Ron's Message to Team

Dear 2010 TnT'rs

Even though I wasn’t involved directly with the team this year while you were in Ireland, please know from all the reports I’ve received, the team has been successful in accomplishing the good work of encouraging and building up believers and assemblies in Ireland along with the missionaries and national workers. You have also accomplished the good work of evangelism as you have distributed the magazines and NTs, and personally been a witness at the doors, on the street, and at the kids clubs. While it is the Lord who will reward you, I want to personally express our thanks to you for being willing to take the steps of faith that brought you to Ireland in the first place and the ones you’ve had to take day by day while you’ve been there.

The Lord Jesus told His disciples in John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit --fruit that will last.” As we know from the context this verse doesn’t speak about salvation but rather of serving the Saviour. I trust that you have truly sensed that it was indeed the Lord who led you to get involved this year. I trust that as you obeyed the Lord in going with the gospel throughout that you have been encouraged by the immediate and visible fruit that you have seen. Please know that the greater fruit of all this serving and sowing, the “fruit that will last” will only be really understood and appreciated as it’s revealed to you in eternity.

And as I’ve already said, it is the Lord who will bring His abundant reward for faithful service and eternal fruit with Him. In the meanwhile, I trust you already have a sense of being rewarded not only through the response to the work you have done, but also through the relationships you have experienced with your fellow team members, Irish believers and the missionaries.

Six years ago following the visit of the team that year, Leonard Carolan emailed me the following that I’m sure he would echo again this year: “It was something that I couldn’t emphasize enough to the team when they were here. The team members themselves could never fully realize how appreciated the yearly visit is and how people were fired up for Christ by their coming. The effect is unbelievable, such an encouragement. I know, as I’m one of the encouraged! The arrival of the TNT crew is anticipated months before and remembered years after.”

I have no doubt that you have appreciated the extra service Brian, Heidi and Len have provided as they have accepted leadership roles and especially Brian as he’s driven you around Ireland. I want to thank them as well along with Jim and Frank, and everyone who has had to take on more as a result of me not being there. I also have no doubt that you have been overwhelmed by the generous hospitality of your hosts in every place where you have gone. God is indeed good, isn’t He!

I trust you have a memorable last night together with each other, the saints and the missionaries. As you return to your homes remember to water with prayer all the seed that has been sown trusting the Lord for the increase. As you return to your home assemblies, recount with joy the good work the Lord has accomplished in you and through you and don’t discount the possibility that you might be called upon to provide fresh vision and leadership for evangelism in your area. Don’t forget to thank those who faithfully supported and prayed for you. As they have expressed their partnership with you, be sure to share with them the results of that faithfulness.

Again, my thanks to each one of you for your participation in the 2010 TnT Team outreach. We trust the Lord will lead you to consider re-upping in years to come (see Ernie, Joan, Heidi and Brian for details).

Every blessing
Ron