“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3 NKJV
Shortly after my eighth birthday, my Dad designed a display to hang behind the pulpit of Second Street Baptist Church in Mount Carmel, Illinois.
Dad was using our back porch as his “studio,” and I asked if there was any way I could help. He allowed me to try to help paint the cream-colored background.
The following Sunday evening, the finished product was mounted on the wall above and behind the pulpit, displaying the message “Christ died for our sins,” with a white cross above the word “sins.” At the dedication service for the display, the lights were dimmed, the electric cord was plugged in, and the white cross turned bright red, illuminated from a neon tube, graphically representing Jesus’ shed blood.
As I was sitting and watching with awe, God used those moments to penetrate my heart with His Word.
The following Sunday, my parents invited the evangelistic team – evangelist Paul Levin and blind singer Bob Finley – to our home for the Sunday evening meal. Immediately following dinner, Bob Finley asked me to read John chapter 3 aloud to him, and he printed the words of John 3:16 on a braille-type apparatus and gave me the printed card.
That evening, at the final meeting of the evangelistic campaign, seated between my parents, when the invitation was given, I went forward admitting I was a sinner and was “born again,” making the decision personally to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
It was February 1940. In March 1940, the congregation had a new beginning and a new name: “Grace Memorial Church,” and began using Scripture Press publications, whose slogan was “The whole Word for the whole world.” My personal world expanded immensely as I learned who was doing what and what was happening where throughout evangelical fundamental Christianity.
Today, through the ups and downs in ins and outs of a lifetime, I continue to endeavor to “be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill my ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5)
My focus is to “know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:10-14 NKJV
We are praying earnestly and searching to build the TTT Team of praying “laborers in His harvest” – students and adults willing and available to receive evangelism training and to participate with Fair Share, going with the Gospel to county fairs and street festivals across the Tri-State.
Together, we’re praying for at least 25 to attend the May 10 and/or June 14 Leading Youth Saturdays, where they will be challenged and equipped to share the Gospel one-on-one with individuals through Fair Share this summer. Between late June and mid-August, there are potential open doors for teams to go as many as 15 county fairs and street festivals. Tent banners, bottles of cold water, God’s ABCs, Bibles, and individual conversations all proclaim the “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” message.
Jesus said: “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 NKJV
Praise God for every open door to “give the light” of the Gospel – TTT Saturday nights, Fair Share, Telling The TRUTH daily radio / podcast, weekly newspaper editorials / “Together” blog, internet and social media, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” billboards, God’s ABCs and other printed and online resources, one-on-one sharing, and more.
The song “At the Cross” says: “At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart rolled away; it was there by faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day!”
“Well might the sun in darkness hide, and shut His glories in, when Christ the mighty Maker died for man the creature’s sin.”
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Share with everybody you can: This is why Jesus died – for you!