This past month monsoon rains have caused flooding in Pakistan worse than any they've seen in 80 years. Here is a recent update on the situation from Frontiers and an opportunity for you to join with them in showing the love of Christ:

Beyond the over 1,600 people that perished in the flooding in the Northwest region of the country, there have been over 1.6 million others who have been left without food, water, shelter and basic healthcare. This group is in the most desperate position, as flooding has left only helicopter travel as a means of reaching the population. Because basic services have been terminated by the rushing waters, these men, women and children are confronted with survival needs that can’t be met quickly enough by the Pakistani government.

Rioting and protests have erupted; foreign aid has been slow to arrive. However, Frontiers is strategically positioned in the region to provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to this distressed people.

Learn more.

Make a donation.

Luis Arocha will be the Spanish interpreter at this year’s national conference. Luis is a pastor at Iglesia Bautista de la Gracia in Santiago, Dominican Republic where he and his wife live with their four daughters.

He attended a Desiring God conference for the first time in 2005 that was used by God to awaken in him a passion to delight in God and spread that joy to others. Luis has served in the translation of sermon manuscripts, subtitles for DVD's, and live interpretation at many conferences. In fact, this year’s conference will be his 11th total.

In 2007 we made a video documenting the amazing work God has done in Luis’ life and the revival that he has accomplished at Iglesia Bautista de la Gracia:

If you are a Spanish speaker, Luis will be at the conference to serve you. Join us at Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God. You can register now.

This past winter, Seth and I had a wonderful opportunity to meet a brother and DG International Outreach ministry partner from Malawi, Rev. Fletcher Matandika, president and founder of Joy to the World Ministries.

I asked Fletcher if he would describe for us the current state of Christianity in his country and their ministry there. He graciously provided us with this report. We commend it for your reading.

A New Generation of Missionaries from Malawi
Continuing the Legacy of Dr. David Livingstone

A little over one hundred and fifty years after Dr. Livingstone first stepped on the shores of Malawi in pursuit of God’s call upon His life there are now millions of Christians and many vibrant churches throughout Malawi and Southern Africa. These Christians have been growing both in number and in their understanding of the gospel.

When I see what the LORD is doing in Malawi—especially among the young people—I feel great joy and have tremendous hope that the gospel will continue to spread widely not only in Malawi, but from Malawi literally to the ends of the earth. I believe that the LORD is raising up a great army of “soldiers of the cross” from Malawi—young men and women who have embraced the whole gospel and are committed to serving God in their generation by “Taking the whole Gospel to the Whole Man and to the Whole World,” which is the motto of Joy to the World Ministries (JTW), the organization for which, in the LORD’s providence, I serve as the president.

Since 2008, JTW has been sponsoring the Chosen Generation Missions Conference in order to sensitize the church in Malawi to what is happening in missions around the world and to awaken a passion for missions among the younger generation of Christians from Malawi and Southern Africa.

From July 28-31, I will be joined by a group of speakers from Malawi and Scotland in calling a generation of young Christians from Malawi and the surrounding countries to open their eyes and see that the fields are ripe for harvest. We pray that they may respond to God’s call to serve as missionaries in other parts of Malawi, Africa and the world, as the LORD shall lead.

Ironically, places like Scotland and most of Europe have now become the spiritually dark places and are in great need of the gospel. Europe seems to have become the “New Dark Continent” spiritually. My prayer is that some day in the LORD’s good providence, Malawi will send not just one missionary but hundreds and thousands to Scotland and other parts of the world to preach the Gospel.

Please pray with me that the LORD will be pleased to raise up a generation of mighty men and women who will heed this call and go wherever the Lord chooses to use them to spread the gospel for his own glory and the salvation of the lost.

The United States is one of the most theological resource saturated countries in the world. Packing Hope’s desire is to help provide churches, missionaries and pastors around the world with more theological resources, for the building up and training of future church leaders worldwide.

The global Christian Church has experienced tremendous growth in recent decades. But with the increase in numbers there remains a widespread famine of biblical teaching, leaving many weak. DG International Outreach is partnering with a growing network of people involved in cross-cultural ministry. We distribute books and media to friends involved in missions and church-planting all over the world. But, international shipping is exorbitant, often costing more than the resources themselves.

How About Packing Some Extra Hope?

You Can Help

We’re looking for international travelers to help us deliver critical resources to our partners in faraway places. If you’re a business traveler or a mission’s worker heading to the field, we want to pack your bags full of Christ-exalting, hope-filled resources. Whether you’re traveling to London, East Asia, Turkey or South America you can help!

How it Works

As you prepare to go overseas, let us know if you are willing to serve as a courier. If we have a partner near your destination in need of resources, we will ship them to you stateside before you leave. Your role is to pack them in your bags and deliver them upon your arrival.

Through this very practical means, you can join us in providing theological famine relief for the global church. Together we can pack hope in your bags and deliver God-centered teaching to believers in need all over the world.

Thank you for joining us in our efforts. If you are willing to serve as a courier please inform us of your travel information on our online web form or emailing us at IOcourier@desiringGod.org.

As a ministry that is seeking to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ, it is always edifying to get to know other ministries striving towards that same goal in their own God-given way.

His Voice Global is a ministry that seeks to fulfill the Great Commission by "empowering orphans, widows, and church leaders to make disciples of all nations." (Up until recently they were called His Voice for Sudan; however, as they are sharing on their blog this week, the Lord has expanded their horizons, so they have expanded their name.)

I recently emailed with Vernon Burger, the Executive Director of His Voice Global, to see if he would lay out for me some of the distinctives of their ministry. In his answer (copied below) he unpacks three things: a focus on right theology; a recognition that we are all part of one Body; and an aim to minister to every aspect of life.

You might also check out this video that describes a little more of what they have been doing and witnessing in Sudan:

It seems like I'm always hearing about another Christian aid ministry. Is there anything that sets His Voice Global apart?

I am not sure that we would call ourselves incredibly unique in some "elitist" type of way. I think aid organizations can get caught up in emphasizing how different they are from each other and it ends up causing a bunch of disunity.

We have three huge markers that help to shape how and what we do.

1) The first comes from an understanding that orphanages, schools, water wells, etc. are never an ultimate pursuit. These are all used as a means to display the gospel. Proper theology must saturate all that we do. Muslims, Buddhist, etc. are all building orphanages around the world. It is not redemptive in and of itself. It takes proper information.

2) The second is that we are all part of one Body. This truth has caused us to teach the Great Commission as a reality for the Sudanese also. The goal is not for them to become "Sudan centric". We have taught over and over that since we have all been given the same Commission it is important that we hold each other accountable to go into all nations. Some of the orphans have talked about wanting to have such professions as being an engineer so they can move into other Muslim countries in order to live out the gospel.

The other part of the one Body mentality is that we are very focused on getting local churches in the West to team up with the local church that we are partnered with on the ground. We see ourselves in many ways as a "bridge". How this has worked out in Sudan is through our partnership with The Village Church from Flower Mound, TX. They send over six teams per year that concentrate on theological training with pastors (from all over the South) and then also the orphans and workers at each complex. The training has been incredible and has been an answer to a 7 year prayer that we have had for a local church to take on this type of theological equipping.

3) The final marker for His Voice is that we believe God is coming to redeem all of creation. Therefore, when we say we want to have a holistic vision it means that we want to see the gospel inform every facet of culture. The first way we have worked this out is to start a trucking company. This has allowed for 2 out of the 3 orphanages to already be fully self-sufficient financially. The third will be the same way by the end of this year. Our current fundraising of $249,000 (our number one pressing goal) for a fourth orphanage, would fully build and completely sustain the complex. We would not need to invest another dime in the complex. The breakdown is $149,000 for building and the beginning of sustaining, while $100,000 goes to a new truck, which will more than sustain the orphanage complex from its profit, along with give some extra funding to more church planting.

The second part of expressing a holistic gospel vision is the way we have set up each complex. Each place has an orphanage, a school (which also educates 110 other village children besides the orphans), a water well, a church, and a medical clinic.

I hope this answers the question in such a way that does not just see ourselves as "a one of a kind" organization (because I do not think we are), but more from the sense that I pray other organizations are doing the same and that more would be started in such a way that a holistic gospel is lived out.

This week we are in London where Pastor John is preaching at the Evangelical Ministry Assembly put on annually by The Proclamation Trust.

Here is how Proclamation Trust wonderfully describes their mission:

The fundamental conviction underlying the work of The Proclamation Trust is that when the Bible is taught God himself speaks, and his voice is heard clearly today. The main aim of the trust, therefore, is to teach the Bible to preachers in order that they can in turn teach it to others. A further aim is to provide a fellowship of like-minded evangelicals across the denominations for encouragement in an exacting work.

• We are unashamed to follow the whole truth of biblical Christianity, and are committed to the paths of Christian orthodoxy/evangelical doctrine.
• We are unashamed to recall ministers to the work of Biblical preaching and teaching, believing that this alone will equip the saints for the work of ministry.
• We are unashamed to witness to the sufficiency of Scripture and the power of the gospel as the only hope for genuine Christian unity.

I am enjoying some great discussions with current and potential UK partners with DG International Outreach, dreaming of ways to collaborate in the cause of Theological Famine Relief for the Global Church.

Here are a few images from John’s message today, which was entitled, “Living by the Power of the Spirit.”

Later this month some of us are traveling to London where John Piper will be speaking at several events. One of them is on Saturday morning, June 26th, with 300 leaders at Jubilee Church.

Here’s an invitation from Jubilee Pastor Tope Koleoso:

Now more than ever, the Church needs leaders who are bold and alert, just as some were in Gideon's day. In light of this, I am now inviting 300 leaders to learn together from John Piper in a more intimate context than a large conference. This opportunity to hear him speak, participate in a Q&A session, meet him, and network with others will be invaluable. Dr Piper is looking forward to joining us, despite being in the middle of a sabbatical.

Registration will fill up very quickly. Hope to see you there!

We're constantly adding fresh translations, which you are always free to monitor on your own by checking our Language Index. But from time to time it's good to list some of the new additions here on the blog.

And though we've not included Chinese resources below, note that we are adding one new sermon and article every week to kemushen.org.

Thanks again, as always, to each of our translators for their hard work, and to volunteers Alice Rogan and Andrew Day for getting these translations online and announced.

Indonesian

Quest for Joy
Usaha Mencari Kesenangan
(Article, January 1, 1995)

Russian

Most of the "You Must Be Born Again" sermon series...

Why Do We Need to Be Born Again? Part 1
Почему нам нужно рождение свыше? Часть 1
(Sermon, December 9, 2007)

Why Do We Need to Be Born Again? Part 2
Почему нам нужно рождение свыше? Часть 2
(Sermon, December 16, 2007)

The Reason the Son of God Appeared Was to Destroy the Works of the Devil
Для сего-то и явился Сын Божий, чтобы разрушить дела диавола
(Sermon, December 23, 2007)

Born Again Through the Living and Abiding Word
Рождение свыше через жизнь и неизменное Слово
(Sermon, January 13, 2008)

Through the Washing of Regeneration
Банею возрождения
(Sermon, February 3, 2008)

What Man Does in the New Birth
Какая роль человека при новом рождении
(Sermon, February 10, 2008)

Faith: Unique and Fruitful Effect of the New Birth
Вера - уникальный и плодотворный эффект нового рождения
(Sermon, February 17, 2008)

Everyone Who Has Been Born of God Overcomes the World
Всякий рожденный от Бога побеждает мир
(Sermon, February 24, 2008)

Regeneration, Faith, Love: In That Order
Возрождение, вера, любовь - в таком порядке
(Sermon, March 2, 2008)

No One Born of God Makes a Practice of Sinning
Рожденный от Бога не живет в грехе
(Sermon, March 9, 2008)

The New Birth Produces Love
Новое рождение порождает любовь
(Sermon, March 16, 2008)

You Are God's Midwife for the New Birth of Others
Новое рождение порождает любовь
(Sermon, April 6, 2008)

I'm Sending You to Open Their Eyes
Я посылаю вас открыть им глаза
(Sermon, April 13, 2008)

The Marks of a Spiritual Leader
Качества духовного лидера
(Article, January 1, 1995)

Spanish

Holding Fast the Word of Life in 2010
Sosteniendo Firmemente la Palabra de Vida
(Sermon, January 10, 2010)

Help the Children Love the Different People
Ayude a los Niños a Amar a la Gente Diferente
Domingo de Armonía Racial
(Sermon, January 17, 2010)

I Will Build My Church
Edificaré Mi Iglesia
(Sermon, January 31, 2010)

A Compelling Reason for Rigorous Training of the Mind
Una Razón Fundamental para el Entrenamiento Estricto de la Mente
Pensamientos Sobre la Importancia de la Lectura
(Article, July 13, 2005)

Be Constant in Prayer for the Joy of Hope
Perseveren en la Oración por El Gozo de Esperanza
(Sermon, December 26, 2004)

A Call for Coronary Christians
Un Llamado por Los Cristianos Coronarios
(Article, January 23, 2002)

A Call for Christian Risk
Un Llamado al Riesgo Cristiano
(Article, May 29, 2002)

A Challenge to Women
Un Desafío a la Mujer
(Article, January 1, 1995)

Anxieties: To Be Cast Not Carried
Ansiedades: Echarlas y no Cargar con Ellas
(Sermon, June 13, 1993)

The Danger of Being Merely Human
El Peligro de Ser Meramente Humano
(Sermon, February 21, 1988)

Battling Unbelief Together
Peleando Juntos Contra La Incredulidad
(Sermon, September 18, 1988)

Battling the Unbelief of Anxiety
Peleando Contra la Incredulidad de la Ansiedad
(Sermon, September 25, 1988)

Battling the Unbelief of Misplaced Shame
Batallando la Incredulidad de la Vergüenza Inapropiada
(Sermon, October 2, 1988)

The Pleasure of God in Obedience
El Deleite de Dios en La Obediencia
(Sermon, March 29, 1987)

Every Hero Gets Hiccups
A Cada Héroe le Da Hipo
(Article, September 26, 1986)

A Cause to Live For
Una Causa por la Cual Vivir
(Sermon, December 28, 1986)

A Promise for You!
¡Una Promesa para Ti!
(Article, January 20, 1981)

Swahili

Prosperity Preaching: Deceitful and Deadly
Mahubiri Ya Utajiri: Udanganyifu na Hatari
(Article, February 14, 2007)

For the last few years, in our work to get theological resources into Simplified Chinese, we here at Desiring God have been learning a lot about China’s fascinating history and culture. More importantly, we’ve been witnessing amazing things happening with the church in China. I am so grateful for our colleagues and ministry partners serving there who continue to share stories and helpful information.

This fresh article from the Global China Center challenges our perceptions of the current level and types of persecution of Chinese believers. The situation is complex but worth monitoring prayerfully.

Here’s a quote that portrays the government’s current struggle to form policy regarding the massive unregistered house church movement.

The leaders of the nation know now that house church Christians are good citizens; that they are not organized into a national group which could rival government authority; and that they are mostly a-political. At least some of them would like to remove restrictions and allow these Christians to register as congregations without also joining the Three Self Patriotic Movement.

There are so many encouraging signs of change.

Our Chinese-language site has been up for a couple months now and we continue to post new content weekly. I want to share with you this wonderful response to the website we received from a student.

I am so grateful to see the Chinese version of Desiring God launched here. I have been reading sermons and articles on desiringGod.org for nearly one and half years since I became a Christian when I was a senior in a college in [China]. I have been encouraged a lot by them.

Thank you for your efforts for His Kingdom and I am looking forward to see the new website bringing more Chinese students like me closer to God…You and desiringGod.org and kemushen.org will always be in my prayers.

If you haven’t seen it yet, please be sure to read Jon Bloom’s post about our fresh emphasis on Serving the Global Church. There are some significant ways that you can partner with us in this great cause.

The crisis in Haiti has taken a backseat to news of Arizona’s immigration reform and the oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico. But for many the situation in Haiti continues to be a daily struggle for survival. The UN estimates that there are still 1.3-1.9 million people living on the streets or tent cities in Haiti.

What about the spiritual situation in Haiti? We have heard from many of our partners who are helping in the recovery and caring for people physically that God is indeed moving in mighty ways. One such partner wrote us last week to tell us that since the earthquake an estimated 15,000 people in their church network have chosen to follow Christ as their Savior. He says,

The testimony of many has been that since God spared their lives, they realize He has all power, He loves them, has a plan for them and only He can save their souls. That's a good start, but the need to disciple them is very great.

He goes on to explain the massive need for discipleship materials for both new converts as well as many of the saints in Haiti.

There are many earnest pastors and believers here who love to sing and pray, but too many are so weak in their understanding of the Scriptures. Some of the wild interpretations given for the spiritual reason behind the Jan 12th earthquake have been varied and vast.

Because of your gracious gifts in helping us translate and print 100,000 copies of For Your Joy in Creole we have been able to fill a small part of this need. To date we have shipped out 80,000 copies of these booklets to nearly 50 different organizations that are working in Haiti. We have also been able to ship hundreds of French Piper resources for pastors and leaders.

While we rejoice in this we also feel the weight of the ongoing need that we cannot possibly fill. Imagine 15,000 new believers in your church. Imagine having no resources to give them. Imagine the need for trained people to help shepherd these men and women through the daily trials they are facing.

We desire to see a movement of likeminded ministries help fill up the lack of sound resources in Haiti. Wouldn’t it be glorious to see hundreds of new resources developed and current resources translated to serve our brothers and sisters in Haiti? Would you join me in praying that God would work through his body to make it happen for the sake of his Name and the joy of all the Haitian people?

In the mean time, we still have 20,000 Creole resources available. If you are ministering in Haiti and need resources, please complete this webform.

One of our readers translated last week's post "Devotions Aren't Magic" into Spanish, saying its content may be helpful for our brothers and sisters in South America. The following is his translation.

Todos sabemos eso—por lo menos de dicho. No obstante, somos tentados a pensar que si solamente encontráramos una receta secreta—la mezcla correcta de meditación bíblica y oración—entonces experimentaríamos momentos eufóricos de comunión extática con el Señor. Y si eso no es lo que pasa, nuestra receta debe estar equivocada.

El peligro de esta idea equivocada es que puede producir en nosotros decepción y desánimo crónicos. El cinismo se arraiga y nos damos por vencidos porque el tiempo devocional no parece funcionar para nosotros.

El anhelo por la comunión íntima con Dios es algo que proviene de Dios. Él lo satisfará completamente algún día. Y el Espíritu nos permite gustar de un anticipo ocasional. Pero Dios tiene otros fines para nosotros en la meditación y oración diarias. Éstos son algunos:

1. Ejercicio del Alma (1 Corintios 9:24, Romanos 15:4): Nosotros ejercemos nuestros cuerpos para aumentar fuerza y resistencia, promover la salud general, y evitar peso innecesario. El tiempo devocional es como el ejercicio de nuestras almas. Desvía nuestra atención de las distracciones y búsquedas decadentes, y la dirige hacia los propósitos y promesas de Dios. Si descuidamos este ejercicio, nos encaminamos a la ruina.
   
   
2. Moldear el Alma (Romanos 12:2): El cuerpo generalmente toma la forma según se lo ejerce. El trotar moldea de una manera, entrenamiento con pesas de otra. Lo mismo es la verdad para el alma. Se ajustará a la forma en que lo ejercemos (o no).
   
   
3. Abundancia Bíblica (Salmos 119:11, 119:97 Salmos, Proverbios 23:12): El empaparse de la Biblia profunda y repetidamente a lo largo de los años aumenta nuestro cuerpo de conocimientos bíblicos, suministrando combustible para el fuego de la adoración y aumentando nuestra capacidad de extraer de todas las partes de la Biblia al aplicar la sabiduría de Dios a la vida.
   
   
4. Entrenamiento para la Lucha (Efesios 6:10-17): Los soldados se someten a un riguroso entrenamiento con el fin de arraigar el conocimiento de sus armas. Así, cuando de repente se enfrentan con el caos del combate, instintivamente saben qué hacer. Del mismo modo, el tiempo devocional nos convierte en guerreros más hábiles.
   
   
5. El Cultivo de Deleite (Salmo 37:3-4, Santiago 4:8, Salmo 130:5): Cuando una pareja se enamora hay fuegos artificiales hormonales. Pero en el matrimonio deben cultivar el deleite mutuamente. Es la búsqueda constante, persistente, fiel, intencionada, y cariñosa el uno del otro en el bien y el mal, en riqueza y en pobreza, en enfermedad y en salud, que cultiva una capacidad para el placer mucho más profunda y más rica que la fase de fuegos artificiales. Del mismo modo, el tiempo devocional es una manera de cultivar el deleite en Dios. Muchos días puede parecer aburrido. Pero vamos a ser sorprendido del poder acumulativo que tiene para profundizar nuestro amor por y conocimiento de Él.

If you haven’t yet heard, this Fall John Piper will be in South Africa along with a team from Desiring God. We will be participating in several events including a pastors’ event in Pretoria and REZOLUTION 2010 in Johannesburg.

Registration has just opened up for the latter, so be sure to sign up now. Here’s a video invitation from Pastor John.

We will also be in Cape Town for the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization. Even if you are not a part of the congress, you may be able to participate through GlobaLink which will be connecting hundreds of sites around the world through the internet.

Please pray that God will bless his people through these events and lift up Pastor John and the team as October approaches.

Did you know that there are still over 2,000 languages in the world that don't have any of the Bible translated? That means that the more than 350 million people who speak those languages have very little or no access to the word of Christ and the faith that comes by hearing it (Romans 10:17).

Bible translation is a very strategic ministry. Cameron Townsend realized this. He once said, "The greatest missionary is the Bible in the mother tongue. It never needs a furlough, and is never considered a foreigner." That's why he established Wycliffe Bible Translators and gave it the global vision of seeing "God's Word, accessible to all people in the language of their heart."

Wycliffe isn't the only organization doing Bible translation, but they're a good one. And this summer, to help those who think translation may be the work God is calling them to, they're offering 5-day "Taste of Translation and Linguistics" (TOTAL) courses.

These courses will be taking place in several states and at several times over the next four months (see all dates and locations). The cost is just $225, and you can sign up on their website.

Check out this short video to get a better idea of what's involved:

As many of you have seen in the news and on our blog, amazing changes have been occurring in mainland China over the past couple of decades. Very recent signals continue to point to an expanding openness to Christian faith and practice on the part of governing authorities. While sporadic persecution does still occur throughout the country, there are also massive shifts underway and increasing freedom of worship. We rejoice in these opportunities for the spread of the gospel.

At Desiring God International Outreach one of our strategies is to develop resources in formats and languages that will help equip our network to meet the needs of indigenous churches and believers around the world. Several years ago we began dreaming about new projects to provide those resources in Simplified Script Chinese for the mainland.

One project was to create the first John Piper book in that language, published legally within the country. The translation work for this is now complete and we are awaiting approval to publish. Please pray for that process!

Today we are announcing the launch of the second project which is a Chinese-language website with sermons and articles posted weekly. Internet usage in China continues at a rapid pace—384 million by the end of 2009. That’s more than the entire population of the United States! That is why we believe this project is so strategic.

Over the past year we have been at work, along with our project manager in China, translating Pastor John’s messages and preparing them for online access. Each week we will post one sermon and one article that have been translated into Simplified Chinese characters. Much of this work has been done through volunteers, and we are always looking for additional skilled translators.

The new site can be found at http://www.kemushen.org.

If you are a Chinese reader or know someone who is, please bookmark this site and also help us spread the word! Then come back every week for newly translated God-centered resources.

And pray for our brothers and sisters in China!

This June, John Piper and a team from Desiring God will be traveling to Dominican Republic for a conference in collaboration with our great friends at Integrity & Wisdom Ministries and International Baptist Church in Santo Domingo.

We want to take a moment to invite our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters from all over Latin America to join us. This will be the first annual Por Su Causa conference and the theme this year is “De Regreso a la Cruz."

John Piper will be the main guest speaker. David and Sally Michael from Bethlehem Baptist Church and Children Desiring God will also be doing ministry workshops. National speakers from the DR will include Miguel Núñez, Oscar Arocha, and Sugel Michelén.

The conference will take place June 3-5 this year at the Port San Souci Conference Center in Santo Domingo. There will be no cost for the general public, although if you are from outside the DR, we suggest you secure seating online with a $20 registration fee before May 15th.

Read this very brief article in the China Daily (China's official English language newspaper). It's the testimony of a university student who converted to Christianity.

Now if you've been following China for any length of time you might be picking your jaw up off the floor. Get this: 

• The official and highly controlled newspaper of the Communist government is featuring a story of a religious conversion of an exceptionally bright university student who found meaninglessness in existence apart from God. 
• He was given a Bible by a colleague, and the reader is not led to believe this is a bad thing. 
• He converted to Christ after reading it and now is experiencing fulfillment. 
• And he's now happily attending an unregistered church (i.e house church).  

Whoa.

We know the church is unregistered because yesterday the China Daily ran an article on house churches that are thriving in Beijing and featured that church. In fact, this particular unregistered church has actually been allowed to purchase property for a church building. 

This doesn't discount the fact that persecution still occurs in China. But we need to let this news soak in. This little article is huge. God is doing something incredible in that great nation.

Keep praying.

We are rejoicing this week in the Lord’s provision for our Creole resource project for Haiti.  Many of you have responded and we have met our goal of raising $20,000 to fully fund this publication. Thank you for your partnership!

Read about our work to create and print a translation of the For Your Joy booklet for Haiti.

Many of our partners are currently engaged in humanitarian and church-strengthening work in the country after the devastating earthquake. They have come to us asking for a translated resource to help them bring the gospel together with their work in relief and development for the region. So far 57,000 have been requested.

If you or your organization are active in Haiti, please let us know if you’d like to request bulk copies.

Pray for the wounded and those who have lost family members. Pray for the many Christians and ministries currently working there. Meeting the deep spiritual, social, and physical needs of Haiti will require transformation of hearts, churches, and communities. Ours and theirs.

Last year DG International Outreach initiated a project that involves providing a small theological library for 16,000 French-speaking pastors in Africa.

We partnered with Éditions Clé and SIM to translate the book Battling Unbelief into French so it could become part of this set.

The translation work is complete and the funding is halfway.

Please pray for and consider supporting SIM so that African pastors who lack sound biblical resources can grow in their understanding of the truth and be equipped to teach their congregations.

Michael Oh spoke at our 2009 Desiring God Conference for Pastors. I love his vision for Japan. As a Korean this commitment has the Christ-like flavor of reconciliation and risk. I would like for you to know him and, if God leads, support his vision.

He is president and founder of Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya and a cluster of other ministries under Christ Bible Institute. Here is a short video where Michael presents the amazing opportunity for this seminary and church to be housed in downtown Nagoya.

Last December John Piper led a discussion with Doug Birdsall, Christopher Wright, and Lindsay Brown—three significant leaders in the Lausanne movement—about a number of missions-related topics.

They considered questions such as

• What is the Lausanne Movement?
• What are the 6 major issues facing the global church today?
• How does the cross of Jesus Christ address these issues?
• What are your dreams for Lausanne's Cape Town 2010 conference?

The video is about 50 minutes. Watch it below, or download the audio or video.

Thank you to all who have supported the Haitian Creole “For Your Joy” Project. I wanted to bring you a quick status update.

We are progressing on the translation and design of this new resource. I've included a picture of the proposed cover on the right.

We have been amazed and humbled by the response from ministries working in Haiti that have already requested this resource. We currently have requests for 48,600 of the proposed 100,000 booklets from a variety of different organizations ministering in Haiti.

Nearly every organization we talked with has told us of the overwhelming spiritual hunger they are witnessing in Haiti right now. Sadly there are very few God-centered gospel resources available.

Yesterday I spoke with Brandy Karim of New Hope Community Church in Florida who just returned from Haiti this past weekend. She said,

It would be so beneficial if we could offer these people, who cling to their Lord and Savior, resources to help lift their spirits, give them hope, and remind them that the body of Christ cares about their needs. Resources that would continue to remind them that they serve a God of mercy and grace, a God who loves them and will see them through the darkest of times.

So we ask for your prayers:

• Pray that God would provide the remaining funds. As of Monday March 1st we need $13,000. Praise God for the generous outpouring he has already enabled many to give.
• Pray for much grace on those translating this booklet as they work in un-ideal conditions in Haiti.

These were added recently, which puts our total of online Spanish resources at about 480. Thanks again to Alice, our translations volunteer, for getting them on the web!

Praying in the Closet and in the Spirit
Orando en el Aposento y en el Espíritu
(Sermon, January 3, 2010)

You Have the Words of Eternal Life
Sólo tus Palabras Dan Vida Eterna
(Sermon, December 20, 2009)

It Is the Spirit That Gives Life
El Espíritu Es el Que Da Vida
(Sermon, December 13, 2009)

They Will All Be Taught of God
Y Todos Serán Enseñados Por Dios
(Sermon, December 6, 2009)

Skeptical Grumbling and Sovereign Grace
Murmuraciones Escépticas y Gracia Soberana
(Sermon, November 29, 2009)

The Excellence of Jesus Christ (with Spanish translation)
(Event message, November 22, 2009, audio and video only)

Behold, Believe, Be Raised
Miren, Crean, Sean Resucitados
(Sermon, November 22, 2009)

Do Not Labor for the Food That Perishes
Trabajad, no por el Alimento que Perece
(Sermon, November 15, 2009)

Twelve Baskets of Bread and the Walk on Water
Doce Cestas de Pan y la Caminata Sobre el Mar
(Sermon, November 8, 2009)

The All-Providing King Who Would Not Be King
El Rey Proveedor que No Sería Rey
(Sermon, November 1, 2009)

The Legacy of Antioch
El Legado de Antioquía
(Sermon, October 25, 2009)

If You Believed Moses, You Would Believe Me
Si Creyeran en Moisés, Creerían en Mí
(Sermon, October 4, 2009)

Jesus Christ As Denouement in the Theater of God
Jesucristo como el Desenlace en el Teatro de Dios
(Event message, September 27, 2009)

The Love of Human Praise As the Root of Unbelief
El Amor a la Alabanza Humana como la Raíz de la Incredulidad
(Sermon, September 20, 2009)

Who Is This Divided Man? Part 6
¿Quién es Este Hombre Dividido? Parte 6
(Sermon, August 26, 2001)

Who Is This Divided Man? Part 5
¿Quién es Este Hombre Dividido? Parte 5
(Sermon, August 19, 2001)

Who Is This Divided Man? Part 4
¿Quién es Este Hombre Dividido? Parte 4
(Sermon, August 12, 2001)

Who Is This Divided Man? Part 3
¿Quién es Este Hombre Dividido? Parte 3
(Sermon, June 24, 2001)

Who Is This Divided Man? Part 2
¿Quién es Este Hombre Dividido? Parte 2
(Sermon, June 3, 2001)

Who Is This Divided Man? Part 1
¿Quién es Este Hombre Dividido? Parte 1
(Sermon, May 27, 2001)

United with Christ in Death and Life, Part 3
Unidos a Cristo en la Muerte y en la Vida, Parte 3
(Sermon, September 8, 2000)

Photo courtesy of Food for the Hungry

Se yon sèl eksplikasyon ki genyen pou sakrifis Bondye fè pou nou an. Pa gen anyen nan nou ki te ka fè nou merite anyen nan men Bondye. “Se yon bagay gratis li ye” (Efezyen 1:7). Sakrifis Jezi a se pa yon repons ak valè nou. Se pa paske nou gen valè ki fè Bondye fè yon sakrifis ki gen valè pou nou. Se pito valè enfini pa Bondye ki anvayi nou annabondans. An rezime men sa lanmou diven an ye : se yon pasyon ki pouse Bondye fè tout sa li konnen, li peye gwo pri pou li chame yon seri pechè ki pa merite sa, konsa pou li ka plen kè nou ak lajwa padan tout letènite ; kè kontan ekstrèm sa a ap gen kòm baz li, laglwa enfini Bondye.

It has been more than a month since the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti and, as often happens, the news coverage is gradually declining in the face of other critical world events. But, the human tragedy continues to be staggering. In January we directed you to a number of trusted ministries doing relief and development work in-country. Our own Lukas Naugle made a brief trip down with Churches Helping Churches to investigate the situation.

As the weeks go on, many of these organizations will be shifting from emergency relief to long-term development work. They will be laboring alongside Haitian nationals to re-build their infra-structure and society. The most effective development organizations will employ a holistic approach that involves strengthening physical, economic, social, and spiritual dimensions.  They will also, whenever possible, work in and through the local churches and their leaders.

Our vision for International Outreach is built on partnering with trusted ministries like these. We aim to provide God-centered resources as tools for spreading gospel truth and strengthening the church in regions of the world where the needs are most acute.

In the weeks since the earthquake, we have been receiving requests for a Creole-language resource from a number of our partners. In response, we are creating a translation of the For Your Joy booklet that can be used for evangelism and discipleship. The interest has been strong, so we are planning a print run of 100,000. We plan to provide cases of this booklet free of charge to partnering ministries working in Haiti.

In order to do this, we’d like to invite you to consider a gift towards this project. Visit our donation page and designate “Creole Resource.” Our target is $20,000.

If you or your organization are working in Haiti and would like to obtain copies of this booklet, please visit this online form and give us your information. We will be in touch with you once they are ready.

And if you don’t read Creole, here’s the translation of the quote above. Pray with us that God might use this truth to bring lasting hope to many Haitians.

There is only one explanation for God’s sacrifice for us. It is not us. It is “the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). It is all free. It is not a response to our worth. It is the overflow of his infinite worth. In fact, that is what divine love is in the end: a passion to enthrall undeserving sinners, at great cost, with what will make us supremely happy forever, namely, his infinite beauty.

My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. (Psalm 119:171-172)

When was the last time your lips poured forth praise and your tongue sang because you possess the very words of God in the Scriptures? For me, this kind of joy in God and his Word does not come often enough. I take it for granted that I have multiple copies of the Scriptures at my fingertips every day.

I have a friend, Katie, who serves in Malawi, Africa. She was able to distribute Bibles to a village there, and when they received these Bibles, they ecstatically broke out in thanks, praise, and dance over their new possession of God's Word! See for yourself:

I love the description of God's Word printed in the Gideon Bibles:

THE BIBLE contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

God's Word is a precious, wonderful gift. May we, like those villagers in Malawi, dance and sing about it and the glorious Christ it reveals to us. May we know it well, hide it in our hearts, and labor to spread its message of our glorious Christ to the nations ... a glorious Christ who mercifully forgives those who repent of taking his Word for granted and trust in him as their most valuable treasure!

Desiring God produced the music video for LeCrae's new song, "Far Away," over the weekend. It is now available for purchase, along with the mp3, for only $4.99.

If you want to buy just the mp3, it is available in iTunes for $.99. It is ranked 46 in Hip Hop as of now. Let's try to move it into the top 10!

Buy either of these now and all proceeds will go to Haiti relief.