The following is a possible first step toward an AM e-newsletter as the Lord may grow this labor. It was originally sent out to those who had requested to be placed on our mailing list. If you would like to be added please feel free to contact me here.

Dear Friends and Family of AM,

This letter has been on my heart for some time now and I have honestly sought the Lord as best I know how concerning when I should write it, as well as what I should say within.

We must first acknowledge that the types of articles I am writing are, for lack of a better word, a bit controversial. However, those of you who have stood by me from the beginning already know that and I do appreciate those whom the Lord has added to this labor. The way I have been writing, particularly lately, is somewhat rough for some to take. And I would regret if I were to needlessly upset anyone. But I think you also know that the time we live in is not one for “Christianity as usual.” My word in the Lord that if the part of God’s message for His Church that the Master gives me to say could be brought differently then I would do so.

As you know, despite accusations to the contrary, there is much more on this website than articles critical of various people and/or movements. Whenever I can I attempt to be as “reader-friendly” as possible and as I finally have the time I do plan to write things that have more of a devotional nature. Frankly, a valid tactic that has been used for years on a larger scale by men like A.W. Tozer and Dr. John MacArthur is to voice criticisms of doctrine, etc. leaving out names. But because the time grows “short” (and I’m not saying Christ is necessarily coming in our lifetime) the battle has intensified. The deceptions have become deeper and even more brazen as I think you are already able to see.

Quite frankly I am shocked at how deep into the Church so many of them have penetrated. While I was researching the book Red Moon Rising I found myself being led to write Southern Baptist Convention Embracing Gnostic Mysticism. Suddenly SBC pastors, as well as others, began writing to tell me how much they appreciated AM and that it helps them to better discern these growing deceptions. This has now opened up yet another potential area of discernment work in assisting brother pastors all over the country. At the same time people have also begun writing encouraging words about my work concerning Rob Bell and regarding how AM is also helping them to better understand the Emergent rebellion against the Bible.

And here’s where it seems that God is helping me to better understand the focus of my work and what He now wants AM to be about. For some time now I have had a deep unrest in my spirit concerning the secular job I have in the tutoring center of the local high school. My day there literally consists of sitting among other “paraprofessionals” and watching kids do absolutely nothing. The Spirit of God is not moving in the school and these particular kids have no interest whatsoever in learning anything. A whole other story, but it has almost seemed as if the Lord was trying to get me to see that the calling He’s given me as a teacher is useless there.

Long story short, I need to tell you that I have a disease in my lower legs known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). Through the years it has led to deformity in my feet and as such limits the type of work I can do because of a varying level of chronic pain. The positive note is that it is quite humbling and having to be off my feet as much as possible each day I have more time to pray, study and write. And here also I want people to understand the difficulty for my wife Donna as we spend hours each day after she gets home from her job involved with the growing workload of this ministry. Many of you also know of her mother’s rapidly deteriorating health condition from the Appeals Section of AM. You will also know that Connecticut River Baptist Church where I pastor a few faithful soldiers is just too small to offer any financial support.

We do thank all those of you who have been so faithful to assist this work with prayer and some of you even with financial offerings as well. I feel the effects of this prayer and here is where I see the Lord’s vision for this ministry now. Infections in my feet have kept me out of school for most of this past month and one should be able to see the subsequent increase of productivity which has brought many new readers. For example the series on Brian McLaren at CABC has brought us some dear people from Canada. And one of the few days I was in school recently I so strongly felt an inner prompting that the time has arrived for me to dedicate myself to AM fulltime, even despite the financial base not being there, that coming down the stairs I suddenly blurted out loud, “Lord, are You sure?” Fortunately for me there was no one else around!

And so I write to ask you to please be willing to sacrifice along with us in seeking God to move upon more of His people to stand with us. All of you can fast and pray with us, this is our most powerful weapon, but we need more than that. We need more people to be willing to commit to giving on a regular basis as the Lord leads. We also continue to seek a few churches who will be willing to take AM on as a mission work to help support. A precious few people have already shared what they feel they can do financially but it is very important for me to begin hearing soon from others who sense God’s call to stand with AM. You can find out more about how to do so here. As I make plans to begin accepting speaking opportunities, a few of which are now being discussed, I think you can understand that it would be very helpful for us to be able to make a list of who feels they could give what.

In closing, Apprising Ministries was once simply to be a local apologetics and counter-cult outreach of CRBC though it is now very obvious that God had much bigger plans. Please know that, in a miniature way like Jude, I also would like to write about other things in addition to defending the faith. But as a former Roman Catholic it has been relatively easy for God to show me how Contemplative Spirituality, which flowered through their antibiblical monastic system, infiltrated the evangelical church through the Emergent Church and is creating unity within what I have called the Ecumenical Church of Deceit. I also say this as delicately as I can but the type of discernment work I’m doing requires very careful research in order to avoid being swept up in “conspiracy” theories. Best we just stick to the facts because they are bad enough.

I am thankful in the Lord that more and more people and pastors have been led to trust that this work in Christ is providing well-researched and Biblical information. It is imperative for us to understand that if we live in the time so many of us think we do there is going to be an increase in spiritual warfare and with it multiplied spiritual deceptions. Without being sensationalistic one would be hard-pressed to argue against this happening right now. And here is where Apprising Ministries (apprise means – “explain, pass on”) can be of much benefit to the Body of Christ at time such as this. Will you sacrifice along with us? My dear brothers and sisters I simply cannot do this work without your help. But I can tell you this; I am going to battle, with support or without. If you are with me I’m confident in the Lord that I’ll stand; if not I won’t last long, but my heart is held captive and like Luther I can do no other.

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Ken Silva

When the principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then the battle is your calling, and peace has become sin. You must at the price of dearest peace lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy with all the fire of your faith.

Dr. Abraham Kuyper