'`'`'`'`' Johnson Family Missions '`'`'`'`' 
'`'`'`'`'`'  May 12, 2009  `'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'

Dear !fname:

Greetings from Cotabato Philippines.  

Report on the conference in Cotabato with Ron Gartner.

It was truly an honor to join Ron and minister to
the 240 Pastors that came from all over the Catobato
area to this 4 day conference.  Not only was Ron's
network of churches there, but many other pastors
attended the conference to be encouraged and fed.

Part of the reason they came is because they get
very little help from outside this area; and ministers
from outside the Philippines never come to this area - 
except Ron of course.  (We took many pictures with
Ron's camera, and since I am Refuge Ministries web
master, I will let you know when they are posted on
his site so you can see them.)

This is the most dangerous area of the nation.  The
day after we arrived they went on "Red Alert" because
some government workers were kidnapped and a Red Cross
worker was murdered by the Muslim rebels.  We were
not even allowed to walk the 100 yards from our hotel
to the church compound in the daylight.  More than
one pastor thanked us specifically for the courage
to come.  We were at peace the whole time thanks to
your prayers and partnership.

We taught on spiritual gifts and warfare.  The pastors
are so hungry.  The worship was extremely rich, even
when they sang in their native language you can simply
feel so strong the presence of the Lord coming to bless
this group.  It was simply a honor to be used by God to
do that.

The leadership and pastors obviously love and respect
"Apostle Ron."  One of the pastor couples that was
particularly impacted live and work in the highest
concentrated muslim area of the nation.  It is a campus
ministry that is the only Christian witness in that
area.  They brought some of their young people with
them to the conference.  Please remember them in your
prayers.

It was so encouraging to see not only men, but women
and young men & women rising up to fulfill their callings
and destinies.  At one point in ministry over 70% of
the group was slain in the spirit - laying all over
the concrete floor as the Holy Spirit worked.  

Thank you for your prayers for me and my family during
this time.  It is hard in many ways, but I am not
complaining.  Kay and my children are amazing in their
support and blessing of our work, even when I need to
be away.

I told the pastor that was especially grateful of our
coming to such a dangerous area that the only thing
that really scares me is being out of God's will.
When we are in God's will, there is nothing to fear.

It was a truly humbling experience.  It is these saints,
and many like them all over the world facing challenges
that we know nothing about in America that are the
warriors and examples that we can look up to and pray for.

'`'`'`'`'`'`'`''`'`'`'`''`'`'`'`''`'`'`'`''`'`'`'`'
Grace & Peace to You!

Curt, Kay, Holli & Hanna Johnson
1-815-918-4304
http://www.johnsonfamilymissions.org

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