LIGHT OF THE WORLD, we thank you for the willingness of Billy Bray to mentor and to add his nephew Michael to the Bray household in Charlottesville as Michael seeks work and your will for his future. AMEN

TRUE LIGHT, give Dr. Paul Klas healing wisdom to touch the body of Billy as he fights the symptoms of what appears to be a serious poison oak infection. Strengthen Billy as he picks up Michael at the train station today and starts helping him find a new home and job. Meanwhile, help Ivy in Columbus to process Jon Bray's Philippine Mercy Mission reports and photos, helping to raise the $15,000 still needed for hurricane victims in Bicol. AMEN and AMEN and AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest" (Luke 9:48).

LORD OF THE HARVEST, thank you for calling out men and women of means and wisdom who are capable of putting together organizations to arrange support solutions for mission staff leaders such as Dr. Bill and Louis Kramp. AMEN

SOWER, as we think of the need for providing aid to abused and exploited children in conflict areas such as the Gaza Strip, we pray that trustees of CommonTrust, CIS, and other NPO organizations will see fit to take action to quickly provide for the support of missionary staff leaders like the Brays. AMEN AND AMEN

SPECIAL EXTRA REQUEST: Pray for Dr. Bill and Ivy as they orient grandson Michael Bray today before he leaves Atlanta to take up residence with Billy Bray in Charlottesville, Virginia.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Then he said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the who is least among you all--he is the greatest' (Luke 9:48).

OUR POTTER and THE WAY, we praise and thank you for the wisdom, mentoring, hope, and encouragement which Bill and Ivy received over the weekend in planning meetings with older Christian leaders involved in fighting global hunger and organizing response to meet human need at new levels. AMEN

TESTIFIER, we ask you to especially use our March prayer letters, personal letters, and other communications efforts to raise up more support team members. May offerings increase so that the Brays can better respond to your commands to disciple the nations and love our neighbors as ourselves. AMEN and AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest" (Luke 9:48).

GIFT OF GOD...We thank you for giving us each our own unique lives and gifts, and for giving us men like Bill Bray who turns 60 today. Thank you also for answered prayers for safe travel for Jon and Michael Bray. We also celebrate the prophetic life and witness of Wilbur Wilberforce today, a man with the courage and grace to speak your word to English culture in his generation. HALLELUJAH, AMEN!

GIFT OF GOD...We ask you bless Dr. Bill Bray in all ways as he celebrates his birthday today in Atlanta and goes on to serve on a busy weekend planning retreat with some of his senior mentors. Lord Almighty, starting this weekend, may Dr. Bill submit fully to your will and better demonstrate your glory and power. Use Bill's life to speak to our culture and global conscience. AMEN and AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (JAMES 5:16).

PROPHET MIGHTY IN WORD AND DEED, we thank you for oppotunities to speak to the news media about the living God and Your miraculous interventions in our world and lives. AMEN

BRANCH OF THE LORD, use today's newspaper interview in Columbus with Dr. Bill to help bring together a new union of individuals, churches and missions in Georgia to support what you are doing in the Philippines and around the world. AMEN and AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: 'The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much' (James 5:16).

BREAD OF LIFE, we thank you for the help of large and small donors, and especially the churches and mission organizations who gave larger grants to help us rebuild the devasted missions and ruined native churches from Hurricane Durian in the Philippines. Thank you Lord for gifts large and small. PRAISE YOU, AMEN!

HOPE OF GLORY, as givers and leaders see how well their first gifts were used, we ask you to especially touch their hearts again including Operation Blessing, Touch the Ground Foundation, Saint Francis Fund, and many others so that they might release another $15,000 soon so that we might reach the $30,000 needed in total for Stage I of the Philippine Mercy Mission. Use Dr. Bray's letters, March mailings and personal meetings to accomplish this end. AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "...the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16).

BILL'S BLOG FOR ASH WEDNESDAY:
MY BOYS ARE STILL ON THE BUS AND UP IN THE AIR

As I approach 60, it is amazing to me how 'grandfatherly' my thoughts and feelings have become. When my boys were little, I rarely felt the emotions I am feeling now. Much of it, I hope, is a work of the Holy Spirit in my life--but earlier this month while I was at my Moody Bible Institute class reunion I was surprised how many of my 1967 Classmates were talking the same way. The men that is.

There is a stage in life where a man wants to pass on his knowledge and passions to younger men--and I am feeling it now--and from talks with my peers and older men, I'm sure I'm not alone.

My son and grandson are in my prayers as they travel these three days. I wonder if Jon and Michael Bray remembered to take their Bibles and prayer diaries in their carry-on luggage ... I wonder if they're eating and drinking in a healthy way ... if they have found interesting seatmates. I wonder if they are listening for the voice of God and speaking for Christ as they go along.

And most of all, like Ivy, I am looking forward to seeing them after these three days of travel. I want to hear their reports of their travel in the Philippines and over continents and seas. I want to hear of their dreams for follow-up work, future plans and long-term career goals.

HAND OF GOD we thank you for the wonderful way that you have used Jon Bray to minister on the Philippines Mercy Mission and for bringing Michael Bray into our lives and family...and we thank you for the privilege of having these fine young men of God under our influence and growing in our missionary family. AMEN.

SPRIT OF SONSHIP we ask you to protect and use both young men as they begin long journies to Charlottesville today; Jon from the Philippines and Michael from nothern California via Atlanta. We pray for a good reunion and many opportunities to mentor both boys during these critical years in their lives. We pray that their every need will be met on these trips and the boys will be kept safe and close to you as they travel. May they learn much along the way and receive a great vision for the needs of this world. AMEN and AMEN.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "...The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16).

SON OF GOD, thank you for the growing number of international leaders who are joining with us to form a global hunger task force. Halleluhjah. AMEN

SON OF MAN, anoint Dr. Bray and Ivy with your creative power as they devote the next few days to editorial assignments in Columbus. Help Dr. Bray to develop greater servant leadership skills as he writes proposals for a Kingdom-based global task force to fight hunger. Help Ivy as she processes photos from the Philippine Mercy Mission and learns to take advantage of computer technology. Lord, we ask you to provide the high powered lap-top computer and software needed to make slide shows and power point presentations. AMEN and AMEN

VERSE OF THE DAY: "Whosoever offers praise glorifies me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God" (Psalm 50:23, NKJ).

MEDIATOR OF A BETTER COVENANT, we thank you for the men and women of the Kingdom of Christ who give their time and treasure freely to seek your will for the Bray Family and hold accountable the work of the Christian Information Service, Inc. PRAISE YOU LORD, AMEN

AUTHOR OF FAITH, we pray for the CIS Board of Directors and officers as they prepare the annual financial report and other matters needed for the upcoming Annual Directors Meeting. May they be given wisdom to hear with understanding as Dr. Bray presents his report on the last year's outreach and give him Godly advice and insight about the future directions of the Bray Family missionary activity. AMEN and AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "...The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16).

ROSE OF SHARON, we praise you for what you have done in Bill's 60 years of life, and Bill and Ivy's 25 years of marriage. All glory to you who do all things well in your time. HALLELUJAH, AMEN

ROSE OF SHARON, we ask you to guide Bill and Ivy as they prepare for Bill's 60th Birthday February 23 and their Silver Anniversary Celebration on August 7. May these special occasions honor you and be milestone events that forward the Kingdom of God and the missionary ministries to which you have called them. AMEN AND AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Lord, do not abandon me; my God, do not be far from me. Hurry to help me, Lord, my Savior" (Psalm 38:21-22).

BREAD OF LIFE, we praise and thank you that we can trust you to meet our every need just as you feed the birds who don't farm or drive to work and as you clothe the lilies of the valley who don't sew or shop the malls. HALLELUJAH, AMEN!

LILY OF THE VALLEY, we unite our faith to ask you in faith to feed us and our loved ones as you promised us in your word. Especially show your mighty hand in the life and ministry of the Bray Family Missionaries as they face increasing personal bills this month. We pray specifically for the needs of daughter Becki and her husband, and for all the Bray children that they will always have a strong testimony praising you for meeting financial needs. May everyone see the powerful hand of Lord in meeting the Bray Family daily needs. Help them to handle their bills and fundraising activities in a way that glorifies you. AMEN and AMEN!

VERSE OF THE WEEK: " Lord, do not abandon me; my God, do not be far from me. Hurrry to help me, Lord, my Savior" (Psalm 38:21-22, HCSB).

PRAISE YOU LORD, for bringing Allen Bowers to come and repair our computer so that we can get back to work in Columbus. AMEN and AMEN!

MORNING STAR, bless and use field surveyor Jon Bray in Manila and evangelist Juanito Sanchez as they continue to work on the 2007 Philippine Mercy Mission to Bicol in Southeastern Luzon. Use Bill and Ivy as they work on a lay leadership development project for the Kingdom of God. AMEN and AMEN!

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "...Thou art my help and my deliverer; do not delay O my God" (Psalm 40:17b).

NOTE: For more news on the tecnology changes affecting missions, please visit the "Views" column on our website in the next few days. We will be running a story there on the challenges at home and on the field.

For believers, every day should be St. Valentine's Day! Visit our website today to read the beautiful essay on "love beyond romance" by Pam Baker at www.bray-missionaries.org

SURE FOUNDATION, we pray that in your perfect time you will bring the right couple to buy the Bray's house in Columbus so that Bill and Ivy will be able to move onto their next place of service. We pray that you will bless the buyers with the funds to pay the full price and use the real estate agent, lawyers and all concerned to expedite the move. At the same time, we pray that even now you will prepare the right house and office at the next place of service and guide the Bray's steps to wherever you call them. AMEN and AMEN.

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "...Thou art my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God" (Psalm 40:17b).

STRENGH OF THE POOR, we praise you for using us as a channel of financial blessings to the poor pastors and homeless people of the Philippines and for connecting us to many new friends through this effort. We thank you for bringing the field team back safely from Bicol for another week of follow-up work in Manila. HALLELUJAH, AMEN!

MORNING STAR, we ask you to empower missionary Jon Bray with great skill and wisdom as he processes and catalogs the film and writes up the reports of the churches we have helped and will help in months to come. Use his efforts and those of Juanito Sanchez and the rest of the team to do your will in Manila this week, to be a witness of your grace, and to establish the Kingdom of God eveywhere they go. Meet our needs for tough, modern laptop computers for CIS field use with WiFi and all other capabilities so that we can work on common trust goals and other projects. This day, help us to get back online in Columbus, Georgia. AMEN and AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "..You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God" (Psalm 40:17b).

PRAISE THE LORD for his wonderful provisions when emergency needs surprise us! For Dr. Dayo Obebe who did emergency crowns today for one of Dr. Bill's dental fillings that came out on the Philippine Mercy Mission and for Allen Bowers who is working on our Columbus computer which crashed while we were in Chicago. HALLELUJAH! AMEN.

KING OF KINGS we call on you to provide the extra funds needed to pay for these Monday morning emergencies and also for the new laptop computers, software and work stations we will be needing to accomplish our new assignments this year. We ask you to give us favor and enable us to develop common trust with key leaders in Washington, DC and around the world to establish your government in the affairs of men and nations. AMEN AND AMEN!

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "Lord, do not abandon me; my God, do not be far from me. Hurry to help me, Lord, my Savior" (Psalm 38:21-22, HCSB).

HORN OF SALVATION we thank and praise you for this great week of reunion as we have extended and renewed our fellowship with supporters here in the midwest.

HORN OF SALVATION we ask you to make our journey back to Georgia a safe and profitable one and we pray that every moment left here in Chicago will be profitable for your Kingdom, especially as we speak tonight to an all-Filipino audience and spend a last few hours ministering to and encouraging John Bray. Help us to raise at least $1000 this week for rebuilding ruined chapels and churches in the Phillippines. AMEN

LIGHT OF THE WORLD we thank and praise you for answering our prayers in Chicago and connecting the Brays with the fiery furnances of powerful prayer networks in this city and restoring old friendships last night at the annual Support Team Meeting, for giving all who attended a vision and hope for the future of the Bray Missionary team. We also thank you for reports of a good prognosis from Louis Kramp's doctors in Washington. You are indeed the God who answers the fervent prayers of His righteous servants! HALLELUJAH, AMEN!

PHYSICIAN, LAMB OF GOD we ask you to fill these last hours in Chicago with many blessed connections for Dr. Bill and Ivy and use them as they speak to many in the Filipino community at a united Valentine's Party Saturday night. Grant favor with influential people and those with wealth who can help. Use them as they invest a couple days ministering to Bill's brother John who has been granted leave from his group home to stay with them at a donated suite in McDonald's Hamburger University lodge, Oak Brook. Lord, prosper the Bray's and use these new contacts to guide and provide the needs for your future mission assignments in the days to come. AMEN and AMEN!

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing because whatever the Father does, the Son also does" (John 5:19).

LIGHT OF THE WORLD...we praise you that you are bringing the people who need to be here tonight for our Chicago-area 2007 Prayer Partners Banquet in Oak Brook, Illinois. Hallelujah, Amen! GIFT OF GOD...we ask you to fill Dr. Bill and Ivy with your spirit tonight as they report on the Philippine Mercy Mission and call for support. May the words of our tongue be acceptable in your sight oh Lord and edify all who come. Lord, refresh us with a visitation of your Spirit and renew us in our missionary zeal and may we see at least six new monthly pledge partners join the Bray Family Support Team. Amen and Amen. SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does" (John 5:19).

LIGHT OF THE WORLD, we praise you for raising up a people for God in Chicago and northern Indiana who have prayed for the Brays and supported their missionary efforts for so many decades, especially through the Light Bearers and the Glorious Gospel Group as well as through so many local churches and individuals. We thank you for old friends and new that you are attracting to your work through the Bray Family Missionaries and we thank you for the memories of those who have gone on to glory. Hallelujah, Amen!

AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH, we ask you to use telephone efforts today to bring together a new "seed faith" corps of supporters in Chicago with open hearts and imaginations for the Mercy Mission in the Philippines and all kinds of other possibilities for 2007 and beyond. Lord, make our hearts and lives pregnant again with your love and compassion for others. Here we are Lord, waiting in Chicago, send us to do your will and show us your will by your gift of provision for the work. Amen and Amen!

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sess his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does" (John 5:19).

Bill's Blog for Wednesday, February 7: THOUGHTS ON THE CLASS OF '67

God has been faithful. Most of our class members have already finished one (or more) careers by now, we've made a living (one way or the other) and raised our kids (for better or for worse) and now I sense that most of us are "empty nestors" and back to where we first started. A surprisingly high percentage have second marriages...and sadly, the wounded and fallen soldiers couldn't or woundn't show up for our 40th Reunion. Most of the traditional missionaries are back from the field and have blended back into support services here in the USA as senior executives. It is encouraging to see how many are still faithful to their youthful passion for the Gospel.

Yet Christ still confronts us with all the paradoxes of the Gospel and the call to live by faith, to love, to hope, and to trust in Him and one another. In His economy, the first are still last and the last first, we still have to die in order to live, we must still take up our cross and follow him, we must still step out and risk all not knowing where we are going! Those who lead must serve all. This is the way of a disciple and the way of cross.

One thing that surpised me was that I am not alone in my yearning to minister to the next generation and raise up leaders. It turns out that many of the men I met from our class are thinking in the same terms: Galen Hiestand in DesPlaines is not the only one who has become a licensed "life coach" to the next generation; John Fix near DC is not the only one discipling leadership one-on-one outside the church; Brian York has started SuccessToday4U and is beginning a new Christian college that will grant degrees in life management and entrepreneurship.

For both Ivy and I, we have journeyed back to our own personal roots in the last few weeks. Ivy to her childhood home in the Philippines, and me to mine here in Chicago. Now, at 60 years of age, I face the same challenges as the rest of the Class of '67. I've made my decision, but all of us are facing the same choices and the same challenges. And most of us are still guided mostly by provision rather than faith--perhaps now more than ever.

So now, in our last decades of Christian service, will we react like Peter after the resurrection? Will we go back to our old familiar fishing boats and nets where we are comfortable and secure--or will we still go out on the turgid seas of life to become fishers of men? Will we meet with Jesus on the shores, eat his breakfast and take up the call again to serve him in His power?

It may be too late for our generation to spiritually "cut bait" but it's certainly not too late to help the next generation cut theirs, and just maybe by the grace of God, we can still get into the boats with them a few more times and help the young heave in their nets. Lord have mercy on us and help us and live by faith to the end.

WONDERFUL we praise you for what you have done in the lives and ministries of Dr. Bray's peers from Moody Bible Institute Class of '67 and for your provision for all their needs. As you broke the bread and multiplied the fishes in the hands of your disciples, we thank you that you will do the same in our hands as we obey your loving command to feed the hungry. Hallelujah, Amen!

WALL OF FIRE we pray that you will take the meetings and contacts made in Chicago at Founder's Week to bond Dr. Bill and Ivy closer in love to Moody alumni, faculty and staff--and use these contacts to start new streams of support for their ministry and for indigenous missions in the twenty-first century. Give Bill and Ivy great favor as they expand their network this week at Moody and all over Chicago, and as they invite guests to the Thursday night Lightbearers Missionary Banquet in Oak Brook. AMEN and AMEN!

SCRIPTURE PROMISE OF THE DAY: " How precious is Thy lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Thy wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Thy house; and thou doest give them to drink of the river of Thy delights" (Psalm 36:7-8).

BLESSED HOPE, we praise you for bringing Bill and Ivy back safely to the USA and flying them to Chicago for this week of meetings at Moody and with their support team there. We thank you for their existing friends and family in Chicago and for the new friends that they will be connecting with this week. Thank you for sending them to the Philippines to launch the MERCY MISSION and helping start a new movement of hope and love to encourage poor missionary pastors in Bicol. The praise you for calling us to support them in a lifetime of ministry to missions. HALLELUJAH, AMEN!

SURE FOUNDATION, use Bill and Ivy this week as a channel of finances and blessings to many more charities and missions in 2007. May they make many favorable connections with new supporters in Chicago and renew old relationships during this critical hour of need. AMEN and AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does" (John 5:19).

We went from Ivy's world to my world in three days this weekend, with a one-day layover (of all places) in Columbus, Georgia! This is a totally sureal experience...crosssing so many varieties of culture, lifestyle and worldview in just hours. Last week, Ivy took me to Corrigador Island near Manila to show me the places where she grew up as a little girl when it was a newly abandoned American military base. Today, I drove her by the places here in Chicago where I grew up and went to school on the Near North Side. Besides Tagalog and Japanese, we spoke English dialects in Tanglish, "Southern" and now Chicagoese. We passed from the worlds of village Bicol to urban Chicago, as different as night and day, before our bodies could even adjust to time changes.

Between these two worlds, we changed planes in Atlanta--rushing home for a day to wash clothes, repack our suitcases, pay some emergency bills and review the last two weeks in quiet prayer and discussion and even go to church this morning on the way to the airport. It was a less than restful Sabbath, but it was a break we needed to stay sane. Just being alone and candid together for 24 hours is a kind of spiritual therapy. We had a terrific time of spriritual renewal, accountability to one another, and we prayerfully processed what we have seen and prepare for the days just ahead. Confessing to one another is critical to Christian growth and you need it no longer how mature you get in Christ.

Ivy and I make a wonderful missionary team. We both thank God that we don't have to walk this path without a partner. Even as we find ourselves in times of crisis like these, it is comforting to know that the Lord is in charge. From out of our past He has provided a transitional ministry in the Philippines for this first quarter of 2007. He does all things well...and it looks like we will be active in this for some months to come at least on a part-time basis. We don't have to re-invent ourselves when life deals us surprise blows, but simply yield to the Holy Spirit of God. He does everything in His time.

He knew that we would be available after Hurricane Durian hit. He knew that we were uniquely prepared to be a lightning rod to raise emergency aid at this time in history. He knew also that we would be available later this month to help the CommonTrust leadership team in Washington while Louis Kramp is recovering in the hospital. In time of crisis like these, we see that the just truly shall live by faith. We can and must trust the Lord even when we don't understand what is happening in our lives and ministry. When things don't go according to our schedules, schemes, and plans we are forced to live and minister by faith.

BLESSED HOPE...we praise you for Jon Bray and the Mercy Mission Team members who are working in Albay Province today and thank you for the safe arrival of Dr. Bill and Ivy in Detroit. HALLELUJAH, AMEN!

BALM OF GILEAD..we intercede for all our friends and family in the Chicago area including the staff at WMBI and Moody Bible Institute that their hearts will be open to Dr. Bill and Ivy as they arrive in Chicago on Sunday. May they have happy reunions with old friends at Moody, at local churches in Chicago, and especially new friends to meet with Dr. Bill and Ivy in Oak Brook on Thursday night. Lord, we ask that Chicago will become a powerful source of growing support for the Bray's missionary ministries. AMEN and AMEN and AMEN!

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:24).

HORN OF OUR SALVATION we thank and praise you for the wonderful men and women of God who are supporting us back in the USA while we minister abroad where you have sent us. We thank you for their advice, encouragement, financial aid and voluntary assistance. HALLELUJAH, AMEN.

BLESSED HOPE we pray in faith that you will be with our dear brother Louis Kramp and his wife Inez on Friday as he undergoes surgery for a life-threatening growth in his prostate. Heal our brother and use him and his teachings to bring your Kingdom to come. We also pray for Laura Parker and our family and friends in Chicago who are inviting friends to a support-raising dinner for the Mercy Mission Team with Bill and Ivy next Thursday night. AMEN and AMEN.

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:24).

BILL'S BLOG FROM MANILA FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1:

"I tried to be a successful pastor with a big church," admits Juanito Sanchez, "but God said 'No--I just want you to be my messenger boy.' "

And that's exactly what Juanito has been, along the way becoming God's apostle to Bicol with a worldwide evangelistic and revival ministry--although he would never describe his ministry that way. (Juanito more resolutely gives the glory to God than any Christian leader I have ever met.)

He wouldn't dream of writing this tribute--and would forbid it if I asked permission to do so--because he would never want to take the spotlight off the Lord. He wants everyone focus their faith on him all the time.

For us, we wouldn't be here in the Philippines today or even carrying on our mission worldwide were it not for his prayers and support over the years. I don't say this lightly. Only someone who knows Ivy and me at the most intimate level would know how much we owe to the prayers and support of this man.

Money never clings to him. As soon as it comes into his hand, he gives it away. He is a channel of blessing to the people and churches of Bicol. Without his invitation and favor with hundreds of pastors and leaders in the path of Hurricane Durian, we would not be here today. Some people live financially from day to day, or paycheck to paycheck, but Juanito lives from hour to hour...and has done so for decades among the poorest of the poor.

Not that he is foolish or takes risks that bring shame on himself or his Lord. He is sane and sober, but trusts the Lord to live without the props that we in the western church think essential--things like bank accounts, budgets, credit cards or medical insurance don't fit into his planning at all. His whole life is about obedience to the Gospel and a God who only asked him to be a "messenger boy" and will pay the bills as he goes along.

His life is all about feeding the poor and sick, delivering the oppressed, planting churches and winning souls among those who are forced to live on the margins of existence and society. As he result, he has left in his wake hundreds of successful and prosperous people who have in one generation moved up from bondage to sin and poverty to leadership and prosperity.

Does the Gospel work? Just take a look at the barrios and villages where Juanito has quietly made disciples without ever blowing his own trumpet, raising funds or lifting a finger to promote himself or his work.

Is God alive in our world today? Just walk where Juanito has followed Jesus and you will see the hand of God.