In 1991-Johnny and June Cash brought the
Johnny Cash Show to my hometown of Johnstown, PA
to do a 'benefit' for this ministry and our humanitarian
efforts in Africa.
The cast included John and June, John Carter
Cash, the Carter Family-and the musicians. The
show was a great success, for which we remain very
thankful. It did much to further our vision to help the
desperate people of Kenya, where, currently, over 850
die each day from AIDS alone, and the resulting
orphan influx is immeasurable.
The nearly two-hour show was produced and
filmed by JSMI, with the blessing of John and June of
course. Now, after 17 years in the can, we have
worked out an agreement with a well-known major
music-publishing firm and-the production is going to
market in the form of a DVD-with a CD package likely
to follow as well!
It will take several months to get the package
ready for market, but once completed it will have
worldwide distribution. We will keep you informed as
the project moves ahead.
We acknowledge with deepest gratitude the
thoughtfulness of John Carter Cash in honoring his
mother's and father's intent and benevolent wishes
regarding this production and its purpose, and his
essential role in making it all happen.
Concerning our work in Kenya, please allow
me to share an entry I placed in my Journal
recently.
In the early morning hours, as I stood outside
under the stars fixing my eyes on the magnificent
heavens above me and praying, I felt the Spirit of God
speak, "Do you wish you could walk this day as Jesus
walked on earth? To which I quickly said, "Yes".
He continued, "Then be prepared to hear the
mournful cries of the poverty-stricken, those
devastated by AIDS, the malaria victims, the hungry,
the hurting, the orphaned, the grieving ones who lost a
child or a soul mate - and reach out and help
them."
He continued, "And be prepared to suffer adversity,
ridicule, mockery, scorn, even death - then return only
the deepest form of love to those who curse you and
speak evil against you for the love and compassion
you've shown, and for that which is still within your
heart for them."
My first thought was, 'That's a big order', and my
prayer time was silenced as I took the first step into
the day ahead. But quickly the thought came to
me; "Isn't that really what we're to be prepared to do
each day, as Christians, as 'believers' and followers
of Jesus? And isn't that exactly what this ministry's
been called to do in Africa?
"I've heard those cries, seen the suffering ones,
the poverty-stricken, the hurting and the dying in
Kenya - and for many years I have faced what many
times seems to be ' an impossible task' - building a
cost-free healing facility for the spirit, soul, and body of
mankind in the deprived nation of Kenya."
Establishing the Grace Christian Mission Hospital
(GCMH) in Kenya undoubtedly would be 'an
impossible task' - without the help of God. But
remember, God works in and through people.
We thank God and rejoice that the DVD project
mentioned above will provide much needed funding
for establishing this multi-functional facility of hope
and healing for the spirit, soul and body. But the
funding will not begin to
materialize until the DVD 'package' goes to market,
which will take several months.
Phase one, 'The Nehemiah Walls', is in its
beginning stage however, and we will need your
financial support to help insure that construction
moves ahead uninterrupted. Your tax-free gift in any
amount will be deeply appreciated, and you will
receive a certificate, suitable for framing that will
identify you as a 'Supporter of the Construction' of
GCMH.
In contemplating this 'need', and helping, let us
focus on who we are in Christ for a moment.
Remember, His word not only tells us; "With God
nothing shall be Impossible."
(Luke 1:37),
but that we're also children of God.
(Ephesians 1:5).
Not by birth, no - by accepting Jesus as
Saviour, we're born again, spirtually, then chosen and
adopted as welcomed members of his very family.
Not only that, but He made us joint-heirs with His
eldest Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and
now our elder brother as well. He even then,
Raised us up together, and made us sit together,
in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
(Ephesians
2:6). Finally, and as hard as it may be to
believe, we've even been given all the authority of
Jesus, not only in this age but also
in that which is to come.
Luke 1:37
Knowing all that, let's then ask, "Would Jesus be
able and willing to help?" "Well?"
"Yes, I want to support this work now."
