Performers or Ministers?

For those who are not familiar with Turn the Tide Ministries, we are a Missionary/Evangelist couple. My husband is a gifted and talented musician who not only sings and plays the guitar, but has written (sometimes with the help of his wife :0) almost 100 praise, worship and Christian life songs. We have recorded 30 of them to three CD's at this point, (if your interested, you can find them available thru our website: turnthetideminitries.com)

Always, the flesh is wrangling against the Spirit and we suffer it's effects like everyone else who attempts to walk with Christ. Clay loves to share the music he's written and I'm blessed to accompany him as I'm able. Several times since beginning the Great Adventure, we've had the opportunity to share in concert venue's and at churches and even in public parks (utilizing our generator on occasion for electricity!).

The wrestling comes in as we try to separate "performance" from "ministry". Are we "performers" of music? Or are we Evangelists delivering the message of Salvation to the lost and the music is an instrument to open doors to that? Lately especially, we've wrestled with these two very different schools of thought. You might think this should be easy, or even, why couldn't both be mixed together? Why are they separate? It isn't easy - because the very thought processes of performers are at odds with Ambassadors representing the Lord Jesus our Savior. I realize that a great deal of Christian singers combine these two ideals - sharing music and sharing the Gospel. However - our call isn't the same. Our call is as Evangelists. Different, very different from performers of Christian music who speak of their faith.

Our friend Pastor Bill put it quite nicely the other day. We were talking about the next "concert" venue we've been invited to - in order to share our music but they've also opened it for us to share the Gospel message. We are to be the "opening" act - from there, there are several well known, large and "name" Christian groups who's ministry IS the music that they will be performing. I don't believe we are performing, we are ministering. Pastor Bill put it like this: THE DIFFERENCE IS, YOUR NOT PERFORMERS YOU ARE MINISTERS.

Very different mind set, very different message delivery, very different lifestyle and focus. And therein is the struggle - to remain MINISTERS while PERFORMING some music in order to REACH THE LOST WITH THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS OUR LORD!

Keep praying for us, and we'll be praying for you.

Transformation-Sanctification; a constant activity

Even while the Lord is utilizing through me all the talent and ability He put in me, at the same time He is working ON me! As I reach out to others, pray with them, pray for them, share the love of Christ with them, preach the Gospel of Salvation – so is my own heart being convicted, set free, changed and transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit working in me.

When Jesus called each of the disciples to BE His disciples, the Bible doesn’t show Him sitting down with each of them, explaining His theology, laying out His doctrinal system of belief or even pointing out to them that they were sinners in need of a Savior! Nor did He show that they were ignorant and in need of instruction. His call was simple, straightforward and FREEING, rather than enslaving. He said “Follow me”, and then shared His life, His thoughts, His beliefs, His doctrine, His very PURPOSE through the actions they SAW Him perform and the WORDS they heard Him speak.

So we, according to 2Corinthians 3:3, are to be living ‘epistles” – alive LETTERS to be read by all men, in our actions, deeds and words, showing Christ Himself through those actions, deeds and words to this world which desperately needs Him and His love.

II Corinthians 3: 2-3 (NKJV) You are our epistle written in our hearts known and read by all men: clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on the tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Self professing "pagans"

FEB 26th, we put on a free concert at the St. Lucie Presbyterian Church (thank you Pastor Bill). Prior to the concert, we went around the neighborhood praying for people. Just knocked on their doors, bold as you please, and asked them if there were anything we could pray with them about. One door was opened, and when we made our announcement, the woman informed us they were a family of "pagans", but that recently, their youngest daughter Nia (please pray for her!) had expressed an interest in the Bible and knowing who God was. They didn't want to discourage her discovery, so would we come in and talk to her? (WOULD WE???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?)

In we went, and shared the Gospel message clearly, to all the family, prayed with Nia for ALL her family, and then invited them to the ocncert on the 26th. IN SPITE OF THE FACT that it was the same night as the county Fair (wow, we missed that in our date planning!!) THE WHOLE "PAGAN" family came to the concert.

Once again, they heard not only great music (you can check out our original music at the website: turnthetideministries.com) but they heard the message of Salvation once again - and I'll tell you this. No, they didn't jump out of their seats and give their lives to Christ that moment - but they DID (and I watched this!) end up sitting on the very edge of their seats listening intently to the message - which was clearly illustrated in the music as well.

I know everyone there was blessed, and we sold some CD's, but if we sang and spoke ONLY to that family - I would consider it worth it!

When young Nia came up for prayer afterwards, and asked if she could donate to the Turn the Tide Ministries, her 50c in my mind is the same as the widows mite Jesus speaks of in the Gospel. Maybe I'm slightly prejudiced, for I myself was once the lone child following God in a household of witchcraft, alcoholism, abuse (Nia does NOT have that element!) - and I can relate to her!

WAIT!!!! keep reading, I'm not done!!!!

About a year ago, we began praying for God to provide a "haven" for my Mom. She currently lives with my brother and his wife, and they are WONDERFUL to Mom, but she really wanted to be in a place of her own. So, we prayed. That's it. Never said a word to anyone!

Two days ago, a couple at a 55+ park in Ft. Pierce who Mom has dogsat for in the the past, called her and asked, would she be itnerested in owning a 2 bedroom, 2 bath home in the park? His Mom could no longer live alone. They don't want any money for it.

THEY ARE GIVING HER THE HOME FOR ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'NOUGH SAID?!?!?!?!??!

Door to Door

What a wonderful day, door to door evangelizing with Pastor Bill of St. Lucie Presbyterian! Some gentle folks who appeared to "humor" us by not slamming the door in our faces, and then the self labeled "pagan" family....

yep, that's what they told us when they opened the door - that they were avowed pagans. except..... one of the daughters. She had rejected the witchcraft, tarot cards etc in favor of a desire to know God and to read His word. My heart about popped out of my chest. The young lady could very well have been me, 45 years earlier! No, not in looks (she's way cuter!) but in hearts desire!

How does God do that? Call to a heart enveloped in darkness? Shrouded in darkness? Surrounded by darkness? I don't know the answer to that, but I know that He does it!

Her Mom invited us in to talk to her - which surprised me - NOT! God knew just what He was doing! And so, I was PRIVILEGED - YES - PRIVILEGED to pray with this young lady, talk with her about what she was reading in the Bible, encourage her and offer some direction! We then took hands and prayed for the healing of her father, and for her continued growth. We invited her to the concert we're doing in her neighborhood in another week.

Do I even need to mention her inclusion on my prayer list?

Now, tell me again about the insignificance of knocking on someone's door?
I LOVE BEING AN AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST! WHAT FUN!