FRONTLINES NOVEMBER 2021 / CBN.COM
Partners Sharing the Love of Christ
CBN PARTNERS ARE FEEDING SUFFERING PEOPLE
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CBN’S OPERATION BLESSING: DISASTER RELIEF
HELPING HURRICANE SURVIVORS IN LOUISIANA More
CBN partners offer hope in the wake of the storm
Dorothy is grateful to Operation Blessing partners and volunteers for their help.
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s Hurricane Ida pounded the Louisiana coastline with high winds and storm surge, CBN partners had already made it possible to help those caught in its wake. Your generosity provided food, water, ice, cleaning supplies, and other resources just days after the ravaging storm had hit. You also supported volunteers dedicated to assist with the long cleanup. Dorothy is a widow who has
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lived in the area for 30 years. “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” says Dorothy. “It was so frightening. … Water started coming in through the ceilings because the roof was going.” After it passed, Dorothy suddenly faced the reality of the destruction left behind. She had lost power, her roof, and so many of her precious keepsakes. With only her grandson to offer support, Dorothy felt
Blessing to remain in the area to aid other residents, helping many more folks like Dorothy and sharing the love of Jesus in tangible ways.
overwhelmed and desperate for help. Thanks to CBN partners, she was able to turn to CBN’s Operation Blessing for support.
Your love and provision means so much—especially when disaster strikes and families struggle to find hope in the wake of tragedy. Faithful friends like you provide a lifeline for desperate people, helping them pick up the pieces to rebuild their lives.
“They gave us ice. They gave us water. They gave us cleaning supplies. They gave us different kinds of food and stuff. It was such a blessing.” Dorothy could now breathe easier knowing she was not facing the aftermath of the storm alone. “All of it was a tremendous help,” she says. Operation Blessing volunteers helped clear out debris, tarped her roof, and removed damaged materials from her yard. “There are a lot of blessings and blessings in the people that are helping, and we appreciate it.” The generosity of CBN partners made it possible for Operation
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CBN’S ORPHAN’S PROMISE
IN DESPERATE NEED OF CARE
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Rescuing a little boy and restoring his health “Tiny and frail.” That’s how workers described 1-year-old Jonathan when he came to a children’s home in the Philippines supported by CBN’s Orphan’s Promise. He crawled slowly using his belly and hands, was malnourished, and suffered with intestinal parasites. Jonathan’s father was imprisoned on drug charges, and his mother had left him and his siblings in the care of a neighbor. The neighbor
Jonathan received the care he needed. 4 frontlines
gave Jonathan to someone in a nearby city. Jonathan’s siblings ended up in the children’s home. Social workers then began their search for Jonathan. Jonathan was found and reunited with his siblings. Now, thanks to CBN partners, Jonathan has been receiving proper care, nourishment, and the love he so desperately needed. This precious little boy is now a happier, healthier 3-year-old.
CBN’S SUPERBOOK
PRAYING TO GO TO CHURCH How Superbook drew a mother and daughter to Christ
“I really want to go to church. Please help me, God,” prayed 7-year-old Nice. Nice’s mother was a single parent, and when she fell away from God, she stopped attending church. But one day, her mother read a friend’s post about God on Facebook, and it birthed a desire to return to church. And she brought along her daughter, Nice—an answer to prayer! At church, Nice’s heart was touched watching the Superbook episode You helped make it possible for Nice to watch Superbook.
“Miracles of Jesus” and seeing what Jesus had done for people. Now, Nice can’t wait to attend her Sunday school class and learn more about Him with her classmates. She said, “I really like Superbook! There are lots of activities I can do with friends.” Her mother added, “My daughter is very happy every time she goes to church.” Nice also loves to pray, especially for her mother. “She always prays for me. … She prays for God’s provision,” said her mother. And Nice has seen the power of prayer firsthand. When they weren’t able to buy gas to travel the distance to church—the 7-year-old turned to God in prayer and saw Him answer when finances showed up unexpectedly. The love and support of partners like you continue to make an eternal difference for precious souls like Nice in places like Thailand and other nations of the world.
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CBN PARTNERS ARE FEEDING SUFFERING PEOPLE
Worldwid
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. Matthew 25:35 niv
These words from Jesus describe partners like you every time you reach out and help those who are in need. All around the world right now, hunger is an epidemic due to poverty, war, food shortage, drought, layoffs from the COVID-19 pandemic—and many other reasons.
the food and support that they need to get them through tough times. Below are a few stories of just how much your help has changed lives both here at home and throughout the world.
But partners like you are stepping up to ensure that needy families all over the world are receiving
Mirna and Willy faced double tragedies last year between the pandemic and a tropical storm
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When the Storms Come
de that hit Mexico, ruining their harvest. This farming couple lives in a tiny home with their seven children between the ages of 4 and 16. They lost their source for food: chickens, crops, and fruit trees. Living in a remote area, they found no opportunity for employment, and they had no idea how they would feed their children. Then, generous partners like you made it possible for this family to begin the road to recovery. CBN’s Operation Blessing was able to
deliver 150 pounds of seeds so Mirna and Willy could replace their crops. They also received 100 pounds of groceries like beans, rice, lentils and more to help them until the next harvest. This family is just one of many that has received help in rural Mexico since the storm, and Operation Blessing is continuing to provide support as these dear families rebuild their lives, thanks to your compassion for others.
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Hunger During a Drought More
When the goats stopped producing milk, Ngaiduana worried how she would feed her children. A drought had devastated Kenya, killing the crops and leaving everyone— both livestock and people— without water. At one point, Ngaiduana was reduced to searching for herbs in order to feed her family. She had completely despaired of finding food when Operation Blessing learned of her plight. Thanks to the generosity of caring friends like you, Ngaiduana was provided with food and necessary supplies—not only for herself and her family, but for her neighbors as well!
groceries. “I said: ‘You’re not working. How can you afford all this?’” That was when her friend told her about a nearby center supported by Operation Blessing. “As soon as I walked in the door, they made me feel so welcome!” Sandy said. “They said, ‘We would love to keep helping you!’ I was just amazed.” Their needs were met during those trying times of struggle. Sandy is now back at work, but she remembers the blessing of love she received. She genuinely expressed, “Someday, I’m going to return what was given to me, so I can help others out!”
During this time of the year, CBN gives thanks to God for the love of generous partners who have a heart for feeding the poor and hungry, caring for the sick and injured, responding to disaster survivors, providing clean water A Desire to Give Back for the desperate, proclaiming the “My husband and I are used to two message of Christ to the lost and incomes,” Sandy explained. With a hurting, and so much more. Thank broken hand, she could no longer you, dear friends. work at the local manufacturing Happy Thanksgiving! company near her home in Michigan. She and her husband, Brad, were struggling to live on his salary alone and didn’t know how they were going to make it. Then one day, Sandy was visiting a friend who was also out of work, and noticed that she had 8 frontlines
CBN NEWS
PREVENTING BACK PAIN AS WE AGE
Watch
Take care of your spine with these helpful tips
According to Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo with the Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care in New York City, when we age, our body tends to get stiffer. “Picture an older gentleman or an older woman. They’re kind of bent over, and they’re stiff. They don’t move as much,” he says. “Your risk of injury increases dramatically because you just can’t move as well as you want to. So, I suggest stretching for at least 15 minutes a day.” As a result, healthy lifestyle choices—such as not smoking— are important. “When you smoke, you’re depriving oxygen because the blood vessels in our spine are very tiny,” he explains. “The more you smoke, the less blood flow and vascularization you get to your discs, and the more likely you are to get degenerative disc disease, which then leads to back pain.” Practically, something as simple as dressing correctly can help your back. “Put your pants on from a seated position where you’re not stressing your lower back,” Dr. Okubadejo suggests. “The risk of straining is much higher if you try to put your pants on from a standing position. You see people trying to
Stretching can help prevent pain.
put pants on and wiggling into their pants. That’s not ideal. So, try to sit down, be comfortable, and be aware of how much you’re bending over.” Additionally, the correct shoes can make a difference. Dr. Okubadejo advises having shoes with good cushioning and good heel support, because that keeps the body in alignment and prevents us from having a greater risk of injury. For additional information on taking care of your spine, visit Dr. Okubadejo’s website: nynjspine.com. Always consult with your doctor before making any lifestyle changes.
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DISCOVER WHAT YOU’VE BEEN MISSING ON CBN FAMILY Download the fun with the CBN Family app! It’s FREE and packed with content for all ages. • Watch full episodes of The 700 Club • Enjoy exclusive CBN films • Stay updated with CBN News
• Get inspired by amazing true stories • Time-travel with your kids through Superbook • Access special CBN content!
You can download the CBN Family app today on your smart TV, tablet, or smartphone. Go to CBNFamily.com now—and join the fun!
CBN FAMILY CBNFamily.com 10 frontlines
CBN’S OPERATION BLESSING: MICROENTERPRISE
SHUTDOWN FROM SURVIVING
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Restoring Grandma Marcela’s income
Marcela can provide for her family again!
She was their only source of income. It had been that way for a while. After Marcela lost her husband 20 years ago, she provided for her family, including her grandchildren, by sewing. But when COVID-19 forced the shutdown in Mexico, it caused a financial dilemma.
Blessing, a face mask project was birthed. Marcela and other seamstresses were employed with this much-needed enterprise.
They make reusable masks for people in need, earning enough to improve their quality of life. This has enabled Marcela to take good care of her family, while blessing others Marcela did her best to find work, but it was a struggle. Then—thanks with vital masks to help protect to the support of generous partners them from the coronavirus. like you—her hope and joy was restored. Through CBN’s Operation NOVEMBER 2021 11
SEEN ON THE 700 CLUB
YOUR QUESTIONS, HONEST ANSWERS WITH PAT ROBERTSON
Q
I have family members who make fun of the Bible. They say it was written by man, and there’s no proof that God had anything to do with it. How do I prove that the Bible is trustworthy?
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You can quote the Bible itself. Hebrews 9:27-28 says, Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many. In other words, tell them, “It is written,” which is the way Jesus dealt with such arguments. I do not recommend that you argue about the Bible or engage in mind games or debate the fine points of doctrine with people. Share how you once were blind and now you see; say that you have met Jesus and that you walk and talk with Him daily. Talk about your experience with Jesus, who is the Living Word.
Do you have a question for Pat? Log on to CBN.com/AskAQuestion and follow the instructions.
If you need prayer, please call our Prayer Team at 800-700-7000.
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SMART IDEAS
FOR YOUR YEAR-END BENEFITS More
With the end of the year approaching, here are some tax-wise year-end charitable gift ideas and possible benefits for you.
DONATE SHARES OF STOCK OR OTHER SECURITIES • Charitable deduction for the fair market value • Eliminate capital gains tax on the appreciation
FUND A CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY • Receive income stream for the rest of your life • Potential for a portion of income to be tax-free • Immediate (partial) tax deduction
MAKE A QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION (QCD) • If you are 70 ½ or older, give “tax-free” directly from your IRA • A QCD will satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution, if applicable
To learn more about year-end giving strategies, please contact us at 1-800-333-2373 or email PlannedGiving@CBN.org. NOVEMBER 2021 13
PREPARING THE PATHWAY FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
by Gordon Robertson President and CEO
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od wants to do something new in our lives! He tells us in Isaiah 43:19, “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?” Yet we must be careful not to block the blessings that He has in store for us. While the Israelites were traveling to the Promised Land, they rebelled several times. In each case, their rebellion came down to one central problem: complaint. And their complaint was based on disbelief.
So, how do we get a heart of belief? We find the answer in Psalm 24:3-5: Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. We must have clean hands and pure hearts. We need to trust in God alone. And we should always speak the truth in love. As we do, God blesses us and gives us righteousness—not our own, but His through Christ our Savior.
They didn’t believe God could provide water or meat in the desert, or that He could enable them to defeat the giants We know His ways are higher than ours. So let’s stand together with in the land. our hearts full of gratitude and faith, If we are to possess what God has believing that God will do great things. for us today, we must realize that He will continue to do miracles, to when we complain in our hearts, provide, and to make a way. God we are actually saying, “God can’t bless you! do this.” Yes, there will be obstacles Excerpted from a teaching at CBN Staff and difficulties—but if there were no Chapel. Scripture is quoted from the NKJV. struggles, there would be no victories.
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BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER New this Thanksgiving—experience the premiere of Pocahontas in 4K streaming when you request your DVD for a gift of any dollar amount. Watch the remarkable true story of an amazing young woman who became an ambassador between two nations. Filmed on location in England and Virginia and featuring historical reenactments and expert interviews, this movie brings the story of Pocahontas’ capture, Christian faith, and legacy to life. Make it a part of your Thanksgiving family tradition!
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INHABITED BY THE POWHATAN INDIANS. IT WAS A CLASH OF CULTURES. VIOLENCE ERUPTED AND HOSTAGES WERE TAKEN, AND YET AN INNOCENT CAPTIVE BROUGHT THE “PEACE OF POCAHONTAS” TO THEM ALL.
PRODUCED IN ENGLAND AND VIRGINIA, POCAHONTAS IS THE TRUE STORY OF AN AMAZING YOUNG WOMAN WHO BECAME AN AMBASSADOR BETWEEN TWO NATIONS. WITH EXPERT INTERVIEWS AND HISTORICAL REENACTMENTS, THIS MOVIE BRINGS THE STORY OF POCAHONTAS’ CAPTURE, CHRISTIAN FAITH, AND LEGACY TO LIFE. RELEASED WORLDWIDE IN NOVEMBER 2016 EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: GORDON ROBERTSON WRITER/PRODUCER: AMY REID DIRECTOR: JARROD ANDERSON DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: TYLER JOHNSON
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© 2016 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23463 CBN’s 24-Hour Prayer Center: 800-700-7000 • CBN.com
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Gordon Robertson
IN 1607, ENGLISH SETTLERS ARRIVED IN VIRGINIA AND FOUND THE LAND ALREADY
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Frontlines is published monthly by The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463, 757-226-7000. Copyright © 2021 by The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. Frontlines may also be viewed online at www.CBN.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Due to Revenue Canada regulations, not all premiums are available in Canada. Scripture is quoted from the following versions: The New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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