NEWSLETTER

This past March 14 – 18 I was privileged to be one of six to go to Viet Nam and be involved in the training of 150 pastor’s and leaders. It was an awesome experience to be there with them, as out of the 150 60% to 70% had been arrested and/or in prison from 3 to 6 times already.

The resort where the conference was held was on the coast of the South China Sea. The owner/manager told us that he had never heard a Gospel song, but after hearing the singing of some of them he played them all through the hotel lobby even into the restaurant day and night. One night after the session was over he had a talent night type program set up and had them sing and one of them is a comedian as well and he and his wife were very good and had everyone laughing. God really did touch and it was awesome to watch them pray and seek God as well.

The communion service on Thursday was very touching and we all felt the Spirit of God throughout our time of worship. I caught myself thinking some of the time why can’t some of our churches learn to worship like they were, was it because we take His blessings for granted or because the church hasn’t been put under persecution like in Viet Nam and other countries. They have already asked us to go back next year and do the training in HaNoi.

After returning from Viet Nam I had the awesome privilege of being one of about 200 Patriot Guard and Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association members to escort 23 Medal of Honor winners from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Gainesville, Texas. Gainesville, is the only city in the United States to honor our Medal of Honor recipients. We have a total of 89 living recipients still living in the United States.

After the long ride to Gainesville one of the strip malls had shut down and fed all of us BBQ and we had the opportunity to visit with them and even get autographs from them. This was on Tuesday afternoon and during the week they visited schools and gave speeches and talked to the school students. On Saturday a parade was held for them, and man of the escorts took part in it. All had an opportunity to purchase a book about them and they took the time to autograph the front page of their story of how they won the MOH.

I know of one man that gave out more than a medal for anything and all he has received in return is lot of abuse and a beating for the love He gave and still gives. Jesus went above the call of duty to set a plan in motion for us to receive eternal life and life abundantly. No one else has been able to do for us what He has. As I’m working on this newsletter and thinking about what God had His Son Jesus has do and is doing for us, it’s an awesome undertaking.

I’m going to through out something here to you and hope you know and understand where I’m coming from. We have the love, comfort and fellowship of Christ and when we are hurting He’s there to hear us and heal us as well. As I’m thinking about our military and not only wounded soldiers but of the parents of them the question comes to my mind how many of us have realized that these young men and women being wounded and even paying the ultimate sacrifice giving their life for their fellow soldiers and for us.

Many of the parents and grandparents of our soldiers are veterans of Korea or Viet Nam and when they hear the news of either a friends child or grandchild they begin to relieve their experiences during their service. We need to uplift them and even try to find a way to minister to them. I believe God showed me a way and it’s like the old Journey Back/Journey Forward we did when I was with Roever Evangelistic Association (REA). That is to bring them into a campground here in the States and maybe do this in 2 or 3 different places and minister to them. You see some of them are not only Korean and Viet Nam veterans but also are Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and are going through the same emotions all over again. We need to minister to them like we do to the “Wounded Warriors” now. They are being wounded on two different fronts. Keep this idea in your prayers and let’s see what God would have us do.

In closing, If you would like to go to Cambodia/VietNam this September 8 – 20, 2011 then go to my web site www.rupertharrellministries.org and fill out the application and mail it back to me and we’ll sign you up. If you’re a minister and would like to minister in Cambodia and in Viet Nam in a church let me know so I can arrange that. If you are a lay minister and would like to let me know. Would love for you to go with us as we have some veterans that have not been back and going for the first time. I’m also taking some pastors with us that haven’t been before and feel God wants them to go to Cambodia and Viet Nam. So pray about going with us this September. It’s a Journey that will fill your life with blessings.

Soldiers of the Cross Together,

Rupert Harrell