NOVEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER
GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD
AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
Hello Saints,
I know it has been a while since my last newsletter and some of you have inquired
about it.
There isn’t much to write about, with our economy being the way it is.
The first ones to get hit hard are ministries outside the
Church.
The Church suffers greatly, but
the independent ministries already have such little to work with, it's worse.
My health is improving slowly, Glory to God, although recently I was
diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
I’ve been given medication and now diet even more than after the heart
attack and I am exercising more.
With all these pills I have to take I must rattle when I walk. Ha!
For the past 6 months we
have not been able to help people, other than getting them groceries and paying
rents so they won’t get evicted.
The needs have far exceeded our finances. We have been able to get some local
churches involved with helping some of these families, and I’m thankful
to the Lord for that.
I have been meeting with many Pastors
from various denominations all year, trying to put our resources together
to help the needy families that are here.
But, the Pastors have had to put a halt to many of their outreaches because
of the economy. It is sad to have to hear that.
I can see the look in most of these Pastors eyes. They too, feel the hurt
and pain of having to say no. But, you can’t give what you don’t
have.
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In the past year a few of our monthly supporters have either
lost their jobs, homes to foreclosures, or just didn’t have any extra
at the
end of the month. So, they had no choice but to stop sending their monthly
donations to this ministry.
This has hurt us tremendously, and we barely make it month to month anymore.
Our current monthly
expenses (and we are at bare minimum) are $3126.25. Our total monthly donations
are $3160.00.
As you can see, there is almost nothing left over, or saved for an emergency.
For many months, I have had to use part of my Social Security check to make
ends meet.
As it is, I take no salary from the ministry. There isn’t anything left
for a salary, and I’m not complaining. The Lord is my provider.
He is the provider for all of us.
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by
Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19, NKJV)
It is extremely difficult to ask people to
donate on a monthly basis when they can’t make ends meet themselves.
We are in some perilous times, and I don’t know how people who don’t
know Jesus as their Lord and Savior are going to be able to cope with it.
Please continue to pray for this ministry and my health. We need prayer more
than ever before.
A Fellow Bondservant,
Tom Papania
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JANUARY 2009 NEWSLETTER
GOD's SAVING GRACE MINISTRIES
GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
Hello Saints,
2008 has come and gone and here we are in 2009 already. I for one, am very
glad to see 2008 end. I had some dear friends go home to be with our Lord
and the heart attack I suffered in December. The heart attack gave me no warnings
at all.
I was sweating for a few days and was getting ready to drive to Atlanta that
weekend and thought it was wise to see my Doctor before I took that 500 mile
drive. When I arrived at my Doctors office, my blood pressure and pulse was
taken. The physicians attendants eyes were wide open as she took my pulse.
It was 200!! I was given an EKG and was informed I had a heart attack by the
Doctor. He called for an ambulance to take me to the nearest Hospital. When
the EMT's arrived they took my pulse and it was still 200. They gave me a
shot in my left hand to stop my heart. My heart felt like two hands were squeezing
as hard as they could around my heart. Within seconds my heart restarted and
my pulse was down to 90, and I was taken to the Hospital.
When I arrived at the Hospital Emergency Room I was given another EKG exam
and was told once again I suffered a heart attack, and was diagnosed with
"atherosclerosis" which is hardening of the arteries.
I stayed in the Emergency Room for 12 hours before a bed was available. I
have no health insurance, so I wasn't a priority, even though the Hospital
employees took good care of me.
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The next day a cardiologist had
scheduled a angioplasty for me. I was told I had 2 arteries that were clogged.
One was clogged 90%, the other 80%.
The cardiologist put a stent in the artery that was clogged 90% and decided
to wait to do the other artery because the dye that was used had affected
my kidneys and I now only had 40% use of my kidneys. I was also informed that
I had Chronic Kidney Disease for a while and I had never known about it. The
kidney specialist wanted to wait a while or send me home for a week before
having the other angioplasty done.
But after a few days of rest and
diet, the cardiologist said it was safe to put the other stent in the artery
that was clogged 80% and scheduled me for the second angioplasty that morning.
I was sent home the following day to recuperate.
The medications I was prescribed cost close to $500 a month. I'm praying for
God's healing touch so I won't have to take these medications much longer.
A month has gone by and thank God I am feeling well. I am exercising by walking
3 miles a day and trying to work my way up to 10 miles a day and watching
my diet which is now "lean & green." I have lost over 15 pounds,
which I needed to lose, but not like this!!
Because of my health, I will not be doing much traveling in 2009. I may be
speaking sometime in Florida, and also in Oklahoma in 2009, but have not scheduled
anything more as of yet, nor do I plan to.
I will concentrate on local ministry here in Florida in the jails and prisons,
joining with other ministries that are already established in this State.
I will also be involved with the Homeless ministry here in my town, as well
as some volunteering in the church I now attend. I will keep myself busy as
much as possible in doing the Lord's work.
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This may have been God's way of telling me I'm not as young as I think I am
anymore. But, as long as I'm still involved in some form of ministry I can
handle that.
I knew I should have slowed down somewhat the last few years, but was hard-headed,
and refused.
In the last 6 months we have established God's Saving Grace Ministries in Kenya, East Africa, with a local Pastor, Maurice Chesoli. We helped this Pastor with clothing and furniture when his apartment burned down and he lost everything. We also helped rebuild the latrine in the children's school he has built there and operates. It is such a blessing to be able to help other brothers and sisters in need doing God's work even if they are thousands of miles away.
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I want to personally thank all
of you who sent E mails wishing me a speedy recovery and encouraging me to
continue on. I also want to thank those of you that have helped with my medical
expenses, sinceI had no health insurance when I had the heart attack. You
people never cease to amaze me with your love and generosity towards myself
and this ministry.
I don't know what I would do without all of you who show me so much of God's
love for one another.
Please continue to pray for me and this ministry as I know God is not done
with me yet. Pray for our country and leadership, and our church leaders especially.
A fellow bondservant,
Tom Papania
Fall 2008 Newsletter
GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
Hello Saints,
The heat and humidity has left us and the cooler days and nights are upon
us already. This year seems to be going by so fast. Maybe it's just me, but
the older I get, the faster the years seem to go by.
I've met a lot of people here in Florida and have already connected with three
different Jail & Prison Ministries. Most of these ministries minister
on a one on one basis and are trying to get permission for me to hold a weekly
service with as many inmates as possible present. I'm really looking forward
to this especially with the Holidays quickly approaching us.
I've already been ministering with
a Homeless Ministry here providing meals, clothing and housing, and a weekly
church service Sunday afternoon. Many of the homeless come to Florida because
of the warmer climate. It's sad to see so many women with children living
out on the streets. This ministry also helps the elderly living on limited
incomes by making repairs on their homes and providing food on a weekly basis.
It has kept me very busy so far, and I'm blessed to be able to help those
in need.
I found a church home and they even have a motorcycle ministry. The Pastor
himself, has a motorcycle and joins us for our rides after the men's breakfast
that is held once a month on a Saturday morning. We have breakfast, a short
Bible study, fellowship and then a 2 to 3 hour ride on our motorcycles out
in the country.
The weather here is perfect for motorcycling 12 months a year. I have made
many friends at this church and am blessed to be a part of it. It is very
much like the church I attended when I lived in Georgia, so that is very comforting.
The last few months have not all been filled with ministry and having fun.
Two people very close to me went home to be with the Lord. Gloria Flynn was
my "spiritual" Mother since 1984 when I first surrendered my heart
to Jesus at Landmark Church in Norcross, Georgia. She was loved by so many
people that the Funeral Home did not have room to hold them all. I will miss
her phone calls and her lovely voice encouraging me when things got rough.
Next was Marianne Wilkerson, the wife of one of my oldest friends and supporters,
Bob Wilkerson. Bob was one of the original people on my Board of Directors
when God first called me into ministry. Bob has stood beside me every step
of the way encouraging me not to give up for so many years. There are 2 precious
angels in Heaven now looking over me. I will miss them both, but will see
them again someday. How lovely it must be to see Jesus face to face.
The last few months also have been a financial struggle. With our economy
the way it is, it is no surprise people have to pull their belts in tight.
With so many foreclosures, businesses shutting down, and people being laid
off from their jobs, it has hurt us tremendously. We too, had to cut back
on a lot of our giving to those in need. It is so difficult to explain to
people that you can no longer help them the way we were for so many years.
Please do your best to help us financially. Thank you.
We will have a new President in office come January 2009, and I firmly believe
we need to pray for this country like never before.
I have been preaching on Second Chronicles 7-14 for the last eight years and
I believe we all need to pay close attention to that Scripture verse: "If
my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, and
seek my face and turn away from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven,
and forgive their sins and heal their land."
America kills more babies than any other country under the name "abortion."
And Gods Word says He hates the shedding of innocent blood. We have legalized
abortion, allow pornography on our TV's and computers, and promote same sex
marriages.
We want "In God We Trust" taken off our currency, and "One
Nation Under God" removed from our Pledge of Allegiance. 
In essence a majority of non-Christian Americans want God out of America.
They think their technology and wealth can carry them through the toughest
of storms. They need to read the "Book" and find out who really
wins!!!
God's Word says He will always have a remnant. I believe in my heart that
you and I are part of that "remnant." We need to unite in prayer
and put all our denominational differences aside once and for all.
Please pray for my health and strength
and the ministry finances if you will, please. I'm going to be 65 this coming
May and have no health insurance and my body is wearing out slowly but surely.
I need your support more than ever before. I'm trusting in God to keep me
going in every area of my life until He decides its time for me to come home
to Him.
Happy Holidays, to all of you, and Lord Bless you all.
A fellow bondservant,
Tom Papania
Tom PAPANIA Spring 2008 Newsletter
GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
Hello Saints,
2008 is here and I’m still in the habit of writing 2007 on all my correspondence.
Where did 2007 go?
I have been holding out for a miracle for quite sometime now, but it just
didn’t come. You see my wife Teresa filed for divorce back in May of
2006. I imagine the pressures of her health, our failing finances, her sons
heroin addiction, and that I am not the easiest person in the world to live
with has taken its toll on her and she decided she wanted out. I had prayed
it wouldn’t come to this, but it is what she wanted and I could not convince
her otherwise.
I gave her the house, all the equity and the contents of the house and left
with only my clothes and business equipment and moved into a nearby apartment
complex.
During this time 2 of our dogs of 11 ½ years died of cancer thirty
days apart from one another. So, 2006 and 2007 are years I would like to forget.
Needless to say, my heart is broken in millions of pieces.
I took a sabbatical for a few months to fast and pray and try to get my life
back in some kind or order. I’m slowly mending and I know God will continue
the healing process to completion.
Please continue to pray for Teresa and her son. Pray for her physical healing,
her finances and for her sons total deliverance from drugs. Amen!!
The Prison Ministry is going full steam and we’ve been blessed to see
about 30 men get saved each month! Praise God! We now have a large population
of Hispanics in our Prison System and we have a Hispanic Pastor, Harry Valdez
helping us translate our services to these men. We recently received a request
for almost 100 Spanish Bibles and Pastor Harry was kind enough to purchase
them for these men at his own expense. Hallelujah!!
There has also been an addition to our Prison Ministry in the last 9 months.
(Hmm, 9 months= birthing period). Being a Harley Davidson owner I have recently
discovered an amazing harvest field. I have come in contact with about 150
Bikers who are unchurched. The majority of them believe in God but do not
attend any local church because they feel they are not accepted because of
their appearance: you know, jeans, boots, leather jackets, tattoos, and some
with long hair. I assured them they would all be accepted in the church that
I attend. After all, if they accept me with my past, they would accept anybody.
They asked me how I dressed to go to church. I told them with a suit, shirt
and tie of course. They said that is why they accept you. Dress like we do
for a few months and see if they still react to you the same way. I immediately
accepted their challenge and wore my motorcycle boots, jeans and leather jacket
to church that Sunday. I even grew a goatee to finish my new “Biker”
look. At first people just looked at me kind of curious, but after 2 months
about 85% of the people who had been very friendly towards me began to totally
ignore me.
The Bikers were 100% right in their assumption of not being accepted because
of their clothes. I cannot imagine anyone who has the audacity to call themselves
a Christian judging people on their appearance only. We Christians should
look at a person heart and not what they are wearing. I was so disappointed
and angry at the same time. And when I’m angered, I get highly motivated.
These Biker groups go on benefit rides almost every weekend during the entire
year. Some of the rides are benefits for children with cancer, Firemen and
Policeman who got hurt on the job, others who are seriously ill and have no
medical insurance or the insurance ran out, others who have been out of work
for a long periods of time. People this is Gods work!! These unchurched Bikers
are doing more of Gods work than 75% of the people who sit in pews Sunday
after Sunday. The benefit rides usually charge anywhere from $20 to $25 for
each motorcycle and $10 for each passenger. 100% of what is collected goes
to the person the benefit is for! Nothing is deducted for advertisement or
marketing. Not one cent!
I view these registration fees as a sort of a tithe. These Bikers are 100%
tithers and don’t even realize it. Imagine if church goers would become
100% tithers? That would be some miracle.
God has given me such a burden for them that I am presently looking for someone
to donate some space to this ministry so I can hold services for them on Sunday
evenings. Most of the benefit rides are on Saturdays and Sundays and are usually
over by 5 pm. So, I desire to hold a 6 pm service for them. Then when enough
of them feel comfortable attending the services, I will invite them to attend
the Sunday morning service I attend every Sunday before the benefit rides
begin.
My Pastor, Bishop Bolin, has already told me to bring them in and not worry
about what the congregation might say or think. I thank God I’m under
the leadership of a God fearing Pastor and not a man pleaser. Praise God!!
Can you imagine a hundred or so motorcycles pulling into that parking lot
some Sunday morning and both men and women walking into church with jeans,
boots, leather jackets and vests and tattoos and long hair? I doubt if anyone
will fall asleep during that sermon. Hallelujah!! I pity the religious folks!!
I’m also planning on inviting these Bikers into the Prisons with me once
the weather warms up. Some Prisons have already had Christian Bikers ride
their motorcycles right onto the Prison grounds and many inmates surrendered
their lives to Christ. Praise God!
My first speaking engagement in 2008 was in Texas. Unknown to me they also
had a Biker ministry. God is truly amazing! I met some of the bikers and a
few of them told me how they left Biker gangs after getting saved and never
regretted it. I was so blessed. I told them of my burden and they encouraged
me. I also have speaking engagements in Oklahoma, West Virginia, California
and Canada scheduled in 2008. So God is not done with me yet.
I need your prayers more than ever before. I’m ministering with a wounded
heart and an empty wallet, but I have the confidence that God will get me
through all of this somehow and turn what the enemy meant for evil into something
good. He is faithful to finish what He started in me. Amen!! I am desperately
trying to keep my eyes and mind going forward and not looking back. What happened
in the past is just that: the past. Everything God has for me is in front
of me. And I refuse to take any steps backward and give the enemy any kind
of victory. Amen!
I still have been unable to find
a publisher willing to publish my book. The only other option I have is to
self publish. But between graphics, printing and other expenses, I am looking
at a minimum of $10,000 of which I do not have. But God is still in the miracle
working business, so if all these things are in His will, they will all come
to fruition in His perfect timing. Amen!!
I thank all of you who faithfully pray for and financially support this ministry
on an on going basis. We lost a few supporters in 2007 due to loss of employment,
death in the family. (Bill Williams, a dearly beloved man of God), and our
present economy. But, we are still marching forward and claiming victory over
the evil one. Hallelujah!!
I opened my heart and made myself completely vulnerable in this newsletter
to all of you reading this. I pray that you will not find fault with me or
condemn me, but instead forgive me for any wrong doing you may think I have
committed, and continue to lift me up in prayer as you have always done.
A fellow bondservant,
Tom Papania
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