By Tom Shanklin

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18, KJV.

In spite of what we have said about sharing one-on-one and lifestyle evangelism, the public proclamation of the Gospel is still a much needed part of the work of evangelism in the earth today. God is emphasizing that every believer is a minister and a witness for Christ, but we still need anointed men and women of God who will stand up and lift their voices to boldly proclaim the glorious Gospel of Christ to the masses of people.

This particular chapter is primarily written to those who publicly proclaim the Gospel, but there are principles here to help any believer with their presentation of the Gospel. Also, it is important for every believer to learn about the ministry of evangelistic proclamation in order to pray and cooperate with the Gospel ministers who are laboring in our midst and on the evangelistic field.

A true evangelistic message expresses the heart of God toward the person who is lost and without hope in this world. It presents the message of the Gospel in the simplest form, so that men and women, boys and girls can respond and give their lives to Jesus Christ.

If someone preaches with a great deal of fire and enthusiasm and is able to stir up a crowd, many will say he or she is evangelistic. But true evangelistic ministry is more about substance than style. Even though a minister’s presentation may be rousing and stirring, if he does not clearly present the Gospel message in such a way as it can be understood, received, and acted upon, it is not truly evangelistic.

Many of the fiery messages we hear from gifted ministers are exhortations to the believers, rather than evangelistic messages to reach the lost. Many of the examples that we have of preaching ministry today from the most popular ministers (through their CDs, DVDs, and television programs) are not geared to the lost. These messages are exhortations or teachings for the believers. Therefore, young ministers and those who have a desire to preach evangelistically have little to follow in the way of examples of evangelistic preaching.

If the evangelistic message was proclaimed more clearly from our pulpits, then the members of our congregations would be much more adept at sharing the Gospel with their family and friends. But because the focus is often on everything but the Gospel, many church members are functionally illiterate concerning sharing the Gospel message.

Every Gospel minister, whether he or she is an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher, should know how to preach evangelistically. Every minister should be following Paul’s instruction to “do the work of an evangelist.” If there was more training in Bible schools concerning the art and science of preaching the evangelistic message and how to cooperate with the anointing for such a ministry, we would see many more conversions in our churches and in our communities.

Preaching is different from teaching. Preaching is lifting up your voice and proclaiming the Good News. Anointed preaching hits a register on the spirit of man, because it is God’s message of deliverance spoken through a vessel that is yielded to Him for that purpose. Teaching is explaining. That’s important too, even in the evangelistic message. But preaching accomplishes something on a different realm. It breaks spiritual strongholds. It unlocks the emotions. It brings a conviction. It causes the hearers to rejoice in a God Who saves. We need that kind of preaching today!

I believe that many ministers live and die without ever having learned to preach evangelistically. Some have bought the lie that because they are a pastor or a prophet or a teacher, it is not their job to reach the lost. As a result, many people will spend eternity in hell.

One can not learn everything about preaching evangelistically in a classroom. The greatest training that one can receive is actually getting out there and preaching to the lost. I believe it is difficult for someone to learn how to preach evangelistically by only preaching inside the church house. There are exceptions to this, but normally the local church ministry is orientated toward the believer. The needs of the people in the congregation tend to pull the preacher into subjects such as Christian growth, renewing the mind, family, prayer, and so on. Therefore, the orientation of the minister is inappropriate for developing a proper mind for evangelistic preaching. His thought pattern. as he prepares to preach, is more orientated to building up the people who are already saved.

To develop a proper mind for evangelistic preaching, every minister should look for opportunities to minister to the lost, such as open air services, overseas missions, ministering in jails, prisons, detention centers, nursing homes, and other places where there is a multitude of people who are away from God and need to hear the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then, he or she will begin to learn what it takes to bring a message to someone who does not know Christ.

There are certain basic things that a person must understand to be saved. Sometimes, in our preaching or witnessing, we are talking “Christianeze.” We are speaking in a way that the insider (the believer) understands, but the unconverted soul doesn’t have a clue. Very often we take for granted that people understand the terms and phrases which we use. Expressions such as “getting saved,” “receiving Jesus,” “sin,” and “redemption” have little or no relevance in the mind of the unlearned hearers, unless they are explained.

We must go back to Christianity 101 and explain the essential elements of the Gospel in a way that they can understand. For example, we may say that Jesus is the Savior, but this statement has very little relevance unless the person understands what they are being saved from. Therefore they must understand something about judgment, which means they must understand something about sin, which means they must understand something about the Fall, the Creation, and the one true and living God.

When a person makes a decision on insufficient information, it may not produce a true conversion. He may be coming forward or praying a prayer as a result of the charisma of the speaker, an emotional pull, or peer pressure from the group. But, if he understands the Gospel, he can exercise faith in the Savior and make Jesus his Lord, which is what is necessary to obtain salvation.

Let’s take a look at some of the basic elements of the evangelistic message.

God made everything good. There is only one God, who made the sky and stars and sun and the earth and everything that is in it. He made the trees and the grass and the animals and He made you. When He made everything else, He saw that it was good. But when He made people, He saw that it was very good. He did not make man to live a miserable life. He did not create us to be ridden with sin, disease, poverty, crime, and social problems. He created us in His own image, with purpose, with dominion, and with dignity.

Man fell into sin and death. In many cultures around the world, and even in the western society in which we live in today, there is very little consciousness of what sin is, and little fear of God and of His judgment. Therefore, in order to preach evangelistically, we must lay the ground work for an understanding of the Fall of man. Through Adam, sin and death were passed on to the human race, along with the resulting curses and eternal judgment. As these things are preached, the Holy Spirit can then use them to bring conviction to the heart of the hearer and a revelation of the need in their life for change.

Jesus Christ came to save you. It should seem obvious to us, but sometimes we try to get people to respond to the Gospel without first presenting God’s answer to man’s dilemma, Christ and Him crucified. Once Billy Graham had preached his heart out trying to win the lost, but his message fell flat and produced little results. Later, a business man pointed out to him that he had failed to present the cross of Jesus Christ as the answer. Once we have presented the problem (man’s dilemma and the impending judgment), then we must present the people with the only way out, Jesus Christ.

We can do this by sharing a brief overview of the life of Christ—His virgin birth, His sinless life, His teaching, His miracles, His death at Calvary as a substitution for our sins, and His resurrection. Of course this makes for wonderful preaching, which has the power to inspire the believers that are in attendance as well as to capture the heart of the unbeliever. This is the opportunity to present the love and mercy and goodness of God, Who sent His son to die for our sins. This also begins to really release the power of the Holy Spirit to draw the people to Jesus.

You must receive Christ. When you present Jesus as Savior, it is good to point out that He is the Savior of the whole world. No one is left out of the mercy-plan of God. But then we must declare the absolute necessity of personally receiving the gift of eternal life. The message must become personal to that individual.

It is good to press home the point that God is looking for a response now, that He is the one who has sent you as His ambassador with His message of love, and that He is wants to know their response. Scriptures such as John 1:12 can be used effectively, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12, KJV.

Tell them about the supernatural element of the salvation experience—about the power of God to change a heart and that they can receive a new birth and a new life in Christ. They should be made to understand that God will forgive all their sins and give them a gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ and will give them a desire and the ability to live for Him.

Then they should be clearly instructed on how to make this decision. Two things are essential at that point. They must repent and believe the Gospel. “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:14, 15, KJV.

Repent. The word repentance is another term that must be clearly understood. They must understand that they are making a life-altering decision to turn away from sin and to follow Jesus as Lord. It means to change your mind and change your ways. Illustrations or personal testimony can be used to drive home this point. If the people have been idol worshippers, tell them that when they receive Jesus they should throw all the idols out of their lives and homes. It must also be emphasized that this is a change of heart, that they are not saved by their works. However, they must have a change of direction from sin to God.

Believe the Gospel. This is a wonderful opportunity to reinforce the power of the Gospel through faith in the cross. By believing in what God has done for them in Christ, they receive the benefit of the Gospel, eternal life.

Helpful Hints for Gospel Preaching

God can use whatever knowledge you have to reach people for Christ, but a strong biblical foundation is a great help to the evangelistic preacher. It is helpful to have a grasp of the story of the Bible and have a clear comprehension of the redemption that is in Christ. These things must be real and personal in the heart of the preacher. Also, it is helpful to have God’s Word embedded in your heart through meditation, so that you can draw out scriptures at will from within your heart to use during your message. You can use key scriptures, such as those in Romans (chapters 1-5) concerning salvation, and the Gospel of John (especially chapters 1, 3 & 14), and the first three chapters of the book of Genesis. Also, key predictive scriptures from Isaiah and other prophets concerning Christ are helpful, such as Isaiah 53. Although you are preaching the simple basics of the faith, it is important for the evangelistic preacher to have a strong doctrinal foundation and a good grasp of the Word of God to build his message upon.

Once you establish these foundations firmly in your mind and heart, along with having appropriate scriptures in your heart as arrows ready to fly, you can flow with the direction of the Holy Spirit and find great freedom in your preaching. The Holy Spirit can then emphasize certain truths or elements of the message as needed for the particular audience.

Before you preach to an audience that does not know you, tell them something about yourself. Speak warmly and sincerely, so that they can relate to you as a person. If they first open their heart to the messenger, it will help them to receive the message.

Speak directly from your heart as a compassionate friend to your hearers. Find a scripture text to use as a basis for your message. Read that in the beginning and then preach from your heart. A 20-minute message from your heart is better than an hour of stiff, uninspired reading of notes from a page. Start where you are and rise up in the glory of God. Then call the people to repentance at the foot of the cross.

I once heard the story that taught me a lot about the kind of attitude it takes to be an effective Gospel preacher. Someone had told Billy Graham about a young man who had been doing research and studying the subject of evangelism at Wheaton College. Mr. Graham then asked, “Do you think he would be willing to sit down and talk with me to help me improve my Gospel presentation?” Here was the man that many say is the greatest evangelist in the world, and he was looking for help with his Gospel presentation. What about the rest of us?

We need to continually sharpen our arrows and develop the skills necessary to be effective soul winners. We are carrying the only message that can save men’s eternal souls. May God help us to be effective in bringing forth that message to a spiritually destitute world.

Help me Father, to hide the Word of Your salvation in my heart, that I might give a clear presentation of the Gospel to those who need it. Help me to proclaim Your Gospel clearly and fearlessly, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Tom and Susan

Dear Fellow Minister,

Just a note to introduce myself and our ministry to those of you serving the Lord in the U.S. and around the world.

My wife, Susan, and I came out of the hippy movement back in the ’70s. In 1977, Jesus got a hold of our lives and we were delivered completely from drugs and alcohol, and transformed by the power of God. This started a major change of course for our lives. In 1983, I became a pastor of a small church in northern Minnesota. We pastored faithfully in Minnesota and North Dakota for 22 years, while at the same time reaching out through evangelism and missions. Our ministry has touched many nations, including the United States, Mexico, Haiti, Canada, Kenya, Ukraine, China, Thailand, and India. Since 2005, we have been in full-time evangelistic ministry.

Our focus is preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and training believers in their ministry of reaching the world for Christ. God has given us grace to minister by the Holy Spirit to people from many different denominational backgrounds. We have seen a lot of wonderful fruit from this ministry—people born again, healed, filled with the Spirit, and turned on to reaching others with God’s Good News.

I believe that the role of the evangelist is not only to proclaim the Gospel, but also to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. The greatest resource for ministry is sitting in our churches each Sunday morning and it is our job to equip them, encourage them, and release them to reach their world for Jesus Christ. I also believe that the ministry of the evangelist is a vital and necessary key to unlock the treasure that is in our churches—through inspiration, example, training, and impartation.

Contact us if you would like to schedule some Evangelistic Services in your church or community, or if you would like to plan some Believers’ Ministry Training Classes. In our classes, believers learn by hands-on experience the skills of witnessing, praying for the sick, moving out in the gifts of the Spirit, and in general, fulfilling the great commission according to Mark 16:15-20. When we come, our goal is to build up, encourage, and strengthen the local church, and to assist and encourage pastors in the work they are doing.

My wife, Susan, also travels with me occasionally. She is an excellent preacher and brings a anointing of joy, laughter, encouragement, and scriptural truth. She is also a engaging speaker for women’s events, and brings an unexpected, fresh, creative outlook to life as a follower of Christ.

We come on a free-will offering basis.

Thanks for the opportunity to share these things with you. I pray that the Lord would bless and encourage you and increase your vision for Him in the days to come.

Sincerely,

Tom Shanklin

Recomendations

Tom communicates the Gospel message well under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He is sensitive to the needs of people and has a good grasp on the essential truths of the Bible. As an evangelist, he fills a need in the greater Body of Christ, particularly in the local church, where members are equipped to share their faith (Eph. 4:11). The response of people and “altar times” were handled with clarity and in a non-offensive manner. It is my privilege to recommend Rev. Tom Shanklin to serve as guest minister, pulpit supply, or conference speaker. Our church has been blessed by the ministry which the Lord has given him and Susan. He will be a blessing to any group of people who call him to come to minister the Word of God. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for considering their ministry.

Rev. Timothy L. Warner, Pastor
Northern Lights Christian Center, Hayward, WI.

Thank you for your ministry at the Business Men’s Fellowship Advance.  The Fisher’s of Men Seminar was excellent.  It reached across political, denominational and socioeconomic lines.  I believe any men’s group could benefit from it and relate to it.  I believe the personal ministry session was very powerful.  Your prayers were definitely prophetic.  Your explanation and presentation of the fullness of the Spirit was very effective.  Looking forward to the opportunity to do another event in the future together.  God’s richest blessings upon you.

Larry Plucker
Business Men’s Fellowship, Cannon Falls, MN

Susan leading the ladies in a Holy Ghost conga at Hendricks.

It was pure joy to have Susan minister at our women’s conference.  She was so down to earth and transparent in her life experiences.  Her teaching was laced with scriptures that everyone could apply to in their own lives.  Laughter filled the day with her witty insights.  We were all personally blessed and it was all to the Glory of God!

Pastor Joyce Caugherty
Faith Family Christian Center, Hendricks, MN

Related Articles

• More About Us
• More Recommendations
• Tom’s Testimony
• Ministry Reports

A big smile after receiving a healing in south India.

By Tom Shanklin

“And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.” Mark 6:5, 6, KJV.

People often ask me why God seems to move so much more powerfully in other countries than He does in the United States. Well, I don’t have all the answers. But from the Scriptures I can see that one of the main hindrances to the move of God is unbelief. This can occur anywhere. The question is not which country you are in. The question is, “What is the spiritual climate in a particular place?”

God’s Word says, “They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” We say, “Well, maybe…” In other words, there is a skeptical attitude in the West that often hinders us from receiving all God has for us. This attitude is in society and it’s also in our churches, just like it was in Jesus’ hometown.

There are certain scriptures in the Word of God that I find astounding, and this is one of them. Think of it! The Bible says that Jesus, the Son of God, in His own hometown, could there do no mighty work. It does not say He would not, it says He could not.

Now we certainly realize that Jesus could do mighty works. He healed the sick, opened the blind eyes and the deaf ears. He cast out demons and He even raised the dead. I’m confident that Jesus had the power and anointing to do mighty works in His hometown, but yet the scripture says, “He could there do no mighty work.”

Why? It says that he “marvelled because of their unbelief.” Clearly, the reason for the lack of miracles in Jesus’ hometown was “THEIR UNBELIEF.” In other words, their unbelief hindered His healing power from having its full effect.

Now, we don’t like it very much when someone says that we are not receiving something from God because of our unbelief. In fact, it can be very unpopular to say such a thing. In many circles, it would be more acceptable to say, “It must not be God’s will.” But Jesus did not put the blame on His heavenly Father. When the disciples asked Jesus why they could not cast out a demon, He told them, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20, KJV.

He then told them that this kind of demon comes out only by prayer and fasting. In other words, it was a difficult case and it required a greater release of spiritual power, but still the root cause of their failure, according to Jesus, was “YOUR UNBELIEF.”

The word translated unbelief means “a mental rejection of something as untrue.”

What was Jesus’ solution? “He went about the villages teaching.” Since faith comes by hearing, the cure for unbelief is teaching. However, it’s interesting that very often in third world countries, it doesn’t take that much teaching. You just proclaim the Gospel and people receive what they need, whether it be salvation, healing or deliverance. The people are generally much more apt to believe and to receive what God has for them. Too often, our attitude is “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But their attitude is, “I believe I’ll receive it.”

I was talking to a pastor friend of mine who formerly lived and ministered in Africa and then came to America. He was talking about this difference. He said in Africa he could tell the people about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and then they would simply receive it. But here in the U.S., he said, you teach and teach for weeks and then maybe someone will receive.

I think in America we make faith too hard. Jesus said all we need is faith like a grain of mustard seed—just a little seed which will produce great big results. You see, the power is not in the size of the seed. The power is the One who created the seed. He set it all in motion in the beginning. He said, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest…” Gen. 8:22) Just plant the little seed and it will grow.

God is the One who produces the miracles. Our part is to believe. It’s like the switch in your living room. The switch costs $2 or $3 and you flip it and the light comes on. But the power does not come from the $2 switch. The power comes from a power plant somewhere that costs millions of dollars. The power plant is the thing that produces the power. The switch just allows the power to flow.

You see, in many of our churches and in many of our towns, just like in Jesus’ hometown, we have the switch turned off. There is a mental rejection of the truth. We have a problem with unbelief, or you could say anti-belief. There is a culture of unbelief and it hinders God’s power from flowing. This applies not only to physical healing, but many other things as well. Unbelief simply keeps the Gospel from working. Like it says in the book of Hebrews, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Hebrews 4:2, KJV.

When Jesus experienced a lack of success in the healing ministry in His hometown, He went about teaching. Then He commissioned His disciples to go forth and cast out devils, heal the sick, and preach the Gospel. Our reaction might have been the opposite. We might have thought, “This healing stuff isn’t working anymore. The age of miracles must be past.” And that is exactly what much of the church has done. Their reaction to a lack of success in the healing ministry has been to make up a non-biblical doctrine saying that God no longer heals.

I recognize that healing is not the most important issue. Salvation is the most important issue, because salvation is forever and healing is for this life only. However, if you are sick, healing is pretty important. It’s important to you, your family, and to all those who potentially can be blessed and helped through your life and ministry. Not only that, but healing is also God’s advertising program for the Gospel. It is one of the major ways that He demonstrates His love and power to a lost and dying world. We still need the ministry of healing today, just as much as it was needed in the days of the early church.

So today I want to challenge you with one more amazing Bible verse: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:12, 13, KJV.

Jesus said those who believe in Him would do the same works that He did in His name! In reading the book of Acts, I see a fulfillment of this. But this promise is not just for the early church. It is for us today as well. As the Bible says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8, KJV.

We too are to do the things that Jesus taught His disciples to do! We are to continue in the miracle working ministry of Christ. If things don’t seem to be working, don’t quit! Pray for God to stretch forth His hand and heal, just as He did in the ministry of Jesus…just as He did in the book of Acts…and just as He is doing around the world today. Give your faith a booster shot from the Word of God and expect to do what Jesus did, just like He said you would.

“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” Acts 4:29, 30, KJV.

The Power Plant is still producing. Let’s keep the switch turned on!

Ray and Wilma Phipps

By Tom Shanklin

For Ray and Wilma Phipps, life has been an amazing adventure and demonstration of God’s supernatural intervention and power.

It began in 1946, when Ray was 11 years old. He had a vision while at a prayer meeting in a country church near Venus, Nebraska, where his father was pastor. As Ray knelt to pray with the others, he was transported out of his body and into the atmosphere above the earth.

He saw the earth as a huge globe below him that seemed to be real and alive. The Lord’s presence surrounded him. He then was brought down closer to the earth to a V-shaped land mass with an island just to the right of it. He saw multitudes of people looking up to heaven with their hands stretched upward.

He moved just above the reach of their hands but they did not seem to see him. “They had a look of hopelessness on their faces,” he said. “Their eyes were longing and searching in desperation for something they did not have.”

As he moved over the masses of people, one man in particular came into focus. Ray continued to move toward this person and hovered just above him. The man then looked Ray directly in the eyes and said, “Come and help us!”

Ray teaching in India.

Ray asked the Lord, “What is this country?” The Lord immediately replied, “This is India.” He then found himself back in the little country church in Nebraska. He did not previously know anything about India or its people, but the next day at school he saw a map of the country, just as he had seen it in the vision the night before.

In 1953, Ray married Wilma. They both went into the field of education. Wilma taught and Ray earned a doctors degree and became a superintendent of schools for various Indian tribes in Montana and South Dakota. They had a wonderful life serving the native people, but there was no apparent fulfillment of the dream that he had in his childhood.

In 2002, after retiring from their educational careers, Ray and Wilma felt led of the Lord to go on an extended fast to seek God’s will for the rest of their lives. One of the main areas that Ray asked the Lord about during this time was, “Lord, what was the meaning and purpose of the experience I had when I was 11 years old?”

On the 27th day of the fast, he attended an interdenominational prayer meeting with area pastors in Rapid City, South Dakota. One of the pastors had invited a guest to the meeting. The man was invited to give a testimony and to share about his ministry. Ray had the distinct sense that he had met the man before. It soon became clear to Ray that this visiting minister from India was the same man that he had seen 56 years previously in the vision in the Nebraska church. At that time, of course, the man had not yet been born, but when Ray met him, he appeared just as Ray had seen him in the vision.

This man became Ray’s connection to India. He worked with him for about a year, including 40 days traveling throughout India, teaching in Bible Schools, seminaries and other settings.

Then Ray and Wilma began serving under Bible Living Ministries, a U.S. non-profit corporation which had been established by Ray’s brother, Dr. Lloyd Phipps. Ray became CEO of Bible Living Ministries and then Ray and Wilma began to serve as missionaries to India. The focus of their ministry has been to reach the unreached. They have spent most of their time and energy on taking the Gospel to remote villages in India and also Nepal. “God has called us to take His Gospel where it has not been heard,” he said.

Candidates for baptism in Nepal.

As the couple continued to minister in India, the Lord challenged Ray. The Lord said, “I don’t want you to just talk about Me, I want you to demonstrate me.” As Ray stepped out in faith, God began to do miracles of healing through his ministry.

As Ray and Wilma continued to seek the Lord for how to fulfill their calling to India, they came into contact with the ministry of John and Sonya Decker of Christ Ambassadors International in Bend, Oregon. The Decker’s ministry focuses on training believers to “do the works of Jesus.” Through their training classes they seek to impart the ministry skills of witnessing, healing the sick, casting out devils, hearing the voice of the Lord, and preaching the full Gospel.

God provided the finances for Ray and Wilma to go to Oregon for training in the Decker’s ministry training center. Ray then took what he learned and began to teach it in India. He adapted the Decker’s material and produced a “Doing What Jesus Did School” curriculum for India and began to train ordinary but hungry believers to minister to their own people.

In the classes, Ray trains the participants to do the works of Jesus. They practice the various ministry skills in the classes, and the students are sent out to other villages to put what they have learned into practice. The classes last from several weeks to a month, and after graduation, students are sent forth to heal the sick, cast out devils and reach their world for Jesus Christ. Ray said, “I believe that the success of each student’s ministry is a direct result of being baptized in the Holy Spirit resulting  in power to do what Jesus did.”

A village worship center.

Amazing things have happened! When the students go out, signs and wonders begin to take place in the name of Jesus. People in remote villages, who were bound by a lifetime of idolatry and false religion, suddenly find Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Those receiving Christ begin to meet together and a new “worship center” is established. (A worship center is a house church or a small village church.) “As the blind see and the paralytics walk, people want to know this Jesus,” Ray said.

As the Gospel is preached and lives are changed, a surprising byproduct has been that natural physical needs are being met as well. When people in the rural villages receive the living Christ, they then see the needs around them in a new light. They begin to care for the needs of the widows and orphans in their own communities, providing food, clothing and shelter for those in need. Truly, the Gospel works wherever it goes!

This process is happening all over India and is now spreading into other countries. Bible Living Ministries even has a ministry coordinator in Nepal. Those who have been taught in the the Doing What Jesus Did Schools are encouraged to teach what they have learned to others. Notes from the classes have been translated into several languages and are made available for students to use in teaching their own classes. As a result, many other schools have been established. These second, third and forth generation schools are now producing the same results. Worship centers continue to be established at a rapid rate. Ray and Wilma estimate that at least 15,000 worship centers have been established in India and other nations because of the Doing What Jesus Did Schools and by the grace of God. Below are charts showing the amazing and accelerated growth of worship centers in India and other nations.

Glory to God for what He is doing through Ray and Wilma’s ministry. You can find more information about them and their ministry at www.biblelivingministries.org.

READ RELATED ARTICLES

• More Testimonies from Other Ministries
• Read About Our 2013 Mission to India
• TSM Mission to India Video and Healing Testimonies
• More Missions Reports

Ivan Tinklenberg

Blessed by Trip to India
I wanted to share what a wonderful experience I had with Tom and the Holy Spirit an our trip to India. I  was a little scared to go,  but the Lord said He would be with us and help us. And He was very near and took away all my fear.  It was such a growing time for me, where I learned to trust God and not myself. I also meet so many Christians, who don’t have much of this world goods but are rich in Faith. They were very helpful and loving towards us. But I also saw so many people whose eyes are dark or blinded by lies and false religion. I pray that we were a light in their dark world. And I believe that we were able to encourage the churches and pastors wherever we went. God did so many miracles in the meetings that my faith was also strengthened. I also learned so much just spending time each day with Tom on the airline flights, in prayer in the mornings, and through his messages each day. This trip was a great blessing to me a gave me a greater appreciation for the blessings that we have in this country. I would like to thank everyone who prayed and gave generously. With love in Christ, Ivan Tinklenberg

Great to be Part of India Mission
It was great to read up on your trip and to be a part of it! (North Dakota)

Report from Pastor in West Bengal: People are Coming to Church
Thanks for email. I am happy that you reach home. Yes, meeting was blessed for all pastors and others. Now we are reaching them, especially those who came for salvation and three families are coming. And you must remember that you prayed for one drugs addict. He is also coming to Siliguri Fellowship. I am very much happy to see the video. I am praying for your ministry, and after the meeting things are changing here. People are coming to church. (Pastor, West Bengal, northern India)

Thank You for All You Do
Thank you for all the hard work you both do to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to encourage the Body of Christ. Hope you both are well. You both look great! (LeSueur, MN)

Enjoy Newsletters
I enjoy your newsletters. I though your last newsletter was really a good one. (LeSueur, MN)

Great Newsletter
Great Newsletter on India. (Chaska, MN)

Enjoyed Website and Newsletters
I have really enjoyed reading your newsletters that my brother has forwarded to me. My wife and I have gone to your website and have read much of the literature you have available. YOu are certainly blessed in so many ways. (California)

Thank God
I thank God for the privilege and honor to be part of His work through your ministry. (From a supporter in Minnetonka, MN)

Blessings to You!
Blessings to you! I pray God richly bless you in every way—finances, good hearlth, wisdom, opportunities to preach the Gospel, awesome open doors, etc. in the mighty matchless name of Jesus. (Blaine, MN)

Not Locked into Your Own Agenda
As usual, your monthly Good News is chucked full of exciting reports of the move of God in a desolate land. You are an example of how not to be locked into your own agenda. That ministered to me. (Collinsville, IL)

Thank you for coming to the Carpenter Shop, Rosebud Reservation
Thank you for coming to Pastor Bob’s Carpenter Shop. We sure enjoyed seeing you again.  Sorry we couldn’t make it to your tent meetings in Hayward, WI. (Valentine, SD)

Enjoys Swiss Chard!
Blessings to you both! Rejoicing with you for the great reports in your newsletters! I always enjoy your down home articles, Susan, and yes, I also grow Swiss Chard. Keep on keeping on! (Houston, MN)

Always a Joy!
It’s always a joy to read your updates, and it’s an honor to pray for you and your ministry. (Houston, TX)

Thank you for Spiritual Food
Thank you for your newsletter and the spiritual food. May the Lord continue to bless you and Susan and your ministry together. YOu are always in my prayers. God’s richest blessings! (Michigan)

Great to Hear the Word in Jamestown
It was great to see and hear the word in Jamestown. I’m praying that God will continue to bless your ministry. (Bismarck, ND)

On the Same Page
We are always on the same page. I pray for continued blessings to pour through you to others. (Florida)

The Future is Bright
The future is bright despite the evil of this world. God is in charge!!! You both are big contributors to it. 20 years ago, a minister, under the Spirit, prophesied that the chruch will become an organism, rather than an organization. (Illinois)

Newsletter Brought Strength to My Heart
Just want to thank you for the August 2012 newsletter. Very powerful, the Holy Ghost was very strengthening and brought strength to my heart once again! And Brother Tom, it was good hearing you preach about the cross at Hieberg Park in Twin Valley. The presence of the God was on each word you spoke out! Awesome. (Lake Park, MN)

I’m Growing!
In September, I was baptized at your Hendricks service. My life is growing and growing in Christ. (North Dakota)

Watch this exciting video from our mission to India. We traveled to two states, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. We ministered in 9 cities or villages, held two 3-day leaders conferences and held open air evangelistic meetings in 4 village. Watch the wonderful healing testimonies from this trip. A woman who could not move her hand or leg was instantly healed. A tumor instantly disappeared. Watch it and rejoice!

An open air service in a remote village in Andhra Pradesh.

By Tom Shanklin

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:14, KJV.

To see India is to see the multitudes, over 1.2 billion of them. The women in bright colorful saris. The men in traditional white garbs or western style clothes, many with red spots on the their foreheads as symbols of Hindu devotion. There are others with white turbans wrapped about their heads. Then there’s the Muslim women, some with head coverings totally hiding their faces.

Watch video from the Mission to India.

The streets are bustling with beeping cars, with trucks and buses painted with unique designs, bicycle rickshaws, and sometimes ox carts, herds of sheep and water buffalo. People are everywhere, an endless sea. The infrastructure is broken and overwhelmed. The smells of open sewers, rotten food, and diesel fuel and exhaust fill the air. Trash is nearly everywhere and there seems to be no plan to remove it. Many of the roads are more suitable for motorcycles and foot traffic, rather than cars. At least then you can avoid the holes and pits.

Many are poor and homeless, some begging. The figure of a man lying beside a busy highway next to a garbage heap is etched on my mind. The creation of God, made in His image, one for whom Christ died, lying in a garbage heap. It is so sad, so incongruent to the plan of God, so seemingly hopeless—dying, sighing, crying humanity, without God and without hope in this world.

When we gaze at the lost multitudes and the great needs, we can become overwhelmed, thinking, “What can I do?” But our God has an answer for the teeming multitudes and the insurmountable problems of the nations of the world. His name is Jesus Christ!

Someone said that what you see in India is what you look for. You can see the trash, the needs, the poverty, the pain, or you can look for the gold. The gold is the people, and God’s potential for them. The gold is in their longing hearts, their smiles, their hunger for God. That is where the gold is in India…and that is what we went after on our mission to India on March 9-23.

Even as our journey began, on the way to the airport at an apartment in Lakeville, Minnesota, we were able to witness to a man about what Jesus had done in our lives. As we arrived at the airport in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, a spiritually hungry Muslim man was asking us questions, all the while speaking forth the things that he had been taught by his Muslim leaders. He was obviously hungry to know the living God, but also held in chains by false teaching.

We arrived at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, late on March 10th. Early the next morning we had another flight to West Bengal in northern India. Our first meeting was held in Tinindharia, where we walked down a long winding path through the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. The pastor told us that he had been working in that village for two years. By establising a school for children in order to build relationships with the people, only three people had come to Christ. He said I was the first person to ever publically preach the Gospel in that village. That night approximately 25 people prayed for salvation. Wow! What a way to begin our trip! Preaching the Gospel in the open air in the Himalayan Mountains of northern India.

Besides four Gospel meetings held in the open air in unreached and under-reached tribal villages, we also held two 3-day pastor and leaders conferences—one in Siliguri, West Bengal in north India near the border of Nepal, and one in Banswada,  Andhra Pradesh, south India. The meetings were organized by Calvary Commission India, the same organization I have worked with on my previous four trips to India. In 2011, Dr. Ileeni Benjamin, the head of that ministry went to be with the Lord. Now his wife is carrying on the ministry with the help of her family members.

See Mrs. Benjamin’s comments on our mission.

Our messages were translated into several Indian languages. In West Bengal, northern India, the teachings were translated primarily into Nepali, which most of the conference delegates spoke, and into Hindi. Pastors attended from Nepal and Bhutan, and also from the neighboring Indian state to the north called Sikkam. (Bhutan is a closed nation to the Gospel with anti-conversion laws.) In Andhra Pradesh, the messages were translated into Telugu. Tribal languages including Kannada(Karnataka) and Marathi (Maharashtra) were used in some situations. We video recorded the teaching sessions for the purpose of producing DVDs to send back to India for future training of leaders.

In our conferences, the pastors and leaders were trained in the principles of evangelism. We prodded them, provoked them, taught them, and encouraged them to good works—to do the work of an evangelist, to reach their communities and the unreached villages of their nation. We also taught them necessity of training and releasing the people in their congregations to become soul-winners and to do the work of Jesus Christ.

The messages I preached in the pastors conferences included:

• Make Me a Fisher of Men
• Lifestyle Evangelism
• Power to Change the World
• The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
• Doing the Works of Jesus
• Preaching the Evangelistic Message
• The Believer’s Ministry

My traveling partner, Ivan Tinklenberg of Holland, Minnesota, encouraged the pastors in both conferences with a message on “The Fruit of the Spirit.” The muscular Minnesotan with a big heart was an instant hit with the people we met, especially the children, and God touched his heart for India in a great way during this trip.

Many of the pastors were blessed and excited by teaching on the five-fold ministry gifts from Ephesians 4:11. One minister said that through the teaching he had discovered his true calling in God. “Something was missing,” he said, “but now I understand my purpose.” Most of the ministers have very little Bible training, but one pastor said that he had two theological degrees, but he had never heard such a simple and clear explanation of the five-fold ministry gifts.

From the pastor’s enthusiastic reaction to what they heard, we can only believe that seed was planted which will reproduce again and again until the final harvest is brought into the barn.  I think perhaps that this is true revival, not just a group of Christians being emotional and excited, but rather reinvigorated for the task at hand. For when we are about the Father’s business, then we are happy indeed, and full of the life of God. The pastors said that they were returning to challenge their people to reach out and to do the works of Jesus. Others commented that through the session on “Preaching the Evangelistic Message” they had learned that preaching the Gospel was not as difficult as they thought and they planned to put the principles into practice in their own ministries.

North India Leaders Conference and Gospel Meetings

At Siliguri, West Bengal, 143 men and women registered for the leaders conference. They came alive with the challenge of reaching souls. One afternoon, many of them went into the streets and ministered to the people and invited them to the evening Gospel crusade which was held at the conference center where the leaders conference convened during the day. Ivan Tinklenberg went with them, reaching out with smiles, compassion, and prayers. The language did not seem to be a barrier for him. One of pastors brought 17 people to the evening Gospel service, all of whom responded to the invitation to receive Christ.

At Mirik, West Bengal, where a thick mist covered the Himalayan hills like a cloud, I preached in a church on the subject, “Make Me a Fisher of Men.” The power of God came upon the congregation as they dedicated themselves to reach people for Christ. I personally was not feeling well (with travelers gut) during this meeting, but there was no lack of Holy Ghost power. A number of them fell under the power of God, weeping from the depths of their hearts under conviction.

On the first night of our Gospel crusade in Siliguri, West Bengal, many Christians came forward to rededicate themselves to the Lord after I preached on the Prodigal Son, including some pastors. On the second night there were many first time decisions. There were also many dramatic instant healings in those meetings. The pastor who translated for me said he believed that 70 percent of the people who came for healing were instantly healed. A woman who had not been able to close her hand was instantly healed and her hand became totally flexible. She was also healed of pain in her legs when I broke the spirit of infirmity over her life in the name of Jesus. A young man who had sever pain in his lungs because of drug use testified the next day after prayer that the pain was completely gone.

We ministered in a small church in the village of Sebok, West Bengal, where the houses are built on stilts as protection from the elephants who live in the nearby forest and visit the village from time to time. A house there had been damaged as one of the mammoth animals apparently took offense to something and smashed a supporting pillar. I preached there on “The Woman with the Issue of Blood.” It was a healing message, but I also gave the simple Gospel. Several came to faith in Christ. The Lord gave me several words of knowledge about sicknesses, which were confirmed and healings occurred.

On the plane ride from West Bengal to Delhi to make our connection back to Hyderabad, I sat next to a man who serves in the Indian military. He had even lived in America, but no one had ever shared the Gospel with him. During our short plane ride, I was able to share my testimony, give a clear presentation of the Gospel message, and recount the story of the Prodigal Son. He had come from a Hindu background, but said he was not religious, because he saw that many people were using religion as an excuse to use violence against other people.

I shared with him that my experience with God was not so much about religion, but a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. When I first began to share about salvation, he said, “That is very similar to karma” (a principle of Hinduism where you receive rewards for your righteous acts). However, I explained to him that the salvation through the Gospel is a free gift, based on what Jesus did for us, rather than what we do. He was not yet ready to accept Christ, but I was able to tell him how to pray when he was ready and gave him a salvation tract which explained the plan of salvation.

In the front of a hotel in Hyderabad, I think I had the easiest experience I have ever had in leading someone to Christ. A young man who had been attending the church in Hyderabad said that he was an atheist. But I could tell he was not. I said, “Would you like to receive Christ today?” He said “Yes!” and I led him in a prayer to receive Christ as Lord. He then traveled with us to our meetings in Andhra Pradesh and was obviously changed and beginning to move with God.

South India Leaders Conference and Gospel Meetings
A total of 93 pastors and leaders registered for the conference in Banswada, many traveling for many difficult hours to attend. At the end of my message on lifestyle evangelism, I was led to give an altar call for those who wanted to receive Christ. Besides the pastors, a number of people from the church and community were attending the services. About 10 of them came forward to receive Christ.

We held three open air evangelistic healing services in villages in Andhra Pradesh. I think preaching the Gospel in the open air must be the world’s greatest experience. To stand under the canopy of stars and the moon and to proclaim the creation of the heavens and earth, to share man’s dilemma because of the fall of Adam, and then to proclaim the glorious Gospel of Christ is a privilege beyond imagination. To see the colorful villagers, the children, the adults, the sick, the demon possessed, some sitting close, some standing far off, all listening to the remarkable words of Christ is an unimaginable thrill. Then to see them respond to the Gospel and confess Jesus Christ as Lord, to see the sick in many cases instantly healed, to see the deliverance from demonic powers, this is life worth living!

During our meetings in Andhra Pradesh, the miracles continued. At Salur, a girl who had a large tumor in her stomach for four years was instantly healed. After a mass prayer for healing, she came forward searching with her hand for her missing tumor. The leader of the village testified that she had had the tumor previous to prayer. About 100 stood and prayed for salvation as well. Each of the villages where we ministered had a single pioneering church. In each village, the pastors promised us that they would follow up on those who came for salvation and to lead them into Christian baptism and the fellowship of the church.

The villages where we held our Gospel meetings in Andhra Pradesh each also had the beginnings of a structure for a church building. Foundations had been laid, but finances were needed to complete the structures. In fact, we saw four such incomplete structures while in Andhra Pradesh, as well as the foundation for a children’s home in one village. The cost of constructing a church in one of these villages is approximately $6,000-$7,000.

At Saluru, the village elders, who were Hindu, attended the meeting. Several prayed to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, including the village leader (like a mayor), who also invited us to his house and kneeled down, asking for prayer for himself and his family. In that village, I was led to preach on John 3:14-17, including Jesus’ message about how He was to be lifted up like Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness. I told them that Jesus compared Himself to a snake (a symbol of evil) because on the cross He took all our sins upon Himself. The message seemed a bit complicated to me for an evangelistic meeting in a Hindu village, but by God’s prompting I went with it, and the Lord made it simple. I didn’t realize it, but it turns out we were standing right next to a Hindu shrine with the image of a snake. I asked those who wanted to make a first time commitment to the Lord to stand and pray. About 80-100 people stood.

To reach India and the nations, we must have faith, not only for the harvest of souls, but also for the multiplied seed. The Gospel seed that is planted must grow and produce a harvest, bear more seed and produce another harvest, and then another and another, until all of India, and all of the earth is reaped. God’s people must receive the Word, receive encouragement, receive a prompting of the Holy Ghost, and be thrust out into the harvest fields. One preacher from Minnesota cannot win them all. But if we can plant the seed that will be multiplied, yes, we can reach the multitudes in the valley of decision. It will not take a man to reach India, it will take an army, and you and I have had a part in raising that army.

On the flight home, my traveling companion, Ivan Tinklenberg, witnessed to a flight attendant. Later we prayed together for the man’s salvation. Then, while Ivan was sleeping, the man came to me asking questions. I was able to share the Gospel with him and lead him in a prayer of salvation. The trip ended the way it started, sharing the Gospel of our glorious Lord.

During this trip, we experienced the effects of the prayers of our families, supporting churches, and partners back home. Ivan and I never had any sense of danger or oppression during the entire trip. God seemed to orchestrate and direct all the circumstances, including an Indian domestic flight which I prayed would be delayed, so that we had time to get on board after arriving at a West Bengal airport late.

I returned home fulfilled in my heart and thankful for the great things that God has done. I want to thank you for your part in this! Thank you for sending me to India!

See our Mission to India 2013 Photo Gallery.

Mrs. I. Benjamin

Dear Rev.Tom Shanklin!

How have you been? Hope you have reached home safely! Give our regards and appreciation to Sis. Susan, the board members of  Tom Shanklin Ministries, prayer partners and supporters for sending you!

We thank you so much for coming to India! We as Calvary Commission India are thankful to God and also the body of Christ in the United States of America, especially who have been praying and supporting for the great cause of missions!

You have made us to make history! For the first time in the history of Calvary Commission India. God has enabled through Tom Shanklin Ministries to reach out to three nations—Bhutan, Nepal and India. In India we have been able to reach to five different states. God has enabled us to touch West Bengal, Sikkim, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

We have witnessed some outstanding miracles. A girl with tumor for 4 years, has been healed. The tumor disappeared as you prayed. A woman had experienced a clear vision. She told that she was not able to see clearly. It was like a veil when she saw. However after prayer she can see clearly. Praise God! Hands which were not able to move, they were healed. Many were healed of their back pain, joints pain. Word of Knowledge and Word of Wisdom. What a manifest presence and  the power of the Holy Spirit God. Numerous miracles…

Hundreds have been saved, and accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. We have seen the leaders of the villages sit and listen to the gospel. What a blessing to see Hindu leaders ask to pray. Some of them prayed the salvation prayer. Glory be to God alone!

We just want to say thank you Rev.Tom Shanklin and Bro. Ivan for loving us, visiting us, making great sacrifices, sweated, starved, got sick… however you did not give up on what God has called you to do, ministering in the highways and by ways…end of the states and nations!

Please give our heartfelt appreciation for all the supporters and donors, without whom this would not be possible.

Thank You So much!  It was a wonderful time to see God move in a supernatural way!! Each one has conveyed their greetings. They want you to come every year! May God open doors for you to raise support and enable to visit more often. We are praying for you. Please give our love to Bro. Ivan too. This conference has been a catalyst for the vision of Calvary Commission India!

In His Vineyard!

Mrs. Benjamin
Calvary Commission India

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice…”

When Susan and I were young Christians, we had a friend named Gail. Gail and her husband Danny were mentors to Susan and me in the things of God. At that time, Danny and Gail lived in a farmhouse off of Highway 44 just east of Spring Grove, Minnesota.

One day Gail was driving home from town and was about to turn left into the long driveway leading back to their house. As she was about to turn, she felt constrained to just wait. The way she described is that she “had an unction” to wait a moment before turning. Just then, she saw a car in her rear view mirror flying around the curve in the road at 100 miles an hour or more. The car roared past her and then she turned left making it safely home that day. If she had turned left without waiting, the car would have barreled into her, broadsiding her car on the drivers side.

Thank God for that “unction” of the Holy Spirit. The word “unction” is used in the King James version of the Bible. “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”  1 John 2:20, KJV. In other places, the same word is translated “anointing.” In other words, it is special knowledge that comes from the Holy Spirit.

How much is it worth to hear God’s voice? How many lives could be saved? How many marriages redeemed? How many ministry efforts could be more successful…if we would just learn to hear God’s voice?

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” John 10:27, KJV. Hearing God’s voice is a promise of God. But it is a conditional promise, predicated on the condition that we are “following Him.” If we are stubborn, rebellious, and following our own will and inclination, we will not have the sensitivity of heart to hear God’s voice. If we want to hear what God is saying at any given moment, we must tune our ears and hearts to hear what the Spirit is saying.

Evangelist Terry Law tells the story of how God had supernaturally opened a door for him to minister in the former Soviet Union along with a musical group that he had formed called Living Sound. The government authorities thought that the group was a rock band from the U.S. and had allowed them to perform all across that nation. They would go into various venues and begin to sing and then worship and the Spirit of God would fall. Then Terry would stand up and share a convicting and powerful Gospel message. Many strongholds fell in that nation and many hearts were turned to the Lord during that time.

The group would take long train rides to get to their next ministry appointment. Terry would spend the time on the train meditating God’s Word hour upon hour. He said that it was during this time that the word of knowledge, a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit, began to operate in his life. (See 1 Cor. 12:1-11) In other words, as Terry began to quietly meditate God’s Word hour after hour, his heart became sensitive to the Spirit of God and he began to clearly hear God’s voice.

One time Terry was in a meeting where God began to show him that some of the people had been in a fist fight. When he shared this revelation with the crowd, several Bible School students came forward to repent. It turns out that just that day they had come to blows after a heated argument over the gifts of the Spirit. Some had said the gifts of the Spirit were for today. But others said that these gifts had passed away. The word of knowledge that God gave Terry settled the argument, but it also brought some much-needed correction to some red-faced young men.

You too can hear the voice of God! It will help you in your ministry, in your family, in every area of life. But you will need to quiet your soul from the busyness of this world, renew your mind with the truths of God’s Word, and tap into the mind of the Holy Spirit. It’s well worth the effort! It will open up an intimacy with God that will bring peace and contentment to the deepest recesses of your heart and mind. And it could even save your life…or change a nation.