IN & OUT

Greetings!

When visiting SoCal I make it a PRIORITY to visit IN & OUT BURGER sometime during my stay.

HARD TO BEAT!

For my friends in other parts of the country who have not experienced this well known hamburger restaurant, I compare (rightly or wrongly) the very good experience to eating at Chick- fil-A compared to other fast food chicken restaurants.

Without a question in my mind, they are two of my favorite fast food restaurants! (sorry for the commercial)

MOST IMPORTANT COMPARISON

Why did I name this newsletter "In & Out"? The title was obviously chosen for another purpose besides my favorite fast food.

The phrase was chosen because of it's spiritual meaning. It's a reminder of what we desperately need to do as believers in Christ: BREATHE IN & OUT!!

We breathe IN to grow in our faith.

BREATHING IN includes Bible-based church worship, small group study, prayer, fellowship with believers, and discipleship including essential OUTREACH

BREATHING OUT includes sharing what we have learned where we spend our time as we go about our daily lives: work, neighborhood, recreation, travel, hobbies, family, medical appointments. In other words wherever “we live, move and have our being” Acts 17:28

A FRUSTRATING FIRST YEAR

After becoming a believer, for an entire year I could not find a church-going man who would or could answer my burning question: “How do I apply my new faith in Jesus Christ to my life in the business world?" After all, most of us spend 80% of our waking hours at work! Surely we don’t take a leave from our precious faith in Jesus…during that time!

Tudi and I were active youth counselors at church. One day, 3 men I admired and in church leadership asked to meet with me. They said, “Ted, we are so thankful for you and Tudi’s faithful leadership with our youth. In answer to your question about faith in the business world, we recommend you continue sharing about Jesus at church but keep spiritual talk about Jesus separate from your work life." I was astounded and very confused! I WAS BLOWN AWAY!

SHOCKED BUT UNDETERRED

I worked in the convention and tourism business in Long Beach, CA. (Convention and Visitors Bureau). Because of this, I had access to an encyclopedia of associations listing thousands of organizations across America.

I looked up "Christian Business Men", where I found a local Christian Business Mens Committee (CBMC) chapter in downtown Long Beach. I called the local contact and asked what their weekly agenda was like. The representative told me that speakers come share their testimonies each week. The speakers share three main points:

1- their life before Christ

2- how they claimed Jesus as Savior

3- what has happened since

When I attended my first meeting, a young man approximately my age followed the three point speaking format.

FINALLY!

I was beside myself with excitement as he spoke because I felt like I had been forced into the "Holy Huddle" for about a year, where we only interacted with church goers and were isolated from sharing with unbelievers because of constant fellowship without outreach. I rushed up to meet the speaker after the meeting ended. I introduced myself and asked him to repeat his name- it was Josh McDowell! (Josh McDowell is an American evangelical Christian apologist and evangelist. He is the author or co-author of over 150 books, including Evidence That Demands a Verdict

THE REST IS HISTORY

From that point we continued to be very active in church that emphasized fellowship and also now I was also very involved in CBMC (for 20+ years.) that emphasized OUTREACH. By God’s grace I found a group of Christian Business men who modeled for me how to make Jesus deeply meaningful in all environments by not forsaking our precious time at work, again where most of us spent 80% of our waking hours. A moto often expressed by CBMC leaders, “do your work as unto the Lord” which opens the door to your effective witness.

LAST BRIEF EXAMPLE

Again by God’s grace, I went on a short term mission trip totally coordinated by Campus Crusade to Moscow and Kiev with a small group of 5 men from America. We testified of our faith in Jesus at small banquets. My most unforgettable experience in Russia was speaking and preaching through an interpreter in Red Square to whoever would listen (many did).

As I stood proclaiming my faith in Christ non-stop through an interpreter I paused and had an epiphany: “WHAT AM I DOING IN RUSSIA WHEN AMERICA IS IN TROUBLE!? I MUST GO BACK TO THE USA, MY HOME, TO PROCLAIM JESUS WHERE I LIVE!”

I remained in Russia for the duration of the trip, but it was there that I realized I have been called to witness in America. That doesn't mean I don’t support mission trips throughout the world though. I thank God that we are all called to spread the Gospel of Jesus everywhere.

PRAISE THE LORD!

SHORTLY AFTER MY SHORT TERM MISSION TRIP

Back home, I was Witness Breakthrough training a number of churches that were Bible-based and some were mega churches that had a strong emphasis on missions. Over the years, I have taught WB classes on many occasions from coast to coast

One day, I met with a lay missions pastor at a local mega church who regularly reported to the large congregation about the status of mission trips. During our conversation, I asked if he might consider sharing his brief witness testimony with our WB group of about 30 people who were also interested in GOLF OUTREACH

I had known him for years, so his response surprised me. He said, “Ted, as you know, I often take short-term groups around the world, and I have personally witnessed to people in the places we’ve gone. But PLEASE DON'T ASK ME TO SHARE AT HOME, where I live and work!”

His words struck and discouraged me deeply. I gently encouraged him to attend WB classes and learn how to be compelled by love, not duty, to share Jesus wherever God opens the door—whether across the world or right where we live.

PLEASE JOIN US

As I encouraged the missions lay pastor, I now say the same to you:

COME JOIN US for the “NEW” Witness Breakthrough (WB) Class!

WB Class Begins Wednesday, Oct 8th

4:00–5:30 PM

Wildcat Pavilion

Our First Topic: “In & Out”-What’s the difference…am I guilty of being in the Holy Huddle?

Some thoughts for you and me to consider:

• We are a witness every minute of every day—why not be a good witness?
• Learning to be compelled by love, not duty, is key.
• I like to think of it this way: LOVE FIRST—and witness will naturally follow.

Ted

Before it is too late!

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬