August 24, 2004
Dear Friends and Partners:
I would like to begin this quarterly letter by giving you an update on the ministry.
- In the last letter sent out in April, I mentioned that the “Voice of One” began airing on local cable TV14 in Kenosha and the surrounding areas. The airing times are 6:30pm on Tuesday and 10:00am on Sunday. I informed you that we would soon be going on in the Milwaukee, Waukegan and Zion, IL areas. That too has happened.
The stations and times are as follows: Milwaukee North Shore channel 96 airs on Wednesday at 11:00am and 6:30pm; Friday at 12:00am, 8:30am, and 4:00pm; Saturday at 7:30pm; and Sunday at 9:30am. Waukegan and the surrounding area airs on channel 17 on Wednesday at 4:30pm. Also, do remember our daily radio program on 1250AM WEMP which airs at 11:45am-12:00noon, Monday through Friday.
You can believe with us with regard to going on short wave radio (which can have a bigger impact internationally) and also for our own TV editing equipment.
- We will be updating our website www.nglfc.com. It will provide easier surfing abilities and will have a new look. You will also be able to purchase teaching tapes online and possibly be able to hear sermons online. We trust this will be accomplished before our next quarterly letter.
- Many of you know very well that international missions is a big emphasis for the ministry. In May, I went to the Philippines and conducted a pastors and church workers conference. I also went to Japan and ministered at a US Navy base chapel to some of America’s honorable men and women of the Navy and Marine Corps. We had a tremendous time in the Lord. I am returning again to the Philippines and Japan during the month of October. I will conduct a conference on the southern island of Mindanao, Philippines to train the leaders of the church there. In Japan, I will be holding a conference about missions at the same US Navy base chapel. I will also spend a day or two in Hong Kong making connections with other believers. Your prayers for God’s Word to go forward unhindered is greatly appreciated. God is doing GREAT things all over the earth! We are thankful to be doing our part.
My stay in the Philippines – There are many things I could share about the people, the services, the culture, etc. However, there are three things that stands out to me whenever I travel over seas: 1) The need for more qualified laborers; 2) The need for more finances to do the work; and 2) The hunger of the people for God’s Word and Spirit in spite of their circumstances.
Upon my return to the United States I began teaching my congregation a series entitled
“Building God’s Temple” of which I will give you a brief excerpt. One of our main tests was the book of Haggai.
The focus of the book is that the people were putting their houses before God’s house – Hag. 1:4 “is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” They were putting their stuff before the Lord’s stuff – their houses before His temple. In Verse 9 the Lord says “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? Says the Lord of hosts. Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.” The application for us today is that under the Old Testament, the temple of God was a building but in the New Testament, the temple of God is people. Every born again person is already the temple of God and every person on the planet is a potential temple of God because they can get born again too and the Holy Spirit will come and live in them. We are still building God’s temple today only it is no longer a building it is people (2 Cor. 6:16).
The question is – should we spend most of our money on buildings and things that will perish or should we invest most of our money into getting the Word of God out to people – the real temple of God? We should be sowing most of our money into missions, works of evangelism and discipleship (where peoples needs are being directly met spiritually, mentally, physically, and monetarily). Our focus should be on building God’s temple not our own empires. I believe this is where the great prosperity is that so many people are looking for. It is when we are more interested in souls than cars, God’s house than our house, His church than our church. The Lord spoke to me about this some time ago and said “don’t focus on getting the money in but focus on getting the Word out.” Our focus is to build God’s temple by going into all the world and preaching the gospel and making disciples of all nations – Mk. 16:15 and Mt. 28:19.
When we begin to invest into the building of God’s temple – people, our hearts will be toward the harvest of people rather than what I can get next. Jesus said in Mt. 6:21 “for where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” According to this Scripture you heart follows your treasure; your treasure does not follow your heart. Where you put your treasure and affections are sure to follow. If you are not sold out for world missions this is one way to be. You may wonder, how do I know if I’m sold out for missions and for building God’s temple, that is easy to answer, do you think more about you or them?
This again is a brief excerpt of what became a six tape series. We cover many topics in this series including 1) Three types of offerings received in the New Testament, 2) Who do we support financially and why, 3) When not to give to a ministry/minister, 4) How pastors and church workers are provided for. IF you would like to receive this tape series simply enclose the reply card requesting “Building God’s Temple” and return to us with a check made payable to NGLFC in the amount of $30.00 and give us two-three weeks to fulfill your order.
Enclosed you will find a teaching tape in which we shared how far does God’s grace go. Did you know that according to Rom. 5:8-10 there is much more grace after salvation than before? Most people believe that there is much less grace after salvation than before. I trust you will enjoy this teaching tape as my gift to you this month.
Lastly, please help us to be good stewards over what the Lord has given us. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please send your reply card back with the word “cancel” on it and we will remove your name from our mailing list. If you desire to remain on our mailing list no reply is necessary.
Until next time, “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” (2 Cor. 13:14)
Sincerely,
Stephen M. Robbins
