"And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition,..." Philippians 1:28
August 2001 Newsletter
"And in nothing terrified by
your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition,..." Philippians 1:28
VICTORY = RESULT OF PUBLICK MINISTRY
We have so little VICTORY in our Christian homes and lives, much less in our society. Here is a testimony from a man who got victory in his personal life through publick ministry and this is also fruit from the Great Lakes Blitz 2001.
V I C T O R Y
|
"Amen! God has not given us the spirit of fear....(IITim 1:7) I can trulyclaim this verse after a recent bout with, "fear." Let me explain. I wasvery content passing out tracts on the streets while I watched others streetpreach. There came a day when I was asked, "do you preach." I just replied with a, "no not me." The truth of the matter is this: I allowed Satan to get an advantage on methrough fear. As time went on the Lord began to burden my heart about street preaching. I spoke to my Pastor, Dave Widner who showed me scripture, encouragement, and understanding. Not only that, recently our church sponsored the Great Lakes Blitz, which gave me an opportunity to spend time with Bro. Sutek. This allowed me to seek advice from a true veteran of public ministry. After speaking to my Pastor, Bro Sutek and listing to all the messages preached during the Blitz, I had no more excuses. I had to face this supposed fear of mine. I knew I couldn't ignore what the Bible says about public ministry. In my eyes the fear of street preaching was monumental. Finally, the day came when in my heart I wanted to preach but my flesh was crying out sayingNO! I guess you could say, "fear" was at its highest intensity. I looked atmy Pastor and told him I have to do this right now! I stepped up where wepreach and the Lord gave me the boldness to proclaim the Gospel on thestreets of Akron, Ohio 08/09/01. As I finished preaching a verse came to my mind James 4:7 – submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Thetruth to all this is the devil gave me the "fear" in order to hinder theGospel. As easy as this is to say, "if you resist the devil he will flee.The very second I began to preach that spirit of fear was long gone.Amazingly enough it was replaced with peace and assuredness. The fear that Iexperienced was nothing more than a paper tiger, that hindered the Gospel. Praise the Lord for men who are still interested in the Gospel. Thank you Pastor Dave and Bro. Sutek for all of the encouragement." |
V I C T O R Y
|
Maybe Joe Strausbaugh’s testimony can help you get the VICTORY over fear. |
||
ON THE STREETS
Coming down off the mountain of activities from July, we started across the plain in August. Resuming normal SWAT team schedule plus loads of catch-up from July kept us busy. It was great to have Devon Wood travel with us this month. He is a fine 20 year old college student from Hank Thompson’s church in Austin, TX. Devin accomplished many jobs which were out of my realm of talent and was a very good street minister as well. He got to spend a day with one of the best publick ministers that I know of, Bro. Jimmy Hood on the streets of Columbus, OH. We preached several times in Columbus and one of those times a fine looking eighteen year old young man stood just 5 ft. from me as I preached. He stayed there till I was done and I asked him how he liked it. He said, "Great"! I asked him if he had ever been saved and he said that no one had ever explained it to him. Twenty minutes later young Bradley and I were on our knees on the streets of Columbus, OH and he became a new creature in Christ. We had a tremendous street meeting in Indianapolis, IN. with pastor Robert Jaynes and the Irvington Bible Bapt. Church. We were on the steps of the giant monument in the middle of downtown. This is an excellent place for a meeting. We nearly blew Sullivan, IN out of water during a street meeting there with Pastor Larry Kimmell and the Bible View Bapt. Church. This was their first time out and we were interviewed by the local paper including photos. The Bible says to "Charge them that be rich in this world" and that is just what we did in the "Plaza" in downtown Kansas City, MO. The shoppers here were not looking for the "blue light special" and they were not looking for salvation in the person of the Lord Jesus. After a long drive we preached several times in front of the gates to the Morman Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, UT. If you want to see PRIDE personified just minister there. The devil is getting slicker and slicker as the day draws nigh and the publick minister of today really has to "Study to show yourselves approved unto God" and be "ready to give an answer to every man that asketh…". All Mormans are "saved", "born again", "washed in the blood" and going to heaven". These terms just mean different things to them after their "indoctrination" ceremony. Pastor Warneke and his associate Bro. Richard Benson do a good job at holding the front line there in SLC.
IN THE CHURCHES
We were honored to minister in the following churches this month. Bible Believer’s Bapt., Pastor Hector Sharpetta, Columbus, OH., Irvington Bible Bapt. Church, Pastor Robt. Jaynes, Indianapolis, IN., Bible View Bapt. Church, Pastor Larry Kimmell, Sullivan, IN., Elm Grove Bapt., Pastor Sandy Seaba, Bonner Springs, KS., and Bible Bapt., Pastor Marshall Warneke, Salt Lake City, UT.
A FULL REPORT ON WEST COAST BLITZ NEXT MONTH
We continue to have need of nothing but your prayer...
CONTACT US ANY TIME