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Job Description

GoodSeed provides tools and training to help Bible believers explain the gospel in a way that makes profound sense. Though the tools were originally designed for people who have absolutely no knowledge of the Bible, we have found that whether you have been saved for 3 days or 33 years, the GoodSeed resources can be instrumental in building confidence in the Word of God and boldness in faith. Our key tools are patterned after the message Jesus gave to the disciples on the road to Emmaus. He started at Creation and moved progressively through the Old Testament, laying foundations, so that when he came to the cross and tomb, they clearly understand who Jesus was and what he did on the Cross. All the key GoodSeed tools are built using this creation to the cross architecture. Each tool is worldview sensitive, designed for people from Christianized, Islamic, Eastern or Secular backgrounds. You can give away the tools like a gospel tract or you can sit down and use them to guide a Bible study. The use of visual aids is a big part of our approach to communication. This is all for the purpose of explaining the gospel message clearly

Moment with Missions #388 - Pastors Understand for First Time

Dear Family and Friends, This last year I mentioned a story we saw developing in Africa. It was about a young pastor (George) who was invited to share the creation to Christ message at a small pastor's conference. You may remember how he was initially opposed by the regional denominational leadership, but then those very same leaders, after being taught themselves, became his champions. Now they are conducting monthly pastor’s conferences in their part of Africa. These regional leaders came to an understanding of the gospel that they had never had before, that salvation is by grace alone, in Christ alone. Because they lacked the Old Testament foundations they did not understand the gospel. It was their conviction that most pastors they know teach a gospel based around giving money and going to church. Well, to make a long story short, after hearing this story, a group of random supporters connected with GoodSeed, and together, this January, printed in Africa 3000 copies of “The Stranger” book. Every pastor now attending these English-based, Creation to Christ conferences is receiving a copy. Here are a few responses Pastor George texted me from the last conference: One Bishop said this was his first time ever to really understand what the Bible means by "without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.” Another pastor said he couldn't believe he has read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation 4 times and still missed its message. One of their leaders said the best thing with this training is that it is just the Bible. It seems for most, this is the first time they have really understood the gospel. I can’t help but think these pastors are going back to their local churches with a very different message. Pray for them and their congregations. Pastor George also texted me saying that this is going bigger than he ever expected. At this last conference: The leaders of the [church] fellowships in different areas in the country are helping with mapping out how to do this all over the country as we go region by region. This month there are two pastor’s conferences being conducted. Due to Covid restrictions they limit attendance. Pray for open hearts and Pastor George as he teaches. In the last 10 months, George has taught around 600 attendees. It is his concern that these pastors, as new believers, continue in their learning of Scripture. I asked him if “The Captive and the King’s Will” (the sequel to “The Stranger”) would help. He was thrilled at the possibility. It will cost around CAD$13,300.00 to do 3000 copies printed in Africa. (USD$10,450.00) One GoodSeed supporters has committed to 50% of that amount. Will you pray about the other half…that we may see it provided? Thank you for your part in the gospel. We appreciate you very much. John and Janice

Moment with Missions #390 - Pass it on

Thom Cunningham, a dear coworker of ours from our time in Papua New Guinea, teaches a course built around the idea of “Each One Reach One; Each One Teach One.”  I was reminded of the phrase when I received the below picture from Pastor George in Kenya. We have told you about Pastor George before, regarding the Creation to Christ Seminars he has been teaching to pastors. Follow the progression:

1. George is on the extreme right.

2. The man next to him in the blue shirt found out about George on FaceBook. As a result he decided to attend one of George’s Creation to Christ seminars. He invited his sister to join him.

3. The sister is next in line standing behind the little girl. She had a full schedule for the day she was invited, but decided to attend part of the seminar. But right from the beginning she was so engaged in the story she cancelled all her meetings and stayed the full first day. That night she went home and pleaded with her father to join them for the next day of teaching. 

4. Her father, next in line in the red shirt, was deeply involved in a cult. He joined his son and daughter for the next day of teaching. He sat quietly through it all as George continued teaching from Creation to Christ. His face was impassive showing no response or interest. At the end of the day he accepted a copy of the book, “The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus.” That night he went home and read through the book. The next day he called his family together and told them he had just learned what the gospel was all about. He shared the message  with the rest of his family.

5. The next in line in the gray shirt, is the father’s son-in-law. Both he and his wife came to the Lord as a result of the father’s testimony. 

6. The wife then talked to the family “grandma” (blue top and mask) who, upon hearing the Bible story, also came to Christ. 

The whole family came to Christ.

PS: The below picture was taken less than 3 weeks after the above picture. It shows all those who have now come to the Lord in this village as a result of the gospel being shared by this one family. Pastor George is on the extreme left by the father. The sister is in the dark blue on the right. Can you spot grandma? The brother who started it all?

Moment with Missions #392 - An 18-year vision fulfilled

Friday, I sat in a production studio in Red Deer, Alberta, and working all day in house and across the internet, finalized the master mix of an18-year vision. Here is the story.

It was November 29th, 2003. Janice and I had the privilege of attending a performance of Handel’s Messiah at Prairie Bible College. It is quite memorable in my mind as the conductor had to stand in the middle of the audience to direct both orchestra and choir, as they were both so large. 

Waiting for the performance to commence, I read the bulletin that each attendee had been given.  It gave background to Messiah that I had not known.  It was Charles Jensen, largely unknown in history, who had the vision to create a “gospel musical” that would reach the people of his time. He hired Handel to set it to music. As I sat there waiting for the Prairie College performance to start, the thought formed in my mind that something like that could be done today. Of course it would not be in the same class as Messiah, but it sparked the idea.

It was not much later that I connected with James Janzen, the director of that performance (the man standing in the middle of the audience) and together we came up with the idea of putting The Lamb book into music for the same purpose Jensen/Handel had envisioned for Messiah, to explain the gospel to the people of our time. 

James and I were the original visionaries, but we have had a lot of help along the way, people who freely gave of their time as they saw the bigger purpose with a clarity that was their own. I could fill pages with their contributions. Along the way we faced many hurdles, sometimes obstacles that seemed to be the death knell to the entire project. Near the end, Covid slowed things down and forced us to be creative. How do you record three difference voices separately (one in Scotland, the others in Canada) and then combine them in such a way that it sounds as if they are having a natural conversation around a table?

We have now come to the end of that journey, having created a new evangelistic tool, called No Ordinary Story — Radio Theatre, soon available as a download on the GoodSeed store.  Physical CD’s are being manufactured this month. Bulk orders will be deeply discounted as we are assuming they are being given away, which is our intention for this product.

Many of you have shown interest in this project over the years. Some prayed others gave. Thanks to all who had a part.