Selling the Gospel

January/February 2013 Newsletter

This sounds ridiculous but it is a truth of life.

As Seedtime and Harvest Ministries comes into its 37^th year of ministry this year, we are in a time of transition in many ways. Since 1976 when David and Elizabeth Tolman and three of their children left the comforts of their Canadian home to move into the unknown in Mexico, we have moved through many changes. Small churches have grown into larger congregations. A poor struggling country has become more prosperous and life styles have changed. A small teaching ministry within a single Mexican organization has grown into a ministerial fellowship that covers 4 States. The church has changed in these 37 years but it hasn’t changed enough.

The gospel message has not changed nor has the power of the Holy Spirit but all that we do that isn’t in the Bible needs to change. Dress, music, culture and lifestyles have all changed radically. In the church we have had to change too and change is good. The way church was 50 years ago doesn’t work today. In the business world, the company that isn’t in constant change loses out and becomes extinct. The church that doesn’t change will suffer the same fate.

Seedtime and Harvest Ministries has changed through the years. The first years were the learning years (even though we always continue to learn). Then came the teaching years. These were followed by the church planting years and the establishing years. As we now move through the administrative years we come to a new era of change, the electronic age. Web pages, video cam services, facebook and twitter are now part of the church. Lights, video clips and pre-taped video announcements have become a norm. The pastor’s sermon is now projected on a screen and people are reading the bible on their telephones.

As the third generation of ministries takes its place in the ranks in of Seedtime and Harvest Ministries we have to teach them to continue to reach out to the lost. The church is preaching the truth that it has received and at the same time it is living in the reality that it hasn’t reached the fullness of the truth. The world is selling perversion and error, and they are spending all they can to make people believe their message. The Bible words ring loud and clear: “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent?…”

We have a gospel to get out. The truth has to be heard above all the noise, glitter, and distraction that the world throws up. Once again the Bible says: “So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Getting the Word out is our job and that is what we are called to do. People that hear the Word will believe. 

We have an old time gospel to preach but our means of getting it out is anything but old fashion. We, the church, are the innovators, the head and the blessed. This is the message that Seedtime and Harvest Ministries is preaching in Mexico and where ever else we can reach out to. We invite you to continue to stand along side us and do the same. 

Please continue to pray for David and Elizabeth as they are dealing with new health issues and also for ourselves as we help them walk through this new stage of life. Thank you for your prayers and your offerings that make all of this possible. Your monthly support is much needed.  Blessings in Jesus name.

Philip, Lucy, Simri & Vanessa Tolman

The Time Will Always Come

December 2012 Newsletter

This month we asked a question at the church, "What would you do if you had $86,400 pesos to spend every day but what was not spent was lost?" Every one of us has 86,400 seconds each day to spend. What is not wisely spent is lost forever. How do we spend our time?

On the 17^th of November we had an initial prayer and praise get together. We are working on the unity of the churches in the city. Division among the local churches has been one of our greatest weaknesses. Our goal was to unite 200 people at the outdoor fair grounds. That would have been really just our congregation and a few more people. What a surprise when we found that we had almost 350 people in attendance. On December 12 we have our main event at the same location and we are believing God for a gathering of more that 1,000 believers.

December is a month with much activity. Each of the churches that we pastor or oversee has its own Christmas party. That means that just in our churches, we will attend 7 parties as well as the regular services and other events. These get togethers are great because they help to create companionship and we have time to get to know each other better. 

Also this month we have a special wedding for one of our pastors. He and his wife are celebrating 30 years of marriage and they are planning a ceremony to renew their vows. As we plan for this we remember that four months from now, Philip’s parents will be celebrating their 60^th wedding anniversary.

The biggest event in December is our Christmas play. On the 22nd of December, 30 actors from our church will be presenting the play ‘The Grinch’ with a true Christ centered ending. The actors have been practicing for the last 3 months and will be presenting a truly professional show. We hope to fill up the city theater that seats over 1,000 people.

Christmas is also a time for family. Philip’s parents, David and Elizabeth, have had severe health issues in the past six months that have changed their lifestyle. Both of them are now unable to travel more than a few miles from home. We are going to be spending some family time together with them. In the next month all five of their children will be visiting and we will be the hosts. We can not stop time but we can spend it wisely. Honouring our parents is a wise way to spend time. Please keep David and Elizabeth in your prayers in this new stage of life.

Please continue to pray for the ministry that the Lord has given us. Your offerings make all of this possible and your monthly support is much needed.  Blessings in Jesus name.

              Philip,  Lucy,  Simri & Vanessa Tolman 

The Cycles of Life

October 2012

God made the world round on purpose. Among all the other reasons (so that you can’t hide in a corner), I believe that it was made this way to show us that life is made of cycles. There is the cycle of the seasons and the cycle of life among others. In our own lives there is also a cycle of planning, preparation and then doing. At different times in our life we find ourselves in one of these three positions.

At present we are in a time of preparation. We are completing a time of construction on our church building in the town of Xalisco with two new classrooms being added for our growing children’s classes. Our two secular Christian schools are marching along fine. We installed a new director in September; a person who was born again under our ministry and has embraced the vision that we follow. We have had baptisms, classes in the Bible school and much more but our main focus has been preparations.

Lucy has been working with a team of lady pastors to organize a Christian concert and a ladies seminar the second weekend of November. Since it is a citywide, interchurch activity the work has not been easy. The logistics of the travel arrangements, the invitations, the band, sound and much more has taken up a lot of her time. Then if that was not enough she spent the last week of September in the State of Chiapas, the most southern State of Mexico. It was a 24-hour plus bus ride.

Damara and Simri are involved in the organizing of two nights of prayer and praise. Once again these activities will be citywide and involving many churches. On the 17^th of November and on the 12^th of December we will be celebrating an outdoor time of prayer and praise. Damara is in charge of the choir for the two events, using singers from different churches while Simri is organizing the inter-church band. On the 12^th of December we will be joining with many other churches throughout Latin America in an event that is being called ‘Adora America’’ (worship America) and that is what we plan to do.

After that both Damara and Simri are working with our drama team to put together a Christmas pageant that will be presented in the city theater the 22^nd of December. With over 30 actors participating and the mixing of live performance and video, it will all take many, many hours of hard work and practice.

Philip’s job is to keep the everyday activities going and to serve wherever there is a need. The key is not how much work we do but how much we are obeying the Lord’s direction and doing His work and not our own projects.

Please continue to pray for the ministry that the Lord has given us and your offerings make all of this possible. Your monthly support is much needed. Blessings in Jesus name.

Philip, Lucy, Simri & Vanessa Tolman 

Remembering and Growing

August 2012 Newsletter

The two months since our last newsletter have seen two events that have been special, not because of the events themselves but because of what they represented. The routine of daily life- church services, counselling, helps ministries, classes in the schools and more- become more satisfying when you see goals become realities.

SCHOOL GRADUATION: On the 3^rd of July we concluded another school year. This one was special because this year we had two schools together. The graduating class from our Secondary School (grades 7-9) included Juan Carlos and Ernesto, two indigenous students whom we have sponsored for the last two years along with the help of some of our supporters. We have covered their schooling, room and board, and clothing along with their personal expenses. They both plan to continue their studies and the Tolman Sr have made it their personal project to raise support for them through the next level of studies.

The second school that participated in the graduation was our new Primary School finishing it’s first year of classes. Even though we only graduated one student in sixth grade, our class inscription for our 1^st year students this fall is almost full.

SUNDAY JUNE 10^th we celebrated our 21^st anniversary of the Iglesia Cristiana de Xalisco (Xalisco Christian Church). Twenty-one years ago it was just 3 walls, a dirt floor and no roof when Pastor John Bell officiated the church inauguration along with the graduation exercise for our Bible School students. Today the church sanctuary is finished and we are in the process of building more rooms for our children’s and youth activities. 

Two church plants in the city of Tepic have been birthed from ICX (Xalisco Christian Church) aside from the church splits that have happened through the years. Even now 4 smaller village works depend on ICX for ministers and spiritual support along with some financial aid also. Twenty-one years sound like a long time but the church has been well established and even when we are long gone the church will continue to flourish.

A BOOK that is a must is the new book written by Elizabeth Tolman called 

  Pilgrims with Purpose 

available from SHM (us), online at Amazon.com or from the publisher. It is the story of David and Elizabeth Tolman's ministry;- a life time of missionary experiences on two continents and three countries that will make your faith grow.

Please continue to pray for the ministry that the Lord has given us and your offerings make all of this possible. Your monthly support is much needed. Blessings in Jesus name.

Philip, Lucy, Simri & Vanessa Tolman

News from David and Elizabeth Tolman- June 2012

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

taking great delight in His commandments. He will not fear bad news;

his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord.  Psalm 112:1, 7.  (HCSB)

We have a confidence that goes beyond what has happened in the past or what might come in the future. Nothing in this world is certain, but the person who trusts in Jesus will have opportunity to show His power, learn from Him and know His comfort.

It is just 2 years ago this past May that Elizabeth was given the medical diagnosis of 6 weeks to 3 months to live from stage 4 cancer. In the natural we were all devastated, but deep within knew that our Healer was able and faithful. Two weeks ago she had complete scans and blood tests and she was pronounced not in remission, but healed – A miracle!

There have been many years of sowing here in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico and a harvest is being reaped. However in the past months we have seen and continue to see an abundant harvest on all sides in the work. Also the main church in Xalisco is full. The children are to have their own service area to give the youth and adults a place to sit.

Philip’s daughter Damara (3^rd generation) and her husband Agustin are Youth Pastors in the main church. They also pastor a village work and lead in praise and worship. The Bible School continues and we participate in teaching the students. Philip’s Primary and Secondary schools influence the community.

In San Pedro, the new church building where Stephen and Marcela minister will be dedicated on July 1. It  is already quickly filling to its 700 member capacity. The Calor de San Pedro soccer team was 2^nd place in all of Mexico for their division. Of the new boys in the team, 11 were saved and baptized this season. 

Like Caleb of old who took over his mountain at 80 years of age, so we likewise at 80 years continue to praise the Lord that we can still teach, counsel and take the mountain the Lord has given us.

We appreciate and thank you all so much for all the help for the Kingdom of God in Mexico.

Continue to pray and give that this work can continue until He comes. In Jesus name.

Newsletter June 2012 

David & Elizabeth Tolman

The Old and the New

JUNE 2012 Newsletter

The work of a missionary is not only about getting people introduced to the Gospel or leading them to a personal relationship with Christ. All of this is very good but equally important is the ongoing discipling and pastoring that continues until we finish the race. In this newsletter I want to share two stories with you, one that took place 25 years ago and one that has just started at our youth camp in April.

Adalberto was a 40-year-old musician with success as the world looks at it. He had a good government job, his own music group and a gift of being a successful composer. This was in the year 1987, exactly 25 years ago. The external signs of success were not the true story. Adalberto was hooked on drugs, losing his marriage and at the point of having a complete breakdown. That was the year he was saved at an outdoor crusade we were holding. Now, 25 years later, he is a pastor of a congregation in the town where he was saved. He has written more that 100 songs for the Lord, recorded albums and traveled extensively while sharing his testimony.

The road has not been easy. The first 5 years of being a convert, his wife was against him ‘tooth and nail’. Now his whole family is saved and his wife is his co-pastor. Economically, there was a time as a Christian that he sold subway sandwiches from a bicycle in his city just to make ends meet. Today he is retired from his job and lives comfortably with his pension and the small income that he receives from the church. The road has not been easy, but Adalberto has been strong and constant in his walk with God as he now reaps some of the crop that he sowed with many tears.

The new story starts with a boy in his early twenties who we will call Henry (It is not his real name). He also is an accomplished musician and comes from a family of musicians. Henry heard about our youth camp from some of the young people in his town. He was not invited and had never attended a Christian church in his life. He decided that he wanted to go and asked if he could be invited. Of course he was told yes. He asked for time off his job and on April 2nd was on the bus on his way to youth camp with 45 other young people. The presence of God was moving strongly from the first night and by the second day he was convinced that he needed the Lord Jesus in his life.

The enemy was not going to give him up so easily. Late Wednesday night, as the other campers were bedding down, the evil spirit that was hiding in Henry’s life manifest itself. I won’t describe the show the demon put on that night through Henry’s body but it is enough to say that it was almost 3 hours later when the last evil spirits were cast out of Henry’s life and he was free. The change was total.

Before leaving camp on Saturday Henry was baptized along with others and was ready to start his new life as a Christian. The first thing that he had to cut out of his life was his girl friend. When he explained to her the reason, she said that it was fine, but why didn’t he invite her to church first? At the church she was touched, transformed and born again. She has since been baptized and is attending the new believer’s classes. Needless to say they are still going out together. 

The second thing to go was the music. Henry knew that he couldn’t play music for the world and serve God. He is working himself out of the contract he has with the group that he plays with and he has already informed his family that he will not be playing with them in the future, as were his plans. Henry has a long road ahead of him but as I look back to Adalberto’s life I know that it is possible. The road will not be easy but the rewards are out of this world.

Please keep Adalberto and ‘Henry’ in your prayers as you continue to pray for the ministry that the Lord has given us and you stand with us with your offerings and your prayers. 

Blessings in Jesus name.

Philip, Lucy, Simri & Vanessa Tolman

It's All About the Seed

 March 2012 Newsletter
 

            Once again the time comes for us to be in touch with you, our supporters and our prayer partners. Our schedule, probably as busy as any of yours, shows us the speed at which the end times are coming upon us and we have the urgency to continue to preach this gospel. 

At this time we are rushing to get ready for our yearly youth camp. Through our middle school we have contact with a lot of non-Christian students and we are expecting to take all of our school students as well as the church youth to camp. It is a week when we break with all the luxuries of life. There are no cell phones, internet, electricity or corner stores so we get alone with the presence of God in a real and powerful way.

In the churches we are working with new people who have been coming out to the services. In the town of El Ahualamo we have gone from 10 to 25 adults in service on Sunday mornings. Our Friday night service is the main service with over 50 people attending service. In the church of Xalisco we are in the process of purchasing more chairs as we have had only standing room the last couple of Sundays. With 20 more people coming out constantly we will be dividing the church to have two weekend services.

We are also thankful for God’s safety in our travels as we are on the roads every day traveling between churches. Last week Simri had an accident on his motorbike and the bike was totaled but Simri came out with only scrapes and bruises. We have now the expense of repairing the other vehicle that he hit since our bikes here do not have insurance. We are also replacing the engine in our 1998 Dodge van as I write this letter. The van’s motor reached 402,000 km before stopping.

Events are important but even more so are the teachings we receive from the Lord that enrich our lives. About 8 years ago I started a learning process (unknown to myself) that has helped me understand better how the resurrection will be. Here is a small portion of it.

I have a hobby of collecting different types of fruit trees (on our property we have over 50 different types) and traveling years ago I saw a beautiful orange that I wanted to have on my property. It was an orangey-red sweet delicious orange. I picked some oranges off the tree and kept the seeds to grow my own trees. A couple of weeks later the seeds were planted and lo and behold my little orange trees sprouted. In do time the trees were planted in the ground and they continued to grow. As the years went on I noticed that the tree had large thorns that I hadn’t seen on the original tree. Finally one of the trees flowered (six years later) and I was excited since I was going to have my oranges. As the first two or three small oranges began to develop, they were odd shaped and lumpy, nothing compared the original oranges that I had cut. The tree produced the most bitter and the ugliest citrus fruit that one could imagine.

How was it that such a delicious orange could produce such a terrible fruit?

Then I found the answer. I had picked my orange from a tree that had been grafted. The seeds from a grafted tree will never reproduce the fruit of the tree. It only reproduces the root. Even though the fruit carries the seed, the seed has the genetics of the root.

The Bible says that we have been grafted into Christ, bad fruit into a good root. My fruit might not be the best but it is only temporal. The seed that is in me is the most important because the seed reproduces the root that is Christ. When I die and am ‘planted’ in the ground, and the resurrection comes, I will be raised to life PERFECT since the seed in me is Christ. The only way I can become perfect is being grafted into Christ Jesus for then my seed is not my own but Christ. There are people that never become part of Christ and in the resurrection they will not change. The reason is that the seed in them is not perfect and will thus be condemned. What is the seed in you?

Philip, Lucy, Simri & Vanessa Tolman