| carelinks ministries | |
As announced in our last message, there has been a huge amount of activity in America over the past week, visiting contacts from our websites, resulting in 8 new brothers and sisters. As detailed in our last message, a growing group is developing in Tacoma WA, and they are already fellowshipping together with a view to becoming an established ecclesia soon. Anyone interested in joining them can contact us or Br Scott Ketelsen for more info.
We share the following information so you can see how God is truly at work in the Western world and not just in the poorer world.
Take Dale.
He found Bible Basics in a public library and learnt the true Gospel from this, then contacted us for his own copy, and now has been baptized. Here's one of his earlier emails:
"I am seriously interested in studying "Bible Basics". I checked it out of my local public library over a month ago, and after reading a chapter or so every night, found that it contained many things that I myself believe from my own Bible study. It was so interesting that I had to check it out again from the library so that I could finish it. There are so many Bible references that I didn't have time to look all of them up and had to return the book to the library. So, my interest is not just a casual curiosity. I believe Almighty God, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are 3 separate entities...thus, no such thing as the "trinity" ... ...
I grew up in a Quaker family, attended different Protestant churches: Methodist, Baptist, Pentacostal but found no real satisfation in their beliefs...there seemed to be something missing. All I am looking for is the 'truth'. I believe that God speaks to me through his word, the Bible, have accepted the fact that Christ died for me and feel a deep need to be baptized ...
I feel that God has already blessed me by exposing me to your book and it's valuable truths. It seems like I have spent my entire life looking for the truth and have finally found it. Thank you for your insight on the scriptures."
But it was a long way from this to the final moment when he kindly rented a hotel room and spa bath for us in his rural small town for us to baptize him.
Photos: Brother Dale's baptism; and afterwards, Dale with his Bible Basics
Or take Valeria. She searched long and hard for the Truth over many years and countless emails, online chats etc. with us, especially spending time with her debunking the trinity, heaven going, speaking in tongues etc. Valeria lives in East Chicago, and has built up a wonderful home group based around her lovely family. Two others were baptized along with her, and they are now a female house ecclesia reaching out to others. She even broke the spine of her Bible Basics photocopying it so much for her home group.
Photos: Here she is with fresh supplies of the books, and with her home group (along with Cindy):
We suggested you read the following extracts from her many emails and share in the thrill of a woman finding the Truth:
"..it seems like you are the only one who understands what i am dealing with concerning the church/church folks..it is so sad that they need to build themselves up at someone else's expense, they are never wrong/cannot stand correction even when it is in the word of God...
i went to carelinks, looked up gifts of the Holy Spirit and it is just what i believed, being able to understand another language that is foreign to my own and speaking it...
BUT when asked by the pastor did i know what speaking in tongues meant.. i said this and was shot down ...... the people be speaking mumbo jumbo sounding like nuts .......... especially when pastor says something they really like!!!!!...speaking in tongues i thought was as the Spirit gives utterance not whenever a person choose ....they say the same thing like a personal song only they say!!!.
ok i am going back and read more ... my ladies are asking me for the truth and i have them on hold until i can give them the facts .. there is nothing worse than being misinformed concerning our walk in faith, i am a witness to that. so i am careful not to mislead another ....
i am still waiting on my books, now that mine is gone..we are reveiwing pages i copied out of my book until i get a replacement or mine returned .... i pray they open their minds to the truth .... that will truly bless them and others they may show the book to and they study it with the word of God ..
it would be wonderful for them to escape from the bondage we have been held because we did not thoroughly explore the bible for ourselves like we should have and let tradition rule ... do you read from the King James version only if not which one/s?? so many people find it hard to understand it, therefore don't read it. which is a tragedy i have given them cds and cassettes of the NIV version, i find many people cannot read at all!... are ashamed and will not attend church or anywhere the word is taught, so i have over the years had small groups these people in my home, once they are relaxed and trust you with their weakness, they are open to hear the gospel and this works far better than trying to convince them to come to church,,, as most situations i have been told that don't have enough skills to be doing this! ... this is the reason i asked to be sent the extra bible basics, for my little group to get what i am getting ... i have been copying pages from my book but bending it so much has caused the middle of my book to start disreveling ...
we study one chapter for quite a time because understanding is important,once it is in our spirits then it will eventually enter into our everyday lives ... the gospel is an outline and instruction on how to live here until we greet our Creator ..... i had a group of young ladies between ages of 15 and 20 yrs old for about a year, 3 had at least 1 child, 1 was a virgin being pressured into having sex and 1 was wild as a buck but after much praying and fasting things started turning around ..
none had graduated from high school, 2 has got their GED, high school equivigency diploma, 1 dropped out but has returned to school, the virgin is still saying no and is becoming a medical assistant ..... 4 has grown to respect themselves and their bodies more and love the name of Jesus...4 are not ashamed of the gospel and are faithful walking in faith..don't get me wrong, it is not roses, daily situation come to them but with and by the grace of God ,whom they have learned to trust and depend upon ... at first 1 actually said she believed God,etc was not real, sort of like a fairy tale because events she heard from the bible sounded crazy and unbelievable since then Duncan. i have had at least 13 more people of all ages literally say the same things .... thinking about it after she said this, Duncan the events do sound like a fairy tale or like star wars to a person that has no spiritual background and know NOT about what FAITH is.
sounds farfetched!!!!!!! i could understand saying these things .... But the joy when you can get them to open their hearts and mind up to learn who Jesus is ... then witness the hunger to know more is unspeakable as you all truly know!!!! it is like i imagine a blind person from birth being blessed with sight .. this is how i felt after our conversations and my reading issues on the the website ... then you thank God that you were chosen to partake of this feast. neverending feast of knowledge and undeserved grace,mercy and love from above ...
i cannot believe how long i have followed wrong doctrine ,then in an instant reading over again what i have read so many times before get divine revelation to the truth and light of the gospel our doctrine at church is Apostolic, can you believe that? the trinity that puzzled me so long was no longer s mystery, it was exactly i knew .. Jesus would pray and talk to His Father which makes two individuals .. Jesus taught His disciples about His Father which is two,, Jesus told them about the Comforter which now makes three.. i never believed Jesus was talking to Himself BUT we were taught they were three equalling one ....... which baffled me and i was treated as i did not believe in the word of God for questioning what i was reading .. it was putting into a spiritual battle within,questioning did i really believe in God,Jesus and the Holy Spirit .. I CANNOT EXPRESS THE TURMOIL ......but i could not just accept what he said as truth when i am reading the truth,, i thought about the people in countries that are killed and tormented because they would/will not denounce the truth of the gospel ... so i hung on and then came an email from you someone who knew and understood my plight,praise the Lord for our meeting...sir,
i am truly blessed by your response to my request for the several copies of bible basics for us to study with...as far as your belief in the trinity .. i really thought i was alone in that thinking,i have received so much criticizism and persecution about this ... as if i am a hypochrite or unbeliever ... i have'nt seen it in the scriptures either .. neither do i feel i need an audience to come into the presence of the Lord,i pray for understanding and wisdom when reading and meditaing the word of the Lord ...... music,singing,all the frills .. is unneccessary in my relationship with God ..... i went on the website and there is wealth of resources .... it is so exciting to have this info available whenever i desire the word of the Lord be taught to me .. i am going to share the site with everyone i know, can't keep it to myself .. sharing the gospel of Jesus is a passion with me ....
thank you for responding to the request ..... if you can assist me, i would appreciate it ... people seem not open for the truth customs and what my grandma taught me .. i was raised believing this,etc .. BUT it do not make it true ..that is the real problem ... tradition which Jesus came to abolish .. to set souls and lives free!!!!
i am so grateful to know i am not alone in my beliefs ..... again thank you for the site and the prayer sections ... it is always a blessing to receive information,instruction and fellowship from you .. i am excited to hear about you all visiting the states. and the possibility of fellowshipping with you .....
i know information concerning many issues will be taught as this is what you do. bring the truth not tradition to the light ... being misled about where eternity will be ... heaven .. i always wondered why would the Lord not continue using the wonderful earth He created,leaving it desolate by giving us a new home in heaven,, earth was once perfect before sin .. living eternity with the Lord on earth in it's original state made sense BUT disputing your spiritual leader/s is a N)/NO.you are dismissed without an answer .. i feel so much freedom being able to speak to someone about my doubts concerning teaching i have received without feeling guilty asking questions about the word of God ... tradition the very thing Jesus came to free me from ....
i fell into the trap under a denomination ..... my pastor is somewhat perturbed with me as i have missed quite a bit of church .. Duncan, i am just reading and understanding the word in a new light .... there is doctrine at church that i have spoken on that is not biblical and i have been accused of challenging my spiritual leader!!!!! especially about the trinity .. for a couple of years ... i asked what is the purpose of God speaking to Himself or Jesus praying to Himself or Jesus telling His disciples about His Father,leaving them to join Him,etc ... so i have a decision to make ..
do i continue attending my church knowing that i am not being taught the uncompromised word of God? i already know the answer!!! ... i am going to try my best to see you when you all get here,,, it is not really that far away as time flies .... i am so grateful for your friendship and mentoring in Christ ... bible basics, i read a chapter, go back,stay on it for a while .. it is as if a i can't get enough of what i have read ... so i will complete bible basics. as i am studying it before embarking a much greater venture. i think my excitement learning the truth is sometimes overwhelming.sound silly but that is where i am right now..the freedom i feel is like wow .. my concern about others conception of the truth i know doesn't bother me, i refuse to walk on egg shells with what i now know and revel in .. the truth of the gospel .. which has been in my face all along !!!!! ...
i was the only black volunteer in my class!!!! the instructors informed me not many blacks stay even to the end of the training .. this is sad because there is a need for them ... so that is why i stay on call ..... everyone deserves to see the Lord work through a vessel such as myself, to feel genuine love from a stranger, to be cared for in love no matter how hopeless they may feel, God in me change negativity and show them hope in spite of the situation. praise God for His love and forgiveness .... so i understand your dedication to helping the less fortunate and to blessed to have the heart for it,to be able to share the gospel while you are helping them ..... pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of His people so that the hospice care will be able to be given to all that is in need of it ... that their hearts and minds are open to give unconditional love no matter the race,,,,
racism is everywhere,even the blacks not desiring to help their own .. another reason is .. THERE IS NO PAY .... sometimes we have to clean up vomit .. bowel movements, change dirty linen. etc .. sheets sometimes curse you out ... only because they are afraid of death and lash out .. it is not personal .. it shows me how much Jesus i must share with them .. i treat them as i would my own mother ... i have talked enough about me but i get excited whenever i think about my people, i just love their spirits when they really get the fact that God loves them,will forgive and will accept them as His very own .. you can only imagine the change in their attitudes ans spirits .. the transformation is awesome .. the glory is the Lord's .... sometimes the family members sit in talk and ask questions .. it cannot get too much better duncan ... i always have bibles in the car and have given out about 9 to the family members .... they have so many questions!!!! ... i write the questions down .. find the answers on the website. write the answer down with scriptures and we discuss the information together ... let me stop i will be going on and on ..."
Photo: All this finally lead to her baptism:
Photo: Cindy set them up on the computer to be able to break bread online:
With love from your brothers and sisters of Carelinks