Thank you so much for your prayers and faithful support for this work. Great things are ahead in the Lord!

They’ve come to Arrest Him. What can I do?

Daphne and I sat on an empty morning train about to embark on a long day of travel. I noticed the figure of a single young man enter and sit a few rows ahead of us. Soon afterwards a train conductor showed up and had an angry exchange with the man. Minutes passed and he returned with a larger employee of the train line and asked him to leave the train voluntarily or be arrested. Apparently, this gentleman had gotten on the train without a ticket. 
I sat there pondering the situation, and it struck me that perhaps I could be a positive part of this story by offering to buy a ticket for this individual. Not wanting to run afoul of the authorities, I invited these two train employees aside and asked if I could be of help by purchasing this young man’s ticket. (Actually it is you, our partners, that bought this man’s ticket.)They didn’t want me to be put out and assured me that they would just have him arrested. I told them that I didn’t mind the expense, and they reluctantly agreed. 
After we left the station, I took the opportunity to have a relaxed conversation with this man about the Lord’s love for him. He very much appreciated the ticket, and we exchanged phone numbers. I returned to my seat, peacefully and joyfully pondering this opportunity, thanking the Lord for allowing me to be a blessing. 
As I sat there meditating, I was suddenly dumbfounded. I realized that man was me! I was sitting on the train of life, simply wanting passage to my blessed inheritance. Suddenly my accusers came for me. They had proof of my sin and wrongdoing, my bad attitudes and corrupt motives. As I searched through my pockets, I could find nothing that gave me the right to stay. I would be carried away to bondage. I would never make it into what God had for me.
Then someone stood up, but I barely noticed what was happening. He motioned my accusers over and began to reason with them. As I pondered my dark fate, they approached. My accusers waved their had dismissively at this stranger and said, “He has offered to buy your ticket. He will take your place. He will suffer loss to redeem you from your fate. Do you accept His offer? In my lowly place, I shook my head, “Yes.” Hope and peace broke into my soul. My future was forever changed. Praise be unto my Lord and Redeemer!
Soon the train of my life left the station. How wonderful that I was on the right “track” for my eternal journey. The stranger, now oddly familiar, approached. He spoke of how I was now free from my accusers and assured a home with him. Then he made me another offer. If I wanted to work closely with and follow him in all things, I could have a life of adventure and great reward. There would be persecutions from those in the world, but unspeakable blessings and deep relationship would mark my eternity. I had finally found my purpose. I have finally discovered life! [November 2023]

Bradford, England was the home of Smith Wigglesworth, the famous British minister who boldly ministered on faith in Christ, sometimes even on the train. It was here that the above encounter took place. 

Mission Trip to Italy, Switzerland and Hungary.
February 12 – March 2, 2024

With Pastor Scott Wise. I have great anticipation for our first trip of 2024. We will stop in Grindelwald, Switzerland, the only city on my circuit that I haven’t been able to visit since before the pandemic. I was last there in 2017. It’s time to get back and pick up where we left off. Afterwards, we have set aside a full 10 days in Livorno, Italy. It is the center of the Italian Communist movement and the most obviously needy city that I visit (so far). It will be great to have so much time in one place to see what God will do. Lastly, the Lord led us to add a couple of days in Budapest, Hungary. After Pastor Scott leaves, Pastor Daphne and I will meet there. Expect God’s Highest and best with us. It will come to pass!

The Lord has been blessing me with living parables, amazing life lessons, from my encounters with people on the mission trips. If you enjoyed the above testimony and missed the article about the “master craftsman,” check it out in this link: 
In the Master Craftsman’s Workship

Sunday evening we have a discipleship class at the church in Burgos. God is blessing and growing the church. Now we meet 3 times each week.

Thank you again for your prayers and partnership. We believe that God is putting together all of our prayers, giving, and steps of obedience to ultimately provide good, stable, Word & Spirit ministry all over the world. The Gospel must be preached in all nations. This revival must come to full fruition. The harvest must be gathered in. The Lord must return! By His grace we will be faithful in our generation. Many blessings to you and yours! 
[To ensure that you continue to receive these newsletters without interruption, please add rich@lifeofgodintl.org to your address book.]

In the Master Craftsman’s Workshop

We were walking down a narrow street in the 13th arrondissement (administrative district) of Paris when I saw a small instrument workshop. A man was sitting in the middle carving a viola. Around the walls and on the workbenches were several stringed instruments in various stages of development. It was such a cool place! I had to stop. The craftsman was talking to a customer, and I waited outside. After a couple of minutes, the customer left. I asked the gentlemen if he spoke English, and to my delight he did. We talked about how cool his shop was and what an artist he was. When I asked, he told me that there was at least one of his instruments playing in all of the major orchestras of Paris. After some time he asked me what I did. I told him that I teach the Bible. He was open and interested. As we talked, the Lord blessed me with a great illustration.

This craftsman was holding an unfinished viola in his hand. It was beautiful but clearly incomplete. He was carving along the edge. His movements seemed pointless to me, like they weren’t making any difference. However, from his perspective they were vital to seeing the instrument shaped into his grand design. I thought of our relationship with God. The truths of God’s Word work in our lives, shaping and forming us into His masterpiece. Sometimes, we may even ask, why does He want me to do this? Why would he emphasize or ask me to believe that? Yet the Master sees the big picture. He is forming us and shaping us into His image, one touch, one obedience, one confession at a time. In the beginning, those instruments are beautiful to the craftsman alone because he is the only one who can see the finished product. In the end they are stunning to all who behold. So it is with us! How this truth blessed me! And the craftsman seemed really touched as I used his work to describe to him what it is like to teach the incorruptible Word of God to others. Praise God for such a great opportunity and experience! We finished our conversation, and he thanked me for my visit. I left him some information and can’t wait to see him again the next time that I am in Paris. [September 2023]

Pictures from Barcelona, Spain

Mission Trip to United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
November 6-27, 2023

With Pastor Greg Anderson.  Great things are happening in these places. We have met many Pastors and have ministered for a couple of them. In 3 cities (one in each of these countries), we have begun to lay the groundwork for outreach and church planting. In fact, we have local contacts with whom we will be working. This will be something new and wonderful! Lastly, we have connected with historical churches like Smith Wigglesworth’s mission in Bradford and Evan Robert’s church in Wales where there is a hunger to see God bring revival again in our day! This trip will be 3 weeks, considerably longer than usual (which is why the budget is higher), and we still won’t do everything that could be done. [Pastor Greg will be with me for the first half. The second half I will be with British ministers.]

Trip Budget: $5500.

Recent Testimonies from the Church in Burgos

• One of our women had been suffering from hip pain. The Lord healed her, and she is free from pain!
• As always, we believe God to draw people to church. One day, Pastor Daphne and I were talking, and I told her to plead her case to the Lord about it. The following week while ministering, she noticed a woman with shopping bags walk up to the door and look in. Then she walked away. A minute later she returned with shopping bags in tow and came into the church. She sat down and listened to the message. After the service she testified that she was so drawn to the church that she couldn’t help but enter, even though she was carrying her groceries. Pastor Daphne prayed for her, and she thanked her for the ministry that was exactly what she needed in this season of her life.
• A couple of our people are really growing in knowledge and obedience to God’s Word. It’s so fun to watch their progress. Praise God!

More from France and Belgium with Pastor Michael

A lot of extra prayer went into this trip. Our prayer team has been specifically praying for God to divinely connect us with the right people. The prayer team at Family Church Fredoina was praying for the trip. Pastor Michael himself prays a lot. We saw an increase in favor and open doors with:

• A hotel manager that we have visited (and even eaten with) on the past several trips. He always said he is an atheist, but he was very open to me praying for his injured knee this time.
• A brother and sister that run a Lebanese restaurant. We have visited them the past two trips and have quite a rapport now.
• An Afghani shop keeper who was all smiles as we talked with him.
• A cook at a Greek restaurant who often passes through Burgos on his way home to Portugal.
• A couple who runs a tearoom and conversed with us about their passions and business prospects.
• The woman who runs what I think is the best pastry shop on the planet. We had great favor with her, and she even gave us free food and taught us about the difference between Belgium and France.
• The owner/operator of an Italian restaurant that we have visited the last three trips.
• A Christian woman who runs a small shop near the train station.
• And others that we will share about in future partner letters if we have room. God gets all of the glory for the great things that He is doing!

Thank you again for your prayers and partnership. We believe that God is putting together all of our prayers, giving, and steps of obedience to ultimately provide good, stable, Word & Spirit ministry all over the world. The Gospel must be preached in all nations. This revival must come to full fruition. The harvest must be gathered in. The Lord must return! By His grace we will be faithful in our generation. Many blessings to you and yours! 
[To ensure that you continue to receive these newsletters without interruption, please add rich@lifeofgodintl.org to your address book.

A special message from Pastor Michael Lokietek

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and generous support. Through God’s goodness and each one of us being faithful, we will see many impacted for His glory.

Mission Trip to United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
November 6-27, 2023

With Pastor Greg Anderson.  Great things are happening in these countries. We have met many Pastors and have ministered for a couple of them. In 3 cities (one in each of these countries), we have begun to lay the groundwork for outreach and church planting. In fact, we have local contacts with whom we will be working. This will be something new and wonderful! Lastly, we have connected with historical churches like Smith Wigglesworth’s mission in Bradford and Evan Roberts church in Wales where there is a hunger to see God bring revival again in our day! This trip will be 3 weeks, considerably longer than usual (which is why the budget is higher), and we still won’t do everything that could be done. [Pastor Greg will be with me for the first half. The second half I will be with British ministers.]

Trip Budget: $5500.

Thank you again for your prayers and partnership. We believe that God is putting together all of our prayers, giving, and steps of obedience to ultimately provide good, stable, Word & Spirit ministry all over the world. The Gospel must be preached in all nations. This revival must come to full fruition. The harvest must be gathered in. The Lord must return! By His grace we will be faithful in our generation. Many blessings to you and yours! 
[To ensure that you continue to receive these newsletters without interruption, please add rich@lifeofgodintl.org to your address book.]