Reconnecting People With Church

June 2004

Dear Voice of Prophecy Friend:

My heart aches for people who drop out of church! They stop attending for many reasons.

But some find their way home again because our Lord uses people like you and me to reach out and touch them.

Several months ago, Mike Jones, who directs “Operation Reconnect,” Voice of Prophecy’s new outreach to former members, visited the unique Crossroad Fellowship Adventist Church in Joshua, Texas. He discovered a number of people who are attending church again. Here are several of their stories!

Neal Strub told Mike that when the Christian school he attended as a young man refused to let him graduate because he came up one-half credit short, “I got mad and joined the Marines.”

Neal was out of the church for the next 23 years!

But four years ago, he returned. The catalyst for his return was a close call with death — he lost consciousness during a bad reaction to a medication he was taking and ran his truck through the garage door of a business he was calling on. He awoke to learn that his truck had come to a stop just a few feet from a 4’ by 4’ box of dynamite.

Amazing! That was a “wake-up call”! Neal said, “Okay, Lord, You’ve kept me alive again. Why?”

A short time later, he found the answer in a small Christian home fellowship group studying the Book of Romans. Neal discovered the gospel for the first time and committed his life to Christ. He asked to be rebaptized because, as he said, “I never really knew Christ as a younger person, and now I do.”

Neal joined the fast-growing Crossroad Fellowship Adventist Church in Joshua, a church plant that specializes in outreach to inactive and former members. He told Mike the family atmosphere is what he appreciates most. “This church fills a part of my life that would otherwise be a void.” He smiles warmly. “I’m really glad to be back.”

Axel Sonne also was out of the church for many years. When his second marriage failed, he returned to the Joshua, Texas, area where he saw firsthand God at work in saving his son. Marty was rescued from a terrifying experience involving drunkenness and demon possession, something most of us think only happens in other parts of the world.

That dark experience helped Axel see the light. “I now have witnessed for myself that there really is a ‘great controversy’ between Christ and Satan,” he said. “It’s not just a story in some book. But, more than that, I know I’m back for the right reason because I now have Christ in my heart and that’s what it’s really all about.” Last year, Axel rejoined the church too.

Friend, I rejoice over every single missing member who has returned to God’s family. And I’m especially thrilled because the Voice of Prophecy, with Mike Jones’ help, has launched its own strategy to invite those who are no longer active in church to come home! And as we keep this outreach going, I’m confident that God will use it to soften the hearts of thousands, wooing them graciously back to church . . . and, even more, to a relationship with their Savior. I’m writing to a number of these precious hearts every week now.

Our new quarterly newsletter, Getting in Touch, is a strong part of this outreach. It’s piquing the renewed interest of thousands who are already receiving it either by regular or e-mail. If you’d like to see a complimentary copy, just ask. And you can submit names of missing members you know at our website.

Other tools we’ve produced for reaching our inactive brothers and sisters include a 30-minute video, The Fine Art of Connecting, which Jeannie and I recently emceed, and Don Gray’s CD, You Are My Witness!, an instructional video for those wanting to reach out to missing members. We’re also compiling a new video of inspiring testimonies from recent returnees — people like Neal and Axel — that you can use to encourage that special “prodigal son” you might know.

It’s important to realize as we reach out that most of those who’ve become inactive didn’t leave quickly, and many of them will not return quickly either. There are hurts that run very deep “out there,” and we need to prayerfully search our own hearts and invite God to show us why.

As we intercede for these friends in prayer, we can have high expectations that the Holy Spirit will work in a mighty way to touch their hearts and that many will return in God’s good time!

I rejoice in this promised reality: if we will make the invitations now — and sending Getting in Touch is one way to do this — the Holy Spirit will empower our efforts. In Isaiah 49:25, God promises to honor the prayers of faithful parents and grandparents. “I will contend with them that contend with you,” He says, “and I will save your children.” Isn’t that tremendous?

ONE MORE STORY! Diane Steger says she grew up as an Adventist Christian — but in a very strict home. (Maybe too strict.) When she moved out at age 16, she left the church and began to experiment with the world.

The story of her slow return to membership began more than eight years ago. But I find fascinating that the catalyst for her actual return involved her pastor, Barry Millet, who founded the Crossroad Fellowship Adventist Church in Joshua.

For eight years Diana attended Pastor Millet’s previous church without joining. Then, recently, she joined the Crossroad Fellowship Adventist Church. When Mike Jones asked her why, she said, “The loving people in this church are the kind I want to go to Heaven with. But the biggest turning point was watching my pastor becoming more Christlike over the years. I wanted to have that kind of experience, too.”

Friend, doesn’t that story just warm your heart?

You see, I care about this kind of ministry because the Voice of Prophecy has radio chats with people like this every single day! People who are discouraged — and we give them new hope. People who grew up just hearing about laws and rules — and we gently share the Cross with them and the beauty of obeying Jesus as a grateful response to salvation, not as a way of earning it. These very people have always been our target audience!

By the way, Crossroad Fellowship Adventist Church is one of four VOP pilot churches conducting experimental outreaches in different parts of the country right now and seeking to connect with and reclaim inactive and former members. “Operation Reconnect” is enjoying phenomenal growth after just one year of existence. What a miracle! And we can each have a part!

As you consider the million or more missing members who need to be encouraged to return home, please know that we need your intercessory prayers for this outreach.

I’m personally inviting you to invest in “Operation Reconnect” with us! This visionary program needs your help today. And you can absolutely know that every love gift you send — every dollar you invest — will help us extend our loving arms to reconnect and reclaim every single lost sheep who needs to come home before Jesus returns.

I can’t think of a better place to invest your funds. And your prayers. And your heart.

In Jesus’ love,

E. Lonnie Melashenko
Director - Speaker

P.S. Remember, Mike Jones’ Reconnect ministry is a NEW Voice of Prophecy venture . . . but it can’t succeed unless many of our friends put some NEW dollars to work! Can we count on you to help share some fresh seed money for people like Neal, Axel, and Diana? Thanks for everything you do.

P.S.S. We were amazed when our innovative printer said you could receive this particular letter in full color at virtually no extra cost. Enjoy!

Dear Lonnie:

I want to join you in making this the best summer ever at the Voice of Prophecy.

I am supporting you with my prayers and my enclosed gift in the amount of: