DO YOU HAVE A BURNING HEART FOR THE HARVEST?
Do you remember the two disciples who walked along the road to Emmaus with Jesus and how their hearts burned when they were in His presence? Do you remember Jesus’ last words to His disciples before He left? His words to us are contained in all four Gospels and the book of Acts, and no matter where you read them, you find that Jesus was concerned about the harvest. He sent his disciples out to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick, cast out demons, and bind up the broken-hearted. And Jesus continues to send out His disciples today — to do the very same things. Jesus wants to “walk in us” as we go into our schools, workplaces, marketplaces, homes, and neighborhoods so He can continue to make known His kingdom.
All of this takes a heart that burns as His does. Do you remember when Jesus looked upon the people and saw that they were harassed and helpless — like sheep without a shepherd? (Matt. 9:36-38) What was His request of His disciples? He told them to pray for laborers. And then He sent them out wherever He Himself would go. And He continues to do the same today. We have had the privilege of working in the harvest throughout the Pacific Northwest in open-air ministry. Here is a picture of us in the primary marketplace of Portland — downtown in front of the old Pioneer Courthouse. The small suitcase between us contains many different tracts which people may take as they wish. Your donations help us to buy tracts and testaments to give away.
One day a 23 year old young man came up to Ron asking for prayer. He was struggling with manic depression and was visibly shaking. As Ron prayed the Holy Spirit came upon him and he became peaceful. He was then able to receive some counsel and more prayer and left with a smile and a big “Thank you!”
Our Lord
has called many different brethren out to the streets — but they all have
one thing in common. Jesus has given them “burning hearts” for His
harvest. We are living in truly amazing days. Each day about
175,000 people come to Jesus in the world. This is the time of the
biggest harvest ever. And at the same time, more brethren are persecuted
than in any other time in history. This is a fact of working in the
harvest — we will face persecution — there are many forces in the world
system which want to stop us. For example, there is tremendous persecution
in China and there also is tremendous harvest — about 10,000 a day.
At the right we have a very interesting group interaction on the corner of SW Fifth & Morrison by Pioneer Courthouse. Daniel, Marty and John are sharing the gospel with a couple of young teen-age girls. Daniel is a young preacher who joins us. Jesus has blessed him with boldness and the ability to be a very articulate preacher. It is interesting to watch the young people listen to him when he talks. John (between the two girls) works on the transit mall recruiting people into computer school so that they can increase their job skills. He enjoys sharing Jesus with the people he meets in his work. He has been a missionary to eastern Europe. Marty has grown into a strong open-air evangelist and he also counsels and prays with and for people. Marty has worked with us for several years. Lately he has been experiencing a healing in his eyes and is now even learning to drive a car. Praise God!
Here is a precious picture of a man in his seventies who is working on a daily basis in the harvest in downtown Portland, Oregon. He sits on the bus transit mall on a folding stool holding this sign. As people walk by or wait for a bus, Bob reads or quotes Scripture to them and offers them tracts. He often faces opposition. Since downtown Portland is a marketplace, businesses do not want him sitting on his stool anywhere near their business, even if he is far from their door. Sometimes they call the police who then have to inform the business owners of Bob’s Constitutional rights to be on a public sidewalk. Some of the young people have given him a hard time as well because he is older. He has even been hit and pushed. He gets called all kinds of names, but He keeps on because Jesus has given him a “burning heart” for the lost that walk the streets. We all need to be very, very thankful that we live in a nation where the public proclamation of the gospel, as well as all other speech, is Constitutionally protected.
At the right we have a picture of a couple of men others would call disabled and an elderly woman, yet they are out on the transit mall quite often sharing their faith in Jesus Christ. Standing is Martin Kennedy, who has been “legally blind” much of his life. He has almost no vision out of one eye and has had very poor vision out of the other. His eyesight has been an object of our prayer and intercession and it is now improving. The other man is Tim Gotthardt whom we dearly miss. He went to be with the Lord at the end of 1998. The elderly woman is Beulah Jennings who is now suffering with arthritis. They would join us from time-to- time and hand out tracts. We have often been amazed when we see who our Lord Jesus uses in open-air ministry in downtown Portland.
We are
always especially blessed when we have younger brothers and sisters join
us. Sometimes they might be with us for only a day or two but we
take the opportunity to share with them as much as we can. Whether
you are young or old, strong or weak, rich or poor, the Lord has a place
for you in His harvest.
Whose
picture do you see in the picture frame to the left? Can you see
your face at your work place? At your grocery store?
At your school? With your friends? Or even with your family
or relatives at a family event? Jesus told us to go into all the
world and preach the gospel to every creature and this tells us that we
are to tell every one we can the good news of His wonderful Kingdom, the
forgiveness of sins, the need for repentance, and the everlasting life
which is theirs because of all that Jesus did for every person on earth.
Just about
every one of us can tell others the good news. Most of us can pray
for people to be healed when we find out that they are sick. Many
of us can stand against demonic powers on behalf of others. And all
of us can be intercessors for others who are in need of salvation and healing.
Not every one feels the “call” or the need to go into public places to
be a witness for Jesus, but every one of us can be a witness wherever we
are. Please ask Jesus to use you to the fullest extent possible.
We have so many lost brothers and sisters who need to come home.
Ask our Father to give you a “heart for His harvest.”
If you
are unable to go out to the streets yourself, then we invite you to help
us with your prayers and your financial support. Remember that our
lost brothers and sisters need to hear about Jesus. In Romans 10,
the apostle Paul asks how shall they hear unless there is a preacher —
and how can there be a preacher unless he is sent. If you would like
to be a partner with us, then please let us know. You can write us
at “Hearts for the Harvest,” PO Box 14292, Portland,
OR 97293. May our Lord richly bless you as you labor
in His harvest. With this letter, we send you our love and our prayers.
Ron & Karen Rohman
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