is compared to a lamp that keeps our feet on the right path.  This is enough light for our next step, but not enough to see our whole journey.  This requires faith that trusts in God to lead us, and to believe that His wisdom is higher than ours. The guiding impact of God’s Word on our lives is that His counsel is a light to show us where to go and what to do. His direction will lead us to productive places that bring honor to His name.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.  

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Psalm 119:14 says, “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.” 

A statute is a decree or law issued by a ruler or governing body.  In this case, a statute is a law given by God.  The prophet Isaiah talked about the LORD as being our lawgiver. The writer viewed God’s statutes as a precious treasure, not a rule book to be followed grudgingly.  Like a loving parent whose house rules are designed to protect children from harm and provide for their well-being, so God’s statutes have great value to protect us and provide for us. We ignore God’s laws at our own peril.

Psalm 19:8 says “The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.” The joyful impact of God’s Word is that His truth is a treasure that enriches our soul.  Our conscience is at peace when we have the assurance that we are doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord, and pleasing Him with a trusting heart.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

STACEY GAGNE – We received an email from a listener going through some difficult times.  She shared with us how God used WJTL to help her….

“Dear WJTL,

I just wanted to take the time to thank you for the impact you have
made in my life, and especially in the last week.  I moved into this
area a little over a year ago, and have been hooked on your station
ever since.  So, now to the point of this e-mail.

Last Monday, we were informed that my grandfather, who had been a
relatively healthy 74 year old up until a couple weeks ago, has a
tumor on his pancreas, and that it’s cancerous.  To top that off, I
got a call Thursday that my sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast
cancer at the age of 32.  We don’t know what stage either of them
are at yet, we are still waiting for the many test results.  All our
family can do right now is pray that God’s will be done and for
peace in the midst of this storm.

That is where you come in.  You have no idea how God has used you in
the last week to bless me.  As I drive to and from each work each
day, I tune into your station, and God always does his work.
Whether it’s a song about how great our God is to how awesome his
healing power is to just the right song to make me laugh when I’m
feeling down.  You let God use you, and it has made a terrible week
bearable.  I have laughed, I have cried, and spent may commutes
singing along, making your songs my prayers.

So, I said all that to say a giant thank you!  And encourage you to
continue to allow God to do His awesome work through you.  I’m sure
you get letters every day about how God uses you, but I really
needed to tell you what he is doing through you in my life.

Many blessings to you!
A Listener named Kelly

***********************************************

Thankful that God is using us!

Stacey Gagne

STACEY GAGNE – Wow, it’s hard to believe that in less than a week I’ll be boarding a plane and heading to Ethiopia!  I received my Trip Guide put together by Compassion and it has a wealth of information to prepare me for my adventures.  I’m so thankful that they are already taking good care of me as I head to the other side of the world with them.

People have asked if I have a sponsored child in Africa and I don’t (yet).   I sponsor a (now) young man named Miguel from Bolivia.  I sponsored him during one of WJTL’s 26 Hours of Compassion several years ago.  He’s 15 now.  It’s so fun to receive letters from him and to watch him grow.  At first his letters were mostly pictures and now he sends thoughtful letters.    I know that at the center he is receiving Bible teaching, education, field trips,  and fun activities with people who desire to show him God’s love as they care for him.  He tells me about what he is learning and thanks me often.   It’s always amazing to me how his letters can be so encouraging to me.

Having never been overseas, I am sure that this trip will help me understand even more clearly why Compassion’s ministry is so important and even to relate better to my sponsored child!

Stay tuned for my live reports and blogs next week!!

JOHN SHIRK – Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

One of the reasons that studying the Bible is so valuable is that God’s Word is a trainer of righteousness.  Sometimes, we might read the Scriptures and learn that our lives are not lining up with how God wants us to live.  As we read the Bible with a teachable spirit, we might become convicted that a change is needed in a particular behavior or attitude. God leads us to repentance through His kindness. As God’s Word is stored up in our heart as a treasure, we cling more tightly to the truth of the Scriptures. The values of the world loosen their grip on us.  The purifying impact of God’s Word on our lives is that He teaches us to hate what is evil and cling to what is good. We come to recognize our need for Jesus, the sinless one, who died on the cross to take away the guilt of our sin and give us a new life filled with hope. His Word will give us a craving for His righteousness.

That is today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – God is passionate about forming godly character within us.  He wants us to grow mature in the faith and produce fruit for His glory. His intention to make us holy fills the pages of Scripture in places like Second Peter 1, verses 5 to 7.

“For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love.”

These are qualities that form the building blocks of faith.  It is God’s will for our faith to be expressed in love.  These qualities are highly effective in representing Jesus to the world.  Verse 8 says, “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

FRED MCNAUGHTON – Matt Greiner is the drummer of August Burns Red.  Matt originally hails from Manheim and now lives in Lititz.  August Burns Red has become one of the most popular bands in Christian Music as evidenced by their popularity at this year’s Purple Door Festival.  Matt and ABR lead vocalist Jake Luhrs have begun an online ministry to meet the needs of their listeners.

Matt Greiner of August Burns Red

Check out the site, it’s pretty awesome YourLifeMinistries.com

You can also listen to Matt’s interview Here

JOHN SHIRK – The Bible says that we are God’s workmanship.  A good way of viewing that is through the making of pottery.   

Isaiah 64:8 compares us to the clay and God as the potter.  He makes the pottery in ways that reflect His beauty and glory.  “Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

God is still working on each of us as long as we have breath.  For best results, stay tender before God.  We are His masterpieces, designed and shaped by God to be useful in His kingdom and to reflect His glory while we live on the earth.  The clay does not deserve credit for its design.  The potter does.  Perhaps that is why David said in Psalm 139, “I praise you, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Your works are wonderful. I know that full well.”

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Psalm 37:5 urges us to commit our way to the LORD. “Trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Between dawn and noon, the day gets brighter and brighter and brighter.  This is what it’s like for the person who follows Jesus with a trusting heart.  Our witness for Jesus shines brighter.  As we walk with Him, He teaches us His ways and shows us the way to go so we that we will represent Him in the world. 

When we have the desire to do something, it’s good to pray about it. Maybe God gives us a desire to lead a Bible study, or organize a community outreach for our church.  Maybe we are concerned about the poor among us and want to help in some tangible way. We can  say something like this: “Lord, is this something you want me to do?” Prayer is a significant way to commit our way to the Lord.  This will put us in a better position to do God’s work in God’s timetable with the attitude of Christ.  Righteousness and justice will shine brightly through out witness for Jesus when we commit our way to God.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com