March 2005 .:. Harer Family Prayer Letter

Dear friends,

How we wish you could have traveled with our family on a recent trip to Puebla, Mexico. The festive markets, sparkling fountains, colorful decorations and the majestic Popo Volcano inspired us with their beauty.

Why were we in Mexico anyway? Because after seventeen years of ministry at Daniels Bible Church, we believe God is leading our family to pull up stakes and take the good news of Jesus Christ to the Mexican people. It certainly wasn’t what we planned at this point in our lives, but over the last few years God has brought a spiritual refreshing to our hearts that has led us to greater dependence upon and surrender to Him.

We will be joining a team of missionaries whose vision is to start new churches in an area that is exploding with growth. It’s a wide open door of opportunity. For us that means doing many of the same ministries we have done for years including sharing the gospel, extending hospitality, building friendships, making disciples, and equipping leaders. The big difference is that it is in a new culture with a far greater need. (You can get more details by going to www.kneelingwetriumph.com
and click on “Missions.”)

While in Mexico it was heartbreaking to witness the spiritual darkness. We watched at the Guadalupe Basilica in Mexico City as men, women and even children crawled across courtyards, up steps and down aisles in expression of their devotion to the Virgin Mary. In Cholula children played on altars used for child sacrifices by the Aztecs. The blending of these two religions is evident throughout the culture resulting in a hopeless eternity for millions of people.

The battle we face is a spiritual conflict. That is why we need and thrive on prayer. Through your prayers God will shine light into this darkness, break the bondage of sin, heal wounded souls, and bring glory to His Son. We invite you to hold the ropes of prayer by interceding for 5, 15 or even 55 minutes a week. Please let us know of your interest and we will place you on our weekly email prayer update or the quarterly prayer letter through the postal service.

We believe by writing this letter God has specific people He wants us to connect with for various reasons. If you want more specifics or feel the Lord is putting in your heart to contact us, we can be reached through any of the following addresses:

E-mail: ken@kneelingwetriumph.com

Our Website: www.kneelingwetriumph.com

Home:
PO Box 373
Shady Spring, WV 25918
304-763-5051

Church:
Daniels Bible Church
PO Box 215
Daniels, WV 25832
304-252-0950

Mission:
306 Bala Avenue
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-667-7660

We thank all of you for your encouragement and involvement in our lives.

Exalting Christ,

Ken, Diana, Daniel,
Maria, & Christina

Our Spiritual Journey
Our life has been an interesting journey and it continues to be so. You may be asking yourself why in the world would Ken and Diana leave a comfortable position with all of its security and move into a world of uncertainty and adventure. In order to answer that question maybe we should take a moment to catch you up on our lives.

After graduation from Appalachian Bible College, Ken was hired by Daniels Bible Church in southern West Virginia as the Youth Pastor. For twelve years our lives were filled with all-nighters, college tours, crazy games, and Bible teaching. Eventually we moved to adult ministry overseeing small groups, discipleship, and outreach.

We were married in June of 1988 after having met in college. Now we have three children, Daniel (13), Maria (9), and Christina (6). They are “typical” kids if there is such a thing. Diana enjoys home-schooling them (most days). It gives us an opportunity not only to stress academic excellence and moral character but eternal things as well. We have a good family, but we definitely don’t have a perfect family.

As a matter of fact through the years we have often done the “right things” and had a good appearance, but on the inside we have struggled. This became most evident in our marriage and family. Trying to measure up as a spouse, as a parent, and as a home-schooling family put an impossible strain on everyone.

Through God’s graciousness Ken came to the realization that his life and ministry were not built on dependence upon God and prayer, but instead on his own efforts, creativity, and talents. He had been living and serving most of his life in his own strength. It was exhausting, self-righteous, and unproductive.

Over the course of time we began to understand in our hearts what we already knew in our heads. Our life needed to focus on Jesus Christ and letting Him have control. It’s not our living our life for Christ but instead Him living His life through us. This kind of life only happens as we daily yield ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit.
Since then our life has taken many twists and turns. Ken resigned his job last summer and eventually God led us to an organization named CrossWorld (formerly UFM). After a two week trip to Mexico, we are preparing to go for a four year stay. We are excited about going because we want the nations of the earth to know the hope and eternal life that only comes through Christ. He is supreme and His life is sufficient for all their needs.

We are on a journey like we’ve never been on before. It’s an exciting blend of uncertainty and confident expectation as we learn to trust God for the details of the future. Regardless, our goal in all this has been well stated by another, “My goal is Christ Himself, not joy, nor peace, nor even blessings, but Himself, my God. ‘Tis His to lead me there, not mine but His…at any cost, dear Lord, by any road.”

Rejoicing In Him,

Ken & Diana

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