EurasiaOutreach had a unbelievable trip to Turkey.  We have some wonderful partners there doing an amazing work in all sectors of society.  Turkey is a nation in conflict.  Radicals are vying for more influence in the direction of the government.  The military is trying to maintain the secular tradition established almost one century ago.  Right now, Turkey is a vital conduit for the Gospel.  

We are currently traveling in a very sensitive area of the world.  The EurasiaOutreach team asks for your special prayer at this time.  Be assured, God is blessing in great ways!

Recently, I met with a dear pastor friend.  Our discussion centered around a segment of religious leaders who take severe positions and give inflammatory speeches out of a desire to control others.  Building upon yesterday's post, it is clear that Jesus came to give freedom.  He came to this world and turned the established religious system upside down.  He dealt with men who were controlling others through an incredible set of religious do's and dont's.  Jesus came so men and women could truly LIVE again.  

John 10:10 tells us that Jesus came to give us life - abundant life!  The Savior wants us to live a happy, peaceful, and glorious life of freedom and service.  Wherever you find religious leaders who seek to control the lives of others, you will find that the spirit of God is missing.  Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty!

Yesterday, Matt Drudge posted a link to this story: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/01/31/iran.protests/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Essentially, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran, is threatening the free part of the world with, "A blow to global powers."  This event will take place on February 11.  The Islamic regime that has controlled Iran, came to power in 1979, on the heels of the fundamentalist led, and Soviet backed, revolt against the Shah.  This terrible regime built and maintained its power on a doctrine of repression and religious fear.  Everything that the regime does is explained with apocalyptic religious rhetoric.  

In recent years, and especially since the last Iranian election, the world has seen evidence of a growing insurgency.  The Iranian people have tried religious oppression and found it wanting.  They are begging for freedom.  Jesus tells us in John 8:32 that, "The truth will make you free."  Wherever there is truth, there is also freedom.  II Timothy 1:7, tells us that fear does not come from God.  A religious regime built on fear cannot be of God.  It is easy to point out extreme examples of this Biblical truth - especially when confronted with a government like the Islamic Republic of Iran.  

However, religious fear and oppression spreads across the world.  It can be found in North America as well. Rest assured, wherever a religion, church, or preacher is building an empire on the foundation of fear, it will crumble.  Fear of God is one thing.  Fear of man is another.  

In the case of Iran, we must not be afraid.  God is in control, and we know in a missional sense, that perfect love is in totally incompatible with fear.  (I John 4)

In the fourth chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus speaks of fields that are ready to harvest.  The fields have literally turned white.  Often, it is in the context of this passage that we see opportunities across the world.  We speak of "open fields," and "great harvests."  Usually there is a number in mind that gives us an idea of the amount of people that are "saved."  What is often missed in this passage, is that Jesus did not personally gather the "harvest."  Instead, he reached one woman - a disgraced Samaritan as she drew water from a well.  

Often we miss open fields of service, because we fail to see the individual in the mundane pattern of life.  There is an inherent danger in missions that can lead us to follow after reports of massive numbers of conversions, ignoring the fact that Jesus never lost sight of the power of a single conversion.  In fact, some of our Lord's greatest moments came in a one to one context.  

We at EurasiaOutreach are in the process of sending people into a place that few would dare to tread.  It is a place that most would say is closed.  Many would call our efforts a waste of time.  What they fail to see is the power of the single soul.  If one is reached, there is no limit on the possibilities of what God can do.  How many of us pass through or pass by Samaria, and never consider that our message could actually turn the place upside down?  Fields of discovery..... 

Check it out........and see what God might do!