February 2010

01-Feb-2009

As Chosen To Serve Ministries

Partner Update

 February 2010

PASTOR LAYNE's LETTER

God bless you and we hope this finds you standing firm. When I ask Christians if they are evangelists, I get very interesting  responses. Here are just a few of them:

§      We pay our pastor to do that.

§      I leave that to Billy Graham.

§      I don’t want to offend anyone.

§      I think it’s better to allow them to live their lives and when they are ready they will be a Christian.

§      Christians aren’t supposed to proselytize.

§      It’s against the law to proselytize.

§      Americans are already Christians they just don’t all go to church.

Most of us have said similar or maybe even crazier things in our early Christian walk. For me it took realizing that there are only two options, Heaven or hell. Both are very real places and the result is eternity. Eternity is a very long time and in fact, it is forever, with no ending. It usually takes something to rattle us to fully understand Gods Grace and His plan for us all. It was during one of those times I realized I could not save anyone. However, God did ordain all Christians to be evangelists. That in itself was scary but then God showed me that an evangelist is simply a messenger.  We have such a wonderful, beautiful and life changing message to share. I also had to realize, the hard way, that regardless of how much Bible knowledge I had it wasn’t going to impress anyone. On the  contrary, it would often turn them away. The formula to share ones faith is simple. Pray first, then humbly share a short and concise testimony of what God has done in your life together with a couple of scriptures that back it up, shows Gods simple yet life changing plan of Salvation. I encourage you to pencil out your testimony and rehearse sharing it from the heart. We have included a form that will help you with this as well as a Romans Road bookmark.

We have a close friend whose testimony we put into a tract that is widely distributed. Her simple yet incredible testimony coupled with Gods’ Grace has been used by the Lord to direct many young women and men from making horrible LIFE decisions. It has led many to salvation. Another testimony tract is titled “Strike”. It’s a simple yet compelling story about the pride of a professional bowler and his deliverance from religion. We hope to add more testimony tracts as the Lord leads.

After reading the “Romans Road” bookmark and memorizing, some or all of the scriptures; place an order to use them as a      witnessing tool and, as a great handout to friends, family and others that God leads in your path.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Acts 1:8

God bless you!

 

Layne Livingston,

Pastor & Founder

PRAISE REPORTS

Prayer and Praise for YFT (Youth For Truth) Chile trip and Vision Camps they will be having there.

Darrell had an awesome idea of reminding all of us about our; “Rights To Preach”

 “Am I Soliciting When I Share The Gospel”

     NO!  The Supreme Court recently  decided a case “Kokinda”  involving  the  difference between soliciting and leafleting.  As long as you are giving away your  literature for free,  and you aren’t asking or  panhandling for   donations, you are engaging in the most     protected form of speech.  You can go to any publicly owned street, sidewalk, or park. In legal terms, streets, sidewalks and parks are “traditionally public forums” and are          connected, in our history and experience, to free speech activities.

The laws of this nation and of your state, which protect other forms of speech and press, protect your right to evangelize.  As American citizens, we are protected by the United States Constitution.  California and New Jersey’s constitutions are more protective of speech that the First Amendment.

VOLUNTEER SPEAKS

I have been serving in ACTS since my husband, Pastor Layne and I founded it in 1990. We have seen many changes in the ministry in both growth and opportunities.  We are both dedicated to producing and distributing the Gospel to as many people and missionaries that we can.  I was recently sent an email with an incredible attachment that I immediately included on the front page of our  website called “Using Tracts—George Street”  this audio is an account of how ONE person who chose to witness for God made a huge difference in many, many lives.  Please take the time to go to the website and listen, then place an order and continue where this man left off.

The last couple of years have seen some difficulties in finances but as God tells us, where He guides He will provide.   I am taking time to getting our materials ready so we can have them online for missionaries in other countries to download and print them, thus saving us the financial cost of shipping.

  I enjoy, setting up the tracts for production and would truly enjoy hearing from you about how you are using them and the responses you get.  Any ideas for new materials are always appreciated and Layne reads each one sent.  He is called to keeping all of our materials   doctrinally sound to the Bible. 

I know it is in every update we send about wanting to hear your praise and prayer reports but we truly do want to hear from you. Our Volunteers truly enjoy and respond to each prayer   request and the praise reports are the fuel that keeps the volunteers going.

 

In His Service, Kristy

 

YOUR LETTERS!

§  Our Evangelist team are out here in the San Fernando Valley sharing the Word of the Lord with many people. Many are coming to the Lord. For all of you brothers and sisters out there doing the same, remember that even if just one person gives his/her life to the Lord, all of Heaven rejoices, Amen! And thank ACTS for their  ministry in helping spread the Word, they also have their part in this harvest.  Mike L. , Sun Valley, CA

§  Someone, a stranger came up to me and gave me one of your tracts. My precious daughter, Allison, is         somewhere in San Diego or San Clemente, last that I know of. Please pray for her.. I do believe Jesus and My  Heavenly Father are in Charge, but that does not take away the pain I have every day. She is only 19, and she is lost and with some really lost people too. It was a message to me receiving your tract. God Bless you in your efforts & message to others. Yours in Christ,

  Pam W.,  Vicksburg, MS

§  Thank you for providing material for the lost. God bless you. I am Scripture Volunteer @ my church. I also take tracts and Bibles and Christian materials out to the to  people in the world. These types of material Help me teach the GOOD NEWS! Amen! Kim R., Pittsburgh, PA

 

MINISTRY NEEDS

·    WE NEED PAPER! Our paper supply is seriously low, we need to buy a pallet of paper.  The current cost per pallet is $1,200.00 or $30.00 per case for White Paper—Colored Paper is considerably more expensive.

·    We need  help with production and would like to obtain a color ink drum for our RZ220 Risograph Digital press.  It has the ability produce tracts in two colors and would offset the price we currently pay for our two color printing services.  Each drum cost about $900.00

 

OPERATION LIGHT

·    A previous chaplain is taking over 500 form letters into prisons in Southern CA and we should be receiving them soon to send Bible Story books on to the kids.

 

·    Pray that Chaplains from Prison and Jail Ministries would contact us and want to get “Operation Light” launched into one of their prisons.  If every church would adopt a prison to fund the postage of mailing God’s Word into the homes and hands of the children of inmates.  We could help slow the rate and break the chain of kids following in their  parents footsteps into prison.  TOGETHER We CAN make a difference!

 

PRAYER REQUESTS

  

·     Pray for our presence on the internet. At one time we had a top standing in search engines which is important. The past several years the cost to maintain that has risen and we need the finances and expertise to handle it.

·     Continued Prayer for our dear friend Lori.  She is facing aggressive radiation treatments. 

·     Prayer for Darrell who is a volunteer here. He has a very bad infection and is on aggressive IV treatment.

·     We get many prayer requests as well as materials requested into the prison system, I pray the door will remain open for our life changing materials to reach those that can truly be a new creation.

·     Pray the local youth groups to consider using the ranch as a way to reach our young people.

·     Prayer for all who support the work of this ministry. For each of you that volunteers, prays, gives financially and often  sacrificially, and for all those using the witnessing materials to share the Good News. A BIG Thank you!

·      In addition, remember, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16

 www.actstracts.com

www.childrensbiblesociety.org

MAY OUR LORD AND

SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

BLESS YOU TODAY

AND EVERYDAY!

YOU can CHANGE lives FOREVER!

By supporting the work of this ministry on a regular basis you will share in the fruit from thousands who come to Christ every month.  These materials are supplied freely to saints world-wide who use them in:  Children’s  Hospitals,  school campuses,  military bases,  prisons, sporting events, etc.   We truly are in “the last days, the end times”,  we need your faithful financial support to reach more with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Please let us know how you will stand with us to deliver “light into a darkened world”.

         _____$200.00   ____ $100.00    _____ $75.00   _____ $50.00   ____$25.00  Other $________

My support will be mailed      _____ Monthly        ______ Weekly       _____ One Time Gift

Thank you, we commit to pray for you every day!  May God Bless You!

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ACTS Ministries, be sure to include this support form.

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             As Chosen To Serve Ministries   ♦  38754 Mojo Way  ♦ Hemet, CA  92543-9302     ♦ www.actstracts.com   ♦  www.childrensbiblesociety.org   ♦ email – actstracts@gmail.com

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