Tom and Susan Shanklin

Dear Friends,

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

This was a frequent mantra of Dr. D.L. Browning, the late founder of Kingsway Fellowship International, a ministerial fellowship of which I am a part. It’s a powerful key to success in life, in business, and in ministry. Remember your purpose and avoid the distractions which hinder you from fulfilling your mission in life. Stay on task!

The “main thing” for the Church, of course, is the Great Commission. As Oswald Smith, the great missionary pastor said, “Oh my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the church, that of evangelizing the world and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected!”

We consider it part of our assignment at Tom Shanklin Ministries to provoke Jesus’ Church unto good works by reminding her of her mission. We ALL must keep the main thing the main thing. “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel…” (Mark 16:15, KJV.)

This is Jesus’ last message to His followers. It is obviously THE thing that He most wanted them (and us) to do. Let’s all do a check up and see if we are “on task.” If our ministries or our churches do not reflect the priority of the Great Commission … if we are not preaching the Gospel and making disciples … it’s time to change. Let’s keep the main thing the main thing!

Believers School of Ministry Class in an Asian nation via Skype.

Believers School of Ministry

One of the tools that the Lord has given us to “keep the main thing the main thing” is the Believers School of Ministry. The scope of this tool continues to expand before our eyes.

We are seeing much fruit from the Believers School of Ministry classes we have been holding in a nation in Asia each Wednesday. After practicing witnessing through role-playing during the classes, each student has now begun to share their faith outside the class. They are very excited and stirred to reach out.

In November, the focus was on “Spirit-filled Ministry,” with lessons on Power to Change the World, The Fruit of the Spirit, The Gifts of the Spirit and Hearing God’s Voice. After the teaching sessions, the students are praying for one another and the Holy Spirit has been giving them revelations. They have been amazed to see that the words of knowledge and/or wisdom that have come forth have been confirmed by two or three witnesses. Also, during the class on The Fruit of the Spirit, one man became convicted of anger and unforgiveness. He confessed his fault to the entire class, and they prayed for him. He was excited to share with me via Skype about what God had done in his heart.

The Lord is also opening new doors for the school. Our ministry associate in Kenya, Pastor Davis Juma will begin holding classes.  He said, “The Believers school will be located in Samia district in Busia County, Kenya. The students are from both Baptist churches and other churches in this county. This school intends to have students throughout the county and when it grows further and is well established it will begin enrolling students from other parts of the country. My vision is to see it having campuses in the whole of Eastern and Central Africa and eventually the whole of Africa because there is need for sound Bible knowledge and only a few can afford to travel to and join seminaries.”

Mankato Believers School of Ministry

In January, we will begin holding the Believers School of Ministry in Mankato. Classes will be held at at Madison East Center Meeting Room, 1400 E. Madison Ave., Suite 354, Mankato, MN, on Thursdays from January 11-March 29 from 6-8 p.m in cooperation with Two Rivers Vineyard Church. We’re excited about this opportunity to build up the body of Christ in our hometown. The classes are open to people from all the churches of Mankato and the surrounding area. Please pray!

Looking ahead to 2018!

As we look ahead to the new year, I am excited about the opportunities that lie before us. The fields truly are white unto harvest. I am trusting that the Lord will send us to those places where we can be most effective in reaching the lost. We are praying about invitations overseas, as well as seeking God for grace and wisdom to reach many for Jesus in our own nation. If you would like us to visit your community and work with you to bring in the harvest in 2018, please let us know. We are available for evangelistic events, revivals, healing services, conferences, Sunday morning services, and more. Let us know how we can link up with you to reach your world for Jesus.

Thank You for Your Part!

Susan and I are so thankful for your friendship, your prayers, your support, and all your encouragement. Because of your faithfulness and generosity, we are able to “keep the main thing the main thing” and fulfill our calling to “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.” From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The best is yet to come!

Tom Shanklin

Partner with us in finances.

Partner with us in prayer.

Testimonies from the Believers School in India

By the grace of God we were able to meet and have role play on sharing our faith.

We praise God that God is working in and through us.  We had a time to practice what we heard, we did role plays. We prayed for each one, encouraging one another throughout the week to share testimony to at least one. We prayed for ourselves about our weeds [works of the flesh] in life. God convicted us of our weeds in life and it was time of great encouragement. we also took time to activate our faith and see God release the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  We saw God reveal about the situations of people by showing some images, promptings words, and scriptures. We saw how God was confirming to each other by revealing the similiar thing to other people. We praise God that we could see that one Spirit is working in us and how he was uniting us.

Some of the Testimonials

Moses– First time I shared the gospel to a non-Christian stranger. God helped me to realize to pluck out weeds in my life and nurture his fruit. First time in my life I  heard about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. we had a time to pray and share what God was speaking.

Three of us prayed for a person. And we saw God showing the three of us which was similiar, we were suprised! We were encouraged that God was working in one Spirit and He showed us this in unity as a confirmation, to remove our doubts. And the person we prayed for was able to connect and was encouraged.  I never knew God would show something about somebody when I pray.

Devender: I’m encouraged to share Gospel as a lifestyle. God is helping me to witness and share my testimony to my classmates.

Rambabu:  We need to pluck the weeds. God convicted me of my anger and unforgiveness during the class. I shared in our Fellowship and the brothers prayed for me. Anger, I should share the gospel and my testimony.

We thank you Tom Shanklin Ministries and Ps. Tom and Sis. Susan for your prayers and support.

Letters from our Friends

Comments on Healing a Troubled World

Precious Brother, Thank you for the good word on love in this troubled world.  I am convinced that the

Gospel is woven around love.  Yes, God’s love for us brought salvation, and our love for others can be the instrument that will extend His love to a sinful world. As the Holy Spirit fills us believers, the evidence that shines above all else will be the love of God.  When that fruit is overflowing, out of it all the other fruit of the Spirit will be flowing also.  Yes, our joy is dependent on how much love we have. (Kansas City)

The Power of the Tongue Podcast

Thank you for this awesome message!  You should really make this into a CD for people or a DVD of you preaching on this. (Southern Minnesota)

From Glenfield, North Dakota

Thank you for preaching at Prairie Faith! It was a joy to have you here. God bless! (Prairie Faith Family)

Thanks for the Peace CD

Hi Pastor Tom and Saint Susan, I want to thank you for “The Peace CD” you sent me a couple of weeks ago…I love it! I had my husband listening to it in the car on the way to work … he was all worked up about stuff, and we needed to be making some decisions. “The Peace CD” can settle your soul, so you can enter into peace and hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. God’s Word works…it always does!  (Arizona)

Joy to Receive the Newsletter

Soldiers of the cross. It is a joy to receive your monthly newsletter, Healing for the Nations. It is truly an instrument of the Lord for all. This month’s “Healing a Troubled World” is so appropriate for our present environment. Wish it could be read by the ones who need it most. But it is needed for all of us. Susan, as usual your transparent writing is so personal and realistic—closest thing to a personal visit—a perfect combination. (Illinois)

Recent Ministry Updates…