Wednesday, April 5, 2017

In Him Scriptures




In Him Scriptures

These scriptures tell us who we are in Jesus and what we have because of Him.


In Christ…

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

2 Corinthians 1:21 Now he which established us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God

2 Corinthians 2:14  Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes’ manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaines the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 Corinthians 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Galatians 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love.

Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails  any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Ephesians 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 3:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Philippians 3:13-14  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

1Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2  Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2  Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

2  Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Philemon 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

2 Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.


IN HIM…
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 3:15-16 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

1 John 2:5-6 But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that says he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1 John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shines.

1 John 2:27-28 But the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

1 John 3:5-6 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abides in him sins not: whosoever sins hath not seen him, neither known him.

1 John 3:24 And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us:  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

IN THE BELOVED…

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
IN THE LORD…

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

IN WHOM…

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will:

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 2:21-22 In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builds together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Colossians 1:14   In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Colossians 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:


BY CHRIST…

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Romans 5:17-19  For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.


BY HIM…

1 Corinthians 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Colossians 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.


BY HIMSELF…

Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.


BY HIS BLOOD…

Hebrews 9:11-12 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 9:14-15 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 10:19-20 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.


FROM WHOM…

Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Colossians 2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God.

OF CHRIST…

2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.


OF HIM…

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.


THROUGH CHRIST…

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:13-14 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

Hebrews 10:10 By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 13:10-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant   make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


THROUGH HIM…

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.


WITH CHRIST….

Romans 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I
now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Colossians 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

Colossians 3:1 If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.


WITH HIM…

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Romans 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

2 Corinthians 13:4  For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Colossians 2:12 -15 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

2 Timothy 2:11-12  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:


BY HIM…

John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that feeds on me, even he shall live by me.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.


IN ME…

John 6:56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

John 14:20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

John 15:4-5 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

John 15:7-8 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”


IN MY LOVE…

John 15:9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.


IN HIS NAME…

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

John 14:13-14 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 16:23-24 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.


THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES DO NOT CONTAIN THE PHRASES IN HIM, IN CHRIST, ETC. BUT ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE OF JESUS

Matthew 8:17 at it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:” He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 18:11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost

Matthew 18:18-20 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Again I say[ to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Mark 1:8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Mark 11:23-24 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 14:12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

John 17:23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Colossians 1:26-27 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.  To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Titus 3:7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Hebrews 2:9-11 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone for it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Hebrews 2:14-15 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,  and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Hebrews 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Hebrews 4:14-16  Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 7:19-22 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.  And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath  (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn And will not relent,  You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’”), by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

Hebrews 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

Hebrews 9:26 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”[ So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us[ an example, that you should follow His steps:

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

1 John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the
world—our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Revelation 1:5-6 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.  To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

NOTE: It is recommended that you read the entire chapter of these scriptures after highlighting them in your bible to get the entire context of the scriptures. The scriptures on this document are in King James or New King James. If it helps your understanding, you might look them up in another translation. 

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Powerful weekend of family ministry and community outreach in GA

This weekend we had the privilege of ministering at Redemption Worship Center in Summerville, GA. This was an awesome family event and community outreach. We saw 19 people including children, teens and several adults come forward to be born again and make Jesus lord of their lives. Several unchurched families from the community surrounding the church came to the event and gave their lives to Jesus including a mother and her children. This is what family ministry is all about! Our message was simple enough for children to understand but relevant to the adults that attended also. Many adults left saying how much they were blessed by the ministry of the Jubilee Gang and that they were ministered to as well as their children and grandchildren. Multi generational ministry is what Jubilee Gang Family Events is all about! Reaching multiple generations with the message of the Gospel. 


Below are several Pictures from Our event in Summerville, GA this weekend...

It was awesome to see entire families worship together, learn together,
 have fun together, and experience God together
in Summerville, GA this weekend.



Testimonies from The Road...

-Thank you for coming to Redemption Worship Center this morning and tonight!!! Your ministry blessed me so much!!!
I do not have any children, but I thank God for all the children at RWC and all the visitors that came today. Praise God for all the people who made Jesus their LORD and Savior!!!
Hallelu-YAH!!! Thank you Jesus!
Allison
Sumerville, GA

-Jerry, Candy and Wild Thing made such a connection with our people! We witnessed salvation as well as the gospel explained easily and effectively. We will surely have them back again and again.
Thank you so much for your faithfulness to the Lord. Blessings.

Pastor David Reeves
Pastor at Redemption Worship Center Summerville, GA


Monday, March 13, 2017

Taking the spiritual temperature of your life and ministry



Are you a thermostat or a thermometer?
A thermometer reacts to the temperature of the room.
A thermostat sets the temperature in a room.


Do you set the spiritual climate in your class or do the children?

We as Christian leaders need to set the spiritual temperature for our classrooms whether we are a Sunday school teacher, Children’s Pastor, or volunteer children’s worker. It is important that when we enter a classroom that we are spiritually prepared to set the spiritual climate for the class. If not the child with the strongest personality will set that climate.

If a child experienced chaos on the way to the service they will bring chaos to the service. If everyone was up late the night before Sunday morning service and tired, the class will be unresponsive to the lesson.

However, if we enter the room spiritually charged and on fire about our lesson the excitement will spread. If we believe in what we are teaching and show excitement about the subject others will be excited also. True faith is contagious. When someone is so excited about what they believe that they speak about it in confidence with passion in their voice others will believe also. If we are not sure about what we are teaching and are reading it out of our lesson planner, the children will be board and not buy into what we are offering them. Confidence comes through knowing the material inside out. You need to know it so well you can present it without reading it.
I have notes every time I speak publicly, however notes are to glance at to keep me on tract so, I arrive at the planned destination. I can expound upon each point of my notes without reading them line for line, however my notes make sure I do not drift off course during my program. I can expound upon each point because the subject is in my heart. It is not something I am not sure about or do not know a lot about.

If we are not confident on our lesson it will show in our body language, tone of our voice, and all around presentation. We cannot give something we do not have. If it is not in our heart then we are just regurgitating an old cold lesson out of a book that really means nothing to us.

The reason young adults are leaving our churches by the droves when they are old enough to make the decision for themselves is that all they have heard their entire time growing up in church is old, cold, regurgitated material that is not relative. It does not apply to them. We have offered exciting programs with all the latest methods but have forgotten the message.

Teachers must be passionate about their faith and what they are teaching. Like I said before true faith is contagious. It spreads like a wild fire. When we hear someone with true heartfelt convictions, we want what they have. If we are around it long enough we will start to crave it. And when you crave something bad enough you do whatever it takes to get it.

Let’s turn up the spiritual temperature in our classrooms.

Our children deserve it.

By
Jerry Moyer
The Jubilee Gang

Website www.jubileegang.com
FaceBook www.facebook.com/jubileegangministries 
Twitter www.twitter.com/jubileegang
YouTube www.youtube.com/jubileegang

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Children's Ministry or Entertainment?




Over the years we have seen new ideas incorporated into children’s ministry such as; games, multi media, and technology at the expense of watering down the gospel message.

We use most of these methods during our Jubilee Gang events. However, the purpose of our events are not to just entertain and wow the children, but to lay a firm foundation from the word of God that they can build upon to strengthen their faith in Jesus.

Our Goal as the Jubilee Gang is to see as many men, woman, boys, and girls make a legitimate decision to make Jesus Lord of their lives and be born again. To many time we have seen people herded to the altar to be saved without fully understanding what is happening to them.

True faith comes from the word of God, The Bible. Without teaching the bible in a way that people can understand they will not have faith to receive what is being offered to them.

If we play games for an hour, wow our audiences with multiple special effects and shout a few scriptures, then how do we expect them to be able to make a legitimate decision to follow Jesus?

We encourage people to use all these methods to teach, but the message cannot get lost in the methods. The word of God needs to always come first in everything we do and all these methods are used to reinforce the message.

By all means use all the new methods the world has to offer to make your lessons the more exciting. Make your Children’s Church the most exciting, spectacular, experience possible for children but, don’t replace sound biblical teaching and anointing with all fun and games. Ask yourself, do I want to have a service or a circus?

We must stay relevant to reach this generation. The message never changes, but the method must change. Games, multi media, lighting effects, and video are all very effective ways to get the message across. But if they replace sound biblical teaching and anointing we will produce a generation of fluffy Christians with no spiritual backbone.

By
Jerry Moyer
Jubilee Gang Ministries
Website     www.jubileegang.com
FaceBook  www.facebook.com/jubileegang
Twitter       www.twitter.com/jubileegang
YouTube    www.youtube.com/jubileegang

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Its Harvest Time!!!!!

John 4:35
Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

As we drove through Louisiana on the way home from our event in  the fall a few years ago, we drove past many cotton fields. The cotton was truly white and ready for harvest. Some of the fields were being harvested as we passed them.

We saw miles and miles of white fields. It reminded me of John 4:35.
There are 6.7 billion people in the world today. The majority have not heard the good news of the Gospel. And if they have it was misrepresented to them as dead religion or was not relevant to their lives. It’s our job to take the good news to the world. They will not evangelize themselves.

If the world could only here the good news of the gospel that God is not mad at the them. He is not holding their sins against them because of what Jesus did on the cross. All they need to do is Make Jesus LORD of there Life, turn from their sin, and receive the gift of salvation and be born again. It’s a free gift. That’s the Good news.

2 Cor 5:18-21 Says very clearly what the message is and who is to take it to the world.

2 Cor 5:18-21 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Most unsaved people will not come to church.

That’s why we must take it to where they are!

We are Gods ambassadors!

We represent him to the people of the planet earth!

Rom 10:13-15
13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

Below are a few statistics to think about.

• Of the 6.7 billion people on the earth today, 34% are under the age of 14.
• 40 million children in the United States have never been to church.
• 2 out of 3 children in the United States do not know JESUS.
• 86% of all people who receive Jesus make that decision before age 15.
• The probability of someone being born again in America is:
• 35% between ages 5 – 12.
• 4% between 13 – 18
• and 6% for those 19 and older.
• Only 10% of all the money put into the gospel is directed to the ministry of children.

Seven years old is the age a person is most receptive to the Gospel.

After a person turns 13 they are less likely to make a decision for Christ.

After seeing this why do 99 percent of evangelists go after adults or teens? I can count on 2 hands the children’s evangelist out there that is making an impact on this generation. A lot of children’s ministries have gone to entertainment based instead of ministry based.

That’s why we try and establish relationships with other children’s evangelists that are making a difference. There are too many children not born again and not enough children’s evangelist to be in any kind of competition.

We have a whole generation of children that have never been to church. And if they have, they thought it was dead religion and didn’t want anything to do with it.

Below are the percentages of people in America during different era’s that believed the basic bible truths and were born again.

• 65% WW II generation

• 35% baby boomers
• 16% Gen X

If nothing changes in America when this generation of children become adults only 4% will be born again bible believing Christians. to be honest this stat is over 10 years old and we are almost there. If we think it is crazy in america now, 4 % is like parts of Europe. It can get a lot worse. and it surly looks like we are heading that direction. 



Church its time to wake up and take back this generation!


The fields are truly white and ready for harvest!
Matt 9:37-38

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Will you go?


By
Jerry Moyer
The Jubilee Gang
www.jubileegang.com
www.youtube.com/jubileegang
www.twitter.com/jubileegang
www.facebook.com/jubileegangministries

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

A letter to aspiring Children’s Evangelist


First of all let me congratulate you for desiring to reach out to the most unreached group of people on earth today. There is a huge need for children’s Evangelist. There are way too many churches in America, way too many people dying and going to hell, and way to few people reaching children with the Gospel for there to be any competition among Children’s Evangelist. The Bible says in Romans 10:13-15, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Below are a few statistics that I have collected over the years.

  • • Of the 5 billion people on the earth today, 50% are under the age of 14.
  • • By the year 2000, 50% of the world's 9 billion people were under 8.
  • • 40 million children in the United States have never been to church.
  • • 2 out of 3 children in the United States do not know JESUS.
  • • In the United States, 21 percent of the population is under age 15
  • • 86% of all people who receive Jesus make that decision before age 15.
  • • The years prior to age 12 are when a majority of children make their decision as to whether or not they will follow Christ.
  • • Only 10% of all the money put into the gospel is directed to the ministry of children.

Billy Graham said that, “The age of 7 is the age a person is most receptive to the Gospel.” After a person turns 18 they are less likely to make a decision for Christ. The older people get the less likely it is that they will receive Christ.

After seeing this why do 99 percent of evangelists go after adults? That’s why God has called you to reach children! Probably 95 percent of people traveling in children’s ministry today are entertainment for kids & families.  We do not need any more Christian entertainers. We need people that are reaching children & families with the good news of the gospel and changing lives for the kingdom!

In the great commission Jesus told us to, “Go into all the world and make disciples.” He did not say go into all the world and entertain the masses. Make sure that your ministry is leading people to the Lord and helping them to become his disciple.


I would assume your motives are right in wanting to get into the field of Children’s Evangelism or you would not want to pursue such a calling. It is probably one of the most underrated, overlooked callings in the church world in America today. When churches go to set there budgets for the year with guest speakers a children’s evangelist or guest speaker for the children is probably the last thing on most churches list. I had one pastor I worked for tell me that I was one of the best children’s ministers in the country, so why would we need to have a Children’s Evangelist or guest speaker come to our church. My reply was the following; “Pastor, your one of the best pastors in the country, why do we need to have guest speakers come to minister to the adults?” The same reasons we need adult guest speakers is the same reasons we need guest speakers for the children.

Saying all this, I am going to spend the bulk of this letter on the more practical side of being a Children’s Evangelist. I often have people contact me about becoming a children’s evangelist. I have at least 2 or 3 people contact me each year wanting advice on how to get started, sometimes more. Maybe this is because I have been a Children’s Evangelist for over 20 years. Over the course of the last 25 plus years, I have seen many Children’s Evangelist come and go. Many of the Children’s Evangelist who were traveling when I started and plowed the way for what I am doing have moved on to becoming either a pastor, or are now struggling to get meetings because one of two reasons: One, they have gone on and off the road and when they returned they find it hard to reestablish their old contacts, and two, because their style has become outdated and for one reason or the other they are not able to become relevant again. I have also seen that very few people that start traveling as a children’s evangelist stay on the road for over a few years at a time.

I will endeavor to be candid as possible during this letter by often times sharing some of the more negative sides of being on the road. This is not for me to share my pity party or to try and discourage you from being a children’s evangelist. I wish someone would have been this candid with me and shared with me the things I needed to do to be successful on the road. I learned from the school of hard knocks, a little from Bible College, and a few things from Willie George’s conferences that I attended long ago. Very little information was available in the late 80s early 90s on being a children’s evangelist. I just had a desire to reach children and went for it.


Finances:
The number one reason people do not continue to be a children’s evangelist is because of finances. Therefore, I will endeavor to share with you some of the things I have leaned over the past 20 plus years
  1. Don’t quit your day job: Too many people jump out on the road cold turkey with no preparation. They quit their children’s pastor job or other job and jump out on the road with no financial preparation. I tell people all the time to transition out of a normal more stable job to life on the road. I made this mistake and went through years of extreme poverty. We were so rag tag in the beginning that I had a pastor that felt so sorry for me that he gave me shirts out of his own closets to wear because mine were so bad.  One winter when all of our utilities got shut off, God had to deliver me from the mess I had gotten myself into by a pastor hiring me to be his children’s pastor for $1000.00 per month.
  2. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare: If you are thinking of transitioning out of a children’s pastor position or secular employment into life on the road save up enough money or raise support for at least one to two years. Get all the equipment you will need to do your ministry while you still have a paycheck. After you go full time most of what comes in will need to be used to keep you and your family alive.
  3. Get out of debt: Before you take the leap of faith to go full time it is highly advisable to get yourself out of debt. Get use to living a simpler lifestyle if that is what it takes. This does not mean that you have to stay there. God will promote those that are faithful. If you have debt hanging over you or cannot control your spending, it will become a burden while trying to get started.
  4. Develop a business plan: Most people in ministry have no business sense at all. They blindly take the leap of faith into full time traveling ministry with no idea in the natural what they are doing. An instructor at my bible college once said “The Natural and the supernatural coming together make an explosive force for God.” You can have all the faith in the world, but if you don’t know how to handle money you are doomed for failure. To be honest we have to put money aside during our busy season to make it through our slow season every year. This takes a lot of planning, self control, and living a simpler life sometimes. The notion that you will get rich from being a Children’s Evangelist is simply not true.  You can be successful and live a decent lifestyle, eventually God will bless and promote you as you make wise decisions and put him first.

  1. Love offering VS Honorarium? An adult evangelist blesses adults and then takes up an offering where  people will give. A children’s evangelist blesses children when children might have a few nickels and dimes to give. I would encourage you to figure out what you need to live each month. What it takes to pay all your bills and continue to travel. Then let churches know up front what you need. To be honest pastors have no idea what it takes to keep a ministry such as ours on the road. I haul around 7000 Lbs. of equipment in a 20 ft. trailer with a one ton Silverado that gets about 10 miles per gallon.  Travel costs have gone through the roof as of late. If all your income goes to pay your travel expenses, then what will you live off of? Do not under charge for coming to minister at a church, however starting out do not over charge for your qualifications or you will not get any bookings. Our ministry survives off of honorariums, sales of merchandise, and very few monthly supporters. I have not figured out a way to get people to become a monthly supporter of our ministry. I refuse to use any manipulative methods to raise funds. Always be flexible with smaller churches that cannot afford your cost but remember you have to live also.  
  2. Merchandise: Willie George said one time, “If you are going to make it as a children’s evangelist you must have good, quality product to sale to supplement your income. He had good curriculum and a video club that was very popular in the late 80s and early 90s. I have taken this approach of offering quality concert type gear such as; T-shirts, hats, beanies, jewelry, and a few other things that you might find at a concert setting. I have also offered a few resources for children’s workers over the years. This takes an initial investment, however it has paid off for our ministry. Be careful not to offer trinkets and things that parents are really hesitant to buy for their kids because they end up in the bottom of the toy box or on the closet floor. Our merchandise is a quality product that children can wear. That reminds them of our ministry, or has a good Christian message on them. Do not be cheesy in this area!
  3. Winter cometh:  Be advised that it is much harder to book events in the winter months from November 1st to March 1st  than it is in the spring through fall. It is like a roller coaster for us each year it starts building around March peeks in the summer and starts declining in the fall until November. It usually stops dead with an occasional booking in December, January, and February. If you are not prepared for this you will starve in the winter months and it might actually drive you off the road all together. I know of only one Children’s Evangelist that stays booked all year except December. All others that I know of go through this same cycle. Some have developed holiday themed events for November and December however, there is a limited market for this and a limited time slot that it can take place. Usually the more ministry minded evangelist this is harder for because churches are not looking for powerful ministry during these times as much as warm fuzzes for the holidays. You must either put away money during the busy season for the slower season and live a disciplined lifestyle, or go get a job each winter which cuts back on your preparation, and advertising time for the following season.

Advertise, Advertise, And Advertise!
Take advantage of every opportunity you can afford to let people know that you are available. Use every social network as possible to let people know what you are doing without becoming annoying. Your web site is your front page of your ministry. Make sure it is where you put a lot of your advertising budget into. Everything else should be the bait that draws people to your website which is the hook. A lot of people feel that advertising is self promotion, however if people do not know you are available they will not contact you to come to their church. Make sure to put money aside each year to advertise for the upcoming year. The best time for me to promote for the following year is around the middle of Sept until the 1st of October before the holiday’s and right after the 1st of the year is also a good time to promote. 

Break outside your Realm!       
Don’t stay in your comfort zone of your denomination or group. Most denominations do not have enough churches in a certain area to keep you busy enough to support yourself. Market yourself to as many denominations and groups as possible without compromising your core beliefs. I have been blessed to be accepted in several denominations and groups across Christendom. I respect each groups for their specific doctrinal believes and stay on the basics without watering down my message. This is why I know some denominations and groups will not contact me. Many traveling ministries make the mistake of watering down their ministry to be accepted across the board which results in nothing more than Christian entertainment. Keep true to the word, anointing, and real ministry while being respectful to wherever God opens the doors for you to go. I have had to draw lines of what I will and will not compromise on. I would encourage you to do this before you make the leap or you will be tempted to compromise to get an event.

Local verses national:
There is many regional Children’s Evangelist, but very few national. Part of the secret to my success is I am willing to drive long distances between events in a short period of time. I have found that most regions do not have enough opportunities to keep me busy enough to support myself and our ministry.

Do something no one else is doing:  
In other words find your nitch and perfect it. Then learn how to market it. Willie George said that to be successful now as a Children’s Evangelist that you must have a Gimmick. This is a sad but true statement. The fact that you have a heart for God, love kids, and want to reach as many of them as possible is not enough to book you in most churches. When pastors and children’s pastors are looking for a Children’s Evangelist they look for someone that can do something that they cannot do. Most Children’s Evangelist that come in with a guitar, a puppet, and a few object lessons do not stay booked enough to support them selves.  My gimmick would be all the Multi media, Lighting, and staging I haul around with me. Kidz Blitz would be their game show atmosphere. Some people sing or perform well and that is their nitch. It’s their Gimmick. Most churches are not looking for another clown or magician. The field is swamped and mostly with very amateur ones at that. The ones that are successful are the ones that have risen above the norm. Before Terry Fator and Jeff Dunham came along the art of being a ventriloquists was looked down upon by most people because it was the same old jokes and routines over and over. I remember the statement by the “America’s got talent” judge when Terry Fator walked out on stage with a dummy. “Oh no not another ventriloquists act”.

Family:
The second highest reason people do not stay on the road very long is the toll it takes on their family.  Make sure your entire family is on board with the decision to be an evangelist and are willing to count the cost to do it. Make sure everyone is being realistic with what it involves. It can either make you closer or pull you apart! It can take a huge toll on your children if you don’t do it right. I have seen some Children’s Evangelist that the children loved it and are now Children’s Evangelist as adults, and I have seen others that  want nothing to do with God or ministry after being dragged around the country while their parents minister.

Don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions:
If something is not working do not be afraid to ask why it is not working. Evaluation is good, even if it hurts. The only person the likes change is a wet baby! Don’t continually beat a bush that is not producing the results you want. Someone said, “If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always had.” To continually do the same thing and expect a different result is delusional. Don’t be afraid to evaluate yourself and ask others their honest opinion. Do not be afraid of the answers you might get. I have always asked 2 questions when I receive criticism. I ask myself, is it true and can I do anything about it? Some things are true and some thing’s are not. If you find it to be true, bite the bullet and make a change. However, some things cannot be changed. If it is a deep conviction or something that is a trait that it is impossible to change, well it cannot be changed. However, do not be unwilling to change something because of sentimental value or because it’s the way you have always done it. Do not be afraid to change yourself for the better even if it hurts!
Read the article at the link below for more about this...
Don't be afraid to ask the tough questions



Saying all this I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes. I am not sure who originally said it but it goes like this…

DREAM A DREAM SO BIG THAT UNLESS GOD DOES IT, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN!

for more info on being a children's evangelist please read the following article at the link below...
Why aren't there more CHILDREN'S EVANGELIST

Jerry Moyer
Jubilee Gang Ministries
Website     www.jubileegang.com
FaceBook  www.facebook.com/jubileegang
Twitter       www.twitter.com/jubileegang
YouTube    www.youtube.com/jubileegang

Monday, February 27, 2017

Why Aren't there more Children's Evangelist?



I wrote this article several years ago around 2008 to answer the question I get often from pastors "Why is it so hard to find quality children's evangelist"? I have updated several sections to reflect where I see things going today in 2017. I pray it does not come across negative or Jerry's Soapbox  however there are several hard questions we must ask to find the answer to this question. This article is a little long but is worth your time if you have asked this question. 

In an age where the role of a children's evangelist has gone from a soul winning, bible teaching, encourager of the body, revivalist of sorts, to more of an entertainer that has a Christian theme. I have been forced to ask myself a few questions about the role of a Children's Evangelist in the post Christian America that we live in.


Let me start off by giving you a little bit of my background, and things I struggle with so you know where I am coming from.


I have been a children's pastor in a few different churches for a total of 12 years, a children's evangelist for nearly 30 years, and have had a few volunteer positions during my over my years in ministry to children and youth. We have ministered in 45 States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Russia and in over 35 different denominations and a host of non denominational churches and have seen over 23,000 people born again during our Jubilee Gang events over the years. I have been blessed to see both sides of the fence which has helped me to be more understanding of the role of a Children's Pastor and local churches when I am ministering on the road. All of the churches I served at as a Children's Pastor, I could never afford to have children's evangelist in. Except for a several of my friends that I was not able to pay what they deserved, and a few nationally know evangelist that came for an offering and travel because they were in the area. Several times we took money out of Jubilee Gang ministries to add to the offering our church received because we did not feel it was an adequate amount to give the evangelist.  I have always felt bad bringing someone in and not being able to bless them the way they should be.


In my early years as a Children's Evangelist I went through extreme poverty and hardships including getting my phone, electric, other necessities turned off, and my family going without all for the sake of the call.


I eventually had to make the decision, that if I was going to continue doing children's evangelism; I had to run the financial side of the ministry like a business. I was not ever going to put my family through this again.


I really struggle with having to charge churches what I do to have us come and minister. In bible collage we were taught not to charge for ministry, but we should trust God for what we needed to come in during the offering. If I did this I would not be able to survive, not because of God not being faithful but because churches and pastors really do not have any idea what it takes to run a ministry such as ours. When you take up an offering with children you get nickels, dimes, quarters, and a few dollar bills. In my early days as a Children's Evangelist we always came on love offering and barley ever broke even on most events. I struggle to keep my prices down, however with all the equipment I haul around I have been forced to charge higher prices than most. When I was a Children's Pastor I could never have afforded to have my ministry come in. So, I understand what a lot of Children's Pastors are going through with low budgets.


I have struggled with the fact that I must offer a program that is a few steps above what most churches can offer their children. One time I had a church on the west coast call and want me to come to their church to minister. This was one of my first contacts from the west coast quite a few years ago. I asked if they could fly me out there. In the back of my head I was wondering if my transportation at the time would make the trip. Their response was that if I did not bring my equipment they did not want me. One of the secrets to my success is that I have been able to invest in awesome equipment that makes our program more spectacular. At the same time I wonder why we as the body cannot just see the call on a persons life instead of forcing a person to have a bigger than life persona with a rock star performance and all the bells and whistles. Don't get me wrong, I love all the stuff but it's truly all about the ministry for me. Reaching the lost and touching lives is what it is all about.


On the flip side when I was Children's Pastor the few times I had bigger name evangelist in, my workers came to me afterword and thought what we did in children's church was better than the program the nationally known speaker presented. After a while I did not have speakers come in that could not out top what we did, or offer something that I could not do myself, however I could not afford the speakers that was bigger and better.


I struggle with the promotional end of the ministry also, having to sale yourself to get a meeting, having to look bigger and better than the rest, and not looking too much like another ministry because they feel your trying to steel their corner of the market. God has given me a gift for promotion, and I have always been successful in promoting whatever I have been involved in whether it was business or ministry. I do not like the idea of being in competition with other Children's Evangelist.


Hopefully, we are all in this for the same reason, winning souls and encouraging believers. There are too many children that are not born again and not enough people reaching them to be in any kind of competition. We try our best to reach out to other Children's Evangelist and be a blessing to them as much as possible no matter what church affiliation they are. Some we have been able to establish relationships with and others have not responded for various reasons.


Saying all this I have asked myself and a few others the following questions.


1. Why isn't there more Children's Evangelist? A lot of times we hear from churches we minister in that it is hard to find good quality Children's Evangelist.

2. Why doesn't more Children's Evangelist stay on the road very long? I have seen a lot of very talented, gifted, and anointed children's ministers try to break into traveling and do not last but a few years. Or they are on and off the road every few years.
3. Why do churches need Children's Evangelist?
4. Where is the role of a Children's Evangelist going in the next 10 years?
5. Is the concept of a kid's crusade becoming a thing of the past?
6. What is the most effective way to reach un reached children with the message of the gospel?

To answer the first and second questions it mostly comes to finances. I asked a few of my Children's Evangelist friends and Children's Ministry leaders that use to travel and on the top of everyone's list was lack of finances. As I said above when I first started out I went through extreme poverty and lack that I would not wish on my worst enemy. One time I had a pastor where I was ministering feel so sorry for me because of the cloths I was wearing that he went to his closet and brought me 2 shirts for me to wear. In the early days we looked like the rag muffin team that traveled in a hooptie van you would see down by the river with gypsies living in it.

We sat in the front of the van and put all of our equipment in the back. Praise God we have come a long way! I thank God every time I get into our truck and load our equipment into our trailer.

I see a lot of my Children's Evangelist friends going through extreme poverty now. Some of them are pioneers of what I am doing. They have given their entire lives to reaching children and now that they are older they have nothing, no insurance, no retirement, no home, nor finances. Some have sold their houses and traveled in motor homes that finally gave out because of all the miles they have put on them.


Now they are forgotten about by the church world and cannot seem to get enough meetings to live off of. Yet, they still have a heart for reaching children. No church will hire them despite of their years of experience because they are older now and churches want younger people for Children's Pastors.


I have ask myself in the past, how long I can keep my schedule full. How long can I keep this pace up? Will I end up like a lot of my predecessors, older, outdated, and forgotten about with no insurance or retirement? I have came to this conclusion that We will continue to travel and minister to children and families until God says stop or I physically cannot do it any more. When I made Jesus Lord of my life I no longer do things my way but I do them His way and Jesus told us in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness that all these things will be added unto us. he will take care of the rest if we do our best!


Even though we charge what I am sure seems like a lot to a smaller and medium size churches we still struggle to make it sometimes. We get a few meetings a month from February through May, and then we do back to back meetings from June through September or October, and then come home and have to be so tight financially that we cannot afford do anything except work and get ready for the next years tour. Our fuel cost alone in 2008 was over $14,000, plus all the other cost in what we do. for years  we had  very few monthly supporters. Less than 5 people give $25.00 per month to our ministry. Recently several churches have started putting us on their missions budget of between $50 and $100 a month. Occasionally, we receive a larger one time gift from people. We try our best to work with churches to come on an amount they can afford if they cannot afford our suggested price, however during years when the economy was bad many churches ask for a discount which makes me wonder how tight it will be next winter. Some years half or more of our bookings are discounted in one way or the other.


Then, the issue comes up that what I am offering has to be worth what I am charging, so we have to continue to get bigger and better which drives up the price more. I am not trying to cry a sob story by telling this information, just letting you know why more people do not do this.


The simple fact is that most churches do not have budgets for ministries such as ours, and if we scale down to where we can travel in a mini van no one will want us because we cannot do something that the local church cannot do themselves. I do not want to become an exclusive mega church ministry. We have and will continue to minister in mega churches, however the smaller churches are what really need our ministry the most.


The second reason there are not more Children's Evangelist or the reason they do not stay on the road very long is the toll on the family. It's a hard life that not many can handle. Having to live out of hotel rooms or motor homes, is more than most people can handle. Most people want more out of life which is understandable.


To answer the third question about why do churches need Children's Evangelist is a simple yet complex answer according to what church background you come from. To answer this question I will ask another question. Why do churches need adult evangelist? Like I said before according to your church affiliation the answer may very.


I once asked a pastor where I was on staff if we could have more of a budget to have in a Children's Evangelist. His answer was, "Why do we need a Children's Evangelist when we have one of the best on staff as a Children's Pastor." My answer to his question was "Why do we need to have Adult Evangelist when we have one of the best ministers in the world as Pastor here?" To which he had no answer. There will always be events where we will need special speakers for children the same as there will always be events for adults where we will need a special speaker. Some of these events include outreaches into the community, kid's camps, and meetings where children can receive a fresh fire from God.


My goal as a Children's Evangelist is to…


1. See as many people (men, woman, boys, girls and teens) as possible make a legitimate decision to follow Jesus, make him lord of their life, and be born again.


2. Stir up believers to be all they can be for God and to reach out to the world around them with the love of Jesus, not only through preaching the word, but through developing the character of Christ in their lives.


3. Encourage churches and leaders to take their Children's Ministry to the next level by showing them what can be done through technology and new methods.


To answer the 4th and 5th questions about where do I see the role of the Children's Evangelist going in the next 10 years? And is the concept of kid's crusades becoming a thing of the past? I am not sure where it is going right now. It has seemed to be heading toward a more entertainment based concert type events with very little or no ministry that attract new families in to have a good time and hope they come back to visit the church for a regular service. However, I have been getting more and more calls lately from churches that have been trying this approach for a few years now and want something with more substance. I am happy that the tides are finally turning back to a more ministry based outreach. There is some truth in the "become all things to all men and show people that church is a fun place for families approach" and not a place where they will get bible thumped or dragged through the pit of hell to try and get them to convert to Christianity. It is true that it is the goodness of God that brings man to repentance. We must make church a fun place, keep up to date on culture and the changing world, and how to reach them. However, if we water down the message so that it is not offensive we will produce a generation a fluffy Christians with no spiritual back bone. Certain things about the Gospel are offensive to the American culture, for example, the blood of Jesus and the story of the Cross. But without this we cannot even be born again. I am not saying that we scare kids with bloody details; however we cannot get away from the truth of what we are about.


I personally believe we can be entertaining yet not water down the message or anointing. I have had churches ask me how God shows up at our events without praise and worship. Believe me if any of us could sing even halfway, I would have praise and worship during our events. My answer to this is every thing we do uplifts the name of Jesus and magnifies his word. How could he not show up? Plus, I thought The Holy Spirit was already here, or does he only hang out when we sing a song?


A Children's Evangelist must offer programs that are relevant to the culture they are ministering to and a message that is not the same programs that every other Children's Evangelist has been preaching for years. When I develop a new program it usually comes from time spent with God and a topic that has been stirring in my heart for quit some time that I feel is something God wants to emphasize in the body as a whole. The theme and message always come first them we develop everything else around that central theme to reinforce the bible message. We cannot just present a hodge podge of stuff that do not fit together and then give an invitation to receive Christ at the end.


I do believe the concept of traditional kids' crusades is slowly becoming a thing of the past. I do think it is a better option than VBS if you are trying to reach the community? It is hard to compete with sports and other community activities in some communities. We see attendance for our events getting smaller and smaller over the years. People are just not coming out for big events like they use to. We have had churches have us in to minister and spend a lot of money on the event and have only a handful of children at the event because of sports or something else going on in their community. It might come down to lack of good planning, advertising, or organization, however I remember a day when if you had a really cool event at a church you could pack it out with kids and families. I encourage churches to get away from the term "kids Crusade" in their advertisement of our events. The un churched world today just do not understand what a kids crusade is. It sounds too much like the crusades of the dark ages for most un churched people today. I encourage them to use terms like; Kids Blast, Back to School Blitz, Summer Slam, Winter Jam, and family or kids explosion. I encourage them to be creative and think out of the box.


It's hard enough to get adults out to a week long revival or camp meeting these days much less have them drop off their kids and come back to pick them up for a children's event. It has to be sold to them as something they do not want to miss. Something that will not only be an awesome time but something that will change their lives. The days of doing a cute puppet skit and a few cool songs and object lessons are over. In order to get kids and families out for events it has to be something bigger and better. I am sad to say it, but most people will no show up out of hunger for more of God or his word any more. We have noticed over the years that attendance for "kid only' events are getting smaller and smaller. People just do not come out or attend these types events like they use to. Even with the spectacular program where we present the Gospel with all the high tech stuff we have had several times when NO ONE shows up and have had to cancel a service. 


A lot of my fellow Children's Evangelist and Children's Ministry friends have suggested that we are moving more toward family events where the entire family is ministered to at the same time. I have wanted to break into this type of meeting for years; however getting most senior pastors to buy into the idea has been quit a challenge. Most senior pastors are reluctant to turn their pulpit over to a Children's Evangelist. Some times for good reason because some Children's Evangelist are so childish in their approach that many adults in attendance feel spoken down to or out of place.



Now in 2017 nearly 10 years after writing this article we have moved toward doing more family events. Almost every Sunday we are on the road we are ministering to entire families, adults, children, and teens all in the main sanctuary. Around half of our events each year are promoted as a "Family Event" instead of what would have been traditionally in the past called a "Kids Crusade..  We have found that attendance is better if the entire family is included in the event. We have developed our programs so the message is simple enough for a child to understand but fun and relevant for all ages. Family events are still a hard sell to some churches and pastors that have never heard of these type of events and do not understand how multiple generations can be ministered to at the same time in a way that ministers to and keeps children's attention yet ministers to adults in a way that they do not feel out of place or spoken down to. We have also found that family events must be promoted a certain way by the head pastor and staff for the entire congregation to buy into the concept. Read our article here on
"How to promote a family event"


Below are several articles I have written on Family events.

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And the last question, about how to most effectively reach un churched children with the message of the gospel. I personally believe the most effective way to reach the lost is to go where they are. Get involved in their lives and let them know you care. Then when the door is open share Jesus with them. Go into their communities and have services. Do not expect them to come to the church building. Most people that are not Christians will never come to church. Most un churched children in America have never been to church and if they have, they thought it was dead religion and did not want anything to do with it.

When we go to their communities and show them we truly love them enough to get outside of our comfort zone of the church building, then we will reap the harvest that is ripe. Crops do not come to the barn by themselves. The farmer has to go out to the fields and harvest the crops. Fish do not jump out of the lake and come running for the kitchen. You have to go catch them. The masses of people in this world that are not Christians will not come to church to receive Jesus. We must go where they are. Truly love on them and show them that we care. Then they might want what we have.


One person suggested that we train children to evangelize their peers. This is what they are doing at their church and it has been very successful. One young lady from her church saw several thousand of her peers born again before graduating high school. I have yet to see very may churches effectively take this approach. 


We must also disciple these children and families that are born again during these outside the church outreach programs. Some of the ones that are reached will come to our church afterwards, however the most effective way to disciple them is by have a weekly meeting on their turf. Close to where they live. I know this concept is not much for church growth but we must be kingdom minded instead of church minded.


Some times I ask God why I couldn't have been an adult evangelist and fly in on an airplane with my bible and preach instead of driving over 40,000 miles a year with around 7000 Lbs of equipment that we have to set up and tear down every three days. One time when I was complaining to the Lord I heard him say in my heart, "What you are doing is precious to me." I broke down in tears when I heard this. Children's ministry is precious to the Lord.


Seeing children born again and seeing them grow up spiritually until they look like Christ is precious to Him! Everything we go through, all the hardships, all the ups and downs is worth it when we hear the father say that what we are doing is precious to him.


I pray that God rises up a new generation of Children's Evangelist to take our place some day. Young men and women that not only know how to wow a crowd with all the latest and greatest methods, but take a no compromise approach to ministry and go in the power of the Holy Spirit and the word of God. I pray for a new generation of men and women that their only goal is wining souls at any cost.


I pray this did not come across as Jerry's soap box. I just want to answer a few questions I hear often and have asked myself and to be a voice for all those that have given themselves for children's evangelism.


If you feel called to be a children's evangelist please read my article called "

A letter to aspiring children's evangelist"

By
Jerry Moyer
The Jubilee Gang
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