Update from Pastorvirgil – June 7, 2021

“Moving Christians from the pew to the harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38

June 7, 2021

God is still working!!

I trust you are doing well and God is using you to bless others. Thank you for your continued confidence in us as we work to get the harvest in before the Lord returns.

Good report! Last year we began believing for a vehicle in Mexico that would enable us to travel safely when I am there, and also enable our team members to travel to engage new opportunities as the need arises. This has been a major issue for us. Because God is faithful and you are generous, we now have our vehicle. The Lord is amazing. He brought it in under budget, and in much better condition than we could have imagined. It really was owned by a little old lady who drove it very little and kept it pristine. Thank you for your prayers in this regard.

After these 4 decades in ministry, I am so grateful for the teaching of faith. When I left my job to go to Rhema I could not have imagined the ride that lay ahead. God has been faithful to His Word. Whenever He gives us an assignment, He also provides for what we need to get it done. This word works. Never forget it.

Sometimes the world around us is just plain nuts. This week seemed particularly chaotic. I know I’m supposed to pray for our political leaders, but on occasion it looks like a lost cause. I would rather just cuss ‘em and complain like everyone else. One morning I had a God moment as I was reading in Daniel 4. The last half of the verse says: “so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses—even to the lowliest of people.” Can I get an “Amen” on that last phrase. God is doing things to prepare the earth for the return of the Lord. He uses the lowest of men to get it done. My job: pray, live right, and speak the truth. My destiny does not depend on the kings of the earth. The Most High rules!

We have work to do. I’ll do my part. You do your part. God always does His part. Let’s do this!

Mexico: As I noted last month, we had our first post-pandemic “live” meeting with our Hermosillo crew on May 1st. We began training teachers for the first level Bible school in the Fall. We will meet with them again on June 19 to continue this process. In this meeting, I want to emphasize the things in our teaching that makes us different from some other folks. We are “Word” people. It’s important to hang on to the things God has given us that other groups may not highlight as we do. (To see what these things are, click here.) I want our teachers to be pickled in it so that when pressure comes, they won’t be blown off course. Our students need this word!

While there, I hope to get some recording done with our media team as we try to improve our production value to match the quality of our content. Please hold this project in your prayers. If we manage to get this done properly, we can do so much more than we can now: Live programming, radio production, make 2nd level classes available… The key element will be that I will no longer be responsible for all the technical aspects for doing each of these. Providing content is my calling, but right now, the technical stuff takes up a good chunk of my time and energy.

Other stuff: On May 12, We finished 4 Wednesdays on the power of connected covenant prayer via Zoom for Peru. It was good stuff.. You can catch up with the series here. We also did a service for Iglesia Jesus El Buen Pastor in Chincha on June 3. The radio ministry in Panama continues. We’ve now done 27 weeks of radio programs on the subject of divine healing. Don’t forget to check out check out Estereo Vida Darien, 105.1 FM.

On the road: New York in May. I had a wonderful time in New York. I visited 5 churches and God was faithful every time. The message of the hour for me is aimed at moving people to get serious about praying for one another in the power of the Spirit. I believe we stirred a few embers into flames on this trip. We’re planning a return to the area in late October. I’ll post an itinerary as soon as I have one.

My current emphasis is in two areas. First, I believe God wants every one of His kids to be healed. For over 2 years, I have been drilling down on the question of how we help folks who are struggling in that area. My heart hurts for them. (See Healing Help) God has given us some insights that are having good results. Second, if you know me, you know I love the Holy Spirit. Spirit-filled people need to act that way. We have the wonderful privilege of speaking in tongues. God filled us for a purpose bigger than having wild services. We have the capacity to impact eternity while strengthening ourselves, and we can do it on purpose!

Let me know if I can serve you.

To keep up with all that is happening with us, please visit our internet outposts at IEMFeonline, www.pastorvirgil.com, and the Pastorvirgil.com Facebook page. You will find materials that will help you to help others. I do my best to post all services that are available online to the Facebook page. Pastorvirgil.com contains reams of printed material to help you and help you to help others. Check it out.

Pray for us:

• Please continue to pray for helpers. I still need help with computer work, social media, and copy editing. I could also use some help with translating books into Spanish. They don’t have to be in Tucson.
• Pray for the ongoing preparations for the Bible school in Hermosillo. We currently plan to tech the 2nd level course, “Life I the /spirit” at the end of September, then start the first level classes with our new group of teachers.

Support: God is faithful! Financial support can be sent to Faith Christian Fellowship of Tucson at the address below or given online at www.fcftucson.org. Make checks payable to FCFT, you can designate for missions or pastorvirgil and it will get where it needs to go. I am constantly humbled by your confidence in us. Thank you.

Yours in His service,

Virgil and Judy Stokes