| Grenada Family Network Receives $100,000! |
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November, 2011
GFN Update From John and Sue Bartels in Grenada
Table of Contents:
GFN Receives $100,000!
Nearly six years ago, our construction project came to an end after God had warned us that we would go through a “Lazarus Experience.” Sure enough our funds dried up and construction stopped. But we were also told that our resurrection would be “most glorious.” In faith we have waited and now our resurrection has begun. In a couple of weeks we will begin construction anew. God is so faithful! I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:1-3 Debt Free!We are thrilled to announce that GFN is finally debt free! But it hasn’t always been that way. Over the years GFN has struggled financially with not enough money to pay for our basic expenses ten months out of twelve. It was our belief that God wanted us to use the resources we had and then simply pray to Him for the remainder. What we discovered is that unlike George Muller (who successfully operated large orphanages this way) it did not work for us. God didn’t allow us to go hungry but it was a constant struggle and it led to a large debt.
Yet we still need your support! Month after month our regular donations only cover a portion of our total expenses and most months God comes through in some amazing way that we didn’t anticipate (sometimes He tests our faith a little farther!). For those of you who haven’t given, please prayerfully consider giving regularly to GFN. Our expenses are only increasing (monthly operating expenses and one time development expenses) and we need your additional help. For those who have given in the past, we thank you so much for your sacrifice and we pray that you will keep giving to God’s great work at GFN. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 1 John 3:22 Final Design of Volunteer Housing Nearly CompleteThe seven weeks Emmanuel (our civil engineer) and his family had to serve with GFN came and went very fast! Excellent progress was made at finding a housing solution that found the best possible balance between safety, health, construction efficiency and cost. Floor plans for three cottages, two dormitory units, and a community center were completed and most of the detailed construction drawings for the two bedroom cottage are done.
We are very excited about the possibility of having a place for volunteers to live! If you would like to be involved in this portion of the project please let us know. The cost of living is very high in Grenada and having a place to live and land to grow fresh food on will enable many more people to work with us who otherwise might not be able to do so. Thank you! Opportunity Still Knocking - New Broadcast Licenses for TV and Radio
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Matthew 7:7
How You Can Help – Volunteer your time and/or resources Please prayerfully consider giving to God’s work at GFN through volunteering your time and talents or donating your resources. You can learn more about open positions at http://www. Please contact us if you have any questions and thank you so much for your support!
Please include a separate note stating that your donations are for Grenada Family Network/Bartels. Or if you don’t need a receipt and would like to specifically help our family make ends meet, please send your donation using www.PayPal.com and our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it email address that identifies our PayPal account.Use our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it email address to send funds to our PayPal account. May God bless you richly today! Sincerely, John, Sue, Steven and Sarah Bartels Grenada/Global Family Network
Contact Information ****************************** GMI ministry address: GOSPEL MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC
Accounting Office:
GOSPEL MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC P.O. Box 506, Collegedale, TN 37315
(Christina Parsons receives donations for many different ministries within Gospel Ministries International. If the Lord has placed on your heart the desire to send a financial gift, please include a separate note indicating, “For the Grenada Family Network/Bartels”. Thank you!!)
Our contact information in Grenada: John and Sue Bartels
P.O. Box 2747
St. Paul’s, St. George
Grenada, West Indies
Home/Office: (473) 435-4297
Cell: (473) 403-9763
E-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Skype: jnsbartels
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“I just sent you a check for $100,000” the voice on the other end of the line calmly stated. A moment of disbelief flooded my mind but quickly vanished as I realized God was working a miracle for GFN! Just a week or two before, I had been walking the TV station construction site with our Conference President discussing the project and we both expressed our belief that we needed to begin construction as soon as possible. I acted on that conversation and called our international prayer team leader and asked her to pray for $96,000 right away. This was the figure we needed to pay off our remaining construction debt and pay the down payment necessary for construction to begin. Amazingly enough, God gave us an extra $4,000 which made up for our shortfall for the month! In addition to that our contractor has offered to build the buildings at cost. God is amazing!!!
Nearly a year and a half ago, God convicted us that He wanted us to tell others of our needs for sustaining His work. As soon as we began to seek support for our project God answered and thanks to the generosity of a number of you on this email list all our bank debt was paid off, our broadcast licenses have been paid, our monthly bills/needs have been met and now our construction debt has been paid off as well. We can’t thank you enough and we praise the Lord for His faithfulness to us and GFN!
During their last week here Emmanuel got quite sick and was not able to work on the drawings. He will work on them in his spare time now that he is back home in Colorado but he is still not feeling well so please keep him in your prayers. Once he has the drawings complete we will hire a local draftsman to do the rest of the plans using the two bedroom design drawings as a template.
Recently we shared with you the exciting news that we now have new broadcast licenses for Northern Grenada. These licenses, along with our current licenses will enable us to broadcast to the whole island. There are about 100,000 people on this island who either need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ or need to have a stronger relationship with Him (and that includes all of us!). The most cost effective and efficient means of spearheading the goal of reaching everyone in Grenada is through TV and radio broadcast. Would you be willing to help? We need a minimum of $75,000 to begin our TV broadcasts and about $42,000 to expand radio coverage to the northern end of Grenada.Get updates on how missionaries around the world are daily experiencing God's providence. Read of the adventures of David Gates and His worldwide ministries.
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