Category Archives: GoodSeed

Ministry Update: Sept 22, 2007 – Teaching the Gospel

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Growing up I knew all the Bible stories, but I never really realized how they all fit together. This course has given me the tools to be able to teach unbelievers and give them a knowledge of why they need to be saved.

This seminar really deepened my appreciation for the Bible, how intricately connected everything is. It helped me make really interesting connections between Old Testament customs and events with the life of Christ and His purpose here on earth. This is something I could see myself teaching others.


These are some of the comments from the students at the Word of Life Bible Institute on GoodSeed’s seminar on the Gospel that takes the students from Creation to Christ, explaining God’s simple plan of salvation. This is the fifth time I have helped teach this seminar at the Bible school.

By This Name - explaining the GospelWe used the book, By This Name, which is the latest book created by GoodSeed. This book is for people who know little or nothing about the Bible and have a polytheistic, pantheistic or animistic background. This also makes it ideal for our post-modern, post-Christian society here in North America. It explains 1570 Bible verses in context, objectively teaching God’s most important message for mankind, the Gospel.


In our teaching we also use quite a number of visual aids to help illustrate biblical truths. Pictured here is the Ark of Covenant, part of the Tabernacle which is one of God’s great visual aides for mankind. Fifty chapters of the Bible are dedicated to describing the Tabernacle, yet so few Christians understand its significance.


Teaching on why God gave man the Ten Commandments.

This seminar explained the gospel so clearly and showed the deeper meanings of the stories in the Bible and how everything points to Christ. I also really appreciated the visual aids because I am such a visual learner and it makes theological points so clear.

It has given me many good ideas on how to share the Gospel with others.

This book wowed me! Looking through the Old Testament and discovering so many connections with the Gospel Message was an eye opening experience.

I finally know the connection between the Old Testament sacrifices and Christ’s… That God cared enough to plan all that for me is mind blowing.. I’m excited to reach people I couldn’t before now that I understand so clearly what happened.

This book has been beneficial as it has brought the Bible to life. It has made the message so much clearer to me. It has made me want to read the Bible more and more.

This study has been amazing. The Bible and the central message all flow together to point us to the life of Jesus and the sacrifice He made on the cross for our sins. God is truly great and is deserving of all praise and thanksgiving.

Growing up, going to church and listening to my parents, I heard all these stories time and time again to the point that I had become “immune” to them. Now, thanks to this study, I’ve got a clear time line in my mind, I see how all the stories are linked together, and I’ve seen it all from a new and exciting perspective. It has all come to life in my mind, no longer bland and boring. May God be praised for what He did and is still doing through GoodSeed.


It is exciting to teach about the Gospel. It is also exciting to see people respond and get excited about God and what He has done for us.

New Book :: By This Name

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After several years of research, writing and re-writing, GoodSeed has recently published their latest book, By This Name. This is just one of many tools they produce to share the Gospel with friends, neighbors or strangers.

“The ideal book to help explain the message of the Bible to our post-modern, post-Christian, & secular society. Written for those in a culture influenced by Pantheism, Polytheism and Animism, “By This Name” peels the religion off the sacred book, the Bible, and lets the ancient story speak for itself. In the process, a message of hope snaps into focus. It is a must read.”

Buy Online | Preview

Prayer Letter – October 04

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New News from the Johnstone’s
If you were to ask us, “What’s new with the Johnstone’s?” you’d probably end up talking to us for a long time…

New Addition
Our most exciting new news is the expected addition of our first child to our family! We are looking forward to this new baby due in mid-March. We thank God for this wonderful blessing. Please pray with us that things would progress along safely.

New BI Class
On September 10, thirty-seven new students enrolled for our third year of our Bible Institute. They seem to be a very talented and keen group of people. We look forward to seeing the growth and change the Lord brings about in their lives as they study God’s Word and get involved in ministries at Word of Life Bible Institute.

New Home
We look forward to moving from our apartment into a house across campus late this Fall. This move will provide us with the additional space we need as our family grows. With this new location, our rent will also increase, so we trust the Lord to provide as He sees fit.

New Vehicle
The Lord has gone before us and provided us with a new-to-us vehicle, a ‘97 Dodge Caravan. It is a gift from Naomi’s parents and is in great condition. The van will be much more practical for helping students out when they need a ride someplace. And what a blessing it will be when the baby arrives!

New Pastor?
We would appreciate your prayers as our church seeks a new pastor. After 10 years of faithful service, the Lord led our previous pastor on to another church. This situation keeps Troy busy, as he is currently serving as Chairman of the Deacon’s Board, and is on the Pastoral Search Committee. Troy will also have more teaching and preaching opportunities at the church. Would you pray for stamina and wisdom for Troy as he fills these roles? Please also pray that the men in leadership would have discernment as they seek to find a godly man to fill this role.

Vacation time
We were able to visit family and friends in the Maritimes this past June. It was a great time. We even got a chance to travel with Troy’s mom to Cape Breton for a few days. What a beautiful part of our country. For more pictures from our vacation, click here.


New Support Needs
With a baby on the way and other new expenses, we are feeling the crunch. We know that life will only get more expensive from here on. We are at 80% of our current support goal of $3000/month. We would like to see our goal met fully in the next few months as we prepare for our new arrival. This means we need to raise $600 more per month, the equivalent of 30 people each giving $20. Would you pray with us for increased financial and prayer support?

New Challenges
So, we are facing many exciting and challenging days ahead. More than ever, we are aware that we could not fulfil this ministry without you who faithfully stand behind us. Thank you for your constant support, prayers, and encouragement.

Troy & Naomi Johnstone

WOL Canada Staff
We were refreshed and encouraged at our staff conference in June. Pictured here are most of the Word of Life Canada staff,representing both the English and French divisions of our ministry. We thank God for the ministry He has given us to do and those who work side-by-side with us in this endeavour.

Naomi teaching Sunday School

Naomi enjoys teaching Sunday School for Grades 2 and 3 kids. She also helps out in various other ways around our church.

Violin

Naomi had an opportunity to play for the wedding of some friends of ours.

Yearbook

Naomi pours a lot of her time and energy into creating a yearbook for the students each year. The students above have just received their own copies and are eagerly looking through this great collection of memories. We trust this book will encourage them and remind them of all the things they learned throughout the year here.

Troy Teaching
Once again, Troy had an opportunity to help teach a Creation-to-Christ method of evangelism using the book The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus. This class, taught at the beginning of the year, gives our students a strong foundation as they seek to deepen their knowledge of the Bible. It’s also essential in helping them clearly communicate the Gospel to those whom they will be ministering during the year.

Upcoming Events:

  • Oct 21, 22 – Drive to New Brunswick

  • Oct 24-28 – Missions conference at Main Street Baptist Church
  • Oct 28, 29 – Represent WOLBI at a Christian school convention
  • Oct 31- Drive to Montreal, Quebec
  • Nov 1-4 – Represent WOL at a church convention
  • Nov 4 – Arrive home in Owen Sound
  • Nov 18-19 – WOLBI Campus Days
  • Dec 3 – End of Fall Quarter at WOLBI
  • Dec 22-Jan 2 – Christmas in Olds, Alberta

Ministry Update – Quotes

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“Thank you for helping me see God’s Word more clearly”

“.. all in all, this study has given me a head start on how to win people to the Savior”

“It has helped me think some more about how to share the Gospel and how to counsel someone who says ‘what must I do to be saved?'”

“It has shown me a new and good way of teaching the Bible and the importance of a foundation in the Old Testament to understand the New Testament”

“I believe my knowledge, understanding, and faith in the Bible have all been strengthened because of this weekend.”

“Besides teaching me how to present the Gospel and the message of the Bible rightly and effectively, it has enlightened my eyes, my hear my life. I feel as I’ve regained my joyous countenance and am no longer lost, confused or unsure. I’m better rooted and can’t wait to be fed more…”

These are some of the comments we have received from students after being taught the material found in the book The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus. This past weekend I had the privilege and blessings of being a small part of the team who taught this material to our student body as a part of their personal evangelism training.

The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus explains the the Bible chronologically from Creation to the Cross and is intended for someone who knows little or nothing about the Bible. John Cross (the author who also happens to be Naomi’s dad!) and another GoodSeed missionary, Gaetan Pilon, and I were involved in teaching this book to the students using over 70 visual aides.

On top of this, we were able to spend time with both Naomi’s parents and my mother, who made her first trip to visit our new home in Ontario. Naomi and I were thrilled that both her parents and my mom were able to be here at the same time as they haven’t seen each other since our wedding.

Thank you for your prayers during this very busy time as the new school year starts.

Troy & Naomi

P.S. For more information about The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, please visit the GoodSeed website http://www.goodseed.com