JUNE-JULY NEWSLETTER 1997

DECKER UPDATE

Friends of Saints Alive, Many incredible things have occurred since our last newsletter was written for March and April.

The reason I am writing this letter and putting together this issue is because my father (Ed Decker) has been hospitalized with a near fatal lung infection. It is a miracle how God has worked through this entire ordeal.

On Wednesday June 16th, this lung condition suddenly started not even half an hour after he had completed his final manuscript for the GODMAKERS new edition. Ed immediately called my mother, brother and I to help him as his lungs began extremely painful spasms.

A visit to the doctor diagnosed the condition as “pleurisy.” This is when the lung and lung lining are separated with air and a very intense sharp pain comes with every breath. For the next 2 days, the condition seemed to go away as he rested.

The next Saturday morning, Ed had another sudden extreme attack of pleurisy pain in his lungs. He began to experience severe breathing difficulty and he was rushed to emergency room by ambulance. At the hospital, X-Rays showed his lung was filling with liquid and blood tests showed he had a strong case of pneumonia the lung condition.

On Sunday, further X-Rays showed his lung was 90% full and by Monday, a bacterial infection caused the liquid to “gel up” and become solid. His blood oxygen level became dangerously low and he was rushed into the Intensive Care Unit for a major lung surgery on Tuesday.

This procedure is a medical wonder that wasn’t available 10 years ago. The doctors cut a 12-inch incision in his chest and pulled out his right lung to clean out the infectious “Jell-O stuff.” They had to carefully remove all the build up, replace the lung back in his chest and then close him up.

The entire procedure took over 4 hours. Ed spent the next five days fighting 4 different bacterial infections as his body struggled to recover. Until today, he was kept fully sedated on a respirator machine and other vital monitors.

He has had a miraculously fast healing process and is almost ready to leave ICU. Ed should be hospitalized for a least 5-10 more days and will not be able to work for another month.

URGENT UPDATE!!! As I was putting this letter together, my mother just got a call from the I.C.U. Nurse. After we left the hospital last night, with Dad in good condition things changed. At 3 A.M. 6/23/97 He had two blood vessels in his back suddenly rupture. This is totally unrelated to the lung condition. This was dangerous because he almost flat-lined. Luckily the I.C.U. doctor was at his bedside to deal with the massive internal bleeding. He was given blood transfusions totalling 5 pints of blood and 2 pints of blood plasma.

This attack on my father’s health has shown the reality of spiritual warfare and the enemy’s taunts of death has no authority. I believe this attack is the enemy’s attempt to stop fulfillment of the new vision to reach the LDS youth. I am leaving today for our Manti Mission and it seems almost impossible to leave because of this attack. Please continue to keep Ed in your prayers as we believe for his complete recovery!!

By His Stripes We ARE HEALED!!!

Jason Decker

Manti Trip

Each summer, the LDS Church puts on “The Mormon Miracle” temple pageant in the little town of Manti in central Utah. The pageant is a drama/music production that draws over 150,000 Mormons from all over the country during the course of it’s eight day run. All the streets near the Manti Temple are blocked off and the large grassy areas are covered with LDS spectators everywhere.

Our Manti Mission Team has over 20 people traveling from washington, california, Tennesse, Idaho and other parts of the U.S. We are all joining up in Salt Lake City and will attend the main part of the pageant June 24-30th. We have many young people who are going with us through our Tacoma Chapter and Seattle area churches.

Witnessing in Manti or on Temple Square in Salt Lake is very intense and non-stop. Since we are alway surrounded by Mormons, the flood of adrenaline is nearly continuous. Some LDS are rude, confrontational, cussing and get in our face. Others give the silent treatment and walk past us, yet we always find some who are genuinely open for discussion with serious questions and religious points to make.

This trip we are primarily focusing on the Mormon youth and approaching them with a simple and “everday” approach of the Gospel. It is critical in our communication that “we” missionaries make ourselves transparent and represent Christ with his Holy Spirit. After all, it is He who is rejected and spat upon by all mankind. We have to lay down our emotions and reactions and simply turn the cheek of love to them.

The biggest challenge is to convince them that we are there because we love Mormons. Typically they prefer to see us as the enemy, as those from the “church of the devil” who are there to persecute them. But the Holy Spirit enables the light to shine through and some realize how much we truely care for them. When that happens, it makes it much easier to share Christ’s remedy for the hopelessness they are experiencing under Mormon doctrine.

Please pray for annointing, covering, boldness and effectiveness as these young reach out to their LDS peers. We are also working with many local churches in Utah to prepare nets for the coming harvest of souls. Please pray for divine appointment in our interaction with these local churches as we are churches with different philosphies and attitudes towards youth, evangelism and covering the seeking Mormons with one-on-one discipleship. Please pray for our equipment, safety and the personal growth of each person involved with the Manti mission. May His Kingdom Be Established!!!!!!

Update to Come soon!!

Office News

Good News! The following is a Fax letter I received a few weeks ago.

To: Ed Decker From: Amy Miles, Harvest House Publishers Subject: ECPA Best Sellers List Date May 27, 1997

I have great news, Ed! Your book, “What You Need To Know About Masons” is on this month’s ECPA Best Sellers List in the Best Selling Mass market Paperback category at #20! Congratulations.

Ed, you must be so proud of this title. It is tremendous how many people these titles are touching all over the world. Thank you so much for allowing Harvest House to be part of the incredible ministry of these books. We appreciate you!

Well, that is good news. The exciting part of it is that the book has been around since 1992 and has been slowly picking up speed, working its way into the James Dobson, Josh McDowell stratosphere all this time.

The book is written in novel format. Many Masons who have read it and were set free have said that they wouldn’t have read it if it wasn’t a novel. It is easy to read and understand and it will especially help those of you who have Masonic influences in your church. The story line is about a small town church and a new young pastor and his wife and how they deal with the strong Masonic influence that literally runs their church.

If you haven’t read this book, you need to get one today!... And I’ll throw in my autograph if you include a gift for the ministry!

Praise Report

Saints Alive has a BRAND NEW Computer !!! Our last special mailing alerted many to Saints Alive’s urgent computer needs. Our old 386 system crashed and held us hostage in our attempts to fill orders, respond to letters and maintain our accounting. WE prayed and put the need out to our faithful supporters. Many people sent in donations for the computer and needed software. One special friend of Saints Alive donated a brand NEW IBM computer which will serve as the foundation for our new computer system and network. We thank you all for delivering us from our needs and pray that you will see blessings return as your needs are met as well! PTL

The "We're Christians too" LDS Bible Scam

As mentioned in an earlier Newsletter, the Mormon Church has come up with its most successful and most non-Mormon ad campaign in its history.

Today, its television and radio ads talk about calling a toll free number to get a free copy of the Holy Bible....and the doors are opening as never before. One can only wonder if Thomas Nelson Publishing realizes or even cares how many innocent people are seduced through this glib bait and switch tactic into the dark side of Mormonism and on to a Christless eternity because of the Bible it publishes for the LDS church! Will the money they make from it still be worth it when they stand before God at the White Throne judgment?

We called the publisher and they said their policy is that it is O.K. to sell anything to anyone who can purchase the item(Bible) in public. The publisher said they wouldn’t alter the integrity of the Bible in anyway such as translation or special interpretations. But the inside cover page says it is a from the LDS Church.

Saints Alive is in the process of submitting a written inquiry to obtain an official response from Thomas Nelson Publishers about the ethics and decision making process used in setting up their deal with the Mormon Church.

Here is an excerpt letter that accompanies the free bible:

Dear Friend: Thank you for your interest in THE BIBLE. Like you, millions are discoveringthat the message that can change the world hasn’t changed. If, after recieving THE BIBLE you would like to know more about how teh teachings of Jesus Christ can help you and your family, representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will gladly arrange a visit that is convenient to your schedule. They will also bring you a free copy of The Book of Mormon. May the message of The Bible help you find the greater love and happiness we all desire.

Sincerely, Stephen Allen (signed) Public Programs

P.S. Along with The Bible, you’ll want to read THE BOOK OF MORMON: Another Testament Of Jesus Christ. This powerful sripture supports and clarifies the teachings in The Bible.

The fact is, Mormons are not Christians. The simple gospel of Jesus Christ is not enough, because without “Exaltation” to Godhood, the ultimate reality of the Gospel is not the same taught by the LDS Church. Christians are follower of Christ and take His place of righteousness as “co-heirs” and Mormons seek their own righteousness to become Gods in their own righteousness.

Letters and E-mail

Letter to ED

Dear Ed, A few years back my father contacted you for your help pertaining to any information about the LDS church because my sister had joined. She left the church in 1991 and my dad was killed later that year in an accident. Your help and correspondence enabled my father not only to get my sister Yvette out of the church but also enabled my father to become closer in his relationship with Christ before his untimely death. My father’s name is Eugene. I know it has been years, but THANK YOU! If you wish to write to me in reply because I have a friend who is in the church and I would like any new videos/literature please contact me. Thank You, Brian

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Dear Mr. Decker,

I was a Mormon for nearly 20 years. It is still painful to know that it was a lie that I believed so strongly. I have been a Christian for about a year now and still working on emptying the brainwashing from my mind. It was my faith in Jesus Christ that carried me through and out of the Mormon Church. They had all the answers to every question—if only it were true.

I am a public high school counselor in Utah, and I have some of the same concerns for our youth that you and your son Jason have.

The Mormon Church uses a strong seminary campaign to brainwash not only LDS youth, but to proselyte all non-mormons.

LDS students put lots of pressure on their friends to become Mormon. Kids that are not LDS are labeled as “bad kids”.

Missionaries often teach non LDS kids without their parent’s permission or knowledge through the seminary program. Non-Mormon kids are treated as if there is something wrong with them if they are not Mormon.

Rejection is a powerful missionary tool used by LDS kids and more subtly by teachers and other staff.

Utah students may be released for a period a day for religious study.

The Mormon Church seems always able to purchase land that connects to school property for their seminary buildings.

In every high school course selection catalog, you will find a course titled “Bible/Religious Instruction”. Students actually have the opportunity to chose between LDS or Christian release time. However, there is a slight problem. There is no Christian group in a building near the school teaching “Bible/Religious Instruction”.

As Christians, we are not organized to work together or to financially support one of the richest harvest for the Lord anywhere. If there was a Christian Bible Instruction set up near the high schools, we would not only reach thousands upon thousands of young people that are searching for purpose in their lives, but we would save thousands of unsatisfied and confused Mormon youth that are seeking answers as well.

Our youth must be reached before they give into the Mormon lies and peer pressure. I would be willing to speak to congregations or youth groups here in Utah and tell them what I see happening in our schools. Keep up the good Work!!

-Concerned Utah Public School Counselor

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WEB THANKS!

Dear Ed .......I was so thrilled to see your web page. I am doing a paper for a college American history class and choose Mormonism as my topic as it is a subject I feel strongly about and we only touched lightly on it in class. My teacher was excited as he knew nothing about Mormons but had seen them around town on their bicycles. I was going to try to get information from a long lost fellow-church-member back in Utah whom I know is active in Saints Alive (I lived in Utah for 8 years and now reside in Southern Florida). I tried the web on what I thought was a long shot. I cannot thank you enough for having this information readily available and I don’t just mean for my class project. You see I was happy to get away from the Mormons, being a born-again Christian you can feel like an outcast in Salt Lake City, but now they are expanding in this area and I needed information to give to people whom I know are considering converting to Mormonism. Anyway I just wanted to say

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

Ruth

Published by Saints Alive in Jesus

[NEW] P.O. Box 1347

Issaquah, WA 98027

http://www.Saintsalive.com

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