Half Way!

Well, the church is half-way through the 5000 Home Crusade for Christ! We have visited 2500 homes! In our visits the Lord has brought about 5 families to the church. We are still moving forward with much ground for the Lord Jesus to gain. However, we feel truly blessed. Many of the families that are coming have backgrounds riddled with sin. They are now saved, born-again believers in Jesus Christ and He is continuing the work He has started and promises to finish. Please pray for each person visited. Pray also for the church as it continues to grow numerically and especially spiritually.

A 16 Year Long Drug/Alcohol Addiction

Wow! Today I received a call from a pastor friend of mine. Well... yesterday was the first day I ever talked to this pastor, which makes this post even more unbelievable. I called Charlie to introduce myself to him as the new Pastor of Grove City Baptist Church. My goal was to get to know him (since he pastors another church about 2 miles away) and see if he had any prayer needs. We had a good conversation, then I informed Charlie that I believe the Lord is leading me to start an addictions program within the next year. He said he would pray for me. Today he calls me and informs me of a family in his church that is having problems. The husband is an alcoholic and prescription drug abuser of 16 years. The wife, Tracy, called Charlie asking for help. Charlie suggested they talk with me, since I am looking at starting that addictions program. I spoke with Tracy and she informed me her husband is willing to go to the RU (Reformers Unanimous) Men's Home in Rockford, IL. I quickly took the application over to their home today and her husband should be there by Saturday! What a blessing to know that he is willing to take this step to change his life and his families life forever! I am praying for Al & Tracy.

More rewarding than anything on this planet.

Tonight the Lord used my wife and I to witness to a man and woman that have been "searching for God." The man is David and His wife Virginia. Per David, he has been an alcoholic for over 16 years. At age 6 he started drinking and then when he got married it just got worse and worse. When he would drink he would get abusive to his wife of 16 years. A week ago he prayed and asked God to help him. He wanted to stop drinking and wanted to have a relationship with God. On Saturday, February 16th, two girls helping Grove City Baptist Church knock doors and visit homes, came to his door. It was early and he thought they might be Jehovah Witnesses. He kindly came to the door and proceeded to tell them he does not want anything to do with Jehovah Witnesses. When the girls informed David they where from a Baptist church he was thankful and shocked. He knew God had answered his prayer. He asked for a call from the Pastor and I called him the same day. We setup an appointment to meet him today. During our visit I found out that 1 year ago they lost there daughter at age 25. She had health issues that took her life. Then recently he was informed his liver and kidney is bad from drinking and he may not live too long especially if he keeps drinking. Like many, he has tried to quite before but without any long term success.

Tonight I talked to him and his wife about the Lord Jesus and how He can deliver him from his addiction of alcohol. He has been sober 4 days and wants to keep moving forward. I explained that to have victory he will need to accept Christ as his Savior. That means realizing that he is a sinner and his sin must be paid for. Jesus said it would be paid for in Hell if he does not accept Him (Jesus) as his Savior. Jesus Christ died on the Cross for his sins, was buried and rose again the same day. David and Virginia believe this but where not "ready" to accept Christ. I informed David of and the Reformers Unanimous Addictions Program that meets on Friday's and he is going to attend. Also I invited his wife and him to Church on Sunday and they promised they would attend.

Let's keep David and Virginia in our prayers. The Lord has already paid for there sin debt, all they need to do is accept His free gift of salvation. The World, the flesh, and the Devil are all against David and his wife from making this decision.

What is the 5000 home crusade for Christ?

As a new pastor in a small church, in the middle of a huge city, surrounded by over 40 ministries, within a 1 mile radius of the church, I fealt the need to reach out to the community. The objective is to make Jesus Christ and salvation through Him alone known. The process is to take Biblical methods while using today's means. First I believe the Lord Jesus led me to do this Crusade for Him. We have 4900 homes within a 1 mile radius of the church. So we created a Christ honoring, yet well done brochure and are mailing 1 to each home prior to our visits. The goal is to mail to 5000 homes within a 10-11 month period (200 every 10-15 days) and then followup with every home that a brochure was mailed to. The door to door followup is planned within 7-10 days of the occupant receiving the brochure. The brochure has information regarding our Church ministries, a simple Salvation message, and a postage paid response card.

Since our first mailing on Thursday, February 7, 2008 the Lord has enabled us to mail and visit over 780 homes! We have had a lot of positive reponse from the occupants and are sure the Lord will bless with salvation decisions from many.

Please pray for Grove City Baptist Church in Knoxville Tennessee.