God's Packed Formula for the Church 

"And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:-47 NIV 

On the day of Pentecost, Peter proclaimed God's message of repentance and baptism in the crucified  and Risen Christ.  As a result, many were baptized and received forgiveness of their sins in Christ.  After that, some of the believers started to meet regularly in their own homes forming little churches here and there in their own communities. Scripture refers to it by the Greek word, Koinonia: "The Church's Life Together." It is life that God gives us freely, because of His grace alone, putting Christ at the center as both source and goal. It's new life that he won for us by His Son's death on the Cross and His Resurrection from the dead. It's eternal life that comes with the Cross and Resurrection both Packed into it. But it does not stop there!!

Paul Krentz of the LC-MS TX District visits the SSOF Apt Ministry with Pastor Karim

"The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved". This is God's ultimate desire for this Church via the cross and resurrection. The addition of new believers into his Church by multiplication of Koinonia groups from all nations.  Today this is what the Holy Spirit is doing through the mission work of "Disciples of the Way Ministries" in Dallas, Texas.  From one man, God made every nation of Men and brought them close to our homes, schools, into our work places, and even into our churches so we can tell about his Crucified and Risen Son, the Savior of the world...   

 
 But Disciples of the Way Ministries has grown to have a good "problem". We are running out space in our church.  Oh, what a Blessing! Our missionaries and volunteers are bringing the Risen Christ where our neighbors live, into their community and into their own homes in order to continue steadfastly in the things that make up the church's life: teaching, fellowship, communion, worship.  

On March 24, 2013, our first "Sewing Seeds of Faith" home project was planted in the Vickery Meadows community with the help of our Muslim neighbors from Iraq, Eritrea, and Ethiopia.  (Vickery Meadows is the center of 28,000+ refugees from all  nations.)  Our hope is to continue to plant as many (Koinonia) groups as described in the book of Acts 2:42-47, but we can't do this without your faithful prayers and continual support.   

The world needs all of us working together and sharing our lives according to God's desire. We have much work to do. We have a mission to carry out. Together we can do as this. There are things we can do together that we cannot do as individuals. For this reason, we thank the Lord for ALL our partners in the Gospel (especially LWML groups) who continue to make this ministry of "Sewing Seeds of Faith" a successful operation and a blessing to many women from all nations.   Please continue to donate your "working" sewing machines, we will supply the oil and keep them running hot. Christ is Risen!

SSOF friends gather for prayer and fellowship before sewing

On Tuesday, March 26, immediately following the housewarming celebration eight women gathered for sewing and fellowship, beginning with a prayer in Jesus' name and began "sewing seeds of faith" one stitch at a time.

How did this come about? Rev. Karim Baidaoui, Pastor, Teacher, and Missionary-at-Large, of Disciples of the Way Ministry, formerly POBLO-TX, gave a presentation at our church 4 or 5 years ago, and we were blessed because he stayed in our home before he spoke that Sunday.

He told his story of growing up as a Muslim coming to the US, and how he was Baptized, and ordained as a pastor in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. We came to know him better and we invited him to come and preach and teach several times. Two or three times he came with other missionaries, and once with a newly converted (ex-Muslim) family of five. We were inspired by his teaching and preaching the work of God and curious to learn more about his ministry known today as Disciples of the Way. We were amazed to see the Holy Spirit at work in this ministry and were glad we came.

It was a new experience for us to see how God changes slaves into children of God as they continue to receive the good news..."grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18. Where can you go and see Christ shared with that many non-Christians?  (Not in any Church we know about!)  We have been blessed by God to see the Holy Spirit at work among people from many nations. We are privileged to serve and do what is needed for God's growing mission. There is always something waiting for us to do when we get there like (leading home Bible studies, praying for our neighbors, making friends from all nations, helping with the children's activities at ESL, meal preparation, teaching sewing, driving, etc.)

Phil & Margaret Ball

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Longview, Texas

All Nations New  Hope Ministries,

Oklahoma City, OK

Did you know that LWML National Convention is coming soon? Pastor Karim's sister, Meryem, has been invited to speak in Pittsburg, PA. at the  Convention. Please keep her and her husband Rev. Bennai and  their new ministry in your prayers.