Luke 10:2 Ministries

We have arrived in Arizona.  We plan to be here for the campuses to open up for their second semester, in mid January.  Eliza is here with us for three weeks during her Christmas break. Words can’t describe how wonderful it is to have her back with us. We’ve missed her so much!

While we are here, we will again be preaching and witnessing in the streets of Tempe and sharing Good News alongside brothers and sisters such as Jeff Rose, Edwin Lo, Rachael Mews, and many others. Scott and Patte Smith plan to come join us for a couple of weeks in January.  One great thing about preaching in downtown Tempe is that amplification is allowed. So we truly get to lift up our voices like a trumpet! (see Isaiah 58:1)  The ASU and U of A campuses are now on break, but sin abounds at night on Mill Avenue downtown Tempe regardless of the time of year.  Additionally, while we are here we hope to preach outside abortion mills, do lots of one-to-one witnessing, hand out tracts, preach to the people lining up to take the mass transit, be in the Word, fast and surrender in prayer, and Lord willing, I may even be able to get up to Las Vegas for New Years eve but we are still waiting on the Lord for that opportunity to open up.

It has been a year since we were here in the Phoenix area.  It seems like just yesterday!  As I reflect on how fast things are changing in the world and how desperately we need to share the Gospel, I again want to thank God for continually providing for us and all our needs.  We thank Him for all of your financial support and your prayer support.  We are living by faith and we consider all of you to be a part of this family ministry.  So if you are so led, please consider continuing to support the Holes family ministry of Luke 10:2,  Thank you.

Leaving Oregon, we had one more day on the U of O campus in Eugene.  Roger Hertzler joined me to share the Gospel with some supportive students (and some not so supportive).  There are so many lies out there in the minds and hearts of young people these days.  If it weren’t for the Holy Spirit convicting these sinners of the impending judgment to come, we would have no hope.  We know that while we are preaching and witnessing and handing out tracts, there’s a spiritual battle waging all around us.  We probably have no idea the magnitude of how fierce it is.  We pray that the students hear the truth about what the Bible says about Jesus and that the truth wakes and shakes them up a bit.  Roger is somewhat of an expert on exposing lies about evolution and additionally he is an author and pastor.  Men like Roger are a great resource while in the trenches of open air preaching.

The Half Mile Haler donated by bro. John Chisham, has come in handy when towns will allow us to broadcast our voices with a public address system.  I found this video at a brothers site called bring the noiz.  It shows a great test of the half mile haler. You can see how this PA really broadcasts.

Before I forget, I just wanted to fill you in on a conversation that I had with a Muslim taxi driver that I met while in Dublin a few weeks ago.  We had a great conversation. As he got lost trying to drive me back to my hotel, I shared the Good News with him.  He was in awe while I shared with him. He said that I am the second person in the last week to tell him about Jesus Christ.  I told him and that unless we repent of our sins and put our complete trust in Him, that we deserve to go to hell.  I gave him a gospel tract and he was very convicted of his sin.  Well, guess what?  He called me from Ireland a couple of mornings ago to thank me again for telling him about Jesus.  He is going to be emailing me soon to ask me for more information.  It is so refreshing to see people respond to the Holy Spirit!Praise the Lord.

While in the San Francisco area, I was able to preach at four separate universities: Berkeley, Sacramento State, UC Davis, and San Francisco State.  All are great schools to preach on and I probably would have stayed in the SF area longer but “dead week” was starting and then finals week.  I met some wonderful Christian brothers who are bold and go out regularly to share the truth on campuses, on streets, etc. There are about 10 schools in the area that I would like to preach at someday, perhaps even staying several days on some of these campuses.  San Francisco is such a dark city.  Just driving around there are so many drug dealers, prostitutes, massage parlors, porn shops, homosexuality, etc., and all in such beautiful surroundings. You might think that at UC Berkeley the students would be respectful and intellectual, but from what I encountered I saw the complete opposite.  When I began to preach, a group of 40 or 50 8th graders who were evidently touring the campus stopped to hear me preach. Most of them became quite hostile and foul mouthed, especially a couple of the young girls.  I found it to be surprising considering their age as well as how their teachers were right there with them. The teachers did not seem to care that the children were using such filthy language.  The blanket statements that were thrown out that day included things such as, “the Bible is full of errors”, “God loves us just the way we are”, “Everyone is going to heaven”, “who are you to judge us”, and of course all the personal attacks and four letter words… After these young people heard the Gospel preached for an hour or so, the Berkeley students showed up.  Nothing really changed from 13 year olds to 21 year olds.  I think it may be because they are all watching the same TV shows, listening to the same atheist teachers preaching from their secular pulpits, and believing what they see and hear without ever using the Bible or God as the standard.

William and I got to go out to the Island of Alcatraz. It was amazingly educational, sobering, and fun.  I suppose it could be viewed as a field trip for William because I did take him out of school for the day, but really I just wanted to have fellowship with my son.  We have had wonderful opportunities to see some sights while traveling the country. But lately even more amazing to me, is what a responsibility God has given us parents to raise our children to fear and love God.  I have discovered that it is one thing to make time to be with our children, but the real question to ask ourselves is, do we desire to be with our children.  In other words, are our children the desire of our heart?  Surely we as parents can’t just sit back and relax thinking that just because we are saved that our children are too.  In fact, I recommend we raise up our children knowing that they come to us as sinners in need of a Savior. They need to be born again!  Lord, help us raise these children up in your ways.  Loving them, guiding them, directing them, praying with them, reading the Bible with them, and leading them to the cross. What a privilege it is!

I preached in Las Vegas in an area called the Fremont Experience.  It is about three blocks or so covered by the world’s largest big screen TV.  I was able to use the half mile haler and I was blessed to know that God’s Word does not return void.  I was asked by a security guard if I could go across the street to a different corner, and then later on another asked me to please turn it down.  I had already turned it down as low as it would go, but it was still fairly loud, and I had already moved across the street.  I explained to the police officer that it wouldn’t go any lower, so he said then that I had to quit.  I asked if I could speak to his supervisor and he said “no”, and that he had made up his mind.  Well, this put me into a difficult situation.  Do I quit?  Do I keep preaching?  I decided to wait and hand out tracts hoping that perhaps his supervisor would come by.  He did come by, and he said that I was not too loud. He actually said, “I can hear you all the way down at the end (three blocks)”.  He was a born agian Christian that was encouraged by the preaching and told me I was “in the right place” and that there are plenty of sinners here in Las Vegas.  He encouraged me to keep it up, and so I did. I thank God for His favor and His protection.

Recently, Edwin and I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles to share the Gospel to people waiting in line here in Mesa, Arizona.  DMV’s usually have a line waiting to go in and we try to preach to as many people as possible at once. Ten people at 8:00 in the morning hearing Good News is way better than NO people at 8:00 a.m. hearing Good News.  The response was really good.  Everyone but one person thanked us, which is really amazing because when I preach, I try to make sure that people understand their deserved wrath in hell.  One young man right in front of me appeared to be really convicted.  Of course each person was offered a Gospel tract and only two people didn’t take them.  Now that we aren’t going to campuses during the break, we have more time to go other places to do this type of evangelizing.

We made up some packets and call them the “Least of These” packs (containing socks, Gospel tracts, New Testaments, gum, tooth brush, tooth paste, water, trail mix, vienna sausage, and chocolate) to give out to the many homeless people we encounter out here in the west.  Instead of giving them money, we decided to have these packs ready in our car or backpacks so we can give them food, a Bible, and the Gospel via tracts.  Edwin Lo had the idea of going to the local dollar store where we could get more than a dollar’s worth – and boy was he right.  While we were there, we cleaned the store out of Holy Bibles, miniature New Testaments, and audio Bible mp3’s.  We plan to give these out to people on campuses and in the streets while witnessing.

I have changed my service provider for my cell phone from AT&T to Verizon for a couple of reasons.  One is that the coverage is so much better with Verizon.  While traveling it has become quite apparent that I will have more coverage in more places with Verizon (no I am not advertizing for them). Additionally, it is cheaper for me because I will be on a family plan with the rest of my family, and most of my friends are Verizon… that said, while getting signed up at a Verizon kiosk in the local mall here in Mesa (directly across from the Victoria’s Secret “porn photos” plastered all across their windows, I was sharing the Gospel with the young man that was signing me up for their Verizon services and he said, “hey, I knew I had seen you before, but I couldn’t remember from where!”  It turns out he heard me preach at ASU last year and he began to put it all together.  He was such a nice young man, karate expert, good student, and sinner that needs a saviour… Well anyway, he was so receptive to the Gospel and has even been taking the time to text me to help me with my phone and do some really nice follow up. I told him that I am praying about returning to his campus and if I get to preach there again that he should stop by and listen again.  Amazing how the Lord works things out.

Well God bless you all.  There is so much more to share and so many more things have happened but really all I wanted to do is keep you all posted as to what God has been doing in our lives.  I hope that this blog is an encouragement to you.  In addition, I pray that you are strong in your faith and that the Lord is answering your prayers in amazing ways!  Oh, and Consider sharing some Good News today.  Somebody’s eternity is depending on it.  Again, if you would please keep praying for us it is so appreciated.

May the Lord Jesus Christ be made famous,

Shawn Holes and family

Thanksgiving is here. It is a time in this country when we celebrate giving thanks to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, for all the blessings which he has bestowed upon us.  I am told that schools now are telling students that the Puritans gave thanks to the Indians, not to God.  Schools are omiting the most important fact about this wonderful holiday and that is that God needs to be honored for all the blessings that He gives us. But, if you tell students something enough times, and over a long enough period of time, they will believe anything to be true. Even that there is no God or that there are many ways to heaven.

The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. Psalm 14:1

Some students are being told that it is extreme to believe in the God of the Bible and that Christians show hate by sharing the Gospel with others, telling them there is only one way to go to heaven.  Students are told to be tolerant but they don’t seem to want to tolerate Christianity when it comes to repentance and faith in the only God that can save them on Judgment Day. They don’t like it when they are told to stop sinning and living in their wickedness as a response to the love of Christ and the mercy that He has poured out by being the sacrificial Lamb of God for our sins.  What a mighty God we serve. One that can save us from hell and from sin.  It is so sad to even hear professing “Christians” saying that they will always be addicted to pornography, drunkenness, fornication, lying, laciviousness, greed, pride, pot smoking, heavy metal satanic music, etc., when in fact there is a way that has been freely offered by God, to be made free from the bondage of sin. How precious is that joy and that personal relationship that each of us can have with the Creator of the universe who spoke his creation into existence, making everything in six literal days and then resting on the seventh.  He is Sovereign and Just.  He is the Alpha and the Omega.  Let us give thanks for the mercies that are new everyday, and rejoice always.  May He bless you and may His name be lifted on high.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.  2 Cor 5:11

I thank God for all of you and I thank God for all that He has blessed us with as believers in Jesus Christ.  This truly is a time of thanks!  I thank the Lord that He allows us to bring the Good News of the Gospel to the lost so that the captives can be set free.  I believe this nation has become quite complacent with its faith in Jesus.  But I believe that He wants to revive us and get us back to that relationship that we once had with Him.  I believe that this nation is slipping further and further from the Christian foundations in which it was built.  But I also believe that God is still in the business of mercifully pardoning, saving souls, and making people new in Christ.

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Isaiah 29:13

Are we thankful enough to share the Gospel with those that we love the most?  If we are so thank-full than I believe we should be willing to share God’s love with all that we encounter.  Family is the hardest to share with. It is easier to share the Gospel with a stranger. But we should challenge ourselves and take the opportunity to tell someone, even a family member, the wonderful Good News during this Thanksgiving season.  Surely if we are thankful for the love of Jesus in our lives, then we should be willing to share it with others.  Let’s tell them about being born again and how God has set you on that straight and narrow path!

Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Haggai 1:5

Tell them about your once love for sin and how you now hate it and won’t go back by the power of God.  Tell them about that cross and how Jesus gave up his life as a sacrifice for sinners commanding them to repent and put their absolute trust in Him.  And tell them in love, that a due punishment does await those who do not respond to what God has done. There is rejoicing in heaven for just one sinner that comes to repentance and puts their faith in Christ Jesus.  May the Lord be blessed during this Thanksgiving season.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jn 3:16

On a different note I have to point out that the Lord has been using the Gospel to really impact  these campuses we have been preaching on.  Praise the Lord!  Lots of conviction, questions, soul searching, and encouragement to the saints have been some of the amazing fruits of our family sharing this Good News with these lost souls on the these campuses and in the streets.  We made it through the east, midwest, west, and now we are on the west coast.  It appears as though we will make it into California this school year which will be a real blessing.  Last year we just had too many campuses leading up to California, so Christmas break had already started prior to us arriving.  Next week we should be starting the week at U Cal Berkeley on Monday and from there we will just wait on the Lord as to where to go.

After leaving South Dakota we headed for Lincoln, NE where we met up with the Wissman boys.  They come from a family of thirteen children! Their family travels around the country singing in churches and preaching the Gospel.  We heard them while we were in Pennsylvania at Rehoboth Christian Fellowship in Allensville, PA.  The way that the family harmonizes each song and shares about Jesus, repentance, and faith is wonderful.  The youngest is only three years old and she sang right along with the rest of the family.  Most of the family members play instruments as well.  So when we met these boys in their home town in Nebraska, it was a blessing to have them go to the campus with me and sow some seeds.  While preaching, I noticed them handing out tracts and witnessing to the university students.  We had a very cordial meeting that day, which, when it happens, is somewhat of a relief.  Quiet meetings are always appreciated.  The students were raising their hands prior to asking questions and were respectful and polite when opposing my responses.  I even got to meet the son of an attorney friend of mine who is a Christian.  He goes to school there and it was a delight to meet the next generation of a Christian brother coming up and walking out his faith.

We have really had the opportunity to put the travel trailer to the test in winter conditions this year.  This RV that we have can be used in all weather conditions including almost two feet of Colorado snow.  The snow accumulated in about two days and melted just about as fast.  I spent early mornings and evenings shoveling and sweeping the snow off of and around the RV.  We did get to go skiing for a couple of days so that was a blessing for sure.  Driving the RV in snowy mountainous conditions is not something that I would recommend anybody to aspire in doing.  It is difficult and treacherous.  The campus at the University of Colorado in Boulder (CU) and Colorado State University in Fort Collins (CSU) didn’t even flinch at this nasty October weather.  Classes were in full swing and so were the students and their objections, questions, and support.  I had thought that students wouldn’t want to stand around in the cold and wind, but just the opposite is true.  At the University of Colorado, I stayed until 6:00 pm and probably could have stayed later! But after six hours of preaching, singing, handing out tracts, and even praying with one student at the end, I was exhausted. Both of these campuses have very good free speech policies so I could basically just preach to my heart’s delight which was a joy.  At CSU, quite a large crowd gathered and very predictably one of the biggest discussions we had was on the age of the earth, evilution,  and the possibility of there being many ways to God, other than the precious blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  The students want us all to “coexist”, but they want to exist without Christians.  It was argued that Christians are naive and misinformed.  I explained that I know what being misinformed is all about. I was misinformed for 40 years!  Now I can proclaim the Truth in love and pray that the Lord will give increase as He promises in His Holy Scriptures.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36

University of Wyoming in Laramie was another wonderful campus to preach on.  There is a registration policy normally to do free speech, but by the grace of God I was able to have the registration process waved and I was allowed to preach without going through the normal operating procedures.  I went two days and met a kind brother there named Sam Martin who witnesses and preaches on the campus. The days I was there he was right there also in the trenches answering questions and doing follow up while I preached. It was a real blessing to have him there sowing seeds.  On the second day, a nice sized crowd of students and faculty gathered and one of the loudest most foul-mouthed hecklers I have ever met helped gather the crowd. Hecklers usually don’t know it, but when they are loud, obnoxious, and confrontational,it helps to get people interested in the meeting.  This man was no exception and I actually had to caution him that if he was going to be as loud as he was for any length of time, that he had better start speaking from his diaphragm muscle or else he was going to hurt his voice if he kept up the volume from his throat.  I also added that he must have gone to heckler’s school because he was doing an excellent job.  Unfortunately, he used many filthy words which I asked him to please not do. At one point, I just sat down and listened to him as he ranted and raved.  Many students came up to me afterwards and thanked me for coming to this campus and even a professor came up to me and thanked me.  He said that from his classroom he could hear me clearly for two days singing and preaching and said that he was blessed to hear the Gospel being preached on their campus.  I cried when he told me this. Sometimes I wonder if anybody at these schools loves Jesus.  I wonder if anybody l trusts in Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.  So for this professor to encourage me, was a real lift.

In Cheyenne, WY we worshipped at a church with some believers where we had gone to last year.  It was a blessing to see them all again. Craig and Diane Baumann had us over for supper as well which also blessed us.  They have 10 precious children. This is a church that sings hymns angelically and in perfect harmony.  And very slow singing so I could actually sing my part in harmony with the other baratones.  The message was powerful.  Ken Lowry preached on repentance and to not let the tear of repentance leave your eyes.  Wow, I love getting fed when I go to church.

The University of Utah, as some of you may remember, was extremely difficult for me last year because it is where I went to college as a ski racer just off the ranks of being an athlete on the U.S. Ski Team.  This year would prove to be no exception, but the Lord really helped and gave me the strength to share the Gospel with the power that only the Holy Ghost can give.  As I entered the campus I went directly to the offices of the ski team.  Fortunately they are in the same location as they were 25 years ago.  I asked the secretary if I could speak with any of the coaches and she was kind enough to inform the one that was in the office that I was there.  He was the assistant coach and came out to the lobby and was excited to have me visiting, but was on the phone with Europe and asked me if I could return later.  I explained that I was busy as well and didn’t think I would have time later but very briefly shared God News with him and gave him three Gospel tracts.  He thanked me and had to go back to his office.  As I left,t he secretary who had overheard the entire conversation made it a point to say thank you to me.  I left the building and as I walked towards the lower campus where I would continue the day in sharing the Gospel. I cried out to the Lord in thanks for allowing me to sow some seeds in an area that has quite hard soil.  Also the fact that the secretary thanked me was very encouraging.  I ended up not preaching, but witnessing one on one for the rest of the day and handing out tracts.  The students I spoke with all thanked me for telling them the truth about Jesus Christ and what the Bible says about judgment day and salvation through Christ alone!  Praise the Lord.

We drove from Salt Lake City on to Idaho and stayed with the True’s for 12 days. It was wonderful spending time with them again as we did last year. We had some sweet times of fellowship together and we were able to go to the last few days of the revival meetings they were having at their church. I was also able to preach at Boise State University, fly to Dublin, Ireland for 5 days, and back to Idaho again. Lisa and William had a great time at the True’s during my short trip overseas. Will enjoyed homeschooling alongside Kent’s younger siblings. Before I left for Ireland, I preached at Boise State University two times – once during the day, and then Kent and I went back to the campus one evening. This was the first time for me preaching at a college campus at night! There are plenty of students attending night classes, so it is very worthwhile.  We met up with another brother, TJ O’Brien and his wife, that evening. It was a fruitful night and a blessing preaching, witnessing, and handing out tracts on that campus.

So Pat Necerato asked me to accompany him to Ireland for a project that he is working on to document open air preaching.  It was a time of preaching, witnessing, and interviewing. Additionally, we attended a couple of sessions at the Sermonindex revival conference.  I was truly blessed and encouraged to be a part of these interviews and hear these men pour their hearts out while elaborating and explaining their passion to proclaim the Gospel in the open air.  Ireland is a spiritually dark place if you haven’t heard.  Some of the photos below might describe Ireland better than I can put into words…here are also some photos from our recent U.S. travels:

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out… Acts 3:19a

After having returned from Ireland, I was burdened to go back to Boise State University and share some more Good News with the students.  So I went one more time during the day, and then Kent, his bro Andrew, and William and I went back during night classes. These boys were witnessing machines! It helps so much to have laborers out there with me.  In total, I was able to preach at Boise State four times.  During one of the days, I had set up the little refreshment station with some books that Mark Cahill provided for me to hand out to students, some lollipops, Gospel tracts, and my traveling case that has some real eye catching bumper stickers on it.  I couldn’t have been preaching for more than twenty minutes or so and no crowd had gathered yet.  A professor named Dr. Louis “Somethingorother” walked up and asked if he could interview me with a recording device, regarding young earth and my Biblical beliefs that the earth is approximately 6,000 years old and that there was a catasrophic flood that covered the entire earth as a judgment from God.  He must have heard from students from the week before that I had been asked my position on this because I hadn’t even brought it up in the message I was preaching on this particular day.  He recorded our conversation and amazingly the Lord really gave me the words to share with this man.  I got to quote Scripture, give testimony, answer his questions, and debate. His arguments regarding genome, common ancestry, etc, was like watching a man in battle with an unloaded gun.I really like the man and we ended up parting on very cordial notes.  There was a young girl who was there listening and tried to jump into the converstation at times. He seemed to know her but I can only assume that.  What happend later on was just too funny.  I preached for five hours and at one point I took out a sign that says “evolution is a lie”. This same girl had been there for most of the meeting and walked up to the bench I was standing on, grabbed my evilution sign while it leaned against the bench, and walked calmly away with it. I asked her to return it and, as the crowd watched her walk away, she simply didn’t care that she was stealing in broad daylight.  This is the third “evolution is a lie” sign that I have had stolen from me. I guess people either really love it or hate it depending on how you look at it.  On one of the evenings there at Boise, a young woman in the crowd explained that she is a youth pastor and that she thinks that what I am doing is really wrong.  After some discussion we discovered that she believes that even Muslims are going to heaven and that the Jesus they believe in with Islam is the same Jesus Christ of the Bible.  I explained that as a teacher, the Bible says she will be under a stricter judgment (James 3:1).  She became very upset at that point.  There were a couple of people in the crowd who became very sympathetic to her.  Actually, I was sympathetic too.  I was sorry to see her so upset. I do pray that she will consider those Scripture.  There is a broad path being taught and the idea that we don’t need our sins forgiven and that we don’t need to turn from our sins at all. But of course as true believers we know that this is not the case and that it is a narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14).  Well, otherwise this campus is one of the most respectful campuses that I have been privileged to preach on.  Students have genuine questions and have a real desire to hear what the Bible says about God.  Many of the students thanked me and asked me not to leave.  I told them that by the grace of God I would return next year…

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.  Acts 7:54

Following Boise State, we spent two days at University of Washington in Seattle. Even in the pouring rain the students gathered to hear the Gospel.  The first day I preached outside of the student union building. It was a grassy area with other religious booths set up.  No big crowd gathered, but the main heckler was a jewish man that told me I have a comic book understanding of the Bible.  We ended up having a nice heated discussion regarding the God of the Bible being Elohim – three in one. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  But that was really it for the first day, other than a couple of great 1-2-1’s and a couple hundred tracts were handed out.

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 58:1

The second day, however, the location changed.  I went to Red Square in the middle of campus.  I tried to lift my voice like a trumpet proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ across an enormous brick area. I sang and preached and many students gathered on this second day.  I was utterly amazed that, even though it was raining cats and dogs, the students stayed outside – most without raincoats or umbrellas!  We had some great discussions on the inerrency of the Holy Bible, catholicism, homosexuality, the atonement of Christ, and true repentance.  It was a great day and many students heard the Gospel. While in Seattle, we stayed in the church parking lot of the Covenant Presbyterian Church for three days.  The brothers there were so kind to take us in and willing to let us park our RV there. It was flat and safe and really that is all we need for parking.

At Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR, Randy and Roger from a local church (where I was able to preach this last Lord’s day!) joined me along with a few of their children.  They joined me last year as well.  It is a real encouragement to see pastors preach in the open air.  Both of these men have such a loving and calm demeaner about them and the students responded really well to them.  At a couple of different points, we had a nice sized crowd of some really interested students.  The policeman that I had met last year was willing to take a tract from one of the children, so I thought that was a real blessing.  We were able to stay with Roger and his wife and their 5 children in their driveway again this year. We enjoyed wonderful fellowship together.

Portland State University was absolutely one of the darkest campuses I remember preaching on last year.  This year it didn’t seem quite so bad.  Perhaps it was because a young Russian named Victor came up while I was preaching and reached out to borrow my Bible.  I thought that either he wanted to abuse it or hopefully use it.  Well, he ended up using it and empowered by the Holy Ghost he preached quite eloquently to the students who were extremely confrontational and hostile.  A couple of hecklers were very angry and foul-mouthed and Victor just took it in stride.  One man that claimed to be a Christian was using extremely filthy words and was saying things that I wouldn’t repeat.  But he helped the crowd gather and get larger.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Rom 8:28

In the last hour or so, there were several Muslim students that sat right in the front row of the benches that are stationed at this stage-like student area.  They did not like it when I told them that Jesus Christ is God. But the Gospel was preached and I believe God was glorified.  After I finished preaching,  three young men came up to me and thanked me for being on this city campus. We prayed together and I rejoiced to know that not only were they encouraging us, but one of the young men remembered me from last year. Another of the young men regularly shares the Gospel by publicly proclaiming it in the open air.  What a genuine blessing to meet these young soldiers for Christ.

This just in from Pat Necerato:

Brother Shawn,
I want to say thank you for your prayers for our ministry at the abortion
clinic. During our last visit, we spoke to two women.

The first was “Natalia.” She is 20 years old and was going in for an
abortion. We spoke to her and learned that she already had two children and
was 3 months pregnant.

We learned her mother had been praying for her. We shared the gospel with
her and presented her scriptures regarding her unborn child.

She began to cry and felt remorse for what she was about to do. We
immediately called “Emily” who is a sister in the Lord (there were no other
women with us.) Emily spoke to her and after about 15 minutes on the phone,
she decided not to go forward with the abortion and got on the bus and left.

About 5 minutes later, we had a similar situation. A woman decided not to go
in. We of course shared the gospel with her as well and pray they will both
repent and believe.

Please continue to pray as God leads us to this planned parenthood each
Thursday am.

In Christ,
Pat

Encouragement from Saints:

Dear Shawn Holes,

I am a current Freshman at Oregon State University.  I want to thank you for the powerful speech you gave today outside of our library.  I am a very strong believer, and sometimes the ideas that a secular university puts on a student are very overwhelming.  It made me very happy to see someone willing to argue and defend Christianity the way you did.  You have given me the courage to talk to my fellow hall mates about Christ.  Thank you so much for all you have done, you truly are a blessing.

And one more:

Sir, I wanted to thank you for coming to my school today.  Our campus is truly a Godless community.  I am amazed at how hostile the students get when they hear the truth.  The Bible predicts that though, so probably shouldn’t be a surprise.

Also here is a video from Darrel Rundus giving away $20,000.  Beth Morris from Ohio won by naming all ten commandments in a row in less than 20 seconds!

Thank you sincerely for your continued prayers and financial support.  Really, we cannot do this type of ministry without you. May the Lord bless you as you go and serve your King.  We love you all dearly.

Shawn Holes and family

We are preparing today to head to University of Nebraska in Lincoln to share some Good News.  Today we rest and prepare.  Lord willing we may be in Colorado by next week.  The Lord is pressing a very busy schedule into our calendar and it is joy to serve our King sharing the Truth to young people on college campuses.  I have been having to drive four to six hours daily to preach for the last few days and it is quite tiresome coupled with the cold weather and preaching.  The temperatures are ranging in the low forties right now and even though it looks like winter is just around the corner, we are pressing on.  Weather has not deterred the students for the last couple of weeks.  We have preached in freezing rain, snow, and sun but the students continue to gather.  I have had many conversations with students after preaching about their walk with God. Many are burdened over their sin and others are encouraged by us coming to their campus and preaching the Gospel open air.  We have also run into opposition from students, campus ministers, and administration, however, we continue to share.  Some of the campuses seem so dark and spiritually dead. So many students have been raised with little or no parental supervision and guidance.  So many students are just throwing their lives away to the devil and are proud of their wickedness.  Many do not want God in their lives and hate us for even telling them about His grace and mercy.  Please pray for souls to be saved and God to be glorified as we continue on.

btw, check out Lisa’s notes if you get a chance.  I pray that it is an encouragement to you.

Minnesota seemed to have a strong Muslim influence on the campuses that we visited.  The Muslims that I preached to and spoke with are so offended when I explain to them about Jesus being God.  Muslims are trying to be good enough to get to heaven so using the law while witnessing is not a problem. The problem arises when we claim Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven. Additionally, Muslims will not accept that the Bible is inerrant and often times point out that with all the English versions in print that there are no accurate translations…

While having preached with Pastor John Chisham on many occasions in the past including NYC, MN and SD last year and also FL, we joined forces again in MN and SD this year.  He is a bold witness reaching out to college students at Southwestern State University in Marshall MN, pastors a church, and does open air preaching.

The sun came out while we preached in Vermillion and many of the students stayed for hours to listen to Good News.  On the second day at the Vermillion campus, we had not intended to preach. Pastor Jon Lane and a brother Ivan joined me on the campus.  All we had hoped to do was hand out Gospel tracts.  The Lord would not have it that way, He instead had a professor let his class out to hear the preaching and ask questions.  Jon and Ivan went in for a little lunch and as he left me all I was doing was handing out tracts, but when he returned there was a crowd listening to to Gospel!  Praise the Lord.

On the third day, John Chisham joined me at South Dakota State University in Brookings. At one point, there was much opposition.  A young Asian woman that spoke broken English walked up to me and looked me in the eyes and said,” The Holy Spirit is giving you the words to speak.  He is directing you and shodding your feet.  Allow me to pray for you!”  Wow, did she pray.  I looked up after the prayer and had so much strength I could weep just thinking about how precious it as for her to pray for me.

Here is a note I received from a young man at a campus I preached on…

Hello Shawn,

You probably will be reading this amongst a bunch of hate mail……hopefully you’ve been getting hate mail; it indicates that you are doing something right!  I’ve always wondered what would happen if you turned the lights on in a bar, I guess people would get upset and leave.  You demonstrated that well today.  You shown light on our campus and people got angry and left.  Its sad how we pray to the lord of the harvest to send out workers but then get angry when our prayers get answered.  You are an answer to my prayers, you aren’t the type of person I envisioned would come and preach the gospel, but that just goes to show how awesome our God is!  I was standing there in awe of how christians (ones that I’ve respected while in college) were so angry with you.  Christians who have lovingly encouraged me to read the Bible I saw today were angry with you.  It’s ironic how one person responded that they can’t remember the last time they read their bible when I asked, yet they were angry with you.  I will be finishing reading the bible for my first time at the end of this year.  I’ve got a book called For the Love of God by D.A Carson which leads you through the old testament once and new testament twice.  I highly recommend that you not only just tell people to read the Bible but encourage them to get the book by D.A. Carson to lead them through it.  After reading the bible nearly everyday this year I have begun to see that the Gospel is offensive to those who are dying.  Jeremiah and the prophets were disliked because they spoke the truth, instead of humbleness and repentence, israel displayed anger and resentment.  The gospel is gracious to those being saved.

I was suspicious of you at first but when you boasted in you iniquities I knew you were legit….Paul boasted to the Galations of his iniquities when he was criticized for boasting.  You acknowledged that your sins were great…..hallelujah!  What does that say about our God?  You reminded me today of how great our GOD is!

As you pray for our campus, pray that we don’t remain idle.  When David sinned with Bathsheba it started because he was suppose to have gone to war, but he stayed in Jerusalem.  Then he saw Bathsheba…..and so on.  The fact that he remained idle is what led up to his sin.  I think that’s what has happened on this campus.  We have so many nice Christian groups, but few of them have a leader that is willing to offend someone for the sake of the gospel.  We are leading nice christian groups but are still “idle”.  We teach the love of God, the grace of God, even the ten commandments, but yet we can never fear the Lord because there’s nothing that we teach about him that is to be feared.  Prov1:7 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  With out proper fear we are just fools that know a bunch of facts.  John 8:31 says “if you obey my teaching, you really are my disciples.  You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  First we must obey, THEN we will know the truth…..its human nature to want to know and then do.  It’s no wonder why we are given the Holy Spirit…to crush our human desires!  Two years ago our college pastor whom I consider to be my rabbi said “if you’re not reading the Bible and you call yourself a Christian, SHAME ON YOU!”  God is so gracious!  I finally realized that God’s gonna show grace in the way He wants it to be and we will never see it (or see it very little) if we only look for it in the way we want to receive it.

I’ll be praying for you and your work and that you don’t get thrown into a well.  I graduate in december and am looking into graduate school but I need God to confirm it by shutting the door or opening up another.  I sometimes wonder if I could do more for Gods kingdom if I wouldn’t continue school, but I haven’t found a wife or have a family to support so its so convenient right now to stay in school.  Remember to pray for me and Gods guidance for my future.  Thanks so much for being bold for the Gospel….there is no greater love.  I will praise Jesus for you and your life.

And here is another note from a student:

Shawn,

Hi! I hope you’re doing well.

Thanks for coming to (name of campus withheld to protect to student) campus and sharing the gospel. I’m sorry I was critical and proud when I asked you questions. (Even if I didn’t appear that way, I know I was some of the time.)

You were a great example of courage and self-control under fire, and you definitely got people talking–whether they liked you or not! Thank you for your time and your kindness to those who had questions. Both will go a long way.

Stay warm and may God bless you!

And here is another note from a student:

Hi,

I just wanted to write you and kind of say thank you in a way. I am a born again believer too.. and the last six months or so I drifted away from God and His ways.I feel like this was God at work in my life. When I got into the conversation with you at first I was defensive and wanted to argue with you, but as soon as I heard what you were saying I agree with what you were saying. The feeling I got from listening to you was warmth, I felt like I was back in My Fathers arms again. I just wanted to thank you for relighting that fire inside of me. I may not agree with your approach of sharing the gospel, but you are speaking truth, which is great! I have been praying for you through out the day and the students that you got a chance to talk to. I pray that God will give you the words and wisdom, and that the students would have an open heart to what God wants them to hear. Thanks so much!! I just want this email to be an encouraging email and an email that glorifies God!!! God bless.

and one more:

Hi Shawn,

I was on campus yesterday and briefly saw you on campus around noon.  I wasn’t so much listening to your message (as I came to know Christ back when I was in college in 1990), but was watching the crowd.  I’m sure you had your hands full with the number of close-minded people who wanted to argue with you.  But I was watching the people who were listening, really listening.  As I walked away (had to get to work) I was led to pray for the people there, but particularly for a guy who was sitting on a bicycle about halfway back through the crowd.  I’m not sure who he was or why I needed to pray for him, but I did.  I believe God was using you to speak directly to him.

I also felt God was leading me to tell you this:
You are making a difference.  What you do is hard work, work that not everyone is willing or equipped to do.  While you are going to meet a lot of resistence, please do not ever give up or lose heart.  Because while you most likely won’t see immediate results of people coming to Christ right there in the middle of campus, you are doing the huge step of planting the seed.  A seed that will nurture and grow in God’s time.

Thank you for all you do.  Stay strong in the Lord.