Change the Campus… Change the World!

As you may know, I oversee the Missions Program at Grace Church Reno. In this capacity I am privileged to experience a lot of amazing things that God is doing through his people, both here at home and around the world.

Greg Lyons, our missionary in the Philippines, oversees a huge multifaceted organization called Global Surge. I visited them last year and got to see firsthand the mind-boggling breadth of the ministry.

They hold Youth Camps at a  camp facility outside of Manila that ministers to over  one hundred thousand kids a year! They also hold Teacher’s Camps at this facility. Here is a report from Greg about this year’s camps.

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Recently our ministry held a Teachers Moral Value Camp. The focus was to influence the public and private school teachers of Metro Manila and the surrounding areas for God. We capitalized on the three perceived needs of the teachers: Overworked, Underpaid, and Under Appreciated.

Teachers Camp Results:
18 Camps Held
15,625 Teachers & Parents Attending
5,426 Dealt with for Salvation
1,279 Committed to Discipleship and Baptism

Touching Hearts

The retreat atmosphere of the camp enabled the teachers to release stress and enjoy their time a little. An obvious break from the pressures of the classroom. With the help of the Rawlings Foundation and partnering churches, we were able to provide this camp to the public school teachers for a minimal cost of two dollars per teacher! Finally, we sought approval of the camp presented curriculum from the Philippine Department of Education so the material would count toward the teacher’s needed continuing education credits. Also we provided a certificate of completion and appreciation to each teacher who attended.

Changing Lives

Material taught focused on leadership and teaching skills all based on Biblical principles. During the camp we presented the Gospel in drama and message. Many of the teachers made salvation decisions during the camp. Theresita Cordero was one of the teachers saved at Teachers Camp! Theresita began attending our church after her salvation!

Parents from various schools Parent Teacher Association (PTA) also were allowed to attend! God blessed as the parents were ministered to in a separate curriculum to help them with family issues. We have many new families in our church as a result of the parents who were saved at the camps.

Human Solutions to Humanity’s Problems?

If two people are both mired in a pool of quicksand, it is impossible for one to keep the other from being sucked down. I was recently reminded of humanity’s utter incapability to solve its own problems through the examples of two people that I admire very much: Abbie Hoffman and Nancy Alcorn.

If you know who Abbie Hoffman was, you are probably surprised that I, an evangelical Christian, would admire him. Hoffman was a founder of the Youth International Party (Yippies), an anti-war movement of the 60’s and early 70’s. He was a socialist activist who led protests around the country, including the ’68 Democratic Convention in Chicago. He, along with six others, was arrested and put on trial for his role in that protest. They became known as the “Chicago Seven,” and their trial was televised and written about throughout the whole country.

Besides his wit and creativity in advancing his cause, what I admired most about Hoffman was his passion for justice. We can argue the merits of socialism versus capitalism forever, but what cannot be debated is the fact that he dedicated his life to helping people. He put himself in harm’s way repeatedly without reaping financial gain. In the tradition of the prophets of his Jewish heritage, he decried the inequalities and hypocrisy he saw in American society.

However, although the ideals of freedom and equality are biblical, a large part of Hoffman’s ideology was not. In rejecting other biblical standards such as respect for authority, other people’s property, sobriety and sexual integrity, he and his fellow revolutionaries crippled the movement from the beginning. While some continued their activism and have effected positive changes in the areas of environmentalism, civil rights and women’s rights, many retreated into a drug-fogged unreality or just gave up and ceased to work for the changes they wanted to see in society. The vision of a just and equitable society is far from being realized.

Others, like Hoffman’s colleague Jerry Rubin, were transformed from yippies to yuppies (young urban professionals) and drifted into the mainstream capitalistic culture. Rubin declared the revolutionary ventures in Vietnam and Cuba to be dismal failures and proclaimed that capitalism and entrepreneurship were the only way to prosperity.

Nancy Alcorn also had a burning desire to help people. She began her career as a coach and social worker in a facility for juvenile delinquent girls where she worked for eight years. There she saw the failure of government programs to effect change in the lives of the girls she worked with.  As a Christian, Nancy became convinced that only Jesus Christ could bring the deep, radical, lasting transformation that these girls needed. She began praying about a way to help them.

In 1983 Nancy founded Mercy Ministries on three basic principles: (1) accept girls free of charge, (2) always give at least ten percent of all donations to other organizations and ministries, and (3) do not take any state or federal funding or any money that interferes with the freedom to share Christ. The girls participate voluntarily and are immersed in an environment of Christian love. The program is holistic, teaching them skills in every area of life. Since that time the ministry has established homes all over the U.S., Canada, U.K. and New Zealand. The program has ministered to thousands of girls and has a 93% success rate.

Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.” The revolutionary agenda of Abbie Hoffman has many ideals that I believe come directly from the image of God stamped on our humanity. But when humanity rejects their Maker and attempts to create a reality without Him, it always fails. Ironically, Nancy Alcorn is regularly criticized for her biblical approach and not using the failed secular methods that she witnessed in government institutions. Yet, nothing argues more eloquently for the truth of Christianity than the changed lives of those who have encountered Jesus.

Frontline Ministry

I attended a Christian Booksellers Association convention a few years ago where John Eldredge (Wild At Heart) spoke. He likened Christian bookstores to the supply lines for the army. At the time of the talk, I thought it was a cool analogy. But lately I have realized that we are often on the front lines of ministry.

About ten years ago I naively agreed to start a bookstore to support the Bible Institute where I was teaching part-time. It soon became apparent that operating the store on a part-time basis using volunteers was not going to work. God opened the door for me to move from my tent-making job into full time ministry at that point. I embarked on a crash course in retailing 101, but soon discovered that operating the store entailed much more than buying and selling. I came to see my job was not only to provide resources to individuals which will move them along the path of discipleship, but also to be open to the Spirit of God to minister in whatever way He leads. When the Bible Institute store closed after five years, I began managing our church’s bookstore. I have found very little difference in the ministry here.

What I am advocating is a “ministry first” approach to our business. When I hire a volunteer (our store is completely volunteer staffed besides myself), I emphasize to them that we are first a ministry, then a bookstore. The community doesn’t need another place to buy books. The internet is much more convenient. But the internet cannot provide Holy Spirit led service. A church bookstore should be a place where someone can come and feel that they are being touched by God through His people. I try to build this into my employees.

Last summer, Renee, a woman who had not attended church since her childhood, came in during the week to look for a Bible. As I began asking questions to determine what kind of Bible she needed, I discovered that she was a recovering alcoholic and had come to the conclusion that the only way she was going to make it was by following Jesus. I listened to her story, and then shared the story of my journey from the drug scene to Christ. We talked for an hour. She began attending church, and a year later, she was baptized and is walking with Christ on a daily basis. She is a beautiful example of a life changed by the Gospel.

I believe that God set up that meeting. I believe that He will guide each of our stores in similar ways as we yield to His leading and see our roles as primarily ministers and secondarily as shopkeepers. Christian bookstores are much more than suppliers of resources. They are, or can be, a place of evangelism, counseling, encouragement, teaching, fellowship and worship.

Cohabitation: It’s not Just “Living Together”

Q: Why shouldn’t Christians live, or sleep together before marriage?

A: Because the God reserves sex for marriage.

IT MATTERS TO GOD
Marriage has existed from the beginning of human history. All cultures have had some common agreement on what constitutes a legitimate marriage. This is illustrated in the story of Jesus and the woman at the well in John 4. Jesus asks her to go and tell her husband about him.

      The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband.” (John 4:16-18 ESV)

Obviously, Jesus viewed living together as something different than being married.

Any sexual relations outside of marriage is called fornication the Bible. It is included in the list of sins of those who do not know God.

The Bible says, “Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolators, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers-none of these will inherit the kingdom of God” (1Corinthians 6:9-10).

Followers of Jesus are to avoid this sin at all costs.

Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.(1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV)

If you claim to be a follower of Christ and persist in known sin, you may be deceiving yourself into believing that you have a relationship with Jesus, but really do not.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:46-49 ESV)

 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15 ESV)

God’s people are to different from the unbelieving world.

“Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22-23)

            But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. (Ephesians 5:3 ESV)

 “Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers” (Hebrews 13:4).

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

HUSBAND’S ROLE
The most important aspect of the husband’s role in marriage is to be the spiritual leader. That means he is called to lead his wife into increasing holiness. By living together, the man is doing just the opposite: leading the woman into sin, not holiness.

                Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:25-32 ESV)

BECAUSE HE LOVES US
God does not make rules arbitrarily. He does it to protect us. What are some of the consequences of living together before marriage? (Besides the spiritual consequences of erecting a barrier between you and God.)

Statistics show that those who live together before marriage are more likely to get a divorce than those who do not.

The National survey of Families and Households found that couples who cohabit before marriage are 50 percent more likely to divorce. The same survey also found that unmarried couples living together are twice as likely to be unhappy in their relationship, as are those who are duly married. These are just two of the many practical reasons not to cohabit. Click HERE for more reasons.

But the first and most important reason to abstain from sex outside of marriage is because you trust God, and therefore want obey Him. Do you believe that He loves you and desires the very best for you? Or, do you trust your own wisdom above His?

                For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV)

Gotta Serve Somebody

The great prophet Bob Dylan once said, “You’re gonna have to serve somebody. It may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.” Mr. Dylan was right! We serve whatever it is that we give our time, talent and treasure to. If it is not the God of the universe, it is something, and ultimately someone else. You might think that you are only responsible to yourself, but when you refuse to bow before the Creator, you are left with only the creation. Romans 1:25 says, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.” This is the definition of idolatry.

You may ask, “What serving has to do with worship?” The biblical terms are interchangeable. When you serve something, you are esteeming it greater than yourself. You are offering sacrifice to it.
The Bible makes this very clear. “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1 NASB) This is a sold-out kind of lifestyle. What did Jesus say is the greatest commandment? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” (Luke 10:27 NIV) God wants 100% of us.
I have the joy and privilege to lead the missions program at Grace Church. A part of that responsibility is to oversee the churchServe program through which we connect people to serving in the church. I can tell you that the majority of those attending church do not serve in any way. The national statistics are that only 20% do all of the work. Why is this?
I believe that Gil Stieglitz has landed on the answer in his chapter on service in “Spiritual Disciplines of a C.H.R.I.S.T.I.A.N.” He says, “If Christians were taught that everything we do (service) every day can be presented to God as worship, this would transform our Christian lives into something much closer to the New Testament teaching.” (p.113) The key then to the discipline of serving is to consciously focus all of our life on God. This does not mean that we are so heavenly minded as be no earthly good. It means that we begin to see all of life as sacred. There is no real division between the secular and the sacred. We cannot legitimately separate our spiritual life from the rest of our life.

When we begin to see life in this new way, it is natural to sacrifice our time, talents and treasure in whatever way God may lead. If we continue to think that we have a right of ownership to any area of our life, we are not serving God, but are being sidetracked from our purpose and committing idolatry.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

Pitiful, Pampered Christians

I attended the Global Leadership Summit this year and heard the president of Compassion International, Dr. Wess Stafford, tell the story of a persecuted Ethiopian Christian. When Dr. Stafford told him that American Christians would be praying for him. The pastor said, “And we will be praying for the American Christians.”

When Dr. Stafford asked why they were praying for the Americans, he said,

“Here we must constantly pray to get through each day. I have heard that in the US that people can go a whole day, even a week, without praying.”

“Here, if we get a Bible, we divide it up and distribute it among the believers to memorize, because it is illegal to own a Bible. I have heard that in the US that people have multiple copies of the Bible and do not even read it regularly.”

“Here we must hide and meet in darkness to avoid arrest. I have heard that in the US that there are several churches on several corners, but people on a nice day will have something called a “picnic” instead of gathering for worship.”

At my church, we have communion about once a month at a special evening service. I recently heard that some people say they do not attend these services because it is just too inconvenient. Is it too inconvenient to get in their heated/air-conditioned cars, drive for 15 minutes, come into a heated/air-conditioned building to enjoy a well put together service without fear of persecution?

I am angered and ashamed that this attitude exists in my church, but I know that I am guilty too. How many times have I neglected my small group because I was “tired”? How many opportunities have I missed to share God’s love with others because I was simply too wrapped up in my own comfort?

No wonder I do not see God doing the kinds of things here that I have seen in other places around the world.

I am thankful for the prayers of the persecuted Ethiopian Christians. I have a hunch that God listens to them. I hope that their prayers don’t result in persecution to get us to wake up to the reality of the spiritual struggle we are in. But, if that is what it takes . . .

The Cop & the Jazz Musician

What do a cop and a jazz musician have in common? In this case it’s Jesus.

I was standing in the foyer of our church  with two of my volunteers serving in the bookstore that I manage there. There was a video playing that showed several scenes from downtown Reno.

When it flashed a scene of a particular bar, Ed, the jazz musician said, “I have played a lot of gigs in that bar.” To which Wayne, the cop responded, “I have arrested a lot guys in that bar.”

It dawned on me that these two guys, who are now buddies, would probably never have such a connection if it weren’t for the fact that Jesus has gotten a hold of both of their lives. In their former lives, they would have seen each other as the enemy.

In Galatians 3 we learn that there are no distinctions in the Church based on ethnicity or gender. The Apostle John reports in Revelation 5 that the elders worship Jesus proclaiming, “and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

You can’t find two more different “tribes” than cops and jazz musicians, yet Jesus brings them together. The divisions in this world are endless, causing untold misery. I love the fact that each Christian is called to be a reconciler. We all have a part in bringing together people who are alienated from God and others. The only true and lasting peace is the peace that Jesus brings through the cross.