ISEMA Newsletters
Enduring Persecution for Jesus
A few months ago, I read a biography of John and Charles Wesley. These men, along with Whitefield, preached out of doors several times weekly to as many as 25,000 people at one time, without an amplifier! Most churchgoers regarded them as fanatics for preaching outside the church, as they do today. They also often found themselves in the middle of riots, and were stopped from preaching by the police.
As John S. Simon wrote, “If Methodism had not come into contact with the mob it would never have reached the section of the English people which most needed salvation. The `Religious Societies’, shut up in their rooms, would never have reformed the country. It was necessary that a race of heroic men should arise, who would dare to confront the wildest and most brutal men, and tell them the meaning of sin, and show them the Christ of the Cross and of the Judgment Throne. The incessant assaults of the mob on the Methodist preachers showed that they had reached the masses. With a superb courage…the Methodist preachers went again and again, to the places from which they had been driven by violence, until their persistence wore down the antagonism of their assailants. Then, out of the once furious crowd, men and women were gathered whose hearts the Lord had touched.” (The Revival of Religion in the Eighteenth Century)
While we sometimes face opposition today to our preaching on the streets, it is nothing compared to the persecution these men faced. Here is one incident (from A Heart Set Free: the Life of Charles Wesley by Arnold Dallimore):
“Charles preached for three quarters on an hour the next morning. But the mob soon attacked, at first using a hand-operated pump to cover the Methodists with water. Then they resorted to a larger engine which broke the windows, flooded the rooms and spoiled the goods. We were withdrawn to a small upper-room, in the back part of the house, seeing no way to escape their violence…One brother they dragged away. They threw him into the horse-pond and broke his back.”
“Now we stood in jeopardy every moment. Such threatening, curses and blasphemies I have never heard….They were now close to us, on every side, and over our heads, untiling the roof. I was diverted by a little girl, who called to me, `Mr. Wesley! Mr. Wesley! creep under the bed: they will kill you. They are pulling down the house.’ Our sister Taylor’s faith was just failing, when a ruffian cried out, `Here they are, behind the curtain!’ At this time we fully expected their appearance, and returned to the furthermost corner of the room…In about an hour after the last general assault the answer of faith came, and God made bare his arm. Soon after three, Mr. Clark knocked at the door, and brought with him the constable. He said, `Sir, if you will promise never to preach here again, the gentleman and I will engage to bring you safely out of town.’ My answer was, `I shall promise no such thing.'”
Finally they were able to leave town on horses, with the mob following. They pulled one brother off his horse, and two bulldogs tore his flesh. He got back on his horse and they rode off, singing the hymn “Worship, and thanks, and blessing.”
Mardi Gras Outreach Report
A headline in the New Orleans paper read “3 shot, wounded as parade passes.” Next to the article was a picture with the caption: “Actor Dennis Quaid, Bacchus XXII, glories in his role as the god of wine, throwing burgundy-colored doubloons in Sunday night’s parade.” About 1000 Christians once again came to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans to witness for Jesus Christ to the 1.5 million people who attend this event, dubbed as the “world’s largest free party.” Here are some excerpts from reports on this outreach:
From the Scott Hinkle Outreach Ministries Newsletter:
“Pursuit of `a good time” included drinking, nudity, homosexuality, occultism, stabbings, robbery, murder, and even a rape on a parade float. In the middle of a moral cesspool the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ cut through the darkness like a hot knife through butter. SHOM’s “Gideon-type band of warriors” numbered 75 (our largest team ever). We joined together with Christ for the Nations Institute from Dallas. Together we led over 400 people to Jesus on the streets.
“Thursday night we gathered outdoors at Jackson Square–nearly 300 Christians worshipping God, interceding and publicly addressing satanic strongholds over the city. As the entire group fell to their knees in prayer we were visited by one of the most powerful releases of God’s presence that I’ve ever felt on the streets….A small boy was ministered to. Terry prayed for God’s blessing and protection on the child. Moments later the boy was hit by a car and knocked across the intersection only to have minor cuts on his head….A 43 year old homeless man, tormented by war experiences, was miraculously saved and sobered up while sitting on a curb.
“The Monday night march down crowded Bourbon Street had 660 Christians from across American exalting Jesus Christ….As we finished our march we felt led to turn around and march back again through the same street. As God’s army moved back up Bourbon Street the power of God penetrated several hearts of the partiers as they began to break and weap.”
From the Holy Ghost Repair Service Newsletter:
“More that 6 1/2 years ago a friend, Jonathan Gainsbrugh, told me “I don’t care how much witnessing you’ve done or where you’ve done it, Mardi Gras will change your life!” He was right…. One of my highlights was talking to Frenchy (his street name). He had rededicated his life to the Lord on “Fat Tuesday”…out of a gay bar. His face lit up with the new found forgiveness and joy he was experiencing. As we walked he suddenly remembered me from the Oasis in Hollywood. It had been 8 months ago he and I had a lengthy conversation about what he was doing with his life. He remembered every detail about the conversation.”
Coming Events
Saturday May 5 and 19, June 2 and 16. Outreach and Worship Rally. San Francisco, CA. Contact SOS Ministries, Box 27358, Oakland, CA 94602, (415) 531-5325.
May 24-26 Indianapolis 500 Outreach. Indianapolis, IN. Contact Christ in Action, Box 100, Chatsworth, GA 30705, (404) 695-1868 or No Greater Love Ministries, Box 263, DuQuoin, IL 62832, (618) 542-4503.
June 20-23 Flower Festival Outreach, Lompoc, CA. Contact Joan Teran, Son Lite, P O Box 554, Lompoc, CA 93438, (805) 736-3964.
June 21-27 Los Angeles Outreach. Witnessing to South Central area. Housing provided. Contact Bonnie & Odis Hayslett, Genesis Harvest Ministry, 3549 M.L.King Blvd. #C-175, Lynwood, CA 90262, (213) 609-1410 or 729-0207 (beeper).
June 23-July 10 Outreach to 1990 World Cup Soccer Championships, Florence and Rome, Italy. Witness at the world’s most popular sporting event. March and rally in Rome. Street drama. $1995. Deadline May 11. Contact Forward Edge, Box 65238, Vancouver, WA 98665. Forward Edge also is sponsoring outreaches (usually 2 week) to Jamaica, England, China, Brazil and New York, Seattle, and to two Indian reservations this summer and fall. Write them for details.
June 29-30 St. Louis V.P. Fair. A million people attend this event. Contact No Greater Love (address above).
June 29-July 7 SOS-Hollywood. Contact Holy Ghost Repair Service, Box 1580, Hollywood, CA 90078, (213) 469-3027.
July 7-15 Jesus Loves You-New York. Contact Abounding Grace Ministries, 1912 Richmond Terr., Staten Island, NY 10302, (718) 886-1171.
July 20-August 5 Goodwill Games Outreach, Seattle, WA. Contact Forerunner Ministries, Box 4066, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, (714 886-1171.
August 1-5 Milwaukee Outreach. Contact Heart-fire Ministries, Box 14031, West Allis, WI 53214, (414) 785-1671.
August 5-11 Black Hills Motorcycle Classic, Sturgis, South Dakota. 500,000 bikers attend, including many Vietnam vets. Contact Alpha-Omega Motorcycle Club, Box 17, New Wilmington, PA 16142, (412) 652–8806.
August 17-25 SOS-San Francisco. 11th year. Contact SOS Ministries (address above).
Some Final Thoughts
From 18th Century England to the 20th Century Mardi Gras, God has called us to preach His Word to an ungodly world. Like the Marine Corps, God is looking for “a few good men” and women to obey His call. We are promised persecution (2 Tim. 3:12), yet many will be saved from eternal Hell as a result of our obedience.
There are many opportunities this summer to be used by God to witness for Jesus. Time is running out. Jesus is coming back! Let’s redeem the time we have left–invest our lives winning souls for Jesus. God, restore our sense of urgency and burden for the lost! “Only one life. Will soon be past. Only what’s done. For Christ will last.”
Our Tape of the Month is “Rock Concert Evangelism” by Burl Wells, Director of GO Ministries in San Jose. Every city has rock concerts which draw thousands of youth. Satan uses these concerts to seduce them into satanism, the occult, drugs, immorality and rebellion. Yet these same concerts provide us with some of our best opportunities to preach the gospel, if only we would take advantage of them.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
