CHRISTMAS: It's about THE CROSS!

I highly recommend that you take a few minutes to watch this music video and either learn about or be reminded of the real meaning of Christmas! ENJOY!

ANOTHER DEFENSE OF OPEN AIR PREACHING!

"Bible Jim" Webber sent me this video, and I have to admit it is one of the best gospel explanations I've ever seen. Apart from his not emphasizing one's need for repentance in this particular video (edited out?), I know he preaches conversion by "repentance and faith," according to Acts 20:21. Otherwise this is an excellent example on what campus/open air preaching can do to "stir things up" and get people talking about eternally significant things. Enjoy!

If you have trouble watching it here due to the reduction of the screen, go here and watch it on YouTube.

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN . . . REALLY?

The following video is a wake-up call. I haven't figured out how to get the full screen on my blog, so I recommend that you watch it on YouTube. It's called TRUTH. I don't care how committed to God you think you are, there's always room for more commitment. In fact, a "tame" commitment might just mean that you have never truly converted! Watch this and, by all means, apply it as the Holy Spirit leads!

IS YOUR CHURCH A MILITARY UNIT?

A ministry partner (i.e., financial/prayer supporter) of ours reacted to my previous blog entry (see below). I thought it would interesting to share here what I wrote to her:

You're right. Not everyone is called to be a street preacher, but we are ALL called to witness! Yes, members of our local body need caring for as well, but I believe that we should care for one another always with the goal of getting each other back out into the "fray." In other words, I look at the local church as, first and foremost, a military unit. Our common bond is as soldiers of Christ. We sometimes get hurt and need medical attention (I reject the analogy of the church as a hospital; it can have that function regarding some members, but as a military hospital, it exists to heal soldiers so that they can be productive soldiers again.), but always with the goal of getting back out into the battle.

The main battle I see before us - biblically - is the evangelization of the world (although Jude 3 says that we should contend/battle for the purity of the faith). Everything else is subservient to that purpose: worship services, special ministries, Sunday School, bible studies - which exist to prepare soldiers for the battle (for hearts and minds - for souls).

In the military, during wartime, every non-combatant role exists to prepare, supply, and support those who are on the front lines. Everyone knows his or her function. The analogy breaks down a bit here because, in the case of God's army, everyone is called to do battle for souls to some degree. In other words, there should be no "desk jockeys" in God's army. But the aspect of the army's priorities apply to any army, God's or otherwise.

So, what best would characterize your church? A military unit, a hospital, a night club, a counseling center . . . or what? As scary as it may appear to be, let's make it our goal to be soldiers of the cross with all that role implies. In my case I, along with my wife, have been deployed to the front lines overseas. In your case, your role may be that of "homeland security." Either way, we have a job to do, and our commander-in-chief (not Obama) deserves a 100% effort, doesn't He?

EVANGELIZING THE OLD-FASHIONED, BIBLICAL WAY!

As we try to get our new ministry, The 8-32 Movement, off the ground, two days a week I have been going on the campus of Cândido Mendes University (UCAM) in Rio de Janeiro's business district (known as "The Center") to share my faith and to try to scrounge up some Christians interested in revolutionizing their campus for Christ. Actually, I was unable to go on campus for two weeks (the last week of October and the first week of November) due to our trip to Collierville, TN (just outside of Memphis) for the Worldview Weekend Training Institute. My wife, Aïda, is now in charge of training and materials (including the development of a transferable - for training purposes - evangelistic tool) for our new ministry (under the umbrella of PEF), where we are targeting university students and professors, professionals and churches. Our motto is Knowing, Living and Proclaiming Biblical Truth in a Postmodern World. We are doing this by reaching, developing and mobilizing students, professionals (including professors) and churches for the worldwide harvest. We reach via biblical evangelism, develop via apologetics and biblical/theological/worldview training and mobilize via short-term missions projects and long-term service opportunities.

Besides my wife and me, The 8-32 Movement (given this name based on John 8:32) has enlisted the participation of former Priority Associates (Campus Crusade for Christ) staff member, Erica Ribeiro, to help us get the professional component off the ground. Erica is currently discipling and training three professional women on the staff of Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ).

Getting back to my ministry activities in downtown Rio, I have found, in light of my strengths and gifting, the best of both ministry worlds! Not only do I get to interact with students about their faith (or lack thereof), but I get to open air preach in the notorious "Largo da Carioca," where tens of thousands of people pass daily. "Carioca," as this nerve center is commonly called, is a smorgasbord of sights, sounds and experiences. You never know what's going to happen next!

For example, I was introduced to a slightly-built preacher two months ago when a crowd gathered around him and an older gentleman decided to start slapping him! I intervened, holding the aggressor at bay long enough for the municipal guards to show up. I wrongly assumed they would uphold the preacher's right to preach, but they hauled him off and warned him to stop. Seeing a crowd of nearly 100 gathering out of curiosity, I whipped out my bullhorn and began preaching! After scolding the guards for violating the Brazilian equivalent to the preacher's First Amendment rights, I started to use God's Law to show the crowd its need for a Savior. After asserting that the Ten Commandments condemn lying, I asked anyone who felt they had never lied to raise their hand. Two men raised their hands. I told them they were lying about lying, and asserted that I knew they were sinners based on Romans 3:23. One guy grumbled something as he walked away, but the other guy - probably in his late teens to early twenties - started getting visibly angry, saying I had no right, as a foreigner, to be preaching. I responded with the fact that I may have been in Brazil longer than he, assuming he was 18 years old or less. He looked like he wanted to attack me, but his friend ushered him out of the area.

So, it's never a dull moment in the "Carioca!" This past Wednesday I was preaching against the gay agenda in our schools here, and a guy stopped to listen. He interrupted me to inform me that a well-known comic book series was introducing the gay lifestyle into its stories; 5 minutes later he handed me a copy of the comic book in question, pointing out the subtle, yet clear, message: "Let's all be tolerant of our gay friends and their choices." I'm going to boycott this comic book publisher from now on, as well as encourage others to do the same! Absurd!

When I was wrapping things up, a guy shows up and asks me to look up a verse in my bible for him. He then took issue with the fact that the verse translated God's OT name - Yahweh - as LORD. I knew I had a Jehovah's Witness (JW) on my hands, so I asked him about his view of Jesus. I confess that I didn't handle the situation the way I would have liked to (Hindsight is always 20/20.), so I plan to take a different approach next time. I encourage you to get your hands on the following tract and/or memorize it's approach to dealing with JW's. I know I will! Fortunately there's a Portuguese version.

To finalize, I came across the following video that graphically explains the benefits of open air and campus preaching. Yeah, it's considered controversial today and the results are not often immediate; nevertheless, God uses it to change lives. Invest just 7 minutes to see what I mean:

GOD EXPANDS OPEN AIR TO CZECH REPUBLIC

(I received the following post in an e-mail from open-air preacher Bro. Jim Webber, author of Blood Power. I find this young street evangelist's testimony compelling, to say the least! I ask you to read it and respond as God leads. Pavel's e-mail is: pavel.zalio@email.cz. When you consider all that other Czech heroes of the faith went through to preach the gospel in what's now known as The Czech Republic, we Christians should seriously consider investing in someone willing to pay the price to get the gospel out. Such men are a rare breed in this day and age, and will become rarer in light of the recent "hate crimes" legislation passed by Congress - and only awaiting Barack Obama's signature to go into effect.)

Dear brothers in Christ Jesus,

My name is Pavel Zalio and I am from the Czech Republic. I was saved in June 2007 by miraculous power of the Lord Jesus Christ when calling on His name and asking Him to save my soul from hell and bring me to heavens with Him. Instantly a beam of light touched my heart. In the warmth of that light my heart melted down and disappeared; the same happened with my mind and on the top of it an unspeakable joy engulfed me. It happened in a hotel room in Beijing,China. I had no Christian background and knew no Christians.

After something like four days after this I stopped my wanderings, took my backpack and went back to my country, the Czech Republic. Before that the good Lord put a strong love on my heart for people of my country. After coming back I started to work with handicapped people, but after three months they dismissed me as I was too much for them. Then I translated a book God In My Corner - by two-time heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman - into Czech language, but failed with publishing it.

I started to preach on the streets in the spring of 2008 after seeing some pictures of bro. Ruben Israel and other brothers on the Internet. Then i got the book Blood Power by bro. James Webber (alias Bible Jim) which helped me to enforce my position theologically. I started with a simple proclamation that people were in a great trouble and the Lord Jesus is their one and only chance to be saved from the coming misery and wrath of God which is about to fall on this earth. God's judgement.

Just about recently I started to gain little bit of confidence and self respect, as before I was depressed and humiliated everywhere I went by family, church, material conditions etc. I got little bit of peace when preaching after I moved to a garden hut and had a stable spot where I could sleep and pray undisturbed. Before that I prayed at public restrooms before going to preach and lived in an old ambulance car. That time Satan went heavily on me telling me I was a
loser, I lost it and so on. But God was telling me: "Seek first the heavenly kingdom and the rest will be added to you."

About almost a month ago there was the Pope of Rome visiting the city where I currently stay: Brno. I went there with a sign saying the Pope = the Antichrist, which I made after much prayer, reading the Bible and also fasting - which not always is a successful endeavour for me. The other side of my banner said: Trust Jesus. I had the great opportunity to preach to about 120 thousand attendants of the open air mass and all of them had to pass the block I was standing at.
Some Catholics were coming to my block threatening they would beat me up. But God always stopped them so they could only yell at me, waving their hands around me. Sometimes waving their Vatican flags or shouting Viva Papa, Viva Mama (for Mary), while I was preaching the Bible against so called "tradition," which is just another name for a bunch of satanic lies.

In one moment a big tattooed muscular man came to me telling me I should move as I was ruining his business at that spot. I refused, he pressed on me, but when I asked him to show me papers that he had that spot rented he went away. When the situation got quite hot the police came, handcuffed me and arrested me. They drove me away and after some discussions with their boss with walkie-talkies they took the picture of my sign and then let me go. So I went back to the location but before reaching my spot I was arrested by another police patrol. I was handcuffed again and after some time spent in their police car I was asked for the second time that day if I am freely willing to go with them to the police station in the center of the city to give them an explanation. I said - no. Handcuffs again and we were on the way to that station anyway. There they hold me for about two hours. I refused to answer any of their questions and also sign any paper but used the time to witness to almost every police officer I met. After two hours they let me go but confiscated
my banner. That day was a great blessing. I never did such a big event before besides one homo parade which was also a great blessing.

The next day I went to see an ombudsman for human rights and was told to send an appeal against such police conduct, which I did. Now I am waiting for the answer from the police. Problem is that it is police itself who will investigate my complaint. But I am decided to run this case as long as God is willing.

Statistics say that his country, Czech Republic, is the most atheist country in Europe. The majority of people who think they are Christians are Catholics. Major society hates churches because of our past when catholic church together with a secular power burnt at the stake Jan Hus plus other people and persecuted true Christians. (Catholic church was always on the side of our oppressors with just one exception - the communist regime. Because the catholic priests
were persecuted some people think they were the martyrs for the faith and thus their faith must be the right faith. With this logic the contemporary widespreading sect (cult) called Falun Gong, whose leader claims he is the Messiah, would have to be also right as they are persecuted by Chinese communist regime as well. Satan uses the
natural tendency of man to sympathize with the victims to lead people into his snares.) I believe that Almighty God didn't give up on our nation and calls us to repentance that we changed from once Godly nation to a nation of cowards, drunkards, fornicators, money lovers, pot smokers, TV idolaters, showbusiness stars worshipers, thieves, new-agers, Me-god believers ("I just believe in myself."), "good persons," etc.

I would like to ask you, if you could financially support my ministry here in Czech republic. I have enough money for food and have enough clothes, but I need money to expand my ministry and start printing stickers, gospel tracts and the other things. I got in touch with bro. Petar in Norway and just talking with him on the phone was a great source of encouragement.

Recently I started with a public transportation ministry. I was very much delighted with its effect. Once a young men get off the bus with me and had many questions about Jesus Christ being the only way. Two weeks ago I went to a rosicrucian meeting (an occult sect), and I stood up and publicly rebuked their satanic new age lies. When leaving the hall a man joined me and I had a pleasure to answer his question about why I believe the Bible is the true word of God and why Jesus is THE ONLY way to be enlightened (that is what all these buddhists, taoist, new-agers are looking for but cannot find it without acknowledging that they are, deep down, rotted sinners totally dependent on the mercy of Almighty God). This just passed Sunday I got so angry with the Jehovah's Witnesses for promoting their false teaching with a systemacy (sic) of the sons of darkness that I went to their Kingdom Hall after the service was finished and rebuked them in their own lobby.

My next event is a concert of Harlem Gospel Choir. They have posters all around the city and in the middle of them is Barack Obama with a huge smile. I don't understand how the charity program called Feed the Children, which is promoted by this music group, goes together with Obama's pro-abortion position. That's why I want to go there
and expose this conflict of interests. I have a hope and faith that this time I will not go alone as one brother wants to go there with me. Please pray for us.

I have many ideas and see many occasions how to reach the lost of this world, but being a lonely soldier can get very heavily (sic) on ones mind and heart. If I could get just a little bit of support that would turn into a great blessing for everybody. I believe that we have an example in the Bible when saints help other saints in their needs.

Philippians 4:10-17

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as
you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am
looking for what may be credited to your account.

Once a brother who saw me turning an old ambulance car into a Christian vehicle gave me 20 dollars without me asking him a word. It is hard to describe for me how happy I was and how much easier it was for me to work on that car.

2 Corinthians 8:13-15

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.

If any of you would like to contribute to my ministry here in the Czech republic than you can do so by contacting me at pavel.zalio@email.cz or by sending your support to the account below.

Bank address:

CSOB a.s.
Dobrovskeho 4
682 01 Vyskov
Czech republic
account number: 201037352
IBAN: CZ910300 0000 000201037352
SWIFT #(BIC): CEKOCZPP

My adress: Pavel Zalio (removed by request of Bro. Pavel).

Thank you very much for reading this letter and may God bless all ofyou and sustains you in the fight for the heavenly prize!

Pavel
Brno, Czech Republic

THE "CHRISTIAN'S" WAKE-UP CALL!

I'm actually sitting here dumbfounded. Wow! Do yourself a tremendous favor and invest the next 12 minutes by watching a video that could very well change your life - forever - and that of your family and friends:

RIO DE JANEIRO WILL HOST THE 2016 OLYMPICS!

Frankly, I doubted that this would happen. I mean, you have the president of the United States going to Denmark to push his hometown, Chicago. You have Madrid already building two-thirds of its facilities and mobilizing 100,000 people to show their support of their city's Olympic bid.

Now, I live just across the bay from Rio and, apart from some signs here and there, I hadn't picked up much enthusiasm on the part of Rio's residents. But I was wrong, in a BIG way! I was in downtown Rio today (Oct. 2) meeting with my Cândido Mendes University disciple, Alexandre, when my wife calls and tells me both Chicago and Tokyo were out of the running! It was down to Rio and Madrid. She asked me if I was going to Copacabana to preach to the 100,000 residents gathered there to watch, on the beach, the announcement of the winner. Alexandre had to go to a job interview, so I took the Metro (subway) to famous Copacabana Beach!

As soon as I got off the subway, I heard some teens up ahead of me screaming. I knew then what had happened, but I waited until I could get near the beach to confirm, by a street vendor, Rio's selection as the host of the 2016 Olympics. Here's the video Rio used this morning in Copenhagen to try to "sell" the city to the International Olympic Committee (I recommend that you double click on the screen below to take you to full screen on YouTube, where you can watch it in High Quality and/or watch it Full Screen on your computer.)

When I got to the beach, WOW! There were people all over the place, dancing, singing, yelling, smiling. I was thinking, "Okay, how do I play off this and preach to these people?" So I started off telling people that it was God who gave this BIG present to Rio de Janeiro, and all of us would benefit by having the Olympics in Rio. But then I challenged them to think how they were going to thank God for His gift. Were they going to continue doing the same old things, or were they going to get right with Him? Were they going to abandon their sins, or were they going to continue in their rebellion?

I only had one heckler - an older woman - who chided me on "raining on their parade" while not being tolerant of those holding beliefs in other ways, other religions. I replied that Jesus is the ONLY way and that was why I needed to be there preaching this. She said I was forcing my beliefs on them, and I asked, "How?" "By using that bullhorn! You're forcing people to believe what you believe with that thing!" I replied that I was on a public sidewalk in a high-trafficked area, so how was I forcing anybody to believe anything? This drew a small crowd (Hecklers are actually a blessing in disguise, because people are kind of like sharks: When they "smell" blood, they flock to the source to see what's going on!), which I continued preaching to.

Later I noticed one man being particularly attentive. When he approached me to take an evangelistic tract, I stopped preaching long enough for him to ask me if I taught the things I was preaching about anywhere. I told him I didn't pastor a church, so I didn't have a set place where I taught. However, I gave him my phone number if he wanted to set up a time to talk more. We'll see.

Why am I grateful for Rio's selection as the host of the 2016 Olympics? Because Rio will receive the world, and that means there will be tens (or hundreds?) of thousands to reach with the gospel, not to mention millions of Brazilians! I envision this as a tremendous opportunity for the spread of the gospel and, unlike Beijing, the gospel will be able to go out unhindered. I expect there to be an effort on the part of the Church from around the world to organize and execute an evangelistic campaign to reach athletes and fans from both open and closed countries.

May we be ready to take full advantage of this unique opportunity - for the glory of God!

OUTSIDE THE FOUR WALLS!

Leonard Ravenhill. Have you heard of him? I nicknamed him "Leonard Raving-hill" due to his scathing books criticizing the state of the Church. I had never heard him preach, however. He is actually a very proper English gentleman. But oh, how his words hit home!

On Ravenhill's tombstone is written the following:

"CARRIED BY ANGELS"

LEONARD RAVENHILL

1907 - 1994

"ARE THE THINGS YOU ARE LIVING FOR WORTH CHRIST DYING FOR?"

Wow! How much more convicting can one get? To give you a taste of "Raving-hill" preaching on a subject dear to my heart - street evangelism - I ask you to watch the following video.

This gave you just a taste of Ravenhill (He doesn't speak the whole time in this video.), but I found this video powerful because it couples exhortation with application. I am so privileged to be at the point in my life that I can stand in the middle of a busy thoroughfare on a stool and plead with passers-by to repent and believe the gospel! And I am in ever-growing company, thanks to Ray Comfort's ministry and the exposure that YouTube offers open air preachers like Brother Jed Smock, "Bible Jim" Webber and Ruben Israel, who've been doing this kind of ministry for decades! May our tribe increase - for God's glory and the salvation of men!

THE GOATS AMONG US

Sometimes Christians can be so naïve! I'm a Christian, so I include myself in the previous statement. Check out this report on The Goats Among Us! 

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS'" (Matt. 7:21-23).

Then start looking around you at the next church service you attend. Parents Beware! Children Beware! Young Women Beware! Young Men Beware!

NEW MISSION - OLD MISSION

As you may be aware, Aïda and I left the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ in early July after 26 and 29 years respectively. If you would like to read a detailed explanation as to why, take a look at my July 10 blog post.

NEW MISSION

Sensing that God wanted us to continue ministering in Brazil, we began looking into various mission agencies to see which would be the best fit for us. I even went to the U.S. the last week of July to try to nail something down. After dozens of e-mails and phone calls, we finally settled on a mission agency that we had never heard of before until the beginning of August: PEF (Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship).

Why PEF? We aren't Presbyterian, but we can certainly identify with reformed theology. What really "sealed the deal," however, was the strong evangelistic emphasis that PEF has (hence, it's name!), including open air preaching! You see, CCC made it clear that open air preaching was not to be a part of my ministry on Crusade time. No problem - I did it in my free time. But now I am free to preach to anyone, anytime, anywhere (which just happens to be PEF's motto!).

In addition to my open air preaching PEF accepted us along with the following ministry focus and goals (as mentioned in my July 10 post):

1) REACHING , EQUIPPING and MOBILIZING students, professors and young professionals - interdenominationally - for the worldwide spiritual harvest. REACHING: through what we call "Intentional Evangelism," which is flexible in style and methodology while remaining faithful to biblical content; EQUIPPING: via one-on-one and small-group discipleship and training; MOBILIZING: through accountability to one's ministry goals, short and long-term missions, etc.

2) TRAINING Believers (those in our day-to-day ministry scope - see item 1 above - and local churches) in Bible study methods, theology, Christian worldview, apologetics and "Intentional Evangelism." Most Christians in Brazil have no idea what a Christian worldview is and do not have the basis to defend their faith; bible study and holding a consistently biblical theology are weak areas here as well (as they seem to be in the U.S. too!).

3) Teaching faithful men to do the same (i.e., spiritual leadership multiplication - 2 Tim. 2:2).

OLD MISSION

The past couple of weeks since I've been back in Brazil have been adventuresome, to say the least. Two weeks ago we went on a private, very Catholic campus (i.e., nuns in habits all over the place!) where some evangelical students who want our help study. We're not sure how much we'll be able to do there yet, but we're up for new challenges! We did get to share with a foreign student - Embelina from Cape Verde (off the coast of West Africa and where I directed CCC's first-ever international summer project back in 1998) - who, despite her Catholic upbringing, realized for the first time in her life why she needs Jesus (Rom. 3:23 & 6:23) and demonstrated repentance and faith!

Then on Friday of that same week I met with the student leader of an autonomous Christian campus group who wants our help at his private university! This student - Alexandre - started his group three years ago under the supervision of his home church (Church of the Nazarene). Since he is actively involved in evangelism via Jews for Jesus, I knew I was dealing with someone passionate about reaching the lost. Alexandre has a small group of 15-20 students who meet weekly on a campus that, although Catholic, is very open to the gospel! So we plan on starting to work with his group via theoretical and practical evangelism training as well as discipleship. We'd also like to establish a partnership between Alexandre's church and our ministry on his campus - Cândido Mendes University (UCAM). Needless-to-say, we are very excited over these developments!

This past week I went back to UCAM and tried out a new evangelistic tool - together with Alexandre - that I developed based on the evangelistic presentation on the www.TheGoodPersonTest.net link. One student, Alan (a sophomore Law School student (Yes, Law is an undergraduate major in Latin America!), willingly went through the presentation, agreeing that he had broken God's Law and that he is guilty and deserving of hell. However, what I didn't expect was his level of apathy regarding the possibility of going to hell one day. As a nominal Catholic, Alan said he was willing to risk dying in his sins and "enjoying life" now vs. getting right with God. It was a good learning experience for me on how to approach such apathy in the future, and I don't intend to waste it.

I also preached open air twice this past week, trying out my new foldable stool that I can easily carry in my backpack. I preached in a new location in Rio's business district yesterday: an outdoor amphitheater! I couldn't believe how the sound of my voice - with help from my trusty bullhorn, of course - traveled! As people passed by on their way to catch the ferry or the bus home for the long weekend, I could see their heads turn as they heard my preaching from 80-100 yards away! God's word won't return void (Is. 55:11)! Several people came to listen to my preaching in the amphitheater, and they each received gospel tracts at the end.

Some ask if the open air approach is effective. My response is,"If you're talking about seeing people fall to their knees in repentance and faith before my eyes, no. But if you're talking about God's word going out and being used by the Holy Spirit to convict the hearers of sin, righteousness and coming judgement (Jn. 16:8), my answer would be a resounding 'yes!'"

The following are two videos about campus preacher Tom Short that answer the question: "Does open air preaching work?"

You see, this aspect of evangelism has been neglected by the Evangelical Church for nearly an entire century. In the interest of being "politically correct," the Church's evangelistic philosophy backed away from the biblical approach to adopt a less aggressive approach. Some, like I used to, may think "political correctness" is a product of the 1990's, but in reality it was first popularized in Protestant circles by the liberal pastor/theologian Harry Emerson Fosdick back in the 1920's (I read this somewhere, but can't find the exact reference to support my statement . . . yet.). Eventually Fosdick's persistence, along with the inroads of theological liberalism in America's seminaries, would mean that being PC trumped being biblically honest with people. May we return to the biblical gospel and evangelism again, not worrying about preaching something that might offend. In fact, a biblical presentation of the gospel will always offend some. It goes with the territory!

"Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished" (Gal. 5:11 - NIV).

"Just as it is written, 'BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED'" (Rom. 9:33 - NASB).

"and '

A stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offense.'

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do" (1 Pet. 2:8 - ESV).

WISDOM'S WAKE-UP CALL!

“In answer to your inquiry, I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century (the 20th - my addition) will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.” - William Booth (founder of The Salvation Army)

My comment: Was Booth a prophet or what?!

Spurgeon's Challenge

“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.” (Charles Spurgeon)

LIVES - FOR ALL ETERNITY - ARE AT STAKE!

We received the following e-mail from a Christian friend - by the name of Rebekah from Trinidad & Tobago - who has started an pro-life NGO because she and others see the legalization of abortion on the horizon there.

Hi!

As I am seeking to understand what is going on and to separate truth from propaganda, I have been praying and these 2 verses came up in my scripture reading this morning. I was asking myself, "What is wrong with an interfaith project? To what extent do we align or work with the unbeliever?" I have met resistance trying to raise the issue of the Emerging Church with my own pastor and his wife.  In fact, I forwarded this article and she told me, "Jesus dined with sinners." End of discussion.

I prayed, read and came across these 2 verses.  I am emotional and passionate about the things of God, His truth and in not causing any to be deceived, including myself. I was reminded that Jesus spoke the truth and this caused divisions in the world - sheep / goat; wheat / chaff.  Am I being too emotional? 

Luke 12:49-56

"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?"

Here's the answer I sent to her, which might encourage you as you "contend for the faith" (Jude 3)!

Hey Rebekah!

Yes, Jesus ate with sinners, but they were repentant ones! Otherwise, they wouldn't have approached Him. Sin hates being exposed (John 3:20), but a repentant sinner has no problem being in the light. On the common fight for life, I don't see such a problem aligning myself with unbelievers. But when it comes to biblical truth, how can I be aligned with a heretic and an apostate? False teachers were rampant in the Early Church, as they are in the Church today. How did Jesus and Paul deal with them? I'm reading The Jesus You Can't Ignore by John MacArthur (Thomas Nelson, 2009). He points out that Jesus was most opposed to the religious hypocrites of His day. Some misread this and make Jesus into someone against "legalistic" Bible teachers who advocate separation from the world and/or heresy. But Jesus was against those who, in the name of God, took people down the wide path to destruction. I'd compare them to liberal church leaders in the mainline Protestant denominations, to Emerging Church and Contemplative Spirituality leaders (e.g., Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Eugene Peterson, Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, Brennan Manning, etc.), to Prosperity Gospel leaders (Joel Olsteen, Benny Hinn, Paul & Jan Crouch, Creflo Dollar, Todd Bentley, etc.), to any leader who has moved away from orthodox Bible teaching (or is endorsing those who've moved away: Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, etc.), etc. These guys are wolves - albeit, "nice" wolves, in most cases - in sheep's clothing and are thus dangerous! They are leading so many away from solid, biblical truth! They are, frankly, leading millions to hell!

So, keep being "too emotional!" Then, let your "emotions" turn into a determined effort to expose error wherever it may be found in order to alert the Church in T&T! Lives - for all eternity - are at stake!

Go for it, Rebekah!

"Stick & Stir" Videos!

These could be the most important 14 minutes of your time that you've ever invested in something. Watch this video N-O-W!!!

The following video is possibly the most important video you will ever watch on YouTube! If you have always assumed you've been a Christian, is it possible that you've been mistaken? Paul counseled the Corinthian church to, in 2 Corinthians 13:5, "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?"

B-I-G CHANGES!

It sure has been a while, hasn't it? Sorry! Actually, my blog became the focus of a recent discussion between us and Campus Crusade for Christ's HR department. For that reason I decided to "lay low" for a while.

As the title says, we recently have gone through a major transition. To get right to the point, as of July 2 we are no longer missionaries with CCC! If you're shocked, imagine our shock after 29 years on staff (as of July 1, 2009), in my case, and 26 years, in Aïda's!

Now, you are probably curious as to what happened, so I will quote from an e-mail we sent out to several pastors and missions committee leaders of churches on our support team:

Dear Pastor _______,

After coming to the conclusion that differences in ministry emphases between us and Brazilian CCC were too serious to be ignored any longer, we started the process of transferring from this important nation to Jamaica - with the goal of leaving Brazil by the end of 2010. One ministry emphasis difference, for example, had to do with our style of ministry, which is that of "slugging it out in the trenches" on campus alongside our staff and students; the leadership here, however, wants all campus staff to take a more supervisory role that doesn't fit our personalities and strengths as well.

While we were deciding the best time to announce our transfer plans, unbeknownst to us the CCC leadership here had requested that CCC-U.S. terminate our ministry here in Brazil due to our ministry emphasis differences. Sometime while processing our mutual transfer requests - ours and that of CCC-Brazil - someone in the CCC Human Resources department in Orlando read my blog and concluded that we had incorporated something "incompatible" with CCC into our philosophy of evangelism: that of Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron's THE WAY OF THE MASTER (WOTM - www.wayofthemaster.com ). We didn't agree that WOTM is incompatible with CCC because, here in Brazil, we have seen a great need to make the issue of Law 2 of THE FOUR SPIRITUAL LAWS ("Man is sinful and separated from God...") as clear as possible. For example, most Spiritists (Brazil is the world's largest Spiritist nation.), not to mention students in general, do not believe that man is sinful. So, in an effort to make the gospel as clear as possible by clearly explaining man's sinfulness, we have used some of WOTM's material. We were told that in CCC the focus is on Law 1 ("God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.") and not on Law 2. That was news to us!

We've discovered that in the U.S. there have been some problems on some campuses between CCC students and some students who have adhered to the WOTM philosophy. So, in a way we can understand CCC's concerns; but Brazil is not the U.S.  In fact, most Christians here have never heard of WOTM and its emphasis on the use of God's Law in evangelism and biblical conversion via repentance and faith. But since we were trying to transfer to another country as U.S. staff, the American policy on WOTM became the main issue in our case.

As a result of all this, we were told that our philosophy of evangelism was incompatible with CCC's and that we were being "dismissed" due to "our disagreement" with CCC's philosophy of evangelism. We don't consider it so much a "disagreement," but a desire to make the issue clear. Oh well.

One other area that the Brazilian leadership team mentioned as problematic about us was that we were too concerned about the truth (of God's Word). They said that we were, as a result, being "legalistic." We believe that what was really behind their criticism was the fact that we pointed out some of the Emerging Church trends and authors adopted and promoted by some of the leadership here. Since we both got M.A.'s in Exegetical Theology (from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, OR), we'd like to think we have a little more discernment than the average CCC staff member regarding some of the heresies that go hand in hand with the Emerging Church. We found this trend among our leadership truly disturbing, but understandable in light of their church backgrounds and the little information available in Portuguese on the Emerging Church.

Now, being dismissed was obviously a hard pill to swallow at first. We've been serving with CCC since 1980 (in my case) and 1983 (in Aïda's case)!  You may be finding it a hard pill to swallow too.  But you know what? We are actually glad that this happened now! Why? Well, we feel freed up now to pursue God's call in some needed areas here in Brazil - but now as missionaries with another mission agency.

Because we see some really great needs in Brazil and because we have a heart for evangelism and discipleship, we believe that the Lord is not yet done with us in Brazil. We welcome your input on our situation and future, but we are seriously thinking about starting a ministry with another mission here in Brazil with the following emphases:

1) REACHING , EQUIPPING  and MOBILIZING students, professors and young professionals for the worldwide spiritual harvest;*

2) Training Christians in Bible study methods, theology, Christian worldview, apologetics and "Intentional Evangelism;** and

3) Teaching faithful men to do the same (i.e., spiritual leadership multiplication - 2 Tim. 2:2).

I (Bill) am planning a trip up to Houston at the end of July for the purpose of meeting with our ministry partners there to explain in person what we see as the next steps that God is directing us to take. I also hope to replace any lost support due to our transition at that time, as well as gather resources and form partnerships that will help us launch our new ministry once back in Brazil!

One more thing: Although we will be planning out our new ministry over the next several weeks and months, we don't want to give you the idea that we won't be doing evangelism, discipleship and training. On the contrary, we hope to do get something going at a local private university (where Campus Crusade has never ministered), while developing or translating the training curriculum that we will use to equip students, professors, professionals and churches in the areas mentioned above. Believe me, we'll have our hands full as we try to start something from scratch! Exciting times!

* REACHING: through what we call "Intentional Evangelism," which is flexible in style and methodology while remaining faithful to biblical content. Of course, "Intentional Evangelism" includes one of Bill's area of expertise: open air preaching; EQUIPPING: via one-on-one and small-group discipleship and training; MOBILIZING: through accountability to one's ministry goals, short and long-term missions, etc.

** Most Christians here have no idea what a Christian worldview is and do not have the basis to defend their faith; Systematic Theology and Bible study are really weak areas here.

Well, there you have it! This is where we're at now. It's kind of sad to see CCC's leadership reject WOTM, but in light of some of the problems that have been caused for CCC, it's actually understandable. When CCC had problems with zealous tongues speakers back in the 70's, it established a policy for its staff stating that one would have to suspend the public and private use of the gift while on staff. Although CCC never took a theological position on the issue of tongues, it took a practical position on it. In the same way, CCC seems to have clamped down on those staff into WOTM without taking a theological position against it. Hopefully the day will come when WOTM will not be seen as so controversial and will be assimilated into CCC's ministry philosophy. That would be my prayer, at least.

What is ironic in all of this is that all that Ray Comfort did was research into how evangelism was done pre-20th century, bringing back an emphasis on the use of the Law and on biblical conversion via repentance and faith. Although these emphases have been labeled WOTM by many, they actually were the emphases of the Church throughout history - until the political correctness of the 20th century Church.

The Essentiality of the Resurrection!

Yes, Jesus Christ arose! So many of us yawn at these words, but if we would only stop a few minutes to ponder their importance, we would become wide-eyed with interest! Yesterday I FINALLY got to use my "The Resurrection Theories" banner on a college campus here - Fluminense Federal University (UFF). I hung my banner from a tree branch about 30 meters from the student cafeteria exit. Immediately 5 guys walked over, and three stayed to read my banner - a kind of flow chart - while I covered each theory with a large Post It note (I wanted to create curiosity :). I then began to explain, removing the Post It notes one by one, the various theories surrounding the resurrection while using my banner as my outline.

I only had 45 minutes for my debut (due to my need to be at our weekly meeting on campus), but I was able to clearly explain to four students why the theory of the resurrection of Jesus offers the best explanation for the facts surrounding what actually happened on the third day after His death! Each went away not only with a greater appreciation for the biblical account, but also with a clearer understanding of why Jesus died in the first place and the significance of the resurrection: "...if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins" (1 Cor. 15:17). And last, but not least, each heard how they could apply the sacrifice of Christ to their lives via repentance and faith! One of the three original guys - an Engineering student - asked for my e-mail after, while the fourth student came over after the other three left when he heard me say, "Do you realize that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ proves how much you deserve hell?!"

This Philosophy student was heading across campus to class, but made it a point to come back and talk to me. He confided in me that he was raised in a Protestant home - which is somewhat unusual in this predominantly Catholic country - but had abandoned his upbringing because he didn't agree with Christianity's view of God and hell. After spending some time explaining the reasonableness of hell (i.e., just punishment for sin, which is the transgression of the Law) and the Bible's teaching on it (which comes mostly from, of all people, Jesus!), I told him that if he didn't repent of his sins and place his faith/trust in Jesus as his Lord and Savior before dying, he would justly experience that which he believes does not exist. I told him that it really doesn't matter whether we believe something or not; if something exists, our belief or unbelief in it makes no difference. "Your problem," I said, "is that you've created a god in your mind that does not exist. Your 'god' would never send a person to eternal punishment. And you're right! Your 'god' would never do that because he doesn't exist!" He admitted to me that Jesus was cool, so I pointed out that practically all of our understanding of hell comes from Jesus own words. In other words, so much for sweet little "namby-pamby" Jesus, right? He had to get to class, so I encouraged him to continue thinking about the things we talked about, gave him an evangelistic tract and recommended our evangelistic website, www.EveryStudent.com (in Portuguese: www.SuaEscolha.com).

This was the start of what I hope will become at least a 3-day-a-week effort to expound apologetic material open air on the campuses here in order to then clearly explain the students' need for the gospel, not to mention clearly explain the gospel itself!

However, doing this kind of open air "speaking" - at UFF at least - will mean needing to get closer to the students! Thirty meters away has a way of not drawing much attention. I discovered that it wasn't my banner that drew those initial three Engineering students; it was the fact that they were going with three other friends to the grassy area just behind where I had set up shop. So, I hunted around the Center of Niterói after our weekly meeting for a self-standing banner holder. I found one, bought it and tried it out in front of the main bus terminal. WOW! What a difference a visual aid makes! As I stood next to my banner speaking via my bullhorn, people started stopping to read, watch and listen! And when one or two people stop, generally a small crowd will gather. And when a small crowd gathers, a larger one usually will stop. That's what happened yesterday afternoon!

I "spoke" and preached for two hours, drawing crowds of up to 25 people at a time.  The wind made things a little difficult at times, but I estimate that 75 people stopped to listen to all or part of what I had to say. Hundreds more "got an earful" as they passed! Now we'll see what the impact will be on the campuses as I try my new "toys" (i.e., my banner and holder) out on the campuses of Rio de Janeiro after next week. Why after next week? Because, due to two holidays, most universities will only be holding classes next Wednesday. This month we're having several holidays on either Tuesdays or Thursdays, which generally means no classes also on Mondays and Fridays! It's kind of crazy, but that's how things work here. It's nice when we want to have a ministry retreat, however! And it gives us as a family the opportunity to "get away" for a long weekend once in a while.