Our Ministry - Soulfishing Ministries

Testimonials

“In these days that are increasingly hostile to the gospel, I have a deep appreciation for the evangelistic work of Soulfishing Ministries, led by Phil Sessa. Their approach to reaching souls for Christ is intensely biblical, unashamedly straightforward, and boldly aggressive. They train believers to fulfill the Great Commission, raise up expository preachers, and actively evangelize an unbelieving world. Your church or group would do well to take advantage of the many aspects of this Christ-centered ministry.”

– Steven J. Lawson, President, OnePassion Ministries

“A guy in Harlem pulled a knife on Phil, so Phil pulled out the 10 cannons, The Ten Commandments, and we always know that the ten cannons are far more powerful than any old knife.”

-Ray Comfort, President, Living Waters

“I highly commend Phil Sessa and the faithful brethren at SoulFishing Ministries for their passionate, zealous diligence in bringing the true Gospel of the inerrant Scriptures to their neighbors, and to disciple those who by God’s grace respond to it, in one of the most liberal and most religiously and ethnically diverse areas on the planet, the 5 Boroughs of New York City. I love to witness the contagious, exuberant joy in the Lord that bubbles up from the hearts of these brothers, utterly demolishing the stereotypes of native New Yorkers as cold, uncaring, self-centered and indifferent to their surroundings. If you have a heart for the lost in the darkest of urban mission fields, investigate, follow, and support SoulFishing Ministries!”

– Chris Arnzen, Host, Iron Sharpens Iron Radio

What is FISHING about?

Fishing

All Christians are to be fishers of men (Matt 4:19), and Ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us (2 Co 5:20). We train local churches in biblical evangelism so the members might know how to engage their culture with the Gospel. We also go out onto the streets and engage in open-air preaching, gospel tract distribution, and one-to-one witnessing to reach the lost for Christ.

Interceding

Jesus is ever pleading our case before the Father, as our advocate (like a defense lawyer) on our behalf. Like our Lord prayer must undergird everything we do. It is the one discipline Jesus’ disciples petitioned him to teach them when requesting, “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1) Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Prayer is an approach of the soul by the Spirit of God to the throne of God.” We teach God’s people to fervently and effectually pray the Scriptures just as Jonah did (Jonah 2) and Jesus did (Matt 4; Luke 4) as the Word and Spirit work in concert within your heart to transform your prayer life in communing with God.

Shepherding

It’s no secret that the family is under attack! However, God is the author and architect of the family, and he has not left us in the dark in light of family roles, and structure. We affirm the biblical model for marriage, teaching husbands and wives their biblical complementary roles in the home, while edifying parents to live to the Gospel, and diligently nurture their children in the Lord, employing family worship and catechism in a God-centered way in the home. (Deut 6:4-9).

Heralding

Paul stated he was “appointed a preacher” (1 Tim 1:7; 2 Tim 1:11) from the Greek word (kēryx) which means to herald or proclaim. He implored Timothy, “preach (kēryssō) the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Ti 4:2). This is a picture of a town crier in a public square that gathers people together and raises his voice to make a bold, and strong announcement on behalf of his sovereign. We train expository and evangelistic preachers, who like Paul echo the cry, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel,” to lift up their voice on behalf of their Sovereign God and herald His Gospel in season and out of season, for such a time as this (Esther 4:4).

Interpreting

The Bible is the most used, abused and often misinterpreted book by many, which can be seen and heard through television and social media. However, the Apostle Paul instructed Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).” We train believers to Grasp Scripture Exegetically by navigating the steps of the process, and using tools in biblical interpretation. We use PowerPoint training, study guides, and small group practice for each lesson.

Nurturing

Jesus didn’t call us to make converts but rather to make disciples. Discipleship (the Great Commission) is the other side of the coin of evangelism. Believers must be nurtured in the Word of God through the local church (Heb 10:24-25), to grow in knowing God’s attributes, and in biblical theology, to gain a biblical worldview to see with spiritual clarity. We equip more mature believers to train less mature believers through the states of spiritual growth (1 John 2:12-14) so that both might “grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Eph 4:15), and be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:28).

Grappling

We are to CONTEND (Jude 1:3) and DEFEND the faith (1 Peter 3:15) to the glory of God. We train Christians, (1) to know what they believe, (2) why they believe it, and (3) how to be able to clearly and effectively communicate to others in the marketplace of ideas. We utilize expository apologetics, the application of the principles of biblical exposition to the art and science of apologetics, and run training sessions for local churches on how to put this into practice.