Translation Update: Stories of the Master
When God closed the door to India for our friends, Mike and Su Keator, he opened another door for them – the very needy land of Nepal. Mike and Su are working with pastors and leaders throughout this country to multiply groups that will train people to share the Gospel with the needy millions in this land.
Word of God, Speak is very pleased to assist Mike and Su in their amazing ministry through prayer and in giving. We are now able to assist them with the Stories of the Master radio program and CDs of the stories to distribute in the land! We will sign a contract with Trans World Radio this week to translate and produce our program in this language. In addition to purchasing radio time in Nepal, we will produce CDs of key stories and use other technologies to mass distribute the good news of Jesus.
We thank God for a special person whose generosity made this possible and for your continued support. Join with us in prayer for Mike and Su and for the translation and production of Stories of the Master in Nepalese.
- Published in Latest posts
Sometimes someone is standing beside us and we would never dream about their greatness
The NRB is exhilarating. One interacts with all kinds of Christians, learns about all kinds of ministries, and meets people from all over the world. Every now and then someone famous walks by, like Charles Stanley, or scoots by in a motorized wheelchair like Joni Erickson Tada. Sometimes someone is standing beside us and we would never dream about their greatness.
Freda Tell was a volunteer. She stood beside our booth and directed traffic. How great could a volunteer be?
With Freda Tell at the NRB
She was saved in her mid-30s when her daughter convinced her to attend the Baptist church across the street from their home. For decades she lived the “normal Christian life”, quiet, unobtrusive, serving in the church and occasionally sharing her testimony. Four years ago a restlessness grew within her and morning devotions took on a new intensity. She read Matthew 9:36-38 where Jesus challenged the apostles to pray for God to send workers into his harvest. Could he send her? “Lord, show me how I can work with you to glorify your name in the world.”
A year later a friend said, “Freda, God wants to use you. Can you write?”
“Yes, I can write.”
“There is an organization that uses writers to create stories from the Bible. Can you write something on Esther?”
Freda said “yes” but still wondered. Who were these people? Was this a scam? What will they do with her writing? Could she really write?
“Lord, if you want me to do this you must affirm it. If you want me to write about Queen Esther in Persia, show me!”
A few days later she noticed a young woman selling sun glasses in a mall. She had lovely, smooth olive skin, bright, even, white teeth, jet black hair and eyes. Freda asked where she was from – “Persia.” Freda thought, “Persia, just like Esther!”
A few days later a guest speaker in her church unveiled an ancient scroll. It was the book of Esther! That was enough for Freda. She started writing her drama on the book of Esther, and it was accepted by a missionary organization that reaches out with stories from the Bible in 32 countries.
She now works on other stories, and God is using her to reach people in faraway places like Mongolia and Indonesia with a gift Freda did not know she had until a few years ago.
Freda says, “I want to do exceptional things for God, but I think the Lord’s plan is that we be exceptional in the ordinary things. I did not choose to be a writer. God said ‘I have chosen you.’ When God calls you, don’t try to change the course, he will do with you what he never did before.”
This is Freda Tell, our friend, our sister in Christ, and a woman of faith who is reaching people by her story writing because she prayed and dared to follow God! An example for us all!
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The Story Behind All Stories
The events in Jesus’ life and the stories he told are among the greatest the world has heard. We have selected ten of them where he interacted with women in revolutionary ways. But these episodes in his life and the stories he created reveal a Greater Story in which he plays the pivotal role. Do you know what this Greater Story is?
Storytelling captures imaginations and hearts. Undoubtedly, this is why Jesus told them. But he designed his stories to draw attention to this Greater Story – the Story he lived, died for, and rose for. In this Greater Story he and his audience were participants. So are you! So am I! What is the Greater Story in which we play a role? Like a good play, it consists of several Acts.
Act 1 – Creation tells about the Creator.
Act 2 – Catastrophe introduces sadness into the Story.
Act 3 – Covenants introduces a new figure in the drama.
Act 4 – Christ is the turning point in the Story.
Act 5 – Commission is when the resurrected Jesus commands his followers to tell the world the Greater Story.
Act 6 – Consummation is the last chapter in God’s Greater Story.
The world is full of stories and people are listening. Our hope for The Women Jesus Loved is that as people read these imaginative and faithful-to-Scripture stories of Jesus and women, they will come to learn the Greater Story in which they can participate and find his liberating love. Our hope is that you and your loved ones will experience this in our book.
Order your copy and learn of his great love for a world in desperate need.
- Published in Books, Latest posts, The Women Jesus Loved
Leave Her Alone!
How we wish the bullies, the thugs, the despots, the tyrants would just go away and leave widows, unprotected women, little girls, all who are vulnerable – women and men – alone. Leave them alone!
But the thugs aren’t going anywhere soon, it seems. However, we aren’t going anywhere either. The Church is drawing battle lines and moving forward into the darkness with the message of the liberating kingdom of God. Jesus is building his Church in the world and the gates of Hell will not be able to stand against the onslaughts of the Church. These are his words, not mine.
Shortly before Jesus entered Jerusalem for his final week, a woman came to him and anointed him for his burial. The disciples (not just Judas!) were outraged at this waste and reprimanded her, but Jesus said “Leave her alone!”
As people read this story and many others in The Women Jesus Loved, our prayer is that the voice of Jesus will be heard again in the world – “Leave her alone! Leave these precious little ones alone! Leave these vulnerable women alone!” His voice will be heard through his people proclaiming the kingdom to the world.
Our prayer for The Women Jesus Loved is far greater than selling a bunch of books. Our prayer is that the liberating love of Jesus for women and men will capture the hearts of millions and transform people, families, communities, and nations.
Order your copy and learn of his great love for a world in desperate need.
Listen to this story here:
- Published in Books, Latest posts, The Women Jesus Loved
When My Wife Was Dying
The reality that I might lose her slammed me to the ground. Dee was in the hospital, her first night on life support. My children were at a conference. I was home alone and never felt so isolated and desperate in my life. I was crying and crying out to God, “You can’t let my wife die. You can’t let my wife die.” I nearly lost it that night. She died a week later.
Jesus did not heal her, but eleven years later I have profound peace and know that I will see her again. Jesus will raise her and me some day to new life that will make this life seem like shadows. This is our faith. Jesus is Lord even over death.
Why can we have such faith? It is because of a lesson Jesus taught a family that he dearly loved. They had a loved one who became very sick. They were desperate for Jesus to come and heal him. But Jesus came too late and the brother died. Then, Jesus did something for this family to teach them and us an important lesson – he is more than a healer. He is more than a teacher.
You can read this story, “The Grieving Sisters of Bethany” in The Women Jesus Loved. We hope you will order your copy today and learn the lesson that gives hope in the darkest of times.
Listen to this story here:
- Published in Books, Latest posts, The Women Jesus Loved, Uncategorized
Mohammed, Jesus, and Women Caught in Adultery
A story is told of a woman who became pregnant from an adulterous relationship. She was brought to Mohammed, the founder of Islam who said, “Let her live for now.” After she gave birth to her child, Mohammed said, “Raise the child to be a Muslim. Stone the woman for her sin.”
A story is told of a woman who was caught in the very act of adultery. She was paraded through the city and thrown at the feet of Jesus in the Temple. The Law demanded that she be stoned.
What Jesus said and what Jesus did revealed the liberating love of a compassionate God who is merciful to all. The world needs to hear this story and learn of such love. The Women Jesus Loved tells this story and many others like it.
What would happen if the world heard this story and began following the way of Jesus?
Order your copy and learn of his great love for a world in desperate need.
Listen to this story here:
- Published in Books, Latest posts, The Women Jesus Loved
The Widow Who Would Not Be Silenced
When Jesus’ disciples were discouraged and fearful of what the future held for them and their people, Jesus told a story of a widow who refused to be silenced until justice was done for her.
Of the ten chapters in The Women Jesus Loved, this chapter is a story created by Jesus, true to life at his time and true to life in many places of the world today. Women in weak, vulnerable positions are exploited or threatened with grave injustices.
Millions of refugees and asylum seekers are scattered throughout the world today, but did you know that 80% of them are women and children? Displaced and marginalized women are at particularly high risk of exploitation and domestic abuse. However, in many refugee communities around the world, violence to women often goes ignored by civil authorities. The inaction is justified as “respecting cultural differences”. As long as male abusers are protected under the guise of political correctness, women do not have anywhere to turn.[1]
The situation was similar in the story Jesus told. When you read it, we hope it will encourage you as Jesus intended.
Order your copy of The Women Jesus Loved and learn of his great love for a world in desperate need.
Listen to this story here:
- Published in Books, Latest posts, The Women Jesus Loved, Uncategorized
Calamities in the Kitchen
Not every woman that Jesus interacted with needed healing or was immoral. Many godly women followed him and loved him. Among these were the sisters, Martha and Mary. They loved him and with their brother Lazarus often welcomed him into their home.
But in every stable home, problems do emerge and one day Martha, in her zeal to make things perfect for Jesus experienced problems that drove a wedge among family members. Sound familiar? It’s what we all experience.
“Calamities in the Kitchen” tells the story of misplaced priorities and what matters most. You can read it in The Women Jesus Loved.
It is an honor to recommend this book to men and women alike. You will find yourself understanding and relating to characters that lived 2000 years ago like never before and opening your heart more deeply to a loving God.
– Susan Milligan
Co-founder of Lock & Key Ministries
co-author of Moving Him In: 12 Tangible Keys
to Preparing a Place for Christ
Order your copy and learn of his great love for a world in desperate need.
Listen to this story here:
- Published in Books, Latest posts, The Women Jesus Loved, Uncategorized
Heartbreaking Facts
The facts are heartbreaking and I can only read a few at a time, lest I become indifferent or depressed. Here are two more to think about:
- Over 30% of the world’s population – over two billion – are anemic, mainly due to iron deficiency. Severe iron deficiency anemia is causing the deaths of an estimated 50,000 women a year during childbirth.
- Iodine deficiency in pregnancy is causing as many as 20 million babies a year to be born mentally impaired.[1]
We believe Jesus loves these women and children. In The Women Jesus Loved we read of his compassion for women as he interacted with them like no other man of his time. “The Thirsty Woman – Part 1” tells the story of a woman hardened by suffering, shame, and sin. “The Thirsty Woman – Part 2” concludes an amazing episode in the life of Jesus that led to an entire village hearing some much needed good news.
Villages today around the world need to hear this good news. The Women Jesus Loved shares it in a creative way to show the world the difference between Jesus and every other man who claimed to speak for God.
Jonathan brings familiar biblical stories to life, capturing Jesus’ deep love, compassion, and respect for the hurting women he encountered. Jesus’ actions contrasted sharply with the culture and leaders of the day who openly condemned, judged, and disregarded them. I highly recommend this book! It gives you insight into the heart of Jesus and a vital recognition of the dignity and elevation Jesus offered to women.
– Karla Downing, M.A., MFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Author of 10 Lifesaving Principles for Women in
Difficult Marriages and Founder of ChangeMyRelationship.com
We hope you will order your copy of The Women Jesus Loved and learn of his great love for a world in desperate need.
Listen to this story here:
- Published in Books, Latest posts, The Women Jesus Loved, Uncategorized
Disappointment … Shame … Numbness – The Thirsty Woman
Disappointment, then shame, then numbness. She didn’t care anymore what others thought. One day she was startled by a Jewish man who spoke with her, revealed the secrets of her heart, and awakened hope within.
“The Thirsty Woman – Part 1” is Chapter 4 of our new book, The Women Jesus Loved. You will read of a woman who had endured much suffering in her life, and the suffering had hardened her to what was proper and pure. Yet a thirst continued inside that was awakened by one who claimed to have living water.
I love how this book is written! Time and attention to historical and cultural details creates rich stories of the Bible stories we know so well. Each chapter gives you a chance to explore more deeply what God reveals to us through the questions and reflections. Williams identifies with the women and his words are written with compassion and thoughtfulness as though he walked in their shoes.
– Shea Wood
Co-founder of Lock & Key Ministries
co-author of Moving Him In: 12 Tangible Keys
to Preparing a Place for Christ
We hope you will order your copy of The Women Jesus Loved and learn of his great love for those in desperate need.
– Jonathan Williams, Word of God, Speak!
Listen to this story here:
- Published in Books, Latest posts, The Women Jesus Loved, Uncategorized