Home Blog Page 57

National Cathedral Criticized For Inviting Max Lucado Because He Opposes Same-Sex Marriage

William Wagner
-
0
National Cathedral Criticized For Inviting Max Lucado Because He Opposes Same-Sex Marriage

One of the nation’s most well-known churches received heavy criticism last week for inviting one of the nation’s most popular evangelical pastors. 

The Washington National Cathedral, a prominent Episcopal church in the nation’s capital, announced Feb. 3 that author and pastor Max Lucado would be preaching the following Sunday during a virtual service. Lucado is the teaching minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas and the author of books that have sold more than 120 million copies and been translated into 54 languages. It was his traditional, biblical views on sexuality that caused some to oppose his appearance.

The Episcopal News Service ran a story about the controversy, reporting that his “past statements against homosexuality and same-sex marriage” had led to a “growing backlash from some Episcopalians.” Opponents pointed to a 2004 article authored by Lucado. 

Episcopal News labeled Lucado’s beliefs “anti-LGBTQ views.” 

More than 1,500 signed an online petition calling on the National Cathedral to rescind the invitation, saying he “has inflicted serious harm” on the LGBT community.

Cathedral Dean Randy Hollerith defended the invitation. Despite the controversy, Lucado preached on Sunday. 

“When we only engage with those with whom we agree on every issue, we find ourselves in a dangerous (and lonely) place,” Hollerith said. “My hope is that all churches and faith communities will find ways to open their doors to perspectives different from their own.”

Jim Naughton, a former canon for communications with the Diocese of Washington, said the cathedral was wrong to invite Lucado.

Michael Foust|ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor

‘Finally’: Supreme Court Overturns California’s Ban On Indoor Worship In Big Win For Churches

William Wagner
-
0
‘Finally’: Supreme Court Overturns California’s Ban On Indoor Worship In Big Win For Churches

The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a major religious liberty victory to California churches over the weekend, ending California’s outright ban on indoor worship during the pandemic but allowing the state to limit attendance to 25 percent capacity in some areas.

The justices, in a 6-3 decision in a pair of orders late Friday, issued an injunction against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, prohibiting his administration from enforcing its total ban on indoor worship. The lawsuits were brought by two churches – South Bay United Pentecostal Church and Harvest Rock Church – although the ruling impacts all houses of worship in the state. 

Following the orders, Newsom’s office on Saturday revamped its restrictions to limit churches in areas of major outbreaks to 25 percent capacity. Churches in areas with only moderate or minor outbreaks are limited to 50 percent, the Associated Press reported.  

Liberty Counsel, which represented Harvest Rock Church, applauded the court’s action. California had had the nation’s “most severe restrictions” on worship, Liberty Counsel said in a statement.

“Finally, Governor Gavin Newsom’s total ban on worship has come to an end,” said Liberty Counsel founder and chairman Mat Staver. “A pandemic is no excuse for violating the Constitution. Until today, California imposed the most severe restrictions on places of worship. Not anymore. We will continue to press this case until religious freedom is totally restored.”

The court’s conservative bloc sided with the churches: Supreme Court Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett. 

Roberts, in a concurring opinion, asserted that not allowing anyone to worship in even the “most cavernous cathedral” did not reflect “expertise or discretion” but instead “insufficient appreciation or consideration of the interests at stake.”

The Constitution, he wrote, “entrusts the protection of the people’s rights to the Judiciary.”

It was not a total victory for churches, though. The court upheld the state’s ban on indoor singing and chanting, yet left open the possibility it could be challenged in court later. Barrett, in a concurring opinion joined by Kavanaugh, wrote that it remained unclear whether the ban on singing “applies across the board” to churches and everyone else. If it is discovered that churches are being singled out, she wrote, then the regulation “cannot be viewed as neutral” and can be challenged.

Michael Foust|ChristianHeadlines.com

God Will Make A Way For You When There’s No Way Out

William Wagner
-
0
God Will Make A Way For You When There’s No Way Out

Friends, this is what God called you for! God didn’t call you just to warm a church pew somewhere. God called you to do the works of Christ. He said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” That’s the command to every one of us, because we have received the anointing of God, and it abides in us! Everywhere we go, we take the Kingdom of God. It’s time to get active, brothers and sisters.

Thus saith the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will lose the loins of kings, to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut.

Isaiah 45: 1

Do you know what God’s saying to you who are anointed? He is saying, “I don’t care if the doors are closed … I’ll make a way for you where there is no way out!”

God is going to put every one of you in an impossible situation. It’ll look like there is no way out … no way out to the right or to the left. You can’t go back because the devil is on your trail. There’s only one way to go … and that’s FORWARD.

When God brought His ancient people, Israel, out of bondage and out of captivity, the Bible says He turned them around and moved them down into an area where the Red Sea was. This was the long way around. God seldomly lets you go the easy way. He put the Israelites in a position where there were mountains on either side, and they heard the hoofbeats of the enemy behind.

But God said, “I’ll make a way! I’ll make a way where there is no way!”

Moses heard the hoofbeats of the enemy on their tail, and he began to cry out to God and say, “Lord, what am I going to do now?”

God said, “You’re wasting time calling Me. What’s that thing I put in your hands?”

“A rod.”

“Well, use it!”

God’s putting something in our hands. God has put a rod in your hand. Do you know what it is? “In the Name of Jesus, every knee has to bow.” I said EVERY KNEE! Every knee of sickness … every knee of DISEASE … every knee of destruction … every knee that comes before you. It has got to bow because of the ANOINTING of God that’s on the inside of you!

You have that power! You have that rod … “In the Name of Jesus!”

God says, “I’ll make a way where there is no way out!”

“What do You want me to do with the rod?”

“Stretch it out!”

“You mean just like that?”

And when Moses stretched it out, the waters backed up, and the Israelites walked over on dry ground!

Say this faith declaration out loud:

I claim victory in His Name and turn my impossibilities into possibilities! I will not be set back by fear. I will be strengthened by my growing faith!

Morris Cerullo

GOD HEALED MY ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Admin
-
0
GOD HEALED MY ULCERATIVE COLITIS

When I was 17 I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. I ignored the diagnosis and ended up in the ER, having almost bled to death (hemoglobin level was 3.5). 

At that point, I had to get 3 units of blood transfusions and was put on the highest dosage of steroids that my 106 lb body could handle. Every time I tried to get off of the steroids I’d bleed again, so I was then given 2 remicade transfusions. A month after the last remicade transfusion in 2013, I was radically healed when a group of college friends laid hands and prayed over my body. I went off of all medications for 4 1/2 years and had absolutely no issues. 

Then, in October of 2017, I set foot overseas as a long-term missionary, and within an hour of landing in Eurasia, I began bleeding again.

Fast forward to this month:

I started wrestling with the Lord. “This can not be my lot in life. I know you are a good Father. I know it’s your will to heal my body — I refuse to accept this as my lot in life. You are my healer. By Your wounds, I AM healed. LORD – YOU ARE MY ONLY HOPE. I LOVE YOU, GOD. I LOVE YOU, GOD, YOU LOVE ME. YOU ARE FAITHFUL.”

I lost my voice from proclaiming this so loudly. This is just a tiny jist of the long, one-sided, desperate, emotional, conversation I had with the Lord when it was confirmed that none of the medication was effective on my body.

God reminded me of His promise to heal my body through the different words He had spoken to me in my quiet times  as well as through dreams He had given me. He also reminded me of the specific words of knowledge I’d received from believers who didn’t know me.

During one of my quiet times a few months ago, I heard the Lord say He was going to heal my body on my birthday as a gift from Him. A gift that I can not earn, and don’t have to beg for. I prayed and felt it was right to go off of the medications (they weren’t working so it felt pretty easy to do).

I had a shift in my mindset that I no longer needed to beg for healing or figure out how to “touch the hem of His garment” so to speak. Far too often I’ve tried to figure out what I needed to do to get God to heal me (a mindset I didn’t realize was so wrong). I started to realize that God loves me and wants to heal me. I couldn’t do anything but look to Him. 

I realized that I needed to stand strong in my faith and trust that God will do what He says He will do. 

Two weeks went by, the bleeding began to come to an end. I had 5 days of no bleeding. Standing on truth, proclaiming it over my body and thanking God for His healing, I was hopeful that this truly was the moment of my complete healing. 

On September 28, I bled one time. I didn’t tell anyone and my friend looked at me and said, “I feel like we are supposed to pray for the completion of your healing — I feel so strongly it will be completed by October 2, and the L0rd just wants you to know, you don’t have to beg for it.”

On September 30, I prayed against the spirit of immorality in the city I am living in. (Our school is right above a sex shop where women are literally in legal slavery, having their bodies sold all day.)  The Lord told me,“There’s going to be whiplash, but don’t be afraid, My Word still stands true.” 

THIS IS WHY YOU MUST NOT JOKE WITH HAVING A SECRET PLACE – Apostle Joshua Selman Nimmak

The next day, October 1st (my birthday), I began bleeding again. But I felt this confidence that it was indeed the day that I was receiving divine healing in my body.  By the grace of G0d, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind. I continued declaring His truth but truly didn’t know what else to do, and I know that’s where God wanted me to be completely dependent upon Him. 

On the morning of October 2, I bled two more times, but continued to proclaim truth and His word over my body. Many of my  friends were also praying in agreement with me. I then heard the Lord say to me, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” I went to the bathroom (sorry for the details but it’s real) and was 100% completely back to norma l– no more bleeding, no more pain. 

HE HEALED MY BODY!!

Why God Does Not Heal Everyone – Dag Heward-Mills

I am 100% healed and off all medications (I’ve never been able to stop bleeding without the help of medication in the history of this disease EVER apart from the time I was healed in 2013) and am still 100% back to normal today. 

By: Hannah Corbin

MISSIONARY IS ASSAULTED, LOSES HIS VISION, BUT LEARNS TO WALK BY FAITH – NOT BY SIGHT

Admin
-
0
MISSIONARY IS ASSAULTED, LOSES HIS VISION, BUT LEARNS TO WALK BY FAITH – NOT BY SIGHT

Living in Africa was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The culture…the people…the life change. There are no words that can adequately express the feeling of watching God change the storyline of someone’s life. It’s truly a miracle.

Nabal Died Because He Did Not Remember “OTHERS”

But before the end of my adventure in Malawi, the locals weren’t the only ones who walked away with a change in their narrative, so did I.

In February of 2016, I was walking home from visiting some of the locals I had befriended when a group of men followed and assaulted me from behind. Using a small metal pipe, they landed a devastating blow to the back of my head that immediately knocked me unconscious.

Fortunately, as the men were rolling me over, a gentleman ran up and chased them off before they could inflict anymore damage to me. He then carried me home where I was then taken to a medical clinic for evaluation.

When I woke up the next morning, all I saw was darkness. The damaging blow to my head had resulted in a brain injury that left me blind. I can’t even begin to communicate all the emotions and thoughts that ran through my head… “Would I ever see again? Would I ever get to see the face of my future wife and children? What church would hire a blind pastor?”

But even in the midst of all those fearful thoughts, I clearly heard God speak to me…“Keeton, continue your ministry.”

Pastor Arrested For Holding Church Service Against COVID-19 Restrictions Will Stay In Jail Until May Trial

I remember thinking, “What? That makes no sense. Yesterday I was assaulted. I’m now blind and you want me to go right back out on the same trail and walk two miles blind?”

Immediately God spoke to those thoughts, “Yes, trust Me. I’ll be with you.”

I wrestled over this with God for hours. But in that, I remembered all the times that God has been faithful. He had never once let me down. And I knew that even in this situation, no matter how helpless it seemed, was no different.

Why God Does Not Heal Everyone – Dag Heward-Mills

So, I obeyed.

Apostle Frederick K. C. Price, founder of Crenshaw Christian Center, Passes On

I’ll never forget the moment my security guard walked me over to the trail and the feeling I had when he first let go of my arm. I was so scared. And as the tears ran down my face, I cried out to God that I trusted Him and then took my first step. In that moment I felt an overwhelming peace as God spoke to my heart, “this is true worship.” In that moment I knew everything was going to be okay. My situation hadn’t changed. I was still blind and more vulnerable than ever, but God was with me. And He wouldn’t let me down.

Obedience. Faith. Trusting God with every single step that I could not see. I was learning to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Be Diligent And Seek Christ’s Holiness

Over the next eight days I faithfully embarked on this adventure. And every single time, I would never complete it alone. Each day God would send a different person who would call out my name, grab my arm and accompany me the rest of the way.

THE 100 YEAR LEGACY: HOW THE REVIVAL OF THEN IS IMPACTING THE GOSPEL NOW

And as a result, not only did many Malawians came to know Jesus, but I fell more in love with Him myself! And to top it off, nine days later God fully restored my sight! God is so faithful! I’m so amazed at how He works all things for good if we will just trust Him!

Today, maybe you’re facing a difficult situation that is overwhelming and God is asking you to step out and walk by faith, not by sight. If that’s you, I want to encourage you because the challenge for many people is that it’s often the start that stops them. It was for me. And I learned that you’ll never finish something that you don’t start.

You don’t have to have the faith to say, “I can see how this is going to unfold in the end.” You just have to have faith to take the first step.

Listen to Keeton share the full story of this encounter on this weeks episode of Missions in the Modern Day. Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Google Podcasts.

By: Keeton Storts, Modern Day Missions

Credits : Modern Day

GATEWAY CENTER FOR ISRAEL: REVITALIZING THE CHURCH’S HEART FOR ISRAEL

Admin
-
0
GATEWAY CENTER FOR ISRAEL: REVITALIZING THE CHURCH’S HEART FOR ISRAEL

Israel and the Jewish people are God’s center stage in the pages of the Bible. The story of the Jewish people from Abraham to the apostle Paul unfolds God’s heart for both Israel and the nations. Sadly, Israel has become a divisive and unhealthy topic among believers today. As a result, many churches don’t engage in God’s heart for Israel because they don’t have a healthy understanding of it.

https://charismatanews.org/why-god-does-not-heal-everyone-dag-heward-mills/

When Nic Lesmeister moved to Israel in 2014, little did he know that God was preparing him to be part of a movement that would one day serve to revitalize the heart of the church for Israel.

Throughout the time Lesmeister spent living in Jerusalem, God developed a unique connection between him and the Jewish people as he experienced firsthand the ongoing conflicts between Jews and the Arabs. From the constant missile attacks from Gaza to the Palestinian terrorist attacks in the city, these psychological terrors connected Lesmeister to the people in a highly empathic way.

But in the midst of all the disunity, God gave Lesmeister a healthy understanding of what was taking place:

“Israel is a place of alignment. God wants to align Israel and the nations. There is a lot of conflict there because God wants to align something to build unity,” he said.

When Lesmeister moved back to the states from Israel, he was given the opportunity to lead the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute (MJBI). MJBI was born in the 1990s out of Shady Grove Church, predated Gateway Church (Southlake, Texas). The elders received a special revelation that would be used to format the local church’s missions’ values—”To the Jew First.”

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”(Rom. 1:16).

Shortly after taking over the MJBI, God gave Lesmeister a vision for reaching pastors. In Romans 11, Paul teaches the responsibility Gentiles have to stir Israel to jealousy. Lesmeister communicated this to Wayne Wilks, leader of Gateway Church’s Global Jewish ministry. They then developed a plan to create a “center” where the church could come together to learn about God’s heart for Israel and the Jewish people.

In 2019, they brought this idea to life by merging MJBI into Gateway to form the Gateway Center for Israel. The vision of Gateway Center is to inspire the global church toward a biblical and sincere love for Israel and the Jewish people. Their mission is to guide pastors to a biblical understanding of Israel, knowing it will bring a dynamic enrichment to their churches, as it has at Gateway.

When Israel was formed in 1948, many claim there were only six families in the land who were Jewish followers of Jesus. Today, there are an estimated 20-30,000. This is a miraculous rebirth of the Messianic Jewish community, the remnant that Paul talks about in Romans 11: “the natural branches that embrace Jesus.” As the global church stands with the Messianic community, and loves the broader Jewish community, Nic Lesmeister and Gateway believe there will be a “life from the dead” blessing poured out from heaven.

For more on how the Lord is moving in Israel and beyond, listen to the full episode of Missions in the Modern Day on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Google Podcasts.

By: Keeton Storts, Modern Day Missions 

Credits : Modern Day

THE 100 YEAR LEGACY: HOW THE REVIVAL OF THEN IS IMPACTING THE GOSPEL NOW

Admin
-
0
THE 100 YEAR LEGACY: HOW THE REVIVAL OF THEN IS IMPACTING THE GOSPEL NOW

What long-term effect does revival have on the lives of people?

In episode six, we talk with Jessica Wynns, who has a unique family legacy of being one of the first Christian protestant families in Ecuador. After missionaries led her grandfather to Jesus in the 1900s, Jessica’s family became pioneers of the faith as they traveled throughout the country spreading the gospel.  Today, the fruit from this revival continues in the lives of Jessica and her husband, Braxton, as they are making a huge difference on a college campus.

Trusting God During Uncertain Times

Be encouraged as you hear that you don’t have to wait for someone to give you permission to do what God has called you to do!

This episode of Missions in the Modern Day is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Google Podcasts.

Credits : Modern Day

LOU ENGLE: A CALLING BIRTHED FROM A HERITAGE

Admin
-
0
LOU ENGLE: A CALLING BIRTHED FROM A HERITAGE

For the past 20 years, Lou Engle has made waves across the globe through his ministry, TheCall.

Raised up in 1999, TheCall was an answer to Engle’s prayer, “How can I turn America back to God?” It started with a gathering of over 300,000 people at the National Mall in Washington D.C., From there, the movement carried on and is responsible for gathering hundreds of thousands of people to fast and pray in preparation for a 3rd great awakening.

In many ways, Engle was destined to be a preacher and a revivalist. In the 1700s, his forefathers came to Pennsylvania fleeing religious persecution in Switzerland. There were 50 children on the ship, and all but one died of sickness.

The parents of the those who had lost children gathered around the Engle family and child and said that God must have a certain and specific destiny for that child. Turns out, they were more than right. Engle is an eighth-generation preacher!

Today, several of Engle’s own kids are serving in missions on foreign soil around the globe. They carry with them that same spirit of fasting, prayer and revival that has been so contagious and effected so many. His children are in some of the hardest and darkest places of the world fulfilling the cry of Engle’s heart since the ’90s of seeing thousands of young people sent to the nations.

In 2018, Engle announced an end to TheCall, but even though the name of TheCall is ending, the call to fasting and prayer will continue! In fact, Sean Feucht, a well-known Christian worship leader, was one of the young people in attendance at the National Mall event in 1999. Twenty-one years later, Feucht is carrying the torch with Let Us Worship events happening in states across the country!

Modern Day Missions is blessed by our relationship with Engle that has spanned over the past decade. In fact, his ministry, TheCall, was one of Modern Day’s earliest ministry partners.

Through this relationship, Engle kindly agreed to serve as the keynote speaker at one of the Modern Day Missions annual banquets. In his charge to the audience, he stated, “I want to see a worldwide ekballorevolution and Modern Day Missions is a key part of it.”

To date, 41 of Modern Day’s missionaries have been birthed through Engle’s ministries. We are grateful for him, and we rejoice with him over how many young people are being called and thrust to the nations for the glory of God!

Credits: Modern Day 

When tribes beg for missionaries to come

Admin
-
0
When tribes beg for missionaries to come

By Mark Ellis

At New Tribes Mission (NTM), they collect many letters from indigenous people groups in Papua New Guinea pleading for missionaries to come and tell them about God, people earnestly seeking truth amidst the uncertainty of death and the afterlife.

God Will Make A Way For You When There’s No Way Out

The following letter was sent by Aiben Awanhi of Isahu Village and received by NTM a few years ago:

“Yes, I am writing because I have some thing with you ones. I have a big worry that I am not sure what will happen when death comes. I have heard from the other tribe that has the mission that they know now, I am sorry for myself that I do not know. I worry for my life, so I am asking that you will send the mission to my village.

Nabal Died Because He Did Not Remember “OTHERS”

“The men and women of Isahu village we are very hungry for this talk that it will be in our bellies. Please have pity on us. In all other places of the ground we have heard that they have the talk of God but us ones of Isahu are still standing without, we have nothing. I have heard of others hearing this talk in other villages but this talk is not in Isahu yet. So please send some to learn our language and teach us this talk so we can know it too.

Trusting God During Uncertain Times

“Please have pity on our lives, we don’t know what will become of us when death is on us. So I am asking with a big strong request that you will come to us and teach us of this talk. This is the road that I have heard will be heard, that is why I have sent this letter to you bossmen of NTM. Our language is not hard here in Isahu, please come.”

And a follow-up letter:

“I want to notify you that now I have an illness. I am the man writing this letter to you. I have come down with a big illness and this illness of mine is saying such now that I do not know where death will take me. I am really concerned for myself. If I get the head talk and the beginning talk (the gospel teaching) then it will be alright with me. I often see people go to church because the talk of God came to them. But I do not have, it has been this way since before. How God exists, I do not know…All of us men and woman of Isahu desire missionaries to come to our place of Isahu.”

Here is another letter from Jaspe of Weku village:

Christians In Kenya Fearful After Five Church Buildings Burned

“Yes I am writing to the bossmen that are in NTM, I am checking again about the letters I have written. What’s going on with your thinking? I think you are getting tired of the letters we have written. You must be thinking like this, the road to hear the talk of God it is just for you ones, that’s why you haven’t sent anyone to us in Weku.

“Please, we are hungry for the true talk, we are not saying this with two mouths. Our thinking really desires to know this talk. So I ask with a big heart, please, you the bossmen of NTM tell us what you think of sending someone to us. Please write and tell us you bossmen, we are waiting and waiting.”

And a letter from Eric Kaisoa:

“I’m writing again for the 7th time to ask if you will come to my village or not…The people are saying that you must come. I’m saying this again. I think you all didn’t get my first 6 letters…The people are truly crying for a missionary and for God’s talk. Plenty of my letters asking for missionaries have been wasted.

“Now I’m asking you to return a letter to me now. In the name of Jesus please return a letter quickly. I just want a missionary. I’m just wasting my money on these pens and paper, they don’t bear fruit. This one must produce the fruit right.”

Eritrea Releases 70 Jailed Christians

Eric wrote these letters for ten years, but there were not enough workers to send to his village. As Jesus said, “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”

In 2013, missionaries finally answered his plea. When they arrived, their first priority was to visit Eric and let him know his efforts had finally paid off – They were there to tell him and his people God’s talk!

New Report Details How God Is At Work Among Imprisoned Christians In North Korea

When they reached Eric’s home and spoke with his wife they learned something heartbreaking. Eric had died two years before their visit — without having a chance to hear God’s talk.

This story could be repeated all over Papua New Guinea. “There are many tribes who need missionaries and we don’t have the people to send them,” Macon Hare, with NTM, notes with sadness.

“Jesus said to ‘pray earnestly that the Lord of the Harvest would send out laborers into His harvest.’”

To learn more about NTM’s work in the Asia Pacific region, go here

Credits : GodReports.com

So Pastor, You’re Not Billy Graham…

Admin
-
0
So Pastor, You’re Not Billy Graham…

As I watched the Funeral of Billy Graham I was filled with sincere and heartfelt thanksgiving for all God accomplished through the life of this giant of the Faith, but I wanted to take a few moments to provide some “Pastor Encouragement” while you celebrate the life of this Godly man and again enter the pulpit this Sunday.

National Cathedral Criticized For Inviting Max Lucado Because He Opposes Same-Sex Marriage

I heard the many reminders throughout the week as television news commentators reminded us of the facts that he had personally ministered to 12 Presidents in his lifetime, as well as the Queen of England. He is also only one of 4 non-politicians to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington D.C.

Nabal Died Because He Did Not Remember “OTHERS”

He had ministered the Gospel message in 185 countries of the world and an estimated 78 million people heard the Gospel, with many of those millions giving their lives to Christ. Many of those millions who gave their hearts to Christ have also been instrumental in souls coming to Christ through their witness!

Listening as well to his children sharing of their love for “Daddy” as they called him was very inspiring, especially as his daughter, Ruth shared of her arriving home following 2 failed marriages. Her Father was standing at the door and went to greet her with open arms and the words, “welcome home”.

Christians In Kenya Fearful After Five Church Buildings Burned

The other evening I watched a message from 1957 as he preached powerfully and stated that the man who had led him to Christ 27 years prior was sitting on the platform. My mind paused listening to Dr. Graham for a moment as I thought about the reward waiting in heaven for a preacher that most of us have never heard of by the name of Mordecai Ham. You can read more about him here.

As a Pastor watching all of this, I was reminded that this Sunday, it will once again be time to stand behind the sacred pulpit to share the message of Jesus Christ.

The numbers will be far less than “millions”, and while the numbers of average church size is a bit all over the map, depending on the criteria used, I have a feeling there are many Pastors who at the least will never reach the size of ministry Billy Graham had.

I just wanted to give a few brief reminders and words of encouragement to those of you “out there” who are walking on the platform this Sunday, and many to follow.

1. No, You’re not Billy Graham

There, I said it. Time to get out from the pressure of being someone else when in fact, God made you to be you! You are called to a place of ministry that Billy Graham was not called and whoever you are, it’s of vital importance that you function in the call God placed on YOUR heart!

While it seems the media called Dr. Graham “America’s Pastor”, in reality, he was “The World’s Evangelist”. Yes, there is a difference in ministry gifting although God has called everyone to “do the work of an Evangelist” and share the Gospel with others.

2. Just Be Faithful

Someone said a long time ago that the Word of God does not say “Well done, good and successful Servant…”, but it does say “Well done, good and FAITHFUL Servant.” (Matthew 25:23). We must be careful that we don’t measure ourselves with anyone else, especially since God didn’t call us to be them!

Continue to study the Word of God and feed the sheep, regardless of how many or few show up to listen to you! Have you ever thought that there’s a possibility that in one moment of time, the Holy Spirit can speak to someone who gives their heart to Christ who will be called to impact millions as well. But even if not, stay faithful to God’s call!

3. Love Your Family

While each of the children of Billy Graham would say that it seemed that their Dad was gone quite often, there was never any doubt when “Daddy” came home that he was fully engaged in their lives. His wife of nearly 64 years, Ruth, may have felt at times like a single mother with the Evangelist being gone so often, but she was fully engaged as well and doing her part to be a blessing to her family.

Of course, Pastors are not Evangelists who have been called to travel the world, but usually function within a few mile radius every Sunday. Then, they return home at least nightly to be with their family. Take time to engage with your family and spend time with them by going to their events as much as possible.

Brian Houston Announces Transition From Hillsong Church Leadership

4. Love Your Church

When I call it “your church”, please understand it’s HIS church but of course, you are the one God has called to that particular place for “such a time as this”.

As most of you know that are reading this article, I have a website consisting of letter templates for churches and pastors to use so they don’t have to re-invent the wheel each time they want to write a letter.

Whether it’s through the use of letters via email or snail mail, or some other mode of communication, be sure to let your people know you love them, then show them!

Even in those times they might seem less than loving to you personally, we might want to go back to the example of Jesus who offered His love despite being hated in return.

Romans 5:8 (NKJV) 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

5. Stay True to the Call

Of course, there may come a time for resignation from a church but that doesn’t mean it’s time to resign from the call of God! The Bible reminds us of the importance of God’s calling as well as the duration involved.  Romans 11:29 (NKJV) 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

God Will Make A Way For You When There’s No Way Out

If you have served in ministry for a period of time at all, you know there are times of tremendous joy but there are also times of hurtful betrayal. True friends are far and few between and at times, those you’ve trusted have turned and hurt you far more deeply than you thought was possible.

Friend, you are not alone in this! Remember, God has promised to be with us through every valley and mountain and perhaps, just perhaps, the answer you seek is just a moment away!

We often look at the life of Billy Graham and see it as a life of perfection and while he was a man of tremendous character and integrity, I have no doubt that he struggled with times of temptation to quit.

Perhaps you need to hear this today, but friend, I would remind you to “press on”. This life is just a vapor and one day, we too will be laid to rest, yet by that time, I want to hear those words that I’m sure Billy Graham heard… “well done, good and faithful Servant”.

Source
https://churchletters.org

1...565758...157Page 57 of 157