March 2014

GREETINGS FAITHFUL PRAYER PARTNERS!

Vicky and I just arrived back from a wonderful trip to China. The stories and faces of the many rescued women and children we have met are forever in our minds and on our hearts. We have always wanted to go to China and jumped at the chance to be a part of this recent trip on behalf of W.A.R. International (Women at Risk)

The Sexual and Human Trafficking problem is a world wide problem. There are more than 29 million people who are enslaved today. The risks for women and children are enormous and the problem often seems bigger than us. We cannot turn a blind eye and want to help. There was a small team who joined us in China after visiting safe houses in Bangkok, with W.A.R International, the previous week.

Our team met up with the director of three safe houses in China. She has been working there with her family for the last ten years and shared with us her remarkable story. When she first arrived in China, she asked God for direction on where to go. She strongly felt that she was being told to go and stand in the gap and show the "motherly love" to the girls in the red light district. Once a week, she and her friend would walk the streets and go in and talk with the girls and show them the love of Christ. One day, she was asked by a boss of a brothel to come inside because he wanted to speak with her. He explained he has been asking himself why are these women not afraid to come here and boldly come into this dangerous environment? Then he began to share with her about how he had a dream about her and her friend. They were walking and there was a very large, white figure, with wings that spread from one side of the street to the other. He asked, "who is this being who protects you?" She quickly responded that it was the Angel of the Lord. The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him(Psalm 34:7) He eventually accepted Christ and left the brothel.

From then on she has had open doors and has helped to rescue, into safe houses, over three hundred young women and their children. The women are given a safe place to live and schooling is provided for their children. The women make hand made jewelry and sell it to support themselves.

W.A.R. International sponsored a banquet to reach the girls working in the brothels, the mob bosses and madams in charge. I was instructed to share my testimony while the meal was being served, because they usually don't stay after they eat. To our amazement they all stayed and listened as I shared the gospel. We were able to pray with many people in attendance. Several of the people came over to me with with an interpreter and asked me to specifically pray with them and lead them to the Lord. The scene kind of reminded us of Luke 14:23 (Go out into the highways and along the hedges and compel them to come in, that my house might be filled.)

We felt the presence, protection and the power of God in the room that nigh

Link to the W.A.R International Website

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Vicky and I have both wanted to visit China for many years. It was so wonderful to be able to share this experience together. We walked the great wall of China and soaked in the history, including some very sad stories of how the wall was built.

The Church At the Gateway on Sunday March 9, 2014

I will be preaching at the Church at the Gateway, Staten Island, New York, this coming Sunday.

Visit the Church At the Gateway Website for service times.

Empire builders or Kingdom builders?
by Tom Mahairas
YOU CAN BUILD A TABLE, A CAR OR A HOUSE
YOU CAN BUILD A CHILD, A FRIEND, OR A SPOUSE
YOU CAN BUILD A BUSINESS, A BOAT, OR A PLANE
YOU CAN BUILD YOUR EMPIRE OR HIS KINGDOM TO REIGN
YOUR EMPIRE, OR HIS KINGDOM, WHICH WILL IT BE
A SAND CASTLE CRUMBLING FOR THE WORLD TO SEE
YOUR EMPIRE, OR HIS KINGDOM, WHICH WILL IT BE
THE CHURCH ON THE ROCK FOR ETERNITY
YOUR EMPIRE OR HIS KINGDOM, WHICH WILL IT BE
JESUS GLORIOUS GOSPEL THAT WILL SET MEN FREE
YOUR EMPIRE OR HIS KINGDOM, WHICH WILL IT BE
WILL I BUILD FOR JESUS OR WILL I BUILD FOR ME

April Dates
PLEASE PRAY
APRIL 14-18
Louisiana State Penitentiary & Avoyelles Correctional Facility.

April 22-May4
Word of Life Camp, Mexico
Pastoral and Leadership conference, Mexico

Prayer Request:

CitiVision is looking to hire a personal assistant to work with me here in the NYC office.
CitiVision is also actively looking to hire an IT/graphics/media related staff member.

Tom Mahairas
Founding President, CitiVision
http://www.citivision.org