Newsletter January 1993

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