In all my “tender” years, I don’t recall a story like that of Josh and Melissa Jamison! How about you?
They were the same age, 19, not knowing each other, when they attended a business event in Sacramento, CA. They each were “pagan” in their backgrounds … neither having any Biblical values built into their lives. Within the larger business event, there was a “breakout” worship session that they both attended, neither being aware of the other. At this spiritual session, they both, at the same time, heard others there present their “testimonies” – personal spiritual stories — as to the wonderful power of God in their lives. And at that session, they were presented a message of how each person could receive forgiveness from Jesus Christ … and have abundant and eternal life. At the “altar call,” still without knowing each other, they both responded favorably to the invitation to receive Christ by faith!
These are the kinds of Bible Scriptures that would have been shared in such a presentation of the Good News of the Gospel …
Romans 3:23 Each and every one of us has sinned
John 3:16 God so loves us that He gave His Son Jesus for us
Romans 6:23 God offers each of us a wonderful gift … Eternal Life
Romans 5:8 Jesus revealed His Love for us in that He died for us and our sins
II Corinthians 5:21 God provided Jesus, Who know no sin, to be sin for us … so that God sees the righteousness, His goodness, of Jesus on us
II Peter 3:9 God badly wants us to repent … so that we will not perish
I John 5: 11, 12 If we “have” the Son of God [Jesus] within us, we have eternal life; If we do not have the Son of God [Jesus] within us, we do not have eternal life
Ephesians 2:8, 9 We are “saved” (Acts 16:31) by grace [unmerited favor] and not be any activity, any good works
Ephesians 2:10 We are to live a life of doing good … not to be saved … but because God has saved us
Revelation 3:20 Jesus is “knocking” at the door of our lives; He will come in if we invite Him in
John 6:37 When we come to Him by faith, He promises not to reject us … and will receive us
II Corinthians 5:17 When Jesus comes to live within us, we are changed for the good
Romans 10:13 “Whosoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved”
John 3:3 Jesus said we must be ‘born again”
John 1: 12, 13 When we – one by one — receive Jesus into our lives, we thus are “born again”
Regarding Josh and Melissa, responding to the offer of Jesus happened near the same time as their “falling in love” with each other.
They were married two months later!
Early in their marriage they had a hunger to grow and “live out” their new faith in the Savior. They found a good church and ministered through that church in Paradise, California, most to the church’s structures destroyed by the 2018 fires. See www.jubileeparadise.org.
In time they moved to the St. Louis area to serve, especially loving the pastors and people of the oft troubled East St. Louis, Illinoi, across the Mississippi River from the St. Louis Arch. In the late autumn of 2018, before Paradise, CA, burned to the ground, they anticipated returning to serve the people of Paradise and their Paradise Church again. (www.jubileeparadise.org).
They have several friends who died in the fires.
Melissa and Josh tell of a remarkable situation in regard to the fires of the same Paradise church properties wherein they once served. Of the three structures on the church’s properties, on one side (1) was the parsonage … it was destroyed. On the other side (3), was the main and original worship center, which was burned to the ground. But, in between, the other two buildings, was the (2) new worship center under construction, which was hardly damaged, hardly touched by the great fire.
It appears that the insurance from the two other structures will pay for the new worship center repair and completion! Not the way we would choose to finance a church building effort, but it seems to be working for this church!
In late 2018 Josh Jamison was just elected to be the interim Chairman of the Board of the Freeway Foundation, headquartered in St. Louis. He follows the three years of board chairmanship of Dr. David Claybrook, a board we have both served on … with others … for many years.
In this radio conversation, Josh refers to his “tentmaking,” his means of income while he and Melissa serve in ministry. He is a specialist in “tech support, in systems engineering and in marketing technology.” The term comes from the New Testament (Acts 18:11-3) wherein the Apostle Paul once financed his ministry by literally making tents. He was a tentmaker, resulting in others who provide services to support their ministries as “tentmakers.”
Josh’s skills are on display in his updating the website of Dr. David Claybrook — www.truth4children.com, the product of which has a clear and unique focus aimed at helping children understand the Good News of Jesus. It is a book composed, colorfully and beautifully illustrated by Dave’s late artist’s wife, Gretchen Claybrook, titled, Let’s Decorate the Christmas Tree. After her death, to honor her and to advance the good news of Jesus, longtime friend David had her book published and distributed. As of this writing, copies are still available and can be obtained by visiting www.truth4children.com A two-minute video is available to describe the book by clicking on https://vimeo.com/301385258.
Hear the Jamisons’ impacting, griping story … in their own words!
Links to Radio conducted by – past and present — those Associated with The “Freeway Foundation” of Which Josh Jamison is Interim Chairman … (Dr. Earl Nance of Columbia, Mo is the Freeway Foundation’s President)
To hear … “David Claybrook regarding late wife’s book, ‘Let’s Decorate the Christmas Tree;’ Gospel made clear for tots” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2011/11/29/david-claybrook-re-late-wifes-book-lets-decorate-the-christmas-tree-gospel-made-clear-for-tots/
To hear … “Longtime IMB missionary Mark Grossmann shares inspirational Gospel summary, ‘Creation to the Cross’” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2016/08/26/longtime-imb-missionary-mark-grossmann-shares-inspirational-gospel-summary-creation-to-the-cross/
To hear … “Dan Hite, Director, Pillar Foundation; free educational help to establish biblical worldviews” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2018/04/16/dan-hite-director-pillar-foundation-free-educational-help-to-establish-biblical-worldviews/ (Dan Hite here tells the powerful story of his collapsing to the floor of the Pillar Foundation in West St. Louis County. See www.thepillar.org. His wife, Leah, found him and made the quick reactions that saved his life! He awoke in the hospital … four days later. We are delighted that the Lord God did not take Dan home to Heaven … yet!)
To hear … “Dr Larry Lewis: ‘God can forgive abortions!’ Led largest Protestant denomination to affirm saving unborn babies” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2016/08/10/dr-larry-lewis-god-can-forgive-abortions-led-largest-denomination-to-affirm-saving-unborn-babies/
To hear … “Evangelist Earl Nance preaches in ‘gospel rescue missions’ all over USA, including ‘Pacific Garden’” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2017/09/22/evangelist-earl-nance-preaches-gospel-rescue-missions-usa-including-pacific-garden/
To hear … “Dr. Curt Scarborough: founder, Pillsbury College & Sem; outlined entire Bible; satirizes Mark Twain” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2014/01/31/dr-curt-scarborough-founder-pillsbury-college-outlined-entire-bible-satirizes-mark-twain/
To hear … “Missionary friend Mark Grossmann: African ‘Bible storying’ – saw ‘Book of Acts’ works of God” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2015/07/12/missionary-friend-mark-grossmann-1-african-bible-storying-saw-book-of-acts-works-of-god/; and …
To hear … “Dr. Larry Lewis: amazing record of humble, impacting service: honored by Missouri Baptists, others” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2014/08/15/dr-larry-lewis-amazing-record-of-humble-impacting-service-honored-by-missouri-baptists-others/