December 2003 Newsletter
"Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth
in the gate."
Proverbs 24.7
PUBLICK MINISTRY -- ONLY FOR THE WISE
Many, under
the broad umbrella of, shall I say, Bible Christianity, would not recommend the exercise
of publick ministry. I believe that if they
were honest they would have to eliminate “Bible believer” from their list of
adjectives. From my thirty five plus years in
publick ministry I must conclude that it is the wisest action of the bravest disciples,
and it is foolish to succumb to the fears of the flesh and the pressure of public opinion. Here is the testimony of a young man (24) who
tells of overcoming the foolish advice of many Christians along the way of his spiritual
growth, and pressing on to that high spiritual plateau of publick minister. He tells of being discouraged by a former pastor
as well as a college president who did not want that kind of image for his school. I have heard all this many times before and judge
it foolish advice.
My step-father had given me four of your books. I
had read some of one the semester I decided to begin street preaching in Austin Homes.
I began reading again. That was it, no more excuses. I stayed up late
one Friday night and with poster board and some sharpie markers made some gospel signs.
The next day I went to the busies intersection (also the longest light – but I
knew neither of these until after), held my sign and took my stand for Jesus. It was
the 2nd most thrilling experience of my life (salvation being the first).
I never had that much fun doing ANYTHING.
The light would turn
red and I would hold my Bible to my mouth with one hand and my sign in the other and
preach the everlasting gospel. The light would turn green and I would smile, hold my
sign, and wave to those who would drive by. The light would turn red, I would hold
my Bible to my mouth in one hand, my sign in the other and preach the word! This
lasted for almost 45 minutes! Also, my wife (who wasn’t feeling well) got out
of the car grabbed a sign and stood with her husband and for her Jesus. My voice
finally told me it was time to stop but I didn’t want to. It is what I am born
to do. I am now addicted to the public ministry.
Signed...
Forrest Chapman, fellow soldier
ON
THE
STREETS
Preaching in Mesa, AZ,
we tried to balance out a very deceptive, “Christian” light show at the Mormon
temple. Thousands of deceived suckers
strolled around the manicured lawns and discussed, like they had good sense, how the
Mormon church certainly must be a fine Christian organization. At least they are now without excuse. We did much the same at “Glitter on Glendale”
Christmas party in Glendale, AZ. Here Santa
reigned supreme. We freely reminded parents
of their responsibility to “Don’t lie to your kids about Santa Clause: tell them
the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ.” A tough heckler came up next to me and every
time I began to preach he was yell, “BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.” Three guesses where this confusion
originated from, and the first two don’t count.
We battled him in many different forms and, believe it or not, he ended up
sincerely apologizing to us. We joined pastor
James Dutton and his fine church reminding his town of Chino Valley, AZ what the
reason for the season was all about. Pastor
Ed Ware and two of his men (Navajo Indians) preached with us in busy downtown Phoenix, AZ. It is great to see Indian men preach powerfully
and unashamedly. Two of my preacher-boys
(Chris Creed 24 and Scotty Sutton 73) preached with me on the busy, touristy streets of Fredricksburg,
TX. Look on www.streetpreaching.com for photo. I preached at the sloooooowwwwww mall traffic on
Christmas eve as I held my twin-towers banner in Austin, TX. Twenty four years ago I took Tim Searles out
and taught him publick ministry. He was a
Trinity graduate and on deputation for Thailand. This
past month we preached together again, this time in Jacksonville, FL...first time
since the first time. He has done quite a bit
of PM in Thailand all this time. Praise the
Lord for anyone not ashamed of Jesus Christ.
IN
THE
CHURCHES
We were privileged to
minister in the following churches the month. True Vine Bapt., Pastor Ed Ware, Phoenix,
AZ., Bible Bapt., Pastor James Dutton, Chino Valley, AZ., Gospel Light Bapt., Pastor Gary
Schwer, Mesa, AZ., 1st Bapt., Pastor Mike Hoover, Payson, AZ., and a great
opportunity to preach in a prison in Austin, TX. under the direction of Tony Powell.
We continue to have need of
nothing but your prayer...
CONTACT US ANY TIME
Cell Phone: 530-304-6107
E-mail: gsutek@streetpreaching.com
Preaching the gospel on your
streets and around the world,
Gerald Sutek
and the S.W.A.T. Team for Christ
2 Tim. 1:8, Amos 5:10