The news right now says that an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 people have been killed by the earthquake, and that estimate may still be too low. This is an amazing opportunity to minister the love of God to people who are going through a horrible experience.

Your financial support would also be very appreciated. The cost of the trip is estimated to be about $1300-1500. You can give by going to my website, www.jslministries.com and push the Donate button – or you can send checks directly to me (Checks written to JSL Ministries, Inc.). Thank-you for being a family that covers me in prayer when God opens doors of ministry to me around the world – I really do love and appreciate each of you.
Thanks, Pastor Joel

1981 – 1986: Served as Youth Pastor, Associate Pastor, and then Senior Pastor of several United Methodist churches in rural Oklahoma. The churches were small and so the pastoring positions were part-time.

1986 – 1988: Because of a significant change of ministry direction and style in my life, I felt God was leading me to transfer my ordination credentials to an independent, missions oriented ministry called Full Gospel Assemblies International. I have been ordained with them since May of 1985. God put a strong burden in my heart for the people of the West Indies after a trip to Puerto Rico with a friend in the summer of 1986. After that trip I began to go on several short-term mission trips each year to minister as much as I was able and to discern what God was wanting me to do as a result of the burden He had given me. I also became a volunteer Youth Pastor for Calvary Assembly of God in Stillwater, Oklahoma, during that time period.

1988 – 1991: A career advancement made a move necessary – to Tulsa, Oklahoma, which resulted in me becoming an active member of the Broken Arrow Assembly of God in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. During that time I served in many different leadership positions. I taught middle school and high school Sunday School classes and was the High School Fellowship group leader. I was a speaker and/or counselor in summer camps, retreats, Youth Conventions, and Discipleship camps.

I provided leadership for such activities as the Aimfest Olympics Outreach team, youth rallies, Grad Nights, street ministry, praise & worship, sports activities, and numerous other events. I also coached the church youth basketball team for several years and was a member of the adult Sanctuary Choir. I also consulted regularly with the Director of the church’s school on several family and behavioral challenges concerning their students.

1991 – 2000: God spoke very clearly to me that He wanted me to become a full-time missionary to the West Indies. To fulfill that call, I moved and established my ministry in Puerto Rico. I saw an unmet need for youth ministry activities so, after a great deal of prayer, felt led to commit myself to work with local Pastors to recruit and train people to meet that need. I started several English and Spanish speaking youth groups which are still going strong today, preached, taught, and ministered in many churches, jails, prisons, Teen Challenge facilities, and held regular youth camps and retreats.

I went to Puerto Rico as an independent missionary (what I call a Philippians 4:13-19 tent-maker missionary) unattached to any particular denomination, and without any consistent support from any organizations or individuals. That was definitely the more challenging way to go on long-term full-time missions, but I trusted God to meet my needs and He has always proven Himself faithful. I have taught and preached to adults and youth in churches, camps, retreats, and schools from many different denominations all over the United States and West Indies.

I was Senior Pastor of The Palmas Community Church in Palmas Del Mar, Humacao, Puerto Rico from 1994-2000.

I also founded the Christian Workers Institute, for which I wrote the curriculum and taught the classes on various ministry issues including Leadership Dynamics, Youth Ministry, Family Ministry, Responding to non-Christian religions, etc. I also was the Chairman of the Bible Department, and taught High School Bible classes, at a local Pre-Pre Kinder through twelfth grade Christian school called Wesleyan Academy in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, for eight years. During much of that time I also hosted an hour-long live youth call-in show called “Real Life” each Saturday night on an English speaking Christian radio station that had a potential audience of over two million people in the West Indies.

I was also the Caribbean Director of the International organization called Alpha-Omega Research Institute, which has the following purposes: 1. To research subjects relating to Theology & Christian Apologetics, and to educate people on such topics as cults, the occult, comparative religions, aberrant religious movements, eschatology, and general Christian apologetics. 2. To conduct various evangelistic ministry activities which have the goal of bringing people from various religious and philosophical backgrounds to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. 3. To assist evangelical pastors and churches in the awareness of cults & spiritual error. 4. Provide pulpit fill in the absence of pastors.

I began to sense that God was calling me back to my home state and city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a season. Through much prayer and listening to God, it began to be clear to me that He wanted me back in Iowa for two distinct purposes: to minister to my family and to help build a church. At the time I did not know the details but set about to be obedient and to follow the leading of God.

May 2005 to Present: After just a short time in Iowa God opened the door for me to expand my ministry around the world. I was invited to become Behavioral Medicine Faculty for the In His Image Family Medicine Residency Program – an amazing ministry that trains medical doctors how to be godly Family Physicians, treating the whole person – Spirit, Soul and Body. When our doctors graduate they are Doctors with the Family Physician specialty. They are also ordained to minister the Word of God through medicine around the world. Many of our graduates are now full-time missionary doctors in countries all around the world.

God has made it possible for me to minister in many countries around the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey, Kazakhstan, India, Cambodia, Uzbekistan, Papua New Guinea, The West Indies, etc. etc. You will also see on this site how God has opened up Turkey and Iraq for me to have daily radio programs on stations that have a combined potential listening audience of over six million people! I am currently praying about expanding the radio ministry into several other countries.

I am also privileged to serve as Associate Pastor of Hope Christian Ministries in Broken Arrow. God has blessed me in so many ways & I am thrilled to be able to serve Him wherever I am at the time!

It is true! God can open doors that noone else can open – He showed Himself to be so faithful during my recent mission trip to Turkey and Iraq. God has given me the vision of reaching the unreached populations around the world with His Good News. It was easy to see that God was giving me great favor with many people as He made opportunities to minister to people that would not normally be available – especially people who have leadership responsibilities in the areas of medine, mental health, and radio. I want to thank all of you who were with me through your prayers and financial support – you make the difference – without your support JSL Ministries would not be able to accomplish anything of true value. My prayer is that God would multiply your kindness and blessings back to you.

Hello Friends!

For over 25 years, we have given our time, our energy, and financial resources to bring the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ to people groups who have not been reached by other mission agencies.

We sincerely appreciate your financial partnership in helping us bring the love the Christ to others through medical missions, practical teaching, and Biblical preaching.

Please continue to support us with regular donations as we expand to touch even more lives in the coming months and years.

Your donations are 100% tax deductible.

That the world might be saved!
Pastor Joel

How many times have you cried out something like “I’ve Heard All Of The Theories! I Want To Know What To Do!”

Power Tools is the book for you!

A practical book for people either already challenged by someone’s discipline & relationship problems, or are determined to build the most solid foundation possible for discipline and relationship successes for their children, or anyone else they care about.

Power Tools won’t leave you wondering what to do. You will find answers to problems many books only complain about.

It was a major challenge deciding what the title of this book should be because it covers so many different, but related, topics. If you are looking for clear answers to specific discipline and other parenting issues, then Power Tools is for you.

If you are looking for precise answers on how to build, repair, or strengthen virtually any relationship in your life, then Power Tools is for you.

Tell me your Praise Reports, Your Prayer Requests, News about what the Lord is doing in your life, your opinions about this website, or anything else you would like to share!

E-Mail Address: jslministries@hotmail.com

Snail Mail: Use this address to send letters, cards, any orders for books or videos, etc.:

Rev. Joel S. Leitch
P.O. Box 700837
Tulsa, OK 74170

Home & Office Telephone: Always try my cell phone first:  My phones has voice mail so PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE that includes your name and phone number if I don’t answer your call.

Cellular Phone: My cell phone number is: (918) 520-7283 (Spells 520-SAVE)

I am always glad to hear from any of you. Feel free to leave messages on my message board on this website also. I am also on Facebook so you can always leave messages there also.

PICTURES: Go to my Facebook account if you would like to see pictures and videos of the places we have ministered around the world.

Microsoft Messenger Nickname: Pastor Gadget (JoeL)

JSL Ministries is now broadcasting daily Christian radio programs into Turkey and Iraq! Only God could open up these doors! We are now broadcasting a 15 minute program five days a week in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, in both English and Turkish – so that gives us 30 minutes a day to tell a potential audience of over 3 million people about the awesome love of God!

I just returned from ministering in Iraq and God moved in amazing ways! We are now also broadcasting daily programming in Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq, to a potential audience of over 3 million people!

Please be praying that these programs will make a difference in the hearts and lives of everyone who hears them, and then pray that many people will tune in daily. There have already been good reports from the audience in Turkey, so we know people are listening. We just started the programs in Iraq so are praying for good reports from there also.

Turkey and Iraq are countries with almost 100 percent Muslim populations. They are great people who have been through a lot of trauma in their lives. They are sincere people who just need to know that they have a choice of whom they serve and worship as their God. The Bible says that people perish for the lack of knowledge, so we want to make sure they get introduced to the God of love, truth and mercy – the God who wants a personal relationship with each one of them.

God is moving mightily through JSL Ministries, but we need your help. Each program and each translation costs approximately $35.00-40.00. Would you pray about sponsoring at least one of the programs at least once a month?

If  about 100 people would catch the vision, who would give $35.00 (or more) a month, then we will be able to continue this incredibly valuable ministry. Of course, we always welcome any gift of any size.   Your gifts is 100% tax deductible.

Pray about where God would have us expand our radio ministry to next!

If you will help, just push the “Donate” button and it will lead you the rest of the way. Thank-you so much for your help!

Last year I decided to join the popular social network “Facebook” and it has turned out to be a wonderful way to stay in touch with friend from all our around the world. I have since used it as my main means of communicating with friends as well as sharing photos from ministry trips.

If you have on Facebook and we are not yet “friends” please click here to add me as your friend.

God is doing great things through JSL Ministries! Outreaches to Papua New Guinea, Turkey and Iraq this year have already resulted in hundreds of people inviting Jesus Christ to be the Lord of their lives!

We just returned from a mission effort in Turkey and Kurdistan, Iraq. Iraq now has their first Christian radio station, located in Erbil. So far it just broadcasts a few hours a day, but plans to expand as possible. They just got a brand new antenae mounted on the roof of their building, which just happenes to be the tallest building in the whole region! God apparently had that planned from the beginning, because now they can broadcast to many more people than before! The Spirit of the Lord is beginning to move in ways that would not have been allowed in Iraq just a few years ago. Pastor Joel now teaches and ministers to millions of people in both Turkey and Iraq. Pray that God will open the hearts of the people to receive the news of real freedom in Christ!

Remember that we can only continue the radio ministry if people will help through their prayers and finances. Just push the “Donate” button if you can help. Read the ‘JSL Global Radio Ministry’ section of this website for more detail.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

The JSL Ministries daily radio program in Turkey needs regular funding to stay on the air: approximately $35.00 air time in each language, plus $35.00 a day for translation into a different language. Your partnership with JSL Ministries will make a difference for the glory of God in the world!

That the world might be saved!
Pastor Joel

I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity.

I will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable.

If my God needs me, I am there. If He needs me in Sunday school, to teach the children, work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn He can use me because I am there!

I am a soldier; I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp.

I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win. My God has and will continue to supply all of my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me.

Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him.

I am a soldier in the army, and I am marching claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier, marching heaven bound. Here I stand! I will not turn around.

Will you stand with me?