Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Heartcry: Inside This Issue
Heartcry: Inside This Issue
Theology:
A Reformed Gospel ......... p. 4
The Nature of True
Repentance ......................... p. 8
Missions:
Send the Light .....................p.13
Meet Your Missionaries ...p.14
For the Love of Gypsies ....p.17
Pray for Missionaries ........p.18
HeartCry is a publication of
HeartCry Missionary Society
under the authority of
Waldo Baptist Church (SBC)
6970 Waldo Church Road,
Metropolis, IL 62960.
(618) 564-2180
heartcry@midwest.net
HeartCry
Page 1
Greetings
Salutation
We hope and pray that this month’s newsletter finds you rejoicing in the grace of God.
We also pray and even urge you as God’s fellow workers that you do not receive the grace of God
in vain, but that you abound in good works of faith and love, so as to prove God’s election of you
and to demonstrate your salvation, not by words or tongue but with actions and in truth. It is
our greatest desire that you might stand before God blameless, without spot or wrinkle on that
great day in which He will judge both the living and the dead by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The
Gospel that has once and for all been given to the Church that it might be spread abroad to every
nation, tribe and tongue on the face of the Earth. May God bless you in the reading of His Word
and may what is written in these pages both challenge and encourage you.
HeartCry
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Theology
“T her
heree is rrejoicing
“Ther ejoicing in the presence
presence
of the ang els of God oover
angels ver one sinner
who rree pents .” Luk
pents.” Lukee 15:10
HeartCry
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Theology
that purchased God’s people from eter- who desires the throne of his King, a
nal destruction. In this edition we will creature who longs for the glory of his
consider the call of the Gospel and the Creator, an instrument created for
evidences of its work. In other words, praise who seeks to be worshiped in the
we will consider what men must know place of God.
and do to be saved. The true Gospel does not be-
gin with man’s worth or God’s wonder-
Today’s Gospel ful plan for him. The true Gospel be-
Today’s Gospel can easily be gins with a declaration of God’s worth
reduced down to a few “spiritual laws.” and His great concern for His own
They are as follows: (1) God loves us Glory. Someone has said correctly that
and has a wonderful plan for our life. the Gospel does not begin with the
(2) We have sinned and our sin sepa- words “For God so loved the world,”
rates us from God. (3) Christ died for but with the declaration, “In the begin-
our sins. (4) We must pray the prayer ning God.”
of faith and ask Jesus to come into our In what has been written so
A Reformed hearts and save us. (5) If we ask by
faith, then we can be assured that we
far, we are in no way attempting to di-
minish or slight the love of God. In
HeartCry
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Theology
the love He has for His own Name. If it spiritual life, depraved of the good will Gospel we must also teach. The death
were any other way, God Himself would necessary to obey God and totally desti- of Christ will mean very little to the sin-
be guilty of idolatry and the universe tute of hope apart from the mercy of ner apart from an adequate explanation
would be chaos. In light of what has God. We must teach that unless God of why and how Christ died. The lost
been said we would like to change the moves on man’s behalf, he will die in his man needs more than a few Christian
“first spiritual law” of today’s Gospel sins and pass through eternity under clichés, he needs to know something
from “God loves us and has a wonderful divine retribution. We must tell of about God. We hear so much today
plan for our life” to “God is the Creator man’s great need of God and urge him from secular educators and sociologists
and Lord of the universe and is infinitely to call out to the God of mercy to do about the “dumbing down” of America,
concerned for His own Glory.” for him what he cannot do for himself. but it seems that the same malady has
In light of what has been said struck the Church. We are convinced
A Gospel for the Sick we would like to change the second spiri- that theology and doctrine have no
The second tenant of the “spiri- tual law” from “We have sinned and our place in the Christian life and that to
tual laws” of today’s Gospel is that we sin separates us from God.” to “We are actually teach doctrines or refer to theol-
have sinned and our sin separates us ogy in our witnessing will only hinder the
from God.” The problem with this law message. We have traded the great truths
is not that it is incorrect, but that it does of the Gospel message for little stories,
not go far enough. We have not only amusing illustrations and our own per-
sinned, but we are sinners. We not only sonal testimonies. Please do not misun-
do things that are wrong, we are wrong. derstand, I am not against anything that
The Gospel is not good news for the sick will help to communicate the Gospel to
or for the dying. The Gospel is good men, but when the means becomes the
news for the dead. message and the message goes unspoken
“As for you, you were dead in your there is something terribly wrong. What
transgressions and sins.” God has done in my life is not impor-
Ephesians 2:1 tant. What is of utmost importance is
what God has done in Christ through
It is often preached that the His life and death. We must pass on to
sinner is like a man sick unto death that others as of “first importance” that
can do little to save himself, God is the Christ not only died for us, but that He
doctor and the Gospel is the medicine. lived a perfect life for us; that He bore
God stands over the dying man with a our sin on the Cross and became sin in
spoonful of medicine and longs to save our place; that He suffered the condem-
him, but the man must make that first nation of God for every Law of God we
step. He must respond to God’s willing- have ever broken; that He died in our
ness to save him by opening his mouth place, separated from fellowship with
and receiving the medicine. This is ab- “Christ will suffer and rise from the
God and crushed under the weight of
surd. The Scripture does not say that dead on the third day, and repentance
and forgiveness of sins will be God’s wrath; that His death paid our
man is sin-sick, but sin-dead. A dead preached in His name.” Luke 24:46-47 sin debt before God and provided for
man cannot respond to any prompting the salvation of His people; that His per-
no matter how tender or sincere, and sinners, corrupt in nature and deed, fect life provided for us a gift of righ-
the sinful man cannot and will not ever spiritually dead, under the righteous teousness by which we can stand before
make the first step so that God might condemnation of God and totally de- God as truly the righteousness of God in
take him the rest of the way. Salvation is pendant upon His mercy. Christ.
not man’s decision to accept God’s help, Another problem associated
but the power of God whereby the sin- An Unexplained Gospel with our shallow teaching of the Cross is
ner is made alive and given the grace to The third tenant of the “spiri- that there is not enough emphasis on the
repent of his sins and believe unto salva- tual laws” of today’s Gospel is that Resurrection. We must understand that
tion. Christ died for our sins. Like the last a Gospel that does not give proper due
In the Gospel which we preach tenant, this one is definitely not wrong, to the resurrection is not a Gospel at all.
we must not only share that man has but it is too often left truncated and un- If Christ be not raised we are still dead
sinned, but that he is a sinner, dead of explained. When we share or preach the
HeartCry
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Theology
in our trespasses and sins. Any man can lovingly tell him, even plead with him to “Yet now I am happy, not because you
die on a tree, but only God can rise again. repent of his sins and believe the Gospel. were made sorry, but because your sorrow
It is the resurrection that makes the story The Scriptures are full of such invitations: led you to repentance..... Godly sorrow
of the Cross into a Gospel (Good News) brings repentance that leads to salvation
“The time has come,’ he said, “The king-
and keeps it from ever being a tragedy of and leaves no regret...” IICorinthians 7:9-
dom of God is near, Repent and believe
just another well meaning hero who died 10
the good news!” Mark 1:15
for nothing. It is belief in the resurrection True repentance leading to salvation in-
that separates the faithful from the infidel. “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but
volves the emotions in that there is sorrow
When we preach the Gospel, we must pro- now he commands all people everywhere
in the sinner’s heart upon realizing that he
claim with great joy and conviction that to repent. For he has set a day when he will
has broken divine Law, offended God and
the One who obtained our pardon judge the world with justice by the man he has
is in danger of eternal wrath. This sorrow
through His death has risen from the grave appointed. He has given proof of this to all men
is so genuine, so deep that it touches the
and lives forevermore. Because His story by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31
sinner’s will and compels him to change
did not end on a cross, ours will not end in “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that from unbelief to faith, from apathy to in-
a grave. We live because He lives, we can they must turn to God in repentance and have terest, from hatred of God to love for God,
die in hope because He died for us, we will faith in our Lord Jesus.” Acts 20:21 from idolatry to praise, from rebellion to
rise again because He has risen! This is the willing submission, from disobedience to
Gospel! “First to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea,
and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they obedience.
Repentance is a powerful thing
An Unbiblical Call should repent and turn to God and prove
that goes beyond man’s capabilities. In
The fourth tenant of the “spiri- their repentance by their deeds.” Acts 26:20
fact, repentance causes such a powerful
tual laws” of today’s Gospel is that on hear- As one can clearly see, there are two com- change in the sinner that it can only be
ing the Gospel the sinner must pray the mon themes that run through the Gospel attributed to the gracious work of God in
prayer of faith and ask Jesus to come into invitations of the Scriptures - repentance conversion. In Ezekiel 36:26-27, God de-
his heart and save him. If he asks by faith, and faith. We are not to call men to pray scribed repentance in the following way:
then he can be assured that he is saved. a prayer by which they simply ask Jesus to
The problem with this spiritual law is that come into their hearts, we are to call men “I will give you a new heart and [I will] put a
it is just not biblical. I do not want to be to repent of their sins and believe the Gos- new spirit in you; I will remove from you your
flippant and I most certainly do not want pel. heart of stone and [I will] give you a heart of
to show my limited knowledge of Scrip- In most Evangelical Churches in flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and [I
ture, but can it be found in Scripture America today, lost men and women, boys will] move you to follow my decrees and be
where anyone leads anyone else in a prayer and girls are told to pray the prayer if they careful to keep my laws.”
to accept Jesus? Many times Romans 10: 9- want to go to heaven, when they should
10 is used to defend this road to salvation: be told to repent of their sins and trust in After reading this text, can there be any
“That if you confess with your mouth, Christ as Lord and Savior. It is not the doubt that the repentance that leads to
‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart prayer that saves, but heartfelt repentance salvation involves a radical change that is
that God has raised him from the dead, and sincere faith. How many today are led from beginning to end a work of God, and
you will be saved.” But this is not a refer- in the sinner’s prayer and pronounced that without such repentance there is no
ence to leading someone in the sinner’s saved the moment they say “amen,” but salvation?
prayer, but to simply placing faith in Jesus. they have not repented, nor believed and True repentance is a work of
Other times, Revelations 3:20 is used to their lives never change? Not only are they God and it is always accompanied by faith
defend this way of inviting Christ into the granted a false security, but that same false in the promises of God. Therefore, in sal-
heart: “Here I am! I stand at the door and security many times makes them harden to vation a man not only repents, but also
knock. If anyone hears my voice and the true demands of the Gospel. They believes. Now true faith is never as compli-
opens the door, I will come in and eat with hold on to their prayer as though it was cated as we sometimes make it out to be. It
him, and he with me.” But this is not made of magic words that grant them en- is simply believing that something is so,
even remotely referring to Christ standing trance into the Kingdom, and they close because God has declared it to be so. This
at the door of the sinner’s heart waiting to their ears to true Gospel preaching. is the meaning of Hebrew 11:1:
be invited in. It is a reference to Christ The Scripture states quite clearly “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
standing at the door of the Church from that the two requirements of salvation are and certain of what we do not see.”
which He has been exiled, because of its repentance and faith, but what are they?
The man who has believed unto salvation
pride, self-sufficiency and independence. In the Scripture, repentance involves both
is he who hopes for salvation and consid-
Having shared the Gospel with the emotions and the will. Repentance
ers it a certainty, even though he cannot
the lost man, what should we tell him to involves the emotions in that it is sorrow
see it. Or using the example of Abraham
do? We should simply do as Jesus did and for our sin that leads us to turn away from
in Romans 4, faith is being fully persuaded
as the prophets did before Him and as the it. This can be seen in Paul’s words to the
that God has the power to bring about the
apostles did who followed. We should Church in Corinth:
salvation He has promised through His
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Theology
only begotten Son (v.21). heart by opening up the Bible and looking
(1) God loves us and has a wonder-
My dear Christian friend, many upon the date when his salvation was
ful plan for our life.
have been saved while praying the sinner’s settled. Again this is absurd and
prayer, but not because of the words or the unbiblical. As a matter of fact, it is a dan- “God is the Creator and Lord of the universe
asking, but because of a God-given repen- gerous heresy that has led many down the and is infinitely concerned for His own Glory.”
tance and a God-given faith that were cre- road to destruction. Assurance of salvation (2) We have sinned and our sin sepa-
ated in their hearts as a result of conver- does not come from looking back on the rates us from God.
sion. At the same time, many have been day on which one has prayed a prayer, but
from a proper examination of one’s life in All men are sinners, corrupt in nature and
light of Scripture to see if there exists bibli- deed, spiritually dead, under the righteous con-
cal evidence of salvation. When dealing demnation of God and totally dependant upon
with the possibility of unbelievers among His mercy.
the Corinthians, Paul did not tell them to (3) Christ died for our sins.
look back to the day when they prayed a
prayer or to look at a date in the back of Christ lived a perfect life for us. He bore our
their Bibles, he told them to look at their sins on the Cross and suffered the condemnation
lives in the present tense: of God for every Law of God we have ever bro-
ken. He then died in our place, separated from
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in fellowship with God and crushed under the
the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that weight of God’s wrath. His terrible death paid
Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail our sin debt before God and provides for our
the test?” (IICorinthians 13:5) salvation. His resurrection and perfect life pro-
To find assurance, we are not to vides for us a gift of righteousness by which we
look at a date in the past, but we are to can stand before God as truly the righteousness
look at our own lives in the present. We of God in Christ.
must question ourselves and our profes- (4) Man must pray the prayer of
sion. In the words of John the Baptist, are faith and ask Jesus to come into his heart
we bringing forth fruit in keeping with our and save him. If he asks by faith, then he
confession of repentance (Matthew 3:8)? can be assured that he is saved.
In the words of Paul, are we proving our
repentance by our deeds (Acts 26:20)? Or Man must repent and believe the Gospel. Repen-
in the words of James, is our faith dead tance is a genuine sorrow for sin and a fear of
because it is not accompanied by action judgement that results in a turning away from
lead into a false security of salvation be-
(James 2:17)? In the words of Peter is our sin and a turning to God. Faith is the simple
cause they said all the right words, but con-
knowledge of God ineffective and unpro- confidence that God has the power and good
version as well as the repentance and faith
ductive (IIPeter 1:8)? In the words of Paul, pleasure to bring about the salvation he has
that spring from it were absent. In light of
do we claim to know God, but by our ac- promised through His only begotten Son.
what has been said, we would like to
change the fourth “spiritual law” from tions deny Him (Titus 1:16)? (5) If a man should ever doubt his
inviting the sinner to pray the sinner’s In the light of what has been salvation, he must simply look back to the
prayer to calling upon the sinner to repent said we would like to change the fifth time he prayed the sinner’s prayer and
of his sins and turn to God through faith “spiritual law” from telling those who claim his salvation.
in Christ. doubt their salvation to look back to the
If a man doubts his salvation he should examine
day when they prayed a prayer, to telling
A False Security them to look at their present life in light
his life in light of the Scripture. If there has been
no change, no conformity of his life to Scripture,
The fifth and last tenant of the “spiritual of the Scripture. If there has been no
no genuine zeal or love for God, then the man
laws” of today’s Gospel touches on what is change, no conformity of their life to
can have no security that he has been saved.
commonly called eternal security. The law Scripture, no genuine zeal or love for God,
goes something like this: If the one who then there can be no security of salvation.
has prayed the sinner’s prayer should ever
doubt his salvation, then he must simply The Five Spiritual Laws
look back to the time he prayed the Reformed
sinner’s prayer and claim his salvation to
To end this brief article on the
be true. Sometimes the new convert is told
Gospel and sharing it with the lost, we will
that he should write the day of his conver-
present the five spiritual laws as they are
sion in the back of his Bible so that if
common shared and as we have reformed
doubts ever assail him he can assure his
them:
HeartCry
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Theology
Repentance
cious of his faith; and he that can repent tance is a turning from sin. True repen-
without sorrowing, should be suspicious of tance, like nitric acid, eats asunder the
his repentance. True sorrow for sin is not iron chain of sin. "Repent, and turn your-
by Thomas Watson. superficial: it is a holy agony. It is called in selves from your idols; and turn away your
Edited and Abridged by Randy
Scripture a breaking of the heart (Psalm faces from all your abominations" (Ezek.
Lowe
51:17); and a rending of the heart (Joel 14:6). This turning from sin is called a
I shall show what gospel repen- 2:13). forsaking of sin (Isa. 55:7). It is called "a
tance is. Repentance is a grace of God's putting of sin far away" (Job 11:14). Dying
Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly Ingredient 3: Confession of Sin
to sin is the life of repentance. The very
humbled and visibly reformed. For a fur- Sorrow is such a vehement pas-
day a Christian turns from sin he must
ther amplification, know that repentance sion that it will have vent. It vents itself
begin a perpetual fast. The eye must fast
is a spiritual medicine made up of six spe- at the eyes by weeping and at the tongue
from impure glances. The ear must fast
cial ingredients. If any one is left out it by confession: "The children of Israel
from hearing slanders. The tongue must
loses its virtue. stood and confessed their sins (Neh. 9:2).
fast from oaths. The hands must fast from
"I will go and return to my place, till they
Ingredient 1: Recognition of Sin bribes. The feet must fast from the path
acknowledge their offence" (Hosea 5:15).
The first part of Christ's healing of the harlot. And the soul must fast from
Confession is self>accusing: "Lo,
work is to apply eye>salve. It is the great the love of wickedness. This turning from
I have sinned" (2 Sam. 24:17). This is not
thing noted in the prodigal's repentance: sin implies a notable change.
common among men. Men never want to
"he came to himself" (Luke 15:17). He saw There is a change wrought in
accuse themselves, but when we come be-
himself a sinner and nothing but a sinner. the heart. In repentance Christ turns a
fore God, we must accuse ourselves. In
Before a man can come to Christ he must heart of stone into a heart of flesh. There
fact, the humble sinner does more than
first come to himself. He must first recog- is a change wrought in the life. Turning
accuse himself; he sits in judgment and
nize and consider what his sin is, and from sin is so visible that others may dis-
passes sentence upon himself. He con-
know the plague of his heart before he can cern it. It is called a change from dark-
fesses that he has deserved to be bound
be duly humbled for it. The first thing ness to light (Eph. 5:8). A ship is going
over to the wrath of God.
God made was light. The first thing God eastward; there comes a wind which turns
gives the sinner is illumination. The eye is Ingredient 4: Shame for Sin it westward. Likewise, a man was going
made both for seeing and weeping. Sin The fourth ingredient in repen- hell>ward before the contrary wind of the
must be seen before it can be wept for. tance is shame: "that they may be ashamed Spirit blew, turned his course, and caused
Hence I infer that where there is no sight of their iniquities" (Ezek. 43:10). Blushing him to sail heaven>ward. Repentance
of sin, there can be no repentance. Many is the color of virtue. When the heart has makes such a visible change in a person, it
who can spy faults in others see none in been made black with sin, grace makes the appears as if another soul has taken up
themselves. They say that they have good face red with blushing: "I am ashamed and lodging in the same body.
hearts. Is it not strange that two should blush to lift up my face" (Ezra 9:6). The
The full text of "The Nature of True Repen-
live together, yet not know each other? repenting prodigal was so ashamed of his
tance" can be found in The Doctrine of Repen-
Such is the case of a sinner. His body and excess that he thought himself not worthy
tance (pages 18>58) by Thomas Watson. It is
soul live together, yet he is unacquainted to be called a son any more (Luke 15:21).
published by Banner of Truth in the "Puritan
with himself. He knows not his own Repentance caused a holy bashfulness.
Paperbacks" series. Watson lived from
heart. Under a veil, a deformed face is hid. Ingredient 5: Hatred of Sin 1620>1686 and first published this work in
Persons are veiled over with ignorance and The fifth ingredient in repen- 1668. Watson was a spiritual giant of his day
self>love; therefore they see not what de- tance is hatred of sin. There is a hatred or and is perhaps the most popular of all the En-
formed souls they have. loathing of abominations: "Ye shall loathe glish Puritans. During the years of his ministry
Ingredient 2: Sorrow for Sin yourselves for your iniquities" (Ezek. in London he earned a reputation as a man
36:31). A true penitent is a sin>loather. If who was mighty in prayer. He masterfully ap-
Ambrose calls sorrow the embit-
a man loathes that which makes his stom- plied the Scriptures to the human heart. His
tering of the soul. The Hebrew word "to
ach sick, much more will he loathe that directness is much needed in the modern pulpit.
be sorrowful" signifies "to have the soul, as
it were, crucified". This must be in true which makes his conscience sick. It is Randy Lowe is pastor of the First Baptist
repentance: "They shall look upon me more to loathe sin than to leave it. One Church of Williams Lake in Williams Lake,
whom they have pierced, and they shall may leave sin for fear, but the nauseating British Columbia. He can be contacted by mail
mourn" (Zech. 12:10), as if they did feel and loathing of sin is a detestation of it. at the following address: FBC of Williams Lake,
the nails of the cross sticking in their own Christ is never loved till sin is loathed. 295 Western Ave., Williams Lake British Co-
sides. A woman may as well expect to have Heaven is never longed for till sin is lumbia, V2G 3H6. Randy’s telephone number
a child without pain as one can have re- loathed. Sound repentance begins in the and email address are: 250-392-4997 and
love of God and ends in the hatred of sin.
fbcwl@stardate.bc.ca
HeartCry
Page 8
The Godly Woman
HeartCry
Page 9
The Godly Woman
The preparation of Esther re- being a woman of God, so that she can
minds me of that precious time between offer to her future husband and the
the awakening of desire in a young world something more than just a pretty
woman’s heart to share her life with a face.
mate and the moment she walks down Remember in your singleness
the aisle. For many, this time of prepa- that you are not the only one single, but
ration is seen as nothing more than a your future husband is passing through
time of waiting. Single women often see the same stage as you. Would it not be a
themselves as sitting on the shelf while life terrible thing to finally meet the man
passes them by, or as sitting on the who is to become your husband only to
bench while others play the game. They find out that he has used his singleness
do not realize that they are wasting the to serve God and to prepare himself to
most important time of their lives, they be a better husband for you. And yet
are robbing themselves of great joy and you did not use the freedom of your
reward, they are robbing their future singleness to serve the Lord, nor did you
husbands of a more virtuous woman, take advantage of the training that God
and they are robbing God of a servant offered you? Would it not also be a ter-
through whom He desires to do great rible thing to realize that your husband
things. spent his days as a single man praying
“Man looks at the outward ap- As Esther had to be prepared daily for your needs and the work of
before she could be queen of an entire God in your life, while you neither
pearance, but the Lord looks at
realm, so the woman must be prepared prayed for him, nor responded to the
the heart.” I Samuel 16:7 before she can embark on one of the grace of God that was given you as a re-
most important and difficult callings in sult of his prayers.
HeartCry
Page 10
The Godly Woman
the same as shopping in a mall. Still an- (I Corinthians 10:13) a very special and enjoyable time in the
other even stronger lie is that the single I have found that there are two providence of God. It should not be
woman should be giving her affections primary reason why someone “desper- considered a mere circumstance or a
away indiscriminately so that she may be ately” needs someone else. First of all, it curse from which one should try desper-
more "experienced" and know what to is because they do not know God as they ately to flee. Being single is a time to
do when she finally finds the man of her should. Is God not the God of all com- learn of God and of ourselves. A time
choice. My dear Christian, it is a lie and fort? Is not Christ the exalted Lord who to discover who we are in Christ and to
an affront to God to say that experience fills all things everywhere? Then why do grow in Christlikeness. It is a time to be
is the best teacher, when in fact it is God we complain about how empty and zealous for good works and involved in
who is the best teacher, and though the alone we feel. Could it be that God ex- ministry to others. Being single has a
world’s motto is “live and learn,” the tends our time of singleness so that we magic of its own that should be enjoyed
Bible’s advice is “learn and live.” You do might find our life in Him and learn to in its time because once passed it may
not need to be experienced, you only be complete in Him? If we seek to be not return. There is nothing quite so
need to be knowledgeable of what God married because we feel that a husband sad as a woman now married who re-
has said and obedient to it. You should will fill our lives or will in some way make grets what she could have been and done
not be looking for the man of your us complete, we will be sorely disap- with her life while single. All was lost for
choice, but should be waiting on the pointed in our marriage. No man, no the sake of hurrying to be married with-
man of God’s choice. And when he matter how Christ-like could ever take out consideration for the plan or work
comes, it will not be past experiences the place of God in our lives, to think of God.
that will make your marriage work, but such a thing is pure idolatry. If we are Every season in life has a
past chastity, purity, and godliness. We not filled by God now and complete in beauty and wonder of its own. My
should hide our faces from the ways and Christ in the present, then not even a prayer for all single Christian women is
experiences of this wicked world and marriage made in heaven will be able to that they might enjoy their time in spite
look upon only those things that God change our emptiness. of the lies of the world. That they might
has placed in the path He has prepared The second reason for desper- be demanding and not settle for any-
for us. ately needing someone in our lives is thing less than the perfect will of God.
God knows exactly what you plain selfishness. When we need someone That they might wait patiently on God
need and He even knows the desires of in order to feel loved, or when we need who is the giver of every good and per-
your heart better than you do. God someone so that our feelings of loneli- fect gift. That they might be like Esther,
loves surprises. He does not want you to ness might dissipate, then we are wanting using whatever time God deems neces-
be looking for your husband, He wants marriage for all the wrong reasons. Mar- sary to make them beautiful on the in-
to bring him to you, and probably at a riage is to be looked upon as more than side and out.
time you least expect it. If you disobey an opportunity to have our needs met,
this advice, as so many other women be- but as an opportunity to meet the needs
fore you, and take it upon yourself to of another. If we have not learned to
look for a mate, you may find someone, take our own needs to God, then we will
but chances are that that someone you probably overwhelm our husbands with
find will not be the right one. our own needs and be unaware of his. I
As women, our nature desires have known Christian women who spent
the company and companionship of a their days consumed with their own
man. This is from God and therefore needs and constantly lamenting about
good. But at the same time, we are why God had not brought someone into
wrong to think that death will be the their life. But why should God entrust a
result if this need goes unmet. Needing godly man to a woman that is absorbed
another as a companion is not like need- in herself and her own needs, and does
ing to take your next breath of air. That not use the freedom of her singleness to
is, you can survive without companion- serve God and prepare herself for His
ship at least until God has done His per- purposes? Such a woman would have
fect work in you. Remember the Scrip- little to offer a godly husband!
ture, “God is faithful; he will not let you My dear friend, being single,
be tempted beyond what you can bear.” like being married should be considered
HeartCry
Page 11
Missions
HeartCry
Page 12
Send the Light
So many Christians are interested in World Missions, but few ever
get involved on a personal level. Why? We believe it is because World
Missions seems so far away from the reality of most Christians. Many have
never even seen a “real” missionary, much less traveled to the mission field.
The closest most ever come to the Great Commission is putting money in an
offering plate without the faintest idea of where it is going or what kind of
fruit it is bearing.
Our goal at HeartCry is to be a catalyst to help you become involved
in world missions in a personal way. The following are just some of the
possibilities:
1. You can support your very own missionary on the foreign field. Heart-
Cry is currently supporting national missionaries in Peru (6), Brazil (1), Roma-
nia (11), Moldova (2) and Nigeria (2). The cost of supporting a national
missionary full time ranges between $100-$300 a month depending on the
country. You will receive a picture of the missionary you support and will be
able to correspond with him and his family.
2. You can provide Bibles to the Christians in the foreign field. We have
already mentioned that many pastors in the countries where we work are
without Bibles. We have known instances in which the pastor had to
borrow the Bible from the Church in order to study or preach in another
village. We buy Bibles and then make them available to the Christians at a
price they can afford. We have sold Bibles at their full price to those who can
afford them and we have sold Bibles for a bag of beans to those Christians
who have no money. The important thing is that each Christians is able to
purchase (and not receive as charity) his very own Bible.
3. You can provide a pastoral library to a worker in the foreign field. We
have already mentioned that many pastors in the countries where we work
do not even have an adequate Bible, so it is easy to see why there is also a great
need for pastor’s libraries. For one hundred dollars, a small library consisting
of the following resources can be purchased: Bible Dictionary, Moody’s
Commentary, Concordance, and a Manual on Preaching. This does not
seem like much to Christians in America, but to the pastors where we work,
it is almost an unattainable dream!
4. You can help build a Church. Church buildings in America cost hun-
dreds of thousands and even millions of dollars to build. On the foreign
field, we can build a Church building for as little as $5,000-$15,000. There
are many Christians in the foreign fields who have no adequate place of
worship and some that have no place at all. In some places (especially Roma-
nia and Moldova) this is a great hindrance to the Gospel, since the local
people believe that any religious group that has no place of worship is a cult.
5. You can travel to the mission field for a short term mission project.
Have you ever imagined yourself winding through the Andes mountains on
a mule train, canoeing down a remote tributary of the Amazon River Basin or
Backpacking through a tropical rain forest? We invite you to come visit us in
the country of Peru. It will not be a vacation, but an opportunity to “do
missions” first hand and up close. To borrow the phrase, “It will be the
toughest job you’ll ever love”.
How to contact us: Heartcry c/o Waldo Baptist Church
...... Email: heartcry@midwest.net
...... 6970 Waldo Church Rd.
...... Metropolis, Il. 62960
...... (618) 564-2180
HeartCry
Page 13
Missions
Church. I do not know why, but until I friend returned to school with answers
was seven years old I lived with my grand- to my questions and also he gave me a
mother and attended mass every Sunday small Bible. When the principal of the
in the Catholic Church in Tirnaveni. As school found out that my friend gave me
a child, I was amazed of everything I saw a Bible, he reprimanded him. I did not
in the Church > saints with halos, stained read the Bible, but put it in my library.
glass windows, paintings, priests in won- Two years later, I began to enjoy reading
derful robes, etc. My grandmother was very much, but in time I read all the
a very religious woman, but she could books in my library. Again I saw the
not answer the many questions I asked small Bible my friend had given me. I
Meet your Missionaries as a child. I wanted to know everything
about the things I saw in the Church.
knew that no one could see me there, so
I began to read it.
in Romania Once I asked her why the people in the I started reading the Bible in
In our last edition of Heart- paintings had halos and I didn't. She the Old Testament. I learned that I had
Cry, we began presenting the testimonies told me that they were not like other to make a sacrifice for my sins. But I
of our national missionaries that are people, but were saints and very close to thought, "I am so poor, I don't even
now serving in Romania, Moldova, Nige- God. Once I asked my grandmother if have the money to buy a pair of doves."
ria, Brazil and Peru. In our last edition God took sunbathes. She became very After high school I began my
you met two missionaries in Moldova angry with me and told me to keep my military service. When I came home af-
and four others in Romania. In this questions to myself or God would be ter two years of service, I discovered that
edition, you will meet seven more of our very angry with me. I no longer asked my mother had become a Christian. I
missionaries currently serving in Roma- my Grandmother any questions about was very angry with her. I refused to go
nia. God, but I thought to myself, "One day I to her baptismal service, but later my
must find out!" best friend convinced me to go. I en-
Alexandru Merlan When I was 7 years old, my joyed the service very much. The pastor
parents took me to live with them in asked me to come again. I said yes, but
Sibiu. By the time I was 15 years old, I in my heart I was saying, "Take a good
had forgotten about God, the Church look at me because this is the last time
and all my questions. This lack of inter- you will see me."
est in religious things was probably the Time passed and one day I was
result of the Communist ideas that pre- sitting in a bar with some of my friends.
vailed in our culture and influenced all For a few seconds it seemed that every-
of us. thing around me just stopped and a
My life began to change one question came into my mind, "What are
day when I invited one of my friends to a you doing here? Don’t you see that you
film, and he declined. When my other don’t belong in this place?" My whole
friends and I asked him why, we found mind was searching for something, but
out that he was a “repenter”. This is the then I did not know what.
name we give to Protestants (especially Once when my mother was not
Baptist) in Romania. We all laughed at home, I decided to go to Church by
and made fun of him. In Romania it is my self. I thought that if someone both-
Alex's Testimony: “My name is
believed that the "repenters" are strange ered me there I would hit him in the face
Alexandru Merlan. I grew up in a family
people who own their own Bibles and and run before the rest of the Church
of mixed religious and national affilia-
try to live by everything it says. For the could catch me. Nothing happened that
tion. My Romanian father was ortho-
communists and every one else in Roma- night and I enjoyed the service, except
dox and my Hungarian mother was
nia it was a shame and disgrace to own a for the prayers which were too long.
Catholic (now she is Christian - Baptist).
Bible. After that I went to Church
As a child I was baptized in the Catholic
That day I asked my friend many times, but was still unconverted. It
Church and my brother (7 years
many questions about God and religion. seemed that no one could convince me
younger) was baptized in the Orthodox
When he could not answer my questions to be a Christian. I wanted to know
I felt very proud. The next day my that God was real, but I just could not
HeartCry
Page 14
Missions
HeartCry
Page 15
Missions
Samuel Stoica the support of the people from the Marin Ion
United States who give to HeartCry,
Stoica is in full time Christian ministry
where he belongs.”
At this time, Stoica lives and min-
isters in the Gypsy ghettos. He receives
$150 a month support from HeartCry.
Marin Virgil
HeartCry
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Missions
Aurora have three children. Both Filip port from HeartCry. describes his people.
and Aurora professed Christ and were “The state of the Gypsies is very de-
baptized in 1982. Filip and Aurora are For the Love of the graded. The aged have no retirement or
members of the “Sfinta Treime” Baptist income, they are sick and harassed, even
Church in Cornetu. Filip has a tenth Gypsies by Paul David Washer beaten by their own children. The
grade education and like other Gypsies, youth have no future and no skill except
he made a living through manual labor that of stealing. The young girls practice
in the grape vineyards. prostitution and many children come
At the beginning of the 1997 out of wedlock. The children are
year, Filip started a ministry in the village abused and they learn only negative
of Pietroasa where there are about 2000 things because there is no positive thing
Gypsies in the village itself and another to learn in such an environment. There
4000 Gypsies in the neighboring villages. is a lot of violence and terror. The
It has been Filip’s long time dream to women are severely beaten especially if
expand evangelistic and Church planting they become Christians. Most live in
ministries among the Gypsies. Thanks to dilapidated apartment blocks without
your support, his dream has now been electricity, water or heating. The state of
made a reality. Filip receives $150 a the Gypsies is very discouraging. They
month support from HeartCry. are pushed to the edge of society, and
Crivisin Ionel the Romanian people and government
are not willing to do anything to help
them. Even the Christian Church has
As you have probably noticed, turned its back on the Gypsies.”
the last five missionaries presented in this As President Talos and I were
edition of HeartCry are all Gypsies and discussing the plight of the Gypsies, we
they all work in Gypsy communities were interrupted by a knock at the door
throughout the southeastern area of - it was brother Marin Moise, the only
Romania. We believe the reason for this full time missionary to the Gypsies in
is simply the providence of God. Romania. He had come to Bucharest to
On my last trip to Romania, I discuss the needs of the Gypsies. When
met with brother Vasile Talos the presi- we told him about our discussion, he
dent of the the Romanian Baptist began to share with us with a mixture of
Union. As we discussed the great needs tears and rejoicing. Before we left Presi-
and challenges that face the work of dent Talos’s office that day, HeartCry
God in Romania the discussion turned had pledged to support five Gypsies mis-
to the Gypsies. Of all the people groups sionaries to the Gypsies.
Crivisin Ionel is a Romanian in the world, there are probably few We sent the first month’s sup-
gypsy. He was born on November 22, more despised than the Gypsies, and port in December and are looking for-
1954 in the village of Focsani. He and with good reason. The Gypsies are for ward to news of the results. Humanly
his wife Pauna became Christians and the most part dirty, uneducated, uncul- speaking, it is somewhat of a risk for us
were baptized on February 24, 1978. tured and untrustworthy. Most Gypsy to take on such a large enterprise so
They have nine children and are mem- men make their living by stealing, cheat- quickly, but then again a man has not
bers of the Holy Trinity Baptist Church ing and selling their own women into called us. It is God who has called us
in Bucharest. Crivisin has a 10th grade prostitution. The young women serve as and He will do the work. We must al-
education and works as a professional prostitutes and many have children out ways remember that in the Kingdom of
locksmith. He and his wife are currently of wedlock. The older women live in the God taking a risk is not an obligation to
working in evangelism and Church slums and shanty towns caring for more be dreaded, but a privileged invitation to
planting among Gypsies in the Bucharest children than they have food enough to watch God reveal His glory.
area. Crivisin receives $150 a month sup- feed. In the following, missionary Marin
Moise of the Romanian Baptist Union
HeartCry
Page 17
Pray for Your Missionaries
PERU
Paul and Charo Washer - Paul and Charo work as directors of Heartcry. They have been missionaries in Peru for 9 years. At the present they
continue to work in Peru and to coordinate HeartCry’s work in the other countries.
Franciso Laos - Franciso is over the region called “Departamento Amazonas” in Northern Peru. He is coordinating Church planting and
discipleship among the people of the high jungle and the Aguaruna Tribes of the Basin.
Ernesto Zacarías - Ernesto is working in Church planting in the slum areas of Villa el Salvador located outside the city of Lima.
Angel Colmenares - Angel directs the Church planting work in the northern province of Peru where in the last 15 years more than 250 Churches
have been planted through his ministry.
Daniel Colmenares - HeartCry supported Daniel through his seminary studies and will continue his support as a missionary working alongside his
father Angel.
Miguel Churata - HeartCry supported Miguel through his seminary studies and will continue his support as a missionary working in partnership
with Angel Colmenares.
NIGERIA
Andrew Martey - Andrew is a Church planter in the rural areas of Niger State in Nigeria West Africa. He works in partnership with well known
national missionary Solomon A. Owolabi.
Samuel Ahmed - Samuel is an evangelist and Church planter in the rural areas of Niger State in Nigeria West Africa. Samuel is an ex-teacher of
the Koran who now works to reach the Muslims of West Africa. Like Andrew, Samuel works in partnership with well known national missionary
Solomon A. Owolabi.
ÿ ÿ
ÿ
BRAZIL
Charles Silveira - Charles is a pastor/Church planter in the city of Florianopolis in Santa Catarina, Brazil. He is working in partnership with well
known national missionary Moises Damazio.
ROMANIA
Alex Merlan - Alex lives in Sibiu and is the coordinator for all our missionary work in Romania and Moldova.
Bebe Tomeci - Bebe works in student evangelism in the University of Brashov.
Alex Palade - Alex works in student evangelism in the University of Brashov.
Matei Muresan - Matei is pastor of mission Churches in Garbova de Sus, Hoparta and Teius. He is also pastor of the prison Church in Ayud.
Petrica Mihai - Petrica is working at Church planting in the rural village of Calimanesti.
Valentin - Valentin is working as a full time evangelist among the Baptist Churches in Romania and presents the sermons of Charles Stanley on
radio stations reaching six major cities daily.
Samuel Stoic - Samuel works in music and out-door evangelistic meetings among the Gypsies.
Marin Virgil - Marin is serving among the Gypsies as pastor of the Baptist Church “Sfinta Treime” in Slobozia Bradului.
Marin Ion - Marin is serving as a Church planter among the Gypsy people of Ramnicu Sarat.
Filip Iulian - Filip is serving as a Church planter among the Gypsy peoples of Pietroasa.
Crivisin Ionel - Crivisin is serving as a Church planter among the Gypsy people of Bucuresti.
MOLDOVA
Spataru Slavic - Spataru is a Church planter currently pastoring a Church in Pelenia and two missions in Moara de Piatra and Asnasenii Noi.
Vasile Vintu - Vasile is a Church planter currently pastoring a Church in Nisporeni and four missions in Vulcanesti, Vanatori, Ciuciuleni and
Chietroseni.
HeartCry
Page 18
About HeartCry
HeartCry
Page 19
Requests for HeartCry:
1 Holiness. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord
(Hebrews 12:14).
2 Humility. Because God opposes the proud, but gives
grace to the humble, we must humble ourselves under
I want men everywhere to lift His mighty hand that He may lift us up (IPeter 5:5>6).
up holy hands in prayer. 3 A Servants Heart. For whoever wants to become great
among us must be the servant and whoever wants to be
ITimothy 2:8 first must be the slave (Matthew 20:26>27).
4 Poverty of spirit before God. Because the kingdom of
heaven belongs only to the poor in spirit, and the man
who trusts in the strength of man is cursed (Matthew
5:3; Jeremiah 17:5).
5 Faith to ask and expect great things from God. For
without faith it is impossible to please God, and accord-
ing to our faith it will be done to us (Hebrews 11:6;
Matthew 9:29).
6 Wisdom to use that which God gives us. As the heavens
are higher than the earth, God's ways are higher than
ours (Isaiah 55:9).
Requests for the World:
0 Submission to the will of God. That God's Name be
hallowed, that his Kingdom come and that His will be
done throughout the kingdoms and peoples of the world
as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9>10).
2 Laborers for the abundant harvest. The harvest is plen-
tiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest
to send out workers into his harvest (Matthew 9:37).
3 Biblical proclamation of the Gospel. That God may
open a door for the message and that it be proclaimed
clearly and sincerely as it should (Colossians 4:2>4;
Philippians 1:17>18).
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanks- 4 Missionary support. That the Church may renew its
giving be made for everyone >for kings and all those in authority. This is concern for missionaries, their families and the great needs
good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to of the nations (IIIJohn 5>7).
come to a knowledge of the truth.
ITimothy 2:1>4
HeartCry
Non-Profit Org.
Missionary Society U.S. Postage
PAID
c/o Waldo Baptist Church Brookport, IL.
6970 Waldo Church Rd. Permit No. 10
Metropolis, IL 62960
HeartCry
Page 20