Bott Radio Interview
Pastor Jim Halstead was interviewed by Bott Radio (Friday, September 16, 2022) to share about Go & Tell Ministries and its upcoming events in the Allen County area. The interview was on the air on Thursday and Friday afternoons (September 22 & 23) at 3:45. Then it was on the air as the second part of the full program Saturday morning (September 24) at 10:30. All broadcasts were on 1090 AM and 93.7 FM.
Youth Worker on Fire YouTube Podcast
Doug Edwards wrote this introduction for the Youth Worker on Fire YouTube Podcast for Go & Tell: Jim Halstead started Go and Tell Ministries after working with students and discipling them for many years. Jim is a man who began life without a clue about who God is. A young man who did not grow up going to church. When I first met Jim, I had been five years into a student ministry that would end up being my most extended-term student ministry position. We would meet with youth pastors and volunteers as a district in the ministry department for the southeast and helped create one of three locations for Challenge 90 Evangelical Free Church of America. I recently learned that Jim would pray specifically for our student ministry and family for many years while he was located in Jacksonville, Florida, and I was in Central Florida. Jim has discipled so many students that are now adults, supporting him to help other workers do the same thing. Go and Tell Ministries: Jim’s story will inspire you to see beyond the next few weeks and months into your student ministry. Maybe even a glimpse far into your future and what staying around and investing more will look like on the other end of your life. Learn to Delight in God, declare the gospel, and disciple others to fulfill the great commission.
Delight in God by giving your best.
Mark 1:35 says, “very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus go tup, left his house and went off the solitary place, where He prayed.” Early in my faith in Jesus, I was encouraged to have a daily quiet time. To spend time daily with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading. My college pastor, Dave Faris, told me this great truth. Pastor Dave said: “Jim, it is just not enough to spend time with the Lord, but you want to give your best to Him.” Do you want to give your best to the Lord? To give your best in your Quiet Time, you need to ask yourself when you are at your best. Are you at your best in the morning, afternoon, or night? I’m a morning person, so every morning for years, I open my Bible to meet with Jesus. I read the Scriptures and pray like Jesus taught and modeled us. I want to ask you when you are at your best. Are you meeting with the Lord daily? To glorify God, we must delight in Him. If we delight in Him, we will go and tell. Watch the Coffee Devo by Go & Tell youtube link below:
Hope EFCA Church in Onawa, Iowa hosted a Go & Tell Ministries Weekend.
It was so encouraging to reconnect with Pastor Stan from Hope EFCA. Here is a testimonial from Harold, who attended the Go & Tell Ministries events at Hope EFCA: “Pastor Jim Halsted spent two days with our church, presenting an evangelism workshop. It was an inspiring, convicting, and God-glorifying two days. He provided tools that I believe will better equip us to do the Lord’s work of presenting the gospel to others. Thanks, Jim!” If you would like to host a Go & Tell Ministries weekend at your church-please contact us. Click below to view Pastor Stan Johnson’s Youtube endorsement of the Go & Tell Ministries weekend at Hope EFCA. https://studio.youtube.com/video/wgU4RHUV1O8/edit
September Newsletter for Go & Tell Ministries.
One of my favorite bible verses is when King David gave praise for the mercies God bestowed on him. 2 Samuel 7:18 “Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” I am also thankful for your prayers for our family and the ministry the Lord has entrusted to us. Click on this link to read our September newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/goandtellministries/go-tell-ministries-september2022-newsletter-14178531?e=af41654854
Ancient Path Disciple Making
I was blessed to develop a friendship with Joel Zabrorowski when we went to Israel with Sonlife in 2017. Since then, our friendship has grown, and I have been blessed to teach the Go & Tell Evangelism Workshop and preach at Freedom Bible Church. Joel also founded the Ancient Path Disciple Making ministry. We are partnering together to make disciples who make disciples. Joel Zaborowski is an ordained pastor with the Evangelical Free Churches of America. He has served Christ for 32 years as a youth pastor, associate pastor, church planter (twice), senior pastor, and on the Board of Directors for the EFCA Northern Mountain District. Joel currently pastors Freedom Bible Church (EFCA) in north central Ohio and serves on the Board of Directors for Montana Bible College in Bozeman, MT. He regularly partners with the Center for Indian Ministries and Chief ministries to equip Native American pastors and leaders and partners with JLife Africa to equip Tanzanian pastors and leaders. We believe Jesus blazed a trail… an Ancient Path for his disciples to follow. It is a pathway to making disciples, which He instructed His church to do. Joel and I are planning to partner to equip the church to share the gospel and make disciples. Ancient Path Disciple Making website at: https://www.ancientpathdm.org/
Thank Your Instructor
How does God go about calling and saving lost sinners? By using His disciples as they proclaim the power of the Gospel through His Word. Isaiah 55:10-11 says: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” God’s Word is the seed that the disciple of Jesus sows into others. Just as the rain and snow are not wasted but somehow accomplish His purposes, God’s Word never fails. Rain and snow come from above and do not return to the heavens without accomplishing their intended purpose. God compares His Word to the rain and snow because God’s Word always fulfills His purposes. We never know how God will use even a simple word of witness to plant and water the seed in somebody’s heart. I recently received an email from Richard. I shared the Gospel with him around 1995, and I never heard his testimony until he sent this to me recently. His email reminded me of Galatians 6:6, which states: “Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.” I was blessed to hear his testimonial and encouraging words. He sent this to me: Hello Jim, this is Richard from Jacksonville. I wanted to send you a message to say thank you. In a recent church small group, we were encouraged to send a note to someone that shared the Gospel with us. And I’m not sure if I have ever shared with you that you were the first to share the Gospel with me. It was at an FCA event at Fletcher High School. My sophomore year. At the time, I was going to play basketball and eat pizza. And remember thinking it was cool that a pastor would play basketball with us. You shared the Gospel with me when we sat down to eat pizza. It was the first time I had heard that God wanted to have a relationship with me. That night I did not raise my hand because I believed I was already going to heaven. But I remember talking to God and telling him that if I could have a relationship with Him, I wanted to have that. Only a few years later, I realized that was the first moment I accepted the Gospel and could see how God changed my heart and desires towards Him. And from that time, I sought more Christian fellowship and read my Bible to learn more about Jesus. I have shared this as my testimony and in my sermons for many years. I don’t know that you have ever heard that. So, I just wanted to thank you for being so faithful to share the gospel action and its words!” I wonder how many Christians share the power of the Gospel through the Word with others. According to a recent Christian Post article; not too many: A recent poll finds that two-thirds of American Christians don’t know any methods for telling others about Jesus. Most American Christians want to share their faith. Still, only a minority have encouraged others to embrace Jesus Christ in the last six months. According to new data released by Lifeway Research, more than 6 in 10 believers don’t know any methods for telling others about their faith in Christ. However, 52% of Americans who identify as Christian believe that encouraging someone to change their religious beliefs is “offensive and disrespectful,” and 66% of Christians are not familiar with any “methods for telling others about Jesus.” The survey also revealed that 70% of Christians have not shared with others how to become a Christian in the past six months. Go & Tell Ministries exist to equip the church to share the Gospel and make disciples who make disciples. I always share at our Go & Tell Evangelism Workshop that believers take this class for two reasons: First, to learn how to tell others the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The second reason usually surprises people. They take the course because someone has told them the Gospel and they had repented and professed faith in Jesus. I then have everyone in the seminar share the first name of the person most responsible for sharing the Gospel with them. I was truly blessed to receive Richard’s note of thanks for sharing the Gospel many years ago. God’s Word is true, and His Word will not return empty but achieve the purpose He has for it. Richard’s word of affirmation gave me a renewed passion for continuing to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others, trusting it will achieve His intended purpose and that He will use it for His glory. Romans 10:17 says: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
Coffee Devo: ‘The Day of Salvation”
45 years ago today, I repented of my sins and professed faith in Jesus and became a child of God (John 1:12). Thank you, Jesus, for drawing me to You and being born again! John 3:3 “Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 “ 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV)“For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
August Newsletter for Go & Tell Ministries
The Christian Post recently stated, “Two-Thirds of American Christians don’t know any methods for telling others about Jesus.” Go & Tell Ministries exist to equip the church to share the gospel and make disciples who can disciples others. We rejoice in how the Lord is blessing the ministry to equip believers to Delight in God, Declare the Gospel, and Disciple others. Check out our August newsletter to see how we are raising up workers for the harvest field (Matthew 9:35-38)! Click on this link to read the August newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/goandtellministries/go-tell-ministries-august2022-newsletter-14151779
Summer Newsletter for Go & Tell Ministries
Two years ago, I preached my last sermon at Community CRC and retired from the pastorate. It has been one year since I retired from teaching special education at Southwick Elementary School to serve full-time with Go & Tell Ministries. I did not envision where Go & Tell Ministries would go two years ago, and I praise the Lord for where He has led and is leading for His glory. Click this link to read the Go & Tell Ministries summer 2022 newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/goandtellministries/go-tell-ministries-summer2022-newsletter-13866463
The day his heart rejoiced!
“Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love..” Ecclesiastes 9:9a We are celebrating our fortieth wedding anniversary this month. I still remember the joy of seeing my lovely bride walking down the aisle to become my wife. I call my beautiful wife, Kristi, the delight of my eyes. We have been blessed with a solid and committed marriage. We rejoice with our three beautiful children and delight in our two granddaughters. But it almost drastically changed some twenty years ago. Kristi’s eyesight had progressively and noticeably weakened for several months. An ophthalmologist suggested she needed more than a new eyeglass prescription. He told us she had a brain tumor. Of course, we did not immediately accept the grim news, but after a local brain surgeon made his diagnosis, we asked what he could do to repair the problem. How I look at life is that if there is a problem, we can fix it. But we did not like his method of repair. He told Kristi that the procedure would be to open her skull, move her brain, remove about 50 percent of her tumor, then follow up with radiation. Even then, she could suffer brain damage and may not regain her sight. The tumor was benign, but it was growing. Of course, we did not want to accept that suggestion, so we consulted two other experts who told us the same thing. We did not like what we heard. Unhappy with the information we received, I felt that I, as a pastor at the time, had to take some action. The one option we had received from three different, highly respected specialists was not what we wanted to accept. At our church, we held healing services on the second Sunday of the month. I arranged a healing service for Kristi and began a week of fasting and praying to prepare for the anointing. I had high expectations for the service; however, it was poorly attended, and I felt no sense of God’s presence. Nevertheless, I anointed Kristi. I had expected God to do a great work. I saw nothing to indicate that he had done it. I was disheartened. I was angry. I had spent a week fasting, feeling God beside me, feeling certain this would culminate in healing from the hand of God, but I could not see or feel his presence during the healing service. I felt let down and abandoned. The excitement I felt during the week while I fasted turned to anger after the healing service. Later in the day, I expressed my anger with God to Kristi. I told her I had acted and thought God was with me, and I had fasted, prayed, and anointed her. What more could I have done? I had done my part to heal my wife, but God’s presence was missing at the healing service. I expressed my intense anger to Kristi. After unloading my disappointment on her, I asked Kristi how the service had gone for her. She looked me in the eye and, in her sweet tone, said,” “All I know is that no one would have done for me what you have done” I took solace in that, even though God did not meet her needs in the way I wanted, He did help me to meet those of my wife. Still, after all my prayer hours, I could only wonder,” “Where was God’s answer?” And then it came. Kristi’s sister, Amy, a registered nurse, found a doctor through online research who invented a non-invasive procedure that could remove the tumor, cut through the eyebrow, did not move the brain, and did not require radiation follow-up. We contacted Dr. Hrayr Shahinian, director of the Skull Base Institute in Los Angeles. We made an appointment for Dec. 28. On Christmas Day, we said goodbye to our three children, then ages 15, 8, and 6, unsure what would happen, and flew to L.A for brain surgery. We felt a sense of peace when we met the doctor. He was personable and confident. He told us three things: “I’ve never lost a patient. Have great calmness of heart” I think your eyesight will be restored to what it was before you started having eye problems. Bring your glasses to surgery so we can test afterward” and” “I will do my best to keep the pituitary stem. There is only a 30 percent chance of loss; if the function is lost, medicine will correct the problem” “Kristi’s surgery lasted from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Afterward, Kristi put on her glasses, and they worked. Dr. Shahanian told us he had removed 99.9 percent of the tumor, and it was gone. While Kristi recovered in our hotel room, I took walks to give her the quiet she needed. One day I was walking down Via Rodeo in Beverly Hills, marveling at the luxury and wealth around me. The Lord brought to my mind the song” “The Via Dolorosa”-The Way of Suffering”). I began to sing the song to myself when God nudged me if I would choose to have riches or if I would take the way of suffering. The Holy Spirit took over my being, and I replied that I would follow and serve Him wholeheartedly, even if it meant traveling the way of suffering. If I had not felt God’s presence at Kristi’s anointing, I sure experienced it with my heart, soul, and spirit on my walk on the Via Rodeo. It then became clear. God did not answer my prayers on my terms, in my time frame, or in a way I could immediately understand. But He answered them clearly and gloriously. I sang praises aloud without fear as I walked past the shops on Via Rodeo. God had healed Kristi, the delight of my eyes, and opened my eyes to the way of suffering. He had answered my prayer in the holiest and most appropriate ways: His way (Isaiah 55:8-9). As we rejoice on our
It’s Almost Time to Go Home
“Behold now is the accepted time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 I was finishing up a Bible study when my phone vibrated. I excused myself from the discussion to take Jessica’s phone call. Jessica said quickly, “Pastor, I hope you are not too busy. The hospice nurse said that Dad should pass some time today. Could you come to the house and pray with our family soon?” We set-up the agreed upon time, and I arrived at the house. The family was in the bedroom with Bill, Sherry (his wife of 50 years), his daughter Jessica, the hospice nurse, and Bill’s sister Sheila (and her husband, Larry). As I walked into the room, I greeted Sherry with a hug. Jessica introduced me to Sheila, and she blurted out: “I know you! You are the guy from the video that told Bills’ salvation story.” I chuckled. “Yes, I am. When did you see the video?” I replied. Sheila told me how Jessica has been sharing the video clip with the other family members and friends. I was blessed to hear how the video clip encouraged her heart. I had just published the Go & Tell Great Commission Study Video series the previous month. I then asked Sheila and the others in the room to join me as I held Bill’s hand to pray. Jessica called me a few hours later to share that Bill passed peacefully at home with the family. The family had Bill’s Celebration Service the following week. As I welcomed everyone to the service, we began by singing Amazing Grace. My heart was comforted as we sang the second verse: “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,And grace my fears relieved:How precious did that grace appearThe hour I first believed.” After several family members shared their eulogies, I began the funeral sermon by telling how I got to know Bill over 10 years ago. When I taught Special Education, Bill’s wife was my favorite substitute teacher. Sherry and I began praying together for Bill’s salvation a decade earlier. I faithfully prayed for Bill’s salvation almost twice a week for the next several years. Bill eventually visited our church one Sunday. Afterward, we began to meet regularly and I learned many things about Bill: He was born in Goshen, Indiana, and moved with his family to Elkhart as a youth. Bill graduated from Elkhart High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University of South Bend. He was a soldier in the United States Army, attained the rank of First Lieutenant, served one year in Vietnam, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroism in ground combat. Bill’s first date with Sherry consisted of dancing and laughter that continued for 50 years. He has two kids: Jessica (Matt) and Josh (Deb), and a grandson (Jacob). Bill had a lifelong love of music, literature, and writing (he was a published author of two short stories). He was an avid fisherman and loved spending time at his cottage on Irish Lake. He also enjoyed many sports, especially San Francisco Giants Baseball, Notre Dame Football, and IU Basketball. I also learned that Bill grew up Methodist, and Sherry’s background was in the Catholic Church. I eventually asked Bill, “May I ask you a spiritual question?” He assured me that I could. I asked him: “Bill, if you were to stand before God and he was to ask you why He should let you into heaven, what would you say?” He replied: “Wow. That’s a huge question, and I assume I would say because I’m a pretty good person.” As we continued our spiritual conversation, he eventually shared with me that he was a sinner, separated from God, and was destined for hell. I then shared the gospel clearly with him and explained that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead to take away his sins and forgive him. I could see he was not ready to profess faith in Jesus, so I asked him if we could get together every 3 or 4 weeks to explore the gospel story. We began to do just that. We met regularly, laughed, shared coffee, and talked about Jesus. Several years after the first time we discussed sin and salvation, he came to the church to see me. The first thing he said to me was: “Jim, I want you to know I have not repented, and I am still going to hell!” I laughed and said: “Thanks for getting that out of the way! By the way, Bill, how was fishing yesterday?” Three years progressed, and the family asked me to come to their house on a Sunday night to pray with Bill for his upcoming heart surgery. Before we prayed, I shared the gospel of Jesus one more time. Afterward, Bill looked at me and said: “Jim, I guess I’m just supposed to say a prayer, and I’m going to be OK with surgery.” I replied, “That’s not it at all. Bill, you must repent of your sins. You must trust only in Jesus for your salvation. Bill, I will say a prayer of blessing for your surgery right now. But when you repent of your sins and profess faith in Jesus, when God gives you a new heart, when you are born again, I want you to call me and tell me your story.” Two days later, I was in Kalamazoo for a pastors’ meeting. I had just finished the gathering and saw that Bill was calling me. I took Bill’s phone call. I heard a man with a broken and humble heart for the first time. He told me that he saw what he had done to God and his wife the previous night. He asked Jesus for forgiveness, and he repented of his sins. He professed faith in Jesus as his Savior. He asked me to come to see him before surgery and pray with him. I happily agreed to visit him