Dear Team: Standing Fast

Her name was Molly Hays. She was about 24 years old. The time was late June 1778, and the place was the Plains of Monmouth, New Jersey.

The mid-summer heat was oppressive and sapped the soldiers’ energy as if a giant, overbearing leech had attached itself to each of the fighting men. The battle between the British and the rag-tag American Colonists was intense, with casualties dropping with almost every beat of the cannons and artillery.

William Hays was committed to stand until the very last if that was what it took to win freedom from their oppressors.

William is quoted as saying, “ I'll not retreat...as long as there is another man on the field to fight.” Molly happened to be William's young bride. With great determination, she declared, “...I can help the soldiers when they are in trouble, and I can stand it as well as he.”

One by one, the hot, dehydrated, and, as reported, gasping soldiers began to drop from thirst and exhaustion.  Molly grabbed an artillery bucket and shuttled cool water to as many of the troops as she could.

For obvious reasons, she quickly became known not as Molly Hays but as Molly Pitcher. 

When William was wounded and unable to continue to load his assigned cannon, Molly grabbed the rammer staff and began swabbing and reloading the gun. When it looked like the enemy was about to overtake the colonist's soldiers, Molly continually called out...” Stand fast.” Finally, the battle turned to the will of the Colony army, and the British sounded the retreat.

George Washington personally commended Molly for her commitment and tenacity, and it was said that eventually she was given the rank and title of Sergeant Molly.

It was once said that “Extreme and undesirable circumstances of situation can only be resolved by resorting to equally extreme actions.” Most of us know the phrase, “...desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Well, today's world and all that is happening in vivid color before our eyes could easily fit the definition of “desperate times.” We are needed now more than ever to bring the truth that God is ultimately in control and that He is working His plan, and best of all, He has laid out how the final chapter will be concluded.

This hope we have is priceless in a world that has completely lost its way.

As you read this, Johan Leach and his team will be in the floodplains of Zambia, battling against the darkness that has covered these forgotten villages and people for generations.

A village dwelling in this isolated area. 

A child accessing the only source of water in his village.

We have already drilled 22 boreholes (water wells) in the northwest corner of Zambia between the Zambezi River and Angola.

These water wells have been incredible blessings to people groups that have never tasted clean water in their lifetimes. They have also opened the doors for Johan's specially trained lay evangelists and pastors to take the Gospel to each village in this area, ultimately spawning many fruitful church plants.

One of Johan's trained evangelists is welcomed to share the Gospel in a village that was provided with access to clean, safe water.

Johan and Lesley's ministry focus area is an area isolated between the difficult-to-cross and often flooding Zambezi River, among the Luvale tribe who live in small remote villages in the orange area above.

Each map-dot above represents a well within the ministry focus area. 

This month, we will sink 8 new boreholes in settlements that had no water and no Gospel - until now. Johan and his team are expanding in all directions from their base in Chavuma, Zambia.

Johan and the Harvesters mission team continue taking the previously uneducated believers and discipling them to become evangelists and church planters. Johan is “standing fast.”

Adi and Ema Ban and their unique, biblically-based family relationship training within their Romanian communities has now exploded past the borders of Romania into more and more Romanian communities spread across Africa, Europe, and the USA.

Adi teaching on Biblical family and parenting to a group of parents of high schoolers in Romania. 

Adi and Ema are “standing fast.”

ITMI could not do what we do to help these faithful nationals if we didn't have partners like you to “stand fast” with us.

Now more than ever, this world needs faithful servants of God to do what it takes to stand fast and be mindful of what God is doing in our homes, churches, and world. Thank you for all you have done and what you are about to do. Blessings on you!

In His Service,