Las Vegas Outreach Team Newsletter 

March & April 2009

This Newsletter:

Article:  Resolved

Ministry Highlight:  Sanctuary Ministries 

Calendar

Prayer Concerns

                                                                                                                Resolved

by Doug Koch

You typically get an article on New Year's Resolutions in December or January since those months are typically when resolutions are made.  This article is coming to you in March because I want to dare you to not develop resolutions for the year, but resolutions for your LIFE!  To accomplish such a goal will likely take many months of prayer and wrestling with God's word, to find resolutions that are worthy of a lifetime commitment.

Up through 2007, I prayerfully put together a list of resolutions that I hoped to accomplish through the year.  Then in 2008 I didn't feel the need to make a list of resolutions, but instead to focus and live by one word through the year; DILIGENCE.  Then in November 2008 I began to study a man who many considered the greatest American Theologian; Jonathan Edwards.  His life is a life that people have and continue to model their lives by.  Many have said that he was the kindling that started the fire called the Great Awakening.  Mr. Edwards was also the faithful pastor of the Hampton church for 23 years before he became the missionary to the Indians in Stockbridge, MA .  He also compiled and wrote the book that numerous people claim started and fueled the American missions movement; An Account of the Life of the Late Reverend Mr. David Brainerd.  This book is the only book of Jonathan Edwards that's remained in print and continues to inspire believers even today.

In 1721 when Jonathan Edwards was only eighteen years old, he was born-again.  It was during the summer months while he was away from his college studies that he developed a delight and passion for God.  From the earliest moment of his conversion, Jonathan Edwards was overwhelmed by his view of God and delighted in the deity of Christ.  Jonathan wrote, "The sense I had of divine things, would often of a sudden kindle up, as it were, a sweet burning in my heart; an ardor of soul, that I know not how to express."  A year later, when he was back in New Haven, Jonathan sat down and penned twenty-one resolutions.  When you read these resolutions you realize how much thought and time went into each of them.  Additionally, it is easy to see how Jonathan wanted to honor God with his entire life, as you look at how complete he was with his resolution topics.  Then over the next year Jonathan penned an additional forty-nine resolutions until his seventieth and final resolution was written on August 17, 1723.

I hope that as you read these selected resolutions, you will be inspired. 

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th Sermon on Psalm 119

But if head straight into the resolutions without reading the opening sentence you miss one of the truest statements of the sovereignty of God and our utter dependence upon Him to accomplish our goals.  Jonathan Edward writes, "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake."  I pray that all who read this will have a dependence upon God like that.

Please take the challenge to write your own life resolutions.  Take your time and prayfully consider and formulate them to honor God and that your life will be an evidence of God's awesome power.  Consider the scriptures that speak to the heart of each resolution and memorize them.  Then maybe we can be used in a way that impacts the Kingdom of God in a way that Jonathan Edward's life impacted God's Kingdom on earth. 

                                                                                                                                                              Ministry Highlight:

This will be a new section to the Las Vegas Outreach Team (LVOT) Newsletter.  The Coordinators for the LVOT have developed a love and bond with many believers, across the United States.  Several of these believers have developed ministries similar to the LVOT within their hometown.  Each newsletter we will highlight one of these minisitries.  We hope that you will be encouraged by the brethren's service for God's Kingdom.  We also hope that you will pray for them, and be encouraged to do more yourself for the Lord.  Additionally, if you ever  vacation in one their towns, please contact them to help in the battle.

Sanctuary Ministries 

Scott & Patte Smith                                                     Orlando, Florida

In 2005, Marty and Sheila Gillespie and Doug Koch met Scott and Patte Smith at the Great News Network Evangelism Boot Camp-6.  Then in January 2007 Scott and Patti came for City Invasion, an evangelistic outreach that brought 120+ evangelists from across America and Canada to Las Vegas.  It was at that event that Patte and Scott showed what evangelism looks like at an Abortion Clinic (Murder Center).  During their time here, Patte showed how to minister to the women and men who go to kill their children, and helped us establish our own outreach.  Since January 2007 the Las Vegas Outreach Team has continued to be a presence at the same murder center.

Scott and Patte started this ministry in 1992 with the hope of accomplishing two things.  First they wanted to fulfill the command of Christ in His Great Commission by reaching out to abortion-bound women with the gospel.  Secondly, they wanted to help the mothers so they could carry their baby to a termed delivery.  For many people this is a very difficult ministry because there is such a hatred held by the people who are conducting and receiving the abortions.  And while this may seem like a huge barrier to overcome, it is minor compared to the blessing when a mother decided not to go through with the abortion.

Scott and Patte will tell you that the head of the ministry is Jesus Christ.  After the leadership of Christ, the ministry is seen as a spiritual cooperative under God's direction.  Patte & Scott help equip and direct the saints who make up the beautiful 'coalition of the willing', but each Sanctuary missionary is an ambitious servant of the Master and lead by the Holy Spirit.  Additionally, Sanctuary Ministry is not under one local church but is represented by believers from many churches across Orlando.

If you ask Patte and Scott what fruit they have seen over the last seventeen years they say, the gospel is preached to the lost where the devil has gathered them together. Babies are rescued from slaughter and we are given the privilege of glorifying Christ and loving our neighbors.  If you are interested in learning more about this ministry then please go to the special blog that is set up by the ministry at: Sanctuary Ministries Blogspot.  Additionally you can enjoy this and other YouTube videos about the ministry.