Here is your weekly newsletter created for listeners and friends of Paul Heil's "The Gospel Greats" syndicated radio program.

In This Edition...

Paul's Epistle...
"Sharing Christ"

Opportunities to share the love of Christ are all around you. You and I just need to be open to recognizing them – and then acting upon them. And it has never been more important than it is today.

A few weeks ago in this space I included stories of how the Gospel was shared with folks who needed it – a homeless man (who later became a preacher) and others (stories submitted by readers) for whom an introduction to Christ was transformational in their lives.

Here is another story – another good example and reminder for each of us – submitted by Kevin McCullough (of the Faithful Friends Quartet) of Homer City, Pennsylvania.

Greetings Paul and Sheila,

As I read the story in this week's letter. I felt I needed to share one of my experiences that is still ongoing but started in July of this year.

My wife and I clean the church we attend. We where there on a Saturday afternoon cleaning when I heard a tapping on the glass. I turned and there was a very thin, very worn middle-aged man. As I opened the door I noticed a very tired and stressed face. He introduced himself as "Jim." He told me that he and his family had been homeless for a few months and just moved into a home across the street from the church.

He was very humble and obviously embarrassed. He said, "I have three little girls and we don't have anything." Then the tears started to come down his worn and tired face. He began telling me some of the misfortune of his life, some of which is the result sin. But he was reaching out to me — a Christian that attends the church across the street from his home!

When he was finished talking he said the only thing I want is some food for my little girls! Well, I was happy to help because our church maintains a small food pantry for this very reason. I gave him a box and began placing items in the box, and to my surprise he stopped me. Telling me that all he could take would be something that didn't need [to be] heated, kept cold or used milk! So I asked why and he replied [that they] don't have electricity, a stove or anything to heat with or a frig.

So he left that day with some pop tarts, dry cereal, bread and peanut butter.

The next day was Sunday, and at our church in the summer months we set tables up under the car pull-up for a "vegetable share." Everyone that gardens brings something and places it on the table and when you leave [you] just help yourself. Well I could not get Jim off my mind so I made up a couple of bags of vegetables and walked across the street to find him and his girls. I was looking for a house! That is not where I found them. They were living in a spare 16' x 14' shed! And they literally had nothing — not even a rug to sit or sleep on!

They received the vegetables as if it were porter house steak!

As I walked across the street to the church I noticed the parking lot full of cars, friendly, neatly dressed people inside [and sitting] in padded pews. My heart was broken from what I had just seen across the street from our church!

Thank goodness for a church that is not regimented so that you can't make an announcement unless it's in the program! I got up, made way to the front and asked if I could address the congregation on something I felt was important. So I proceeded to tell the congregation of the situation. I am happy to say that the people jumped to action starting that very afternoon with a home cooked meal for dinner. In the course of about four days they were completely outfitted with electricity, cloths, furniture, appliances, and plenty of food.

The highlight of the story is, he and his family have been attending church services and have become part of the church family! And just last week Jim went the altar and gave his life over to the Lord. PRAISE THE LORD! And the girls are showing great interest in Sunday school and Wednesday kids club.

Although there is much, much more to the story and disappointments along the way, the bottom line is there are many hurting people in this world and many of them live in our back yards!  And across the street!  I and our church have learned a valuable lesson from this. And it has changed the heart of our church! We have always been a missional church, but this has hit home.

I pray that God will help me, brothers and sisters in Christ, to "see" the fields that are white for harvest!

— Kevin McCullough

Kevin's story reminded me of a song Susan Whisnant recorded a few years ago called "The Church Across the Street."* It's the story of a young woman who lived across the street from a church, but no one from the church ever contacted her. Although single, she learned that she was pregnant — and she was devastated. She was greeted warmly and reassuringly at the abortion clinic. But she was ignored by the "church across the street."

And at the church across the street
The band played on
The choir sang another verse
Of another lovely song
But her world was crashing
In apartment thirty-three.
And she wondered if she would ever meet
Someone from the church across the street...

This young woman made a devastating choice and now lives with regret, longing for something better.

And she wonders if she will never meet
Someone who could help her with her need
Maybe someone from the church across the street.

Is there someone across the street from you who needs the Lord? Next door? This would be a great time to find out.

- Paul

* "The Church Across the Street," written by Timothy Mark, Global Outreach Music BMI.

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Get 20 percent off the newest Southern Gospel releases. Get the free Springside Music Update e-mail newsletter each Monday. Visit www.springside.com and click on the Update link at the bottom of the page. Or call 800 38 MUSIC to ask about weekly specials.

Coming on the broadcast the weekend of
Nov. 21st & 22nd, 2009:

Coming as this program does just before Thanksgiving (in the States), this will be our annual "Thoughts of Thanks" edition. All of our artist comments will be about their thankfulness to God and to one another for the many blessings they enjoy.

Among the artists you'll hear will be Libbi Stuffle (Perrys), Charlotte Ritchie, Jerry Kelso (Dove Brothers), Michael & Ronnie Booth (Booth Brothers), Janet Paschal, Jason Runnells (Down East Boys), Eric Ollis (Whisnants), David Ragan (Inspirations), Mark Bishop, Randy Shelnut (Dixie Echoes), Chris Cooper (Gold City), Courtney Collingsworth (Collingsworth Family), Ivan Parker, Ginger Pitchers (Lesters), Taranda Greene (Greenes) and Kim Hopper (Hoppers).

Please join us for these reminders in word and song about reasons we should all be thankful.

"...giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:20)

Who can YOU invite to listen this weekend?

From the broadcast the weekend of
Nov. 14th & 15th, 2009:

Every so often a recording comes along that just demands attention. Such is the new one relased jointly by Greater Vision, Legacy Five and the Booth Brothers called "Jubilee." This CD (with a companion video to be released soon) was inspired by the historic "Gospel Singing Jubilee" TV program and the "Gospel Singing Caravan" of years gone by, when several top Southern Gospel groups would come together to sing, both on recordings and in concert. The unique part about this "Jubilee" recording was the way the groups all sang together on a few songs, sang individually on some, and did a "mix-and-match" to have members of various groups singing as a group. I thoroughly enjoyed our visit with Gerald Wolfe, Scott Fowler and Michael Booth as Featured Artists for this program to talk about this recording. They really do mean it when they say, as they did on the broadcast, that they thoroughly enjoy working with each other, both in the studio and on stage (and, I might add, behind the scenes).

The "Jubilee" CD featured on this program by Greater Vision, the Booth Brothers and Legacy Five, is available from our mailorder service, Springside. Just call 1-800-38-MUSIC to order. Call by Friday, November 20, 2009, ask for the "Featured Artist Discount," and get 20 percent off this item. You can order easily from our webstore by using this link to go directly to this item. When you order online, when you get to the "Checkout" page, find the "Special Instructions" lines near the bottom, type in "Featured Artist Discount - 20 percent" to get the discount. Note that the discounted price will not be reflected online or in your first confirmation e-mail, but it will be applied here when the order is processed and before it is charged or shipped. (Orders over $40 in the USA qualify for free shipping.)

We've featured Mike & Kelly Bowling on the program before with their current "Faith To Believe" CD, but so many of their songs on there have been so successful that we wanted to pull three of the latest radio hits together on an Artist Spotlight segment. We also got a chance to talk with them about their recent name change ("the Bowling Family") and their newest group member (Terah Penhollow). I personally appreciate the message of their current song, "God's Not Through With You" — a song of encouragement for any Christian.

I hope you heard the story "Big" John Bledsoe of the Journeymen shared on the program about the miraculous protection granted his son when their bus actually fell on him when a jack failed. As you heard, "Little" John escaped with only a broken rib. Just so there's no misunderstanding, this was something that happened about ten years ago, and "Little" John is still very much a part of the group along with his dad.

If you're interested in applying to become the tenor for Priority, send an MP3 demo and other information to info@prioritymusic.net.

For more information about the Southern Gospel Promoters Association (mentioned on the Headline Update), visit www.sgpromoters.com.

Shelia Shares....
"It's Just Natural"

Last evening Paul and I had the privilege of seeing a one-day-old baby. It wasn't just any baby. It was a great-nephew named Zachary David.

Zachary is a cute little guy. His head is well rounded and he was alert enough to try to hold and turn it. He has that newborn baby, high pitched little cry. His toes and long fingers are perfect and his thumb even found its way into his mouth while we were there.

When they asked if I wanted to hold him, of course I said "yes." When I picked him up, someone teased, "Are you sure you remember how to hold a little one like that?"

Of course, I remembered. Once you are a mother, I don't think you ever forget how to hold a baby. Although you are careful, there's no fear in picking him up. It comes naturally to support his head. The other arm works like a cradle fitting perfectly around his little bottom. The mother noises and soothing and snuggling just come naturally.

In many ways, the same can be said about the Christian life. Although we all need to guard against temptations and sins, when we've walked with the Lord and trained our thoughts and actions, eventually it comes naturally. It is natural to pray when you hear a siren. It is natural to pray when someone confronts you about your Christian faith or when someone asks why you believe. It is natural to turn to Christ when you feel alone. It is natural to call out to the Lord in the middle of a storm or when everything around you seems to be crashing. It is natural to just praise the Lord when good things happen.

In the same way, when you've walked with the Lord in this life and He's been such a close friend, it will simply seem natural to hold His hand as you cross from this life to your heavenly, eternal life.

If you don't have the pleasure of walking with the Lord and if you haven't accepted Jesus as your personal savior, do it today. Then let His love and joy and peace flow through you, as you practice walking with Him daily. Then, it will be natural for you to hold His hand as you make that final crossing from this life to your heavenly, eternal home.

- Shelia

Comments on this? shelia@thegospelgreats.com.

On the Lighter Side...

It's What He Said

My 17-year-old niece asked me if she could use my name as a reference on her resume', which she planned to submit to a local fast-food restaurant. I agreed. A few days later she called and asked me to meet her at the restaurant later that afternoon. When I asked her why, she replied, "The manager wants me to come in for an interview, and she told me to bring my references."

Oh....

Teacher (frustrated): "Look at this paper. How could one person make so many mistakes?"
Student (defensive): "It wasn't one person - my dad helped!"

Curiority

A teacher was finishing up a lesson on the joys of discovery and the importance of curiosity. "Where would we be today," she asked, "if no one had ever been curious?" One child quietly spoke up from the back of the room. "In the garden of Eden?"

Sounds Like...

There was this lady who was visiting a church for the first time one Sunday. The sermon seemed to go on forever, and many in the congregation actually fell asleep. After the service, to be social, she walked up to a very sleepy looking gentleman, extended her hand in greeting, and said, "Hello, I'm Gladys Dunn." The man replied, "You're not the only one, ma'am. I'm glad it's done, too!"

Phone Message

"If you are calling from a touch-tone phone, press one now. If you are calling from a rotary phone, please hang up and call back from a touch-tone phone."

Are You Ready?
1 Thess. 5:2-10; Matt. 24:44; Luke 21:34,36
Free Gift
Pray for the President!
Until next Week...Keep Looking Up!


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