COM Newsletter - October 2020
PANDEMIC ADVANCES
OUR MESSAGE
At the time the Wuhan Chinese Virus Pandemic struck, I had two more events scheduled to finish up an events tour in Colorado and Texas. The ‘Coming Out’ Ministries calendar of events was very well booked for months ahead. But all came to a screeching halt with the shut down of our national travel and economy. All of our events were cancelled, and we all were resigned to being isolated at home, not even being able to go to church. It was a time of great introspection and reassessment of how to go forward in ministry. For this gospel of the kingdom must go forward…
We then started getting invitations from many international locations to share our messages through the miracle of modern-day technology, i.e., ZOOM, FaceBook Live, YouTube, etc. One two-week event actually reached an audience of around 30,000 people in South America and other international and domestic Hispanic audiences. We are now conducting events almost every week through these media that we cannot attend in person. We are home much more, but ministering on in full-time mode and on a large international scale.
Our new book was scheduled to be introduced at the General Conference Session, but that was cancelled. It was then scheduled to be introduced through the ASI Convention, but then it was cancelled. We were finally able to be interviewed by 3ABN Today and Urban Report on the Dare to Dream Network, and the book was launched through that media. Many thanks to our friends at 3ABN.
A volunteer contacted us about translating our works into Spanish. We had no funds to publish the new book in Spanish, but we went forward with the translation in preparation for having it printed should the Lord provide the means. Then, just the last week of September we received the following email message:
“Dear Coming Out Ministries, I am writing from the South American Spanish Publishing House, owned and operated by the SDA Church in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We were richly blessed by your visit to Argentina a couple of years ago, and enjoyed interviewing members of your ministry for our Spanish edition of the Adventist Review. We’ve received excellent recommendations about the book authored by Ron Woolsey, Navigating the Storms of Contemporary Sexuality, Identity and Love. We are interested in translating and publishing this book in Spanish for South America. We would greatly appreciate having a copy of the book, for further evaluation, either in digital format or in print. Is there any possibility you could send us a complimentary copy? Thank you very much in advance.
Wishing you the best of blessings in your wonderful ministry.”
They have now received it already translated into Spanish for their review and possible publication. Amazing, isn’t it, how the Lord works when we step forward in faith? “God works in a mysterious way his wonders to perform.”
Please continue to remember ‘Coming Out’ Ministries in your prayers as we endeavor to carry on. God bless you!
APPEAL
Q&A
Question: I'm being tempted where I work. My boss has been giving me signs that he's attracted to me. I've been ignoring them and even show my displeasure. I have also been keeping a distance from him. But now I'm feeling like I'm very drawn to him, even getting jealous. So I have decided to quit my job in order to remove myself from this temptation as in Matthew 5:29, 30. My question is, should I just quit? Run from it? Or do I really need to face it? I know that I can't run forever, but I really don't want to fall into sin. Thanks.
Reply: The secret to overcoming this temptation is not in quitting your job, because Satan will follow you with more temptation at another job location. It is true that if you are leaving behind a gay lifestyle that it is helpful to relocate, if possible, to new surroundings and to create a new circle of friends—straight ones, Christian ones. However, if you are wanting to resist temptation, you need to build up strength, primarily through “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). This you can do, for all Christ's biddings are enablings. If God says to do it, there is supplied grace to follow through.
He promises, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Grace is defined as that divine influence working upon the heart and reflecting in the life. Grace is nothing less than omnipotent, divine power.
Another tip from King David himself is this, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalms 119:11). So build up your strength and resistance to temptation by filling your mind with the exceeding great and precious promises of God, many of which you will find in the final chapter of this book as “A Rainbow of Promises.” Choose what you will think about, flip the switch, change the channel, turn the page, turn your head, or change the subject. “Submit [yourself] therefore to God [day by day, and moment by moment, if necessary]. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). In your behavior and deportment, do not give your boss any “come-ons” or invitations. Give him no reason to believe that he can have his way with you.
Now, if these steps do not alleviate the problem you face, then you might consider leaving your job and seeking employment elsewhere. I do understand that as he is your boss this does create a very difficult situation. Pray that the Lord will give you wisdom and good judgment to make the right decisions at the right times. Remember that Joseph was in a similar situation with the wife of his boss Potiphar. He did flee from his duties rather than yield to sin with her. His reaction, if implemented, will bring you great strength as well: “How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against [my] God?” (Genesis 39:9).
Grace to you my friend!
Victor
Q&A text taken from:
TESTIMONY
THE GOSPEL
ACCORDING TO GOSSIP
It was early in my ministry, actually the second year after leaving behind my life in the gay culture. Our little church was hosting a camp meeting in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Little did I know that a malicious gossiper was on the premises, and he had captured the attention of a young man who I now call the “gossipee.” As the gossiper shared with the gossipee what he had heard about Pastor Ron’s past, no doubt embellishing and adding to the story, the gossipee was wide-eyed with amazement.
“Really?! Pastor Ron?! Are you sure?!” I can imagine him exclaiming in shock and awe. Of course, I knew nothing about the conversation between the gossiper and the gossipee at the time. Until…
Martin, the young gossipee came to me with the most quizzical look on his face. His demeanor caused me to wonder what was on his mind as he approached.
Then, standing before me shaking his head he said, “Pastor Ron, (pause), If God can save you… (hesitation), why! He can save anybody!”
“Oh? What do you mean by that?!” I asked in surprise.
He then proceeded to tell me what he had just been told by the gossiper. Needless to say, I was quite taken aback, not prepared for what I heard.
“Oh! Well, that! Some of that is true. A lot of it is true. Actually, most of what you just heard is true, but not all of it. What is true, however, is that, Yes, God can save anybody. Including you, Martin!”
What came next was even more surprising. “Pastor, would you be willing to baptize me at the end of the camp meeting?”
Up to this point I had not studied with Martin. What he comprehended from the gossiper was not so much the sordid details of Pastor Ron’s past, but rather the power of a loving, compassionate heavenly Father who “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)
At the end of the camp meeting it was my privilege, joy and delight to baptize young Martin along with about 12 other people into a new walk with Jesus Christ. All the result of “the gospel according to gossip…”
A Testimonial by Ron Woolsey
APPEAL
Please consider making a donation to our ministry to help spread the message of God’s love and redemption! Kindly visit our website www.comingoutministries.org and select the Donate button, or you may send a check or money order directly to
‘Coming Out’ Ministries at PO Box 107, Tilly, AR 72679.
May God bless you for your support!