ISEMA Newsletters
Finding Joy in Christian Service
by Hannah Whitall Smith
from The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life (1870)
In all the ordinary forms of Christian life, service is apt to have more or less of bondage to it; that is, it is done purely as a matter of duty, and often as a trial and a cross. Certain things, which at the first may have been a joy and a delight, become after a while weary tasks, performed faithfully, perhaps, but with much secret disinclination….
What we need in the Christian life is to get believers to want to do God’s will as much as other people want to do their own will. And this is the idea of the Gospel….In describing the new covenant in Hebrews 8:6-13, He says….”I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts”…God’s way of working, therefore, is to get possession of the inside of a man, to take the control and management of his will, and to work it for him. Then obedience is easy and a delight, and service becomes perfect freedom….What you need to do, then, dear Christian, if you are in bondage in the matter of service, is to put your will over completely into the hands of your Lord…and trust Him so to work in you to will as to bring your whole wishes and affections into conformity with His….It is wonderful what miracles God works in wills that are utterly surrendered to Him. He turns hard things into easy, and bitter things into sweet….
No one individual is responsible for all the work in the world, but only for a small share….The Master does not say to us, “Go and do everything,” but He marks out a special path for each one of us….There are “diversities of gifts” in the kingdom of God, and these gifts are divided to “every man according to his ability.” I may have five talents, or two, or only one. I may be called to do twenty things, or only one. My responsibility is simply to do that which I am called to do, and nothing more. “The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord,” not his way only, but each separate step in that way….
Another form of bondage as to service, from which the life of faith delivers the soul, is in reference to the after-reflections which always follow any Christian work. These are of two sorts: either the soul congratulates itself upon its success and is lifted up; or it is distressed over its failure, and is utterly cast down. One of these is sure to come…But in the life of trust neither will trouble us; for, having committed ourselves in our work to the Lord, we shall be satisfied to leave it to Him….When the temptation comes…to indulge in these reflections…I turn from them at once and positively refuse to think about my work at all, leaving it with the Lord to overrule the mistakes, and to bless it as He chooses. I believe there would be far fewer “blue Mondays” for ministers of the Gospel than there are now if they would adopt this plan; and I am sure all workers would find their work far less wearing.
Street Meeting in Estonia
by Melody Green, from the Last Days Magazine, Box 40, Lindale, TX 75771, (214) 963-8671.
It was Saturday afternoon in a small town in Estonia when a young man approached me. “My wife wants to become a Christian. What must she do?” …Several of us had just finished a street meeting in the town square. Bob Ayala drew a crowd with his music and shared his testimony between songs. Then I spoke, telling everyone what God had done in my life. I’d never really done an open air meeting like this, and I was a bit nervous before I began. But looking out at the lost, inquiring faces had a way of pulling the words right out of me.
I found that I really loved speaking to a group of unsaved people about the simple reality of God. It was so refreshing! There were young and old and even some military personnel – and they were all very attentive.
When the Christians we were visiting in Estonia first mentioned doing a street meeting, our team was concerned. They had been jailed before for their faith. I said to one of them, “We’ll be gone in a few days, but you live here. Is it safe for you to preach publicly?”
“The authorities already have photos and files on all of us, but we must not be afraid. We have new freedoms now,” he said. “We must work while it’s light. No one knows how long these liberties will last”….
Now I was seeing the fruit of our labors as I looked into the eyes of this young woman who wanted to know Jesus. I decided to ask the Russian-speaking pastor to minister to her…When they finished she was beaming! The pastor told me he believed she was soundly saved….
That night many people from the street meeting came to a special evangelistic service at the church. Most of our team shared their testimonies and the pastor gave me the honor of closing with an altar call. I felt inadequate, but he insisted. Many came forward, weeping, as the Lord moved on their hearts–and our hearts were bonded with the people of Estonia. Our time there ended far too quickly!
Editor’s Note: The Last Days Magazine contains many challenging articles on Christian living and is available on a donation basis. Last Days Ministries also provides video and audio tapes, tracts, books, and music all on a donation basis. I strongly recommend that you read Melody’s new book: No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green, also available from them.
Evangelism Training Opportunity
SOS Ministries operates a ministry house in Oakland, CA to train future leaders in evangelism ministry. This is an opportunity to receive practical experience in street witnessing in San Francisco, Berkeley, and other Northern California cities, as well as learn about organizing outreaches and working with local churches. The house has separate floors for men and women, but presently has openings only for men. To my knowledge, this is the only house of its kind, and interested men with a serious interest in evangelism are urged to contact Larry Rosenbaum at (415) 531-5325 right away. The house also serves as the office for ISEMA.
Ministry Spotlight:
Sonnyside Coffee House
Jo Barrett, Director. S.E. 35th at Yamhill, Portland, OR 97214, (503) 235-6362.
I asked myself, “What Coffee House Team member would want to work on December 25?” Sonnyside Coffee House is open every Friday of the year…but open on Christmas?…A couple of workers came to me and volunteered. Musicians contacted me to sing. Turkeys and cakes and other food appeared. Yes, the Lord wanted us open.
We handed out gaily wrapped presents and plugged in a brightly decorated tree. Then Steve, a young man who had been coming on Fridays for over a year, came up to me and said, “I think I’m ready to do it.” “Do what,” I asked. “Give my life.” I grinned and said, “That’s wonderful. Follow me in this prayer.” “Can’t I pray myself?” “Yes,” I replied. “Go ahead.”
After Steve prayed I asked him if I could share the news with the rest of the people there. “Can’t I tell them?” “Of course; that would be even better.” Steve walked over to where the crowd was sitting and said, “I just gave my life to Jesus Christ and if I have ever hurt anyone I want to ask your forgiveness.” There was immediate applause. Yes, God wanted us open for business that Christmas night!
Sonnyside Coffee House, an outreach to the unsaved, opened on January 25, 1985. Each Friday we are open from 6 – 11 PM. Everything is free. We serve sandwiches, soup, chips, desserts, coffee, tea, and punch. Volunteers work one Friday a month in teams of two or three. There is live music each week. Singles, duos or groups share Jesus through their music and testimony. A gymnasium is available and we use it occasionally. We have also had Bible studies and do one on one sharing.
Our guests are predominately the poor, alcoholics and homeless. A street team from one of the churches comes by for a half hour each week to help us before they go downtown for street witnessing. Our team members come from a variety of churches.
It’s Time To Renew Your ISEMA Membership!
Coming Events
February 22-27 Mardi Gras Outreach. New Orleans, LA. $75. Contact Christ in Action, Box 100, Chatsworth, GA 30705, (404) 695-1868 or No Greater Love Ministries, Box 263, DuQuoin, IL 62832, (618) 542-4503.
February 24 Mardi Gras Outreach. Galveston, TX Call (409) 986-7889.
March 9-10, 16-17, 23-24 Spring Break Outreach, Corpus Christi, TX. “America’s Third Coast.” Over 200,000 on beaches. For more information, contact Street Ministry for Jesus, Box 8222, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, (512) 991-1111.
March 16-25 Operation Christlift Outreach, Austin and San Antonio, TX. Contact Rev. David O’Dell, 3400 W Park Blvd. #2117, Plano, TX 75075, (214) 519-0195.
Saturday March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Outreach and Worship Rally. San Francisco, CA. Contact SOS Ministries, Box 27358, Oakland, CA 94602, (415) 531-5325.
April 7-18 New York City Outreach. Contact Scott Hinkle Outreach Ministries, Box 380306, Duncanville, TX 75138, (214) 331-6902.
April 11-15 Mexico Easter Outreach. Reynosa, Tamaulipas. $110. Contact Calvary Commission, Box 100, Lindale, TX 75771, (214) 882-5501.
May 24-26 Indianapolis 500 Outreach. Indianapolis, IN. $40. Contact Christ in Action (Deadline March 29. Address above.) or No Greater Love (address above).
June 2-10 Honduras Outreach. Contact No Greater Love (address above).
Ministry Needs
Last month, you should have received a form for including your ministry in the International Street and Evangelism Ministry Directory. Call me right away if you didn’t get one. The deadline for returning these listing forms has been extended to March 10, but we must have them by that date.
If you live in the San Francisco area, perhaps you could help us with some of our office work: making changes in the mailing list on our computer, mailing out tapes and receipts, etc. Right now I am doing all this work myself, and I could really use some help.
Our Tape of the Month is “Worship, warfare, and witnessing” by Chuck Girard.This teaching was given at the 1989 National Street Ministries Conference and outlines a strategy for effective ministry on the streets involving an understanding of spiritual warfare.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
