MINISTRY UPDATE - WINTER 2005

A year of trials - a year of spiritual growth - for many.  We pray that all God has taught you in 2005 will increase your determination to reach out to others in 2006 with the love of Christ that cannot be measured.    

 

Here is a sampling of praise reports we’ve received throughout this year to honor God for His faithfulness to the ministry, and to be an encouragement to those of you who co-minister with us through your prayers, financial support, encouragement, testimony submissions, and those of you who share the testimonies and writings from this ministry with others:

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• “I am 19 years old from England and have yet to give my life to Christ.  I am actually part of a cult now, which I am finding so hard to get out of and your testimony (Matthew Needham), on Precious Testimonies really moved me.  I would like to thank you for your words.”  -- England
   

• “I would like to thank God for your lives and your testimony ministry.  The testimony of brother Norm Rasmussen has really impacted me, since God began His revelation to me about hell being very real.  It changed a great deal in my Christian life to know that there is a lot more to be done within one’s self through Christ.  It has helped me to consider things in my faith that I had not considered before, like the fear of God.  I now take it as a serious duty to win souls to God’s Kingdom – to have compassion for my fellow brothers and sisters in the world who do not know Christ.  God is good and I didn’t know how much until I realized the lengths that He goes through to save us here on earth.”   -- United Kingdom
   

• “I just finished reading The Martin Briseno Testimony.  Last night, after two years of suffering from cocaine abuse, I finally broke down and prayed just like Martin did.  I cried through the whole testimony and am still crying right now.  I look forward to what lies ahead.”  -- George
   

• “This morning as I jumped into my truck to leave for work, I noticed that my car stereo was stolen.  I was shaken a bit, but I gave God the glory and asked Him to take over the situation.  Immediately His awesome peace took over and I went about my day as normal as possible, after filing a complaint with our local police.  Thank God for the Internet.  When I typed in Jim McDaniel, it brought up his testimony on the Precious Testimonies website.  Jim, thank God for your testimony.  Thank God that you submitted it for publication on the Internet.  It has brought major strength to my situation and I am now gladly rejoicing in the Lord with you.   -- Marty, Bangalore, India
   

• “I just finished reading the article on your website, In The Desert Of “Feeling Forsaken” by Norm Rasmussen, and as I read this article I began to weep.  This is the first time in over a year that someone expressed how I feel.  In the past year I have been going through this test and I am to a point of wondering if it is ever going to end.  I really don’t know what God is preparing, but I surely have been under an intense feeling of being forsaken by God.  I have often pondered if He really loves me.  I often tell Him how I feel, remind Him that I have been obedient to His Word; uplifted Him in all that I do and continue to love Him, but it always seemed to be such a distance between God and I. 

  
  “Many things in my life through this past year has fallen apart, causing circumstances to add to the fire.  I have times of anger …  due to feeling betrayed by God.  At times I see no end to the pain and hurt that is reeking havoc on the inside and I feel defeated  and not worthy of God’s attention.  I have reached some of the lowest depths within me, but somehow find my way back to the surface.   

   

  "People around me do not understand what is going on with me and they think that I just need to shake it off and go on with my life.  But it isn’t that simple.  If it was, I would have done just that.  I have felt pain, abandonment, and desolation in this past year – more so this past year than I have ever experienced before.  I have even entertained the idea that maybe I am mentally unstable, because when I tell people how I feel, they look at me like they have no idea of what I am talking about, and maybe they don’t. 

   

  "I do know one thing for sure this past year; it has been a very hard struggle for me, because I haven’t had anyone that could relate to what I am going through.  I knew in my spirit as I read this article that this is what I have been looking for and I know that I am not losing my mind.  I feel just like someone has ripped my very inner being out and all I have left is a void.  I don’t know how much more of this I will have to go through and no one can answer that except God. 

   

  “I do love God with my whole being, even though there have been some great times of doubt, I know my place is with Him and I know for some reason He has allowed this time of trial in my life.  I just pray that He will give me the strength to endure until the end of this trying time.  Thank you and please keep me in your prayers.”  -- Dana
   

• “I want to share this experience of mine.  It started last July 13, 2005 when I was ill.  I began looking on the Internet for healing prayer, or miracle prayer.  Every site I visited, I prayed every prayer on healing they offered.  Everyday, I visited different websites just looking for God.  One day I stumbled on this website:  www.precious-testimonies.com.  I don’t know if it was an accident or not but I do know that God directed me to this particular testimony on your site:  An Awesome “Short” Healing Miracle.  (The Wayne Short Story).  I was so touched!  I know something happened to me while I was reading Mr. Short’s story about getting his healing.  I learned a lot from Mr. Short – that there is nothing impossible with God, and I thank you for publishing his testimony on your website.  -– Joan   
   

• “I am writing to you because I feel the Lord led me to your site.  I typed in a Google search these keywords:  Help me God.  I just can’t get it together. 

  
  Your site came up on the first page!  I believe I have come across it before but I didn’t take the time to read your testimony then.  I am hurting so much today that I’m certain that God wanted me to read it.  It gave me hope and encouragement and I really need it right now.  I was divorced from my wonderful wife on May 11 and from the moment she left to the present I have been in the deepest despair, but I keep trying to trust the Lord for a miracle.  Reading testimonies of others on your site gives me hope that God is going to work my situation somehow to the good.  I thank God for your ministry.”

  -- Rick
   

• “I found your Tips On Sharing Your Born Again Testimony on the web.  I’m leading a men’s bible study/prayer group within our church, Fife Lake Methodist Church, and I’d like to copy your article for use as a starting point in helping our men learn to develop, refine and deliver their testimonies.  May I use your article? By the way, I have read quite a few of the testimonies on your site and appreciate your ministry.”  -- David
   

• “I can’t stop crying after reading a number of testimonies on your site.  It is now 1:17 a.m.  I pick up my son at 10 a.m. this morning from jail to take him to West Michigan Teen Challenge.  He doesn’t know what a great person he is – please pray for my son John.  He is a good man and wants to be a good father.”  -- Roxanne
   

• “I’m just a new believer in the Lord! I’m from the beautiful country of the Philippines.  Thank God for your website!  I can’t explain how I feel when I read the scriptures you give on many of the testimonies.”  -- Joan
   

• “I can barely find the words to say what I feel right now.  I just read Passing Through Troubled Waters by Josephine Fitzgerald on your website, and it comforted me so much.  I just went through the worst time in my life.  I was on the brink of suicide. Guilt had gotten so heavy for me to carry.  (I feel the Holy Spirit all over me now!).  At that point Jesus came to me.  He told me to come back to him, and I did.  My faith has never been stronger.  Please thank Josephine for writing her testimony, and thank you for publishing it. God bless!”  -- Char
   

• “Unbelievable website page on Legalism.  I hope you do not mind; I have linked my website on spiritual abuse to this article.  This is going to help people a lot.  I want everyone in my city to read this article and maybe they can get free from a big cult-like church my family operates.  I cannot believe how right-on this article is.  –- Asaph
   

• “I just got done reading The Suzan Brown Story.  I found it on the web when I was searching for churches that do deliverances.  Her story for some reason caught my eye, and what an amazing testimony God has given her.  Reading it gives me hope, because it opened my eyes to see what God will do in a person’s life when we patiently wait on Him to work in our painful family situations.   I have been in bondage for so long that I don’t remember really what the Holy spirit feels like.  I am a smoker, and that hinders me.  I am a cutter and that hinders me.  I have an angry, hateful, bitter heart and that hinders me.  I have ripped my husband apart, and I hold onto that.  I don’t deserve God’s love nor peace or forgiveness or salvation.  Though I can no longer use that as an excuse, God brought me to your testimony for a reason.  It has sparked something in me.  First light I’ve felt in a long time!”  --Jeannie
   

• “Yes – I just made the decision to be reconciled back to Christ!  I accepted Him when I was 12 years old but over time I lost my way.  Thank you so much for the way you explained Reconciliation.  It is an awesome way to explain how unworthy we are but just knowing that He still cared enough for us to die for us, and just wants a relationship with us.  What an AWESOME God!”  -- Rhonda
   

• “Thank you for allowing me to publish many of the testimonies off the Precious Testimonies website that will go into book form.  This book will be used by many missionaries around the world, and especially in Muslim dominated areas.  Islam has misled billions, as you know.  – Michael
   

• “Earlier today I received a call from a prayer partner who read your Fall 2005 Ministry Update.  This lady is from Armenia, living in California. She thought that your article was so good that she is translating it into her native language so that she can distribute it among her people, hoping to encourage them as much as she was encouraged when she read it.  -- Judy
   

• “I was flipping channels last night and came across your two hour testimony video broadcast.  What that person was sharing was just what I needed to hear!  Please send me two copies of the video so I can share with family and friends.  Keep up the awesome work you are doing on behalf of the Lord through your video broadcasts!”  -- Mary
   

• “Thank you for being so faithful in coming into prison and ministering to us brothers here at Carson City (Michigan).  You’ll never know how much it means to us.  You’re helping so many brothers come to Christ, and teaching them important truths to help them gain a solid foundation in their walk with the Lord”  -- John

 

Lord Jesus, we pray that as your children and disciples, please continue to shed your grace and anointing upon all your people in 2006 as we take great comfort knowing our labor in helping build Your kingdom in the lives of other people is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58).

 

We all affirm to you, Heavenly Father: 

 

We do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.  – 2 Cor. 16-18. 

 

Amen and Amen.