2010 Travel Blog

Newfoundland

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:17:32 -0400

Greetings, my friends, from the steamy, sultry South; at least such was a case a few days ago. Now, the air is pleasantly cool, and my late crop is starting to come up. There’s a slight tinge of Fall in the air, it seems. I am more than ready for cool and crisp autumn nights, a glorious time of year.

Be encouraged those that are troubled with us in these dark times: A passage from Psalm 2, so often taken out of context and applied to missions, assures the believer that all will one day be made right under Messiah’s reign. Though the kings of the earth and its rulers gather themselves together against the Lord, scoffing and seeking to overthrow His rule, He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh (Yes, the Lord does laugh; He chuckles at the thought of men trying to supplant Him--see also Psalm 37:13; 59:8). God’s anointed, the Lord Jesus Christ, will be given the heathen as an inheritance: He will break them with a rod of iron and dash them like a potter’s vessel. Wickedness and corruption will topple. The Lord Jesus Christ will soon return and physically set up a kingdom that will triumph for a millennium. And, His saints will rule and reign with Him. Therefore, “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are they that put their trust in him” (Psalm 2:11-12). sic semper tyrranus!

Back in May and June, we drove 6,692 miles, taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ all the way up through Quebec, across Labrador, down Newfoundland’s West Coast, over to Prince Edward Island, and back through New England with Bishnu Shrestha, FPGM’s national partner from Nepal. In my last update, I wrote of our adventures on the Labrador. Allow me to continue the tale.

First, however, may I humbly request your prayers regarding Bishnu. He safely made it back to Nepal and will be journeying out to the remote Far West again shortly. Lord willing, he and I will go back out there yet again in November. As mentioned before, we our working toward planting a self-sustaining church in Bataidi and praying for godly leadership that might be ordained to shepherd the handful of believers in that place. Moreover, countless unreached mountain villages enjoin us to the preaching of the Gospel and a task in Nepal’s Far West that is far from complete. Please pray for these things, for Bishnu’s safety, and for God’s provision for him to continue making these journeys. It’s not cheap or logistically simple to get out to Bataidi.

With that being said, I feel compelled to disclose (though, perhaps, my Nepali partner would not approve) a recent situation in which Bishnu Shrestha demonstrated his integrity and character. For a couple of years, FPGM has been able to financially support our national partner’s ministry on a monthly basis (in addition to Project Jagerna and costs related to our involvement in the work in Nepal). The preponderance of this has been the result of a local church that sent $300/month, designated for Bishnu’s work, to FPGM (along with annual support monies for the ministry in general). This amount of money goes a lot further in Nepal than it does here in the States, and I have been amazed at how Bishnu was able to stretch it so as to target Nepal’s Far West, to give primary attention to the ministry while supporting his family, to conduct evangelism trainings amongst believers at his own expense, and to be able to cover traveling expenses for other Nepalis as they joined him in missionary journeys to remote areas of Nepal. A few months ago, it saddens me to divulge, FPGM was forced to part ways with the local church at the heart of this support; and as this was taking place, leadership in said church attempted to sow discord between Bishnu and our ministry and offered to continue supporting his work (though critical of and unwilling to continue supporting FPGM). Bishnu, to his credit, saw this as an attempt to undermine our partnership and drive a wedge into the work God had begun. Therefore, he chose to walk away from the $300/month support that was offered to him. For him, this was a much bigger sacrifice than it would be for us, and his actions showed himself more concerned about the labor of the Gospel than his own financial security. Such is more than can be said for many of today’s pastors and missionaries who are unwilling to follow the Apostle Paul’s example (i.e. “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God”--Acts 20:27) for fear of jeopardizing a paycheck or a benefit plan. I say all of this that you might join us in praying that God will make up for what has been lost as a result of our Nepali national partner’s integrity. Presently, Bishnu’s support is at about 1/3 of what is was as recently as June and for the past couple of years. If the Lord should lay it upon your heart to help us support Bishnu and his family on a monthly basis, know that a little goes a lot farther with him than it would trying to support a full-time American missionary on the ground over there. Funds sent to FPGM and designated for Bishnu Shrestha will be forwarded to him for the furtherance of the Gospel in Nepal according to FPGM’s overall mission and purpose. If the conglomerate commitments of multiple believers and/or churches could total as little as $200/month (i.e. merely $20/month x 10 commitments), that, coupled with existing support the Lord has already made up, will put his support level back to where he has been accustomed and able to faithfully continue the work. Remember that all contributions are tax deductible, should be made out to Full Proof Gospel Ministries with “Nepal Ministry” or “Bishnu Shrestha” noted in the memo space, and can be sent to the address at the bottom of this update. In contemplating or praying about this, don’t forget to continue lifting up Full Proof Gospel Ministries in general and Project Jagerna. Our ability to meet Bishnu’s needs is dependent upon the needs of the ministry in general being met as well as our wherewithal to continue printing and distributing the Holy Scriptures in the Nepali language.

In terms of Nepal, please don’t forget to pray for me and my family as we are making preparations to return there for an extended period of time. Lord willing, I will be departing the first of November, and my family will be following a few weeks later. We are looking for a place to live in Kathmandu, and there are some major needs that will have to be met for such a journey to take place (visas, plane tickets, etc.). But, as is always the case, the Lord never guides where He does not provide. Just pray that all things come together and that we are obedient.

From Labrador (i.e. back in June), Bishnu, Bethany, and I ferried across the Strait of Belle Isle to Newfoundland and spent the next few days making our way down the massive island’s 400-mile western coast. As I write, I recall a plethora of images to my mind: hushed rocky coastline and crystal clear North Atlantic waters, Hwy. 430 as it hugged the sea, the crags of Gros Morne--the northern terminus of the Appalachian Range, quaint harbors and vigilant lighthouses, local fishermen that smelled like Tibetan nomads, end-of-the-world seaside towns, barren tablelands, moose in the road, salted cod, abandoned crab shacks and piles of weathered lobster traps, fishing boasts offloading 10-20,000 lbs. of turbot, fog, rain, more rain, and a younger generation that had completely forgotten the great revivals wrought amongst their fathers as recently as the 1960’s when open-air preachers came by boat to proclaim the Word of God in the very towns we passed through. One man told us that his grandfather, like many in those days, walked for miles to hear the preaching of the Gospel on Newfoundland’s western coast. What a privilege it was for us to sow seeds in such places.

In Hawke’s Bay, we gave out a few Gospel tracts and put out others. At a picnic table there, we devoured a rotisserie chicken and some curried potatoes before napping in the grass along the shore. A possible contact in that small seaside town fell through (the guy had gone to St. John’s), so we left a Gospel tract on his door, praying that the Lord would use it. In desperate need of some real rest and showers, we were a bit bummed. Nevertheless a kind Providence directed elsewhere, and by day’s end, there was provision.

In Parson’s Pond, I noticed a young man walking down the road as well as John 3:16 displayed prominently on a big sign in front of a “Gospel Hall.” I passed these but sensed a need to turn around. So, we swung into the Gospel Hall parking lot, and I went to share Christ with the passerby. He took a tract. As Bishnu and I were then studying the map and trying to figure out where to camp, a man approached from across the street. Mr. Caines was a believer and had noticed the Gospel messages on our trailer after we turned around. To make a long story short, our speaking on the things of the Lord eventually led to showers, a hot meal, and an invite to stay the night. We gratefully obliged. That evening, Bethany made a few friends and got to go horseback riding while Bishnu and I had opportunity to preach the Gospel to a group of local kids. I recall two young ladies who listened with intent and two young men who accepted Bibles, having never possessed ones of their own. Later, at a nearby state park, we climbed up some limestone arches, enjoyed gorgeous sunset hues, and were able to witness to three young men from Ontario. We also stashed some Gospel tracts in a geo-cache that Mr. Caines’ son found. The fellowship in the Caines’ home was sweet, and we were very grateful for the Lord’s provision. Truly, all had been divinely ordered, and I pray that our presence encouraged Mr. Caines and his wife unto boldness and that his two children were convicted toward salvation. Interestingly, the Gospel Hall in Parson’s Pond (as well as others up and down Newfoundland’s western coast), where we were parked when Mr. Caines first noticed our trailer, was started as a result of open-air preachers who came through on boats in the 1960’s. According to Mr. Caines, God wrought great revivals at the time and in that place, and the stories he told reminded me of things I had read concerning the Great Awakenings in America. Alas, however, he divulged: “A mere 50 years later, the younger generations have become hardened, cold, and ignorant of Gospel truth.” Isn’t that always the way?

The next morning, we bade farewell to our new friends, and continued south. Out at Cow Head, we hiked to an old lighthouse and witnessed to a couple of people on the trail. At the nearby harbor, we cooked lunch and spent some time amongst the local fishermen. Small, rickety boats were hauling in huge loads of turbot that morning, and Bethany was fascinated by the offloading. We gave out some Gospel tracts and socks to the fishermen and had a few good conversations about the things of the Lord, though the local Newfoundland accent was very difficult to follow. I remember Paul, Captain Gary, and a few others. Please pray for the salvation of these. Bethany loved getting into Captain Gary’s boat and turning the wooden helm. This man invited us to join him and his crew on a 4-5 day trip up to Greenland and back. I wish there had been time.

From Cow Head, we headed south into Gros Morne National Park. At a full parking lot, we left tracts on every vehicle. In Rocky Harbor, a gorgeous coastal town, a few tracts went out. The evening, we crossed over the mountains and hit the streets of Deer Lake before dark. Gospel tracts again went out, and we were able to preach to a group of teenagers behind an old grocery store. They listened and seemed open. We thanked God for the opportunity and made a Tim Horton’s run before camping in a secluded gravel pit just off the Trans-Canada Highway.

The next two days were spent in Corner Brook, a sizable town built right on the steep hillsides overlooking the water. Pouring rain forced us to break for a hotel room, and I had to get some minor vehicle repairs done. We definitely needed the rest. That night, we scraped an awesome meal together from our food crate, cooked on a camping stove right there in the hotel room: rice, beef, and eggplant in a curried daal. Only Bishnu could have properly prepared those gourmet vittles from our dwindled stash.

Of course, we hit the streets in Corner Brook, and though pouring rain, we did find people. A lot of tracts went out to high-school kids who were breaking for lunch. One strange 78-year-old man got so angry with me when I tried to share the Gospel. He scoffed at the existence of God and then became furious when I quoted Psalm 14. I make no apologies. Ironically, Bishnu later talked to him, and he seemed to listen. ‘Twas a sad example of one hardened in his old age. Please pray for this man’s salvation. While sauntering through an old part of downtown, a man invited me over to his porch for coffee. I welcomed the warm cup of joe and the break from the rain, and the conversation quickly turned to the Gospel. Stephen seemed open as was another man who later joined us. I soon discovered that this man was quite poor, so we gave him fresh socks, a loaf of bread, and some juice. He was extremely grateful, and I asked myself: How is it that he, being so needful, shared his coffee with us? Wow. I considered it a divine appointment. Please pray for Stephen and Jeff. There was also a young native boy from Fort McMurray way up in Northern Alberta. Don’t ask me what he was doing in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. He took a tract and seemed open. We also shared with some folks in an interesting shop where I picked up that tattered copy of The Lure of the Labrador Wild, Dillon Wallace’s account of the fateful Hubbard expedition into interior Labrador back in 1903 (I devoured the book in a few short days). All in all, ‘twas a good outing in poor weather. Weirdly, we were the only ones with an umbrella, and the rain seemed to bring the people out.

Our crew left Corner Brook in a misty rain and drove up and over the forested mountains, northern fringes of the Appalachians. A side trip out to Cape Anguille took us to another “end of the world” where we witnessed to two young boys on a lonely street. I wonder if that encounter will have some effect on them years down the road. God knoweth. ‘Twas blustery and cold out there, but we beheld an amazing mini-rainbow right over some old lighthouse living quarters. Later, it was lunch by the sea, a steak dinner cooked on a camping stove in an abandoned cul-de-sac on the outskirts of Port-aux-Basques, and another Tim Horton’s run before driving out to Rose Blanche and camping on some rocky bluffs. A bunch of ragamuffin teens descended upon the Tim Horton’s coffee shop and were extremely obnoxious, particularly one inebriated punk. We sought an opportunity to witness, but found none. Oh, well. That night was chilly and clear, and the stars were out en masse. Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn formed an obvious triangle to the West, and I remembered seeing the same phenomenon several years ago while camped in Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington State. Truly, we watched as the heavens declared the glory of God (Psalm 19:1) and were reminded that men are without excuse (Psalm 19:2-3; Romans 1:20).

Our final morning on Newfoundland, we hiked out to an old lighthouse at dawn, drove back to Port-aux-Basques and cooked breakfast in the same abandoned cul-de-sac, and got one last Tim Horton’s coffee before boarding the MV Atlantic, a huge super-ferry that would take us back to the mainland in Nova Scotia. Interestingly, we ran into the same punk who had been three-sheets-to-the-wind the night before. Then, we had found no opportunity to witness, this occasion was different. I was firm with the Gospel and gave him a tract; he accepted it. Praise the Lord. On that note, we bade farewell to another place, another culture, another far-off land. Will it ever end?

There’s still more to tell about our passing through Nova Scotia, the time with Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees on Prince Edward Island, and the return trip through New England. But, I’ll save it for the next update. My last correspondence was so lengthy; it behooves me to keep this a bit more succinct.

Please pray for me next week. The college campuses are opening back up for a new year, and I will be spending a few days with Shawn Holes up in Pennsylvania, preaching and witnessing on the campus of Penn State University and at couple of local colleges. Pray that God will open up a door of utterance (Colossians 4:3); that the Word would not return void (Isaiah 55:11); that we might speak boldly as we ought to speak (Ephesians 6:19-20); and that we would be ready, with meekness and fear, to give an answer to every man that asks a reason of the hope that is in us (I Peter 3:15). Pray also that the authorities will respect and protect our First Amendment rights under the United States Constitution. These days, such is far from a given.

Don’t forget about Bishnu and his needs. Also, go check out the new videos I have posted at www.youtube.com/jboydfpgm and the Newfoundland Gallery on our website.

Your Obedient Servant in Christ Jesus,

Jesse Boyd

The Lure of the Labrador Wild

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 16:44:35 -0400

Greetings, friends and beloved brethren, in the matchless name of the Great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Though all should fade and much be lost in these ominous times, “Yet will I rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18). For the believer, the finished work of Christ alone is cause for rejoicing!

Please forgive me for my lack of communication over the past couple of months. Things have been really busy, but I do rejoice looking back over a fruitful summer of ministry, particularly with Bishnu Shrestha, FPGM’s national partner from Nepal. Two weeks ago, he safely returned to his family in Kathmandu. I was sad to bid my dear friend farewell, but thanks for all your prayers, going back to his need for a Canadian Visa in May. All came to pass for the glory of God, and we traveled many miles together for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ. Thanks for praying. The prayers of the saints are, by His grace, a sustaining force (James 5:16). Thanks also to those of you who sacrificially gave to aid this summer’s outreach. I look back and marvel at how the Father hath provided again (Philippians 4:19)!

Over the next couple of email updates, I will attempt to recap what the Lord did this summer in Labrador & Newfoundland, up on Prince Edward Island, amongst Nepali communities here in the States, and in terms of local outreach. I pray these stories will edify and exhort unto steadfastness in the Gospel of Jesus Christ amidst perilous times about which the Scriptures forewarn (II Timothy 3:1-7; 4:1-5).

Before any recap, however, let me humbly request your continued prayers for Full Proof Gospel Ministries. After spending the summer with Bishnu, it is apparent that my family and I need to return to Nepal, perhaps as soon as the Fall. There is much work to be done, and we really need to move forward with Project Jagerna. Opportunities have opened up for church planting work in the remote West, and the open door that exists for such work in Nepal (i.e. multiple political parties that cannot come to an agreement on the formation of a new government) could slam shut at any time. For my family and I to get back over to that part of the world, as I wrote in my last update:

“ . . .we will need God’s provision. Right now, things are very tight for Full Proof Gospel Ministries. We had planned to journey out West this summer to visit some churches, fellowship with other believers, and engage in the work of evangelism. Unfortunately, we have canceled these plans as the money simply isn’t there. Moreover, what we do have needs to go toward getting a family of five back to South Asia. Indian visas alone, a necessary possession for foreigners in an unstable Nepal, will cost us close to a thousand dollars; and the cost of plane tickets makes my head swim. We’ll also have to find a place to live in Kathmandu. I am hoping to try and work as much as possible this summer to save up for Nepal, but I fear that I will soon be losing my job. Just pray for discernment in all of this, provision from the Lord, and clear direction. ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to day, and for ever’ has never failed us (Hebrews 13:8).”

Aside from petitioning your prayers and God’s provision, let me also rejoice. Over the past three years, with regard to Project Jagerna, the Lord has allowed us to print 150,540 Nepali Scripture portions. Of these, 81,762 have been freely distributed to Nepali-speaking peoples all over Nepal, in other parts of South Asia, and amongst refugees living in the West. Another 58,963 have been provided to local pastors/churches and/or Christian workers for outreach amongst Nepali-speaking peoples. We have also been able to print 59,000 Nepali Gospel tracts, and most of these have been distributed. Some of you have been a part of this through your giving. The fruit is yours as is our gratitude. Going forward, we need to keep printing and continue to translate, joyfully envisioning a day when we can print complete Nepali Bibles, faithfully translated from a pure text tradition, and distribute them freely (Remember, it only costs $0.14 to print a Nepali John/Romans prefaced by a clear Gospel presentation). As the Lord tarries, we labor on.

Now, allow me to recap:

On July 15, 1903, two New Yorkers and an Indian guide from James Bay set out from the Hudson Bay Company post on Grand Lake in Labrador to explore and map out the Naskaupi River system up to Lake Michikamau, a track no white man had ever seen. Mistakenly, the three-man party, led by a 30-year old believer named Leonidas Hubbard, followed the shallow Susan River and got bogged down in the wilds beyond the Kipling Mountains. The absence of game, a dwindling food supply, and the fast approach of winter forced the expedition to turn back at Windbound Lake on September 15th, but not before Leonidas Hubbard summited a nearby peak to catch a distant glimpse of Lake Michikamau, a goal he would never attain. To this day, that little peak bears Hubbard’s name. On October 18th, a month after abandoning the quest, the onset of starvation forced Hubbard’s two companions, Dillon Wallace and George Elson, to leave their very sick and exhausted leader behind in a tent while they set out in search of help. Dillon Wallace went after cached flour that had been abandoned on the trip up in hopes of returning to Hubbard with some sustenance to last until Elson eventually came with aid (which they prayed could be procured from trapper cabins on the west end of Grand Lake). A day or two after the party separated, Leonidas Hubbard died in his tent. Wallace returned several days thereafter, and unable to locate Hubbard, got lost in a snowstorm. George Elson, after a week of nasty bushwhacking, constructed a raft without an axe, miraculously crossed several swollen rivers, and found an occupied cabin. A rescue party located Dillon Wallace facedown in the snow on October 30th. He survived, amazingly, and was eventually nursed back to health. Hubbard’s body was likewise found and eventually carried back to New York, accompanied by both Wallace and Elson.

Back in June, in a used bookstore in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, I picked up a tattered copy of Dillon Wallace’s account of this story of suffering and triumph on the Labrador, and quickly devoured it. Having just driven nine hundred miles of gravel road up through Quebec and across the Labrador, including a 200-mile stretch just opened six months ago that finally connects Goose Bay with the coast and makes a loop possible, I realized that our path had skirted the very wilds where Hubbard met his demise. Amazingly, a little more than a hundred years after the first white men set foot in the interior, the Labrador Interior hadn’t changed much. Few know much about it; and aside from a rough gravel highway and a few small towns built around iron mines and/or a hydroelectric project, the upland wilderness remains as it was encountered back in 1903. Vast tracts of impenetrable black spruce, a plethora a raging rivers, innumerable lakes, and sheer isolation yet hold the upper-hand.

Rudyard Kipling, the well-known British poet and author, wrote in The Explorer: “Something hidden. Go and find it. Go and look behind the Ranges -- Something lost behind the Ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go!” Such a voice has propelled many over the years and often unto tragedy: Chris McCandless went looking behind the ranges and perished in an old bus in the wilderness north of Alaska’s Mt. McKinley (1992). Leonidas Hubbard, having chased untrod ground behind the ranges, starved to death on the Labrador (1903). Everett Ruess, in pursuit of something lost, disappeared in the Utah canyonlands (1934); and Gene Rosellini, who chased a life behind the ranges in Southeast Alaska, completely devoid of modern technology, was sorely disappointed and drove a knife through his own heart (1991). All of these, though educated and from well-to-do American families, became disillusioned with the processed sanity of society, and in their own way declared independence, off to search behind the Ranges for something illusive, something unknown, something novel, something of real meaning. These were no fools, as many have decried; they simply came to the same conclusions about fallen civilizations that Solomon, the great King, once did: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Unfortunately, the search without yielded no lasting answer, and all (with perhaps the exception of Hubbard) perished untimely and without the Answer.

This same disillusionment has long gnawed at my spirit, and had Jesus Christ not rescued me back in 1993, I, too, might have taken to the wilds only to perish in search of the meaning and the the truth that can solely be found between the covers of God’s Holy Word. Chris McCandless, in his journals, expounded upon a plea once inscribed by Henry David Thoreau, the early American transcendentalist: “Rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness... give me truth.” I demand no less, and in the wilds apart from the sick sophistry of putrid American culture there is truth, but only half-truth--that of a fallen Creation groaning to be redeemed (Romans 8:22), natural revelation that reveals God and condemns. It cannot save. The Gospel, the Word of God, special revelation is the ultimate truth, the solution to Creation’s condemnation, the answer for which many seek but cannot find. It, the engrafted Word, saves (James 1:21) and in turn gives one something tangible to look for behind the Ranges: lost souls, men to whom the Gospel must be preached. Thanks be unto God for saving me, for revealing ultimate truth to me in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Had it not been so, I might have run to the Labrador years ago, in search of something I could not grasp or understand, only to perish as Hubbard did, alone in the taiga. With Christ, the urge articulated by Kipling did not disappear; it grew. And, as with other remote corners to which I have been given grace to venture, it propelled me to the Labrador back in May. Unlike McCandless, Hubbard, Reuss, and Rosellini, however, I knew what was potentially hidden behind those Ranges and why I needed to find it.

Interestingly, before Hubbard, Wallace, and Elson parted ways in the wilderness on the threshold of winter in 1903, Hubbard requested that two chapters from the Bible be read to him: John 14 and I Corinthians 13. Wallace honored the request, and such were Hubbard’s last meditations; he was dead a few days later. By God’s grace, surely he went home to be with the Lord. In reading this account, I thought of the great truths of these two chapters: Jesus Christ, the Only Way; and the efficacy of Christian charity. Then, it hit me. John 14 is the message, I Corinthians 13 is the motive, and lost souls are the object of my search behind the Ranges. Thus propelled, Bishnu, Bethany, and I set our compasses north. The lure of the Labrador wild that compelled Hubbard and his team in 1903 compelled us for the sake of the Gospel.

After picking Bishnu up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and enjoying some sweet fellowship with believers there and in upstate New York, we crossed into Quebec from some podunk town in Northern Vermont. A snotty French-speaking Border Officer gave me lots of trouble about the 12-gauge I was carrying for protection against wildlife, but thankfully, he was overruled and reprimanded by his superior.

In Quebec City, we thought to park and hit the streets, but the provincial capital’s orientation on a high bluff made parking with a trailer near-impossible. I was reminded of the streets of San Francisco and noted the physical beauty that the two cities share. A bit frustrated, we drove around so people could at least see the Gospel messages on the rear of our trailer, and a few French tracts did go out. What a natural fortress Quebec City is, and beholding its rocky ramparts above the Plains of Abraham, I at once understood why the American Revolutionaries under Benedict Arnold were unable to conquer it and thus secure Canada for the Colonies in 1775. Moreover, I marvel at how the British took this place from the French in 1759, though it cost them their commanding general. I really wanted to hit the streets in that place and was sad to move on, unable to do so. Nevertheless, the Lord used our passing through weeks later. In mid-July, as Bishnu and are were hiking the entire Black Mountain Crest in North Carolina, we stumbled upon two people below the summit of Mt. Mitchell. They were from Quebec City, and our story of having recently been through their neck of the woods obviously softened them so as to receive a Gospel tract. I again marvel at Divine Providence.

After leaving Quebec City, while pressing up the north bank of the mighty St. Lawrence River, we stopped for gas and to ask directions from a young man. He lived 150 kilometers up the road and invited us to camp in his yard for the night. This was blessed provision from the Lord and allowed us to share Christ with him and his live-in girlfriend. Both were English teachers, so I didn’t have to resort to broken French; and they lived in an old schoolhouse just outside St. Urbain. It was a quiet and glorious night under the stars. And undoubtedly, Bethany’s presence enhanced their openness to our testimonies. Please pray for Allen and his girlfriend; may the Lord save them. Certainly, their hospitality forced me to question much that I had heard about the discourteousness of French Canadiens.

The next morning, we scattered some seeds in the rain on the streets of the small hamlet of St. Urbain and then continued up Hwy. 138 along the Great River. The water was vast, the sandy cliffs towered, and soon we were amidst the black spruce and muskeg typical of the Far North. Some Gospel tracts went out in Clermont, Forestville, Baie Comeau and on a ferry across the Saguenay River. I found myself pulling broken French out of the deep recesses of my mind, having studied it for two years back in high school. Thankfully, we had French tracts and trust that the Lord used us despite our linguistic inadequacies.

Outside Baie Comeau, the route turned due north onto Hwy. 389 along the Manicougan River. We camped in a small campground near the Manic-2 Dam that night, shared Christ with the caretaker, and endured fog, mist, and cold rain. Having just come from sweltering heat down south, it was strange to don beanies, fleeces, and jackets. At least, however, the cold meant that we were still ahead of the mosquito and black-fly plagues that typically invade the area in summer.

After Manic-2, the road turned to gravel, and we would not see pavement again for 900 miles. The road was dry, so the dust was ridiculous, especially following a passing truck. In those moments, I reflected upon how discouraged I had been by the incessant rain and wetness up on the Dalton Highway in Alaska last September. The alternative would have been sunny skies and dust like we were encountering enroute to Labrador. I cannot imagine having to endure that on a bicycle. The rain on the Dalton was actually God’s caring provision, and it took me eight months to figure that out. I am reminded of Asaph’s words in Psalm 73:22, “So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.” The Lord always knows best. Why can I not see that in the moment of trial instead of always in hindsight?

Up the 389, we shared Christ with an old man, put Gospel tracts in all the S.O.S. phones, gave testimony to a lady and two men from Labrador at a gas station below the mighty Manic-5 Dam, and sowed seeds in a cafe/gas station at Relais Gabrielle. It felt like the end of the earth. One lady we encountered spoke decent English, and I considered the episode a divine appointment. Bishnu was bold, and of course, a Nepali’s presence as well as Bethany’s often stimulated inquiring minds and opened doors of opportunity behind the Ranges. Praise be unto God.

At Relais Gabrielle, gas came out to about $4.89/gallon, and it would stay that away until Newfoundland. But alas, I guess such should be expected when wilderness is as far as the eye can see. That day, we beheld the mighty Manicougan Reservoir, shaped like a giant ring (check it out on a map sometime), and Bethany frolicked along the shore in the cold wind. Later, the gravel road turned to pavement in the middle of nowhere. Then, there were sidewalks and paved side streets, a few foundations. Weird? The town of Gagnon had been here until 1985 when the iron mines shut down. The people left, and a bit of asphalt is all that remains. Like the abandoned Anasazi ruins all over the Southwest, such is the inevitable end of man. Even at his best state, he is altogether vanity (Psalm 39:5). At least enough history of that place remained to give us a 50-mile respite from the dust on paved highway. I wish you folks could have seen the dust we would daily accumulate in our Gospel trailer. Bishnu and I tried everything to seal it up with plastic, etc., but nothing worked. So, we covered up everything inside as best we could with tarps and were forced to evacuate an inch or two of dust each evening. What a nightmare! I am still finding Labrador dust on tracts and Bibles that were inside boxes buried in the back of that trailer.

Anyway, our last night in Quebec, we camped off the highway in a meadow alongside a river that was red with iron. ‘Twas an awesome night, an awesome site. The vast taiga, the sound of loons, a full moon, Jupiter, solitude . . . The three of us were content. Strangely, that place, though the same latitude as southern British Columbia, boasted a milieu like that of Northern Alaska, Black spruce were everywhere, it was cold, and there were no bugs. By God’s grace, our timing was perfect. Finally, I fell asleep with the 12-gauge at my side.

On May 27th, we crossed into English-speaking Labrador (Thank the Lord), but not before hitting the streets in Fermont, the northernmost Quebec town on any type of road system. We were astounded by the spiritual darkness of that depressing place. Most of the shops and many homes were inside a large complex, undoubtedly due to the harsh weather that blankets the place in winter, and we found it odd to be walking downtown streets indoors. Fermont is an iron-mining town of a few thousand people, and we saw nothing in terms of a Christian witness there, although Bishnu later heard about a Baptist Church somewhere in the area. We walked the streets and residential lanes, looking for opportunity to speak Christ. There were some encounters, including harsh rejection from a group of culinary students. This only emboldened us, and we did what we could. Atop a knoll outside of town we prayed over that place and marveled at the size of a mammoth dump truck used for mining iron ore. I could actually curl up inside the wheel and take a nap.

From Quebec, Labrador seemed a breath of fresh air. Labrador City, the largest town in all of Labrador sits near the border, and like Fermont, it too had a depressing air. Totally built around the iron industry, people come from all over Canada to work the nearby iron mines and pull in a healthy pay check doing so (much like the oil fields in Alaska). The town boasts about 8,000 people with only three churches--a Roman Catholic, an Anglican, and a Pentecostal--all sitting in a row right beside one another. Obviously, a true biblical witness is lacking in that place; and we definitely saw the fruit of it. Unlike Fermont, however, only a few rejected Gospel tracts as we combed the streets until after dark. We sowed seeds at a McDonald’s, in a mall, outside a Wal-Mart that looked like a dormitory, and along neighborhood streets. Motivated by the Lord’s command in Matthew 22:9, we didn’t allow ourselves to be discouraged by the paucity of people.

In nearby Wabush, we broke for a hotel room as multiple nights of camping had us weary and dirty. Besides, it was cold in Labrador City, and all along the Trans-Labrador Highway we beheld lakes still covered with ice. Interestingly, the French Canadian manager gave us a $50.00 discount, and I once again found myself questioning the typical stereotype often voiced about these people.

From Labrador City, we pushed across the Trans-Labrador through Churchill Falls, Goose Bay, and on to Port Hope Simpson (about 575 miles of gravel cut right through the taiga). Wildlife encountered included a family of black bears, caribou, and plenty of porcupines. No sasquatch sightings, although it definitely looked like yeti could be roaming out there somewhere. One night, we camped in the wilderness and awoke to ice all over the tent; another, we slept in the Nissan at an old logging yard. At Churchill Falls, the a/c in the vehicle quit working (thankfully, ‘twas only a loose wire as we later discovered on Prince Edward Island) and we had to wait for the electricity to come back on at the only gas station in town in order to obtain much-needed fuel. While we waited, Bishnu was bold, and numerous tracts went out. Between Churchill Falls and Goose Bay, unbeknownst to us at the time, we skirted very nearby the same patch of wilderness where Leonidas Hubbard met his untimely demise back in 1903. Other than a lonely gravel road, not much had changed. Lakes in abundance (some still frozen), endless swaths of black spruce, raging rust-colored rivers, patches of snow, and even a few sand dunes were par for the course. At Goose Bay, where Hubbard and his companions departed the Hudson Bay Company Post and ventured into the wilderness, we walked the streets of the now average-sized town, looking for opportunity to preach the Gospel. There were a few meaningful encounters, including Sunil from Sri Lanka who seemed open and listened attentively. There were a few folks out in their yards as we combed the residential area, and I started sharing Christ through a rope trick with some kids until their mom came and whisked them away. Aside from that one mother, people were surprisingly friendly and open. Most took tracts, expressing gratitude.

While in Goose Bay, we were happy to find a Tim Horton’s for coffee and doughnuts and learn a bit about the upcoming stretch of road. Until the end of last year, Goose Bay was the end of the Trans-Labrador Highway, and the only way out by land was to turn right back around and return to Baie Comeau in Quebec. However, a new stretch of road, connecting Goose Bay with the Labrador Coast had been opened ahead of schedule to allow for the Olympic torch to pass through enroute to last year’s Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Many spoke of how politics had opened the road long before it was ready, and I began to doubt whether we could make it through. One young man saw our vehicular setup and remarked, “You’re going to have a really hard time getting through this one 50km stretch of road just outside of town. It took me 4 hours to go 50K in my little car, and there are huge boulders in the road, and that trailer will never make it, etc., etc.” The ferry didn’t start running for another month, and our only other option was to go back the miles and miles of gravel we had already come. That definitely wasn’t going to happen. So, we prepared to ditch the trailer, if need be, and inquired from a few more seasoned locals. Most said to go slow and we would be ok. Several times, we heard, “Oh, the road is fine.” Thinking the young dude was obviously exaggerating, we pressed on, although it did take an hour to find the appropriate turnoff outside of town. At the junction, we should have picked up this German hitchhiker, but I relented because we had Bethany with us. I have regretted that decision ever since as it could have proved a good opportunity to proclaim Christ.

Anyway, after crossing a range of hills with snow still on the ground, we came upon a sign that read: “Rough Road for 50km.” Later, we discovered that sign to be an understatement and that the young dude, who we thought had been exaggerating, actually spoke the truth. It took us more than 3 hours to drive the next 30 miles, and it was a miracle that we didn’t have to abandon the trailer or deal with a flat tire. The Lord was good to us. At one point, there was no gravel, only a dug up roadbed on a steep hill. Without 4WD, I never could have gotten through, and we would have been headed back to Quebec. When I obtained that Nissan Pathfinder shortly before making this trip, I knew in the back of my mind that 4WD was a necessity and was glad to have remained firm in that conclusion. At another place, a huge crane was sitting in the middle of the road, and I had to maneuver around it. Rickety bridges, big boulders, 50km of insanity . . . ‘twas truly an adventure, and Bethany loved every minute of it.

After that section, things improved, and we made a beeline for the coast, stopping at dusk to cook while marveling at the utter solitude. It was late when we finally pulled into Port Hope Simpson on fumes. The gas station was closed, and we would have to wait until the next morning. Thank God for that extra five-gallon container I was carrying. With a full tank out of Goose Bay, and that extra five gallons, we still rolled into the next gas station on fumes--a close call. We slept in the truck at an old logging yard as the rain poured. The dust accumulated inside our trailer was absolutely ridiculous, and in those moments, I determined never to advise another soul to haul a trailer or an RV on the Trans-Labrador Highway. The only consolation was that many in remote places had seen the clear Gospel messages adorned across the back doors.

The Labrador Coast was much wetter, and the wind cut like a knife. Isolated fishing towns dotted the rocky shores, and in some of these, we were able to sow seeds, just as I had hoped the new road would allow us to do. In Port Hope Simpson, we witnessed to a lady and her daughter; there were two girls walking down the road in Lodge Bay; and tracts went out in Red Bay, Forteau, and L’Anse-au-Clair. Of course, the messages on the trailer were also a witness to other passersby. Most satisfying, perhaps, was a jaunt 30km out a side gravel road to St. Lewis, the easternmost settlement in all of mainland North America. It was only appropriate to take the Gospel to this place as FPGM had been to all other extremes on the compass. We gave out some tracts in this place that seemed the utter end of the world. The wind was brutal, the rocky coastline was barren, and huge icebergs could be seen on the watery horizon. I cannot imagine the brutality of that fishing village in the wintertime. There seemed no biblical witness in that place either, so we made sure to attach tracts to doors and vehicles. Later, the three of us hiked out to an abandoned fishing village site at Deep Creek. Over the hills, we dropped down to a bay where icebergs, some as big as houses, were nestled right up near the shore. Our timing was perfect, and the view was an amazing testimony to the Creator. In that place, Bishnu preached for a YouTube audience, and soon thereafter, the fog rolled in to cloak the vista and the surrounding beauty.

Down in Red Bay, we again found it necessary to obtain lodging, this time in old shipping quarters. The beds and hot showers were a blessed gift, and the blustery night made us thankful for shelter. In this little town began the only stretch of paved highway in all of Labrador, forty or so miles down the Coast to the ferry docks in Blanc Sablon, Quebec. For us, this meant that 900 miles of rough gravel road were finally in the rearview mirror, and, thankfully, there would be no more dust. We spent hours hosing down everything in the trailer and cleaning up that dusty mess. Never again will I take that thing on an extended gravel byway. Still the Lord was good, and all we had to show after 1500 kilometers of rough bumpiness was a loose a/c wire. Red Bay did allow for some witnessing opportunities--the family that ran the hotel/cafe, a carpenter, a photographer from New Hampshire, and a local fisherman; and for this, we were grateful. Upon departure, I felt sorrow. There was something homey about that little coastal hamlet, a microcosm of all that is Labrador and what drew me there in the first place. If only we could have traveled by boat up to Nain and preached Christ in the Native coastal villages at the foot of the mighty Torngat Mountains. Perhaps, ‘tis in store for another time.

Forty or so miles of pavement took us through a few more towns where a few seeds were scattered. We slogged a long trail out to the tall cliffs on the Battery where Newfoundland was barely visible in the distance. In L’Anse-au-Loup, we witnessed to a store owner and some folks from Port Hope Simpson; and in L’Anse-au-Clair, we lounged in a hotel lobby as I tried to obtain ferry tickets online. Our last night in Labrador was spent on the river flats near the ferry docks. ‘Twas windy and cold. Dinner involved devouring a rotisserie chicken obtained from a local market as well as some mac-n-cheese mixed with butter beans, onions, and a mess of garlic. All three of us slept like babies in the back of the Pathfinder, and dawn had us aboard the MV Apollo, crossing the Labrador Straights and bound for Newfoundland. Appropriately, opportunity arose to share Christ on the ferry as the windswept coast of a land I had long desired to see faded on the horizon.

Yes, like Leonidas Hubbard, we had felt the lure of the Labrador wild. He went searching there behind the Ranges for physically untrod territory. We went searching behind the Ranges for spiritually unreached territory. He perished, meditating upon John 14 and I Corinthians 13. We came out alive, having preaching John 14 motivated by I Corinthians 13. Though the actual number of witnessing encounters were few compared to that found in the big city, or in Nepal for that matter, we could not but rejoice. The Lord had given the command in Matthew 22:9: “Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.” Tell them we have done so. Across the Labrador, we have done so!

Wow, to say this recap is long would be a bit of an understatement. And, there’s still so much to tell from Newfoundland, the Maritimes, and concerning the Nepali-speaking refugees on Prince Edward Island. Stay tuned . . .

Before bringing this edition to a close, let me say what an honor and a privilege it was to share the above adventures with my six-year-old daughter. She was a real trooper. Also, I am humbled to have shared it with Bishnu, my friend and national partner from Nepal. Back in 2007, when I first met Bishnu in that Kathmandu office, I never would have dreamed that we would one day be preaching the Gospel together in such far-off regions of the planet. Without the prayers and support of many of you reading this, such would never have been possible. To God be the glory.

Briefly, let me fast forward to last week; ‘twas busy in terms of local outreach. Wednesday evening, a couple of friends from Lincolnton and I preached outside of a Paul McCartney concert down in Charlotte, NC. We had an amazing spot just outside the doors where people were lined up waiting to get inside. The Charlotte police were great and never gave us an ounce of trouble, and I was pleasantly surprised that my friend was able to obtain a sound amplification permit for that spot. Anyway, what amazed me most was the level of laughter, mockery, and apathy we encountered from an upscale crowd made up of a lot of silver-haired churchgoers. One man exclaimed: “I listen to this stuff in church, but this is a Paul McCartney concert, for $%@&#’s sake.” Another approached and tried to grab the megaphone, threatening unmentionable things while demanding that the police shut us down. To the officers’ credit, they urged that maniac (who probably runs a business and attends church on Sunday morning) to move on. He stormed off and never returned. Others cursed, wagged their heads, or chuckled at the mention of Jesus Christ. In those moments, I realized a couple of things. First of all, I’m sad to say, the Beatles are still more popular than Jesus. Secondly, America really is in trouble, and the Remnant Body of Jesus Christ better get ready for some serious persecution, supported and carried out by the typical churchgoer. Still the Word of God went forth, a couple of believers were encouraged, and there were meaningful conversations about the Gospel. CLICK HERE to see some footage of this on my friend’s YouTube channel.

On Friday of last week, we targeted the last of this season’s Hickory Alive events. As the night wore on, the crowd got rougher, the booze flowed like wine, and the hatred for the Gospel became more acute. What has happened to my town in the past 10 years? Such plunges toward decadence used to take generations to occur, and now everything seems to be down-spiraling at a frighteningly telescopic rate. The Scripture that came to mind all evening was Judges 21:25--“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Truly, we are living in interesting times, and true believers must endeavor to keep preaching the Gospel. With a large cross that read “Are You Ready?”, my friend and I distributed Gospel tracts and preached between musical numbers. Some listened, there were a few good conversations, and the police were extremely friendly toward us. In this, at least, was a change for the better since I was arrested at that same venue back in 2008. Praise the Lord for the Word that did go out, but I inwardly weep thinking about all the young people carousing there without a clue or a care about things eternal. I guess Jesus asked a very fitting question in Luke 18:8: “When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Pray for us as we continue to take the Gospel to the streets in our local area. If you count yourself a true believer, I pray you will seek out opportunity to do the same.

Well, I’m done. If you’ve made it this far, I commend you. Don’t forget to check out some video footage from Labrador on FPGM’s YouTube Channel as well as some updated photo galleries. And again, stay tuned for the sequel to this summer’s ministry. Once more, thanks for your prayers and support. Pray for Labrador and its people, that our witness was not in vain, and that the Light will find its way into such far-off places with little or no Christian witness. American society has become fat and bloated with churchianity, yet there are places on our own continent where there is no witness. At least pray for these places. And, if you can, follow Rudyard Kipling’s advice: “Something hidden. Go and find it. Go and look behind the Ranges -- Something lost behind the Ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go!” Christian, there are countless lost behind the Ranges, lost and waiting for you. “Go ye therefore and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).”

For the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ,

Jesse M. Boyd

Home Again

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 09:38:47 -0400

Greetings, friends and beloved brethen, in the matchless name of the Great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Though all should fade and much be lost in these dark times, “Yet will I rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18). The finished work of Christ alone is cause for rejoicing!

It has been six weeks since my daughter and I met up with Bishnu in Pennsylvania and headed north. A little over three weeks ago, we rendezvoused with my wife and remaining children in Canada’s Maritimes. A few short days ago, having added 6,692 miles to my vehicle’s odometer (900 miles of which were on gravel road), the Lord brought us safely home. Though hot and humid here in North Carolina, it’s good to be home. And, it’s sweet to reflect upon what the Lord has done and how He has answered your prayers and mine regarding another missionary journey to the end of the road, to uttermost corners.

I apologize for the lull in communication. I had hoped to get an email update out from the road, but there simply wasn’t opportunity. We found ourselves very busy in the labor of the Gospel. Nevertheless, rejoice with us! The Gospel of Jesus Christ has gone forth up the north shore of the St. Lawrence and the Manicouagan Valley in Quebec; across the Labrador; in North America’s easternmost settlements (i.e. remote fishing villages on the Labrador Coast); down the west coast of Newfoundland; around Cape Breton; on the streets of Halifax, Charlottetown, and a couple of New England cities; and in the homes of Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees on Prince Edward Island.

The latter, my friends, was most gratifying and an amazing testimony to the sovereign hand of a mighty God. Three years ago, I was kicked out of Bhutan for sharing the Gospel in that place and meeting with other believers. The families with whom we fellowshipped on PEI were likewise kicked out of Bhutan because of their language, culture, and status as second-class citizens. Having spent time in a refugee camp in Nepal, they were eventually relocated by the United Nations to PEI. With the help of a local church that has developed a love for these people, Bishnu and I were able to get into their homes and clearly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to these refugees in their own language. And, the best part was that the corrupt, persecuting Buddhist government of Bhutan couldn’t do a darn thing about it. Over a ten-day period, we shared many a Nepali meal together, were able to enter into ten homes, answered a bunch of questions about the Gospel, did a whole lot of preaching, and distributed Project Jagerna Scripture portions and Gospel tracts that we had printed in Kathmandu. It was a good time in the Lord with precious people that needed to hear the truth and were very open to it. Please pray for their salvation and the salvation of their extended families still in Nepal and/or Bhutan.

Alas, there is so much to write and little time in the present to do it. In the coming days, I foresee a series of two updates that will retrace our steps and hopefully give you cause for rejoicing and conviction in the Lord. Stay tuned, and please be patient with me. A plethora of thoughts, contemplations, and journal entries have yet to be organized in my head, much less on paper.

The main purpose of this update is to announce that we have returned and to again thank you for all your prayers. The Lord provided in mighty ways as He has always done, and He used some of you to do it. Thank-you.

Notwithstanding, we continue to covet your prayers, as does Bishnu. Presently, my Nepali national partner is in New York City working with a Nepali local church in Queens. They have been going out on the streets together, getting into the homes of Nepali-speaking people, and Bishnu has been training the believers there in the work of evangelism. On July 3rd, he will be heading over to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to hook up with another Nepali fellowship to do more of the same. In fact, on July 4th, there will be a large gathering in Harrisburg’s Nepali-speaking community to celebrate America’s Independence. Cultural programs, food, and Nepali Christian music will be capped off with the preaching of the Gospel. Bishnu has been invited as the “Guest Speaker” and has been asked to preach with boldness. It is estimated that a few hundred people could be in attendance; and it is expected that many copies of our Project Jagerna John/Romans will be freely distributed. Please commit this amazing opportunity to prayer.

After Harrisburg, Bishnu will be bussing down to Jacksonville, NC to again rendezvous with us. We will be down on the coast with Jamie’s family trying to enjoy some much-needed vacation. Lord willing, he’ll meet us there, get to enjoy the ocean for a couple of days; and then we will all return to Hickory, NC where he will be with us for a week. From there, it’s back to New York City for Bishnu and then on to Kathmandu. Please pray for traveling mercies in all these endeavors.

It has been so good to be with my national partner again, and I am amazed at how the Lord allowed him to join me on the Labrador and in ministry to the Nepali-speaking people on Prince Edward Island. Much has been happening for the cause of the Gospel in Nepal under his leadership, and umpteen miles of driving up north allotted time to hear many a story of how and where Project Jagerna Scripture portions have gone out. In Nepal’s far west, a remote area has been saturated with the Scriptures and some people have come to Christ. Now, we believe, ‘tis time to specifically labor toward planting a church in that place. What is therefore most apparent is that my family and I need to get back to Nepal, for Bishnu needs our help. Please pray that the Lord will bring this to pass before the end of the year.

For this to happen, we will need God’s provision. Right now, things are very tight for Full Proof Gospel Ministries. We had planned to journey out West this summer to visit some churches, fellowship with other believers, and engage in the work of evangelism. Unfortunately, we have all but canceled these plans as the money simply isn’t there. Moreover, what we do have needs to go toward getting a family of five back to South Asia. Indian visas alone, a necessary possession for foreigners in an unstable Nepal, will cost us close to a thousand dollars; and the cost of plane tickets makes my head swim. We’ll also have to find a place to live in Kathmandu. I am hoping to try and work as much as possible this summer to save up for Nepal, but I fear that I will soon be losing my job. Just pray for discernment in all of this, provision from the Lord, and clear direction. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to day, and for ever” has never failed us (Hebrews 13:8).

Well, I better sign off for now. I have some packing to do for the beach and am so excited to have some down-time with my family next week. Stay tuned for more detailed recap from our Labrador and PEI missionary journey. I will also be posting some video and photos to the website as soon as I can get around to it.

Peace be with you all in the Lord Jesus Christ,

Jesse Boyd
Full Proof Gospel Ministries

Prayers Coveted

Sun, 16 May 2010 22:37:16 -0400

Greetings, beloved brethren, in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. An amazing truth is this: “And by him [Jesus Christ] all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:39). For the born-again believer, as Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “We are now -- even now pardoned; even now are our sins put away; even now we stand in the sight of God accepted, as though we had never been guilty.” Oh, what soul-transporting thoughts! Oh, what liberty and surety that religion can never grasp or digest! What shall we do? Again, I quote the renowned preacher Spurgeon: “Let present privilege awaken us to present duty, and now, while life lasts, let us spend and be spent for our sweet Lord Jesus.” Woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel!

Your prayers are earnestly desired for the coming days. In my last e-newsletter, I discussed upcoming missionary work with Bishnu Shrestha (Full Proof Gospel Ministries’ national partner in Nepal) in New York City; Northern Quebec & Labrador; and Canada’s Maritime Provinces--culminating in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, where we will be helping the believers of Faith Bible Church to develop a strategy for reaching the immigrant communities, including Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees, in their local area. Bethany and I were supposed to leave here back on May 11th, but unforeseen difficulties (not the least of which are political troubles and nationwide strikes in Nepal that have forced Bishnu to change his fly dates) have delayed us. Lord willing, therefore, Bishnu will be arriving in New York City on Monday afternoon. Please pray for traveling mercies and for the security of his family in Kathmandu while he is away, especially during what are very precarious times in Nepal. Some Nepali contacts in Brooklyn will be picking up Bishnu at the airport and helping him to apply for a Canadian Visa upon his arrival. Please pray for this. Without that visa, he cannot travel with me up into Canada, and obtaining it is far from certain. I shudder to think about ministering to Nepali-speaking families on Prince Edward Island without his help. I am also unsettled with regard to traveling the long lonely highways up to Labrador and witnessing in the fishing villages without his presence, just me and my six-year-old daughter. We’ll do what we have to do, but please just pray that the Canadian Consulate shows him favor and grants the tourist visa.

Lord willing, Bethany and I will leave here on Wednesday morning, bound for New York City. There, I’ll pick up Bishnu, with Canadian visa, hopefully, in hand; and we’ll make a beeline north to Montreal and then up through Quebec City and along Route 389 to the Trans-Labrador Highway (approximately 700 miles of gravel that eventually intersects with the pavement along the Labrador Coast). All along the way, as our custom is, we’ll be seizing opportunity to proclaim Jesus Christ in the streets and lanes of the cities and the highways and hedges, distributing the Word of God and Gospel tracts unto another uttermost end of the road system. From fishing villages in Labrador, our route will turn south as we ferry over to the island of Newfoundland, target more villages along its western coast, and then eventually ferry back to the Canadian mainland in Nova Scotia. In Halifax, we’ll meet up with Jamie and my other two children (Please pray for them as Jamie will be alone with two babies trying to change planes at JFK International Airport in NYC of all places) and then transition on over to Prince Edward Island to labor with the folks of Faith Bible Church. Lord willing, we shall return home by the end of June.

Friends, ‘tis a long and arduous missionary journey ahead (approximately 3,000 miles from FPGM’s base in Vale, NC to the Labrador Coast) with many obstacles, not the least of which is gas money and other inevitable traveling expenses. As I mentioned back on April 29th:

Over the past six months or so, we have seen our committed monthly support dwindle, undoubtedly due to a sagging economy and financial hardships for many. As a result, FPGM finds itself in a position where normal monthly expenses are exceeding our committed monthly support by several hundred dollars, and this doesn’t factor in the inevitable costs of looming itinerant outreach that is at the core of our calling to “make the Gospel an unavoidable issue for as many people as possible all around the world and just around the corner.”

Please pray that the Lord makes financial provision for this worthwhile excursion and our ongoing ministry. It will not be the first time we have hit the road short of the gas money at the outset to complete a missionary journey. But, God has always proven faithful, bringing to fruition every good work that He has begun in us (Philippians 1:6). Why should now be any different?

I asked everyone to pray about a vehicle in my last update. Thank you, for the Lord faithfully answered those prayers. I sold the ministry Subaru for more than I thought I could get out of it, and I got a great deal on a Nissan Pathfinder that has the room to carry all of us, including Bishnu. The vehicle has 60,000 miles on it and a few quirks. But, I should have these ironed out soon, and she’ll be ready, Lord willing, to take the Gospel to the end of the Trans-Labrador Highway.

The Harris Family, by the way, safely returned from Argentina and are trying to re-assimilate back into American culture. Please continue to pray for them as they seek out a place to live and the Lord’s direction forward. They have a piece of land in California that they really need to sell before heading back to the mission field. In fact, it has been on the market for a very long time. Please pray that the Lord sells this property.

With utmost sincerity, I thank all of you who read these updates with interest, concern, and an open heart. I write, not only to give testimony of God’s workings and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but as a witness to the lost and to exhort and shake up the Remnant Body of Jesus Christ unto awareness, spiritual discernment, and boldness for the faith in spite of the lukewarm “churchianity” that infests the American Church in these dark days. As you know, I am not short on frankness, and as the Word of God causes offense, so does our preaching of it--whether it be on the streets, behind a pulpit, or through an email update. FPGM has lost financial support, some recently, because we commit to taking a stand and proclaiming the whole counsel of biblical truth without compromise and watered-down platitudes. Please pray that we will never be tempted by financial support to concede this calling. Like Tower, Cotlet, Huss, Savanarola, Wycliffe, Luther, Beza, Calvin, Wesley, Cartwright, Whitfield Livingston, Nat Taylor, Finney, Mueller, Moody, Spurgeon, Darby, Billy Sunday, Morrison, Smith, Scofield, Booth, Norris, Mordecai Ham and countless other faithful preachers of old, I love the Remnant Body of Jesus Christ far too much not to call things as I see them with the Word of God as the plumbline (Amos 7:7-8). FPGM has done this since day one, and, by the grace of God, the heralding will continue. If my words have ever seemed brash and bereft of charity, please forgive me. Know that it is genuine love for the lost and for the Bride of Christ that constrains me to be forthright and report openly concerning the sad state of things both in the world and in the Church as we encounter such out on the road. I do not expect anyone to read every word of these updates or to always be “caught up” with what is going on. I simply hope, when and if you do get around to reading something I have written, that you are exhorted, encouraged, able to rejoice in answers to your prayers, and compelled to be a bold witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Well, I better wrap things up. There is much packing and preparation yet to do. Please don’t forget to pray for Bishnu regarding the Canadian Visa. As for me, I find great joy knowing that so many of you faithful servants of God will cover us with your prayers as we go out yet again for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ. Stay tuned for the answers to these prayers from the road.

Without the prayers and financial support of God’s people, all for which FPGM has given testimony, going all the way back to that coast-to-coast bicycle ride in 2003, would not have been possible. I love you all. Jesus loves you more.

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus,

Jesse Boyd
Full Proof Gospel Ministries

Sweet Reminiscence Part 2

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 07:54:12 -0400

Greetings, my friends, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Out of the darkness of these days, I write unto you for edification, giving testimony of the Lord’s grace and faithfulness, that ye might be comforted. Yes, “the wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted” (Psalm 12:8), but “the words of the LORD are pure words . . . Thou shalt keep them O LORD (Psalm 12:6-7),” and “he hath prepared his throne for judgment” (Psalm 9:7). Now, for many of us, our feet seem to slip as day in and day out we behold the prosperity of the wicked and the invariable knavery of a thriving society that scoffs at the Word of God and the Remnant Body of Jesus Christ (Psalm 73:2-3). “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble (Psalm 10:1)?” . . . “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God, then understood I their end . . . So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee (Psalm 73:17, 22)” . . . “The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man may say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: VERILY HE IS A GOD THAT JUDGETH IN THE EARTH (Psalm 58:10-11).” Oh, how the words of the psalmists are a treasure-trove of comfort and a well-spring of truth in troubling times. Ensconce thyself in God’s Word; and find rest.

Please pray for Full Proof Gospel Ministries. Pray that we will be bold; that we’ll continue to step out in faith, trusting the Lord to provide; and that He WILL make provision in a time of need. Over the past six months or so, we have seen our committed monthly support dwindle, undoubtedly due to a sagging economy and financial hardships for many. As a result, FPGM finds itself in a position where normal monthly expenses are exceeding our committed monthly support by several hundred dollars, and this doesn’t factor in the inevitable costs of looming itinerant outreach that is at the core of our calling to “make the Gospel an unavoidable issue for as many people as possible all around the world and just around the corner.”

As debt is not an option for FPGM, we go, do, and give AS THE LORD PROVIDES. Committed monthly support from God’s people, even if but a little, helps us to budget properly so that we can continue proclaiming the Gospel itinerantly, carry on the work of Project Jagerna and support our national partner in Nepal, and print and purchase Gospel materials for mass distribution. Please join us as we pray for God to make up for what has been recently lost and to increase our monthly support. If the Lord should lead you or your church to contribute toward the work in this way, it will be most appreciated; and don’t forget that all contributions are tax-deductible for U.S. citizens. Our contact information appears at the end of this email, or CLICK HERE for more information.

If FPGM were a business, financial reports would suggest that our doors should be shut and that we couldn’t operate in the black. But, we are not a business, and I am not a CEO. The LORD is our keeper, the shade upon our right hand; He is our PROVIDER. What doesn’t make financial sense in the eyes of man is a testimony to His faithfulness and the faithful generosity of His people. Thus, we won’t sit back and wait on Him to provide, we’ll go forth according to His clear leading as confirmed in His Word, knowing that God never guides where He does not provide. I recall being in this same financial situation more than a year ago on the eve of my bicycle missionary journey to Alaska. As Ricky and I set our faces north, FPGM definitely did not have the funds to complete such a journey. Seven months later, when my family and I rolled back into Vale, NC, I was amazed to compare the ministry’s financial situation with what it had been before we left. It was pretty much the same. From a human perspective, it made no fiscal sense; but the Lord helped us to travel cheap, made abundant provision, and put precious believers into our path all along the way. Today, I again ask you to pray for our supply; and we’ll commit to keep proclaiming the Gospel in the streets and highways of the cites and the highways and hedges in uttermost corners. I am excited to think about how the Lord is going to furnish our needs and be glorified in this matter.

Well, I am finally getting out Part 2 of the update that I began more than a month ago. Again, I apologize for the negligence in this matter. Things have been very busy around here as we continue to become accustomed to a larger family and another newborn. Mom and baby have done well, and we are finally getting a little more sleep at night. Thanks for all your prayers in the matter of Josiah McCandless’ home-birth.

God has also given opportunity for lots of local outreach over the past month, and He is paving the way for some intense missionary work for FPGM this summer here in North America. But, before I get into any of this, let me finish recapping our work down in South America back in February and March. Please be praying for Dylan and Cheri Harris and their family in the coming weeks. After more than six months of intense labor for the Gospel, including the three weeks that we partnered together, they will be returning from Argentina and attempting to establish a base for themselves in Oregon before setting out again for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ. They have many needs, so pray that the Lord makes provision and leads them in a plain path (Psalm 27:11). You can read about some of their adventures for the cause of Christ, including a recap of my coming alongside them, HERE.

In a mere five weeks in South America, the Lord was good to allow us to tag 4 countries, saturate 21 cities and towns, share Christ the Messiah with 13 Jewish folks, provide evangelism training in 2 churches, supply 3 Andean backcountry refugios with Gospel materials, and place the Word of God atop 5 Andean peaks, culminating with the mighty Torre Principal (5 pitches on rope to get up, including a 5.10 summit block, and 7 rappels to get down). A man and wife came to Christ in a Bolivian village; I had the privilege of interacting with some fine national believers; and many heard the Word of God from the high altiplano to the sultry jungle and from the green western slopes of the Andes to the dry pampas of the east side. Many of you prayed for us during this time, and your cries were heard. The fruit is yours; thank-you.

In Part 1 of this update, rather than a step-by-step summary, I highlighted a few Scriptural truths with which I was confronted as I roamed the Southern Hemisphere. Let me pick up where I left off:

“I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours (John 4:38).”

We often consider Jesus’ exhortation to His disciples while in Samaria concerning the fields white unto harvest, rightly embracing this as a call from our Lord to go out with the Gospel. However, what Jesus goes on to say about those who sow and those who reap is often overlooked. As Bruno and I were hitchhiking around Bolivia and into Peru with the Gospel, we opted to follow a dirt road along the eastern shore of Lake Titicaca, having noted that a few small villages were situated there. We had some fresh socks to give out in the name of Jesus and desired to get off the “Gringo Trail.” Later, we hopped off a microbus in the small hamlet of Capani and began to go lane by lane, proclaiming the Gospel to such as we could find. As I did a little preaching through a rope trick, some young folks exclaimed that gringos had never come to that place. Bruno and I began to think that we were truly at an uttermost corner of the earth, sowing seed in that place for the first time. There was rejoicing in this, but, I am ashamed to admit, a flutter of pride quickly followed, perhaps the subtle pride that occasioned Jesus’ words to his disciples in John 4:38. Shortly thereafter, we saw a woman in traditional altiplano garb with a young girl and a baby ambling down an alley. We offered them Gospel tracts only to discover that they were believers. Paulina spoke of having suffered many hardships in that place as a result of her faith in Christ and of her desire to be a light in the prevailing darkness of her hometown. She invited us into her store that had recently been robbed, and we prayed together for the people of Capani. Before leaving, Bruno and I supplied her and her daughter with some Bibles and tracts for distribution. They were so grateful, tears coming to their eyes. In those moments, the above Scripture came to mind. We were nothing special, and God doesn’t need us to take His Word into the Capanis of the world. He has a remnant, or can easily raise one up, even in the uttermost corners of His planet. For us, it was no great thing to preach there, ‘twas simply a privilege and an opportunity to be obedient. As Jesus said in Luke 17:10, “when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded of you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” In Capani, we were entering into other believers’ labors, labors that had brought hardship and suffering. Paulina and her daughter had sowed, we had watered--”that both he that soweth and he that reapeth my rejoice together” (John 4:36). This, we did in that little store, lifting up our voices to God in corporate prayer. So, the lesson for me was this: God desires to use us for the sowing of His Word, but He does not need us. If we are unwilling or disobedient, He can and will raise up someone else, even in the most unlikely of circumstances. Be obedient to the Great Commission with humility of spirit, for other faithful servants have labored, and many times, we are simply entering into those labors. Please pray for Paulina and her daughter (a young mother whose husband left her with a newborn baby because of her Christian testimony) in the small little Peruvian village of Capani on the high altiplano. Before leaving Capani, Bruno and I found a very old woman in the street who could not walk. Her wrinkled leathern face bewrayed years of hardship and toil under a harsh high-altitude sun. We prayed over this poor soul and gave her some bread, sharing as best we could the hope that could be found in Jesus Christ, One who healed the lame as He walked the dusty streets of Galilee. Oh, how I longed to be able to say to that woman: “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). Perhaps it was a lack of faith on my part. Some would say so, I suppose. The Lord knoweth. Still, we gave her some socks in the name of Christ and trusted that the encounter had not been in vain. Sadly, we bid farewell to Capani and moved on. Leaving, we heard a strange thing. A couple of female cyclists from America had pedaled through the outskirts several days before, proclaiming the Gospel. Truly, we had entered into others’ labors, watering where they had sown. Bruno and I rejoiced and were humbled.

“Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city . . . Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in . . . (Luke 14:21-23).

Oftentimes, as we read Jesus’ parable of the Great Supper in Luke 14 (or a similar one found in Matthew 22), the focus is upon the friends and loved ones who made lame excuses about why they could not come to the wedding. Little contemplation is made over the servant who was able to say to his master: “It is done as thou hast commanded” (Luke 14:22). That servant represents, I believe, the Remnant Body of Jesus Christ while those that made excuse were a reference to the Jews of Jesus’ day, and in our context, could easily apply to the religious folk of America’s churches (the ones who should have known better). Anyway, the master (i.e. the Lord) told his servant to go into the streets and lanes of the city as well as the highways and hedges. In Matthew 22:9, it reads: “Go ye therefore into the highways AND AS MANY AS YE SHALL FIND, bid to the marriage.” The work of the Great Commission demands a simple strategy, simple incarnation as modeled by our Saviour when He took on human flesh and walked the dusty roads of Palestine. What greater calling can there be for man than to do as Jesus did: walk the streets and lanes of the city and the highways and hedges, inviting such as can be found to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? As we walked many dusty roads and city streets, combing through barrios lane by lane in South America, I was reminded of this passage and evoked to further embrace simple incarnation as the essence of what FPGM exists to do. In other words: We go out into the streets of big cities (where many can be found and crowds can be gathered) as well as highways, hedges, and ends of the road (uttermost corners where the work is difficult and fruit is oftentimes not seen). Sure, the big cities are attractive with endless opportunity, but someone must also go to the villages, be willing to comb the shantytowns and remote crossings, proclaiming salvation to “as many as ye shall find” (Matthew 22:9). This, we commit to do. Pray for us, and we invite you to come alongside.

As I think on these things, I do recall an interesting encounter that Dylan and I had in a barrio on the outskirts of Bariloche down in Argentina. We were attempting to saturate the entire neighborhood, street by street and block by block. To such as we found, we shared the Good News and distributed Gospel tracts. We also left tracts in mailboxes (not a federal offense in Argentina) and attached them to gates. That day, we ran into two Mormons who were combing the same neighborhood with their lies. Dylan had previously encountered the leader and had been able to share salvation in Christ, God manifest in the flesh, apart from works. The previous partner who had listened with intent and asked many questions was not with him this day. It was discovered that this young man had quit his Mormon mission and went home due to his questioning of his Mormon faith. Undoubtedly, this was a result of Dylan’s boldness and the truth that had been given directly from the Scriptures. We quietly rejoiced over this. Anyway, a new partner was with the young leader, so we took to the Scriptures, plowing with the Law and dropping in the seed of the Gospel. “You must be born again,” Dylan entreated. ‘Twas a good encounter. As we parted ways, the Mormon leader said, “Oh, by the way, there are some Jehovah’s Witnesses out in this neighborhood today as well. Looks like three religions are being represented here.” Dylan replied profoundly, “No, my friend, there are only two religions out here today. We bring Truth according to the Word of God and not manmade tradition. We preach freedom from the bondage of religion!” Such is a taste of what one can find along the highways and hedges. Even now, I recall amazing encounters as a result of this simple strategy. The entire country of Nepal shut down for a day back in 2007. I was stuck in the remote western outpost of Surkhet. With nothing else to do, we walked the streets handing out Gospel tracts. Jaya, an army officer (who was also stuck in Surkhet) followed us back to our room and asked many questions. That evening he came to Christ. There was a man who ran out to meet Russ Taylor and me as we walked with a cross through the remote Nubra Valley in Kashmir in 2006. His wife’s arm was mangled, and he pleaded with us to come pray for her. We entered into that Buddhist home and were able to proclaim Christ. On the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2008, I ran into a well-to-do woman who had questions about the Bible. Ultimately, she invited our team into her home and we got to share Christ with her husband, a respected military officer. We gave him a very ornate Bible, and He was grateful. In Haines, Alaska on a dark and snowy night in November of 2009, Ricky Springer and I walked the quiet avenues, searching for opportunities. One young man said, “I have never ever seen a Christian doing this.” He was open and took a tract. I could go on and on. The Gospel is simple; the work of spreading the Gospel should be simple.

May we be able to say to our Lord as the servant did to his master in Luke 14:22: “It is done as thou hast commanded.” Will you go into the streets and lanes of your own cities, my friends? Will you go into the highways and hedges surrounding your own communities, and “as many as ye shall find bid to the marriage” (Matthew 22:9)? This is our Master’s command. If you cannot GO, will you GIVE so that others can? If you cannot GO or GIVE, will you PRAY that the Lord will send forth laborers? If, like me, you can GO, GIVE, and PRAY, will you not do all three?

“And the things which thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (II Timothy 2:2).

While in South America, an amazing realization came to mind. Since this ministry began, we have considered the exhortation and training of other believers unto boldness for the faith to be as important as preaching to the lost. There have been many that the Lord put into our path who at least claim that we were a favorable influence on them to this end (As an unprofitable servant, I must admit, I often doubt such claims). II Timothy 2:2 is a command to which I have strived to be obedient, and, while south of the Equator, the Lord allowed me to see fruit of this in the lives of those with whom my life had been intertwined, going as far back as 2003: I was laboring alongside Dylan & Cheri Harris as they carried out a bold and amazing work in Bariloche, Argentina. At the same time, Shawn Holes was being arrested in Scotland for preaching the Word of God open-air to crowds that had gathered to listen; Casey, a young man that the Lord allowed me to lead to Christ on the streets several years ago, was serving His country in Iraq and attempting to be a witness for Jesus; Bishnu Shrestha, Jon Lane, and Tony Allen were hiking up a Himalayan Valley in Nepal to saturate villages with the Scripture portions we had printed as part of Project Jagerna; and a small house church in Hickory, NC (one we helped to plant) was seeing biblical restoration as a result of following the Word in terms of proper church discipline. To God be the Glory! In many ways, those listed were once students that have now become my teachers.

I will say no more about the work in South America. Sweet reminiscences these have been. Thanks for all your prayers while I was away. There was victory, and your heavenly petitions were answered. I have posted some photos Online and videos from this journey on FPGM’s YouTube Channel.

Since returning in March, as mentioned, there has been opportunity for lots of local outreach. We have done a little open-air preaching in a “Free Speech Zone” on the campus of Appalachian State University. Some faculty members and a few unruly students got the police involved, but the officer took our side. He affirmed that we were in a “Free Speech Zone” designated by the university and had right to be there. I was pleasantly surprised. I found it interesting that one faculty member rambled about how the First Amendment does not protect offensive speech. This is the ridiculous mindset of the Communists in America that have infested our institutions of learning and the once-hallowed halls of American government. If the First Amendment of the Constitution protects anything, it protects OFFENSIVE SPEECH. You don’t need an amendment to protect polite speech. But alas, the days are coming, or perhaps they are already here, when an appeal to the Constitution will be useless. After all, it has already been trampled by the current administration and even, to some extent, by the previous three. Nevertheless, the duty of the believer does not change. The world may come crashing down all around us, but there is a God who rules in the kingdoms of me. Our duty remains the same, and in this is great peace, great liberty, and ultimate victory.

Recent weeks have also allowed us to preach the Gospel open-air outside the Time-Warner Arena when the Charlotte Bobcats were playing home games. This year, they made it to the NBA playoffs for the first time, so this provided some unexpected opportunity. I have been amazed at how easy it has been to obtain permits from the City of Charlotte that allow us to use sound amplification. Moreover, the police have been very polite and have not hindered us in any way. The Lord allowed us on multiple occasions to set up right outside one of the main entrances. Each time, we were able to preach for two solid hours as mobs of people were gathered outdoors (waiting to get inside, scalping tickets, or simply hanging out until the game got interesting). We preached, we held up Gospel signs, there were some good conversations, fellow believers were encouraged, and lots of tracts went out. One preacher from Fayetteville was amazed and said that the next thing on his list was to buy a bullhorn and start doing the same thing. I cannot believe that I have overlooked such an opportunity in years past. Anyway, the Bobcats went down 4-0 to the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs, so this past Monday was the last for us in this venue until next year. It was particularly special, however. I took a couple of young men with me from my karate dojo who had been asking about coming out with me on the streets. One of these, a junior in high-school, had the boldness to take the megaphone down there and read some Scripture while sharing a brief testimony. Both gave out lots of Gospel tracts, having never done anything like that before. I rejoiced to see the Lord work in these young lives, and since, they have not been able to stop talking about it. I posted a video montage from these outings on Youtube. You can view it HERE.

Please pray for FPGM in the coming weeks. God is bringing some stuff together for this summer, and I am excited. It looks like Bishnu will be returning to America for two months or so. Primarily, he will be working with a Nepali fellowship in New York City. We will also be working on translation with regard to Project Jagerna and doing some itinerant evangelism together. Lord willing, I will be picking him up at the airport on May 11th in New York City. We will immediately go down to the Canadian Consulate and try to obtain a Canadian Visa for him. There is much uncertainty about this, so please pray that the process goes smoothly and quickly. Should the Lord grant this, he, Bethany (my six-year-old daughter), and I will head north up through Quebec and onto a road that just opened six months ago providing access to Labrador, the mainland portion of Newfoundland. We will be targeting some remote fishing villages in another of the world’s uttermost corners, a corner that until recently was only accessible by boat and/or ferry from the islands. We will then take a ferry and circle back down through the island part of Newfoundland, ferry again over to Nova Scotia, and then culminate our journey in Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island. There, we will be working with a church that has been targeting Nepali immigrants that live in the area. There are about 20 Nepali families, many of which have already received free Jagerna Scripture portions. We hope to go into these homes and follow-up on the witness already received as well has help the local body of believers to come up with a workable plan for reaching the Nepalis and other immigrants that are tending to congregate there. I am very excited about this opportunity, one in which we cannot turn down. It only came up a few weeks ago as the church contacted me and asked me to pray about traveling up there. Then, it happened that Bishnu would be in New York City, so it seems like God is bringing an amazing missionary journey together. Upon returning from Alaska in December of last year, I received a request for some Nepali Scripture portions from a missionary on Prince Edward Island. I sent them out FREE of charge (as is our custom), and this is the fruit of that. I have heard some amazing stories of the opportunities that have already arisen for the believers there to speak into the lives of Nepalis. There seems to be a real openness, so I trust Bishnu and I can go in there and water these seeds in their own language. If we are going all the way up to Prince Edward Island, there is no way I could be that close and not drive out to the the fishing villages at the end of this newly opened road. It will be long with miles of gravel (much like the Dalton Highway in Alaska that I pedaled last summer up to Prudhoe Bay), but should it prove successful, FPGM will have taken the Gospel to the northernmost end of the mainland road system in our hemisphere (Prudhoe Bay, Alaska), the southernmost end of the mainland road system in our hemisphere (Ushuaia, Argentina), the westernmost end of the mainland road system in our hemisphere (Anchor Point, Alaska), and the easternmost end of the mainland road system in North America (Lodge Bay, Labrador). Pray for us in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for updates from the road.

We’ll be taking two weeks to go up to Labrador and then back down to Prince Edward Island. The rest of my family will be rendezvousing with us in Halifax, Nova Scotia around May 25th. From there, we will undertake the work in Charlottetown before heading back to New York City together. In NYC, we will all be staying with some brethren at a house on Coney Island for as long as the Lord allows, targeting the streets with the Gospel on a daily basis. I look forward to being with some fellow street evangelists and being encouraged by their labors. As for Bishnu, he will return to Long Island to work with the Nepali fellowship there. Lord willing, he will rendezvous with us in North Carolina a bit later.

Later in the summer, my family and I intend to do some more outreach around America, further working toward FPGM’s goal of walking the downtown streets and proclaiming the Gospel to such as we find in every significant city and town in the United States. We still have a long way to go to complete this goal. Lord willing, we will also be visiting some churches and a few supporters and partnering with some believers in local outreach.

Obviously, such worthwhile journeys involve multitudinous costs, and like last summer, we will set forth without the funds to complete the work. But, God never guides where He does not provide. As mentioned earlier, please join with us in praying that the Lord will increase our committed monthly support and make up for what has recently been lost. The time is short, and the window is closing; the freedom to do such things may soon be lost here in the United States. Stay tuned.

If, by some strange chance, any of you has believing contacts in Labrador or Newfoundland, these would prove most helpful. We will be traveling cheap and trusting the Lord to open up homes for an occasional bed and a shower, just like He did last summer. There should be plenty of camping and cooking on the camp stove. I am excited about Bethany going with Bishnu and me on the first leg of this journey, and I am happy that the rest of my family can meet us up in Nova Scotia to be a part of the work on Prince Edward Island.

One final prayer request: I am trying to sell the ministry’s little Subaru Outback. I love this car, and I hate to part with it, but it no longer boasts enough room to carry my growing family. The ministry needs something bigger that will accommodate all of us and our materials and allow us to go to remote corners in a variety of conditions. Even with my personal truck that I took to Alaska, we face a room issue. My family packs it out, so there is no space for Bishnu. Since we will all be traveling together up in Canada, we are praying that the Lord provides an alternative in the next week or so. I need to sell that Subaru before talk of an alternative is even worthwhile. Just pray that the Lord meets the transportation need before I am scheduled to head up to New York and get Bishnu on May 11. If not, we’ll figure something out when my family flies into Halifax.

Anyway, I am sorry to burden you all with so many prayer requests. I realize that our needs pale in comparison to those of many other faithful believers, some of which know real suffering for the Gospel. Thanks to those of you who do faithfully support FPGM on monthly basis with your prayers and/or your financial sacrifices. None of this is taken for granted. May the Lord return the blessing to you tenfold, no, an hundredfold.

For the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ,

Jesse M. Boyd & Family

Sweet Reminiscence Part 1

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:13:15 -0400

After more than a month of silence: Greetings in the name of the “God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward (Deuteronomy 10:17).” Jesus Christ is His name (John 8:58).

Yes, I am safe and back with my family in Vale, North Carolina, having returned from South America and a very fruitful missionary journey more almost two weeks ago. We are busy around here, expecting a baby any day now. Please pray for Jamie and the health of the little one. Again, we are excited to be doing another home birth, so please pray that all goes well.

I sincerely apologize for the lull in communication since February 17th and am profoundly honored by all your prayers and concerns. With Dylan & Cheri Harris in Argentina and Chile, I was so occupied with an abundance of ministry opportunity that getting out an email update was hardly possible. Moreover, unforeseen trial greeted me upon my arrival back in the States and has further prevented this. With regard to the latter, I cannot say much at this time. However, I do implore you to pray for my parents and our family in the coming days. An example of Christian persecution, I believe, has reared an ugly head; and, if the LORD does not intervene, the consequences could be grave. As I am unable to say more, please pray specifically that the Lord would fight for us (Exodus 14:14); that we would stand still and see the salvation of the LORD (Exodus 14:13) and fully trust Him for our provision (Philippians 4:19); that righteousness and truth would prevail (Psalm 58:10-11); and that what man endeavors unto evil, God will use for good unto the furtherance of the Gospel (Genesis 50:20; Philippians 1:12-14).

And, let us not forget the much larger context--that of the demise of our society, the great falling away prophesied in the Scriptures (II Thessalonians 2:3), and the inevitable persecution that awaits all true believers in this untoward generation (II Timothy 3:12). This particular situation, and I say this without apology, is an example of a persecution that starts quietly, and if unchecked, could blindside true believers as a whole with the unthinkable. In Nazi Germany, persecution against the Jews and Christians began quietly in the workplace, burst forth in the decrees of government, and culminated in death camps. The same beginnings are festering here in America and smolder to an even greater degree in the rest of the West.

Another case in point (and another serious matter that warrants your prayers) involves a bold Christian witness and personal friend who was arrested last week in Glasgow, Scotland. Shawn Holes has a ministry much like mine and travels all over the United States in an RV with his family, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ on college campuses and on city streets. You might recall that he and Jon Lane were arrested for distributing Gospel tracts on the campus of the University of South Dakota back in 2008. They were found guilty of “trespassing” on public property (an oxymoron) in that instance and later forced to pay a fine. In my opinion, the judge in that case should have been impeached, but anyway . . . Shawn was arrested in Glasgow, Scotland while preaching in the downtown plaza and forced to spend a horrible night in jail. Basically, he was preaching Christ when a couple young people in the crowd asked what the Bible had to say about homosexuality. Shawn, as I understand it, proceeded to read some Scripture and simply affirmed that homosexual behavior is a sin according to Jesus. Almost immediately, the police approached (as if this was a set-up), carted him off, and charged him with a hate crime. Shawn was basically forced to plead guilty to agreeing with the Bible and then pay a $1600.00 fine (i.e. 1000 pounds)! Only then, was he released from custody. I have heard rumors of this kind of stuff in the UK, and now I know it to be true. In Great Britain, if you read aloud Scripture that denounces homosexuality (as Romans 1 clearly does) and/or call this perverted practice a “sin,” you will be arrested and fined $1600! This is amazing because recently I saw actual footage of angry Muslims gathered in the streets of London publicly and outrightly calling for the death of the Queen, the death of the West, and death for the Jewish and Christian “infidels.” Yet, the authorities did nothing. Don’t be so naive to think that this insanity is not already festering in America. Remnant Body of Jesus Christ: “Hold fast the profession of your faith without wavering (Hebrews 10:23).” They can take our possessions, they can take our freedom, they can kill our bodies; but they cannot silence the truth, they cannot steal our eternal life in Christ, and they cannot thwart the return of the King to judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31). So, rejoice and be filled with the Spirit, speaking the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).

As regards Shawn Holes, some faithful believers in Scotland came together and paid the ridiculous fine to get him out of jail. Lord willing, he will be able to return to his family this week, but he probably will blacklisted and unable to return to the UK. Next week, his family will be staying with us for a few days, and we hope to do some street fishing together. Pray for this brother, and may we follow his example of boldness on the streets.

Much more important than my current status or even a recap of my recent missionary journey are the requests mentioned above. Please commit them to faithful prayer. For that, I am most grateful.

Wow, I am already long-winded, and I haven’t yet begun to invoke sweet reminiscence of all that the LORD did down in South America in February and March. Such may have to be served in two parts, but let’s see how it goes. Suffice it to say that the Word of God went forth in abundance across four countries (Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Chile) to both Jew and Gentile (Romans 1:16). Through partnership with Bruno Benoni (a Swiss missionary that I met in the Yukon last summer who currently lives in Santa Cruz, Bolivia) and Dylan & Cheri Harris (laboring for the Gospel out of Bariloche, Argentina until May), Full Proof Gospel Ministries was able to target seven cities (including Potosi in Bolivia, the world’s highest “city” at 13,123 feet and one of the poorest, according to the United Nations Quality of Life Index), fourteen towns and villages, and many points in between: from the high Andean altiplano of Bolivia to the lush fjords of Southern Chile; from the shores of Lago de Titicaca in Peru to the dusty barrios of Bariloche in Patagonia; from the sweltering jungle heat of Santa Cruz to backcountry refugios in the Andes; from Gentile climbing festivals to Jewish hostels. My head spins even now as I think about all of this.

At two churches (Santa Cruz, Bolivia & Bariloche, Argentina), the Lord gave opportunity to shake up the believers and provide some needed evangelism training. In both cases, it was well received, and I was encouraged by the Christian love and brotherhood. CLICK HERE to see a little footage of this at Iglesia Evangelica Christiana in Bariloche as well as some other ministry stuff from Argentina. Actually, I have posted several videos on FPGM’s YouTube Channel from the South America journey. Go to www.youtube.com/jboydfpgm to check these out.

Time nor space permit a play-by-play recap of all that the LORD did down in South America, especially since I am not skilled at concise synopsis. Dylan & Cheri do a pretty good job of summarizing our three weeks together in Argentina and Chile on their blog. You can read this entry, entitled The Last 3 Weeks, on their website (http://harrisfamilyargentina.blogspot.com/).

No, for my purposes, I think a more appropriate recap would be to highlight a few Scriptural truths with which I was confronted as I roamed the Southern Hemisphere. I pray these will encourage, exhort, and embolden you in the faith as they did for me.

“Finally, brethren, pray for us that, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men (II Thessalonians 3:1-2).”

There are many places in the world of today where the Word of God has free course and the freedom to preach the Gospel is far greater than in my own country, both legally and culturally. In recent years, I have discovered incredible open doors in places that, not too long ago, were under the iron fist of Soviet Communism (e.g. Russian, Romania, Estonia, Moldova, etc.). I have found free course all over Nepal, a predominantly Hindu country where Maoist thugs hold a majority in government. And as of this most recent missionary journey, Bruno and I were able to seize upon abundant occasion to spread the Gospel in Bolivia, a socialist republic controlled by Evo Morales, a dictator cut from the same cloth as Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and Fidel Castro in Cuba.

There, we preached openly in the plazas without incident. We distributed Gospel tracts en masse during La Carnival (a huge drunken orgy that takes place all over South America) without incident. While leaving Bolivia and crossing into Peru by land, we were able to distribute Gospel tracts to the immigration officers and openly share our testimony to government officials. Remember, Bolivia is a socialist republic with a narcissistic dictator. Can you imagine trying to share your faith or Gospel tracts with TSA officials when coming back into the States? You’d probably be arrested. Later, as Bruno and I crossed back into Bolivia some miles north, two Bolivian immigration officers actually listened for more than ten minutes as I preached the Gospel to them through a rope trick. When I finished, they applauded and took tracts. Would this happen in “the land of the free and the home of the brave” ? No way!

Even in more democratic societies such as Peru, Argentina, and Chile, the cultural freedom to carry out the Great Commission far exceeds that of the “good ole US of A.” In Desiguadero, Peru, Bruno and I went into restaurants and were allowed to distribute tracts to those seated over dinner. And, the people were very grateful. We preached and distributed on buses, and the reception was wonderful. Many heard the Word of God. At the airports in Bolivia, distributing the Gospel was easy. In Argentina, we could go street by street and house by house. No one cussed us out or chased us off. No one threatened to call the authorities, and no one harassed us (except for a handful of dogs). In Osorno, a pretty big city in Southern Chile, Dylan & I preached and distributed tracts to a line of people that started outside a bank and wrapped around the corner into a mall. The thought of being able to freely preach and distribute inside a mall in America is almost comical. Oh, I must not forget: every police officer (except one in Chile) that I encountered in South America received a Gospel tract with gratitude. When I consider such politeness and appreciation as compared to the brash arrogance and disdain for the Gospel, as demonstrated by the Hickory Police Department in 2008 when they arrested my brother and me for simply distributing Gospel tracts in a public plaza, I am astounded.

Yes, the Remnant Body of Believers in the once-free United States must pray with fervor that the Word of God may have free course in this untoward generation, and that we would be delivered from the unreasonable and wicked men in our society and in our oppressive government. It’s somewhat ironic: In the UK (i.e. the “democratic West”) last week, Shawn Holes got to taste the same cup that drove our Pilgrim Forefathers to flee those very shores and eventually settle here in America. He now stands in a long line of holy, tireless men who suffered for the pure Gospel on the British Isles over a span of centuries. Even on American shores, some of the earliest Baptist preachers (that fled England and the Continent to settle in Virginia) suffered such things (though not unto blood as in the British Isles). Right in front of me I have a list of more than 150 such examples, and in the description column, “Jailed for Preaching” appears time and time again. Quickly, these things faded on American soil as religious freedom was solidified and guaranteed by our Constitution (the same document that our President and Congress treat with less respect than the toilet paper they use to wipe their corrupt behinds). For our Founding Fathers understood clearly that in a society where men are free to worship or reject God according to their conscience, the Gospel of Jesus Christ can best thrive. And, it did. America soon became a beacon of Gospel truth to the entire world and sent missionaries bearing the Bible to the uttermost corners of the globe. She became a friend and an ally to Israel, and God blessed her for her faithfulness. But alas, this sun has set in the West; and all that remains is shadow. The Church is lukewarm, false gospels and false teachers abound, freedom is fleeing while men say nothing, and the Remnant Body of Jesus Christ is fast finding itself in the same situation that our Pilgrim Fathers once faced in England and the European Continent. As with the early followers of Jesus Christ that fled Jerusalem and Rome, these eyed distant shores, and their long journeys brought the Gospel to those that otherwise may have never heard. Should we be eyeing distant shores and uttermost corners today, looking to leave this polluted land and find freedom elsewhere and opportunity to preach to those hungry for truth in societies of far less affluence? Such places do exist. I have tasted the freedom; I have seen the hunger; I have been mobbed by crowds desperate to get a free copy of the Scriptures before our limited supply ran out. The day may come when I and my family will have to flee America, and if so, we will never look back. Ichabod!

Whoa! Where in the world did that diatribe come from? I now move on to my next point.

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps (Proverbs 16:9).”

It never fails. Every time I travel for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ, I am amazed at the outworking of God’s sovereign hand and the divine Providences that manifest themselves in my path. This time, in South America, such was par for the course.

I already mentioned this in my brief update from Buenos Aires back in February: a husband and wife were saved in Viacha, Bolivia following an amazing set of Providential circumstances, going all the way back to my run-in with an ATV outside of Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory last summer. What man thought for evil in the Far North, God meant for good six months later and 6,500 miles south. Along with the hit-n-run followed other trials in the Yukon that I now look back upon with gratefulness. There was the church that treated Ricky and me with much less than hospitality as I tried to nurse my injuries. This caused us to leave Whitehorse and go down to Skagway, Alaska. There, we were harassed and threatened by the police for handing out Gospel tracts. This led us back to Whitehorse where inclement weather further delayed my bicycle journey. I finally went back to the place where I had been hit and started pedaling again, the route taking me on through Whitehorse to a little grocery on the Alaska Highway on the far outskirts where darkness and more rain forced me to stop. The next morning; we overslept, and I was totally frustrated, complaining the whole time as I reassembled my bike there in the parking lot of that same grocer. Delays, delays, delays, problems, problems, problems; and my attitude stunk. Then, in the midst of all this, a man approached in that parking lot on the Alaska Highway. It was Bruno Benoni, the faithful brother who would travel with me all over Bolivia six months later, preaching the Word of God in the plazas, on the streets, in buses and taxis, and to uttermost corners of the high altiplano. Had it not been for all those trials, I would never have met this servant of God; and Bolivia and Peru would never have happened. We would have missed the amazing blessing of meeting Pastor Valentino and his wife, Celestina. And, as a group of four believers, we would have missed out on the joy of leading Desiadero and Beti to Christ in a small altiplano village on the outskirts of La Paz. Wow! In this alone, Proverbs 16:9 proved itself, but more was yet to come.

Later, in Chile, having rented a car back in Argentina, Dylan’s family and I drove into fjord country, hoping to make a loop that would bring us back into Argentina near Esquel. After several days of fruitful itinerant evangelism, we found ourselves in a small town at the end of a very long and exhausting dirt road. It was the end of the line, and the only option for proceeding south was a horrendously long ferry that didn’t leave for more than 24 hours and would cost a couple hundred dollars. So, the option to go south turned out to be no option, as it would prevent us from getting the car back to Bariloche on time. Bummed, we found a cheap hospidaje for the night and bemoaned why we had driven all the way down there without checking out the ferry situation ahead of time. The next day, we would have to drive all the way back out the way we had come. What could God possibly be doing, I asked myself? Frustrated, I went for a walk, taking Dylan’s boy with me to play down by the water. The town, though quiet, at least reminded me of a seaside town in Southeast Alaska, and in this, I found some peace. Anyway, when I later came back to the hospidaje, Dylan was seated with two Middle Eastern men, and a Hebrew Bible was open on the table. Long story short: Two Israelis popped into a local internet cafe where Dylan was checking his email. They were looking for someone who spoke English and could help them with securing an address so as to be able to receive a package from Israel. Dylan overheard and offered to help. He then invited these young men back to our place of lodging, “so I can share with you how I am spiritually Jewish” (Dylan’s words). Interested, they agreed. Just minutes after they sat down and Dylan pulled out his Hebrew Bible, I walked in. What followed was an amazing couple of hours where the Lord allowed us to plainly lay out the Gospel for Leo and Ner, two young and very open Israelis who were traveling around South America after having just completed their two years of required service in Israel’s Armed Forces. We took them through Isaiah 53, Zechariah 12, and John 3, proclaiming Yeshua HaMessiach (i.e. Jesus, the Messiah)! They asked many questions, and in the end, received a couple of Hebrew/Spanish New Testaments, promising to consider the things that had been spoken. Dylan and I emphasized time and time again how honored we were to meet them and how much we appreciated the Jews. “For, because of your people, we can have knowledge of the One True God and of Yeshua HaMessiach. Thank You.” Please pray for Leo and Ner, two divine appointments. They are why we were stuck in that podunk town at the end of the road in Southern Chile. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).” Needless to say, the drive out the next morning wasn’t bad all that bad. Giant ferns, far bigger than any I have ever seen, crowded the road side; and occasional pedestrians provided more opportunity to distribute the Word.

Before our encounter with Leo and Ner in Rio Negro, we had targeted a well-known Climbing Festival in the Cochamo Valley as planned. We had assumed this was something we could drive right up to and were concerned a bit about the timeframe. Unavailability of open seats had prevented me from flying into Argentina from Bolivia until February 17th, and I didn’t rendezvous with Dylan & Cheri in Bariloche until the 18th. We immediately set out for Chile and didn’t arrive into the town of Cochamo until the evening of the 19th. February 20th was the last official day of the climbing festival, and in the town of Cochamo (reminded me of Skagway or Haines, Alaska), we discovered that one could not drive into the Cochamo Valley. It was an 8-mile slog one way through what one man called “nasty mud.” He also warned us not to try and take Dylan’s wife and kids up in there or to even attempt it ourselves if it was raining. Well, rain was on the forecast, and we expected to bail on our plans. In fact, I, being weary with travel, desired it. Dylan had printed up a bunch of Spanish tracts that included the testimony of a hardcore climber specifically for this event. So, he didn’t want to give up, and rightfully so. Therefore, we sought the Lord’s will and determined to let the next morning’s weather be our sign. If it was raining, as it was supposed to, no way we were slogging up there. We awoke the next morning to a crystal clear blue sky, warm sun, and glorious weather (an extreme rarity in that part of the world). We had our answer. So, while Cheri and the kids waited for us back in the town of Cochamo, we slogged the 16-mile roundtrip and returned late that evening. To say it was muddy would be an incredible understatement. In places, we were in up to our knees with eroded trail walls higher than our heads. It was wild, thick, and wet jungle that eventually topped out in a beautiful Yosemite-like Valley with towering granite walls. I wondered what kind of crazy wild animals were out there and if there were weird bugs that could kill or disable me with one bite. In the end, the worst either of us got besides wet and muddy involved a leech that I pulled off my arm. Anyway, to our surprise, the witnessing opportunities were abundant. By day’s end, we had shared with a whole lot of Chileans, an Englishman, a very open young man from Germany who asked us to explain how one could know God, five Americans, and a Venezuelan Jew. Up in the Cochamo Valley, there were climbers’ tents everywhere. Knowing that the typical hippie climber is not an easy target for evangelism, we struggled a bit with boldness. Following a prayer for strength, we went from tent to tent, distributing the climber tracts that Dylan had printed and sharing Christ as God gave opportunity. We also left some Bibles at the nearby refugio. Many heard in that remote valley; and amazingly, by the end of the day, only one person had given a tract back to us, and that was after she had read it. In other words, we experienced almost 100% openness as the Spirit of God had obviously gone before us. There was even a group of Chileans filming a documentary about the Cochamo Valley. After giving them some tracts, they asked to interview us--asking what we thought about the valley, why we loved to climb, how Cochamo compared to other places we had climbed, and so on. On film, Dylan quickly turned to the spiritual, explaining that his love for the mountains is more about the Maker of the Mountains. He preached the Gospel boldly while the cameras kept running. Who knows what the Lord will do with it? According to God’s sovereign plan, we were meant to be at that festival on its last day. He prepared the way; He brought us there; and to Him be the glory! The hike back out that evening was long and arduous, but our rejoicing caused us to hardly notice the mud and the muck.

Yes, God’s divine Providences manifested themselves all long this journey--in Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and Chile; and I could go and on in describing these. I won’t do this, but one final example is worthy of mention. As we barreled south toward Cochamo on dirt roads and through small lakeside villages, I commented to Dylan about how strange it was that many of our witnessing opportunities were people or families from Conception, most of whom were on their way back home from vacation. We chuckled about this and wondered a bit, but then forgot. The next week, a major earthquake, as you might know, took place in Southern Chile. At the time of the quake, Dylan and I were camped out up in the Patagonian Andes on the shore of a remote lake not far from the Chilean border. At about three or four in the morning, something strange woke me up. I heard a loud swooshing sound in the lake (like a toilet flushing) and then waves crashing in the northeastern cove. There was no wind; it was totally still; and I crawled out of the tent to find the air strangely heavy and thick. There was also a weird brightness to the moon that forced me to turn away. Looking at the moon in those moments was actually blinding (weird?). Something strange was going on, but I had no idea what. Drowsy, I crawled back into my sleeping bag and made the comment to Dylan that I thought a sea monster of some sort was making waves out there in the water. It wasn’t until the next evening that we learned about the earthquake, and only then did I realize that this had caused a mini tsunami up there on the shore of that Andean Lake. That is what woke me up out of a deep sleep. Anyway, I heard that the epicenter of the massive quake had been near Conception in Chile. I wondered if any of those people we had witnessed to the week before had been killed. I wondered if for some of those it had been the last time they were confronted with the Gospel. I wondered if the Bibles we had given away had reaped fruit unto eternal life in the hearts of some who would soon thereafter feel a shaking and then step into eternity. God knoweth. He is Sovereign Lord of all and “longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (II Peter 3:9).”

In all of this, we devised ways, but it was the LORD that directed our steps.

Well, I am not finished. John 4:35-38, Luke 14:16-24, Psalm 37:7, and II Timothy 2:2 also provided valuable instruction and were demonstrated in memorable experiences as I journeyed in lands far south. I yearn to share these things with you. However, I have already supplied much for your digestion, so these tales are best reserved for “Sweet Reminiscence Part 2.” Stay tuned.

Again, please pray for my family and the Holes Family according to the requests mentioned above. Pray for Jamie and the little one soon to be born. We will keep you all posted. Please pray for God’s continued provision for Full Proof Gospel Ministries and for wisdom in some upcoming decisions. For the moment, the path ahead is foggy and unclear.

Thanks for your friendship. I love you all.

For the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ,

Jesse Boyd

Hello From South America

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:16:13 -0500

Greetings from a lonely, but cozy, hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Outside, the noise of a city that seldom sleeps rings into the breezy night. I believe that’s a cat in heat that I hear. Anyway, after a week and a half of incredible outreach in Bolivia and Peru, I am on my way to rendezvous with Dylan & Cheri Harris in Bariloche, Argentina tomorrow morning. So much has happened, the Word of God going out in abundance and the Lord again proving Himself faithful and sovereign. I haven’t had a decent night’s rest in three day’s, and I have to be at the airport in eight hours. Therefore, now is not the time for a detailed update. Nevertheless, I covet your prayers for the days ahead. I will be with the Harris’ until March 7th; and then I will return to Santa Cruz, Bolivia for a couple of days to finish up an evangelism training at a local church. Lord willing, I will return to the States around March 10th.

Please join me in praying for God’s continued provision along this missionary journey. Things are expensive, and I’ve already had to fork out for some unexpected expenditures. Today, for example, I had to throw down $131.00 to get into Argentina because of a new reciprocity law that went into effect back in December. It didn’t cost me a dime back in 2006 when I came here. Nevertheless, one cannot put a price tag on the proclamation of the Gospel message and the saving of souls.

So much happened in Bolivia since my arrival on February 7th. A full missionary journey has already transpired with much fruit, and I am completely exhausted. Yet, another chapter awaits, and I need to find strength and resolve. Pray for me in this. Upon arrival in Bariloche, it’s immediately off to the Cochamo Valley in Chile to target a world-renowned climbing festival (February 18-20) with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Pray for us in this, that we might have boldness to speak the Word and that hearts of those searching will be open to receive it.

Please continue to pray for my wife and two daughters at home. Jamie is dealing with the last months of pregnancy and is battling weariness. Please lift up my family while I am away. Selfishly, I covet your prayers that our son will wait to be born after I return home. Jamie’s due date is March 27th, so Lord willing, I should be home in plenty of time. Truly, my wife is a precious jewel that understands the calling of the Gospel and the prize of raising children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. I have been blessed.

Stay tuned for a more detailed recap of what transpired in Bolivia and Peru. Hopefully, I will have time to pen a more extensive update in the next week or so. For starters, however, let me again say that the Gospel went forth in abundance. Open-air preaching in the plazas, large-scale Gospel tract distribution, and the exhortation of believers unto boldness were par for the course. Bruno Benoni and I targeted the large jungle city of Santa Cruz (his home) and both national capitals (Sucre & La Paz) high up in the Andes. Hopping buses and hitchhiking was routine for several days as we traversed the high altiplano and gave out the Word in places like Potosi, Miraflores, Oruro, Viacha, Copocabana, and Tequina. The Lord also opened the door for us to go into Peru and proclaim around Lake Titcaca in Deseguadero, Zepita, Unguyo, and Capani. In Capani, some young folks said that they had never seen gringos in their village. Oh, there is so much to tell, but I really should get some sleep.

One little tidbit: Desperate to get closer to La Paz, we were hitchhiking outside of Oruro late one afternoon. Finally, someone pulled over to give us a lift. As it turned out, it was a pastor and his wife headed for a major Christian gathering in La Paz the next day. That night, they would be staying in Viacha in the home of a friend of a friend of a friend (or something like that) whom they had never formally met. These invited us to join them, so we slept on the floor and enjoyed the hospitality of complete strangers. The woman of the house, a Catholic, proved to be very confused about the things of the Lord, so Bruno was bold to preach the Gospel. The next morning, the lady of the house started asking a bunch of questions and had us all over for breakfast. As a result of Bruno’s initial boldness, I believe, the pastor and his wife (i.e. those that had given us the ride from Oruro) waxed bold themselves, sharing their testimonies and praying over the husband for healing in his back. I also was given opportunity to proclaim truth, and before I could totally grasp what was going on in that home, the husband and wife repented and cried out to the Lord to save them. Soon thereafter, both daughters came into the room and started asking some questions themselves. They seemed very open and will undoubtedly soon follow in their parents’ footsteps. Please pray for Desiadero and Beti, new believers in Viacha, Bolivia. Thanks to Pastor Valentino and his wife, Celestina, a bridge for follow-up is already in place. Pray that these will grow in their faith and go forth to preach to others. Hopefully, we modeled this for them, having saturated Viacha ourselves.

Truly, like Joseph in Genesis 20, I can look back and say that what man meant for evil, God used for good. Had it not been for the attempt on my life while riding my bicycle up in the Yukon Territory this summer (and the subsequent trials, discouragements, and delays that immediately followed), I never would have gone into that supermarket on the edge of Whitehorse for a coffee as the “Jesus Christ is God” flag flapped in the wind on the back of my parked bicycle. Bruno Benoni would have never seen that flag; and he never would have come over to encourage Ricky and me. We would have never met, so none of the past ten days would have transpired, including our involvement with Desiadero and Beti in Viacha. In other words, I praise God for the ATV that ran me over. That man hated the Gospel and tried to put a stop to my spreading of it. Ironically, his actions ultimately resulted in friendship with a bold servant of the Lord, the Gospel going forth into remote corners of the globe, and the salvation of two souls in a Bolivian village. The omniscient and sovereign hand of Almighty God never ceases to humble and
amaze me.

Well, I must hit the sack. Stay tuned, and please continue to pray for Full Proof Gospel Ministries as we endeavor to make the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ an unavoidable issue for as many people as possible all around the world and just around the corner.

For the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ,

Jesse Boyd
Buenos Aires, Argentina

P.S. Thanks to those of you who sent me kind birthday wishes on FPGM’s Facebook site. I must say that I almost completely forgot about that day (2/15) as most of it was spent hitchhiking and saturating villages in Peru. Nevertheless, your words were kind and encouraging.

P.M.S. I have some great photos and video footage that I hope to get up online eventually. Please be patient with me in this.

Arrival and Departure

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:02:50 -0500

Greetings, my friends, in the name of the One who “spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalms 33:9). The land is growing dark, a gross darkness covers the people of this once free realm. Are you ready to suffer for the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:29)? Are you watching for His coming (Matthew 24:42)? Are you preaching the Gospel to a lost and dying world (Mark 16:15)?

I apologize deeply for my recent lull in communication. Some of you may still be wondering whether or not we returned home safely after my last update, a report that had us hunkered down in South Dakota back on December 8th. Yes, we bade a difficult farewell to Ricky as he boarded a bus in Kansas City several days later. He made it home safely, and not long thereafter, we crossed the threshold of our domicile with much gratitude for our Lord’s mercy in bringing us home. I should have at least let those who were praying for us know that we had arrived safely. A simple email would have been sufficient. Please forgive me. After seven months on the road, and a 5,789 mile winter’s drive from Anchorage, Alaska to Vale, North Carolina, I needed a break from everything, including the computer, FPGM’s blog, and my lengthy email updates.

I trust everyone had a pleasant Christmas and is experiencing a joyful new year in faithful service to the King of Kings. The best way we can serve Him and show our gratitude for Calvary is to live for Him while TELLING others about Him. As for us, we had a wonderful time with family over the holidays, and it has been nice to enjoy some time at home, despite an unusually cold winter down here in Dixie. I have actually woken up several mornings to go for a jog only to discover the outside temperatures to be colder than those in Anchorage. Weird?!?

Please continue to pray for Jamie. She is now 30 weeks pregnant, and we recently found out that we are having a son. The Lord is good. She is due at the end of March, and we look forward to another home birth.

Recent weeks have allowed much time for reflection with regard to the now completed “North to Alaska Missionary Journey.” I marvel at how the Lord answered OUR prayers and YOUR prayers for us on countless occasions, going all the way back to our petitions for a suitable support driver and ministry partner. Truly, the promise of Romans 8:28 played itself out in God’s supply of Ricky Springer. I couldn’t have asked for a better colleague. I likewise marvel at God’s divine provision and His divine protection all along the way. Twice, I should have been killed (high on the slopes of Mt. Sinopah and on the Alaska Highway in the Yukon Territory after being run over by that ATV), but the Lord preserved me. Numerous times, Ricky and I felt like quitting to come home, but by the Lord’s grace, we persevered. A long winter’s drive home from Alaska was fraught with potential dangers, but we rolled into Vale, North Carolina unscathed and completely taken care of in terms of traveling expenses. What more can I say than to concur with the Psalmist: “Unless the LORD had been my help, I should then have almost dwelt in silence (Psalm 94:17) . . . Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction” (Psalm 119:92).

In summary, this journey (May 8-December 11) involved 4,208 miles of pedaling a bicycle for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ and 21,714 total miles of driving. Great strides were made towards FPGM’s goal of publicly taking the Gospel to the downtown streets of every significant city and town in America as 74 American cities and towns were targeted for outreach (CLICK HERE to see our overall progress). In addition, 19 Canadian cities and towns were visited with the Gospel; and the Lord gave opportunity for testimony and exhortation unto boldness in 12 local church bodies. 33 opportunities to encourage fellow believers unto faithfulness in witnessing transpired in the context of fellowship; and we were able to evangelize on the campus of every major school in the University of Alaska system. Most amazingly, perhaps, in looking back on the whole of the domestic arm of FPGM’s labour since 2003, is this: On a bicycle, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has now been publicly proclaimed to the four farthest corners of the American road system (Key West, Florida = southernmost; Lubec, Maine = easternmost; Prudhoe Bay, Alaska = northernmost; and Anchor Point, Alaska = westernmost); to the shores of the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans; along the spines of the Rockies, the Sierra Nevada, the Cascades, the Appalachians, and the Brooks Range; over rivers, through the forest, into the desert, along rocky headlands, across rolling farmland, and over mountain passes--12,332 total miles in the saddle!

I write none of these things to boast, for “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14). No, I write these things because the spiritual fruit is as much yours as it is ours. Without the prayers and financial support of many of you, none of this would have been possible, “for we are laborers together with God” (I Corinthians 3:9). Thank you. Speaking of which, if you contributed financially to the work of the Lord through FPGM this past year, you should have received your tax-deductible receipt. These were mailed out several days ago.

So much was accomplished in 2009, and the Lord provided in all we endeavored. We never had to “deputize,” we didn’t have to wait around until a “certain percentage of support was raised,” and we never went without what was NEEDED. The Lord called, we went forth, the Lord provided; and He used many of you to do it. Merely saying “thank you” cannot adequately express our gratitude. May God return the blessing upon you tenfold, no, an hundredfold.

As one called to a life of itinerant preaching, going to wherever the Lord opens a door of opportunity and endeavoring to make the Gospel of Jesus Christ an unavoidable issue for as many people as possible, I again find myself on the brink of another missionary journey, coveting your prayers. On February 4th, I will be returning to South America for about four weeks. There, I will be partnering with Bruno Benoni (a Swiss missionary that I met in the Yukon Territory this past summer) in Bolivia AND with the ministry of Dylan & Cheri Harris down in Argentina. As is our custom, the focus will be upon street evangelism and the training of fellow believers in the work of proclaiming the Gospel. Lord willing, I will be sharing with some local churches in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and hitting the streets in that large city that sits smack dab in the middle of the jungle. Hopefully, there will also be an opportunity to go up into the altiplano and perhaps take the Gospel to the streets of La Paz. Down in Argentina, I will be coming alongside the faithful and fruitful work that the Harris’ began back in November. CLICK HERE to read about the latest from them. We will be targeting the Jewish population down in El Boson and the hippie trekking crowds that come from all over the world to park at the refugios and saunter in the Andes. Dylan has already canvassed most of Bariloche and the surrounding towns; I will be helping him go into some of the more unsavory and unpredictable barrios with the Truth of Jesus Christ. All ‘twill be about getting God’s Word and the message of the Gospel into the ears and hands of as many people as possible. It will be hot, right in the middle of summer down there and quite different from what recent months have thrown our way. The last hot day I remember was pedaling up the Cassiar Highway in British Columbia back in July. A strange heat wave had settled in the area for about three days, and this, coupled with smoke from nearby wildfires, had the mercury topping out in the lower nineties. I actually got to wear shorts for threes days along the 4,208 miles of pedaling from Minnesota to the two ends of the road in Alaska.

Anyway, please pray for traveling mercies from the Lord to be upon me. I will roundtrip from the States to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. From Santa Cruz, I will have to figure out how to rendezvous with the Harris’ down in Bariloche, Argentina. The affordable option will involve an international border crossing and more than 50 hours alone on a bus. And, that’s only one-way; I would have to do it all over again to get back to Santa Cruz and then catch my flight back to the States. A roundtrip plane ticket to the Harris’ and back is the quicker and safer option, but it’s expensive. In fact, traveling anywhere is expensive these days, especially so soon after seven months on the road. Please pray that the Lord will make financial provision for this entire journey and direct my steps in a way that will further the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Proverbs 16:9).

Please pray for my family while I am out of the country. It’s always difficult to be away from them for the sake of the Gospel, but I thank God for a faithful wife who understands and encourages the measure of true discipleship of as laid out by the Jesus Christ Himself in Luke 14:26-35. I wanted to take Bethany with me this time, but the Lord seems to have closed this door. Still, I rejoice thinking about all the adventures we recently shared together up in Alaska and throughout the long journey home. The Lord has also given us some quiet sedentary weeks together since, somewhat of a repose. For such moments, I am most grateful.

With selfish motives, perhaps, please also pray that our little unborn baby waits to enter this world until after my return. If past experience is any indication of what to expect, then he won’t be early, and he won’t be late. Right on time will be March 27th, three weeks AFTER I am slated to return. All in all, the Lord knoweth best.

Well, I better sign off. This update is atypically succinct, but I am certain more detailed recap is coming from the Southern Hemisphere. Check out www.fpgm.org. I have made some changes to the template and added some pictures to our gallery. You might find these uplifting.

There is so much for me to get done before I fly out of here on February 4th. Pray that all preparations get made and everything comes together. It may be some weeks before you hear from me again. Thanks again to those of you who supported Full Proof Gospel Ministries with your finances in 2009.

Wait a minute, before I go: I recently received this testimony from a young man in Iowa who has requested Project Jagerna Nepali Scripture portions from our ministry on several occasions. He has been trying to get the Gospel in the hands of Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees that have come into the area. This is what he wrote:

HI brother Jesse, sorry it took me so long to respond. Thank you for [Nepali] Bibles, they are getting used. About the family, that received JESUS: the granddaughter attended church and I asked her if they had any hindu gods that they worshipped, and she said, “No, but my grandma does, please help.” We went there and I went to the bedroom, and a shrine with hindu gods, incense, and food offered was all set up. I pointed at the grandmother and had the child translate. I told her Jesus Christ the Son of the living GOD loves her and is here right now, and wants to save her. She threw her hands in the air and began to cry out Prabu Yesu [Nepali for “Lord Jesus”]. I said, “Do you want to be saved? She said, “Yes.” I said, “Get the grandfather and uncle too; we will pray and you all can receive JESUS and be born again, heaven is here. First, you need to tear down this hindu altar and remove it forever. JESUS is not a god you add to your false gods, HE is GOD.” They said no; I said yes; they said no; I said : “JESUS will not take second place, HE wants all of you.” They said yes, and we tore out the hindu altar and threw it all outside in the dumpster, Hallelujah!! They all prayed, believed, received, and confessed JESUS CHRIST as LORD and SAVIOR while the grandma was still crying out “Prabu Yesu.” Three days later, I went back with Nepali Christians to sing, and take Bibles,and congratulate them. The grandpa said, “Thank you very much. I knew we were doing wrong.” Thank JESUS! The grandma was talking, and i asked about what she was saying. She said, “The evil spirits would come in every night and shake the house and scare us, BUT! BUT!!! since JESUS has been here the devils have run away!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!” The peace of GOD was all over them; it was awesome because HE is awesome. When the light comes the darkness flees. They come to church often and are now new creations in CHRIST JESUS. Thank you very much for the supplies and new books for me. I pray for your ministry and family. Love Josh.

I am humbled and silenced with awe. For those who support our work, this is your spiritual fruit; and TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

For the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ,
Jesse Boyd

P.S. I am having a really difficult time trying to refresh on Spanish. I used to speak pretty well and could preach on the streets in this language, but concerted efforts with Nepali have since caused me to forget and confuse much. Please pray for a supernatural touch from the Lord, that I may call to remembrance all that I once struggled to learn, and that in doing so, I may be more effective in communicating the Gospel down in South America.