January 28, 2016
Thank you Pastor ________ for giving me a few minutes of your busy schedule.
I’m not here to ask you to buy a product or service
May I share about 14 minutes of my history with you in order to give you some context from which to understand why I came? I think you are likely a very busy man, so I’ll be brief. I wrote notes to help me to not ramble, so if you don’t mind too much, I’ll sort of read from these sheets of large type. I’ve tried to reduce my story down to essentials.
But first, I realize what I discuss may be old news to you. I’m very fired up about something that I think will surely please you. I know very little about your denomination and even less about you and this church. Please don’t take anything I say as an indication that I have thoughts of any superiority—I don’t. I am a failed person in need of daily grace and forgiveness. I honor you as a devoted pastor.
MY EARLY YEARS
I’m the youngest of 4 children, two brothers and one sister. My immediate family has lived in Central FL since 1959 As a child I was raised as a Roman Catholic, attending parish schools 7 of 12 years. When I was 9 years old I was born again and experienced forgiveness and Jesus’ presence inside me. However, I didn’t grow much because I didn’t develop a biblically informed walk nor a deeper surrender until I was 32.
Nina and I have 4 daughters, who deeply love and obey God. They have been wonderful gifts from our loving Father. I credit that also to the mercy, love and grace of God.
From the time Jesus entered my heart I became very hungry to know Him at a deeper level. When I was 17, I heard Him tell me He was calling me to become a pastor. But that vocation seemed impossible because I also knew I would marry and have a family, so it seemed that I was mistaken about hearing Him. I never told anyone about that call until he showed me it was true. But though I disregarded it, Father didn’t. In the meantime, I tried many ways available to me as a Catholic to get to know the realities of God. I read the lives of the saints, devotional materials written by holy men, went on annual spiritual retreats, did parish works of many kinds, and finally a little Bible reading on my own, but without good teachers, I didn’t understand much of what I read.
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
I was self-trained from a young age through books and doing experiments with electronics in our cellar. Then I spent 4 years in the Navy attending several schools and fixing electronics aboard ship. After that I was hired in to the Martin Company’s research department in Orlando beginning in 1959. My group was tasked with studying the use of electro-optical devices for missile guidance. That work led us into the design and development of lasers. I assisted in the construction of a laser target designator that was first used for smart bomb guidance, then later for missile guidance. Our work was immediately successful. As a result I was promoted from Electronics Technician to Senior Engineer in just 10 years—another wonderful gift from God. It was due to much teaching I received from a few great engineers I worked for.
In 1969 I was one of 12 founders of a spin-off from the Martin Co. We continued our development of lasers for other military applications and then had a chance to profit as owners instead of just employees. In 1972 in order to get our kids out of the city, our family had moved to Deland where I started a Bible study in our home with college age folks. Without any intention on my part, it grew and morphed into a church fellowship that I pastored part-time for 3 years. Then in 1976 I left the military laser business to serve the church full-time for 3 more years.
In 1979 Father led me to turn that church body over to my # 2 man and just wait for further guidance. At that time we had 4 children in school but I had no idea about my future. He had simply told me to wait but He also gave me peace. After 3 months of continuing to receive full salary from the church I was called by 2 engineers I knew well, who wanted to start a new laser company and invited me to join them. I asked Father and He said “Yes.” After 2 years of doing one very small laser rangefinder prototype design-and-build job, followed by a desperate request to Jesus for help from closing the doors, He led us into an opportunity to supply our unique laser design for cataract surgery. We designed, built and delivered a few prototypes that resulted in large contracts with American Hospital Supply. That work stimulated very fast growth for our company followed by an offer from Wall Street to take our stock public.
For me, a D student and first semester college drop-out, that was a great, impossible, ride—beyond anything I ever dreamed of doing! But after 3 years of being publicly traded, we experienced an unfriendly takeover. So in 1986 I was fired as Chairman and CEO of Laser Photonics, a very painful time for me. But because we had become publicly traded, upon leaving I was generously and happily retired when only 51 years old! I know that these blessings where totally due to Father’s unconditional love and grace, not because I’m a good person. During my early years I was not really committed to be totally led by Him. Life was too much about me and too little about God’s will and glory.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH & WALK
To fill you in on my personal spiritual growth, I will go back 1966. Nina and I received a call from my sister. Helen was a very emotionally troubled person, close to suicide at times. She struggled with an irresponsible husband and 8 children, while living in near poverty. She called me to share her great joy about her recent spiritual rebirth and her baptism in the Holy Spirit. Because of my denomination’s kind of teaching, I really didn’t understand her Biblical talk. At that time I believed the Catholic Church had all the right teachings. I had become narrow minded. I had lots of church teachings, distortions of scriptures, and strong biases, while she had a marvelous experience of the love and presence of Jesus. I tried to talk her out of leaving what I thought was the “the one true church,” wanting to bring her back. I didn’t understand her new joy. So, I had arguments, but she had God’s love, peace, and joy, and so Nina and I became very interested.
Helen sent us letters with Scriptures about the Holy Spirit that fired up our desire for a deeper relationship with Him. At this time in church history millions of church members of various old and new denominations began to ask God for more awareness of the Holy Spirit which led to a deeper holiness, and into the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit. For so many people, that time was like a recapture of the days recorded in the book of the Acts.
Receiving a much deeper commitment to embrace all God had for us, an increased awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and a sense of having more power to live the life I hungered for, revolutionized my personal life, my wife’s life, and profoundly affected our four daughters. We were seeing many supernatural answers to prayers and more importantly, the sense inside of us of the constant presence of Jesus.
As a child and a young man, I had little to no relationship with my dad, who was a good material provider, but his love and fatherhood for me was close to zero—as it had been for him and his relationship with his dad. My mom and dad argued all the time. So, I was glad, when at 18 dad told mom he was divorcing her. I didn’t have to put up with them verbally fighting anymore.
My relationship with my mom had been awful because she was constantly negative. I believe she tried with all her heart to love me, but her life was terribly conflicted by rejection from birth. As a result, I needed a lot of emotional and spiritual healing that Jesus provided in His own wonderful way by enabling me to hear His proceeding words (Matt 4:4) when I read the Scriptures and prayed about problems. He would tell me how to apply truth to my mental conflicts. And later, learning about, and more importantly, receiving awareness of the feelings of knowing I had God’s unconditional love brought much deeper healing and transformation. That was very big for me. I believe those experiences saved my marriage and family life by straightening out many crooked places in my soul.
So, the big spiritual changes in my life began in 1967. Both branches of Nina’s and my families were nearly all born again and radically brought into God’s love and joy. We often thank Him for so many who have become deeply committed disciples through our teaching and counseling. The effect of that time of Holy Spirit outpouring has changed so many lives we literally can’t count all of them. I believe it is because we actively sought after and received His power and cleansing fire. (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8). We didn’t then and still don’t take Him for granted.
As a direct result of our seeking more of what God’s Spirit had for us, Nina’s dad, Frank Marzullo — a very talented pastry chef, and her mom were reborn when we took them to a week-long Bible teaching camp in Minnesota. He was then 51. When he returned home to Miami, he immediately started a healing and deliverance ministry by going to the hospital and offering healing to the people from his parish. In a few years, that work grew large, bringing much healing and freedom to thousands as he traveled to several continents doing personal ministry and publishing several books. For over 3 decades people from all over the world called him day and night for his prayers and commonly saw immediate results. He had begun operating in many wonderful Holy Spirit gifts. Frank was a humble, simple, child-like seeker of God. I believe that his lack of knowledge of traditional church doctrines made it easy for him to just go ahead do what he read about in the New Testament! Frank’s, son (Frank jr.) is now continuing His dad’s ministry with wonderful results.
As I said, this new and wonderful dimension of our lives began back then through their asking for and then personally receiving the power of the Spirit. We began meetings in our home with many believers from various backgrounds to sing praises, pray for the sick, and spend a lot of time in fellowship. During one of these meetings my co-worker brought his wife, who could not get medical healing for a disabling back problem. She was mom to 5 young children but bedridden often. As she sat in the “prayer chair” I heard Jesus say, “You go and pray for her.” I was scared. It was my first encounter like that with someone outside of my own family. I touched her shoulder, started to pray, and she jumped up and shouted, “I can feel it, I’m healed!” She began to move in ways she had not been able to move for many years.
As I went back to my seat I heard Father say, “See, I did call you to be one of my shepherds.” From that day on I began preparing myself for the work He would call me to do. The gifts of the Spirit began to operate as I learned about them and started to anticipate seeing them come forth. Our families have seen many miracles over the years drawing them to love and trust Him more. That was in 1967. Because Spirit-led house meetings had such a profound impact on our family, we’ve started and shepherded many small groups for most of the years since then.
In 2003 we were led to move to Melbourne where we would be close to 2 of our 4 daughters and their families. We’ve had several small groups in our home since then. In summary, I turned 80 this past May. And so, all things considered, although I have lost all the retirement money, $980,000 I had, due to my mismanagement assisted by several financial managers and a few stock market corrections, I’ve had a remarkably wonderful life, all due to the love and mercy of God!
MY PRIMARY CONCERN
We realize that what we and so many others have seen coming out of that great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the late 1960’s, was really quite small when compared to what Holy Spirit has been doing since the mid 1990’s. A much greater outpouring has been spreading all over the earth since then. I like to call it a time of restoration or the 3rd Great Awakening.
Though not well publicized, I believe this current outpouring of the Spirit is the greatest ever downpour since the church’s earliest days. I say that, considering all the many smaller outpourings of God, including the first and second Great Awakenings of the 17th and 18th centuries, and especially the very great restoration work God has done during the 20th century. But this present revival is world-wide and seems to be growing in the many miracles and wonders done by ordinary “nobodys”. To us, it seems Father is preparing the Bride for significant events that have been occurring, will continue to occur, and will increase.
So, the main reason I’m here is because a large number of Brevard’s pastors are not even aware of these wonderful happenings of the past 20years. Father is giving more of His presence and great power to so many people, who are hungry for more of all that He has to give us. I am concerned that only a move of God can save our nation from the results of moral and spiritual corruption. I believe even the best government leaders we could elect cannot overcome the corruption that has grown wider and deeper. Only the nation’s spiritual shepherds can and must do this—and Father is providing the ability! He is giving tremendous faith and power gifts to all those who will accept it. I believe personal repentance and seeking more awareness of His presence is the doorway to increased anointing and power. And thankfully He has made so much more available!
Nina, my wife of 61 yrs. and I have carefully watched the slow degeneration of our nation’s morals, while we began to realize that the church of Jesus has not been responding well to this problem. His church seems to be asleep; unaware they have the answer to the problem. I believe we’re not on top of it as were leaders of past centuries. In fact many Christ-followers have totally withdrawn from being the salt and light we are capable of being—a very small percentage even vote! Too many are waiting for their escape to Heaven while they let the nation go rapidly to hell. We were commanded to “occupy until Jesus returns.” I understand that this is our opinion, but because we have this mindset, Nina and I cannot be laid back about it.
I’m just a messenger. I have come to urge you to participate in this revival or restoration in case you may not have as yet heard about its magnitude. I can see how this move of God can restore the entire Body of Christ in a day when evil is growing exponentially. The Bible tells us both righteousness and evil will grow at the end of days. I trust you will agree that today we need more power from the Holy Spirit to meet the great challenges we are facing now?
In 20 minutes I can’t possibly tell you the details. So, I have created a learning website on which you can find answers to most if not all of the questions you may have. For several decades multitudes have been praying according to 2 Chronicles 7:14 for God’s intervention and rescue. I believe this outpouring is His response. The volume of information of this move of God astounds and encourages many leaders. As the pastor of a church, through your personal participation, this can greatly bless you, your family, and your flock. In my opinion the only requirement to receive these blessings from our Lord is that you look for the fruit coming from those who have said, “Yes, I need more, Lord” while at the same time disregarding any false doctrines that nullify the scriptures. That’s not easy but it makes sense when one stops to ask the question, “Have I been getting the results they got in the book of the Acts?” We haven’t because someone who taught us doctrine that mitigates the Good News of the Kingdom!
Do you find it easy or difficult to believe that our Lord has begun to revive His church as I have described? (Tom: Also see questions on next page)
Nina and I often pray for needs and we often see remarkable, wonderful results. Is there something you would like us to pray about for you? If you take my materials, I would like to hear of your reaction to them. Would you like to pray with me and others for a mighty outpouring in Brevard County? And by the way, I am not creating an organization for members. I was only sent to make leaders aware.
Tom Snyder, 2760 Lakemont Rd., Melbourne, FL 32934, Phone 321-751-5356 Email: restoration.now@att.net or tom.snyder5@att.net ,
I’d like to hear from you!
What Kind of Benefits May Be Expected?
I want to pass on some thoughts for you to ponder. I’m sure a majority of pastors have no idea how tremendous it is to be in a church where Holy Spirit is able to do the extraordinary things He loves to show off. Few have actually experienced revival.
Many pastors are not aware that there are vitally important benefits to be gained by the saints in a typical evangelical church. But they see many potential problems. Yet after the elders and/or pastors begin to lead their disciples into becoming fully functional practitioners of the gifts of Holy Spirit—and who also often bring about signs, wonders and miracles—they will see the following changes (if they upgrade their teaching):
1. Most people will spend more time in prayer and the meditation of the Word
2. Increased effectiveness with loving and converting those not-yet-saved
3. More member testimonies of healings, greater freedom from their fears, plus increased joy becomes effective reinforcements for pastor’s teachings
4. Young children see how close and powerful Father is in their lives—faith works
5. Teens and young adults have concrete evidences of the truth of the Scriptures
6. Love and appreciation for the Scriptures deepens
7. Evangelism efforts grow and produce much more results
8. People’s daily walk becomes more focused on love and less on doctrine
9. Times of group praise and worship become more alive and animated
10. Fleshly living is replaced with walking and serving by Holy Spirit
11. Increasing Body ministry lightens pastor’s load and develops teams of valuable dedicated disciples
12. Attention of people upon natural solutions shifts to reliance upon God
13. Natural tendencies we all have to rely on self for solutions decreases
14. People’s faith grows, becomes stronger and more willing to risk bold prayers
15. Member’s personal identity becomes more aligned with Scripture
16. Percentage of the young choosing a vocation of ministry increases
17. Families pray together much more.
18. Divorce percentages decrease
19. Interest in missionary works increase
20. Finances become biblically aligned and grow
A personal prayer to receive more awareness of the presence and power of Holy Spirit
Holy Father, fill me with more of what you know I need. I hold these values and attributes in high esteem, so I make these requests of you. Please give me:
• A deeper desire to cleave to dependence on you in all matters.
• Revelation about how to make Holy Spirit my leader in all things.
• A deeper, burning hunger to become more aware of your constant presence and power.
• A dissatisfaction with my lack of fire, power, awareness of your presence in me and in my church members
• A deeper faith and confidence in my prayers.
• Revelation of my hidden sins with the grace for true repentance.
• A heart that cries out to you for restoration of your Kingdom message and culture
• Enlightenment about false teachings which ignore and nullify Scriptures
• An overflowing immersion into and filling with your dunamis—your miracle producing power
• The ability to fully realize that forgiveness and rebirth is the doorway into many more of your benefits, including deliverance from demonic oppressions and the blessings of many kinds of healings. All of these bless Your family and bring glory to you. I want the world to see your love and glory. So please teach me how to do more supernatural works that show Your love and glorify your name.
Thank you Father, for granting these requests! (1 John 5:14-15)
Thought provoking questions I might ask:
1. Do you hunger for a deeper fellowship with the Holy Spirit? Do your members?
2. Would more “not-yet-believers” come to salvation through our witness if they saw us doing the works of Jesus (meaning how the Spirit manifests His dunamis as in 1 Cor 12:6-10?)
3. Would we hold on to more teens and college age people if they could experience more of the reality of the N. T. scriptures, i.e., evidences that heaven’s kingdom has come to earth?
4. Would teaching folks how to pursue more awareness of the holy presence of God through carefully listening to Him produce more of the fruit of the Spirit in their daily lives?
5. Do you believe everyone who is a disciple of Jesus can receive the power to do the 1 Cor. 12:8-10 supernatural gifts (i. e., words of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, and speaking and interpretation of languages they have not learned)?
6. Have you wished you had more power to do the works Jesus commissioned us to do?
7. Would you feel fulfilled, very pleased, if you began to see Holy Spirit power, signs, wonders, and miracles resulting from the prayers of all/many of your church members? Such things bring glory to God; they are not a sign of weak faith, but of correct faith.
I want to clarify two important points of semantics:
When I refer to “receiving more of the Presence of God” I do not mean that I think He is not always and fully present in the reborn follower of Christ. I know He is totally there. I mean that we are asking Him to make Himself more present in us by helping us to overcome the tendency we have to become more aware of ourselves than of Him. We are asking His special grace to be able to walk daily not forgetting about Him at all, but focused upon His priorities, characteristics, and the way He loves every person well. If we stay “in His presence” then we will see more of the works of Jesus come forth to bless those He and we love.
When I refer to receiving more of his power I refer to the difference between what Jesus meant when he said to his twelve, “He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22) at which time I believe they were born again. Then consider His later command to them, “that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard me say, for John indeed baptized with water: but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence.” Acts1:4-5.
This command was for a different purpose. It is true that one can be born again yet decide not to be endued with power from on High. We decide our future. And that decision will result in a greatly reduced version of the Good News. He is telling us that receiving the dunamis of the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary to represent the Good News properly. So wait for that—I’m going to send it. I place so much importance on this step in our growth as Christ-followers because Jesus’ ministry if our model for living. He delivered the Good News of the arrival of the Kingdom of God and then demonstrated it. He intends that all of His disciples follow His pattern.