Newsletters

LAYMEN UNITED FOR TRUTH

PO BOX 1159

TROY, MONTANA 59935

(406) 295-5104

WEBSITE: LAYMENUNITED.ORG

Newsletter 193 –December/January 2012

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Time is continuing to fly. By the time you receive this newsletter it will already be 2012. How much longer do you think this world can continue? How much probationary time is left for the church to prepare? How much time do you and I have personally to get ready?

Everybody I meet is concerned about the world’s situation. Be they believer or unbeliever people are concerned about their personal future, the future of our nation, and the uncertainty in the world.

We all go on day by day and it seems as though things will continue in a similar path. However, as students of prophecy we know this is not the case. Dynamic and dramatic foundational changes are taking place all around us.

For just one example is that we have been providing spiritual inspiration for the inmates of the Nevada (and many other!) prisons for nearly the last twenty years. We have witnessed the men come and go. Some serve their entire sentence and others are paroled out early.

As they go on their way their lives are changed forever. Some progress for the better, some for the worse. But all have to find their way in a foreign, changing, and volatile society.

Such is one of our brothers who had served time at Lovelock and then at NNCC. His name is Phil Williams who was an air traffic controller prior to his arrest.

Brother Phil was truly converted and gave his life to Jesus while incarcerated. He also was quite musically talented and was a wonderful help with the churches in LCC and NNCC.

Four years ago he was paroled to Las Vegas where he was blessed with employment at a recycling plant. In fact, he was such a reliable and good employee that he regularly received raises and promotions.

Phil’s parents are wonderful people and live near Raphael’s church in West Palm Beach, Florida. It has been such a blessing to make their acquaintance and spend wonderful hours in their home.

They have treated me like son and have adopted me into the family. They have been so thankful that I would go and minister to their son in the prisons and continue to be his friend when he was released. Phil has a brother and a sister. His brother is a captain for Delta Airlines and his sister is a long-time flight attendant for American.

By God’s grace, when I visit West Palm Beach once again this month I will be able to visit them while I am there.

Every time I pass through Las Vegas I am always blessed to see Phil and visit with him. As mentioned in the previous newsletter that is exactly what I did last month. I also always phone him when I am down in Nevada for the prison ministry which I did a couple of weeks ago.

Phil loved the little Historic Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. He often emphatically told me that “I am a member of your church!” He mentioned that if his parole officer would agree that he wants to move to Northern Idaho and be a part of the church.

While I was on my way to Tennessee I received a voicemail from Phil’s father, Art. I returned the call and was shocked at what I was told.

Phil was only 53 years old and one afternoon he failed to appear at work as was his custom. Being such a prompt and punctual employee his supervisor became concerned. She drove to Phil’s apartment complex near Caesar’s Palace and she and Phil’s neighbor (who has a key to the apartment) entered his place and found Phil as though he were peacefully asleep on his bed.

Dear friends, this could be anyone of us. We really don’t know when it will be our time and this was Phil’s. We are still awaiting the results of the autopsy, but all I can say is “sleep peacefully” my dear friend and brother. I look forward to seeing Phil again in the first resurrection as he had turned from a life of sin to the full salvation found only in Jesus.

How is it going in your walk with the Lord? Are you gaining the victory over self? Are you drawing nearer to you Saviour? Would you be ready if your life was required today?

Please pray for the family and that I will be given words of comfort when I see them in a few days.

Along the same lines, we lost one of our dearest friends in Canada a couple of weeks ago, as well. I told you some time ago of the funeral I spoke at for Brother Fred Basaraba. Now, just a couple of years later his wonderful wife of all these years has now passed. Elizabeth was one of the finest Christian women I have known. Her frail little heart just gave out.

For those of you who remember Gary Wedemeyer and his wife, Doni; this is her mother who was one of the pillars of the faithful group in Prince George, British Columbia.

I can tell you that she was one of the most dedicated and gracious women I know of in our movement. We have all spent many a wonderful hour in her home and enjoyed many a fantastic vegetarian meal prepared at her hands and direction.

The Spirit of Prophecy is correct, once again! We were told that right before Jesus returns that the old, infirm, and young will be laid to rest. Those who cannot go through the rigors of the time of trouble will be allowed to sleep through this period. We are seeing this happen with greater regularity as we move toward the culmination of this earth’s history.

We just had the Lord’s Supper in the church for the last Sabbath of 2011 and it was a beautiful service of rededication to the truths we hold so dear. As per my yearly instructions I suggested that we all take down “Steps to Christ” and read it, once again.

What precious and necessary instruction we have on those pages! May the Lord bless you and your families in 2012. Please pray for the true workers in the vineyard that it will continue forward to prepare a people to meet their Lord.

Upcoming Present Truth Meetings: January 21, 2012 – Eternal Gospel Church. West Palm Beach, Florida. Contact Pastor Raphael Perez (561) 688-2150.

Dennis and Mary Crystal

Laymen United for Truth