Tanzania 2013 and the Presence of Love

Sign for the Nyarugusu refugee camp

in Tanzania

This week, I, Tyren will be heading out for the Tanzania 2013 Fire Conference:  Love Never Fails (May 9 – May 23).  I was told that at least 200 Iris pastors and elders are preparing for this event which will take place within the refugee camp.  There will be teaching, ministry for healing and impartation, and times of evangelism to preach the gospel and love the least of these among the least of these in the refugee camp.  I am already being stretched by the logistics, scheduling, resources and the unseen challenges of holding a conference within a refugee camp.  But, I am excited to see how the Lord moves as we stand in His will to bring Christ to thousands.  If you are still considering donating, please send it in time to be used for the conference.  Details on sending donations are below.

 

Testimony - The Presence of Love

The Lord moves my wife in prayer and worship and prophetic intercession for other nations and people groups that we have never met.  (Her intercession is a very important part of our ministry and the unseen part of many workings of God that I’ve experienced on the mission field.)  Last Thursday, my wife cried out to the Lord for Lichinga, especially Muslims, and asked the Lord to see the fruit of her prayers.  That same day, I went to town to meet with a mechanic.  Suddenly, the presence of God’s love was everywhere, as though His love was the only thing that existed.  At the mechanic's, I met an old man who had pain in his leg.  I gave him a word of knowledge concerning the love of God for his life, and then I prayed for him.  The old man walked a little bit and found that his pain was completely gone!  Then, the old man told me his abdominal area was hurting.  This time, the Lord showed the man himself just how much He loved him.  At the word of the Lord, I told him to turn around 3 times, in faith, saying, "Jesus loves me."  The man did so, and instantly, all of his pain left!  He was in shock and looked like he was about to cry.  A Muslim who had watched all of this said, “I need to walk like you are walking.”  I didn’t understand, so he eventually said, “I need to change my life and get my heart right, and you need to tell me how.”  The man surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ right there.  Then, his friend told me, “I need the same thing he does.”  He, also a Muslim, surrendered himself to the Lord.  I encouraged the two new believers to start attending one of our center’s church services on Sunday, and to be baptized in water.  Two days later, another man at the shop, who’s Christian, told me that the 2 men returned to work saying that they had such peaceful sleep after receiving Christ.  It was amazing to see how the Lord revealed His glory in such a way that two Muslims surrendered their lives to Christ as a result of the Lord directly revealing Himself to their hearts.

We pray that the Lord will reveal His love and glory even more during our Fire Conference: Love Never Fails at the refugee camp.  Please continue to pray!  Your prayers play an important part in what God wants to pour out during the conference. 

 

TANZANIA 2013 - Fire:  Love Never Fails

DONATE: All donations are tax deductible when sent through our home church, Church of the Living God, 199 Deming St., Manchester CT 06042, (860)648-0520. Please include "Haynes" in the memo if you are writing a check. If possible, please send us an email so that your donation can be designated for Tanzania 2013. You can also donate online via our home church’s secure website: http://www.clgonline.net/Missions/Missionaries.aspx.

Love,

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes 

Trial and Sentencing

In April, I and another missionary attended the Tribunal twice for the court’s ruling on the man (Mr. M.) that was caught during the mayhem (robbery and attempted murder) that occurred at our center last year on September 25, 2012.  To read our blog about the testimony of the Lord that occurred that night please click here.

During both the trial and sentencing we learned much about the seriousness of being before a judge.  We sat for over 7 hours (on hard, uncomfortable chairs) just waiting for our case to be presented before the judges.  We were told that we couldn’t sit with feet crossed, leaning to the side, or with eyes closed (it would appear as though you’re sleeping).  No holding any handbags, coats or other similar articles, and we couldn’t leave the courtroom unless we raised our hands and were given permission (of course we were given more rules than these).  The other missionary said, “This is like prison.”  Well, it’s the courthouse and your rights are limited.  Not even one's opinion was guaranteed to matter.  It’s not a place where you can take things lightly.

During the trial earlier in April, the other missionary and I testified before the justices and lawyers.  We also affirmed our love to the accused man (and his wife who was there listening).  I told the judges that I was not there to ensure a harsh judgment, but to testify of how we forgave Mr. M. and the others.  I also told them that he has been showing his willingness to have Jesus change his life, and honestly, that there still needs to be deeper repentance in his heart.  We stood for Christ, and didn’t hide our faith in Jesus Christ and the gospel.   After the court hearing, the Lord graciously allowed me to convey our love and forgiveness for the man to his wife.  I know that the Spirit of the Lord was touching her life and those who came with her.  She was in the courtroom and heard how we did not try to encourage the maximum sentence or speak bad things about him.

On Tuesday, April 30, we had to return to the Tribunal just for the verdict.  In the morning before going to the courthouse, the Lord surprised me by telling me how many years Mr. M. would get.  In the courtroom, the wife of Mr. M. sat right behind me.  This time, she got our attention, looked at us pleasantly, and said, "Good morning" to us.  Her countenance had changed a lot from the trial earlier in the month. When the justices came into the courtroom, the judge looked my way.  I perceived that he was delighted about something.  They brought the accused man into the room, and the judge read the verdict.  The judge told Mr. M. that for his crime the law states that he should get from 8 -12 years (along with a lot of fines that must be paid).  But, listen to what the judge said.  He said, “…but because you were forgiven [the justices  remembered when I said that I and our center forgave him], we reduced your sentence to 5 years.”  For me it was a complete victory!  We hadn’t contended for vengeance, neither for a harsh punishment.  We contended to stand in the Lord’s faithfulness, so that the will of God would be done.  The Lord’s will was all that mattered to me.  That morning, the Lord had also told me that he would get 5 years!  I also remembered the prophetic word I gave Mr. M. last year in October.  Last year, when I first talked to him in prison, face to face, the Lord filled my heart with love for him.  As I chose to love him, the Lord gave me prophetic words for his life.  One of the things that I told him was that the Lord would allow him to spend less time in prison than what he should actually spend for his crime.  On April 30, we saw that part of the word of the Lord come to pass.  I also prophesized to him that he would preach the gospel, and if he continued in faithfulness, the Lord would also use him to preach the gospel in nations and deliver people from bondage and oppression from sin and Satan.  Personally, I pray that while Mr. M. is in prison, he will take the opportunity to receive the Lord's forgiveness, and grow in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Many other things happened in the courtroom.   The other missionary and I witnessed how the gospel impacted the judges, their decisions, and even the wife of Mr. M.  Many other people in the courtroom, got to hear the judge explain his decision as well.  After the sentencing, we encouraged Mr. M.’s  wife and prayed for her (she goes to church and said she does believe in Jesus the Son of God).

This is why we are here in Lichinga, Mozambique.  This is why we desire to spend our lives for this nation and others.  We have a growing love for the people, and contend to see them receive an opportunity though the gospel, to repent and be brought into right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

One more thing.  Recently, during prison ministry, the Holy Spirit had me call Mr. M. to the front of the group and have him pray for a specific need of another prisoner.  Mr. M. looked at me and said, “I don’t know how to pray.”  I told him, “You didn’t know how to get into prison, but you got here, right?  You don’t know how to pray, but you will pray.”  Love is gentle, yet bold.  I gave him a quick word of encouragement.  I could see his heart was in the place of humility, because he wanted to pray but didn’t know what to do.  This was just the place the Lord wanted to place him in.  Here Mr. M. could clearly see his need to exercise faith in Christ.  It’s faith in Christ that will allow him to trust God, leave behind his life of sin, and begin walking in God’s destiny for his life.  Mr. M. did pray for the man.

God is clearly working in Mr. M.’s life and many others through the ministry here in Mozambique.  Thank you for believing God, and standing with us for the testimony of Jesus Christ.  If we (who have the Holy Spirit of God and believe in Christ Jesus) forgive people (villages, cities, nations), the Lord will forgive them and not hold their sins against them (John 20:22-23, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21).  Simply by forgiving people in Jesus' name, we can open the door for unprecedented moves of God in areas that we’ve never witnessed them before.  I believe God.  Are you willing to believe with us?!

Love,

Tyren

"...for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."  Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."   (Matthew 25:35-40)

Pruned for More of His Presence

We feel like we've matured these past months just to be able to offer our lives more wholly as a living sacrifice.  We feel like we've been pruned to the point where we just felt and knew we had nothing to offer.  But, it's in this place of love, brokeness and utter dependence where we see the Holy Spirit fanning the fire of God and releasing it upon others. As we abide (John 15:4-5), we see a ministry, not happening so much by our strength, wisdom or desire-but by the Lord Jesus whose presence is operating in hearts and ministries beyond our ability, experience, or capacity to plan, contain, and produce ourselves.  Here's some of His fruit that He is producing in the lives of disciples who are learning to value the importance of abiding in Christ.  Also, at the end of this blog is more information about the upcoming conference in Tanzania - Love Never Fails.

The Lord spoke to Mr. White, through a dream concerning a neighbor.  He went to the neighbor and told him to go to work where he sold sand, for there he'd find financial blessing.  The man was sick and told him he couldn't go, but he ended up going anyway.  The man came back very happy, because 3 big trucks came to buy sand. The man received money he had needed.  This is one of 3 recent testimonies of how God spoke to Christians very clearly through dreams in order to bring other people into an encounter with Jesus Christ.

Lucia came to church this past Sunday with pain and weakness in her body.  She knelt face down on the wet, reddish clay dirt in her clean clothes to worship the Lord.  As she did so, the Lord took the pain and weakness away, and gave her strength.  She began to smile again, praising the Lord and singing.

Isufu, one of our watchmen, gave this testimony.  He was very sick, so he asked his Muslim wife to pray for him.  He told her that even though she didn’t believe in Jesus, He could still use her.  She put her hand on his head and prayed for him in Jesus’ name.  Yes, he was healed!  Since then his wife’s heart has been opening more to the gospel.  This testimony came after we were praying for his wife.

TANZANIA 2013 - Fire: Love Never Fails
The time, May 9 -23, is coming for our "hands-on" conference to help support Iris Ministries Tanzania as I, Tyren, go to help train and equip Iris Congolese pastors/leaders and others living in a refugee camp, and advance Christ's purposes in that place. The Lord has been giving me fresh revelations of His love, so I am excited to see what Jesus will unleash in the camp as He releases His fire in hearts made desperate for their Saviour.

PRAY FOR: Wisdom, clear direction for things to run smoothly, God's love would change perspectives and daily habits in the camp. Please see our last blog post in March for more prayer requests.
DONATE: All donations are tax deductible when sent through our home church, Church of the Living God, 199 Deming St., Manchester CT 06042, (860)648-0520. Please include "Haynes" in the memo if you are writing a check. If possible, please send us an email so that your donation can be designated for Tanzania 2013. You can also donate online via our home church’s secure website: http://www.clgonline.net/Missions/Missionaries.aspx. As in previous years, we'll need to provide all travel, lodging and food costs for myself, Tyren, and Iris Tanzania Director, Pastor Deus, and all costs involved in holding the conference. We hope to be able to provide simple gifts for the Iris churches and, if possible, offer some kind of food assistance as well.

With love,

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes

Presence - We Need More

We love the increase, the end result, which can be healing, salvation, etc.  But, we are also seeing the importance of greatly valuing the planting of seeds and watering; or in other words, the process that is often involved before someone is saved, delivered or healed.  We have the great privilege and joy of relying heavily upon the presence of God to supernaturally create the opportunities needed for us to plant or  water, and open hearts to the true God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

LOVE – Touching the Unlikely of Hearts

A man who walks around the market is said to have mental problems because of the locally made cigarettes he smoked.  He doesn’t talk much, gets upset/irritated at times, but always says the same words, “Give me 5” (that’s  five Metical, or almost 20 cents U.S.).  He begs for money to buy food, although I was told by multiple people that his mom sells food in the market and feeds him.  Last week, I met him again and began to share the gospel and just love on him.  While loving on him, the presence of God came so powerfully, that the man became quiet, still, and listened intently to the gospel.  I’d never seen this man so peaceful or respond with any sort of normal understanding or intelligence.  When I asked him about God’s love touching him, he immediately touched his heart.  The Holy Spirit moved me to hug him, so I did.  And the man just stood there.  He wouldn’t move, but just stood loving the touch of God upon his heart.  When I mentioned about receiving Jesus, he responded, “I don’t know Jesus”.  That was one of the first intelligent communications I’ve ever had with this man.  I pray for his salvation and total healing.  Despite what this man has done with his life, the Father knew he had a heart to hear the gospel if only he was given the invitation.  There are so many people in the market who look perfectly well and are unsaved, but it’s amazing that the Holy Spirit chose to pour out the love of God on this man.

A Muslim woman was watching all of this.  I looked at her, then boldly and simply told her, "You know you need Jesus Christ in your life."  She just verbally agreed and nodded her head.  I began sharing the gospel with her.  As she was working and had to tend to customers at her fruit stand, I told her that I’d return later to explain more to her.  We are seeing that when the presence of God comes upon people or an area, things that may normally take a while can happen very quickly.

Pray for Lichinga and for Us.  Pray that we continue to stand in the outpouring of the Lord’s love upon our lives.  As our hearts stay focused and in “first-love” with Jesus, we are seeing how eager our Lord is to release His presence and do the “impossible” in people’s lives.  A while ago, the Lord told me that what Lichinga needed was to experience more of His presence.  Now, we understand that nothing else will accomplish the plans of the Lord for this place.

Serving with a passion for His presence.  Love,

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes