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Newsletters - click "Read More" to see complete PDF version with photos and more
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Entries from
September 2003
September 2003 Newsletter
Tuesday, September 02, 2003 :: 313 Views :: Newsletter
EVANGEL-VISION
By Steve Cohen
On August 27, 2003 – the planet Mars was closer to Earth than any time in the past 60,000 years, and won’t be this close again for generations to come. It was one of the brightest objects in the night sky.
When I was a youngster, I desired a telescope to better view the night sky. My parents kindly gave me a starter telescope as a birthday present. Small though it was, it made it possible to distinguish heavenly objects more clearly than I could without it. I never forgot the wonder looking through the telescope. Recently, I purchased an 11 inch Celestron with all the bells and whistles. It automatically locates and moves directly to the objects I want to see.
The first night, right out of the box, we looked with amazement at craters and mountains on the partially lit moon and saw Jupiter chased by a couple of its moons. I was amazed at the difference of the magnified vision. The clarity was breathtaking and the images allowed us to marvel at God’s magnificant creation.
Some pundits examine even the smallest nuances of the fed chairman to predict the direction of interest rates while others ponder the what-ifs of the past. It is easy to be a Monday morning quarterback when you have the advantage of 20-20 hindsight. I have a close friend in Canada, Dan Marshall, who always would say that all those things were merely “background noise” – we really need to keep our focus on what is urgent – getting the Gospel out before it is too late.
In August, I was the last speaker at the 7th International Lausanne Consultation for Jewish Evangelism in Helsinki. For 5 1/2 days, leaders, theologians and great thinkers in our field gave presentations on a myriad of facets related to our chosen mission field. When my turn came, I wrote some numbers on a large pad of newsprint - 5 X24 X 6251 = 750,120 - that is the number of people on average who died at the rate of 6,251/hour while we
were at the conference.
In the past seven years since we began our mission efforts, that figure is a staggering 54,758,760. Most all of us know someone who has entered eternity during this period. Missiologists tell us that over 98% of the Jewish population and 80% of he gentile population does not confess Christ yet. While these statistics seem like the stars in the sky – far away – when brought home on a personal level they have a dramatic effect.
International Prayer
Consortium Inaugurated
Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:18-20
On Tuesday, August 12, 2003 around a small breakfast table at Suomen Raamattuopisto (The Finnish Bible Institute just outside of Helsinki, Finland) Rev. Charles Klingensmith from Osaka, Japan and Rev. Alexe Shiplev from Moscow joined Dr. Andy Bartelt, Rev. Greg Smith, Alan Butterworth, Jan Cohen and me to begin a new prayer initiative for Lutherans involved in Jewish missions on an expanding international basis.
Not everyone can jump in the deep end of the pool at the beginning and give themselves fully to the cause of reaching the Lost Sheep of Israel. However, all believers can intentionally approach the throne of grace to intercede on behalf of our mission efforts. Jan and I began our mission efforts in this very way back in 1974. We gathered with a few believers in a Seattle area home and from that prayer group, some joined us in direct outreach.
We are seeking 5,000 prayer partners around the world who will join us in concerted prayer. If you would like to become a charter member of our international consortium, one of the first 5,000, please send us your e-mail address to scinfl@aol.com with the words PRAYER GROUP in the subject line. Thank you!
Shalom from the recently relit New York!
We praise God for you and are thankful for your participation with the ministry of Apple of His Eye. As you know, we completed our Second Annual Jesus Loves New York outreach in July. Below is an acticle written by a first time volunteer, David Santos is a Jewish believer from Long Island. We hope that the story encourages you! Lord’s blessings, Gary and Dawn Timm
What Do You Think of Jesus?
By Alan Butterworth
Our shirts were not very subtle during our 2-week outreach in July. On the back of the shirts, in large letters, was the question, “What do YOU think of Jesus?”
On the first night, Apryl and I were talking to people in an area called the “Loop”. It is an area where you are liable to see or hear almost anything. But it is also a bit like Mars Hill in that people are willing to listen to anything, even the Gospel. Apryl and I had an interesting conversation with an ordained Methodist Pastor. He said, “I can’t believe the stories in the Bible or that Jesus died for my sins.” I asked, “what is the source of authority for your beliefs? He said, “That is a very good question.”
Pray for him as he listened to the Gospel.
As we asked people what they thought of Jesus, some chose to get angry, even cursing us. One Jewish man told me, “This is disgusting. I can’t believe you are trying to tell me about Jesus. Get a job!” Then he began cursing. Others said, “you are brainwashed. Christianity is the biggest hoax in history.” Jesus said, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22.
The Bible tells us that the Gospel is foolishness to the world. But almost 500 were willing to hear more. More than 35,000 people received the Word of God in a tract and more than 100 received Bibles. We had several significant conversations with Rabbis and other Jewish people on the streets, in Internet Chat rooms and even in homes and on the phone!
One day, I went up to a man in a suit near the Bank of America building. I offered him a tract and asked him what he thought of Jesus. He thought for a moment and he said, “I could tell you what you want to hear because I attend church with my wife, but I don’t believe the Gospel.” Because of our divine appointment, this honest, Harvard educated man was willing to admit that his education made it hard to trust Jesus. He is willing to hear more. Please pray for him.
We had a divine appointment during Fair St. Louis with two young Israeli men: Liron and Moshe. They had just finished their military service in Israel and were touring the US. They saw the ‘magen David’ (star of David) on our shirts and asked, “what is Apple of His Eye?” God sent them to St. Louis so they could hear the Gospel, receive Bible, and give us their names and addresses so they can hear more. Please pray for their salvation.
After visiting the Holocaust Museum, we ate lunch at Kohn’s Kosher Delicatessen. The man who prepared my Rueben asked, “Are you Jews for Jesus?” I said, “Yes, we are Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus.” He said, “My chiropractor, Dr. S., is a Jew for Jesus. Do you know him?” If we are not ashamed of our faith, our shirts can lead to important conversations about Jesus anywhere!
As we prepared to visit homes in a Jewish neighborhood, we began in prayer, and with a wake-up call. We had a number of very significant contacts and conversations. Bette and I visited with a Jewish woman who talked to us through an opening in her door. She shared that she was going to heaven because she is a good person. I asked her if she had ever read the Bible and she shut her door. Please pray for her.
One evening, when we scheduled phone calls into Jewish homes, the local PBS station was airing a new movie about the life of Martin Luther. As we called Jewish households we asked, “Are you going to watch the Martin Luther special on PBS?” Most said no, but some were willing to receive some free literature about Jesus. Please pray for them.
Our prayer is that each participant, and you, will start teams in your area to ask people what they think about Jesus. You could design shirts, Gospel tracts, and go out, two by two, on the streets, door to door, on the phone and even on the internet. Imagine what the Holy Spirit could do in your community! Please pray about how you can reach lost people in your area. If you are willing, please call me. We want to help you.
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