I Hated Witnessing
Dear ACTS Friend,
Years ago I told God that I hated witnessing and was quitting because I was too afraid—that is, too afraid and was hopeless in trying to witness the way I was taught. But then I prayed, “However, God, if you want to use me to be a witness for Christ, then I’m available—but you’ll have to do it through me because I’m just too scared.”
I am convinced that God will use anybody who will make him/herself available for him to use. I pray an I’m-available prayer every day. It’s amazing how God answers it.
One time when I was involved in a secular weekend role-play group with 40 or so participants, one lady asked me if I would role-play God for her. I said I would ... and prayed fervently under my breath for God to help me. She sat me on a chair in the middle of the circle of participants, got down on her knees before me—and confessed that she had been a prostitute and asked God for forgiveness.
Immediately I remembered the words of Jesus when sinners came to him. So I quoted Jesus. “Your sins are forgiven,” I said to this woman. True, only God can forgive sins but the fact is that we Christians are God’s representatives here on earth and this lady was not asking me for forgiveness but was asking God to forgive her.
I had never met this lady before so why did she ask me to role-pay God for her? I believe it was because I daily make myself available for God to use.
Little did I know what the future held on that day I told God I was available to witness for Christ providing he did it through me. Now, today, some 30 years later, we have the wonderful privilege of reaching multiplied thousands around the world every day with the saving gospel message of Jesus Christ.
As of today we have 192,000+ worldwide e-mail subscribers (an increase of 11,000 in the last month)—176,000+ of whom receive ACTS Daily Encounter every weekday. At the click of a button every one of our subscribers receives an e-mail that applies the message of Jesus Christ to the everyday issues of life. This adds up to sending 45 million Daily Encounters a year!
In June we received an average of 21.5 salvation and re-commitment to Jesus Christ response/decisions from around the world (a total of 654 for June). So far this year we have received 3238 decisions from 119 countries. Please note, too, that we are reaching so many with the gospel because of our aggressive advertising via the secular media. In one day last month we received 227 decisions, 47 of which were from our Spanish Daily Encounter (Encuentros Diarios). This was from the Daily Encounter, “Why Did Jesus Have to Die?”
Philip Rosedale, Founder and CEO of Linden Labs, in his article, “Leveling the Playing Field,” published in PC Magazine, said, “The intersection of Moore’s Law with the basic economic utility of the Internet has produced an explosive appetite for information worldwide and has broadened our technological horizons like never before. With nearly 1.1 billion individuals
online globally, the Web has emerged as a central pillar in modern society, enabling change on a sweeping scale” (January 2008, p. 80).
How true are his words. God has given us the greatest means of communication ever in the history of the worldCjust maybe in order to get the gospel to the ends of the earth in preparation for Christ’s return? Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14 NIV).
We’re getting closer every day to seeing Jesus’ words fulfilled. But we have to keep pressing on. Millions in the world still need to hear the gospel.
We dare not let up. Radical Muslims, with their almost unlimited supply of petro-dollars, are making the greatest use of all the most advanced technologies to further their cause—including the use of e-mail and the Internet to promote their radical message and enlist followers to whom they are giving a cause big enough to die for—literally—to die to kill Christians and all who oppose their radical terrorist agenda!
These Muslim terrorists are dead serious and if we Christians in the West don’t get dead serious about both living and proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ, many of us (or our children and our children’s children) may end up enslaved or dead in the days/years ahead.
The exciting news is that a minority working together with God in this day and age can reach almost unlimited numbers with the gospel—a message not of death but of life and hope.
So we thank every one of our supporters. It is because of your help and our working together that God is using ACTS ministry to reach many thousands of people worldwide every day. Please pray that God will greatly increase our support so we can greatly increase the number of un-churched people we are reaching for Jesus Christ.
If you are not a regular supporter, will you prayerfully consider becoming one today and thus have a vital part in reaching the lost for Jesus. We still need more than 100 “Upper Room” monthly supporters (of the 120 needed) who will commit to sending $30 a month so we can continue our aggressive advertising to reach non-Christians with the gospel. Plus we need continued support to cover all of our regular monthly operating and overhead expenses. This support is especially needed during these leaner summer months.
As you stand with us know that God is using your help as a part of his plan to reach the world with the saving gospel message of Jesus Christ. May God richly bless and reward you in his own abundant way.
You can send support online on our secure site at: https://actscom.com/donate.php or you can mail a check or money order to ACTS International at the address below.
As you give may God richly bless and reward you in his own abundant way.
Gratefully in Christ,
Richard (Dick) and Joy Innes
ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
San Clemente, CA 92673
U.S.A.
NOTE: Good News Business Witness cards are available in packs of 50 for: “USA.”“Canada,” “The World,” and in “Spanish” for a donation of $10 or more.
See samples at: http://actscom.com/witness_cards.php.
ACTS International is registered in the State of California as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) tax deductible organization (for U.S. donations).U.S. donations are tax-deductible.
119 Countries Representing Salvation and Re-Commitment Responses in 2008
Accra / Afghanistan / Algeria / Angola / Antigua /Argentina / Aruba / Australia / Bahamas / Bahrain / Bangladesh / Barbados / Belgium / Belize / Bolivia / Botswana / Brazil / Burma / Cambodia / Cameroon / Canada / Cayman Islands / Chile / Colombia / Congo / Costa Rica / Croatia / Cuba /Czech Republic / Dominican Republic / Ecuador / Egypt / El Salvator / England / Eritrea / Ethiopia / Fiji / France / Gauteng / Germany / Ghana / Greece / Guatemala / Honduras / India / Indonesia / Iran / Iraq / Ireland / Italy / Jamaica / Japan / Jordan / Kenya / Korea / Kuwait / Lebanon / Lesotho / Liberia / Madagascar / Malawi / Malaysia / Malta / Mexico / Micronesia / Moldova / Mongolia / Morocco / Mozambique / Myanmar / Namibia / Nepal / Netherlands / New Zealand / Nicaragua / Nigeria / Norway / Pakistan / Panama / Papua New Guinea / Paraguay / Peru / Philippines / Poland / Portugal / Puerto Rico / Qatar / Republica Dominicana / Romania / Rwanda / Saudi Arabia / Senegal / Sierre Leone / Singapore / Slovakia / So. Korea / Solomon Islands / South Africa / Spain / Sri Lanka / St. Maarten / Sudan / Switzerland / Tanzania / Thailand / Tonga / Trinidad / Turkey / Uganda / UK /United Arab Emirates / U.S.A. / Vanuatu / Venezuela / Vietnam / West Indies / Yemen / Zambi / Zimbabwe.
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ACTS International
PO Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673-0119
U.S.A.
