Making the Gospels Known Ministries

MOTIVATED BY ETERNAL REALITY

2011-12-12T13:28:00.000-05:00

I think of words that I read by Francis Chan this year, as he was letting the enormity and reality of Hell impact his soul. He said the following: “. . . we shouldn’t just go on with life as usual. A sense of urgency over the reality of hell should recharge our passion for the gospel as it did for Paul, who, ‘knowing the terror of the Lord,’ persuaded people to believe.”

Oh, my friends, think deeply about this, not just in the comfort of your home, but especially as you move about in this life. People are really perishing at an astonishing rate! Unsaved people, and there are many of them, are bllind and walking off the edge of the cliff! How desperate is the call of Jesus to GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.

May God give us much grace and compassion to, everywhere we go, MAKE THE GOSPEL KNOWN. After all, we must work the works of God while it is still day, for the night is coming when no man will be able to work.

OUR STANDING--OBJECTIVE TRUTH OR SUBJECTIVE FEELING?

2011-08-10T10:59:00.000-04:00

Often times, believers are deeply troubled by introspection. Where are the peace and joy I am supposed to have? If I really am a Christian, why do I often feel so troubled? Then, they begin to judge their standing in Christ based on their subjective feelings. Peace and joy are indeed fruits of salvation, but they must not be absolutely relied upon to guage our standing in Christ. The objective reality is this: at the cross, where I repented and believed, I was granted complete forgiveness of my sins and a guarantee of eternal life. We must learn to get the promises of Scripture deeply ingrained in our minds and souls. Then, when the enemy fires his fiery darts at us, we boldly declare the objective truths that God has graciously given us. Consider these precious words from our friend, Charles Spurgeon:

“Understand that you must not look upon the possession of joy and peace as being the absolutely necessary consequence of your being saved. A man may be in the lifeboat, but that lifeboat may be so tossed about that he may still feel himself exceedingly ill, and think himself to be still in peril. It is not his sense of safety that makes him safe; he is safe because he is in the lifeboat, whether he is sensible of this or not. Understand then that joy and peace are not infallible or indispensable evidences of safety, and that they certainly are not unchanging evidences. The brightest Christians lose their joy, and some of those that stand well in the things of God, and concerning whom you would entertain no doubt, entertain a great many suspicions, however, about themselves. Joy and peace are the element of a Christian, but he is sometimes out of his element: joy and peace are his usual states, but there are times when, with fightings within and wars without, his joy departs, and his peace is broken. The leaves on the tree prove that the tree is alive, but the absence of leaves will not prove that the tree is dead.” Charles Spurgeon

NAVY SEALS AND THE GOSPEL

2011-08-05T16:04:00.000-04:00

I've been reading lately about some of our fine men who have fought as Marines and as Navy Seals for our country. I am so moved when I think of how they literally place it all on the line for a great cause--the safety and freedom for the people of the United Sates of America. No doubt about it, they join knowing that they are placing their very lives on the line. Many of them end up paying with their lives, and guess what? They are glad to do it. Then, I think of OUR cause--the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the salvation of doomed souls who literally are hanging in the balance. Wow. I see so many parallels. I so want to think rightly (Biblically) about the mission we all have. I so want to think in terms of eternity and of the heartbeat of our Savior. Am I, Chris Peeler, really signed up knowing that the cost is my life? Do I really believe that following my Savior outside the gate--into the harvest fields--is real? Am I willing to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ? Am I willing to pay the price?

Lord, please, please let it be so! Please make me willing to take up my cross daily and follow you. Please use me to save some!

WHAT DOES EVANGELISTIC SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?

2011-07-06T09:28:00.000-04:00

Last week, we had so many testimonies from team members. So many lives were touched as our team faithfully proclaimed the law and the gospel and lovingly called folks to repentance and faith in the Lord. As we "debriefed" and prayed at the end of our time together, standing near the water on a grand summer evening, there was a sense among all of great satisfaction. We had, by God's grace, participated in the greatest mission of all--the mission of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many lives were impacted. Many sincerely listened to the truth that they so desperately need.

I am continually reminded, and I continually want to remind you of what SUCCESS is in this great mission. Unfortunately many are discouraged because of misunderstanding this point. Our success is in faithfully and lovingly declaring the truth of the gospel. As soon as a Christian takes on a result-oriented view of success in evangelism (i.e. "How many did we get to 'say the prayer' tonight?"), a misguided approach to evangelism sets in. Let the words of J.I. Packer speak to this issue: "But the way to tell whether in fact you are evangelizing is not to ask whether conversions are known to have resulted from your witness. It is to ask whether you are faithfully making known the gospel message."

ENTERPRISING IN OUR EVANGELISM AND AN AGNOSTIC DOCTOR

2011-05-27T09:58:00.001-04:00

Wow! What a wonderful weekend last weekend. We took two teams out, one Friday evening and one Saturday afternoon. God graciously gave us crowds to do open air preaching to, and afterwards we had many wonderful one-to-one witnessing encounters. The gospel went forth clearly and boldly! Praise Him for gospel seeds sown.

One of the folks who heard the open air preaching was an agnostic doctor. He "just happened to be passing by." (Don't you love how God works His plans through seemingly haphazard human movements!) This was so exciting, because one of our team members spoke with this doctor who was troubled. He said that, though he was an agnostic, he was starting to search. There was something in him that knew there was more than just this created world around him! He heard the gospel that day, both in public preaching and in loving, personal conversation. Save him, Lord!

I was thinking about the words of J.I. Packer: " . . . if we love our neighbor, we shall muster all our initiative and enterprise to find ways and means of doing him good. And one chief way of doing him good is to share with him our knowledge of Christ. Thus, if we love God and our neighbor, we shall evangelize, and we shall be enterprising in our evangelism. . . We shall not inquire anxiously after the minimum outlay of effort in evangelism that will satisfy God. but we shall ask eagerly, and pray earnestly to be shown, just how much it is in our power to do to spread the knowledge of Christ among men . . . and . . . we shall give ourselves whole-heartedly to the task." Wow! Amen and amen to that. Help us Lord!

WE'VE GOT IT, THEY NEED IT, LET'S GO!

2011-05-27T09:48:00.000-04:00

I was thinking today about a very simple reality. We've got it, and they need it. It's really, I think, that simple. What do we have? Only the GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, who happens to be the Risen Savior of the world, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Great I Am, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, The Messiah. This gospel is truly the power of God to salvation to EVERYONE who believes.

I have to ask myself: Chris Peeler, do you really believe there is dynamite power in that gospel? And I must answer myself: YES! YES! YES!!! I do believe it. How about you, do you believe it? Please do. Great news--it's power is not dependent on me. It has power all by itself. My job is to transmit it.

We've got that gospel, and they, though they don't know it, desperately need it. And, our loving Savior has commissioned us to go and tell the world: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."

Oh, my dear brothers and sisters, let's go then. Let's get out there--outside the safety zone of our comfortable homes and churches. Let's get out there where multitudes are--multitudes who aren't about to come to us. Isn't that what Jesus commissioned us to do? Yes, He did. And what a privilege for us to go.

IS HELL DEAD? (PART 2)

2011-05-07T10:23:00.001-04:00

It has been said that Jesus of Nazareth was the most loving man, most incredible teacher, greatest prophet that ever walked the face of the earth. At the same time, this Jesus, some say, spoke more of Hell than any one else in the Bible. Quesion: Why would the most loving man do the unthinkable and preach "hell, fire, and brimstone?" I ask this question to many folks I witness to. It may surprise you that most get it right. It really doesn't take a nuclear physicist to get this. Why? Because He knew for a fact that not only was it real, but that many were headed there. I will ask people this question: "If you knew that there were terrorists outside the door, ready to kill whoever walked out, and your friend was about to go out the door, what would you do? Answer: Do anything necessary to stop him. EXACTLY! Oh, that the church would wake up and see both the horror of Hell's reality and the call of God to be rescuers of men.

If Hell is Dead, someone better make an urgent appeal to Jesus Christ so He will be informed! Look carefully at some of His words:

Matthew 25:41--Then He will also say to those on the left hand, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

Matthew 13:41-42--The Son of Man will send out His angels and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Take some time to think and meditate on these words from the Savior of the world. Why? Because HELL IS NOT ONLY NOT DEAD, its gaping mouth is awaiting all those who die in their sins. As Spurgeon said, "If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.:"

May God grant that His church comes out of its slumber. May He grant that we have Heaven-sent compassion that propels us out of our comfort zones out to where they are perishing!

IS HELL DEAD?

2011-04-28T09:46:00.000-04:00

This (IS HELL DEAD) was the title of the feature article in Time Magazine recently. What say you? Is it? If God is so loving, would He really send people to an eternal Hell? Over the next week, I'll be considering this issue in our blogs.

Folks, this is a big, big deal, wouldn't you say? Think of the ramifications--which ever side you come down on. I've heard it said that since you and I would be hard pressed to send people to an eternal Hell. And if we are hard pressed, and if God is infinitely more loving than we are, how in the world could He ever do such a thing? Certainly, there may be punishment for sin, but, in the end, author Rob Bell, says, "Love wins." Of course, this would mean that everyone somehow gets into Heaven. Now, wouldn't that make sense if God is so loving?

And if that's the case, why worry? Everything will be okay. Don't worry, be happy! God loves you and, in the end, that love will make sure you are in Heaven, no matter what you do or don't do. No matter what you believe or don't believe. And, come to think of it, why preach the gospel? If Christ's death and resurrection ensure that everyone makes it, why knock yourself out to plead with others about their salvation?

And so goes human reasoning. Don't these questions remind you of a little discussion in the Garden of Eden thousands of years ago? Remember? "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?'"
And, "You shall not surely die . . . for God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Little has changed in those thousands of years. The devil's tactics are predictable. Get people to question God's Word, pure and simple. Coax them to substitute their faulty reasoning for His perfect wisdom, revealed in His Words. Then, the horrific slide down the slippery slope begins. And its end is destruction, always!

Has God indeed said, "Anyone not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire?" YOU BET HE HAS! How urgent it is for you and me to be awake and alert in the day we are in. In the next blog, we'll consider God's actual words on the issue of Hell. One final question? If you were pressed against the wall on this subject, would you be able to make your position clear, based on the Word of God?

To be continued . . .

. . . WITH THOSE WHO HAPPENED TO BE THERE

2011-04-11T10:42:00.000-04:00

The great apostle, Paul, in Acts 17:17, finds himself in Athens. He not only preaches the gospel and reasons with folks about the gospel in the Synagogue, but also, in the market place daily, "with those who happened to be there." I love it! That's one of the chief goals of Making the Gospel Known Ministries--to equip Christians to be motivated, trained, and able to reason the gospel with whoever God brings across their paths. Here is a great example of this from my friends, Jeff and Mary Bruns:

We had a plumber, Dan, come out to give us an estimate for some work today. When he was getting ready to go, I gave him a million dollar "tip". I told him it had the million dollar question, "Are you good enough to go to heaven?" He indicated that he wasn't and we stared talking. We went through the law and the incredible gospel. I gave him a New Testament and the booklet "One Second After You Die". He seemed grateful.
When Jeff got home he called Dan to answer some questions. Dan told Jeff, "I really appreciated the pamphlet your wife gave me today." Jeff then encouraged him that this was the most important thing in life to consider. It's just so amazing to be having these life and death conversations with people...

Yes! It is amazing to be called to be ambassadors of our Lord Jesus Christ. Everywhere we go, PEOPLE ARE PERISHING, and they do not even know. And guess what? Like Jeff and Mary, we have the privilege to make the gospel known the them. After all, that's our job! We sow the seeds, our great God and Savior makes them grow.

SINNERS NEED LOVE, NOT THE LAW, RIGHT?

2011-03-10T12:26:00.000-05:00

The modern evangelical church has lost so much ground in making the gospel known to the lost. Why? They have answered the question in the title of this post with a resounding "YES." The assumption of many sincere believers is the assumption that I once held years ago. It goes something like this: "C'mon everyone! Sinners don't need to be told they are sinners, they already know that. What they need is to be loved and to hear the good news." This sounds so right on the surface, doesn't it? The problem is that it's assumption is dead wrong. Our MGKM team witnesses to hundreds of people (perhaps thousands) each year. We have a common question for folks, "Do you consider yourself to be a good person?" What do you think 95% of them say? If you guessed, "Yes, I think I'm a good person," you are right. Not only that, they, for the most part, are convinced that God has the same assessment of them! Can you see how dangerous this is for their eternal welfare?

This is why lost people desperately need to hear the law before they hear the gospel. The law is God's instrument that brings the knowledge of sin. This is why, in our evangelism training seminars (contact us if you are interested), we give much instruction on preaching the law of God, as well as the gospel of grace. Consider the following:

John MacArthur noted: "God's grace cannot be faithfully preached to unbelievers until the Law is preached and man's corrupt nature is exposed. It is impossible for a person to fully realize his need for God's grace until he sees how terribly he has failed the standards of God's Law."

Therefore, let us go forth, laying the groundwork of the law of God, so hearts will be hungry to hear the gospel of Christ!

MEASURING SUCCESS IN EVANGELISM

2011-02-11T13:34:00.000-05:00

So, just how do you know if you have been successful when you witness to someone? Years ago, I lived under a horrible bondage. It seemed that the message I got from other Christians was that success equalled conversion (or at least the person praying the sinner's prayer). The results of such thinking are just devastating. First, it puts so much pressure on the Christian to think about his witnessing encounters in terms of the necessity of "closing the deal." Consequently, he is always preoccupied with trying to steer the conversation to the point where he can ask the unsaved person if he wants to pray to be saved right then and there. Depending on the Christian's personality, this can lead (in the case of the "salesman" type of personality) to lots of "decisions," often, in fact, false conversions. Or it can lead to many "failures" in the case of the rest of us who don't seem to be able to turn on the charm and persuasiveness. Do you find yourself in this kind of evangelism rut? If so, there's some great news for you.

In witnessing, there are two job descriptions: proclaiming the glorious gospel (ours) and converting the soul (God's). Here's the reality: We can't do God's and God won't do ours. So, be free, Christian soldier, to go forth sowing gospel seeds to the glory of God. You sow the seed and trust God to give the growth.

J.I. Packer puts it this way. "But the way to tell whether in fact you are evangelizing is not to ask whether conversions are known to have resulted from your witness. It is to ask whether you are faithfully making know the gospel message."

DO YOU HAVE A BROKEN HEART FOR THE LOST?

2011-01-29T09:51:00.000-05:00

“…But the multitudes that were so dear to Christ shall not be less dear to me. If I cannot prevent their moral suicide, I shall at least baptize them with my human tears. . . If in spite of all I can do they will sin against light and bring upon themselves the displeasure of a holy God, then I must not let them go their sad way unwept. . . I scorn a happiness that I must purchase with ignorance. . . I choose a broken heart rather than any happiness that ignores the tragedy of human life and human death. . . Though I, through the grace of God in Christ, no longer lie under Adam’s sin, I would still feel a bond of compassion for all of Adam’s tragic race, and I am determined that I shall go down to the grave or up into God’s heaven mourning for the lost and the perishing.” AW Tozer

MAKING THE GOSPEL KNOWN TO ANGELA

2010-12-30T16:08:00.000-05:00

Traveling up the Baltimore Beltway Thursday morning, once again, I was so aware of my weakness and need for the power of God. On my way to Paradise Assisted Living Home, I called my pastor and friend, Jack Cox. “Hey, Jack, this is Chris. I’m on my way to Paradise,” I said. Jack joked about wanting to come with me sometime because he’s always wanted to see Paradise. Then, I asked him to please pray for me for boldness and effectiveness in preaching the gospel to those dear old folks. Jack said he would, and there is no doubt in my mind that he did. Immediately, I called my friend, Glen Lindingren. Same request, same assurance. I find it is imperative to have prayer cover as we go into enemy territory to proclaim the gospel. Little did I know what awaited me that day.

After greeting the folks, I preached about the angel announcing to the shepherds, “I bring you good tidings of great joy.” “What was the big deal?” I asked. By God’s help, I boldly declared what a big deal it was indeed for the God of the universe to send His only Son to save us from our sins. Then, I shared part of a music video about Heaven with the group. Very inspiring. I had determined to individually MAKE THE GOSPEL KNOWN to residents while the video played.

I came to Angela. Angela, a dear Catholic lady of about 82 years, had listened to me preach week after week for some time. She always seemed uplifted when I finished, yet I was unsure about the state of her soul. We had an incredible conversation where I know she was tracking with me. She really listened! I spoke of the law, her sin, righteousness, God’s command of repentance, trusting in Jesus alone for salvation, “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” After a lengthy conversation, where I carefully went over these issues, Angela was ready to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. I coached her some, but she prayed from her heart. Afterwards, she had the sweetest smile and said to me, “I feel peaceful and I feel a cleanliness.” I am trusting our great God that as this woman responded to the preaching of the gospel, acknowledged the wickedness of her sin, confessed that Jesus died for her sins and rose again, and called on the name of Jesus to save her, that God did a great work in her!

I cannot express the privilege I feel to be able to go with the gospel into these kinds of situations. To be able to kneel before a lady like Angela and to plead with her to be reconciled to God is the highest honor I could ever have. Thank you for your support and encouragement to keep MAKING THE GOSPEL KNOWN!

SOWING GOSPEL SEEDS AT THE DENTIST'S OFFICE

2010-12-10T13:52:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I can read over things in the word of God and treat them so casually. But, when I consider this statement from Acts 17:30-31, I am taken back: God commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has ordained. THIS IS REALLY TRUE! This very moment, God commands the mail man, the doctor, the President, the college professor, the machinist, the pregnant mother, the grandmother, the Supreme Court Justices, your fellow workers, all your unsaved friends, YES, EVERYONE to repent. Judgment is coming. They must know it, but they only will know it if ordinary Christians like you and me will tell them.

I had to go to the root canal dentist on Monday to share the gospel with the folks who were there. While I was there, I got a root canal. What fun! I was able to get tracts into the hands of four of the staff, a copy of One Heartbeat Away from Eternity into the hand of the receptionist (I got a guarantee that she would read it), and a copy of More Than a Carpenter into the hand of the dentist (before he got my mouth open, I also got a guarantee from him to read it!). Why? Simply because, if they don't know Jesus, they are perishing. I want them to know the truth.

SOWING GOSPEL SEEDS--BY FAITH!

2010-11-22T14:02:00.000-05:00

There is much joy in fellowship with Jesus "outside the gates." He is out there with the lost sheep all the time. Let's go out there with Him, to reach out our arms, our hearts, and to lift up our voices, heralding the glorious gospel to those who just don't have a clue. This is our call. This is our display of love to the perishing.

And always remember. There are two job descriptions when sharing your faith with an unbeliever. One is yours, one is God's. Yours is to SOW GOSPEL SEEDS. God's is to CONVERT A SOUL. You cannot do God's job, and He will not do yours!

I had the opportunity to visit a dear lady some time ago with a friend from church. This lady, 5 years ago, was hit by a heroine addict while riding on a motorcycle. Her whole life, in an instant, was changed. She is somewhat mobile, though, severely injured for life.

We showed kindness and compassion to her, as we proclaimed the gospel. She was insistent that she did not need faith, that she was going to be just fine, and that she did not believe that "fairy tale" stuff about Jesus. It was sad. But, she listened to the gospel. She heard both the law and the glorious news of Jesus' substitutionary death for her. And, she warmly received a copy of ONE HEARTBEAT AWAY FROM ETERNITY from us. As resistant as she was, we rejoice that we were able to plant good gospel seeds in her heart. May God have mercy on her. If you remember, please pray for God to open Amber's eyes.

Please, please open your heart to all the Ambers around you today. Witnessing is not an optional Christian activity. It is THE MISSION of the church. Spurgeon said, "The business of the church is the salvation of souls." Amen and amen! Please take the step of faith, and do your job--sowing gospel seeds for the glory of God. Leave the converting up to Him!

What if I don't feel compassion? Do I still witness?

2010-11-18T16:44:00.000-05:00

Sometimes folks worry that they are being hypocritical to share their faith if they are not feeling compassion for the lost. I understand that dilemma. It's very real and very perplexing.

Maybe this analogy will give some hope. Can you imagine a firefighter going up the ladder to the second story of a home where a fire is raging. At the window is a mother with her baby, anxiously waiting for the fireman to bring them to safety. Half way up, he stops and says to himself, "You know, I really have no feeling for these people. I'd really rather be at home with my children and my wife. What am I doing? What a hypocrite I am. There's no way I can, in integrity, save these people." Then, he goes back down the ladder. We would scream in protest, wouldn't we? "Hey, Mr. Fireman, it doesn't matter how you are feeling, those people are in danger. Get up that ladder and rescue them!"

In a similar way, the folks around us who are lost are in need of rescue. Should we pray for a heart full of compassion and tenderness? By all means! But the reality remains, regardless of our feelings, that these dear people are in great need. This helps me as I continue to cry out for God to give me His compassion and a heart full of tenderness. I must go and obey my Master as He continues in His mission to seek and to save the lost.

How about you? Do you struggle with having compassion for the lost? Does it discourage you from witnessing? Let me know what you think. It would help me and others who are reading these posts. Let's get a dialogue going, okay?

HOW CAN I STAY MOTIVATED TO EVANGELIZE?

2010-11-09T15:37:00.000-05:00

What is it that charged the early church with passion and vision to be about the business of preaching the gospel? How, in the midst of all the suffering and persecution, did they stay so focused? And, not only focused but joyfully so?

I believe there is one answer to that question. I believe the following verse will make it clear:

Phil 3:20-4:1 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. 4 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Their eyes were on eternity, and their hope was the reward that lay ahead of them in Heaven! Pure and simple.

I once read of an old preacher who said, by necessity, he withdrew from the world for an hour a day JUST TO MEDITATE ON HEAVEN! Wow! Why did he do that? Because he believer three things. First, that Heaven was really his home. Secondly, that the flesh, the devil, and the world, pulled his focus away from this reality in a strong way. Thirdly, that God really meant it when He said, "Set your minds on things above."

How can I do that? Just a few suggestions...Read PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, the book of Revelation, Randy Alcorn's HEAVEN, FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS. Meditate on Scriptures like those above, often. Finally, pray Jonathan Edward's prayer often: "Lord, stamp eternity on my eyes!"

OVERCOMING THE WICKED ONE BY...

2010-11-09T15:26:00.000-05:00

Have you ever thought about how our witnessing plays into spiritual warfare? Don't we normally think about this warfare from a defensive posture? How about taking the offense? How do we do that, anyway? Consider this great quote from D.A. Carson below. And, then, strap on that gospel armor and get going! :)

"And they have conquered him (Satan)...by the word of their testimony..." Rev. 12:11

"We overcome Satan on the ground of the blood of the cross, and we overcome also on the ground of this declared word. God has ordained that by the foolishness of the proclaimed message men and women will be saved. It is not simply a question of how we survive the accusations of the Evil One. It is a question of how we fight the Evil One. We do so not by taking swords and becoming crusaders and by shooting the bad guys. We fight him by the proclamation of the gospel again and again and again...The only way we can be defeated on this dimension is to be quiet. Our silence guarantees a measure of victory to Satan.

"When was the last time you explained the gospel to an unbeliever one-on one or one-on-three in a more-or-less neutral or even hostile evnvironment? That is how the gospel advances. I know that conversion is finally a work of God. God can sweep through a population with great power and bring countless thousands into the kingdom in very short order. But normally the God of the Bible uses means. He has ordained that the gospel will advance by the foolishness of the Word preached, by bearing witness to Christ...At the end of the day we overcome the Devil by bearing testimony of Jesus." ~ D.A. Carson, from Scandalous, The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus

WHERE YOUR NAME WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

2010-09-22T09:46:00.000-04:00

Ever hear of Shaquille O’Neal? He's one of the basketball greats of our time.

I recently read the following from Mark Cahill's newsletter:

I happened to read an article recently about Shaquille O’Neal. As I read it, I ran across a very interesting statement.

“I know I will play in the NBA next season,” said O’Neal. “International? No. The good thing about me and my career is I came in, did it my way, did more than expected. For every athlete or every great person, there’s a time when it has to end. When and if it ever ends it will be very graciously.”
“We’re going to have a big party. We’re going to have a ceremony, and the next thing I’ll be waiting for is the entrance into the place where your name will never be forgotten.

Of course, Shaq was talking about the Basketball Hall of Fame. Oh, to get your name in there; then it will never be forgotten. The problem? As Mark points out, if you were to go to the basketball hall of fame, there would be plenty of names that you did not know. Yet, isn't interesting that there is a yearning in every person's heart for immortality? But, I'm sorry, Shaq, you are shooting far too low!

In the book of Revelation, we are told that there is a very special book. If your name is in this one, then you will not only be remembered forever, you will also live with Jesus in total, joyful bliss forever. This, as you know, is the LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE. I do hope your name is in that book. If it is, do you realize that your call is to go passionately into this world to relentlessly pursue the lost, so they may have their names in that book? Please, dear reader, go forth boldly preaching the Good News so the Shaq's of your world may have "entrance into the place where [their] name will never be forgotten."

IT'S URGENT!

2010-05-15T00:48:00.000-04:00

I was blessed with an email from my pastor friend, Kevin Spence, this week. He had read an article by David Jeremiah. It ended with this quote:

Oh, how I wished that I had a tongue like thunder, that I might make all hear; or that I had a frame like iron, that I might visit every one, and say, "Escape for thy life!"

Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Then, Kevin ended his email with this: "It's really that urgent, isn't it...?"

Amen and amen and amen, Kevin! It's really that urgent. The day of judgment is coming quickly, folks. Do we believe it, really believe it? Let them mock us and call us crazy; that will not stop us. Though their ears are stopped and their eyes blinded, we see the freight train coming around the bend. It's the freight train of the holy wrath of God. It's not stopping! Oh, people, we beg you, we plead with you, run to the safety of the cross of our wonderful Savior, Jesus. He longs to save you if you will flee the wrath to come and fling yourself on His mercy.

Pray, therefore, the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest...

LIVE READY

2010-05-11T09:12:00.000-04:00

Once a friend suddenly buried his fist in my stomach. As I stood there, gasping for air, he smiled and said, "You've got to live ready, brother; live ready."
I wonder, today, if you are living ready--ready to breath your last breath and meet your Maker. Ponder this quote from long ago:
"My religious beliefs teach me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time of my death. I do not concern myself with that, but to be always ready whenever it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and all men would be equally brave."

~ General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

God has determined the number of days you and I will have here on the earth. Jim Elliot said that he didn't want to live a long life, but a full one. How about you? Are you living ready? Are you living a full life, making sure the lost around you are hearing the gospel?

I urge you to consider the words of 1 Peter 4:7--"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." Please, also pray for us that we would, day-by-day, boldy make the gospel known to as many as we can.

NOT A BURDEN, BUT A JOYFUL PRIVILEGE

2010-04-22T08:52:00.000-04:00

Please capture the sheer joy of participating in the Great Commission as you read this testimony from Ken, a dear friend who joined our team at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Ask yourself, "Am I missing something substantial in my walk with God?" I do believe, for all of us, we are indeed, when we are not going with Jesus into the harvest fields.

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

Last Friday night two of our ministry team that open air preaches and ministers the Gospel on the streets of Washington DC joined Chris Peeler and his team at the inner Harbor in Baltimore, Md. As we arrived in Baltimore under an off and on rain, we noticed that the open air preaching opportunity would be slim due to the lack of a big crowd, as there were only pockets of people out for the night. This turned out to be God's sovereign plan for us this night as it became apparent to us that the one on one opportunity's were tremendous.

As the night went on almost every member of both teams were involved with one on one witnessing and tract distribution. The one on ones we were involved with, I cant explain in words,The power of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit were so evident as we spoke to men about the reality of hell and the mercy of God in Jesus Christ, I watched men broken down by the power of the Gospel. We saw Godly sorrow over sin in a few of the young men we talked to.

It was evident this night was appointed by God, each member of the team had generally the same types of encounters.

As the evening was ending Chris was able to do an open air session to about 5 men on a bench who listened intently, as he finished we were able to witness to a middle age man name Warren, who we prayed for after we were done. I am not one to walk by sight, but I can tell you after seeing his expression and his eyes wet with tears and the joy he showed I believe there was rejoicing in heaven over a sinner that repented that night. To God be the glory for all the seeds sown this night It was a night I will not soon forget. As we walked back to the cars rejoicing we all huddled in prayer and abundantly rejoiced and gave God all the praise.

To labor for Christ is not a burden but a joyful privilege.

Chris may God bless you and thank you for allowing us to join you in this labor.

Ken Toczylowski

HURTING PEOPLE NEED THE GOSPEL

2010-03-12T09:20:00.000-05:00

Last night, Linda, my wife, and I were at Waterford Park on a date. We sat and prayed and then went on a walk around the park. Before leaving, we stopped at the restrooms. It was there that I met Bill, the park cleaning/maintenance man. I asked him some questions about his job and his life. Before you know it, Bill was, with tears, telling Linda and me about the death of his mother--whom he had cared for the last 14 years. He was not a believer, but his heart was so tender. Linda and I were moved with compassion, just by hearing his story. This opened the door for us to proclaim Jesus Christ to Bill. Providentially, he had just picked up a book by Phillip Yancey about the gospel. Why? He saw it at Sam's Club and it was only $2.99! The conversation with Bill was amazing. We urged him to call out to Jesus, and we prayed for him. When we left, as he walked off, he said, again with tears, that this was no accident we had met him there. He was so right. Linda and I intend to be back in touch with Bill. He is all alone in life, so needy. If you remember to pray for him, please do.
Why do I share this? Simply because, there are "Bills" everywhere you go. God so wants us to be on the look out, and He wants us to be prepared to preach Jesus to them, with compassion.

FIRING UP THE YOUTH

2010-02-26T14:03:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, we trained fifteen high-shcool juniors (with some of their parents) in evangelism. Wow! It was exciting. Through teaching, role playing, lots of discussion, and inspirational dvd's and cd's, the Lord helped us establish an eternal, gospel focus. The kids seemed to love it. And then.....we headed to the mall to practice what we learned. Oh, how I wish all of you could have been there. You should have seen these kids boldly taking baby steps in preaching the gospel.

Here are one of the girl's thoughts on the weekend:

Pretty sure that was one of the best weekends in my life.

Yes! It was SO neat that so many people our age were out doing that. So you know all of them from a co-op?
Going out to the mall and evangelizing was just so cool. I had never experienced such a feeling like that. Just knowing what God wants us to do and being obedient. I never realized how important sharing the gospel is... Like, I never really had before!

Praise be to God! If you would like to have training in sharing your faith (for your church or small group), let us know!

Divine appointment on an airplane

2010-02-08T11:48:00.000-05:00

Here is a wonderful testimony from one of the friends of Making the Gospel Known Ministries, Joe. Joe has been to a number of our training sessions and has participated in a few witnessing adventures with us. Our goal is to train and equip believers, like you, to carry the gospel into every-day life. God is at work in many souls. He is preparing them for an encounter with the gospel, just like this gentleman on the airplane.

Could I ask you to consider something? Is it possible that the guy you sit beside on the plane, or the cashier at Walmart or the neighbor you chat with about the game or...(you fill in the blank)...is it possible that this person has a loved one praying for someone to preach the gospel to them? Could you be that person? Just the thought of it should thrill our hearts and give us motivation to plunge through the fear!

One more thought before you read the story. Notice the mention of the "good person test." What an effective way to share your faith! If you'd like to learn more, give us a call, and we can set up a training session for you and your Christian friends. Now, here's the story...

I was on an airplane this week and had opportunity to witness to a young guy who is in the airforce. He said that his wife has been "getting after him to go to church"...gave him the 'good person test' and then gave him the book that you gave to each of us the other night as I had just finished it. On the next connecting flight we sat together again. He had called his wife between connecting flights and told her about our conversation etc and she was pretty excited...also had opportunity to let three office cohorts hear that, contrary to popular belief, the Bible doesn't teach that 'good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell'.

COULD EVANGELISM TRAINING IMPACT YOUR LIFE LIKE THIS?

2010-02-01T12:27:00.000-05:00

Chris,

I am very thankful for your ministry and friendship over the past
year. Your passion and zeal for sharing God’s plan of salvation is
encouraging and evident. The way that you lead, train, and shepherd
your flock on Friday nights is also a great encouragement.

Your ministry has profoundly altered the course of my life and my
walk with Jesus. I always wanted to share my faith before meeting you,
but never knew how or felt comfortable. Well, I am still not 100%
comfortable, but I now have the tools and training to share with people.

Sharing the gospel with people has opened my eyes to just how
many people don’t know Christ and to how many people are deceived.
It has also enabled me to grow in my relationship with God and gain a
richer understanding of how far I fall short and how great Christ’s
sacrifice was.

Sharing the gospel has also been a great new family activity. Our
family places a high value on serving together and enjoying activities
together. Our kids love to share the gospel and I can’t wait to see what
God has in store for them as they get older and are able to share more on
their own. So, you have helped me as a father be faithful to train my
children in serving the Lord.

Can’t wait to get out there with you again soon!

Your friend,
Jeff

WE GET TO DO THIS!

2010-01-23T15:34:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

Do you sense the privilege we have been given? Not only did Jesus save us, but He also made us to be co-heirs and partners with Him in His great passion--TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST.

Oh, that the Holy Spirit would work in our hearts in such a way that we would see the call to go into the harvest fields, not as an obligation, but rather as a high, high privilege. Truly, we get to do this. Think about it. Most people are absorbed in their own worlds, not even considering great things like Heaven, Hell, eternity, souls, the Savior. But, He has been so kind to us--to open our eyes and to bring us out of darkness and into the light. Thank You, Jesus, for your great love to us and for the great privilege to serve you by obeying your call for us to go into the world and to preach the gospel.

So, my dear brothers and sisters, let's go on Friday night! Where? Why, where Paul went: to reason in the market place with whoever happens to be there (Acts 17:17). And, what better market place than the Annapolis Mall!

We'll meet there at 7:00 pm at the Subway restaurant in the food court. We'll have a time of prayer and preparation. Then, we will trust our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, to empower us through His Spirit to open our mouths and make known the glorious gospel!

See you then,
Chris

This was the weekly invite to our evangelism team for January 22, 2009. And we did GO--24 strong! And the Holy Spirit did empower us! What a great joy to hear the reports of the whole, uncompromised gospel being proclaimed to those who so desperately needed to hear. Thank You, our Father for your call, Your strength to go, and Your granting us boldness!

NEVER GIVE UP!

2009-11-11T15:53:00.001-05:00

Never give up in your attempt to pray for and plead with dear ones to come to Jesus.
For a year, we have preached to a dear old woman in the assisted living home in Pasadena, MD. Ursula is of German descent; her life story in pre-war Germany is a very sad one. Along with preaching the gospel week after week to Ursula, we have reached out to her, prayed for her, and taken an interest in her. Several months ago she asked to talk with me. People were surprised because she opened her heart about some very personal things; we had been told that she opens up to no one. Our ministry to Ursula has continued, and I am thrilled to say that there was a major breakthrough with her in early November. After one of our sessions, she indicated that the message of the gospel was beginning to get through. Two weeks later, Ursula told me, wide-eyed, that she had seen Jesus on the cross. After digging a bit, I discovered that God had given Ursula a vivid dream of our Savior on the cross. When I asked her if she knew that she was a sinner now, if she believed that Jesus had died for her salvation, Ursula very firmly replied, “Yes!” I then asked if she wanted to call out to the Savior. She unhesitatingly declared, “Yes.” What a joy it was to bow with dear Ursula, to hear her confess herself as a sinner, and to listen as she put her faith in Jesus Christ to save her soul.
Please continue to pray for Ursula and all the other Ursula’s at these homes. We desperately need the power of the Holy Spirit to move as we labor in this exciting harvest field.

THE CONVICTING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

2009-10-31T14:24:00.001-04:00

THE CONVICTING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT October 30, 2009

Wow! That’s the only way I know how to describe it. I have seen God work in people before, but last night was pretty amazing.

I was witnessing to 4 young girls (ages 14 and 15). I spent quite a bit of time helping them to see how they stacked up in relation to God’s law and righteousness. They all readily saw that they were guilty before God and they immediately became concerned. I was witnessing the active, powerful work of the Holy Spirit.

Destiny, Kemara, Stephanie, and Esther were visiting the Inner Harbor of Baltimore from Charlotte, NC. Each of them, with precious sincerity, admitted that they thought they would go to hell if they died today. Kemara was the first to communicate here sense of guilt before God.

Then Destiny, visibly moved, said she felt like she was going to cry. Throughout the discussion, she must have repeated this 3 or 4 times. She said that she had tried to turn her life around with the Lord and it just didn’t work. Her solution? Just wait till she was older when she would be ready. I shared with her that there was absolutely no guarantee that she would wake up even tomorrow.

I looked at Stephanie and asked her what she was thinking. With her head down, she shook it and said, “I just keep seeing all the wrong things I’ve been doing.” She was very deep in thought and under conviction. Kemara, Stephanie, and Destiny all seemed to be fixated on the reality of their sin, God’s holiness and God’s immense love.

When I shared the glory of the love of God revealed in the gospel, the conviction seemed to increase all the more. I expressed how deeply God loved them, displayed by the supreme sacrifice of Jesus. At about that time, Destiny, began saying, “My heart is so heavy, my heart is so heavy.” She would walk around, unable to escape the pull of God on her life.

It was clear that these girls were at war on the inside. I pleaded with them for their souls. I shared my testimony of yielding my life to Jesus at age 17. Then, I begged them to do the same before their heads hit the pillow that night. They were all very thankful. Destiny said she was really going to be thinking about this for a long time. I prayed for them, gave them some excellent things to read, and they were on their way.

It is a glorious thing to think that we are laboring with the Holy Spirit. We, in our weakness, plant gospel seeds. And as we do, the Holy Spirit works on hearts. May God encourage your heart today to realize that, though you feel fearful and weak, God glories in using fearful and weak vessels to do His work. Please be bold to preach the gospel, and watch the Lord do His mighty work.

2009-10-28T10:38:00.002-04:00

A note from Pastor John Desousa from Shore Christian Fellowship. After reading, get on board. Give us a call and we will help train your group in sharing their faith!

I want to thank you for all the excitment you have stirred in the church and for me personally. I'm seeing the Lord do amazing things as I reach out with the gospel and I'm wondering "How did I miss this before???" The stories are starting to amass quickly and we had a family show up this Sunday as a result of a church invitation given in the playground. I was passing a man in the opposite direction on the Cross Island Trail today and he turned down the million dollar tract. I met him again later going the opposite direction and wound up sharing the whole gospel with him. He thanked me profusely and said "You've made my day. I don't know if I've made yours, but you've made mine. Thank you!" Met a girl yesterday at Quizno's with the word "Death" tattooed on her arm. Wound up sharing the whole gospel - how could I pass up THAT opportunity??!! Thank you abundantly for helping open my eyes to the opportunities God is constantly giving. I'll be in touch!John Desousa (Actually the Quizno's "Death" girl heard the first half about the Law, her co-worker wound up hearing both halves - law and grace, and thanked me profusely for sharing. That blows my mind! They're thanking me?? Wow! Praise God!)

The Value of One Soul

2009-10-16T16:44:00.005-04:00

Just how much is a soul worth? Consider these words from our Lord Jesus Christ:
Mark 8:36-38 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

When we go about our business (work, grocery store, driving down the road), are we thinking about the many souls who are on the verge of being lost for eternity? Please, please do think, then act! They desperately need the gospel! Desperately! Desperately....

Mr. Spurgeon, have you any thing to say about this matter?

"If there existed only one man or woman who did not love the Savior, and if that person lived among the wilds of Siberia, and if it were necessary that all the millions of believers on the face of the earth should journey there, and every one of them plead with him to come to Jesus before he could be converted, it would be well worth all the zeal, labor, and expense. If we had to preach to thousands year after year, and never rescued but one soul, that one soul would be full reward for all our labor, for a soul is of countless price." Charles Spurgeon

A Time to Harvest

2009-09-26T10:42:00.003-04:00

The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest. These were the words of Jesus. May I ask you a question? If you are a believer in Christ, are you praying, regularly, to the Lord of the harvest? How desperate the situation! Isn't it hard to imagine that 150,000 people are dying every day? And that most of them are tragically headed for what Jesus calls the Furnace of Fire? Oh, that He would grant all of us an overwhelming yearning for the lost to be saved!

Last Friday night, at Baltimore's Inner Harbor, three families from our team (including my family of 11) joyfully labored in the harvest. Wow! We reached so many people who didn't have a clue. One couple, Eric and his girlfriend, listened intently as we proclaimed the law, righteousness, judgment, and the glorious gospel of salvation. We knew their hearts were reached and that they were left with much to think about. So many, like Eric, are in the valley of decision today. They desperately need to hear the truth of the gospel. Can you hear the call of the Savior to be one of His laborers? Time is short. Please respond to the call!

UP AND RUNNING!

2009-08-26T17:02:00.000-04:00

Here it is—at long last—Making the Gospel Known Ministries’ Blog Site!

Greetings to all those interested in interacting about getting the glorious gospel out to as many as we can before it is too late.

What will matter 150 years from now? I read this question from author, Mark Cahill a few weeks ago. What a question! What a face to face reality check! Don’t you agree?

People are dying at an astonishing rate—approximately 150,000 each day. Are you and I as concerned with the eternal state of these people’s souls as we ought to be? How can we grow in compassion? How can we reach these people? How can we, in the midst of such busy lives, have our hearts and minds more focused on what WILL matter in 150 years?

On this site, we want to deal with such issues. We also want to consider how parents can impact their children’s hearts for eternity? As important as material provision, health, education, and psychological development are for our children, what will matter in their lives in 150 years?

As the founder of Making the Gospel Known Ministries, I want to encourage thinking and dialogue on this site. I welcome you and hope you will regularly check in with us. Please spend some time exploring the site. If our ministry can serve you in any way, let us know!

God bless,

Chris Peeler

Emergency! Emergency!

2009-08-20T02:23:00.000-04:00

Let me ask you a question, by first painting a familiar picture. You are driving down the road. You are late for an appointment, probably going faster than you should be. Maybe you are weaving in and out of traffic. Suddenly you hear the siren. You look up in your mirror, and you see the lights flashing. It’s an ambulance, and he’s coming really fast. What do you do? Of course, you pull to the side of the road, as do all the other drivers. There is an EMERGENCY. Someone could be dying. This takes precedence over what, just a moment ago, seemed monumental in importance. What changed? You got perspective by the siren and the flashing lights and what they signaled to you.

Now, speaking of perspective, consider these words from AW Tozer:
In the times of extraordinary crisis, ordinary measures will not suffice. The world lives in such a time of crisis. Christians alone are in a position to rescue the perishing. We dare not settle down to try to live as if things were “normal.” Nothing is normal while sin and lust and death roam the world, pouncing upon one and another till the whole population has been destroyed.

Wouldn’t you agree? Oh, gracious Father in heaven, help us see and feel the reality of the EMERGENCY this world is in. Help us to realize that, eternally speaking, sirens are sounding and lights are flashing all around us. Please move us to compassion and to action!

Testimonials

2008-08-03T22:45:00.001-04:00

“I’ve known Chris Peeler for over 30 years. He is a dear friend, a fellow pastor, and a humble servant. He is gifted to serve the Body of Christ in many arenas. I believe his greatest strengths lie in teaching parents to biblically instruct their children and in evangelism. We at Severn Covenant church have benefited from his teaching. I highly recommend him.”
~ Pastor Jack Cox
_________

“Chris has dedicated his life to serving those around him and has blessed so many along the way.”
~ Brad Cleveland, Business Consultant
_________

“Through both his teaching and his lifestyle, Chris has greatly encouraged me as a husband and a father. He is a gifted teacher. He has the ability to take difficult or sensitive concepts and make them understood. I can say without hesitation that God has used Chris to help me to grow in my understanding of the scriptures, but also to grow in my love for the savior.”
~Bruce Turnquist, Psy.D., Christian Psychologist
_________

“It was Chris’s message, “Embracing an Eternal Focus” at a men’s retreat in 1997 that was responsible for my desire to enter the ministry. It had a profound impact on my life, and 11 years later I still listen to the tape 2-3 times annually for inspiration. I consider Chris to have the utmost integrity and Christian character . . . I heartily recommend him.”
~Pastor John A. de Sousa
_________

“My wife, Jean, and I have known Chris for many years. He has been a friend and a true encouragement to us in many ways. He is not ashamed of the gospel, but instead is ready to shout it from the roof tops or whisper it into the ear of a downtrodden human soul.”
~ Frederick A. DiBlasio Ph.D., LCSW-C. Professor, University of Maryland

Our Ministries

2008-08-02T22:22:00.010-04:00

EVANGELISM:
Open air preaching
One-on-one witnessing
Distributing gospel tracts (“Never go out without your tracts.” Spurgeon)
Evangelistic Bible Studies
Outreaches to nursing homes, assisted living homes, etc…
Short-term mission trips

EVANGELISM TRAINING:

Making the Gospel Known Ministries is ready to provide exciting teaching, equipping and practical experience to help you gain the confidence and skills needed to share your faith effectively and biblically.

Discover joy in fulfilling the Great Commission - your life will never be the same!

Training Includes:
• Encouraging instruction on overcoming obstacles to sharing your faith
• Cultivating compassion for the lost and rejoicing in the power of the gospel
• Inspiring DVD teaching from Way of the Master’s Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron
• Live video footage of real-life evangelism encounters
• Learning to overcome your fears in sharing your faith

____________________________

EQUIPPING FAMILIES:
Train and equip dads, moms and children to make the gospel known
Personality Profile evaluations to enhance family
relationships and thus promote a unified family vision for service

EFFECTIVE PARENT SEMINAR:

Parents will learn how to:
• Establish a Bible-saturated home environment
• Focus on heart issues
• Open a child’s closed spirit
• Deal with rebellion and disobedience
• Build close relationships that will last

PARENTING TEEN/BIBLICAL ROMANCE SEMINAR:

Parents will learn how to:
• Use the teen years to prepare for adulthood
• Understand and combat worldliness at the heart level
• Raise godly standards in a relationship-rich environment
• Teach children about sex, purity, and romance
• Establish a God-focused vision for home life during the teen years

____________________________

EQUIPPING CHURCHES:
One-day evangelism course; includes classroom instruction and field experience
Parenting seminars
Workshops for dads and husbands
Preaching and teaching

Read what others are saying about our ministry

Ministry Calendar

2008-08-02T22:17:00.001-04:00

Join Us!

2008-08-02T03:22:00.014-04:00

Making the Gospel Known Ministries exists to glorify God through in three ways:

EVANGELISM

EQUIPPING FAMILIES

EQUIPPING CHURCHES

We would love to have you join with us in these endeavors. Please keep an eye on our
calendar displayed below to see what we are doing and where.

If you could benefit from the service of MGKM, email us at mgkministries@aol.com or call 410-570-4481. If you are a pastor, we’d love to partner with you in helping to equip your people in evangelism and/or parenting the next generation.

If you are interested in making tax-deductible contributions, simply make your check out to MGKM and send it to Faith in the Family Intl, P.0. Box 2753, Springfield, VA 22152.

About Chris Peeler

2008-08-01T03:05:00.010-04:00

Chris served as pastor of New Covenant Church in Arnold, MD, for 25 years. His ongoing passion to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ continues to be the focus of his life’s work. This deep conviction, a growing sense of God’s call, and the confirmation of church leaders led to the founding of MAKING THE GOSPEL KNOWN MINISTRIES.

In October, 2008, church elders commissioned Chris into a ministry of missions, evangelism, and teaching. Chris regularly leads evangelism teams into the streets, conducts evangelistic Bible studies, and presents parenting seminars.
In addition, he does evangelism training and seminars in churches and in small groups, and he preaches in the pulpits of churches of varying denominations.

In February, 2009, God amazingly allowed Chris to meet Linda Wold. Both Chris and Linda had been faithfully married (Chris to Deb for 29 years, and Linda to Joel for 20 years), and widowed, prior to their meeting.

On August 29 of the same year, God joined them together in marriage. Together, they rejoice in God’s goodness to give them a unified vision for ministry, a love for God’s word and the gospel, and a shared passion to see the nations be glad in Jesus Christ. They especially rejoice together in their combined 15 children and growing number of grandchildren!

Our Vision:

It is our goal to pursue the vision of MAKING the GOSPEL KNOWN and of equipping families and churches to do the same.

The harvest truly is plentiful and the laborers are few. AW Tozer appropriately said, “In the times of extraordinary crisis ordinary measures will not suffice. The world lives in such a time of crisis. Christians alone are in a position to rescue the perishing. We dare not settle down to try to live as if things were normal…” Therefore, we will give ourselves to go and reach the perishing.

Dennis Rainey, founder of Family Life Today, says, “the family is the training center for the Great Commission.” We heartily agree. Therefore, we will make ourselves available to families to encourage them in their role of fulfilling the Great Commission.

We realize it is the desire of pastors and churches to be proactive in their faith by reaching others with the gospel. Therefore, we will serve churches in both strengthening families and in equipping the saints for evangelism.