August 2000 Newsletter
"…CRYING, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;" Acts 17:6
RIOT ???? FALSE ALARM !!!! Serving the Lord can certainly be a "Riot". While serving with a superb platoon-for-the-Lord in Portland, OR., pastor Rich Glen, his church, along with Billy Eubanks and the SWAT team scampered from one high rise parking garage to another filling the tract holders on the front windshield of parked cars. Lost folk and backsliders refer to these as "windshield wipers". Exciting as this profitable activity may be we longed for some front line combat. We were not long in waiting when we spotted a group of "…them that are rich in this world…" standing outside the Portland Civic Auditorium. They were getting their "nic-fix" during intermission for the play entitled, "Cabaret". We immediately lowered the guns of five preachers and hit them broadside. These were the folk WHO WOULD NOT ANSWER THEIR DOOR WHEN YOU KNOCK ON VISITATION. These are those who are conveniently exempt from your ministry for they will NEVER ATTEND YOUR CHURCH SERVICES. These are the ones in the process of hardening their hearts to reprobation BEFORE THEY ARRIVE AT THE NURSING HOME for your service there. These are those who MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN YOUR JAIL SERVICE BUT DIDN’T GET CAUGHT.
While rattling their cage but not counting them as the enemy, we offered them a clear warning of the consequences of sin and an uncompromising presentation of the gospel of the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. While two of our folk mingled with the crowd passing tracts, or trying, they overheard a fearful man making a call on his cell phone. With evident panic in his voice he told the person at 911 there were protesters at the Civic Auditorium and they were causing a riot. One of our men tapped him on the shoulder and tried to explain that there was no riot or even threat. The man took offence at the touch and yelled, "they’re coming…they are touching me…please hurry…". At this report and intermission being already ending and we having already exhausted five preachers, we decided it might be best to mosey on down the lane. We were just a half a block away when we noticed a fire truck, ambulance and three police cars all with emergency lights flashing and sirens wailing stopping in front of the Civic Auditorium. We just kept moseying on and musing on the fact that SERVING THE LORD CAN SOMETIMES REALLY BE A "RIOT".
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad…"
Matthew 5:11,12ON THE STREETS
Battery Park at the end of Manhattan Island in New York City is an excellent place to minister publickly. The ferry boats are loading and unloading for the trip to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The bored tourist have nothing to do during this time so we provided righteous entertainment by preaching the Word of God to them. Mike Veach, Pastor of First Bible Church of Staten Island and some 30-40 of his folk were with us and some of his men preached for the first time. We then crossed the entire continent in one loooooong trip and preached several times in Portland, OR. Coast to coast preaching the gospel on the streets of USA.
IN THE CHURCHES
During the month of August the team had the honor of ministering in the following churches. First Bible, Pastor Mike Veach, Staten Is. NY, Calvary Baptist, Pastor Ed Mast, Waukon, IA, 1st Baptist, Pastor Dennis Hicks, Schererville, IN, True Vine Baptist, Pastor Rich Glen, Portland, OR and Cornerstone Baptist, Pastor Mike Bell, Springfield, OR. Praise God for pastors who love and do publick ministry.
MARY IS A U.S. CITIZEN…HOORAH!!!
Our thanks for all those who prayed faithfully for forty long months. The Immigration and Naturalization Service finally accepted the fact that Mary Bethany was not an international terrorist and might be an asset to our country. She was granted U.S. citizenship on the 2nd of August 2000 in Jacksonville, Fl after a 15 minute ceremony which might well have been held the day we applied.
"Rejoice with them that rejoice" I am glad the the Lord handles his judgments more efficiently than our government. "The judgments of the Lord are true…"
PRAY FOR THE BLITZ 2000
If you have not already made plans by the time you receive this…you may not be able to attend but you can still please pray for the Blitz. Pray for souls, safety, no police encounters, good press coverage and good weather. Thank you.
We continue to have need of nothing but your prayer...
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