3 Inspiring Stories from Iowa

These stories are published by the Family Leader Foundation based in Des Moines, Iowa. Greg Baker leads the Church segement of the Family Leader. Thanks to Greg Baker for publishing these events which show God as Chief Reconciler.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5.

1. Governor Reynolds and Mayor Cownie Join Prayer Vigil at Des Moines Police Department

Last night, we were blessed to help host a prayer event with Al Perez, Des Moines Metro pastors, and governing leaders just outside the Des Moines Police Department. Governor Kim Reynolds, Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, Chief Wingert and DMPD officers, and over 100 African-American, African, Hispanic, Asian, and white pastors from all across the Des Moines Metro joined together to pray for peace, justice, unity, and righteousness for our schools, city, state, and nation. 

 praying for governor praying for officers2
Pastors praying for
Governor Reynolds
Pastors praying for 
Des Moines Police Officers

2. God Answers Two Police Officers Prayers Through Two Hispanic Pastors

On Sunday night, an African-American Des Moines police officer and a white police officer prayed that the demonstration outside the Des Moines Police Department would remain peaceful. An hour later, right as time reached curfew, Pastors Ian Rojas and David Sixtos, who are part of the Church Ambassador Network, were able to negotiate an agreement between police and demonstrators. Both sides agreed to kneel for two minutes to honor George Floyd and others who have fallen to injustices. Following the kneeling, demonstrators left just a few minutes past curfew.  

 police protestors kneel
 Des Moines police officers kneel with protestors 

3. Officers Kneel with Protestors and Pray Lord’s Prayer Together in Fort Dodge

Check out this video of Fort Dodge police kneeling with demonstrators and reciting the Lord’s Prayer together (link is to a Facebook video, you may need to log in to Facebook to view): 

Fort Dodge protest prayer

These past few days continue to illustrate the consequences of sin from not only this generation but many generations before us. A member of our team shared how these very racial issues we are facing today are largely the same issues he faced growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. They were not new then either. Since the beginning of time the enemy has used what the Bible calls factions and divisions against us. These factions ultimately keep prideful attention on ourselves, and off of our Creator. These very factions become the root of some of our deepest sins in history, American slavery, the Jewish holocaust, and the genocide in Rwanda as examples. 

What an incredible God we serve! As we learned during the initial days of COVID 19, God has and will continue to use His Church. It is an honor to partner with you!
Greg

— 
Greg Baker
Executive Vice President,  The Family Leader Foundation 
Director, Church Ambassador Network

The Day I Cried

Our daughter Sarah Kirsten put together this short video about one of the dramatic events in the lives of the Anderson family. I think you will enjoy it and resonate with the hope it brings. God bless you.

You are Such a Good Listener

You are such a good listener

My daughter surprised me last week. “You are such a god listener!” she exclaimed.” Yes, a surprise. If she had said, “You never listen,” I may not have been so surprised.

Her accolade, of course, made me happy and want to become a better listener. I was all ears.

Our daughter continued, “People are troubled these days. They need someone to talk to.” Our daughter is sensitive and aware of people and their feelings. She suggested I give a “gift of presence” to people in the community by announcing that I will be available to listen to anyone who comes to the church sanctuary or calls during certain hours. (From my perspective, I’m already available. But then, not everybody knows this.)

So I kept listening. Our daughter explained her rational to me and to her brother Ethan, who serves as associate pastor in our church:

“I think this addresses a) that you’re offering a listening ear, which I think is what will most speak to people, and b) that you’re not offering answers, just your presence. These two things, presence and listening, are two of the most humanity-restoring things we can offer, and what you both are so good at giving to me.”

Here’s the blurb she wrote as we announced this to the world:

We’re here to listen, if you’d like to talk. In these uncertain times, we’re all under a tremendous amount of stress. You’re handling it very well! We’d like to come alongside you and listen to what’s on your heart. We don’t have all the answers, but we can offer a listening ear, and just be there with you for a moment in your day.

If you’d like to talk with Pastor Mark, he’ll be standing by his phone on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the month of May. Here’s his number: 563-554-1401.

Do you think anyone would call?

Yes! A fellow named L called and talked almost 40 minutes, He asked for prayer for someone close to him and even sent a picture.

Later, I got to thinking, “Am I a good listener?”

I remembered a Pastor S who came earlier into my office and poured out his heart for nearly an hour.

I remembered R who sometimes calls or comes two or more times a week. He says he doesn’t have anyone else to talk to.

I thought of a woman with severe cancer who needs to talk and ask questions. She wants me to be her “cancer coach.”

Why Listen?

One time, years ago, I was planning to resign. An elder, Tom said, “Not now!” I’m so glad I listened.

Joab, an Israeli military general in the Bible, won an important battle because he listened to a wise woman (2 Samuel 20:17f).

Love listens. When we love people, we listen to them.

Many people are lonely and feel isolated. Nearly everyone wants someone to listen to them with empathy.

Part of the ordination ritual for priests in the Old Testament included sprinkling blood on the ear. It was called a “filling” or consecration and equipped the priest for service (Leviticus 8:22f). If we want to serve people, we need to hear them.

God has given us two ears and one mouth. This ought to be a clue about God’s will for our lives!

Two Caveats for Great Listeners

One, our chief concern is that folks learn to pour out their hearts into the “ears” of the Almighty. He’s the One Who cares the most. He’s the One Who gives results.

We always want to direct people to God. Yet, sometimes people just need to talk with someone with flesh and blood.

Second, a good listener need not listen to gossip and evil. Sometimes we need to cut people off or redirect a conversation.

Who is the Best Listener?

No doubt–God Himself! Give ear to my prayer, O God; And do not hide Yourself from my supplication (Psalm 55:1). The book of Psalms could be summarised as one great plea for God to listen.

So again, we want to direct people to God, to pour out their hearts to Him. And if we love people, we will listen to them.

Are you a good listener?

Darwin’s Road to Salvation Testimony

Heaven opened for Darwin as he drove to Muscatine, Iowa for the first time in 2000. Now, in 2020, he retells how Jesus organized a series of events that led to his salvation.

All Authority is from God

When I served as an intern at a Lutheran Church in Le Center, Minnesota, I did not get along well with the pastor. He looked askance at me for starting a jail ministry. Most of the people, however, liked me. One even compared me to Billy Graham!

Toward the end of my term in Le Center I started a community-wide youth group—without telling the pastor. We called it “Inter-team” and met around a campfire at night. It was exciting! When summer arrived, I left Le Center and went back to Luther Seminary.

But God started convicting me. The problems I created with the pastor were at least partially my fault. I was rebellious, doing the “right thing” with the wrong attitude. As hard as it was, I had to call Pastor Bill, confess my fault, and ask his forgiveness. He graciously forgave.

Immediately, God increased my ministry. Folks from another church called that same week, asking for advice. I was able to give wise counsel.

Because I had worked out my relationship with an authority figure, I became able to solve many church problems.

In the days of coronavirus-19, many are considering the role of civil government in society. Are the various lockdowns violating the constitution? Should churches follow state guidelines?

This article purposes to help us think biblically about authority.  Where does authority come from? What are the realms of authority that God has established? How does one realm of authority relate to another? How do church and state relate to each other?

Confusion exists unless we understand some basic foundational truths.

Foundational Truth Number One: All Authority Comes from God

All authority comes from the Creator. Christians with a biblical worldview can agree on this.

For by Him [Christ Jesus] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created through Him and for Him (Col 1:16 NASB).

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me [Jesus] (Mat 28:18).

Foundational Truth Number 2: God Has Established 4 Realms of Authority—Family, Church, State, Business

Family—Gen 2-3; My son, observe the commandment of your father, And do not forsake the teaching of your mother (Prov 6:20).

Church–Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you (Heb 13:17).

Business–Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord (Col 3:22 ASV)

State–Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right (1 Pet 2:13,14).

Foundational Truth Number 3: God Has Delegated Some of His Authority to Each of These Realms

These spheres are complementary, not hierarchical. In other words, one is not “over” another. Neither is the list in order of importance. Each is significant in itself.

Ideally, each realm should support and strengthen the others for the purpose of peace in society (1 Tim 2:1ff).

Foundational Truth Number Four: When One Realm Usurps Power Over Another, the Others are Mandated to Rise Up and Restore God’s Intended Balance

Here are a couple of examples from the Bible.

  1. When the Senate (the ruling council among Jews at the time) over extended their authority and said, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name; Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.” But Peter and the other apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’
  2. But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live (Ex 1:17). Then God backed up the midwives and honored them by giving them families of their own (Ex 1:21).

Foundational Truth Number Five: God Honors His Realms of Authority

This principle is succinctly stated in Psalm 75:7 But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another.

When Realms of Authorities that God has established disagree, what do we do?

First, we need to check our attitude. During my life, I’ve had many conflicts with authority in family, church, business, and civil government. Often, I have had to realize my own attitude was wrong. I’ve had to repent. And sometimes apologize. (Fortunately, I’m not as bad as I once was!)

Foundational Truth Number Six: God Uses Conflicts with Authority to Purify Us

God has ordained these types of conflicts to humble us and cause us to seek Him. God uses conflicts with authority to transform us. As we submit our attitude to Him, we find grace to become more Christ-like.

So What Do We Do?

Let me suggest a sequence. Prayer, check attitude, Holy Spirit guidance, Godly appeal, and perhaps–pay the consequences.

Sometimes prayer and a changed attitude will resolve a conflict. If that doesn’t work, perhaps God will lead us to make an appeal to an authority figure or group. (How to make a God-pleasing appeal is vitally important; however, that is a topic for another time.)

When authority groups engage in conflict, the Holy Spirit is our guide. God has promised the Spirit will guide us into all truth.

Ultimately, however, we may have to suffer the consequences. Think of Jeremiah in the cistern or David fleeing from King Saul. Some of the greatest heroes of the faith are honored today because of their faith and courage to take a stand for God.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Who Are the Greatest Heroes?

Let’s give credit where credit is due. Great heroes abound in his time of crisis. Nursing home workers, nurses, policemen, firemen, first responders, doctors, lab workers, clergymen, and many others deserve recognition. All of these are sacrificing and laying their lives on the line to save others.

All of these are receiving well deserved accolades for saving lives. In addition, there are men, women and young people saving lives for all eternity. Let’s recognize them. Those who save lives during the current crisis deserve great credit. And those who save lives for all eternity join a cadre of unsung heroes that deserves even greater honor.

This website exists to recognize and encourage soul-winners. They are the greatest heroes.

Angie Fredrickson is a real heroine. She sent this reply in the comment box of this website a while back, months before the quarantine. Here is Angie’s story.

I led someone to Chris

We were on a flight from PDX [Portland International Airport] to Santa Barbara. It was my husband, me and another lady sitting together.

I struck up a conversation with the lady, asking the Lord [at the same time] if I should share with her. He gave me the go-ahead.

The problem was we were landing, so I had to be precise. As we sat on the landing strip, stopped and not moving, I prayed with her as she received the Lord.

Then the plane went into the place of disembarkation. I asked my husband if the pilot told us why we were sitting on the landing strip. Even though my husband was in prayer as I shared, he said neither the pilot nor flight attendant said anything.

As we went into this very small airport terminal our son-in-law asked “Why were you sitting out there on the strip so long?” I told him it was so I could lead this nice lady to the Lord!”

Photo of “greatest hero Superman” by King Lip on Unsplash

What Do You Say to People that Believe All Apostles and Prophets Died with Peter and Paul?

Steve Fatow explains the difference between the apostles of Christ and the apostles of the Lamb.

What Are You Doing for Fun During the Lockdown?

Me? I’ll show you.

Just so you know, our family is taking the lockdown seriously. We were all quarantined for 14 days early on, and thankfully that time is over now.

I spent extra time in prayer. Phone calls to many of our church members were meaningful. Planning online meetings took a lot of time because I needed to ramp up my tech skills. Still working on that one.

But what did we do just for fun?

What Are You Doing for Fun During the Lockdown?
What Are You Doing for Fun During the Lockdown?

We made maple syrup. I say “we,” and that means “Kari.” Ok, I helped a bit. I carried the wood and built an impromptu fireplace. But mostly I ate the luscious syrup on pancakes. Kari did all the rest.

If you look carefully in this photo you will notice two white spots in the background. Each is a milk jug attached to a maple tree. The trees have a spout inserted. Then a tube drains the sap into the jug.

It takes hours to boil down the maple sap to syrup. For every 40 cups of sap, only 1 cup of syrup is produced.

I had to struggle to get this fire to blaze hot and steady. In the picture above, it’s just getting started.

It was fun and it was worth the effort.

I’m tempted to invite you over for some pancakes laden with butter and maple syrup. But alas! Can’t do that . . . the lockdown is still going on.

So, What Are You Doing for Fun During the Lockdown?

5 cosas que la iglesia debe hacer ante la pandemia del coronavirus

5 cosas que la iglesia debe hacer ante la pandemia del coronavirus.

Traducción por Edgar Mendez Gracias, Pastor Edgar

5 cosas que la iglesia debe hacer ante la pandemia del coronavirus. Si te preguntas qué hacer, empieza aquí Por Mark Anderson https://bmarkanderson.com/coronavirus-5-things-the-should-church-do/

Lo primero es ir ante Dios a través de su palabra y la oración

¿Te has fijado qué está justo antes del famoso versículo de 2 Crónicas 7:14? “Si yo cerrare los cielos, que no haya lluvia, y si mandare a la langosta que consuma la tierra, o si enviare pestilencia a mi pueblo; Si se humillare mi pueblo, sobre los cuales ni nombre es invocado, y oraren, y buscaren mi rostro, y se convirtieren de sus malos caminos; entonces yo oiré desde los cielos, y perdonaré sus pecados, y sanaré su tierra.” 2 Crónicas 7:13-14 Fíjate en la palabra pestilencia, la palabra hebrea es deber y simplemente significa pestilencia o plaga. Tiene el sentido de muerte o destrucción de algo. Dios usa esta palabra en la Biblia para traer juicio sobre un pueblo o tierra. Cuando viene la pestilencia, entonces el verso 14 es la prescripción divina para la cura.

Lo segundo es que la iglesia necesita actuar

Necesitamos humillarnos y orar. Cuando inició el brote no le presté atención. Interesado sí, pero pasivo. Recientemente he pasado de un observador interesado (viendo las noticias) a una voz con autoridad en los cielos. Más que eso en un minuto. Buscar el rostro de Dios es parte de nuestro llamamiento en medio de la crisis. No podemos dejar a que simplemente la crisis pase.Nosotros somos la iglesia, ¡el pueblo de Dios! ¿Qué quiere Dios que nosotros hagamos en esta crisis? ¿Cuál es su propósito? ¿Qué más quiere el mostrarnos? ¿Cómo usará todo esto para bien? Necesitamos arrepentirnos delante de Dios. Arrepentimiento no es una palabra sucia; más bien es una palabra limpia, una palabra que santifica. El arrepentimiento nos da libertad, nos limpia y equipa para un mejor servicio. El arrepentimiento nos quita nuestros motivos mundanos. Este es un tiempo para permitir al Espíritu de Dios no quite todo orgullo, pasividad, malos estilos de vida, flojera, desperdicio de tiempo y “pecados cristianos” tales como falta de amor por los pobres y falta de evangelismo. Es tiempo de enfrentar el temor, las quejas y compromisos.

Tercero, la iglesia debe orar con autoridad

Necesitamos orar con el profeta Habacuc “En la ira, acuérdate de la misericordia”. Habacuc estaba perplejo y confundido. Estaba consciente del juicio de Dios en lo que sucedía en su tiempo. Sabía que Dios gobernaba y juzgaba desde su trono en los cielos , pero no comprendía el amplio panorama de los impactantes eventos que sucedían. Finalmente clamó, “en la ira, acuérdate de la misericordia”. Sabemos que Dios está sacudiendo a las naciones y la economía. Sabemos que nosotros y las naciones merecen el juicio de Dios. ¿Pero qué está pasando? Oh Dios, en la ira, acuérdate de la misericordia (Habacuc 3:2). La iglesia necesita tomar autoridad sobre el virus y verlo morir. En la Biblia Aarón detuvo una plaga con fuego e incienso (Números 16:41-50), Finees detuvo una plaga con una jabalina (Números 25:1-13), y David frenó una plaga con un altar y un sacrificio (2 Samuel 24:25). Al estar escribiendo esto recibí un correo electrónico de Tony Perkins del Consejo de Investigación Familiar con el siguiente mensaje: Números 16 da cuenta de la plaga que devastaba al pueblo de los hijos de israel. Moisés llamo urgentemente a Aarón para que tomara su incienso y pusiera en el fuego del altar, pusiera incienso, y fuera en medio del pueblo par interceder. Luego, en el verso 48 leemos “y se puso (Aarón) entre los muertos y los vivos; y cesó la mortandad”. Si no intervenimos nosotros, ¿quién lo hará? ¿Debemos confiar en que el gobierno detendrá el virus? A lo mejor si la iglesia se humilla y ora Dios usará al gobierno para quebrantar el poder de la plaga. Parte de la oración de la iglesia debe ser ¡un canto de triunfo! El Salmo 68:1-4 identifica el poder de la alabanza ungida y la adoración demostrada físicamente. Exaltación (alabanza físicamente activa, tal como danzar de gozo) crea una vía rápida para que Dios llegue a la escena e intervenga. En 2011 Dios empezó a decirme que el pueblo se preparara para el juicio.

Cuarto, la iglesia necesita hablar a la gente acerca de Jesucristo

Mientras el mundo retrocede en temor, necesitamos ir al frente y decir a las gentes claramente que Dios les ama, que Dios es bueno, que él dio su sangre por nuestros pecados y enfermedades. El murió la muerte que nosotros merecíamos. Somos libres de la culpa del pecado por la sangre de Cristo.y ¡Él resucitó de los muertos! Un miembro del gabinete del presidente Obama dijo “Nunca desperdicies una crisis”. Aunque este administrador hubiera tenido en mente intereses perversos, nosotros necesitamos buscar a Dios para descubrir el buen y divino propósito al permitir esta pandemia. ¡No desperdiciemos esta crisis! Dios ya tiene la atención de la gente. La gente habla… está buscando. Por lo menos usemos al coronavirus como tema de conversación. ¿Podrías preguntar “Crees que el coronavirus está mencionado en el Apocalipsis?” O ¿Piensas que Armagedón ha comenzado?En algún momento en la conversación pregunta “¿Sigues a Cristo? A la gente le gusta hablar acerca de su fe.

Quinto, la iglesia necesita salir con todo para manifestar el amor de Dios en maneras prácticas

¿Sabe tu vecindario que vas a entregar víveres a aquellos que necesitan alimento? ¿Sabe la gente que puede contar con papel del baño? Mientras muchos se retraen en temor y ansiedad ¿les llamarás por teléfono para darles la esperanza que ellos necesitan hoy? Las disposiciones oficiales aconsejan tener especial cuidado con los adultos mayores, los enclaustrados y los vulnerables.

CORONAVIRUS – 5 cosas que la iglesia debe hacer

Primero: buscar a Dios en la Biblia y en oración, Segundo: la iglesia necesita actuar: necesitamos humillarnos y orar, Tercero: necesitamos un orar triunfante, Cuarto: la iglesia necesita decirle a la gente acerca de Cristo, Quinto: la iglesia necesita mostrar el amor de Dios en forma práctica.

¡Los mejores día de la iglesia han llegado!

Coronavirus—5 Things the Church Should Do

Coronavirus--5 Things the Church Should Do

5 things the church should do in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. If you’re wondering what to do, start here.

First, Go to God Through His Word and Prayer

Have you noticed what comes right before the famous verse in 2 Chronicles 7:14?

13 If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14

Note the word pestilence. The Hebrew word is deber and it simply means pestilence or plague. It has the sense of death or destroying something.

God uses this word in the Bible to bring His judgment on a people or land. When pestilence comes, then verse 14 is the divine prescription for the cure.

Second, the Church Needs to Act

We need to humble ourselves and pray.

When the virus first broke out I was nonchalant. Interested, yet passive. Only recently have I switched from an interested observer (watching the news) to an authoritative voice in the heavens. More on that in a minute.

Seeking the face of God is part of our calling in the middle of crisis. We can’t just let this crisis pass by. We are the church, the people of God! What is God wanting to accomplish in this crisis? What is His purpose? What more does He want to show? How will He use this for good?

We need to repent before God. Repentance is not a dirty word; rather, it is a clean word, a sanctifying word. Repentance relieves us, cleans us, and equips us for greater service. Repentance strips us of our ungodly motivations.

This is a time to allow God’s Spirit to peel away any pride, passivity, unhealthy lifestyles, laziness, time wasting habits, and “Christian sins” like lack of love for the poor and lack of evangelism. It is a time to deal with fear, complaining, and compromise.

Coronavirus—What Should the Church Do Now?

Third, the Church Needs to Pray with Authority

We need to pray with the prophet Habakkuk In wrath remember mercy. Habakkuk was confused and bewildered. He was aware of God’s judgment in the events of his day. He knew God was ruling and judging from the throne of heaven, but he could not comprehend the vast scope of the bewildering events at hand. He finally cried out, O God, In wrath remember mercy.

We know God is shaking the nations and the economy. We know we and the nations deserve God’s judgment. But what’s going on? Oh Lord, in wrath remember mercy (Habakkuk 3:2).

The church needs to take authority over the virus and see it die. In the Bible, Aaron stopped a plague with fire and incense (Numbers 16:41-50), Phinehas stopped a plague with a javelin (Numbers 25:1-13), and David halted a plague with an altar and a sacrifice (2 Samuel 24:25).

While I was writing this, I received an email from Tony Perkins of Family Research Council with the following message: Numbers 16 gives the account of the plague sweeping through the population of the children of Israel. Moses urgently calls upon Aaron to grab the censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and go among the people to intercede. Then in verse 48, it reads, “And he (Aaron) stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.”

If we don’t intervene, who will? Should we rely on the government to halt the virus? Perhaps if the church humbles herself and prays, God will use the government to break the power of the plague.

Part of the church’s prayer needs to be triumphant singing! Psalm 68:1-4 identifies the power of anointed praise and physically demonstrative worship. Exultation (physically active praise such as leaping for joy) creates a highway for God to arrive at the scene and intervene.

In 2011 God began to speak with me to prepare the people for judgment.

Fourth, the Church Needs to Tell People about Jesus Christ

While the world is pulling back in fear, we need to step ahead and clearly tell people that God loves them, that God is good, that Jesus gave his blood for our sin and sickness. He died the death we deserve. We are free from the guilt of sin because of Jesus’ blood. Then He rose from death!

One of President Obama’s administrators stated, “Never let a crisis go to waste.” Although the administrator had nefarious purposes in mind, we need to seek God to discover God’s good and divine purpose for allowing this pestilence.

Let’s not let this crisis go to waste!

God’s got people’s attention. People are talking . . . seeking. At the least, use the coronavirus as a conversation starter. You might ask, “Do you think the coronavirus is mentioned in Revelation?” Or “Do you think armageddon has begun?” Somewhere in the conversation ask, “Are you following Jesus?”

People like to talk about their faith.

Fifth, the Church Needs to Go All Out to Show God’s Love in Practical Ways

Does your community know that you will deliver groceries to those who need food? Have we let people know that toilet paper is available? While many are shrinking in fear and anxiety, will your phone call give the hope they need for the day?

The updated presidential guidelines advise us to take special care of the elderly, the shut ins, and the vulnerable.

Coronavirus—5 Things the Church Should Do–

First, go to God through the Word and prayer. Second, the church needs to act: we need to humble ourselves and pray. Third, we need to pray triumphantly. Fourth, the church needs to tell people about Jesus Christ. Fifth, the church needs to show God’s love in practical ways.

The Best Days of the Church are Upon Us!