March 2011

Greetings in the name of Jesus,

Each month I pray extensively before I write our newsletter.  In six years this has been the most difficult one.  I never want Lifeline to be politically affiliated.  When people inquire about my political preference, I state that I am an “ole fashion” Christian Conservative. I believe the Bible is the complete unchanging word of God.  He inspired men where and when to dot the I’s, cross the T’s and the exact word He wanted written.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11:24-29 of him being beaten, 5 times he had 39 lashes, shipwrecked, stoned and imprisoned. Paul indeed went through dangerous and perilous times.

New Orleans is the most dangerous city in our country and has a population of 300.000. Last year they had 65 murders per 100,000 population. You probably did not know that. There are five other countries including the United States that are ahead of Mexico in murders.  The news media has not been mentioning that! Out of the thousands of missionaries recently killed all over the world, only ONE was an American in Mexico, which is still headlining news, while we  as a Christian nation,  are murdering our unborn.

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you and before you came forth out of the womb, I sanctified you.”   In Psalm 139:13-14,  David states, “ For you formed my inmost being: You knit me together in my mother’s womb.”  Abortion is murder. Last year in the state of Kansas there were 187 “partial birth” abortions. If a baby’s head has entered into this world but not past the baby’s navel, you can legally kill the child. I believe there were over one and a half million abortions in our country last year!!   Some of you probably believe I have crossed the line politically. That is not my intention. I am aware that I am walking up close to it.

Either you believe the Bible or you do not.  There is no in between and we cannot pick and choose our direction. My Bible tells me to carry the gospel to all nations, feed the hungry, care for the poor and love my neighbor as myself. 

Compared to the unbelievable poverty I have witnessed in Mexico, Canada does not need our help. Mexico happens to be 97% Catholic, to include the ones in control of the money and government.  They resist Protestant intervention, appearing to cater only to the elite, while the poor are not only hungry for food but are starving for the gospel.

I will resign from Lifeline before I will allow the news and TV sensationalism to stop, intimidate or scare me from doing what the Bible says we are to do. For the first time in twenty years the Mexican Methodists have given Lifeline seven building projects. I have pleaded and begged for help. And I get echoes of fear from the dangers in Mexico. Thus far we have two Methodist laymen and one pastor who are willing to go.  We are not receiving adequate financial help for these projects.  If you or I were Mexican, we would have crossed the border 50 years ago.

Thanks to those of you who have been faithful through all the years. You have helped us build almost 100 churches, literally changing the lives of tens of thousands of Mexicans. There is not any way for us to know how many people actually read our newsletter, but we do know that over four hundred receiving this letter have not responded. You are missing the opportunity to do something that will change your life forever. Again, to the faithful, Thank You.

I remain in His service

Griff