CRUSHED GRAPES MINISTRY |
Frank B. Smith, Director, PO Box 3009, Vista, CA. 92085-3009 |
February 10, 2001 Dear friends and loved ones, A blessed and wonderful seventh millennium to all.May the purposes of God be fulfilled in and through you in these mopping updays before Jesus returns to reign here on earth. Watch out for anything that keeps you from God’s best for you no matter how good it might be. The good is often the enemy of the best. I got a new computer to help (?) with newsletters,web pages, correspondence, etc. That’s why this newsletter is so late incoming. What a nightmare! After setting it up, returning it, getting a different one, and spending countless sessions with Serge my dear nerd/friend, I think we are back to where we were a month ago. Hallelujah! Last year was exciting. There was some involvement in setting up house churches, raising up leaders, ordaining elders, and traveling. Most of my labors, however, were here at Green Oak Ranch. There were 63 baptisms in 1999, and 59 more this past year. These figures represent the incredible, gracious, redeeming work of God that He allows us to share. The parties in the heavenlies must have been awesome, because our celebrations here on earth were wonderful. Those of you who supported this ministry with prayers and offerings are a part of all this too. Three of our former residents died this past year keeping us aware that we are all in a life and death struggle with drugs,alcohol, and sin. The death of Tim was most tragic. Tim was only twenty-two years old. He was very creative and intense and idealistic. He loved the Lord and was one of the baptism statistics. Among the homeless in Escondido Tim was known as “the preacher,” because he always carried a bible. He spent his last few weeks at Grape Day Park, where he fell out of a Eucalyptus tree to his death two days after Christmas. He did everything passionately, including drinking and using. At his memorial service on December 31, a friend played a tape of Tim singing the song he had written while here at the Ranch, “I Love You, Jesus.” It was overwhelming to hear his voice proclaiming the beautiful love for his Lord. There were many “12 step people” at the service who have heard through the 12 step classes about following various “Higher Powers” or gurus. I shared about Jesus. Jesus alone rose from the dead and is alive and is here, and He alone is able to save and rescue from sin in all its hideous aspects, and even from death. Tim died, I believe, because God loved him so much, and did not want to lose him. He took Tim home in the midst of his sin, before he lost his way entirely. The next day, New Years Day, a young man named Shane came to the gate and asked to speak with John, Tim’s friend who put together the memorial. He began to rail about me, and when John asked if he would like to talk with me he said, “No, I’d hurt him, and I have a weapon. But it’s not a gun.” Then he asked John to deliver a note, which reads: “Jesus is nothing but a dead man on a stick. Watch your ass old man because your about to feel the wrath of God.” Hallelujah! The Gospel still works. For some it is life, and for others it jolts them with the eternal realities that absolutely require a decision for or against. There is no neutral ground about Jesus. Please pray for Shane that he would realize how much Jesus loves him. May the Lord of the harvest send a special servant to him and draw him with the cords of love before it’s too late. May Shane be set free from all the evil of his cult membership, and be washed clean and pure and grafted into the Kingdom of life and love. The time is fast approaching when we can no longer usher the lost into the Kingdom of God. The time has come to set aside everything that hinders, and run the race set before us with perseverance and faith. If we are embarrassed with Jesus, He will be embarrassed with us. If we deny Him, He will deny us. If we serve Him, He will joyfully direct our steps and ministry. My expectations for this year still include passionate looking for Jesus’ return. Any day He could split the skies and gather His people for the banquet, and soon return with us for the balance ofthe millennium. I suspect that in the near future I will have more to do with leaders and house churches than the last year or so. My heart is set to do this, but I am His servant, and a servant must follow his master’s bidding. From one servant to another, may you and I both be blessed when our Master returns and finds us faithfully doing His bidding. Be strong and courageous. With love in Christ,  Frank Smith Ps: Hungersite.com is
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