July 15, 2003
FSM 394 CM/FM—
September 2002
Special Action FSM #18
Copyright © 2002 by The Family
Cover photo by James Donahue, Brazil
(Editor's note: Family members in Burma and China use pen names for their contributions to the FSM.)
(Jesus speaking:) Make Activated a part of your everyday life in some way. I can show you how if you ask Me. Perhaps you can set yourself a daily, weekly or monthly subscription goal, something to keep striving for. Perhaps you can do something crazy or out of the ordinary to get out Activated, depending on the culture of your country. Maybe you could set up a stand at a store or market, or prepare flyers to advertise Activated, or check with friendly local bookstores to see if they would carry any of your material or flyers. There are wild and wonderful ways that I can show you to get out Activated during the course of your day!
If you can't go out much because of your ministry, perhaps you can set aside a time every day to pray for your brethren who are out, that they will bear much fruit with Activated. If you're at home with the children, maybe you can pray and claim verses for those who are out, or do a study on follow-up from the Book of Acts or from Family pubs, or read testimonies of those who were won by follow-up and faithful feeding. There are many things you can do, whether you're out or at home, and I can show you if you ask Me.
—ML #3358:31-32
By Paul (of Christina), Burma
With the first six Activated magazines translated into Burmese, we were eager to find ways to reach the people here. For security reasons, our personal witnessing here has to be kept at a low level, so for the past months, we had taught two Bible study groups. The 12 attendees of one group were very faithful to absorb the classes based on the Activated Study Program. They were putting into practice what they were learning, and, right from the start, they helped us to distribute material to their friends and people they knew.
Seeing how turned on they were by the Activated mags, we prayed about what to do next. The Lord showed us that through them we could get together an Activated Club. It sounded good, but we weren't sure where to begin. All we had to start with was the Activated vision and a will to apply it here.
We invited the whole group for a barbecue one evening, and at the end of the meal we shared the vision with them. After that initial meeting we had a few follow-up meetings with the four people who would be more involved, and then things fell into place.
Our first request was for their help in distributing the Activated magazines! We didn't know exactly how to go about it—neither did they—but they got going. Whenever one of their born-again Christian friends would go to another part of the country, they would give him or her a pack of magazines to distribute in that region. Mail is not always reliable here, and at best very slow, so they decided to distribute sets of the first six magazines, so that people would have enough for the first few months. In one month's time, 2,500 magazines went out this way, making their way to the four corners of Burma!
This was a good first experiment—proof that the magazines in their local format adequately fit the needs of the local Christians. One of our most active distributors introduced us to a relative of hers, a young man who had gotten saved with her three years ago. He was a real on-fire guy and right away asked us, "How many people do you want to reach with Activated?"
"We don't know for sure," we answered. "We want quality more than quantity. Maybe a few dozen, or a few hundred, or a few thousand—however the Lord leads."
Before our next planning meeting with him, we were quite nervous, as we didn't know what to ask his help for. We took time to pray, and our dear Husband, always near, told us that this young man was going to be one of the underground tunnels to get out His Word in Burma. Half an hour later, the man showed up with a mailing list of a few hundred people—Christians from all over the country who used to receive a monthly publication that's now extinguished. What an answer to prayer! Now we're starting to send a first mailing to all of them, offering them a subscription to Activated!
By Emmanuel (of Joy), Taiwan
Having determined to make a start on the follow-up vision and Activated, I set aside two specific days for this, just to see what would happen. Here's the result:
The first appointment was with David, an executive of a hi-tech company. His immediate response was to accept an Activated subscription (he's a non-churchgoing Christian), and give a NT$20,000 (US$600) donation. He wanted to know how much to give, and that was the figure I got. He gave without flinching.
The second appointment was with the vice-president of one of the largest companies here in Taiwan. This was a man it has been very difficult to get any kind of response from for a long, long time. Four years ago I had prayed about whether I should even bother with him, and the Lord showed me to stay faithful in feeding him through the mail, which I did. I didn't even know if he'd read anything I'd sent him! Miraculously I got an appointment with him and went to his office. He told me he read everything I sent him over the years, and that he really appreciated it. He also signed up for Activated and gave a NT$10,000 (US$300) donation! Whew!
By Gideon (of Lamb), Norway
We have been fully on board with the Activated vision for over a year now and have seen some truly wonderful fruit. Contacts that we have known for years have come to life, opening up and discussing deeper things about their personal lives with us and asking for prayer and counsel. In turn, many have been helping generously with financial help in addition to the provisioned materials they donate regularly.
It took an investment and commitment on our part in the beginning, like Mama brought out about being willing to work almost two jobs, but we can see that it has paid off, as we are now doing better financially than we've ever done before. Most importantly, we feel we are feeding our new members and they are growing in the Lord as well. We now have many of them witnessing to their friends and associates about the work and us.
By David and Dawn, Thailand
We have a friend, S., who has known the Family for many years. Even though he comes from a Hindu background, he calls himself a Christian and loves to study the Bible and the Word that the Family gives him. However, since he is very close to his large family who are all Hindus, he has to be careful when around them; he can't let them know that he is a Christian. He is in business with his father and brothers and other family members, and if he should fall into disrepute with his family, it could have disastrous results for him and his personal family.
For this reason, and also because he has been extremely busy with his work, over the last few months we haven't been able to spend much time sharing the Word with him as we used to. However, we are faithful to pass him things to read twice a month and he has also subscribed to Activated, which he really enjoys.
The other week we had a chance to sit down and have a good conversation with both S. and his older brother, who also is a long-time friend of the Family, but not nearly as "Christian" as S. We were discussing current events and Bible prophecy and we were amazed at how right on S. was during this discussion. At one point David couldn't remember the Bible reference to the verse he was quoting and S. supplied that for us. Another time S. was talking about the economy and it sounded like he was quoting a MO Letter. It seemed he had grown so much since the last time we were able to have a good discussion with him.
He has completed the first year of Activated, and when we asked him if he wanted to continue with another year he gave an emphatic "yes!" I'm convinced that Activated played a very large part in this man's continued growth in the Lord, even though we weren't able to personally teach him. Activated is doing the job!
By Tim E., Nigeria
A few months ago I sponsored an Activated subscription for a friend who has been helping me with free Internet access at his Internet café. He'd always been friendly and shown an interest in our work, but since he's started receiving Activated he's become much closer to us and shown an increased interest in the Word. When we asked him if he could help us with a modem, he not only installed it for us, but also upgraded our computer and gave us a new monitor, as well a donation we hadn't even asked for.
Seeing someone become so much closer and helpful has been a real testimony to us of the power of the Word and Activated. We have also been very inspired to see the fulfillment of the Lord's promise to supply our needs if we'll obey and get out the Word. He has more than paid back the original $15 investment, and most importantly, drawn our friend closer to Him.
By Michael, Taiwan
Don't tell me it can't be done! If there's anything the Lord and I like, it's a challenge. Without Chinese Activated mags (coming soon!) the standing question was how to get Activated rolling in this Chinese field. As Dad always taught us, "What is that in thy hand?" In this case it was the Activated mag in English. Let's get to it!
I ordered some mags from the Activated Europe Desk and began visiting my friends and supporters with this new, glowing tool in my hand. I picked the friends who I knew could manage the level of English and still get fed from it, and began distributing the mags one by one. Prior to Activated I'd been feeding my contacts with the Daily Foods, and other black and white material; I'd never presented them with a full color magazine until we got Activated. Each friend I'd show Activated to would usually sit there in awe and look at the cover and then curiously peek inside. Over the weeks and months I've noticed how each one has grown through the Word in the mags; they've begun to pour out more, become more generous with their giving, and even ask if we have any meetings they can attend.
Occasionally I make a slip-up and give them a mag I have already given them previously, and they're quick to correct me, "No, no, I already have this one. Where's the next one?" I've had friends sit there and read it in front of me for five minutes without saying a word. I've had others make a detailed study on the mag and then ask me the next time they see me, "On page six in paragraph four, it saysÂ…"
They take Activated on flights when they travel. They put them under their pillow to read at night. I can't get them to stop reading the mags even if I try (and I did try in one case, as I felt it was too difficult for one friend. His answer was, "Leave me alone. I can manage it with my dictionary!") Now I have 32 Chinese people—doctors, dentists or business people, male and female—reading through the English Activated mags as I slowly hand-feed them, getting them hooked and addicted!
By Daniel Victory (of Angela), Romania
Mr. L, one of our friends and the manager of a large construction company, subscribed to Activated a few months ago. After being out of the country for two months, upon our return we went to visit him. Right away he gave us a donation equivalent of US$170, "as a start," he told us. He also expressed an interest in participating in our CTP with the street children. Even though we were not able to see him for quite some time, the Word worked in his life and heart and he is now a frequent supporter.
By Peter Pilgrim, Russia
After reading the "Conviction vs. Compromise" series I would like to testify that the Activated vision works. It's the best possible retirement plan given to us by our sweet Jesus! I'm not planning on going into retirement now, but I had a chance to see the enormous potential the Activated vision has when several years ago we started our own magazine, which is presently supporting our Home.
Almost three years ago I read the first GN explaining the Activated vision. I was thrilled! I eagerly anticipated the time when the Activated program would be implemented on a nationwide scale here in Russia. However, when Peter mentioned in the GN that all the EE countries with already successful and established mail ministries would not have the magazine for a while, my heart sank.
A couple of weeks later, together with a few enthusiastic catacombers, our Home decided to put together our own follow-up lit in the form of a magazine—just like Activated—to feed the sheep on a regular basis.
Initially we had seven sheep who we wanted to feed in a greater way. We had been printing the specific lit for each of them individually, but it wasn't very efficient and was quite time consuming. So the idea came up to do the same pub for all of them, so we could feed them all with the same Word. We pulled together material from the Daily Foods or Living Waters, the Good Thots, MOP, Word Basics, Christian Digest and Power and Protection, all material that had been previously translated into Russian. Each issue of the magazine contained a variety of topics to suit the different needs of those we were feeding.
The day came when we had three issues ready—22 copies of each. Within a couple of weeks they were all gone! Before long the layout improved, we added pictures, and the magazine looked more and more appealing. So we decided to continue with the publication on a regular basis.
The Lord had supplied free printing, envelopes, paper, and even the stamps for mailing the publication to the sheep, so for the first eight months we were giving the magazine away for free. We left Russia for nearly a year, and it was then that we began asking people to subscribe after they received the first three to five free copies. At the end of a year we had nearly 100 subscribers!—Fifteen of whom we received payment from.
A yearly subscription fee was approximately US$6. However, in four months, through fifteen people the Lord supplied US$1,000! Feeding the sheep became our priority in spite of the costs; as the sheep grew in spirit they were eager to give more than the minimum subscription fee.
During this time we still had plenty of our other Home activities to keep up and running. Still, it was amazing how the Lord took such good care of us through that whole year and supplied an average of US$500 per month, just from feeding the sheep.
If you do the math, it's amazing to see where this could go. Our two-man team was able to get 100 subscribers in a year, and five percent of our sheep distributed the mag to their friends. If it continues at that rate, in four years we'll have approximately 500-600 subscribers or more. It blows our mind to think how this work could explode! Activated is the same!
[Editor's note: At long last, Activated is now being translated in a number of EE languages, including Russian, to replace the mail ministry program that has been used there for years. Please keep this massive project in your prayers. Thank you!]
By Santi, Brazil
When Activated came out, the Lord showed me to get some of my supporters subscribing to it. I had wanted to give Bible classes to many of these supporters, but it had never taken off. However, as they started subscribing, I could see each of them changing through the Word, even though I wasn't there. At first I thought that I had to be the one witnessing to them and showing them the Word, but the written Word is very powerful and is changing their lives. It made my follow-up much easier since they already had received the basics through Activated.
By Joan Fighter, Ukraine
I met Tonya a year ago while witnessing. She is an elderly lady who sells peanuts and seeds on the street—a very common sight in Ukraine. She got saved and I gave her a Bible. She was so touched and happy, as she had wanted a Bible for a long time. Since then, every time I'm in the center where she sells her nuts and seeds, I drop by to talk, pray, and give her something to read.
When we got Activated in Ukrainian, I thought about getting someone to sponsor a subscription for her, as we didn't think she could afford it herself. However, when I showed her the magazines, she insisted on paying for it herself.
The following time we saw her we gave her clothes from our humanitarian aid for her and her husband, and the first three Activated magazines. Tonya was our first Activated subscriber. Later on she said she wanted to help our work and our two kids. She said that she believes that if she helps us, God will help her selling. She gave a generous donation of US$20, which is a good donation here; even businessmen have given us less than that. She also wants to help us every month with around US$10.
We are a bit surprised at how the Lord has supplied from the most unexpected sources. It's like the story of the widow's mite, and we're sure He'll abundantly bless her.
We ordered 50 of the first three Activated mags to give to the subscribers. We've had a lot of postering pushes, but now that we've got the mags, we feel that we need to push Activated. In four days of pushing Activated we got four paid subscriptions and others who want it but will pay later. Since we started obeying the vision and pushing Activated, the Lord is adding the subscribers and the supply.
By Jubilee, Brazil
One day I was at the bank on business, and while standing in line I started passing out tracts. I handed a tract to the couple standing in front of me. They were interested, so I showed them our newsletter as well. They gave me their address and phone number and asked me to visit them.
A little while later we made an appointment to see them, and when we got there the wife was waiting in front of her house. They received us warmly, and the wife told us how she needed more spiritual feeding, since she wasn't going to any particular church. When we showed her the Activated magazines, she said that that was exactly what she wants and needs! She signed up and wants to get involved in the work. It's inspiring to see one little seed grow. Activated is so good to have!
Another day while out witnessing the Lord told us to go to a certain condominium. We decided to go with the Activated mags as door-to-door salesmen. At one house we told the lady that we were representatives for a Christian magazine called Activated and we would like to show it to her. She showed us into her house, and we were able to witness to her and her daughter. They loved the magazine and signed up!
By Jimmy, Taiwan
The Activated vision is continually propelling our Home to do better with the growth of our church—the Family. We don't want to be left behind in this revolution! Recently, we visited Joan, one of our live-out members. We shared with her more about the Activated vision and fed her a lot more Word on this subject. She flipped out and wants to do more for Jesus. So we set up a regular Bible class at her home, like the Lord showed us. One of us works together with her to give the Word classes to the others. This idea has renewed her vision and goals, making her life more fulfilled.
By Andrew, Mary, and Michael, Kenya
Due to numerous road trips, we hadn't been able to visit a friend of ours who had gotten Activated some months earlier. So one evening we invited her over and in the course of our conversation we talked about Activated.
This lady is a Muslim and a very successful businesswoman, and her response to the mags was so positive. She had also received the Reflections about the attacks in the U.S. on 9/11, and thought our stance on the matter was right on. There was also a little prayer in that issue, praying for peace, which she then photocopied and sent to all her friends, who are top businessmen and women.
She went on to say the mag has been a great source of strength for her, and that as soon as she gets a new issue she will set aside some time to read and reflect on it. She's also been giving different articles to her friends to read, and the word is spreading. Her favorite articles are the prayers, and the "From Jesus —with Love" section in the mag.
She is interested in coming to any Activated meetings we have in the future, which is a miracle in itself, as this woman is very busy and getting her to do so in the past was not easy.
We've been ministering to her for a few years now, but it's beautiful and encouraging to see the positive effect Activated has had on her, and best of all, when we are away she is still getting fed and growing.
By Charity (21), India
I met a guy a while back who had subscribed to Activated. After a year we went to re-subscribe him. Unfortunately, I hadn't been faithful in following up on him for the duration of that year, but when I met him again, I was happy to see that he was already being followed up on through Activated.
While talking about the mag, he told me, "Activated is great! Every time I was going through something, I'd find that there was something right on that subject in the mag, and it'd give me peace of mind."
He re-subscribed immediately, and even got another subscription for his friend! It sure was inspiring for me, as I was able to see how much he had grown.
By Andrew, Martin, Mary, and Michael, Kenya
We stopped by the office of one of our dear friends, and while we were there we began talking about recent world events, and how they're a sign of the Endtime. To our surprise he said, "So as soon as the Antichrist comes we have seven years left on this earth, right?" This man is a staunch Hindu, so for him to say that was quite surprising.
"Yes!" we replied.
"Great," he continued. "So now we just have to keep on the lookout for the Antichrist." He smiled at us. "Yep, I've been reading it all in the magazines you've been giving me."
Wow! We were so inspired to see the Word have such a powerful effect. We were then able to talk to him for quite awhile afterwards about more Endtime events, and he wants to come to our classes. The Activated mags are amazing and we can see the fruit and growth it has borne in our friends' lives.
By Jeho, Consuelo, and Angel, Brazil
There were a few things that were not functioning right in our Home, but as we sought the Lord and took the time to hear from Him, He began to show us things that we could do to change the situation to make our Home more fruitful. Because we live in a rent-free house, it's easy at times to escape the daily pressures of having to raise the rent. So we decided as a Home to go on the attack and get out Activated just like the Lord has been asking us to do for months.
Now we have teams out every day pushing subscriptions and it is working. We have set Activated subscriptions as our goal and want to fight to get out subscriptions, which we think is the most worthwhile goal to be fighting for.
By Charity (of Chris), Australia
Being here in Australia, it hasn't been so easy for me to have a lot of faith to get people signed up for Activated. Our closest friends have subscribed, which adds up to about six friends or families, but getting new people signed up seemed an impossibility to me. Although we meet sheep and people get saved, we hadn't met too many that seemed potential or that would be interested in Activated. Also, since we've been trying to go to the mission field, our main emphasis has been on fundraising to the neglect of more in-depth witnessing. Our attitude has been, "We'll get on the attack with the Activated push when we get to the mission field, rather than here where folks aren't as receptive."
However, upon reading the "Activate the World" GN series, the Lord spoke to me, saying that surely there was at least one new person who could get Activated. He then reminded me of a few friends I could present Activated to. One is a businessman who I have been ministering to for a few years; he presently supports fellow Family missionaries in Africa.
Over the years of following up on this man I have given him various things to read, videos to watch, and have witnessed to him extensively about the Family. He has always been very interested to hear from me about the folks he supports in Africa. However, I have never received much response from him to the Word I've given him.
I wrote him a letter enclosing the first Activated mag, and I explained to him about how much I enjoy this magazine and how it's designed for busy people, as it's easy to read and very inspirational. A few weeks later I received a call from him saying how thankful he was to have received my letter and how much he enjoyed the magazine. He wanted to subscribe!
His response was overwhelming considering I'd never received a reaction from him before to the things I'd sent him. Not to say that the Word I'd previously given him wasn't as good, as the Word is the Word, but I felt it was because this program has the Lord's anointing on it for today, and also the Lord was encouraging me for my simple step of obedience.
By Christine (of Patrick), USA
Several months ago we met Jesse through a live-out member. Jesse is the director of a halfway house for homeless young men. Initially we were hesitant to meet with him since the program he runs is part of a church ministry—we weren't sure if we'd jibe. However, in talking with him on the phone, we had an amazing connection.
He came over and saw the posters we use at the annual Rainbow Gathering, and he flipped out! He told us that he had always believed like we did, but thought that he was just an oddball. He was so amazed that he could talk to us about things that he had felt in his heart all along, but would never mention to any other Christians because he knew they wouldn't accept it. We talked to him about getting the Activated mag, but he didn't sign up for a subscription. We were in contact with him off and on for months, and had been trying to get him on Activated, but couldn't seem to connect on that topic.
When he came to our open house at Christmas, we read a portion of the first Christmas Activated mag, and he loved it. He immediately asked us how he could get a copy of what we read! Then he looked at the tools that we had on display and ended up taking a Treasure Attic and one of the Stories to Grow By books to give to one of his friends. I had the opportunity to get the subscription information to get him Activated.
The next day he called to tell me that he had viewed the video and read the book and that he liked them so much, that he didn't even want to give them away! Not only that, but he also called in his subscription to Activated and took one for a friend too.
By Gem, Canada
While we were out clowning we met a man, who after hearing that we were missionaries, invited us out to eat. Although he is an avid churchgoer, he was looking for something more radical than what the churches had to offer. We gave him two issues of Activated. After reading them he told us how encouraging the story of Peter's transformation was to him.
At the end of the evening he handed us a manila envelope and gave us instructions not to open it until we got home. To our amazement, it was his tithe that he had been saving for a few months! When we called to thank him, he said that he wanted to pledge a monthly donation.
By Mark Free (of Faithy), India
The Lord gave us the idea to approach the schools about using some of the Get Activated booklets as moral instruction for their students. We started by going to a few Christian schools where our Home has been ministering to several nuns and priests, who have grown quite close to us.
All of these schools have taken a full set of our tools, including the books, for themselves, but the idea of the books being used for the students wasn't pursued much due to the cost of our books being quite high. However, now that the books are printed in India and are only about half the price, we approached the school about using the books for their moral instruction and the response has been quite positive.
By Phil, Brazil
Activated has been a great way to follow up on the people we weren't able to visit frequently ourselves. One of our first subscribers, Paulo, signed up with me at his shop, but due to my involvement in a teen training program at home, I wasn't able to go out much. I was hit with a bit of condemnation that I wasn't visiting the people who I had subscribed. Finally, about six months after Paulo subscribed I went by to see him. When I walked in he was happy to see me and said he was reading the mags and showed me the calendar on his desk.
While I was talking with Paulo one of his business acquaintances was walking out of the store. Paulo pulled a tract from my bag and called out to his acquaintance, and gave the tract to him saying, "Take this. You have to read it!"
Paulo has been getting Activated every month, including the witnessing issue, and it has kept him in close touch with us, so that he continued to grow even though we weren't able to see him during that time. When the sheep get the magazines, they're reminded of the person with whom they subscribed, which is why it keeps you close.
By Maria (18), Brazil
Esther and I were following up on a lady who had already signed up for Activated and had received the free quotes calendar. A man that worked for her, realizing that we were the people she had received the calendar from, asked us if there was any way we could sell one to him. We had calendars to sell, but instead told him that the calendar came with the subscription to our magazine. He was anxious to know more, and when we asked him if he had Jesus in his heart he said, "No, but I'm trying to find out how." He had found the right people!
We gave him a short salvation class, prayed with him to receive the Lord, explained why Activated would help him get fed and grow spiritually, and signed him up for Activated and the calendar. Three months later when we went back and started talking with him, and we realized that he was quoting portions of what he'd read in the mags. He told us how he was thinking about it, putting it into practice in his life, and seeing that it worked! Here was a spiritual baby growing rapidly through reading and studying Activated.
By Abigail (of Jonathan), India
I have a friend who I have known for over ten years. When he first met me he made it very clear that he doesn't mind helping us, but not to get into any of my "preaching" with him. Over the years we've sent him mail, thank-yous, prophecies, etc. The Lord has brought him around and he is doing well and attends our Church of Love. He is very thankful for our help and comes over for Word with his wife as well.
He has a nightclub, and Saturday is a good day for him on the business side, so he was coming to our class, but late, and was missing quite a bit of the class. The Lord led me to tell him sweetly but firmly that he needs to come to the classes or to the COL only if he thinks it will benefit him, and not to come for my sake. I was nervous at delivering the message but obeyed by faith.
The fruit? He now almost always makes it to class on time, he has pledged to sponsor 10 Activated subscriptions a month, and recently helped with funds towards our vacation. And on top of that, he said that he'd talked to his partners at the nightclub and they have all agreed to help the Family on a weekly basis!
By Simon Simple, India
One year ago we met a Christian lady who is the personal assistant of the owner of one of the largest companies here in the city. When we showed her Activated, she signed up for it, but more out of politeness at that point than anything else. She told us, "I subscribe to a lot of other Christian magazines, so I don't really need this one, but since you are serving the Lord, I'll take your magazine."
Recently we met this lady again and asked her what she thought of the magazine. She told us, "This is the best Christian magazine I've ever read! The others pale in comparison! These other magazines don't feed me so much, but every article in Activated is concise, power packed, to the point, and very feeding! I love it, my son loves it, and my husband loves it! Do you have any other books?" That day she bought five Get Activated books!
By Steven Don Quixote, Poland
After the "Conviction vs. Compromise" GNs we have put more emphasis on Activated, going on follow-up and outreach instead of relying heavily on clowning and other fundraising jobs. We still do clowning, but the Lord showed us that we needed to put more time into the "basic" Family methods of witnessing. And since we've done that, He has been doing the miracles for us. We are meeting more friends who want to help our work. Even though this is not an English-speaking country, we are giving Activated mags to the people who do speak English.
By Pedro and Lily, Madagascar
Here in Madagascar the price of a subscription was quite high, even for the middle class to afford. However, recently, thanks to the increase of donations and sponsoring of many Family Homes, the Activated Africa Desk let us know that it was possible for those on the African continent who couldn't afford a full-price subscription to obtain one by paying US$5 instead of the regular US$15 fee. That was a real answer to our prayers for our situation. Now, by asking for a minimum price we are finding that those who would really want and will read the magazine will make an effort to pay the minimum fee.
By Esther (18), Brazil
It was late afternoon after a day of follow-up with Eman (18), and we wanted to get out one more subscription before we went home. We walked into a bicycle shop and started witnessing to one of the salesmen. While we were talking with the salesman, another guy was listening to our conversation.
The salesman had to leave, so we started talking with the man who'd been listening to us. At first he was very skeptical, asking about how we live, about the Family, and our doctrines. He knew the Bible well, but didn't believe in it because of the hypocrisy he'd found in the churches. After half an hour of talking about salvation by grace, he still remained quite skeptical.
I pulled out the first Activated mag and showed it to him. When I got to "Mountain Men," I told him how I liked that one and that it was real cool.
"Oh yeah?" he said. "Let me read it!" He grabbed the mag from me and started reading, as Eman and I prayed silently. When he finished reading the section, he'd completely changed. He subscribed right there. These mags have power in them, as they portray the Word in a way that people can understand, and it touches their hearts no matter how skeptical they are.
Getting activated has changed my outlook on witnessing. I'm no longer just fundraising; instead I feel a happiness that I'd never before felt in witnessing. I think the Lord wants to use Activated for all the other young people that may be feeling burnt out or discouraged about their lives.
By Jere Fire (of Amendoa), Brazil
I'd like to share with you some of the miracles that the Activated program has brought in my life. I've been a CM Family member for two and a half years and have witnessed many blessings of putting the Word in first place. It's because we trust and claim the promises that our Husband does the miracles for us.
One year ago, during some meetings in Southern Brazil, I heard about the things the Lord promised to those who put the new vision of Activated into action—the vision for winning disciples who couldn't drop out but could join us in spirit. I must confess that it was a little difficult to believe and to actually put this plan into action. The Lord was asking us—that is me—to forsake the old and embrace the new!
The Home that I was living in at the time stopped and sought the Lord to find out how we were to proceed with what the Lord was asking of us. He was faithful to show us various ways to implement the Activated vision.
At first, getting out Activated went very slow in our witnessing and fundraising, as the financial benefit of getting a subscription was very low here in Brazil. We'd just get a subscription here and there. Soon after that I moved to Rio, which started a new era of my life. When the Letter "What the Future Holds, Part 1" (ML #3349, GN 942) came out, where the Lord gave the vision of the four angels, one specifically who had been sent to touch people's hearts to subscribe to the Activated magazine, that really changed my life! Wow, an angel just for Activated! It caused an explosion in my Home and we ended up in first place in Activated subscription sales for Brazil and by Christmas, we were the world shiners! One company bought 315 subscriptions! We got out a hundred more door-to-door, plus the Active members got them out to their sheep and friends! It was amazing to see Activated boom!
Our Home was like all other Homes with bills to pay, financial pressure, doubts of the Devil that we wouldn't have the money to pay the bills, etc. We had to claim the keys and put the Lord to the test. In the end, we had our best season of tool distribution for the entire year, and the Lord supplied a brand new van and new mattresses for all! The Lord supplied every step of the way as we followed the Activated vision. The people who got subscriptions felt loved and were reading the Words of David. We felt the power of the printed Word, even if it was only a few pages, and the sheep wanted the same for their children. So the videos, CDs, and books also went out, and continue to. Most of the tools that I get out are taken by Activated subscribers.
Here are a few tips on how I witness when getting out Activated subscriptions:
1.I always claim the power of the keys.
2. I claim that the Activated angel will touch the hearts of the people to get subscriptions.
3.I pray against discouragement and attacks of the Devil constantly.
4.I continue to read the promises in the Word about Activated.
5.I offer the Activated magazine as a way for employers to give the Word of God to their employees.
6.I witness using the "Mottos for Success" calendar (which is in our kit for new subscribers) and give the Activated vision in all our GP Bible studies (which are by the way, all based on the Mag of the Month).
7.When I'm presenting a magazine I open it up and leaf through the pages showing the subject matter to the person. I ask questions like, "Do you want to know the future? Do you need help in your personal relationships? Do you need guidance in your walk with the Lord? This magazine takes you step by step in your spiritual growth, etc."
8.I have sold Activated even to our maid, who pays three small monthly payments. There aren't any limits in who can subscribe.
9.I memorized the subject matters of the first nine magazines (which are the basic studies) and I put one of each (plus a few more) in a folder with clear plastic pages to show people. If they are particularly interested in a particular topic, I can show them the magazine that covers that subject.
10.We put various magazines out on our tools table during Sunday fellowship and sell the magazines individually (since here the monthly mag this year won't be repeated). Our Home buys extra copies and we encourage our Active members to buy extra copies, too, to use in their witnessing.
11.Recently at a fair where we got out videos and tools, we went from stand to stand getting to know the owners and workers and sold subscriptions during slower times at our stand.
12.Here is an idea that one of our Active members uses to get out subscriptions: When he owes someone something, he shows them the magazine and suggests that they take the subscription money out of what he pays them and then he deducts it from his payment.
Here is how we presented the magazine (by e-mail) to some people on one of our Active members mailing list:
Dear Friend,
Practically all the messages I send you come from this magazine called Activated. As in any college course, the subjects in the Activated mag are based on a progressive order. It's a monthly magazine that can help you find love, happiness, peace, liberty, and satisfaction in everything life has to offer. It will take you directly to the source—God—Who, the Bible says is "love."
Each mag broaches subjects like faith, love, prayer, relationships with people, the future, marriage, and how to raise your children. It is easy to understand and practical.
Are you looking for answers? Do you want to make this a better world? Your search has ended!
(Then we give the information on how to subscribe.)
By Maria, Nora, and Sylvia, Kenya
We got invited to one of the big banks here to participate in their weekly prayer and worship session. We sang a few songs, read some Word from our Activated books, and then presented our tools to all the employees. The tools went out like hotcakes and we were invited back. So far we've attended this meeting three times and we hope to get into other banks as well.
By Jonathan Fighter (of Amor), Taiwan
As an incentive we offer a free CD to anyone who subscribes to Activated. We don't have the Activated mags in Chinese yet, so we're using English to reach the smaller percentage of folks whose English level is high enough to benefit from the mags. Since the rate of exchange is a bit different, we rounded off the cost of the subscription, and realized that the round number gives us enough "extra" to include a CD, and still come out fine financially.
By Andrew Bold, UK
While getting out Activated on the street, a lady came up and was very interested in our work. I showed her my PR album from our local work in old folks homes and prisons, as well as photos from our previous years in India. She asked if we had any order forms for her to fill in so she could help monthly. I took her address, and sent her a standing order bank form, which I got at the bank after meeting her, and gave her the option of being an Activated member and helping us with a regular gift.
I now carry these forms with me whenever I go activating. It's pretty simple: You fill in your bank details and then the person only has to fill in the amount and take it to his or her bank.
We have a couple of regular supporters who give on a monthly basis this way. The person's bank automatically sends you a monthly amount that they've agreed on. This is such a blessing and makes it easier for them to help you without having to remember to send something.
By Andres (of Mary), Romania
The Lord gave us the idea to increase the price for our tools when going to companies, so we can additionally sign them up for Activated. We give them the vision of the Activated mags, how they will receive them each month, etc., and if they're interested and are willing to pay the extra cost for the tools, they are usually sheepy, too.
By the Rainbow Home, Japan
We have several bookstores and coffee shop owners who have agreed to let us display Activated magazines there. We go by regularly to see the progress.
By Maya Woods (of Tim), USA
On the weekends we usually can at the streetlights. We used to go with posters, but Tim and I decided to take the Activated mags with us as well to offer to anyone who has already received a poster.
We started out this year by getting 200 mags and since then have increased it to 300, and may soon need to increase that to 400 or 500 as we just take them wherever we go. Getting them in the hands of our friends and contacts is so much fun. The Activated mags are the greatest!
By Stacy, Liz, and Michael, USA
Every time we do a CTP or witnessing project, we try to take photos and then make photo pages to update our PR albums, which we use in daily outreach. We then make black-and-white photocopies of these pages and include them as part of the next mailing for our mail ministry. We then write up a story of the project which explains the picture pages, we add a Reflections or Mountain Streams, and presto, a four-page newsletter mailing without all the hassle of re-laying out photos, pasting on captions, etc. We are now including Activated mags or the Activated books in our mailings, which are really the cat's meow.
We used to try to make our newsletters look all fancy, but it slowed us down and our newsletters were only coming out every other month instead of monthly, as they do now.
We are also trying to get as many of our contacts as possible onto Activated. The result of putting more into feeding the sheep? Almost half our income monthly now comes from follow-up and the mail ministry.
By Avital, Bombay Service Home, India
People have been asking me exactly how our Home gets our subscriptions in—the stark specifics, the nitty-gritty, precise procedures, etc.
Our main assets have been being able to claim the power of the keys, using the new weapons, and learning to have the conviction that comes with the era of greater faith. "People are persuaded more by the depth of your conviction than the height of your logic."
So here are some of the things we've done that have worked:
1. Door to door: Many of our young people have had success with this method. Anyone can do it. If you walk into a building with conviction, as if you own the place, which by faith you do, the guards are less likely to stop you. Somebody even got a guard activated! It helps if you are well dressed, with perhaps a small attaché case instead of a backpack, which makes you look like a business person.
Affluent areas and Catholic neighborhoods have been particularly fruitful for us. We get out the subscriptions like any other tool, but because of the semi-sensitive nature of our field, we take care not to link it directly to our CTPs, which we keep secular. A lot of our subscribers are non-Christian and appreciate the magazine.
2. While on normal outreach: In the course of our fundraising, follow-up trips, tooling or witnessing, we try to offer a subscription to almost every person we meet. Many take it. So even when a team is specifically out to fundraise or follow up or get out tools, they can get several subscriptions simultaneously.
We've had teams get out 10-21 subscriptions in one day. (Sometimes these have been sponsored, like having half-price versions for people who cannot afford the whole amount but would appreciate the magazine.)
3. Offices as activating territories: Sometimes, some of the top offices in the city have been fertile ground. We've entered some offices to present our tools and "Mottos" to the company, and in the end, if the top or middle-rung management is receptive, we go desk-to-desk or cabin-to-cabin, sometimes discreetly, and get out several subscriptions that way. Secretaries and receptionists often like the magazine.
4. Shop to shop: Danny, one of our SGAs, has a burden for this, and he's found it to bear great results, especially in upmarket shopping areas. He puts the hours in and refuses to give up! Our senior teen and YA have gone shop to shop in five-star shopping arcades with equally good results!
5. Hotel staff often sign up.
6. Hostels: College hostels have been quite fruitful for us. Though what these students usually only manage to pay for are half-price, subsidized subscriptions, they are quite appreciative.
We've tried five large hostels so far, including for young, working guys and girls, and I found that being a girl need not hamper you from going to a boys hostel, especially if you take a male partner along. It's easier to get subscriptions when the students hang around their place in the evenings, and we get them to call their friends and roommates down "to meet some people from Uranus" or something like that. We've gotten about 80 subscriptions so far from visits to a few hostels, and there is still a lot to be done in each of these.
7. Receptive relatives.
8. While commuting: We've gotten a few subscriptions by talking to fellow passengers on trains.
9. While shopping: We've offered subscriptions to shops in wholesale markets that we buy from (not close to our house) and even to co-shoppers occasionally.
10. We're looking into trying out activating nurses, some churches, and small, foreign student associations, etc.
11. On the street: The Lord can give you checks about certain people you pass on the streets. They could be waiting for a girlfriend, or just strolling around with all the time in the world to get a good spiel about the mag. Friendly young people are often quite receptive. We don't go street activating all day—it's more of an occasional thing—more like tuning into checks if it's the Lord's set-up.
12. We've offered Christmas CD cards for a higher price, which covers the cost of the CD card or cards, as well as a subscription, and then sell the card, offering the subscription free with it.
13. Friendly staff at rehab centers for drug and alcohol addicts that we do weekly motivational workshops at.
14. We've gotten quite a few by standing on the porch outside a nice Christmas-tree shop during the Christmas season. The owner was quite supportive, and we'd offer subscriptions to people coming out of the shop.
Some of the things we've tried have bordered on wacky, though we like to think of it as full-of-crazy-faith. Usually, it's more in spite of us than because of us that we get the stats in.—It's truly all the Lord anyway. It often isn't easy, but I believe the Lord honors the fact that you're out there and giving the new vision a good shot. He is bound to bless it in some way!
The Lord has taken the Family into a new era, the era of action, and given you a new tool that's perfectly designed for it—Activated. The Lord wants to activate every Family member worldwide and have this program bursting through in their lives in all that they do. The Lord wants this to be an explosion—possibly the biggest explosion of any pub ever created by any Christian organization!
—Dad (ML #3348:8)
You haven't seen anything yet when it comes to Activated! The Family just has to start doing it, pushing it, promoting it, and winning others with it. And then when you've won others with it, unlike your other pushes, you can get them plugging it too.
—Dad (ML #3348:12)
Are you activated? Are you taking up the torch and running with it? Are you putting the Lord's newest and most effective soul-reaping, life-changing, heart-winning weapon to good use? Don't let it sit on the shelves—get it out to those who need it! Get the message to the starving multitudes! Feed the hungry!
—Dad (ML #3348:15)
There's no hole so hidden that Activated can't slip in and change someone's life. There's no crack in the Devil's armor so small that this message and ministry can't break through and deal a mortal blow to his attack on man.
—Dad (ML #3348:33)
Activated isn't just a magazine—it's a new way of life! Activated for the Lord is what each of you need to be! No matter what else happens in the Family, or what other goals and changes and pushes and whatnot come up, being witnesses who feed the sheep will always remain your number one priority—from this time forth, even unto the end of the world!
—Dad (ML #3348:35)
You cannot see the full magnitude of [Activated] at this moment, but I ask you to trust Me. The far-reaching effects of this Activated ministry are going to break all world records since the beginning of time. Never before has the world seen a mighty moving of My Spirit as they will see now. The effects of this great move will be so stupendous that the human mind does not have the capacity to imagine it. And you who have answered My call are laying the foundation, brick by brick, heart upon heart, subscription by subscription.
—Jesus (ML #3395:59)
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