Dear Friends,

We want to reach out to you and share what God has been doing and our current need.  We have transitioned our ministry and are so proud of our son- in-law Josh and the next generation team. The 9th festival this year has just been completed.  In these smaller town festivals, the impact has been deep.

Vicki & I have been serving in the prayer tents with the community pastors.  Recently in Marshall, MN at the fair, we gave away over a dozen Bibles and gospel materials before the event even began. People were so thankful for a FREE Bible.  After Josh shared his testimony, the prayer tent response was moving, as many people came forward surrendering to Christ and asking for prayer.

In another city, I was able to pray with one couple who came to the prayer tent broken. As they relayed to me that they were engaged but no wedding date set yet you could see the emotion welling up. She was wanting Jesus to set her free and deliver her from an alcohol addiction. As they both surrendered their lives to Christ they were confident they were leaving as new people through the power of prayer and the presence of Jesus.  When you are on the front lines of evangelism these stories and many more are common.

At the end of this email is a link to a short video of our event in Rock Valley, IA.

 Go tell – Go make – Go proclaim –   

The command in the Bible is to Go – here and around the world

Jesus made it clear that He was leaving us with the command to go and spread the gospel. We are to tell others of our faith and share the good news of salvation, we are to make disciples here and around the world, and we are to proclaim repentance for forgiveness of sins through Jesus to everyone.

 “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you.”  Luke 24:45-49

Next Generation Alliance – Luis Palau

Vicki and I recently joined the team of the Next Generation Alliance (a ministry of Luis Palau) working part-time, in addition to our existing duties. Our role is to be their Ambassador and to help identify and train the next generation of evangelists.  We feel it is a great fit with the current vision of LifeLight. In addition, we are expanding our global ministry outreach.

Below is a list of what is on our current need remaining for this year. 

 LifeLight  –  $180,000

AV Global –   $65,000 (our portion of the LifeLight budget)

Breakdown of AV Global outreach ministry initiatives and funding needs

 Pakistan – $10,000

Can you help me with the trip to Pakistan Nov 4 – 12?  This trip involves teaching and preaching in Karachi and Hyderabad, Pakistan and will involve training in evangelism and witnessing in an Islamic country.  The team consists of 5–7 men and we will leave behind resources and hundreds of flash drives with ministry training and content.  I am moving ahead in faithon this trip and the funding is needed soon.

Israel – Sioux Falls Event – October 4 – $2,500 (see link)

Evangelism Training Events & Materials– $10,000

Marriage conference and various speaking event expenses– $7,500

On-going support, programing, ministry & travel expenses – $35,000

Looking ahead 2019 our global trips include: 

Israel– Cuba – Norway– Ivory Coast

                         Our Evangelist goals to fulfill the Great Commission

Identify – Equip – Affirm – Mobilize

 50 Evangelists locally – in Sioux Falls & surrounding area

100  Evangelists regionally– within 250 miles

1000 Evangelists nationwide– In partnership with NGA

10,000 Evangelists worldwidefrom 152 countries.

In partnership with NGA Palau we believe this is obtainable. As we network and help collaborate and equip others we will see a harvest of souls and many discipled and sent into service. Training includes, women’s ministry, men and women in evangelism training and event training.

May God bless you as you consider supporting the work of the Gospel and helping us continue to “Go in Jesus name.” Please respond directly to me at this e-mail or connect with me on my cell at 605-310-2363.

Until the whole world knows,

Alan and Vicki

Here’s our Rock Valley, IA festival recap: Click here for video

To donate online go here. https://lifelight.breezechms.com/give/online

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re an evangelist. However, you may be the spouse of an evangelist and if so, you may have the frequent frustration of feeling like you just don’t get your partner. The burdens they carry, the drive which always seems to propel them forward (and maybe keep them on the road), and the crazy passion they have for the Gospel all seems great, but maybe just a little over the top?!

Hear today from Vicki Greene, wife of evangelist Alan Greene and also an evangelist in her own right. Vicki brings the unique perspective of an evangelist spouse, and she encourages spouses to understand the heart of an evangelist in order to better support their partner in ministry.

To be the spouse of an evangelist, you must understand the heart of an evangelist. The compelling call—the pull to make the Good News known to as many people as possible in the time the Lord has allotted—is real.

Sharing the truth of the Gospel is a matter of urgency. Time is running short for the culture and time is running short for the perishing. One of the last words Jesus gave before He left this earth was, GO. Go and preach the Good News to the world. Evangelists take this call very seriously.

If you’re married to an Evangelist understanding the calling and the urgency is the most important key to being supportive; knowing the importance of WHY your spouse leaves the home, their loved ones, and everything they cares about to share this message. Once you understand the heartbeat behind the calling, it makes it easier to support the messenger.

What could give greater joy than knowing that you were a part of God’s plan in delivering a message of hope to a lost and dying world? It’s joy to see the face of the broken, hurting, lost, and downtrodden change before your very eyes. It’s joy to see someone for the first time hear that their sins can be forgiven by the King of Kings. It’s joy to see someone learn that the Redeemer of the world has come to set THEM free and they can have a personal relationship with the same God who created the universe!

Once we understand and believe in our own hearts that the calling of the evangelist is just that—a high calling—then as a spouse we want to be part of that call.

The next key thing, then, is to join the calling. Whether or not you join with him/her on travels, you must understand that you are one – of one mind and one spirit. Once you have united in marriage, the calling becomes one calling. It becomes your calling together.

You will be the main support and influence behind the person. The prayer warrior, the encourager, and the helpmate. When your spouse travels, you are still part of that team. Phone calls and other communication will make you feel part of the team. Above all, however, prayer is the key ingredient to success in partnership. With much prayer and communication, you will feel as though you are present there, even if you aren’t able to come along!

Reading and meditating on the Scriptures regarding the Great Commission are good reminders of the confirmation of the calling (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 1:17, Mark 1:38, Mark 16:15-20, Luke 24:47-49, Acts 1:8, Romans 1:16). Praying for lives who have been touched from past encounters will also show your support. Journaling moments of joy, struggles, prayer needs, and answered prayer is one way I have found helpful to feel unified with my spouse in evangelism.

Understanding the heart of an evangelist will help you to understand the heart of your spouse. Together, you can live out God’s calling and see great impact for the Kingdom.

From Vicki Greene

Immigration

Across borders

Emotions are running very high regarding immigration; for those interested; here are my thoughts.

First, the US immigration system is completely broken. It has been for very many years.   It cannot be fixed overnight.

My great grandparents immigrated from Norway. There is documentation of my relatives’ arrival and family names are on file at Ellis Island. Their children learned English and assimilated to the culture of the U.S. They kept their heritage, as anyone should, but all became proud American citizens. (One distant family member did not become a citizen and there was scorn from the rest of the family.)

I’m saddened that we do have a minority of people who have come to this country that seem to want to undermine it and do not assimilate nor do they want to become citizens or Americans.   This is not acceptable.

Everyone who comes to this country needs to be vetted.They need to honestly be able to say : “I will obey the current laws of the land and the uphold the U.S. Constitution”.

Before you stop reading – hear me out.

I have navigated across and through borders since I was a young teen — there have always been “borders”. There are stopping points at every major highway out of this country. If you are flying – you need proof of identification to leave or arrive.

My first real personal experience with immigrants was when I fell in love with a family of dear Vietnamese refugees who came by boat to the U.S. I tried to help them learn English, introduced them to our culture and at the same time learned a little about theirs. They integrated the best they knew how and were thankful to be here, even though they missed their beloved country. They greatly impacted my life for years to come.

Most refugees would love to stay in their home country where they were born, and have family and friends, however; war, ethnic cleansing, famine, persecution etc. bring people here with hope for a better future.

Everyone wants hope and a future for their family and children.

I have spent time in a refugee camp in Africa – many have waited a lifetime to go back to their homeland – it is an extremely difficult place to live — many will die there – in the refugee camp. It is heartbreaking.

(You can read more about refugee camps around the globe elsewhere.)

The answers are not always easy nor simple. The system is broken. Sometimes we need to care for the people where they live by sending more help to the countries in need. As I said, many refugees would prefer to stay in countries near their homeland in hope of one day returning.

My second personal encounter with immigration came when Mexico became dear to my heart, through our ministry, working across the border of El Paso, Texas. During that time again, my heart was stolen by beautiful people in Juarez, Mexico.

We have friends who have spent years working with the Government to legally enter the country – they have worked and waited tirelessly, spending years in interviews and paperwork to get what was needed to be able to enter the U.S.

Many are still patiently waiting – legally.

My friends and others have waited (many living in poverty and harsh conditions) and gone through the legal procedures to find citizenship.

 ALL countries have borders – they all have regulations.

As I have traveled, a passport has been needed; there has NEVER been an exception.

At times, I have been questioned, needed to give an explanation for my visit, provide information on where I would stay, why I was there and who I was visiting, and when I would leave.

Vaccinations (which I would prefer not to take) are mandatory to travel some places.

Many places require a Visa and quite a bit of paper work.

I would not dare demand to enter another country (nor would I feel entitled to do so).

I’m a little confused by those who want open borders – I didn’t know there was such a thing – EVERY country I’ve visited has had a border.

We have friends from Mexico, Guatemala, numerous countries in Africa, Japan Pakistan, Israel Ukraine, Haiti, and Japan to name just a few – I understand the challenges of immigration and there are no pat answers.   We have dozens of friends who have become citizens (legally).

A few questions?

What makes the people coming up from the interior of Mexico (many from other countries as well) more deserving of coming to the U.S. – illegally — than from my friends suffering in poverty and conflict elsewhere around the globe?

What makes them entitled to come without the proper paperwork?

Is it possible that many who are speaking the loudest have never left our borders?

Have they ever befriended a refugee?

Do they understand immigration at all?

One concern that is rarely brought up is that the same people who have fled persecution for their Christian beliefs in their countries may now living alongside those who were the persecutor, and we will be guilty of having brought them here.

Please before you cry “no borders” – educate yourself – it is not always as simple as it appears

My preference would be that immigrants ALL come through legal means – go through the right steps, like my friends.

It looks like that probably will not happen. You can’t turn back time.

Until then…

I believe we are called to love all refugees – love all immigrants.

What can we do?

Pray for guidance for our political leaders

Pray for our broken immigration system

Pray for those going through the legal system

Pray for those legally waiting for asylum

Pray for those seeking legal status

Pray for people in refugee camps around the world

Prayer for families separated by war, strife and poverty

Pray for those who are persecuted around the world for their faith

Get to know people of other cultures

Open your heart or home

Sponsor a child in a poverty-stricken nation

When they do arrive – legally or illegally —

Love them, it may be possible that God is sending them to us, because, HE is their only HOPE. Ultimately our citizenship is in heaven.

By

Vicki Greene

“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:34

“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” Acts 17:26

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”   Hebrews 13:2

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1

“O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

“But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.”   Leviticus 18:16

From Alan Greene: AV Global at LifeLight.org

Shootings and violence: 2-19-18

Last week was a difficult week in the US. The senseless act of violence in the Florida school shooting brought us to the awareness once again that we are in a culture of instability, uncertainty, violence and evil.

We were once again in shock and looking for answers. I for one as a parent and grandparent cannot imagine what it would be like to say goodbye to your child in the morning and then get the tragic news that they were gone and had been murdered while at the government school. Seems to be any parent’s worst nightmare.

In the Bible (2^nd Timothy) it says this about the times near the return of Christ. “ But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

 There is a practical side to the school shooting and a spiritual side.

On the practical side it seems as if we could attempt to fix this school shooting problem. As devastating as it is however, it is only a tiny fraction of the deaths caused by violence in this country whether through alcohol, drugs, drunk driving accidents, suicide and other shootings.

Even so, I think we could stop school shootings. Israel has, Switzerland has with guns and training and security. Anytime I have traveled, both here and abroad there is security nearly everywhere — courthouses, government buildings, banks, hotels, some businesses, etc.

I think we could and should protect our kids while they are in the care of the school. In fact, I’m sure that if in each district you announced a partnership with business, community and government to install metal detectors and have an armed security guard there would be agreement to get the job done. Posting signs “Gun free zone” is a bit ridiculous.  Evil people and criminals don’t care about signs.

Many are screaming at the President, yet during the Clinton years it was Columbine and during Obama it was Sandy Hook. Many are wanting to outlaw guns or specific guns. Most of this, although sincere, comes out of ignorance or a cry of desperation. We are not going to confiscate all guns in the US nor should we. The argument about AR 15’s is shallow, as a good shotgun or deer rifle will do the same thing or even a pistol, which is used in most shootings.

The real problem is a spiritual and moral problem that is pervasive in our nation.

When a network show calls the Vice President mentally unstable for being a Christian and “hearing from Jesus”, it is a sign that we are a culture described in the Bible passage from above. Unbelievers will not understand Christians, so my plea is for us as Christians to rise up with the compassion and love of Jesus to reach out to those around us.

A wise young lady we know put it best. Sierra was working in ministry with us when the school shooting happened in Harrisburg, SD. After the SD shooting a ministry to Gen Z was launched in part because of her ideas and words. Read what she had to say after the Florida shooting.    Sierra says,

“These sweet families are feeling something that no one should ever feel; Unsafe. I can ONLY relate to a SMALL extent. I thought what I felt was the worst feeling in the world, but I can’t even imagine what these families are going through right now. I cannot relate to the loved ones of the staff and students who have passed. In my deepest sympathy, I am so sorry!!! This is terrible and just another reason why we so desperately NEED JESUS! It is not a security problem, it’s is not a gun problem, it is not a bullying problem or a social media problem. This is yet again, just like a year and a half ago, a HEART AND SOUL problem. A “vacancy of Jesus in someone’s life” being displayed for the world to see problem. No amount of words or nice letters can makeup for the loss these families feel, only Jesus and his supernatural peace “…..

Thank you Sierra for keeping our focus on what is important. See her full post at Sierra Bixler on FB. Join me in prayer today for all those involved!

Pray for an awakening in our communities, cities, schools, churches and nation.

There is hope as we repent and turn to God.

Alan