The saints and trainees had four tabling events in four locations today; two in the morning and two in the afternoon. In the morning, the saints divided into two teams to go to UC Merced and Merced College. In the afternoon, saints went to Merced Mall and Bijio supermarket to table. The campus club in Merced College also has an activity in the afternoon.

Since there were multiple events or activity happening at the same time, we really do seek the one accord among the saints. No one was standing at the side; everyone has entered the vineyard to labor for the Lord. We were impressed by the vitality of the saints, pressing forward together on campus and also in the community, with the same goal and having the same mind. The coordination is beautiful and sweet.

At UC Merced, students were open to receive at least a gospel tract. Some were open to receive a free Bible and sign up for the Bible studies. Two brothers had an appointment with a Freshman at noon to have lunch with him. The appointment went well and a local brother will continue to follow up to care for and shepherd this freshman.

Despite having slow traffic at Merced Mall, the saints were still able to pass out six Bibles. One 86-year-old man who came by the table even asked to be baptized after talking to the saints. Although the number of people was small, the saints were really encourage by the one they had contact with.

The second Bible distribution at El Bijio Supermarket was again very encouraging. The saints were able to pass out 40 Bibles in a short afternoon, once again this shows that the Spanish-speaking door is wide open to the church. May the Lord continue to use this supermarket as a great fishing pound to gain vessels for His testimony in Merced.

1/31/18
The trainees left Merced after a sweet breakfast with the saints, and traveled to Fresno for the second part of the gospel trip. The rest of the afternoon was a rest day for the team, and we rested in a brother’s farm house in Reedley, a city close to Fresno. The trainees had a wonderful time when a brother took us on a tour of his farm. We had a prayer meeting with the saints in Fresno in the evening

Prayer Burdens:

• Pray for those one contacted, that the Lord would release the proper shepherding.
• Pray for the second part of the gospel trip, for the gospel work in Clovis and Madera, that the hearts of the people will be soften.
• Pray for the health of the trainees and saints alike.

The saints come together in the morning for a time of coordination and prayer. We divided into two teams to go to UC Merced and Merced College for tabling from 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 A.M.

In UC Merced, a lot of students were open to receive gospel tracts and free Bibles. We had good conversions with few students. They were open for further contact and left their contact information with us. It was encouraging that a majority of contacts we got were Freshmen. One of the saints was able to set up an appointment with a freshmen tomorrow. Another one was willing to come to the Bible study.

The tabling in Merced College was very encouraging to the saints. Many students were drawn to the table and are very open. One particular experience was especially encouraging. One lady who came by the table was instantly attracted by the Recovery Version Bible after being shown the footnotes. After receiving a Bible from us, she went to class. At the end of the tabling, when the saints were packing up, she came by the table again, this time on the phone with her husband. Apparently she told her husband about the Bible and he wants a copy as well. In the end, she went away with a indescribable joy on her face after getting another Bible for her husband as well.

Prayer Burdens:

• Continue to pray for the tabling in UC Merced and Merced College, that the Lord will bring the sons of peace.
• Pray for the tabling in Merced Mall and El Bajio Supermarket tomorrow afternoon.
• Pray for the Lord to open a way to shepherd I.M.
• Appointment with freshman E, that the Lord would keep him open

On the night of Sunday, January 28, a student contact from last year was baptized, and a lot of her family members were at the meeting hall to witness! There were about 30 total in attendance, about 18 of which were her family. It was a glorious moment, and many of her family members were touched. We hope that the Lord could bring this family into the church life!

Today was our first day of BfA tabling at Cal State University, Chico. Many students were open to the gospel, and many believers were open to fellowship. We passed out 180 tracts, 20 Bibles, 20 Basic Elements of the Christian Life booklets, and 3 students prayed to receive the Lord!

Prayer Burdens:

• That the student that got baptized and her whole family could remain in contact with the saints and come into the church life.
• For second appointments with the ones that left their contact info at the table today.
• That the Lord would bring ones to the table this week that could be added to the church in Chico.

Praise the Lord for His move in Reno! The saints in Reno are quite exercised and motivated as they joined the FTTA trainees to go out in one accord in the spirit of the gospel to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) to contact the students, distribute tracts, preach the gospel and give away Recovery Version Bibles. On at least one day, 88% of the saints were involved in the outreach here.

Yesterday (Jan 29) we set up three tables around campus and split the saints and trainees into three teams of about 4 to 7 saints. The majority of the students at UNR are very polite, respectful and open. Even if they refuse a tract, they thank us for the free offer. There were more interactions with people than simply handing out tracts. A few times, so many students came to the table that every saint was needed to care for them all. There was one student who just stood across from the table watching us. Later when we talked to him he simply said he liked to hear things about Jesus and we gave him a Recovery Version Bible. It was really hard to keep track of those contacted for more than 30 seconds.

One of many highlights in preaching the gospel was when a quiet female student came up to the table to learn about the Recovery Version. She listened to everything we said very seriously. Then she asked, “What is the difference between your church and other churches?” When we explained and then mentioned that we met in the homes, she was so happy and exclaimed that she would bring her friends tomorrow because we reminded her of her professor in China, “He was English but he used a Chinese Bible and he invited me to his house where his friends offered me food, love me and everyone shared about Jesus.” It sounded like she had touched the church life before in China. Whoever the Lord brought, He really led them to the table. There were many testimonies regarding the students’ openness toward their contacts, and a brother likened this campus to a koi pond full of hungry fish. In total, 60 Bibles were handed out and many follow-up contacts were responsive!

Today the 30th, we went out to UNR campus again to hand out Bibles and tracts. The weather was a little warmer than yesterday and more saints were able to join the time. Similar to yesterday, many students were contacted for more than 30 seconds. Out of 28 students who wanted further contact, 11 wanted to join a Bible study and three were open to come for dinner and fellowship. One of the many highlights in preaching the gospel was the way the older saints were going out on the gospel becoming an encouragement to the other saints. One sister says she literally cried because she was moved by the way the older brothers were tabling. They were like a real father caring for his children asking, “Hey son, what football team do you like?” The more they talked to the students, the more the students were opened. One brother illustrated that it took three brothers conversing with a student who initially did not want a free Bible to ending up being open to receive a Recovery Version Bible. Also, the sister who was touched by the love of the older brothers decided to support them by praying for incoming students who were walking towards the table, hoping they would be contacted by the brothers. One older brother testified that before she started praying, probably 1 out of 6 would receive a tract, but after she prayed, about 5 out of 7 would receive the tract and be opened to receiving a free Bible. The only thing that changed was the prayer. May the Lord gain some college students for the testimony of the church in Reno shining on this campus!

Prayer Burden:

• Pray that in these weeks, this would just not be a gospel event or move but that preaching the gospel would be incorporated into the saints’ daily life, for the saints to have a prayer life and gospel living. Pray that the Spirit of the gospel would continue to burn in the saints in Reno.
• Pray that the Lord would gain some solid, seeking students, captured by a vision of His economy, to be remaining fruit on this campus for His shining testimony. Pray that the homes would be filled with young fruit to be shepherded and nurtured for His increase and spread of the gospel at UNR.
• Pray for more saints to migrate to Reno to support the campus work. Pray for a full-time team in Reno.

Yesterday morning (January 30), we came together at a home where we had strong prayer and coordination. Afterwards five trainees, two saints volunteering with the GTCA, four local saints, and two students went to Wilford Laurier University to distribute Bibles. We set up a BfC table and were able to make some solid contacts with students there. We distributed 43 Bibles, more than 70 tracts, and some more literature.

Later the team went to a local saint’s home for dinner and fellowship followed by the prayer meeting at the new meeting hall. There we prayed for all those who received the Bible, the contacts we made that we will potentially meet for a second appointment, and for the upcoming days of Bible distribution.

This morning (January 31), the GTCA team (five trainees and two volunteers) had coordination, packed our bags with Bibles and tracts, and departed for a few hours of Bible distribution at the University of Waterloo. We did not have a table there, so we split up into two teams to contact students in strategic locations. Today we distributed 23 Bibles, about 70 tracts, and some more literature. Three students prayed to receive the Lord and some more were open for further contact. Later on we had rest, dinner, and fellowship about the day’s labor at a home.

Our highlight was the prayer meeting, where we were able to pray for the Lord’s move here in Kitchener/Waterloo. We shared about how encouraged and impressed we were of the history here and how the saints we read about in our orientation binders were sitting right next to us in the prayer meeting. All of the times of getting to know the saints here has been so rich and touching to see how the Lord can do anything to get what He’s after.

Prayer burdens:

• The Bibles that were distributed would be opened and enjoyed by the recipients
• The proper follow-up of the open and hungry ones and for second appointments to be established
• The Lord would go before us and set apart His chosen ones at the University of Guelph and Conestoga College.