Many of the streets in Mexico don’t have names which doesn’t help when you don’t know where you are going in the first place. The directions you get also leave a lot to be desired. It can make you feel like you are in one of Mr. Magoo’s adventure cartoons.
     On this particular occasion we had directions written on the back of a napkin which seemed to work up to the point where the auto parts store we were supposed to turn right at was the wrong color or something. After that we spent the next hour and a half going around in circles completely lost and by this time we were supposed to be already preaching.
     According to normal human thinking there was no point in continuing on because surely we had missed everything by now. We pulled over to pray thinking maybe we should just give up and forget it, it was too late now. However, the Holy Spirit spoke into our hearts: “Don’t give up! Persevere!”
     We felt led to backtrack quite a ways and we ran into a person who could decipher the hieroglyphics on our napkin which finally led us to the outreach. But we were almost two hours late and we thought “Well, at least we can explain what happened and say we tried.”
     However, when we pulled up the person organizing the outreach came out and told us we were just in time to go in and preach even though we were late , they had stalled things to wait for us. We went in, preached and five people received Christ and many others were ministered to powerfully by the Holy Spirit.
     Where certain people will spend eternity can sometimes depend on our obedience to the Holy Spirit and persevering in faith to what He calls us.
     God demonstrated the importance of perseverance again a week later.
     We were on our way to preach in South San Diego when a tanker truck carrying highly explosive fuel flipped on the freeway and it was completely closed. After going 3/10 of a mile in 30 minutes, it was getting late and we were still really far away. It seemed hopeless to continue. The Lord led us to persevere though and not give up.
     We came near a gate to a military base and thought maybe we could cut through. Things since 9/11 have gotten very tight on bases and they had a sentry down by the onramp waving people on with a “Don’t even think about it” look.
     But God is the factor that changes things when you are doing His will.
     We prayed and then approached the first sentry by
the onramp and asked him about cutting through, surprisingly he


told us to go talk to the next sentry at the gate. We talked to the gate sentry and surprisingly again, he sent us onto the base to see another sentry who was supposed to interview us and search our car. We proceeded to him and he looked at us and waved us through without even asking any questions. We knew it was purely miraculous since due to the 9/11 attacks bicyclists can’t even use the bike trail through the base anymore.
     We proceeded on the base road which goes about 15 miles inland and then back, 30 miles out of the way but at least we were moving. We finally exited the base at 8:30pm but we were supposed to have started preaching at around 8:15pm and we were still 45 minutes away. In spite of the miracle of getting through the base it still seemed useless as we would arrive as the service was ending.
     But the Holy Spirit again guided us to continue on and persevere. We continued on, thinking that we’ll at least get to tell them why we didn’t make it.
     We got to the church at 9:15, around closing time, but heard music when we pulled up. We rushed in and the pastor shouted: “You are just in time!” They had sung as many songs and had as many testimonies as they possibly could.
     Moved by the Spirit I preached on the importance of perseverance and as I was wrapping things up the pastor stood up and showed me a flyer he had created before the service that night, for a later celebration. It was titled “The importance of perseverance.” God’s presence filled the room as His sovereign and miraculous hand over the events was made clear.
     It says in Heb. 10:36 :“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God you will receive what he has promised.” This is a word for many in the Body of Christ today as well.

Mission Focus


     Many people associate missionary work with venturing into a jungle with a machete while cutting away bush on the way to a long lost tribe.
     But the Bible shows us Jesus and Paul going everywhere from Jerusalem to Judea from Antioch to Athens to Rome, anywhere where people need the Gospel is where mission work is to happen.
     Some once-thought-of Christian strongholds have greatly receded regarding vital Christianity in their areas.
     Europe especially has become a new mission field with recent statistics showing the stark reality


of the dire situation there. Only 2.4% of Europe’s population are evangelical (born again). Norway for example has less than 3% that attend any
kind of a church on a normal basis. Nominal religiosity has been the biggest enemy to real, vital, Christ-centered faith and spiritual life. If the salt loses it’s saltiness it’s no good.
     Seven years ago the Holy Spirit began to lead us over there, speaking to us about the great need for the Gospel and renewal in that continent. Now after six mission trips there it is exciting to see a few others in the Body of Christ beginning to catch the vision also.
     Peter Wagner recently did a conference focusing on Europe's need. Amsterdam 2000 also had a workshop on the need to reach Europe.
     This is just the beginning of a new mission focus that the Lord is bringing to the Body of Christ.
     We are preparing to go on another mission trip to Europe again soon. We appreciate your perseverance in prayer and support for us in this and other endeavors God has called us
     Europe is not always an easy place to minister as it is hard ground and for that reason we greatly appreciate your prayers and support.
     Perseverance in prayer, support and service to Christ is always richly rewarded by the Master who endured the cross for us all.
     Remember your donation is tax deductible when made out to Grace World Mission.
God bless,
Bryan, Mercedes and Patrick Marleaux








E-mail: gracewm@flash.net
Web site: www.graceworldmission.org
Toll-free phone: 877-gracewm (orders)
Address: Grace World Mission
Bryan and Mercedes Marleaux
2521 1/2 First Avenue
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
USA

Radio Times: (to hear KPRZ Live on the Web click here)
10p.m. Sat. night 1310 AM XEC
12 midnight Fri. night 1210 AM KPRZ


 

Patrick gets a sandcastle-building and motorcycle-riding lesson from Dad. Never a dull moment with these two!

    Previous Page
    Read previous newsletter
Home | Miraculous Beginnings | Our Mission |Praise Reports
Holy Ghost Stories
| ContactUs | Radio and TV Programs | Resources |