Christmas Eve 2014 - Thanksgiving: New Seeds

As we celebrate the birth of Christ, may I first thank God for the special gift of salvation that came through Jesus Christ as he suffered and died in my place, saving me from the curse of sin and death. THANK YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST. Because of you, I have everlasting love and the hope of eternal life with you.
Christians are suffering all over the world and I want to personally thank each and every person that has seen a need and helped another in whatever mission God has led them. My special thanks to everyone who has helped in this mission of Tabernacle for a Shadow going around the world over these last 5 years since the book was published. It brings great joy in knowing that God is doing what He said He would do through the efforts of others. If you have a story of where a book was sent or who it was given to, I would love to hear your story and perhaps put it on the website. Meanwhile, I want to thank Rick and Debra Rice for their last two books going to the countries of Thailand and Cambodia. Rick’s recent mission trip to Cambodia resulted in his giving a book to Dareth Ly and his wife, who have been missionaries there since 1996. Dareth’s incredible testimony of his survival in the “killing fields” of Cambodia in the 1970’s as a 7 year old child is told on a video on his website. Link to Dareth’s website: darethly.com/

Thank you also to Judi and Scott Price for taking another book to Cambodia as they are currently serving there. The book went to Transformasia. Here's the link: http://www.transformasia.us/

The combined efforts of Joseph Cofield and Dellnot Gardiner have resulted in the Tabernacle for a Shadow books going to two new countries, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka, as well as another book to Nigeria. Knowing that the love of God in the message of the Tabernacle book are going to these three countries that are especially hostile to Christians is one of the greatest presents I could receive and brings great joy to me on this Christmas Eve. Thank you Joseph and Dellnot.

According to the Voice of the Martyr’s 2014 Global Report:
Sierra Leone  “has been ranked as the world’s poorest country for most of the last 10 years. By law, Sierra Leone has freedom of religion. Ethnic religions, the occult and witchcraft are common practices, and Islam is currently on the rise, with mosques being constructed in many communities. Christian converts are stoned and poisoned. Pastors have been seriously beaten and churches destroyed.”                                                                       Category: Monitored Nation   
Religion: Muslim 63%, Christian 13%

Sri Lanka
“The persecution of Christians has escalated in recent years with the rise of militant Buddhist nationalist groups in Sri Lanka. More than 250 churches have been destroyed or damaged in sectarian violence. Although the constitution guarantees religious freedom while favoring Buddhism, minority Protestants have experienced violent persecution as well as discrimination in employment and education. Less than 1 percent of the population is Protestant. The country passed an anti-conversion law in 2009, making conversion from Buddhism to Christianity illegal, but there is no evidence to indicate that the government is using it against Christians.”
Category: Hostile Nation
Religion: Buddhist 70.0%, Christian 8.4%
Ideology: Buddhism
Head of State: President Mahinda Percy Rajapaksa

Nigeria
"Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is divided between a Christian culture in the south and a radical Islamic culture in the north that is characterized by massive riots, bombings and a plan to create an Islamic state. Greed and corruption consume all levels of government in this oil-rich nation, which faces the growing challenge of division along religious and ethnic lines. Nigeria has been designated a Country of Particular Concern by the USCIRF since 2009.”                                                                                                                                                       Category: Hostile Nation
Religion: Christian 51.3%, Muslim 45.1%
Ideology: Islam
Head of State: President Goodluck Jonathan

MONITORED
  These are areas being closely monitored by VOM because of a trend toward increased persecution of Christians. The frequency and severity of persecution do not currently meet the criteria of the Hostile category

 HOSTILE
This includes nations or large areas of nations where governments consistently attempt to provide protection for the Christian population, but Christians are routinely persecuted by family, friends, neighbors or political groups because of their witness.

 Link to Voice of the Martyr’s website: http://www.persecution.com/public/prayermap.aspx?

For 2015, let’s continue to pray for each other’s needs and for the spread of the Gospel all over the world. May every Christian be blessed and led to show the love the Lord, Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, to others. Merry Christmas!