In Luke chapter 17 is recorded an interesting event in the ministry of Christ.  Most of his miracles were individual events.  However in verse 12 there were a group of ten lepers.  He spoke to them about showing themselves to the priest.  On their way, their leprous condition was [...]]]> Dear friends of the MDS School,

In Luke chapter 17 is recorded an interesting event in the ministry of Christ.  Most of his miracles were individual events.  However in verse 12 there were a group of ten lepers.  He spoke to them about showing themselves to the priest.  On their way, their leprous condition was gone.  Only one returned to thank Christ and verse 10 says that he was a Samaritan. He was a despised half-breed Jew hated and despised by the Jews.

In our ministry of discipleship, we reach many of these despised people.  There is the prisoner who is justly being incarcerated.  There are the Spanish illegals, many of them in prison.  There are the homeless living out of their cars.  They are today’s “Samaritans” that we are ministering to.  This group can not financially support the ministry but who are the most thankful.

Let me share some of their letters:
Scott (prisoner)
I want to thank you for what each of you do to bring these lessons to those who are seeking truth.  You’re “unseen”
Work is amazing.  Thank you also for sending out new lessons to those we have invited to participate.  I want you to know the joy in my heart to see the amazing, positive reaction of the man who just recently received his second
lesson.  He was so excited and feels his faith growing through these lessons.  I just hope you will know how
wonderful your work is from one whom sees it first hand!

Ricardo (prisoner)
I would like to take this opportunity to say that as a convicted-armed robber who was state raised since the age of
three due to the fact that my father killed my mother while in a drunken stupor.  This Bible study course has
answered many of my questions.  Definitely it has taught me a great deal about Christianity, and also helped me to
free myself of the hatred I had for my father by praying for his soul and forgiving him.  I now have released a long
held anger I carried for almost forty years.  Today, I have God in my life and I have peace in my heart and not
ashamed of whom I was and am proud of who I’ve become today: A blood bought, Spirit filled, born again Christian- AMEN!

Maria (Spanish prisoner)
While I was reading this course, I began to reflect on my life.  I was sad but after reading this course, I began to cry
out to God and put my trust in Him.  Now I feel well with myself and with God.

Ernesto (Spanish prisoner)
Thank you people from Source of Light and all your families for the great work that you do to take the Gospel to
people like I am – that is in prison.  I am free in the Spirit praising God for giving me the opportunity to know you
and is your friend.  Sometimes the enemy tries to attack us and put things in our way but God uses these attacks of
Satan for our own good to strengthen us to get close to Him.  He is the All Powerful One who promises to never leave
us or forsake us.

At this Thanksgiving season, our hearts are full of love and gratitude for the ministry, God has given us to the despised and cast off of society and the opportunity to give them the message of hope and forgiveness.  We are also thankful to you for supporting the MDS ministry to the needy.  We are thankful for the 23 students that received Christ as their Savior during October and they 894 names sent in by students.

In Christ,
Bob Hearing, Director Madison Discipleship School

Wanda and I took a short sightseeing trip northwest of Madison.  We wanted to see the cotton fields before they were picked.  We saw acres and acres of cotton that was white as far as the eye could see.  Wanda said the fields were “White unto harvest.”  How true!  [...]]]> Dear friends of the MDS School,

Wanda and I took a short sightseeing trip northwest of Madison.  We wanted to see the cotton fields before they were picked.  We saw acres and acres of cotton that was white as far as the eye could see.  Wanda said the fields were “White unto harvest.”  How true!  The equipment was in place to bring it in before the rains came and ruined the harvest.  There was a window for picking and if not completed, it would be lost.  It was a reminder of the Harvest Time that we are involved in.  There is a window and God has been blessing the team effort of our friends and staff.

Before there can be a Harvest, seed has to be sown.  The third quarter of 2010, we mailed out over 25,000 lessons – sowing the seed.  This was a record quarter.  It required an investment in the SEED.  It took postage to mail the SEEDS.  It took a staff of missionaries and volunteers to get it done.  The move into our newly remodeled area delayed some planting.

But God gave the increase.  We recorded 55 decisions for Christ as we reaped the Harvest. God used the lessons as well as the tracts that were enclosed.  I wish you could here the bell as we ring it over the intercom announcing another soul has come to Christ.  You had a part in that harvest as well as the home office staffs.  We rejoice when the harvest is brought in.
Cotton harvest does not end with the picking.  It now has to be processed.  There is debris and pods that have to be removed along with the cottonseed before it can be processed.There is more work to be done.  It is a work in progress. After the Harvest (a person coming to Christ) the job is not complete.  The newborn student now must be taught God’s Word to prepare him for life.  We daily get notes and letters telling us of the impact the Word of God is having in their lives.

Gonzales (prisoner)
Thank you so much for taking the time of your busy schedule to read this little letter. I appreciate through
this small missive for the unspeakable work, which you have been doing on behalf of me with regard to my growth as a newborn in Christ.  Let me tell you in all sincerity that I am so happy in My New Life in Christ.  Thereby I wish from the bottom of my heart that you might receive many blessings from God. On the other hand, I will appreciate if you may continue teaching me the Word of God by mail.  Thank you
for being willing to help me.

Bonnie (adult)
I want to know the love of Christ and whom I am in Him, that He will help me move past memories of failure
and disappointments of the past.  I need to forgive many authority figures especially in the church.  I want God to break the yoke of bondage so I can live in the present with joy as I go through the steps of lesson six. The Lord has been bringing healing and deliverance for several years progressively but the yoke of bondage has not been completely broken so that I am free and able to have a relationship with the Lord as I desire and need.

It’s Harvest Time here at MDS.  Thanks for the encouragement for our harvesters.  Your support has meant so much  There is still much in the field ready for harvest.  May we be faithful during harvest time.

In Christ,

Bob Hearing, Director Madison Discipleship School

The celebration of the open house for the newly remodeled Madison Discipleship School is history.  On Saturday, September 11, 2010, the ribbon was cut and we began the tours of the headquarters, including phase 1 of the remodeled area of the building. If you did not get to attend [...]]]> Dear friends of the MDS School,

The celebration of the open house for the newly remodeled Madison Discipleship School is history.  On Saturday, September 11, 2010, the ribbon was cut and we began the tours of the headquarters, including phase 1 of the remodeled area of the building. If you did not get to attend I am including pictures of some of the activities.  We marveled at what God had wrought.  Over $400,000 was spent on this phase and it is all paid for.  For us, it was truly a miracle of God that it is paid for and completed in time for the open house.

Here are statistics that may interest you.  For the month of August, we had 15 decisions for Christ.  We enrolled 1,362 new students.  We mailed out over 7,700 lessons during the month.  When I consider what God has done in MDS it truly brings tears to my eyes.  I just got off the phone with a volunteer who has served with us while I was in Missouri and now here at Source of Light Ministries.  Health issues and his home being at a distance, he and his wife have not been with us.  He called to say that the ministry is so heavy on his heart that he wants to return to serve.

Today we have a group of 17 homeschoolers here to volunteer.  They range in age from under four to 17- years-old. In MDS we plan to have them stamping our address on lessons and tracts.  It will help us to have this done ahead of when we need them.  This group has been here before and consists of eager workers.

The following are some comments that we recently received from our students:

John (young adult)

Even though I am a Christian and I love our God dearly, I’m still isolating myself being afraid of new friendships and afraid to let them get close to me.  I don’t measure up to their standard.  What should I do?

E. L. (prisoner)

Thank you for the booklet, “The Sure Shepherd.”  It touched me especially deep in my soul.  Please keep PRINTING and MAILING out this inspiring and needed literature.

Thomas (prisoner – age 42)

I was sentenced to “life without parole” a little over 20 years ago.  I have filed a commutation to the governor asking to have my sentence changed to “life with a 30-year minimum,” so I can show the parole board how Christ has changed my life and be given a chance so I can be the man of God, the father and son, Jesus created me to be.

Gaspar (Spanish prisoner)

This course has opened new doors and given me hope.  I hope to participate in more of your studies for my growth.  Thank you for this marvelous gift.  May Christ’s blessing fall on you.  I want you to know that ever since I have done these courses, I have had an inner peace and motivation to continue on with Jesus Christ.  I thank you for this marvelous opportunity and I hope to continue on with this spiritual growth.

Our students have been such an encouragement.  When a prayer request comes from a student, a grader will pray for it and then it is put in a box for our staff to pray for that request again.  We have seen many answers to prayer and we feel a part of our student’s life when we can pray for him.

Thank you for being a person who cares about the Discipleship School and staff.

In Christ,

Bob & Wanda Hearing

Dear Madison Discipleship School Friends,

Paul in writing to the church at Corinth in his second letter and the fourth chapter said, For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to [...]]]>

Madison Times

May, 2010

Dear Madison Discipleship School Friends,

Paul in writing to the church at Corinth in his second letter and the fourth chapter said, For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light or the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Lighthouses have always stood at the edge of danger to warn of trouble, to give direction, and to provide hope.

The MDS staff has served as a beacon of hope to those on the edge of shipwreck and disaster. This last month was a record month in a number of ways. We mailed over 10,000 lessons. There were 22 decisions for Christ and we have moved closer to launching the special outreach to the
youth of Georgia who are incarcerated or awaiting their court date. This group of 10,000 teens are in need of the light of the Gospel through the printed page. We are looking for six teams to pick up the torch.

The special ministry to the military is beginning to become a reality. The special military response card has gone to press and the special lessons are just about ready. We hope to distribute 250,000 cards through our friends helping us to enroll these special guardians of our freedom.

With these special outreaches, there will be opposition from the enemy of our souls. So, please do not let us down by failing to pray for us. These programs will require some special people and partnerships. It will require a BIG step of faith to "get out of the boat" because we do not have the funds for them.

I have personally appreciated you special friends who have supported the MDS department.
You have been such and encouragement with not only your gifts, but also through your encouraging notes and prayer.

Thank you.

Sending the Light,

Bob and Wanda Hearing

The story of that first resurrection morning never grows old.  Luke chapter 24 records these words Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen  The news was unbelievable but the disciples saw for themselves and soon a great multitude was convinced of Christ’s resurrection with [...]]]> Dear MDS friends,

The story of that first resurrection morning never grows old.  Luke chapter 24 records these words Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen  The news was unbelievable but the disciples saw for themselves and soon a great multitude was convinced of Christ’s resurrection with His appearance to them and commissioning them for ministry.

Two thousand years later, we are serving as His ambassadors.  What an inheritance!  The month of March, 23 students trusted Christ as their Savior and we enrolled 401 new students.  This would not have been possible without the help of a number of volunteers like Lowanna Bujaki, who was here the whole month with her husband, Jim, and Joe and Nita Certain came back for ten days.

Here are three programs in which the MDS School
is involved.  For a year now we have been distributing
the Million Card Campaign cards.  So far nearly 200,000 have
been distributed with about 6% (12,000) return.

The second focus is Campaign
Stars and Stripes.   We plan to launch this effort on July 1 and
distribute a special enrollment card for our military servicemen
and women.  We plan to distribute 250,000 cards (with your help).

The third focus will be with the young people in the
Juvenile Justice system in Georgia.  We have a scheduled meeting
and are praying that the door will be open to reach thousands.  We will need to develop a strategy to do the Bible lessons with young people behind bars and have available Bibles, when requested.  This was not in my 2010 budget and will only be possible with designated funds.  We will need to buy 200 Bibles to begin at a cost of $2.00 each (total  $400).

When the budget was set for 2010, Campaign Stars and Stripes and the juvenile delinquent focus did not exist.  These two opportunities are a huge potential.  It will not only have to be funded but will require much prayer including added people, who are called to these areas of ministry and funds to serve the student.

We have added a new automatic envelope opener to reduce the time opening the mail, which was a gift from a person, that is a MDS donor.  This will help shorten the time getting the mail opened and ready to be graded.

Thank you for your support of the Madison Discipleship School ministry.  You make it possible for us to serve our students.

In His Majesty’s service,
Bob Hearing
Bob Hearing, Director, Madison Discipleship School
Source of Light Ministries  1011 Mission Road   Madison GA  30650

I suppose that many of you are experiencing an unusual winter. We are not an exception.  Although we got a wet snow recently you had to get out early to get good pictures, since most of it had melted by noon.

My devotions each morning has recently changed.  I tried to read three [...]]]> Dear friends,

I suppose that many of you are experiencing an unusual winter. We are not an exception.  Although we got a wet snow recently you had to get out early to get good pictures, since most of it had melted by noon.

My devotions each morning has recently changed.  I tried to read three chapters each day but since starting Romans I have slowed down to one chapter.  There is so much in each chapter.  This morning I started Colosians and the first chapter.  Verses thirteen and fourteen are full of meaning Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

The Madison Discipleship School has been able to keep up with the volume of lessons coming in because of the help of volunteers, who have come in for a day or the week.  However we have a BIG prayer request.  We have lost a key person due to an extended illness, and his wife, who also served with us. will be his caregiver.  The loss of these two has created a big need to find replacements.  Pray with us for some full-time help that God has called to this ministry.

Our students continue to send us prayer requests and testimonies of what the lessons mean to them and how the care of our staff has touched them.  Here is just a few from the hundreds we get each month:

Stephanie (adult) I have four children and am a single mother and we have been homeless for about two years now.  My brother raise my children with his until I can do better.  If I can get some help with my rent or deposit would help me move into my own place with my children.  Its especially hard, knowing that my father is a sexual predator and my uncle just passed away.

Tony (prisoner)  My mother has a big job.  She has three sons in prison, two are in a federal prison and one is in a state prison.  I’m one of the sons and want God’s will done in my life.  My mother also has a daughter on crack cocaine.

Cynthia (prisoner)  Could you please send the Bible course to my husband and son for they are incarcerated and we have no money for stamps and envelopes?  They are born again Christians and we would love to learn about our Father.  PS: I am enclosing a friend’s name because she also has no funds and really wants to do this Bible course.  Sorry if we are inconveniencing anyone.  That’s not our intentions.  We are just excited about learning more about God.

I hope you get the feeling of the importance of this ministry.  You may not be aware but if a student indicates he can not afford the postage, we send a postage paid envelope.  We also send Bibles to those who tell us they need one.  God has been faithful in supplying financially to enable us to fill these requests.

The construction of the new offices continues every day and the noise created penetrates our present area, but we are not complaining.  Hopefully, we will be able to move in 30 – 45 days.  Thank you for your support.

Bob Hearing  Director, Madison Discipleship School

Source of Light Ministries, 1011 Mission Road  Madison, Georgia  30650

We have just completed another year and although we need to review what was accomplished in 2009, I feel like the apostle Paul sitting in the stands at an Olympic event. The runners have just come around the third bend and are headed into the home stretch. Can’t you see the [...]]]>

Dear friends,

We have just completed another year and although we need to review what was accomplished in 2009, I feel like the apostle Paul sitting in the stands at an Olympic event. The runners have just come around the third bend and are headed into the home stretch. Can’t you see the leader kick in what remains of his strength and straining to cross the line, a winner. Paul in Philippians must have been referring to this event when he wrote, …This one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things that are before, I press toward the mark…

Year 2009

God blessed with the following results:
76,500 lessons mailed to the students
3,500 new students enrolled
265 decisions for Christ
Over 10,000 cards mailed back from the Million Card Campaign

Year 2010 Challenges pressing toward the mark

Stars And Stripes being launched on July 4 to reach our military servicemen with 250,000 enrollment cards.
The need of additional staff for the Madison Discipleship School, including a military grader
The move into our newly remodeled offices
Displays at several Home-schooler conferences

Each of the above 2010 challenges needs preparation. That means displays and literature,and the Stars and Stripes campaign needs developing literature, promotion, videos and contacting key people. Some of the plans will need additional volunteers. Now you know how to pray. Could it be that you are the answer to that prayer request?

The special opportunities for 2010 present some real commitments to launch them. After a recent meeting of the steering committee for the Stars and Stripes campaign it was concluded that it would take $25,000 to purchase the cards, postal permits, etc. We are looking to God for this startup money. A fund has been set up for this campaign. You may want to expand your interest to include this effort to impact the military.

Harvey Clothier, one of our MDS staff, has been very sick with multiple health issues. He is presently in a rehab facility and Myrna, his wife, has been at his side for almost six weeks. This has created a big gap in our staff since Harvey did the data entry in and Myrna did the data entry out as the lesson was being mailed back to the student.

Thank you for your gifts during 2009. It has been such an encouragement to our MDS team. We look forward to representing you to our students. Your investment is “laying up treasure in Heaven,” so thank you.

In Christ,
Bob Hearing
Bob Hearing, Director Madison Discipleship School

     My third quarter report (July – September) was completed and turned in a month late. Since we grade in seven different languages, I had to do seven reports. We are praising the Lord for the 55 reported decisions and we were able to mail out over 25,000 lessons.

My devotions this month has been in the Psalms. The writers echo the phrase, Praise the Lord hundreds of times. If repetition is to point out the importance of praise, that’s what I want to do.

is for PEOPLE. The Lord has given us a good staff of missionaries, [...]]]> Madison Times

June 2009

My devotions this month has been in the Psalms. The writers echo the phrase, Praise the Lord hundreds of times. If repetition is to point out the importance of praise, that’s what I want to do.

is for PEOPLE. The Lord has given us a good staff of missionaries, grading and discipling students. The staff deal with seven languages.We have introduced them to you over the past issues.

is for REAL friends that have become supporters of the Madison Discipleship School. Because of your gifts, we are able to expand the outreach to many of our students that cannot afford the postage. We send postage paid envelopes to any student who express a need.

is for the ASSISTANCE of the Headquarter staff in the printing, distribution of enrollment cards, and processing the incoming and outgoing of our mail.The MDS ministry is a team effort of the entire office personnel.

is for the INSPIRATION of our students. The notes of appreciation and the growth we have seen, keeps us plugging away. Weekly, we print up their comments, so if you would like to see a copy from time to time, let us know.

is for SATISFACTION in our work. We praise the Lord that each day God gives us the desires of our heart. We are privileged to see the changed lives and our own heart overflows in the joy of serving and being used of God.

is for the ENERGY God supplies for each of our staff in the ministry. The work load is growing and we have not added to our team. In fact, because of health reasons, Joe and Nita Certain have had to move back to their home in southern Georgia. Their prison students have to be served by others. But God has been supplying the strength.

We PRAISE THE LORD for your faithful support and prayers for the team as they faithfully serve the Lord. It is a real encouragement to us who represent you in the ministry.

Bob Hearing

Director, Madison Discipleship School

Source of Light Ministries Intl 1011 Mission Road Madison GA 30650