I must first say thank you for keeping us in the ministry, helping us continue to fight the battle for God’s lost children in Bastrop, and for [...]]]> Dear Precious Prayer Partners,
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.” Revelations 12:11

I must first say thank you for keeping us in the ministry, helping us continue to fight the battle for God’s lost children in Bastrop, and for helping us minister to the hurting churches.  You make our ministry of 25 years possible.

“I want you to help this church,” said the inner voice I have learned to love and obey all these years. It was a small church that used to be a large church, but it had been devastated by the devil over recent years. The first time I went there to visit, there were 15 people. At one time this church had 400.  Now they had mountains of debt, very few helping, and a heart to save their church for God’s purpose. Sound familiar? “What can I do to help Lord?” was my question.

“What you have been doing in the churches from the beginning,” He said. “Encourage them and give them what I have taught you over the years.”

There was a new Pastor coming in from Kentucky and I knew he would need encouragement as well.  God must have a reason for keeping me in Tucson, AZ as we wait for justice in Bastrop, La. All our lawyers say is, “It will be a few months.” Well, those few months have turned into four years, yet God is still using us in the meantime.

This was the time of year we always do our services in our favorite churches in California and then minister at the Assemblies of God International Conference. But not this year. God would change our plans and use us to restore what the devil has stolen in a small church. The new Pastor would agree to have an 8 day, nine service, Revival to start the new year off on a positive note. On Sunday morning I would give my testimony, as I usually do when I begin a Revival. One person was saved and you could feel a change already, even after only one service. There was no praise and worship team so the Pastor played piano and sang before I came to minister. “Oh Lord the first thing this church needs is a praise and worship team,” I prayed. Second, God needed to repair what was broken by the devil in the lives of some who left hurt by the former events. Through a series of events, too long to list in this brief letter, God would start to bring back former members and leaders of that church. Attendance began to grow each night. By Thursday there was a real coming together of God’s people when the two Spanish churches, who worship there, joined the English church service and 80 people worshipped together as I preached on the principle of giving. People began to grasp the concept of daily worship in prayer, praise, testimony, fasting, and giving of oneself as well as their finances to God’s work.

Testimonies of healings began. Some physical; Some emotional; Some spiritual. God’s spirit was evident each service. God began to bring more people back to the church. People began to realize they couldn’t do the same ol thing, the same ol way, and expect new results. They began testifying of how God had begun a healing in their lives, given them new strength, and wanted to use them for His purpose. By the following Sunday there had been four major healings and another salvation. To bring a climax to God’s eight day rekindling of His fire in the lives of His church, God brought a wonderful sister in the Lord to the Sunday morning service. She has been diagnosed with stage four cancer. She gave testimony of His amazing grace and healing touch in her life. There she was, Sister Carolyn, house bound for so long with a walker and oxygen tanks, now in church testifying to God’s goodness and strength. By Sunday night my first prayer was answered. Rose, Sue, Chad, Ron, and Mike decided to use their gifts of music and form a worship team and with heavenly music they began the evening service along with the Pastor.

This year set your mind to be a testimony for God in your walk and service. Get involved. Do something more for God than you did last year. The old has passed away (2011) all has become new. Yes, you may still have some situations that have not changed or appear to be getting worse, but remember, where there is a test, with His help, it will turn into a testimony as we set our mind on believing He will cause all things to work together for our good as we are called according to His purpose. We will overcome him with the word of our testimony.

Sincerely,
Bishop Nick and Sandy Farone

“And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for [...]]]>

Faith: How it Works!

“And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring a charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God Who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more then that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8: 30-34

Dear Precious Prayer Partners,
It was September 1, 2011 at 9:30 A.M. as we sat in a cold courtroom waiting. Oh, it wasn’t the temperature that was cold in the room, it was the atmosphere. It was a long awaited date that would bring and end to the destruction a city was bringing on its young people, we thought.
Do you feel all alone in the battle you are in? Do you think God perhaps doesn’t care about what is going on in your life? Are you in a battle right now that seems will never end? Does it  seem that God has left you on your own to fight an enemy with endless ways to defeat you? Are things even getting worse and you feel like Job in the Bible, but your happy ending doesn’t look like it is going to show up?  You ask yourself, “Who am I that God would consider me worth such great testing”?
Let me tell you this. You are a child of God and He loved you so much He sent His only Son to die for you and all your sins that separated you from Him. Sins past, present, and future. If you have made the choice to accept Jesus as your Savior then you have an Advocate sitting right now at God’s right hand telling Him all you are going through and fighting for you against the devil
Verse 37 in the same chapter,  tells you who you are. “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
As I sat there, with our attorney, after waiting 3 1/2 years to see justice done for God’s work, I was told by the judge I was not allowed to testify or speak.  It is a story that will be written about in my second book, “Trials and Triumphs of Following Jesus”. “God, what do we do now? Where is Your victory and how can You possibly get glory out of this”? I said.

God brought the scripture to mind, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13

I was the one with all the proof, all the evidence, and had brought this case to court to fight for the children of Bastrop.

In 17 years we have weathered storms like Katrina. Storms of people who came to the Center and did more harm than good for the children. Storms of a burned out Mission House done by Katrina victims we were helping. Storms of years of gossip and untruths levied against us by Pastors and people who didn’t want “Those Kind of Kids” in their churches. We had seen God get victory and glory in it all and grow each time an attack came. 2,400 children have found the Lord and new life through New Beginnings. But, now I was not even allowed to talk.

Our lawyer, advocate, said he had done all he could do and it would be too expensive to fight further. Sandy and I have sold everything we could sell to stay in the fight, pay ministry debts, and fight on to victory. Some Pastors who gave us words of encouragement and supported us faithfully, stopped. Guess
they gave God a time limit to win. Sandy and I now have our house on the market because we will NOT  disgrace our God by quitting on Him. It was all over!!!

Well as the old saying goes,
“It Ain’t Over Til That Fat  Lady Sings.”
Or in our case,
“Until God Receives The Glory.”
In the natural we should take our beating and walk away quietly. That’s what the devil was saying. That ol’ snake may be saying that very same thing to you too.
Do not give up on God. This is where “faith” comes in. Oh, people have faith as long as it doesn’t touch their pocketbooks or take any effort on their part. Don’t ask them to sacrifice for someone they don’t know or even for someone they do, if it will affect their level of living. Trust me, they will never see the mighty hand of God move in their lives. They will profess Christianity, but live in misery blaming God for  not being true to His word.
We received a nice letter from our attorney saying he had done all he could, but was not going to take it to appeal for us. I had tried to sell a watch God had given me as a sign He would bless our  ministry back in Oct. 1996. It was shortly after that He started pouring out His blessings on New Beginnings. That book will amaze you!!!
But, no takers on the watch. For some reason God was stopping us in our tracks.

God has placed me in Tucson, AZ in a motor home and  Sandy back in Bastrop, LA taking care of her mother. Things seem to have gotten worse. Now on top of trying to pay ministry bills, sell our home, and survive we have to pay for a spot in Tucson, AZ where our ministry RV is being kept.

“O K God, if  the devil has won here, then I will leave the ministry, get a job, which I said I would never do, and live out the rest of this battle wondering why. I have done, and am doing, all the ways You have taught me to acknowledge You, from Proverbs 3: 5-6, but nothing is happening. Do some of you feel that way?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

These ways work, we have lived by them for 23 years and I will not give up now.

Three  weeks later our attorney was contacted by another attorney, Richard Fewell, who has taken on our case, paid the $1,800.00 out of his own pocket to take our case to Appeals Court, and will  fight for us. One of our Board  Members sent me money, via Wal-mart, to pay the bills to date here in Tucson, AZ.  Other Prayer Partners sent in support to meet the ministry loan bills.

We received an e-mail from a dear Sister in Afghanistan, who is a Major helping our soldiers there deal with the stress of combat. She said God had spoken to her and she was to send us $500.00 a month until March of 2012. She has no idea that is what the monthly rent is here in Tucson, AZ to keep our ministry motor-home here. Another check came for $400.00 from dear friends John and Deb to help.

We were behind in our ministry and personal electric bills and phone bills. The Four Square Church in Grants Pass, OR who have been faithful to this ministry and us as dear friends since the beginning sent us a large offering that covered those expenses. I am sure this church gave out of their own need. Thank you Pastor Rick and Debbie and Church Family.

Now, all this is awesome but Sandy has some medical needs and I like to eat once in a while too. Most folks don’t think of sending us something just for ourselves.  But, God does care about supplying all our needs if we seek Him first and some folks sent in checks just for us.  Praise God!

Matthew 6:33 “But, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness , and all these things shall be added to you.”

If there is anything we have been doing together for these past 23 years it is seeking His righteousness together and He has honored us together. Just ask Bill, who God blessed with over a million dollars in business last year, in this depressed economy. Or Shirley who sold her house in one month and found a beautiful two bedroom assisted living place with new friends. Or Dominick and Jackie who have been raised up to greater ministry in a new place only five hours from Jackie’s home.

“Nick, I’d like to have you start ministering to the Southwest Indian Churches in AZ and New Mexico with me,” the new Superintendent for the Church of God Southwest Indian Ministries said.

I want you to know God is working behind the scenes for you too. You have an Advocate fighting for you and a Father who loves you and you will see victory! The battle is not over and we will keep you posted. Just remember you have already won the war through Jesus, your Advocate!

Bless You!
Nick and Sandy

Dear Precious Prayer Partners, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be [...]]]> “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” Proverbs 27:17

Dear Precious Prayer Partners,
“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life…..Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6: 17-20

I know we left you sitting with us at the airport  last month in our continuing report on the “Trails and Triumphs of Following Jesus”, However, as life does it brings us to some detours that are meant to be shared together as fellow workers in Christ.
My first introduction to David Wilkerson was at a special Ministers Conference at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.  He had paid for the whole thing to be a blessing to ministers of the Gospel. All you had to do was get there. So, Sandy and I went.  She even had the privilege of  bumping into his wife,Gwen, at the hotel  where we were staying and having her picture taken with her as a keepsake.
For those of you who don’t know who Brother Wilkerson was, he was the author of “The Cross and The Switchblade,” Founder of World Challenge Ministries, Founder of Teen Challenge, which uses a Biblically  Based recovery program for drug addicts. and Time Square Church in New York City, established in 1987 in an area of Manhattan that was riddled with X-rated movie houses, strip clubs, prostitution ,and drugs. Truly a man sent from God to reach out to those who most people would overlook in our society. He began as a humble preacher in a small country church  and God called Him to work  with the  gangs in NYC.
As I sit here in Tucson, AZ waiting for the three year judgment against a  city that has set out to destroy the only work of its kind in Bastrop,  or in the country for that matter, I weep.  Someone anonymously placed a note that said, “Pray for David Wilkerson’s family, he died in a car crash..” on our ministry RV door. With Sandy home getting her mother ready to move into a Senior Care Living Assisted apartment complex, I sit here baby sitting our vehicles that are being repair for travel again, piece by piece as the funds come in from faithful supporters. Oh how I wish I could go and be there for the services of the man who God sent to understand and support the work we have been doing.  What made this man great?
Was it his courage? Was it his humble spirit? Was it his faithful loving wife who has stood at his side for over 50 years? Was it the fact that he truly heard from God and was not ashamed Page to stand on His word and do what His Lord told him to do? Was it the fact that he did not let the ministry work overshadow the love he had for his Lord and family?
It was ALL these things.
As I type this I am looking at the letter he sent me in March of 2005. I cherish it because it gives me encouragement. We had scheduled an appointment together so we could meet. Unfortunately, when the time came  for us to meet, ministry work and needs at the Center in Bastrop had to come first and I had to cancel. Imagine, me having to cancel a meeting with such a great man of God. But, Brother Wilkerson knew my heart. He had mentioned once he appreciated our work because I was trying to help those like the ones he had in Teen Challenge, before they got to the point where they needed it.  Most great men would have been offended at being cancelled last minute, after they had fit you into their busy schedule. Not, Brother Wilkerson. He sent me a beautiful letter of encouragement saying, “After all my years of ministry, I am more and more convinced that God’s heart is most blessed by those who care for the poor and the disenfranchised. Also, I have seen how God miraculously meets every need. I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit that I should write to you today to simply encourage you in what He has called you to. The Lord wants  to remind you that He knows where you are and what you are doing and that all you need is the favor of the Lord. It seems to me you do have His favor.  May the Lord refresh you and your wife, and may the Holy Spirit guide you clearly in every step.”  He enclosed a $10,000.00 check to keep our work going.
“Brother Wilkerson was driving east on U.S. 175 in Texas Wednesday  April 27, 2011, in the afternoon, and moved into the opposite lane where a tractor trailer was driving westbound. The truck driver saw the car and tried to move out of the way, but still collided with the Pastor’s car head on, according to Public safety Trooper Eric Long. It is unclear what caused Brother Wilkerson to veer into the other lane. His wife Gwen was also involved in the crash and rushed to the hospital, along with the truck  driver.”  He was 79 years old.
I can tell you of no one that was a better example of this month’s Bible scripture. I will, as many, miss him and his encouraging words each month . We can all learn from his example as Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone  serves Me, him My Father will honor.”  John 12:26
Brother Wilkerson truly followed our Lord and he is now with Him in glory. His service for our Lord was truly honored by the Father.

God Bless You,
Bishop Nick

On May 16, 2011 at 9:30 A.M. we had what is called a “summary -judgment ” at the Morehouse city court. It was the second one that has been filed over the past three years trying to get the city to fixed their caved in storm drain and parking lot  at our Center. The judge said he will let us know his ruling in 15 days.  Trying to explain this struggle over the past three years to folks has taken its toll. One man truly understood our battle both physically and spiritually for the children we are reaching. That man was brother David Wilkerson. What price do you place on a soul?  For the past three years the city of Bastrop has considered saving money on a duty they have to replace their 40 year old storm drain more valuable than the 2,400 children we have ministered to there or the 143 we have that are waiting for them to fix it so they can have their Center back to full working capacity. We will win, but the city has been hoping we would run our of funds to continue. Don’t ask me why they haven’t done it. It makes no sense. But, it does when  you consider the  spiritual aspect, as brother Wilkerson did. We are pulling young prospective gang members and criminals out of the hands of the devil and bringing them into the saving, life changing knowledge of their  Savior Jesus Christ.

We need your help to continue. If you are one of those blessed by Him financially then do what the scripture says this month and help us help those who can’t help themselves. I remember I prayed for a man who had faced bankruptcy to have the Lord renew him and give him a $1.5 million income to his business. That was the figure God said. He reached that goal last year, in the midst of all the new government policies that have destroyed so many. God is able and faithful to His word.

Help us continue the good fight!

“And we know all things work together for good to those who love the Lord, to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28

What a tremendous time to share this amazing story told in a way you may have never heard it. I will continue in the “Trials and Triumphs [...]]]> Dear Precious Prayer Partners,

“And we know all things work together for good to those who love the Lord, to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28

What a tremendous time to share this amazing story told in a way you may have never heard it. I will continue in the “Trials and Triumphs of Following Jesus” as promised next month. For now as we are moving ahead to Victory in our battle for the Youth. I wanted to say Thank You in a special way for all the help you are sending to fight the good fight. God so touched my heart with a message I heard here in Tucson, AZ. by a man named Rev. Jim Hensen, I wanted to share it with you for Easter. It was a message from John 4:3-42 on the Woman at the Well. He said it was given to him directly from our Lord and I believe him. I hope it with bless and encourage you in this Easter season. I know it did me.

I am the woman Jesus met so long ago at Jacob’s well. I know myself to be a child of God, redeemed, forgiven, loved..But, it was not always so. Before He came it was so different, so very different. I still remember the day, it was like so many other days. I didn’t go to the well in the early morning hours as did the other women. They would go like a gaggle of geese, happy, jovial, gossiping, talking about the affairs of the village, the issues of the day, about me. I was a favorite topic of conversation. My life was such a mess, such a nightmare. Since childhood I hungered for some-one to love. Someone to care for me and yet each time I clung to a man he’d use and abuse me and cast me out into the street like so much garbage. I was a afraid to commit, to bind to anyone. Oh, the hunger, the anger and the pain I felt. And shame, I felt shame and the women made it worse. I’d come to the well in the morning and as I approached the loud talk would turn to whispers. I heard the words, harlot, whore, and once some-one spat at me and I swore I would never come again. And so I walked the mile from Sychar to Jacob’s well in the heat of the day, alone. As I walked through the village I saw the judgmental, harsh eyes from behind the veils of my sisters, watching me through the darkened shadows.. I held my head high and yet, inside I cried.

I saw Him sitting at the well that day, alone. I could tell by His dress he was a Jew. His very presence surprised me. Jews feared us Samaritans, because they hated us and we hated them back. Most pilgrims between Galilee and Jerusalem walked around our land, rather than passing through. They didn’t want to be polluted by our presence. It surprised me when He talked to me, asking me for a drink. I couldn’t believe He would take water from my hands, no matter how hot and weary He was. I heard that the Jewish Rabbi’s taught the children that to eat the bread made by Samaritan hands was worse than eating the forbidden, unclean flesh of swine. His boldness surprised me. Yet, His voice was gentle. He looked at me with eyes of love and compassion. An understanding that seemed to penetrate into the core of my being, the depth of my heart. He spoke to me like no man ever spoke. His words became like the music of the living water that poured down the mountains that surrounded the village. He spoke to me as if I were an equal, as if He respected me, as if I had worth. He told me that if I knew who He was I’d be asking Him for water. His words triggered in me the old defensiveness the old pain. One more man who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. One more smart-aleck Jew who thinks he’s got all the answers. He had no bucket, no rope, no way to get water, yet He needed to quench His thirst. He had no reason for pride. This was Jacob’s well and we were those who inherited this blessing. Who did He think He was anyway? He met my anger with words almost to deep to understand. His eyes and His face revealed a passion and a longing that I might receive a truer gift than the water from the well. He told me that he could give me something that would become within me like a spring of water welling up to eternal life. I heard the words. I felt the love, yet I still did not trust Him. My response was hard and cynical. Sure, I’d take His living water if it took care of my daily thirst and kept me from making this painful, shameful trip to the well alone., in the heat of the day. Could His seeming love and concern rescue me from the hard realities of my life, could He do that? Then He said something that literally broke open my hard and bitter heart and poured into it hope. He looked at me, shook His head and with a tone of patience, forgiveness, and understanding He asked me to go fetch my husband. I felt naked. I felt beaten and defeated. Somehow I couldn’t lie to Him. I told Him the truth. I had no husband. He told me that He had known my terrible secret pain all along. He knew I had no husband, not now. He knew I had had five husbands and that I was living with a man to whom I was not wed. He knew this of me. I don’t know how, but He knew yet, He did not turn away from me in disgust. He spoke to me as if I were a woman of worth. He knew this of me and yet He offered me the gift of hope. Everything in me, I don’t know how, but He knew. Yet, He did not turn from me in disgust. He knew this of me and yet He spoke with me as if I was a woman of value. He knew this of me and He offered me the gift of hope. Everything in me knew that this was truly a man of God. Still the fact that He was a Jew frightened me.

What would it mean to accept him? Would I have to forsake my faith and my people? I lifted my eyes to look up to the holy mountain Gerizim. This was where the Lord told Joshua to raise a great stone as a sanctuary for our Lord in thanksgiving for the promised land, this land. Would I have to give all this up and accept the temple in Jerusalem as God’s holy habitat? Would I have to accept this man whose love and com-passion had laid claim to my soul? Then He affirmed that God was indeed bringing in His promised Kingdom through the Jews, but that the time was coming, indeed the time was now, that the battle that caused so much hate and prejudice between the Jews and Samaritans would be over. The time was coming He declared. In-deed the time has arrived when all would worship God in heart and spirit. That is where God dwells. From His Holy Spirit would come the truth that would set us free from our all too human past. His words, His Spirit, His honest hopeful longing for God’s emerging Kingdom, and His confidence that it had already arrived touched me so deeply, I began to hope that God would send His Messiah, His chosen One to show us His way. With a voice that sounded to me like the voice of God Himself, this gentle loving and merciful man said to me, “I who speak to you am He.”

At that moment with all my heart and with all my soul I believed. Just then a group of Jewish men arrived. They must have been His traveling companions, His disciples. They looked at me with the familiar eyes of disdain, of judgment. I’m sure they didn’t understand what had just happened be-tween me and Jesus. How could they understand what He had done for me? They said nothing. I was glad. I wanted nothing to happen that would cast a shadow over my joy. I left the water jar behind and with it I left behind the burdens of my life. All the pain and doubt. I left behind my sense of worthlessness, hopelessness, and fear. I ran to the village and pro-claimed that I had met a man who told me all I ever did and yet He accepted me. I told them I thought perhaps He was the Christ. They went out to Him and Jesus performed yet an-other miracle. He came to our village, He ate our Samaritan bread, and He spoke to the people. The community I live in was transformed that day. He took away our petty judgments and our cruelty. He came into our lives and we will never be the same.

Thank you Brother Jim Hensen for letting me share your mes-sage from the Woman at the Well. I never know where I am going to get my stories to share in my Newsletters. Sometimes when life puts us in desert situations, if we look hard enough we will see the blessing He has waiting for us there. All things do truly work together for good to those who love the Lord. To those who are called according to His purpose. Perhaps some part of the Woman at the Well story you can relate to. Hard times bring out the true nature of our Christian love. Many are hurting in the difficult times. Jesus came, died, and rose again for each and every one of us. He asks nothing of us but to accept His sacrifice for us and to follow His example as we live and breathe and have our being. Now you will look at His story of the Good Samaritan in a new light after talking with the woman at the well.
“Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:5

God Bless You and Happy Resurrection Sunday,
Bishop Nick and Sandy Farone

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

“Statistics show that church attendance has dropped over 50% in the last 3 years. Giving has dropped 50% and people are retreating to their jobs, homes, things, their own desires and needs.”  CBN report s 2011.  “Things just aren’t the same any more [...]]]> Dear Precious Prayer Partners,    

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

“Statistics show that church attendance has dropped over 50% in the last 3 years. Giving has dropped 50% and people are retreating to their jobs, homes, things, their own desires and needs.”  CBN report s 2011.  “Things just aren’t the same any more Nick,” a leading Pastor of a leading denomination said to me at an International Meeting of Pastors. “Don’t expect people to give like they used to in these hard times Nick, when people get it again, then they will give,” an overseas Pastor told me.  What are we supposed to do when we live on what people give us? Is God’s word true in hard times as well as good?

“I’ve had to let half my staff go so I could keep my salary,” another Pastor said to me.  T.V. ministries and in most of the larger pulpits around the country, people are being encouraged to give to get. We are supposed to give because it is a good cause or there is a need, not to get something we want in return.  The devil has turned God’s church upside down and inside out in many cases. People are encouraged to send in $10.00 to plant a seed that God can water and send back to them one hundred fold.  Now multiply that $10.00 over a million viewers and see what you get. Now multiply that over a regular monthly gift of $10.00. You do the math.  No wonder the only “Evangelists” left are the big time church and T.V. ministries who can fly around in private jets to bring in crowds to the bigger churches so they can do bigger projects and reach the world for Christ. How about reaching our own country? “The day of the Evangelist is over Nick”, a consoling Pastor told me last year.  Not according to God’s word in most translations.

Let me tell you, as a called Evangelist of God to preach the truth and nothing but the truth, why God’s church is dying. It is that kind of attitude that is killing God’s church. “We are a small church and can’t afford to bring in Evangelists any more,” how many of my fellow Evangelists have heard that and  told me that Pastors now have their own agendas and they don’t want to have their people give to anything other than their church.. Let me ask you some logical questions.  Do you think God knows who can’t give? Do you   think God knows who can give? Do you think God knows who will give?  Simple questions and answers. If you chose Yes to all these then you have asked and received the same questions and answers I did 24 years ago. We have never placed a burden on God’s church or His people to do His will. Never in the thousands of services we have done. All they want is your money can never be associated with those who truly trust God and His people for their supply.  I thank God for the “practicing Christians and friends of God” he has led us to over the years in the ministry. The majority of the Pastors we knew were true givers and believers.

We thank God every day for the givers and supporters he has given us. He has always supplied our need when Pastors brought it to their church’s attention, in good times and in bad. God blesses those who give. Today many of God’s Pastors are tying His hands. They are more concerned about meeting their own needs and desires than letting God work through them and their people. That is what is killing God’s church. His own Shepherds in many cases are stopping the flow of His work.

I have made a promise to God I would write the truth, good and bad, to help His church. Those who have gotten to know Sandy, Nicky, and I over the years know that God uses us to bless each of His churches and people we have ministered to. Look at the e-mail we just received from a fellow named Mike. “Hello Brother Nick and Sister Sandy, A small note on my feelings…..you two where Heaven sent!!! I’m bursting at the seams and want to let it out. The Holy Spirit is soooo powerful!!!  What a coincidence you came to me (yeah right). I fully know Jesus is answering prayers, Oh what a wonderful God we serve!!!!  We have been reading books and soaking up anything we can on true faith. We fast on Wednesdays and devote the entire day to Jesus asking for my healing! And then along comes your word, WHAT A BLESSING. I’m craving the touch of his hands on me. I felt that feeling when you touched me tonight, your hand reached right through to my heart! What a moment I’ll never forget. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart and may God richly bless you and your family now and in eternity!  Always in Christ, Mike .That is what Sandy and I live to do for Christ, in our country. We never put a burden on God’s church or His people. We always, always have the Pastor take their tithes and offerings for their church at their regular time during their service. We ask the Pastor to take our ministry needs offering at the end of our service. All the Pastor has to do is share whatever need we have before our offering so the people will know. God will touch those He knows can and will help to meet it. “Nick, you can come for a service, but my Board has decided we only give $250.00 for a speaker,” one Pastor said. Right there he was telling me God was no longer in control of meeting our needs and what He wanted to give us for our ministry.  “Nick, don’t worry we take good care of our speakers, you just come and minister to our folks,” another Pastor said. Do you notice one thing in common about these Pastors responses?  The word  “we”. They all considered the Evangelist just a speaker, not a gift of God to His churches, and they are going to decide how much to give them. These are the same Pastors that want and need Revival in their churches, yet their pocketbooks are keeping it from them.

I thank God that over the years He has directed Sandy, Nicky, and I to faithful, loving, and caring, men and women of God. These next few months I will share with you the tremendous “Trials and Triumphs of following Jesus,” God has brought us through with His true Pastors and people, over these last ten months.  You will have to keep up because there is too much to tell in one newsletter. I will write them like a suspense novel leaving you hanging in many cases. But, keep them in a book like our friends John and Sharon do and know there is a happy ending.

They will help you in your situation to know that God is working behind the scenes for you. Your situation may appear hopeless, but there is a happy ending. Maybe living through our struggles together will help us both. I hope these newsletters will be an encouragement to you who are truly struggling and hurting in these troubled times. I want to let you know He has not left you or forsaken you. Don’t be discouraged as you look at the church around you today. There are some Pastors who are true servants. There are some churches that still believe and practice His word. One of them is Hope Vineyard Church in California, we will tell you about in the course of these next few writings. They are small in number but, they are mighty in His eyes.

“Nick, you keep on doing God’s work He will provide,” some dear friends who are hurting themselves financially and physically said, as they wired us $300.00 on the road for the tire we needed. Luke 6:38 .the same measure you use He will give it back to you running over. Not just running over but, pushed down, shaken together first. As our son Dominick pointed out.

Some people think they can shake a dollar bill real hard before they put it into the offering plate and God will send them $1,000.00 for their need or more. Time to get real folks.  If we want to see His blessings we have to reach out to others because we care and not because we want. The widow’s mite was all she had. Many pastors and people carry around the widow’s mite in their pockets to give, but it’s not all they have. She gave all she had. It is time for God’s church in America to wake up and help each other do more than take mission’s trips. It won’t be the million dollar Evangelist who does it. It will be the small group of faithful Evangelists who have sold out to Jesus and His service. Those who don’t travel by private jet, scream across T.V. venues we want your money, or come into your homes daily with the latest one time seed planting need.

God’s people are not one time givers. They are not desperation givers. They are not givers out of their abundance. They are givers to His servants needs, brought to their attention, when they arise. “Just bring our need to the attention of your people who know us and He will touch those He wants to give to help,” I said. “Okee, Dokee, “they said.  But they never did.

These next few newsletters will show you where your giving was spent and how you minister with us to people like Mike in this month’s newsletter.

In June of 2010 we were scheduled to speak at a week long Camp meeting in Michigan, with the promise of coming back for a revival in September. My desktop computer had crashed and was now too old to repair. My laptop also lost its capability to use its cd drive so I was no longer able to produce my performance Cds. My printer was out of ink so I needed $680.00 for cartridges. Two trees in the back yard were getting ready to fall on top of the gazebo I had just built so I needed $600.00 to have them removed. Before we left Bastrop our air conditioning at our home went out. $600.00 to repair. The Volvo needs 125,000 mile servicing $1,485.00. The electrical wire from the pump house had an electrical short in the tree so I had to fix that, $200.00. I got covered with poison ivy. Determined to make my ministry responsibility, I got a shot and some medicine from Dr. Mike, who cares about and supports our ministry, and we headed for Michigan.  Arriving there we were hit by a hurricane that shut the power down in the city for a week, damaged or RV windshield again, and left us in a campground where most people had no electric. Thanks to our generator we had electricity, but it cost us an extra $200.00 for the week. The Pastor there said not to worry he would take good care of us. Our expenses to get there were $1,200.00 and the extra $200.00 for gas during the storm. The campground owner gave us our spot free, God Bless her.

Leaving the Camp Meeting, heading for Tulsa, OK to see Dominick and Jackie, the Pastor gave us his check. He never took a love offering for us or told the people of our need. We had seven people saved in my service, but that apparently wasn’t worth his effort to care about our needs. His check was for $1,000.00. So he not only didn’t meet our needs, but he put us in the hole and left us there.

On the way to Tulsa, OK.  the motor on our ministry travel R.V. blew out in Bartlett Kansas. The three year battle with the city over their caved in storm drain on our property has cause our credit to be maxed out. I called the Pastor in Michigan an asked if he would bring our emergency to the attention of his people to see if any would help us. They loved us when we were there. He said he had a trip to China coming up and didn’t want to interfere with that. He’d pray for us. I don’t really think he prayed.

So, there we were stranded.  What were we to do?

Driving home in our church van with it packed out with stuff from the RV I was praying, “God, we said we would serve You until we could go no more. Is this that time?”

I had just finished praying when my cell phone rang. It was two of our good friends God has blessed with over the years. He has been the Vice President on our Board of Directors from the beginning. “Nick, what’s going on?” he asked. “We are stuck in Kansas with a blown motor and no way to have it fixed. “Susan and I will lend you the money so tell them to fix it,” he said. Thank You God!!!! They let us borrow $7,000.00 we needed. Another dear friend and Board member, from the beginning, sent us $3,000.00 to help with bills. We got the motor home back home July 23rd.  P.T.L. I now had the motor home back so we could make our Revival commitment in September at the same church the Pastor in Michigan had us for the Camp Meeting. I called and told him how God had restored the motor home so we could make it and he said, “Well, I know we discussed it, but I don’t have it on my calendar,” sorry.

So, we here sat again with no income, another loan to pay back, and a Pastor even called from Kenya, Africa wanting me to be a speaker at a Pastors Convention there in July of 2011.

So, now what God?

You will find out in the next exciting chapter of “Trials and Triumphs of Following Jesus”.

Thank you for all who give to this ministry. You are our  God’s source of supply for us and are touching lives for His Kingdom.  The expenses are listed here, in the beginning of this Newsletter, where your giving has gone and where it will continue to go to keep us keeping on.

God Bless You,
Bishop Nick and Sandy Farone

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all [...]]]> Dear Precious Prayer Partners,

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord: he is double-minded, and unstable in all his ways.” James 1: 2-8

I love the epistle of James. Just two small pages and five small chapters in your Bible. In these briefly written words are great words of comfort and direction from our Lord. James is describing himself, to the twelve tribes, when calls himself a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. He expounds on faith. In September of 1987 I made a choice, with my family, to become a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ and to live by faith.

I wanted to prove God’s word to be true to myself and my family. I wanted to see if we could live by faith and what the works were James was talking about in Chapter 2:26. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”  If God’s word was true, and it is, I wanted to be able to live by faith and to teach others how to do so as well.

Faith without works cannot be called faith, it says in my New King James version. And, dead faith is worse than no faith at all. Faith must work; it must produce; it must be visible. Verbal faith is not enough; mental faith is insufficient. Faith must be there, but it must be more. It must inspire action. Throughout his epistle to the Jewish believers, James integrates true faith and everyday practical experience by stressing that true faith must manifest itself in works of faith.

Faith endures trials. Trials come and go, but a strong faith will face them head-on and develop endurance. Faith obeys the Word. It will not merely hear and not do. Faith produces doers. Faith displays itself in works. Faith is more than just words; it is more than knowledge; it is demonstrated by obedience; and it responds to the promises of God. Faith controls the tongue. This small, but immensely powerful part of the body must be held in check. Faith can do it. I know.  As an outspoken, hardheaded, Sicilian Italian, I have seen the Holy Spirit control my tongue many times in these daily walks in our Lord’s service. I could not have done that if I had not learned to walk in faith. Faith acts wisely.  It gives us the ability to choose wisdom that is heavenly and to shun wisdom  that is earthly. Faith produces separation from the world and submission to God. It provides us with the ability to resist the devil and humbly draw near to God. Through trouble and trials it stifles complaining.

James tells us to be encouraged in our trials in 5: 11 “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and seen the end intended by the Lord, that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”

No matter what you are facing in your life right now, as hard as it is in the flesh, count it all joy for we have His word to trust in and stand on.

Many years now we have stood on His word in James 5:13 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Notice we are instructed to Pray. That is the first of seven things God showed me to do in our daily lives to receive His strength, guidance, and direction. These seven principles God showed me are outlined in my book, along with testimonies of hundreds who have learned to follow His ways. When we learn to walk with Him in our times of trial and testing, we will see our lives change and receive the strength we need to hold on until the blessing He has for us comes.

God Bless You,

Bishop Nick and Sandy

We praise God for the help many of you have sent above your monthly support with our present ministry needs to enter the New Year. These are the results for those who would like to give a one time gift to help us in our ministry travels and service.

Four tires for our ministry travel motor home                     $1,260.00                   Paid
Balance due on new motor                                              paid $1,500.00           $6,500.00      New balance $5,000.00
Ministry motor home insurance                                        paid $550.00               $1,150.00       New balance $600.00
Gasoline for California ministry in February                        paid $200.00               $1,400.00      New Balance $1,200.00

Thank you for your one time gifts to help us! To God Be the Glory.