Las Vegas Outreach
Team Newsletter
October 2011
This Newsletter:
September San Gennaro
Asian Food Festival
Deeper Conference
180 Movie Outreach
Reformation Weekend Conference
Calendar
September San Gennaro
In the month of September, the Las Vegas Outreach Team manned a booth for the ninth time at the San Gennaro Feast. Like the previous Feasts, this one we had seventeen official volunteers from eight different churches. But like the other Feasts we have attended, there were several people who came out who did not formally sign-up to help.
And like the previous times the Lord showed that it was His will to be at the event. It has been the commitment of the Las Vegas Outreach Team Coordinators, that if the funds are not available to purchase a booth, it is a confirmation that the Lord did not want us to attend. On August 26th, I headed down to the San Gennaro Office to pay for the booth. As I pulled up to their office, I checked the Las Vegas Outreach Team account and saw that there was only $1,017 in the account. I knew that we needed to not only pay for the booth but also for some more gospel tracts. As I walked into the office with three of my children, I saw that someone else was in the office looking over the contact. As I began to sit down, I heard this guy exclaim, "The booth is going to cost me $1175? Why so expensive?" As I heard this, my heart dropped because it seemed that there would not be the funds to pay for the booth. I listened as the Event Coordinator, Dominic, explained that the increased cost was because we were at the Rio. Dominic assured the pensive vendor that the location would be sure to make his money back many times over. As Dominic turned his attention to me, I asked if he had a contract for me. I hoped secretly that he would pull me out a different contract. As I looked at the contract given to me by Dominic, I saw the same price of $1175. I was just about to tell Dominic that the Outreach Team was not supposed to be at the event, when Dominic put up nine fingers toward my direction. I was surprised and because I didn't want to do anything foolish, I looked back at Dominic and mouthed, "What?" This time Dominic put up the nine fingers again and mouthed "$900", so the other vendor would not know. At that moment, I became so excited that I wrote out the check and handed it to Dominic so quickly to ensure he didn't have the time to change his mind. Dominic took one look at the check and then said to me with a smile, "Alright, we're all good."
It was clear very early on that the Lord wanted us there to share the Gospel because of the reception we had from the people. One of the neatest stories from the event occurred on Sunday evening. Tom " Ironman" Zavatsky was sharing the gospel with someone when a gentleman came up to listen. Once Tom was done talking this gentleman asked if Tom recognized him. Tom at first did not recognize him but as this guy told Tom his story, it became clear to Tom how their paths had crossed in the past. This gentleman told Tom how he had been a part of the Word of Faith movement and he believed that the greater the gifts and miracles you possessed were evidence of the amount of grace you had been given by God. This guy wanted people to see how God had blessed him, so when he had a dream that the world economic market was going to fail in November 2009, he created a sign and called himself a prophet. Almost every week for a couple of months, this gentleman could be found on Fremont Street with his sign and proclaiming his prophecy. One particular night, Tom came to this gentleman and said, "Do you realize that if what you are prophesying does not come true, that means you are a false prophet and should be stoned." At first the gentleman did not let Tom's statement get to him, but when the prophesized date did not bring about the destruction of the financial market, this gentleman began to question if he was a true believer. It was then, that he began to realize that the things that he was being taught were not biblical and that he needed to know the truth. This gentleman admitted to Tom that his statement lead him to seek God and to finally be saved.
The final story comes from a wonderful Brother who attends Living Water Baptist Church on the east side of the valley. By the grace of God, he has learned about the Way of the Master and his Pastor is looking forward to bringing the teaching to his church body. On August 13th, I had the pleasure to sit down with both John and Randy over lunch and we talked about the lack of workers when there is such a great need. John was with his family at the San Gennaro when he came upon the booth. He stayed around and talked for a while before I had to leave with my children. You can read from his e-mail to me, how the Spirit was enabling him and his family to live with power and love in proclaiming the name of Christ.
Hi Doug,
It was good to see you at San Gennaro last Saturday. It was a blessing for me to participate in sharing the Gospel, though I would have to admit you caught me off guard when you asked me if I would be willing to help out, I felt like I wasn't prepared enough. I don't know if you were told by Tom Zavatsky, but he really looked familiar to me. It turns out that, after talking a while, we went to junior high school together. Talk about a small world, God is truly Amazing! My wife and nine year old daughter also joined in to help. I told them how moved I was watching your children boldly sharing and helping out. My daughter jumped right in giving out tracks and my wife had the privilege of praying with a young lady. You don't know it but, you caused me to step out in faith and trust God that day. It has made me even more determined to get equipped as I observed and participated in obedience to sharing the Gospel, it was truly an uplifting time. Keep fighting the good fight, it is making a difference. To tell you the truth, that's the first time I've actually observed Christians exercising their Faith and sharing the Gospel and I've been around Christians for approximately eighteen years, pretty sad.
Your brother in Christ,
John Rankin
The volunteers that were asked all felt that the Lord is leading us to come back for the May 9th through 13th, 2012 San Gennaro Feast. I have already signed the contract and placed a $50 deposit down on the double booth. The outstanding balance is $1125 which must be paid in full by April 25, 2012. Please be in prayer that the Lord will provide the finances for that event again.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Doug Koch
Asian Food Festival
One of the most wonderful things that happened during the San Gennaro Feast was that the Las Vegas Outreach Team (LVOT) was invited to the Asian Food Festival. On Friday gentleman was taken through the Intelligence Test and then heard the Gospel of Christ. Forty-five minutes later this same guy came back with his boss so that she could go through the Intelligence Test. As the conversation switched from the natural to the spiritual, the boss recognized what was happening. She looked at the volunteer and asked, "So you are here talking about Jesus?" After the LVOT volunteer explained what the booth does, she requested to speak to the person in charge. The boss explained that she was the Project Co-Chair for the Asian Food Festival which was to occur on October 1 & 2 at The Orleans Hotel and Casino, and she wanted our booth to be at her event. Since we were a non-profit organization, the booth would not cost us the normal $600 but she was willing to give us a cost of $300. The LVOT Coordinator told her he needed to pray about it but he would call her back after the San Gennaro. Thirty minutes later, the Project Co-Chair was back with a contract and the new cost of $250.
Normally, you need about six weeks to plan and organize for a Team Outreach, but we only had a two week turn around. Even though it seemed like a rushed job, and things could be missed, the impression from the Brothers was that the opportunity to attend came from an invitation and since it was only for two days it would be easier to set-up.
Then things got a little bit more difficult when one Brother asked if an additional booth was needed to do a screening of the 180 Movie.com. The plan was to have a booth and ask people to screen the 180 Movie, and if they provided feedback on the movie we would pay them $5. Before we could go through with this plan, we prayed and a LVOT Coordinator called the Project Co-Chair to see if they would allow that type of booth. After the request was made there was no return call for a couple of days, and it seemed that it was not meant to be. Then the call came and the LVOT was informed that the booth for the 180 Movie was accepted and that both booths would cost only $500. This was perfect since the Las Vegas Outreach account had only $561.
In preparation for this booth we need to purchase some tracts since we handed out almost all the tracts at the San Gennaro Feast. There was one donation of $100 to purchase tracts for this coming event, but we could use some more. One Brother has offered give $1000 to pay at least 100 people each day of the festival to screen the 180 Movie. And another Brother has offered to supply the TV and stand so that we can show the movie. If you are interested in signing up for this event then please go to Asian Food Festival. Please check the schedule first so that we are not over booking time slots that are already full. And pray that we can get as close to 200 people to see the 180 Movie.
Living Waters Minstry has committed to sending 3,000 copies of the 180 Movie to the Las Vegas Outreach Team. The Las Vegas Outreach Team plans to have a 180 Team Outreach this fall and to pass out all of the movies within the Las Vegas valley. Even if you are not able to join us in passing out the 3,000 movies you can still help the cause. We need some brethren to commit to giving a copy of the 180 Movie to their Pastor and asking him to watch the movie. We hope that through the Pastor's viewing, he will encourage the church to support the continued efforts in getting out additional copies of this movie at just $1 a peice.
Because there are many campus organizations that are interested in stopping this movie from making it onto their campuses, we are having to take special measures to make sure that only the brethren are finding out when the outreach will occur. To make this possible, you will need to complete a 180 Movie Password Request. You will then be contacted within a day so that you can get the password to sign up for the Team Outreach. Also, please continue to pray for this Outreach and the desire to see this movie get into as many homes throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
Living Waters is hosting their Deeper Conference this year in Westlake Village, California. There are some local Brothers who are interested in going to this event, and the Las Vegas Outreach Team wants to help get a group to go together for the sake of fellowship. The two individuals who are planning and organizing this trip are Chris Raymond and Tom Zavatsky. Please watch the following video and prayfully consider going to this event. If you are able to attend then please fill out the form below and one of these Brothers will get back to you quickly.
Reformation Weekend Conference
Have you ever thought about where we would be today if there had been no Martin Luther who nailed the Ninety-five Theses to the All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Germany? Or what if there had never been a John Wycliffe, the Morning Star of the Reformation, who pushed to have the Bible written in the language of the common man? Or if there had never been a Jan Huss who convinced a nation (Czech) that indulgences had no power in salvation? Or what if there was no John Calvin who was able to take the scriptures and outline the system of Theology which continued the break from the Catholic Church?
The likely answer to the question is that we would still be under the control, tyranny, and false teachings of the Catholic Church. And even though most of our current beliefs and teachings have come from the efforts of John Wycliffe, Jan Huss, Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin, and John Knox, little is known about the battles that were waged by these men that have brought us to how we act as the church. And when so many people are celebrating Halloween on October 31st, there are some who recognize that day as Reformation Day because on October 31st, 1517 Martin Luther placed his Ninety-Five Theses on the church door.
The church that provides Elder Leadership to the Las Vegas Outreach Team, First Baptist Church of The Lakes, is holding a conference this October called the Reformation Weekend Conference. There will be two speakers Dr. John Pretlove and Dr. James Galyon. They will speak on "To Live Is Christ: Theology for Life", "My Grace is Sufficient: Suffering & Divine Sovereignty", "One Lord, One Faith: Loving Fellow Christians", and "With All Boldness: Calvinism & Evangelism". Please come to hear the preaching of two wonderful pastors, and also remember how through God's grace of the Reformation we are free to worship a righteous and loving God.
Calendar
Outreach, Fellowship, Food
Thursday Nights
First Baptist Church of The Lakes
9125 Sping Mountain Drive, 89117
6:00 Dinner, Training, Prayer
7:00 Outreach
Asian Food Festival
October 1st & 2nd
The Orleans Hotel & Casino, North Parking Lot
We will have two booths: Intelligence Test & 180 Movie
Sign-up - Asian Food Festival
Deeper Conference
October 14th & 15th
Westlake Village, CA
Calvary Community Church
Contacts: Chris Raymond & Tom Zavasky
180 Movie Team Outreach
Date: ????
Location: Las Vegas Valley
Request a Password above to Join the Outreach.
Reformation Weekend Conference
Dates: October 28th through 30th
Location: First Baptist Church of The Lakes
9125 W. Spring Mountain Road, 89117
702-254-3234
Schedule:
Fri. October 28th
6:00 pm Spaghetti Dinner
7:00 pm "To Live Is Christ: Theology For Life
Dr. John Pretlove
Sat. October 29th
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am "My Grace is Sufficient: Suffering & Divine Sovereignty"
Dr. James Galyon
10:30 am "One Lord, One Faith: Loving Fellow Christians"
Dr. John Pretlove
Sun. October 30th
9:45 am Sunday School
11:00 am Morning Worship
Dr. John Pretlove
6:00 pm "With All Boldness: Calvinism & Evengelism"
Dr. James Galyon
7:15 pm Covered Dish Dinner
(Please bring a dish)