Category Archives: Miscellaneous Posts
Jamaica 2024
Amazing, how fast a year can go by. We spent 3 weeks in Jamaica this year, from January 4 through 25.
This was a wonderful time of evangelizing, by preaching on the streets, Distributing Christian literature, and innumerable conversations with the Jamaica people about the Gospel and spiritual things. During our 3 weeks we gave out thousands of Gospel tracts, and many Bibles. This year we had different people join us for different lengths of time, from New York, Colorado, Saint Louis, Virginia, Texas, and England. We were able to rent a car this year, since we had some brethren from England who were used to driving on the wrong side of the road. We traveled to share the Gospel in Montego Bay, Falmouth, Negril, Lucea. Savanah La Mar, and Ocho Rios .We would preach and witness in the town centers, taxi parks, and open air markets. Jamaica is a great place to talk about the things of God. In general they do not cling to the evolutionary worldview, they don’t have legal abortions, and they don’t protest so much about LGBT issues. The problems of morality in Jamaica are more personal with issues like fornication and having children out of wedlock. Murder is another problem in Jamaica, most always Jamaican against Jamaican, and often gang related. A greater problem is the false teaching of so many churches. They may have a form of godliness, but lack any power. The SDA church seems to be the most prevalent and the Pentecostal church, with many who deny the truth regarding the nature of God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The teaching of most of the churches in Jamaica is focused on water baptism, thus, most people think that no matter how they live or what sins they mat commit, they can simply go and get baptized in water, and then have an assurance of going to Heaven. There is not much taught about the need for spiritual regeneration. Many of the churches deny any form of hell, which results in No fear of God before them.
Many of the people this year seems truly happy that we visited them again. More than any previous trip there was a group in Montego Bay who would stand around and listen for hours. One man told me that they stayed to listen so they could learn the truth about God and the bible> I was able to meet several of the regulars who come around every year, although sadly some never showed up. I pray for all of them all year and am saddened when I don’t see them.
All to soon our 3 weeks came to an end, and we had to pack up and leave, hoping the “incorruptible seed” was implanted in the hearts of many. I always lift the people of Jamaica up in my prayers, hoping that God will do a Mighty work.
A
Fall 2023 Sharing the Gospel
This is what is written; The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His Name to all the nations. Luke 24vs47.
Wow! Seasons pass so fast. With the VB boardwalk fairly desolate now, I have been blessed to be invited to preach the Gospel with some friends at some colleges in Ohio, Connecticut, and Mass. I also worked with Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Amesbury Mass, in Sharing the Gospel with those attending the festivities in Salem Mass. On Oct. 31. Otherwise, I continue to minister outside some abortion clinics in VB, NN, and Richmond. December is the month to give out countless Gospel tracts at the holiday parades in Norfolk, Richmond, Poquoson, Williamsburg, and Hampton. LORD willing, my hope is to travel to Jamaica and evangelize for 3 weeks, as I have for the past 12 years. I have been blessed and encourage by everyone at GBC, and have been strengthened by the preaching and the fellowship. Truly the LORD is good. May we all grow in the Grace and knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ.
I thank everyone who prayed for me for your prayers. I hope to have more photos on my website…
www.luke24vs47.com
Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, with love incorruptible.
Don Karns
Ocean Swimming
Bicycle Tour
Flowers and Pots
Jamaica 2023
Greetings! God is good all the time. In January 2023, I was invited and joined with some dear brothers in Jamaica to share the Gospel in the cities and on the streets. For some, this was our 13th visit, and for others it was the 1st. As in the previous years we stayed at an inexpensive hotel located about 2 miles from the city center of Montego Bay. During our 3 week stay, we also visited and preached the Gospel in Negril, Lucea, Falmouth, and Ocho Rios. While there we preached, gave away Bibles and Gospel tracts, and engaged in many conversations. After 13 years, we have come to know and be known by many, especially in the Montego Bay city center area. This is the gathering place for buying and selling and also the place where the poor, homeless, and insane spend their days, begging for money, food, and Bibles (in that order). Most will be thankful for a soup or a patty which costs about 400 Jamaica dollars. (about $2.00 U.S).
By God’s Grace, this year we were joined for one week by 4 men from Christ Fellowship Bible Church, which is located in St. Louis, including pastor, Geoff Kirkland. They were a wonderful encouragement especially since 3 of them were young men, well taught and full of grace. In fact, we have been invited to join them in St. Louis, Feb. 18, for some preaching at a Mardi Gras event in St. Louis.
On the way to and from Jamaica, I spend a few days ministering outside an abortion clinic in Orlando, with my friend and mentor, John Barros.
Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, with love incorruptible.
The Promises of God are Sure
The Promises of God are sure.
The Promises of God are Sure.
If Thy Law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
Ps 119:92
The Precious Promises of GOD’s Word are like cordials to a soul that is ready to faint.
They are full of virtue.
There is a Promise,
“The LORD, Compassionate and Gracious”
(Ex 34:6)
Here, God holds out the golden scepter
to encourage poor trembling sinners to come to Him.
GOD is more willing to pardon, than to punish.
Mercy multiplies more in GOD, than sin in us. Mercy is His nature.
The bee naturally gives honey, and it stings only when provoked.
“But”, says the guilty sinner, “I cannot deserve Mercy”.
Yet, GOD is Gracious. He shows Mercy,
not because we deserve mercy, but because He delights in Mercy.
“But, what is that to me”? “Perhaps my name is not in the Pardon”.
The bank account of Mercy is not exhausted. GOD has treasures lying by,
and why should you not come, for a child’s share?
There is a a Promise working for good
“I will heal their waywardness”.
Hos 14:4
HE has Promised to send His Spirit, Whose sanctifying Power
is like water which cleanses vessels,
and like fire which refines metals.
The Spirit of GOD shall cleanse and consecrate your soul,
making it share in the Divine nature.
There is a Promise working for our good.
“I will be with him in trouble”.
Ps 91:15
God does not bring His people into troubles and leave them there..
God will stand by them. HE will hold their heads and their hearts,
when they are fainting..
“He is their stronghold in time of trouble”.’
Ps 37:39
“Oh”, says the soul, “I shall faint in the day of trial”.
But, GOD will be the strength of our hearts. GOD will join His forces with us.
Either GOD will make the burden, which is placed upon us, to be lighter,
or HE Will make our faith stronger.
There is a Promise,
“Those who seek the LORD, lack no good thing”.
Ps 34:10
If it is good for us, we shall have it.
If it is not good for us, then the withholding of it is good.
This blessing falls, as the honey dew upon the leaf.
It sweetens the little we possess.
Although a child of God might be reduced to great troubles,
yet, they will not be forsaken. They are still an heir to Heaven,
and God loves them for Christ’s sake.
Thomas Watson
Fill our minds with Christ
LORD GOD, as we read Thy Word,
may we see Christ walking in the sweet shades of Divine Love towards poor sinners.
And so, may our faith revive, and our comforts be restored.
When our minds are empty of Christ, as in temptation and the lack of comfort,
then they grind against themselves like an empty mill.
So, fill our minds with Christ, through Thy Word ,
that we may be free from temptations and fears.
May the threats of Thy Word, lead us to its Promises.
And, may we, by relying upon Thy Promises, make them ours,
and find their power and strength.
Animate our study of scriptures,
and so,
pour wine and oil into our bleeding wounds.
And when You have spoken peace and comfort to us,
When Thy face has shone upon our souls,
May we comfort others, with the comfort which we have been comforted,
knowing that the more we spend, the more we shall have.
William Bridge
Let us live in the constant contemplation of the Glory of Christ,
and virtue will proceed from Him
to repair all of our decays, and
to renew a right Spirit with us,
and cause us to abound in all duties of obedience.
The way of producing these effects,
flesh and blood can not reveal, for the life of faith is a mystery
known only to them in whom it is.
John Owen
Ocean Swimming
Bicycle Tour
Flowers and Pots
The Gospel Preached Fall 2022
What doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart and be no more stiff-necked. For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, who regards not persons, nor takes reward:
Another season has come and gone; thanks be to God! A great opportunity to share the Gospel at colleges and on the city streets, and even a visit to the Creation Museum in Kentucky.
The Fall season started well with a one-week short term mission, working with the saints at Hallelujah Side Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio.
While there we shared the Gospel in downtown Dayton, and some streets in Cincinnati, and Columbus. We also preached at the following colleges in Ohio. University of Cincinnati, Wright State, Ohio State, and University of Dayton. One morning was spent preaching outside the abortion clinic in Kettering, Ohio.
After a quick trip back home, I then joined some friends in Boston to preach the Gospel in the Northeast. While there we preached on the streets of Boston and New Haven, and we preached at Harvard, Yale, UConn, Southern Connecticut, UMass Boston, and UMass Lowell. At the end of the week most of us made our way to West Virginia, where the following week we preached the Gospel at WVU for 2 days, then at VT for 2 days.
The Lord showed us favor and answered many prayers. There were countless conversations, many many Gospel tracts and Bibles given away, and the Word of God was preached.
Thanks, be to God, for His Mercies endure forever.
Jamaica 2022
This January, I joined with two other men to evangelize in Jamaica. We have done this for more than ten years, although we missed last year because of the Covid. The mission there this year was certainly more challenging because of all the covid protocols. There was no jab required, but a covid test was required to enter and leave the country. In fact, I had to change my departure date from the U.S. by one day, because of the required test 72 hours prior. I departed from Orlando, and it seemed as if the whole city attempted to be tested at the same time. Once in Jamaica we were fairly free to move around, although masks were required to enter most stores and restaurants, and most of the local restaurants were carry out only. Hence many of our meals were eaten in the outdoors. While in Jamaica we were able to travel and preach and have conversations in Montego Bay, Falmouth, Negril, Ocho Rios, and Saint Lucea. As in the past, most of our preaching was done in town centers, open air markets, and taxi parks. We have a great love for the people of Jamaica, especially with the people who spend all day at Sam Sharpe’s Square in Montego Bay. We preach near a statue of Sam Sharpe who was a Christian, and a member of Burchell Baptist Church which is still a functioning church. His statue depicts him preaching outdoors with a Bible in his hand. This is very telling of the state of Jamaica which is overcrowded with Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah witnesses, Mormons, and oneness- Pentecostals, whom all reject what the Bible says and what Christians believe. It is a break for me to visit Jamaica because they are not abortion minded. What saddens me is that they are not so marriage minded, therefore many young women have multiple children yet never married. Ask most adult men how many children they have fathered and there are many, yet few have been husbands. The three of us were able to give away thousands of Gospel tracts and nearly 100 Bibles.
This year we met a young Jamaican man who has recently begun to preach in public. He was a encouragement and a help for us, and I hope we encouraged him. I had feared that some of the regular folk we see every year may have been taken by the covid, but by the Mercies of God, most are still there, buying, selling, begging, or just hanging out.
All too soon the 3 weeks were up and we had to get one final covid test before leaving to return home, God is Good and we were all negative, so we returned safe giving all thanks to God for His many benefits.
Jesus Christ IS LORD of lords and King of kings, the Savior of sinners, and His name is above every name. We preach Christ and Him crucified.
And thanks to all who prayed for us or helped to support us. IMG_2318
Spoiled A poem by Lisa Pointer
SPOILED
Spoiled and defeated.
Spoke the chains on me.
Why hope in GOD
You will never be free.
For my grip is too strong
And my rein is too tight,
And you will never escape,
To the day from this night.
Fight all you want!
Pray if you dare!
Your GOD does not love you,
Nor does HE care.
His grace has expired.
His mercies are done.
So why serve Him now?
When I have won.
But while sliding down,
into that sinking sand
Love reached out for me,
With His Nail Scarred Hands.
Strength unparalleled,
By His death on The Cross,
Was now tenderly touching,
All my life’s loss.
Hurts given back,
But now without their sting,
And disappointments and regret,
Not such a big thing.
HE spoke, “Here are your failures,
And many there are,
But I have used them as steps.
That you may reach for the stars.”
For spoiled and defeated ,
You will never be.
Because My Word will deliver
And always succeed
Poem by Lisa Pointer.