ISEMA Newsletters
South America Outreach
by Ken Henderson, from the Soldiers for Jesus newsletter, Box 1666, Lindale, TX 75771.
After long hours on the plane, Solveig (Ken’s wife) and I landed in the voodoo-infested country of Brazil. Our visit with national evangelist Ginenton Alencar happened to coincide with a witchcraft conference being held to come against our Christian crusade.
Early that September in 1989, we had prepared through prayer and fasting….Because the Lord’s people joined together in prayers, the strongman over the city of Victoria de Conquista was brought down. Close to 10,000 Brazilians attended the week-long crusade.
We saw the healing power of Jesus manifested the first night when the altar filled up and many people came forward for salvation and physical restoration. One example was a little seven year old girl that was born deaf and dumb. Solveig laid hands on her and spoke a simple prayer in Jesus’ name. The girl received instant healing and could hear and speak for the first time in her life!
Another miracle was Wesley, a 21 year old body-building champion, known by all the people in this part of Brazil. We met while working out at a local gym. Through a translator, I invited Wesley to the crusade that night. The next day he joined me in a street meeting, where I heard his story for the first time. In front of a crowd of about 1000 people, Wesley shared, “Last night I received Jesus in my life. I had been thinking about suicide these past weeks, but after last night, I’m a new person. It was the love I felt from Christians that made the impact.”
Later, I asked him to come and help pray for the sick people on the streets. As I directed him, he prayed for a woman who was sick with cancer. She was miraculously healed! Can you believe a day-old believer doing the works of Jesus? Ginenton, our evangelist friend, reported that Wesley is still fired up and going strong for Jesus. Please remember to cover this fellow soldier in your prayers.
New York City Outreach
This past summer, Jews for Jesus held their annual witnessing campaign in New York City. This year, they had only 22 campaigners instead of their usual 33. Still, they were able to give out almost a million of their broadsides. They reported 1212 professions of faith on the streets, including several by Jews. A number of people who received the tracts called their office, and they were able to lead some of them to Christ over the phone.
Daniel, a man from an Orthodox Jewish background, prayed to receive Jesus as his savior. He said he would welcome a follow-up call, but not when his parents were home. Steve, a 47 year old Jewish man, called after receiving a tract about Hell. He said he couldn’t stop thinking about it. He gladly received the gospel message and prayed to receive Jesus. A Jewish man named Aaron called from a pay phone in a hospital. He had received Jews for Jesus literature in the past, but had never responded. Now he tearfully prayed over the phone to receive Jesus as His Messiah.
On the Legal Front
from the C.A.S.E. Newsletter, Box 450349, Atlanta, GA 30345
When evangelists were denied access into the bus terminal areas in Orange County, CA, C.A.S.E. went to work. Within 24 hours, all Orange County transit terminals were opened up for the proclamation of the gospel. We even received an apology from the transit system.
The city officials of Humble, TX actually thought they could license the preaching of the gospel. Jerry Davis and his team planned a “Humble for Jesus” outreach. We went to work and the City Attorney agreed with us that the ordinance “would violate certain First Amendment rights.” “Humble for Jesus” hit the streets without harrassment from the city.
In Atlanta, GA, students were suspended for possession of Christian material. I went before the school board and demanded that these student’s First Amendment rights be protected. In June, the school board agreed and now evangelism, Bible clubs and prayer clubs are meeting on campus.
I believe that the battle line has been drawn in Irving, TX. The school board ruled that they will not allow Bible clubs! 300 students met with Bill Jack from the Caleb Campaign. The students are preparing to “blitz their campuses for Jesus.” We are on stand-by getting ready to move our team on a moment’s notice. Please pray for these young people.
Editor’s note: Jay Sekulow, C.A.S.E. director, has just written a book, From Intimidation to Victory, about the battle for our rights to preach the gospel. I strongly encourage you to get the book, which is available from C.A.S.E. for a donation of any amount. Also, get on their mailing list so you can keep up with what is happening on the legal front that affects all of us who preach the gospel.
Spiritual Principles for Street Ministers
by J. Anthony Miller, Pastor, New Harvest Church
P O Box 688, Clewiston, Fl 33440
Ed. Note: This teaching was sent to me by Manny Rivera, Director of C.R.O.S.S. (Christians Radical on Saving Souls) Evangelism Ministry along with this letter:
My pastor shared these principles with the staff a while back. I have been a part of the staff at New Harvest Church for the last six months. I have also been a member of ISEMA for about three months. Our evangelism ministry has flourished. We are working in Clewiston and Belle Glade, Florida. We are about to start a coffee house in Belle Glade as an extension of New Harvest. (Belle Glade is a poor, predominately black city with a drug epidemic that has produced the second highest AIDS rate per capita in the U.S.)
I am giving you these principles because the newsletters that I receive minister to me. I hope you glean some information from this. I am praying for you and your ministry. Keep up the good work.
1. Be ready for change yourself.
Many times we feel everyone around us needs to change, when in reality God is working change into us as His leaders. Let’s learn to lay down our guardian shields of professionalism and allow Him to speak truth to our inner man.
- Be focused and prioritized concerning the vision for your life.
- 29:18 teaches that a vision (revelation from the Lord) is imperative to the continuity of our lives. 1 Cor. 14:8 teaches the principle of a trumpet giving a distinct sound in order to give direction. When you hear from God, set your priorities and goals according to the vision. Let your eye be single. Let God’s voice be fuel to your fire. Be willing to lose your life to fulfill the will of God.
- Learn that as a leader your life is an example and that we lead from the front, not the behind.
The Greek word for “lead” in Rom. 12:8 is “stand in front of.” If we are going to be leaders worth our salt we must be willing to “practice what we preach.” However, our response to the Lord must be from a willing, obedient heart and not from showmanship. David danced in front of the people, but unto the Lord (before the Lord). When we move in obedience with God only as our audience we lose self-consciousness.
- Remember faithfulness is the grounds of promotion in the Kingdom of God, not longevity.
Luke 16:10-12 teaches faithfulness in the life of a disciple–in little things, in finance, in that which is another’s. Do not despise the day of small beginnings. Learn to rejoice in the little things as well as the big things. Ordinary, menial tasks are often the taskmasters for many great men of God.
- Be sure to build your integrity, not just your image. (1 Tim. 4:16; Acts 20:28)
6. Learn your gift and anointing.
See what the Word teaches about your calling and gift. Then learn to recognize your limitations, measure of faith, and sphere of service. To do this will keep you from presumption and egotism. A trap of the enemy for today’s leaders is over-extension. Know who you are!
Coming Events
December 22-23 San Francisco Christmas Outreach 3-6 PM. Powell St. BART station. Contact SOS Ministries, Box 27358, Oakland, CA 94602, (415) 531-5325.
December 27-31 Urbana ’90 Student World Missions Conference, Urbana, IL. 180,000 expected to attend. Contact Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707, (608) 274-7995.
December 29-January 1. Florida Bowl Blitz–Jacksonville to Miami. Contact Rescue Atlanta (Mel Rolls, Director), Box 965039, Marietta, GA 30066, (404) 924-0201.
December 31-January 1. Rose Parade Outreach, Pasadena, CA. Contact Sondra Berry Young Ministries, Box 3044, Newport Beach, CA 92659, (714) 650-0525.
January 19-20. Governor’s Inauguration Outreach, Austin, TX. $75. Contact Rev. David O’Dell, Operation Christlift, 3400 W. Park Blvd. #2117, Plano, TX 75075, (214) 519-0195.
January 27. Super Bowl Outreach, Tampa, FL. Contact Rescue Atlanta (address above).
February 8-13 Mardi Gras Outreach, New Orleans. $100 incl. food, lodging. Contact Rescue Atlanta (address above). Also Christ in Action, Box 100, Chatsworth, GA 30705, (404) 695-1868.
February 9 Mardi Gras Outreach, Galveston, TX. Contact Pastor John Elliott, Gulf Coast Christian Center, Box 143, Hitchcock, TX 77563, (409) 986-7889 or (713) 337-4364.
It’s Time To Renew Your ISEMA Membership!
“Two are better than one… and a threefold cord is not easily broken.” We urge you to become a member of ISEMA if you have not already done so, linking up with other evangelism ministries and Christians who believe in the Great Commission. If you are already an ISEMA member, now is the time to renew your membership for 1991. As an association of street and evangelism ministries, ISEMA depends on your active involvement.
Once again I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support for ISEMA. Please continue to send us information about what is happening in your community, teachings on evangelism, information about upcoming outreaches, etc. so we can share these with our readers.
Our Tape of the Month is: “The True Gospel” by Chris Hightower. In our preaching, we need to give people the whole gospel, not a watered-down substitute. This tape also includes the dramatic testimony of Chris’ own conversion. Chris is Director of “Hooked on Jesus” Ministry and the Georgia regional coordinator for ISEMA.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
