Dear Partner,

2 Pet 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

My understanding of this verse was greatly increased while I was ministering in Poland earlier this year. I had the opportunity to visit a cathedral in Krakow that was built two hundred years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Right away I knew something was wrong when I noticed that the most prominent statue in the cathedral depicted both God the Father and God the Son crowning Mary as the "Queen Of Heaven." I asked what was the doctrine that was taught at the cathedral. Here is what they told me:

"Yes, Jesus is the Son of God. Yes, Jesus died for man's sins. However, man did not stop sinning. Therefore, Jesus is very angry and He would destroy all of mankind if not for one thing … His mother Mary. That's why we pray to Mary to save us from Jesus."

My mind strained to comprehend what my ears were hearing. I kept studying the face of the man who was sharing this information with me looking for any trace of a smile. At first I thought he surely must have been joking, but he was completely serious. As I walked away I kept hearing this verse from 2nd Peter over and over again in my spirit. What an example this is of "false teachers" who even deny the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! It has turned the truth of the gospel completely upside down.

What really alarmed me was when I found out that this is the prevailing "doctrine" that is believed by the vast majority of the Polish people. What a stronghold of religion! What a "Rembrandt" of deception Satan has painted through these false teachers down through the centuries. My heart ached as I saw many people in those cathedrals down on their knees praying to Mary to save them from the wrath of Jesus. Many of them were elderly ladies who had no doubt been praying that way for most of their lives, and all of it for nothing because there is no TRUTH in what they have been taught. Jesus said,

John 8:31b-32  If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you free.

Strongholds of religious error are the most difficult of all to overcome. When you believe a lie, and your parents believed that lie, and your grandparents believed that lie … going back in your genealogy for centuries … a fortress of error has built up in your thinking. It is as strong as any fortress ever made out of stone blocks and the only way a person's thinking can be changed is to tear down the stronghold of erroneous doctrine it is made of. Paul said,

2 Cor 10:4-5  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Stone by stone, thought by thought, error must be replaced with truth. Even if the people resist you and persecute you, the true servant of the Lord must be found faithful to share the truth of God's word with those who have been imprisoned within strongholds of error. That's why I thank God I had the opportunity to go and minister in person to many of the Lord's servants in Poland.

Few people there speak English so it does little good for me to send them free tapes. The written lessons at the website do them no good unless they can read English. But having the opportunity to minister there in person, we used a translator during every service who would repeat the truth I was speaking in their native Polish tongue. We recorded those messages on cassette tape and now they are being made available for free to anybody in Poland who desires to know the truth. In addition, we are now in the process of having the lessons at the website translated into the Polish language so they will also be able to access them anytime they want to.

In September, I will be ministering for a week in Seoul, South Korea. The same process will be repeated there. Thank God for the ability to travel around the world quickly in this generation and for the communication technology available to us to preach and teach the TRUTH on a massive scale that sets the captives free.

James 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

With all of our strength and with all of our resources, we are endeavoring to do what we can to gather in the "precious fruit of the earth" that our Father desires before He brings this dispensation to a close. Every soul that is saved, every captive that is set free from strongholds of deception through the teaching ministry given to us, also abounds to your account when you help send us to teach the TRUTH. Fruit is being added to your account daily. Praise God!

Phil 4:15-17  Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: BUT I DESIRE FRUIT THAT MAY ABOUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

Sue and I love you and appreciate you. We thank God for your generous and giving heart. God bless you!

Your friend and co-laborer,

Gary Carpenter

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