Lali
01 Lali
2025
I had received a call that a church in the capital of Haiti, Port Au Prince, was in great danger, and they needed our assistance in getting locals to safety. If you are familiar with what has happened in Haiti, the country and government have completely collapsed. Flights no longer land in the capital because the situation has deteriorated so badly. The president was murdered in 2021, when 26-28 Colombians broke into his home and shot him approximately 14 times. According to the police report, one of his eyes had been gouged out, and he was left with multiple broken bones. While these things occurred in 2021, things have only gotten worse since then. Getting people out of Port Au Prince is extremely dangerous. Gangs and drug cartels take what they want, everything from homes to women. So, I contacted the Seals and Marines, who both work for us or have worked with us. The men I contacted are strong believers and do this work not for glory, but because they have a heart to serve. As I began assembling a team, I needed very capable men with the expertise needed for this type of mission. Dave, a former Seal, who I had spoken with in the past, told me he knew some really good “bad” men we could use in Haiti. What he meant was that these were not people you wanted to go to war against; they were men who were good to have in a bad situation like this. Before I could assemble the men, the church decided they had to take a chance and make a run for safety, or they believed they would all be killed. When they left, they did not have a place to go that was safe or the money to rent something. They ended up needing $7,000 to rent a new place and feed the people, so we provided for these needs for several months. Then, I received another call from a couple who had two children in the country, but they could not get them out. The U.S. will not allow them to come here, and they are desperate, so I have tasked Brent and Luke to figure out if we can get them into any country that will allow them entry. Folks, this kind of request is happening weekly where people, mostly believers, are in great danger, and it is costly to do these types of rescues.
Far Reaching Ministries was not involved with the church in Port Au Prince, nor had we done any ministry with them, but we had given them $5,000 once to help feed them. While I could have said they are not my responsibility, I know the heart of the Lord. In the end, 17 Haitians, mostly women and children, were saved, and it cost $411.76 for each soul. I would hope if my family were in danger and needed help, believers would not let money stop them from helping.
I would hope if my family were in danger and needed help, believers would not let money stop them from helping.
"While I could have said they are not my responsibility, I know the heart of the Lord."
I heard Alistair Begg share that when he met the woman who would be his future wife, she had a bunch of guy friends who were U.S. Marines, and he said they had muscles in places that he did not even have places. It makes us laugh at his humor, but whatever he lacked in physical strength, he seems to have far more in spiritual strength. One of the great things about following Christ is if you are diligently seeking the Lord, you can be used greatly. While the Lord seems to be tasking us with caring for so many, I never lose sight that the Bible says it is the love of God that compels people to repentance, and I do care for people who are lost in darkness.
Often, Vicky tells me she never thought she could be so happy in marriage, and I love taking care of her. But, as believers, I believe that our hearts should have enough room for those who have never felt loved. Getting people to support missionaries in dangerous countries or children is very easy, but few are inclined to support the elderly. Sadly, in Ukraine many abandon their mothers and fathers, dropping them off at a home owned by Pastor Fedor, who cares for those too old to care for themselves. Many want their parents’ apartment to start a life with whatever man or woman they are involved with and willingly abandon both mother and father. I want to encourage many of you to join us in caring for people like this. The Bible says as much as you do it unto them it will be done unto you.
At this time, I must report that we have lost two more chaplains. Justine Obonyo, chaplain number C00006, and Phillip Gabreil C00346, have both finished their race for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Justine served the Lord in the Chaplain Corps for 26 years. He was the sixth man to join the Chaplain Corps and graduated in the first class of chaplains in 1999. He had been in more than 20 heavy combat engagements serving Christ at the front lines, putting his life in harm’s way so that others might know Christ. Michael, my senior chaplain, said that Justine had spent the great majority of his life in combat, serving others, and rose to the rank of Major. He was deeply committed to prayer because he knew that only through Christ could he reach the men. It is believed his death was the result of an old wound that he never fully recovered from. He was truly a real man of God, and we do not see his death as a loss but as a graduation to glory.
Michael said that Phillip graduated from class nine. Unlike Justine, he did not see much earthly combat but did see a tremendous amount of spiritual combat. He was known as a man of great prayer and spent his life sharing Christ and teaching God’s word to the military units he was deployed to. The men respected Phillip because he lived what he taught, and they said he was on fire for Christ. During his military service, he rose to the rank of Sergeant Major. Though we believe he died of an illness, we will never truly know what took him.
In the Second World War, when Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan were defeated, the first groups of men who came home were greeted with great celebrations and parades. By the time the other men, who had to stay after the war ended, came home six months to a year later, the parades and parties were over. They were content with seeing families and friends. For those who fought in the longest-running war in Africa, the men never came home to celebrations because the country had suffered too much from war and genocide, and the general population was traumatized from suffering through so many years of war. But it makes my heart happy to think of the reception that Phillip and Justine received when they stood before the Lord Jesus and the angels and the glory of His heavenly kingdom.
In our ministry, we are involved in so many war zones that I could write stories of great bravery and sacrifice for the rest of my years. Though I think many are inspired, what drives me is not telling war stories but finding people who are lost and leading them to know Christ in a personal way. Telling stories of great bravery causes many to want to hear, but I feel that we need to be driven more by the heart of Jesus to show His love.
One of the great old hymns says, They will know we are Christians by our love.
Lali is one of the old women we are caring for in the country of Georgia. She was all alone and fled from a country that was at war. She heard about Calvary Chapel and began attending the church where Jason and Britny have been serving for years. When Lali first came to the church, she found what she had always been looking for: love. Lali said she had been married at one time and had a child who died very young. Her husband became an alcoholic and abandoned her, and she has not heard from him in 25 years, nor does she know if he is alive.
Lali has had a hard life just trying to survive without having anyone to truly care for her. After Lali gave her life to Christ, she fell and broke two bones. The doctors would not help her because she was not from Georgia. She was in terrible pain, so I had her taken to the hospital and told the doctors I would cover the medical cost. Lali lived in a wreck of a building because she could not afford anything more. To bless her, we purchased food for her, but a wicked man broke in when she was not at home and stole everything. I asked Britny and Jason to take her into their home while I looked for a new and safe place for her to live. Not long after, Lali began to bleed when she went to the bathroom. Britny took her to the doctor, and they found cancer. Some staff continued looking for a new place for Lali, but Britny said, “Wes told us to take care of her like she was our own mother.”
It does not look good for Lali; the cancer may not be able to be overcome. But now she is with believers who love her and care for her. The last thing I want for her is to die alone and to be scared, and I have told the staff to take care of her, and I will cover the cost associated with her care. Recently, two girls that work for our ministry, Masha and Diana, took Lali to get her hair and nails done and it was a very special day for her. She had never been pampered in her life.
Folks, I have decided to expand the Potatoes for Grandmothers program to include things like rent or the purchase of a small studio apartment and medical care for the elderly. We will not just raise money to feed them but to provide essential care for them. I pray you will join us in caring for the Lalis of this world.
At this moment, we are in the process of building a home for the elderly in Odessa for Pastor Fedor. This home will house 200 grandmothers and grandfathers. In the world’s view, these people have very little value, but in God’s eyes, He valued them so much that He sent His son to die for them.
both girls work for us.
Recently, one of the women that Jason and Britny have been sharing Christ with had some young men break into her house at night; they stabbed her then robbed her. She is 70 years old, and the situation terrified her. She does not have the money to move to a safe location, so we have offered for her to live in a home that is safe and we will cover the cost. This is such a cowardly act for men 20 years of age to do. This type of cruelty is what is driving me to provide for the elderly.
While this type of ministry may not seem attractive to many, I know it is to the Lord. I would ask that many of you help us raise the first $400,000 to begin construction of the home for these elderly people. In addition, we need to raise 200 sponsors to care for and feed these grandmothers and grandfathers.
If you would like to care for one of these people, we are asking you to fill out the enclosed gift card and mark monthly or give as you can. You can sponsor $25, $50, $75 or $100, all amounts are needed.
The Bible says as much as you do it unto them, it will be done unto you. I want these people to be able to grow old with dignity, not worrying where their next meal is coming from or if someone will hurt them. I think it is a great privilege to be able to give to the Lord by caring for someone that cannot care for themselves.
Wes Bentley
Far Reaching Ministries
Old, Alone, Scared and Unloved
As we have previously shared, Pastor Fedor has a church in Odessa, Ukraine, with 200 elderly grandmothers and grandfathers who have been abandoned and often robbed of their homes. These people are afraid and have no way of caring for themselves. The heart that I believe the Lord has for these people is that in old age, they will not have to live in fear, worry about where their next meal will come from, or if they will have to live in the streets. Far Reaching Ministries wants them to know that if they become ill, believers will take them to the doctor and make sure they get proper medical treatment. Most importantly, they will not die alone and scared but will be loved and cared for by the body of Christ.
You can sponsor a grandmother or grandfather for $25, $50, $75, or $100 per month. Though automatic debit is the preferred method, all donations are needed.
If you would count it a privilege to be part of this huge blessing, please indicate “Pastor Fedor’s Elderly” on the enclosed gift card along with your donation.
Calvary Bible School
Syria is facing an immediate humanitarian crisis with the rise of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) into govern Far Reaching Ministries is in the process of building a new school that will house 200 students.
We have started construction, and the school should be ready to open in 2026. It will cost between $250,000 and $350,000 to complete. If this school were built in the US, it would cost millions of dollars. We need believers to come alongside and help us raise the first $200,000. The school will provide a two-year program and turn out between 100 to 200 pastors and missionaries every two years. We are working with Calvary Bible Institute to train men who have a heart to serve.
To be part of this vital project, please mark “Calvary Bible School” on the enclosed gift card, along with your donation.
Ukraine Home For The Elderly
Far Reaching Ministries (FRM) was introduced to Pastor Fedor from Odesa, Ukraine. Pastor Fedor has a ministry that helps the elderlyand poor who have no place to live. Currently, they live in a crowded room on the second floor of Pastor Fedor’s home. There is just enough room to walk around the beds and no place for them to sit.
Many of the elderly cannot walk, so once a week, they are carried down from the second story to bathe and then sit in the sun for a while.
Pastor Fedor’s dream is to build a home for the elderly and poor so that they can have a better quality of life. So, we at FRM would like to help Pastor Fedor fulfill his dream. We will need $400,000 to begin construction of a home that will house 200 elderly people.
If you would like to help with this urgent need, please mark “Home for Ukraine Elderly” along with your donation on the enclosed gift card.