Lessons from Bethlehem

Inspirational

By Beth Brannan
December 20, 2019

The cherished story of Christmas has more to offer than just yearly reminders of God’s love and the details of Jesus’ birth. As we wrap up our mini-series on Bible characters from the Christmas story, we reflect on the many lessons we, as believers, can apply to our personal walks of faith. 

The first people touched by His incarnation also stand as enduring examples of how we should react and engage with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—not just at our first amazed and wondering encounter, but throughout our Christian walk. What can Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wisemen teach us?

Surrender and Rejoice—Surrendering is an act of will and agreement—a deliberate acknowledgment of another’s power and right to direct your life and an agreement to follow. Mary not only surrendered to God’s Will, but also celebrated and magnified Him. She lived in a culture with severe consequences for unwed mothers, yet she expressed no hesitation or reservation, which brings us to another big point about Christian surrender: It requires trust. How trusting are we? Do we rest confidently knowing that God has everything under control? Do we run the other way, or comply half-heartedly? Like Mary, let’s praise and thank Him for His call on our lives and for the gift of His Son.

Trust and Obey—Think of the surprises Joseph faced. First, he learned his betrothed was with child, and he was considering a quiet divorce. Then, he learned through divine revelation in a dream that she was carrying the Son of God, and he was to be the babe’s earthly father. What was his response? Did he whine, complain, or question? No. Joseph displayed instant obedience when he woke the next day. When something happens, does our response leave room for the will of God to be revealed? Do we carefully and calmly consider what to do before taking action? How quickly are we obedient once we clearly know the will of God?

Seek and Find—The shepherds’ response that holy night is typical of how most people react. First, they experienced fear, then they discussed things, and finally, they hurried to check it out for themselves. They had been given a specific sign to look for, after all. But note in their recorded response that they didn’t question the validity of Jesus’ birth. They talked about the need to see for themselves “this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us,” and as Scripture records, they found Jesus exactly as described. (Luke 2:15-16). So, what about us? How quickly do we respond to the signs He provides in our lives? Do we get stuck in “discussing” the journey ahead, or do we have faith, make haste, and go?

Watch and Worship—The Christian life is a journey that includes watching, worshiping, and also working. Like the wisemen, we must actively seek Jesus. We must worship Him and give Him our best. And like wisemen, we also need to take action. They traveled from the east. They followed the star. They worshipped the King. And they responded to a warning in a dream. Remember, they were warned in a dream that King Herod wanted to kill Jesus. So, they left town another way to prevent Herod from learning from them where Jesus was located. What can we do each day to watch and worship? How far are we willing to go to serve? What can we do to defeat the evil of this world and help others to find Jesus?

The Lord gave us His greatest treasure when He sent His Son, the Word incarnate, to redeem us all. Jesus came humbly, in the form of a baby, and asked only of us to receive Him. This is simple yet so counter-cultural; it goes against our nature as humans. Instead of human beings, we seek to perform as human “doings.” We want to prove ourselves to God, and we’ll do anything to glorify us.

That’s not at all why Jesus came. He came to save us from ourselves—from this toxic, self-detrimental ideology that we alone can do all things. All Jesus wants from us is a response, which happens over and over and over again in the story of His birth. Mary surrenders. Joseph trusts. Shepherds find. Wisemen worship. Every aspect of this story is in response to the presence of Jesus. He is the all powerful, all capable one.

“Mary surrenders. Joseph trusts. Shepherds find. Wisemen worship. Every aspect of this story is in response to the presence of Jesus. He is the all powerful, all capable one.”

This Christmas, and every day, remember the King of kings came to save you from work, so you could commit yourself to love—His love. This is the truth of the Gospel. 

“Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift” —2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV)

Merry Christmas to all! Christ has come!

Jesus, The Savior

Inspirational

By Daniel P. Kinkade
December 19, 2019

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” —Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

Theologians estimate there were about four hundred years of “silence” from the Old Testament to the New Testament known as the Intertestamental Period. During this time, God was still active in His redemption plan and drawing His people to Himself. The Roman empire was on the rise, King Herod and his family began to rule, and Pharisees and Sadducees started to take their place in the religious system of the day. All the while, for hundreds of years, people were awaiting the coming Messiah.

Then, He came. In a humble stable in the city of Bethlehem, a baby was born in a feeding trough to the virgin Mary and his earthly father, Joseph, just as Scripture foretold. The prophet Isaiah said His name would be called, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” These four short, powerful statements encompass for us a depiction of Jesus, the Savior, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). 

As Wonderful Counselor, Jesus’ wisdom is far beyond human understanding. He leads and guides us into the way of eternal truth, which is a truth that can never be shaken nor compromised. The term Mighty God reminds us no other person will ever compare to Him, and we can rest in His supreme authority and power. Everlasting Father signifies Jesus is King and the caring protector of His people. Finally, Prince of Peace teaches us Jesus provides ultimate peace and that in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17).

“The Christmas story reminds us that Jesus came to dwell among His people, and He came to accomplish what we could never do for ourselves—save us from our sins.”

The most important question one must wrestle with is this: Who is Jesus to you? Scripture teaches in Romans 10:9 (ESV), “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Have you made this decision? If not, what is holding you back from making Him Lord of your life? The Christmas story reminds us that Jesus came to dwell among His people, and He came to accomplish what we could never do for ourselves—save us from our sins.

For more information about the Gospel and accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, please click HERE.

The Wisemen Worshipped

Inspirational



By Lena Hooker
December 17, 2019

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.” —Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV)

How often are you brought to your knees in the face of God’s glory? How often are you rendered speechless by the faithfulness of our Father in your life? If we’re honest with ourselves, there are times we don’t quite grasp the magnitude of God’s love for us, and as a result, we don’t respond accordingly. We fall into mundane habits and monotonous routines, and we neglect the need to give God the honor and praise He deserves. As we continue through the characters of the Christmas story, we come to the wisemen who sought out the Savior.

The wisemen enter into the narrative without summons. They came from the east in search of the one true King, all because they witnessed His great light. Without hesitancy, these men abandoned their lives and homes in pursuit of the Lord; they knew earthly possessions mattered little when compared to the eternal gift of Jesus. The wisemen were pure of heart and faithful to the Lord, which is why they could seek and find His star guiding them to Bethlehem. They were “wise” because they chose to pursue the will of God and not the will of King Herod of Judea. While Herod sought to destroy life, God seeks to restore it. The wisemen held fast to their commitment to the Lord, rejoicing in His abundance of joy, love, and life. They worshipped Jesus at great cost to their own lives because they knew He was worthy.

The wisemen stopped at nothing until they found Jesus. Even then, they bypassed Mary to reach her son. In seeking His face, they found everything. They displayed raw and pure worship that was led by the power of the Holy Spirit. No one told them how to praise the Lord’s name when they met the Messiah; their praise was a natural response to His goodness. The men had little to offer the King of Kings, yet they showered Him with the best they had. They were forever changed after meeting Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah. This is why they returned home by another direction. The way of Jesus called them to truth, justice, and life—a path in contrast to the way of man.

While we are years removed from this event, the truth of Jesus’ birth and His presence in our lives remains. Just as we have seen obedience in Joseph and surrender in Mary, we find guidance to true, unrestricted worship in the wisemen. Our Father is worthy of and longs for our greatest cries and praise of His great name. Like the wisemen, we should let no man, path, or thing on Earth keep us from seeking the face of God to rejoice in His life, death, and resurrection. 

“The wisemen held fast to their commitment to the Lord, rejoicing in His abundance of joy, love, and life.”

When Shepherds Step Out in Faith

Inspirational


By Kevin Mcintosh
December 16, 2019

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.” —Luke 2:8-16 (ESV)

Think of something that would make you fearful. Maybe it’s something as frightening as a roller coaster or as simple as being late for work. We might be fearful of people knowing our darkest sins or having pain enter our lives. Mostly, we are fearful of the things we cannot control, and because we are not omnipotent, we become afraid.

On the evening of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds were tending to their job, watching their flocks. The night suddenly took an unexpected turn when an angel of the Lord appeared. The shepherds were uncertain of what this could mean, thus they worried. But the angel had a mighty revelation: The Messiah had been born in nearby Bethlehem.

Their initial response was fear. So, what changed? The angel reveals the gift of the Savior Jesus to the shepherds, and they were awestruck. This time, they responded with deep affection and reverence instead of fear. The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem in search of the Savior. Sure enough, they found the holy manger scene, exactly as described by the angel.

Sometimes God’s plans interrupt our own. That’s often how it works, isn’t it? Just as with the shepherds, you may find yourself presented with an unexpected opportunity to step into what God is doing. Will you step into that moment with faith, even if it means putting aside both your fear and your present plans?

The shepherds experienced the most significant evening of their lives, thanks to their openness to step out in faith, rather than sticking tightly to their agenda of watching the sheep. The Lord wrote them specifically into the story of His Son, but it was their choice whether or not they would take part in it. Be open to getting involved in what God is doing around you, even if it means abandoning your own plans. His plans are always better.

“Just as with the shepherds, you may find yourself presented with an unexpected opportunity to step into what God is doing.”

The Surrender of Mary

Inspirational

By Daniel P. Kinkade
December 13, 2019

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.’” —Luke 1:46-50 (ESV)

When used as a verb, the word “surrender” means to submit to a figure of authority. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10 ESV) For the believer, this is the essence of surrender – to give ourselves wholly and fully to the will of our Father.  

In the Christmas story, Mary displays a heart of surrender. She was but a teenage girl, engaged to someone who was in many ways still a stranger, and she was told she would give birth to the Savior of the world. Would her fiancé, family, and community understand? Would she be able to protect and provide for her son? What would become of them? There was no way for Mary to know for sure, but it didn’t seem to matter. “My soul magnifies the Lord,” she said, “and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.” (Luke 1:46-48a ESV)

Mary committed herself joyfully to the mission. Likewise, when we fully and wholly submit ourselves to the Lord as believers, we are challenged to take our focus off what many would argue are the most important things in life and refocus ourselves on the only thing that is – the will of God. Our lives, then, become so much more than going through the motions of what is easy, comfortable, and tangible. We lose interest in maintaining the approval of others, gaining material possessions, or chasing worldly desires. Instead, we become equipped to achieve what is difficult, rewardingly uncomfortable, and intangible. 

How submitted to the Father are you? How willing are you to live like Mary? Scripture doesn’t promise us that the Christian journey will be without challenges or hardships, but Scripture does promise us the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) May we all surrender to His plan and His will, so we may also say, “For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1:49 ESV)

“How submitted to the Father are you? How willing are you to live like Mary?”

The Obedience of Joseph

Inspirational

By Daniel P. Kinkade
December 10, 2019

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” —Matthew 1:18–25 (ESV)

Obedience is hard. The very nature of compliance causes one to have to listen and humbly respond to the leadership and direction of another. As humans, we tend to want to solve our problems on our own, often without admitting that we need help or guidance. Yet, God calls us, as believers, to follow his plan for our lives. 

In the passage above, Joseph found himself in a unique situation. Like many of us, he initially tried to discern the right response to the news that his fiancé conceived a child that was not his own. His decision to grant Mary a quiet divorce that would shield her from public judgement displayed a tremendous amount of grace and compassion. In many ways, it seems his choice was the right one for both of them. But then, something miraculous happened. Through a messenger, God showed Joseph the bigger picture of how He was at work. The long-awaited Messiah was about to step into our world and change it for all eternity.  

Imagine the magnitude of being told your wife was carrying the Son of God. In an instant, Joseph’s life was steered in a new direction, and the path ahead of him was filled with uncertainty. Inside that uncertainty, there probably existed a good deal of fear and anxiety. But the angel of the Lord told Joseph to trust in Him. That’s the thing about obedience – it isn’t always asked of us when things are easy. The Lord often asks for our obedience in times of ambiguity or difficulty. We have to trust that the Lord will equip us, empower us, and encourage us in the same way He did Joseph when he made the decision to follow the Lord’s calling on his life.

May we be like Joseph when unexpected situations arise in our lives. For when we humbly obey the Father, He can do incredible things in and through us.

“That’s the thing about obedience — it isn’t always asked of us when things are easy.”

CALLING NEW SHOTS

TESTIMONY

By Daniel P. Kinkade
december 6, 2019

As a child, Casey Diaz was introduced to a world of violence and gang activity. He continued to spiral downhill as an adult, and discovered himself alone in a jail cell with a Testament given to him by a chaplain. What happened next can only be contributed to the grace of God and the power of His Gospel.

From Darkness to light

Testimony



By Kim Wiley
November 15, 2019

Romans 10:17 (ESV) states, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Bonnie Barnett walked through the church doors every Sunday, sat next to her father, listened to the sermon, and walked out unchanged. “I walked out unchanged because the Bible was never presented, and the Gospel was never proclaimed,” recalls Bonnie. However, God used His Word to radically move her from darkness to light in a way she never expected.

The cry of the heart

Bonnie grew up in a wonderful home in upstate New York. She was born into a typical American family. They loved each other, worked hard, and went to church every Sunday. But something was missing—the Word of God. As Isaiah 53:6a (ESV) teaches, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way…” Bonnie was no different. As a young girl, she became heavily involved in the occult. Ironically, it was during this time she realized the reality of the powers of darkness. Tarot cards and séances drove her to desperately seek God’s protection, but she didn’t know how to find Him. Thankfully, God heard the silent cry of her heart.

“I walked out unchanged because the Bible was never presented, and the Gospel was never proclaimed.”

On the outside, Bonnie was a star student, athlete, and leader; but inside, her heart held stubbornness, fear, and pride. When she was 16, she was awarded a scholarship to spend a year in Denmark. As she boarded the airplane in New York, another girl her same age was boarding an airplane in Delaware. Linda had earned the same opportunity Bonnie had and, by God’s great mercy, they were assigned roommates. The first day Bonnie met Linda, she told Bonnie, “You must be born again.” Bonnie watched Linda read her Bible every day and heard her pray and sing songs of praise to her Savior. Linda radiated peace and joy—something Bonnie had never felt.

a life broken

 

For another five years, Bonnie struggled with understanding the true meaning of life. She looked for that elusive joy and peace anywhere she could. Relationships, substances, and various faiths and beliefs all left her feeling as broken and empty as she had always been. All the while, Linda’s words echoed within her: Jesus is the Son of God, and you must be born again.

Disillusioned by her fruitless searching, she dropped out of college and moved back home. Not long after, she had a terrible fight with her father that led her to leave and try living on her own. She packed all of her belongings into her 1969 Dodge Dart and drove away.

At 21 years old, Bonnie was hopeless and homeless. Eventually, she managed to collect a few small jobs and afford an even smaller room for rent. She started drinking heavily and steadily allowed her life to continue its decline. However, God had not forgotten Bonnie. 

Even as she made a mess of her life, God sent others like Linda as messengers of truth. One by one, they watered the seed God had planted in my heart at age 16. On a cold January night in 1978, a blizzard raged, and she hit rock bottom. Utterly rejected and deserted by everyone she had ever loved, she didn’t want to continue living. After all, she tried everything life could offer and was miserably unsatisfied. “That night, I finally cried out to God and begged him for the truth. If Jesus Christ was really the only way to God, He had to show me,” said Bonnie.

A LIFE transformed

When Bonnie drove away from her father’s house in that Dodge Dart, she packed everything she owned—including a small, green Testament. Six years earlier, a faithful Gideon stood on the campus of Binghamton University in New York and handed her older brother that Testament. God used the Gideon to place His Word into her home, then into the trunk of her car, then into her hands on a cold January night.

Alone in that blizzard, Bonnie opened the Testament to the book of Matthew. “For the first time in my life, I understood what I read,” Bonnie remembers. After finishing the Gospel of Matthew, she read through the Gospels of Mark, Luke, and John. The winter storm blew outside her window all night long, but her heart was at peace. She read that God loved her even while she was a sinner. She read that Jesus had paid the price for her sins and offered her forgiveness and eternal life in Him. As tears streamed down her face, she fell to her knees and accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior. Her chains fell off, and she was set free from darkness. The burden she had carried for years disappeared. She had a new life—a life of grace that was greater than all her sin.

What Matters the Most

inspirational


By Daniel P. Kinkade
November 1, 2019

Every Christ follower is called to regularly share their faith—few actually do. According to Barna Research, among practicing Christians, more than half (56%) report having two or fewer conversations about faith with a non-Christian during the past year. How can this be? 

The reason more than half of Christians do not regularly share their faith varies. Some people fear being asked questions about their faith they may not be able to answer, while others struggle to articulate their own faith journey or fear being rejected.

No matter the reasons, God has called all believers to proclaim the Good News. Yet often, in the busyness of life, many Christians tend to focus on accomplishing a to-do list instead of living life on mission for Christ. Consider the following story of Tim: 

The alarm sounds at 5:30 a.m. to wake Tim. He sips his morning coffee and silently prays for his wife and children before leaving for work. Tim is the senior vice president at a local bank, whose customers have grown to love his infectious personality. He answers emails, returns calls, and works with customers on the best solutions to their financial needs—a routine that has been a part of Tim’s life for the past decade. He leaves work a little early to prepare for his son’s little league baseball practice—trading in his suit and tie for his athletic shorts and coach’s notepad. Before you know it, Saturday is here, and it’s another early morning wake-up call as he heads to his Gideon prayer meeting, then once again joins his son’s team for their afternoon game. The Sunday morning rain creates a damp ride to church with his family where he serves on the finance committee and as a deacon. Phone calls, emails, practices, meetings, and church—all these things shape Tim’s routine.

A question rings in his mind as loud as a local train coming through town: What drives me to do the things I do? 

After asking himself the question, Tim is quickly reminded of a more strategic approach to his daily life. At Tim’s core, he is on a mission to fulfill a calling to win people to Jesus Christ. A calling that has been on his life since accepting Jesus Christ as His personal Lord and Savior as a young boy.

Moving from Checklist to calling

The activities of life can quickly become viewed as a checklist. A checklist mindset, even if unintentional, is driven by the phrase “I have to do these things.” It is easy to slip into this frame of mind to fulfill the ever-growing roles one has in life. Moving from a checklist mindset to a calling mindset involves processing why you do the things you do.

When your burden to reach the lost deepens, your passion for reaching the lost will become greater.

Tim loves his family and joyfully provides for them. He coaches his son’s team not only to create lasting memories but also because Tim sees it as a mission field. He is a Gideon because he knows God has called him to this Association—to strive side by side with other Christian business and professional men for the faith of the Gospel.

When Tim lives out his calling to its full potential, something beautiful starts to happen. The way he sees people changes. He has a deep appreciation for the words found in Matthew 9:36 (ESV), “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Tim has a passion for the people God has strategically placed in his life. This drives Tim to have conversations—not just ordinary conversations, but Gospel conversations.

As a Gideon committed to the spiritual discipline of being a man who witnesses, Tim makes it a priority to witness. He observes the people he knows well and the seemingly random people who come across his path. Why? Because he cares enough about the people God has placed in his life to talk about what eternity looks like for them. Eternity is forever, and at the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is a person’s relationship with God.

are you tim?

Does Tim’s story resonate with you? Sure, the particulars may be different, but the core is the same. People like Tim have huge hearts, but easily slip into a checklist mentality as the busyness of life captures their attention. In this mentality, calling is often lost. Moving from a checklist mindset to a calling mindset leads us to have compassion for people. Compassion for people then drives us to have conversations about eternity. Do you care enough about the people God has placed in your life to discuss their eternity? What really matters the most? 

This is what sharing your faith is all about—strategically engaging in Gospel conversations with people God has placed in your life. Rather than a task to complete, personal witnessing is a calling and purpose to fulfill. When your burden to reach the lost deepens, your passion for reaching the lost will become greater.

Do you care enough about the people God has placed in your life to discuss their eternity?

How do you prepare to share your faith? It starts by evaluating what drives you to do the things you do, then reprioritizing your life to accomplish what matters the most. Pray for a burden to see the lost come to Christ, especially in your sphere of influence. A strategy driven by a passion for living out the Great Commission will result in seeing more opportunities to introduce people to Jesus Christ.

Students, the Gospel, and a Mission Field

Guest Contributor



By Carl Blunt
October 18, 2019

One of the most significant mission fields in the life of students is their school campus. Students will spend approximately 180 days and 1,000 hours a year in school. They develop close friendships and experience rapid intellectual, emotional, and social growth. They establish an identity primarily influenced by the world around them at school.

For this very reason, students are uniquely positioned to become a strategic force in this unreached mission field by giving the gift of the Gospel to their classmates and peers.

Closed Doors

Over the last few decades, doors to hand out the Gospel in public schools have closed at an alarming rate. School security measures, actions from anti-religious organizations, issues raised by non-Christian parents, and other factors have increasingly limited accessibility on campus and even in areas surrounding the campus. Local churches and ministries have worked hard to influence students’ lives with the Gospel and give them the needed resources and tools to share their faith with their friends. Likewise, The Gideons International continues to seek innovative ways to get the precious gift of the Gospel into the hands and hearts of today’s youth.

God’s Open Door

In 2007, the Association began to seek God for potential solutions. What if there was a ministry serving side by side with local churches to mobilize their students to reach their peers with the gift of the Gospel?

By the fall of 2009, The Life Book was born—a unique strategy to help churches mobilize their students as missionaries. During the first test run in late 2009, students gave out 20,000 Life Books to their classmates. Lessons were learned, systems were streamlined, and by early 2010, thelifebook.com website was open for churches across the country to request Life Books.

With every Life Book that hits the hands of a student, God’s promise in Isaiah 55:11 holds true. Student missionaries get to see the power of God at work as He uses His Word to accomplish His purpose.

“We are excited to engage our students in evangelism through these Life Books. I was informed our county does not allow Gideons into our schools, and I felt inclined to mobilize our students for Christ!”
—Melissa H., Volunteer Youth Leader, Alabama

God’s Hand at work

During the first year after launching, word quickly spread. God was moving powerfully in the hearts of more pastors and youth leaders who wanted their students to be involved in this simple approach to sharing their faith. Serving churches was at the heart of The Life Book strategy. Rather than asking churches to join our mission, the focus was on helping churches accomplish their mission by using The Life Book. The results were extraordinary as God created a national movement with yearly distribution numbers quickly reaching into the millions. 

Since the mission began, more than 3 million student missionaries have been involved in distributing over 41 million Life Books. Never before in the history of the United States has there been a more expansive movement among students to give the gift of the Gospel to their peers. 

According to pastors and youth leaders, the impact on the students giving the Gospel has been transformative. Because students are simply asked to “give the gift of the Gospel,” even the shyest students have the opportunity to dip their toes in the waters of witnessing. For many students over the last decade, handing out The Life Book has been their first experience in sharing the Gospel.

“It was exciting to see our young people come back the next week and want more Life Books to hand out.”
—Rev. Ron Carter, Pastor, Nevada

Praying for Transformation

By God’s grace, approximately 5 million Life Books are distributed through churches and their students every year. One of the most impactful events for The Life Book is See You at the Pole. Held annually in September, churches request over 2 million Life Books every year for their students to hand out around the event.

In 2017, a new Life Book was developed using the Gospel of Mark. When a limited run of 1 million copies was offered to churches in January of 2018, all 1 million were requested within a week. God continues to be at work, compelling churches and youth leaders to mobilize their students.

“The book saved me at the hardest time in my life. I was failing and skipping school, drinking, and doing drugs. I had almost died and a friend of mine gave me the book, and it changed my life.”
–Jennifer D., Student, New York

As God’s Word moves from one student to another, we’re praying for revival and awakening in this generation. May God work powerfully through His Word, just as He promised. As God raises up student missionaries with the courage to give the gift of the Gospel, we’re praying that He will empower and anoint them to lead a new generation of God-glorifying, Christ-honoring, Spirit-led saints. 

Please join us in prayer as the battle rages for the souls of future generations.