Redemption for All

A week ago we were told, by Pastor Greg Lyons, about the changes that Jesus is making in the lives of young people in Manila, Philippines. Here are two of their stories

Pastor Greg told us about a man who helps out at the Highlands Camp. This man brought his homosexual hairdresser, who was also his friend, to one of the 24-hour camps. The man's hairdresser and friend became a believer at the camp, and then went home to completely change his lifestyle. The hairdresser friend forsook his lifestyle of homosexuality, and even went as far as to bring 20 of his friends to the camp. This complete turn around has all taken place since March of this year.

Pastor Greg told us about two young men who came to one of the camps who were also living a homosexual lifestyle. These young men, like the friend before, accepted Christ as their Liberator through the work of the camp. They both went home and continued to thirst for more of Jesus. They ended up asking a fellow believer, who was also their neighbor, to meet with them in order to learn more of and talk about Jesus. Later on, the young men were watching the 700 Club and heard about a program that was asking for former homosexual people to come and counsel current homosexual people through their hotline. The men went to the provided training and then began to counsel by using their own story. Since their thirst continued to grow, they decided to begin small groups where people of their same background could go to learn about Jesus while being in a comfortable and inviting environment. These groups attracted more and more until there ended up being eight groups that got together on continual basis. Recently, a partner of Pastor Greg was approached by these men. They were asking if they could use their church facility for the celebration of their one year mark for the small groups. Pastor Greg's partner asked to hear their story and at the end was able to proclaim that he and his church were affiliated with the camp that had been to. The young men were delighted to have found this contact, whom they had been looking for for the past two years! The attached picture is of the gathering. There were 20 new friends who joined in the festivities, and nine of them became believers!

How wonderful to see and hear of the HUGE things that Jesus is doing. Not only is He at work in each of our own small worlds, but He actively changes the lives of people all across the globe. Praise Jesus for new brothers and sisters who truly get what it means to be a new creation in Christ!

 


Manila Philippines