Martha Chester

Yes

After Jesus Is Lord Ministries sold the property in 1984, Dan and I held a 'home church' in our lake home with Dick Griggs as 'pastor' until 1989, right after my Dad passed away and we down-sized to a townhouse. At this time, we started attending Abundant Life Church, where Dan was a Deacon for years and I participated in Praise and Worship (still do). We subsequently got into a little larger place, and my mother came down from Ohio to spend her last days with us. We have continued to travel with the tent ministry of JILM, although some seasons were cut short due to Bro. Charles' personal situations. He lost his son, Tommy, in 1991 (you all remember him, I'm sure), and it took some time to heal from that. Recently, he's been battling cancer, but we still look forward to that tent ministry, where signs and wonders follow as much now as they did in the 70's and 80's.

On a more personal note, since February of 2001 we have taken to cruising as our main vacation pleasure, and witness by wearing JILM t-shirts and visor hats. Many is the conversation we've had about The Lord on one of those cruises (which now number 16 - or 2/year). In fact, a number of former fellow travellers have kept in touch, and, along with all those who have been touched under the tent, we find our "family" in The Lord growing by leaps and bounds.

This fall, I will be going go to The Holy Land for the third time since 1984, although Dan has begged off, as he is starting to feel a few of his 84 years. Some of you may remember that Dan walks in a "helps ministry", and that includes a lot of physical stuff - he's still helping people move with that 1979 Ford truck The Lord blessed him with (the count of families moved is now over 100) ... and goes out spring and fall and gathers trash throughout our Abundant Life fellowship and takes it to the dump (especially for the widows).

For a number of years I golfed with the Ladies' 18- hole League, as a witness to the Lord's healing power on my back. This summer will be the first time I will not be doing that, but am now playing bridge once or twice a week (also good soil for planting some 'word'). I never tire of praising my Lord and Savior, and scatter the seed generously and regularly. One of these days (in the sweet 'by and by'), maybe I'll get to meet some of those who have sprouted where The Lord allowed me to sow. Hallelujah! What a day that will be!

Did you know that Lakeview Christian School had an enrollment of 71 students in 1980? There were 6 pre-schoolers; 5 kindergarteners; 17 in grades 1-3; 15 in grades 4-6; 12 in Junior High (grades 7-8) and 16 in High School (grades 9-12). There were 6 full-time teachers (one in each category), and 12 "aides", or teacher's assistants.

Although I'm listed as a Teacher at the Lakeview/ Abundant Life School, my main role was in the creation of the School. Dan and I were brought into the Kingdom in the fall of 1977, and The Lord called us immediately into service via the Jesus Is Lord Ministries. At first, Dan was more or less a business advisor and I helped organize the office. In 1978, we were used to finance the reclamation of the stone edifice known as the 'tabernacle' - then the 'office', then paving the parking lot and, finally, the erecting of a cement-block building to house the school, which was only supposed to be the first of many buildings that would usher in the "World Outreach Training Institute".

Someday we'll all know how many lives were touched through this school -- I'm proud to have been a part of it right from the start!