ISEMA Newsletters
Fantasy Fest Outreach Report
by Evangelist Michael Siemer, Crusade for Christ, 810 Lower Mill Rd., Hixson, TN 37343, (615) 877-7955
I have just returned from Florida, where our Lord allowed me to carry my cross for two weeks. My wife walked with me, and so did a partner of mine, Brother Eddy. I first met Eddy one day as I was carrying my cross through Dunnellton, FL. He jumped out of a Lincoln Continental all slicked up. He was a wheeler and dealer with the appearance of a mob king, a smooth talker. He says that God grabbed hold of him after that day, pretty suddenly too. He now carries a cross also, and is a powerful man of God….After carrying the cross through Crystal River, we met with some brothers and sisters there and headed south to Key West for the Fantasy Fest (a wild party where people come from all over the nation to party on Halloween). It is very witchcraft oriented. There are tarot card readers, psychic advisors, homosexuals walking around with nothing but a G-string, and naked women everywhere. There is no shame or morality in this place and there we were right in the middle of them with our crosses and sound systems preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
We preached for three days and nights. We were led by Mel Rolls. God is using him mightily to lead outreach teams and inspire brothers and sisters to reach out further. There were about thirty of us from around the country. As a climax to the outreach, we put a float in their parade. The brothers let me carry my cross ahead of the float. Behind me were some brothers carrying a giant banner that says “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Behind them was the float with three big crosses and a praise team singing tear-jerking songs urging the crowd to turn to Jesus. On both sides of the float were brothers and sisters passing out thousands of tracts. We walked for two miles, passing through thousands upon thousands of people. Most of them were screaming and partying until we approached them and there was a sudden hush in the crowd as we passed by. The Holy Spirit had fallen on every one of us as we looked into their faces. There was a sense of awe. God’s convicting power fell upon the crowd.
There were a lot of TV stations shooting the parade. The theme of the parade was “Devil’s Triangle” and they were trying to get a hot story. One was interviewing a sister as I passed by. Suddenly the camera turned on me and I said, “For this one reason was the Son of God manifested, to destroy the works of the devil. And that is why we are here tonight.”
I witnessed to a young man on Duval Street in Key West. He was listening to every word I said when his friends came up and said, “Let’s go, man.” I said, “You need to choose today whom you’re going to serve. Don’t worry about what your friends think about you, man. They’ll drag you to Hell. You need to be worried about what Jesus is thinking about you right now.” And at that he told his friends, “Go ahead. I’m staying here.” and not even a minute later he was sincerely saying the sinner’s prayer.
Of all the methods I have ever used to preach the gospel, none has been as effective as simply carrying the cross. We will be going to the Mardi Gras outreach in February and are leading soul-winning teams every Friday and Saturday night at youth hangouts in Chattanooga, TN. On warmer nights we will set up Church on the Street.
Carrying the Cross
by Ira Nissen, Box 2412, Longview, WA 98632
I wanted to send you some news about some other cross-carrying evangelists. Ron and Sharon Buck wrote, “We felt that we needed to pray and witness to this country before it’s too late. We believe the collapse of the giant nation of Russia was a warning to the USA that God can bring down a nation seemingly overnight. We might not have the same evils that Russia had but our sins are just as bad in God’s sight.” They made Jericho marches around 26 of the state capitals this summer. Lord willing, they will complete the other capitals in the lower 48 next summer.
Mike Gainor completed his walk around the perimeter of the lower 48. He writes, “If the spirit of God moves me back in that direction, I’ll gladly walk with the cross again.” Jim Whalen carried the cross across the Idaho panhandle this summer. He also carried it in South Central Los Angeles and in some parades. Clayton Golliher was also led by the Lord to take the cross into the heart of the South Central Los Angeles riots. He has beautiful reports as to how the cross had an affect upon the people. He surprised the police who were afraid to go into the area. Clayton writes, “What safer place is there than to be in God’s will.”
Durand and Glenda Peters finished their walks in the lower 48 states this summer. Glenda wrote, “Utah and Nevada were the most difficult. Durand was hit by a vehicle in Utah.” Glenda also gave us the name of Gene Harvey who has carried the cross in ten states. Jay and June Johnson are still carrying the cross and placing a float in many parades in Oregon. Their big event comes up shortly when they will distribute fruit baskets, New Testaments, tracts, and witness to people in the bars on Christmas eve.
Ed and Rene LaRose were back in the lower 48 for the summer. They traveled to many Indian reservations and they saw miracle after miracle. The Stoney Indian Reserve (in Alberta, Canada) has about 500 people but had suffered 68 suicides since the beginning of the year! The Lord poured out His Spirit and at least 250 to 300 were saved and just over 100 were baptized in the ice cold water. Lord willing, Ed and Rene will be in Australia when you receive this letter.
Bob Heiple worked with the Jesus Film Project in India during the summer. He, Sheryl and Shawna also took the Jesus film down into Mexico when Bob was back home on leave. Bob is now back in India and he writes, “We enjoy the simplicity of our calling and wish to continue as we have in the past, simply walking and preaching to the crowds that gather.”
As for me, we, the Lord and I, walked 70 miles in North Dakota and then from Grand Forks to Duluth in Minnesota this summer. We also carried the cross in some parades. I believe that the largest blessing from walking with the cross is due to the many hours which we spend in seclusion. This gives us much time to pray, sing praises to the Lord and to worship Him. One of my favorite songs while walking is Isaiah 40:31, “They who wait upon the Lord.” That wait means being intertwined with God and He becomes so much a part of us that He is really doing the walking and witnessing. No wonder twelve miles can pass so quickly when you are carrying a cross. A number of Christians will be meeting to carry their crosses and witness in Las Vegas on New Years Eve.
Hell’s Best Kept Secret
From the Living Waters Newsletter, Box 1172, Bellflower, CA 90706, (310) 920-8431.
Around the end of August, I received a call from David Wilkerson in New York. Someone gave him a copy of our “Hell’s Best Kept Secret” tape and he was listening to it in his car. He was so excited about the teaching, he called me from his car phone and flew me over to Times Square the following week, where I shared it with his congregation. It was such a privilege to speak there. He told me that he has only had four guest speakers in the past five years. It really is a door the Lord has opened. I will be going back in November.
Someone called us and said that John Wimber (of the Vineyard Churches) had given the “Hell’s Best Kept Secret” tape to all his pastors. I would appreciate your praying that God opens doors for me to speak in the Vineyards, particularly in Southern California. The Bill Gothard team are at present in Australia and New Zealand with their Principles in Basic Youth Conflicts seminar. He is screening our teaching (the Ten Cannons of God’s Law video) in the sessions.
We just spent two weeks ministering in England and Scotland. In a recent survey among church-goers in Scotland, 92% of those under 40 years thought that fornication is acceptable. 96% of those surveyed in the Church of Scotland were pro-abortion.
Editor’s Note: For several years, we have been sharing with you about Ray Comfort’s teaching on the use of the law in evangelism. I believe that this is a vital teaching that needs to be conveyed to the Body of Christ. I praise God for the doors He has opened to spread this teaching. We have enclosed with this newsletter two tracts produced by Ray that use God’s law to present the gospel. The Shark tracts are available from Ray at 5 cents each and the Natural Enquirer tracts are 4 cents each. Ray also has other tracts and teachings, which you can get by contacting him at the address above.
Coming Events
Sat. February 6 Chinese New Year Parade Outreach, San Francisco. 3-9:30 PM. 300,000 people watch this parade. Meet at Powell Street BART Station. Contact SOS Ministries, Box 27358, Oakland, CA 94602, (510) 531-5325.
February 19-24. Mardi Gras Outreach, New Orleans, LA. Contact Heart Fire Ministries, Box 14031, Milwaukee, WI 53214, (414) 445-9490 or Christ in Action, Box 100, Chatsworth, GA 30705, (404) 695-1868.
February 20-21. Mardi Gras Outreach, Galveston, TX. RSVP by Feb. 12 for overnight housing. Contact Pastor John Elliott, Gulf Coast Christian Center, Box 143, Hitchcock, TX 77563, (713) 337-4364 or (409) 986-7889.
March 19-20. South Texas Street Ministers Conference, San Antonio, TX. Workshops in English and Spanish. Contact Rev. David O’Dell, 3400 W. Park Blvd. #2117, Plano, TX 75075, (214) 519-0195.
March for Jesus is scheduling public praise marches in many cities around the world on Sat. June 12. For more information, or to help plan a march in your city, contact March for Jesus, Box 3216, Austin, TX 78764, (512) 416-0066.
Forward Edge is sending outreach teams to Guatemala, Nicaragua, the Crow Indian Reservation, Romania, Kazakhstan, and China this next year. Most outreaches are about two weeks long. For more information write or call them at 15121-A NE 72nd Ave., Vancouver WA 98686, (206) 574-EDGE.
It’s Time To Renew Your ISEMA Membership!
“Two are better than one… and a threefold cord is not easily broken.” Yes, a new year has arrived. Once again, we want to 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 1993. As the only association of street ministries in existence, ISEMA depends on your active involvement.
Once again I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support for ISEMA. We have had a serious drop in income during the past year and we really need your help. If you cannot afford a membership, even $10 per year will help with the cost of sending this newsletter to you each month. Please consider sending monthly support to help us continue this ministry to street ministers, most of whom are very poor and can’t afford to support us.
One of our ISEMA directors, Sondra Berry Young, suffered a tragedy on October 16 when her daughter Anna died in an auto accident. Anna, 20, was a graduate of Rhema Bible School in South Africa. Please pray for her and her other daughter Felicia. If you would like to help with funeral expenses, contact Sondra Berry Young Ministries, Box 3044, Newport Beach, CA 92659, (714) 650-0525.
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 Ministry to Family, Friends and Co-workers by Rick Rael.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
