COM Newsletter - October 2021
FORETASTE OF HEAVEN
Growing up as a child there were two places on my “to-do list” for travel, the Colorado Rockies and Switzerland. Both places revealed spectacular scenery in the Ideals Magazines I pored over in our school library. But I never really was able to travel much. That was until I surrendered to the Lord 30 years ago. Since then, the Lord has sent me around the world, much to my delight, to minister for Him.
My very first trip after conversion took me to, you guessed it, the Denver airport for an 8-hour layover with a view of the Colorado Rockies. There I boarded a flight to…Switzerland where my wife and I spent three days with new friends before traveling together with them to Romania and eventually 8 other countries over a six-week period.
This was truly a foretaste of heaven, meeting new friends, brothers and sisters in Christ all along the way. And such has been my experience for the last thirty years.
In addition to that, it has also been an experience of walking in ever-increasing light of truth, also a foretaste of heaven. For our minds have been created with the capacity to study and learn throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.
Recently, I was invited to attend and then to present a brief message, representing ‘Coming Out’ Ministries, at the 1888 Conference in Eden Valley, Colorado… Yes, Colorado again! And, to my delight, not only did I meet friends and family of God, new and old, but I was so blessed also with an exposure to a deeper understanding of God’s wonderful plan for my own salvation. Again, a foretaste of heaven.
Our ministry purpose is to Inspire, Enlighten, and Equip others for a more redemptive approach to the LGBT issue as well as overcoming sin in general. I came away from that conference more inspired, enlightened, and equipped myself, and even empowered!
Friends, our focus must always be upon Christ, upon living to reveal His character, His love, His mercy and patience, and to allow Him to demonstrate His power to fulfill His promise to save His people from their sins, even the sins of the LGBT culture. By putting Jesus first in all things, we remove focus from self, and then temptation loses its power. For all temptation appeals to self.
“All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.” (Desire of Ages, 668)
Looking forward now to upcoming events where I will meet more of you and learn more of God’s will and way—more foretastes of heaven.
SPECIAL MESSAGE
Q&A
Question: Why is it important for the church to be educated about homosexuality?
Reply: The church is embroiled in a war with Satan and sin. It can be victorious in the battle only as it successfully defines and understands the enemy. For the homosexual to trust the church in guidance and counseling, he must find there not condemnation, but rather unconditional love, compassion, and understanding. The church must reflect the sympathy of our Savior.
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15, 16)
Q&A text taken from:
Author: “Victor J. Adamson”
(Ron Woolsey)
TESTIMONY
My mind was in turmoil. I had friends encouraging me to live “out and proud;” to not deny my true identity. I kept hearing, “You deserve to be happy.” There was another Voice asking, “Don’t your husband and children also deserve to have you as their wife and mother in a family unit of love?” I couldn’t resolve how my happiness deserved to be honored more than their own happiness. All this was hidden under an outward veneer of church involvement, a happy marriage, and two children. It was with this internal struggle that I decided to attend a weekend seminar by ‘Coming Out’ Ministries.
At this particular meeting, the venue was packed. The fire marshal began turning people away. Because I had not registered early enough, I was told that I could not stay. I smarted back to God on my way out the door, “I knew it. You don’t really care if I’m gay. I’m done with this struggle. Who cares?”
When I reached the back of the meeting room, a beautiful tall lady approached me. She pointed to the only empty chair in the middle of a row and said, “Go!” I told her I wasn’t registered and had been told to leave. She, again, with a hand motion and a little more insistence, said, “Go!”
I am grateful to ‘Coming Out’ Ministries. Because of their invitation to surrender my sexuality to God, I gave God permission to work in this outwardly hidden area of my life. I also believe God sent the beautiful lady to save me from myself. God couldn’t have shouted “I love you” any louder. I have found safety, freedom, and happiness in surrender to Him. Jesus truly is enough. I pray that others will GO in the way of surrender and experience Jesus too.
By Amanda Ebenezer
SPECIAL INVITATION
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 can 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!