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October 17, 2007

It is Tuesday and I have received a few emails from our Americana Music Group members with concerns about the upcoming trip. Last minute questions from new comers and advice from those who have traveled before. Which telephone service to use, what medicines do we need, how much to pack and other questions are growing with each passing day. One such email comes from Dewayne Rudd, who is preparing a documentary about our group. He has some concerns...but not about what we are packing but rather what we are doing. I place it here for each of us to consume:

Courtesy of C.H. Spurgeon, the following quote about thanksgiving in prayer is offered for your consideration.  I pray your singing is in advance of God's great army achieving victory in countries where we live and countries where we travel.

Lastly, I believe that when a man begins to pray with thanksgiving he is upon the eve of receiving the blessing. God's time to bless you has come when you begin to praise him as well as pray to him. God has his set time to favour us, and he will not grant us our desire until the due season has arrived. But the time has come when you begin to bless the Lord. Now, take an instance of this in Second Chronicles 20:20—Jehoshaphat went out to fight with an exceeding great army, and mark how he achieved the victory. "They rose early in the morning and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people he appointed"—what? warriors, captains? No, that was all done, but he "appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten."
Victory came when they began to sing and praise.
You shall find answers to prayers when you multiply your thanksgivings in all of your prayers and supplications.

The AMG desparetly desires your prayers for each of us and our families.

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I want to thank Mt. Zion Christian Church for hosting the AMG this past Sunday. I knew it would be totally different from any worship service we have ever enjoyed but also felt a need to let everyone know what it is we are doing in China. A member of Mt. Zion called me this week and said "If someone did not see God during this past Sundays worship service it was only because they had their eyes closed."

Thank you Mt. Zion for the giving of money by way of tithes and offerings as some of these funds make it possible for Joseph Ching to travel to China with us. The rest of the AMG contributed money, beyond their own personal expenses, so Wail Liu could go with us also. I am told that a translator of Joe and Wail Liu’s ability could cost as much as $500 per day. The great thing about having Wai Liu and Joe along is not only for their interpretive skills and knowledge of China but also...BECAUSE THEY ARE CHRISTIAS they desire the same things we do.

By the way, I do not know if anyone realized it or not but this past Sunday, a Buddhist witnessed the service at Mt. Zion and during the invitation, she was overcome with the power of God and the conviction of the Holy Spirit and began weeping. Wai Liu Ching will be following up with her to let her know more about this Jesus who died that she might have eternal life. Thank You Mt. Zion! Only Eternity could reveal your sacrifice.
I intend to place in the bulletin, our schedule so you will know more specifically how to pray for us each and every day. It is my prayer that each person from Mt. Zion will lift every AMG member up in prayer as we endeavor to bring Christ like attitudes and witness to others around the world.

Someone asked me if there were any CD’s available from our team members. Well, I know J.D. Miller does and Ashlee hall (The trumpeter) has just released her new CD. Gustavo has a CD and Homeward Bound quartet has several CD’s. We will make them available as soon as possible. I will also try and find out whether any other members have projects available.

This Sunday I intend to continue my series on "Prayer." Please come and join in on the fun and excitement at Mt. Zion. The cast of "How Christmas Saved The Grinch" is continuing to practice and I just know it is going to be an awesome musical / play / ministry.

Doug Flynn, who played shortstop for the Two Time World Series Baseball Championship Team "The Cincinnati Reds" will be our speaker October 28th and then J.D. Miller will be bringing the message November 4th after he returns from China. Please be in prayer for these men and those who will hear the message God lays upon their hearts and ours.

My return flight is scheduled for the 10th of November so I might be able to do in a smaller venue what we as a tem cannot always do together. Twenty three Americans attract too much attention for two weeks of everyday meetings. Pay for us all as we engage with the Chinese people and they with us. May God be glorified!

For the Cause of Christ,
Kenny