Just because someone may be first in their generation to come to a saving knowledge of Christ doesn't necessarily mean their children will do so. But it does provide an environment for children that is compelling. The nurturing and guidance that comes from a home environment where both mom and dad are serving the Lord is a powerful influence. Most children, and sometimes brothers and sisters and parents are influenced through the life of one person.
But the other side of the coin is that second and following generations can fall away. We are provided and example of this in the Old Testament. David had a true heart for God. Solomon, his son, prayed too, but not as passionately. He was into building stuff and furnishing it. Then, Rehoboam, Solomon's son, had only a distant reverence for God. And God let his enemies plunder the empire. So even being brought up in a Christian home, it is important for children to make knowing and loving God their own experience.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Ted from Port St. Joseph
Ted runs a local Radio Shack store. As I was browsing the store, I heard music in the background that sounded like Third Day. It was.
That, plus the Praise God plaque that appeared on the outside of the brick building led me to think this may be my next interiew. It didn't take long.
As we talked about the declining economy for a few minutes, Ted said his primary interest was as pastor of a local Methodist church where he has been for over 10 years. I soon learned that he was a true believer. Coincidentally he knows the seniors pastor at Brownsville who was also a Methodist minister.
Ted's story of conversion began simply by reading Hal Lindsey's book The Late Great Planet Earth. It was given to him by a Jehovah's Witness person who didn't agree with what it said. Reading this book gave him a thirst for more about God.
I was not able to get a lot of the details but suffice it to say, Ted is a strong force for God in this community.
That, plus the Praise God plaque that appeared on the outside of the brick building led me to think this may be my next interiew. It didn't take long.
As we talked about the declining economy for a few minutes, Ted said his primary interest was as pastor of a local Methodist church where he has been for over 10 years. I soon learned that he was a true believer. Coincidentally he knows the seniors pastor at Brownsville who was also a Methodist minister.
Ted's story of conversion began simply by reading Hal Lindsey's book The Late Great Planet Earth. It was given to him by a Jehovah's Witness person who didn't agree with what it said. Reading this book gave him a thirst for more about God.
I was not able to get a lot of the details but suffice it to say, Ted is a strong force for God in this community.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Buddy Kelley from Panama City
Buddy made a decision for Christ at the age of 68, five years ago. His wife had been praying for him for 46 years. Even his parents and children were saved but he never had made a commitment. Then he was given the news of his prostate cancer. With this crisis in his life and with full knowledge of what it means to become a Christian, he felt the time had come.
Learnings.
It's never too late to make a decision for Christ, although some will not take that step even with full knowledge of the need and what is required. But through the persistence of a faithful wife and family, Buddy did take that step.
Learnings.
It's never too late to make a decision for Christ, although some will not take that step even with full knowledge of the need and what is required. But through the persistence of a faithful wife and family, Buddy did take that step.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Terry From Pensacola
Perhaps the most unlikely people to come to a saving knowledge of Christ as adults are those who are genuinely good people yet not saved. Terry was one of those.
Terry was 39 years old. He was a banker with over 20 years in the business. He and his family were prominent and faithful churchgoers in the Methodist church. By all accounts, they were a family who had it all together, including their religion. Whenever the pastor needed something done, he knew he could depend on Terry to get it done. He was the church treasurer, consistent with his role in the banking business. And he also voluteered to become the leader of evangelism for the church.
Occasionally, the regional Methodist leadership would have crusades involving many churches. So when one was beginning to organize in the greater Mobile area, Terry's pastor volunteered him to be the representative for their church to counsel people at the crusade. Terry agreed. As it turned out, the person responsible to work with counselors was a true born again spirit filled Christian. His name was John
Preparing for the crusade involved working with the leadership to go over counseling techniques, including a book on how to lead someone to Jesus. Terry read the book from cover to cover and was intrigued by what he read, most of what he had not heard before in his church. Then, John, the crusade director called a meeting of all counselors for training. In the meeting, he asked Terry to play the part of the sinner for the group to see how to counsel people. Later, John complimented him on how he did and asked him to do it again for another group to witness.
By this time, Terry was realizing it was he who needed to make a decision for Christ in earnest. So he called John for coffee and made him aware that he really was the sinner - not just playing a role. At that moment, John prayed with him and he accepted Christ. At our interview, he still recalled how Romans 10:9 became so real to him.
So at the age of 39, Terry turned his life over to Christ. His entire family followed, which is unusual when the children are already in their teens. They are still serving the Lord today.
Terry also felt the call of ministry on his heart. So he left the banking business and enrolled in Asbury Theological Seminary. Following seminary, he was placed in various churches as pastor in the Methodist church. He had a ministry that lasted 20 years until he was finally asked to leave because of his ministry that was contrary to the teachings of the Methodist church. This was in 1995, about the time the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida was at the beginning of its five year run. So Terry and his wife decided they would start attending Brownsville to be used in any way God would have them minister. They had a thirst for more of God and His leading in the church today.
Initially, Terry became one of the helpers for the hundreds who were being baptised as they came to know Christ.
Today, Terry is full time on staff at Brownsville Assembly of God, doing evangelism and visitation. His wife is one of the greeters whom we met as we entered the church last Sunday.
Learnings
This was one of the more unconventional conversions in that there was not crisis in Terry's life. In fact, things were going fine. I'm pretty sure that crusade director knew Terry needed to know Christ early on and skillfully brought him to a saving knowledge of Christ. This kind of sensitivity is so important in evangelism work.
Terry was 39 years old. He was a banker with over 20 years in the business. He and his family were prominent and faithful churchgoers in the Methodist church. By all accounts, they were a family who had it all together, including their religion. Whenever the pastor needed something done, he knew he could depend on Terry to get it done. He was the church treasurer, consistent with his role in the banking business. And he also voluteered to become the leader of evangelism for the church.
Occasionally, the regional Methodist leadership would have crusades involving many churches. So when one was beginning to organize in the greater Mobile area, Terry's pastor volunteered him to be the representative for their church to counsel people at the crusade. Terry agreed. As it turned out, the person responsible to work with counselors was a true born again spirit filled Christian. His name was John
Preparing for the crusade involved working with the leadership to go over counseling techniques, including a book on how to lead someone to Jesus. Terry read the book from cover to cover and was intrigued by what he read, most of what he had not heard before in his church. Then, John, the crusade director called a meeting of all counselors for training. In the meeting, he asked Terry to play the part of the sinner for the group to see how to counsel people. Later, John complimented him on how he did and asked him to do it again for another group to witness.
By this time, Terry was realizing it was he who needed to make a decision for Christ in earnest. So he called John for coffee and made him aware that he really was the sinner - not just playing a role. At that moment, John prayed with him and he accepted Christ. At our interview, he still recalled how Romans 10:9 became so real to him.
So at the age of 39, Terry turned his life over to Christ. His entire family followed, which is unusual when the children are already in their teens. They are still serving the Lord today.
Terry also felt the call of ministry on his heart. So he left the banking business and enrolled in Asbury Theological Seminary. Following seminary, he was placed in various churches as pastor in the Methodist church. He had a ministry that lasted 20 years until he was finally asked to leave because of his ministry that was contrary to the teachings of the Methodist church. This was in 1995, about the time the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida was at the beginning of its five year run. So Terry and his wife decided they would start attending Brownsville to be used in any way God would have them minister. They had a thirst for more of God and His leading in the church today.
Initially, Terry became one of the helpers for the hundreds who were being baptised as they came to know Christ.
Today, Terry is full time on staff at Brownsville Assembly of God, doing evangelism and visitation. His wife is one of the greeters whom we met as we entered the church last Sunday.
Learnings
This was one of the more unconventional conversions in that there was not crisis in Terry's life. In fact, things were going fine. I'm pretty sure that crusade director knew Terry needed to know Christ early on and skillfully brought him to a saving knowledge of Christ. This kind of sensitivity is so important in evangelism work.
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