First Thursday Prayer – October 2018

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Carl

Each month since May 2010 we have taken the first Thursday of the month to stop and pray for our nation, leaders and revival. This month is no exception. The mid-term electons are a month away. The FBI and Senate are involved in Supreme Court Nomination proceedings. And even locally in Carrollton last week two men got into an argument at a JV football game and one of them shot the other. In a word, Jesus is the answer. We need prayer! We currently have THREE locations:

  • Carrollton City Hall – Will meet on Thursday, October 4th.
  • HOBI International, Dallas – will meet on Wednesday, October 3rd.
  • Rockwall – meets on the second Sunday of each month – October 14th

In Carrollton, meet by the flag poles in front of City Hall at noon.  Prayer is from noon to 12:30. In case of rain we will move under the stairs by the entrance to the city hall. Weather permitting I typically arrive early and eat lunch by the flag poles. So if you are able, come early and join me.

In Dallas we meet at HOBI International (7601 Ambassador Dr, Dallas). Security access to the building is required. If you plan to attend that meeting, please contact Craig Boswell in advance. Prayer is from noon to 12:30. If you are coming, please arrive early to clear security. As a reminder, this month the meeting is Wednesday, October 3rd.

In Rockwall prayer is on the second Sunday of each month at Rockwall Bible Church (http://www.rockwallbible.org) from 7-8PM. This month it is October 14th.

The suggested ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication) are:.

Adoration

I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
    out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the Lord.. (Psalm 40:1-3)

Confession

Blessed is the man who makes
    the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
    to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
    your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
    none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
    yet they are more than can be told.

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
    but you have given me an open ear.[a]
Burnt offering and sin offering
    you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
    in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
    your law is within my heart.”

(Psalm 40:4-8)

Thanksgiving

I have told the glad news of deliverance[b]
    in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
    as you know, O Lord.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
    from the great congregation.

11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
    your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
    ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me
    beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
    and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
    my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
    O Lord, make haste to help me!
14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
    who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
    who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
    who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

(Psalm 40:9-15)

Supplication

But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
    say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
17 As for me, I am poor and needy,
    but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    do not delay, O my God! (Psalm 40:16-17)

If you are unable to attend in person, we hope you’ll take time from your busy schedule to pray for our nation, leaders and revival in our churches.

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First Thursday Prayer – September 2018

Posted on September 2, 2018 by Carl

Thursday, September 6th, is the first Thursday of the month. We will meet to pray for our nation, leaders and revival. Praise the Lord, we currently have THREE locations:

  • Carrollton City Hall
  • HOBI International, Dallas
  • Rockwall – meets on the second Sunday of each month

In Carrollton, meet by the flag poles in front of City Hall at noon.  Prayer is from noon to 12:30. In case of rain we will move under the stairs by the entrance to the city hall. Vinood John will lead prayer this month.

In Dallas we meet at HOBI International (7601 Ambassador Dr, Dallas). Security access to the building is required. If you plan to attend that meeting, please contact Craig Boswell in advance. Prayer is from noon to 12:30. If you are coming, please arrive early to clear security.

In Rockwall prayer is on the second Sunday of each month at Rockwall Bible Church (http://www.rockwallbible.org) from 7-8PM. This month it is September 9th.

The suggested ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication) are:.

Adoration

My lips will shout for joy,
when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have redeemed. (Psalm 71:23)

Confession

I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. (Daniel 9:4-5)

Thanksgiving

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100:4)

Supplication

 With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him. (Psalm 142:1-2)

If you are unable to attend in person, we hope you’ll take time from your busy schedule to pray for our nation, leaders and revival in our churches.

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Door Hangar Overstock

Posted on August 3, 2018 by Carl

We are overstocked on door hangers. They are not doing any good sitting in storage. The

bty

Gospel is the power unto salvation. But it needs to be unleashed onto your neighborhood. We have thousands of door hangers in stock. So here is the challenge. Let us send you 100 door hangers (suggested donation of $10 or more). You go and reach your 100 closest neighbors. Want to find those neighbors? We have used Pray 4 Every Home to identify and pray for our neighbor. When you login and create an account it identifies the 100 nearest homes to you. Then the challenge is to pray for your neighbors. Don’t know how to pray? Well that’s where the door hangers come in. Put one on each door, then pray for the salvation of those who live there. It’s that easy! Get some exercise, walk your neighborhood and pray for the salvation of those who live nearby!

Once you complete 100 houses maybe you’d like to keep going and reach more of your community. That’s great! Check out our 100 challenge and the corresponding map. Then request some more door hangers or order them from One Million Tracts with your customized contact information. Schedule regular times to go share the Gospel in your community.

Ready to get started? There are other articles here on the BLOG about door to door evangelism including our Door to Door 101. You’ll also find videos our YouTube channel explaining door to door evangelism.

Door hangers available

  • Bucket List
  • It’s 2AM
  • Are You a Good Person – bi-lingual English and Spanish with text from the tracts in English and Spanish.
  • YOLO –  bi-lingual English and Spanish with text from the tracts
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Bezeugen answers your questions

Posted on August 3, 2018 by Carl

We receive a number of questions from tract club members about a number of topics that involve the use of tracts and evangelism in general. We figure if one person asks probably others have the same question. So when we answer the question we have started creating videos to explain the answer. Then we are sharing the answers on YouTube. We have started a new video series on titled “Bezeugen Answers Your Questions”. In the intro playlist I explain the purpose of the video series and then answer the first question “How does the Bezeugen Tract Club help ordinary Christian’s share the Gospel”.

The first few videos are a little raw. After realizing that I purchased a DJI Osmo Mobile 2 image stabilizer, so you’ll notice the second video in the playlist is much smoother. We have already posted other videos in the series including

Got a question about sharing the Gospel? You can email with your question and we will attempt to answer it for you and in a future video post.

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First Thursday Prayer – August 2018

Posted on August 1, 2018 by Carl

Thursday, August 2nd, is the first Thursday of the month. We will meet to pray for our nation, leaders and revival. Praise the Lord, we currently have THREE locations:

  • Carrollton City Hall
  • HOBI International, Dallas
  • Rockwall

In Carrollton, meet by the flag poles in front of City Hall at noon.  Prayer is from noon to 12:30. In case of rain we will move under the stairs by the entrance to the city hall.

In Dallas we meet at HOBI International (7601 Ambassador Dr, Dallas). Security access to the building is required. If you plan to attend that meeting, please contact Craig Boswell in advance. Prayer is from noon to 12:30. If you are coming, please arrive early to clear security.

In Rockwall prayer is on the second Sunday of each month at Rockwall Bible Church (http://www.rockwallbible.org) from 7-8PM. This month it is August 12th.

The suggested ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication) are:.

Adoration

Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power. (Psalm 21:13}

Confession

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10}

Thanksgiving

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:21}

Supplication

 I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live. (Psalm 116:1-2}

If you are unable to attend in person, we hope you’ll take time from your busy schedule to pray for our nation, leaders and revival in our churches.

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We never meant to start a prison ministry

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Carl

It’s amazing how God works. We did

not set out to start a prison ministry. Yet here we are sending more than 5,000 tracts per month into prisons across the United States each month. A number of years ago we got an online enrollment form a man who was incarcerated in a prison in Texas. It seemed odd because as far as I knew Texas prisons don’t provide internet access to inmates and yet the enrollment came in via our website. We later learned that he and I had a mutual friend who enrolled him. He and I started corresponding by letter and eventually he would complete the School of Biblical Evangelism course with us via correspondence. He since ha served his time and we have had the chance to meet in person. God has transformed his life. Since that first inmate enrollment the Bezeugen Tract Club has grown not only within the Texas prison system but across the entire country. Over the years we started getting requests by inmates to be enrolled in the tract club. We later learned that tract club members would send a tract or two and tell them to contact us to receive more. So we enroll them and send them tracts. Today we have over 100 inmates enrolled in the Bezeugen Tract Club with over 40 of them in Texas spread across 9 prisons. Early this year the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDJC) notified us that their mail policy changed and we could no longer send our regular mailing into the Texas prisons because it contains duplicate materials. Feeling somewhat discouraged by this roadblock we soon after received a letter from on of the inmate members asking us to just send one of each tract to him and then also provide the contact information for the chaplain at his unit and suggested we could send the tracts to him. I made a phone call to the chaplain and he agreed I could send the tracts to him. I then reached out to the chaplains at the other units where we had members and each agreed we could send the tracts via the Chaplaincy Department. At the same time a woman from my church agreed to send a monthly mailing with one of each tract to each Texas inmate member so that they still receive a monthly letter. The Lord put it on my heart that still there were other prisons in Texas aside from the nine we were sending tracts to. Actually there are over 100 prisons in Texas. We sent a letter to Chaplains of 50 of them around the first of July. The letter introduces Bezeugen Ministries and the tract club and offered to send 30, 60, 90, 150 or 500 tracts per month. So far 13 of them have replied favorably requesting a monthly supply of tracts and one other requested a one time shipment. What appeared to be a closed door has found wide open to sharing the gospel within the Texas prisons. Previously 42 inmates in 9 units were receiving 1260 tracts per month. Now 22 units are receiving over 4300 tracts per month. Counting the other inmates around the country that is close to 6000 tracts a month going into the lesson system to be distributed. The Gospel is the power of salvation. It changes lives. And that is what is needed. Please keep this in your prayers as we continue to equip and encourage believers (even behind bars) to share the gospel. On a related note a tract club member from Washington DC contacted us a couple months ago indicating she’d like to serve in some way. I suggested she could be a pen pal to the women inmates in the tract club. She agreed! So we now have pen pals for all the female inmate tract club members. We continue to pray for pen pals for all the males. If your interested in that please contact us.

Updated December 2021: There are now 24 chaplain’s across the country receiving tracts. We are excited to announce that our new Free Indeed tract will be in the February 2022 mailing of the Bezeugen Tract Club!

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First Thursday Prayer – April 2018

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Carl

Since May 2010 we have been meeting on the First Thursday of each month to pray for our
Nation, Leaders and Revival.

This Thursday, April 5th, we will be hosting our First Thursday prayer meeting in Carrollton, TX and in Dallas at HOBI International. If you can’t make either location please consider hosting a prayer meeting of your own at your office, or local city hall. You can even pray at home or on you own!

Each month we provide a suggested verse to guide your prayer time. This month we recommend the A.C.T.S. model of prayer using the following four verses which incorporates the National Day of Prayer theme verse:

Adoration

O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
    you have covered my head in the day of battle. (Psalm 140:7)

Confession

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Thanksgiving

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
    and perform your vows to the Most High,
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. (Psalm 50:14-15)

Supplication

 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19}

In Carrollton, TX we meet at City Hall where we pray from noon to 12:30 in front of the flag poles. A few of us also meet at Quizno’s just south of City Hall at 11:30 for lunch. I hope you’ll join us. You can find the event on Eventbrite.

For daily prayer for our nation and the world check out the Pray Learn Go page on Facebook.

See you Thursday!

Pleased also mark your calendar for Thursday, May 3rd for the National Day of Prayer! Invite your friends and join us then in prayer as well!

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First Thursday Prayer February 2018

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Carl

Since May 2010 we have been meeting on the First Thursday of each month to pray for our
Nation, Leaders and Revival.

This Thursday, February 1st, we will be hosting our First Thursday prayer meeting in Carrollton, TX. The Dallas location at HOBI International will meet on Friday, February 2nd due to a schedule conflict. If you can’t make either location please consider hosting a prayer meeting of your own at your office, or local city hall. You can even pray at home or on you own!

Each month we provide a suggested verse to guide your prayer time. This month we recommend the A.C.T.S. model of prayer using the following four verses which incorporates the National Day of Prayer theme verse:

Adoration

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens. (Psalm 8:1)

Confession

But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” (2 Samuel 24:10)

Thanksgiving

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:14)

Supplication

On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah (Psalm 62:7-8}

 

In Carrollton, TX we meet at City Hall where we pray from noon to 12:30 in front of the flag poles. A few of us also meet at Quizno’s just south of City Hall at 11:30 for lunch. I hope you’ll join us. You can find the event on Eventbrite.

For daily prayer for our nation and the world check out the Pray Learn Go page on Facebook.

See you Thursday!

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First Thursday Prayer September 2017

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Carl

Since May 2010 we have been meeting on the First Thursday of each month to pray for our
Nation, Leaders and Revival. Be sure to check out the new Pray Learn Go page on Facebook.

This Thursday, September 7th, we will be hosting our First Thursday prayer meetings at several locations (Dallas and Carrollton) which can be found on Meetup. If you’d like to participate at another location, please contact us and we would be glad to add your location to the Meetup group.

On Sunday, September 3rd, President Trump declared a National Day of Prayer for the hurricane Harvey victims. As we gather to prayer, we remember them in our prayers we also remember the National Day of Prayer that was earlier this week.

Each month we provide a suggested verse to guide your prayer time. This month we recommend the A.C.T.S. model of prayer using the following four verses which incorporates the National Day of Prayer theme verse:

Adoration

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
    my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1}”

Confession

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32}

Thanksgiving

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
    Tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens. (1 Chronicles 16:23-26}”

Supplication

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19}

 

In Carrollton, TX we meet at City Hall where we pray from noon to 12:30 in front of the flag poles. A few of us also meet at Quizno’s just south of City Hall at 11:30 for lunch. I hope you’ll join us. You can find the event on Facebook.

See you Thursday!

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Hurricane Harvey Relief

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Carl

On Friday, August 25th, Hurricane Harvey came ashore along the Texas coast as a category 4 Hurricane with a direct hit at Rockport, TX. The storm has dumped record amounts of rain across southern Texas and caused catastrophic flooding like has never been seen in the area in modern times. While Houston gets most of the focus on the media, nearly 46% of Texas residents have been impacted. Some entire towns are under water. Today the storm came ashore again and is currently making its way across Louisiana. More flooding is likely.

Members of the Bezeugen Tract Club have been impacted by this storm. At least 11 of our tract club members are in southern Texas around Houston, near Rockport and over to Beaumont. There are other tract club members when you stretch the area out to San Antonio and Austin.  More than 40 tract club members are in Louisiana. Maps of tract club members in southern Texas and in Louisiana are included here. Please keep these members of our tract club in your prayers for their safety. While we have been in touch with a number of our tract club members by phone, email and text messages we have not heard from all of them. We simply don’t know about their personal impact or needs. If you are a member of the Bezeugen Tract Club and have a need related to the hurricane please call us at 802-393-8463 (80-BEZEUGEN)

Bezeugen is located just north of Dallas. To give you an idea of how big Texas is, this devastation is nearly 350 miles from us. Here in Dallas people are rallying support, buying needed supplies and donating them. Many organizations are collecting money to route for disaster relief.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

We at Bezeugen Ministries understand that you our Bezeugen Tract Club members and ministry partners may want to help out. At this time we do not know of any specific personal needs within our tract club membership. Rather than create “yet another fund”, we felt it would be wise to direct you to several funds that we know about. Therefore if you’d like to make a donation to disaster relief we would encourage you to prayerfully considering to one or more of the following:

  • The LCMS Texas District has a number of ways you can help including prayer, financially and serving. 100% of funds go directly to relief efforts.
  • Concordia Lutheran Church in San Antonio has designated a fund where 100% of the donations will go to disaster relief.
  • Midway Church in Pilot Point, Texas (Board member Craig Boswell’s home church) is accepting online donations. Please designate “disaster relief” in the memo field.
  • Samaritan’s Purse is on the ground in Texas providing disaster relief and has donation opportunities list on their website.
  • Soujourn Heights Church in Houston has opportunities to give and request help.
  • Prestonwood Baptist Church has prayer updates, short term trips to South Texas, opportunities to donate items and money.

There is no doubt that the relief efforts in Texas and Louisiana will be ongoing for many months. There will be opportunities to server hands on. And additional supplies and financial support will certainly be needed. Your prayers are also critical. As we hear of opportunities to serve we will provide additional updates.

God Bless,

Bezeugen Ministries Board of Directors.

 

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