By Tom Shanklin The Country Church in Ruthton, Minnesota had a baptism planned on the day I was scheduled to speak. It seems appropriate that Pastor Rich DeRuyter would use a stock tank purchased at a farm and home store to baptize the converts. Five people followed the Lord in water baptism on the Sunday Susan and I were there. … Read more>>>
By Tom Shanklin The happiest, most victorious and most on-fire Christians that I know are the ones that are doing something to help other people. Jesus said, “Freely ye have received, freely give.” The ability to receive is the key to the victorious Christian life. Eternal life is a gift to be received, not earned. Likewise, the baptism of the … Read more>>>
Hello Bro. Tom, Greetings in Jesus name. I hope you are doing well in the Lord. I ceaselessly pray for you, your ministry and family and I believe the Lord continues to lift you up. I have attached some pictures about what the Lord is doing here in East Africa through me. Please have a look at them and pray for me. … Read more>>>
By Tom Shanklin In July we held an Evangelistic Outreach at Twin Valley, Minnesota. This is the town where we started out in ministry in 1983 and pastored for 2 1/2 years. Some of the saints who were part of that church participated in the outreach. It’s good to see fruit that remains. They have remained true to their … Read more>>>
By Tom Shanklin In July I was in Hayward, Wisconsin, where I was a speaker for the annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) and Tent Revival for Northern Lights Christian Center. This was my first time to speak at this church, which is led by Pastor Tim Warner. Pastor Tim is also chairman of the International Ministerial Association, a worldwide association … Read more>>>
There is an old saying, “Bread is the staff of life.” I’m not quite sure what that means but here at the Shanklin Ponderosa, bread is one of our main foundations for healthy eating. Tom called it his “secret weapon” during our weight loss project. When he was absolutely starved between meals he would eat a slice of my bread … Read more>>>
By Tom Shanklin “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30, KJV. I love … Read more>>>
In late June we had a powerful meeting at the Every Tribe and Tongue Church in downtown Minneapolis. This new work, which was founded by Pastors Jim and Destaye Crawford, has a goal of reaching immigrants and others in the Minneapolis area. Pastors Jim and Destaye have served as missionaries to Destaye’s home country of Ethiopia. The couple also has … Read more>>>
Billy Graham, the elder statesman of Christianity, answers the question, “Should I change churches?” His answer is, “Pray about it,” but he also points out that you will never find the perfect church. Read more here.
Read more>>>By Tom Shanklin I was a local church pastor for 22 years, and as you would expect during that time I was passionate about God’s plan for the local church. But now that I have been in a traveling ministry focusing on evangelism for the past seven years, I see more than ever that God’s vehicle for reaching the world … Read more>>>
In June, we held an Interdenominational Prayer and Healing Service in Mankato. This is the first time we have sponsored a service in our hometown, although we have ministered in some churches and other venues in the city. It felt good to put down an anchor and establish our presence in our own city. Mankato, like most places, is a … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin I see the radar on the weather map showing red, yellow and green shapes moving into our area this morning, indicating heavy rainfall. Yikes, what should I do? I really should run out and harvest some Swiss chard. No, I best go take my multicolored coleus down which is hanging beside the big barn doors. Mmm, better … Read more>>>
By Tom Shanklin “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.” Proverbs 4:7, 8, KJV. We often talk about the blessings of God through Jesus Christ and how Jesus died on the cross to redeem … Read more>>>
By Tom Shanklin I had an awesome time of ministry at The Carpenter Shop in Antelope, South Dakota on May 11-13 with Pastor Bob Stead. The Carpenter Shop is a local church on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in south central South Dakota. I have visited the reservation a number of times. Although the attendance was very small for the Friday … Read more>>>
By Tom Shanklin What is your Google search? Are you looking for answers to the mysteries of the universe? Are you plumbing the depths of human knowledge to find the reality of who you are, where you came from, and where you are going? Or maybe it’s about things that are much more pressing to your mind, like how am … Read more>>>
Greetings in Jesus’ Precious Name, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he … Read more>>>
WHAT THE RESURRECTION MEANS TO YOU Reading: John 20.1-18 MAIN THOUGHT: Not only did the resurrection of Jesus Christ provide validation for His claims, but also provided the avenue for you and I to enter into the divine nature and to partake of the fullness of God. 1. JESUS IS ALIVE! THE RESURRECTION: AN UNDENIABLE FACT More evidence for it … Read more>>>
By Tom Shanklin “And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, … Read more>>>
By Tom Shanklin “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they … Read more>>>
Often, we look to a huge mega-church in one of the metropolitan areas to find the “formula” for growth and success. But God is not limited to such places. In fact, there are great treasures of truth to be found in other places—remote, obscure, rural places—where the great God of the universe is just as apt to do “great and … Read more>>>
