The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 20:24, “’…I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself,

so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the

Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.’”

What is your life worth to you? Oh, if you needed hospitalization, you

would undoubtedly seek one. But, what is the measure of the value of

your life really? In war, soldiers are taught to sacrifice themselves to

save the life of a comrade. Many thousands did. To them the cause

for which they fought was of greater value than their lives, although

they had loved ones longing for their safe return. ~ The dedication of

the Apostle Paul to the ministry of our LORD Jesus Christ, was so real,

that his life to him was of no account whatsoever! All of you who are

reading this are Christians. So am I. But do we value others knowing

Christ greater than we value our own comfort and well-being? Missionaries

give up all the comforts we know and live often in crude housing without

plumbing and television and what we call “comforts,” so that those

without Christ might know Him as their LORD and Savior. In the same

way as Paul, they abandon their own lives in the quest of reaching others.

What will you and I do today to reach those who do not know Christ?

We love and pray for you every, single day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Acts 17:19b-20, “’May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?

20 “For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what

these things mean.’”

While the news informs us of huge persecution of Christians throughout the world,

there are still those who do not know about the Gospel. Some have heard about

it, and want to know more. Nana and I for some time have had communication

with some missionaries on a volcanic island several miles offshore of Papua New

Guinea. Recently, the inhabitants of another island nearby heard there was some

“God talk” being shared on the volcanic island. They wanted to know what it was.

After praying about what they should do, the missionaries went to the island to

see how serious the people were about hearing the Gospel. They were serious!

Knowing that the people were totally ignorant of the Bible, the missionaries shared

some of the Gospel. Almost immediately, 34 accepted Christ and wanted to know

more. They built a shelter, so they could hear more while be out of the sunshine

or the rain. The report we had says that they would awaken the missionaries

early in the morning saying, “Eddie, are you up yet? We want to talk about the

LORD.” As a thirsty man begs for water, these dear people beg for the Gospel.

Meanwhile, here at home, we take for granted the Good News we have of Christ.

Pray for these dear people. And take SERIOUSLY the Good News we have to share!

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Acts 16:40, “They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia,

and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.”

You cannot break the Christian spirit! I’ve always loved this 16th chapter.

Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten, and imprisoned, but they prayed

and sang praises to the LORD (v. 25). When those responsible for their

imprisonment discovered they were Roman citizens, they feared reprisal

and immediately sought to release them. Can you imagine being told

you were free and yet refusing to go? That’s what Paul and Silas did!

No way, Paul said. They’ve beaten us publicly and without trial, and now

they want us to quietly leave? Not on your life! Let them come and

formally release us themselves. Wow! Talk about boldness! Then,

when released, they went to Lydia’s house where believers came to

visit them. And they –Paul and Silas—encouraged their fellow-believers!

It’s like our going to the hospital to encourage a sick person only to leave

with the patient having encouraged us! When we are led by the Spirit

and know it, nothing can discourage us! Nothing!!!

May the LORD bless you today and encourage you to encourage others,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Acts 15:34, “Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.”

Sometimes it’s difficult to explain why we do some things. It’s an

inward feeling of the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t say why; He gives no

explanation; it’s just a feeling of withdrawal that we have that we

do not understand and cannot explain. ~ The Jerusalem Conference

occurred in A.D. 50. There was confusion among some of the

believers as to whether Gentiles could be saved. The Conference

decided that the evidence favored the Gentiles’ salvation. They

wrote a letter for those not in attendance at the Conference, and

dismissed it and departed. ~ Do believers ever seriously disagree?

Paul and Barnabas did. Oh, they agreed about returning to encourage

the churches they had founded, but they differed sharply about taking

John Mark, who had previously turned back and deserted them. The

end result was that Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. The team

of Paul and Barnabas was dissolved for good. Paul needed a partner

to go with him, and looking around, he saw Silas. Why had Silas stayed

in Jerusalem after the Conference was dismissed? Silas himself

did not know—until Paul called upon him to be his companion.

Interestingly enough, Barnabas and Mark were never heard of

again, except for Paul’s mentions of them in his epistles.

We don’t always know why we sense what we ought to do or not to

do. Perhaps we need to learn to trust the Holy Spirit more. The old

adage “When in doubt, don’t” is a good rule of thumb. The LORD

works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.

We love you and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Acts 13:2, “While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting,

the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the

work to which I have called them.”

This verse has always been intriguing to me. It was the occasion

of the LORD’s calling for Barnabus and Saul to do His work. The

key to all of this is that at that time they were doing what they

knew to be pleasing to the LORD. This has been true in my life.

Every time the LORD opened and opportunity for me for ministry,

I was already doing what He had given me to do at that time.

It tells us that God uses people who are already doing His will.

What you are currently doing that He has given you to do is only

the beginning. When He sees you continuing to do it well, He opens

up other opportunities for you. What are you doing now? Are you

doing it well? Just keep doing what He has given you, and in time,

He will open a larger and wider ministry for you.

Most heartily we love you and pray for you,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas