The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 16:9-10, 13-14, “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and
appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
10 And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had
called us to preach the gospel to them.”

13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would
be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.
14 And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God,
was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.”

There’s no known way to truly measure how many people have had dreams in the course of their lives. My guess, however, is that most of us have had dreams, many of which were puzzling to us as to what they meant.
Yet, when we’re in the LORD’s service and praying for His will to be made known, we dare not omit anything
that could be His directive. Previously, Paul and Silas had started to enter Bithynia, but “the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them” to enter that area (16:7). Surely, this dream was of the LORD.

On factor emphasized in the dream was a man from the City of Macedonia in Greece, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now, Paul and Silas knew why they were not permitted to go into Bithynia, and they immediately set out to do as the LORD had directed them. The LORD is quite specific in His directions, if we obey them. We may not understand why He directs us as He does, but He is our LORD; we are His servants.

Have you ever gone some place only to wonder how things were going to develop? I sure have! Flying alone into India, landing in the early morning hours, not knowing who or whether anyone would meet me – I freely admit that it is a strange and worrying situation. At least Paul and Silas had each other. But, why were they there? Where was this strange man, who appeared in the dream?

It was the Sabbath, so Paul and Silas went to a place they believed likely to be a “place of prayer.” It was; however, only women, it seemed were gathered there. It was a man in the vision. Ignoring all of that, Paul shared the Gospel and “the LORD opened (the) heart” of a woman named Lydia; and she responded to the Gospel and trusted Jesus. It may seem to have been a small response, considering all the trouble Paul and Silas had encountered to get there, but Lydia was the first convert to Christ in the western world. Never underestimate the value of the smallest labor for the LORD. It always has its reward.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. My sincere apology for the missing Grands Letters of the past few days. When I learned that some were not being
were blocking it. As per this issue, the channel is open again.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

_____________________________________________

Dear Grands,

Acts 20:24, 32, 36, “I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order 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.,,, And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give
you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified… And when he had said these things, he knelt down and
prayed with them all. And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, grieving
especially over the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more…”

These solemn words from the heart and lips of the Apostle Paul could well be the words of my dear and loving
ministry companion, George E. Galieh (1929 – 2021). We met in 1964, when I first visited Australia. Friends in
the Caringbah Baptist Church in Sydney introduced us and we ultimately became an evangelistic team that
included his wife, Rita. We traveled throughout Australia, singing and preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ.

George was a man of many talents. He was a conservatorium-trained violinist, who would easily have been the
Concertmaster of any orchestra. He rehearsed and led choirs and served ably as the “Cliff Barrows” of our team.
He planned and scripted the programs of our nightly crusades, as well as our weekly radio broadcasts. George
was amusingly gifted with a rare sense of humor that kept all of our hearts lively as we traveled.

Sensing the LORD’s call to the ministry, George was ordained here in the United States. He was subsequently
awarded an honorary doctorate from Cambridge Graduate School. When my family and I left Australia, George
and Rita continued the ministry in evangelism, visiting Thailand every year for 25 years. Their son, Michael, also
a gifted violinist often accompanied them. Scores of souls were brought to faith in Christ through this dedicated
team.

Let me invite you to pray for Rita and Michael, as they adjust to life in George’s absence.

When comes to the weary a blessèd release,
When upward we pass to His kingdom of peace,
When free from the woes that on Earth we must bear,
We’ll say “good night” here, but “good morning” up there.

Rest comfortably in Christ, my dear friend.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Acts 20:24, 32, 36, “I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order 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.,,, And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build
you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified… And when he had said
these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they began to weep aloud and embraced
Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they
should see his face no more…”

These solemn words from the heart and lips of the Apostle Paul could well be the words of my dear
and loving ministry companion, George E. Galieh (1929 – 2021). We met in 1964, when I first visited
Australia. Friends in the Caringbah Baptist Church in Sydney introduced us and we ultimately
became an evangelistic team that included his wife, Rita. We traveled throughout Australia, singing
and preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ.

George was a man of many talents. He was a conservatorium-trained violinist, who would easily
have been the Concertmaster of any orchestra. He rehearsed and led choirs and served ably as the
“Cliff Barrows” of our team. He planned and scripted the programs of our nightly crusades, as well as
our weekly radio broadcasts. George was amusingly gifted with a rare sense of humor that kept all of
our hearts lively as we traveled.

Sensing the LORD’s call to the ministry, George was ordained here in the United States. He was
Subsequently awarded an honorary doctorate from Cambridge Graduate School. When my family
and I left Australia, George and Rita continued the ministry in evangelism, visiting Thailand every
year for 25 years! Their son, Michael, also a gifted violinist often accompanied them. Scores of souls
were brought to faith in Christ through this dedicated team.

Let me invite you to pray for Rita and Michael, as they adjust to life in George’s absence.

When comes to the weary a blessèd release,
When upward we pass to His kingdom of peace,
When free from the woes that on Earth we must bear,
We’ll say “good night” here, but “good morning” up there.

Rest comfortably in Christ, my dear friend.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Acts 15:1-2, 19-21, “And some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are
circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and
Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.
“Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,
20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.
21 “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas– Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren…”

Do true Christians ever disagree? Yes, they do. It occurred in biblical times, as in our verses above, and it continues today. In many ways it is normal because we are all human beings coming from different backgrounds.
At the same time, true believers possess the Holy Spirit, and His guidance is never wrong. So, when disagreements occur, what are we to do?

These early Christians decided to get together and discuss the matter. What was the problem? Well, there were some Jews, who were called Judaizers, who belieed that Gentiles could become believers, except that they needed to keep the Law of Moses. Others believed Gentiles could become believers, but did not have to keep the Law of Moses. They said it had been superseded by the Grace of God, and trusting Jesus’ death and resurrection were all that was necessary for salvation.

We have believers today who say that baptism is necessary for one to be saved. And even among them there is a difference as to how baptism is to be administered. There are some who believe that the King James Bible is the only true Scripture; some believe the Church should meet on Saturday because the sabbath (seventh day) was holy in Moses time. And the list of differences go on and on.

Wisely, this early group listened to each other and came to an agreement. There were some key factors that were necessary to observe; other things were of far less value. It is the same today. The Scriptures teach us what we should and should not do. Basic is the belief and trust in the LORD Jesus Christ. Unless we confess our sins and trust in Jesus, nothing else matters. When we have trusted Him, then the Holy Spirit will lead us in these other matters. Just don’t get tangled up in secondary things. He will sort them out as the Holy Spirit leads us.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom