Updates

Oct. 2005: Well Glory to God!!! I Tell you , life with Jesus, is wonderful! He never ceases to astound me. His power is so great, His word so thorough and His grace really is Amazing!! My wife, Doreen and I were returning from a brief honeymoon trip to Canada, when we again were able to witness His goodness. We were driving through Vermont when my cell phone beeped as I received notice of a waiting message, just the same second as Doreen was asking me, "How often do you hear from people who's life was touched by the cross as you pass their way?" I tell you it was glorious as we sat there speechless listening to this voice from the past, asking, "Rick, I don't know if you remember me or not, My name is Tony Reyes, you led me to the Lord 30 years ago in San Antonio, Texas..." Of course, I remembered him! After he was saved, we tore up San Antonio witnessing everywhere together; at open air rock concerts, downtown bars, roller rinks and at my first coffeehouse called "His Place," along with tons of other places. Over the next few days I listened in awe as he shared with me what all the Lord has done in and through his life over the last 3 decades. Tony led his parents, bothers and sisters, and many others to faith in Christ. As a result, his sisters' son is now pastoring in Minisotta. He also went to Bible college in Dallas and raised his 6 children to know the Lord, all because the cross came his way around midnight one summer's night in 1975. This is how it all began; Tony and a few of his friends were partying under a street light that night when another young man and myself came walking up the street with the Cross. At first, they laughed as many have done, but after we talked awhile and I shared the Gospel with them, they saw their need of a Saviour, so all 8 of us got down on our knees, right there under that street light, as they prayed and asked Jesus into their hearts. I tell you, Tony got up a NEW person that night. The change was immediate! The very next day, he was down at "His Place" sharing with others, his new faith. Over the next weeks and months, Tony began to grow in the Lord at a tremendous pace even praying with his brother Richard to receive the Lord. Soon after that, he began carrying the same Cross he laughed at only weeks before. THAT'S A CHANGED LIFE!!!!

It again shows, God's Word can change any life, any home, any church, any community, any nation for all eternity if we will just ask, believe and let Him!!!

9/27/05 The mission trip to Mississippi after hurricane Katrina will linger in my mind for many years as I re-visit all the images so deeply etched there. The distruction was everywhere, so much so, you almost got use to it. But, what really jumps out in my mind is the gratitude in the eyes of so many people. It was hard for them to believe strangers would come from across our nation to help people they didn't know with no strings atached. God bless America and God bless so many of you for helping me go and make a difference in the lives I was able to touch. see pictures >

Praying with people standing in the rubble of what was once a normal life became common. Tears would flow as people would reach out to the Lord as they tried to put their worlds back together. Others would pull over just to say thank you for coming here with the Cross. It's a joy to see it along side the road. It gives us hope. That's all many times I could do.

But praise the Lord, one family, I was able to do a little bit more!!!.. Lonny and Mary I met in one of the Red Cross shelters. They had lost everything. Renters with no insurance, basic transportation. All washed away. They had just come to the Lord two months ago. Just getting started with Him when the storm hit. Lonny told his wife that's OK God will do something to help us out.... He did too. He had put on my heart to buy a van fill it with supplies and bring it from New England and Give it away to the family He would show me. So that is what I did. Just before flying back I handed over the Keys to a wonderful family of three. Which allowed them to go to South Carolina where they had work waiting for them but had, had no way to get there. It also allowed them to escape hurricane Rita too. Please pray for them as they start a new.

This whole trip cost a pretty good amount of money. I really could use some help right now: so help if you can. It will keep the The Cross on the road where I can continue to minister to lives of those God is touching. You can send it to my PO box 6155 Sevierville Tn.37864 make checks to Rick Newton Evangelistic Ministries. And as always God Bless you richly!!!

9/15/05 Litter and debree scattered everywhere, multimillion dollar piles of rubble, tears and heartbreak on so many faces. It is everywhere you turn. You hear stories from young and old alike of how they rode out Katrina. Hiding in attics, on roof tops in cars. But one thing I hear time and time again it was bad,I lost everything but thank God I'm alive. People will say " I had it bad but 2 doors down the street they had it worse or Aunt Sussie really got it bad. So I have been trying to help her or them. People here in Mississippi (for the most part) really love there neighbors and reachout. Nearly every church is a shelter. Free meals, clothing, supplies of all sorts or just a helping hand. I have seen Americans from across the country here to help anyway they can. Churchs sending in teams with shovels and chain saws working all day for strangers they didn't know. Simply to show God's Love. It's beautiful.

I have carried the cross, Prayed with people, wept with people as they shared their hurts. I have helped unload 18 wheelers stuffed with supplies. Given out water, tolitries, Bibles, huggs.I prayed with one man for assursance of salvation as he wept. I prayed with another family for comfort and strength as we stood in the rubble of a once, million dollar home. I have seen things that defy discription. People pulling over just for prayer because there is nowhere else to turn...

I am so glad I came an brought the cross. I have had many pull over to just say thanks for coming.... So thanks to each of you who helped enable me to be here to help out... Please help out with some support if you can this has cost a lot to come down to minister here (and its not over yet). If you could help with even $50. it would help.

God Bless you, keep praying and we will keep reaching people with God's Love and Grace.
From the Front lines,
Rick

9/12/2005 Greetings from the gulf coast!!.. Prayer and help is the key words that discribe the need here. I am now in the south to show that God's Love is greater than Katrina's distruction. As many of you know the Lord put on my heart to buy a van fill it with supplies and bring it to the Gulf and give it all away, including the van and to carry the Cross. So that is what Im doing. I bought a van put a bed in it that a family can live in till they are back on their feet. My thanks to Rick Mickle and Phil Carroll for all their effort in getting the van ready to travel. Also thanks to everyone who donated things to be given away. It will make a difference in someones life!!!! Please keep praying and check back in a few days. Financial help for me is still needed. You can send it to my PO Box it will get to me...Blessings to you....Rick

9/6/2005 As we all know Katrina has roared in to our sourthern shores bringing unimaginable devistation and heartache to countless millions. God has called me to go immediately to carry the cross and help minister to our hurting neighbors. I have already bought a van to make the trip in and live in while there. When I leave, I will give the van to some family who has nothing. This will give them something that they can live in and get off the ground 'til more help is available. As we all know gas prices and expenses are up, soooooo....if you want to help in Jesus' name, visit my donation page.

9/2/2005 Praise the Lord, the Cross is back out loose on the world!... As many of you know, last winter, the Lord had me interrupt the walk with the Cross to start a coffeehouse ministry in Lee Mass. I gave six months to get "His Place" up and running. What a glorious time we had there. We had people saved of all ages, the Bible taught daily, many of the local saints encouraged and helped in their christian growth. People taught how to share their faith and out doing it. Healings of all kinds. It gave a venue to a huge number of local christian musians, to be able to use their tallents to minister the life they have found in Jesus to others. That was a Joy to see. All of this in a place that had been a bar for 51 years. (I commend Bob Grosz for his vision of wanting a coffeehouse type ministry in western Mass. and all he has done to keep it going.)

In June, upon finishing at His Place, I went back to Tenn. to minister there. One day while back out on the road with the cross I had a family stop to visit with me. They where so excited about the Cross they called their son 17, who had just been called to preach, to come meet me. Ten minutes later he was there. He shared his love for the Lord with me. Which was so beautiful! So I asked him to walk with me and carry the Cross. He shouldered the Cross and as he stepped out the tears just poured from his eyes. It thrilled my heart to see a young person so moved by the Holy Spirit. There are some in the youth of today that do still love the Lord. Keep praying for them.

You know it's encounters like that, that continually breathes life into my heart and drives me on. It's looking into the eyes and hearts of people with a mirriade of JOYS and HURTS, that simply saw the Cross and stoped me to talk and thereby had and encounter with the Lord, that is what pushs me on to the next little town or hamlet, wide spot in the road, big city or jungle village, or wherever. It is for those who have a heart to receive that I go on, even when my body is hollering to stop. (Which it seems to be doing more and more lately.)

July and August I have been carring the Cross in Mass. and Vt. I have prayed with many. Some for salvation, others for a multitude of differing needs. I have also been able to preach Christ on TV and radio. I was saluted by the Hells Angles two different days when they went by me. I wish they had stopped this time. So many things just no room to list them all.

This is truly a front line ministry! I need your Prayers. I also need your support to help keep the Cross out there making a difference in so many lives. We have a God given mandate to either go or send the Gospel into all the world. I am one who has gone and am still going after 30 years. No regrets, whatever the cost the world needs to hear.

I am going the first of the year to carry the cross across South America. I need financial help. I have only about half the funds I need to do it. I need $4300 more before I leave. Please help me take the Gospel to the People there where they live, eyeball to eyeball with them. If you can help, make your checks to Rick Newton evangelistic Ministry send to PO box 6155 Sevierville Tenn. 37864. Together we are making a difference. Remember You give that others may live Eternally.

Till next time, Let's keep loving the Lord each other and tell the world about Jesus!!!!!

Rick Newton Gal.6:14