Dear friends,

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 NIV)

As God’s children, we have a unique perspective of Valentine’s Day.  We not only celebrate the love shared between man and woman, we celebrate the boundless love of a Father toward His children.

This Valentine’s Day, we at HGIM would like to share with you personal messages relating to “The True Love Connection”.  Our volunteer staff comprised of men and women, young and old, from all over the US have shared their thoughts and what today’s celebration of love means to them. And while this may be an unusual Valentine’s Day greeting, it is sent with sincere love and appreciation to all who have prayed, contributed, and encouraged us as we continue to take the message of a Father’s love for His creation to the farthest ends of the earth.

We pray these heartfelt messages will be an eternal blessing to you simply because we love you and thank God for you!

Jan Ross, President/Co-Founder
Heart of God International Ministries
Email: jross@heartofgodinternational.org
Website: www.heartofgodinternational.org

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:9-10).

With so many doors open for His work this year in Africa, His abundant love is clearly evident. Jesus Christ is the Love of God. Through His love a daily lunch program has begun for our school of 400 students, land was donated for a church in a village that had never heard the name Jesus. Water projects are underway for people that drink unclean water. Prisoners are given the chance at a new life through hearing the Word and accepting forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. Our volunteer staff is growing as people are drawn to His work through the love they have for Him in their hearts.

I wish I could list for you all the wonders of His love. Without a doubt, the greatest of these gifts is salvation, and it’s by His Love for us and his propitiation for our sins that we can in turn love Him back. What a precious gift!

It has been the heartbeat of this ministry to share that love with those who have yet to hear and receive the gift of love–the gift of Jesus Christ–throughout Africa.

Until all have heard!

Denise Matthews, Executive Director
Heart of God Africa
Email: dmatthews@heartofgodinternational.org
Website: www.heartofgodafrica.org

* * * * * * *

This entire year has been a personal desert for me.  Yet He has called me to a position with Heart of God to exercise love to His people, saved or yet unsaved.  Love is an action word, not always a feeling word and when times felt most oppressive—the hospitalization of and long recovery for my husband, the appearance of an end to my marriage, the death of many unsaved friends, and the sudden death of my brother, a good and faithful servant to God and a close friend to me,  He called me back to rely on His Word in Hebrews 4:12-13:

“God means what He says.  What He says goes!  His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting though EVERYTHING (my emphasis), whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.  NOTHING, AND NO ONE (my emphasis) is impervious to God’s Word.  We can’t get away from it — no matter what.”  (The Message). 

Then He showed me, though the miracles and daily exercise of unremitting love to and by those involved in this ministry, how important it is to complete the work He has given us, allowing Him to love others through me when I felt no love, in whatever capacity, whatever act, whenever and wherever He presents it, regardless of how I feel.

Verda Reeves, Advisory Board Member

Heart of God Africa
Email: verdareeves@q.com
Website: www.heartofgodafrica.org

* * * * * * *

Children loving other children is the Heart of Kids’ Club. Every aluminum can and plastic bottle that is recycled has a child’s welfare attached to it. I can’t throw away anything recyclable now in good conscious. The little things do count.

Theresa Copple, Kid’s Club Coordinator
Heart of God Africa
Email: theresacopple@att.net
Website: www.heartofgodafrica.org

Over the past year, I have been challenged by one little word used over and over in the gospels. “Compassion.” Every time Jesus saw someone who had yet to understand that God loved them, even in their sin, the scriptures say that He looked at them with compassion, and it caused Him to act.

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:35-38 ESV).

As I think about how too many of us respond to the lost-ness we see in the world, this non-condemning and often spontaneous demonstration of the love of God we see in the life of Christ, has wrecked me. Jesus saw that the lost didn’t even know they were lost “like sheep without a shepherd.” And yet too many Christians are surprised when those outside of Christ live like they are outside of Christ. We criticize and condemn, rather than lift up and love. Something is wrong here.

As God has worked this conviction in me, it has had radical implications to me on what it means to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5).

And what has been the change? Well, this year, while serving in Haiti, South Sudan, and the U.S., I have gone out of my way to make friends with those who don’t look, talk, or act like what God desires, and then to love them the same way God loved me in Christ. As a result, I have watched love change lives right before my eyes. I have seen wandering brothers return to the life they once knew in Christ. I have seen the lost found as they gave their lives to the Savior who loved them all along. And in unexpected ways, I have seen the love of God manifested physically by healing blind eyes and pain-ridden knees, backs and wrists. In the most literal ways, I have seen people loved into the Kingdom of God.

When Jesus sees the lost, His compassion stirs, and He lets loose His love. When we are willing to be agents of that love, it changes the world.

Anthony Scott Ingram, Director
Heart of God Evangelism
Email: singram@heartofgodinternational.org
Website: www.heartofgodinternational.org

This past year has presented more challenges I had ever imagined possible in a ministry.  It was truly a test of God’s love at work in me and through me.  Having to deal with great disappointments wasn’t easy yet God’s love carried me through.  Without His love and the love and encouragement of my family and others at Heart of God International, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that our ministry in Haiti would have ended.

But God had other plans.

When I was ready to give up, He opened the door for greater opportunities to share His love with others.  When my heart was broken from such unexpected disappointment, the love of God gave me strength to go on.  The power needed to pick up and go on is anchored in God’s love.  When I realized how inadequate I was to continue, God took over and led us to where we are today.  I am eternally grateful for those who stood by me as reminders of His love for me and for the children in Haiti.

Having weathered so many storms over the past twelve months, I find it difficult to adequately express my gratitude to God and so many others.  Today, our Children’s Center is thriving, meeting the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the children and the staff.  God gave us great partners in Scott Ingram and Erin Corbett who have worked hard to ensure the children are cared for and all that is needed for them to live and grow is in place.  God also gave us wonderful partners in people like you who faithfully pledge support for the children at the Center.  God gave us many friends who have offered assistance, lent a hand when necessary, and who are equipped to fill in when we find ourselves in need.  These are all expressions of His true love, the love we celebrate today!

Our team at Heart of God Haiti is committed to be a link between God and those who know need like few of us have ever witnessed.  Spiritual needs are being met by evangelists and volunteers who preach and teach the Word of God as well as those who are living examples of His boundless love.  Physical needs are being met by partners, sponsors, and one-time donors who feel led to give so others will know God’s provision.  Emotional needs are being met by missionaries like Scott and Erin who express unconditional love to each of the children and the staff members as well as others all around Haiti.  This is God’s love in action.  This is the reason why we continue to work together to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the Haitian people.

Thank you to each and every one of you who have prayed, donated, sponsored, worked, traveled, cried, showed concern, and reached out with true love.  You have truly been an expression of God’s love to some of Haiti’s most innocent — those who were brought into this world without hope for a future.  It is because of you they find that hope in Jesus Christ as emulated by those who serve Him through giving, loving, and sharing.

“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you” (Psalm 33:22 NIV)

 

David Young, Executive Director
Heart of God Haiti
Email: dyoung@heartofgodinternational.org
Web: http://heartofgodhaiti.org

* * * * * * *

I’ve loved God for a long time, but this past year something changed. The shift was subtle—yet the impact was not. I went from praying for God to be involved in my life to asking how I could be involved in His.  This year I became intensely interested in the work of my Father—not that He needs my help. No, but because He loves me, He invites me to partake.

Locally, I’ve become involved with a ministry that is working to reach the church through the homeless. That sounds backwards, but it really isn’t. When the church body opens its doors to those in need, the “least of these,” they are serving Christ. When a church body serves Christ, they grow in His image and reflect the love God has for all his children. That makes an impact on people who need to feel His love.

That makes an impact on all of us.

Not-so-locally in Haiti, I saw first-hand what God’s love flowing through His people does for men, women, and children living in poverty.

It brings food, but it also brings joy and peace.

The world is not a level playing field, but this past year I’ve learned that God’s love is.

Lisa Mikitarian, Mission Team Member
Heart of God Haiti
Email: miks@shentel.net
Web: http://heartofgodhaiti.org

Heart of God International Ministries is something very precious to me. I love watching how God works in our different ministries. Without exception, we have seen God do many mighty things in each area of ministry.

January 1 brought great rejoicing in the work in India. On the first day of this new year, we had seven baptisms in one area! Seven souls fully converted and fully committed to God, to being a disciple (continued growth) and to helping others understand His everlasting love. On the same day, God stirred a man’s heart toward helping to provide a structure for the Children’s Center in one of our areas. A single man. One obedient soul. And that is the way God works … valuing each of us, calling each of us and then using us to work together as His Body.

Our team is committed to winning the lost and making disciples of men. This commitment comes at great sacrifice and, at times, persecution. It is because of the love of God that these men and women dedicate their lives to reaching others for Christ, no matter what the personal cost might be to them.

When going to places where there is much darkness, satan’s work is easily seen. There is famine. The famine is tri-fold, in body, soul, and in spirit. The needs are so great that it can easily be overwhelming. Yet God speaks. Inadequate are we. It is He. His plan. His purpose. His provision (in all things). His wooing. His glory. And, that is something which rings very clear as the ministry continues to submit to His will and His plan, His timing, His ways.

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings” Psalm 36:7.

 

Jeanice McDade, VP, Heart of God International
Executive Director, Heart of God India
Email: jeanice@heartofgodinternational.org
Web: http://heartofgodindia.org

“…He who touches you [Israel] touches the apple of His eye.” (Zech. 2:8)

I recently watched a video featuring messianic believers in the land of Israel today. A comment was made in this video referring to America’s historic love of Israel. The video showed Americans marching with “We love Israel” banners, and declaring our stance with Israel forever! But the voice on the video made a plea to the believers among the nations saying, “We must do more than just love Israel—or the IDEA of Israel—we must love Israelis!” That spoke to my heart.

Adonai, the God of Israel, doesn’t just love Israel in the big picture sort of way. He loves the Israeli father that is searching for work to feed his family. He loves the Israeli son who has come to faith in Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) and is trying to reach his family with the message of the gospel. He loves the lost Israeli that feels dejected because she’s surrounded by nations that scream hatred and violence toward her and her children. It’s the individual Israelis that have captured the heart of God!

We were recently able to help a congregation in southern Israel with materials to help disciple their young people. In Israel, it’s illegal to witness to someone under 18 years old without parental consent, but the children can, and DO witness to other children! These are the activities that our Father in Heaven loves when He looks upon His people! These Israelis are the “apple of His eye”! I’d like to say to them, and to you, that Adonai the God of Israel loves you with a passionate, heart-rending love!

Shalom!

John Daugherty, Director
Heart of God Israel
Email: jdaugherty@heartofgodinternational.org
Website: www.heartofgodisrael.org

God is love.  We know this fact better than our own name.  Sharing God’s love with others is the Great Commandment wrapped inside the Great Commission for Christ Jesus’ followers.  Easier said than done; accomplishing this task is fraught with challenges in this boot camp of learning also known as life!

Soldiers Bible Ministry (SBM) was formed with a heart of and for God based on the founders’ core principals of love for God and country, in that order.  The founders all were personally inspired by family who served in the military and the spiritual battles which ensue with such service.  Over the past decade, SBM has touched the hearts, minds and souls of US, allied and other military members and their families.  From the:

•  young 20-something widow who requested a Bible from SBM for her deployed husband only to have it returned to her with his other personal effects after he was killed in Iraq, to the
• military chaplain ministering to African men “dreaming dreams of a Messiah named Jesus” who had not grown in Christian homes, to the
• passionate military chaplain who “retired” from regular military service to pursue a full time military chaplain’s position seeking materials to minister to Jewish, Christian and all in her flock and all others who God has brought together with our volunteers,

SBM is dedicated to eternal treasure in heaven.  Our goal remains to let all hear the true Gospel that God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son not to condemn the world but to save the world so they may have eternal fellowship with Him.  Period.

While we continue to receive requests for Bibles from chaplains and others deployed in physical war zones, our real challenge is now the spiritual battle waged on the home front.  This is when the healing love of God is most desperately needed.  SBM is blessed with many partners to reach many military personnel through your support.  We earnestly love our partners and all those who pray and support this ministry.  May the eternal love of God be with you today and every day!

John Hoben, Executive Director
Soldiers Bible Ministry
Email: john.hoben@soldiersbibleministry.org
Website: www.soldiersbibleministry.org

At the beginning of 2012 I experienced a yearning in my heart to reach out to the unreached; I ached for those who don’t even understand what God has given us through his Son, Jesus Christ. As I read through my Bible studies and other books, the urge to get involved in making a difference in others’ lives became even more urgent. I now know that God has every intention for me to be involved in missions … what I didn’t know was how. I shared my heart with Jan Ross; lo and behold God had already been paving the way. Not only did He give me the talent and education to work on finances, but He had already opened a door for me to fill a need for Heart of God International. God has taught me through many experiences in my life that if I am intentional about what He wants from me and I follow His desires, He will lay the path for me.

The love that God has for me and everyone on the earth never ceases to amaze me. I can’t even fathom the love God has for each and every individual on this earth, the plan He has created for each individual to touch the lives of others is just overwhelming to me. To imagine that He would use me to try to help others know Him by handling the day-to-day finances in order to make it possible others travel to share the news of Jesus Christ … WOW!! I just can’t even put it into words.

God’s love is amazing and truly beyond measure!

Jody Tackett, Administrative Assistant
Heart of God International, Accounting Department
Email: jody@heartofgodinternational.org
Website: www.heartofgodinternational.org

We thank the Lord for you, for those who pray, for those who give, and for those to join us in our efforts to fulfill our Lord’s Great Commission.  For more information on any of these ministry outreaches, please feel free to use the contact information provided or you can email HGIM directly at hgim@heartofgodinternational.org.

Happy Valentine’s Day … we pray your day is a celebration of the True Love Connection–the love between God and His children!

Life for All rapid response team rushed to  Kasur a volatile district in Pakistan’s Punjab province Sunday, after security forces and Muslim hardliners allegedly abused Christian women and raped at least one Christian girl.

Yesterday some Muslims and some [undercover] police men raided Kaila Masih’s house in the town of Pattoki, they tortured Christian women Zareena Bibi, Hameedan Bibi and Sharifan Bibi.

It was the second such incident in Punjab’s Kasur District within about two weeks, according to the sources. On January 25 a 15-year-old Christian girl, Fouzia Bibi, was raped by two influential Muslim men in the district’s village of Roday.

The LFA Team met a local pastor and the victims to register a criminal case against the alleged attackers, including the police officials and other Muslims.

INDEPENDENT POLICE?

LFA also demands that the rape case be moved to more independent police in Pattoki amid concerns that authorities are reluctant to investigate the incident because of pressure from influential Muslims in the region.

Though the police arrested one suspect, but he was not yet sent to jail.

Another alleged rapist is free and making threats to Christians of the area.

MORE ATTACKS

These are no isolated incidents. The Christians have been targeted in several areas of Pakistan in attacks fueled by Islamic extremism.

Life for All is firm on it`s stance to be the voice of the voiceless and will continue to work for the marginalized communities.

_____________________

Xavier William, President
Life for All Pakistan
info@lfapk.org
www.lfapk.org

David was a complex individual with a personality that gives us great insight into the heart of one who struggles with life’s problems … not much unlike each of us. We see extremes in his character: David was strong yet tender; David was gentle but he was a warrior; and David was driven yet he was submissive. The extremes we see in his personality help us to find ways in which we can identify with him – a perfect example of a heart following hard after the heart of God.

David had been on the run from Saul and his men for what must have seemed to be a lifetime. Although he was still young, he was forced to elude the king’s tyrannical pursuit of David – a pursuit rooted in jealousy and selfishness, a pursuit which helps us see the depth of devotion to God in the heart of this shepherd/king.

At one point, David got close enough to him to put an end to it once and for all. Instead, however, he only cut off a corner of Saul’s robe so Saul would know he had been there and spared his life. However, once he had done this, David’s conscience was pricked with gilt for having cut off the portion of Saul’s robe. “… He said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord’” (1 Samuel 24:6). He rebuked his men and refused to allow them to attack Saul, left the cave, and went on his way.

After all that David had been through, it might be hard to understand why he felt so guilty for entertaining the thought of killing Saul or for cutting off a corner of Saul’s robe. It doesn’t seem right that his heart should have been pricked with remorse and guilt for approaching the king in such a way. Saul’s repeated offenses against David seemed so much worse. Why was David’s conscience immediately stricken with conviction?

We tend to view sin in relative terms. But David teaches us an important lesson here … one that should stir in our hearts from this day forward:

David’s standard for measuring sin
was not the wickedness of Saul,
it was the holiness of God.

When we stop comparing one sin against the other to determine which is more or less “sinful” and begin to measure our sin by comparing it to the holiness of God, we will be overcome with Godly sorrow and moved to repentance. David was immediately remorseful for his sin, as trivial as it may have seemed, and he repented. But don’t think for one minute that his tender conscience meant he was weak and ignorant. More times than one he exercised wisdom that still baffles the mind of men. The difference between David and Saul was that David’s heart was fixed on serving the Lord, pleasing Him, and growing in relationship with Him. Saul, on the other hand, was burning with jealousy and rage.

Let’s all learn from David today. Stop comparing one sin against another sin, one sinner against another sinner, etc., and begin considering our own sin in comparison to the holiness of God. With sin its rightful perspective, we will learn to walk close to God with a tender conscience and a heart genuinely sorrowful for sin against our Most Holy God.

Father, too many times I have wrongfully assumed my sin as being not as great as others because it seemed “small” in my sight, but I have failed to compare my sin to You. Lord, Your holiness makes my sin grotesque and wicked and evil and I need Your forgiveness. Oh Lord, I long to have a heart that is pure, a conscience that is tender, and a life that reflects Your holiness and righteousness. Order my steps in Your Word, dear Lord. Lead me and guide me every day. In Jesus’ precious name and for His glory, Amen and Amen.

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved