Letters
CA-Dear saints: I want to say that I really appreciate the Faith and Victory, and I appreciate all of your labors. I know our Father will reward each and every one of you.
I thank God for being saved and encouraged. I thank Him for keeping power, and for His daily mercies. I thank Him for each breath I take, and each and every step is because of Him. I know God lives, because He lives in me.
I stand in awe of such a wonderful Savior. He has blessed me in so many ways. He is teaching me what it means to dig deep, to admit mistakes and wrongs, and to ask for daily help. He is helping me to find those hidden things. He will not accept anything less than perfection.
Please remember all my loved ones that are out of the Ark of Safety. -Sis. Dorothy Gray
MO-Dear Bro. Wayne: Greetings in Jesus' name. I hope and trust all is going well with you and the publishing work.
I am thankful that God has blessed both wife and I in our bodies. He has healed us of the flu. I have been able to go to church services the last three services. I have felt stronger each time. Wife still has a heart condition that hinders her from being able to go to service. Please continue to remember us both in prayer....
Your brother in Christ, -T. V. McMillian
NC-Dear Bro. Wayne and all at the Print Shop: We send greetings to all of you in the matchless name of Jesus. How thankful we are to know Him.
On Sunday night, February 15, 1998, I heard a song that I feel in my heart, entitled, "I've Got Something To Praise God For." And surely I have.
As most of you know, I was very sick with pneumonia for about 2 1/2 weeks. Elaine had the flu at the same time that I had pneumonia, so we weren't really able to care for ourselves, or each other, so we just lay there, she on the sofa and I in the recliner, and looked at and prayed for each other.
She became fearful that she was going to lose me when I was delirious for a couple of days, but praise the Lord, He touched me, and I feel completely well now. I have even regained my strength.
Elaine has recovered from the flu, but is still in great need of prayer. She has a problem with her head. She stays dizzy and has a lot of pain through her head, and even down her neck. We don't know what the problem is, but thank God, we know the "Problem Solver" who is our great Physician.
We appreciate each one of you so much for bearing us up in prayer. I don't know what we would have done if it weren't for all of you being there to listen when we called, and for being faithful to pray. Thank You, and may God bless you. Thanks, too, to all the dear saints who prayed for us. It means so much to have a great big family we can depend on.
Very sincerely, -Margaret and Elaine Dunn
MI-Dear Bro. Wayne and Sis. Mary: Greetings in Jesus' holy and precious name to all of you dear ones. I pray you are all well and happy in the Lord. I praise God for our many blessings.
I am so glad that souls are being won through the Faith and Victory paper. There are many souls that need to give their hearts to the dear Lord. Time is going very fast and the end is very close. Jesus will be coming soon. What a great day that will be for all of the saints.
I thank all of you for your prayers for me. I haven't been feeling too well, but Jesus is with me. He is so sweet and kind, and I know He can heal me.
I love my Jesus, and I know He loves me too. And I love all of you also. Your prayers mean a lot to me.
My love and prayers, -Sis. Olive Getterson
IN-To the saints and workers there at the Faith Publishing House: I want to thank you so much for the work you are doing. Keep sending out the good news of salvation to a lost and dying world.
I was sorry to hear of Bro. Mart Samons' death. It has been years since I had heard him preach. He lived a good life and helped lots of people, I am sure.
I think of how good the Lord is to us in America. We have plenty to eat, and in many ways more than we need. I want God to help me to be more thankful and to not ever complain....
May God bless and keep all of you there in His care.
Your sister in Christian love,
-Mary Rogers
KS-Dear saints: Glory to God in the highest! We cannot praise Him nearly enough for His loving kindness and His everlasting love to us. One song lets us know we could not possibly use words to fully explain the love of God. But we can certainly be the recipients of His love and can do our utmost to love Him back, and prove it by keeping His commandments. It is glorious to be able to serve and follow the Lord, and I truly wish we could persuade and convince the whole world that what they really need is a born-again experience of salvation. A holy life is the only intelligent life we can live. Let us serve the Lord with all that is within us, and continue to try to get people to see that Jesus is the answer. -Sis. Shirley Knight
LA-Dear Bro. Wayne, Sis. Mary and workers at the Print Shop: May the rich blessings of the Lord be upon each and every one of you as you fill your place and labor faithfully for souls.
I have been blessed this morning in reading some in an October 1982 Faith and Victory paper. Usually I give my papers for others to read, but a few I keep as I am blessed by reading them again. Oh, I appreciate the little paper and all you dear ones who work there. I pray often for each of you.
The dear Lord is so good to me and blesses me with many things that my soul can feast upon, as I am isolated and so seldom able to be in church services. I have many preaching and singing tapes, as well as most of the books that have been printed there since we have been acquainted with the truth.
Please remember me in prayer. I have a very sore and inflamed toe. I can hardly wear a shoe at times. I also have some unspoken requests.
Yours in Him, -Sis. Sybil Goldsberry
KS-Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord: I greet you in Christian love. I thank the precious Lord for His gracious dealings toward those who name His name.
My Lord has been such a special friend since the passing of my husband eighteen months ago. Many have been the times I have had to rely heavily on Him. As in the reading, Footprints In The Sand, the Lord carried me in the heaviest part of the grieving period. It was so strangely precious, but I emotionally felt His arms around me and the security they afforded. I did not deserve that special attention, but, oh, how sweet! During Donald's illness, as I wanted to know what the future held and the way was holden from my view, a song rang over and over to me, "...I'll be so near that you'll love to walk one step at a time with Me." It has surely proven true.
The love the saints have shown to me and my family has not gone unnoticed, nor will it be unrewarded. Much concern was expressed and many prayers went up to God on our behalf during the past three sorghum making seasons, as we faced many difficulties that sometimes seemed overwhelming. "Thank you" to each one who held us up in prayer. There were some who even came to give of their time. We certainly need each other.
Now, in the time of my father's passing, once again I am on the receiving end of the love of the saints, and of my precious Lord. Thank you for the cards and phone calls. You were already dear to me, but you are dearer still. You are my people; here is where I want to die. I am satisfied.
I would like to encourage each one of us to perfect our love of God. The Word tells us that "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment." Often- times knowledge of a direction from the Lord calls forth from our bosom a desire to be obedient, and yet, the flesh recoils. God knows that our frame is but dust, but His promise to us is the same as Paul counted it to be, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13. Let us be found faithful and obedient as He never calls us to do anything but what there will be His Divine enablement provided.
In Christian love, -Marilyn Eck
SC-Greetings in Jesus' name: I am truly thankful today to be one of God's little children. He has blessed me again and again. My heart cries out with thanksgiving for His only begotten Son which He gave to die for me.
The saints here at Holly Hill are all still encouraged to press on and keep the faith. There are just a few here, but the Lord said where there were one or two gathered together in His name, He was there also. Praise the Lord.... -Sis. Judith Crummie
CA-Dear saints of God and workers at the Print Shop: We send love to all in the precious name of Jesus. We are praising the Lord for His love to us and our family. We are so thankful we hearkened to the Lord and are enjoying His love and mercy. Proverbs 1:33 says, "But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."
Surely God has proven His love and goodness so many times. His love constrains us to follow Him all the days of our lives.
Pray for us when you pray, and I will do the same.
Christian love, -Bro. E. V. Davenport
KS-Dear ones at the Print Shop: I would like to thank the Lord for healing me of the flu and virus that I had for five or six weeks.
I am thankful that we can call on the saints for healing. I would like to thank Bro. Wayne, Sis. Mary and Sis. Margaretta Kennedy for their prayers.
Please keep me in your prayers, that I will stay true to the Lord. -Sis. Dorothy Huston
LA-Greetings of love from Shreveport: I thank the good Lord for His mercy and love to all of us!
This morning on tape I heard some little children singing a special at Loranger, LA. The title of the song was, "God Is So Good." The last verse says, "I'm going to heaven because He's so good." In the background I could hear Bro. Mart Samons' praises to God. The emotions involved would be hard to explain. However, I will endeavor, with the Lord's help, to give my testimony of God's abundant mercy which includes Bro. Samons.
I, Catherine Mae DiDio Bhramayana, daughter of Wanita and Salvatore DiDio, was raised in a Christian home by God-fearing parents. However, due to the traps of satan, I lost out with Jesus at the age of fourteen. From the ages of fourteen to seventeen I made decisions that still affect my life. Today, in order to support my children, I am working at three different jobs and have two applications in process for other jobs.
Around the age of sixteen, I became engaged to marry Potong Bhramayana, a foreign student from Bangkok, Thailand. During this time the Lord kept dealing with my soul, so I went to the altar at the Hammond, LA, Church of God, with my older sister, and our boyfriends. At this time Bro. Samons advised us to not marry. Bro. Samons' advice was not taken. Young people, listen and honor your elders that love you and have wisdom. I Timothy 5:17 and Titus 2:3-4 are worthy scriptures to look up in the Holy Bible.
In June of 1998, my children will have been raised fourteen years by a single parent. I want to encourage all single parents that God's grace is sufficient. Jesus told Paul, "...my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness...." II Corinthians 12:9.
Single parents, there will be numerous times that you will be weak physically, emotionally and financially, however, there is HOPE. There is a hope that is steadfast and sure and founded on the promises of Father's written word. (Song #198, Evening Light Songs.) "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow."
Yes, even Bro. Samons had a bleak future before Jesus came into his heart-the doctors had given up on him and his marriage was suffering. In came Jesus and out came a A Beautiful Life. The song says, "...While going down life's weary road, I'll try to lift some traveler's load; I'll try to turn the night to day, Make flowers bloom along the way."
The way gets lonely when you are not free to get married again, and it gets pretty dark when your bills are never ending. (Especially raising teenagers with their needs in a modern world during high school.) However, with Jesus in your heart, your nights turn to day and you actually have flowers along the way. (My flowers have been my Christian family and their golden deeds in helping those who are in need.)
The good Word instructs us in Acts 20:35, "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Lately, I have been on the receiving end, so I want to thank you, Bro. Wayne, for extending me credit on my Faith and Victory papers. The tape ministry is another one of my rich blessings. A big "Thank You" to all who contribute to the tape ministry with your special songs, messages and experiences.
A special insert here is needed. As dorm mother in West Virginia in the summer of 1997, I felt I had died and gone to heaven. Each night the young girls sang and prayed before sleeping. It was like hearing angels singing all around me. Thank you, young people, for this special memory. Your flowers are blooming!
Most of all, thank You Lord for saving Bro. Mart Samons and Bro. Lynn Carver and for the blessing they have been to me.
Love and prayers to all,
-Catherine DiDio Bhramayana
A Testimony
Recently a question came to my mind that is also being voiced by many as of late. The question is, "Does God still work miracles?" To this question, I respond with a hearty affirmative! It is a fact that God is still working miracles today!
There are definite verses of scripture that are proof, and that verify that God does still perform miracles in this day and time. There are two verses in particular that I want to share. One is found in St. Mark 9:23-24. "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."
The second verse is found in Luke 1:37. "For with God nothing shall be impossible." Amen!
I would like to tell of a burden that the Lord laid upon my heart. In the year of 1969 I had the opportunity to come into contact with a group of people that, prior to our meeting them, had separated themselves from a certain church group. They felt that God had called them to do this. After separating themselves they were more or less just left to themselves, without a leader or anyone to guide and instruct them. They were endeavoring to serve the Lord acceptably, and were living to all that they knew and understood. These dear people were very sincere and loved the Lord.
However, after becoming acquainted with them, I noticed that there were different things that they were doing in the conducting of their worship services that were contrary to what we knew and understood to be proper and correct. Thus, the Lord laid a burden upon my heart to humbly teach and instruct them in the way of truth. This place was Goulds, FL, and the pastor was the late Brother Herschell Hargrave.
Through the dealings of the Holy Spirit in my life and soul I felt that I must do my best to teach them, and they were eager, willing and ready to learn. Many times my pillow would be wet with tears as I would cry and pray to the Lord, seeking to get His mind on just what He would have me to say and to teach. In my seeking the Lord for guidance, the Holy Spirit was able to show me that these dear people definitely had a true experience of Bible salvation, but were just in need of more instruction. I felt as Aquila and Priscilla when they were led to "expound the Word of God more perfectly to Apollos." I humbly imparted what God gave to me to give to them.
Bro. Hargrave's spirit and attitude was just as receptive and open as was Apollos'. After the teaching and instructions, he took a stand for the truth and cast his lot with the "saints in light." (Colossians 1:12.) He then left the decision to the remaining congregation as to whether or not they too would accept and embrace the full truth and light of the gospel. However, he let it be known that as for himself he fully embraced the gospel and the teaching of the Evening Light saints. Marvelously, the entire group of people accepted and embraced the truth and followed in the footsteps of their pastor as he humbly endeavored to follow Christ.
The Lord worked mightily. What an encouragement this was to me. It certainly made the responsibility and burden the Lord had given to me easier to fill. The burden of my heart was lighter! The pastor's instruction to the congregation was to get a notebook and pencil and to take down all of the instruction that they could. The Lord truly will bless His people when they are humble and have gentle, obedient spirits.
A few months later, these saints were fully measured to God's Word and had become an established congregation in light. I thank the Lord for His goodness and mercy, and for the way that He leads if we will keep submitted to His will.
My reason for relating this testimony is to tell of the Lord's recent dealings. Not long ago the saints in Florida contacted me and expressed a desire to see me once again on this side of eternity, and to be able to care for and return some of the love and kindness that had been shown to them down through the years. Well, I didn't see how it would be possible at all, seeing that I am not physically able. Well, the Lord took care of the difficulties and impossibilities, and ordained the trip for His honor. He had something in mind. It amazes me how He sustained me and made me able. After the Lord dealt with my heart, I contacted the saints to let them know that I would come. I had been really sick in body for two years, but the Lord told me, "Go! and I will see you through." The Lord was there to encourage me every step of the way, and to let me know that it was His will for me to go.
One night I had a severe backset with the affliction that had been troubling me. It was in the wee hours of the morning. I attempted to call for prayer but was not able to get the call through. I then had the most unusual experience of God's care which I will relate.
After I was unable to make the call, an operator attempted and was also unsuccessful. She then asked me if I was in trouble. I told her "Yes," and that I was trying to call for prayer. The operator then said to me, "I KNOW THE LORD. I WILL PRAY." She then proceeded to pray. After prayer she offered encouragement and said to me, "Eat well, and drink plenty of fluids. I will continue to pray for you. The Lord cares!" She then told me to be true and said, "I will see You over There!" What an encouragement this was to me. I went to sleep and slept soundly.
God answered prayer and healed me. I was able to take the trip to Florida. The Lord blessed and I had a safe journey. The saints were all so glad to see me. The Lord strengthened and enabled me in my body. Thank the Lord. We had a weekend meeting with the saints. It was a blessed time in the Lord. A lady who was so kind to help was saved in the meeting. The Lord truly blessed and upheld us, and it was soon time for me to prepare to come home.
When I arrived back at my home, the full realization of the trip hit me, and I realized it had indeed been a miracle of God! The entire time that I was away, I had not experienced any sickness or aching. It seems that as I returned home, so did my affliction!
Well, I thank God for His goodness and thanks to the saints for all the prayers and expressions of love.
Editorials
God's mercies and grace have been extended to us throughout another month, and we are glad to be able to publish this March issue of the Faith and Victory.
Work here at the Print Shop continues, in spite of some mechanical difficulties we encountered in February, when we had to do major repair on the machine which is used to fold book sections. Parts for the repair were not readily accessible, but we were finally able to secure some of the parts needed from a parts house, and have a machine shop fix and manufacture others. As of this writing, the folder is being reassembled, and hopefully will be in operation soon.
The press on which we print tracts also had a part to break. After several days of waiting, we have now received what is required to restore it to working order.
It isn't always a simple matter to keep all of the machinery and electronic equipment here at the Print Shop in good operating condition, but we are grateful for the way the Lord helps us, and for workers with mechanical abilities.
I also want to express appreciation to all of you who through your prayers and means, have so faithfully supported the endeavors here to print and mail out the Gospel. We have covenanted with God that as long as He enables us, we will give Him our best in publishing that which is Biblical, and that which manifests the spirit of Christ, as recorded in the gospels.
Let us continue to be workers together with the Lord in the soul-saving operation, for we have been assured that "...we shall reap, if we faint not." Gal. 6:9.
For some time I have felt a need for personal contact with the saints in the Philippines. Consequently, my plans are to fly out of Oklahoma City on April 4, and land in Manila April 6. Lord willing, this will allow me to be with Bro. Matias Tangunan in the Philippines for two weeks, visiting the saints. I am looking forward to this time of fellowship, and desire your prayers for God's blessing of guidance and grace on this journey.
The book, What the Bible Teaches, has been out of stock for some months, but is once again in print and ready for sale. We have already mailed copies to those who had back orders.
Plans are still being formulated for a Faith Publishing House Workers Reunion on July 11 of this year. We are presently working at compiling names and addresses of former employees so that special invitations can be sent out.
Progress is also being made on the new Print Shop. We hope to have it at a stage of preparation sufficient for meeting the needs of the reunion. During the month of February we were able to get a pump installed in the water well, and water lines running into the building.
During this year of 1998, in order to commemorate our 75th year of operation, the book, God's Gracious Dealings, which is a history of this publishing work, is being sold for $4.00, which is half price.
At your request we will send you a free list of other doctrinal and inspiration books which we stock, as well as a list of tracts which are available.
Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families of two couples who lost children recently. On Feb. 10, Jared, the six-year-old son of Bro. John and Sis. Rosalie Samons, went to be with the Lord. It was a heavy loss for Bro. John to lose his father, Bro. Mart Samons, on January 14, and then to suffer the loss of a son is indeed heart-wrenching. I am sure your continued prayers for the family in the days ahead would be appreciated.
If you would like to extend your condolences to Bro. John, Sis. Rosalie and family, you may do so by addressing your correspondence to:
R. R. 5, Box 219A, Sheridan, AR 72150.
Bro. John and Sis. Diane Clement also lost a child in February. Their one-year-old daughter passed away on Feb. 12. God is wonderfully upholding them in their time of grief, but I am sure they would be glad to hear of your concern. You can write them at: 207 Iris Ave., Jefferson, LA 70121.
One of the most encouraging teachings in the scriptures, and one of which we probably hear too little, is the doctrine of Christ's return. Three times in Revelation 22 the promise of this grand event is repeated with the words, "I come quickly." As the pages of divine revelation were being closed, God brought out this truth in such a way as to drive into the hearts of all believers an expectation of this event.
The promise of Christ's return was not just an observation on the part of John the Revelator, but he offered it as a direct quote from Christ Himself, the One who would be the center focus and catalyst of the end time occurrence.
A person once asked D. L. Moody the secret of his success. He replied, "For many years I have never given an address without the consciousness that the Lord may come before I have finished." Perhaps this explains the intensity and anointing the hearers felt in his ministry.
My mother says that her mother firmly believed that she would be alive at the return of Christ. She passed away in 1954 without seeing it happen. Neither do we know if in our lifetime we will see it, but we must let the possibility spur us on with great expectations. Someday it will be reality and if it is during our lifetime, we want the heavenly light of His appearing to find each of us faithful at what God has called us to do.
-Wayne Murphey