Fowlers' Update for June 2015

by Pat
Jul 07, 2015
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Torre dell’Orso convention. Some 35 people attended this gathering in south Italy, to participate in a joyful period of rest and encouragement. The economic situation in Italy (as in the rest of the world) made it impossible for many to share in the uplifting spiritual banquet that was prepared. But this situation illustrated the convention’s theme “Rejoice in the Lord.”

Visiting Genoveffa. An elderly woman sits in a chair of sickness, her weakness a daily burden. She was baptized into Christ through the efforts of Giuseppe and Marilena Perroni and the encouragement of other Christians, mainly her sister Lisa Dilevrano, a member of our congregation at Matelica. She encouraged her constantly to read her Bible and trust God. This led to Genoveffa’s conversion and baptism in her home. She is located at least 300 miles from us, so we can go to see her only in connection with trips to southern Italy. Because she is chair-bound she is necessarily dependent on her children, only one of which can assist her. These are in total disagreement with her becoming a Christian. They are not fervent Catholics, but they reject the idea that she should leave the Catholic Church. This leaves her uneasy that they will do something drastic to get her back into the system. We are urging her to entrust her fears to God who has loved and saved her, and overcome these fears and accept the testing that she faces. Pray that she may believe that a courageous public can be a winsome testimony to God’s love encouraging others to imitate her faith.

That woman Jezebel… A very strong-willed woman has been maneuvering herself into a position of power and prestige in one of the churches. She reproduces several of the characteristics of what someone described as a “narcissistic Christian.” Such a person is interested only in what will enhance her image and satisfy her lust for power. She reminds us of Diotofes, that power-hungry bully that the apostle John described as “one who likes to put himself first, doesn’t welcome us. Because of this, if I come, I will bring up what he has done—making unjustified and wicked accusations against us. And as if that were not enough, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers and sisters but stops those who want to do so and even throws them out of the church!” (3 John 9,10) This man loved the preeminence because it gave him power to kick people out of church, feed his ego and well being, and enhanced his sense of control.

Jesus once described a would-be prophetess whom he nicknamed “Jezebel”, because of the demoralizing influence she exercised in the church at Thyatira (Rev. 2:20-22). So, we would urge you to pray that the male leaders of the church will be able to confront her with the Scriptural authority God has given them to shut her mouth of this woman. She is ready to mold the church in her image. The problem has been subtly and slowly coming to a head; pray that this crisis may be dealt with in a vigorous, timely and forthright manner.

Thanks in advance for your commitment to pray also for our health.

We send you our love,

Harold and Enid Fowler

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