There’s much to share about Embracing Life’s activities in the first half of ’08, however, I’ll begin with some personal news that ordered the pace of the first few months. It must be said, that in spite of facing more medical problems at the start of the year, I felt confident that I was in the all-encompassing care (and watchful eye)of the Lord. Through the gifted people God placed over me and the devoted, inspiring leaders He placed under my direction, I experienced the Goodness and Generosity of the Lord like no other time.
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm. 33:18-22
Personal News
For those who did not know, I was diagnosed in December ’07 with prostate cancer. The diagnosis came totally unexpectedly as I was tested only a year before and was fine. It was the second occurrence of cancer for me: the first being AIDS-related, Kaposi’s Sarcoma back in 2003. While this cancer did not require chemo-therapy – Praise the Lord – the varied options for treatment all warned of hazardous possibilities. After researching and listening to lots of anecdotes from others, I decided to have a radical prostatectomy – total removal of the prostate. Through a referral, I was led to one of the finest urologists and surgeons in the country who, only weeks after operating on me, died suddenly at age 45 from septic poisoning. He was a brother in Christ and the most brilliant and caring medical professional I have ever met. I am not ashamed to say that I wept over the news of his tragic death…as did many who barely knew him. Today, I am fully recovered and cancer-free–a testament to his skill and promise that he would do all within his capability to give me many more years here to serve the Lord. Dr. John P. Stein: heaven’s gain, the medical profession’s loss.
Kansas
My surgery was set for late February so our January More Life! Training in Wichita, KS went on as planned. Neil Driscoll and I ministered together at our dear friend Penny Dugan’s home – a neo log cabin where we packed ‘em in. The setting was appropriate given the two pioneering ML! groups that emerged from that adventure. New Jerusalem’s ministry there has become a familiar base for me in the Midwest – one which I always love to return to.
Philippines
Ten days after returning from Kansas, Debbie Driscoll and I flew to the Philippines for trainings in Manila and Cebu City, a resort city of sorts located on one of the many islands that make up the country. We had the unique opportunity of doing healing services in two hospitals for breaking free from the spirit of death. (We all know that would never be permitted in the U.S.) There were over 200 doctors and medical workers attending which was a milestone for everyone involved. After our More Life! Training in Manila, we flew south with the Embracing Life Manila team, headed by Becky Del Corro along with Virmi Nery and the Wholeness Ministries leaders. We met up in Cebu City with a Christian Medical Association for a retreat entitled “Doctors in Touch, Back to the Cross”.
Only a handful of the 40 present knew what we were about; undoubtedly, the prayer time and training had to have caught them off-guard. Unfazed, they dove right in and participated with gusto. This was the first time for many to look at the manifestations of the spirit of death in their lives – both personally and nationally as Filipinos. Our hearts were knit together with those dear men and women who so emotively described the profound affect on their country that centuries-old subjugation from others had had. How thrilling the hope we witnessed in their healing and the liberation in Christ we celebrated after our weekend together.
Southern California
May 9th and 10th we held our first More Life! Training at my home church, Harvest Rock in Pasadena. I’ve included a picture of the downstairs lobby which was our venue (the building was once a famous concert hall) aptly called ‘The Fire Room” for obvious visual reasons and also spiritual –it’s where all the prayer ministry happens.
The Friday night ministry time saw about 120 folks and the next day a good 40 people attended the training. At last, on home turf.
Little time passed before we had to gear up for our annual Embracing Life Leaders’ Training at the Anaheim Vineyard at the beginning of June. That successfully completed, we had to quickly focus our attention on preparations for our “Share the Life!” fundraiser on June 28th…this time held in my own backyard.
Along with the anointed music by Becca Dricoll, we had endless delicious food and great testimonials. Of special note was a live interview over the internet with EL New Zealand leader, Glenys Brookbanks. Everyone wanted to hear more from her but Alas! had more of me instead. Lots of old friends showed up and had a chance to peruse the information gazebo set up to display the history of the ministry (posters, magazine articles, photos of past volunteers…etc.) as well as new publications. It was a full three hours that flew by. More than any donations received at the event (for which we’re grateful), the presence of friends gathered was (to me) a picture of the Lord’s great mercy and faithfulness in persevering. He took a mustard seed of a ministry like AIDS Resource Ministry (ARM) back in 1985 and produced – through the prayers and support of so many gathered there – the ever-growing Embracing Life Ministries of today. My heart was full and rejoiced to be alive to see it.
Travel News for Prayer Covering
As I write this, Neil and Debbie Driscoll and I are preparing for our next ministry trip down under to New Zealand and Australia. This will be the first More Life! Training in NZ and our first EL ministry endeavor –ever– in Aussie land. We’re all excited about the fruit that we know will come from this trip…lots of breakthroughs in people’s lives, accompanied by many healings.
Dates: Aug. 18- Sept. 1
In October I’ll be meeting up with Sonja Stark, the Director of Living Waters Europe for a conference in Finland where we expect many of the leaders involved with various healing groups to come. The venue will also provide a good platform for me to share about the More Life! booklets recently translated into Finnish and talk about future trainings there.
Dates: Oct. 8-14
Finally, Debbie and I are going to Argentina in November to do a More Life! Training, sponsored by Mauricio and Daniella Montion. Daniella has worked tirelessly on the Spanish translation of all our literature and has started teaching from the materials. It will be our first venture in South America and we’re really thrilled for the opportunity.
Dates: Nov. 12- yet to be confirmed
Bless all of you for helping make this a hallmark year for Embracing Life Ministries already. May the future be even brighter for all God’s children who have placed their hope in His unfailing Love.
With His Grace,
Jonathan
