Tuesday, January 12, 2010

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Right now we are in Santa Monica, California, fundraising for Within Reach Global before we return to Kunming, China on January 24th. With all the new ministries opened in 2009, our budget has grown and we need to continue supporting our underground Bible training centers along the borders of China, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.



Here's a brief look at our schedule before we return to China.

Thursday, January 7:
We began driving from Prescott, AZ to Los Angeles. Our car broke down just outside Desert Springs, CA. We were stranded on the side of the road until we called our friends. They came and picked us us, drove us to their church in Banning to share for 20 minutes, and took up an offering for us. They truly blessed us!

Friday, January 8:
Joined some friends in a cabin in Big Bear, CA for an overnight stay until Saturday.

Sunday, January 10:
Spoke at the Filipino service at the Dream Center in Los Angeles, CA. Created new relationships with the pastor and leadership, and shared our vision for China. They were touched and blessed by the Ako Ay Pilipino book. They ordered 2 boxes!

Then we drove to Azusa, CA to share in another Filipino church. I had met the pastor 12 years earlier in Hong Kong. Had a chance to share about Within Reach Global's ministry in China and the Philippines.

Monday, January 11:
Printing 2,500 newsletters today. We are praying that many more churches and individuals jump on board. (We have attached the 2010 January Within Reach Global newsletter below.)

Tuesday, January 12:
We will drive to Paso Robles, CA to see my uncle, aunt and cousins.

Wednesday, January 13:
Continue driving up the coast to Fairfield, CA to meet with the pastors of one of our supporting churches. Hopefully we will have a chance to greet the congregation at the Wednesday night service, passing out newsletters and challenging them for missions.

Thursday, January 14:
Drive to Fremont, CA to see old friends and meet the pastors of their church. Praying that God opens a new door of partnership to open new underground Bible training centers.

Saturday, January 16:
Drive back down the coast to Banning, CA.

Sunday, January 17:
Hopefully we will be able to share in one of our supporting churches.

Monday, January 18:
Rest day. Lorna and I will go out on a special date!

Tuesday, January 19:
Drive the car that broke down (hopefully it is fixed by then) from California to Phoenix, AZ to spend the night in a friends home.

Wednesday, January 20:
Drive to Prescott, AZ to speak at the Wednesday night service in our home church. It will be our final service in our home church.

Thursday, January 21:
Preach at a special service in another supporting church in Prescott Valley, AZ.

Sunday, January 24:
Speak at a Filipino church in Phoenix, AZ in the morning service. We hope to create some new relationships and partnerships before departing for China that night.

Fly to Kunming, China at 9pm that night.


Please pray for us, that we will be able to rest as we try to raise finances for our ministry. God is doing many new amazing things and we are excited to share them with you. May you be blessed and encouraged as you partner with us in reaching unreached people groups.



PS: We are looking for people who can help us with our online needs for social networking (facebook, twitter, our under-construction website, kickstarter). If you have a heart to help us promote the things God is doing in China, please let us know. thanks!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

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Merry Christmas!!!

We just wanted to take a moment and thank you for all your prayers and support. Within Reach Global has grown in so many ways this year, and you have been instrumental in helping reaching thousands of people. Thank you.

On a more personal note, we are enjoying spending time with family in Arizona, USA. This is David's first time home for Christmas in almost a decade, and Lorna's first Christmas in America! It has been a much needed rest from all the busyness of 2009.

We love you. May your holiday season be filled with peace and joy as you spend time with family and friends. May you also remember those in Asia who you have had a part in touching with the love of Jesus.

Blessings!

David & Lorna Joannes
Within Reach Global

PS: Sorry our newsletters are a little late this year. We are also still trying to get our website and video updates up and running. If you want to know more detailed info about the ministry and how you can bless Asia this year, please email us.



To send support, make checks payable to:
Within Reach Global
PO Box 1591
Prescott, AZ 86302
USA


Check out our website and blogs:
http://twitter.com/davidjoannes
www.withinreachglobal.org (still under construction)
www.xanga.com/chinaman777
www.youtube.com/chinaproject
www.youtube.com/cpvlog

Saturday, November 21, 2009

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Right now we are in Cebu, Philippines. We just finished doing the major launch of the Ako Ay Pilipino: Noon at Ngayon (I Am Filipino: Then and Now) books at the 20th National Prayer Gathering of the Philippines. In the last 7 days we have launched this creative coffee table book to over 6,000 people!

 


The book talks about the identity of Filipinos, encouraging them to pursue their God-given destiny. It challenges them to do something great in their generation, and be inspired by Filipinos throughout the history of the nation.

It is exciting to be a part of what is happening spiritually in the Philippines now. We are just praying that the books sell and we are able to pay back all our loans soon.

The contacts we have made are unbelievable. Two days ago we had dinner with the top pastors in the nation, well-known businessmen, and even the presidential candidate who is running for the 2010 elections. Hotel managers even want to buy books for every one of their rooms.

In the next two weeks we will be launching the creative coffee table book to another 6,000 people before returning to the states on December 6.

Check out the photo album here.

Or check out one of the many sites created by people who love the book.

Thanks so much for your prayers! We are believing that this book, and the concerts we are planning for February 2010, will truly impact the nation of the Philippines.

 
   

Monday, September 28, 2009

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Typhoon Ondoy Demolishes Metro Manila

Typhoon Ondoy hit Manila 2 days ago.
106 dead.
247,000 affected.

Lorna and I were blessed to be staying in the home of a friend at a higher part of the city and therefore did not get flooded. although we were worried because we were right beside a rushing river that swelled with the heavy rainfall. We are safe though. We just lost our power for a day.

In many other parts of Manila it is a completely different story.





If you would like to give financially to the victims of the flooding, we would be happy to help be your arm to the nations. We are here in Manila until Dec 1 and can give to the many needs here. This is another way that Within Reach Global is expanding and growing, and able to bless more nations.

If you would like to give toward relief work for the many thousands of people whose lives were affected by Typhoon Ondoy, click here:

Also we are getting ready to print the Ako Ay Pilipino (I Am Filipino) coffee table book next month and are needing to raise $10,000 for 5000 copies to be printed in China (super cheap!). we are truly praying that this will spark a hunger for righteous governance, and therefore see the Philippines blessed by God's hand.

If you would like to give toward the printing of the Ako Ay Pilipino book, click here:

Saturday, September 19, 2009

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Growth and expansion of Within Reach Global

We are so amazed to see the growth and expansion of Within Reach Global this year! Nations, tribes, and countless peoples are being impacted, and we are honored to work alongside God is His redemptive salvation plan.

In the last few months we have seen an explosion in open doors for Within Reach Global. We are excited to step out into new frontiers beyond China and its border nations, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Tibet. With the Philippines now on the map, excitement grows as we play a part in helping transform nations with the establishment of the kingdom of God.



We are currently in the Philippines until early December, spear heading a movement called Ako Ay Pilipino (I Am Filipino). But still the China work is flourishing even in our absence. Our local Chinese coworkers are faithfully traveling to unreached people groups, preaching the gospel and planting underground churches

It all started with a crisis. After many months of being chronically ill in China with stomach pains, shoulder issues, back spasms and a list of other problems, David and Lorna decided to go to the Philippines for medical help. They got the care they needed, and began to feel better after a friend treated them to a little R&R in Cebu island.

They visited the statue of Lapu Lapu, a famous warrior who killed Spanish colonialists when they first arrived in the Philippine islands in 1521. It was at this significant location that God spoke.

“Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.’”   ~Habakkuk 2:2

A vision to challenge the Filipinos for their part in fulfilling the Great Commission had been growing in Lorna’s heart for years, and she felt that this was finally the time. And so the huge and numerous projects of Ako Ay Pilipino began.



Returning from China, David and Lorna dove right into the task by searching for volunteers who could help with research, writing, editing and design.

The project? A 250 page coffee table book about the identity and destiny of Filipinos as seen through the 490 years of history since the cross was first planted in the Philippines. What started as a good idea has now shaped into a God idea.

David and Lorna are now overseeing 25 volunteers, coordinating the creation of the coffee table book, advertising, texts, website, huge billboards in public areas, short films and television and radio programs. With the upcoming May 2010 presidential elections and all the corruption and injustice that takes place during that time, this may very well swing the vote for a righteous presidential candidate.

The book and project launch will take place at the annual National Prayer Gathering led by the Intercessors of the Philippines in Cebu on November 17th of this year. Hundreds of churches around the country will be represented there. Is it impossible to finished this project? Yes! But with God all things are possible, and the righteous will live by faith!

Right now we are contacting large companies in the Philippines who want to jump on board in making this nationwide movement successful in sharing the identity and destiny of the Philippines.

Ako Ay Pilipino movement aims to stir up patriotism, passion for true freedom, and prayer that leads to the fulfillment of the prophetic destiny of the Philippines.

We were also amazed to hear that Lorna will be introducing the project at the National Prayer Gathering in November directly after some of the Philippines presidential candidates speak! God has truly stooped down to make us great, creating opportunities to change this wonderful nation by the power of God.

Check out some of the potential book pages here.