DLR Back-to-school event on 08/02/2023 was incredible

Jesse and Samantha (as well as volunteers) arrived at the school to set up. Samantha realized they had accidentally left a piece of their table display at home. So, Jesse went home to get it and a long line formed quickly. Samantha felt like God had them forget the display item when she realized they were almost out of bibles (before the event officially began). She knew Jesse already went home so he was able to bring back more bibles! They were trying to pray with everyone and trying to share the gospel and they were spread so thin. But it was something amazing to be part of and people were hungry for the word of God. 

One lady waited for over an hour so Jesse could bring her a Spanish bible and when she received it she began to cry! Samantha comforted her and they were able to get a picture together. So many were thanking them because some wanted bibles but had not been able to afford a bible before. The bibles were definitely the biggest hit of the event and from the pictures I received, it seems as if the lines were never ending. The people were flooding in and the line got so long that it broke off into 2 lines. People were emotional as they were practically begging to get a bible after they ran out...especially one in Spanish. One young boy was overjoyed to get a Spanish bible. Jesse arrived an hour after the event started and the event was 3 hours long. All the bibles were given out and they took orders for more.     

The table was so busy that they gave away about 400 kids packs with gospel tracts and bible verse bracelets. They gave out 100 children's bibles but ran out and took orders. They need a lot more Spanish bibles. They gave away between 60 to 75 adult leather bibles.  

A Back Story: At 2 pm (right before the back-to-school event) all 4 volunteers cancelled. Samantha cried out to God and felt God wanting her to trust Him. She called her friend and asked her to pray. Her friend said, "Where are you...I'm coming?" Her friend said she had a feeling to stay home this afternoon...even though she had other plans. She came to help and then another volunteer was able to come. They worked so hard! Samantha said they all worked like mules. I believe they will be blessed. I wish I could have helped them, but I don't live close. I would have driven 3 hours to help and spent money on a hotel to stay overnight...had I known all volunteers would quite on this event just hours before. I'm so thankful God provided what was needed. 

Praise God for using us cracked vessels to do His mighty work! The cracks are where His light shines though. The harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few. Thank you for those who showed up when you were dearly needed. What a blessing you are. 

Thank you for your prayers and your support for this ministry. DLR could not do this without the volunteers and faithful prayers of caring people like you.   

- Written by Pip Bailey, DLR Prayer Implementation 

July 30th 2023 - An Update 

"God is on the move!" God allowed Disciple Learner Resources to receive a large donation for their ministry. They had been praying for God to move in their community and for Him to give them enough to buy bibles for the upcoming back-to-school event. Jesse and Samantha were so encouraged by the large gift and they went to work buying bibles, tracts, study materials and preparing for the event. They had a wonderful ladies group volunteer to help fill and pray over the 700 bags and bibles to be given out. 

After they bought a lot for their event, Samantha remembered her heavy heart for a community where Jesse's grandmother lives. She Lives in Crystal City by Laprior. It's a very small border town where people are poor. She wanted to help a ministry in that town that feeds the poor. She knew God had blessed them with a large donation so she called and spoke with the head of the food pantry. She asked the lady if they needed any resources and the lady thought she meant food. Samantha told her she wanted to know if they needed "bibles." The lady paused, in disbelief, and said they had been praying that very morning for someone to give them bibles! Wow! 

The other churches, in the community, do not have enough money for bibles and they have only their bible phone apps to read from. Samantha could not believe God's timing was so exact that they prayed that morning and God had her call on the same day. This lady could also not believe her ears and actually needed a modest amount of bibles as compared to what DLR gives out for most events. She says there are many churches and ministries that still do not have a single bible or even one to share. Samantha immediately got a box ready and shipped it off to the ministry. Samantha will send more materials to follow and DLR wants to give them bible study materials as well. It is the goal to hand out free bibles and bible study materials to all communities that are in need of God's word. Jesus said, "Go and make disciples of all nations."

DLR was able to send 2,500 Gospel of Johns and many Children's Bibles to Crystal City, TX after talking to the local Crystal City food pantry that needed it.

A side story about God's work: Samantha gave me a task to find some tracts for handing out. She told me about a web site but I accidentally went to the wrong site and ordered 600 tracts. The tracts were nice when they arrived but this wrong website was not working well and I could not pay for them...so I called the ministry. They told me they have had a lot of trouble with their site and have been losing orders and money. I told them Samantha actually creates really nice websites for a living. I told them they might want to call her and they did. 

Samantha has been working on their new website and has found that they were being overcharged for a non working site and it was so disorganized. She feels badly for this ministry and they are so glad they found her because she is honest and sincerely wants to help others. They will have a wonderful site up soon and this is all God's work because they had been needing a better site and God led me to the wrong website so Samntha could help this ministry get back on track. God is clearly on the Move! Check out their new website at www.GospelTractSociety.org

Thank you, Lord. We greatly appreciate all who pray for and support the ministry of DLR.                          

-Written by Pip Bailey, DLR Prayer Implementation