January - February 1999 The Sabbath Sentinel Sabbath Organization Profile . . .
Promoting Local Evangelism
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Tom Justus is an independent minister for Church of God, Sabbath Day. He volunteers his free time to a booklet ministry that consists of reprinting old booklets from Herbert Armstrong, the late founder of Worldwide Church of God, which are sent to free of charge to anyone requesting them. Many independent Sabbath-keepers use these booklets for local evangelism. |
This service teaches local groups, churches and individuals how they can evangelize or "witness the truth" in their communities. This direct local approach has resulted in several thousand people hearing the basic truths of God for the very first time. In this interview, Mr. Justus talks about his fascinating background and his personal views regarding important contemporary issues affecting the Sabbath-keeping community.
The Sabbath Sentinel: It would interesting to hear about your background history in the Church of God.
Tom Justus: I started attending with the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) in August 1955, in Pasadena, California. It was called the Radio Church of God at that time. We were living in Santa Barbara and I was the manager of Pacific Coast Publishing Company, a large commercial printing company. On our first visit to Pasadena in August 1955, we spent all afternoon with Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Armstrong. I was also a lay minister in the Church of Christ. We started attending Sabbath services in Pasadena, which was 125 miles one way, and there were no freeways at that time. We never missed a Sabbath service.
In 1957, WCG in Pasadena started sending us letters from people in a three county area for us to visit. I say us, because my wife, Thelma, has always been a part of my ministry. We raised up a church in Santa Barbara in 1959. I spoke there regularly, with Pasadena sending ministers and students to help with some of the speaking. In the early 1960's, I was ordained to the ministry.
In 1963, I was asked to move to Pasadena and build a printing plant for Ambassador College (AC). After successfully building the facilities in Pasadena, which was one of the larger printing plants in the LA area, I went to England on numerous occasions to help build a plant there. I traveled to many countries in Europe and to Japan to buy equipment for AC printing plants. While managing the Press, I continued in the ministry, giving sermons each Sabbath at different churches.
In 1978 I left WCG and established the first church in Pasadena for Garner Ted Armstrong's Church of God International (CGI). We had a large congregation, and I pastored this church for almost two years. In late 1979 we decided to move to Springdale, Arkansas, and start a family printing business. All of our family decided to leave Pasadena. Our plant, Just-Us Printers, Inc., has been very successful. We are in the top ten sheet-fed printing plants in Arkansas.
After moving to Arkansas, I continued to work with CGI. I was on the original Ministerial Council until resigning in 1996. I raised up a congregation of about 75 members for the CGI in Springdale, and worked with different CGI groups all over the country. After resigning from CGI in 1996, I became independent and formed a group called Church of God, Sabbath, a basic doctrine book ministry.
TSS: Your approach to preaching the gospel teaches local Sabbath groups how to preach the gospel in their area through the distribution of your literature. Can you tell us how this works?
TJ: Our booklet ministry consists of reprinting old booklets from Herbert Armstrong. We call these booklets basic doctrines. All of these booklets are designed to fit into a #10 envelope, about 3 3/4 X 9 inches. They are made this way, so that local church groups can rubber stamp their own church name and address on them We have sent out over 150,000 of these since we started.
We have a little booklet called "You Can Preach The Gospel" that shows how anyone can use these booklets in a ministry. We also offer ad sheets, an outline letter that can be used for follow-up and return cards listing all available booklets with space for their church address to be rubber stamped on the front.
All this material is FREE in bulk quantities. No person involved in our ministry is salaried or drawing any kind of expense money. All money goes for producing booklets and postage.
TSS: What inspired you to start this unique ministry?
TJ: It seemed that the Sabbath groups were all trying to proselyte each other. This booklet ministry is a way to reach new people. Many of the leaders of Sabbath groups would not let members use their talents in local areas. They only wanted them to pay and pray. I wanted to do something to help change this.
TSS: What products do you have available?
TJ: We have fourteen different booklets and other helps I mentioned earlier. We also have audio and videotapes we send out for free.
TSS: On a personal note, do you and Thelma have any children?
TJ: We have four children: two sons and two daughters. We also now have eight grandchildren and one great grandson. Our oldest son is deceased. None of our children are active in this work.
TSS: You use Mr. H. Armstrong's older writings, but do you write any booklets yourself?
TJ: Some, but I mostly edit and reprint.
TSS: Is this ministry international in its focus?
TJ: Yes, we send booklets and tapes to fifteen foreign countries.
TSS: What kind of organizational structure or governmental structure do you have set up for this work?
TJ: We are a small church of about 30 adults. We have a board of directors so that we can have a tax ID number, but the entire church makes the decisions together. I am the Pastor, but I am not in "charge." We all work together.
TSS: What doctrines do you teach? Do you have any comments regarding the current controversial doctrines, such as which calendar should be used to determine the holy days, or which day Passover is on?
TJ: We teach the basic doctrine of repentance and baptism by immersion. We do teach the keeping of the Holy Days. I would rather not discuss dates and calendars because they are divisive.
TSS: Do you teach any doctrines that could be said are unique to your own group?
TJ: We have no unique doctrine. It may be unique in that we furnish literature to any one that asks, and try to get people to understand that we are all members of the Body of Christ.
TSS: What is your position on the role of women in the church?
TJ: We teach that women and men were created equal, and in Christ there is neither male nor female. There should be no restrictions placed on women in leadership in our society.
TSS: As a minister, do you speak much?
TJ: I speak often. Locally I pastor 30 adults in our church. I also travel and speak. I am available to speak at seminars.
TSS: What do you believe is the most effective way of preaching the gospel at this time?
TJ: The most effective way now is getting people active on a local basis to spread the gospel. This is how the early church did it and it spread around the world with no television, radio or printing presses.
TSS: Do you fellowship or work with other Sabbath-keeping organizations?
TJ: Yes, wherever it is possible. I feel that fellowshipping with other Sabbath groups is important.
TSS: You have your own printing business. Do you ever print items for other churches?
TJ: I print for many church organizations. I would like to note that we send our own material free to any church that asks for it. Commercial printing jobs for other people are priced according to the job.
TSS: What is the highlight of your current ministry?
TJ: The highlight of my current ministry is seeing people using the talents God has given them.
TSS: Have you ever witnessed any supernatural events, such as healings?
TJ: In my thirty plus years in the ministry, I have been a part of miraculous healings.
TSS: Can you tell us about one of these healings you have personally witnessed?
TJ: In one healing, a man trimming a tree hit a 16,000-volt power line. The current entered his left hand, blowing a hole in it, going across his body and exiting through his right foot, blowing a hole in it. When I arrived at the scene the paramedics were present with a scope on him. The scope showed no heartbeat. I laid my hands on him and said a short prayer. Immediately, the scope lines showed a heartbeat. He was taken to the UCLA burn center and recovered. He was able to continue doing his job. When my wife and I visited him in the center, the doctor told us they had never seen anyone survive that much electricity going through their body. I could spend hours talking about different healings, especially in the early years of the Worldwide Church of God.
TSS: Do you believe in spiritual gifts?
TJ: I do believe in spiritual gifts. I have not seen what I would classify as gifts of healings and prophecy in the church.
TSS: What is the biggest obstacle you have had to face in your current ministry?
TJ: The biggest obstacle I have encountered in this ministry is the mindset that you have to have some big headquarters to preach the gospel and that only "ordained" ministers can teach and speak.
TSS: How is your work different today compared with the ministry you did in the past for WCG and CGI?
TJ: In my ministry today, I do not have to conform to a large corporation. I am able to use my mind more. I feel that I have grown more spiritually with a deeper understanding of the love of God in the last three years than in all the previous years in the ministry of WCG and CGI.
TSS: What do you believe needs to be done to more effectively preach the gospel in the international areas?
TJ: The same that needs to be done in the United States. Get people active in their own areas.
TSS: What are your present and future objectives for your work?
TJ: My present objective is to make people more aware of the availability of these booklets and to help get more people involved in preaching the gospel in their own areas. I hope to travel more to areas and help small groups to become independent of a hierarchy and to start using the talents that God has given them.
Mr. Justus is available by phone, email or letter to answer any questions the readers of TSS might have. He also is available to help local areas to become established in active local evangelism. TSS
Contact Information:
Tom Justus & Church of God, Sabbath Day
Address: P.O. Box 1645, Springdale, Arkansas 72765, USA
Telephone: (501) 751-9535
E-mail: justus4779@aol.com
TSS