Ministry Newsletter

Dear Friends of the Mordecai Project:

Today I’ve been meditating on Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:7. He writes: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” Paul was keenly aware of his weakness. He saw miracles, yes, but he was constantly reminded of his human frailty. He went on to say: “…we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; struck down, but not destroyed” (v. 8-9). Ministry is a struggle with dark forces!

The photo below pretty much describes how I feel sometimes. I have a big dream, but the obstacles facing me are so big. It is often overwhelming, but the Lord encourages me that the promised breakthrough is coming. Though it tarries, I will wait for it. Your prayers are helping me stay in faith! Please don’t stop praying for me or The Mordecai Project!

A few days ago I returned from a 9-day trip to Ontario, Canada. I spent the first half of the trip with my friends Peter and Helene Barbour (below), pastors of Aylmer Full Gospel Church in southern Ontario. I’ve known Peter for almost 17 years and I had a glorious time speaking in some special renewal services as well as to the leadership team. The Lord encouraged many people through prophetic words, and some people were filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Lord often uses me in the gift of prophecy, but I have been asking the Lord for more physical healings to happen in our meetings. During my Sunday in Aylmer a Mexican man named Marco (below) visited the church for the first time. He did not speak English. However at the conclusion of my message he came to the altar for prayer because he had injured his back in a work accident. I realized he spoke only Spanish and I was able to understand him. As I prayed, I remembered the word espalda (“back”) and as soon as I said it, he jumped. In a few moments he was moving his back backwards and forwards and rejoicing! He even gave a testimony of his healing from the stage and I translated!

After the weekend in Aylmer I traveled to a different part of Ontario, near Toronto, to host our first Bold Venture men’s retreat in Canada. I did this with my friend Michael Coretti (below), who has been to several of our men’s events in the United States. He was a speaker at last year’s retreat in Maryland. Michael is the pastor of Genesis Church in Brantford, and he worked very hard to put this retreat together.

Canada has a reputation for being hard ground spiritually, but the men who came to our retreat were like soft clay in God’s hands. The Lord healed hearts, broke addictions and drew men to closer intimacy with God. Lifelong relationships were also formed. Below you can see some of the guys who gathered at the Braeside Christian Camp.

Bold Venture Canada was also special because many younger guys came and were challenged to find mentors and to be mentors. Below you can see some of the young men in the small group I was a part of. During the small groups, the men opened up, shared their struggles and even got honest about their father wounds. Tears flowed freely. The Holy Spirit was there to heal.

One of my favorite moments happened when we prayed for this young man below, Diego Palencia. He is only 12, but he is very hungry for God and he wanted to attend the retreat with his father, who is a friend of mine from Quebec. They traveled seven hours to attend Bold Venture. On the last day all the fathers gathered around Diego and laid hands on him to give him a father’s blessing as he prepares to enter manhood. We had our very own Bar Mitzvah this time! It reminded me that God is using Bold Venture to prepare a new generation of men who will reflect Christ and treat women with respect.

As you pray for me and this ministry, please remember the huge challenges we are facing. The giants are big, but God is bigger! Next week I will be meeting with a friend to discuss how we can raise $300,000 for our overseas missions projects. This seems like such a huge amount to me, but I know it is like pocket change to the Lord. Please pray with me that the Lord will supply these funds for our projects in Guatemala, Peru, Pakistan, Uganda, Kenya and Malawi.

Also, a donor has offered to give us a $10,000 matching grant to help with our Bold Venture retreats this year! And one partner has already sent the first $1,000 to get this started. Please consider giving toward this matching grant. Your gift will enable us to mentor and disciple many young leaders this year in our three events.

Please go to the Donate button below if you can help us raise this amount. Every dollar you give will be matched!
And please spread the word! Our first U.S. men’s retreat of the year is July 12-14 in LaGrange, Georgia. At the end of the retreat we will also be celebrating my 60th birthday! You can go to boldventure.org to register, and hotel information is on the site.

Thank you so much for all you do for us. Deborah and I are grateful for the prayers, financial support and the encouragement you send us. We love you.

Lee and Deborah Grady

The Mordecai Project
P.O. Box 2781
LaGrange, GA 30241