September 2004 Personal Letter

Dear Friends:

Let me say at the outset that I am so delighted with your support and your prayers. I especially appreciate the intercessory prayers on my behalf — I depend upon your prayers to keep up a ministry that’s rather strenuous for a heart patient. Thank you so much for your generosity and your good sense in knowing that support of Israel at a time like this is crucial.

We were horrified last month to hear of the Presbyterian USA denomination’s divestiture from Israel (please refer to page 26 of the August Levitt Letter). It’s hard enough for us to give Christian support to the Chosen People and the Promised Land without anti-Semites, calling themselves Christians, cursing the place. Nevertheless these liberal unbelievers have publicly announced their support of Palestinian terrorism, and they have publicly cursed Israel.

Supporting this ministry really does amount to putting in a vote for Israel. We not only conduct tours three times a year, we film on location there, and we deal with that nation in virtually every program. As I say when I speak in the churches, “I come to you tonight to speak to you about the three most important issues in Christianity today: Israel, Israel and Israel,” and I remind parishioners that those who are supporting Israel truly know what time it is.

My son Mark, who is the able business manager of this ministry, informs you each January and June about its progress in his “State of the Ministry” article. But the end of this month marks the 3/4 point in what has been one of our most challenging years. I am happy to report to you that at this time, the third quarter of 2004, we are getting closer to balancing with the PAX network. Your increased support is needed to keep our head above water and still be reaching out to millions more viewers. I can’t tell you what a difference it makes to have this convenient airtime (9:30 am on the east and west coasts, 8:30 am central and mountain time) every Thursday morning, in addition to the other airtimes that we are sometimes given.

We have been here before. When we went on CBN, a national network, we found it difficult to pay the airtime bills. It took a year or so to gather enough support for our CBN broadcast to sustain itself. It was likewise on the TBN airing and the other networks that followed. Each one presented a problem when we first undertook it, but, little by little, the people watching our program did the right thing, and our support accumulated until we were back in balance. Truth to tell, there’s no reason why, if the Lord tarries, we could not someday broadcast on the major networks, or at least more national cable channels like PAX, so the program might be available to the entire nation at a convenient time.

At the present, we are debating whether to take the crew to film in Israel on our November tour. We will conduct the tour, of course, but taking our TV people is an expensive undertaking, and always has to be budgeted for well in advance. The crew hasn’t gone this year at all, due to the strain of paying the PAX invoices, but we certainly have good reason to go. All I can say is the November taping in Israel depends upon your support more than any other factor, and I fervently hope that the money is available.

As you know, we don’t take much time for fundraising in this ministry, since we have serious teaching to do. Almost alone, we bear the burden of teaching about Israel and the fulfillment of End Times prophecies that seem to be coming our way. The seminaries have deserted this critical information at the most crucial time and not many ministries are knowledgeable on the subject.

Suffice it to say that, whatever the Lord would have you do for this ministry is all we ever ask of you. As you well know, we don’t have fancy vehicles and those who visit our offices are surprised at the spartan surroundings and the small staff. We own no buildings and no airplanes, and we just don’t waste money on frills.

People are surprised when I advise our donors to give to another ministry when we are doing well. I even receive special gratitude from folks in the churches who seem amazed that a religious broadcaster is not always shouting for money. I have found that the best policy is to follow the Biblical advice to make our needs known and just to leave it at that.

So God bless you, and thank you for your reliable help. And always remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Your Messenger,

P.S. Whether or not the crew goes in November, we will certainly take them to Israel in 2005 with the provision of your year-end gifts.