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The Smokey Mountains 2010
Posted July 20, 2010
Dearest Friends,
WHAT GOD DID!
Yesterday as we were finishing our programs at Chick Fil-A, I felt the Father urging me to do another short program. We were very tired as we had done 4 shows , 2 at the restaurant and 2 for children in gyms in other places in the city. It had been an incredible day, but it was getting late and I wrestled with my decision. However, I knew the Father was speaking to me, so I obeyed. Sometimes you get to know why He told you to do something. What happened as we finished really encouraged my faith.
An older man in a plaid shirt called me over to his table. He was eating dinner with his wife. He told me that he had just watched what was our last program. He ws so grateful for it. He said that he was very sad and depressed when he came into the restaurant and after listening to the pupppets sing and the short Bible story that I told about Joseph, he felt different. He was encouraged and felt changed. He said that he was happy now.He even called the manager and told her the same thing. Truly the power of the cross to heal our broken hearts is awesome! Praise God!
I was reminded again that only when God pours His spirit on what we do will we see people's lives change. I was encouraged to listen to the Father and obey without hesitation. Please pray for this man and his wife.
WHAT THE CHILDREN SAID!
As Heather was finishing her testimony, she said the the children could ask Jesus to be their Savior right now. A little girl sat up on her knees and said that she wanted to pray now! As all of the young people shared, the children responded with great enthusiasm and shouted encouraging words. They said......Awesome! Do it again! Wow! That was great! The other day when we were at the youth prison, one young man got very excited about a testimony he heard. He also replied with enthusiasm, shouting *******. I can not repeat what he said, but he was listening.
The children hugged me and wanted to know when we could come again. Sometimes, they ask for the chalk pictures and carry them away as though they are holding a treasure. Some kids cheered and clapped for Jesus as He calmed the storm.
WHAT THE CHILDREN DID!
At one place, a group of children began to pray in soft whispers and their voices got louder and louder as they prayed. God was growing courage in them. It was a sweet witness to the other children.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
Please hold us in your prayers and especially pray for today a we are in 2 very hard places for the Gospel. The areas are in the inner city where there is alot of drug activity, prostitution, and brokenness. We want to be light. Many are homeless in these areas and need to find their true home with the Father. We are working with incredible people at The Christian Community Center and The Helping Up Mission who minister to all the needs these people have. We need your prayers. More, these places need your prayers.
Please pray about supporting this work with the children. Most of the children that we are seeing this summer are so hungry to hear about Jesus, but there is no financial help for these shows. I am able to get into these places and share with thousands of children only because we are not charging for the programs. Most of these places are not committed to the presentation of the Gospel, but they are open to our coming. I am sharing at many churches and they are generous, but more help is needed. The children are desperate to hear and we are thrilled to go. Will you help us stand in the dark? Can you see these children?
In Jesus,
Linda, for Paige Hopkins, Heather Kelley, Christa Powell, Jared Bolstridge, Seth Barnett
Posted July 19, 2010
Dearest Friends,
Greek Gods
At one place where we shared in the mountains, a little boy told me he thought the world would be better if the Greek gods were still in charge. I explained to him that they never lived. He was a precious blond haired little boy who desperately wanted something or someone to make his world right.
His father is not in the picture and his mother has cancer. I explained to him why the world is broken and how only Jesus could fix our problems. He put his trust in Jesus at the show, but needs your prayers.
He was one of hundreds of children that we shared with in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. I heard so many stories like his story from so many children. They would talk to me about their deepest hurts. They are desperate. They do not understand why their parents are not together. Most of these children know very little about the Bible, even though they have grown up in America. Please hold all of them in your prayers.
Youth Prisons
For 20 plus years, I have been doing programs in youth prisons. The kinds of crimes that the young people commit are getting worse. In the past, most would have been shoplifters. Now, I was told that the prisons see more gang violence, child molesters, and other serious crimes including rape and murder. As we all drift further from God, our children and young people are learning from our examples.
Many of the young people had been victims and grew older, becoming the person who hurt them. These young people desperately need your prayers. God knows their names. They live without hope.
I am excited to tell you that both places were happy to receive New Testaments, Psalms, and Proverbs for the young people. My pastor, Travis Hutchinson, will deliver them and speak to the young people. He is a great speaker who is terrific at communicating the hope only Jesus gives. Begin to cover this time in prayer.
Please also pray for the staff. I talked with so many of the people in the 2 youth prisons who care deeply for these troubled young people. Please ask God to give them His wisdom and grace as they deal every day with very broken souls.
I have great hope for these young people because I know how the Father changed me - changes me. I understand that except for God's grace in my life, their story could be my story. Jesus is their hope! He is our only hope!
Beautiful
As I was traveling home from Brazil, I was sharing with a young woman sitting next to me. I was telling her stories a about the children we serve. After quite a few stories, a lady who was sitting 2 rows up from us turned around and spoke. She spoke with a heavy, Portuguese accent and said, "Beautiful. That was a beautiful story!" I did not even know she was listening.
Each day is so beautiful to us. We are doing 2 or 3 shows every day and having the most fun. We are with children who listen intently to the stories and testimonies. Every place has invited us to come again. I remember a time when I had to beg people to allow us to come and many said no. This summer, the Father has answered all of our prayers. We have many open doors! Praise God!
PEF
We spent 2 nights at Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship's family evangelism conference. This gave us a sweet opportunity to speak to all of the children and young people about Jesus, but we were also challenged by the preaching.
While we were there, we drove to Bristol, Virginia and did an afternoon puppet show. The children we were with live in hard places and their lives are not easy. Families are not often made up of 2 parents. What is normal for many of us is the stuff of dreams for these children.
All of us especially enjoyed a visit with a Christian magician friend of mine at Top Hat Magic in Bristol. He and his wife faithfully pray for me. More, they helped us learn many new skills so that we could better share with the children.
I am so thankful for the ministry of PEF and the sweet times that we had sharing in the area. For more information, call 1-800-CALL-PEF and make plans to bring your family to the conference next year!
Baltimore and Prayer
We are in Baltimore now doing shows, 2 or 3 every day. Tomorrow, Monday, we will be with 2 different groups of children. One show will be in the inner-city and one will be in a suburb. Our third show is at a Chick-Fil-A restaurant. Tuesday evening, we will be blessed to be at the Helping-Up Mission sharing with homeless men.
Please pour your prayers on all of these opportunities. Rejoice that God is giving us so many chances to share!
In Jesus,
Linda, for Paige Hopkins, Heather Kelley, Christa Powell, Jared Bolstridge, Seth Barnett
Posted July 14, 2010
Dearest Friends,
COURAGE
A little 8 year old boy showed great courage as he bravely prayed out loud at a puppet show, asking Jesus to save him, to rescue him. He was the only child in a room full of children who prayed out loud. When he finished the prayer all the children turned around to stare at him. He smiled the biggest smile. It seemed to me he was saying, "Yeah, I prayed, and I'm happy." Pray for this little one to grow strong. At the end of the show we talked to many other children, and they told us that they had put their trust in Jesus as well.
THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS
We are all so excited! We have been doing shows in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville area of Tennessee. Tomorrow we have two more shows in this area and then one show in Maryville, Tennessee. Piney Grove Baptist Church is having a party as an outreach to three trailer parks and we have the honor of sharing the hope of Jesus with all the families who will attend.
Please pray for these last shows in this area. Ask the Father to call children to Himself. Please pray for us as we travel tomorrow night to Elizabethton, Tennessee to participate in Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship’s Family Conference. Please ask the Lord to bless our times with the children. Thank you for praying!
WOW! I CANT BELIEVE WHAT GOD HAS DONE!
It is absolutely awesome what we have seen the Lord do in the last few days. We are all amazed and delighted by the children that we are with. The following as a list of blessings that made us smile, laugh, and cry.
- At one place, dozens of children rushed forward after the show to thank me for the story and thank the puppet team for the show and their testimonies.
- One little boy said, "That was AWESOME!"
- Samantha is a small little black haired girl with beautiful big eyes. I gave her the story that I had drawn and she clutched it tightly. She said, "I asked Jesus into my heart today. I am going to tell my Mom and Dad!." She was so happy!
- Another little boy said, "That was amazing." His friend said, "I loved it." How sweet it is when children enjoy Bible stories!
- A little blond haired girl said, "I want to tell you 2 things. First, that was a great story. Second, God Bless you." We are indeed very blessed.
- Three boys wanted my autograph. Two had trusted in Jesus at the puppet show and one told me that he had not prayed. Ask the Father to call all 3 to deep faith!
- Another little boy said, "That was great!" It thrills all of us when the children are thrilled with the Gospel.
SKYLER'S STORY
Heather was giving her testimony to the children after I had finished the Bible story and prayer. She said, "You can ask Jesus to be your Savior." One little boy immediately raised his hand and blurted out, "I asked Jesus into my heart!" Pray for Skyler to keep his eyes on Jesus.
THREE BOYS
I asked some of the children if they remembered the story that I told last year. I was trying to make sure that I told a different story. It is amazing that at every place we visited, there were always a large number of children who remembered. However, my conversation with these three boys was really funny.
The first boy smiled and said that he was not here last year. The second boy said,"Oh, I think you told the story of little Red Riding Hood." The third boy said, "No, you told the story about the Great Teacher, and Paul walking on water."
Okay, he got most of it right. I am thrilled to tell you that all 3 of these boys trusted in Jesus Christ at the puppet show. They heard the story of Joseph and discovered God’s gift of forgiveness. Pray for them.
WHAT I KNOW
A little girl came to see me today after the show. She said, "I know something about God and Jesus. If I do something wrong, they still will love me." Please pray for this precious little girl to hold to this important truth! We live in a world where unconditional love is often only words, but to this little one, that truth is hope.
In Jesus,
Linda, for Paige Hopkins, Heather Kelley, Christa Powell, Jared Bolstridge, Seth Barnett
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