In those travels I’ve come to realize that there are two types of people whom I consider the wisest, and I’d like to share them with you.

I’ve given them titles to help us classify.

1. The Farmer
   To me, The Farmer is the unambitious soul who is content with their family, their home, and their life. I call them the farmer because we always describe these people as folks who watch things grow. They watch their plants grow. They watch their family grow. They watch themselves grow. And growing takes time, so they are in no hurry.Life is not a game to be won, but a day to be lived. I admire that.These people usually have land, live off of what comes from their fields, and has few bills as possible. This is what life would be like for most all of us if it weren’t for the fall of man. We would be able to sit back, relax, enjoy our work, and have not a care in the world.Sounds great doesn’t it.Yes, I want this to be a part of my life, to not be so busy that we ignore family, friends, and strangers. There is much wisdom in finding your spot on God’s Earth and caring for it.
2. The Explorer
   The second group I admire I name the explorer. This is the person who has a hard time ignoring the outside world. Deep down they know they are needed beyond the garden walls, and that knowing pulls at them day and night.”There is a world out there, and I want it,” they muttur in their sleep.These are those who lead the way into new lands. They are those who plant churches, and build big businesses, who when they are young pack a bag and return two years later with dread-locks and trinkets. At first they are restless, wanting more than they see, making statements about getting out of this town.These people are called wanderers, but most are looking for their place on the earth. They feel they are needed somewhere else, like Abraham, like Joshua, like Jesus – so one day they go. In the journey they see and experience things the Farmer has never dreamt of. They discover, mostly themselves, and when they return they are forever changed, mostly thicker, richer, and wiser.There is much wisdom here, a kind that I have and want more of in my life. To know what is, to toss ignorance into oblivion, knowing that it might be painful to know, and that knowing can never be undone. It’s courage, to see and feel and accept and hurt, but keep ging anyway.

So ready for the good part? You don’t have to choose.

No, you don’t.

It is my goal in life to be both. To travel and know and serve and explore, but have a home to return to with children and a family and a garden. The two groups are not contrary to one another, and the happiest people I know are those who follow the call of the explorer, but in the end have grandchildren to tell their stories to on their front porch. They are those who accept the call of Adam and Jesus, to live and tend and multiply and be fruitful; and to GO into all the world and preach the Good news of Salvation, to make disciples, to build orphanages, to change the world.

To me, both of those done correctly IS The Revolutionary Life. It takes wisdom and discipline to maintain both, but it is possible. For certain, we can’t build our businesses and ministries where they depend on us forever, or our growing things will wither back home, but if we do build our lives with the wisdom of proverbs, taking our time, building smart rather than fast we can become both the farmer and the explorer.

As for me, my desire is to preach the Gospel world-wide, plant churches, building in such a way as things go on even when we are absent. Then, when each mission is done, to return for a while to a house and a garden, and I will write books about other worlds, watering my future children until they are strong.

How about you? Are you living one or the otherlife? Who is the wisest person you’ve ever met? How about the most content and happy?

But we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for two of our friends.

My friend Jason and his wife Katie have been around for years. Jason and I were roommates in our early twenties and have ministered to everyone from troubled teens to homeless vets. He is really like a brother. When Darlene and I first heard of our friends earthly diagnosis we were not able to come. We wanted to, but the clutch in our only vehicle burnt out the other day. The hospital is over two hours away, so we were stranded.

But then, when Jason and Katie heard about our mutual friend, I got a two word email from Jason: Call me…

And so I did. When Jason answered he and his family were already in the town, which by the way is two hours from his home.

“Hey bro, you hear about Todd (our friend)?” I asked.

“Yeah. I’m here now. Staying focused so I can be an encouragement to him,” answered Jason.

“We want to come too, but the clutch is out in the truck. It sucks.”

“Yeah? Well, let me call you back.”

“Okay.”

Jason hung up and a few minutes later he called back.

“We’re coming to get you. And don’t worry, we’ve got a big enough hotel room so we can all stay together.” And so we here we are.

Now get this: Jason has a full time job, he is an associate pastor at a church, he is married, and has a two year old daughter. He packed all that up, took off from work, rescheduled and delegated his church responsibilities, drove two hours, got a hotel, came and got us another two hours away, and all from his own wallet (which he, like most normal folks, is limited in).

All of this got me thinking about a statement I’ve heard a lot in church. It goes like this: “God is not looking for the most talented, he is looking for those who are available!” or “God is not looking for the strongest, but the person who is available!”

Have you ever heard the above two lines preached? I know I have, like a bajillion times. They are two very popular preacher sound bytes and they go good in conference promos and video clips for television programs. We hear them over and over again. Do you know why?

Because they are true.

God is NOT looking for the most talented or strongest (by human standards). He isn’t looking to pick out the King that towers over most others, like Saul, but rather the one with a heart like His own, like David. He can train up the untalented. He can be the strength for the weak. If a person is pliable and available God can make them into the person He needs for the job.

It’s kinda His business, making people. He is God!

So, according to these preacher quotes one of the qualification for being used of God is being available.

But what does that mean? How exactly does one be available for God to use them? What do we preachers mean by that vague statement? If I were to tell you to become available to be used by God, what would you do? Would you close your eyes and strain real hard, flip some spiritual switch deep inside, then come back with, ‘I’m ready!’

No. Being available is a VERY practical thing. If you can strip all the religious cliches off the statement and hear it for what it is, being available is just that: being available.

It’s like a telephone call. Ever had one of those phone calls you didn’t want to answer? A bill collector maybe? Or maybe a friend moving who needs help. They call, you answer, they ask for you, so you, the Holy Christian say… “Let me see if they’re here…” as if you aren’t. You lie to get out of the situation. You make an excuse so you don’t have to deal with it. We’ve all done it. Well, that’s called making yourself UNAVAILABLE. It’s like not answering the phone. You hear the phone ringing, you know someone is calling, but you walk away.

Or perhaps they call and you really ARE too busy to answer the call. Your neck-deep in dishes or family or television or Facebook or work. That’s called BEING unavailable.

Being available is putting down whatever you are doing and grabbing the phone, and being available to be used by God is as simple as that. It’s responding in obedience when the Lord puts something on your heart. It is raising your hand as a volunteer at church for that job no one wants. It’s dropping your schedule to help a friend, or brother, or stranger in need. Being available requires flexibility and humility. It requires not demanding your own way. It requires breaking routine. It requires obedience over comfort. It is love in action, no matter the circumstance.

Listen, not all of God’s callings involve a burning bush. Most come in the form of a phone call from someone that needs help. It comes as a volunteer card at church. It comes from doing good when it is in your power to do so. It is not being so busy and consumed with your own personal life that you can make no time for others. It is NOT waiting to see if someone else will do it. It is being the first to raise your hand. It is dropping your important plans sometimes for the sake of others.

It is practical. It is following Jesus 101. Drop your nets, follow me.

So, let me ask you, are you available? Really? Does your schedule keep you from being available? Are you willing to answer the phone when your brother calls you in need?

“It’s part of their grieving process,” he said. So, I agreed we could stay. I looked at my watch. Our flight was in three hours.

The Heart of India

How did we get here, in this small gypsy slum in Hyderabad, India? The answer: God. A week before, after confirmation in prayer, we moved north from Tamil Nadu to Hyderabad. The word we were being led by was to go to Hyderabad, and once there we would meet the man of peace who would become the local pastor of our church plant in the city. In that same prayer time the Lord had shown me a heart. The heart sends blood (life) to the whole body and receives it to strengthen it and send it out again. Put your church as close to the heart of India as you can, so you can send life throughout the whole country.

And so we got on yet another bus. Years ago, back in Mississippi, I had made friends with an older Indian woman named Elizabeth. Overtime I grew to call her Mom, and she called me son. Since, she had moved back to India, so when we arrived she and her family hosted us in their home. Her very quiet son, Isaac, served us so kindly, making sure we always had food and transportation. He took us from place to place, as we visited homes and churches, quietly searching for the man of peace that would be our pastor. “Who is he, Lord?” we prayed. We preached, we taught, we observed, and the need we encountered was overwhelming. Many (not all) of the churches were so stuck on teaching LAW that freedom in Christ was almost absent, as were the lost that should have been filling their services. Finally, after yet another long day of visiting, Momma Elizabeth asked us to sit down and look at some pictures. As soon as she began her eyes filled with tears.

Dustan and Darlene with Momma Liz

Madu’s Story

“Last year I started a ministry,” she said. “We went to one of the local slums twice a week and fed the kids, taught them about Jesus, and how to read and write. We’d have to bathe them often, teaching them how to clean themselves, especially the ears, because of all the trash – ear problems. These kids have parents, many of them, but they live in terrible conditions. Their parents work, but they make so little that they have to live in these tents. They eat mostly rice and bread, no protein.” She flipped the picture and pointed at one boy in particular. “This boy’s name was Madu. He had some kind of deficiency, that’s why his hair is that color. Earlier this year I ran out of money and was not able to feed the kids anymore. Shortly after, Madu got sick and because he was so weak he passed away. He had accepted Jesus, and he led his sister to know Jesus, and I am happy for that, but it should not be like this.” Momma Elizabeth wiped a tear from her cheek and turned to us. “These are the only pictures of Madu that exist. His mother has not seen a picture of her son since he died. I told her I had some, so she has asked me to bring them on a computer so she can see him. Can we go two days from now and show her on your laptop?”

Darlene didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

The next morning when we awoke Isaac was, as usual, waiting. “Hey Isaac!” I said. We had become quite close since we arrived, and as is Isaac’s servant nature, he had brought breakfast.

“Good morning Dustan, Darlene. Did you sleep well?”

“Yep.”

Meeting the Man of Peace

“Praise God,” he said. “Listen, I have something to talk to you about. Is it okay?” Isaac had served so kindly, but was a man of few words. He listened, was extremely kind, done everything asked and more, and he was not shy, but nor did he toss loose words about.

Isaac began, and went on and on about his dreams. He desired nothing more than to create a ministry that would have open doors to the lost and backslidden. His secret dream was to go and send missionaries to the middle east. “The ministry I want to build must be a place where the word of God is taught and where outreach is everything. We must have passionate praise and worship! I have had these dreams for many years, but I’ve only told a few people. The Lord told me to tell you Dustan and Darlene. I don’t know why.”

We did. As soon as Isaac had begun to speak we realized that our man of peace had been serving us in his home since we arrived. His dreams and goals matched our’s word for word! He was even trained as a pastor by a local, well trusted Bible school! Darlene and I sat with gaping mouths as Isaac released our own vision back to us.

Dustan praying with Isaac

“Isaac, this is amazing. This is God!” I said. As I shared our vision for a church in Hyderabad it was Isaac’s turn to gape. After a few more hours of talking and praying, I asked, “Where do you think we could meet?”

“I’ve got just the place,” answered Isaac. “I’ll take you there tomorrow.”

The next morning we woke for a LONG day. We were first to go with Isaac to visit the potential church location, then we would visit the market to buy fruit for the slum village. The plan was to bless the children with some nutrients, while we share the pictures with Madu’s family.

Miraculous Provision

The place Isaac had in mind for the church turned out to be a music training institute. When we walked in the door we were greeted by a wall full of western and Indian musical instruments. From the ceiling hung lights, and a sound system was set in place by the stage area. The young owners name was Job, and he was one of Isaac’s friends. When Isaac asked for permission to use the space on Sundays. Job smiled. “Sure! It would be my pleasure!” he said.

The Church Location in Hyderabad

And that was that. And hour or so later, after we had jammed a little on the instruments, the Lord spoke to my heart. Although he is offering this place for free, give him 10,000 rupees ($200) for the first two months. Be a blessing. So, I gave Isaac the money and explained. The next day Isaac carried it to Job. When he handed the money over Job’s eyes got really big. “This is amazing,” he said. “You do not know, but I am behind on a bill. Today the collectors are coming to collect exactly 10,000 rupees!!” At that exact moment the door opened and the bill collectors stepped in. Job took the money from Isaac, gave it to the collectors and they left. Praise God for His provision!

Dustan with Isaac and Job

We spent the rest of the afternoon with Isaac, lining out in prayer and the word of God all that Revolutionary Life Church Hyderabad will be. After covering solid doctrinal issues we agreed that Isaac would run a weekly prayer meeting, begin to build a core team, plan, do evangelism, and that we would officially ordain him as Pastor and set him into place during the first public service when we return in late August! Currently Revolutionary Life Hyderabad’s team members are meeting twice a week with Isaac, seeking God for this church, and reaching out to their friends! August is soon, and that’s when we will open the doors for the public!

Madu’s Village

Next, we drove with Mrs. Elizabeth to the slums to meet Madu’s family. When we arrived we introduced ourselves, asked permission to take pictures and video, then set our laptop on a plastic chair so everyone could see. The family gathered, as well as the village, and Darlene began to show pictures of Madu. This is when the wailing began. The mother cried so loud that we wondered if it was safe.

Madu's mother weeping over a picture of Madu

Over and over again she took her hand, touched Madu’s picture, and brought her hand back to her heart or mouth. A simple gesture, probably stemming from old beliefs that perhaps some of Madu’s soul was in the photo. She was saying in her own way, I want him back in my heart. I miss him more than I can take. Darlene sat on the ground and wept with the mother, and I put my hand around the father’s shoulder and prayed for him. The wailing went on and on and on, and Momma Elizabeth let it. She needs this, we were told. While we’re with the family, Shiney, Elizabeth’s daughter, gave the fruit to the children. After maybe 30 minutes the wailing calmed and we snapped a picture of the family holding Madu’s picture in their arms. This is the only photo they will ever have together.

The Family posing for a picture with Madu's Picture

“Does she know Jesus?” Darlene asked, concerning Madu’s mother.

Elizabeth smiled. “God can even use terrible things for good. After Madu died she told me she wanted to see him again. I told her that Madu was in heaven now, with God, and if she wanted to be with him she needed forgiveness through Christ. Since, she has begun going to church.”

Darlene giving Madu's family fruit.

The time came for us to leave, and the family was so grateful for having been able to see Madu’s face again that they gave us some of their own home made bread. That night we committed to resurrect this feeding program and partnered with Mrs. Elizabeth to feed fifty of these slum children twice a week. And as of right now it is happening. Twice a week you, through your partnership with Revolutionary Life, are supplying Madu’s friends with a balanced meal, classes in reading and writing with some English, teachings on hygiene, and most importantly, The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Kids who live in the Slum Area

Dustan and Darlene with Madu's Village

What’s Next? Africa.

Our current goal is to leave in June for West Africa. We are currently trying to raise the needed money for the rest of this year’s missions. As of now, we will be going into the desert to preach the Gospel to some distant peoples, then we will make our way to Ghana to investigate another church plant. God willing we will return to India in August to launch the church, then up into Nepal for some evangelism. Watch THIS video for more information. We are trying to get 500 new people to give a small monthly gift of  only $10. If we can reach this goal we will be fully funded for the next year of our work!

Our word from the Lord for 2012 is LONG LASTING FRUIT and together we are making it happen! Thank you! Thank you for your love for God. Thank you for your love for the lost, love for us, and love for giving! Every gift is helping us make a difference in these peoples lives.

We pray you are continually blessed in every way: spirit, soul, & body. Until next time, keep….

Living the Revolutionary Life,

Dustan & Darlene Stanley

Together we can take the Revolutionary Life in Christ to those who have never heard of Jesus.

Hope you enjoy the promo, and if you feel good about it please prayerfully consider becoming one of our $10 a month partners. Perhaps $10 doesn’t seem like much, but it is! If we can get 500 $10 a month partners we will be fully funded to accomplish all the Lord has put on our heart to do. Thank you, God bless! And enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO GIVE ONLINE

Darlene (my wife) and I had been making our way north overland, pushing towards one of the non-boldened dots on the map. In prayer, we had felt a strong sense in our hearts to press on, despite numerous obstacles and against advice that the dot we were shooting for could not be reached because the rainy season had wiped out the road. At first we thought they just assumed a couple of foreigners couldn’t hang, but we soon realized that they were telling the unexaggerated truth.

There was no road.

But hey, we were traveling around the world with two backpacks. If we stayed on the paved road, the safe place, what stories would we tell our children one day. And that’s how we got to this river.

After days of pushing and inquiring we had finally been invited to join a mountainous jungle canoe ride to the village we were trying to reach. The small boat was propelled by what looked like a V8 motor, and was packed full of everything from rice to bicycles. The drivers were two pretty friendly military guys with machine guns.

And that’s when it happened, one of the many defining moments that changed my life forever. Standing there, with the dirty river water splashing at my feet, I stepped into the boat and changed my life forever .

How? I named myself.

A different way to say it is: I defined myself. The moment did not define me, the circumstance did not. I, with the help of God, named me.

I chose at that moment to see myself as a missionary adventurer, a world traveler, Indiana Jones’s cool cousin, although I didn’t completely feel like it. This type of adventure was made for the brave, the daring, and although I felt like an amateur, and in most peoples eyes was a novice, I made a choice that today I was brave, I was daring, and I could (with the help of God) do this.

I named myself adventurer. I named myself missionary. I named myself brave.

In the Bible Eve was called the WOMAN for three chapters. From the start God had commanded them to be fruitful and multiply, but there the woman was with no kids to mention and no name. It was not until chapter three verse twenty that Adam named the woman Eve, because she would be the mother of all living. Only four verses later we are told that she has two children. It wasn’t until Eve was named mother that she became mother. It was her purpose from the moment she was made, but it was not until she was defined that she became who she was made to be.

But this is not only for naked people in a garden.

Recently I read Jeff Goin’s blog post, The Shocking Truth About Launching a Writing Career. In this post Jeff tells the story of when he went from being an aspiring, wannabe writer to being a boa-fide for real writer. The surprising part was that the change didn’t come with a book on the best sellers list, but rather in Jeff’s mind and mouth. When he started calling himself a writer he began to act like one. This realization was so life changing that he’s even writing an ebook about it, titled You Are a Writer. Jeff believes this is one of the primary differences between the amateur and the professional.

And so do I.

That hopped-up canoe carried Darlene and I upriver to one of the greatest adventures of our life thus far. In the end our mission and journey was such a success that it is still the most watched episode of our TV show. The stories we tell from that trip still drops jaws, but the biggest impact was inside of us. From that moment on we no longer called ourselves rookies. We no longer said we were green. That choice changed the way we see us, and that has changed everything. This same principle has carried us into producing television, writing my first book, and planting churches. We have learned to name ourselves and act like the name we’ve accepted, and fruit will follow. Not the other way around.

Whatever it is that you are reaching for, whatever you feel you were made to be, accept the title; start calling yourself that. Define you. Change your business card and twitter bio. Look at yourself in the mirror every morning and say,

I am a writer. I am a traveler. I am brave. I am a missionary. I am a giver. I am a _____ (fill in the blank). This is step one: Accepting that IN Christ you can do and be who and whatever God has called you to be.

SO be brave. Get in the boat. Start your journey. If Christ is in the water with you, you have nothing to fear. Get in.

You never know where it might take you.

Click HERE to learn how you can Give. Thanks!

Freddy de los Reyes hanging out with some kids in Southeast Asia

The more time we spent talking and praying and planning, the more we realized that we had the same apostolic heart. So, just before we left Asia we had the chance to sit down with Freddy and ask him a few questions about the mission, his experiences, and what advice he would give to up and coming missionaries. The answers we fun and illuminating, and we walked away with much to think on. This is the first online video of our Missionary Training Boot Camp.

I believe you will be blessed by this short section of the interview. Enjoy.

Freddy’s Website is www.hisworkhisway.com

Here are seven tips on how you can travel in South/Southeast Asia with very little money…

1. Stay in cheap guesthouses. These range anywhere from $2 bucks a night in South/Southeast Asia to ridiculous, but in these areas the average is around $13-$15 a night (as of last time we traveled). The key is often to not book ahead, even though it’s annoying, and search out on the ground when you arrive. Remember, places that charge $8 a night normally can not afford ads online or English translators for a website. A great option for the traveler with no really expensive valuables is the Hostel, a room with multiple beds. These are usually the cheapest option and a good way to meet other travelers. We’re married, so we don’t take this option, but a ton of our friends do and enjoy.
2. Travel with a trusted friend. This way the Guesthouse cost will be split and you will be safe. In South/Southeast Asia it’s by the room (when not a hostel type place), not by the person. Therefore a small room, if you are willing to share, can be half as expensive when there are two of you. Most times you can even get two beds!
3. Learn to eat local food. Listen, almost everyone I know says they won’t eat western local food when on the road, but everyone I know does at some point. It is a part of your culture, so plan for that in the budget, but when possible eat at the yummy cart down the street. The food is usually pretty good, and it’s cheap!
4. Research out the cheapest transportation. At first we all want to jump on a tuk-tuk/rickshaw because it’s fun, but later we discover that we’re getting three times normal price. In Thailand, learn to drive a motorcycle. In India get a nice Indian friend to get the rickshaw for you, or learn the local bargaining process yourself and haggle away. In Bangkok/Kuala Lumpur/Singapore get on the MRT/LRT trains. And here’s the best option, WALK when you can. It’s free, healthy, and you will see more of life. Just know where you are going. Get a map. Read online. Dodge the dodgy areas. When traveling from city to city find the local bus or the train, rather than flying. One option, although it is not relaxing, is to travel overnight by bus when moving to a new city. It doubles as a guesthouse and a ride. Yeah!
5. Take it slow, and stay out of the big cities for too long. You will discover that travel costs the most, and getting around any large city is pricey. Search out those jewels surrounded by rivers and trees and kick back in nature. Find a local and stay with them, blessing them with the money you would be paying to a guesthouse. The most relaxing place we found during our first missionary journey was a dot on the map called Don Det in Laos. $5 bucks a night, $2 meals, and a river. It was perfect. We rested there before heading deep into the mountains. We had to because Phnom Penh, Cambodia had eaten our monthly budget.
6. Get off the beaten track. The reason things are more expensive in cities is demand. Since there are SO MANY tourist prices naturally raise. However, once you leave the Lonely Planet suggested routes you will see prices drop. The Lonely Planet is helpful, but if you follow it on every step you will miss a ton of adventure and it will cost you more than you want to pay. Take a few days and look over the map, research at a local internet cafe, pray, and see where you feel the best about going. Then, GO.
7. Don’t buy a bunch of fancy travel clothes. This is one most everyone falls for. It’s fun. You go to REi and see all these amazing goodies. By the time you leave you’ve spent $500. Listen, I’ve done this a bit and regret it. Truth is, a good pair of jeans last longer and looks better than those cool zip-off pants. I like the convenience too, and for some people it’s perfect, but now I want something that will last, and I’ve come to realize it is an industry designed to make money. Prepare, please, but don’t go overboard with stuff you won’t use. You can get new clothes on the road as well.

So there you go. That’s seven tips to save money when traveling in South/Southeast Asia. I would like to stress one last thing. Prepare. Save. Find a good budget and don’t lower it just to hurry the trip. You don’t want to turn into one of those hippies who steal toilet paper because you are broke. It is not rare to see such people. In fact, quite a few of my friends have been victim to unprepared people stealing money on buses and such. Save more than enough and go, just don’t undercut on the already shoestring budget.

What are you ideas for cheap travel? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

by D.E. Stanley

Part 1 | Part 2  | Part 3

This is a continuation of How I Learned to Trust God #2

“…why were they looking for me?” I asked.

“Well, they were looking to arrest you…”

“What?”

“Yeah, they came, acting like normal folks. When they found out you left the village they pressed us, but all is well. Just stay away for a little while.”

“No problem.”

Indonesia coastline,

So we did. Ironically those were our plans already. We were to go to a different part of the city to help a few villages in their attempt at rebuilding their lives. In a way, I was walking around in a fog of awe, if there is such a thing. I felt like I was floating, absolutely amazed at God’s love and protection. Seriously, three different times the corrupt leaders had come looking for me, and three times I was somewhere else. It felt like the bible, when they attempted to arrest Jesus but he walked right through the midst of them to freedom. My heavenly father made sure I was far from their grasp. What love! I had never experienced such, and although I was being more cautious, I felt braver than I had ever felt before.

Looking back, that defining moment, when I chose to chance death rather than disobey God, has directed my life even until this day. I discovered then that I was stronger (in Christ) than I thought. I WAS brave, even though I doubted it before. That in Christ I am enough and have inside me the courage it takes. I cannot tell you in words the difference that reality makes. It’s as if you doubted you were real this whole time, wondering like Pinocchio, am I just a shell of man, a fake; will I be discovered for who I truly am and shamed? But then, in an instant, in the power of God and Love, you charge instead of retreat, you stand instead of kneel, you take the reigns, paint yourself blue, and run into the battle. Afterwards, you are never the same.

That’s how I felt. That’s how I feel. One act truly can change you, thus changing your future. Even now, as I signed the first copies of my first book, The Winter Letter, I find myself writing, Be Brave. Always to the young boys.

Afterwards, we moved to the new mission base and began prepping for a major food delivery. The disaster could still be smelled in the air, and some of the fishing villages were so terrified of the ocean that they would not even fish. Thus, food deliveries were still needed. Our plan was to deliver a dump-truck full of food. Yes, literally, a dump truck, then we would spend some time talking with the people.

“Hey Dustan,” said Mr. Leader with the money.

“Yes sir?”

“Go with these guys, fill the back of this dump-truck up with this list of food. Buy from the locals as much as you can. Meet us back here afterwards and we’ll head out. Think you can handle that?”

This was the first time I was put in charge of anything. I had no idea what I was doing, but for some reason this guys asked me. So naturally…

“Yeah I got this! No Problem!”

And, to my surprise I did, and I did with new confidence. Surely if God could use someone like me to share the Gospel in such a place as this he could use me to buy a bunch of food to fill a dump-truck. We bought bags and bags of rice, veggies, some meats, spices, water, you name it, then we headed to the village.

We took an additional car, and I rode in that, and as we went I caught a  glimpse of what the tsunami had done to the central part of the city. One place we stopped was nicknamed Death City. Here, in this small little area, somewhere near 17,000 people had died. Every house that stood still was gutted in the bottom two floors, tiny little shoes lay without their owners, and once again the smell of death lingered. As we explored we came across a massive ship blocking the road. Mind you, I said ship, not BOAT. It was some sort of generator vessel, and had been literally tossed a few kilometers inland. Insane. This is what the ocean can do when it breaks the this far and no farther rule.

A village nicknamed Death City after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

After, we weaved our way an hour or so south of the city, driving on new makeshift roads, as the old ones were mostly destroyed by the earthquake. When we pulled up to the village my heart dropped. The place was desolate; nothing remained but a few UNICEF tents on concrete foundations. Behind the village was the mountain, showing fresh dirt where the wave had slammed against it. If I remember right, this one particular village had nearly 4,000 people in it before the tsunami, but only around 50-100 were still alive after. Remnants of buildings accented white tents built on crates. Less than a hundred yards behind rumbled the Indian Ocean with its white caps spitting fear.

We unloaded while our good Indonesian brothers and sisters shared with the villagers what we had come to do. They were thrilled. As said, because the fear of the ocean remained, the main source of food was limited, coupled that with not being able to buy rice and the residents felt stuck. Thank God for the givers who had given Mr. Leader the money. Without knowing it they were about to feed hundreds.

A ship tossed ashore by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

So we started unloading. Bag after bag, crate after crate and with every new armful new thanks and tears were returned. The wonderful Indonesian thank you, terimah kasih, literally means I have received (terimah – same root word as terminal) your pure and holy love (kasih). And that’s what we came to give, and that’s what they received, love. As we finished unloading the ladies insisted we stay the night. They needed time and they wanted to feast us, to share in a community meal of thanks. There was no way we were passing that up, so we started setting up our tents maybe fifty yards are so from the ocean while the ladies starting prepping.

“What a day,” I said to my good Indonesian friend (let’s call him Ned).

“I know. It is wonderful to be a part of this,” said Ned.

“Do you think that—”

HONK HONK! yelled a horn.

We turned to see two military jeeps slide to a stop. Four or five military guys, all with machine guns in hand stepped from the vehicle.

Our Indonesian friends approached the soldiers, smiling. “Is there a problem sir?” they asked.

The lead military man rattled back some very fast Indonesian, then turned to the villagers. “These people are not here just to love you. They just want your money!” he half screamed.

Our brave Indonesian comrades stepped forward, urging that this was wrong, but the officer turn back towards them and gave them a hard glare, followed by a stream of Indonesian so fast and brutal that I had no clue. After the tongue lashing was over our Indonesian friends turned back to us.

“They say we have to go with them… now.”

To Be Continued

I love to travel. I do. I believe travel, especially abroad, brings perspective that cannot be found any other way. It is the rubbing of shoulders that matters, the listening, the mirror that a third person point of view offers. And to me, some of the greatest tragedies are those poor souls who have traversed the world, only to return more selfish and foolish than before. I don’t understand it, but the seeds of good and evil are limitless. Never underestimate the foolishness we, as mankind, can conjure.

Yet, in all my travels, coming home is always sweet. Yes, there is reverse culture shock in the beginning, but once you realize that the world does not revolve around you, then you start to chill and appreciate. Coming home IS sweet. You see faces and hear voices you have dreamed of while on the road. The taste of the foods you’ve missed for months has the same effect as wine. Coming home is rest. It is good. It is needed. Every journey must end or you are lost. It is reconnecting with who God made you to be in the place he set you into. It is understanding the facial expressions without trying and cracking jokes with your eyes. It is wonderful.

Yet, I know missionaries who feel guilty about wanting to come visit their families. It comes from years of BAD teaching and STUPID expectations stemming from a time when returning home involved a 4 month boat ride. Those times are no more. Now we can reach the other side of the world in less than a day. It is expensive, and requires money, buy it is a vital part of the travel experience. Just as it is important to be gone long enough to disconnect, it is important to reconnect. Once through the 3 week, 3 month, 6 month, one year fog, where you can see more clearly, it is important to come home as there is another fog waiting to be pushed through. I’ve learned that on the other side of the home fog is yet another perspective you can only get from going and returning. There are things you will never understand until you review from home. Trust me, I know.

Coming home is sweet. Home is something God thought of, as is travel. Often people think that we only think the traveler wise. No. The traveler who never finds home is lost. The two groups of people I admire are those who travel and learn, and those who find land and watch their children and flowers grow without a care of the outside. I want to be both. The homestead without experience lacks understanding, the perpetual traveler lacks stability. We must be both. A home that is and a journey that returns.

This is our attempt to create good culture that will instill Godly values in young people, while at the same time making a stream of revenue for Darlene and I. We’ve put almost everything given to Revolutionary Life towards the work since its foundation. Through these books sales, and upcoming DVD sales, we can have personal income separate from the ministry. Not to mention that more than ever we need quality media to help steer this generation towards things that are good and pure.

So, to celebrate Good Friday and Easter, and to remember the one who TRULY gave His all, I have decided to give away the Kindle version of The Winter Letter. Also, I will make all print copies purchased from http://www.thewinterletter.com set to FREE SHIPPING. Click the box below for more information…

Now I know what some of you are thinking. Man, I don’t have a Kindle. Don’t worry, you don’t have to have one to enjoy the free Kindle version, you just need to download the free Kindle App for your computer/phone/ipad and setup an Amazon account. You can click this box below to go to the Kindle App website. From there download the correct version for your computer or phone, setup an account on amazon.com, and wah-lah! You’re ready to start reading. After, just click here (or the FREE Good Friday till Easter box above) to be taken to the Amazon page where you can get The Winter Letter for Free!

I truly hope you enjoy! And please, feel free to download this copy. The more downloads we get the higher ranking The Winter Letter will go on Amazon. Also, please don’t forget to leave a review! Blessings! And enjoy the wonderful world of Baru!

Dustan preaching at Heritage in Orange County, CA

We are busy working hard to raised a sum of $25,000 for the next year of Revolutionary Life’s ministry. If you are interested in joining into ou2 2012 CALL TO ARMS, click here.

Also, Dustan recently released his first book, The Winter Letter in both print and ebook form. This coming weekend, to celebrate Easter, the print version will be free shipping and the e-book will be free for the Amazon Kindle. Click the cover appropriate image below for more information. Remember, the sale starts this Friday.

Our 2012 plans are to:

1. Cross the Sahara overland, from Europe to Ghana in a scouting evangelistic mission.
2. Investigate and plan a church plant in the heart of Ghana, West Africa, with the goal of training Ghanian missionaries.
3. Officially launch our church plant in Hyderabad, India, with the goal of training India missionaries.
4. To expand our weekly feeding, teaching, evangelistic program to children living in the slums in India from one feeding per week to two.
5. To journey into the Himalayan mountains for a scouting evangelistic mission.
6. To complete taping of Season 2 of The Revolutionary Life

This is why we are calling you to arms. In order to see these things completed this year we need to raise an immediate additional $25,000.

This will cover rent for the church premisses in India and Ghana for a year, the feeding and tutoring of our 50+ poor kids in India for a year (in which the Gospel is being shared to them as well as their families), travel in Europe, travel across the Sahara overland, travel to India, travel in Nepal, as well as the purchase of some much needed camera equipment.

We know this cost must be spread out, so we are simply asking you to consider giving what you can and feel led to, but then helping us by spreading the word. Our call to arms is a call not only to give, but to join with us over the next two months in spreading the word. We need you to share this via email, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, with letters, word of mouth, telephone calls, however.

By joining this call to arms you will be a part of planting life-long lasting fruit in these areas by helping us plant life giving churches with the goal of training up national missionaries. The number one need of the world is for the body of Christ to be established and to stand for justice, salvation, and love throughout the unreached world. We need you. These areas need you.

This is our call to arms for 2012.

So, are you in?
Click the donate button below to learn how you can donate.

by D.E. Stanley

Part 1 | Part 2  | Part 3

This is a continuation of How I Learned to Trust God #1

“…please Dustan, tell me more.”

This moment was a defining moment in my life. I remember it SO vividly. A million thoughts shot through my mind, yet it was such a clear choice. If I told Z more about Christ it was very possible that someone would be coming to see me in the next few hours. Possible to arrest me, deport me, shoot me, who knows. If I remained silent I would have to live with myself and my cowardliness. For the rest of my days I’d have to wonder if Z and his friends ever heard the Gospel. Was I their one and only chance? Six months before, while I had been prepping for this trip a seasoned missionary had told me, “When you get out there the devil will draw a line in the sand and dare you to cross it.”

Then he leaned in close and said, “Cross it.”

Me in my tent.

Here was my line, so I stepped over.

Z has a right to know this message, so I told him more, start to finish, beginning to end, creation to Christ, alpha to omega. I went on and on, now with better language, about how man turned their back on God and obeyed Satan, and how Jesus came as the second Adam to recover man’s rule on the Earth, and how God elevated Christ back into Adam’s position, and how if we believe in Christ as our willing and pure Korban (sacrifice) we can be readopted into God’s family and welcomed into Eternity. I explained how Christ was not a victim. He gave his life. Before long the crowd grew to around ten to fifteen young men. Some scoffed, most listened, some beamed. Toward the end my language failed, so I turned it over to another young man, a national, who explained much better than I. Afterwards the guys thanked me and headed back home for dinner.

I crawled into my tent, onto my cot, and lay there with eyes wide open.

That was the most intense night of my entire mission experience, even to this day. I crawled into that green canvas tent and lay with my wrist hanging out of the tent flap (to cool myself enough to sleep – cool trick). There was no door to the tent, just a flap, and as I lay there I could not sleep. Honestly, I was terrified. I just kept seeing a few men paying me a visit, grabbing my arm, me disappearing in the middle of the night. I lay there, breathing heavy, mind running three hundred miles a second. I didn’t know what to do. I was planning my escape route: out the tent, behind the building, through the fish ponds, to the beach, out a hundred yards, down into the water, make my way east to the port, and catch a ride to the airport. I could leave everything. I took my passport in hand and lay there with crazy imaginations.

But then, from deep inside, came a Psalm I had memorized. Psalm 27. I had learned it for protection and peace, and just when I needed it most the words came back to me. I started saying them to myself, just loud enough for me to hear.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”
Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!
For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.
Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

(Psalm 27 ESV)

As I said these golden words, again and again, something amazing happened. Fear left. She got up and walked her ugly butt right out of my tent, making room for the peace of God. I relaxed, my muscles loosened, and without knowing I fell asleep. The next morning I woke peacefully to my friend telling me it was time to go and that there was some people here to see me.

Gulp.

I stepped from my tent and saw Z and his friends with big’ol Indonesian smiles.

“Hello Dustan,” Z said. His English had gotten better. “We are here to say goodbye my friend. I will miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too Z,” I said with blurry eyes. “Thank you for being so kind to me here.”

“You are always welcome Dustan. And Dustan?”

“Yes”

“Thank you for sharing with me. Thank you so much. Terimah Kasih, Kawanku”

We hugged, I packed, and me and the guys left. We caught a plane that day to a nearby city to pick up a team who would be serving in a different part of the city. A few days later we returned and were greeted by the christian team leader from the village at the airport.

“Dustan! Hello! How are you?” they said.

“Baik, Baik (good!),” I answered.

“Where are you going?” I told them that we were headed to a different village to aid in some village reconstruction. “Great!” they said, then there was a long line of Indonesian that I could not understand. Finally I asked my partner what they were saying.

“They are saying that it is best that you not return the the village for a while.”

“Why?”

“Because, just after we left the other day the village chief sent two secret police. They were in plain clothes and joking around, asking where’s that Dustan guy. We heard he was fun.”

“Yeah? What happened?”

“All is well. After they told them you had left the city the secret police were peaceable.”

“Why were they looking for me?” I asked.

“Well, they were looking to arrest you…”

Continued on How I Learned to Trust God #3

by D.E. Stanley

Part 1 | Part 2  | Part 3

Everyone must become who they will be, and we all have became who we are. Men and women are forged by the experiences, built by the trials, the relationships, words, and choices they make and are a part of. I (Dustan) can trace myself back to the trees I grew up in as a kid, to the music and books I have consumed, to the friendships I have. I know I come from these, that’s why these choices are so important. If we just do, say, read, love, and yoke up with anyone and anything we are playing dangerous games with our future. These are things to be taken seriously, knowing that you are a sum of the tiny building blocks you choose.

One of the most important things that make up Dustan as a person can be traced back to a string of events that happened almost seven years ago in Indonesia. This was back when I first stepped into this world of the mission. Through other choices (books, sermons, courage!) I wound up in Indonesia, sleeping in a green canvas military tent set in the middle of a radical Islamic area where the Gospel had been forcibly withheld from the locals by groups of extremist (I love Muslim people – not all are extremist. Remember that).

Broken palm trees, snapped in half by the 2004 Tsunami - Indonesia

This was just after the tsunami, in a city where 200,000+ people had just lost their lives, but still, in the midst of such misery, one political group was fighting another, one of which was abusing the normal Muslim people of the area, and it seemed both were militant in their attempts to keep these people from hearing anything about Jesus. This was my first extended missions experience.

Welcome to the Mission Field.

Anyway, the lord opened a clear door for me to share about my love and faith in Christ. It happened like this…

“Excuse me, sir.”

I turned away from my lunch of dried sardines, chilies, and rice. A young man, about my age, with cropped short black hair sat at the end of the makeshift picnic table, smiling.

“Hey Z” (not his real name), I said. I had been getting to know these guys. They saw me praying one day so they took a liking to me (and my soccer ball). “How are you?” I asked, in VERY simple English. The one line I had heard a thousand times since I met Z was, Excuse me, sir. Can I practice my English with you? I loved it.

“I am fine. Can I ask question today?”

“Sure man, what’s up— I mean Yes.” Slang doesn’t work here, just so you know.

“What does it mean when you Christians say, Child of God? What does it mean to call yourself child of God?”

Okay, so how do you answer that question without the Gospel. So I shared how we can be adopted as children of God, born into God’s family through Christ, our mediator and ultimate sacrifice. Of course it was not in those exact words, and it took about three hours to communicate with two broken languages.

Z’s face lit. “If that were true, all our problems are solved…” he said, thinking.

That began a few weeks of talking, and one more time of sharing about Jesus. I was thrilled. During each day we were taking rice to people, at night hanging with new friends, and now twice I was able to share Jesus with this guy and his friends. One night after taking rice to a persecuted area a bit south from where we were I returned to find everyone acting funny.

“What’s going on?” I asked. The guys seemed reluctant to answer, but finally the leader pulled me gently to the side.

“Dustan,” he said. “after the first time you shared about Jesus a nearby village chief came looking for you, very angry. The guys are going back to their Imam and asking questions, and here they are not allowed to do this. After you shared the second time he went and got some military men and they asked for you by name. Each time they’ve came for you you’ve been gone with the team delivering food to the victims.”

I stood, stupefied, lost for words. “I didn’t know. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“We did not want to interfere with what the Lord was doing. It is amazing the questions they are asking you. I tell you now just so you will know. I am not saying not to share, be led by the Holy Spirit, but be careful. Okay?”

“Yes, sir…” The leader patted me on my back and walked away.

So for the next three weeks I didn’t speak, so there was no issue. It was burning inside of me, but I was considering the team, the long term work, the lives of those who would stay behind. Many times visitors to the mission field make a mess to be cleaned up later by the resident missionaries or nationals. I didn’t want to be that guy.  Anyway, to make a long story short the guys kept asking, and I kept dodging. Finally, after a day of feeling the Gospel pressing itself against my pursed lips, I laid down and prayed.

“Lord,” I can’t stand this. I really understand Jeremiah now. This is like a fire shut up in my bones (Jeremiah 20:9). God, I can’t stand the thought of looking myself in the mirror in fifty years and remembering me not speaking because of fear or something, but there’s the team to think about. Still, you are pressing me to speak. So Lord, I will, if I know it is of you and not just my zeal. Make it evident.”

I laid down and slept, listening to the soothing waves of the Indian ocean lap against the shore. This same ocean had just swallowed 200,000 souls, and before I had jumped every time the waves got a little loud, but on this night it was to me a lullaby. The next morning I woke, rolled over, and sitting at the edge of my cot was Z. He had his Quran held in his hand.

“Please Dustan, tell me more.”

Continued on How I Learned to Trust God #2

Here are the Romans scriptures I’ve highlighted in my new Bible. (I needed a new one as all of my others (with their soft leather covers) get quite worn as we travel. Backpacks are not good for Bibles, but that’s what they are made for.) Anyway, I encourage you to read all of these!

Romans 1:1
Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ¹⁷
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Romans 2:29
…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

 Romans 5:6-8
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ² Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Romans 6:15-16
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! ¹⁶ Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:37-39
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the
love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Romans 10:9-10
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:14-15
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 11:20
Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.

Romans 11:29
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:9
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Romans 12:14-16
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 13:7-8
Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. ⁸ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:10
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 13:14
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Romans 14:1
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

Romans 14:4
Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Romans 15:1
We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:20-21
And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, ²¹ but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.”

Romans 16:17-19
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. ¹⁸ For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. ¹⁹ For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.

So there ya go. Those are my highlights. What’s yours?

Will you please take a moment and say a prayer for us (Dustan and Darlene). We are leaving Southeast Asia for a short trip to the USA tomorrow. (Our brother and sister in law are having a baby). The is also a part of our preparation for our journey into West Africa.

Our current plans are to be in America from Mid March to Mid/Late April. If you are interested in having us come and speak at your church during this time, please send us a message. God has done AMAZING things in India and SE Asia over the last 4 months. Our goal for the USA is to raise a lump sum of money so we can plant another church in West Africa, traverse the Sahara, continue to establish our church in South India, and push deep into the Himalayas. All in 2012! God is able!

Thank you and blessings! Together we can make a difference in thousands of unreached lives this year, as well as touch potentially millions through the TV program! All in for the Gospel!

Living the Revolutionary Life,
Dustan and Darlene Stanley

So here I was with all these eyes looking at me in this little hut somewhere in a Hindu village in south India.

I prayed silently for the Lord to help me. Lord what should I do? What do you want me to share with them about? Holy Spirit I need to know your leading. I didn’t want to just say any old thing. I wasn’t going to come this whole way again 3 years later and only share a Bible story when there were many Hindu children and women present.

Thankfully He responded within me with a nudge to share the Gospel in story format from Adam and Eve… the first man and woman. I greeted the children, saying hello, and before I knew it I began simply from the beginning.

As I went I shared about how man was once so close to God that they were able to walk with Him. How everything then was beautiful and wonderful, but then with one mistake man was driven away from the presence of the Lord. Leading up to God’s rescue plan for mankind. Jesus. Born of a virgin, who grew blameless and sinless in the eyes of God. Who gave up Himself willingly for us, so that we might be saved and a part of God’s family once more. It all came together… the words flowed, and then it was time to ask the most important question in the world.

“How many of you want to receive Jesus?”

That’s when the hands went up. It was beautiful. All the kids got on their knees, including the women present, and began saying the prayer, asking the Lord to come into their heart.

Watch the video here:

Afterwards, person after person came up to us to receive prayer. People who weren’t even in the room began coming. More and more ladies crowded the place desperate to receive prayer. I began praying for people who were sick. One lady who’s leg had been hurting was able to bend it at the knee after prayer. We praised God, trying to build faith in people that God is more than capable and willing to heal. Another woman came to me for prayer. She wanted to have peace in her life, saying she wanted to receive Jesus into her heart.

Her daughter who had been in the meeting had just received Jesus into her heart moments before. Excitedly I prayed for her, and lead her into the prayer for salvation. She had tears in her eyes, but afterwards her eyes had this new shine and life to them.

One lady was weeping on her knees. She was grieving over the death of her son and daughter-in-law who had committed suicide together, leaving behind their small child. The child’s other grandparents took the baby and wouldn’t let her have anything to do with them. Seeing this poor woman just weeping on her knees was overwhelming and heartbreaking. Dustan got down on his knees with her, and began praying and ministering to her.

This scene was so sad… how many more times would we be seeing this same picture? We’d just prayed with another Grandma who was grieving over her sons death who had also committed suicide, and our friends had shared many more stories with us of this same thing happening all over. In a culture that faces so much oppression from the demonic, if there is not a hope or assurance in Christ that alone can set you free from these things, the devil freely has his way to steal, kill, and destroy people.

Another reason why it is so detrimental that the Kingdom of God be preached to the ends of the earth. Only when the “Kingdom of God culture” is established can we see people freed from demonic oppression like this. Only then can the enemy have no place. There is such a need for the Kingdom of God to come to village after village here in India. There is such great need like I’ve never seen anywhere else. We see more and more people always asking for us to pray for peace in their life, cause they face spiritual oppression in their homes, minds, and bodies.

Lastly, the mother who’d opened her home for the meeting came up to us. She is a widow with three children. I recognized her children. I remembered their faces from my pictures. They had grown up so much since the last time I saw them 3 years ago. She began mentioning how I’d prayed for her son the last time I was there, and how God healed him. At first I didn’t recognize him, but then suddenly it all came back.

“Oh yeah! Now I remember! Wow, praise God!”

There he was, the little boy I had prayed for 3 years ago who had a growth type swelling behind his eye. Now, it was completely gone!! His face was completely normal, and she told us ever since I prayed it had been better. Glory to God!!! We praised the Lord. At the time I hadn’t known who’s son he was, but now realizing his mother was the lady who had opened up her home for this house church… what an awesome testimony of the Lord! I laid my hands on her, blessing her and her children. Praying they would never hunger or need anything, and that the Lord would be her husband and their father.

This lady’s life is nothing but a perfect example of how the Lord takes care of those who are his own. She herself is a living miracle. With no husband, and with being in a culture that says you can’t re-marry or work in certain jobs, she’s managed all that as well as put the Kingdom of God first and foremost. Amazing! She shared several more miracles God has done for her, including healing her body and God supplying the finances for her children’s schooling. Praise the Lord! He is good. He sends His word and performs it.

It took a a while until we were able to finally leave. So many people continually kept coming for prayer who were in need of spiritual freedom. It’s crazy how many healings take place here when you rebuke a demonic spirit from off of people’s bodies. So much need for the Word of God to be taught here, to teach these people how to fight the enemy! I felt like I could of stayed there all night, hadn’t Dustan finally pulled me away.

It is in places like this that you truly begin to recognize the power of the Kingdom of God culture when it comes into a place. It truly is good news, the Word of God is The Good News, and it is the one tool we have to fight against the works of the enemy.

We are praising God for these miracles that are taking place, and continuing to take place here! Our prayer is that one day in the near future we can help our dear friends plant a village church here. God knows India is full of villages just like this one. Spiritually overrun by the enemy, and when there is no church or true believer present he can just have his way in these people’s lives… and after seeing this first hand it’s really caused a whole new determination in us to see this change. Saints, we must continue to stand and fight the enemy. And we do that by advancing the Kingdom of God into places such as this! By introducing people to Jesus, who’s name alone carries the very same power that conquered the grave, defeated the devil and all his works, and rose again so we might have eternal life and freedom through CHRIST!

My friend this is the greatest testimony on earth, and one we must continue to stand and fight for! Share Jesus with those who have not heard, and immediately when they receive, you take them out of the hands of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of light and of the Father’s dear Son, Jesus Christ. Hallelujah that is GOOD NEWS!

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free

Luke 9:2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Luke 4:43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

Colossians 1:12-14   ¹² always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, ¹⁴ who purchased our freedom^[a] and forgave our sins.

Last week while in Sivakasi, we went with our friends to one of the Hindu villages I had visited previously with my friend Lilly around 3yrs ago. At that time I was amazed at the openness of the Hindu women and children to the Gospel. They were clearly searching for truth. I had taken drawings to the children, pictures of Jesus that kids from America had colored, with written messages like, “God Loves you”. It was so precious. Each of the children were thrilled.

In the end we wound up praying for multiple people. They just kept coming and coming for prayer. I told Lilly that she really should come back when I was gone cause there was a lady who was so close to receiving the Lord in her heart. Lilly did go back and that lady did receive Jesus and started going to church. That day I prayed for some of the children who were sick. I remember one little boy  had a swollen mass behind his eye, and it had been that way for a long time. Compassion filled my heart, I prayed asking the Lord to heal him.

Three years have gone by and I never could forget that place… that place where there was no church, where literally hundreds of idols and Hindu temples where, but no church. It looked very much like a slum, but without the city. It was here though, that one Christian widow lady with 3 children had opened her home for women and children to come for a “prayer meeting.” They aren’t calling it church yet, cause it’s in a ladies home. She opens it to the women and children who want to come, and she shares stories from the Bible. They are believing for a church here in this village, and we’re all for it. Hopefully Revolutionary Life will get to play apart in helping them get one one day. One of the main reasons to build a church here (as opposed to a house church) is because of the caste system. Many people won’t come to someone’s house who is from a different caste, so inorder to make the Gospel for all we have to have a place that’s set apart for “worship” purposes. So It was here at this ladies house that I was first invited to come and share Bible stories with the kids. I really didn’t know what to expect and really didn’t know what would be asked of me.

That’s one thing about being here in India. When being asked to join a “prayer group mtg,” church, or someone’s home, always, always, always be ready to minister, because about 95% of the time you will be called upon to share, preach, and pray for the sick. But little did I know on that first visit that ALL that was going to happen. We were exhausted from ministering twice just that morning, which was why Dustan wasn’t with me. He’d been preaching all morning and needed rest. That village touched my heart tho, and I knew God wanted to do amazing things there.

Our friends since have continued meeting in the ladies house and are going to share the Gospel on a regular basis. Because of the depth of Hinduism, it can infect so much of the culture and the way people think. It takes time sometimes when someone comes to the Lord here, to realize that they shouldn’t continue going to the temple and to not just see Jesus as another “god” to fear and worship, but that God alone is the one we are to worship. This place is a mission field, and in it are people who are lost and hurting, but beautiful in God’s eyes. His precious lost sheep.

So fast forward 3 years later to last week when we were asked to come back. I was sooooo super excited and couldn’t wait. I was excited to hear from our friends the progress that had slowly been made. The lady of the home had since raised her own money to build a bamboo hut adjourning to her house to help accommodate the people. It is a temporary fix until they are able to fund a church plant in the area.

We walked inside where there were women and children huddled on the ground seated on rice mats. I was once again put on the spot by our dear friend, Bro Emmanuel, to share a story about Jesus. I went blank. Staring at me were a dozen or so pairs of eyes, each eagerly waiting what I would say.

Gulp. Ok then, I thought… Dear Lord what do you want me to say?
Don’t get me wrong, I like sharing stories and preaching. I am thrilled to share the Gospel with people, but once again I’d been caught off guard. Momentarily, I drew a blank as to what to say. Everyone was quietly waiting, with all their eyes fixed on me.

To be continued…

(Look for “Testimonies From A Hindu Village Part#2″)