“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. - Matthew 13:3-8
Bess and I have been co-laboring for a few months on a 40 acre farm in eastern Ohio, with a couple about our age, he a retired physician, and her a retired nurse.
They had spent 10 years as missionaries on the “Mercy Ships”, serving all over the world.
God had told them 10 years ago to purchase the property they now have, to begin growing and storing food, and preparing a place on their property as a refuge, for a time “somewhere down the road”.
Coincidentally, We were invited to a conference that same year in western Ohio where we heard many similar testimonies from people who had gathered there from all over the U.S. and Canada. There was an instant connection birthed, when we would end up speaking at their church, and realized a like-mindedness of vision.
I grew up in the “Asphalt Jungle” of Brooklyn, N.Y., and until I left for college to the cornfields of South Dakota, had never experienced anything other than inner city life. Bess on the other hand, had raised chickens, owned a plant shop, was a vet-tech, and had a love for the great outdoors. Bess was at home on the farm. I, on the other hand found my pleasure in teaching at Calvary Chapel Canton, where we have been attending. Pastor Ted & Pauline Shuler head up the leadership team of this wonderful fellowship. Pauline is in need of your prayers for a very recent series of health issues.
I taught for three weeks on the why’s & how’s of sharing the Good News with Jewish people, as well as the prophetic significance of God’s Feasts.
Bess had an opportunity to lead a formal Shabbat dinner on a Friday evening a weeks ago which was very well attended in the sanctuary of the church.
Canton, Ohio has a Jewish population of about 1,000, with two synagogues, while Akron, Ohio is just down the road, with three synagogues, and a substantially larger Jewish population
We also have been attending on Saturdays, the Reform Jewish Congregation in Canton, and have had several opportunities to converse with Rabbi David. Please pray for the veil to be lifted, and the seeds planted to bear fruit.
Speaking of seeds planted, is it any wonder that Yeshua used the culture of the day, the lifestyle of much of that society, to describe the Kingdom of Heaven.
I will never read the scriptures the same, after having experienced “life on the farm”, if only for a very short season.
The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in the field…
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed…
The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake…
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field …
THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SECRETS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US.
Let us all continue to be about our father’s business in reaching the lost, to the best of our ability… the time is Short.
We leave the farm next week, visit our son in Virginia for a few days, head south to visit our daughter and brand-new grandson in Orlando, head to Texas for a few speaking opportunities, and then continue on to Denver, where we will be leading a mission team of 10 from Mission Hills Church to Israel.
We would ask for your prayers for traveling mercies, both here and abroad, and for divine appointments in Israel, which we have come to expect!
If you have any questions or wish to be a part of a mission trip to Israel, please let us know. Our email is:
If you feel lead to support our work both in the States & Israel, you can
Bless
ings,Larry & Bess
