The Jerico Rose
Dear Friends:
Recently, I learned about the “Jericho Rose” (also known as the Resurrection plant) from a teaching that my wife, Amy Flattery, shares for the Center for Holy Lands Studies. The Jericho Rose sits on the southwest shore of the Dead Sea in Israel and looks dead and gnarled; like ugly weeds in your garden. But when even a drop of water falls on it, the rose unfurls and begins to bloom into its full color.
This is similar to what happens when people encounter Jesus Christ through the ministry of Network211. Some are so defeated that they look lifeless and gnarled spiritually. They are in desperate need of help, hope, and rescue. Here are some comments of those who wrote to us from our online evangelism communities:
*A girl in the Philippines wrote, “How can you stop depression? I’m just a kid in grade four this be stopped?”
*A woman in Australia asked for us to prayer for her and wrote, “My husband cheated on me. I don’t feel appreciated at work. My baby is sick. I am in debt.”
*A man in Slovakia wrote, “I just want to tell you that i have been feeling empty and lonely for a while now. Everything is messed up. I don’t want anyone to know that I have this problem. I have”nt told anyone. I just want peace.”
*A man in Columbia wrote, “About eight days ago I tried to kill myself because I am consuming bazuco and that makes me very sad I want to get out of this.” Bazuco is the cheapest narcotic in Columbia.
Each one of these individuals searched the Internet to quench their thirst to be vibrant again and live with vitality. With your help, we give them the Living Water, Jesus Christ; “‘but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life'” (John 4:14).
Here are some testimonies of how the Living Water transformed their lives to full “bloom”:
*A man from the Philippines wrote, “I’m confessing that I’m a sinner, and I need God’s mercy and forgiveness. Whatever I’m going right now I know that He is the only one who will help me I want to be a new person in Christ. Give me a new life as I accept Jesus as my Lord and savior.”
*A woman in Jamaica wrote, “You are the living proof that he is mighty and he has not forgotten me.”
*A man in Nicaragua wrote, “Today I have received Jesus.”
*A woman in the Philippines wrote, “Thank you so much for making me feel loved again by making me believe that renew my faith in Jesus, thank you thank you thank you!”
What a joy it is to see the amazing miracles of individuals taken from the precipice of death to the fullness of life by the power of the Gospel!
We are praising the Lord for the eternal impact of the Network211 online interactive community to the military family called “The Warrior’s Journey.” We have been contacted by fifty-two warriors who stated that they were contemplating suicide. We know that suicide is an epidemic that is ravaging the military community; both active, reserves, and retired. In fact, while some estimate that 22 warriors commit suicide each day, others believe this number to be woefully short of reality. Of the 52 warriors who contacted us, we thank the Lord that all 52 are still alive today. By the grace of God, and with your help, we connected them with the Lord and helped them find hope and a purpose to life. Also, we connected them with faith-based groups that exist specifically to help them so that their lives could be saved and transformed. Like the Jericho Rose, these 52 lives where considered near death and gnarled. But, when the Living Water was given to them, they blossomed to new life.
While I rejoice over the millions of people who have received a Gospel presentation as we have partnered together, my heart is broken and my mind motivated by the millions who are still like that Jericho Rose. Just as our lives bloomed when we encountered the Living Water, we must engage as many as possible so that they may blossom and life a Christ-honoring life. Let us continue to do our part in prayer, giving, and proclaiming until the Lord returns!
Blessings,
Mark
Dr. Mark Flattery
Network211 President
www.Network211.com
