Below is just a sampling of how God is using the REAL LIFE STORIES testimony book to help win lost souls to Jesus Christ, to the glory of God our heavenly Father. Precious Testimonies Evangelistic Ministries is asking people around the globe to PLEASE continue to pray for STEP BY STEP WORLD OUTREACH MINISTRIES so that they can assist in helping Pastors and Evangelists around the globe create their OWN Real Life Stories missionary book of testimonies in their locality ... in their native language ... to reach out to the lost.

Presently, God has taken this book into nearly 100 different nations, and already has been ... or currently is in the process of ... being translated from English into the language of that respective country.

If Pastors/churches don't feel to create their own book of testimonies from their people initially, they can obtain copies of  REAL LIFE STORIES from STEP BY STEP WORLD OUTREACH MINISTRIES to place in their communities.  The name of their church and contact information can be placed inside the book, to help new converts connect with a local fellowship.  The book can be obtained presently for $1.25 per copy if bought by the box.  They come in a box of 40.  It costs around $18 in postage to send them, so churches (or individuals) can obtain a box of 40 missionary REAL LIFE STORIES for $68.

You can obtain a box of 40 REAL LIFE STORIES books for YOUR church, or yourself, by clicking on the following link:  http://www.step-by-step.org/real_life.html 

Watch REAL LIFE STORIES book now on Video:  http://www.precious-testimonies.com/RealLifeStories/RealLifeStoriesBookOnVideo.htm    
 

SEND US YOUR REAL LIFE STORIES BOOK TESTIMONIES TO PUBLISH BELOW!

Email:  ptoffice@precious-testimonies.com    

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February 19, 2010:  Rich Otero Testimony:  

I started going to Jubilee Worship Center (Hobart, Indiana) when I was eight years old.  I’m thirty-three years old as of right now. The reason I’m making mention to that is because I can't recall ever being challenged or told to be a witness for Jesus. I always thought that was the Pastor's job. It wasn't until Brother Jim Barbarossa started coming to our church that I finally had someone tell me that it was my job all along to tell people about Jesus. I didn't receive it right away because like an old dog, you can't teach it new tricks.

For the first month or so I tuned out the Take-5’s, because I was shy (hence; fear) and it was hard for me to approach someone and just begin to tell them about the Lord.  It wasn't until scripture after scripture and testimony after testimony that I started to grab a hold of all this.

Then Bro. Jim received a God idea!  He thought it would be a good idea to put our deepest most personal stuff in the world on a book for the world to read. I was always raised that it is nobodies business to know my business. What happens behind close doors stays behind close doors. So once again time went by before I wrote my testimony.

Then in one service brother Jim began preaching on the call of Evangelist: “Evangelists - Come forth!” Of course my first thought was there is no way I’m an evangelist. While nearly everyone went forward, I stayed in my seat, but the Lord had a different plan. I was called forward so I went up there out of obedience.  I didn’t jump in right away, but through time and through brother Jim’s constant challenges … it has moved me out of my comfort zone.

I now try to take advantage of any open door or situation the Lord puts me in. Having the Real Life Stories books has helped my confidence tremendously. Had it not been for Bro. Jim and the Lord allowing him to be in the right place at the right time, I don’t think I would have ever realized I'm called to be a witness for Jesus.

I'm thankful for Jim being in my life as a mentor and a friend. I thank him for not allowing me to settle for the ordinary -- to push through and allow God to be God. To trust in the Lord always and He will make your path straight. I have led many of my friends to the Lord just by being a witness for Jesus and I thank God I didn't wait for someone else to do my job.

January 1, 2010:   It was in my heart to start out the new year by taking some Real Life Stories books into the Grand Rapids, Michigan RED ZONE.  Twenty-four books seemed the right number to take. 

I contacted David to see if he would like to go with me, and he happily jumped at the opportunity.  David is a front-line ambassador on behalf of Jesus – a special treat to be around because of his devotion to God. 

We had a blue sky but the temperature was in the mid-20’s.  I knew there wouldn’t be many people walking the streets.   I also knew that there would be folks with a lot of hangovers from bringing in the new year, so corner liquor stores “to have just a little nip of the dog that bit me the night before” seemed like our best bet at finding people to give the book to. 

At the first corner liquor store there was plenty of activity.  David felt to stay in the car and pray for me while I approached people. 

Two physically attractive ladies pulled in the lot driving a late model SUV.  From their dress, they could have been higher class hookers.  Maybe they were joint owners of the store!  The driver stepped out of the car while talking on her cell phone, walking into the liquor store.  The passenger had her window partially cracked, but she too was talking intently on a cell phone.  I sensed strongly that I was to get a book to them, but I just couldn’t see the right opportunity to do so.   A few minutes later the driver exited the store, and as she opened her door to get into her car, I told her:  “I’m supposed to give this book to you.  You’ll like it.  It’s filled with hope and encouragement.”

Interestingly … she took the book as though it “was meant to be”; jumped into her SUV, and off they drove.  Well … book number 1 was easy, thank you Holy Spirit!

Three other people receive a book at that location.  Vince was the last one to get a copy.  Vince was standing off alone.  He had walked to the liquor store.  I put him at around age 20.  He was a little hesitant to take a book at first – inquiring more about it than most, but then decided to take it.  As I walked away, praying that God would use the book to touch his life greatly, my heart went out to him.  I could sense he was emotionally in a lot of pain, but I didn't sense I was to ask him if I could pray for him.

We drove to another liquor store, but I had little success and getting people to accept the book – at least those I approached.  Of course, when people quickly drive up to a liquor store – jump out and walk briskly into the store to get what they came after – they just wanted to leave as quickly as they came.  It’s a bit “awkward” for them when someone walks up to them in that setting and asks them if they would like a book of encouraging Christian testimonies … most likely nursing hangovers, no less.   I can accepted the hesitancy on their part, due to the setting.   

I felt to show David the Omega Life Alternatives house so I drove there.  Pastor Eric Price happened to be there; we woke him up (accidently).  About a dozen of the Real Life Stories books were on the literature rack that I had given him a month or so previously to give to prisoners reentering society that live at the house.  After some wonderful conversation, but before leaving, The Holy Spirit moved David and I to pray for Pastor Eric and then it was time to continue our mission of planting more Real Life Story seeds. 

Across from the Omega Life Alternatives house is a small convenience store of sorts.  They sell liquor.  Several people were outside talking.  Four particular guys were standing talking – laughing – enjoying themselves greatly while sipping on 40-ouncers in a bag.  Two of them were struggling with gravity, having a difficult time standing on their feet.  Dealing with drunk people can be “fun” – yet can get “testy”.  I felt the Holy Spirit said to “Proceed.” 

Three of the four gentlemen eagerly took a book.  The fourth stuck his lower lip up in the air and kept it there the whole time while I conversed with the other three.  Obviously he was having an issue of some sort with God, I had to assume.  One gentleman told me that when he came down off his new year’s buzz, he was going to get right with God again.  One of the other guys half-heartedly said the same thing, as they passed the 40-ouncer around, taking turns with wetting their already very wet whistles.

A few more books were given out as well at that location.  Many people walk to that particular location, rather than drive, and stand outside, enjoying each other’s company.  It is a setting much more conducive to casually dialoguing with people than the liquor stores we had frequented earlier. 

After leaving there, I wanted to drop in and say “Happy New Year” to a saint I expect to videotape this year while she shares her testimony, and in route to her house, I drove by the apartment where Robbin lived in the late summer.  Low and behold, she was standing outside with someone, and I stopped the car and yelled across the street to her.  She abruptly broke her conversation with the person she was with and walked briskly over to our car.  “Brother Norm!  Happy New Year!  How are you doing, anyway?!” 

“Staying blessed in Jesus!  Just down here starting the New Year out right.  Giving out some more books.”

I introduced David to her.  I introduced her as “Evangelist Robbin”, which is precisely what she IS.  She shared with us an encounter she had a few weeks back with a guy who was high on drugs and being a bit hostile in her apartment complex, and she began to witness to him.  While she was ministering to him, like a red hot poker was put on him ... the guy went screaming out of the complex - ran out into the road - and began beating on an unsuspecting motorist's vehicle he stopped in the street.  "It's like he went nuts, or something," she shared.  "Someone heard all the commotion in the complex and called the police earlier, and so the police showed up and put him in their car, all the while while he was shouting uncontrollably that he needed to give his soul to God.  Strangest thing I've ever experienced!  I never found out whatever happened to him after that." 

God has His people positioned in just the right places, at the right time.  

“Hey – do you have any books I can have to give out?”,  she asked.  I felt impressed that seven copies was what I should give her.  She was tickled to get them, and I was tickled to give them to her. 

The three of us talked a little more, and then I told her we had to continue our mission.  The lady I wanted to bless wasn’t home.   

David felt the Holy Spirit was saying that we should go to one of the popular missions on Division Street just south of downtown Grand Rapids, and it seemed right to me as well.  It’s not located exactly in the Red Zone, but people from all over show up there to get some hot food into their belly, especially when they are broke from buying "holiday cheer" from the night before.  Actually, there are two missions in that area, very close to each other, so I knew there would be no shortage of people to give copies of the book to.  The “challenge” is to make certain they ONLY go to the individuals the Holy Spirit says to get them to.  Some people standing in line to eat at a mission will take just about anything you give them, if you’re kind and persistent enough … thinking that if they don’t take it, maybe someone won’t let them in to have the free hot meal and even maybe a bed for the night.  

But before arriving at the mission location:  There’s a popular fast food restaurant in the Red Zone area that I had visited in late summer.  They have a table in the waiting area with several magazines.  That tells me that people have time to read while they wait for their food order to go.  The last time I was there, I sat for nearly an hour, hoping to talk with the solitary individual taking both orders and doing all the cooking.  The opportunity never presented itself, he was so busy with customers. 

I felt to give the place a second try.  I walked in with a copy of the book.  There was a customer waiting for his order.  I asked the manager if I could leave a copy of the book for people to read if they wanted to, and he gave me his blessing.  I didn’t even have to say hardly a thing about what is in the book.  “Wow!  David!  Keep praying!!!!!” I thought.  Lord willing ... I want that place to be a location where I can leave many more books for people to take.

We pulled up and parked on a street off Division dividing the two missions.  I no more than stepped out of the car when someone in the back seat of a car parked across from us shouted, “Hey – can I have your car?”

There was a lady seated on the passenger side; a male driver, and the male in the back asking me for my car.  My first thought was that he had to be kidding with me.  I cautiously walked toward him, and asked, “You are kidding, aren’t you?” 

“No man – I’m serious.  I need a car.  Will you give me your car?”

By then it was clearly evident he was very drunk.  The driver was as well.  What came to me was, and I answered, “How am I supposed to get home if I give you my car?  I live ten miles away, and it’s freezing out here.”  He provided no answer.

The driver seemed intent on being the spokesman of the trio, and was being quite vocal.  I cautiously walked closer to their vehicle, carefully sizing up the situation as much as the Holy Spirit revealed it to me.  The lady was the only sober one of the trio; that was clearly evident.  The guy in the back seat began telling me how he drank too much the night before and was nursing a terrible hangover, and how he needed a vehicle to get home so he could sleep.  The driver kept being emphatic that I should “loan” his friend/acquaintance my car to get himself home, and between the driver doing that and the guy in back telling me how bad of a hangover he had and he needed my car, I felt to say to him:

“I used to have bad hangovers on New Year’s Day too but no longer.  I get high on something that leaves no hangovers.  You might want to try it.”

“What’s that, man?  You got some good stuff?!”

“It’s the Holy Spirit.  He’s the BEST spirit you can drink of.  Ever tried Him?”

Now when I shared that … I was learning up against the side of their car, my forehead resting on the back of my hands, looking in through the half-opened window from the passenger side.  Quickly the driver said, “Get your hands off my car!  Get ‘em off NOW!”  He was serious.  Mentioning drinking of the Holy Spirit had touched a nerve in him, obviously.  I complied.  In so doing, the lady asked, “What you got there in your arms?  Looks like books.”

I told her what they were, and she asked if she could have a copy.  I gladly gave her one, and she smiled and graciously thanked me.  The driver didn't want her taking the book, but she resisted, telling him, "Mind your own business!  The man didn't have to give me this book!"  It was time to move on to someone else. 

David stepped out of the car and we walked over to a group of guys waiting for both missions to open their doors.  Two guys were talking and I asked them if they would like a copy.  One eagerly wanted a copy; the other didn’t want one at all.  David began conversing with them.  The one who accepted the copy began talking freely with David, and David felt to remain in that setting.  I moved around, praying inside as to who I was to give copies to. 

A few walked up to me and asked what I was giving out.  When I told them, they asked for a copy.  The books were going quickly.  A male Native American asked for a copy.  Either his Native American wife; girlfriend; or maybe kinfolk or just an acquaintance ... began to vocalize NOT to take the book.  He told her bluntly, "Shut UP!" - and she went storming off mad in the opposite direction.  One thing is clearly evident with street people.  They don't care what others think about them!  "Take me as I AM, or get out of my face."  It doesn't take long to understand the parameters you're dealing with.

One guy didn’t want a book.  Rather, he wanted to know if I would give him a dollar to buy a can of beer.  He said his head was hurting terribly.  He was not walking stable at all, and with the strong smell of alcohol on his breath, I had to seriously question what one can of beer would do to help his hangover.  At least a dozen cans might make the pain go away, temporarily, I thought to myself.  However, I told him that I had no money with me, and all I had was books to give out, which was true.

He KEPT persisting that I give him a dollar, and it became evident that he wasn’t going to settle for a “ I really don’t have any money on me to give you.”  Because he wasn’t receptive to a book, I wanted to move on to other people.  He kept following and pestering me for a buck, and I quickly asked the Holy Spirit how I could get him to leave me alone.  No sooner than asking the HS that, this came out of my mouth as I smiled and asked:  “Hey, brother, would you like some JESUS for that hangover?”

Man – you never saw anyone do a 180 and leave so quickly!  I had to keep a straight face from nearly busting a gut!

Now then … in the activity of the 50 or so people talking and moving around, I felt uneasy about the two guys I had first talked to … and purposely positioned myself on the street corner where I could see my car and them – being about 30–40 yards away.  The guy who wanted me to give him my car walked over to my car and began looking through the driver’s window.  After several moments, he turned and saw me looking at him and then quickly started looking in the outside mirror of my car, pretending to see if his hair was in place.  With very short hair, sure enough it WAS, I thought!  But he kept putting on his act, but stopped looking in the mirror and just used the reflection of the window to keep checking his hair, mumbling loudly to himself, weaving as he struggled to stand upright. 

As I checked in with the Holy Spirit as to how I would deal with this if the gentleman made any attempt to break into the car, the driver buddy of his yelled over to him out of the opened window, “Hey man – get away from his car.  He’s standing right there watching you, you idiot!” 

It took a bit for it to register, and then compliance followed.  Whew ... thank you Jesus!

The doors of both missions opened and everyone made a mad scramble to get in line and inside.  The guy VERY interested in my car joined the rest and went inside, and the driver and his book recipient drove off. 

With everyone now inside, David joined me and we drove away.  David shared how God gave him opportunity to minister some much needed hope to both of the individuals – sharing parts of his own testimony as seemed appropriate for the moment, and praying with them, while others looked on. 

David asked me how many books were left.  “Two,” I answered. 

“I believe I know WHO they are to go to.  Can I have them to take with me?”

“Sure can.”

And our mission was accomplished for New Year’s Day 2010.  Twenty four (24) Real Life Story seeds planted in God’s harvest field.   Happy News Year, everyone! 

December 12, 2009:  There was an explosion at work today.  It was a Real Life Story book explosion!

November 18, 2009:  The REAL LIFE STORIES testimony book has now been translated into the Burmese language.  Check this out!:  https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AVh1rO41ADV3ZDMyOHBrNl80NjlmNnhkcnpjZg&hl=en  

November 10, 2009:  Grand Rapids RED ZONE Update

REAL LIFE STORIES testimony books are being distributed smack dab in that part of the city through the oversight of a gentleman named Eric Price.  Allow me to briefly explain who Eric Price IS.  First and foremost, he's an evangelist - pastor.  His passion is to see lost souls restored back to God.  But he has a second passion that dovetails closely with his first passion.  That is to see dark strongholds in the inner-cities of America penetrated with the light of the redeeming power that only is available through Jesus Christ.  (Eric is fully aware that no other "religion" has to offer what Jesus Christ has to offer).  That passion was given to him by God while he was in Africa on an evangelist outreach in the heart of the Congo some years back.  God spoke to him that his call was not in third world nations any longer, but rather, to help penetrate the darkness in the inner-cities across America, where crime is growing and litterly quietly reigns in certain localities ... where police departments and city officials are running out of resources in their efforts to curb that crime (drug use and trafficking with increased killing, prostitution, burglaries, fear, apathy, hopelessness, etc.).

Eric has a third passion that dovetails with the first two.  It is for men and women coming out of prison who have little or no means to have a bed to sleep in and food to eat, so they can seek to find employment to make it on their own.  In doing something tangible about this growing need (perhaps "sobering challenge" would be two better words to use) society is faced with, Eric is establishing transitional housing facilities for prisoners being released from prison.  There are strict rules every ex-prisoner must abide by, or they will no longer be allowed to stay there.  But what is unique about the transitional housing Eric is providing, one does NOT have to be a Christian to have a bed.  What one believes about God is NOT a qualifying factor to have a bed there and a bowl of porridge at the breakfast table.  The only qualifying factor is that one must abide by the rules, because their are numerous ex-prisoners who would love to have the SAME bed already being taken.  I'm not at liberty to say any more about that issue, but suffice it to say ... Eric's primary call is that of an Evangelist. 

Now HERE is where his passion becomes of great interest to many.  He and his growing staff are soliciting and networking with every religious organization in the area surrounding his transitional housing locations.  He knows that the more people living in the RED ZONES across the land unite for the common cause of trying to hold back the darkness from increasing in those areas, the easier task it will be. 

Enter the REAL LIFE STORIES testimony book.  Eric realizes this book can only HELP the cause IMMENSELY.  It is a valuable resource letting people realize that REAL CHANGE to stop engaging in ways not pleasing to God whereas being cutoff from God's blessing - favor - on their lives ... starts on the deep insides of a person.  It starts in our spirit being and then eventually works its way into the mind where decisions are made that motivate our actions.

The REAL LIFE STORIES testimony book can find a place in the bedroom of every criminal, or would-be criminal in the making ... to be read any moment of the day or night.  It is not a resource flagrantly condemning anyone.  It is not a resource that threatens the mind of the criminal or would-be criminal at ALL.  Rather, it is a resource clearly communicating that God is REAL and ALIVE on planet earth, and for anyone who will seriously get serious with Him, God is not only fully empowered to help that person out of their darkest pit of despair and hopelessness, but very EAGER to!  Am I trying to make it subtly appear that the book is on par with the Bible.  Absolutely not!  But Satan has so effectively brainwashed so many people to even crack open a Bible in America to start searching it for themselves ... it has become useful to Him to provide additional resources like the REAL LIFE STORIES testimony book to impart some initial desire to one day give the Bible a chance.

Because the REAL LIFE STORIES testimony book is a resource God is using so mightily in third world countries to bring spiritually blinded people to God the Creator, it can do the very same thing where darkness reigns in the inner-cities across America.  Eric Price clearly sees this, which is WHY he is willing to help get the book into circulation in the Grand Rapids, RED ZONE.  (Prayer warriors - Eric can use all the prayer he can get!).

What Eric is doing is a prototype of sorts, without getting into specifics.  State and city officials are monitoring what he is doing in the Grand Rapids RED ZONE, as are the police - understandably.  They are fully willing to assist Eric's efforts.  There are many complaining to all three groups of people to do MORE to curb the growing crime, (with shrinking budgets; reduced man-power!) but very, very few like Eric are willing to get "down and dirty" and DO something tangible about it. 

Let's express that a different way.  There are very, very few "Navy Seals for Jesus" willing to put their very lives on the line ... forgoing quality marriage and family life, and potential lucrative financial livelihoods on the line like Eric is ... for the sake of their country.  Eric is doing that both for a "heavenly country" he has yet to visit, though a full-fledged citizen of in GOOD STANDING ... AND also for the benefit of ALL the people of America, ultimately.   He isn't doing it for fame nor fortune, because that's not the way to get either, and he secretly doesn't battle "Death Wish Compulsory Disorders Disease" (AKA as suicide tendencies).  He's doing it because he is fully persuaded God has asked him to do it.  Only a few cut the demands of being honored with the title of getting to be a Navy Seal.  Fewer yet cut the demands of purposing to put their lives on the line to see RED ZONES transformed into LIGHT ZONES ... but Eric is actively involved in the "recruiting process".       

Eric gave up a very likely professional basketball career several years back to get "down and dirty for Jesus", but not a lot of people know that.  Eric gave up corporate success because he is a college graduate in a highly financial rewarding business sector.  Eric may one day choose to live in a decent home in the "safe" suburbs, but that's not the case currently.  Eric sleeps at the same transitional housing unit where the prison parolees sleep.  And he gives up a bed to a parolee by sleeping in his office, on his couch.  It's not a fancy, plush couch either, by any means.  It is located just a short distance from his desk. Gunshots ring out all hours of the night on way too many nights.  People get shot or shot at just yards away on occasion from the transitional housing unit.  It would be safer for Eric and the parolees to be sleeping in prison than it is where they currently live and sleeps.  Sirens blare hour after hour through the night, responding to gang shootings and other crime-related disturbances.  John Wayne would be lost in such an environment (sorry, Duke), because his horse would get shot out from underneath him the first week on the watch from a stray bullet most likely, and a wild west 6-shooter can't hold up to highly efficient 9-MM's and semi-automatic rifles.  It's a vicious war zone, folks.  If the darkness continues to grow, their ultimately is only one last recourse.  To put more soldiers on the American payroll (at YOUR expense, ultimately) and post them up and down the streets of the RED ZONES across America.  That might end up being YOUR son or daughter, which only makes them fair game for "target practice" for trigger-happy gang members riding by.

Allow me to go off on a little tangent here if you will be so kind.  Let's address an "issue" that people living in safer environments like to "throw out" - as though they are qualified to offer any viable solutions to assist in helping prison parolees readjust to society.  "Safe" Americans don't want "dangerous scum-bag prison parolees" living next to them, where you aware of that?  ESPECIALLY if they have sexual misconduct charges on their record.  Why ... that's worse than having Satan himself living in their neighborhoods ... because - hey ... we ALL know anyone with a sexual misconduct charge on their record is a latent pedophile, RIGHT?!!!!!  It's okay to have gang members recruit your son and daughter into their "fold" and teach them how to have a hard enough heart with no conscience to kill the "opposition" - but GOD FORBID little Johnny or Suzy ever come near a "latent" pedophile!!!!!

(What most of society don't realize is that MOST prison parolee's with sexual misconduct charges on their file are NOT pedophiles, or "latent" pedophiles.  Rather - most of them had allegations of sexual misconduct with an under-aged person.  That folks, has been going on since the human race began, and guess WHAT?  It isn't going away, not with sexual lust of various degrees being thrown at society on every means of mass media we have).

And so what's my point in saying all this?  If people don't want prison parolee's living in their "safe" environments, then where else do they sleep and eat coming out of prison while trying to find a job and their own place to live, when there is so little money available to house and feed and oversee them?  Answer: Where there is CHEAP housing.  Where is the CHEAPEST, affordable housing to be found in every city across America where odds of getting employment can be obtained?  In the RED ZONES!

And guess who are the least afraid of doing God's work in RED ZONE areas.  Prison parolees who learned to conquer fear while in prison!  Is the light bulb getting a little brighter?    

And so ... that's the latest to report in the Grand Rapids RED ZONE and how God is using the REAL LIFE STORIES testimony book.  Pretty exciting, don't 'ya think?!

October 1, 2009:   

Muskegon RED ZONE

Forty (40) REAL LIFE STORIES testimony books were made available from STEP BY STEP WORLD OUTREACH MINISTRIES to be used specifically in one of the “RED ZONES” (high crime rate area) in Muskegon, Michigan.   Here are some of the highlights of how the Holy Spirit led Precious Testimonies to disperse those 40 power-packed evangelistic "missionary" seeds.

In praying about dispersing those 40 books, I felt the Holy Spirit was telling me to connect with some local ministry reaching out to the poor in that city.  Here is how God connected me to the ministry of His choosing.

Years ago, God gave my wife and I the opportunity to videotape the testimony of Doug Malear.  At the time, Doug was on staff at Western Michigan Teen Challenge located just south Muskegon.  Fast forward in time.  Doug was given the call to establish a ministry in Muskegon to reach out to the lost.  Several years later … Hope Lighthouse Ministries is feeding the poor, sleeping the poor, clothing the poor, and providing SPIRITUAL food and guidance to the poor.   They are ministering to drug addicts, prostitutes – people from all walks of life.  If that isn’t impressive enough, they also provide help to prisoners being released from prison: Spiritually and physically feeding, sleeping, clothing them, and trying to help them find employment in a very difficult high unemployment area. 

After many years, God put me back in touch with Pastor Doug, and Doug provided me with an insert that I could place in each of the 40 REAL LIFE STORIES testimony books so people who didn’t know WHERE to go for spiritual help and/or simply having their basics needs met to help give them get on their feet, had a place to connect with.   Sweet!

Hope Lighthouse Ministries has a store front coffee café outreach of sorts – recreational facility – used clothing; etc., right near the very HEART of one of the key RED ZONE areas … giving people in the area a safe sanctuary in which they can come in off the streets in the heat of summer and cold of winter.   They have a spot where people can walk out with free Christian literature.  The Holy Spirit impressed me to leave 7 REAL LIFE STORIES books there. 

Harold, one of the faithful brothers God has called to connect with Hope Lighthouse Ministries, informed me of the local park where frequent drug dealing is done after dark.  I made my way to that park.  A number of younger men were just “hanging” in the park, and a number of them were given a copy of the book.   There was eagerness on the part of so many to receive the book.  Through spiritual discernment, I could sense the hopelessness in so many of them.  Time after time I prayed that God would use the book to quicken inside each of them their need for Jesus Christ, because in Christ Jesus, HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL! 

A large welfare agency facility is located very near the park.  I felt impressed to leave some books in the waiting area.  A guard was sitting nearby, and I asked him if it would be okay if I left a few copies of the book there.  He said, “No problem.  People will be happy to have them to read and take home.  Can I have one too?  This job is really boring at times!”  Of course I gave him one.  I left 7 others on one of the tables nearby. 

Many of those VHS tapes have been “covertly inserted” into high crime areas in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area.   So in going to Muskegon with the 40 REAL LIFE STORY testimony books, I asked God to show me WHERE I could also leave several hundred VHS born again testimony tapes.  Low and behold, there is a location in the RED ZONE called The Farmer’s Market.  Anyone can sell their goods there any time of the week, which people do.  They have permanent wooden table tops set up with roofs covering them - wonderful.   There were two vendors there the first day I was in town.  I asked one couple selling used clothing and jewelry if they thought it would be okay for me to leave some Christian “seeds” on one of the tables.

“Oh sure.  There’s a couple of local Pastors, we assume, who leave Christian literature at that very back table your car is parked at right now.  People take what you leave there.”

The Holy Spirit said, “Leave seven REAL LIFE STORIES books as well.” 

The next morning, September 11, I put Hope Lighthouse Ministry inserts into 120 half-hour testimonial tapes, and drove back over to Muskegon – to The Farmer’s Market.   All 7 REAL LIFE STORIES books were gone.  Two thirds of the video tapes were gone.  No one trashed the remaining tapes.  Hot spot for Jesus!  I left the 120 video tapes … and seven more REAL LIFE STORIES books.   “Jesus – don’t let the devil trash them.  I’m trusting you’ll protect them.  Lead people to them who are ripe for Salvation.”   

We’ll be trusting the Lord to hear some eventual feedback from the Muskegon area – hearing how God has used the “seeds” deposited there. 

God has been strongly impressing Precious Testimonies to help give the REAL LIFE STORIES testimonies book additional exposure for many months now, and if you haven’t had a chance lately to scan over the Precious Testimonies website, take note that we’ve felt impressed of the Lord to make the ENTIRE BOOK available on video, primarily for those who have reading difficulties.  Here is a link to the book on video: 

We would like to encourage all reading this to go to different REAL LIFE STORIES video clip chapters and leave a comment from time to time.  You comments can help give the book much more exposure.

Just to be very clear … we are not giving exposure to the RLS testimony book to make a dime of it.  Our primary purpose is to ultimately help see souls saved from it.  But rather than just see THIS Real Life Stories testimony book be used so mightily, we would MUCH PREFER to see Pastors from churches in every city across the world publish a REAL LIFE STORIES testimony book of their very OWN.  A book of testimonies from people in their OWN congregations to be made available as an evangelistic tool to go out into their own respective communities, just as THIS RLS book has gone out across the city of Hobart, Indiana through the joint cooperation of STEP BY STEP WORLD OUTREACH and JUBILEE WORSHIP CENTER located in the Hobart area. 

Saints … we see this particular book as a “forerunner” – a “prototype example of sorts” to let Pastors and Evangelists AROUND THE WORLD see FIRST HAND how God will use a book of Jesus-glorifying testimonies from people of their very own church to reach lost souls in THEIR respective areas.  This is no SMALL THING to God.  It is a HUGE thing!   We’ll keep you updated as things progress reading this mandate from God. 

September 23, 2009:   Jim & Carla Barbarossa's recent trip to London:  

August 22, 2009:

We received an email today from Jim Barbarossa.  A ministry near Rockford, Illinois emailed him, inquiring about what publisher Jim used for REAL LIFE STORIES, and might recommend using themselves ... to publish there OWN book of testimonies to go out into the community!  WOW!  Jim was as excited as WE ARE to hear other ministries tapping into testimonies of their OWN to help reach the lost! 

Jim & Carla Barbarossa were in Ecuador from August 5-13, and here is what happened about REAL LIFE STORIES:  "Everyone that was not actively sharing their faith was challenged to repent and pick up their baton and start telling people about Jesus.  A challenge was put forth for those that would be willing to write their testimony so they could use it to make a Real Life Stores Book in Ecuador and about 70 % of those in attendance accepted the challenge represented many many different churches." 

August 15, 2009:

RED ZONE UPDATE:  08-15-2009

The remaining box of 40 REAL LIFE STORIES someone supplied funds for anonymously and designated specifically for the RED ZONE in Grand Rapids, Michigan were given out on August 12, 2009.  Allow me to give some highlights of what happened that day. 

If you read my prior RED ZONE Update below, I mentioned a lady by the name of Robbin.  Robbin rents a room in the heart of the Red Zone, and she knows a great many of the people who live in the area, not to mention that she has relatives who are ministers (Pastors) who ALSO live and avail themselves to minister in the area.   Because Robbin was so helpful the last time I was there, I drove to her location first upon arriving in The RED ZONE.  Fortunately, Robbin was sitting out on the steps of her apartment building when I drove up. 

The Holy Spirit used Robbin greatly that day, to say the least.  Robbin was greatly instrumental in helping pass out all 40 books while I was in her presence! 

Later on in the afternoon, she asked me if I wouldn’t mind driving her to her parole officer, because she didn’t have the money to take the bus.  I felt it was the least I could do.  While on our way, I don’t remember how many times she would have me stop – RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BLOCKING TRAFFIC - and she would hand a copy of the book to someone in another car, endorsing the book highly of course.  Some were baffled; startled; surprised … to say the least, that someone would hand them a book in such a manner.  Yet everyone accepted a book!  Over and over I was chuckling inside, watching the Holy Spirit work.

Robbin is 46; Afro-American.  She’s missing most of her front teeth.  She is single; has four children out on their own.  In her run-down apartment building in the heart of the Red Zone, there is open drug dealing during the night.  Shots ring out frequently from gang activity.  Often she wakes up to see people asleep in the hallway door, stoned of course.  Robbin wants to live in a safer area of Grand Rapids, but doesn’t have the financial resources to do so.  Financial assistance has run out, she says, and she desperately needs a job.  Her work skills are minimal.  Upon asking her why she had to report to a parole officer, she informed me that she has 22 prior cases of larceny against her.  She’s been locked up for stealing in the county jail a number of times, and has also done time in the State Prison for the same reason/s.  I gave Robbin the name of an individual who lives in the area … encouraging her to pray and wisely get in contact with the person, about a possible job.  I also ended up ministering some things to her that I felt the Holy Spirit wanted me sharing with her, ESPECIALLY about the Evangelistic call God has on her life. 

We park in front of the Grand Rapids Police Department, so Robbin can go inside to report to her Parole Officer.  “I’ll only be a few minutes, okay?”

There was only one vacant spot to park in -- across the street, and I managed to squeeze my car in that spot.  Of course I was hoping I didn’t have to put change in the parking meter, because there wasn’t an abundance of change in the car.  All I had was my credit card; no cash.  The meter wanted money and a policeman was writing tickets left and right a few cars away, so I quickly scrounged around and fortunately found 3 dimes.  That gave me 24 minutes.  Twenty minutes passed and I was getting nervous.  No Robbin.  Standing in front of the meter as it expired – hoping a policeman wouldn’t see the expired meter – a brother walks up to me with a warm smile on his face from out of no where and asks me how I’m doing.  I told him about my dilemma, and he reaches in his pocket and puts in another HALF HOUR of time for me, without my saying a word!  I asked him why he would do that for a total stranger.  He replied, “Oh – I just felt to.”

Jesus – you are TOO MUCH!  He was wearing a tee-shirt with a big photo of a young boy and himself on the front of it.  I asked him if that was his boy, and he said, “Yeah.  I wear this to honor him.  He got shot at age 24 in gang related activity.” 

Moments later out came Robbin.  She had been crying and was trying to dry her eyes.  I asked her if everything was okay.  “Yes – Jesus is so good.  Norm – could I have those 7 remaining REAL LIFE STORIES books so I can give them to my parole officer?  I was telling her about you and whoever it was who paid for those two boxes of books (80 copies) of the book that someone provided for –  for the RED ZONE – and she was so excited to hear about it that she wanted to know if you had any books left so she could give them out to ex-offenders checking in with her who also lived in the Red Zone.  ‘Most of them are crack addicts and prostitutes,’” Robbin said the Parole Officer had told her. 

Now I’m thinking inside:  A Parole Officer from the Police Department wants to give away to certain of her clients REAL LIFE STORIES books to people who currently live in the RED ZONE?  God – this HAS to be You! 

Robbin took the 7 remaining copies back inside the Police Department to her Parole Officer.  She was beaming when she came out.  Mission accomplished.

I’m asking all reading this if they would be willing to stand with us in prayer and in faith that God will provide Robbin Quinn with a job – the RIGHT job.  In praying for her, also let’s ask and believe that she will reach the resolve to NOT get back into crime, but reach a higher place in her walk with Jesus from here on out.  She is a FEARLESS warrior on the front line for Jesus, but it’s obvious there are strongholds that need to be broken.  And in praying for her, if the Holy Spirit speaks to you about a future husband for her, she would be delighted to have a godly one. 

So now we wait to see what God has from here.  Kathleen and I will be trusting Him for more copies of REAL LIFE STORIES to put to work.  We love being used of the Holy Spirit to pass out that powerful evangelist tool!

Last evening over dinner, Kathleen (my precious wife and teammate in ministry) was sharing how our close friends, Jamaesha Gilbert and her husband Jerry, have been hearing from the Holy Spirit to get down in their OWN “Red Zone” in the city of Muskegon.  Kathleen shared about what we were doing in Grand Rapids with REAL LIFE STORIES, and she could hardly sit in her seat, she was so excited.  Jamaesha hasn’t even seen a copy of the book yet, but wants some copies ANYWAY to put in the hands of the right people.  Keep her and Jerry lifted up in prayer (and I’m thinking of their church; appropriating some “mission funds” for copies of the book, if you catch my drift.  Inserts can be glued on the inside of the back cover of the book that the books were provided by the local church that provided the funds to obtain the books - thereby providing a LOCAL CHURCH a newly-won soul (or a seeking lost soul) to Christ can get connected to), as well as Kathleen and I, about obtaining copies to go into the darkest area/s of Muskegon.  Every decent sized city in America has it’s very own “Red Zone” where drug related activities will end up essentially gutting that section of the city … only to have the “gutters” move on to another section of the city – to eventually gut the souls of people and the physical dwellings as well.  The causalities of the “gutting” are the current and future cases the Parole Officers can tell you about, or the ones that Pastors will conduit their funerals of.  Most of them won’t be remembered or honored on the front of someone’s tee-shirt, sadly.  The ones who make it to heaven will be honored for eternity, but first they need to get right with God.  The REAL LIFE STORIES book is an anointed resource to help accomplish the task.

August 12, 2009:

August 7, 2009:

RED Zone Update:

On August 6, 2009, I felt impressed of the Holy Spirit to take one of the two boxes of REAL LIFE STORIES that someone anonymously paid for, down to the Red Zone yesterday in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Forty copies of REAL LIFE STORIES to be deposited in the dead center of the current highest crime area of the city.  I like to think of those 40 copies as “40 special forces soldiers” being dropped behind enemy lines to help do the work of God.

Here are a few highlights of this delightful mission:

My first encounter:  I parked my car in front of a house where there were a couple of dozen people outside on the porch.  I loaded up my paper sack with handles to carry my “soldiers”, and walked across the street to the house.  I observed there was no drinking alcohol that I could see, and I was a bit curious as to why there were so many people on the porch. 

Upon making friendly communication –- sharing that I was giving away a free book of encouraging Christian testimonies to anyone interested in having a copy, one lady immediately said she would like to have a copy.  Then another wanted one … and another … and another … and ...

I believe about a dozen copies were deposited with that group of people initially, most of them being female.  Most of the males didn’t seem interested at the time – typical (my experience has been that women 2:1 show more interest in the book thus far, but then I'm just a tin-horn rookie at this, so that ratio may change in time). 

I then asked if they were having a family get-to-gather, or what?  I was informed that a 55 year old lady of the family had passed away, and they had just come back from the funeral.  I offered my condolences, and another gal piped up:  “No need to feel sorry for her.  She’s in glory with the Lord!  This is celebration time for her!”

Several of the women agreed with her, but still most of the men; mostly younger men, remained silent, faces somber. 

Something kicked in, and I began to share:  “You know – a precious friend of mine, Harold Hall, shared something with me a couple of years ago that I had never heard before.  He said, ‘You know, the human race is standing in one long line, each waiting for there appointment with God.  Thus in one sense, life is just standing in this one long line, waiting for our appointment … and we ALL have an appointment coming with God.’  Your friend who just passed into eternity has now had her appointment with the Creator, we can assume.  She went to the head of the line in front of us, which is sometimes the way it works.  You imply she knew the Lord, so she’s smiling huge, right?”

“Right!” came back a reply from the first gal I gave a book to, as she thumbed through it. 

“We often forget we all have an appointment with God.  When that time happens … we better have the RIGHT answers to any questions He asks us, RIGHT?”

A few of the ladies agreed with me.  Now here is what is so cool!  Three guys, probably in their mid-20’s, almost simultaneously asked:  “Can I have a copy of that book too?”

“You sure CAN!” 

Then three or four other guys, older, asked for a copy too!  Holy Spirit was having a ball!

I didn’t make it down the street very far before walking up to a couple of ladies sitting on their porch.  Both asked for a copy.  But one sitting closest to me began to share that she was a believer, but has had many struggles.  I felt impressed to prod a bit, and after a bit of time, she opened up to me and said that although she had been a believer for many years, she STILL was not able to forgive herself for all the things she had once done.  I asked her if she believed that God could forgive her for what she had done, and she stated that she wasn’t sure, but even if He could, she STILL couldn’t forgive herself. 

When you observe a soldier of Jesus Christ locked inside a self-imposed prison of their own making, and their not even realizing they had locked themselves in that self-imposed prison, you can’t just walk away – leaving them in that prison of torment.  Thus I asked her if she would allow me to show her HOW to obtain the key to unlock the prison door and slam it shut behind her and NEVER step back into that cruel, self-imposed prison again. 

She seemed confused at first, but then I kept clinging tightly to the Holy Spirit to give me just the right words to say to her.  She is not very knowledgeable of scripture, which made it a bit more difficult for me to quote her scripture that she was familiar with, though I gave her sufficient truth to plant and water at this prison stronghold she had built around her.

Then I began to ask her more personal questions.  I asked her if she had addictions she couldn’t break of one kind or another.  She told me she had some.  I told her that when we don’t forgive ourselves from things we have done, confess them to God as 1 John 1:9 says we can and MUST do to receive His forgiveness, then trust the matter is settled FOREVER with God ... therein lies the power we give the devil to hold us in bondage to addictions of various kinds – never mind how it robs us of our joy with God, and can greatly hinder our prayer lives as well as our desire to feed on God’s Word (these TOO being cruel deadly side-affects of not forgiving ourselves - God - others). 

I asked her if she had ever asked God to help her forgive herself, and she said that she had, but every time she did that, she still FELT she wasn’t forgiven.  Then I gave her some instruction in how Satan will make us puppets of his delight when we allow him to base our beliefs upon “feelings” that run contrary to the Truth of God's Word.  That caught her attention greatly.

After sharing many other things that can happen in our relationship with God when we don’t forgive God (as though God needs forgiven, which is NEVER the case truthfully, but nevertheless, when we believe God has wronged us, then we need desperately to forgive Him for our own good) – forgive others – and forgive OURSELVES … we are setting ourselves up for one life-long miserable relationship with God.  Furthermore, I asked her if she was familiar with the passage in the Bible where Jesus clearly states that if we don’t forgive, our heavenly Father will not forgive us.  She wasn’t. 

I then dumped a real heavy and sobering “reality bomb” in her lap.  “Are you aware, sister, that after all the time you’ve been a Christian, that God may NOT have forgiven any of your sins that you’ve asked Him to forgive, simply because you’ve REFUSED to forgive yourself … though you been in the dark about it all this time?”

That was the knockout blow to Satan when I shared that with her.  Her eyes got big, and she began to cry.  It was now time to take the rifle off safety and start firing bullets at the demons who had to be enraged in anger. 

“Sister – you can step out of your self-imposed prison this very moment if you would like.  It’s up to you.  I would be willing to pray for you, if you would like, and you can begin to experience joy in your relationship with Jesus unlike you’ve every experienced before.  All you have to do is take a huge step of faith and believe God will use me in prayer to help you experience that.  Would you like to be set free?”

The tears rolled harder and she said that she was ready.  I asked her to simply repeat after me while she gave me permission to lay a hand on her shoulder.  Then the Holy Spirit guided me in having her declare that she NOW forgives herself for all the wrong she had done in the past, and that by faith, she would trust God that He not only DESIRED to forgive her right then and there, but that she was now forgiven, whether she “felt” forgiven or not. 

Afterwards, I encouraged her to read her Bible more, asking God to show her in His Word where His “contract to humanity” clearly states that He forgives ALL sin – not just some – and we are the wisest people on this planet when we forgive ourselves for the sin we have committed, and really – the most unwise people on this planet are those who refuse to forgive God – refuse to forgive others – refuse to forgive ourselves - when the Cross gave us the right to do so.

God did something very special for her and she’ll never be the same, thank you Jesus!  She just got released from a prison cell she wasn’t even aware she was in.    

I walked upon another porch where a brother about 50 - 55 years of age was sitting, smoking a cigar.  He gladly wanted a book.  (He ended up giving me $5 to buy a couple MORE copies of the book by the time I left!).  He shared a couple of things, and I asked him if I could sit down and join him a moment, because my feet and legs were hurting a little.  He encouraged me to sit.  After a bit of gentle prodding, he began to share that he had been addicted to crack for years, and God delivered him of it.  He had spent time in prison for his addiction, but had been set free now for years.  He shared he drank some beer and smoked a lot of pot and he knew he shouldn’t be doing that, but he seemed confident that God “Isn’t done working with me yet.”  I was quick to share the same about myself!

I listened to a great deal of his testimony, finding it very refreshing and edifying.  He is a precious brother in Christ, to say the least.  Then an older gentleman walked up and I was introduced to him.  I was told that this older brother’s wife was in intensive care, suffering from a stroke, and things didn’t look good.  He was caring a heavy load, it was quite obvious.  The brother who had finished his cigar by now asked me, “Would you mind praying for his wife?  She sure could use prayer.”

I checked in with the Holy Spirit.  I heard Him respond very clearly, thank you Holy Spirit.  “Ask them to pray a prayer of agreement with you, and I want you to BELIEVE that I’m going to answer the prayer you pray.  I’m giving you faith to believe, so pray confidently.”

Wow!  If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to hear such a thing from the Holy Spirit at a time like that … well … it’s as though you are standing in front of Jesus, and He’s commanding: “Pray for a miracle and EXPECT to get positive results!”  Kind of like telling Peter, “Step out of the boat, soldier, and leave your life-jacket and cell phone to call 911 behind!”

As I felt impressed to pray:  “Father – she belongs to You, and if it’s her time to step into glory, then let it happen quickly without much pain for her and her family.  But if it’s not her time, then heal her quickly and completely.  Let this instant healing be one more chapter to add to her testimony, and let it result in the salvation of many others … using her miraculous healing to glorify You in ways we simply can’t imagine right now.”  The two other brothers agreed, and it was time for me to move on.  I KNEW God responded to our prayer.  Another battle won for Jesus!

I stepped onto another porch.  A couple of older ladies gladly wanted a copy of the book.  A little girl, exactly four years old, stepped out of the house with about seven dollar bills pinned on the front of her dress.  She told me it was her birthday.  I asked her if she was having a good birthday.  She shyly acknowledged that she was.  I asked her if anyone had sung her the “Happy Birthday song.”  She said that it had been sung.  She was beaming with happiness and had that cute innocent look of a four year old child loving the attention I was giving her.  Inside, I was wondering HOW I might make her birthday even MORE special, and within a second the impulse was to say to her:

“How would you like a special birthday present from Jesus?  Would you like that?”

She looked up at me – bright-eyed – and exclaimed:  “Yeah!”

I handed her a copy of the book.  “I know you’re a little young yet to be able to read this, but I’ll bet your mom will read it to you, won’t you Mom?”  Mom smiled and assured me she would.

I handed the book to the little darling and she handled it like it was a million dollar bill.  It’s worth that and much MORE!

It was time to keep moving and as I stepped down off the porch, the mother said, “Mister – let’s sing the song to her again.  That would be special to her.”

And – I led the other two women in the “Happy Birthday Song” to little Sarah, proving just how much God has not gifted me with the ability to sing all that well, but LOUD?  Yes!  The whole neighborhood got to hear us sing.  Little Sarah hopefully will never forget her fourth birthday.  I won’t.

My bag was getting near empty of REAL LIFE STORIES.  I began to focus solely on giving books to teenage boys and girls cruising the sidewalks.  I’ve learned it can be a bit more challenging to give books away to younger people cruising the sidewalks, but if they are out on a porch, they are more receptive.  I’m sure it’s because of the “embarrassment factor.”

One teenage boy about 15 years old came walking by.  I asked him if he would like a copy of the book.  "He answered quickly and firmly, "No.  I'm an atheist.  I don't believe in God." Then he turned around a started to walk in the direction he was headed.  Drats.  Rejection.  Those can be the tough ones.

But then before thinking, I said to him, "I used to be nearly an Atheist for about 35 years myself.  And then I was going to commit suicide, and God made Himself real to me and spared me from taking my life, and now I'm down here trying to help others find peace with God."

He stopped dead in his tracks - turned sharply around - walked back to me, and snapped, "Give me a copy of that book!"  I handed him a copy; he did a quick 180, and continued on walking.  Front line Holy Ghost engagement.  I did some determined intercession for his lost soul as I continued on my way to whoever the next person was to be. 

Thirty six books were gone.  I had four left to deposit in the Red Zone.  Then I met Robbin.  After going a bit in dept with her as to WHY I was handing out books in the Red Zone, she insisted I talk to her sister on her cell phone.  Her sister is the Pastor of a church on the corner about 100 yards from where we were sitting.  I’ll be meeting this Pastor in due season; we’ll see what God might have in store. 

But Robbin Quinn also insisted I meet a sister-in-law, just around the corner.  I met the sister-in-law, Eileen Alexander.  Eileen was a crack addict 8 years ago.  Prostitution to maintain her addiction came lot and parcel with the addiction – usually the two going hand in hand. In prison, she hit bottom, and told God she couldn’t make it on the outside anymore without His help.  She couldn’t break the addiction without His help.  When she stepped out of prison, power to say “NO!” to temptation to do crack and give her body away was with her.  It’s not only remained with her since then … she is now being used of the Lord to help other women addicted to crack to get off it through the help of Jesus.  It was obvious to me I was speaking with a “Navy Seal for Jesus.”

She ended up getting the remaining 8 copies of REAL LIFE STORIES … to be given out to the gals she’s ministering to.  She may get MORE copies from the second box of 40 books someone enabled us to have for the Red Zone – we’ll see what the Holy Spirit has to say about it down the road. 

Furthermore, I suspect we’ll be sitting up a time for us to put a camera on her, and perhaps Robbin as well.  We’ll tape their testimonies and put them up on the Precious Testimonies website for God to take their stories around the world. 

A brother was painting Eileen’s house.  He and a friend stuck up conversation with me.  The brother doing the painting was hitting on Robbin to be his wife.  You could smell beer on his breath; a little loosed tongued.  Robbin told him he would have to put Jesus FIRST above any woman before he was marriage material for her!  He told her he wasn’t ready to do that quite yet.  Robbin said she wasn’t wife material for him yet EITHER!  I applauded her stance.  I struck up lengthily conversation with him after that, encouraging him to put Jesus first in his life.  I spent nearly an hour depositing spiritual seed inside him.  The other guy stood nearby, the whole time, never saying one word, yet taking every word in.

Forty REAL LIFE soldiers in written form got dropped behind enemy lines yesterday for Commander Jesus in the Red Zone.  Whoever you are that made that possible to happen, I trust this puts a smile on your face and a burning glow of joy in your spirit.  It sure did me; a bunch of angels no doubt … and more than likely the sweetheart who recently had her appointment with God.      

July 30, 2009:

Norm Rasmussen RED ZONE Update: 

I felt impressed of the Holy Spirit to drive to "The Red Zone” in Grand Rapids to pass out the remaining copies of REAL LIFE STORIES of the original box of 40 we initially ordered from Step-By-Step World Outreach Ministries.  Here are a few highlights of doing so that may be a blessing to others – especially those who took the time to write out their testimony and allow it to be placed in the book. 

But before sharing some highlights of my little “mission trip”, I want to share a HUGE praise report.  About an hour before driving to The Red Zone, brother Jim Barbarossa emailed us and shared that someone donated the funds to send us 2 boxes of REAL LIFE STORIES (80 books!) to be given out in The Red Zone.  All I could do was say: “WOW!”  Whoever you are that did this, please KNOW that each book will be given out in the Red Zone as the Holy Spirit clearly directs.

Now to some delightful highlights:

I parked my car in a vacant church parking lot and put the 20 REAL LIFE STORIES books in a paper bag with handles.  I didn’t get but about 30 feet from my car when a teenager of about 15 years old walking my way, asked, “Hey man, what’s in you bag?  Food?” 

I replied, “Well … sort of.  Spiritual food.”

He responded:  “Hey man, could you give me a little money so I can buy some food.  I’m so hungry and I don’t have any food to eat.  Just enough for a hamburger would do.  I don’t get any money until the end of the month so things are really tight.  You know how those things go.”

I checked with the Holy Spirit and felt impressed not to give him any money.  He was drunk and/or stoned on drugs; had an open can of beer in a brown paper bag, and my thought was:  If he can afford beer, but not food, his priorities are a bit mixed up.  

I then spoke:  “I really don’t have any money to spare, but I do have some spiritual food that is better for you than regular food.  Would you like some of it?”

I reached in my paper bag and pulled out a book and handed it to him.  “Is this a bible, or what, man?”

“Nope.  Not a bible.  Just a book of testimonies of common people sharing how God has worked in their life.  It’s a $10.00 book, and you can have a copy for free if you would like.  Maybe you can sell it for $10.00 and get some money to buy yourself some food.”

“Wow, man!  You giving me a $10 book for FREE?!  Sure – I’ll take a copy, and I’ll read it.  Thanks, man!”  And off he walked, not walking all that steady.  I thought to myself: Lord - too cool!  Let that book plant and water seeds in his soul and spirit that will bring him to salvation.

I walked past a hair saloon and the Holy Spirit impressed me to turn around and walk in and give them a copy so patrons can read it, waiting for their hair appointment.  Inside, two gals were sitting, eating a late lunch.  I asked them if it would be okay to leave a copy.  One nearest me said, “What’s the book about?”

“It’s a book of testimonies of Christians who have shared how God has worked in their lives.  It’s a great read and so encouraging.  People love reading it.”

She thumbed through the book a little and said, “I would like to take this home for myself to read.  Do you have an extra copy?”

“Sure do,” and handed her a second copy.  The other gal spoke up, “Can I have my own personal copy TOO?  I could really use some spiritual encouragement right now.”  She was handed a copy. 

Quite a few people were on both sides of the street, just passing time mostly.  There are mostly small businesses in the area I was at.  As certain people walked by, I would stop them and ask them if they would like a free book of wonderful Christian’s testimonies to give hope and encouragement to people.  Not one REFUSED!  Had anyone refused, I would respect their honesty, but no one refused. 

Now this was the highlight of the whole “mission trip.”  I had given out about half of the books by this time.  I was sitting on a concrete structure of sorts, just watching people as they walked up and down the street.  I was near an intersection, and I observed a girl in tight jeans and a tight top walking across the intersection.  Several of the guys eyed her, because God has given her a nice figure and nice facial looks.  I wondered if maybe she was a young prostitute of about 18 years old, maybe a little younger, but didn’t want to judge her either. 

She was walking at a pretty fast clip compared to all the other people, and she sort of caught my extra attention because of it.  Once she crossed the intersection and was on my side of the street, she walked directly up to me and asked,  “We’ve been over there on the house porch watching you, and we’re curious what you have in your bag there that you are giving out?  Wha’ chu' giving out?”

I replied, someone taken back by this, “I’m giving out free books.  It’s a book of Christian testimonies of common people who were touched in special ways by God.”  As I said that, I handed her a copy of the book to look at. 

She didn’t look but a couple of seconds, and then asked, “Can I have a copy of this book?  My friends over there on the porch will be happy to know what you’re giving out, and I’m going to read it too.” 

She got a copy and walked back to where she hard started.  I said under my breath:  “Now Holy Spirit, it doesn’t GET more fun than THIS!  You are too cool!”

One brother in a wheelchair saw an old acquaintance of sorts, and the guy in the rusted pickup truck yelled out to the brother in the wheelchair some friendly greetings.  The brother in the wheelchair, estimated to be in his 60’s, evidently wanted to get closer to the truck, so he wheeled himself out into the center portion of the road and began chatting with his friend.  Soon cars behind the truck were backing up, not able to go out around the truck because the gentleman in the wheelchair was blocking the lane. 

Horns started honking and the guy in the wheelchair began to yell at the honkers to be patient, because he wanted to talk to his friend.  The honking got louder and the guy driving the truck decided to leave.  The guy in the wheelchair came my way, muttering obscenities out loud at the impatient drivers.   Once he got up on the sidewalk, the Holy Spirit impressed me to drop a blessing in his possession.  I asked him if he would like a copy of the book.  He gladly said he was, and he needed something to calm him down, and maybe this book would do it!  It was all I could do to keep from cracking up laughing.  “You’re too cool, Lord!”

I had three books left.  I was sitting near another intersection, and a lot of car traffic was starting to make the street busier.  I was watching a group of guys in the 20’s and 30’s talking to each other and on their cell phones.  A girl of about 16 road past them on her bicycle, and one of the guys stopped her.  She didn’t stay there long, but rode her bike across to my side of the intersection, smiling.  She was very attractive, and about half a dozen guys kept eyeing her and saying things.  As a guy, I could quite easily guess what they were saying about her.  I was hoping the Holy Spirit would send her by me so I could give her a book, but just then someone yelled out through an open car window, because the stop light was red.  At first I wasn’t sure if the driver was talking to me, or someone else, but because I was the only one sitting there, I assumed he had to be talking to me. 

He said something again, and I thought I heard parts of what he said, but then I stood up quickly and walked toward his car before the light turned green.  Ten feet away he said, “Are you that guy on TV that plays those testimonies?  I know that has to be you.”

“Yeah – we play testimony videos on TV, every Sunday morning here in this area.”

“Yeah – I KNEW that was you.  That’s a great broadcast.  I watch it all the time.  What are you doing down here, anyway?”

“Letting my light shine for Jesus.  Want one of my light bulbs?”  That didn’t connect with him and I reached inside my bag and gave him a copy of the book.  He was so blessed to get one.  His male passenger was taking this all in, trying to figure out what in the world was going on!” 

The light turned green and off they had to drive.  “Holy Spirit – now THAT was classic!  Thanks VERY much!”  The girl had gone in a different direction, so she’ll have to wait until the next two boxes of books get into my possession.

Four guys, quite big; probably in their 20’s, with britches dangling down around the South Pole if you know what I mean, were walking toward me.  One appeared to be drunk the way he walked.  He was the smaller of the four.  He was closest to me, and I asked him if he would like a REAL LIFE STORIES book. 

“What’s the book about, man?” 

“It’s about people sharing stories of how God worked in their lives.  Really encouraging stuff.”

One of the silent guys then spoke up, “Hey man, I would like a copy of that book.  Can I have one?”

I handed one to him.  The inebriated brother got sort of jealous, and he snapped at his friend, “Hey – I want a copy TOO.  You got MY book!”  I handed him my last copy.  

“I’m going to read this, man.  Thanks so much!”  He began thumbing through it as the four of them continued walking slowly on down the street.  I prayed that God would touch their lives through the book. 

SUMMARY:  I have never had any resource that was so easy to give away to people.  If anyone reading this has fear about giving copies of REAL LIFE STORIES away, my experience is that it is incredibly easy.  I’m anxious for the two boxes of the book to arrive in the mail that brother Jim just sent out.  I fully believe God plans on moving mightily in the Red Zone, and these books are the equivalent of “John the Baptists.”  They are a “forerunner” of God planning on making a move in that oppressed area of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  People are hungry for God; you can sense it when you're near them.   

July 6, 2009