July 2007
Dearly Beloved of Our Lord:
Grace, peace, and mercy be with you in all things. Summer has arrived and downtown Portland is still very much under construction around the Square. The noise and dust make it difficult to share with people but we continue to be able to walk in His wonderful presence. Here is an example.
Marty and Ron were on the Square surrounded by noise and dust from several directions when a woman named Carmen came up to Ron. As she got his attention she announced that she didn’t want to be preached to or have anything explained to her because she wanted prayer. She said that she was suffering from an anxiety attack and believed that we could pray for her right there in the midst of the noise, the dust, and all the people walking by. She came closer to us and bowed her head and we laid our hands on her shoulders and ministered the peace of His presence to her. After a minute had gone by she looked up and smiled and thanked us and said that the panic was gone. And with a smile she walked away. We had been used by the Holy Spirit to be shepherds and a shelter in the storm.
Here is another example of a Holy Ghost Story. Jeff was working in the yard at our house and had accumulated yard debris in his pickup truck and needed to go to the dump. Later that day he sent us this email giving an example of the work of the Holy Spirit. Jeff gave it the title: “Ya never know…” Notice how the Holy Spirit is working in Dawn’s life. We never have to worry when the Holy Spirit is at work. He does excellent follow-up.
Hi Ron,
This afternoon I went to empty my truck of your yard debris at a dump. There at the Pile was a young woman who was attempting to empty her truck with the wrong kind of tool. So after purging mine I stepped over to give her some aid. She noticed the back of my truck and asked if I was a Christian? I said I was and she said, “So am I. In fact I just accepted Jesus about a week ago.” Then she proceeds to tell me her testimony.
After she finished I asked her how it was she heard about Jesus and His gift of Salvation. It seems she was visiting a girl friend for lunch one day at Portland State and there was this "OLD" guy talking about sin and the need for repentance. Did you remember what he looked like? I asked. She said, he was shorter than me, with a bald head and a white beard and wore wire rimmed glasses. She asked if I knew him and I said I did. (She had described Ron.) She giggled and said, “I tried to leave but there was something holding me there, compelling me to listen and not interrupt. About two weeks went by and I was in a thrift store and there was a New Testament on a box marked free stuff, so I took it home and started reading and by the time I finished the book of Matthew, I was in tears and I cried out to God and He came and we have been having a wonderful time ever since.”
Last week she went to a church and they asked if any one wanted to be baptized in Water and the Spirit. She said, “She raised her hand with a big smile said, ‘Yes.’ They did me!” She hasn't spoken in tongues yet, but is quite excited at the prospect. I asked if she had selected a church home. She hasn't so I directed her to the Summit website. (www.summithome.org) She is young, mid twenties I would guess. I also gave her my card with my email address and yours. Her name is Dawn. Blessings, Jeff
We got several responses when we shared this email entitled “Ya never know…” from Jeff through our email Newsletter at the end of June. Here are some of them. Be encouraged!
Ron & Karen, Thanks for the great story. I read it this morning at our service and put a picture of you two up on the screen so everybody would know who I was talking about. Ya never know, but God does, and he is blessed by our availability and obedience. We will be out of town for another week, we just got back and we are off again. When we get on a regular schedule (whatever that is) we will be sure and come back downtown. Keep on keeping on. - Love, Jim & Kathy (Elders in a church in the area)
Hello And God bless you today. He is Good and His Love endures forever. He is God and His Love endures forever. He knows our names.. This woman I pray will lead many to the wonderful Love of the Lord. Praise God. Thank you for your diligence to go and preach the Gospel to all nations at PSU....Shalom, Shalom -Patricia
Good Morning you two sweet folks. That is a wonderful story and what a blessing for Jeff. Hope you have a wonderful 4th of July weekend and that all is well with you—Blessings, Dee (Works with us occasionally at the Square.)
Hi Ron & Karen: Thanks for sharing that story - that is awesome to see how the Lord does stuff all around us, and much of it that we'll never see 'til we get to heaven! He is GREAT!
Love & blessings, Dick & Gladys (Missionaries to Wales.)
Hello Ron, Thanks for the wonderful story. You are right, ya never know! I received a phone call a few months ago and it was from a lady that I met in Vancouver at a church. She lives in a small town near Cascade Locks on the Washington side. She said that she had a young man in her house that her daughter brought home from church that evening to have dinner. They got to talking and he said that he had given his life to the Lord just a few weeks before. He ran across a man in a rest stop on I-5 and he talked with him and gave him a yellow card with a crosspenny on it. God is so gracious to keep us informed on what He is doing and how we are so privileged to be in His plans. Love ya both--In Yeshua--David <///>< (Note: David gives out tracts along with a cross cut out of a penny.)
Praise God ! Holy Spirit stories are Awesome! It just goes to show us, "that we never know" what's taking place out there. What a blessing when we get to hear stories like this about our labors. It is very encouraging to say the least. God bless you both for your continued faithfulness in His service. Laying up treasures in heaven, Praise God. -Richard
That's a fantastic story! Thank you, Abba Father for your daughter Dawn! May the fire of the Gospel burn us up! -Wp (Wp is a missionary to His generation at PSU and elsewhere.)
Great testimony. The longer the Lord let's me stay upon this planet, the more convinced I am of the fact that there simply is no substitute for walking in the Holy Spirit. It's not by strength or by might. It's not to the swift, or the strong, the wise, the brilliant or the learned. It's to those upon whom God's favor rests. God's Sovereign favor. -Gordon
Ron and Karen, Isn't God good! What a wonderful blessing! To be able hear that you are making a difference (we know that you are) so many times we go weeks and months and years without really knowing how much we might really impact someone's life. Thank you for your faithfulness! I know that Dawn is grateful that you persevered through all the difficult times...I praise God for you all. Glory to God! Love and prayers, Nancy
The work of the Holy Spirit in the harvest is exciting. And He wants to use each of us right where we are. May each one of us be very fruitful in the place He has given us to labor in His harvest. And may we not be afraid of any persecution or rejection which may come our way as we stand for Jesus and His Kingdom in these dark and dangerous days. Please pray for us as we continue in the harvest throughout the summer. Thank you for your prayers and your support. And we enjoy hearing from you by email or snail mail. Your participation with us is a great encouragement and blessing to us.
~ Ron & Karen
E-mail: awakening1s@comcast.net
Home Page: awakening1s.net
church @ 24/7
Ron & Karen Rohman
PO Box 14292
PORTLAND OR 97293