Tag: Evangelism

  • To There & Back Again

    To There & Back Again

    Dear Praying Friend—

    August is now almost over and three weeks ago my son and I returned from a 47 day, 3500+-mile trip. Whew! Lots of driving! And five different flights —in six different states. Joy was spread. Wonder shared. His truth proclaimed. We saw many hearts come to know Christ. And many recommitments, too! In the last six weeks I’ve ministered with:

    Trevecca Community Church, Nashville, TN
    Real Life Community Church, Portage, IN
    First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, AL
    Lake Forest Ranch, Macon, MS
    First Baptist Church, Lesterville, MO
    South Missouri Baptist Camp, Van Buren, MO
    Philadelphia Nazarene District Children’s Camp, Stevens, PA
    Grace Church, Columbia, TN
    North/East Texas District, Scottsville, TX
    People Of Faith Church, Children’s Lighthouse, Winter Garden, FL

    Here’s what Pastor Scott Marshall, from Real Life Community Church in Portage, Indiana said about our family outreach event:

    There several extraordinary things happening in the work of this ministry! Let me share with you a couple of them:

    As of July first, New Dimensions has brought under our ministry umbrella FaithKidz. Faithkidz was started by long-time friend and mentor, Steve Pennington. Steve has had a stellar record on staff as children’s pastor at Saddleback Church (California) and Highland Park Church (Florida) and is currently at Trevecca Community Church in Nashville. FaithKidz creates and develops curriculum for children. AND is actively training the next generation of Children’s Ministry Leaders. A recent report from faith research company, Barna, stated:

    “Fewer churches emphasize and equip people for evangelism these days, and the results are obvious and undeniable. The implications of ignoring gospel outreach – especially among children, who are the most receptive audience to the gospel – are enormous. All the ‘church growth’ strategies in the world cannot compensate for the absence of an authentic transmission of the good news of what Jesus Christ has done for humanity.” (source: Barna.org)

    At our core, NDE is all about partnering with churches to reach communities. Much of our mission is aimed at families and children. Bringing FaithKidz into our fold allows us to go deeper, build larger and proclaim stronger the Good News! Steve is the director of the FaithKidz project with NDE. Thanks to Trevecca Community Church and Jones Legacy Foundation in Nashville for financially supporting this endeavor!

    You are a vital part of this ministry. In case you don’t know, this is not a “big ministry” operation. We have less than 100 people a year that financially give to this work. I believe that God has directed me to build toward 200 in 2020. If we had 100 more folks that would stand by this work at least once-a-year…I believe we could be so much more effective! Would you join in me praying that by the end of 2020 we’d have an additional 100 supporters?

    Please continue to lift up this work in your daily prayers!

    Sharing His Wonder,

    Scott Humston

    If you’d like to learn more about how you can be a vital part of this ministry please go here.

  • “You Have To Do What’s Best For You”

    “You Have To Do What’s Best For You”

    Isn’t it incredible that we can believe that we know what it better for us than God does! However, Satan knows how to make us believe that. First, he raises questions in our mind about God’s command and then contradicts God’s word. To question God’s authority and veracity is one of the deceiver’s primary tools. If he can get us to question God, then he has begun his victory over us.

    The Bible shares many ways how the “great deceiver” will do just that. Here are four:

    (1) Satan raises a question in one’s mind as to whether or not God really gave a certain command (Genesis 3:1).
    (2) He makes an outright contradiction of God’s command (Genesis 3:4).
    (3) He convinces us that we will be better off if we go against God’s command (Genesis 3:5).
    (4) He makes us believe we can be gods ourselves if we will disobey God (also in Genesis 3:5).

    The world if full of individuals who are now openly contradicting God’s commands. Whether it comes from Hollywood, TV, social media outlets, internet stories, magazines, books… or from the life of another Christian who openly disobeys the Lord … we are constantly being told to do something contrary to God’s laws. Their message is often so subtle (frequently coming from someone whom we respect) that we usually do not even realize we are being told that God is a liar. In recent years, we all have become aware that the attacks have become more direct, with the production of several widely advertised books and movies denying the existence of God.

    When Satan has brought us this far, it is a natural step to convince us that we can do it better. If we just make our own decisions, do what we “know” is best for ourselves, and then we will be like gods. In fact, this is one of the most popular “pop-psychological” teachings of today; “You have to do what is best for you.”

    As if, it is OK to treat someone unkind as long as what I am doing is for my good. It is OK to fire that minister because I would like someone else better; or it is OK to leave my mate because “I think” I would be happier without him; or it is OK to cheat on my spouse because it will make me feel better; or it is OK for me to claim illegal deductions on my taxes because I need the money more than Uncle Sam does, etc. The person who is totally dedicated to Christ and is in the center of His will would never believe this… but after Satan has taken us through those first two steps, it then sounds so logical.

    Well, the fact is we can make our own decisions, we can go our own way no matter how it affects others…God allows us that privilege. However, just like Adam and Eve, we have to bear the consequences of our sin. Also, so many other innocent people are hurt because of our sin of trying to be our own boss, just as you and I have been hurt by the decision of Adam and Eve.

    We cannot break God’s laws with impunity. By way of illustration, we may think we are breaking the law of gravity by jumping off a 50-story building. We do not even feel any consequences of it immediately … only freedom as we race through space. However, we soon find out that we have not broken the law of gravity, but rather, IT has broken us.

    [bctt tweet=”God’s laws are not given to us to break, hinder, or hurt us…God knows that if we will faithfully follow HIS INSTRUCTIONS, we WILL experience real happiness and contentment. ” username=”scotthumston”]

    God’s laws are not given to us to break, hinder, or hurt us they are given to us because God knows that if we will faithfully follow HIS INSTRUCTIONS, we WILL experience real happiness and contentment.WE break ourselves (and hurt others) when we go against what God has told us to do!

    “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood (other Christians) in the world. (I Peter 5:8-9)

    Sharing His Wonder!

     

     

    Scott

  • Good News from Scott & NDE

    Good News from Scott & NDE

    IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!

    Thursday, December 29, 2016

    Dear Friend,

    I hope this letter finds you in the midst of a peaceful season. A season where we are reminded of waiting…and the expectation of a coming Saviour!

    I’ve got great news!

    First, I so appreciate your continued prayers for New Dimensions Evangelism! This past year has been full of outreach events in; Texas, Wyoming, Montana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, Virginia, Illinois, and Ohio. Several of these states I visited more than once! We saw thousands attend events and hundreds of people made first-time decisions for Christ! Little children, teenagers, moms, dads, even grandparents! God’s Word does not return void!

    I don’t have to tell you how vital our work is in today’s world, as families are under all kinds of attacks from an Enemy with many faces. As the media hits kids with messages contrary to God’s Word from every angle, the culture, in turn, absorbs these messages and fosters recklessness and entitlement instead of accountability and responsibility. Because of the friendship, many of us develop with the things of this world; there is an aura of uncertainty in our lives that leaves us thirsting for something stable and reliable. Something we hang onto…Some One who is not an illusion!

    I wanted to make you aware that in the midst of all of this uncertainty, New Dimensions continues to offer the rock-solid message of God’s Truth that has been well-tested, and is well loved by people of faith and by those taking their first steps toward faith. We’re making plans for more options, better family resources, and a fresh vision sharing God’s Word in more churches trying to reach people of all ages with the truth of the gospel!

    Here’s the good news: In 2015 we were up in monthly support, 53% over the previous year of 2014. Which was a tremendous blessing! And, thanks to an incredible supporter, just a couple of weeks ago, we will end the year 2016 in stronger financial shape in more than a decade.

    However, we still need your ongoing prayer—and if God lays it on your heart to give financially, that would be such a huge blessing! NDE isn’t a “big” ministry—compared to others we are small…but doing BIG things.

    This month, I am asking for your partnership in this vision! We know you get many requests for financial contributions. But, we feel privileged to have you come alongside our efforts for the days to come – because we believe God is leading us to fulfill his vision for our ministry.

    If you’ve kept up with us in the past, you know that we have not spent much time or energy asking you for financial contributions – we trust in God to provide all that we need. The churches which sponsor a WFWE are never asked for a pre-determined amount of offering.

    If in the past you’ve supported New Dimensions with a financial gift, I so appreciate that! Whatever offerings are given is all that we ask, so please pray about partnering with us financially this month with a one-time gift. Or—if God directs you, please consider giving monthly in 2017.

    By partnering with us, you will help take our work of proclaiming the gospel message to more people in more places! We’re trusting God to put it in the hearts of people like you to make a difference for the future of families in our nation.

    There’s a lot of talk about our future these days, but if we don’t empower the Future with Character and Faith, where will we be? My simple request is that you pray about how you might be able to help in our work. We’re praying, too, in faith that God has raised up some of our faithful partners, like you, to make a $2,500 or $1,000 gift in response to this letter. Others will be led to give $250, $100, or $25, but we receive it all as a blessing from the Lord!

    Thank you in advance for asking God about making your best gift the ministry of New Dimensions today! Our promise is to keep you informed about how God is using your gifts in incredible ways to change our tomorrow today!

    Sharing His Wonder,