General

The Washington Post reported this week that abstinence programs work in helping young people set themselves apart from our sex-craved culture. The study, that was conducted in four different schools in a Northeastern city, among 662 African Americans found that about 33% of the students who went through the abstinence program started having sex, compared with about 52% who were taught only safe sex. The findings were published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

This is good news for True Love Waits advocates, for our kids–and in my estimation–indicates that God is doing a good work in this generation for a very special purpose.  Maybe the youth of today are being prepared for an assignment much bigger than the purity of their sexual lives.

Young people receive many messages about life. They are told to “be themselves,” “have fun,” “care about the planet,” and look and act like the rich and famous.  In our youth groups we also send them messages such as “know Christ,” “come to the latest concert, pizza party, or summer bash”—or “be a good person.” But do we really connect today’s kids with the reason they are here?

Today’s students were born for a purpose. Rick Warren is right when he says that it’s not about them. It’s about living for God’s glory and accomplishing his mission. That mission is Christ’s Great Commission which remains uncompleted. He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). Today’s young generation was born to complete that task.  This has been the goal in every generation, but this generation is uniquely poised to do it because 1) Others have set the stage, 2) Technology has made the world reachable, 3) The final global strongholds are falling, and, 4) Just possibly they were born for “such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

Others have set the stage. Let’s look at how Jesus is winning the global war for peoples’ hearts. For the past two thousand years the Church has been progressively expanding. According to the US Center for World Missions, in AD100, the ratio of non-believers to professing Christians was 360:1. Even after the fall of the Roman Empire and the chaos of the Middle Ages, by AD1000 the ratio of non-Christians to believers had fallen to 220:1. By the Reformation (and great moves of God in Europe), the ratio had dropped to 69:1. After the era of exploration and missionary expansion, by 1900, the ratio was at 27:1.

By 1950 the ratio was down to 21:1. Powerful evangelism and missions thrusts brought the 1980 ratio to 11:1. By 1990 the ratio was down to 4:1. And today, after the fall of the Iron Curtain and amazing movements of God’s Spirit worldwide, the ratio today of non-Christians to professing Christians stands at 2:1. What does that mean?  Jesus is winning the war for people’s hearts.

To summarize the playing field in 2010: Over two billion people around the world call themselves Christians, two billion have heard of Jesus, and another two billion have never heard. God wants to reach them all—and it’s happening. In the China, the greatest ingathering of souls in the history of a nation took place in the past fifty years when the Church grew from three million to 100 million. The largest Muslim nation in the world—Indonesia– is approaching 20% Christian. In 1980, there were no known believers in the nation of Mongolia. Today there are 30,000 in 150 churches. Korea, which was devastated after WWII, is poised to become the first Protestant Christian nation in Asia.
 
The advance of the Great Commission is no less dramatic elsewhere. In Latin America there were 50,000 Protestants in 1900. Today there are sixty million. One hundred years ago, Christians were only 4% of Africa. Today, they number a staggering 300 million (despite great poverty and human need). Some African nations, such as Uganda, have openly Christian political leaders who are calling their nations to Christ to deal with social problems. More evangelicals are serving Jesus today in Brazil than in all of Europe. It is an amazing time to be alive as the Good News sweeps across the global arena. Others paved the way. Now it’s their turn.

Technology has made the world reachable. I stepped onto an airplane a few months ago and flew from central Asia into Korea, through Japan, landed in San Francisco and then hopped up to Seattle. It all took less than a day. It’s difficult to grasp that people have been flying commercially for only fifty years! This ability to move easily around the globe is a blip in history that most human beings never imagined. Add to that advantage the ease of telephone communication, e-mail, video-conferencing, radio and television, and the vast opportunities of the Internet, and you have a unique time in history where the earth has become truly reachable for Christ.

If Roman roads and the Greek language were a blessing to missionaries of the early centuries, imagine what a technically savvy generation can do in this era to communicate God’s love. They can jet to every nation on earth in a matter of hours or days. They can take short-term missions trips (now exploding worldwide), do two-to five year assignments, or live in a foreign nation for a lifetime. It doesn’t take a year to sail around the Horn, and there are vaccinations to prevent disease. Languages can be translated more quickly with advanced software, and the Gospel can be preached by cassette or video to oral-based tribes. Even without travel, they can beam the Gospel by radio and television into 237 nations, or set up web-sites where they can chat with their counterparts in most countries (often in English). There has never been a better time or generation to communicate the love of God.
 
Satan’s strongholds are falling down. The WWII generation brought the defeat of Fascism. The Boomers saw the fall of Communism and worldwide global outreach. The final Satanic “Alamo” is the Islamic world—and the dominoes seem to be falling into place for a massive turning of Muslims to Christ. Of the fifty-five Muslim nations, two are now free—Afghanistan and Iraq—and the Church is growing in those nations. Iran is now the only remaining model of Islamic radicalism, and according to some reports,   90% of its people desire freedom. Is the crumbling of the Islamic Veil the final major hurdle in the evangelization of the world? Is the War on Terror simply Satan’s last desperate attempt to hang onto power in a world that is moving toward Jesus?

The largest missions movement of all time was the Student Volunteer Movement which sent 100,000 young missionaries into many nations from the 1880’s to the 1930’s. Their cry was “the evangelization of the world in this generation.” They overcame the ravages of the Civil War and WWI to make a huge contribution to world evangelism. Today’s Christian youth are a generation that has been delivered from the clutches of abortion (40 million of their peers were killed in the US since 1972). They have been rescued from the agony of divorce and the hedonism of modern culture.

In past history, God’s major deliverances were preceded by Satan attacks on youth. Prior to Moses’ leading the nation of Israel out of Egypt, Pharoah tried to kill off the Exodus generation. Before Jesus came to save the world, Herod moved to kill the children in Bethlehem (including Jesus and others who might lead the Early Church). Satan has tried to kill off this generation through abortion and attrition because another Great Event is coming—the Return of Christ. If Satan can’t kill this generation, he’ll lure them into an SUV-lifestyle that stops them from launching the greatest student volunteer movement the world has ever seen.

For such a time as this. Yet, many of us believe this generation has been rescued by God to complete the Great Commission. Thousands went before. Millions are being called to go today—from every nation to every nation. It will not be easy—but today’s kids have been prepared for it. Let’s help them take their eyes off self, money, pleasure and other trivial pursuits.

Let’s call them to their reason for being—to complete the task! It’s their destiny.

Many years ago I became fascinated with the life and message of the prophet Jeremiah. He was called as a young person to speak to the sins and failures of his nation. He was faithful to that message for forty years–and not once in the book called by his name is it recorded that the people listened to his concerns.

Jeremiah lived during a tumultuous time.  Prior to his generation, the people of Israel had ridden a roller-coaster of greatness and decline, renewal and debauchery for nearly a millennium. In his lifetime, that was all to change.

Jeremiah lived to see the end of freedom in his nation. His time was not a run-of-the-mill season of economic decline and military weakness.

He lived during the generation of terminal judgement.

Israel lost its freedom in Jeremiah’s lifetime. When he was born they were free. When he died (in Egypt) they were no longer a nation.

I’ve often wondered whether we were born into a similar time period. America has seen seasons of great revival–at least four times in our history–and also times of spiritual, moral, and economic decline. Are we simply in one of those cycles today, or is this one different? Could it be the beginning of the end of freedom for the the United States of America?

Through studying the book of Jeremiah many years ago, I came to the conclusion that there were four primary sins of a nation that is about to lose its liberty. That’s the message Jeremiah declared faithfully for four decades. We don’t need to guess at his concerns. They are recorded in detail in the book of Jeremiah found in the Old Testament.  In its fifty-two chapters there are hundreds of verses that mention the problems that were precipitating the loss of liberty in Israel. I studied them years ago and categorized Jeremiah’s message into four major areas.

I call them the sins of a falling nation. They are:

1. Idolatry – putting other things in the place of God (67 verses – some examples are Jeremiah 2:20, 21, 26-28, and 7:8-10).

2. Perverted Religion – faith had become dead, dry, institutionalized and even corrupt (49 verses – eg. Jeremiah 14:13-15, and 23:11, 12, 28, 29).

3. Dull consciences – the people were greatly confused about right and wrong because they’d stopped “listening” to the voice of God in their hearts (24 verses – examples are Jeremiah 3:13, 25 and 5:20-24).

4. Human injustice – Murder, theft, lewdness and exploitation were wide-spread (13 verses – look at Jeremiah 22:3 and 7:5-7).

Because these problems had reached a crescendo in the nation of Israel, God decided that the only just thing to do was to snuff out the lamp of liberty.

Thus Israel died as a nation for over two thousand years.

Benjamin Franklin,  during the American Constitutional Convention of 1787, was asked the following question by a woman observer: “What have you given us” the curious onlooker asked. “We have given you a republic, madam” was his reply. “If you can keep it.”

“If you can keep it.”

Franklin and the early founders of our nation knew that freedom was a precious gift rarely seen in human societies. Thomas Jefferson added this warning: “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” 

Liberty is not an easy condition to maintain. It takes the opposite characteristics of the sins of a falling nation seen in Jeremiah’s day. True freedom in a society demands:

1. Trust in God (not idols).

2. Robust Faith (not shallow counterfeits).

3. Moral clarity and lifestyles (emanating from strong families).

4. Justice for all (especially life, liberty, and respect for property).

I don’t know if we live in a day like Jeremiah’s. I hope not. But something inside of me warns that we must learn to cherish and maintain the precious freedom God has given us before it’s taken away.

Many people have been spiritually concerned about American freedom for years. This week a major think tank published some economic indicators that reveal a major change in our liberties.

The following study by the Heritage Foundation is a warning about the freedoms of America that just might be in jeopardy.  For the first time in our history, under the Obama administration, America has dropped out of the “free” category of nations. This report only surveys the economic dimension of things. But freedom in economics comes from what you believe and live–the four categories of faith in God, true religion, morality clarity, and human justice.

When a nation gives up its freedom and descends into idolatry, religious perversion, moral confusion, and human cruelty its economy eventually implodes.

Take the following statistics seriously and study the “2010 Index of Economic Freedom.”

Then read the book of Jeremiah, take up his vision, and live the truth in 21st century America–or your own nation–before its too late.

Freedom can be lost. What will America do?

The Heritage Foundation – 2010 Index of Economic Freedom

The United States’ direction today is a dangerous one, even when compared to the country’s state of affairs just one year ago.  Of the world’s 20 largest economies, the U.S. has suffered the largest drop in economic freedom.

For the first time ever, the U.S. has dropped out of the “free” category and fallen to “mostly free” in the 2010 Index of Economic Freedom. Of the world’s 20 largest economies, the U.S. has suffered the largest drop in economic freedom. It’s clear why our economy is failing to generate jobs.

The 2010 Index of Economic Freedom, an annual joint project of The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal, was released last week.  The Index analyzes just how economically “free” a country is, and this year America saw a steep and significant decline, enough to make it drop altogether from the “free” category, the first time this has happened in the 16 years that the Index has been published.

“Economic Freedom” in this study is defined as the fundamental right of every human to control his or her own labor and property. In an economically free society, individuals are free to work, produce, consume, and invest in any way they please, with that freedom both protected by the state and unconstrained by the state. In economically free societies, governments allow labor, capital and goods to move freely, and refrain from coercion or constraint of liberty beyond the extent necessary to protect and maintain liberty itself.

Ten components of economic freedom were measured, and grades assigned in each using a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 represents the maximum freedom. The ten component scores were then averaged to give an overall economic freedom score for each country.

Click here to read the full report.

Like most of the world I am stunned and saddened by the horrific damage done through the  earthquake that leveled the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince last week. Scores of thousands of people are dead and an entire city is now struggling to survive then rebuild. Thankfully, many nations, organizations, churches, and individuals have stepped into the rescue and relief effort which will be needed for months and years to come. We must continue to pray and do all that we can to help.

Youth With A Mission has had long-term workers in Haiti for decades. We operate a number of ministries out of two properties located in St. Marc, about sixty miles from Port-au-Prince.

Regretfully, we also lost a beloved co-worker in the earthquake. One of our Haitian familes on staff with YWAM St.Marc were living in the capital on a time of sabbatical. Evodie St. Fleur was killed in the earthquake, leaving behind her husband, Illioney, and young daughter, Abigail. The St. Fleur’s had been on staff at YWAM St.Marc since 1995. We appreciate your specific prayers for Evodie’s family and friends.

A 22-year old missions volunteer from our home town in Port Orchard, Washington was also killed in the quake. Molly Hightower was halfway through a year of service with Friends of the Orphans–a work dedicated to orphans and disabled children. She worked in a daycare center in Port-au-Prince in a building–the Father Wasson Center–that also served as her residence (she lived on the fifth floor). Her body was found at 4:30am on Friday, January 15.

These are only two of the thousands that perished. Listen to the words of Youth With A Mission Haitian director Terry Snow as he describes the incredible scene and subsequent needs of the island nation:

1/13/2010 5:10 PM 

“I was sitting with our leadership team when the room began to tremble. EARTHQUAKE! We quickly realized that this was an abnormal rumbling. We have experienced minor trembles in times past but not like this one.”

“We all bolted to the exit. Soon we saw everyone out in the center of our campus field as the earth continued to tremble. One of our walls had some plaster begin to shack loose, but then it stopped. Thank God! The city erupted with screams and shouts! Most of our cell companies were down, electric went off, but then one of our new DTS student’s cell phone rings.”

“People are telling him that many buildings have fallen. There is much destruction in the capital Port-au-Prince! We have received word that many housing units have collapsed and government buildings as well, but still no clear reports. Everyone only had 45 minutes before the sun set and now they are pretty well in the darkness.”

1/14/2010 07:19 AM

“Every 30 minutes to an hour the house rumbled and shook from the after shocks of the earthquake that has devastated the capital, Port-au-Prince. It was hard to sleep wondering if you should run, wait or ignore it. All I could think about was the thousands that had no where to sleep in Port-au-Prince 60 miles away from our city, St. Marc. We were up early to see the video footage and pictures of the Presidential Palace destroyed and so many other buildings we once knew. We feel in some ways as helpless as the victims in Port-au-Prince in the since of shock and not knowing what to do or where to start.”

“Communications are still down, airport is closed for today so we have decided to send in a observation team to see what connections they could make. Haiti has no infrastructure much less a crisis management team. I suspect that Port-au-Prince is crying even louder this morning as the reality of their situation tumbles on them.”

Later on in the day, Terry shared this eyewitness report:

“Dead lay in the streets, possibilities of mass burial sights talked about on the radio. People wandering the streets, city parks now filled with people camping out in them. The situation is more worse than dreamed! Yesterday we sent an investigative team to Port-au-Prince (PAP) to take a first hand look at the situation.”

“I will not easily forget what Rodney Gephart and Wayne Snow said when they had returned. “The situation is worse than it has appeared on TV!” My heart sank and instead of crying I felt a numbness come over me as they began telling me of the dead, the buildings that had collapsed and then to hear that they could not find any information on who is doing what as far as cordinated efforts for immediate response and longterm recovery.”

“Our Leadership Team went late into the night trying to assemble all the data and strategies on how to begin with assisting the victims of the earthquake. Praying for wisdom from God! We know He has a plan. We have seen him take us through many floods and other situations that were greater than we could bare in the past and by GOD’s grace, mercy and power we will see this through! How ummeasurable is His love! Nothing is impossible concerning Him!”

On Friday, Terry shared this update on the relief effort:

01/15/2010 8:50 PM.

 “We bought  two 25lb bags of rice in St. Marc. To our knowledge it was the last available rice in all of St. Marc city and province! This is getting serious friends. What the UN and Government people may not be taking into thought is the mass number of people that are evacuating Port-au-Prince (PAP). This is devasting the supplies in the province.”

“One of the largest wholesalers in St. Marc has empty depots tonight with no word on when he might be able to get more bulk food! Victims of PAP are now beginning to fill churches in St. Marc and we are looking at potentially staging two additional camps here in this city as well as our staging points in PAP. FUEL is gone, vehicles are being parked! We have to have fuel if we are going to survive, much less help the victims!”

“We have been very busy and have made great headway in developing a plan to begin assistance. We would like to begin preparing food and passing out sacks of purified water very soon! Instead of doing this today we focused on staging points to host teams, connect with the US Embassy and develop the infrustructure needed to assist in a positve way!”

“Please understand that all the banking systems have collapsed due to communications and the main offices destroyed in the capital. Hopefully tomorrow we will see our Haitian bank begin to open or release some funds for our use. We are finding other ways to obtain funds as well. The Haitian government is not funtioning and we have a team working to try and find a way to get the port of St. Marc opened for humanitarian supplies.”

“Our YWAM base has 3 acres of land that we could make available to park containers for unloading, organizing and then shipping on to Port-au-Prince. We have placed a call to YWAM Volunteers to come and assist in administrative ways to help in organization of the many teams that have already written ready to come. As mentioned we have currently found two staging points that could provide housing for these teams. We have a possibility of up to 10 additional places as well. Airplanes were seen flying in and the US Embassy was still very packed with people trying to leave. The smell of dead bodies is growing stronger and there seemed to be a spirit of despair crying out through out the city.”

1/17/2010 – 5pm.

“Yesterday our YWAM’ers in Port-au-Prince (PAP) came upon people seeking help and a four month old child was discovered pinned under a building. Our rescue team from YWAM sprang into action. After some time the child was removed from the rubble and rushed to a make shift hospital with a large cut on her head. Once there everyone tried to find a responsible person. After asking where the baby’s mother was, the people with them said she was still under the building.”

“The YWAMers rushed back to hear people saying that she was under the building, dead. Our YWAMers began to dig to find her. To everyone’s surprise they found her ALIVE! She was extremely dehydrated and will need hospital care but it seems she will recover! YWAM St. Marc Gym has become a make shift recovery ward for the overflowing hospital. Yesterday a Doctor asked one of our YWAMers “What are they going to do with all these orphans.” He claimed that none of the children at our center had known living parents and the orphanage caretaker is not in the country. “Would YWAM take these children?” he asked.”
 
“One of our volunteers spoke with one young boy that was actually thought to be dead! He had already been placed in the morgue in a closed room with the dead. After placed there and the door closed, morgue workers heard a knocking on the closed door and was shocked to see that this young boy was still alive!”

“Strategies are forming on how to best cope and minister during this situation. It is very intense and difficult, but let us all pray for the children of Haiti.” 

I hope reading this eyewitness account moves you to pray and get involved. Our family and ministry are giving to the relief effort and you can too. Size of gift doesn’t matter–just share from the heart. There are many worthy organizations I would encourage you to support. As we saw in the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Christian organizations because of their compassion, staff of the ground, and lack of bureacracratic red tape, are often the best responders and rebuilders. I recommend:

• Convoys of Hope
• World Concern
• World Vision
• Youth With A Mission

And let’s keep the suffering peoples of Haiti in our fervent prayers. God Himself is the only one who can truly bring both immediate and long-term hope to the people of Haiti. He can work in their hearts. He can restore faith and purpose. He can reveal his love through his people.

If you’re interested in sending a church team or youth group to help in the long-term recovery efforts of Port-au-Prince and the nation of Haiti, Youth With A Mission can also help you. For information contact : relief@ywamhaiti.org.

May we all remember these words as we face the challenges and disasters of life:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the mountains quake and the earth be removed.  God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. God shall help her. Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:1,5,10).