Personal Message from Jack
February marks the birth month of one of our
ministry's Founding Members, Johnny Cash. Please
take a moment to read a little about his relationship to
our mission.
This month also means Valentine's Day and thoughts
of love. The greatest example of love is the story of
God giving His son Jesus to die for the sins of this
world. (as stated in John 3:16)
And now it's our turn, "By this we know love,
because He laid down His life for us, we also
ought to lay down our lives for the brethern.
(IJohn 3:16)
Thank you to all who contributed their prayers and
financial support toward the "Dalton vehicle Fund" to
help us provide reliable, safe transportation for Fred
Dalton and his family in Kenya. We found a vehicle,
currently used by a missionary who has been called
to another part of Africa. We continue to need
another $10,000 to complete the purchase and are
trusting God that His people will continue to help us
reach that goal.
"That thy way may be known upon earth,
Thy saving health among all nations." (Ps
67:2)
One of our ministries missions is the completion
of the Grace Christian Mission Hospital in Nakuru,
Kenya. We believe that this facility will have a
positive impact on the spiritual and physical health of
the Kenyan people.
Donate Now!
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Johnny Cash - Feb. 26, 1932 / Sept. 12, 2003
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness
and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His
love, in whom we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins.” (Col 1:13-14)
As his birthday nears, I am more aware that he is
gone, but memories live on in the hearts and minds of
those of us that knew him and loved him, as well as
with his millions of fans around the world.
John and I were friends and as close as brothers
for well over twenty years. Early in our friendship, John
asked me to call him every day, which I did for many
years. Our conversations would envelop a variety of
subjects, but always, we'd talk about the Bible. We'd
discuss perhaps one of its champions or heroes of
faith, the deeper meaning of a certain scripture or
unique passage, or a certain verse that might seem to
have our very names imbedded in it, etc. We would
just fellowship in the Word.
For many years I was very privileged to travel the world
with John and June, their family, and others who were
part of the 18-member group that comprised ‘The
Johnny Cash Show’. Being an ordained minister,
John and June had asked me lead a Bible study
before each show. They were always there, as were
others who wanted to attend as well. I also ministered
and prayed with those from the audience who, through
John’s invitation given just before the finale of Gospel
songs, would come down to an area near the stage
where I would be positioned, to talk with me at each
show’s close. While it may not have been the
traditional ‘altar call’, it was a call to the ‘altar’. Many
came. Many prayed and accepted Christ. Many had
questions about God and His Word. Many expressed
desperate needs that I just knew would never have
been mentioned in any other setting. All, by God’s
grace, I believe were helped. Those moments
seemed so sacred and the Holy Spirit’s presence so
very real.
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God Used Johnny's Struggles
“He is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My
name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of
Israel. For I will show him how many things he must
suffer for My name’s sake.” (Acts 9: 15-16)
John has been called a ‘tortured genius', he truly
was both: one of the brightest individuals I've ever met,
and, relentlessly pursued by the, ‘wolves of the night’
(Psalm 91:1 -–MSG). It is well known that
John’s life, from his youth, was filled with struggles,
but he also showed up at the feet of God quite often to
deal with them. One of the results, I believe, is that
God, in His infinite wisdom and unique purpose, used
those very struggles, to engender within him empathy
with the lost and the hurting. He seemed to have a
restless ‘need’ to help the down-and-outers, those
locked behind bars and walls, or bound in chains of
sin, addictions and darkness.
No less was his passion for helping the spiritually
down-and-out, living in life’s fringe areas, estranged
from God; ‘outcasts’, wanderers, who might never
knowingly seek God, or even darken a church door,
without, ‘something’, with which they might identify, or,
perhaps someone, who might make knowing God
and serving Him, ‘Acceptable’. I believe that for much
of John’s life, and especially in the final years of
his touring and recording, for many he was
that ‘someone.’ As a result, from Perth Australia to the
purple spiked hair dens of Europe to Carnegie Hall,
many ‘untouchables’ were touched, many ‘outcasts’
were brought into the fold, and many of
life’s ‘prisoners’ were set free. And, amazingly, beyond
his passing, it seems that his ‘anointing’ and the
fruits thereof have remained and even continued to
grow.
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God Calls Everyone!
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you”
(Jeremiah 1: 5)
The ‘calling’ on the life of Johnny Cash was
certainly unique. But God’s calling for each of us is
just as unique and purposeful. Naturally, everyone’s
mission is not played out on a world stage, but our
lives and how we live them is important to God, to us,
and to those around us. God created each one of us
for a unique purpose that only we can fulfill. Our
willingness to bring our failures, our successes, and
everything in between, and report for duty at His feet
on a daily basis will have a unique impact on this
world, and the effects will inevitably overflow into the
next one.
It seems that John often aimed at doing the right
thing, but often missed the bull’s eye, and many times
might have missed the whole side of the barn. We
too will at times miss the mark, just as all before us
have. When that happens, remember that God is not
so much concerned with where you hit the target, as to
where you were aiming. So don’t be surprised if at
times you might sense His presence, peeking over
your shoulder, hoping to see that your sights are
properly set.
If John could speak to us from Heaven
right now I’m convinced that, in his own words of
course, his comments would epitomize a poem that I
remember seeing in my Aunt Helen’s living room as a
child: “Only one life, twill soon be past; Only what’s
done for Christ will last.” Yes, I believe that John
would tell us to set our sights on eternal values,
pursue God’s will, and look beyond the accolades and
honors of this world that so quickly fade in the light of
eternity.
“And I heard a voice in the heavens above me
saying, ‘Write this down: At last the time has come for
his witnesses to enter into their full reward. Yes, says
the Spirit, they are blest indeed, for now they shall rest
from all their toils and trials; for their good deeds
follow them to heaven!’ '' (Revelation 14:13)
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Kenya's Need is Great!
We are still seeking funding for the remaining
$10,000 toward the "Dalton Vehicle Fund". Your
Dollars will be applied toward the purchase of the
needed FWD vehicle, with amounts received above
the vehicle cost being applied toward construction of
the ‘Nehemiah' walls. Any amounts received whether
less or more than $1,000, will be deeply appreciated
and likewise be applied as stated. [NOTE: Your gifts
are tax deductible. A JSMI receipt will be mailed to
you.]
JSMI is an Evangelical Council for
Financial Accountability member
"Blessed if he who considers
the poor; the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
the LORD will preserve him and keep him alive. And
he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver
him to the will of his enemies." (Ps 41:1-2)
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Jack Shaw Ministries-ECFA Member
Jack Shaw Ministries, Inc. has been a member of the
Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability since
1989.
The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability is
comprised of over 1,200 charitable, religious, and
educational organizations that are qualified for tax-
exempt, nonprofit status. ECFA’s steadfast purpose is
to enunciate, maintain, and manifest a code of
financial accountability, ethics, and reporting which is
consistent with enlightened and responsible Christian
faith and practice.
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Charisma Magazine Interviews Jack Shaw
Jack talks about the ministry's Grace Christian
Mission Hospital project in Kenya and much more in
this month's Charisma magazine.
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