Speaker Series 2013 - Frank Sontag and k.p. Yohannan — K.P. Yohannan

Good evening. Good to see you all here. It's great to be in the house of the Lord, isn't it? Amen. You know, I think I just thinking as we're worshiping here. I think I have the best job in the world.

You know, I have an opportunity to connect with so many ministries and that's what we get to do on the radio. We get to present these great ministries to you all and to people throughout Southern, California.

And it's just a privilege to partner with Calvary Chapel South Bay as you probably know pastor Steve's program light of the word has been on our station for five or six or seven years something like that and.

And not only is that great? It's great to have him on the air. But we've become pretty good friends and you know. What a wonderful guy pastor Steve is and and he's just one of these guys that just come around me and said I think you Need some love brother and I said, you know what?

I think I do but he's just he's. He's not shy. He's just comes and gives you a big hug and and wants to know how you're doing. And so it's just great to be here. I think probably because I know Steve pretty well.

I kind of feel like I know y 'all so anyway, thank you for coming tonight. How many of you are listeners to KKLA. Many of you? Oh gosh, god bless every single one you and you and you god bless you guys as you may know.

We had a talk show. In the afternoon, we have a talk show in the afternoon for many years. And we've had a variety of talk show hosts there. Most of them have been in there for about ten years. We had a guy named Warren Duffy in the 90s, and then we had Frank past story in the 2000s and.

And when Frank left us last year We went on a search around the country to find Another talk show host which is not easy. You gotta have somebody who's good at being a radio guy. Which is a very rare breed of person and then somebody who knows the Lord and can communicate his love to people and so We had a hundred and fifty resumes from around the country.

We talked to a bunch of people and wouldn't you know it that the person the Lord brought to us was right under our nose. Frank Sontag. Frank has been in this Market for 28 years on KLOS radio rock and roll station.

God has redeemed him and I'm very excited to hear his story as I'm sure you are as well I think there's these magazines out in the foyer. This is the KKLA magazine anyway Frank. Frank Sontag's testimonies in here.

But you get to hear it right now, so Frank come on up. How are you all?

Frank Sontag’s Testimony of Conversion and Surrender

So good to see each and every one of you. It's just a it's just amazing to stand up here and as Terry said just be present in the house of the Lord. It's just so amazing. I have a story to tell and I'm so honored to be able to share it with each and every one of you.

You know as Terry was talking about. The position in the afternoon has been filled by a handful of people before most recently Frank Pastore who I met in April of last year and. So you know a little bit about my background.

I dropped out of college twice because I was terrified to take a speech class. You laugh, it's the truth if I had time I would tell you the lies I told my teacher because I ducked out of speech class.

But I dropped out twice and you talk about the Lord having a sense of humor here. I am on the radio for as Terry said 28 years, and it's just amazing to get behind a microphone and And share so that's what I'm about to do.

Early in my life. I was raised in a faith. We came out here from Cleveland, Ohio in 1965 I went to a private School high school in the San Fernando Valley and in 1972 when I graduated high school. I made a decision I was going to walk away from the church and would never ever ever in my entire life ever go back.

I Made that vow to myself for reasons of which aren't important right now other than I was done. In 1984 I had an incident happen in my life that I survived a Motorcycle crash by which all accounts I shouldn't be here.

You would think that I would have found the Lord then but I was a stubborn Rebellious fleshly man who loved my sin, and I went just the other way. I Spent some time in the winter of 1984 Reflecting on my life, and I discovered a spiritual path that the world embraces.

You know it's truth in all religions. No one in particular and when I heard that Jesus Christ is the only way Like the world still so much of the world now. I saw that as intolerant. I saw that as Just not where I wanted to go.

So I came back in the spring of 1985 after I moved away and I Discovered radio. Really strange series of events happened, but I eventually ended up at 95 .5 KLOS which I will tell you and remind you that 95 .5 KLOS and 99 .5 KKLA are pretty close, and I've blown the call letters a couple of times already on KKLA but for 28 years I I made KLOS my home as Terry said it's a music station and I worked my way up.

I was a producer Screener. I did a talk show there for 21 years a show that we covered a lot of world events social economic political, but it was a spiritual show and I was a man that That talked a lot about the new age.

The worship of self. Some people would call my program that were our were Christians, and I couldn't hang up on them fast enough. I look back on it now, and I think Lord. I was so lost and you were So patient with me.

So I did this program for 21 years. I taught new age principles the LA Times called me a new age guru. I stood in auditoriums to scores of people and told them that The way to peace in this life is to find yourself.

I Guess I was kind of a closet Buddhist Chanting to no one which was convenient. I loved my sin and I Read a lot of holy books. I read the Upanishads the Quran the bhagavad-gita, but when it came to the Bible I wanted nothing to do with it.

Because this man Jesus this God Jesus is trouble to anyone that loves their sin. And I was not ready to give up my sin so as I did this program and as my life unfolded I met my wife At a new age seminar.

We had that bond of spirituality. But wanted nothing to do with the one true faith on this place. We call Earth. Our son was born and a Handful of months later my best friend who had given his life to Christ a few years previous to that Along with his brother who was a Christian pastor decided that we would spend the day in Fullerton, California on the golf course.

Anybody that plays golf, you know by about the back nine when you're making the turn you ask yourself Why am I out here trying to hit this little white ball when? We could be doing other things like eating food so we decided to call it after nine holes and go have lunch and what ensued was a very lively discussion about life and meaning and why are we here and Pastor Dale leaned right up into me right in my face.

Very lovingly and he said Frank. I don't I don't want to bum you out. I Know that you have found your way through spirituality in the new age. But if you were to not make it home, you have a wife you have a young boy at home a baby boy if you were to Die, would you be right with God and I instantly said?

Absolutely, no hesitation and as I shared that something inside me Didn't feel right. Kind of felt like too quick of a response and I think pastor Dale sensed that and he said look if you would as a friend Be kind enough to consider that what just happened before you started your car.

When you drove home, and I said kind of patronizingly I would do that so we talked for a while longer and It was time to say goodbye, and I walked to my car and went to turn the ignition on and oh yeah pastor Dale I'll kind of sit and meditate and he when he said meditate.

It was kind of like a little dig. Because that's the faith that I followed he said would you meditate on what we talked about so I did so I sat in my car for a couple of minutes and I began to get very hot and My first thought was am I sick do I have a fever did I get too much Sun?

I didn't have a cap on that day and No, I felt fine and then I Heard Something that changed my life forever. I Heard are you ready to submit to me, and I knew it was At complete free will no coercion no fear.

I could have just as easily said no, and I know he would have still loved me but I said yes, and Then he said some words that forever Completely will change my life till he takes me home and Before I share with you what he said to me next I want to tell you again I never have opened a Bible in my life at that point.

I had no reference to biblical scripture. I did not want to open that book because I know if I did I would have to Spend some time thinking about possibly changing some things in my life. So as I sat there and after I said yes He said pick up your cross and follow me and no idea what that meant and Hung up the phone with my buddies after I shared what occurred.

And before I did I told them I want to go back to church, and I remember when I said that I thought goodness gracious Frank what's happened to you? Pastor Dale said I want to mail you a Bible. And I said okay I Drove home.

I got home and My wife was not happy because we met at that new age seminar. We spent some time apart. She did she was none too pleased that I began a new life in Jesus Christ. But about ten days after this incident the Bible came and I remember Seeing it and there was something about it.

Just I don't know if was the color the texture or the cover. But it was almost as if I just couldn't Open it quick enough. So I read it read it a little bit that night before I got up at three o 'clock in the morning and I began to flip through the Bible and The chapter of Luke Kind of came into my sight, and I was a flipping through and I came across scripture that I Stared at and I couldn't believe what I was reading.

Anyone that knows Luke 9 23, and he said to all if anyone would come after me Let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. I couldn't make that up in a million years I got that on my knees.

I said Lord I don't know what's happening, but I'm all yours From this point on as long as I take breath. I will follow you no matter what.

And I.

Will say in the last handful of years. He has not only shown his presence immensely. But I remember a conversation I had with a friend of mine shortly after this incident that I shared with him, and he said well if you're happy That's cool.

Well as you know When our Lord says pick up your cross and follow me, it's not about happy. It's not about fun. We're even guaranteed in the book trials and tribulations will happen and I have had my share.

And we're told to call it joy indeed. So here's where my story gets really interesting. Some time went by and I began to attend church. My wife said I want to go to church with you so she went and Slowly the Lord worked on her heart.

And in July of 2011 my wife gave her life to Jesus Christ as well. Here's the fun part. I had done a talk show for 21 years in this town and my friend said Frank You you need to put something up on YouTube.

Need to put your story up on YouTube, that's what you do in LA you put something on YouTube so I Had stopped talking. I did public lectures for 24 years and after this particular life-changing moment I Got quiet.

It's like what am I gonna talk about? I'm not talking about self anymore. I realized what a fool I was to even go down that path and so in April of last year After I put something up on YouTube. I Got a phone call from a man that you may recognize his name.

His name is Frank pastore. And Frank called me and said bro You got to come on my show. I saw what you did on YouTube kind of crazy, but you got to come on my show. I Said okay. So in April of last year, I made my way down to the KKLA studios.

I walked in and there was Frank as the largest life smiled waved at me and Listened to him broadcast a little bit and it's interesting before I gave my life to Christ I would listen to Frank pastore and I couldn't stand him.

I gave my life to Christ and I listen to Frank's pastore. And I loved him. Gee what's different? I was different. So in April of last year I sat in the KKLA studios for one hour and gave my public testimony for the first time as I just shared with you.

And Frank and I had a wonderful time together. We talked about some things off the air and had some laughs and at the end of the interview He said I'm gonna have you back on in three months. In radio it's kind of Protocol to be courteous to your guests and my instant thought was oh, that's nice.

You're not gonna have me back on but that's cool. I'm fine with that. Praise God. I gave I Gave our father all the glory. Phone rang in July past story again, bro. It's three months. Let's go. Okay, and I remember driving to the KKLA studios thinking what am I gonna talk about my wife said.

You know what? I want to go with you. I want to take pictures. Okay. She came down there was Frank again with his Typical wave and right before we went on the air I'm sitting in the studio with Frank and my wife is in another booth and he sees her and goes big smile on his face.

She comes in sits down next to me now. My wife isn't here tonight. But if you know anything about my wife, which you don't know anything about my wife. She's very shy and unassuming and this is not her idea of what she wants to do let alone on a radio program.

Frank sat her down Cued up the microphone. He's adjusting and I'm thinking. Oh my goodness gracious. Frank is gonna put my wife on the air. Not only did Frank past story put my wife on the air. We were on the air for two hours that day.

He had her Talking about her new life in Christ struggles in a marriage. She said the words I will always Remember I hated my husband. She looked at me she goes I don't anymore he's really nice now, but I hated my husband so at the end of that time Frank said, you know, we're gonna have you back on again.

Part of me was thinking. Well, maybe we are gonna be back on again. The following month I was let go of my job at KLOS after 28 years I never been unemployed in my life. Never got let go of a job in my life.

And so Some time passed and in middle of September I was Motivated to call kkla and just meet with management just kind of introduced myself. Truth of the matter is I loved kkla the moment I walked in there and I wanted to get back in that radio station and We had a good conversation.

It was in the middle of the afternoon past story walks down the hallway walks in sticks his head and goes you're not taking my job. What are you doing here? And so We spent some time together and then I left.

My wife and I were back on a few weeks later in September I was talking about what it's like to lose your job and all that and it was last time I saw Frank. The morning of November the 20th. I was sitting in my car with my wife.

We were about to go into a Christian counseling session and I told her I said, it's really weird. I Feel like I'm supposed to call kkla. And She said we'll call. I picked up my phone. I was about to dial my phone starts to ring.

It's Chuck Tyler a program director and I answered and he said Frank went down last night on his bike. Would you be interested in filling in? And I said Yes, absolutely. I began filling in a kkla on Thanksgiving of last year and 28 days after that phone call 27 exactly Frank passed and went back home to the Lord on December 17th.

And many of you know Because you're kkla listeners. That over the last handful of months during that time Kkla began to have people fill in on that program. And I could share a lot of stories about how hard that was for management.

I can't imagine what that was like to lose our brother and our warrior like Frank but Here's the last part in the bottom line as I filled in and did that program over the months the Lord grew my heart for that Show and I actually thought when I let go in August was let go at KLOS.

I thought it was done with radio. I actually was thinking I'm gonna Go back and be a basketball coach, which I've been in my life. I was a college basketball coach for a while anything but radio and here I am filling in a kkla.

And I'm just watching the Lord grow my heart and I'm thinking Lord. I don't know what you're up to but I'm all in. And May 6th, I got a call at home and I thought it was the thank you. But no, thank you phone call.

Some of you may know what that's about. I Didn't answer the phone, but I got down on my knees in the bedroom I said Lord, but this is what I think it is. Please. Give me the grace and the humility to be thankful and not break down and Beg please consider me again.

I Call back and program director said how much time do you have and said as long as you need and I realized that was kind of a strange question and he told me that I was picked to become the new afternoon host on kkla a Man that used to hang up on Christians and now I host an incredible radio program on Christian radio and I will tell you there isn't a day that goes by a moment that goes by where I pray.

Before I go on the air and I say Lord, I don't know why you picked a fool like me. But I'm all in. And so I just want to thank all of you not only for supporting our radio station But being patient with me in a new season and a new ministry.

We loved Frank immensely and many things happen in life that are just hard to figure out but I Am grateful to be behind that microphone. And as long as he gives me breath, I Promise you I will serve him and serve you with everything I have for his glory.

So with that, I just want to thank you for your patience with me and your attention. And I pray this new season is fruitful. We've already had some really interesting things happen on the program. I'm really interested to see where the Lord takes this program and takes our city and our state and the last thing I'll share with you as I am a man that is hungry for the Word of God and I pray that his presence and the Holy Spirit Completely descends in our towns and cities in our state because we are so ready To worship him anew and follow him.

And I pray for revival. I pray for people that are being persecuted all over all over the world and We follow the one true God God that I rebelled against my whole life. I stand here and I tell you he is such a good God.

He is such a loving God. Please pray for me pray for our new ministry. God bless each and every one of you and thank you for being here tonight.

See why that's the greatest job in the world. It's just neat to see the way the Lord brought him and. And it's exciting. We're kind of on an adventure together and and it'll be interesting to see what the Lord does.

But I would echo what Frank would say. We do appreciate you praying for us. We are doing our best to be salt and light in Southern, California. And this area is getting a little bit darker as time goes on and the light shines brighter as we're faithful to him.

Gospel for Asia and the Mission to Unreached Peoples

So we go from Los Angeles with Frank Sontag to India with our next speaker and this guy's one of my heroes KP Ohannon. Runs a ministry called gospel for Asia and if you've been hanging around here for a while.

You've probably heard KP. He's been here before. If you haven't heard him before you're in for a real treat. One of the reasons he's a hero of mine is I'm involved in a ministry that operates in India and.

As we've been doing Evangelism and church planning there. We keep running into this organization called gospel for Asia. And so It was just really great a couple years ago that KP Who has a radio program that runs on 900 radio stations around the world?

He chose to be on KK LA as well and you can hear his program Sundays at 1 o 'clock but I just thought it was really great the way the Lord would bring that together for me and. And I think you're gonna be blessed to hear from him an author of more than 200 books.

He travels around the world. They've planted churches, I think in 60 countries. This guy's a modern modern-day Paul as far as I'm concerned. Would you give it up for KP?

Johanna Frank is taller than me.

When I grow up, I'm gonna be like him. Anyone here you saw me or heard me speak here in this church, would you raise your hand? All right, all all of you raise your hand. You'll go to heaven the rest of you.

After tonight Pastor Steve such a such a great friend an amazingly strange human being In a good way. We love him dearly and Being here many many times and I deeply appreciate this fellowship and You know Frank You're real.

And Don't run into people that are solid through and through. And And I'm so grateful for the way you shared tonight and You could have said a million things tonight to have people focus on you and but the Lord's grace and may the Lord continue to walk with you and you walk with him and I Have my imaginations, but it's all good and Radio, you know, I've been doing radio nearly 30 years.

I know I look 20 years old, but But I tell you whether you believe it or not Television and internet and all these stuff's going on. It's very very significant. But As the world is concerned. I do not know any any medium that is so Powerful as radio and I do a broadcast in Asian nations, which is in 110 languages.

No, I don't speak on until languages I do one but our people Translate that and add their things to it and do it. But we get 1 .5 million response a year from people. It's not done for Christians only 30 of our content is for Christians discipleship.

Other is for salvation and people to know the Lord and Kk11 I know a ton who deals with our radio department we are delighted and really appreciate you are allowing us to be on the radio here and You know, please pray for the Christian radio and Television stations and etc in the United States.

There's a saying in my native language you you do not easily appreciate the fragrance of The rose flower that grows right in front of your home now don't try to translate that that simply means you would take so much for granted and I just came from Washington DC Spending all day with the You know a group of people talking about the future of the media You know.

And pray that The radio stations will continue to function in this country and the you know, the board of directors meeting the NRB. We chose a New president Dr. Jerry Johnson a godly man a very a sober leader, but you want to pray for dr. Pi.

He is appointed by our president Obama as the head of FCC. And he came and spoke to us. He's a son of a immigrant from India. I was absolutely amazed the number of Bible verses he quoted and I think he grew up in a Catholic home but My assessment he must know the Lord and he I don't know how to talk about it tonight.

It's almost frightening the way Some people like to see Christian radio stations get shut down and this you know, please do keep praying and pray for dr. Pi is the Brilliant just 42 year old man, but deeply committed to Christian radio and pray for the future of Christian radio in the United States and all over the world like in India we still don't have the freedom to have a Christian radio station.

1 .2 billion people live there and This gospel must be preached and radio is one of the best thing God has given us. Alright now the next few minutes I like to Have this conversation with you. And You know this life of ours Our CS Lewis said we are living in the enemy's territory.

Surprised the God of this world controls everything education politics, whatever whatever temporary victory you think we have using politicians or whatever means it is temporary and During our life on earth.

We must acknowledge the city of God is not America or Germany or India this world is not our home. We are assigned with the responsibility to enlist as many people as possible by all means to become part of the city of God, which is the only permanent thing and That's reason why our focus in life must be Just as Christ lived on earth the sad thing is Much of at least got a significant part of the American gospel, it's very pragmatic and very much based on our culture and Horizontal and here and now health wealth good family well-being Homeschooling and none of those things are bad, but believe you me Hundred years from now.

You are not going to be living in the house or drive in the car. We are moving forward to something more real and that's reason why I think the scripture portion that Frank Read for us tonight. I marked it in my Bible one of my favorite Bible words and Jesus said if anyone want to come after me he must deny himself.

You know I was barely 17 When somebody gave me this little book called true discipleship by William McDonough, oh by the way, I could I could books to sell Revolution world missions. This is now in I think it doesn't language is an American Europe and all that over three million copies in print and On the back of it.

You'll see for two photographs one is when I was 21 years old a really handsome person. And the next picture is when I'm 60. You know you can choose which one you want. But we get letters emails People you know literally thousands saying how this was used to change their life.

And God used it lots of stories the newest book no longer slumdog. This is a takeoff from slumdog millionaire movie. There are 62 Million children India who are child laborers. There are 15 million bonded child laborers every year 15 to 30 ,000 young girls between 9 and 14 are sold into sex business just to Bombay City alone.

Recent studies 90 of those girls are HIV positive now. How do you respond to this for God God so loved the world whether the Indians Albanians or Germans or? Russians Mongolians people all all people belong to God and us and That's reason the ministry.

I am part of a gospel fashion. We began to reach out to these children. We rescued now so far 67 Thousand children established in 500 homes not just physical needs and clothes and food. It's all we do education, but also Jesus you would be yeah, amen and This this will brighten your heart and and truly you because of the stories without end of incredible stories of people and children.

You know That that would help you and the one of the newest book is touching godliness. My deepest concern for the people of God that knowledge will not be enough for us. Which is important, but lead us to him the one that we long to be like and when we see him we shall be like him and When you see him you don't want to say oh my god.

I didn't know Jesus. You are like this you can Be partakers of his nature now, but how do you do that? I mean what is the way and tonight the worst Frank read had a lot to do with it and This book touching godliness and by the way all these books.

I think they charge two three dollars or eight dollars anyway. I recommend you go and steal all these and take it home. If you have no money you give if no money you take it anyway. They are not giving many money for any of these books.

So I give you permission to take it. Okay. Now we'll be very happy to have you take you know any money you give us all go to the Lord's work. You understand my English. Oh Thank you. Thank you and so One thing is That I couldn't get to this church today to see you and laugh with you if I didn't leave Dallas, Texas where we are Based I Can wish all I want and fast all I want and cry all I want.

Even English or Indian or Hindi whatever language it just won't work. I have to Get out of my home and office and go to the airport or get in the car and leave Dallas to come to Los Angeles. I Like to come to California one of the main reasons in and out yeah.

But but the truth is unless you deny Yourself I deny myself We cannot follow him that is the only fundamental principle about following the Lord and Jesus called his disciples and come and follow me and says they left all and everyone and followed him.

Question what does that mean for us a thousand things but tonight I want to have this emphasis on the heart of our Lord for a world That he loves and he died for. But he now waits may I use the word carefully helpless Waiting for his body the hands and legs to move to accomplish his deepest passion.

For them to know him and not to go to hell. Please understand. The world is not Los Angeles. Not America, I must say it is not India or Germany where my wife come from or some other country it is the world.

Some years ago I was sitting in my office in Dallas and my wife came to the office and looked in and and And handed me a letter to read and said you want to read this and then She said please don't speed read.

And I looked at her thinking what's wrong with you. She walked away because she knew I learn speed reading and do do that. Well, I finished reading the letter. I was no more sitting on my comfortable chair.

I was on my face weeping. No, that was not a letter saying that you dog. I'm leaving you or you creep. You're not good. No, no, no the letter came from one of our missionaries that served the Lord by River Ganges, Haridwar and He writes this letter about.

One of his experience it was during the large Hindu festival called Kumbh Mela Where some 30 million people traveled from all over the land? Many of them walking To get to this holy river. Dipping themselves believing that a wash in the river would be the means for forgiveness of sin.

And he writes in the letter all day. He was out there distributing gospel tracts and witnessing about the Lord. And the evening as he was coming home He saw a young woman sitting by the bank of the river.

Weeping uncontrollably the same thing pounding upon her chest. According the culture it will tell you something happened to that woman. That is worse than death itself. So he writes. I went and asked her why are you crying?

What happened to you. And She responded to him. Saying that you see We are extremely poor. My husband is so ill that he can't work anymore. My sins are so many That nobody knows about. In other words culturally she's saying maybe all the problems came upon my home.

Everything is because of me and the curse. To find a solution to the problems of my home and to find forgiveness for my sins. I have given the best offering I can give to Goddess Ganges. My six-month-old my little son.

I just threw him into the river paragraph. I Sat beside her Opened the Bible and explained to her God is not angry with you. He didn't make you poor. Your sins are forgiven. All you need to do is to believe Jesus died for your sins.

Then he writes. She wiped her tears. Looked into my eyes and simply said but why didn't you come to me half hour sooner? I Didn't have to do it. It is too late. It is too late. She went by crying again my brothers and sisters.

I Say this story to you not to create Some kind of emotional feelings to get some money out of you or make you do something for him, you know. But I need you to understand if Jesus Christ died on the cross.

He was buried in Ross again and he's the only hope for humanity to be spared from the horrible clutches of demons and Bondage and eternity in hell. No sacrifice you can make. That's too much to win someone to the Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus.

Wait for us to have his passion his heart for the Lord and that little woman's story only tells The Condition the desperation the longing or two billion people That still wait to hear the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How do you respond to that how do we act on this kind of reality. I think There are many many ways you can respond to this and because of the time constraint I didn't want to go into a lot of explanations, but I think the fundamental principle I ask you to think about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Following Christ Through Self-Denial and Prayer

How did he live on earth as a man. The book of Hebrew says that Jesus is my forerunner? He's the one who ran ahead of me saying come after me. He was a man. Completely fully a man. Leaving aside his God powers.