Michael Romero, Eastern Nebraska Baptist Association
By Michael Romero
What opened your eyes to the fields where you serve? What drew you there? How did God call you there?
What drew me there was the Holy Spirit, as He used my own great need for a Savior (I lived on the streets, drugs, crime, violence, no love), and the vehicle of the Set Free discipleship ministry, as it taught me to deliver the gospel one day at a time. I came to Set Free church in 1992 to escape the devastation of a life torn apart by the streets and drugs and sin. . . I decided right there that this Jesus thing was exactly what was missing from my life. I also felt connected to these people because they could relate to me. I was Set Free for life. . .
When you look at the fields, what do you see? When you see what stirs you? When you see whom do you see?
I see lost people, too innumerable to count, here in America, who do not know their left hand from their right hand (Jonah 4:11). I have compassion on them, as they are only doing what they have been taught by our society, and its road leads to certain death if continued on. It breaks my heart to see the children being taught, every new generation, with more veracity how to follow their lusts, and not to follow their God.
How ripe has your harvest been? What does this ripeness look like? Who is helping you in the gathering?
The harvest has been extremely blessed by the Lord! We have had over 100 people come into our free live-in discipleship program (The Ranch), and we average about 25 men, women, and children learning God’s word from morning til night. Our program begins at 6:45am and ends at 5:00pm. Then there are 5 nights a week that we have either church or ministry (Sinners Forgiven, Sisters in Service, Pastors school, Kids for Christ). We have had over 60 baptisms this year. We have had over 200 professions of faith in Jesus Christ. We have hosted countless events all over the city and are developing lasting relationships with the street culture. Our services are averaging 50 and it is not uncommon to have 70-80. Our largest turnout was over 87 at church and over 250 at our Easter Event. It is a beautiful ripe harvest. Isaiah 28:5-6 says; ‘In that day the Lord almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of His people. He will be a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.’ The harvest is beautiful, beautiful beautiful.
For a full account of Michael’ s testimony, go to http://www.kncsb.org/ministry/article/viola_webb_promotional_material_downloads/.