March 10, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
| | | | John Kauer advertising our site at the Draper, UT Temple opening last month | | Since the end of January, we have had seven people that we’ve known in one way or another who have passed away—a friend, a friend’s dad, a friend’s mom, Maddy’s grandpa, a former boss, a school mate, and a respect seminary professor. All this serves as a reminder how short life is. None of us are promised our next breath. Not only does this cause us to reflect on our own lives, but it ought to cause us to reflect on others now living who desperately need to orient their lives around the Lord of life. It ought to motivate us to give others the Cure for sin as quickly as we can. As the Apostle Paul said, “How can they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). If we really loved people as much as we claim we do, then we ought to not only be examples of Christ, but we must preach Christ. St. Francis of Assisi said something to the effect of “always preach Christ, and when necessary use words,” and some Christians use this to minimize the preaching of words. However the context of Romans 10 is clear: words are still necessary. We can be outwardly exemplary, but that is never by itself going to convey “the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:8-9). The passage goes on to demonstrate that even the elementary principles of faith were verbally preached in the Old Testament by Isaiah and Moses.
| | | | Laurie Kauer at the Draper Temple | | One of the ways we like to get the word out to more people has been through the use of signs to advertise web sites, especially for those that are too hard-hearted to talk with us or even take our literature. We have found that many of these will go in the privacy of their own home and examine the evidence. Of course Satan hates this, as he does all forms of evangelism (yes, some more than others), but unfortunately certain Christians hate this as well. They feel that using signs causes too many feelings of hatred. Some even think of it as an act of hate. For example, last month I attempted to add a Christian in Utah as a friend on Facebook. Because my Facebook picture is advertising our web site in front of the San Diego LDS temple next to a sign that says, “Do Not Enter, Wrong Way,” this Christian called it an “anti morman [sic] picture” and said, “If your picture was on my site any witness I had amongst my friends would automatically be void. Share in love.” Thus, for such Christians as well as LDS, something can’t be an act of love if one is offended by it. If Christians do not become tame and play by LDS rules, then it must be an act of hate. LDS constantly tell me how disrespectful it is to do any evangelism outside their own churches—whether I have a sign or not. In effect, Satan has used both LDS as well as Christians in keeping the gospel from going out to more people than would have heard it otherwise because feeling respected and peaceful has taken the priority in our day.
| | | | Susie Oliver at the Draper Temple | | Our aim is not to offend people. Our aim is to get the gospel out to more people, knowing that many will naturally be offended in the process. This is all part of contending earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
Last month Tara and I shared our ministry and vision with a couple small groups from our church. Our efforts are now concentrating on getting ready to return to Utah hopefully this year. With that, we have put our townhome on the market. Please pray that we’ll be able to sell it soon, despite the troubling market. We realize what difficult economic times these are, but we cannot underscore enough what a strategic time this is for us to buy a home in Utah to house Christian missionaries for short periods of time.
Would you please take some time to seek the Lord on how you can best invest in this ministry? For those of you led to financially partner with us, please send in a tax-deductible investment today. If everyone reading this simply gave $25 per month, we would have no problem being at 100% of what we need. We have an electronic funds transfers program available if you are interested in the simplicity of monthly withdrawals without the stamp. Finally, if you are interested in taking advantage of tax-free stock donations (e.g., an IRA rollover to CCU), we can also help you with that. This will help you avoid capital gains taxes. Please see our "Invest" page for all the details of how you can partner with us financially.
Thank you so much for your concern, financial investments, and prayers for this ministry, and for those trapped by false religions and philosophies.
Rob Sivulka
President, Courageous Christians United
[email protected]
MormonInfo.org
JWInfo.org
****PRAYER REQUESTS****
1. For my book I’m writing (I’m done with a first draft of 47 out of 63 chapters)
2. For more members to join our Ex-Mormon Meetup recovery group
3. For our fundraiser at our church on the 28th
****MAILBAG****
Very interesting materials on your site, Rob. And I will be praying that you are able to move back to Utah. I'll try when I get back from a trip to log on, give some proper attention to it, and post some comments. Meanwhile may God bless your ministry.
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Keep up the good work. We are going to send you a small donation, $50, and wished we could do it more often. God bless you.
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Ive read the newsletter its excellant as always, I especially enjoy the comments from mormons and the responses, it helps us all to learn how to resond, to there dont judge excuses, its so obvious to us whove been given eyes to see and ears to hear What God has to say in His Word,but satan blinds the minds of unbelievers, so we need to be patient with them and trust that His Word will not return void, great job, great answers.
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I have read alot of your stuff and don't find you very credible in your message against Mormonism. You should probably study it with a more open mind, pray about it, and seek understanding. I have found very litle of what you or your wife have stated to be true.
I served a mission in Provo, Utah and I ran into some who would have the same argument as her about how they were treated, but I never seem to be able to find hateful, careless members myself. I came into the church looking like I cam from the worst party in town a they welcomed me, took me in, and helped me tremendously. They may be imperfect, but not anything near the picture you attempt to paint.
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