Tuesday, October 28, 2008

To: Pastors, Church Leaders, and other Friends around the world!
From: John Ruotsala, “Your Foreign Mission Administrator”

Hello Fellow Christians! God’s Peace!

I pray and trust that God has led you safely through another week! I trust you have been faithful according to the strength God has given you, in proclaiming the message of our Lord Jesus Christ. This message must be preached to the unbeliever so that by God’s grace they could come to Jesus Christ through repentance, and to the believer who needs to be strengthened by the Holy Word along their way through this life!

Today our blog will be is written by Pastor Orval Wirkkala, who is also a Foreign Mission Board Member.

Good Morning, Dear Family.Philippians1:3-6 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, {remembrance: or, mention} Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Can we not echo the words of Apostle Paul, who while in prison wrote the above words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? Words which communicate to us this day of the blessing that we have received from the Good Samaritan who showed(s) us how to be a neighborly. May the Lord bless your week as you live, move and have your being in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. KJV 1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.Luke 10:33-37 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.KJV Mark 5:18-19 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.In relation to our recent meditations, I am enclosing the words of a song which has been written by Alvar Helmes and a song which he wishes to be sung and distributed near and far. Here are the words:Come, Christian Friend, and Help Us!Verse 1: We have heard there is a Savior,Who can wash away our sin,But we don’t know where to find him,In our land, so dark within.Verse 2: We feel guilty for our actions,We need help along the way,We have burdens in our lives,We’re in need of your presence today. Verse 3: We need teaching from the Bible,In truth, from Heav’n above,Dear Christian friend, please help us,Hear our plea, with all of your love.Chorus: Come, Christian friend, and help us,We need the Gospel of truth,Come, spread your Savior’s message,To our aged and youth.Come, Christian friend, and teach us,We long to be in God’s favor,Come, guide and point the way,Tell about Jesus, the Savior.In Christ,Pastor Orval Wirkkala



May God Truly Bless Your day and week! Be Always Found in Christ Jesus our Lord! Love, John Ruotsala Your Foreign Mission Administrator (Please see below also)

Business Section: Starting soon! Additional sermons on Skype!
Please provide me with the following information. Remember, a cell phone works fine as well.
Do you have a working computer in your church or home (most do not, but a cell phone works) 2) what is your cell phone number? 3) Do you have a translator of English available for the service time? 4) What day and time is best for you to have these sermons? 5) What is your time zone? 6) How many people would be listening? 7) Do you have a microphone speaker system that you can put the cell phone near to people can hear well? If interested, please respond! We want you to be able to be part of this ministry!

Also, if you would like to get on our mailing list for our Christian Monthly, please provide me with your physical address. I could also give you the website where you could read it at. You can get to it also through our website, www.themissionsite.com Feel free to visit here often as well.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

10/22/08 FM Administrator's Blog

To: Pastors, Church Leaders, and other Friends around the world!
From: John Ruotsala, “Your Foreign Mission Administrator”

Hello Fellow Christians! God’s Peace!

This week, my studies have been in the Old Testament in the book of Genesis. I have been reading about Joseph. This man Joseph was such a Godly man. He was tested, tried, and proven over and over. He always held up to the tests! His faith was strong. What an example for all of us to follow. I would really encourage all to read the story of Joseph. It starts in Chapter 37 when he was 17 years old. Except for chapter 38 it continues for the rest of the book of Genesis. I would recommend starting at least by chapter 15 however, so that you could get a glimpse of what Joseph’s lineage was. You will here begin to see the lineage that Joseph and our Christian heritage came from.

This amazing story, goes from Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, and then to Joseph. Great miracles and happening were going on every step of the way. This is so very interesting! The Bible which our Lord has given us is totally true, and is the inspired word of God. And my how inspiring it is, and how inspiring so many of the people it tells about are!

As you read this story in the bible, watch very closely for the hand of the Lord guiding it all. The Lord is still guiding his children, of that we can be assured. Also, watch very closely for the fore shadow of our Lord Jesus Christ! He was there before the foundations of the world, and he surely is there in this story of Joseph. He is also here today. It is all by, through, and for the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The story of Joseph climaxes as his brothers have come to him. He was now the highest in command in Egypt under on Pharaoh the king. Then his brothers came unto him for food. They had to come because of a famine in the home land. They are the ones that cast him into the pit so many years ago. They are the ones that sold him as a slave. They are the ones that he could have put to death. They are the ones that deserved nothing but punishment. But Joseph, he forgave them. They confessed that they were guilty. He did not hold there sin against him. He forgave them! He took them in, he nourished them. He protected him, he saved their life.

What a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus came down from heaven above. Jesus was hated by his brothers. He was not accepted by his own. He was crucified. Jesus was put also into the pit (the grave) Jesus arose from the grave. Jesus won the victory. Jesus was sent for the salvation of all men. All men have opportunity to be saved through was Jesus has done!

Jesus is again on the throne of the King in Heaven. He is watching over us. He is telling the father that our sins are forgiven by what he had done for us. Believe by Faith that all your sins are forgiven by what Jesus has done. Encourage others to believe that Jesus paid the price for them as well. If one is not a Christian, tell them to repent, confess their sins, and believe in forgiveness of all their sins through the name and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. All can be new for the sinner that repents. Praise be to God for our Lord Jesus Christ!
What a day Glorious Day that will be when we see Jesus again! Face to Face like in the story of Joseph and his brothers! Please see the attached song:











What A Day That Will Be
There is coming a day when no heartaches shall comeNo more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye.All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore,What a day, glorious day that will be.
ChorusWhat a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,And I look upon His face,The One who saved me by His grace;When He takes me by the handAnd leads me through the Promised Land,What a day, glorious day that will be.
There'll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear,No more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there;And forever I will be with the One who died for me,What a day, glorious day that will be.
ChorusWhat a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,And I look upon His face,The One who saved me by His grace;When He takes me by the handAnd leads me through the Promised Land,What a day, glorious day that will be.What a day, glorious day that will be!


May God Truly Bless Your day and week! Be Always Found in Christ Jesus our Lord! Love, John Ruotsala (Please see below also)

Business Section:
In responding to last weeks email, some of you have said that you would like to be able to listen to sermons preached by pastors in the USA via skype. In order to start setting this up, please provide me with the following information. Remember, a cell phone works fine as well.
Do you have a working computer in your church or home (most do not, but a cell phone works) 2) what is your cell phone number? 3) Do you have a translator of English available for the service time? 4) What day and time is best for you to have these sermons? 5) What is your time zone? 6) How many people would be listening? 7) Do you have a microphone speaker system that you can put the cell phone near to people can hear well? If interested, please respond!

10/15/08 FM Administrator's Blog

To: Pastors, Church Leaders, and other Friends around the world!
From: John Ruotsala, “Your Foreign Mission Administrator”

Hello Fellow Christians! God’s Peace!

My how fast these weeks go! I hope this note finds that all of you have made it safely and soundly through this past week. Last weeks message was about how God provides. The week that just passed is evidence to me as well as to you I am sure, that yes, God provides, and has kept us for one more week. His promises are sure, and he will keep providing! He even provided a home in heaven for another dear Christian whom my wife and I visited with last Friday night. Judy Somero passed away, but again, God’s provisions are sure, even if it means being moved from here to our final home in Heaven! What a joy to be a Christian! Things only greatly improve when we die! To God Be All The Glory!! Great things HE Has done!

This weeks message is from Pastor Orval Wirkkala. Orval is a pastor in the ALCA in Kingston Minnesota, USA and has been on many trips sponsored by The Foreign Mission. I will use his uplifting notes from time to time in these blogs! Here’s Orval!

Good Morning, Dear Brothers in Christ!

May the abundant grace of God be received and multiplied unto us today as we start a new day of opportunity to rejoice in the matchless giving of Himself for us, a thankfulness which can best be outwardly expressed through giving of ourselves in service to others in love. From the miracle of the feeding of the multitude by Jesus we are able to see in a practical way in which blessing received translates into blessing extended due to its abundance.

KJV John 6:11-13 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

Let us look at this in this way. Whenever we experience the joy of fellowship within the body of Christ, there is always more left over of that which we received from the hand of God through being around the Word of God, whether it was through the hearing/reading of the Word, through fellowship with other members of the body of Christ around the Word of God, whether it is in prayer with Him individually or corporately, whether it is through the enjoyment of experiencing of the beauties of creation, whether it is communing together at His table......,or however the Bread of Life is received and experienced into our mind, heart and soul. Is it not true that upon being strengthened by the various means of grace that we are so encouraged and so strengthened in the joy of the Lord that it is difficult to keep it to ourselves? Is that your experience? Has it been in the past? I think it is a common experience for all of us, for that is simply how the body of Chirst works today. There is no difference between how He ministered when He walked on this earth and how the body of Christ ministers today. Let us take at look at a couple verses in the scripture which would illustrate this. (Please read the surrounding passages so as to understand the context in which they were written, but they still are able to stand alone in order to illustrate this truth that grace received always gladdens us as well as empowers us to extend it to others).

KJV Isaiah 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. KJV John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly(heart, innermost being) shall flow rivers of living water. I might add a little comment here: For years I understood this only from the standpoint to mean that as long as we believed according to the Bible (we were scripturally correct in our doctrine) we would be a blessing to others. But it has opened up to have a richer meaning, for now it seems that it means more in this sense that the Scripture has said that when we believe on Him, out of our heart will flow the blessing of life to others. The first understanding is certainly necessary and correct, but to me the further revelation opened up to me more joy in my heart and soul at the understanding that we are more like a conduit pipe than a reservoir within ourselves. Which is what Isaiah wrote when he described the life concerning of how blessing received causes us to be a blessing to others. How about one more example:
KJV Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Through Abraham we have received the promise of the Blessing into our lives through Jesus Christ. Because we have been blessed in and by Christ and are in Him today, may we be a blessing to those who are placed in our paths today, beginning with those who are the closest to us, our families.

In Christ,

Pastor Orval Wirkkala


May God Truly Bless Your day and week! Be Always Found in Christ Jesus our Lord! Love, John Ruotsala (Please see below also)

Business Section:
In responding to last weeks email, some of you have said that you would like to be able to listen to sermons preached by pastors in the USA via skype. In order to start setting this up, please provide me with the following information. Remember, a cell phone works fine as well.
Do you have a working computer in your church or home (most do not, but a cell phone works) 2) what is your cell phone number? 3) Do you have a translator of English available for the service time? 4) What day and time is best for you to have these sermons? 5) What is your time zone? 6) How many people would be listening? 7) Do you have a microphone speaker system that you can put the cell phone near to people can hear well? If interested, please respond!

10/08/08 Administrators Blog

To: Pastors, Church Leaders, and other Friends around the world!
From: John Ruotsala, “Your Foreign Mission Administrator”

Hello Fellow Christians! God’s Peace!

This is our second weekly communication! I was so happy to hear from so many of you this past week. Much has happened in our world since last week.

I would truly encourage you to look to Jesus, our Lord and Savior, for all your strength and comfort! Always look to Him, especially in times like these. Many of you may be hearing the news of how great turmoil the world is in. Even in the USA there are many great problems with our economy. This has many people in fear of how to pay their bills, and where their daily bread will come from. Please remember that our daily bread (all things) is supplied by the Lord. We often ask him for our Daily Bread in the Lord’s Prayer. In the Bible the promise is that He provides food for even the birds. He will surely provide us with food and shelter. Too often it seems there may not be enough food, good enough shelter, and often we want this or that that we do not have. This is because of the fall in the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve. Sin entered into the world and continues to molest today. There is also much death and dying due to the fall. Two weeks ago, I lost a precious 3 year old great nephew to cancer. Last night we lost a young mother in our community to cancer. Death and dying is all around us due to the fall of man. Much other sadness and sin sickness has been in the world since the fall.

However, the Lord, through his infinite wisdom and love, has provided an escape from all of this! That Escape, that Healer, the Feeder, that Comforter, Physician, The Mighty One, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, is our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Him we overcome! He has already won the victory for us! The devil had been defeated! Let us lay hold of this by faith. Let us believe and continue to believe that all our sins are forgiven through the Name of Jesus and His precious cleansing blood! He has bought us back! He has redeemed us! He has made us whole! When we deserved nothing but punishment, he has loved us and died for us! Praise our Lord for this!

Believe Dear Christian Friend, that the victory is yours! The victory is for each one that lays hold by faith of all that Jesus has done! With Him we are the richest of the rich! Because of our Lord Jesus, we can look forward toward the day when will have all the Glories of Heaven forever, and be worshipping Him eternally! What a Day that will be when My Jesus I see in that Beautiful City of Gold!

It is so nice to know that so many around the world, in so many countries, have this same living Hope of Glory through Christ Jesus! So many looking to be in Heaven one Day! So many that Worship our Lord! It is such as joy that believers not only have this eternal joy and happiness to look forward to, but we have the right to Peace that passes all understanding while here on earth!. A joy unspeakable! Life in Christ Jesus is the best possible life one can have! No matter what comes, Christians are safe in the arms of Jesus! They can truly say, This is the Day that the Lord hath made, let us be glad and rejoice in it!

I truly get overjoyed just typing these words out to my Christian friends and to anyone that will listen.. It seems like I could just keep typing, but I promised to keep these short so I will stop.

May God Truly Bless Your day and week! Be Always Found in Christ Jesus our Lord! Love, John Ruotsala (Please see below also)

Business Section:
In responding to last weeks email, some of you have said that you would like to be able to listen to sermons preached by pastors in the USA via skype. In order to start setting this up, please provide me with the following information.
Do you have a working computer in your church or home (most do not, but a cell phone works) 2) what is your cell phone number? 3) Do you have a translator of English available for the service time? 4) What day and time is best for you to have these sermons? 5) What is your time zone? 6) How many people would be listening? 7) Do you have a microphone speaker system that you can put the cell phone near to people can hear well? If interested, please respond!