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	Eldridge Cleaver: In Memory
	Ministering to the Samaritans
	Discipleship — The Heart of Evangelism
	Loving God
	God Is In the People Business
	Feeding His Sheep

 

Eldridge Cleaver: In Memory
(From The Recycler)

By Glenn Morrison

On May 1, 1998, God called Eldridge Cleaver home. I considered him a good friend and brother in Christ. Those of us who knew him will miss Eldridge dearly.

Controversy was a way of life for Eldridge. Consequently he was grossly misunderstood by many Christian people. Many who never met the man became his greatest critics. I suppose I would have been one of his strongest critics if I had not come to know the man personally. I was fortunate to not only know Eldridge, but also to be his close friend. Allow me to share four reasons why I believe Eldridge was a genuine Christian, and why I am looking forward to being with him in heaven.

First, his faith in Christ passed the stringent test of time. Over the years I have met and ministered to a lot of prisoners and ex-prisoners who professed to be Christians. Some were genuine, others were not. Given enough time, the "counterfeit" Christians usually fade away while those who are genuine hang in there through good times and bad. Eldridge was faithful in his commitment to Christ to the end.

Second, I was with Eldridge in 1976 when he confessed Jesus Christ as his Lord. He was very adamant about his need to become a "genuine Christian, and not one of those jailhouse converts." He insisted that I write out a prayer for him to use in order to invite Jesus Christ to enter his life — "because I can’t afford to miss a word. I want to be a genuine Christian!"

Third, was his zeal for our Lord and his desire to serve Christ. Our Lord declared that "he that is forgiven much, loves much." This certainly was true with Eldridge. He often ministered the Christian message to revolutionaries and other radicals that most Christians were afraid to touch.

Fourth, even though Eldridge went through numerous trials and made his share of mistakes, he never ceased in his pursuit of following Jesus Christ. He didn’t fit into the mold of what most Christians expected — but he had a love and zeal for Christ that didn’t quit!

Yes, Eldridge is missed — the simplicity of his faith in Jesus Christ — and his warm and caring spirit. Our loss is really heaven’s gain. The rest of us will be coming soon — maybe today.

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Ministering to the Samaritans

A Conversation with Minor Schmid

Minor Schmid is one of the original founding directors of FUMI. The following article appeared in the February 8, 1998, issue of First Presbyterian Times (Berkeley, Calif.) It is reprinted with permission.

In Christ's day, Samaritans were despised by the Jews. Christ interacted with Samaritans and included them in His parables, making it clear that they also had a place in His kingdom. In these days, we also have a class of people despised by many, forgotten by most. They are prisoners, locked away and out of sight.

FUMI (Follow Up Ministries, Inc.) works to disciple prisoners. It recruits Christian volunteers and trains them in prison chaplaincy skills. Through discipleship seminars, correspondence, and one-on-one Bible studies, these volunteers bring new hope to prisoners, changing lives and reducing crime.

Minor Schmid has been associated with FUMI since 1956, when he was the attorney who prepared their incorporation papers. He has not done much work in the prisons (finding that attorneys are not always welcomed by prisoners), but has served many years on the board and has consistently supported the organization with prayers and financial help.

"Originally the ministry was a general discipling program, to provide Scripture Investigation for new Christians. A young man on Governor Reagan's staff was a Christian and approached us about doing prison ministry. We agreed to try it, and that outreach gradually became the focus of our ministry.

"We minister in both jails and prisons. Prisons are state institutions inhabited by prisoners who have been sentenced to incarceration by the courts, usually for felonies. Jails are generally run by communities, cities, and counties. There they hold people charged with a crime before trial.

"They also hold people incarcerated for misdemeanors. We operate mostly in Northern California, although as volunteers move to other parts of the country and the world, they spread the ministry to new areas. We have volunteers at Santa Rita, and include women there.

"This sort of ministry can have a powerful impact. When a person is taken away in handcuffs and locked up, it can create a substantial psychological shock. People who have been closed to the gospel may be open and responsive in a new way. We have an important ministry in Alameda County's juvenile hall. Volunteers are specially trained to work with young people. These young people may be exposed to Scripture in a way they might not experience otherwise.

"We get unusual cooperation from the administrators of jails and prisons and we work closely with the chaplains. In some places, there are guards who are doing discipling. We have and have had ex-prisoners in our ministry. It's unusual for ex-prisoners to be allowed in to see prisoners, but our men have been approved for our ministry.

"At our annual banquet last October, a young man, recently released, spoke. He told us why he had been incarcerated, without defensiveness or any attempt to justify his actions. He described the change that had resulted when he accepted Christ. He introduced us to his wife and told us about his job. It was a wonderful demonstration of the way lives are being changed by this ministry.

"I've come to know some wonderful people on the board of directors. It's kept me really interested. The board now includes a probation officer, a businessman, a retired deputy sheriff, a former teacher, two ex-prisoners, and a retired lawyer. We are a small-scale ministry, with a small budget, but we have a big task.

"Currently, our prisons in this state are operating at nearly 200% capacity. Budgets are being reduced and chaplains cut. I believe it is now generally accepted that rehabilitation is not accomplished merely by incarceration. Over 90% of those who are in prison will be returned to society at some point.

Will they be changed? Here at church we see many people whose lives have been changed by Christ. Conversion takes on a whole new dimension when you meet one who was at one time an armed robber who has become a Christian in prison. When this person is released, starts a family, takes a job, and becomes an active witness for Christ, it seems very different. But it is really the same. We all need to repent and turn from our old lives.

"It's exciting to be part of a ministry that reaches out to the lost and forgotten. I believe it is part of Christ's Great Commission." 

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Discipleship - the Heart of Evangelism

By Glenn L. Morrison

Dan is a successful young businessman, happily married, the father of six children. He was on the phone asking about the next God Squad Orientation class.

The pastor of a well-known evangelical church had just led Dan to know Jesus Christ as his Lord, but didn’t know how to help Dan grow in his new Christian life. That’s when Dan turned to us for help.

He jumped into the training with both feet. He exhibited a great hunger for the Word of God and a thirsting after righteousness. Because he was faithful, his spiritual growth was fast and solid.

He began reaching out to others, and soon Dan was asked to teach a class for new believers in his church.

Unusual? Not really! Dan is a product of Christian leadership in helping to evangelize his world for Christ.

You see, God is in the “people” business. He is not concerned with religion — with organizations — or with programs. He is not interested in “converts,” but in the propagation of His own people.

This is clearly seen in the Great Commission our Lord gave to His disciples, in the four gospels and the first chapter of Acts. In Mark 16:15 He commands His disciples to take His message to every living soul on earth.

In Luke 24:45-47, He instructs them to begin their work at home. Traveling to some far away city or land does not make a person a missionary!

In Acts 1:8, He outlines the priorities of ministry. We are to begin at home — then we reach out to the neighboring communities. Then, before attempting to reach the whole world we are instructed to minister to the undesirables — the half-breeds!

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus describes the process by which His Great Commission will be fulfilled — by “making disciples of all nations.” Then in John 20:21, He gets very personal with His disciples, “...as the Father has sent Me, so send I you.” Jesus Christ our Lord is our model to emulate.

One of the clearest examples He has given us is found in John 17, the true Lord’s prayer. Let’s consider three verses from that passage. In John 17:4, He states, “I have glorified Thee on earth; I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.”

Twice Jesus told His Father that He had completed the work He was sent to do. The second time was when He completed the work of redemption as He hung on the cross. What work is He referring to in John 17? Verses 6 and 8 have the answer. He had "discipled" the men God gave Him, using the Word of God.

In other words, Jesus Christ came to earth for two primary purposes; the work of redemption and preparing a special people (disciples) to carry the message to every living soul on earth.

Evangelism and discipleship are not two separate parts of God’s plan: they are one. Evangelism is a part of discipleship; it is a natural product of it. The real task is the propagation of God’s own people. That’s what Follow Up Ministries is all about.

The name Follow Up means discipleship. We are here to help the church, the body of Christ, fulfill His Great Commission in discipling all nations — particularly working with society’s “undesirables” locked away in prisons.

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Loving God

By Glenn L. Morrison

A young lawyer approached Jesus Christ with the question, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"

Without hesitation Jesus replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment."

Jesus continues, "And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the Law and Prophets." This is the flip-side of the Ten Commandments. The commandments are quite negative — "thou shalt not...," "Thou shalt not...," etc."

Now Jesus gives us the positive approach in declaring that the requirements of the Law are satisfied by loving God with our total being and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. What a switch! How can loving God and my neighbor possibly satisfy the demands of the Law?

The answer lies in the story of God’s creation. Man was made by God and for God. God made man in His own image, after His own likeness and for His personal companionship.

He then commanded Adam and Eve to "be fruitful and multiply." He wanted to fill the whole earth with a special race of people — His people. But, instead man chose his independence from God and cast the human race into sin.

God gave us His Law to show us how far we have fallen from His expectations and to point out our need of Him. God’s desires haven’t changed. He still wants to fill the earth with His special people — a people who will be His companions — a people who will love, honor and respect Him — a people who will cause others around them to also love, honor and respect Him! Loving God is what life is all about!

In Luke 14:25-25 (Living Bible), we read, "Great crowds were following Him. He turned around and addressed them as follows: 'Anyone who wants to be My follower (disciple) must love Me far more than he does his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers or sisters — more than his own life — otherwise he cannot be my disciple.'"

How can I love God? Jesus gave us the answer when He called His disciples by simply saying, "Follow Me!" As we follow Him we get to know Him a little better each day — and the better we know Him the more we love Him. It is impossible to know Him without loving Him! Then, to love Him is to want to serve and please Him.

That is why God has given us His Word, the Bible. He is not interested in teaching us theology and doctrines — He desires our companionship and wants to reveal Himself to us through His Word. Jesus told the religious leaders of His day, "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life: and it is these that bear witness of Me." Getting to know Him is the key of loving God and finding a life of fulfillment and purpose in helping others come to know and love Him too.

This is the very heart of discipleship!

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God is in the People Business

By Glenn L. Morrison

E. M. Bounds said it well in his book, Power Through Prayer, "The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men!"

Yes, God is in the people business. He is not into building organizations nor producing programs. He works in and through people. Consider the fact that man was the crowning work of God’s creation.

After making the various forms of life to reproduce after their own kind, God said, "Let us make man after Our Kind..." And so God made man and woman in His own likeness, and for His personal companionship. Mankind was intended to bring pleasure to God.

Another important truth is that God gave man a special commission before Adam and Eve chose their independence from God. He told them to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the whole earth with a special race of God’s people — not a green people nor a purple people, but a people who would demonstrate God’s nature and character. Adam and Eve were made by God and for God, but they chose to do their own thing, spoiling God’s own plan.

A few years later God destroyed mankind with a flood — but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. And God started over again by commissioning Noah to "be fruitful and multiply" and fill the planet earth with God’s special people. But Noah failed because he fell into sin again.

Later God found a faithful servant in Abraham, though he too suffered from the same sinful nature. And because of his faithfulness God made a special promise to Abraham that through his seed all the nations of the world would be blessed.

Then Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born into this world. A direct descendant of Abraham, His purpose was to be fruitful and to multiply a special people for God’s glory — a people that would fill the planet earth.

His first task was to train a small group of disciples to carry on His work for God. The second task took Him to the cross, the grave, and His resurrection from the dead, to redeem man from the penalty and power of sin.

Before His departure to His Throne in Heaven, Jesus Christ gave a very special commission to His disciples known as "The Great Commission." He told them to take the message of His Gospel into all the world, making disciples of all nations.

God’s plan for a special people is being realized today. Jesus Christ has solved the sin problem, and His Holy Spirit has come to live within the lives of the redeemed. Where man has failed, God has made it possible for himself to come live within our lives — so that He can personally carry out His plan to produce His own people — a people who will be His companions, who will demonstrate His likeness, and who will cause His Name to be loved and respected.

All God wants is for me to provide Him a body to live in — my body, His residence — and my personality for Him to work through. The commission is the same whether it is "be fruitful and multiply," or "...make disciples of all nations." He wants to use me to raise up another generation of His special people — and to train hem to raise up yet another generation — to God’s glory and praise.

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Feeding His Sheep

By Glenn L. Morrison

To have a refrigerator full of food and not know how to use it must be a frustrating experience at best. It certainly could lead to malnutrition!

This must be what the writer of Proverbs had in mind, in Proverbs 13:23: "Much food is in the tillage of the poor; but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment."

We are living in a day when so many professing Christians are being raised, spiritually, on commentaries and other good books about the Bible. Seemingly, very few in comparison know how to effectively use their Bibles — to study it, memorize key passages, and meditate upon it.

In reality we are becoming disciples of key Christian leaders, but not of Christ, who said "If you abide in My Word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32, NAS).

Commentaries and good books have their place in our lives — but they are no substitute for the Word of God itself.

The purpose of the "Scripture Investigation Course," our 28-lesson correspondence Bible course, is to teach people how to make use of the food in their refrigerators, their Bibles. It is a tool that God has entrusted to our care as stewards to "feed His sheep," and "teach them how to feed themselves."

Perhaps this will help explain some of the urgency we have felt about placing copies of the Russian "Scripture Investigation Course" into hands of Russian Christians in the Soviet Union. They are a spiritually starved and deprived people, having lived for so many decades in the spiritual vacuum of godless atheism. Thousands of Bibles are being shipped into Russia — like thousands of refrigerators full of food. Now they need to learn how to make the best use of that food — growing into mature disciples of Jesus Christ.

The "Scripture Investigation Course" has proven to be a most valuable tool in helping to disciple people to follow Christ. It directs the student into the Word of God for answers to the needs of life, and teaches him how to study and memorize Scripture, a form of spiritual digestion.

The effectiveness of this course is dependent to a great extent upon the intercessory prayer of concerned Christians. Please pray for the Russian Christians that are making use of it now, and for the many involved in the English course.

Also please pray for our Spanish course.

Three times Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Each time Peter responded positively, and Jesus challenged him, "Feed My Sheep!"

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