The Grands Letter

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

Dear Grands,

Acts 13:44-49, “And the next Sabath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the Word of God.
But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting the things spoken
by Paul, and were blaspheming.
46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken
to you first; since you repudiate it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the
Gentiles.
47 “For thus the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, That You should bring
salvation to the end of the earth.'”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as
had been appointed to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.”

How exciting it is when hundreds of people come together to hear the Word of God! I shall never forget those
marvelous days in India, when police estimates were that 7,000 people had gathered, some walking for many
miles, and sitting on the ground to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ! It was the first time I had ever preached
through two interpreters. If there were antagonists in the crowd, they offered no objection, and many were
saved night after night.

It was different, however, with those who heard Paul and Barnabus. There were agitators in their crowd; and they stirred up the people to resist the Good News of Jesus Christ. There are people today who are engaged in the same antagonism. I read of Hindu opposition to Christianity in India today. Yet, it’s not only in India. There are false teachers in the United States, in Australia, in New Zealand, in Indonesia –all over the world. Satan feeds this opposition, and he does so with urgency because he knows his time is short.

What happens if you reject or just ignore the Gospel? The LORD then withdraws your opportunity, and you will forever suffer the loss of the Eternal Life He offers! Have you trusted Him? It is the Good News of Jesus Christ that saves! Salvation does not come from your living a good life. It does not come from your attending a particular church. It comes only from admitting and renouncing your sin and trusting the LORD Jesus Christ. It is He who died for you and arose from the dead to live forever more! He has given you sufficient Light for obtaining His salvation. It’s all contained in His Holy Scripture. Your trust and acceptance of Him will transform your life!

I am praying for you, just as I prayed for those in India many years ago. You can be saved! Time is running out.
Trust Him today!

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 13:4-12, “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to
Cyprus.
5 And when they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and
they also had John as their helper.
6 And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain magician, a Jewish
false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus,
7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul
and sought to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul
away from the faith.
9 But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him,
10 and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you
not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?
11 “And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And
immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the
hand.
12 Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.”

Just a few verses earlier than what is printed above, Christian prophets and teachers were ministering to the LORDwhen the Holy Spirit selected Barnabas and Saul (later called Paul) to do a specific work. So, after praying, they went to Cyprus to preach the Word of the LORD, as the Spirit was leading them.

It was at the Cyprus city Paphos that they encountered a false prophet named Elymas, who endeavored to hinder their preaching the Word of God. False prophets exist today. Some, believe it or not, occupy pulpits and televise their beliefs to those foolish enough to listen. Paul did not take this hindrance lightly. He thundered against Elymas with forceful words furnished by the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, too, Paul pronounced a miracle of blindness to come upon Elymas –the same experience that had once been Paul’s (see Acts 9:1ff).

I once encountered an man, who was possessed by an evil spirit. He sought to hinder my ministry in the Word amd threatened me with an evil proclamation. He even indicated a timeline when I would be silenced. I shouted him down with the Truth of the Gospel, and he later admitted to a friend that what I was preaching was indeed the Truth of God’s Word. Of course, I took his threats seriously and prayed for the LORD’s protection. His timeline passed without incident, and I never saw him again.

How do we know whether those in pulpits and on radio and television are truly men of God? We can know by whether they preach and teach and live according to the Bible! That requires our personal, intensive study of God’s Word. His Word leads us to personally commit ourselves to Him. Then, we will become sensitive to the truth and can learn further from those who truly preach and teach God’s Word. Those who do not teach according to Scripture are not men of God! Listening to false teaching leads to living apart from God’s Word. Be careful! Stay in the Word! Live by the Word! Trust the Word! The Word of God will always lead you to the LORD! God bless you abundantly!

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