 "How can I understand unless someone helps me?" (Acts 8:31 CEV) |
Exodus from Darkness Daniel Shayesteh |
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'Searching for Truth Together' |
Click Here for Past newsletters |
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in Jesus Christ' |
April 07 |
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Contact details Biography of Daniel Shayesteh July /September 05 June / July 2005 March / May 2005 Feb 2006 April 2006 July 2006 Sept 2006 December 2006 April 2007 August 2007 October 2007 December 2007 Feb 2008 March 2008 April 2008 |
In this update we provide the latest news on Daniel and Mary’s recent work in the USA, Sydney, South Africa and Tanzania. In our lead article Daniel and Mary bring you Easter greetings. The very exciting news we want to highlight in this update is that Mary was able to accompany Daniel during his 6 week visit to the USA in February and March and also for some of his visit to Africa. This is something that we have been praying to God our Father about for a long time and we give thanks to God that Daniel and Mary have been able to work together in this way. Details on their time of ministry together in the USA are in section 4 of this update. We thank you for your interest in and prayers for the ministry of Daniel and Mary Shayesteh and ‘Exodus from Darkness’. We pray that as you read these newsletters you will grow in your ability to love and understand Muslims and people of other faiths. We pray that fearfulness, ignorance and passive tolerance will be replaced by confidence, knowledge and the freedom to share the truth about Jesus with people of all nations. Contents: 1. Easter Greetings – from Daniel and Mary Shayesteh 2. Window on the future of EFD 3. Upcoming Events – USA, Australia and Africa 4. Daniel and Mary in the USA lifting up the name of Jesus to the world TOGETHER – February 2nd to March 12th 5. Daniel’s latest ministry in Sydney and Africa 6. Participating financially and practically in the ministry of Daniel and Mary Shayesteh 7. Exodus from Darkness Prayer Requests 8. Daniel's Books (A web-based version of this e-newsletter is available at http://www.ministryblue.com/exodus.html) 1. Easter Greetings Dear brothers and sister in Christ, The resurrection of Christ is the living hope we are covered with, and have thereby become the salt and light of Christ in the world. It is the eternal life of Christ in us that has made us victorious over all other philosophies or beliefs. To be able to say, “I am saved” is the most amazing thing one can say. This is the victory that the resurrection of Christ has brought into us. No other religion and belief in the world, including Islam, is able to claim such a victory. All other religions’ prophets and gurus died in uncertainty. It is so sad that they are leading their followers into their own uncertainties. They have blinded them into a false sense of eternal security. I remember last year when the Muslim leader in Indonesia, Abu Bakr Bashir, said that the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard would be better off becoming a Muslim, otherwise he would go to hell. In the same way, Taj Al Din Hilali, the leader of Muslims in Australia and New Zealand, said that in the after-life, non-Muslims do not go to the Gold Coast, but to hell. These ignorant leaders neglected to see the big log in their own eyes, and started to speak about the specs in the eyes of others. The Qur’an says that their own prophet, who is called the best man in the world, died in uncertainty (Q.46:9). And shockingly, their own Qur’an even takes righteous Muslims to hell first (Q.19:68-72). This is their unpleasant future according to their own sacred scripture; however, they ignore their future and blame others for what they themselves cannot have. Unlike them, we, the followers of Christ, have the essence of the resurrection of Christ in us. We belong to the Eternal Life, live in it, and are its flowing waters among others. We can speak about this Life, because we are in it and of it. Others are not able to speak about life, because they are not in it, nor of it. Let us, therefore, praise our Lord Jesus, who has made us victorious (John 16:33; Rom.8:37). Let us express this confidence boldly, opening the eyes of others and leading them to the Life. Let us bring the nations to Christ in order to glorify His Name. Let us speak aloud so that everyone might hear that He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords (Rev.19:16) and the only One to save the world (Acts 4:12). May the Spirit of the resurrection of Christ be our only motive for living in this lost world. Yours in Christ Daniel & Mary Shayesteh 2. Window on the Future of EFD – our prayer to God our Father Since 2001 Daniel and Mary and EFD have ministered throughout Australia and many places overseas. During 2006/2007 we have focused more on the USA and Africa. In the future Daniel hopes to spend more time in the USA as well as in Africa, Europe and Asia, while at the same time seeking to consolidate the work we have begun in Australia. EFD is a specialised apologetics and evangelism ministry, endorsed and nurtured by the CMA of Australia, that seeks to encourage followers of Christ and people of other faiths and beliefs to ‘Search for Truth Together’. EFD ministers across all churches, the wider community and other faith communities. We believe that eternal confidence is only found in Jesus Christ. Our vision is to see the peace of Jesus ruling in people’s hearts, leading to a transformed society in every dimension of life. As Jesus said to his followers, we are called to be the salt and light of the whole world. With this in mind we pray to our Father in heaven ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’. We know that the answer to this prayer is the way of the Cross and the Resurrection and our ultimate destination is the new heaven and the new earth, the home of righteousness. This is our hope in Christ! Our prayer to God is for several middle-eastern background evangelists to soon work alongside Daniel, Mary and Janet. We pray also for strategic partnerships with printers, recording studios, educationalists and publishers who can help us to distribute their testimonies, teaching, books, poetry and music in multiple languages. We pray for an office in Sydney to expand the work of EFD. An office would also help to encourage collaboration between EFD and our strategic partners and supporters. We pray also for support people who can assist us with finance and administration. We pray also for the finances and capital required for bringing this vision to life. We are excited to inform you that Daniel is in discussions with the CMA USA about establishing a branch of EFD in that country. Please pray with us that the right doors will open so that Daniel and EFD can have a sound base to work from when in the USA. Daniel’s interactions with churches in Australia, the USA and Europe provide much of the resources and encouragement EFD needs for sharing Christ with Muslims around the world. You are also a key part of Christ’s strategy for reaching Muslims - through becoming a church that is awakened to the uniqueness of Christ and our responsibility to share Christ with others. ……. So, we invite you to pray with us and to consider inviting Daniel to your church (again) so that you can share with Daniel in the vision of bringing the good news of Jesus to Muslims around the world. Thank you for praying with us as we bring this prayer to the Lord. 3. Some of Daniel's upcoming ministry events Daniel has many opportunities to be 'salt and light' around Australia and overseas. Please remember him and the Shayesteh family in prayer as they respond to these opportunities to testify to Jesus. May 5/6: Church of the Good Shepherd, West Ryde, Sydney May 8: Full Gospel Business Fellowship in Blacktown May 12: Small group evangelistic outreach in Liverpool May 13: El Shaddai Mission Church in Pennant Hills May 17-20: Moree, NSW May 2007: Mosques and Miracles, Melbourne May/June 2007: YWAM Perth June 2,3: St Paul’s Anglican Church in Menai June 4: NSW Parliament House to the Australian Christian Nation Association June/July 2007: Africa July 2007: Mosques and Miracles, New Zealand September - November 2007: USA 4. Daniel and Mary in the USA lifting up the name of Jesus to the world TOGETHER – February 2nd to March 12th Our life story and ministry have influenced thousands of people during our February 2nd to March 12th trip to America. University students and young people were amazed and encouraged. Many people were made aware of the dangers that Islam is posing to the world and in particular to Western countries. In all cities, I heard people’s comments, “we wish you could visit our politicians and the president”. People learnt that the only solution to have freedom and protection is to live a life in Christ and speak out. The churches that I met do not want their country to face the problems that Europe has been experiencing. They are eager to learn and counter the threat through love and evangelism. That’s why our message seemed so vital to them. On Sunday 4th Feb., I gave my testimony in the two morning Sunday services at Cody Alliance Church in the state of Wyoming. In the afternoon, I spoke for 15 minutes in an outreach program of the church called “Super-ball Outreach Party”. The people of the church took advantage of this evangelistic event and invited their seeker friends. Very briefly, I first spoke about my testimony, and then spoke about, “The real unity, which first requires reconciliation with God”. My visit to the church created a great interest in people for evangelism and mission. The pastor of the church wrote to us later that the number of requests for my taped testimony was numerous and incomparable to the requests in the past forty years of the church’s history. On Monday, Feb. 5th we flew to Syracuse in New York to be with Syracuse Alliance Church for the rest of the week. In addition to once a day meetings, Mary and I were taken to University of Syracuse Chapel in order to meet international students from other religions, including Islam. On Saturday, Mary gave her testimony at an Alliance Women’s Tea and answered their questions. On Sunday, I spoke about our testimony to a combined morning service. I had the pleasure of meeting a Muslim man who was open to searching and a Buddhist young student who showed great interest in Christ and allowed me to pray for her. People were amazed at how Jesus changed us and is using us for His glory. Some Christians from other towns traveled miles in order to hear us again and especially to meet Mary. On Sunday afternoon, Feb. 11th we flew to Colorado Springs. Three times we had talks with the various department leaders concerning the start of our EFD ministry here in the USA. The leaders were encouraged by our ministry and offered their readiness to help us with this task. On Tuesday morning I spoke in the chapel in the CMA headquarter about the progress of Islam in the western countries and the danger it poses to these countries. I challenged the audience to be more vocal Christians than ever before. On Wednesday evening I spoke first about my testimony and then about the effect of Christian apologetic mission as a Christian approach to Muslims and other faiths groups. On Thursday in the early morning, I gave my testimony in the chapel of a Christian Organization called, Focus on the Family. Here I met an ex-PLO member who once was in the service of Palestinian Terrorists, but now in the Lord. In the evening, I spoke to an evening Bible Study Group and answered the questions of the audience. On Friday, Mary and I were invited for lunch with the Alliance Fund Group, giving a brief of my testimony and answering the questions of the group members. In the evening, we spent time with an Iranian ex-Muslim family and had dinner with them. On Saturday, we spent time with Dr. Abe Ghaffari, the president of ICI which helps persecuted and displaced Iranian Christians to take refuge in Western countries. On Saturday afternoon, Feb. 17th, we flew to Indianapolis and stayed with the family of Brother Ron, an Iranian Christian. On the following Sunday morning, I spoke at two morning services at Community Church of God in Anderson Indiana. I also spoke in an evening meeting of an AOG church in Indianapolis. In addition to these activities, I gave my testimony to several church and university groups that were related to a Christian Course called the “Perspective Course” that Brother Ron had been running in three states (Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky). On Sunday Feb. 25th we were in Lexington/KY. I spoke in three morning services of the First Alliance Church. In afternoon, we traveled to northern Kentucky, and I gave my testimony at the Baptist Students Centre of Northern Kentucky University in the evening. On Wednesday evening Feb, 28th, I spoke in the Quest Community Church in Lexington. On Thursday evening March 1st, I spoke at the Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) building at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. On Saturday morning, I spoke at a combined Men’s and Women’s Breakfast in the First Alliance Church in Lexington talking to them on how western materialism has stripped the relational culture of Christ from the West and replaced it with Money and Success, making the church susceptible to every world philosophy. After the service, Brother Ron drove us from Lexington to Indianapolis’s International Airport and we flew to St. Paul’s airport in Minnesota. From the airport we traveled for 2.5 hours in order to speak in the evening meeting of the Cornell Alliance in Wisconsin. On Sunday March 4th, I spoke in Menomonie Alliance church in Wisconsin. I gave my testimony in two services and spoke about conversational evangelism in the Sunday school in between the two services. In the evening, I spoke to a newly started small Alliance church in Hudson Wisconsin. On Monday evening, I spoke to the Christian students at the University of Menomonie. On the following Thursday, we moved to Crown College for two days ministry. On Thursday March 8th, I spoke in a small group of college students and professors. On Friday morning, I spoke in three classes and answered their questions. On Friday evening, I gave my testimony in the chapel and answered the questions at the end. On Saturday March 10th, we flew from Minnesota to Florida in order to speak at Deltona Alliance Church. I gave my testimony in two morning services in Deltona Alliance, and spoke about Conversational Evangelism in the evening on Sunday March 11th. In the early morning of Monday 12th, I spoke at the Headquarters of New Tribe Mission in Sanford Florida, and then in the afternoon we flew to Sydney. 5. Daniel’s latest ministry in Sydney and Africa On Saturday and Sunday 17-18 March, I ministered in the Cornerstone Church in Eastwood. On Saturday, I spoke in a 6 hour conference, unveiling the nature of Islam and teaching the most influential way of reaching out to non-Christians, including Muslims. On Thursday morning March 22nd, I gave my testimony to Aglow Australia in Pennant Hills. On Saturday morning March 24th, I flew to South Africa in order to speak for a week at a Conference called “Africa Roundtable”. This conference was arranged by the International Christian Association in Johannesburg. The title I covered was, “The Battle for the Minds and Hearts of Africa’s Children: Christianity or Islam?” I first shared my life story with the audience briefly, and then spoke about the secret jihadic plans of Islam for capturing Africa. From 38 African nations, the church and Christian school leader were present in the conference. My life story and talk moved the delegates and raised their awareness for combating the threat of Islam. Two churches of Port Elizabeth/S. Africa and of Dar es Salaam/Tanzania discovered that I was available in the following weeks. As a result, they invited me to visit their churches. I, therefore, flew to Port Elizabeth in order to speak in the Harvest Christian Church for the weekend 30th March to 1st April. On Friday evening, 30th March, I talked to the youth of the church on how they needed to prepare themselves in the context of the world in order to win people for Christ. On Saturday, 31st March, I was taken to the National Park to see the wild life. On Sunday, 1st April, I gave my testimony in two morning services and in one evening service. The Spirit of God was with us, stirring people and amazing them of His amazing grace in our life. Janet (our daughter) got an email from one of the leaders of the church who said, “Your Dad shared at our church yesterday - Harvest Christian Church in Port Elizabeth – wow, he really stirred things up, and has got people talking.” On the following Monday, 2nd April, I flew to Johannesburg in order to join Mary in the airport for flying to Dar es Salaam together in order to do a three days ministry in a conference held by Efatha Ministry, a mega church which has branches in other African countries. Some of the delegates in the conference were from five other African countries. On Friday evening, 6th April, I spoke about our life story. On Saturday evening, 7th April, I unveiled the nature of Islam to the delegates. On Sunday morning, 8th April, I gave my testimony in the Efatha Church itself in Dar es Salaam. For the Sunday evening, I was again taken to the conference in order to speak about the necessity of understanding other beliefs by Christians for an influential evangelism. Again the feedbacks were so encouraging. The leaders were so eager to have us back again for further teaching. On Monday, 9th April, we flew to Sydney. 6. Invitations to participate Participating financially in the ministry of Daniel and Mary Shayesteh We invite you to give generously to the ministry of Exodus from Darkness so that Daniel and Mary's transformational message about Christ can continue to bear fruit around Australia and overseas. Full details for contributing to their ministry are at the end of this email. Participating practically in the ministry of Daniel and Mary Shayesteh Daniel has a regular stream of events throughout the year. We would like to invite you (young or old) to consider coming along with Exodus from Darkness on one of these events. This is a great way to support Daniel practically while at the same gaining practical skills and experience in walking the bridge between East and West in Jesus’ Name. You would need to cover any personal travel and accommodation expenses and we’d need to explore with you which events are suitable for Daniel to have extra people with him. Taking part in an ‘Exodus from Darkness’ mission trip is an experience that’s just like ‘walking through the pages of the book of Acts’; so please give this invitation your prayerful consideration. 7. Exodus from Darkness Prayer Requests Please praise the Lord with us for all that has been achieved through the ministry of Exodus from Darkness. Exodus from Darkness is a ‘Specialised Apologetics and Evangelism Ministry’ with three major goals: Raising up Middle- Eastern evangelists, awakening non-Christians and Christians to the uniqueness of Christ and caring for our societies. It is nearly five years since Daniel, Mary and Michael, supported by their families and many other people, started working together in ‘Exodus from Darkness’. Since the early 1990’s hundreds of thousands of people have heard Daniel speak in person around the world in English, Azerbaijani, Turkish or Farsi and we estimate that millions have now heard Daniel through books, CD, DVD, radio, newspapers and television. Please pray for Daniel and Michael as we fellowship with the Lord Jesus and look to him regarding the following goals: 1. Raising funds so that Daniel and Mary can minister together in places that desperately want his help but who can not afford to fund Daniel’s time with them and their travelling expenses e.g., Africa and Pacific Islands 2. Development of our website over the next few months 3. Realising our capacity to influence the world, particularly through more co-workers, through opportunities to minister both in Australia and overseas and through education of children and young people. Development of educational resources that deliver world’s best practice learning outcomes will be part of this. We speak in Jesus' Name to many hearts across the world, that they will be challenged in this era of globalisation to search for the Truth with all their heart. Please pray for the Lord’s guidance and creativity to be poured out upon us so that we can work together with churches to share the gospel persuasively with local communities. Please pray for all the people who hear Daniel’s testimony to Jesus. Please pray that these people, and all the people they influence, will grow in their courage to walk the bridge between east and west in Jesus’ Name. Please pray for the continuing provision of all Daniel and Mary's financial needs. They have sacrificed much to ensure Daniel could lecture and share his testimony across Australia and overseas. A donation to help them would be a blessing for them. We thank God for a group of people who are supporting Daniel and Mary's ministry spiritually and intellectually as we consider the most effective ways for their ministry to grow in the years ahead. Please pray that the Shayesteh's ministry will be guided along the path of greatest fruitfulness for the kingdom of God. 8. Daniel's books Many people have been blessed through the special insights into Islam and other religions that are provided by Daniel's books. Always accompanying these insights is Daniel's testimony to the uniqueness of Christ our Lord in every dimension of life. Please make use of Daniel's books listed below and share them with your churches, bible colleges and friends. 'The Difference is the Son' compares the Qur'an and the Bible against the backdrop of Islam's early history and Islam's contemporary message. Daniel concludes that the difference between these two books in all dimensions of life is the 'Son' - our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the only source of eternal confidence. "A Journey from 'gods' to Christ" (The title of this book in the USA is, “Christ above all gods”) looks at the nature of 'god', sin and salvation in all the world's major religions, while at the same time challenging the conscience (God given!) of every human being to search for the Truth. 'The Difference is the Son' - suggested donation $20 + $5 for postage "A Journey from 'gods' to Christ" - suggested donation $15 + $5 for postage. For contact details for ordering these books, please see the end of this email. I close with the words of Jesus. "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:37,38 (CEV) Shalom! Michael York EFD Contact Details Email/mail to the Director, Dr Daniel Shayesteh: dmjcd@bigpond.com.au |
