The GoodSeed Blog – Page 32 – Articles, news and testimonies

Christ pulled me from a dark hole

Recently we received a long email all the way from the UK. It was from a man excited to share his testimony with us. He had gone through the online version of The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus VideoBook and wanted to share the impact it had on his life and the life of his family. Here is Winston’s story.

**Hello. My name is Winston* and I live in the UK. This how Jesus Christ pulled me from a dark hole.**

Growing up I was a happy, faith-filled boy who enjoyed attending church and Christian school. As I grew into my twenties, though, that all began to fade. I found myself slipping deeper into a hole of despair and depression—feeling beyond help! As I tried to cope, I studied different religions and philosophies and poured myself into practicing martial arts. But Zen Buddhism left me unable to meditate. Hinduism left me confused and unable to focus. The deep philosophies of man just clouded my mind. Finally I fell to my knees, but I wondered, “Would God listen to me now after all this time?”

By now, I experienced what can only be described as a meltdown. I suffered severe numbness in my face and lips––the affects of stress and depression. I was given medical leave for about four months. The doctor prescribed anti-depressants and I was sent to the hospital for tests, but they found nothing neurologically wrong with me. My depression worsened and my decisions, regrettably, took their toll on my marriage and on our son and daughter.

One day my wife, Eliza,* met a customer named Janine* at the bank where she works. In passing, Janine invited us to visit her church. Eliza had only been to church for weddings, christenings and funerals, so the idea intrigued her and we chatted about it some.

Eventually the topic came up again and, when it did, we sent an email to Janine’s church inquiring about a visit. We chuckled when three replies came back immediately—one from the secretary, one from the associate pastor, and one from Pastor Hernando*—each email a warm invitation. Our first Sunday, however, we realized that we were at the “wrong” place. We had contacted the wrong church—Janine’s was across the street! But, we were so warmly received that we continued to attend. God had a plan to connect us with the right people.

Pastor Hernando invited me to study The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus VideoBook which was hosted on the church website. So I did––all 11 hours––from start to finish. I can honestly say it changed my life! I had never seen or experienced God from that perspective. Despite my upbringing and education in Christian school, the whole meaning and truth had passed me by. I just couldn’t believe that I had spent the last 12 years walking on my own, trying to fill the void in my life. I prayed the prayer of a broken man: “Lord, save me!” It was then that Christ reached down into that hole, picked me up and pulled me out.

After completing The Stranger, the pastor and I continued to meet regularly to learn more from the Bible, first studying through Ephesians and now the life of David.

My health? Well things are much better. I only get a slight numbness now and then after stressful events. In this respect I still have to continually be in prayer for guidance and strength.

Both Eliza and I were baptized together––“dunked” as my daughter calls it. Our son and daughter have been greatly impacted by the love of our church family. They both accepted Christ last year and have expressed interest in being “dunked” sometime soon.

Last year, Eliza and I launched a new course that combines physical instruction in martial arts with an invitation to learn about the Bible’s message. We have website that has a ‘Digital Syllabus’ for members only, so I embedded The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus VideoBook into that section.

It’s awesome to think how this started off a whole new chapter in my life. I’m thankful to God for saving me!

(*Names changed as per GoodSeed policy.)

I found the Bible daunting!

We received an email all the way from Malaysia. This older gentleman was recently given a copy of By This Name. After he read it, he was compelled to write to us. This is what he shared:

This well structured and cleverly written book by John R Cross played a great part in my knowing God and accepting His gracious gift of salvation through faith in His beloved son Jesus Christ. I had previously tried to read the Holy Bible but found it not only daunting to go through the first few chapters but also found the scriptural language difficult to understand. It would have been near impossible for me to read through the thousands of pages and make sense of them. On the other hand By This Name is presented in such a way that the modern-day non-believers’ doubts are quickly dispelled by addressing issues of science and why God is unique and is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow… and He always keeps his promises.

With these initial possible obstacles of the modern man addressed, John then narrated the Bible in simple English and in a comprehensible and cohesive manner so that the reader can easily grasp the essence (basic essentials) of the Holy Bible without having to plough through thousands of pages in the Bible. Of course it is imperative to know more deeply the Word of God in order to grow spiritually and to obey Lord Jesus’ Great Commission. However, the non-believer must first become a believer and that is by knowing what God’s grace is all about. The sooner he obtains this knowledge the sooner the Holy Spirit can then work on him.

I realize that what has worked for me may not work for another. But I have reasons to believe that there are others out there who are seeking to learn more about the Holy Bible who can be helped through the reading of By This Name. — Benjamin*

We never know what will happen when we give a friend a book. We thank Benjamin for taking the time to write to let us know the impact that By This Name has had on his understanding of the Bible. It was encouraging for our staff to receive his story. We pray he will continue to read the Word and grow deeper in his understanding and in his walk with Christ. Praise God for his testimony.

[*Name changed as per GoodSeed policy.]

See By This Name on our US Store or on our Canada Store.

Dinner at Denny’s

(Editor’s note: We received the following encouraging story and a prayer request from Ian.* Would you pray along with us?)

I’m currently studying at a Bible school and, one evening, I was having dinner at the local Denny’s. I was sitting at the walk-up table poring over my notes from my Isaiah class when, Stella*, the waitress noticed my heavily marked-up Bible. She made a comment that she was surprised to see all the notes and highlights.

This made me smile, as this was not the first time that I have had a waitress comment or ask about what I was reading or studying. Later that evening, when Stella was on her break, I felt compelled to show her Isaiah 40–a page that was heavily marked up. This immediately sparked a conversation! She eventually revealed that, though she had attended a Christian school, she did not really believe in the Bible. She only considered it a good book.

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Tabernacle Furniture Sets back in stock

We want to say thanks to all the people who have waited patiently for us to get a new shipment of Tabernacle furniture sets in. This furniture set is part of the Advanced ToolBox of Worldview Rethink and believers have been using them to help teach the gospel clearly.

The process of producing a new batch isn’t easy. We had designed and produced the molds some years ago but each time the manufacturer produces a new batch, there’s lot of checking to do to ensure each piece turns out perfect.

We’re happy to announce that our US, Canada and Australia offices are now stocked and sets are on their way to the UK office.

GoodSeed TERM Seminar: Who will you reach?

When it comes to sharing the gospel, many of us are unsure of what to say or whether we should even try at all. Some of us quote John 3:16 or pass out gospel tracts. We appeal to the fact that God has a wonderful plan for a person’s life. But in recent years our efforts have often been met with blank stares or harsh criticism. As to those who do confess Christ, it seems many fall by the wayside or show no fruit of understanding in their lives. Some believers secretly wonder about the power of the gospel and whether it even works.

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International office expansion: Well on the way!

It’s been like this since the beginning of GoodSeed.

The more tools and training we provide, the more requests we receive from believers around the globe who share our vision for communicating the Bible’s message in a way that makes sense. And God continues to go before us, steadily expanding His ministry through His people and His resources.

You may recall in July of last year, we first shared the pressing need to purchase and build-out the International Office and warehouse in Alberta, Canada, which we are currently renting. We shared that we would trust the Lord to raise 1.2 million CAD by the end of January 2014. From our perspective, it would take a miracle.

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It’s not about the light bulb!

How life’s interruptions are hidden opportunities to further the gospel.

Pastor Dave,* in his closing remarks on Sunday, quoted 2 Corinthians 5:20: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” He challenged the congregation to believe the Lord for “divine appointments” in the coming week. He explained that if we were ready and willing, God would give us opportunities to have spiritual conversations with people. “Some may already be believers and God can use you to encourage them. While others don’t yet know Christ… you may be the one to share the gospel with them–perhaps for the first time.” I’m sure each one in the congregation, like me, filed out the door with visions of “divine appointments” dancing in our heads.

How did it go? Well, to give you an idea, here’s a snapshot of a typical week for me:

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A brief report from Malawi, Africa

(Editor’s note: Last month we posted A very good Christmas gift for Malawians which told about the recent completion and launch of the Chichewa (national language of Malawi) edition of What are Christmas and Easter All About? This is a first-hand report from Rodrick, the translator and Bible teacher who is using this resource to equip Pastors and young people alike to clearly understand the gospel and share it with their own people.)

**A brief report from Malawi on the Christmas & Easter Booklet launch**

Some years ago, I read a very interesting statement. It said something like this:

“Zeal without knowledge is dangerous, and knowledge without zeal is disastrous.”

What a true statement!

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Pray with us for studies around the world

The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus (German)

It’s always exciting to receive prayer requests from believers around the world who have started a Bible study or who have just given away a book to someone interested in finding out more about Jesus.

We know there are studies happening in far-flung places across the globe. In these past few weeks, we’ve been praying for studies in Singapore, Thailand, Germany, Malawi, Canada and the US. Could you pray with us for the people who have been given a book and for those who are part of a study, that they will take the time to learn and understand the meaning of the empty cross and the empty tomb. Pray with us that this understanding will be a life-changing one.

Why do you give the name Yahweh high profile in By This Name and What are Christmas and Easter all about?

yhwh sky

For those with limited experience confronting non-biblical worldviews, the use of Yahweh in these books seems a little unnecessary. Why even bring that name up? Will it not be confused with Jehovah Witnesses?

To start with, those who are biblically illiterate wouldn’t know that the name Jehovah and Yahweh are related. So it is no problem to them—they don’t make the connection to the Jehovah’s Witnesses. As for the Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves, they do know the connection, which makes these two books more acceptable to them rather than otherwise.

Continue reading “Why do you give the name Yahweh high profile in By This Name and What are Christmas and Easter all about?”