Hi! I'm Jeannie Tenney!,

Just thought I'd formally introduce myself. I know that you usually hear from my husband, Tommy, but for now, you get to meet me!

I am a more "behind the scenes" person in GodChasers ministry. It seems like I have helped around here in every possible position. Accounting and finances, opening mail, working with interns, chief cook and bottle washer (Literally! with 4 grandchildren somebody has to wash bottles!) More recently I have been in charge of Tommy's hectic schedule.

Because of all my duties here on the home front I have not been able to travel with Tommy as much as I did years ago. When we were first married and even up to the time that we had children in high school, I accompanied him virtually full-time. Before we had children we would spend months at a time in one continent. I vividly remember traveling across Africa in my twenties! (Don't you dare ask my age now!) Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Sierra Leone (where I fell in love with a pet chimpanzee that some missionaries had! I still remember the wiry coarse hair and the big brown mischievous eyes! Wearing a diaper, belly skating on a skateboard, pulling all the tissue off the roll in the bathroom…) and many more nations of beautiful people and dedicated missionaries.

Then we criss-crossed the nation in a motor home, as I home-schooled our children. Our early travels were so frequent and extended that we never had an apartment, a house, or anyplace to call our own for the first 5 years of our marriage. When pregnant with our first daughter we finally got a little house! I still remember opening wedding presents that had been stored for 5 years! Doing what we loved was such fun it never felt like a sacrifice!

My trips with Tommy have been limited in the past few years. Our middle daughter has accompanied him as his travel assistant more recently. In her first year of traveling with her dad she visited over 13 countries. She is now the age that we were when we first began this long journey of representing the King and His kingdom. What a privilege and honor it has been! Sometimes difficult. Never boring! I wouldn't trade my memories with anyone!

In the past couple of years Tommy has developed a special place in his heart for the country of Indonesia. He often talked about it. The warmth of the people, the growth of the church, the taste of the food! He finally persuaded me to accompany him on a lengthy trip there. Tagging on a day off on the beach in Bali convinced me. I am never excited about the long plane trips that never seem to bother him! This would be his second visit to Indonesia this year. It's rare that his schedule allows for two visits in the same year to the same locale.

I really thought that he was exaggerating when he bragged on the Indonesian people and churches. But now I must agree! I don't think I've ever felt so warmly welcomed! It was especially amazing to me knowing that Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation in the world. I'm not sure what I had expected in my mind but not the wide-open arms and giant smiles of some of the warmest hearted people I've ever met! The warmth of the hospitality was rivaled only by the food! I love spicy food as you might expect from living in Louisiana, the home of Tabasco sauce, but the Indonesians take spicy food to a whole 'nother level! I am normally mild mannered but after ingesting by surprise a particularly fiery pepper, without having a cooling drink at hand, I stood and shouted "Diet Coke!" while wiping sweat!

And the churches! It is incredible what God is doing in Indonesia! It seems that every city has several churches of 10, 20 or even 30,000! I was shocked! Some churches approaching 100,000! All this in a nation that is known as the "largest Muslim nation in the world". I had no idea what God was up to! As we visited city after city and walked into church auditoriums that rival the most hi-tech in America I was amazed! Some of them seated up to 25,000!

Not every church in each city was like that. There is obviously much work to be done for the King and His kingdom there. What amazed me was the hunger of the people and the rapid growth that the last decade has brought to the church in Indonesia. Tommy filled me in on the fact that other than English and Spanish, Indonesia is next on the list in number of titles and books sold. Incredibly, even the movie based on one of his books, One Night with the King, (the story of Esther) has been translated into the Indonesian language.

Because this trip was scheduled in the month of December, I often sang a lot of Christmas songs from my recent recording. They love good music there! Or at least they pretended to like my singing! I know that there are a lot of news reports that speak of the danger in Indonesia. I never felt afraid at all. I am sure that was the work of the Holy Spirit and our hosts. A young Indonesian worship team from Australia (where we also visited) traveled with us to Indonesia. The worship was vibrant and deep! I will never forget this trip…

My only regret is that you could not be there with me to feel and see what I did! I know it would have impacted you just as it did me. To see first hand, that in the largest Muslim nation on earth, God is at work! But in a way, some of you were with me. Those of you who are our faithful partners, your seed was planted deep in the soil of Indonesia. Thank you for standing with GodChasers ministry with your prayers and finances. We need you now more than ever.

I must admit, I am feeling overwhelmed with what I am facing now. This New Year has brought new challenges for the ministry and the Tenney family. Our son-in-law has been deployed to Iraq, leaving our daughter with young children. Tommy himself is facing many challenges. I know God will see us through. I sometimes feel like I think the children of Israel felt when traveling across the wilderness fueled only by a promise. I know for us, AND for you also, "The only way out is ‘through’”! Keep your eye on the promise! God will see you “through” this season! If God fails you, or me, we will be the first person in history He's ever failed! And I don't think we are worth God ruining His reputation on!

I need to know that you believe in what we do here at GodChasers. I need to hear from you! I can't wait to read your emails and your letters. You can click here to send me a quick note of encouragement and support. Perhaps you want to support our ministry regularly, this link will make that easy.

Let me share an email that we received this week from Europe.

Dear Brother Tommy Tenney,

I thank the Lord and I thank you for the opportunity to read your books… They have given me great inspiration and helped me find a greater presence of God. I bless you and your family in the name of the Lord…

Tamas from Hungary

I can't tell you how much it means to get an email like this! Please take a moment right now and send Tommy a quick note. As his wife I can tell you it would mean much right now. Click here to send a quick note of encouragement and support.

We love you and bless you,
 
Jeannie Tenney