Blind Man In England Sees As Children Minister To Him

Houston, Texas

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Greetings, dear Brethren in Christ ~

You may recall that last December we were in England with Modern Jesus Army to teach them The Elijah Challenge.

There was a young brother there named Tom who had recently gone blind. It was likely hereditary in nature. During the Training session, believers ministered to him with authority, but his eyesight was not restored. But in January the following month we received the following testimony from Peter Pap, a leader with Modern Jesus Army.

Tom who was healed by the Lord

"You may remember that Tom has gone blind about 6-7 months ago, and medically there was no hope for him. The doctors could not do anything for him really other than put him on the usual help for the blind programs and allocating a guide dog to him. He was quite put off by all this, felt rather frustrated. Tom recently started to "pick himself up", made sure his life did not stop just because this disability, he laughed a lot with the others, started to go to the gym and so on. 

After months of ministering and seeking the Lord about him, last night he was still blind with not even a sign of improvement. Then two small children ministered to him last night and..... Tom woke up this morning to go to the toilet and found himself being able to clearly see! He quickly woke up his brothers in his community house others, they tested and confirmed the miracle (by making Tom to make a cup of tea for everyone, which was done perfectly done!).
Now we are rejoicing with our brother and praising God for His wonderful ways!"

Finish The Race

Pastor William Lau and his wife, Pastor Lucille.

Houston, Texas

Monday, January 23, 2012

Dear Brethren in Christ,

Last night we returned home to Houston from burying my mother in New York. Twelve days ago she had gone home to be with the Lord at the age of 96 years. The Lord had used her in her own way to help us greatly in the work of the gospel since we began serving God full-time in 1978. We continue to miss and remember her.

Early this morning as I stirred from sleep I sensed the words “finish the race” in my spirit. I came downstairs to write. I’d like to share with you what I wrote.

Mom had stayed with Lucille and me for most of her last 19 years on earth. Over the last few years of her life she needed more and more care from us. During the past year she was admitted to a nursing home facility where we visited her twice a day when we were in town and not ministering overseas. Now she is with the Lord, and no longer needs our care. And just two days after Mom left us, our dear family dog Tuffy of nearly 14 years also passed away. This added to our grief. But we believe the Lord had a purpose in this. There is no longer anyone at home who needs our care.

By the grace of God we have labored for Him for over three decades as missionary, local pastor, and now teaching and equipping the body of Christ around the world. Since The Elijah Challenge began in 2000, ten of thousands of servants of God and disciples have been trained how to heal the sick and cast out demons as Jesus taught and commanded His disciples when he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God. Some disciples we have trained have gone on to be very fruitful for the Lord.

 With the Lord’s wonderful grace our marriage of 37 years is doing very well. We have learned to treat one another with kindness and gentleness. Lucille who is nearing 60 years of age remains youthful and pretty.

By His grace we have matured in the knowledge of His son Jesus Christ. We are careful to obey the Lord’s holy commands producing good fruit for Him; and to live a holy life to honor Him.

Like Paul, we can now say:
“Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.” (2 Corinthians 2:17)

Moreover, “we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:2)

I am now 62 years old, and am already considered a Senior Citizen qualifying for various discounts. But by God’s grace I am in very good health; both of my parents passed away in their mid-nineties. According to a Blood Pressure Chart on the internet, my blood pressure, which is in the 100s over 60s, is that of a young person. I do not take drugs or medication of any kind.

Since I am a steward of my body which is God’s temple, I take good care of it. I go to the gym about six times a week. I can easily bench press my own body weight several times. I exercise self-control and am very careful with what I eat and drink. We do not have health insurance coverage of any kind and very little retirement funds set aside for the future, but with the Lord’s help we will never need any.

Indeed all this is the wondrous grace of God at work in us.

Now with the Lord taking Mom we are in transition---shall we say, at “half time” in a football game. Our “second wind” is about to kick in. We are to finish the race going away. I sense this is what the Lord is telling us. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded (Luke 12:48).

Brethren, please continue to pray for us and partner with us. We want to be increasingly fruitful for the kingdom of God in the years to come---more productive than ever. In five weeks we are scheduled to be training 300 to 400 Assemblies of God pastors in Indonesia at their yearly nation-wide meeting for leaders.

We again echo the words of Paul the apostle:
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)

This was Paul’s raison d’être, the reason he lived. He did not live for worldly success, accomplishments, and rewards in this life from God. No, he was straining toward the goal of the heavenly prize---his reward in heaven. Unfortunately, many popular preachers today use the lure of earthly success from God to draw crowds unto themselves, and will persuasively use Scripture to support their teaching.

But Paul warned all believers in the very next verse:

“All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.” (Philippians 3:15)

Paul’s reason for living was not limited to and applicable for apostles only. It was for “all of us who are mature.” Let us grow up now and mature in Christ. Let us leave behind childish things like focusing on earthly success and accomplishments primarily for the sake of enjoyment in this life. Rather, whatever we do in this life should be for “pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.”



Then some day along with Paul we can all say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Thank you again for asking the Lord to comfort and strengthen us at this time. He has answered your prayers wonderfully.

Love in Christ,

Pastor William & Lucille Lau

www.TheElijahChallenge.org

Anti-Christian Extremist Healed By Jesus

In 2008, believers in Orissa, India, suffered intense persecution at the hands of anti-Christian extremists. They destroyed Christians' homes and burned churches to the ground. They went so far as to beat, rape, burn and murder believers. 

Haroon Das helped lead this brutality against Christians. When the riots against believers in Orissa began, he traveled throughout his district to stir up violence. 

“They destroyed Christians' homes and burned churches to the ground. They went so far as to beat, rape, burn and murder believers.”

On August 27, 2008, Haroon returned to his home village. He led a mob that damaged the church building of a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary. Haroon was one of the extremists who shattered the windows, broke the cross on top of the building and set fire to the contents of the building. 

The riots subsided, but Haroon himself began experiencing a problem. One of his legs became weak and caused him great pain. Eventually, one side of his body was completely paralyzed. 

With all his physical strength evaporated, Haroon's normal daily life came to a halt. He didn't understand why this happened. 

He went to doctors and spent lots of money on medical treatment, but he remained paralyzed. 

Someone was brave enough to tell Haroon that when Christians pray, a person can receive healing from any kind of sickness. He thought about going to church, but then talked himself out of it. 

"I have persecuted these people very badly, and if I go to them, how can they pray for me?" he asked himself. 

Haroon finally mustered up the courage to go. 

He showed up at a prayer meeting on a Tuesday night. He was shocked when the believers happily joined in prayer for him—the man who destroyed their church! Haroon brought his whole family—his wife, two children and his mother—to church the following Sunday. 

“I have persecuted these people very badly, and if I go to them, how can they pray for me?”

When the worship service ended, the pastor, Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Bhajan Sen, led the whole congregation in prayer for Haroon's physical ailments. 

Haroon and his family continued coming to church functions, and after some time, God completely healed him! Thankful and repentant, he confessed that the Lord had done this miracle. Haroon and his family decided to give their lives to Jesus. 

Although he is facing opposition from his older brother and from some of the other villagers, Haroon refuses to turn his back on Christ. His brother is threatening to cut him off from the rest of the family, but Haroon says he will stand firm in his relationship with Jesus regardless of the consequences. 

Like the people of Israel in Ezekiel's day, Haroon was called by the God who says, "As I live...I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!" (Ezekiel 33:11 NKJV) By the mercy of Christ, Haroon no longer harasses the Lord's people. Instead, he joins with them in worshiping his Savior.