This weekend tens of thousands of people will gather in Indianapolis to watch the big game, celebrate and party. These crowds will bring with them a specific clientele. For these individuals, the tent parties will not be enough. The strip clubs will not be enough. And money will likely not be an object as they satisfy their urges and curiosities. This problem includes but goes beyond prostitution. It includes slavery. Women and children that are forced into a slavery of rape.

The U.S. Department of State estimates between 14,500 and 18,000 people — many of them women and children — are trafficked into the U.S. each year. Trafficking is defined by The Federal Trafficking Victim Protection Act as recruiting, harboring, moving or obtaining a person by force, fraud or coercion for the purposes of involuntary servitude, debt bondage or sexual exploitation.

It is estimated that human traffickers generate $32 billion each year, and much is generated by large events such as the Super Bowl.

Indianapolis is growing increasingly aware of this and has been preparing for next weekend. We are learning what to look for. Sex trafficking can look like residential brothels, hostess clubs, escort services, brothels disguised as massage parlors, strip clubs, and also street prostitution. So our police are prepared, cab drivers and hotel workers and other service industry professionals have been trained, and social workers and nonprofit groups are ready.

ServLife is partnering with Steps of Justice for an Anti-Human Trafficking 24-Hour Prayer and Worship Event this Friday and Saturday. ServLife’s Director of Operations, Adam Nevins, will be co-leading a two hour block Friday night starting at 11:00 pm. Join us and RSVP on Facebook here.

Read more about ServLife’s efforts to combat human trafficking here.

“The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for all who are oppressed.”
Psalm 103:6

ServLife International, Inc.  P.O. Box 20596   Indianapolis, IN 46220 USA

Copyright 2011 ServLife International, Inc. All Rights Reserved

got fire?

Just yesterday a friend sent me a link to a recent article in the online edition of the Wall Street Journal.  I don’t  often  read the WSJ but  when  I saw  the  title  of that  article,

Jeff Romack

“How Missionaries Lost their Chariots of Fire,” I knew I had to read it.  You can check it out here, How Missionaries . . ., if you like.

While I don’t agree with all that was said in that article, the author gets it right in the end when he writes that God’s mission involves both serving those in need and sharing the gospel but it is sharing the gospel that distinguishes our loving service to meet human need from the humanitarian aid given by many organizations.  As the author points out, “Both are motivated by the desire to help others, but Christians are spurred by that Jesus thing.”

At ServLife we are very much motivated by the “Jesus thing” and not ashamed of it.  That Jesus gave his life for us and for the sake of the whole world is what makes us tick. ServLife is committed to planting communities of the Kingdom and to bringing hope to children-at-risk and the global poor.  We are serving life by sharing the gospel and responding to human need. This is what lights our fire.  How about you; got fire?  Why not light your flame at ours?

Speaking of sharing the fire, did you know that Servlife has trained and now supports each month more than 120 indigenous church planters serving in India and Nepal?

One of the great new realities of the Christian movement is that the church is now a global reality.  Linked to that, mission can no longer be characterized as the activity of  western Christians going East (or South) to share the gospel.  The church exists for God’s mission in the world and, these days, mission happens from everywhere to everywhere!

Nepali Church

The ServLife church planters illustrate this point.

While the Christian movement is a global reality to be celebrated there is another piece of that reality of which we must not lose sight.  There are yet many peoples in many places where the gospel is not.  ServLife is doing its part to address that situation.  Our efforts to plant “communities of the Kingdom” are being done on the very frontiers of mission, the growing edge of Christian faith in the world.  The indigenous church planters we support go to the hard places where the church has not yet taken root and where there are few, if any, believers.  We are not laboring to plant a church just down the road from one of another kind.  We are pioneers.

Go! . . . and make disciples.

In pioneering situations, by definition, the material resources needed to evangelize in those places must come from outside those communities.  In time, when a church has been planted, the local Christians will give of their own resources to reach out to their own. At the outset; however, workers and resources to support them must be sent from outside.  This is where we need your help.

Today, we have workers in 10 of Nepal’s 14 zones (states) and across seven (7) states in north India. We need your help to keep these men at work on the frontiers of mission and to train and send more.

Will you give dollars to support those who are giving their lives

to share the gospel with the unreached in India and Nepal?

Each year, in Kathmandu (Nepal) and again in Raxaul (India), we call together all our workers on the field to celebrate all that God has done, is now doing and what He will do in the coming year. . .

These Leader’s & Church Planter’s Conferences are a big highlight for the people that have been doing the difficult work of sowing and reaping all year long.  Here they receive a little bit of teaching and a great deal of encouragement.  It’s not easy being on the frontiers of faith without others close at hand to offer support but that is often the situation they must endure.  By the close of our time together everyone is ready to go back to the harvest fields with renewed strength and vision.

Previous year’s conference in Raxaul

To call together our church planters from across India and Nepal takes financial resources for travel and food that our workers (124 of them!) do not have and for which we must all stand together in faith trusting God to provide.  That provision comes when God’s people step up to contribute what they have to give to the cause of taking the gospel to the frontiers.

This year our conferences will be held November 8-12 (Nepal) and November 17-20 (India). Our budget is $14,000.  At this point, our balance on hand is $zero.  Can you help?

To give safely and securely now go here:  2011 Leader’s & Church Planter’s Conference

We are asking all of our friends to simply pray and ask if they are to give to this need.  And, by the way, you’re welcome to join us for this time, too!

Thank you for letting us share what is happening

in the world through ServLife . . .

together with you!

help fan our flame into fire .  .  .

+  Pray with us . . . join the ServLife Prayer Team.

+  Give to support our church planters on the frontiers of the gospel.

A one-time gift or on a monthly basis.

+  Help make our Worker’s Conferences in India and Nepal possible.   Give here.

+  Surprise a child with hope . . . become a ServLife child sponsor.

+  Serve the poor via micro-lending . . . give to the Hope Fund.

We took the public bus for our means of transportation which is much cheaper and it was convenient too.

We fixed Merina’s front teeth with 40% off the total price.

We regular use Himalayan Dental Hospital every year, we are also very grateful towards this hospital because it serves us with a good price. This time we were so lucky because the hospital had a volunteer team from the UK, they helped us to pay 50% of our total bill. This time the total cost was 46 thousand but we paid only NRs.23,500/- only this price also calculated of Merina’s fixed teeth. After the hospital dental checkup the children enjoyed eating momos as breakfast.

In the evening we celebrated Shalom’s 14^th Happy Birthday.

]]> http://www.servlife.org/wp/index.php/content/dental-checkup-at-the-nepal-childrens-home/feed/ 0 http://www.servlife.org/wp/index.php/content/june-2011-newsletter/ http://www.servlife.org/wp/index.php/content/june-2011-newsletter/#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:36:17 +0000 Rachel http://www.servlife.org/wp/?p=3741

^“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”

(Proverbs 25:25)

 

Everlasting Service (Kathmandu) In the nation of Nepal ServLife has given birth to two organizations through which we now primarily work. The first is Ananta Sewa Nepal or, as we call it, AS Nepal. Ananta sewa is a Nepali term meaning, literally, “everlasting service.“ What an appropriate name for those who aspire to love and save orphaned children and the children of the extremely poor who would otherwise be without opportunity for education.

Som is our newest child in Kathmandu

This month at the ServLife Children’s Home in Kathmandu we welcomed Som Bahadur Ale to our growing family. What a joy he has been. Som, who will turn 5 years old next month, comes from a very poor family in western Nepal. Som’s father died some time ago. His mother, who is unable to read and write, was left to raise and provide for three children on her own. A Christian neighbor saw this Hindu family was struggling. Although the neighbor is himself blind, he took action to guide Som to our children’s home in Kathmandu. Som is now in lower kindergarten, making new friends and finding his place in the family.

Graduation Day X2 (Raxaul) Albert Das, founder and director of ServLIfe Empowering Society in India presided over the June 29 graduation ceremony of eleven young men who have completed their training at the Servlife Leadership Training Institute in Raxaul. The training institute is preparing young people for service in north India and southern Nepal as servants of

Pastor Philip now with the LORD

the gospel and church planters. This new group will join 73 previous graduates now at work in the harvest field.

Albert has also reported some much more difficult news. Church planter and pastor, Philip Mirgan, was promoted to glory on May 25, 2011. Philip was pastoring our church in Malkangiri in Orissa state.  He was also a graduate of our training center in the 2005-06 batch.  Philip leaves his church and family; a wife and three children.  Please pray for them and for the new leadership in Malkangiri.

Beautiful Feet (Kathmandu) Lazarus Thulung is the director of ServLife Himalayan Development. Himalayan Development is the second of our two organizations working in Nepal. Its mission is to train and send disciples into the remote villages of Nepal to share the

Lazarus – serving on the HimGlo Exec Team

good news that God has taken action in and through Jesus Christ to reconcile all things to himself and to form communities of those who choose to follow Jesus. What a joy it is to see people as they begin to understand what God has done and is now doing to make the world right including them! What joy to report that seven new believers were recently baptized in Thingan village.

One of those, Mr. Ranjit Ghale, was a former antagonist of the church in that village; however, both he and his family have turned to Christ and the change has been remarkable. This former opponent of the gospel has now become one of the leading advocates of the gospel among his own people.

We are also happy to report that Lazarus has been chosen to serve on the executive committee of the Himalayan Global Summit 2011 which is this year’s gathering of a movement of Himalayan Christians devoted to mobilizing their own people for mission wherever they are found in the world. How lovely on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news … to the Himalayan peoples! (Isaiah 52:7) The Himalayan Global website: http://hgs2011.com/.

Closer to Home (Acworth, GA) Join us in welcoming home from Nepal Mark and Jenn Storm and their two children, Solomon and Sophia. The Storm family

Storms depart Himalayas for US

has completed a fruitful season of service with ServLife that stretches back to 2006 and included assignments in both Thailand and Nepal. The Storms were the key leaders in our being able to get the Hope Fund off and running in Nepal. What can’t be over-looked was the great encouragement they brought to their Nepali brothers and sisters. They are already being missed. Thanks to Westgate Church in San Jose, CA and to all of you who have been of special support to the Storms and their mission with ServLife. May they find great joy and satisfaction as they move ahead in this next phase of their calling.

Rachel and Jeremy

 

Closer Still (Indianapolis, IN) Rachel McKnight who serves as ServLife’s sponsorship coordinator and doubles as an assistant to our executive director has announced her engagement to Jeremy Moss. Rachel and Jeremy are planning for a November wedding. Congratulations to Rachel and Jeremy!

 

 

 

 

Our first print newsletter of 2011 will soon be in the mail to you.  There you’ll find much more good news of what is happening in the world through ServLife,

together with you!

CHILDREN HOME

LALITPUR, NEPAL

DAILY PRAYER GUIDE 2011 06

July 01 Friday : Thank to God for all the happenings of the month of June. Prayer for safety of this month July and Lords blessings upon our family.

July 02 Saturday: Thanks and praises to God that Salome passed her exams with good percentage. Today she will be appearing her entrance in ST.XAVIER and ST.MARY’S. Pray that she gets a good school for further education.

July 03 Sun: Tapendra Kunwar is getting scholarship from Servlife for studies but recently has broken his hand while working in field. Prayer is needed for his recovery

July 04 Mon: Jhuma chaudhary is a child who is being sponsored by SERVLIFE. Both her parents are blind and she is not so well with her health. Pray that God will enlighten her life.

July 05 Tue: Our prayer is a must for Shibu Chaudhary who recently lost his father and his mother is having hard time with Labor work that she is doing to lean her family. Pray for Shibu, his family’s situation and his studies.

July 06 Wed: Our helping girl Rekha has been working and has been helpful as well as has turned into a Christian. Pray for her faith and her family who can’t feed themselves and for all such families here in Nepal.

July 07 Thu: Bal Bdr Barabijay is awfully sick and has been taken to India for treatment that may last long. He needs our prayer to get well soon. He also is one of the children getting support from SERVLIFE.

July 08 Fri: Prayer is a must for children of DAYA girls home for their health and improvement in studies. Also pray for Paul and his wife Sonam who are serving in between these children.

July 09 Sat: Praise God that our children have been getting well and doing well in their studies. Prayers are required for them to get better grades in this coming 1^st term exam.

July 10 Sat: There are many people who have been praying for our family and ServLife. Pray for all those who are and have been praying for us for God to be with them and their work.

July 11 Sun: Pray for Ekta church that we have been attending and Udaya Bhatta has been serving as a Pastor. Pray for the believers of this church and needs of this church. Pray that God will guide this church.

July 12 Mon: : Praise the Lord that Church and believers here in Nepal are increasing. Pray that they develop in faith as we can make a great difference here in Nepal.

July 13 Tue: Pray for Jeff Romack and Other beloved staff of ServLife International Their  family and also their responsibilities in Servlife International.

July 14 Wed: We have praying since a long time for a land and building for ServLife children Home Kathmandu so that we can stay freely and enjoy a society without being treated with rude attitude.

July 15 Thu: Thanks to God and praise him that we are nearly getting completed in our Renew process. There might be some difficult task left so we need your prayers for that. Pray to God to help in this task and to speak to the Lawyer to carry our work smoothly and without hesitating.

Jul 16 Fri: Thank God for giving us our needs and providing our children with a home to live. There are families we and the Children have left behind. Pray for those Families for god to take care about them.

July 17 Sat: Our children are being taught by teachers at school and at church. Pray for the Teachers so that they will be able to give good impression and ask the Children to track the good way of this world.

Jun 18 Sun: Children that are being sponsored such as Ramesh Daguara, Rueel Chaudhary, Santosh Sapkota and Simon Dagaura are suffering from different kind of illness for a long time. We have to pray for them so that they gain strength and good health.

July 19 Mon: There are many kids here in Nepal who are orphaned, malnourished, homeless, starving and treated badly. Prayer for them is a very need so that everyone comes under care.

July 20 Tue: Pray for Bhakti and Udaya as they continue in doing this work as well as for their spiritual growth. Remember all the children who are getting support from ASNepal. Pray for their studies and families.

Jun 21 Wed: Pray for the scholar shipped children of far west Nepal so that they can enjoy good study environment as well as good health by coming over all the sickness.

July 22 Thu: : Remember all those who are supporting us and praying for us and spiritual growth of Ekta Church.

July 23 Fri: Pray for Paul and Sonam  as they look after Daya Girls Home. Pray about all the orphan Girls and their studies and work and thanks for the encouraging prayers they have been doing for us.

July 24 Sat: God has been with our family through all the hard and good times and we thank God for that. Please pray that God continuous his blessings and supports for each and everyone.

July 25 Sun: Pray for Joel Vestal and his family as well as thank God for having him with us for 7 years and now his work in America. Lastly, to all those who have been friendly to ASNepal.

July 26 Mon: Pray for good health of our children and pray for the children who are being provided with scholarship from ServLife & for their health and studies.

July 27 Tue: Praise the lord for he has been providing us with all the necessities and requirements. Pray that he continues to be with us and guide us in his path.

July 28 thu: Especially Pray for Mat and Brooke  who are always supporting Ekta Church Ministry to grow, now pray them wherever they are and Gods guidance in their lives and work.

July 29 Fri: Praise the lord for the ministry of ServLife and his hand in this work. Pray to Lord that he blesses this organization.

July 30 Sat: Thanks to God for a more month that he has provided us. Pray that God will be with us all the days of the coming month August.

Name:        Som  Bahadur Ale

Birthdate:           July 19, 2006

Description:

Som belongs to poor Hindu family.  His father died when he was young.  He has one brother and one sister, both older than Som.  As Som’s family was poor and both of parents illiterate, it was very difficult for Som’s mother to feed and provide for other essential needs after the death of his father.   They were desperately searching for help.  One of their neighbors is a Christian. Though he himself is blind he wanted to help Som’s family by searching for a refuge for at least one child. He came to know of ServLife’s children’s ministry and brought Som to us.  Som is now the latest member of our home here in Kathmandu.

Som is an enthusiastic and happy child. He shows great interest in learning. He is also quiet and well disciplined.  He loves to take part in sports and shows good sportsmanship.  After arriving here his health has improved a lot.  He has learned rhymes and songs quiet fast.  He eagerly listens to bible stories at the time of devotion.

Som is studying in Lower Kindergarten.  He is too young to know what he wants to do in the future but he has already shown  promise of good things ahead.

For just $30 a month you could sponsor Som. It doesn’t take much to change the life of a child, even one you have never meet. ServLife currently has about 300 children sponsored. Help us reach our goal of sponsoring 1000 children by 2013 through the ServLife 1000 project. Contact us if you are interested in helping us make a difference in a child’s life.

Sponsorship is more than just a monetary donation every month. We encourage our sponsors to write to their children twice a year. This is a great way to get the whole family involved with changing a life. The children love to get letters from their sponsors and kids love to hear about other children around the world. So let your children each write their own letters too! You can request to sponsor a child that is around your own children’s age. This way as your own child grows up they can learn about and write to a child that is their own age. Contact us today to get things started. We look forward to hearing from you!

Sponsor a Child Today

Live the gospel . . .

“When we were on the outside without hope and home, Jesus brought us into his family (Eph. 2:12-13, 19). What Jesus did for us is the Gospel.

Today there are millions of orphans in the world without hope and home. When we give orphans hope, when we bring orphans into our families, we reenact the Gospel . . .

Orphan care is Gospel reenactment.” (Dan Cruver; Together for Adoption, 10/23/09)

Play your part . . .

Love mercy, do justice. . .

Sponsoring an orphaned child or a child-at-risk through ServLife is a powerful and effective step ahead in doing justice now. Your sponsorship will ensure that children in the some of the most difficult circumstances will get an education, a home, healthy food and clothing, and opportunity to experience the love of Christ. With over 210 children now being served, we continue to extend the borders of our care for at-risk children but we need your help. Play your part!

Sponsor a child . . .

Will you take action now and sponsor a child? We currently have sixty (60) children in Nepal and India needing your help. For $30/month you can sponsor one child and directly empower a new generation for God’s purposes. Put your compassion into action. Love mercy. Live the gospel!

Read the Child Sponsorship Program FAQ pages.

Contact us for more information on sponsorship or to begin sponsoring a child today!

ServLife International is a non-profit organization planting communities of the Kingdom and restoring hope to children-at-risk and the global poor.

1 Peter 1:3

Easter 2011

This Beautiful but Broken World

If you’re awake and paying the slightest bit of attention you will have noticed that we live in a beautiful but very broken world.  A few examples come immediately to mind. This reality was suddenly and forcefully confirmed to us by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that recently struck northern Japan. An entire nation shaken and now reeling; one moment life is beautiful, the next moment it’s very broken. The full extent of the loss suffered will not be known for a very long time.

Then just yesterday, I received word that the wife of a longtime friend and colleague had passed away. This was not sudden. Hers was a four year battle with cancer. Still, you are never quite prepared to receive that message. A lovely, gifted woman taken in mid-life. She is now at rest. He is left with four children at home. Words fail. Prayer turns to groaning

Today, I write from a nation in southeast Asia where freedom of religion is guaranteed to all citizens; however, things are not what they seem to be. Freedom to gather together with other like-minded people is not part of the deal.  Churches must register with the government and those that do must clear their teaching with the authorities. Those that do not register are in a vulnerable position, at the mercy of the powers that be. Some leaders end up spending time behind bars. Lives are disrupted. All citizens, in this nation that pays lip service to religious freedom, must carry ID papers on which their religious allegiance must be declared. Any response other than “none” makes it very difficult for one to get into a preferred school or a decent job. You can forget about working in government service altogether. Yet the church continues to grow in spite of all such efforts to control it. A broken system yet beauty finds a way to emerge.

Paul wrote in his letter to the Christians in Rome that all creation is groaning as it awaits redemption from its bondage.  This is a remarkable reminder that God’s saving work through Jesus Christ goes beyond the rescue of individual men and women as vital as that piece of redemption certainly is. God’s intention is not to take a relative few from this broken world to be with him forever but to actually make this broken world and its people right once again. Now that’s redemption! In fact, the global dimension of God’s promised action is so radical that the Bible calls it “new creation.”   This “new creation” was launched at Jesus’ resurrection and it will come to its promised fulfillment when he returns to reign over all he’s created and redeemed.  This is the biblical hope and it’s very good news, indeed.  This beautiful but broken world will be made right!

This Holy Week we celebrate that God has already taken action in Jesus Christ to achieve all his purposes for us and for all creation. Nevertheless, like Paul, we now find ourselves in the time between Jesus’ resurrection victory and all things made new. It’s a strange time, a time of vulnerability, groaning and yet hope. What to do?

“God,” Paul writes, “was reconciling the world to himself in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:19).” Now he’s committed the good news of this reconciliation to us.  God has already done what only God could do to bring about his new creation.  Now it is left for us to do what we must do; to make complete the sufferings of Christ by loving this broken world and its hurting peoples in Jesus’ name. This is how we understand our calling at ServLife.

At ServLife we seek to love and serve in word and deed in some of the most challenging places and among the most vulnerable people. We do so in grateful celebration for what God has already done and in hopeful anticipation of all that he has promised to do. As you contemplate God’s saving love this Easter season will you also consider joining with us in partnership and participation that together we might bring God’s kind of change to this beautiful but broken world?

He is risen!

Jeff Romack

Executive Director

For the sake of those now hosting me in this nation I will leave my present location a mystery. I’ll be here for several more days and then in Singapore before moving on at the end of this month to be with our people and projects in Nepal and India. Next month I’ll give a report on what is happening there.

ServLife International is a non-profit organization planting communities of the Kingdom and restoring hope to children-at-risk and the global poor.

Here are some ways to partner with ServLife:

1)Join our prayer team!  You will receive monthly emails with ways you can pray for ServLife.

2)Sponsor a child or indigenous pastor.  We’ll get you connected.

3)Volunteer at ServLife.  There’s lots to be done!

4)Donate to our ongoing work in Nepal and India headed up by Albert, Lazarus, or Udaya.

Contact us to get more information on any or all of these options!

ServLife International, Inc.  P.O. Box 20596   Indianapolis, IN 46220 USA

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in you.

-Psalm 25.21

Dear ServLife Family & Friends,

As I begin to write the first of what I hope and plan to be a regular monthly message to you, my mind is flooded with many thoughts and feelings. I hope to be able to sort through some of those in this message and in the process allow you to get to know me a bit better as well as my thinking about this ‘thing’ called ServLife, the point at which our lives now touch.

I first came to know ServLife about four years ago after meeting its founder, Joel Vestal. My interest was immediately piqued. This was partly because I have lived and breathed God’s mission for more than 30 years, in various expressions, mostly in Southeast Asia. More than that, I was attracted to the vision and values of ServLife and the way those twins were being put into action by some really dedicated men and women in various parts of Asia and Africa. It didn’t take me long to recognize that there is a lot to like about ServLife. Here is a key piece of God’s mission being worked out by and for a new generation.

Now, through what I only dimly understand as the mysterious working of God’s Spirit, in the midst of some difficult circumstances, I find myself at the helm of a ministry that had caught my attention some years before. What to do; weep or rejoice? Actually, I’ve been doing a lot of both. Rejoicing at an opportunity to participate, along with all of you, in God’s redemption project to make his beautiful but broken world right again. And then, at the same time, crying out to God in prayer, for healing in individual lives, for myself on the upward side of a steep learning curve and for grace among all you who have been partners in this work, some for many years.

What can I say of my first few weeks on the job? So far, so good. God is at work. I’m encouraged almost daily with signs that he is with us. That’s what matters most. But there is much work yet to be done if we are to meet our commitments in 2011 to those we love and serve in India, Nepal and beyond . Our partners in need are our first concern. We are committed to doing what it takes to serve them well. In terms of our administration we are running a tight ship. Nothing is being wasted. Our hope is in God; may our integrity and uprightness protect us.

the vision thing . . .

With the recent change in leadership comes the inevitable question, “What is your vision for ServLife?” That is a question that can’t be avoided. And, why should it? Without a vision our lives are wasted. Without a mission we lose our way. If vision is birthed by God’s Spirit it will also impart to us courage to do that from which we might otherwise shrink back.

ServLife, from the very outset, has been present among the peoples of some of the most marginalized and oppressed regions of the world, places where the church is still small, lacking numbers and resources of its own to address serious issues of human need, both spiritual and material.  This is key to understanding what we are about.  We will not do for others what they could otherwise be doing for themselves.  Rather, we are, with your help, seeking to live out what it means to love our neighbors in this globalized world.  We intend to continue our work among such people and in such places of acute need with a special focus . . .

+ To rescue and care for children-at-risk.

+ To end hunger and bring hope through micro-enterprise initiatives.

+ To train and release leaders to bring the whole gospel of the Kingdom to the whole person with the intention of planting local Christian communities.

It might be obvious but it still must be said that when we can do all these things in proximity and relationship to one another a remarkable synergy for God’s kind of change occurs in the lives of individuals, families and communities. This is a true sign of the Kingdom. This is our vision and it will be the first criteria by which we evaluate all potential opportunities to pioneer in new places and among new peoples.

Go! . . .

I will be on the road for most of April and the first ten days of May; first in Vietnam, later Singapore and finally in Nepal and India. I am especially looking forward to visiting the ServLife staff and ministries in Kathmandu and Raxaul. And I look forward to sharing with you a report of my observations when I write to you again in April.

Until then please do keep us in prayer and please consider how you can best express your continued support of this work in God’s harvest field.

Grace & peace to you,

Jeff Romack

Executive Director

By the way, do take a look at “The Vision that Guides Us” and “The Values that Direct Us.” It’s good stuff. You can find it at http://www.servlife.org/wp/index.php/about-servlife/values-vision/

Thank you so much for your steadfast prayers and continued generosity for the ministries and people whom we serve.  Many of you have called or written with words of encouragement and genuine concern in the days following our last communication.  The Indianapolis office staff and the Board of Directors have worked diligently to ensure the integrity of ServLife moving forward.  And we write today with good news about the faithfulness of our God and the beautiful ways that he uses his people.

After a careful financial review, we are pleased to report that all projects were fully funded according to budget in 2010.  We can also report that as a result of your continued generosity, we are, early in this year, on track to meet our budget in 2011.

We are also pleased to announce that as of March 1, Jeffrey P. Romack was appointed the new Executive Director of ServLife International. Jeff has served on the Board of Directors for the past 8 months and his wisdom has been invaluable in that role.  We are confident that he will bring both stability and growth to ServLife as he serves in this new capacity.

For those of you who don’t know him, Jeff has been involved in various aspects of cross-cultural mission, including church planting, leadership training and community development since 1981.  He and his wife, Donna, spent twenty years living, working and raising three children in the Micronesian islands of the Pacific, the mountains of Northern Luzon, Philippines, the urban high-rises of Singapore and the organized chaos of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Jeff has served as Indochina (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam) and Philippines Regional Director for YWAM and as a member of the Global Leadership Team.  For the past several years he has divided his time between southeast Asia and the U.S. where he has been involved in planting a missional church among post-modern young adults in the Broad Ripple area of Indianapolis.  Jeff has a passion for helping people to understand the radical good news of God’s grace and peace and to move them into action as God’s people for the sake of a broken world.

Jeff is a graduate of Purdue University, Asian Theological Seminary and the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary.  Donna is the Director of Elementary Education at The Orchard School in Indianapolis.  All three of their children and three grandchildren live in the Indy area. You will hear more from Jeff in the coming days as he shares his vision for the future of ServLife and the people it serves.

In closing, let us say that as a board, we have been heartened by God’s steadfast concern and care for the day-to-day operations of ServLife.  He has met us in the details of our service in surprising and delightful ways.  God has shown again and again that this work and these people are his!

With peace,

Rich Klopp, President of the Board

Ramona Rice, Secretary

Jeff Romack, Executive Director

Artists in the area donate art to ServLife, we then sell the art and use the profit to help fund ServLife.

*If you are an artist and would like to donate some of your work to ServLife please contact our office at 3317-544-0484.

You can Help!

All it takes is $30 a month to sponsor a child like Mamata. That $30 goes to help pay the school fees of the child as well as other necessities. We encourage anyone who sponsors a child to not only provide the $30 a month but to also correspond with the child they sponsor. This includes writing to them at least twice a year, and providing a little extra around their birthday to help get a gift for the child. Along with a letter you may send in small gifts such as stickers, hard candy, and pencils or crayons. We also require that you pray for your child. Some of the children have a relationship with Christ, but some like Mamata grow up in a non Christian home. We not only try and provide for the child fiscally but want to bring greater change in there life, the most important change that can be made, a relationship with Christ. The prays you lift up can help make this possible. Mathew 19:14 says “
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”" Help us make a way for children to find there way to our Lord Jesus Christ.  If you are interested in sponsoring Mamata or a child like her please contact us and we will get back to you write away on starting to change the life of a child.

Make a Donation to ServLife

Contact ServLife to Become a Child Sponsor

Shanti is one of the new member of our recently opened Daya Girls Home. Shanti belonged to a poor family. Her parents had responsibilities of earning sufficient money for her family, but she is unfortunate because she has lost both of her parents. Her father died before she was born, and her mother passed away when Shanti was three months old. She is in our Daya Girls Home because a pastor found her when he was visiting the village to preach the Gospel. She is the youngest one in Daya Girls Home.

It takes just $30 a month to help change the life of Shanti and many others who have suffered similar fates as her. To help change the life of a child become a sponsor through ServLife. All that is required from you is a monthly donation of $30, prayer for the child that you sponsor, and correspondence with the child through letters twice a year. Other optional things are giving an extra donation for your child’s birthday so that a small gift may be purchased and small gifts to be sent with your letters like stickers, crayons, and pencils. It doesn’t take much to make such a difference. Your sponsorship will provide a child like Shanti with the ability to go to school and get an education, one which would not be possible without your support. A loving home for which she will get the food and shelter required to grow up healthy and happy.

To become a sponsor contact us and let us know you would like to become a sponsor today.

 ServLife’s 7th Annual Conference is underway in north India with 60 ServLife indigenous mission workers who have come from 6 states in India.  A team from north Houston have come to help in the teaching, Chris Criswell & Vernon Henenway, along with Joel Vestal are at the conference.  The days are filled with testimonies, prayer time, Bible teaching, singing performances, corporate worship, eating together, and fellowship.  The stories that these workers are sharing are a true example of God’s grace and power.   

Thank you for your prayers and support for. Click here to give to help meet the total expenses of the conference.

Joel Vestal reflects, “It is such a deep joy to see these men year after year and their faith encouraging and speaking to me in so many ways. Please pray for the work of ServLife in India.”          Continue to pray for the rest of the conference.

A great way to get involved with these children is to help us collect and send supplies to our Indianapolis office and allow volunteers to carry with them. For the rest of 2010, we have over 25 volunteers going from around the country.  Some of the things that are in most need are:

• Protein powder  (Can be for adults as small quantities are used to put in glasses of milk)
• Children’s vitamins,
• Children’s cold/ cough med’s
• Children’s fever reducer / pain medicine
• Toothpaste
• Anti-bacterial creme
• bandaids

Helping us provide these items to the children is a wonderful way for you to help support ServLife but more importantly share the love of God.

We are asking that you will send $1 per pound of the items you send us to help cover expenses of excess baggage fees or possible overweight charges.    If you or people in your group would like to get an update and photos of the items you donate, please include your address and email address.

Please bring or  mail items to the ServLife Offices:

ServLife International, Inc. 2511 E 46th , E-2   Indianapolis, IN 46205

Follow ServLife on twitter and help spread the news!   Follow this link here

http://twitter.com/ServLife

Luke’s gospel quotes Jesus giving instructions to his disciples for their ministries. He says when someone offers peace to stay in that house and do not go from house to house. (read Luke 10:6-7)  Many have taken this text to apply to ministry within the arena of church planting, personal evangelism, fundraising,  student ministry or ministries kinds.  I believe it can be true about the ministry or raising awareness and funds for God’s work.

 The event  is simple:

• You decide what day and time  in the evening the event should start (suggested time is after dinner)
• It can be as formal or casual as you would like
• ServLife can help provide small snacks and coffee to allow for people to visit for 20 minutes upon arrival 
• You invite a network of your friends who potentially have the same capacity to give to ServLife that you do. The goal would a group of 5 -10 people and who would not know about ServLife (or more)
• Joel Vestal will come and speak to the group for a short 10-15 minutes, introducing people to ServLife (history, values and future) through multi media  (Key donors have donated frequent flyer miles to use
• 5-10 minutes of questions (optional)
• The host (that is you)  will then make an appeal to their guests that they invited and sharing (if they are comfortable) “I give X amount to this organization / support this organization and I am asking you to match this gift / give generously tonight”   OR  “I support this mission would you help our family raise $X amount tonight for them

Please call our office at 317.544.0484 or Contact us via email

ServLife can provide literature and other resources if available.  

A Vision Renewal Trip  is a trip that combines both service projects with rest and renewal time. Participants will have a numerous selection of service projects and opportunities to experience the land of India and Nepal,  attend a leadership conference of indigenous staff, minister to orphans, and some hands on projects as well.  There will be a few days at the end for rest and renewal and spiritual formation sessions of prayer, worship, and teaching.

• Group:  Maximum of 15 people (small groups maybe formed during the stay) Minimum age is 18 unless a parent is with child
• Cost:  $$3,000
• Contact our office by phone:  317.544.0484 for more information or an application
• Deadline to register is October 17

We are seeking 15 churches or groups to organize and promote a yard sale in the months of October and November.   ServLife has 125 indigenous staff throughout Nepal and India who are working to share God’s love and establish a church.  In recent years,  increased persecution and injustice has occured amont the church in the region and to ServLife staff. 

ServLife has organized several yard sales working with local churches.  One Saturday, $1,000 to $3,000 can be raised.  It is a great group project and way to put your faith in action.    Please contact us and let us help you organize a successful sale and a way to involve your church in building global community and serving our brothers and sisters in the world.     Click here to make a donation towards these workers

For each church or group that participates, we will list your name on our web site and present a small gift of thanks for your efforts.   Allow your compassion be put into action!

View this easy to navigate feature to view the over 40 videos made throughout the years of the work of ServLife International around the world. 

Link to our YouTube Page here

“After Joel Vestal spoke in our Church our people were convinced that Servlife would be one of our best opportunities to impact indigenous peoples with the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Servlife meets people where they are but doesn’t leave them there.  We are grateful to support this ministry.”

Click here to see and listen to section 1

Click here to see and listen to section 2

D. Michael Lindsay is Founding Director, Program for the Study of Leadership, Rice University

More abour Dr. Lindsay

D. Michael Lindsay is assistant professor of sociology at Rice University where he is also the faculty associate of Leadership Rice and associate director of the Center on Race,Race, Religion and Urban Life at Rice University. He is also a Rice Scholar at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. Lindsay has been honored by two international scholarly societies—the International Sociological Association and the International Leadership Association—as well as the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and the Association for the Sociology of Religion. A sociologist by training, Lindsay’s research is published in the leading scholarly journals of sociology, religion, and American studies.

Dr. Lindsay earned his Ph.D. in sociology at Princeton University, where he was named a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow in 2002 and the Harold W. Dodds Fellow in 2004. He also received the 2003 Outstanding Teaching Award—the university’s highest award for graduate student teaching—from Princeton’s Graduate School and the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni

A sought-after public speaker and advisor, Lindsay served for several years as the consultant for religion and culture to the George H. Gallup International Institute. There he directed several national surveys on a range of topics. Lindsay and George Gallup, Jr., co-authored two books and appeared frequently in the national media and on the lecture circuit discussing matters surrounding faith and society. He serves on the advisory board of several organizations and is regular columnist for Rev., a widely-read magazine for religious leaders. Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude graduate of Baylor University, Lindsay earned a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he was a presidential scholar. He then earned an additional degree at Oxford as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar before returning to Princeton for doctoral work.

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I have been asking myself in recent days from following so many complicated global issues, is it possible for the church of Jesus (that is you and me) to rise above partisan politics, theological differences, relational divisions,  and economic/ethnic divide and be an instrument of peace in an ever increasing hostile world? I believe it is. America is divided politically as well as most regions of the world. We as the church should involve ourselves in the public square; however, we as image bearers of the most high God have more power within us than any military or commander in chief in the world to rattle the halls of hell and move the heart of God to awaken his people to action (Rom 8:11). Indeed, there is great power waiting to be unleashed among us to see peace in the world come through the church of Jesus Christ, that is you and me.

As Israel’s offensive continues and the Hezbollah fights back, we are all approached with the ambiguity of Middle East policies, promises, and protocol. It is not an easy issue as some want to make it out to be. It is very multifaceted in the Middle East and globally there are ethnic, economic, cultural, religious complexities as well that leads easily to scratching one’s head in bewilderment. I know I have been scratching in recent days. There is not one simple definition to understand any one conflict in the world, as some want to prescribe. Indeed, terrorism elements do exist and those who want to kill and destroy any western interest or ideology are real in our world today. I do believe strongly that any war should be the last result. I should say again, any act of war should be last result and not the first response. The inevitable loss of innocent life saddens me profoundly. I wish to give four basic reminders on how we as the body of Christ, no matter where you are located or the kind of expression you embrace, can respond in the light of current political turmoil the world is currently in and see Shalom (peace) realized and expressed.

Reminder #1: Gathers others to pray. We must pray because we are not equipped to see peace on merely our own strength and ability. We need divine power and divine intervention. We need God. We need Him to reveal his love to the hearts of all people on the earth. We need God to touch his people and through His leadership to move out into relationships and regions to be the presence of Jesus. Need some help on what to pray for? Here are some requests for prayer from Christian friend in Lebanon

• Please pray for God’s intervention in our country and the Middle east to stop any further bloodshed and destruction
• Pray for the local churches to come alongside the needy in practical support
• Pray for our leaders, for wisdom
• Pray for us as Lebanese Christians- that we may be salt and light

Here are some requests from a Palestinian Christian who I just talked with one week ago while I was in a Palestinian region

• Pray for our Christian Palestinian brothers and sisters to give our food and clothes to our Muslim neighbors who are suffering
• Pray for patience and endurance to follow Christ and love all people
• Pray for people to come to know Jesus Christ, the prince of peace

Reminder #2 – Give resources to peace makers I am not suggesting this to merely raise money for our own mission. There are thousands of organizations that are filled with peace makers with the gospel. They are acting justly and loving mercy and walking humbly before our God (Micah 6:8). The fact is that many work with little support and ability to give aid and assistance. Every one of us can do more, sacrifice more, and give more. A Lebanese friend in Beirut with little resources wrote me one day after Israel began bombing Lebanon and said

Air-raids started again as early as 3:00 am targeting the Beirut International Airport and the southern suburb of Beirut. This went on and off all day today. The artillery and bombs being used are horrendous. May God have mercy! Families are being displaced from the heavily targeted areas seeking shelter in school buildings. Effective early this afternoon, our Beirut Baptist School opened its doors offering temporary shelter to 200 Muslim people (around 30 families) from southern Lebanon. Upon arrival we offered them food and drink; yet we have no notion of how temporary will this situation be. We live each day at a time and trust God for his intervention.

Reminder # 3 – Be an instrument of peace: Go to an oppressed and controversial region and offer assistance, love, and relationship – Whatever it takes and whatever you have to do, there are multiple ways to enter into hostile areas and bring aid, love, and assistance. I was just in a Hertz rental car ten days ago and drove from Jerusalem to the west Bank (Palestinian area) and was stopped at a few check points and showed my passport and was allowed to drive on. We were met by some Christians who showed us the birth place of Jesus in Bethlehem and took us back to their store they owned. They shared without bitterness or anger of the 26 foot concrete wall the Israelis had built to keep them from leaving Bethlehem. Oder was a young, articulate Palestinian Christian tour guide who could not even get to Jerusalem to do tours because he could not get a permit. He shared that the Christian population in the Bethlehem had decreased from 80,000 to 20,000 in just about 7 years but he had no plans to leave.

There is no denying that the Israeli and Palestianian conflict is at the heart of much hostility, anger, and bitterness from the Muslim world towards the western government policies. There are other regions filled with conflict that I will advocate you to creatively engage and enter into like Iran, North Korea, Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, India, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Pakistan etc. What if you and your circle of influence could organize a way to raise $10,000 and go give aid, love, and encouragement to the Palestians who are suffering? Figure out how to distribute food in North Korea? Is it possible? Sure it is.

Just one month ago, the United Nations released this statement, Though gravely under-funded, UN agency is set to feed 120,000 more Palestinians Facing an escalating humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory due to the non- payment of 150,000 government employees and more frequent Israeli crossing closures, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that it will increase the number of non-refugees it feeds by 25 percent, from 480,000 to 600,000. We are seeing increasing numbers of impoverished people whose means of survival are being pushed to the limit. Many families are being forced to reduce their number of meals to just one a day, WFP Country Director Arnold Vercken warned. We are in a race against time to reach the most vulnerable with food aid and avoid an escalation of this crisis. No matter what your political opinion is on the issue, the fact is that Israel has stopped the transfer of Palestinian value added taxes (VAT) and customs taxes and innocent people are suffering. This comprises around 50 per cent of the Palestinian Authority budget. Other countries have also suspended contributions to the PA. The 150,000 employees on its payroll support 1 million people, or more than 25 per cent of the population. “Many people are now living on only bread and the cheapest vegetables, usually those left unsold at the end of the day. We are also very concerned about the growing numbers of people, often children, rummaging through garbage cans,” Mr. Vercken said. I recognize the reality and need for Israel to protect herself and that will be debated on to what degree they should. However, the reality and opportunity before us as the church to respond and act is present.

In southern Thailand, where I currently reside with my family and other people in the ServLife community, we have launched a loan program. We have given loans to the Muslim community.to start fish farms who are poor and marginalized. Relatiionships have been created between Thai Christians and Thai Muslims as a result. Trust has been established and dialogue has been birthed and peace is a result. The opportunities are endless to care, love, and bring peace to millions in the world.

Reminder #4: Peace will come when we preach the Gospel– The gospel of Jesus Christ is what people need to experience and embrace. The love of God will flow into the heart of anyone who responds to the gospel of Christ (Rom 8:39). The love of God will transform the heart of man and give them the power to love and forgive their enemies (Matt 5:43). How will people know and believe unless they are told? How will they be told unless we are sent? (Rom 10:15). As we live the gospel, we must also preach the gospel in love, humility, brokenness, and clarity. Preach the gospel where Christ is not known (Rom 15:20). Be eager to preach the gospel (Rom 1:15); Do not be ashamed of the gospel because it the power of God for the salvation of everyone (Rom 1:16) The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel (Rom 1:17) Offer the gospel free of charge (1 Cor 1:19) Pray that those who are blinded to the gospel will have their veils lifted from their eyes (2 Cor 4:3). Do not preach about yourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. (2 Cor 4:4) Be prepared in season and out of season to preach the gospel (2 Tim 4:2).

A movement is needed. It can start with you!

Stay Led!

Joel Vestal

All proceeds will benefit the work of ServLife around the world and our ServLife 1,000 goals.  All bids will be made online and once a bid is submitted it is binding and you are responsible for payment if the auction closes and your bid is the current winning bid. If you don’t have access to the Internet, you may call our office (317-544-0484) and one of our staff members will complete a form for you over the phone.  Postage and Handling Fees will be added.

Here’s how the auction works:

1. Find the desired item you would like to bid on. The current winning bid will be displayed for each item and will be updated as bids are received.
2. Once you have decided your bid, click the associated Make a Bid button. The bid form for the associated item is displayed.
3. Enter the required personal information, enter your bid, and click the Finish button.
4. Once your bid is received and confirmed that it is higher than the current winning bid, the amount on the website will be updated and only your first name will appear next to the price that you bid on.

5. The auction will end at 10 pm (Eastern time) on May 30. Any bids received after this point will not be valid.

6. Once the auction has closed, if you have a winning bid, you will be contacted by our staff to confirm your bid and collect payment information via credit card or check.   All payments will need to be collected with 5 days of the end of the auction or the item will be given to the one who is #2 in the bidding.

* If you have questions or need assistance, you may call the ServLife office at: 317-544-0484 or contact us online.

Please pray about how ServLife can continue to create opportunities to restore hope to the poor and offer the gift love in Jesus Christ.  Contact us for more information or join a movement of people seeking to bring hope and love to very dark regions of the world.