Trailblazing Newsletter - Spring 2018

SPR ING 2018

The newsletter of Josh McDowell Ministry

INSIDE Page 2 Pray with us Page 3 How you’re impacting lives Page 3 From Josh: Let’s work together!

“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”

— 2 Corinthians 9:10 (NLT)

New seminary grads need trustworthy Christian resources to help them share truth and grow the church in East Asia.

Equip seminary graduates with the tools they’ll need for effective ministry New pastors need the Christ-centered resources you can provide with your gift today In one of the East Asia provinces where Josh McDowell Ministry works, only 380 ordained pastors serve 2.5 million Christians. Another 100,000 new believers are joining churches each year.

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It’s wonderful to hear that the church is growing dramatically. But all of this growth means more pressure on leaders.

Some pastors look after up to 300 congregations and groups. Many work seven days a week with no time off.

What’s more, In East Asia, pastors there is a are few — but shortage of biblical resources Christian resources. And are even fewer! since most of these pastors make only the equivalent of $350 to $500 a month — less than half of the average wage — it’s difficult for them to pay bills, support a family and, KEEP READING . . .

Keep reading to see how your gift today will grow the church in East Asia >>>>

Multiply your impact with each book you give!

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years, the ministry has been providing eight-book libraries of Josh’s books to students graduating from state seminaries and training centers.

One of the first students to receive a set of Josh’s books was Rev. Zheng in 2012. Josh recently had the opportunity to reconnect with Rev. Zheng, who is now a seminary professor. He gladly joined our team for a ceremony in which 272 graduates received a personal library of Josh’s books.

especially, pay for the tools they need to do ministry well.

That’s why for more than 30 years, Josh has worked with Christian leaders in East Asia to provide biblical resources for students and pastors. For the past six

The students lit up with gratitude and pride when they were handed their books, many hugging them tightly and expressing deep thanks for such a wonderful gift.

Thank you for providing leaders in East Asia with a foundation of truth

With your generosity today, many more young Christian leaders will be equipped with the tools they need to study God’s Word, defend their faith and disciple others.

“Please help me equip seminary graduates in East Asia to share Jesus!” — Josh Prayer requests Please join us in prayer: • For this year’s seminary graduates in East Asia — that God will provide everything they need as they begin a life of ministry.

• For future leaders in East Asia — that the Lord will use their positions of influence to bring Him glory.

• For your gifts of Christ-centered books — that God will use these resources to impact many in East Asia.

A Josh McDowell Ministry staff member and a seminary graduate at a gifting of books. > > >

Your gifts transform lives.

Thank YOU! Since Josh McDowell Ministry first started providing Christian books to seminary students in East Asia six years ago, so many have expressed their sincere gratitude. But these thanks are really meant for you!

“When I was a student, there weren’t many books available to us, and the books we did have were only in the library. My friend discovered Evidence That Demands a Verdict and decided to hand-copy the book so that he could have his own copy for after seminary.

It took him over two years to copy the book. A few years after graduation, he told me, “I have read it multiple times, and it has been worth having . . .”

— A pastor in East Asia

h From Jos

Let’s work together to prepare pastors for their calling Thinking back to when I was a seminary grad, I can remember how valuable trustworthy apologetic and ministerial resources were to me. They helped me stay on track theologically. They kept me focused on truth and helped formulate my thoughts.

I want to help seminary grads in East Asia in the same way — preparing them to reach out to those who don’t yet know Christ in their surrounding communities and giving them the sound theological foundation they’ll need to succeed in an environment that is increasingly hostile to our faith.

“The church congregations are growing fast but with little depth. Pray for more leaders and pastors and their education. That’s why they need to continue to receive books so that they can further their studies to disciple their congregations.”

When you join with me to provide the biblically based resources these grads need, you’ll see the impact of your gift multiplied dramatically, as books influence many, many more people than just the student we give them to.

— A church leader in East Asia

That’s why your gift is so critical!

“Thank God that we are here being equipped and ready to go serve the churches. We are here not only to learn theology but to also grow spiritually.”

— A seminary student in East Asia

Please give now to provide church leaders with the Christian resources they need.

These specially chosen books will equip pastors — and those they reach — to know what they believe, why it’s true and how to live it out every day.

Thank you in advance for standing with me to take advantage of this incredible opportunity!

Until the whole world hears,

Give by Saturday, June 30!

Equip hardworking seminary students in East Asia with powerful ministry resources Your gift will help provide a recent seminary graduate with their own eight-book personal library of Christian books With the church in East Asia growing dramatically and seminaries barely able to meet the demand for trained leaders, it’s easy to see why trustworthy pastoral resources are hard to come by.

But today, you can provide Christ-centered books to one of East Asia’s future leaders. We’ve specifically selected titles that will help students teach, defend their faith and disciple new believers — including Josh’s books More Than a Carpenter, The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict and Answers to Tough Questions.

We’re hoping to raise $154,000 in order to provide 21,000 books. Each $7.33 you give now will share a book with one deserving seminary graduate.

Every $7.33 you send now will add a Christ-centered book to a deserving pastor’s personal library.

“We don’t know how long the door will be open to our sharing Christian books with seminary grads. The sooner we get these resources into their hands, the better. So please give now!”

— Josh

THREE EASY WAYS TO GIVE NOW Give by mail: Return your gift with the enclosed reply form in the envelope provided.

Give by telephone: You can also give your gift by calling 1-855-833-6897.

Give online: Make an immediate impact by giving securely on our website at give.cru.org/EastAsiaSeminary.