Introduction to Hinduism from BiblicalTraining.org

I have always been an advocate of educating oneself about other world religions. When I was doing my undergrad I had the priviledge of taking a few philosophy courses that included surveying and investigating culture through world religions. A helpful book on the subject The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog, 5th Edition by James W. Sire also helps evaluate other world religions through an unashamed Christian lens.

If you ever interact with other world religions, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Judaism, you know that it is beneficial to at least understand their faith and know the talking points. It is hard to win the respect of other in conversation if you have not at least considered or possess knowledge of their faith. BiblicalTraining.org has published a course on the topic of Hinduism at their website.

From Dr. Timothy Tennet the website describes his course as an,

"In-depth survey of philosophical and popular Hinduism’s historical and theological themes. Exposure to current strategies being used to bring the gospel to Hindus and how Christian theology is being formulated in the Indian context."

Evangelism report: 01.21.11

Ann Arbor, Michigan. We journeyed to downtown Ann Arbor again this past Friday night. Yes, it was ridiculously cold, and with a couple of us wearing several layers (I had at least 3 and thermals), Antarctica and Michigan were neck and neck for near uninhabitable.

The night started in Liberty Plaza, distributing food with other organizations and 'church' groups that feed the homeless and working poor each Friday night. Afterward, we headed toward downtown Ann Arbor and U of M's campus.

We were fortunate enough to be in town at the same time as a Robert Plant concert, so there were plenty of people to talk to. Tracts were distributed across U of M's campus and there were quite a number of discussions had. Paul a drummer, who believed there was an essential need for 'experiencing' God. Bill, a drunkard, who believed his habit was justified because he does good works, and he is experiencing rough times right now. But, he knows the scriptures and their stories, and his knowledge is almost just enough to make him dangerous to his own soul.

Also, pray for the laborers and their households. Pray the Lord would protect their families from the attacks of the enemy for their faithful service.

Of note, prayer for the "History Teacher" are in order of request. He claimed his life was over because he caught a few cases some years back. He also justified his marijuana habits through open promotion of his fiscal need on his sign (the very thing that caused him to acquire criminal cases). He was adamantly opposed to religion in general, but very vitriolic toward Christians, the Bible, and Christian History. It was one of those interesting discussions where only one person hurls claims at the other without any opportunity to dialog. As difficult as it is to be faced with opposition to one's faith, it is even more difficult to respect their opinion, validate their claims, and have a civil discourse when they do not even come up for air. Please pray for this man, and hope that our conversations, or future interactions would be fruitful. Pray that his anger would not consume him, and that the bitterness over the course of his life would be seen for what it really is.

When he would not listen to reason, or exchange views regarding other options to provide for himself, or work for money as opposed to begging for change on the street, he state that his life was completely over. In an attempt to address something with a greater impact on life here on earth, and because there were few topics covered that resulted in much substance, he was asked about the next life, what happens when you die? He did not like that question at all, and knew immediately that we were Christian. In lieu of all of my opinion on the matter, I would like to address him directly below,

History Teacher, if for some reason you come across this post. I pray you will be interested in discussion next time. I would even be willing to buy you dinner, coffee, or whatever it is you might need that day. I absolutely will not buy you pot, but I will buy you something of sustenance. I also hope, that with all the knowledge you express, and claim to have, you would humble yourself to an exchange of opinion and worldview, maybe even a bit of debate. Either way, the claims you made on Friday were very lofty and significant. The irony that you knew we were Christians before we announced it to you says something profound to you does it not? I hope it says we care about your eternal state. I hope it says we are interested in more than just 'forcing our religion' down your throat. I wish I would have been able to say enough to own that claim, but respectfully understand how one bearing the name 'christian' would warrant so much anger.

History Teacher, next time, I hope you will let my life be an example of what I believe, and not preconceived notions or concepts of those who have approached you previously. We truly had no intent on making you angry, and we pray, next time, you will forgive us for what it was that angered you.

We will see you next time, hopefully.

Peace in a greeting, peace for eternal life: in full

As I recently posted the devotion at Seeking A Kingdom, Peace in a greeting, peace for eternal life, I was a little constrained by the devotional format. That is okay, at least in part, as I tend to be wordy. But, I also wanted to give the full thrust of what I intended to say. I will let you be the judge, if you have read the devotional post, let me know if they are comparable, or if one is lacking? Or, maybe I didn't do justice to either? Either way, here it is.

Consider Matthew 10:7-15 as the text for this meditation. I would also like to draw focus on Matthew 10:11. The contrast of going with nothing is accentuated with the command of going into the homes of those who are found to have been worthy, that though they have nothing, they have sustenance and shelter provided by them that are worthy. (Mark 6:10, Luke 9:4)

And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. (Mat 10:12-13)

This is ironically, a greeting that is customary in Middle-Eastern/Jewish culture. It is also said by some commentators that the blessing of the disciples through their presence and prayers is in view in the peace to you salutation. But if the house is unworthy, or inhospitable, this instruction, let your peace return to you, implies a retraction of the blessing on an unworthy household.

We greet those we visit with gifts, and blessings, and sometimes with statements like Ata Shalom! Peace to you and your house!

If we investigate the Lord's usage of the phrase, we see it only occurs post-resurrection. Examples include Luke 24:26, and John 20:19-26. The only other time we see this phrase outside of the New Testament is in the Old.

Genesis 43:23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

Please, do not misunderstand me here. I am not promoting the prosperity of wealth and riches, and the subsequent peace that is brought with financial security. But it is noteworthy that the peace spoken of here is that which is brought through provision God had given the Israelite's through the hand of Joseph, by means of Egypt, which in turn is an interesting provision for Hebrews indeed.

Turning back to Matthew 10:14-15 now. What words would the disciples have been bringing to the households they visit? Is it inherent in the blessing contained in the phrase Peace be unto you? Or is it simply a prayer of blessing upon entry or departure from household to household? The instruction then comes, and brings some clarity laden with conviction in v14. Jesus says, "when you depart out that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet." When Jews would travel from Gentile roads and cities and then return to Jewish land, they would shake the dust from their feet because of its unworthiness, they believed it would defile the 'Holy Land.' This is interesting for us to observe, because in Matthew 10:6, it is the lost sheep of Israel the Lord is sending them to.

In Matthew 10:15, the Lord pronounces condemnation upon rejection that the disciples will inevitably receive. The paradigm that is given for them is the tolerance for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment. Simply stated, those who reject the disciples will have it far worse than the city that was leveled by the wrath of God through hellfire and brimstone.

I believe the peace being brought to these households is the same peace that Christ brought to the disciples when they were locked away in fear and trembling because of the Jews (John 20:19). This peace is the news that the Father has sent the Lord Jesus, and he now sends us. And this peace is the same that greeted the doubting Thomas (John 20:26) who was then convinced of the Lords resurrection upon witnessing a living Christ.

The punishment Sodom and Gomorrah received was not due to a total lack of hospitality, as some have claimed, and some of us have heard. We know that they received punishment because of their wickedness, and received death the first time, and an eternal punishment slated for the next. They however did not receive the peace of the gospel. The missing piece there is the glorious news of a resurrected savior from the mouths of those who are witnesses thereof! Those who receive, then believe.

Looking at Mark 6:12 and Luke 9:5-6 we can see clearly this message the disciples brought. We also see the peace given unto others in their homes and towns, and that is that men everywhere should repent. Whoever rejects this message, rejects the Messiah, the one who issued the command with authority from on high. This rejection of the Christ is a testimony against them.

We preach Christ and him crucified. We rejoice in the power of him resurrected. And, we bring peace to those who receive it, believe it, and are baptized into his body.

Amen.

Witnessing in Ann Arbor tonight

We will be in Ann Arbor this evening preaching the Gospel. Please pray for us, join us, or come heckle us. Either way. We'll be there somewhere.

email me james_At_[deliver][detroit][dot][com]

Evangelism report from beginning of month: 10.01.10

Overall the night got off to a good start. Levi from the assembly meeting in Rochester Hills drove down to help reach out. He also attended the previous week with us as well. He is a zealous young man and eagerly desires to preach the Gospel publicly. He likes to author and design his own tracts as well. He has an older brother, Eliezar that has witnessed with us in the past as well. We arrived down at Liberty Plaza and assisted Kirk and Genii with food distribution, Gene brought pizzas, and some students from Campus had come alongside us to help with the food distribution. They are participating in cooperation with folks from ‘Red Cross.’

The laborers  who went on to the campus and downtown for evangelism were Gene, Myself, Brian Frei, Levi, and Carissa. Please uphold them in prayer.

As usual, Levi freelanced and sought conversations up and down the street while we parked on the corner of South and East University in front of the PNC bank. It was a slow start at first and he had trouble striking up conversations. He said he had a good conversation with an Atheist man who had good, legitimate questions that he didn’t know answers to. He has been encouraged to study harder.

We were using the “NarrowMinded” tracts tonight as well as displaying the ‘Are you a genius’ illusion board with Albert Einstein’s reversed image on it.

Farook – This man was passing by and took one of the tracts I was holding out. I explained to him what it was and he took it. He returned a few minutes later and was confused, he thought we were “against religion.” When he asked what it was I told him it was the gospel message of the Lord Jesus Christ. I explained to him the difference between religion, and faith. He tried returning the tract to me, but per usual, I encouraged him to take it and keep it. It was ‘his!’

Ming – Brian spoke to Ming after he had been drawn to the illusion board. Brian used the conversation that started to segue from the ‘natural’ to the ‘spiritual.’ Ming had a Catholic background and was from Korea. He spoke with Brian at length regarding the differences between Biblical faith, and Catholic dogma that equates to tradition more than faith. Pray that God reveals the simplicity of the gospel to him.

Josh – Another conversation that was initiated by the attraction to the illusion board. Josh had a Catholic background and has come to the University from Ogemaw county, Michigan. He had a nominal understanding of the scripture and related to stories I shared with him, but had little biblical foundation or knowledge. We discussed the state of man in his sin, the just penalty of our judgment in our guilt, and the need for a mediator between us and God. He affirmed everything that was said, and even agreed that the ‘works’ taught by the Catholic church were insufficient to be a worthy offering to God. I pleaded with him to consider his state, read his bible, and contact me if he has any questions. He thanked me for the conversation and went on his way. Hopefully, we may hear from him again.

Greg – This young man passed by with a group of friends who were intrigued by the illusion board we were  using. He then stopped to seemingly ask genuine questions. Some included ‘why’ and ‘what’ we were doing out there. We explained to him that ‘narrow’ way of Jesus Christ and gave him a tract (along with those in his group). We spoke for a good 20 minutes concerning the difference between mainstream ‘Christians’ and those who walk on the narrow path. He had an interestingly sound grasp on Biblical Christianity, and proclaimed that when it comes down to it, he acknowledges that God is the only true counselor in the affairs of men. He was very open and challenged by the disparity he observed in our approach to evangelism, the discussion about a necessity for holiness, and the abundance of hypocrisy that seems to characterize Christianity to the unbelieving world. He thanked us for the conversation and took some information from us. The best part was that while his friends pleaded with him to leave our discussion, he emphatically made them wait for me to finish speaking with him. Pray for his salvation.

Motivated by sight, obligated through obedience: Evangelism

It seems that I am always pondering our purpose as witnesses of the salvation that only Christ can bring, I frequently grieve at the utter insufficiency of my efforts. I am daily reminded that witnessing for Christ is not witnessing for my 'church,' or my 'denomination, or my 'bible study club.' We are not seeking converts to ourselves, but striving to add others to the Kingdom of God. Not only is there an overwhelming sense of utter inadequacy toward my efforts at being holy and faithful to this end, but there is also a welling up of gratitude for the sheer privilege to participate in the great commission. (Matthew 17:17-21)

As those who have witnessed the resurrection power of Jesus Christ in our own lives, we should be compelled to labor for that which is imperishable (1 Corinthians 9:23-27). Storing treasure up for ourselves in heaven is not shopping at some spiritual Walmart, or making pretty little arrangements to hang on our heavenly mansion walls (Matthew 6:19-21). NO! It is a desperation that presses us toward the work of heavenly joy, earning crowns to cast at His feet (Revelation 4:10-11).

Praise God! He gives us not only the Spirit to war against the wiles of the enemy (Romans 8:15, 2 Corinthians 7:1, 2 Timothy 1:7), but He gives us the commission, the work certificate, the denarius for a day's labor, His shed blood as payment toward the remission of sins. This is as good a reason to go into the field and labor as any! He grants us the tools that we need to sow, scatter, and water the seed of the gospel (Ephesians 1:1-23). By this, there is only hope to bless His name by remaining obedient to the call. We cannot reject our commission, it is imperative and inherent, to our discipleship (Matthew 19:19-20).

Peter and John were ordered by the Pharisees to silence their proclamation of the name of Jesus Christ. They could not remain silent because they had seen and experienced the living Christ. More so, they had been blessed with power from on high to go into all the world. They could not stop their mouths from 'speaking of that which they had seen and heard.' This is not a foreign, unrealistic experience reserved for only the apostolic ministry. This is your obligation. If you have been redeemed, you have been set apart, and if you have been set apart, you have seen and heard the salvation of the Lord. Witnessing  the resurrection of the dead is a firsthand experience you and I both observe when we meet with other believers, those who have been bought with a price bear witness to the dead-raising, life-giving power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 4:19-21).

Bless God that we can store up treasure in heaven. Understanding the value of the life that is to come simplifies the acceptance we must have with the the present life we live. Judging the ascetic appearance of the two reveals they have so little in comparison. What we value, is what we love. If we value anything greater than Christ, we have bowed to an idol. In the word's of Leonard Ravenhill, "We have not lost our first love, it says we have left our first love."

Please take a moment to listen to watch/listen to the video in the right column featuring an excerpt from a sermon Leonard Ravenhill preached concerning 'The Judgment Seat of Christ." It comes from the former "BraveheartedThots" website. Now known as "Ellerslie Short Films."

You can download the full-sermon at Sermonindex here.

The Holiness of God: Mark Cahill

Mark Cahill gave a talk at the Livingwaters Deeper Conference: 2009. It was titled, "The Holiness of God." Mark speaks emphatically about the necessity of sacrifice and its contribution to holiness that glorifies God. I listened to the talk earlier today and found it most encouraging. That is to be said, most of his talks will make you feel lukewarm, but this particular message was edifying, convicting, and spot on. Go check it out at Mark's website for free.

Does holiness, or the lack thereof, keep you from being a faithful, credible witness for Jesus Christ? 

Mark Cahill Ministries

The Holiness of God talk stream
The Holiness of God talk download

(Consider supporting Mark's ministry, he offers all his resources at donation value, meaning, what you want to pay is what you pay. They also give away tons of resources for free.)

Shift in direction: Detroit to Ann Arbor

Theoretically, the blog is called Deliver Detroit. But, lately I have been in Ann Arbor. Yes, I know there is not only a span of some forty miles that separate the two cities, a sharp contrast in culture, but also a completely different economic environment. If you have ever been to either, you may know what I am talking about.

With the glaring disparity between the two cities, there is one thing in common, they both have people, they both need preaching, and they both are within my reach. You see, for the time being, I now live happily between the two cities and able to commute to either in just under a half-hour.

That, said. The blog name will remain the same, of course, because it is paid for, and it still remains relevant. If you know my testimony, you know this is the city in which I received my deliverance. Detroit is also where I mostly work, and it is the place that will forever have my heart. The people still need deliverance. The city is in shambles, economic disarray, and spiritually under siege by they heartless prosperity and liberation gospels. I continue to pray on behalf of the people living there, both the lost and falsely converted.

Ann Arbor, is where I now fellowship, at least mostly. It is also where I have been spending most of my time doing street ministry. It is my belief that the Lord's hand has moved me in this direction over the past year. We have been reaching out to the homeless population, students on U of M's campus, those who frequent the downtown area on a regular basis. There will be more of a presence of posts related to this activity and less regarding Detroit.

So going forward, the original intent of this blog was to remain diligent in posting information related to street-ministry, open air preaching, and related material. You will also find posts related to ecclesiology, book reviews, and commentary, but I am going to once again try to re-focus on the purpose of this blog. If you are a regular reader, you know I have several 'series' of posts that remain unfinished. I would like to finish those as well.

Hopefully, I will hear from you more frequently, as you hear from me. I hope this blog fulfills my original intent to glorify Christ and to edify the saints. In due time, I will seek to accomplish that task.

In Him,

James

Jehovah's Witnesses, Have You Spoken To Them Lately?

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, better known as Jehovah's Witnesses was founded in the latter 1800's by a group of bible students under the influence of the teachings of Charles Taze Russell. Russell was not a fan of the doctrine of Hell, the trinity, or the deity of Jesus Christ for that matter. The teachings of Russell were soon picked up on and compounded by his followers and the tract society began to grow. They are now one of the largest 'christian' groups on the planet with major influence in almost every country. Quite simply, they are zealous, intelligent, and well trained at refuting the beliefs of most contemporary Christians. If you are interested in learning more about the Jehovah's Witnesses email me and I would be delighted to share more with you.

In light of this brief primer, I wanted to emphasize the importance of knowing a little about the Jehovah's witnesses and their beliefs. Many Christians today ignore the witness at their door, or whisk them away hastily. But, they indeed are deceived, and it is my belief that we are to proclaim a true Gospel witness to them if we can have a conversation that is conducive to it. We must remember that they are in need of salvation as much as you or I and our duty is merely to sow seeds, not give the increase.

Some Pointers

• It is best to discuss things with them at the door, or move out to the porch, this way you remain able to continue or terminate the conversation quickly
• When Witnesses are at your door in pairs, it is always a good practice to converse with the one who appears to be 'younger' or 'timid,' these are typically witnesses in training. If the elder interjects more often than would be necessary, redirect the question to the trainee (I want to know what he is going to say).
• Never focus on winning or losing the 'argument,' be patient, and wait for an opportunity to present the full gospel. Your testimony is always your best friend
• Be careful of parallel language, the JW's have different meanings for common evangelical jargon. Be purposeful in defining your terms.

Some Electronic Resources (note: You may right-click, or save-as to download the files in the links below, or click it to listen streaming online)

• A message from Charlie H. Campbell (1 Hour) surveying the beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses. A very good listen that provides a wonderful overview.
• Ray Comfort's '3 Minutes to Live' message, demonstrating a unique conversation method that allows the emphasis of salvation by grace as essential in dealing with 'works' based cults like the JW's
• A few lessons from the School of Biblical Evangelism on the JW's that provides a quick overview in PDF format of their beliefs, and witnessing to them. Part 1 and Part 2

Last But Not Least

I often will use the New World Translation when I witness to the JW's. My reasoning is to establish credibility with them, but if you are unfamiliar with its subtle demonic doctrines, you will do well to stick with the King James, as most JW's will accept that as a translation, at least in part. In doing either method, I like to validate with them that I have a 'valid question' that I would like to know the answer to, as I would like to be proven wrong by the scripture if indeed I am in error. They very often will agree to hear your question, and if they interrupt you in the process with your questions, direct them back to the question at hand and ask them to hold all their 'other' responses until you are finished. Remember, manage the conversation, sew the seed.

• Take them to John 1:1 and ask them who is the 'Word?' Avoid arguing the textual errors inherent in the JW definition, but remember this question sets the tone for the following journey through the scripture. They should respond that the 'Word' is Jesus.
• Then take them to Isaiah 41:4 and ask them who is the Lord? They will respond Jehovah.
• Then on to Revelation 1:8 and ask them who is speaking here? They will say Jehovah.
• Now on to Revelation 22:13-16 and ask them who is speaking here? They will say Jesus.
• Now you have established their presupposition that all references to first and last are Jehovah. But, now you open to Revelation 1:17-18. Then ask them very politely, 'When did Jehovah die?' Does Jehovah die? (Now this is where they can attack the translation issue, but it is the same in the NWT, KJV, and many other translations.) Be sure to redirect them back to the question, and ask them if they can compare this to one more verse.
• Take them to Zechariah 12:10 and simply state, "Now I question when did Jehovah die from the scriptures in Revelation, and ask yet again, when was he pierced?"

This is not a full refutation of JW's and their doctrines, but is enough to sew a seed that will cause them to ponder thier perspectives. It will also help the new JW that he may be choosing to reject the truth, and hopefully he will investigate your claims.

Most importantly. Pray. Pray for them.

Milestones of an Effective Gospel Discussion

Brother Tom Bear of Stones Cry Out Ministries in Dearborn, MI has written a brief primer on gospel discussions. By no means an exhaustive rubric of how to witness properly but a helpful tool that will steer you along an effective, biblical path. Tom also has many useful tools, studies, and books available at his website. He is a dear brother and I urge you to visit his page if you have a desire to become equipped at effectively sharing your faith.

Milestones of a Gospel Discussion

You can begin a gospel conversation talking about perhaps anything imaginable. The conversation is dynamic so it will have a tendency to go in various directions. Lack of time might prevent you from fully presenting the gospel during the conversation. But if you achieve the following basic milestones, you will most likely end up presenting the entire gospel so that the unbeliever comprehends it at least with his mind. I recommend that you let these milestones guide you through every gospel conversation.

Milestone  1:  Get the unbeliever to tell you what he believes is “the way to heaven.”[1]

This milestone can take place near the beginning of a conversation and it serves as THE foundation for the rest of the conversation.

Milestone 2:  Get the unbeliever to either wonder or actually say out loud, “Well, what hope is there for anyone?….you seem to be saying that everyone is doomed to go to hell forever.”

Achieving this milestone may take up to an hour or two in some cases. The only way to achieve this milestone is to talk about God’s absolute righteousness and man’s absolute sinfulness. It requires patience to do this properly. If you gloss over this without the unbeliever coming to this conclusion in his mind, he will not properly see the connection to the cross. Jesus’ death will remain unimportant to him. So keep talking about sin, righteousness and judgment until he begins to wonder,  “What hope is there for anyone?”

Milestone 3: Help him see how Jesus made it possible for him to be reconciled to God through His substitutionary death on the cross.

Milestone 4: Help him count the cost of becoming a disciple of Jesus.

Explain what happens when God regenerates a person. Tell him how He did this for you.

---

[1] If the person does not believe there is a God, you can still get him to tell you what he thinks “Christians” believe is the way to heaven.

Detroit Outreach: Movement, the Detroit Electronic Musical Festival

Friday May 28, 2010, the saints meeting at WIBC gathered together to prepare for an outreach in Detroit’s Hart Plaza. The plaza is a central location for the summer festivals that have become the norm in downtown Detroit.

In preparation for the outreach, there were 150+ Audio/MP3 CD’s burned, stamped, and packaged for distribution. The ladies prepared 25+ bag lunches for the homeless that would be given out as needed. The lunches were great and had turkey + cheese, an orange, and delicious protein bars.

With thousands of people in attendance at the festival, and congregating on the Detroit River walk, there were plenty of opportunities for witnessing. Many gospel tracts, materials, and CD’s were distributed (Contact us if you are interested in hearing the compilations used). Although it is common at festivals for leafleting to be excessive, we must pray that the materials containing the word of God be seeds sown to those who kept them. For the ones that were discarded, let us pray for them to be picked up by someone else and that God would use that tract to save them.

Some of the people encountered during this trip that we may pray for,

Daniel - Homeless man that was met just before we prayed near Congress and Woodward. He was drunk. Jim N. spoke to him about being in bondage to drugs and alcohol. We prayed for him, gave him a bible, and told him to read the gospel of John.

Carmen - Lady that we met near the end of the night who said she was seven months pregnant and running from her abusive husband after just returning to him, hoping that he had changed. We gave her $32 for bus fare and a boarding house for her to stay in safely until money from St. Louis arrived to get her home. Pray that she was truthful, that our assistance comforted her, and that God be glorified.

Charles - Man who harbored resentment toward his mother for abuse as a child. He was upset that she was a hypocrite who went to ‘church,’ sang in the choir, and yet lived a life bearing no fruit. The sisters who spoke with him exhorted him from the scriptures. Pray for his softening and forgiveness for his mother.

Shadrak - Jim N. spoke with this man who was in the stair-well of the parking structure. He had been raised in the Christian Reformed Church and was very hostile, angry, and intoxicated. He said he knew what we were going to say and that he’s heard it all before. Pray that his bitterness be lifted and that Christ grants him new life.

Cecil and Jayranae - Vendors who helped talk to security guards about our leafleting in a certain area. She clarified some things with them and they said it was ok for us to continue. They both professed to be believers and were very encouraging. Pray for Jayranae’s booth that it helps her provide for her children.

Everyone Who received a Tract

The Laborers -

Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

We are seeking your prayers for protection from the enemy after our efforts, Gene and Andrea P., Jim N., Eleazar and Levi, James and Rachel L.

Those Who Supported - In prayer, labor, and financial assistance. Thanks!

Arabic Outreach Update

If you are interested in attending one of the following The Great Debate Series or Outreach and want to update your local fellowship, contact me and I will send you the news blast in an email. Also, for those who have issues with finances, please contact me, scholarships may be available. For those who cannot attend but may be able to help the outreach financially, we can always use the help paying for scholarships. Thanks!

Free Book From Living Waters and Way Of The Master

I just received this info from Living Waters in an email news blast. Their well received and read book "Way of the Master," previously titled "Revival's Golden Key," has been renamed again. But this time, it has also been condensed along with updated statistics and data. Enjoy.

For years we have heard of Christians, excited about the teaching, who wanted to share it with their pastor. After giving him the book The Way of the Master, they often became frustrated that he didn't appear to read it. So we decided to go back to the original, more provocative, title (God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life) and cover, and create a smaller, “read-in-one-sitting” edition of the book (128 pages). We pulled in the cream of the teaching from other publications, updated the statistics, and sharpened the message. It’s now an ideal resource to share with others to help them see the need for biblical evangelism.



To help you share this message with your pastor, church staff, and others, at the following link there is no charge for single copies within the U.S. (this includes free shipping). If, however, you'd like to buy multiple copies to give away, they can be purchased in bulk for the low cost of $48 for a box of 48 books.Additionally, you can download a free pdf version of the book from our FreeWonderfulBook.com website. (Keep checking back on that page, because soon we will be adding a free unabridged audio book version, read by Ray himself.)

The Great Debate Series

Also, running concurrent with the previously announced Evangelism conference will include "The Great Debate Series." Debaters include James White, David Wood, and Sam Shamoun. June 19th - 21st

Note: Debates are subject to changes and cancellations.  The Center for Religious Debate 11338 Ozga Road, Romulus MI 48174 Friday June, 18th   7:00pm Crucifixion or Cruci-Fiction? Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Awal vs. Professor David Wood     Saturday, June 19th    2:30pm  “Was Muhammad Predicted in the Bible?” Apologist Sam Shamoun  vs. Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Awal 6:00pm "Does Science Show That Islam Is True?" Professor David Wood   vs. Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Awal  Sunday, June 20th   2:30pm Has The Qur'an Been Corrupted? Apologist Sam Shamoun vs. Muslim Debater TBA    6:00pm Has The Bible Been Corrupted? Muslim Debater TBA vs. Dr. James White  Monday June, 21st  7:00pm Jesus: A Prophet of Allah or Son of God?  Dr. James White vs.  Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Awal

Muslim Debaters   Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Awal is a scholar on Islamic science, comparative religion, and logic and a student of Sheikh Ahmed Dedat. He is the founder and director of Zaitun Dawah Institute-a think tank research center with headquarters in Seattle, WA and branches in NY, Atlanta and Africa. The center specializes in propagation of Islam to people of different faiths through the medium of science and comparative analysis.  Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Awal is a product of Kaduna polytechnic college of environmental studies. He has a degree in Engineering Surveying. He is also a graduate of Kano state college of irrigation and surveying. Sheikh Awal has debated many Christian theologians both in the United States and Africa. He has lectured in colleges, universities, and symposiums. He travels all over the United States and does programs in prisons and radio stations about Islam. Sheikh Awal has written two books: Islam and Science Vol. 1 and Islam and Christianity Vol. 1. He resides in Kent, WA. Muslim Debater TBA Christian Debaters Dr. James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization.  He is the author of more than twenty books, a professor, an accomplished debater (having engaged in more than seventy-five moderated, public debates), and an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church.   Professor David Wood is a teaching professor of philosophy at Fordham University, co-founder of Acts 17 Apologetics Ministry and a member of the Evangelical Philosophical Society. David, a former atheist, became a Christian after examining the historical evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.  He has debated over 25 times with well-known Muslim scholars throughout the United States and England on behalf of “The Center for Religious Debate.” Apologist Sam Shamoun is a writer and apologist for one of the world's most highly recognized apologetics website Answering Islam.  Shamoun has written countless articles dealing with common issues in Christianity and Islam.  He has engaged in debates nationwide as an informed apologist refuting the accusations and attacks presented by Islam against Christianity. Debate Organizer Pastor George Saieg lived and studied in an Islamic environment in Sudan. At the age 11, he accepted Christ through SIM, an American missionary organization. Immediately, Pastor Saieg joined Operation Mobilization in sharing the Gospel with Muslims.  Since God brought him to the U.S. He renewed his passion, vision, and dedication to mobilize the American church to effectively reach their Muslim neighbors.  He is ordained as a Pastor with Calvary Chapel. To know more about Pastor George Saieg please Click here

Annual Outreach Is Approaching

The annual Muslim Evangelism and training conference is approaching quickly. This coming June we will be presenting a comprehensive equipping conference to train and encourage you to share your faith with your Muslim neighbors, co-workers, and friends. Below is the information we currently have.

 M2M Conference

Thursday June 17th

7:00pm

Bridging the Gap of Understanding

Bloomfield Hills Baptist Church

3600 Telegraph Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-1468

 Free Admission

No Registration Required

This event is open to the body of Christ only!

 

Worship

 

The Power to

Forgive and Love 

Dr. Tom White

 

A Panel Discussion:

"Answering Muslim Objections

to the Concept of God in Christianity"

Cynthia Khan (moderator)

Professor David Wood

Apologist Sam Shamoun

 

 

 

 Banquet

  Thursday June 17th

5:00pm

 

(Banquet $15 regular; student $10) Call for RSVP at 714.391.0463

 

Bloomfield Hills Baptist Church

3600 Telegraph Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-1468

 

 

Wednesday June 16th  

8:45am

 M2M Training

Calvary Church of Romulus

11338 Ozga Road, Romulus MI 48174

 

Welcome

Pastor George Saieg

 

Exploring Islamic Culture 

 

Crucifixion: Truth or Fiction?

Professor David Wood

 

What Does Islam Teach

About Allah & the Messiah?

Professor David Wood

 

1:30pm  

Outreach

Door-to-Door Outreach

Parks Outreach

7:00pm

M2M Training

Calvary Church of Romulus

11338 Ozga Road, Romulus MI 48174

 

Sharing the Gospel with Muslims

Brother Tom Bear

Understanding Muslim Woman

Cynthia Khan

A Panel Discussion:

Led by: Pastor George Saieg

Salvation in

Islam and Christianity

Highlighting the Crucifixion

Professor David Wood, Apologist Sam Shamoun & Apologist Abdu Murray

 

Thursday June 17th

8:45am

M2M Training

Calvary Church of Romulus

11338 Ozga Road, Romulus MI 48174

 

Time of Prayer

Pastor George Saieg

 

Is Trinity Shirk?

Apologist Sam Shamoun

 

Does Islam Teach Monotheism?

Apologist Sam Shamoun

1:30pm   

Outreach

Door-to-Door Outreach

Parks Outreach

 

Friday June 18th 
  8:45am   

M2M Training

Calvary Church of Romulus

11338 Ozga Road, Romulus MI 48174

 

 

 What Does the Evidence Point to:

The Bible or the Qur’an?

Professor David Wood

 

The Islamic Dilemma

Apologist Sam Shamoun

 1:30pm

Outreach

Door-to-Door Outreach

Parks Outreach

Mosque Outreach

Festival Outreach (until 11:00pm)

  

Saturday June 19th 
8:45am   

M2M Training

Calvary Church of Romulus

11338 Ozga Road, Romulus MI 48174

  

Effectively Witnessing to Muslims

Pastor George Saieg

&

Pastor Denny Barger

8:45am   

M2M Upper Room

Calvary Church of Romulus

11338 Ozga Road, Romulus MI 48174

 

Time of Worship & Prayer

Pastor Denny Barger

(Bring your guitar!)

 Praying for Muslims in Dearborn,

MI, the USA and the World!

1:30pm  

Outreach

Door-to-Door Outreach

Parks Outreach

Mosque Outreach

Festival Outreach (until 10:00pm)

 

 

Sunday June 20th 

Church Service   

1:30pm

Outreach

Door-to-Door Outreach

Parks Outreach

Mosque Outreach

Festival Outreach (until 10:00pm)

 

 Debriefing

Sunday June 20th 

9:30pm  

Calvary Church of Romulus

11338 Ozga Road, Romulus MI 48174

 

 

 

 Calculate your costs:

Registration Fee: (Includes all training & Debates) $250 Pro-rated at $50 flat fee + $40 per night.  

 

Hotel: (with taxes & continental breakfast), prices are per person,   All 6 nights: $325 private room - $175 shared room/own bed - $100 shared room/shared bed. Pro-rated $60 private room $35 shared room/own bed $20 shared room/shared bed per night.  

 

Transportation: $100

Pro-rated at $10 flat fee + $20 per day.

 

Air Travel: You may purchase your own flight, but details must be emailed to Pastor George at: info@ministrytomuslims.com to coordinate pick-up and drop-off. 

 

For payment please call us at: 714.391.0463