(This was e-mailed to Kip McKean December 14th, 2009)

I Don’t know if it’s too late to include this in your weekly Email (that’s E for Encouragement) that always helps spur on Kerri-Sue, Blake, Liza and my faith as we all sit around the computer and read what God is doing around the world . . . this story is over 10 years in the making and may be a little longer than usual for the email, but it’s worth telling the world! God has been moving so powerfully here the past two months in the Syracuse International Christian Church–we stand in awe–as we stand together with all of you sold-out disciples across the nations!

George Mak became a disciple almost ten years ago when his sister and brother-in-law, Andy and Marta Graham, who were part of the original mission team that came to Syracuse to plant the church in 1993, invited him to move to Syracuse after losing his job in Atlanta, Georgia. With the rental truck still parked in the driveway, he walked into his first ever Bible Talk that same day he moved! After initially responding to the Scriptures and making a radical life change, including breaking up with his girlfriend of twenty years, George saw God bless that repentance with his girlfriend, Kathy Hanam, moving to Syracuse, getting baptized and their getting to date as disciples!

However, amidst the spiritual turbulence of the post-Kriete years and the weakening of one-another relationships, George and Kathy drifted and both allowed the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of sin to steal their joy to the point of them falling away inside the church. Miraculously, Kathy recently had a change of heart after God disciplined her after a series of hardships, including illness, depression and losing her job. Her radical repentance led to her getting restored to the church this past November 8th during our International Campus Sunday, as God moved her heart through the sisters valiant and continual truthfulness and love, and as Roger and Kama Parlour from our sister church in Chicago preached and taught their hearts out all weekend about marriage and discipleship! This inspiring spiritual turn-a-round not only breathed faith into the Syracuse church as a whole, but it cut her long-time friend, George Mak’s heart, as he realized that he would never be able to love Kathy the way she deserved him to, if he wasn’t willing to seek God again with his whole heart.

Yesterday, George Mak stood before the church a new man, and eagerly confessed his sins, apologizing to all the brothers and sisters for pulling his heart back and not loving them the way God has loved him! His pledge of commitment to God and His church has already been evident in his repentance over the recent weeks as he has opened up completely not only about his sin but his deepest pains and regret from past disappointments in his relationships, including his recently deceased father. The fruit of George’s decision to burst into the light was re-built relationships with so many in the church. When one part of the body rejoices, the whole body rejoices–well, it’s been proven true that when one part of the body repents, many can also repent! When two lukewarm disciples both over 50 years old, with five failed marriages between them decide to repent and live the way God wants them to live, there really can be NO EXCUSE HERE IN THE ‘CUSE!

But perhaps the most encouraging part of this whole story is how God is blessing these two disciples more than they could ever ask or imagine–because yesterday, George Mak . . . restored disciple . . . asked Kathy Hanam . . .restored disciple . . . to be his wife!! Truly, all of heaven will be rejoicing THIS FRIDAY as these two young souls become one before our very eyes and inside God’s very own heart . . . His bride . . . His church!

Psalm 103:2-5 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Sincerely Fired Up By His Love
Christopher Adams