Larry Stamm Ministries Monthly Minute 

Future Evangelism

If given the option to know what your future holds, would you do it? Would it surprise you that most people wouldn't want to know?

In a recent survey published in the journal Psychological Review, the American Psychological Association drew data from two nationally representative studies involving 2,000 adults in Germany and Spain, and found that 85-90% of people would not want to know about negative events in the future, and 40-70% felt the same about future positive events.

In fact, only 1% of survey recipients consistently wanted to know about the future, according to the study.

The lead study author said in a news release, "Not wanting to know appears counterintuitive and may raise eyebrows, but deliberate ignorance, as we've shown here, doesn't just exist; it is a widespread state of mind.”

No doubt, there are limitations to this kind of study, for the future can mean different things. There are circumstantial future of events in one’s life of which no one can be sure. But there is also an ultimate future -  the future that lies beyond the grave. Undoubtedly, due to the powerful statistics regarding death, the afterlife is perhaps the one people most want to avoid facing.

Yet, we as God’s people, can not only face but embrace our ultimate future with hope and joy because of the person and work of Jesus. Additionally, the Bible - THE book of the future - gives us confidence that we can entrust our destiny wholly to the Alpha and Omega, the One who has promised us eternal life!

Messianic prophecy provides dynamic testimony supporting the veracity of God’s Word and future hope found in Jesus. If we study just seven specific prophecies that were fulfilled in the Person of Jesus Christ, we’ll be amazed! Impossible on a human level - yet with God all things are possible!

The odds of Jesus fulfilling only 7 prophecies, according to conservative estimates, are staggering:

• Jesus would be a descendant of David: 1 in 10,000
• Jesus would be born in Bethlehem: 1 in 100,000
• Jesus would be a miracle worker: 1 in 100,000
• Jesus would present Himself as King riding on a donkey: 1 in 1,000,000
• Jesus would be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver: 1 in 1,000,000
• Jesus would be crucified: 1 in 1,000,000
• Jesus would first present Himself as King 173,880 days from the decree of Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem: 1 in 1,000,000

Total probability (without God) of all of these prophecies being fulfilled is 10 to the thirty-eighth power, which in numeral terms is 1 in a 100 billion, billion, billion, billion!

While we understand unbelievers may want to avoid discussing an uncertain future, messianic prophecy is certainly a powerful tool to have in our evangelistic toolbox. For future evangelism is good news about the future. And not only good news, but the best news about an ultimate future in Christ. May we share with others this singular hope in the One Who holds the future in His hands! Amen!

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. - Jesus (John 11:25-26)

Cincinnati Ministry Trip

On February 13-14 I was invited to Cincinnati to share with Christian pastors and leaders about how to effectively reach the Jewish community with the gospel. Cincinnati has a Jewish population estimated between 25,000-30,000 with a rich heritage dominated by Reform Judaism, a liberal expression of the Jewish faith. 

I also had the privilege of touring Hebrew Union College, the reform Jewish seminary in America that trains rabbis and others in the faith. My host pastor knew a Christian PhD student who attended the seminary and gave me a tour. This had special meaning for me, as I grew up in a Reform tradition - being Bar Mitzvah in a reform synagogue in St. Pete, Florida. And though I couldn’t find his name, my Rabbi growing up may very well have attended this seminary.

Please pray for a bold and effective testimony of the church in Cincinnati to the Jewish community and for many of my Jewish brethren to come to a saving knowledge of Messiah Jesus.

Tip of the Month

“Can I pray for you?” is a powerful evangelistic overture. For it reveals much about our witness and may open doors to deeper conversations about Jesus. This statement is a way to raise the banner of our Christian faith and communicates genuine care for the one to whom the question is posed. In my faith journey, most people, including atheists and agnostics, kindly receive this kind of support. Recently, I told an agnostic barista (whom I have  been witnessing) that I’m praying for him. He was stunned and at the same time encouraged. He thanked me! Who in your sphere of influence could benefit from these encouraging words?

This n That

This month I’ll continue to work on a the manuscript from my next book project centering on 12 lessons from the book of Acts. This work will seek to encourage believers in America to live boldly amidst a culture that is ever-opposing our faith, by using the example of our first-century brethren.

Do you know what’s the largest untapped mission field in the United States? If you guessed the workplace, you’re correct!  For the last three years I’ve been serving part-time as a Chaplain with Marketplace Chaplains USA  - America’s original, largest and leading workplace chaplaincy organization since 1984. Please pray for my weekly chaplain visits to a local crane company in my area, that I would be salt, light, and a powerful witness for Christ among the employees.

Praises and Prayer Requests

• Thank God with us for a wonderful ministry trip to Cincinnati, where I was able to encourage and equip church leaders in Jewish evangelism while also experiencing a powerful touchpoint with my personal history through a tour of Hebrew Union College.
• Please praise and thank God with us for a safe trip and powerful ministry at Northeast Correctional Facility in Mountain City, TN on February 23, where I taught on God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness from Psalm 51. Please pray that the believers present at the meeting would continue to be strengthened in the faith and the gospel seeds sown among unbelievers would bear much fruit. 
• Please pray for productive and creative times of writing as I (Larry) continue to pen the manuscript of my next book based on 12 Lessons from the book of Acts.