NO-SPIN OPPORTUNITY: VIETNAM - Morris Ruddick

Morris & Carol Ruddick Having spent almost three decades working alongside some of the best from the advertising world, I know the fine line that can exist between the perception and the reality. In a world wrought with information clutter, as God's representatives, we need to follow the standard upheld by Jesus: eschew hypocrisy and avoid the spin. I spend prayerful time before the Lord both in preparing and during our venues. Then afterward, I prayerfully evaluate both the tactical and strategic results and implications from these "assignments." In order not to allow these opportunities to take on a life of their own, or if I could express it this way, to avoid a spin that reduces God-opportunity into the precepts of men, I view each venue as a standalone assignment and a sacred trust. The Pharisees had all the right foundations, but allowed what should have been God-opportunity to digress into a spin of a self-serving, self-promotional focus. In their zeal, human efforts bypassed the supernatural, blinding them in missing the forest for the trees. That is why I consider it so important to prayerfully ponder the impact of these "assignments," to grasp the difference between the tactical and strategic. The Realities and the Response It reduces the spin and keeps the focus on the God-opportunity. Solomon said that a dead fly would make the perfumer's oil stink (Eccl 10:1) and that a little foolishness can be weightier than wisdom and honor: a strong word for those whose ambitions have convinced them that the end justifies the means. "Unless the Lord builds a house, the builders labor in vain." Ps 127:1 For more than seven years, we've been exposed to the full range of the realities underway in Vietnam: spiritually, economically and politically -- within the Vietnamese infrastructure, within the church in Vietnam and within those attempting to come alongside those emerging as the "true players" in what God is doing. In a talk I gave not long after the doors had opened to us in Vietnam in early 2008, I framed the observation that God chooses the most unlikely candidates, to employ the most unlikely strategies, to bring about the most extraordinary results. Whether it has been the penetration of a society to redeem God's people during the time of Joseph, the leadership model to forge community unity through David or the Kingdom empowerment to conquer darkness through Jesus, this has been God's pattern. God uses the simple things to confound the wise. It has always been and it remains: no-spin, righteous opportunity. Compromise, phoniness and self-promotion are dead flies in the ointment. "Teach me Your ways O Lord and I will walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your name." Ps 86:11 The Big Picture Vietnam is on the cusp of revival. Not in any way to disparage the importance of evangelization, but revival does not equate with evangelization efforts. True revival is nothing short of the sovereign outpouring of God's presence. I recall in the early 70s that the consciousness of God's presence was everywhere. Even non-believers acknowledged it. People were hungry for God. It was the result of the amassing of prayers of people tired of the traditions of men, who were fervently reaching out to God as the psalmist advises (above) in Ps 86:11. With the exception of China, I know of no other place like Vietnam, where grass-roots prayer has manifested to such a level in this hour. The Vietnam house-church movement which began in the 1980s, for the most part, continues as a movement of prayer. The Least Likely Within that context, we've planted God's economy, often among some of the most unlikely. In one of our recent workshops, we ministered to a group of over a hundred, most of whom had come from pretty rough backgrounds on the streets. Among its members are ones who have been totally healed from the final stages of HIV. Yet now, set free as some of the most mobilized and sold-out of followers and leaders, they are zealously and strategically penetrating the darkness with new businesses and even a private Christian school. Along those same lines, a key part of what we do is to mobilize community builders, ones who are committed to be blessed to be a blessing through their businesses and enterprises. From the simplicity of these efforts, we're seeing fruit emerge. Because these efforts involve God's timing in this nation, we're seeing them dovetail with big-picture developments that only God could have orchestrated. Other than being busted at immigration for bringing in a small plastic sword among the toys, Carol's work with the orphans exceeded expectations and her efforts resulted in being asked how soon she could return. Carol was a part of a Vietnamese team that brought in food and also ministered to the leaders in this remote, rural orphanage. In all these efforts, not only are we seeing the most unlikely becoming the head and not the tail, but we are seeing change in the spiritual climate. Most importantly, our efforts have become aligned with the cusp of revival taking root from one end of this country to another. We likewise have been pursuing efforts with venues in which brethren from one region of the nation are reaching out to others in other regions -- Vietnamese helping Vietnamese. Heeding the spiritual realities faced by these brethren, we've targeted those who have made prayer a lifestyle and building their communities as their goal. It's what the Apostle Paul referred to as "the principle (law) of Christ" in bearing one another's burdens. The foundation has been firm and what is now emerging has bypassed not only our expectations, but even what is considered conventional wisdom within believing-circles. Again, it is God's most unlikely candidates, employing God's most unlikely strategies, to accomplish the most remarkable results. Thank you so very much for your faithful prayers and role in making these efforts possible. Gratefully in His service,

Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation 3838 South Wabash Denver, CO 80237 USA www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org Global Initiatives is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization

Morris Ruddick - shares believers' stories "from the field" of SE Asia - courage, endurance, perseverance and the Lord's expansion

Morris Ruddick

On March 7, 2014 at the Inspiration's City of Light, Morris Ruddick shared believers' stories "from the field" of SE Asia - courage, endurance, perseverance and the Lord's expansion. 

As he and his wife Carol have now made several trips to Vietnam, he tells of the Lord's move in that country, for spiritual and economic provision, based on Biblical, centuries old Jewish methods.

 

 

Click here for more: Morris Ruddick website

You may contact Morris at:

GLOBAL INITIATIVES FOUNDATION
3838 South Wabash - Suite 201
Denver, CO 80237-0291 USA

Email: info@strategic-initiatives.org
Phone: (303) 741-9000
Fax: (303) 741-9100

We invite you to partner with us in our labors 

to expand the Kingdom of God.

Please visit Morris' website and click here: Partnership page.

Morris E. Ruddick - Global Initiatives Foundation - Purpose and Mission

Morris Ruddick 

- Global Initiatives Foundation

Gathered together for the day

Willie Jordaan - South Africa

MorningStar Missions staff member

 

David Cerullo - Inspiration CEO

 

 

Sharing the needed for touching the nations

 

Click here for more: Morris Ruddick website

You may contact Morris at:

GLOBAL INITIATIVES FOUNDATION
3838 South Wabash - Suite 201
Denver, CO 80237-0291 USA

Email: info@strategic-initiatives.org
Phone: (303) 741-9000
Fax: (303) 741-9100

We invite you to partner with us in our labors 

to expand the Kingdom of God.

Please visit Morris' Partnership page.

Morris Ruddick - Report from Vietnam

Morris Ruddick

Global Initiatives Foundation

So, here we are back in Vietnam. What we've been doing  to this point reflects major ripples of change. However,  the Lord always has something more. This mission is  proving to be no exception. This mission has been marked by unusual spiritual turbulence;  much more than in any previous treks we've made to  this nation. This spiritual static has paralleled things  taken place among those we've been working with.  In it all, there has been a mix of subtleties and complexities  that play into the challenges comprising the groundwork  that has been laid to this point. So let me begin with a snapshot of our first few days. Background Vietnam has a history of conflict, long before it became a  part of news reports of the sixties. Centuries ago,  forces of darkness infiltrated this land. Those hidden  forces of darkness have been at the core of its conflicts  ever since. So it has been that upon arriving, we realized that  something different has been operating. These ancient  spiritual dynamics have been manifesting. The pastor hosting our first workshop has a scar across  his face from being beaten for his faith. His home has  been stoned. Not long before our arrival, he again was  subjected to being knocked down and kicked. His home  had been watched and his wife knocked off her motorbike  by a kick from a plain clothes official. Yet boldly and undercover, this couple arranged a  meeting of regional church leaders, pastors and business  people, some of whom traveled 2.5 hours to attend.  The miracle was more than the fact that our activities  were unseen. The real miracle was the unity that came  from the diversity of both registered churches and  unregistered, underground churches coming together  to reach for something more in God, from our God's  economy program, that would release them from the  bondage that has held this culture in its grip  for centuries. Under the Radar Despite still being jet-lagged, we arose in the middle  of the night to arrive under the cover of darkness.  Our departure also was surreptitious and after dark.  But what took place during our time together reflected  a turning in the bondage that has gripped these dear  brethren, as our time together was in the very heart  of where this stronghold has first came to this land. Light displaces darkness. Light doesn't just push  against the darkness, when it truly shines, it  displaces it. This event, with the representation it  had, was prophetically a stake in the ground.   Something more, a great deal more than just our economic community development effort took place among these leaders. Spiritually, these leaders stood up in the inside and took authority and responsibility for their nation and their people. Spiritually, there was a turning that took place. God even gave us a bonus that as we concluded our time, one who Carol and I prayed for was healed of a deaf ear. Adding to the meaningful nature of what had taken place, as we arrived at the domestic airport to leave, the hosting pastor showed up unexpected to again say thank you and to repeat his request for our prayers and yours; and to again ask us to come back with "more." Upon arriving at our second stop, another unexpected happened. Our host, who is the leader of a network of believers across this nation, only two days prior, had been confronted and disciplined by officials for his activities. For the first time, since we have been putting on our program, it was prudent to cancel the plans for a workshop, but we didn't do so without making alternative plans next year. Likewise, the bond and trust established with this key leader is one that portends opportunity far beyond the plans for the cancelled meeting. So, despite the challenges, we've been looking beyond our current activities and have already had very fruitful meetings involving our plans for a business school with values. Roots have already begun sinking in turning these plans into reality. With that, we have had discussions on strategically and prudently bringing media strategies into the equation. Relationships have supernaturally come to the forefront with players who hold keys in making both of these initiatives into reality. Our time here on this trip, although less than a week, seems like it has been several weeks because of the magnitude of what has been unfolding. We still have more than two weeks before us; with many more important meetings before us; including more of our workshops. So, thank you again for your prayers.       Global Initiatives Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt ministry Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org

Forward this email This email was sent to martinlighthouse@gmail.com by morris@strategic-initiatives.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Global Initiatives Foundation | PO Box 370291 | Denver | CO | 80237