ISEMA Newsletters
How Dry I Am…
by Fred Bishop,
From the No Greater Love Ministries Newsletter, Box 263, DuQuoin, IL 62832, (618) 542-4503.
So many Christians today are burned out. They wanted so much to have it all. There were endless and duplicate visions of national ministries, massive churches, and perpetual personal bliss. Unfortunately, many have found that enthusiasm and zeal of years back has been replaced with a deep cynicism. Some have completely given up the fight while others have placed themselves in the position of constantly giving out more than they are taking in from God. In their quest to be leaders for Christ, They have found themselves utterly and completely frustrated. Despite their good and holy intentions, those “springs of living water” seem to have dried up. Please remember that our call is not to reach others, it is to have a living relationship with an almighty God through Jesus Christ. It is only in Him that we are able to keep ourselves fresh and allow the “rivers of living water” to flow from that relationship.
The solution lies in accepting our calling and not moving beyond it. The Bible teaches that each person who is “willing and obedient will eat the good of the land.” God does not need you, your church or your denomination to do all the work. In the world everyone wants to be promoted, to do it all. Many people in the secular world and the church world are moving beyond what God has given them the grace to do. The “Peter Principle” of business states that each individual will ultimately end up being promoted one step beyond where he is competent. God’s plan for your life does not include the “Peter Principle.” Take heart in the fact that God knows you and He will use you if you let Him. There are many needs in this world, but the “need” is not the call, just the opportunity.
Each of us must be willing to “pay our dues” as Christian leaders. We must learn to submit to others as “apprentices,” learn to work alongside as “journeymen” and then receive our position as “craftsmen.” The reason so many jobs are being left vacant is that too many Christians are unwilling to “fit into” the real needs of churches and ministries. They want to be at the top and be thought of as great in the eyes of men. We need to stand against this independent, rebellious, and self-destructive attitude. Each of us must submit ourselves one to the other for the protection and guidance it insures.
When we are willing to do our part, we can maintain our priorities with God, family, church, community and the world. Let’s repent of trying to do it our way and instead let’s return to submitting to each other and being willing to take constructive advice. Please take a hard look at what you are presently doing to serve God. Check your motives, the motives of those over you and listen once again for the still small voice of God. If God is in your efforts, then relax and let God flow through you. It will be enjoyable, productive and constructive.
Coming Events
MARCH 11-19 CENTRAL AMERICA OUTREACH Approx. $700. Open air preaching, feeding the poor in Honduras. Contact No Greater Love Ministries, Box 263, DuQuoin, IL 62932, (618) 542-4503.
MARCH 11-18 ST. PATRICK’S DAY OUTREACH, SAVANNAH, GA 300,000 in parade. Teaching by Scott Hinkle. Contact Howard Reed, (912) 925- 3410.
MARCH 12-18 SPRING BREAK OUTREACH, FLORIDA BEACHES. Contact Daystar Ministries, 7255 S Military Trail, Lake Worth, FL 33463, (407) 965-4166.
MARCH 17-26 SPRING BREAK OUTREACH, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX “America’s Third Coast.” Over 200,000 on beaches. For more information, contact Street Ministry for Jesus, Box 8222, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, (512) 991-1111.
MARCH 17-28 LA PAZ, MEXICO OUTREACH $339 including transportation from San Francisco area. Contact Final Frontiers, 1650 Tribute Rd., Sacramento, CA 94815, (916) 649-9064 or 451-0664.
MARCH 20-24 TEXAS BEACH BLITZ $350 incl. transp. from Houston and housing. Outreach to several beaches in Southern Texas–McAllen, Brownsville, Galveston. Contact. Rev. David O’Dell, 3900 W Park Blvd #2117, Plano, TX 75075, (214) 519-0195.
MARCH 27-31 DAYTONA BEACH, FL SPRING BREAK OUTREACH $70. Contact Christ in Action, Box 41848, Chicago, IL 60641, (312) 736-1400.
APRIL 17 BOSTON MARATHON OUTREACH Contact Pastor Earl Darlington, Faith Fellowship, 263 Main St., Winchester, MA 01890, (617) 729-6033.
APRIL 28-29 OUTREACH ’89, NEW ORLEANS Join Chuck Girard, Winkie Pratney and others for an exciting time of fellowship, teaching, and hands on evangelism training. Contact Outreach ’89, Box 6787, New Orleans, LA 70174, (601) 255-9251.
MAY 5-6 KENTUCKY DERBY OUTREACH $15-25. Contact No Greater Love (address above).
MAY 25-28 INDIANAPOLIS 500 OUTREACH $15-25. Contact No Greater Love; $40. Contact Christ in Action (addresses above.)
JUNE 30-JULY 1 ST. LOUIS V.P. FAIR Contact No Greater Love (address above).
JULY 8-15 JESUS LOVES YOU-NEW YORK Contact Abounding Grace Ministries, 1912 Richmond Terr., Staten Island, NY 10302, (718) 816-6626.
AUGUST 7-19 SOS-SAN FRANCISCO Guests include Chuck Girard. Contact SOS Ministries, Box 27054, San Francisco, CA 94127, (415) 552-2300.
Ministry Needs
Thank you so much for your prayers and support for ISEMA. Please continue to send us information about what is happening in your area, teachings, and suggestions about how we can serve you better in 1989. Please continue to keep us in prayer that God will guide us, strengthen us, and continue to provide for our needs.
A few months ago we let you know of our need for a tape duplicator, as we had to borrow one every time we copied tapes, and they didn’t always turn out very well. God blessed us with a tape duplicator that a dear friend of ours sent. It copies three tapes at a time–in stereo! By the way, if you received a tape that was defective, let us know so we can replace it.
Speaking of tapes, our tape of the month is called “Making your ministry a blessing to your family” by Jonathan Gainsbrugh. This teaching is from an ISEMA conference in Florida and continues the theme Fred Bishop shared in this newsletter of having your priorities right in ministry. As we see so many ministers “burn out,” fall into sin, have family problems, etc., we need to make sure that everything we do is founded on a solid relationship with our Lord.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
