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 Dear
Pastor,
One of the first things I do when I schedule
a crusade with a church is give the pastors
my pastor’s name and phone number. I even go
as far as giving them my past pastor’s name
and phone number from before I moved to Fort
Myers, so they will know my history and
accountability. Between Gaspar Anastasi of
Word of Life Ministries (239-274-8881) and
Assembly of God Pastor Mike Guarnerri
(330-706-9696), every day for the last 4
years of my life is accounted for. I tell
pastor’s that they should think twice about
having an evangelist who cannot give their
pastor’s name and his phone number and where
he and his family attend church.
The lord allowed me to begin the feats of
strength ministries my senior year in high
school “1977.” Out of my soul winning heart
I received as a boy, I started using my
strengths as a tool to draw people’s
attention to the Gospel. In 1979, I
officially named my team the Power Team. I
had a team of two young men, one bent a bar,
one blew up a hot water bottle, and I broke
a stack of bricks and eventually a pair of
handcuffs. We then began traveling and
holding crusades. We started in churches,
then in schools, and then on television in
which we became a worldwide impacting
ministry.
Today I am very
grateful that God has allowed me
to preach in 40
countries, 2000 crusades, and has given me
unique television opportunities on prime
time and secular television shows such as
CBS and the Walker Texas Ranger show
starring Chuck Norris.
After retiring
from the Power Team I founded
John
Jacobs’ Next Generation Power Force
to take the feats ministry to the next
level. We focus on church growth and
follow-up, building publicity, and keeping
costs down; but also have a strong code of
ethics, honor and accountability for me and
my staff.
Along with 29 years of ministry comes some
storms, a few challenges and of course those
who may criticize you. God has allowed me to
introduce many young men to the feats of
strength type ministry.
One thing that has surprised me is the
spirit of competition among evangelistic
ministries. I have been given reports
directly from pastors that other strength
ministries have been dishonest and tried to
slander my name and my team’s name in order
to gain their own opportunities. In
order to make sure there is no
misunderstanding I give you my present and
past pastors for you to contact on the
following insert. I feel this is a biblical
and ethical way in taking the high road. I
have been taught by my Pastor and Christian
leadership that God will defend you. It
concerns me that some people do not check
out the facts before believing rumors that
may have been started by people who in some
ways see it as a competitive thing. I do not
want any part of church politics, gossip,
slander, or rumors. I believe the only
defense an evangelist needs is to present
his Pastor’s name and telephone number for
accountability for his daily life behind the
scenes and up close and personal. Not only
has my family been in church, I live in
close proximity, and I have been in the
practice of speaking with my Pastor 2-3
times a week. Another thing I am presenting
in this letter is a cross-section of
churches we have been with this year. Please
feel free to contact them. Our prayer is
that God will use us to promote his dream
and the dream of the local church. Above
everything else we strive to honor God and
the local church. I understand spiritual
authority and I will always submit myself
and my ministry to the leadership of the
Pastor of the local church.
I hope for honesty and integrity’s sake that
if you have any question about me as an
evangelist or my team that you will call my
present or past Pastor, the churches that I
have been with this past year, or me
personally. If you are a Senior Pastor
please contact my office for my cell phone
number and I will be happy to talk to you.
In every circumstance I have been taught to
take the high road and this letter is my
attempt to do so.
References:
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Pastor Gaspar Anastasi - Word of Life Church
239-274-8881 (Present Pastor)
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Pastor Mike Guarnieri - The Father’s House
330-706-9696 (Former Pastor)
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Pastor Larry Horrel – White Oak Church of God
252-393-8484
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Pastor Mike Brown – Crossroads Assembly of God
828-254-5519
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Pastor Columbia – New Life Christian Center
215-491-0945
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Pastor Jimmy Bryant – Whitley Church 919-735-5411
Yours Because of Calvary,
John Jacobs
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