“When compelled by the love of Jesus, we are undefeatable”

Right now we are focusing on street kids, drilling wells, the Jews in Ukraine, crusades in Asia, our hospital, and newly-planted churches. As I said, your gift is more than money, it is love turned into action for everyone we are helping. In March we also pay out quarterly support to our big missions projects. Your support and prayer this month are so valuable, and I’m so grateful because I know how much your gift will help. As in the case of Doretti, we are saving lifes.

When you read this (End of March) I’m in Asia, preaching at crusades for two weekends. The part of Asia that I am in is one of the most unreached in the world, and the persecution is severe. But this is where we are needed, more than ever - among those who have never heard of Jesus.

 I also bring you greetings from Israel, and from the fleeing Ukrainian Jews we are helping. They are so grateful. When the rest of the world is filled with an inconceivable hatred toward Israel, you and I are a light in the darkness.

 The crusade in Ethiopia in February was a major breakthrough, but what touched me most was meeting Doretti again. In 2011 I had a huge crusade here, and so many street kids got saved. One girl was weeping more than the others, calling out to Jesus in desperation. That was Doretti. There was something in me that said, “You have to help her.”

 At that time she was 8 years old, living on the streets. Her mother was dead and she had to share food with the dogs to survive. Her future was drugs, prostitution, HIV and death. But that was when she came to our crusade, a helpless child.

In order to help her so that she could have a home, we started our orphanage in Ethiopia. That was 15 years ago! Meeting her again now was one of the best things that’s happened to me in a long time. She is doing great today. She loves Jesus, works as a hairstylist, and now she dreams of taking care of street kids like her. Maybe her dream can become a reality. This is the kingdom of God at its best!

The love of Jesus is the strongest weapon in the world. Nothing can defeat his love! “Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Right before Jesus got arrested he said, “…the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in me.” There was no darkness in Jesus, no hate, only goodness, light and total love. It is that love, his love in you and me, that compels us to do everything we are doing.

When we are compelled by the love of Jesus, we are undefeatable! No matter what the devil throws our way, what others think, or what happens, the love of Jesus cannot be defeated! That is what happened to Doretti 15 years ago. The love of Jesus broke through and rescued her out of the darkness she was stuck in, and now life is smiling upon her.

That is the love that compels us! The love of Jesus - to help the Jewish people home, to prevent young girls from being sold into the sex industry, to give children living on the streets a home, to drill wells for those who have no water, and to preach Jesus to everyone who hasn’t heard.

Your gifts and prayers are a prophetic seed into everything that the love of Jesus is doing! Jesus is at work through you and me, and it is his love for the lost that compels him and compels us. In all that we do, his love gets channeled to a lost world. That is why your gift to our work is more than a gift. It becomes a part of what Jesus is doing now, through us.

Right now we are focusing on street kids, drilling wells, the Jews in Ukraine, crusades in Asia, our hospital, and newly-planted churches. As I said, your gift is more than money, it is love turned into action for everyone we are helping. In March we also pay out quarterly support to our big missions projects. Your support and prayer this month are so valuable, and I’m so grateful because I know how much your gift will help. As in the case of Doretti, we are saving lifes.
In the love of Christ,
Pastor Tommy & Karen Lilja