We were thinking back about when we got started in the ministry, and we were amazed at all that God has done through us, in us, and in spite of us. 

     Linda and I were the I.V.B.I. Directors in Port au Prince, Haiti from 1997-1999.  When Linda and I left Haiti in 1999, Linda was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  My first question was, "Now what Lord?"  I turned the bible school over to a National Director which was a good thing, but now what do I do Lord?  Linda's life was my first concern and I knew I needed to stay in the states to take care of her.  We both had a heart for souls and for teaching the word of God to help people's lives change, so I prayed and asked God to give me a plan.  What the devil meant for evil, God turned and used for good.  

     The Lord started dealing with me on starting another bible school in the Dominican Republic, so I started telling people about it and made several trips to the Dominican to prepare the people there for a school.  I stepped out in faith and when people asked me about the Dominican Bible School, I would tell them it was going to start soon.  They would role their eyes in disbelief.  I didn't know how, but I knew God had a plan. 

     One day I was sitting on my couch asking God how to do this new school in the Dominican Republic and how to work out a schedule.  The Holy Spirit laid out the plan for me in about 10 minutes.  I knew that about 90% of all bible school graduates never fulfilled the calling on their life because of their jobs, families, children in school, houses, car payments, and all the normal living responsibilities. 

     There is nothing wrong with these things but they tend to lock one into a system that they can not nor will not give up.  Many have gone up to the church alter and have dedicated their lives to the Lord and have said, "Yes Lord, send me.  I will do anything you say." They have been equipped and trained to go but when asked, they refused to go.  The Lord said, "Tap into the 90%!"  So I set up a two week schedule so that a complete lesson could be taught during that time.  The 90% would not be able to give me 100% of their time, but they could give me 100% of two weeks out of the year. 

     Most people have two weeks of vacation and would be glad to give their vacation time to the Lord.  They can go and teach, give the tests, and return home knowing they have gone and accomplished something for the Lord.  The Lord told me that if I tried to do it alone, I would have a difficult time, but if I would partner with others, we could get the job done. 

     I did what the Lord said and recruited teachers.  They went and taught, preached, evangelized, and laid hands on the sick.  We have averaged to send about 30 teachers a year.  We have started many schools since 1996.  One in Haiti, several in Dominican Republic, two in Jamaica, one in Panama, several in Cuba, and one in Montreal, Canada, two in India, and one in Abu Dhabi.  We have graduated several thousand first and second year students.   Others have now gone in behind us and done crusades and conferences.  One of our friends is now going in and setting up schools and to date there are over 55 schools now in the Dominican Republic alone.  Praise the Lord!  We also have several new churches and many feeding programs that have been started by the graduates.  All of this has been accomplished by the Lord and because He moved on me to be obedient to go on a short term mission trip in 1996 with Victory Christian Center under the late Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty and his wife Pastor Sharon Daugherty.  I am just amazed at what the Lord has done! 

     Many of the teachers that were sent have led thousands of people to the Lord.  Many people have been healed and set free from the powers of darkness.  Many ministry opportunities were available for each of the teachers that have gone, and many of the graduates have gone out, trusted God, and have started churches on their own.  One graduate has a church of 480 people.  Another one started out preaching under a mango tree, and because a crippled man was healed by the authority of Jesus, he now has a church of over 300 and has led 17 voodoo priests to the Lord.  Many of the graduates hold crusades every month, and many people have come to know the Lord through these crusades.   
    
     When I look back at how one act of obedience can affect the lives of so many people, I am sobered.   What saddens me is how many times that I was not obedient, and how many times I missed it.  How many lives that were hanging in the balance that I could have affected. 

Testimony: 

A few years ago when I was living in Haiti my aunt died.  Her children sent me $250 to help with an orphanage, in memory of their mother.  I took the money and bought rice, beans, cooking oil, soap, some toys, tennis balls, soccer balls, and basket balls and took it all to an orphanage in Haiti.  When I got there all the children were there waiting for me.  My heart was moved with love and compassion for the children.  They were hugging me and thanking me for what I had done for them.  I asked the owner of the orphanage how much food they had and she said that they were almost out.  Then I asked how long the food would last that I had just brought, and she said, almost a month.  As I was leaving I was sitting in the back of the pickup truck and I looked back at the children as they were waving good-by to me.  I felt the heart of God in me and the Lord said to me, "If you would not have shown up, no one would have."  I started crying.  That was a scary thought.  What if I would have said no?  I have heard preachers say that God always has a back up plan.  That is a lie from the devil.  In this case there was no back up, I was it.  After that I said to myself, "I will never say no again."

     I believe with all my heart that the Lord is coming again soon.  I believe it will be in my lifetime.  All the signs and prophecies are pointing to it.  I realize that everything on this earth is temporal and I can not take it with me.  No matter what anyone works for, or what things they may try to get, stuff can not be taken into eternity.  It all stays behind.  The only things that we can take with us into eternity are the other souls we have led to the Lord.  Every person will live forever.  Where they live has to be decided in this lifetime on this earth.  It can not be decided after death.    

PRAYER OF SALVATION

     If you just prayed the prayer of Salvation and would like to know how to begin walking with God on a daily basis, write to us and we will send you a free booklet called "This New Life", written by our late Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty.  This is the most important decision you will make in your entire life.