Biblical Reasons Ministry
Testimony
by Russ
I’ll never forget the sermon. I was 12 years old. It was a sermon on Romans; a sermon on grace (how amazing) where Jesus revealed himself to me as a sinner in need of salvation. Minister Don Wilmouth informed the congregation that grace isn’t something one can “earn,” but that it’s more like “getting a bicycle that you don’t deserve.”
I remember walking down the aisle toward the podium. I remember Minister Wilmouth smiling and asking me if I understood what I was doing. I remember saying, “Yes, of course,” and I remember thinking: how long is this going to take? I want to be baptized. Right now.
After being baptized at Lawrence Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana at age 12, I led many neighborhood children and my own mother to that church so they could hear of Jesus’ wonderful plan and love for their lives. It wasn’t long after, however, that I decided that perhaps God didn’t love me after all.
After my father’s stroke took a huge toll on our family, after my parents divorce when I was 14 years old and after some troubles at school, I began to wonder why a good God would allow such things. I decided that I had a better way. The glory of becoming a “rock star” became the focus of my teen years. High school became blah.
After a failed five-year marriage in my early-twenties and after two other failed relationships lived in sin over the next ten years, I found myself crying out to God to “fix it.” Money, lust and narcissism hadn’t lived up to my expectations.
God’s love wouldn’t leave me in my sin and despair.
The School of Evangelism (affectionately known as “The School of E”) was a trying and testing period in my life. Unfortunately, even that experience didn’t produce in me a genuine, lasting desire to follow God daily, but it did prepare me for what lay ahead.
After much soul-searching, I learned what it means to surrender. I prayed one lonely, desperate night before going to bed. “God!,” I cried out. “I give up. I give in. I’ve done it my own way for far too long. I finally believe you now. Your ways are higher than mine.” Isaiah 55:8-9
God worked mightily in my surrender.
Within a month I met my wonderful wife, Christine. Only another month went by before I asked her to marry me! That was July, 1999.
We both agreed to abstain from sex until marriage. We dated the “old-fashioned way”; we learned of each other; we grew in faith and knowledge of our Lord and were married in October of 2000. My wife later graduated from The School of E as well.
Christine and I currently and regularly attend First Christian Church of Yuma, Arizona where my wife is involved in a weekly women’s Bible study.
My ministry involvement includes teaching an Adult Small Group in Arizona in 2008. Mr. Steve Berlin and I taught on Christian cults; with an emphasis on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint (Mormonism).
I very much respect the work of Bill McKeever of Mormonism Research Ministry (MRM.org). Many agree that Mr. McKeever is likely the humblest man they’ve ever met. Bill just smiles and says, “Yes, and I’m very proud of my humility.” (It’s always good for a laugh.)
My favorite pastors/authors/apologists are (alphabetically):
Pastor Alistair Begg, Dr. Tony Evans, Dr. David Jeremiah, John MacArthur, Dr. Walter Martin, Dr. J. Vernon McGee, Dr. R.C. Sproul, C.H. Spurgeon, Dr. Charles Stanley, Dr. Michael Youssef, and last but certainly not least, Ravi Zacharias
The teachings of these gifted men of God mold me daily.
My ministry involvement outside the church includes hour upon hour of Internet discussion comparing and contrasting the claims of the LDS church. I’ve attended public LDS temple openings and pageants as a sincere witness to the truths of the Bible in contrast to LDS doctrines and dogmas. My personal goal is to continue to attend such events and train up others to do the same. The reason I do so is a simple one. People matter to God and He desires that none should perish. 2Pet. 2:9
This website was launched in 2006 in hopes of reaching out to those of the LDS faith.
Ministry, while challenging and difficult, is no mere chore. It’s a passion! My wife jokes that God’s help should be upon my future nursing home if my nurse happens to be Mormon. I feel as Paul in 1Cor 9:16; I cannot but preach the gospel.
Mormon Testimonies Turned to Christ
Updated 4.10
Why Mormonism?
Mormon Temples
Secret or Sacred?
What Happens In There?
The Mormon Miracle Pageant
That’s my King! (S M Lockridge) – free video
"Jesus' blood on the altar was the ultimate payment. He made us worthy permanently. When Jesus died on the cross the veil covering the Holy of Holies tore in half. The mercy seat lay exposed to mankind. There is no veil, anymore, between God and man. Jesus ripped it down. But Mormonism has hung up a new one." -Kathleen Baldwin
To the questioning Mormon. God loves you and has a
wonderful plan for your life. Visit Testimonies Turned to Christ at
the top of this section to understand that you're not alone.
"It
wasn’t until one day that when I was flat on my back for days, and crying
out to Him, that I realized how all along He had been trying to get my
attention, and the only way to get it was to make me stop dead in my tracks,
flat on my back, and focus on Him and what it was that He was trying to tell
me all along. In
James 4:8 (a) we read: 'Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.' In
James 4:10 we read: 'Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will
lift you up.'" He Gave You Jesus
- by Justjo "Counterfeit, fake, bogus,
imitation, forgery, fraud, copy.... We all recognize these words, as well as
understand their meaning. There are many counterfeits out there. If they were
easy to detect, they would not be called counterfeits. God gave us these
wonderful books in the Bible to test these counterfeits. This is where we find
our markers to detect them. The Holy Spirit does not contradict Gods word...."
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-Christine Bales -
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