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Alan Buterworth Family Update
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Newsletters - click "Get Resource" to see complete PDF version with photos and more
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Entries from
October 2003
October 2003 Newsletter
Thursday, October 02, 2003 :: 338 Views :: Newsletter
DISOWNED 2.0
By Steve Cohen
Please pray for my mother, Barbara Cohen in Richland, Washington.
In 1977, my parents stood in opposition to my faith and informed me that I was disowned from the family. I was bluntly told never to call, write or visit. Our family went through a 13 year period of isolation until I was informed in May of 1990 that Dad had attempted suicide because the painful spread of cancer. While Dad failed in his attempt, God used that to bring reconciliation as I appeared on their front door step in Richland, Washington.
Perhaps one of the ice-breakers was a note-card campaign – I had asked our friends and supporters if they would write a short note to my parents sharing their prayers and concern for spiritual future. My parents told me of the hundreds of notes they received which captured their attention. Dad passed away six months following our reconciliation. Three days prior to his death, he received Jesus as his Savior through the prayerful witness of my cousin, Susan.
Shortly afterwards, Mom closed the door once again. My last communication with her was 13 years ago. One of the hard facts we have been facing is that our five children missed the blessing of having their paternal grandparents involved in celebrating the joys of their lives – from high school and college graduations to weddings – and just simple “HiÖ how are you?” phone calls.
A few weeks ago, Noah, our 19 year-old son, reminded me that he was gong to be in my home town at the end of September. After some prayer, I asked if he would be willing to drop in on my mother and introduce himself – knowing all the while it was quite possible that she would not receive him. Noah thought it over and maturely responded that it would be the right thing to do.
One thing my mother believes is “Time heals all wounds!” Over the years, I have learned that time may indeed bring healing to physical hurts, but when it comes to personal relationships, time simply passes and when the relationship resumes, things pick up right where they left off.
Noah called me on my cell phone right before showing up on her doorstep. I prayed, and had asked many on our prayer consortium to pray for a breakthrough, too. Noah told me that he had purchased some flowers and the note accompanying it said,
While time does not heal all wounds, God’s forgiveness can! – Your grandson – Noah Cohen and his address and ours, too.
About 15 minutes later, Noah called once again. He told me how mom refused to even open the door! She spoke with him through an intercom for a couple of minutes and made it clear that he, as a member of our family, was not welcome. It was a very sobering moment for this young man who grew up not knowing his grandmother and facing the reality of being disowned too. Yet at the same time he realizes the urgency in reaching out even if the response is one of rejection. Perhaps it is time to send another set of cards to my mom inviting her to be lovingly reconciled with her God, receiving forgiveness for sin and then to be reconciled with others, too.
If you would like to write her – please send a note to Barbara Cohen –c/o The Apple of His Eye - PO Box 6977 St. Louis MO 63123.
If you prefer to not write a stranger, please join with us in praying for her and others who do not yet know Jesus. Together we can affirm the words of Paul who said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for this is God’s power for salvation – for all who believe – to the Jew first and also to the Greek” – Romans 1:17
What’s It All About??? by Alan Butterworth
Do you remember this song? I guess I’m showing my age. What IS it all about? It’s about Jesus loving us enough to die for us while we were still sinners. But how do sinners hear the Gospel? What is our purpose as believers? My first Pastor used a simple phrase: “We bring them in, to build them up, to send them out, to bring them in, to build them up, to send them outÖ” This song and our purpose came to mind as God blessed the preparations for a meeting at Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church in Scottsdale in January. Actually, the first song I thought of was “By The Time I Get to PhoenixÖ” Phoenix has the fastest growing Jewish population in the United States!
Pastor Alan Rosnau, the Outreach Pastor at Shepherd of the Desert, was my roommate during the Apple of His Eye summer outreach in 2000. During that event he asked me, “Why aren’t you doing this all the time?” I couldn’t answer his question. Even though I was settled in a good job as a tax attorney, this question caused my family to pray about missionary service.
Divine Appointments -
By Gary Timm
It was a beautiful bright sunny Wednesday and I was running late for a noon time outreach. Late or not, I knew I had to be on the corner of Austin St and 71st St in Forest Hills. Sometimes it’s so easy to say, “Oh well, I can go there tomorrow” or “I’ll go somewhere else later to hand out Gospel tracts.” I didn’t know why I felt so driven, but I knew God had a reason for my being in Forest Hills on that day. A divine appointment is when you’re in the right place at the right time to talk to a person(s) about the Gospel.
While handing out Gospel tracts in Forest Hills, I was met by the usual dirty looks and people pretending I didn’t exist. My favorite was the two middle aged Jewish women to whom I offered a Gospel tract to but was refused. I over heard them reading my shirt which says “Hear O Israel, JESUS IS MESSIAH”. I was praying for them until I started a conversation with a woman about Jesus. It was then that one of them came to me and asked for a Gospel tract. I gladly handed her one, which she promptly tore in two. I have a rule about this... anyone who tares one of my Gospel tracts in half will get a second one. The second usually goes the way of the first, but I’ll explain in a second. So I gave her another and as expected she tore it in two as well. You might be asking, “why did I give her a second?” Well, why do people tear the Gospel tract in front of us? Answer, it’s their feeble attempt to depress us. I give them a second to show that I don’t care about the piece of paper they just tore up. It’s all psychological.
To: scinfl@aol.com
Hello Steve and Alan!
Just writing to ask your prayers for Marilyn S., a 58-year-old Jewish woman
I’ve been counseling with over the last few months. Her circumstances have
made her particularly open to the Gospel. In sharing the Yeshua story with
her today, she was very receptive and openly grateful, because she’d never
had anyone explain it to her before. She even asked if there were classes
where she could learn more, which, of course, we will provide. Please pray
that the Gospel seed would grow in her by the Holy Spirit’s power and that
she would come to spiritual maturity. Pray also that she would read the
materials I gave her, especially the New Covenant — Prophecy Edition. What
a true joy it is to see a daughter of Jerusalem be introduced to her Messiah
and respond in simple faith! Steve and Alan, thank you for the training and
coaching you have given me and the support you continue to provide for
outreach to Jewish people! Hallelu Yahweh!
Shalom b’Yeshua,
Alan Rosnau
Pastor – Shepherd of The Desert Lutheran Church
Scottsdale Arizona
DID YOU KNOW... This newsletter is sent out FREE to those who wish to know more about Jewish people, Jewish missions and how people can pray for us. Did you know that we spend about $25,000 a year in providing this to tens of thousands of you? We print it in our own office - often times with volunteer help to keep the costs down.
But is does cost - so we are asking your help this month to cover the costs this year.
Could we ask a modest $5.00 gift to help us in sending out our newsletter? You over and above gifts will also help us in continuing to reach others with the Gospel.
Please remember The Apple of His Eye in your estate planning
by giving the gift that keeps on giving!
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