Welcome to the GMAF Newsletter! We pray it will encourage you in your Martial Arts and Outreach for Christ.
"I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."
Jesus Christ
"Let all things be done unto edifying."
The Apostle Paul
"The statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the command of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes."
Psalm 19:8
What we do at Grace Martial Arts Fellowship is simple: we support and encourage. We do that through prayer, words of encouragement, Bible studies, information, counsel, guidance. Whatever is needed is what we do. By "we" I'm not talking about myself or any one person in GMAF. We means "we." That's everybody who is part of the fellowship. We don't have any dues or fees, no requirements or deadlines to meet. The one thing we ask everyone to do is encourage each other.
If it cost money to get encouragement these days, it would be very expensive. It's not often that people hear an encouraging word. That makes encouragement valuable because so little of it exists. Even Christians sometimes don't encourage each other as much as we should or could.
The Apostle Paul spent a lot of time in his first letter to the Corinthians addressing what Christians should do for each other. He told them what's important to do and not to do. He went into great detail about relationships and worship. He explained how God gave spiritual gifts to Christians and what they should do with their giftedness. Right in the middle of all that, Paul slipped in a little verse that placed everything into the correct atmosphere and context:
"Let all things be done unto edifying." 1 Corinthians 14:26b
He wrote those words in the context of when Christians came together into one place for worship, public testimony and learning.
"How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifiyng."
What does "edifying" mean? It means "to build up" as in building a home. It carries the idea of building as a process. Paul's primary concern in his instruction to the Corinthians was they focus on "building up" each other instead of tearing down fellow Christians. If that was THE concern of every pastor, every teacher, every evangelist, every worship leader, every children's worker, every youth worker, every believer in every church around the world ... we would live in a different world. We would leave every church meeting, every prayer breakfast, every Bible study, every choir practice, every youth meeting, every children's church, every group experience encouraged and refreshed. How wonderful that would be!
Most every Christian I've ever communicated with admitted to loving encouragement. None of us get enough of it. However, we should get plenty. God designed a system called "The Body of Christ." If the Body works the way God designed it, every Christian would get all the encouragement and attention they needed. Unfortunately, the Body does not function well and millions of Christians leave group meetings and services throughout the years receiving little or no encouragement. What a shame.
Even secular programs understand the need for encouragement. Some of the most successful businesses and sales and marketing programs in the world today are built around the idea of encouraging members of the program.
A recent bestselling management book asked some questions employees are asking about their managers. Notice the emphasis on encouragement in the workplace.
Think about these questions in relation to a Christian church or group. How would you answer these questions about your local assembly? Your pastor? Your deacons or elders? Who in the Christian community is looking out for the emotional needs of people? Have you received recognition or praise for doing good work in the last week? Does your pastor, deacon or elder seem to care about you as a person? Who is encouraging your personal development? Do your opinions seem to count in the church?
I hope you are encouraged today. If you are saved, you have every spiritual blessing. You have Christ in your life. You have hope. You have righteousness flowing through every cell of your body. You have it all! Thank God for it. Enjoy His Gift today and every day. Don't forget who you are.
If you read this and are not saved, you can be saved immediately. You don't have to wait for salvation. Today is the day of salvation. Now is the time to receive Christ into your life. God loves you. Christ obeyed His Heavenly Father and finished the work God sent Him to do. Jesus died for your sins. He stands ready to forgive you and give you His Gift of Eternal Life. It's Free! Ask Him for it.
If you do ask God to forgive you and save you, let us know about it. We'd like to support and encourage you on your first day as a child of God.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
"In whom ye also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:13-14)
(Next month: Safe on First )
The relationship between a sensei and their student is one of great importance. I have learned, in my short time as a student of the martial arts, just how special that relationship can be. It is a deep bond, which transcends mere friendship. My senseis are the light to a path that I have never traveled before. I do not know where we are going next, but I have learned to trust them as my guide.
Another important relationship, one with much more spiritual and eternal value, is that of Christ and His disciples. Simply by definition, Christians today are disciples. The dictionary says that disciples are: "1. People who believe in and help disseminate the teachings of a master. 2. One of Jesus, followers. The disciples of the Bible were persons of various backgrounds, some were anglers, some were tax collectors, and the list goes on. However, they all had one thing in common, they totally depended on the man, Jesus the Christ, to light the path they so desired to walk. Jesus had simply said, "Come, follow Me. and they knew that this was something they had to do. So it is with us, as karateka and our sensei, we desire to walk the path they have walked themselves. The only difference being that our sensei can only touch the physical and "human spirit of our lives, as with Christ, who touches us deep into our very souls.
When we begin our studies in
the martial arts we all go thru the "rules stage. Learning
the etiquette of how we should conduct ourselves with our sensei,
other students and both in and out of the dojo. Christ also taught
the disciples about conduct, after he called the "twelve
in Matthew 10 and Luke 6; He charged them with a basic set of
rules of how to direct their ministries. One comparison that I
was struck with was how we are taught that the ultimate goal of
a martial artist is to be peaceable, but that we must defend ourselves.
Jesus taught his disciples in Luke 6:29 "And unto him that
striketh thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that
taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. "
(emphasis mine)
As we study at the dojo, we have experiences and lessons (good and bad), which help us grow in our walk as a martial artist. We learn thru basics and kata training, through Kumite, or just though common dojo practices. I know that there have been numerous times I have forgotten the basic rules and my sensei has had to call my hand at it. Quite embarrassing, though we have all done it. That something that was very important that we honestly knew was wrong, but either forgot, or our perspectives on the situation made us choose otherwise. This was the case on many occasions for the disciples, such as in Mark 8:31-38. Jesus had just foretold of His own death, and Peter grabbed hold of Jesus ready to rebuke Him, but Peter was the one who was rebuked, and Jesus did not pull any punches.
Jesus said in John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Sometimes we fail to see the truth. Pilate certainly did. Before Him stood Truth Himself, and yet Pilate still refused. The story reads in John 18:37-38: Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
I have caught myself many times in the dojo, after I have been corrected on technique, thinking that I knew a better way, only to find out that I had been given "truth of how to perform the technique properly. Even though we see the compelling evidence, sometimes we still refuse to believe that we CAN do it. Jesus revealed to His disciples the truth of who He was through His miracles, parables and examples. This gave the disciples the confidence they later needed to begin their own ministries. The sensei also has to prove themselves sometimes, not by miracles, but by leading by example and showing their superior skills to students eager to learn, instilling in them the confidence they need to succeed.
So why do we do it? Why do we put up with the rules, the hard training, and the scratchy gibecause of our desire. The training our sensei presents to us is truly a gift. A gift of truth and enlightenment that through hard work and practice, (lots of practice), we will one day reap the rewards of self-respect, confidence and self-reliance. They even sacrifice time away from their families and their bodies for injury so that we may learn. However, rest assured that they would stick by our sides and finish the course, as long as we are willing to learn.
Christ also sacrificed Himself,
but here is where the similarities end. Christ was the ultimate
sacrifice, an eternal one that affects the spiritual side of us
all. He gave His life on the cross of Calvary, to insure that
our
confidence could be placed fully in Him. And our reward for trusting
on Him is that of eternal life! Moreover, I do not know any sensei
that can do that!
Would you like to know Jesus personally? The book of Romans 3:23 says "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Jesus says in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by me. Confess your sins and He is faithful and just to forgive you your sins! Come just as you are, and Jesus will give joy, peace, life, happiness, friendship and, most of all, eternal life with Him in Heaven. Trust in Him today!
You'll find every GMAF newsletter at http://www.gmaf.org/gmaf_newsletters.html . These newsletters are a gold mine of information about Christianity and the Martial Arts.
Many GMAF members have told us their favorite part of the monthly newsletter is Fellowship News. It's wonderful to see Christian martial artists praying for each other across the United States and around the world. No distance is too far for Christians. The instant we pray, God hears. We can impact the lives of our brothers and sisters through our prayers. God answers prayer. It is pleasing to Him. Thank you for caring so much for each other!
Joe Holleran would like to contact Christian marital artists in Singapore. Please email him if you know someone.
Do you have any contacts in Singapore?
Grace and Peace,
Joe Holleran
saved@bl.mmt.or.jp
Here is a recent note from Jeff Tam of the Hong Kong Gospel Martial Arts Ministry.
This is Jeff Tam and I am from Hong Kong Gospel Martial Arts Ministry. Our ministry consists of all kinds of Martial Arts and God is using us to do ministry in different areas in Hong Kong. We are now doing crusades in different schools and churches. We are now teaching in several high schools and share the Gospel through the class. The ministry is growing fast and we need different help. We like any missionary that can come and help and we can also come and do mission trip in your area. I believe Martial Arts ministry can be one way to reach many countries in South East Asia. There are no others like this ministry in S.E Asia except Hong Kong. Recently a Wing Chun Sifu came and visited us. He also wants to start a Gospel Wing Chun in Taiwan. He came and just to share with us from Taiwan. So I believe God is doing something through this ministry. We need your prayer.
Jeff Tam
Hong Kong Gospel Martial Arts Ministry
Here is a recent note from Drew Arthur of the United States Marshals Service Martial Arts Club.
I wanted to share with you
a website that I have posted my e-newsletters on for the club
I founded in Nov. 1996. It is called The United States Marshals
Service Martial Arts Club. The club site is: www.dusma.com
It is the deputy US Marshals Association.
Mahalo and aloha
Drew Arthur
Here is a recent note from Don and Charlotte Engelhardt of Faith Fighters for Christ.
Richville 1st Church of God is doing very well. The congregation has stabilized at 15 to 20 for worship. Recently, a new family came into our church to stay. They are asking about membership. We have also had visitors which is definitely a step in the right direction. The people are taking out new resident welcome packets in an effort to reach out into the surrounding community. These packets include coupons, ads, and samples from local businesses, our church information, and Steps to Peace with God tracts. We haven't been doing this long so the fruit of the effort is yet to be seen. Also, we finished our first Focus Group the end of May. There were 10 in attendance! Our goal is to grow the church through Sunday School and small groups instead of worship and special events. There is beginning a special evangelism emphasis for summer, reminding members that we are reaching people for Christ and that God will bless us for our obedience to the Great Commission. There is a looming challenge before us, though. The church will need to pay for the new water system access soon. We are asking Conference for a grant to cover this cost. Also, we lost our water pressure and are trying to figure out what to do about it, since it is tied in with our well system (which will become obsolete!). Plans are already forming for Fall Sunday school and focus groups, as well as a special Celebration in August when we close our new membership roll. We believe that the Lord has a plan for this church to continue and for our family to be involved with it for some time.
Karate ministry has had to take a back seat, much to our dismay. However, we are beginning to gain students s-l-o-w-l-y. There has not been a new article release on our site for 4 months. Bummer. Char loves to write for it. But it still reaches and encourages people in cyberspace. Belt testing is targeted for September. A Koininia Conference is being rescheduled for October. God knows that our home church has to have priority before karate ministry can be stable and succeed. We are trying to patiently wait on God.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated. We cannot do this ministry without your petitions to the Lord for His involvement and guidance. May the Lord bless you abundantly!
In Christ's Service and Love,
Don, Char, Seth, Lauren, and Rachel
Andrew Higgins asked for help in finding a Christian martial arts group in East Australia. Drew lives in Queensland. Please let him know how to contact a group in his area.
Douglas Laurent wrote us about a new book he's written about Christian martial arts.
A new book, Prayer and the Diagrams of Force, is a book written by a Christian martial artist for Christian martial artists. Covering the topic of prayer, Diagrams analyzes and dissects strategies that are found in Biblical prayer, allowing the prayer warrior greater insight into their prayer tools for a more fruitful and decisive return on their prayers. This book will help us all fight the good fight of faith. You can preview this book by going to this link. Barnes & Noble.com - Prayer and the Diagrams of Force:
http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=57PA08MTBV&mscssid=XVW5HASFQ1LC9JV9D983RFHLCET68VDC&isbn=0595092888
May God bless you all
Douglas Laurent
(I know you will join us in praying for each of these Christian martial artists and their ministries.)
We welcome J. Kelly Bond to the GMAF. Kelly is a 1st Dan instructor. His son also studies martial arts. I know you'll join us in welcoming both to our fellowship.
We welcome Pastor Herb Haywood to the GMAF. Pastor Haywood is a 4th Dan with "Kingdom Warriors" Kuro-Bushi-Kai Karate-Do-Kempo. His school is a couple of months old with about 24 students. He is Pastor of Bread Of Life Family Worship Center, Fond du Lac Wisconsin. Please welcome Pastor Haywood to the fellowship.
We welcome Ricky Brown to the GMAF. He is a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do under Grandmaster Edward Sells. Ricky is a minister of the Gospel and a police officer. He believes martial arts is a great tool for winning souls. I know you'll join me in welcoming Ricky to the GMAF.
We welcome John McDermott. He is a 2nd Dan in Shotokan Karate and a 1st Dan in Tokukai Karate. John's daughter Kelsy has a Blue Belt in Shotokan. John recently opened a Christian martial arts school in Montreal, Canada. Please welcome John and Kelsy to the GMAF.
We welcome Darrin Coe to the GMAF. Darrin is a 3rd Dan instructor in Hao Chuan and a 1st Dan instructor in Quan Li K'an. He also trained in Arnis de Mano Baston Batongas. Darrin is Founder and Director of the Martial Arts Research Fellowship. He is Chief Instructor of the Mountain View Martial Arts Academy operated by Mountain View Community Church in Canon City, Colorado. I know you'll join me in welcoming Darrin to the fellowship.
Please let us know if you have moved, changed jobs, received a belt promotion, started studying a new martial art, started a Christian martial arts ministry, etc. We want to be sure your listing in the GMAF Internet Directory is all you want it to be.
We appreciate your Fellowship in the Gospel of the Grace of God. We are praying for you and your opportunities to serve Christ. Please let us know about ways GMAF can help you in your service. If you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving this monthly newsletter, please ask them to e-mail Mark McGee. We'll be glad to put them on our monthly mailing list.
You are invited to read previous GMAF Newsletters.
If you would like to join Grace Martial Arts Fellowship ©, contact Mark McGee.
Grace Martial Arts Fellowship is a service of GraceLife Ministries.
Taking God's Grace to the World!