Embedded Evil, Culture and Birthing - Morris Ruddick

Embedded Evil, Culture and Birthing -Morris Ruddick

 Jesus observed that the sons of this world are more shrewd with their own kind than the sons of Light. That shrewdness seems even more pronounced when darkness is leveraged within the culture.

Coincidentally, Jesus pointed to religious leaders, who should have known better, but instead were short-sighted in their grasp of reality, referring to them as blind-guides. Ones who missed the forest for the trees …. in prioritizing the leveraging of Light within the culture. Instead, they lowered the bar embracing the lures and delicacies that reduced their standard to that of the world’s system.

The stumbling block to leveraging Light; and the shrewdness in capitalizing on darkness is tied to the same factor: embedded evil. Embedded evil within the culture. It is the corruption not only hidden and dormant; but the acceptance of the overt that results from the age-old alliance of Babylon and Chaldea, the world’s system and the occult.

Yet, on record in scripture are heroes of faith whose leadership became a voice to the world. Ones who penetrated pagan cultures, with God’s people arising to reset the standard with the culture of the Kingdom into what it was designed to be.

From the foundations God laid out to Moses in the Torah; to David’s unique leadership in bringing unity within the diverse tribes of Israel; to strategies He gave to ones like Daniel, Jeremiah, the apostles and all who sought to walk in alignment with Him, the priorities needed and the ability to culturally overcome the evil lurking in the infrastructures of the link between the world’s system and the forces of darkness find power in the ability to be of one mind, with the Lord.

Countering the cultural shrewdness of the sons of the world, Paul imparted pivotal wisdom to the Philippians: “Let this mind be in you that also was in Christ Jesus.” Jesus had long prior rebuked Peter because of his short-sighted thinking: “You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

The Standard to Process Reality
This distinctive thinking marks the foundation, being the distinguishing characteristic of the prophets and heroes of faith: the alignment of their mind-sets and priorities with God’s. Yet sadly, until recently in today’s world, those considered the masters in terms of being culture-shapers, most would agree as being voices from politics and the media.

However, since God has had a people, the defining factor between people of God and people of the world has been the influence in shaping the culture. The essence of Kingdom culture being that its uniqueness results from a cooperative effort between God and those known by His Name. The mandate of Jesus has a starting point of “You’ll be in the world, but not of the world.” Yet, the moral standard is not the goal, but a fruit of the cultural priorities being shaped by God. The religious practices of the people is not the goal but rather the means of becoming aligned with God’s thoughts and priorities. These are demarcation points from which “more” is required.

The cultural framework is what should establish the identity and standard embraced by a people. It is from the culture that the power to prosper and protect society holds residence. A culture with God at the center and the people praying, hearing and walking in the authority from hearing and obeying.

The Priorities and Power for Change
So it is, when the authority and prayers of God’s people amasses to dispel darkness and change begins, God’s power is released. Isaiah presciently discerned that with the release of His power, that Light will disperse long-term embedded evil. It is the momentum and movement we are witnessing underway around the earth today.
“Arise, shine for the Light has come and glory of the Lord has arisen upon you. For darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples, but the Lord will arise over you and His glory will be seen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1-2

Since May of this year and during the month of July I’ve been overseas, in Israel and Vietnam where I’ve spent significant time in years past imparting and investing my Kingdom message, the message of the influence of Joseph and Daniel and of God’s economy to foster change. Strategies of change.

Together with the momentum and movements underway across the globe, my reflections from these recent collaborations with key players in these key nations is that there is a groundswell of the birthing underway from on-High.

An advancing pregnancy leading to God’s people becoming increasingly united in prayer reflecting a Kingdom-impact at the cultural level.

The Unusual Impact at the Hands of a Remnant
From the times of Enoch, Noah and Abraham, the Lord has done remarkable things through the hands of a remnant. Unusual things to preserve and give relevance to Kingdom culture. Seeds sown to produce a movement within the culture.

Even when faced with the embedded evil represented in the culture that overwhelmed his nephew Lot, what arose with Abraham was a righteous remnant aligned with God that set in motion the strategy …. providing the sufficiency for the Lord to turn the tide to actuate change.

This strategy of change was the Lord’s underlying instruction and seed to sow in Jeremiah’s obedience: “You are my battleaxe and weapon of war. Through you I will break nations in pieces. Through you I will destroy kingdoms and strongholds.” Then with his remnant doing their part, the Lord concluded His instruction with: “And I will repay Babylon and Chaldea.”

When the birthing of a movement within the culture takes root in manifesting, the dynamic foreseen by Isaiah of “arise, shine” is accompanied with His glory. It is then that embedded evil is subjected to being scattered and dispersed. It suggests the disruption of the “birth pangs” described by Jesus in Matthew 24.

Yet, the end-result is best understood as Daniel discerned and interpreted the dream of Nebuchadnezzar: a stone cut out without hands struck the image of worldly powers on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in pieces, decimating the foundational powers, with the wind dispersing them until the stone became a great mountain, filling the whole earth.

What Daniel foresaw was more than a cultural reshaping, but a momentous transformation of reality. It reflects the enormous potential residing in a movement, which so often is set in motion by a remnant.

While in Israel, I was honored to participate in a neighborhood prayer meeting; sensing the significance of its impact along with those of others who regularly gather to pray. These are those creating the groundswell; whose faith has been storming the gates and reaching for the birthing and change of such a movement within the soul of Israel.

It is not unlike the home-church movement that against all odds has reshaped the course of Vietnam to now have alliances with Israel and strong, influential believers ensconced in the highest levels of its national infrastructures.

Catching the Glimmers
There is indeed a momentum gaining in this process of birthing that is underway across the earth.

It is not without significance with these movements …. and the potential represented by the simplicity of obedience of believers in embracing their part in praying and reaching for more ….. that I’ve been drawn to better understand the gift of giving and its part in this equation.

Following this thread, I’ve been reminded of the models, the “shifts of resources” that have been used to undermine embedded evil and corruption at the cultural level. Models in which God used ones like Joseph the Patriarch to harness worldly resources to stave off the impact of judgment and tribulation and release redemption.

The birthing currently underway ties into the simplicity of agendas triggering a sovereign transfer of resources. It’s not unrelated to the timing in my reconnecting in Israel and Vietnam ….and their alliances, together with making deeper inroads in terms of alliances in sub-Saharan Afrika. In each case, these alignments represent a process that has been many years in taking root.

All toward the tapestry of alliances on a global-scale …. that knit righteous remnants with the persecuted and the oppressed in the movements and birthing in support of the restoration of Israel. Unusual but evident in this process is this dynamic of sowing, not unlike the time that God instructed Isaac to sow during a time of famine.

What has distinguished the Vietnamese since losing their freedom in 1975 … and the eventual scattering of darkness across the land has been their resilience in discerning the glimmers needed to reach for the Light. Amazing faith has been demonstrated in their over-arching resilience to continually reach higher; to pray for their leaders and for ones with very different cultural backgrounds; as believers in the North and South have united in their support of one another.

The deep darkness they faced after 1975 was not unlike that foreseen by Isaiah. Economically, it had a severe impact not only on the South, but the North, as evidenced in 70 percent of the boat people being those fleeing the North. Yet the purity of the prayers from village to village, as well as from high-levels in their society eventually resulted in a series of significant spiritual awakenings and persecution-related policy-changes enhancing the movement that is still underway.

While there has always been a deep love in drawing me to work with and keep returning to Vietnam, there’s something about the “reach” of these people who live on the cusp of miracles …..whose purpose in life is so tied to the Lord and His Kingdom, that it overshadows everything else. It taps the roots of building and restoration discerned by Isaiah (in chapter 58).

Evidence of Movements Dispersing Embedded Evil
When the birthing of a movement within a culture sinks its roots, the result will be building and restoration. With it will come the dispersing of embedded evil. It is accompanied by the role of key game-changers, like Joseph and Daniel, ones with princely anointings.

In the short period of my most recent overseas visit, I witnessed unusual alliances that deeply penetrated bastions of embedded evil: rescue efforts from human trafficking; a Christian brand of the “Ronald McDonald’s House” program sending ripples of hope and prayer to families with kids needing critical surgeries; communities uniting to strengthen the faith of their youth; leaders putting their own safety at risk in standing against increases in persecution against high-profile leaders; generational legacies that are enhancing the movement; sensitive mentoring among leaders in need of fresh vision and restoration.

The Significance of Sowing in Bringing Change
As such movements gain momentum, there will come the intentional focus of an increase in sowing. The sowing of Light; the sowing of righteousness; the sowing of upright voices; the sowing that births agendas that foster positive cultural change …. sowing that yields building and restoration and the momentums of movements.

It is the level of sowing described by Amos (9:13) as being a time when the sower overtakes the reaper ….denoting a continuum in the process underway.

A time when unusual resources are made available to the righteous, especially those prepared with princely anointings for cultural-level, national alignments and shakings. For unlocking prisons of darkness, deep darkness as well as furthering the movements rather than fostering institutional hierarchies.

It embraces prophecies made by this ministry in the 90s that point to days in which great alliances harness resources providing refuge during times of turbulence. A time when those prepared with the GIFT of giving are released to do exploits considered supernatural and strategic.
“Just as in the days of Joseph and Daniel, God will bring out mighty works at your hand. As you are led into the midst of the world, kings, rulers, leaders will be converted and humbled. You’ll work beside them and your counsel will be heeded for their good.”

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Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner of the Joseph-calling and God’s economy message, being an international voice for the higher dimensions of spiritual game-changers and intercessors since the mid-90s. As founder of Global Initiatives Foundation, the Strategic Intercession Global Network [SIGN] and designer of the God’s Economy Entrepreneurial Equippers Program and the Jewish Business Secrets YouTube series, Mr. Ruddick’s messages equip leaders and economic community builders with strategy where God’s light is dim in diverse regions around the globe.

He is author of “The Joseph-Daniel Calling;” “Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations;” “The Heart of a King;” “Something More;” “Righteous Power in a Corrupt World;” “Leadership by Anointing;” and “Mantle of Fire,” which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders with destinies to impact their communities. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com, www.apple.com/ibooks and www.BarnesandNoble.com.

Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org) is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts mobilize economic community builders imparting influence and the blessings of God. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to 3838 South Wabash Street, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card at https://strategic-initiatives.org/donate/

2025 Copyright Morris Ruddick — info@strategic-initiatives.org

Since early 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors and leaders committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For more information go to https://strategic-initiatives.org

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[RUDDICK REPORT] GLORY FROM THE EAST MANIFESTING - Morris Ruddick

Morris Ruddick  GLORY FROM THE EAST MANIFESTING In the face of what seems unlikely and impossible, God's ways are always higher. Having spent over 21 months in Vietnam in the last 7 years, we have continually been amazed. God's ways simply defy natural efforts and the best of human capabilities. At the crux has been a remnant committed to prayer. Behind the Scenes We've long been acquainted with how over two decades ago the Vietnamese refugee camps in Hong Kong served as Bible training centers. Huge numbers of Vietnamese were coming to the Lord and then being prepared for what God knew, but those held there hardly expected: being returned to Vietnam when China took over Hong Kong. That difficult event for those in the camps changed the balance of power for the house church movement from one end of the country to the other. More than seventy percent of those interred had come from the North. During that same general time frame, beginning in the early 1990s, many from Vietnam's elite in the North were being sent to Russia for graduate work, business training and assignments, along with positions of influence. In Moscow alone, there was a community of over 100,000 Vietnamese. Most of Moscow's Vietnamese lived in one central high-rise area. THEN, during the time that the Vietnamese refugee camps across Asia started being disbanded, there came a radical spiritual climate change in Moscow. Almost overnight, in the expatriate Vietnamese community, everyone was talking about Jesus and reaching out to know Him. Parenthetically, the late 1980s to mid-90s in Vietnam were the most brutal for the persecuted house church movement. Raids were made, leaders were jailed. So it was that the prayers of the saints steadily and desperately became more intense. Anointed, high-level Western ministry leaders slipped in to pray in agreement with secret gatherings of Vietnamese leaders. Those fervent prayers of the righteous, oppressed and anointed were heard -- and from Hong Kong to Moscow, grand-strategy alignments from on High were set in motion. We tend to describe such big-picture alignments as God doing a new thing. While they are, they entail more. A very key factor involves the amassing of prayers from those most impacted, especially those being crushed for their faith. They entail the anticipatory response of a God whose ways are beyond the realm of our short-term perspectives of things. These highlights from more than the last two decades set the stage for what unfolded in our most recent sojourn in Vietnam as we have been privileged to serve as a part of these NEW dimensions being released in God. Current Parallels Upon arrival almost six weeks ago, we came out of the chute hard and fast. After a number of meetings in the Saigon area, we headed north. Domestic Vietnamese flights were a zoo this time of year, as we were traveling just prior to the Tet (Chinese New Year) holidays on our own, when there is a massive shift of the population returning to hometowns for family holiday visits. It was freezing when we arrived in the capital city. Not literally, but with it sunny and the highs in the Saigon area in the mid 90s, we were facing some days with the highs in the 50s, with it drizzly, overcast and damp. There's no heat in the buildings. The Vietnamese wear winter jackets in this type of weather. Our first workshop had a mix of leaders: business people, fledgling entrepreneurs, pastors, pastor's wives and even a graduate-school professor whose academic expertise (economic forecasting) closely paralleled my own professional experience. There were several minority group, village leader/ pastors who had traveled distances to attend. Forty to fifty were expected -- the number wound up being 75. The man who arranged it was amazed. The professor who came had such a positive response, that he has offered to have my books translated and published in Vietnam. This very significant offer is an important answer to prayer and our future potential in helping these brethren. I already knew core infrastructures were being deeply penetrated by the Lord, but this time in Hanoi demonstrated even more. We had dinner one night with a Vietnamese pastor our age, a former field-grade military type, also retired from a high-level position in a Russian firm, who is a product of the sweep of the Holy Spirit in Moscow during the 1990s. He now leads a fellowship attracting field-grade and above vets from the capital city. ONLY GOD, with the prayers of a remnant, could have done this. Our next workshops included all successful business people -- whose desire is to follow God's ways of business. When I learned of the makeup of those attending, I re-shuffled the presentation and raised the bar. The new format has been well received with invitations for more. Our final group teased us with their desire for "more" by telling us that they would allow us to go ONLY if we agreed to come back in May with additional teaching. We agreed! New Potentials and Challenges We visited two of the orphanages our chief host supports. One has 22 kids who were rescued from human trafficking. We usually come with a small supply of Hershey's chocolates. It brought tears to our eyes to see those kids take their first bite of chocolate and see their eyes get real big at the taste of it. The eagerness we're experiencing among business practitioners dovetails with another dimension of the big-picture alignment that ONLY GOD could be orchestrating. One of our earliest trips to Hanoi (2008) unveiled a move of God among the sons and daughters of high-ranking government officials, young professionals in their late 20s and 30s being completely delivered from hard-drug addictions after government drug-rehab programs had repeatedly failed. NOW! Now there is a shift underway by authorities in the acceptance of the role of local Christians working with addicts. As we've become a part of what is unfolding with business leaders in both Hanoi and Saigon -- it has brought the Joseph-Daniel Calling dimension of my message into sharp focus. So, in addition to our workshops to birth new businesses, we've begun to collaborate on bringing these business leaders together from across the regions to strategize on their joint mobilization. Discussions on plans to establish funds to train the youth entrepreneurially, as well as to help mobilize poor communities economically are in motion -- as Vietnamese leaders embrace the responsibility of helping their own. Advancing opportunity -- with God's proclamation of the Vietnamese brethren being the head and not the tail -- is being facilitated, cooperatively by both the North and the South. As we have witnessed these "beyond expectation" dynamics, I marvel at the rich, personal relationships we've come to enjoy with the brethren in the North. In line with these thoughts were some recent and very key Kingdom connections. One brother in particular is a genuine modern-day Joseph, a business-owner and product of the Vietnamese-Russian revival, who has an amazing story of how God supernaturally birthed his company and how he has intertwined his business with Kingdom purposes. His vision and zeal make him a major force for change in this simultaneously challenging, yet opportunistic spiritual environment. We found our burden to start a business-school of values for the secular marketplace shared by ones who we might collaborate with in the days ahead. Step by step, the Lord is bringing the pieces together. We visited and received feedback from a businessman who six years ago slipped us into a major stronghold of this nation. During that time we helped start businesses that have not only grown, but have built up the local body, as our self-sustaining program has continued to spawn new businesses. The "value-added" to what he shared was in the faith-filled way he now saw these brethren THINKING. Contrary to ones culturally tainted by Western doctrinal precepts and ambitions, these brethren culturally are very biblical in their thinking while retaining a faith that is Vietnamese in its identity. With a culture closer to the Jewish roots to the faith than most other Asian cultures, it explains their ready grasp of deep matters of faith. The Bible is culturally Jewish and from an Eastern mind-set. So it is that these brethren have embraced community-based mind-sets that look to the Lord, that are inclined to reach out and help one another AND to expect miracles. It's one of the reasons revival is taking root so strongly. In the face of adversity, these brethren have not only been prospering, but growing as a community spiritually. In so doing, they have become truly a light on a hill to their neighbors. Yet, alongside these positive developments is a reality and deep concern. It involves leaders whose hearts have strayed from the purity needed in the high stakes of this spiritual environment and have become ambitious. The impact ranges from those who inform on one another (to local authorities) for their own gain, to those whose out-dated and short-sighted grasp of the spiritual big-picture short-circuits the alignments emerging from the long-term amassing of prayer. I'm sharing these matters with the hope that it will engender prayer that supports the move of God underway, rather than the move of man. Overall however, what we've been witnessing is how uniquely and strategically the Spirit of the Lord orchestrates things when people are praying. Alliances are being mobilized and Kingdom strategies planned and set in motion. With such a unique intertwining of fervent prayer and developments over the last two to three decades, there is emerging today, against all odds, something vibrant that taps His glory with results beyond chance expectations. With our next trip in May, as well as our September trip almost filled up -- we are already setting up activities for after the first of the year in 2016. The exposure we've had has tapped not only all the major house-church networks, but most major denominations. God has helped us in discerning the true voices of wisdom in this volatile spiritual environment. I've been systematically tracking and mapping out these historical developments of the revival in Vietnam. Understanding the cultural overtones to the parallels between Vietnamese and biblical, Jewish culture is an important key to what lies ahead. God's ways are always higher. The prayers of a remnant have been triggering His glory. As they have, this fervent, effectual prayer combined with strategy impacts the spiritual atmosphere and brings change. It brings the change that only can be explained by God. Thank you. We deeply appreciate your prayers and support in our efforts to build up these most remarkable brethren.  With every blessing,

Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org Global Initiatives Foundation is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts are enabled by the generosity of a remnant of faithful friends and contributors whose vision aligns with God's heart to mobilize the persecuted church to be the head and not the tail. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card at http://strategicintercession.org/support/

HONORING THE VETS - Morris Ruddick

Morris Ruddick November 10th is the Marine Corps birthday. November 11th is Veterans Day. My intention is to honor and bless those who have served. The pithy story reflected in the following slides is dramatic: http://strategic-initiatives.org/pages/publications/documents/REMEMBERING--VNAGENERATIONLATER-PRESENTPDF.pdf  It goes against the grain of the long-term spin reported by the press. It pivots on the issue of freedom, which has always been a priority from God's perspective. It demonstrates the incredible way that God remembers and redeems. In the age-old struggle between good and evil, it's a glimmer of the old radio commentator's "rest of the story." The untold story of Vietnam provides us with assurance that not only does "God know," but that He doesn't forget and that He works all things together for good in our service and efforts in taking a stand for what is right. Solomon told a story in Ecclesiastes of a poor wise man who saved his city against more powerful aggressors. Afterward, he was forgotten. There's something about taking a stand for what it is right, something about those who pay the cost to make a difference -- that is a challenge to those allured with the status quo. Yet, God doesn't forget. In my own case, when I returned to Vietnam a full generation after my second tour, I prepared myself for the spin that the Western media had promulgated. Instead, I found something very different. In our first month back, I had more Vietnamese to thank me for my service, a generation prior, than I had had Americans to thank me in all the years since I had left. The Vietnamese, from both the North and South, have born the brunt of our departure and -- they know. They also have not forgotten. While our definition of veterans targets those who have served in the military and especially those who have served in harm's way for the cause of freedom, there is a significant correlation between those serving the cause of freedom and the advancement of God's Kingdom. But perhaps I'm getting ahead of the message in the following few slides. Click on this link: http://strategic-initiatives.org/pages/publications/documents/REMEMBERING--VNAGENERATIONLATER-PRESENTPDF.pdf I pray it will be a blessing to you. To my Marine friends, Happy Birthday. To all who have served, Carol and I salute you! Thank you for your service. With His richest blessings,

Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation equip@strategic-initiatives.org www.strategic-initiatives.org

[RUDDICK REPORT] VIETNAMESE HELPING VIETNAMESE

Morris Ruddick September 22, 2014 Elijah said to Ahab, 'Go, eat and drink for there is the sound of heavy rain.' 2 Kings 18:41

As we wrap things up for this most recent venture helping the Vietnamese, we've been dotting the "i"s and crossing the "t"s for our next trip -- just after the first of the year. However, with those plans firmed up, we have also been finalizing schedules for what we'll be doing on our second trip here next year. Indeed, word has gotten around. It also is God's time. With our focus of investing in and mobilizing the poor among the brethren in persecuted nations, the Vietnamese have been applying what we're teaching -- and against incredible odds, these principles have been working for them as they reach for more of God and set their course to become self-sustaining. There's been a momentum building, along with the sound of the rains of revival. We've been a part of the turning taking place in this nation. Change for good is emerging. While persecution remains a reality -- the spiritual climate has begun responding to the fervent prayers of the righteous. The application of God's economy is also becoming a reality and it has been spreading. With that, Vietnamese are helping Vietnamese. What strikes me most about the Vietnamese response to Truth is the way they embrace and navigate Truth -- into the way they live their lives. Their priorities are in the right place. Indeed, they are walking out the admonition of James: "To be doers of the word and not hearers only, who deceive themselves." There's something about God's heart for sacrificial giving and revival bleeding together. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 2 Cor 8:2 Not only are they reaching for more of God and the goal of becoming self-sufficient, but our Vietnamese co-laborers are truly operating as "community-builders." They're becoming the head and not the tail, as Vietnamese help Vietnamese. Vietnamese Helping Vietnamese Here are a few examples. * Many of the church networks we work with operate as missionary churches, reaching out to Vietnamese communities across Vietnam and Southeast Asia. One gathering was an annual conference attended by local leaders from across the region, the fruit of their efforts. These were communities they have mobilized to be the "head and not the tail," from the poorest of the poor, with majority of those attending being from Vietnamese tribal groups. Also, one of our workshops we hosted had an leaders from distant provinces and seven different tribal groups. * We have initiated a matching fund program to help launch new businesses with three different leaders of church networks based on matching seed capital coming from Vietnamese business people with established track records. * One of the business people we have worked with has a track record of helpingyoung people and orphans. Since touting orphanages can be an overused fund-raising technique, I take care when I hear of orphanage activities. In this case, we know the founding couple well and have played a part in their plans becoming a reality. They had already been raising six orphans in their home, besides their own two children, as well as giving scholarships enabling 18 teens from the poor region of this brother's hometown to attend secondary school. Since then he has used a property he owns to build a facility to house his expanding family of orphans with plans to expand it into a private Christian school. The application for the next step, the Kindergarten, has already been filed. What a joy to visit, minister and share devotions with these happy children and house mothers. * We have opened the doors for an alliance with a Vietnamese firm that uses half of its facilities to house a Bible school that brings in rural pastors for intense, short-term Bible training. Through the Internet, the goal of this new alliance is to expand the market of their products into the US. * Across a wide group of church networks leaders are meeting together to pray, collaborate and bless their communities with agendas ranging from feeding the poor to digging water wells. I was honored to be the keynote speaker concluding three days of a monthly fasting and praying gathering. * A group of business owners in a coastal city who attended one of our prior workshops have been meeting regularly in support groups to seek God and help each other become successful. Their businesses have been growing. On this trip we conducted a special seminar for them, to review, pray for them and answer questions on "next steps." They've entered God's economy and they want MORE. * One of the key church network leaders we work with has just received government approval for a travel service. We have been a part and have encouraged this initiative as it holds the potential of supporting his already significant efforts to advance the Kingdom. This man is not only a proven leader, but a serious giver and an Isaiah 58 practitioner. Strongly related to these most recent testimonies of Vietnamese helping Vietnamese is the story from one of our previous missions. A village chief/ pastor of a tribal minority group attended one of our workshops. Not long before he came to our workshop, typhoon-level weather had torn out the electrical lines of his village and made many of the dirt roads impassable. Authorities told him: "Let your God help you." Shortly afterward, he was invited to attend our God's economy workshop. After the workshop, we learned he had expertise in breeding a special variety of livestock used in high-end restaurants. We assisted with the purchase of three of these animals. When we returned less than two years later to see how his venture was going, we were surprised to find four other smiling village chiefs/ pastors greeting us. What happened was that with the birth of the first offspring of the animals, this pastor gave half to another village chief/ pastor and trained him in the business. The process multiplied, as the second village chief did the same. Vietnamese helping Vietnamese. The result was a cash flow being established in which these pastors began feeding their families, supporting their ministries and in each case extending their self-sufficiency with generators to provide them critical, consistent electrical power. The time commitment for raising these animals was less than two man hours a day. Even the authorities, who had previously denied them the services they provided to others, were impressed. With the upswing in demand for our workshops has been an increase in the requests for my books in Vietnamese. I've investigated further to determine current pricing, as well as which book(s) should have priority. The Dynamics The parable of the talents, among many other like-truths in Scripture, teaches that as good stewards, God expects us to bring an increase. That's the foundational premise behind Biblical entrepreneurship. Indeed, God's very nature is to create, to innovate, to build and to multiply. In the wisdom of God, in establishing their own foundation, our Vietnamese brethren avoid the snares that divide, as they fear God alone and apply the simple biblical wisdom to pray, to listen to God's Spirit, to serve and to place their dependency on reaching for more of Him. The result has been the sounds of rain, heavy rain. Becoming the head and not the tail means resisting the trap of missing the real potential of God being their source -- by placing their trust in Western donations. It's about making a way where none seem to exist within their own cultural and economic infrastructure. That's the creative foundation for establishing God's economy. Jesus' Kingdom message raises the bar. It establishes a standard, a dimension in God, beyond our human capabilities. The church in Vietnam has been through the fire. They've had everything possible thrown at them. Still, they've heard the sound of rain, and will settle for nothing short of it. The Expectation and Turning Wherever we've gone, when received, it seems we've been igniters for revival and newdimensions in God. The stewardship of something as significant as God's economy, through the imperfect vessels of God's people, can at times seem daunting. Yet, as I ponder the developments noted above, two things are clear. Our efforts are taking root. With that, we're also at a threshold in the turning underway. Something new, vital and subtle is emerging. As a boy, I recall my mother frequently commenting: "Thank God for small favors." Sometimes it's the simple things that are the easiest to overlook when the turning and the birthing of the "new" comes forth. It's the "small favors" from the Lord that we don't want to miss.   Please pray for the development of our role in each of the above examples, as well as for what may be a new role with the American-Vietnamese community, the next steps in my writing, as well as our return to Israel the middle of October. We deeply appreciate you for holding up our arms in the midst of all this. Thank you for your continued support that is making these efforts possible. With every blessing,

Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org