May I please have 5 mins of your time? It would me the world to us.

Hello and greetings in the Lord,
    

You know I can still remember the excitement, nervousness, and resolve we had on another July like this one 9 years ago. We were a newly married couple who had gotten to the point that we had to say, "Here we are Lord, send us" earlier that year or there would have been no peace in our hearts, and now here we were carrying through with that commitment.

    Everything we owned was spread out on my parents' yard. I must say it was quite a site.  All of our furniture, appliances, our vehicles and our household items were all there set out for sale. It was an odd and yet interesting experience as people came through combing through our things, not seeing the same value in them the way we had.

Whoever paid $100 for our bed that had cost $700 less than a year earlier, got a great deal. You could not tell it by their attitudes because they seemed pretty miffed to have paid that much. Looking back I should have kept it, it would be another 6 years before Heather and I would own a box spring and mattress to sleep on again.  All we did keep were some personal affects, books, and a computer that we were packing and shipping to PR ahead of us.

  

 We had no idea what laid ahead but we knew the Lord was leading us to go and that is all we needed to know. I will say that first night as we arrived in the house we were to live in for the next year with things scattered about, nothing but our luggage, and needing to clear a path to get to a place to sleep, was an eye opener. I could see in my young wife's face that look of "What have we gotten ourselves into?" Still she and I made it through that night and several far harder ones than that one over the years.  Honestly the first year was pretty rough for us for many reasons but we made it through.  It was very much a time of growth, dependence on the Lord, and a coming together far stronger than our first year of marriage had brought us and still that cementing together has lasted and grown only stronger through the years. (Heather and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary soon on Aug.30th 2013.)

    Here we are now 9 years later, me and my beautiful wife and our two beautiful

children. We are still on the mission-field and today like so long ago feeling excitement, nervousness, and a resolve to serve the Lord no matter what. We have seen and done too many things to name. The Lord has preserved us through so many hurts, losses, and difficult times and He has blessed us with so many amazing life changing experiences.

    We have walked the line of faith for years, each month we have trusted and waited for the Lord's provision. It is true that we have struggled to pay the bills many times from that first day in Ponce until now but at the same time the Lord has also blessed us with perfectly timed relief as well.  Often we have had just enough to pay all of the bills and coast through until the next month began. There have been those times that all the bills have been paid on time and we were able to set some aside for the next month, and then there have been times where past due bills were mounting and we would begin to wonder if we had been forgotten. Thankfully each time help would come from the most unexpected places.

 We have not been the type of ministry that sees large donations that come in regularly or many small donations that would come in each day and yet the Lord has provided and taken us to so many places, introduced us to so many amazing people, and provided for us in so many amazing ways, we could have never imagined 9 years ago at that yard sale in my parents back yard what all the Lord had planned.

             We have seen hundreds come to Christ, traveled to Africa three separate times, started two churches in PR, traveled back to the states on 3 furloughs and seen our ministry go from a handful of people meeting in a school class room in 2005 to now having close to 50 New Day branches around the world. Our online ministry reaches into nearly 100 countries with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we have a weekly Monday night Bible study that airs live each week for all who want to participate & every month we help to make sure that the orphans in our ministry in Kenya have food to eat.

We will never truly  know what an impact this ministry is having in the world this side of eternity but we know it is the Lord's and He is doing a tremendous work and we are grateful to be a part of it.

      I guess in some ways this July is much like that one we had 9 years ago only now it is not the material things that are being combed through. With so many other concerns, is the work we are doing for the Lord still seen as valuable?  Do people not see the same value in this ministry work in the way we do? Is it something else?  All of these changed lives, all of these amazing things the Lord has done  and is doing, and yet at the same time we were past due on our rent, we had to cancel church this last week because we could not afford the gas, and the number of personal health needs, vehicle repairs, and past due ministry bills continue to grow.

       Those faithful gifts that come in each month are coming still but the special gifts that we also depend on have all but dried up for the moment and we have really been affected by it these past couple months. I guess I kind of feel like my wife did on our first day on the Island, "What have we gotten ourselves into?" Still I know we will make it through this too like we have all the rest in the past.

       I would like to say to all of you who have stayed with us these past 9 years, who have stayed up praying for us during the hard times, gave what you could, even when it was not easy, took the time to write us, made the effort to call us, or to send us an email, I want you to know that each time was a tremendous blessing and encouragement to us that has kept us going.

     We have been told, and indeed we have considered, moving on to something else when our hearts had fallen or the way has gotten very hard, much harder than it usually is. Looking back however at each of those times I can see now how much wonder, joy, and peace the Lord had brought to us ,even in the midst of those times, that we would have missed out on had we not stayed the course.

    Despite what some may say the Christian life is not a series of mountain top experiences. You must also go through the valleys so you are better able to be used by the Lord as you continually learn to trust in Him more. Maybe you too have come to one of these points in life when things just seem too hard, too hurtful to stick with what the Lord is leading you to do, or to do so cheerfully. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Gal. 6:9

     When you find yourself like we have  a few times over the years asking God, "what have I gotten myself into"  just know you are not alone and more importantly that God is going to bring you through it. We know that He will not just because we hope so or think that He should. We know it because He has said He would in His word, and God can not lie.

    If you have read down this far I truly appreciate your resolve to see things through and I  am hoping I can ask just one or two more things of you to do before you go on with your day. For this ministry to continue, and continue to grow, it is going to have to have more support.

1.)        We need to expand the number of people and churches that know about and would be willing to support this work in whatever ways the Lord would lead them. If you have been a friend of this ministry and are already familiar with all the Lord has been doing through New Day please share this letter in places like facebook and twitter, with your email contacts, friends, churches, and small groups so that they can also learn about all that the Lord is doing through this ministry and pray about getting involved.  If you have received this letter from a friend please visit our web page at http://www.newdaycm.org and learn more about this work and see if He is leading you to join Him in it.

        

2.)       It has been 3 years since our last furlough and we are now planning to return this fall to the states. As of yet we do not know everywhere we will go, where we will stay, or even what we will drive. All of these thing we are praying about right now. We need resources now to get us through the next couple months here in Puerto Rico and we need to start planning for where and when we will travel to share. If you have been a friend of this ministry or you are just hearing of us we would like to hear from you and to make plans to come and share with your church or small group in the coming months.

 Please call us at: 1-937-307-0694, email us at: newdaycm@yahoo.com or write to us at:
New Day Christian Ministry PO Box 801438 Coto Laurel, Puerto Rico. We are willing to go anywhere that will extend the invitation for us to come.


3.)    All of the churches we have started over the years are in poor, mostly unreached areas. They do much on their own but they also need help. There is a tremendous amount of ministry taking place every day and an abundant amount of opportunity for mission trips for anyone willing to go.


4.)    We need prayer! We need pray each and every day. If you are willing to pray with us and for us please contact us and let us know. We do have a prayer ministry and we would love for you to be a part of it. You can begin by visiting our prayer ministry page at: http://newdayprayer.blogspot.com

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this long but very important letter to us about this work. May God richly bless you and make you a blessing.

God Bless,
David Ingram
New Day Christian Ministry
Isa. 43:18-21

For the pdf printable version of this letter use the following link: http://www.newdaycm.org/furloughandsupport.pdf

 

For the pdf (text only) printable version of this letter use the following link: http://www.newdaycm.org/furloughtext.pdf

Prayer and Support For Jesper Moreka

Resper Moreka Recovering

In 2009 Peter Siobe after having left our first leaders training conference set out to help new branches get started in Kisii, Kenya and beyond. Brother Joseph and his wife Resper Moreka were among those first new leaders.  Joseph leads NDCM Awendo and has since it was established in 2009 not long after our first training conference. Joseph is very much like our own Timothy. It is one of the youngest of our leaders and where ever Peter is Joseph is not far behind. They have both traveled together extensively establishing new branches. Joseph and Peter were traveling to prepare for our newest church plant in the town Opapo where Peter spent last month in while his family was in the hospital. While they were there they we received the horrible news that in the night robbers had broke into Joseph’s home and attacked his wife Resper and taken all of their things. They traveled back through the night to reach her not knowing fully what to expect. The assailants had left her for dead after cutting off her hand, tongue, while also cutting her leg and back, leaving her for dead.  She is currently in Tabaka private hospital recovering. They both will need all of the prayers and support we can give them. Their medical bills are mounting. They are needing 48,000 KES. ($575) Our NDCM branches are already taking up collections. They have raised 5,000 KES ($60) so far. If you feel the Lord leading to help this wonderful brother and sister in the Lord you can give a donation here now by clicking on the following link: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=VRKTEAYY4V23WAny amount will be greatly appreciated!

Update:

David with Joseph Moreka 

Hello,  I hope you are doing well. last Sunday I did a service at  NDCM Awendo church to see on how they are doing, and I was so much blessed. pastor Joseph was not able to attend the service because he was sick and confused mentally but we prayed with him and he hopes to come normal soon. we are praying that God will provide the remaining amount because the bill is coming up and it is preventing the release of her from the hospital. I thank the churches from Kisii, Tanzania, Mombasa ,and Rwanda for their response by now we are able to raise 5,500 Kenya shillings plus 10, 000 Kenya shillings which the churches had raised for the conference at Opapo. So the total amount we have in cash is 15, 500 kes ($185 USD). so we are lacking 32, 500 kes ($387 USD). Kindly because the bill is going higher as she stay in the hospital its our prayer that God to open ways for the remaining amount, and remember that family and pastor Joseph to gain and come back to the ministry. God bless you and yours.
 ~Peter Siobe~ NDCM Mochengo
(Click Here) to help this special couple in the Lord.

And when you fast?

     Announcement in the church bulletin for a National PRAYER & FASTING conference: "The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer conference includes meals. Funny bulletin blooper but it points out an important truth when it comes to how we think about fasting in the church today.   

 There are many debates these days about doctrine and people will dedicate years and even lifetimes in the promotion and defense of their attempts to define God. They will go on for days about their Calvinist, Arminianist, Premilllenialist, Amillennialist, Reformist, Fundamentalist, and a whole multitude of other ists.

     Many views are created and promoted daily about God's Word and what He really meant to say. Books are written, radio shows are aired, and TV shows are produced to promote these new and fresh "insights". But have you ever heard of a Fastist? There is no group out there debating, defending, promoting a fresh and new insight on fasting.

I can understand that. When I first read "When you fast," I thought the translators must have not translated that correctly. Surely it should say, "If you fast." or "in case you fast" this is how you should act, what you should, or should not do. But Jesus says when you fast,! He is not saying if you fast or in case you fast. He is assuming that those who follow Him will fast. These words were hard for me at the age of 13. As I read them I wondered why do I not hear much about this by the other Christians around me? Why is fasting not a main topic in Sunday school or worship services? As an adult I can now answer my own question with the greatest of ease. Fasting is not a topic we like to talk about because it is a very difficult topic to teach, receive, or live by. Fasting means that we truly place God above our self, our own desires, wants, or needs. Fasting is a far bigger commitment than attending church Sunday morning, sitting through a sermon, singing a few songs, giving a tithe and coming back the next Sunday to do it all again. Fasting requires: total obedience, total trust, a willingness to be purged of even our secret sins, and a yielding of the flesh to the spirit. Simply put, if you are not truly serious about following God you will not fast.

    If you have gotten to this sentence and you are in strong disagreement with the direction this discussion has taken then reading further will most likely do you no good. You will be only more convinced that fasting is a waste of your time/energy, and will be of no benefit to you. However, there is also a danger for you who read this message and want to fast but that desire is born out of a feeling of obligation or for what you think God will do for you. I encourage you to read, think about, and consider this verse:

    "Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?" Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isa 58:3-7)

The purpose of a fast is to draw close to God, it is to be a time of purification, renewal, and dedication for the Lord's use. And he says when we fast in this manner:

    "Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." (Isa 58:8-11)

Have I lost you yet? 

   I hope and pray that you will not be like the man who after telling Jesus he had followed the 10 commandments from His youth turned away after Jesus said, "one thing you lack, go and give all you have to the poor and then come and follow me." Are you willing to give up all to follow Jesus? Even the contentment of a full belly, and a earthly tent full of secret lust and hidden treasures? If so than I encourage you to get out your Bible, a note pad, and a willingness to be filled with God as He guides and satisfies you even in scorched places.

Are you ready to begin? 

Please go to:www.newdaycm.org/Whenyoufast.pdf

God Bless,

David Ingram

New Day Christian Ministry

Isa. 43:18-21

www.newdaycm.org

40 Days That Will Change Your Life!

   As many Bible readers know 40 days is mentioned several times in scripture during times of preparation. In studying the passages concerning 40 days there are two that normally stand out. They are the stories of Moses on top of the mountain as God gives him the Ten Commandments and Jesus being led into the wilderness for 40 days where he is tempted by Satan. There are several others however. For instance when God judged the world with the flood, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, Goliath challenged Israel and their god for 40 days, Jonah told the people of Nineveh that they had 40 days before God's judgment, Elijah ran to the mountain of God in 40 days, and Jesus showed himself and taught his disciples for 40 days after his resurrection, to name a few.

   As I have been studying these passages I have seen that these 40 day experiences always produced the same results; there is a purification of sin, preparation for God's people, and a clear manifestation of God's presence and power.

    In Genesis chapters 6-10 we read about how God flooded the earth as a result of the great sin that was overtaking the world. Only one family, Noah, his wife, 3 sons  and their wives, had not turned from God. The 40 days and nights of rain was the way God chose to purify the sin that was taking over world and make a way to preserve a people that would serve him. After the 40th day Noah was able to open the window of the Ark showing that God had saved him and his family and set them apart to be a people that would follow God.

   Moses was up on the mountain not just once but twice for 40 days and nights without bread and water. God gave Moses the 10 Commandments for the purpose of preparing the people of Israel to be the chosen people of God. He demonstrated his presence and power as he talked with and provided Moses with the 10 Commandments. The second time, Moses was pleading for God to forgive Israel for sinning against God. God's presence and power was more apparent to those around him than any other man, apart of Jesus.

   I could continue to demonstrate the results of purification, preparation, and God’s presence and power manifested to his people in all of the examples I have given but there is much more to discuss than this blog would do justice so I will high-light a few more and provide you with passages to look up if you would like to study this more for yourself. 


   Goliath challenged the children of Israel and on the 40th day God used the faith of David to deliver Israel. 


   Jonah warned of God's judgment that would come in 40 days and the people repented. As a result the largest revival recorded in the Bible took place. 


  Elijah ran 40 days during which time he was ministered to by angels and at the end had an amazing encounter with God.

   Finally Jesus was led into the wilderness for 40 days where he was tempted by Satan and ministered to by angels. At the end of this time his earthly ministry began and showed us what we, who were created in the image of God, were meant to be like and how a life completely surrendered to the will of the Father and filled by his Spirit, could truly be. After his resurrection he spent 40 days preparing his followers for the Birth of his Church and the coming of his Spirit to all that would believe and follow him.

   In 2008 I asked many of you if you would join us in 40 Days of Prayer. Many of you accepted and God responded in many amazing ways! When we started the 40 days we were still lacking $2,000 in the funds that we needed to make the journey to Africa to establish our first NDCM branch and preach a revival in Uganda. The Lord worked through many wonderful people and the funds came in time. When we arrived in Kenya we were greeted by the members of our first church start, NDCM Mogoko. They had been waiting for us to arrive for hours but continued waiting until we arrived. We are all very happy and grateful the Lord had brought us together over so many miles. After spending several days establishing Mogoko we traveled to Uganda to preach the revival we had been praying and preparing for. In the 5 days of the revival 40 people came to Christ. The revival continued for the rest of that month and by the end of the revival 150 had come to Christ. God has continued to grow and expand the work. From '08 to '09 we had 14 NDCM branches established and from '09 'till now, another 11 branches have been established. During the 40 days several of you wrote and shared all that God was doing in your lives as you joined in on the 40 Days of Prayer. The first 40 days prepared the way for God to do more than we could have hoped or imagined, in not only our lives, but in the lives of all of those who participated and countless others, as God responded in more ways than can be shared or expressed. God is indeed moved when we pray and seek to encounter the presence and power of God, he truly does respond mightily on behalf of all who call out to him. 

   Just like in '08, we are in desperate need of God to work miracles in our lives. We have a little over 40 days until we leave for Kenya and we are still lacking $3,500 to even be able to buy tickets for Africa, let alone funds for the work while we are there. We are seeking God’s wisdom as we prepare the lessons and we are seeking God’s Holy Spirit to go before us and prepare the way. Heather and I have committed to set 40 days apart to pray for the Feb mission trip to Kenya and now I am asking  if you would be willing to spend 40 days praying for God to bring to you, Heather and I, and the members of NDCM across Africa, a time of purification, preparation, and encountering the presence and power of God. If you are willing to set apart time each day and join with us for the 40 Days of Prayer beginning on Dec. 26^th   , please let me know by commenting below and I will send you a lists of prayer requests that we will be praying for during the coming 40 days.

We will begin our 40 Days of Prayer on Dec. 26th but if you did not receive or read this in time that is ok, you can get started on the day you read this.

God Bless,
David Ingram
New Day Christian Ministry
Isa.43:18-21

P.S. These chapter's below would be a benefit to you if you're interested for further study.

Exodus 24 & 34 Deut 9 & 10 , Numbers 13 & 14, 1 Samuel 17, 1 Kings
19, Ezra 4, Jonah 3, Matthew 4 and finally Mark 1.