January 2007 Monthly Letter

"And Jesus said…let down your nets for a catch. Peter answered, 'Master, we toiled all night and took nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets'. And when they had done this they enclosed a great shoal of fish." Luke 5:4-5

Recently I was at a historical Bible teaching and believing church near Cincinnati. All those in attendance at every session brought their Bibles and would quickly turn to each book of the Bible I called out--even Habakkuk! Each Sunday-morning-worshiper also came carrying a Bible! I wondered how many would actually respond to a "first time" prayer to receive Jesus at the end of the sermon.

Ten persons did respond. I visited with a couple on the front pew who prayed with me to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. The two questions I always ask those who have prayed were "Was that really the first time you prayed to receive Him?" and "How would you describe what was happening to you as you prayed?"

The husband said, "I may have prayed that when I was a small child, I am not certain. But I now know for sure that He is my personal Savior." The wife with tears on her smiling face said, "Yes, that was the first time. Yesterday was my natural birthday. Today is now my spiritual birthday. What an easy way for me to remember both each year! Thank you for inviting us to pray to receive Jesus. I know our marriage will be even more blessed than it is now."

Some people from College Hill Presbyterian Church came to this service. They are partners in ministry with us. I was so thrilled that they were able to personally witness for themselves what I write about in these monthly letters. They saw the Holy Spirit at work in the sanctuary that morning. They, too, were greatly blessed by the experience.

Later while visiting with the pastor he said, "This has always been a Bible teaching and believing church. Yet just because people know the Scriptures doesn't automatically mean that they know the Savior revealed in the Bible. Thank you for allowing those in our worshiping congregation, who certainly know about Jesus, to personally meet Him today!"

My response was one that the Holy Spirit taught me long ago in fishing for others; "there is always a few fish in the pond to be caught, if we will only cast the net."

Thank you, fishing partners. I keep casting the nets because of your support both prayerfully and financially. And the Holy Spirit keeps filling the nets!