Paths v3n2 2014 spring by MK Designs

News & Views from Walk Thru the Bible

The Word on the Appalachian Trail Global Consultation â&#x20AC;&#x2122;14 Weekly devotionals for Spring

Spring 2014

Walk Thru the Bible 4201 North Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30341 www.walkthru.org Volume 3, Number 2 Spring 2014 Published quarterly

lot of people launch out on the Appalachian Trail with a backpack full of gear. But somewhere along the first steep hill, they start to jettison much of what they had packed. What seemed essential before the hike no longer does. In fact, regular hikers joke about what they can find

on those first hills. It’s a great place to pick up

President Phil Tuttle

some unintentional hand-me-downs.

Vice President for Advancement/International John Houchens

thing like a “backpack manager.” We try to

Editor Chris Tiegreen Designer Michael Koiner Contributors Chris Tiegreen John Houchens

Walk Thru the Bible ignites passion for God’s Word through innovative live events, inspirational biblical resources, and lasting global impact.

© 2014 by Walk Thru the Bible® Ministries, Inc. Contents may not be reproduced in any form unless authorized in writing by the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

In a way, our ministry functions some-

equip you for the journey while also lightening

your load. We want to give you everything you really need as a disciple without breaking your back and making your steps unnecessarily heavy. We’ll assist you for any part of your journey , but we especially want to see you go the distance. In the kingdom, everyo ne is a “thru-hiker.” In this issue of Pathways, you’ll read about several thru-hikers—two

who literally hike the Appalachian Trail as they walk the Christian

walk, and others who are on a figurative journey to make disciples all around the world. Some of our international leaders have been with us more than two decades, while others are beginning a season of journeying togethe r with us. As you walk through these pages, you’ll get a glimpse into the work they do and the vision that keeps them going. You’ll also find some fuel for your own journey in devotionals about praying in faith and an excerpt about the detours we take. I trust that these reports and readings will encourage and inspire you. Perhaps you’ve only been on a short hike with us—maybe a Saturday or Sunday event where you toured the Old or New Testament in a few hours. Or maybe you’ve been traveling with us for years, digging into our resources and being fed each day. Whatever the extent of your walk with us, I appreciate your partnership, prayers, and support. And I’m confide nt of great things in the journey ahead.

Phil Tuttle President

If you are not currently receiving Pathways and would like to, email pathways@walkthru.org or use the attached envelope to let us know.

Spring 2014

VOL. 3

NO. 2

Features Much More than a Hike

Seeking Seekers on the Appalachian Trail What do you get when a Walk Thru the Bible instructor develops a love for hiking? The unofficial chaplain of the Appalachian Trail and a lot of God stories along the way.

18 Global Consultation ’14

Leaders Envisioning the Future Thanks to a grant, Walk Thru the Bible’s regional leaders gathered in Georgia this year with their spouses for a marriage retreat, strategy meetings, and some unexpected fun.

22 Devotionals

Praying in Faith Weekly readings excerpted from indeed magazine

departments

New at Walk Thru the Bible

Regional News

InstructorFest 2013

Highlights from around the world

Region Profile

Step into the Story

Leader Profile

Donor Profile

The Appalachian Trail A Promise, Patience, and a Path A Teacher at Heart Alex Colombo, regional director for South America Opportunities for Impact David and Brenda Ely The Appalachian Trail offers more than 2,000 miles of exploration—much of it spiritual.

What’s New @ Walk Thru InstructorFest 2013 >

eteran instructors from across North America gathered in Atlanta in December for InstructorFest 2013. Not only did they reconnect with each other, enjoy times of fellowship, and share their knowledge, they were also introduced to God’s Grand Story, Walk Thru the Bible’s new church-wide campaign to increase life-changing engagement with the Bible. The 37 instructors who attended, many of whom have been teaching Walk Thru the Bible events for more than two decades, were also introduced to the ministry’s new Global Impact video and briefed about how to distribute Pathways in their events. Both the video and the magazine will be used to orient all event attendees to the ministry’s resources and global work. By the end of the three-day meeting, instructors were equipped to take

God’s Grand Story into churches. The campaign begins with a Walk Thru the Old Testament event but also includes six weeks of sermons, devotional readings, and small-group or Sunday school discussions. It gets participants engaged with God’s Word at a church-wide level, giving them a thorough overview of Scripture and helping them establish long-term habits for integrating it into their lives.

The pilot phase of God’s Grand Story involved 25 churches in the U.S., as well as several churches in select countries around the world. Now, veteran North American instructors and global leaders are preparing for the campaign’s official launch early next year.

Going Deeper with Daily Walk >

or three decades, Daily Walk magazine has guided readers on a journey through the Bible in the course of a year and, with the help of overviews, charts, and special features, helped them understand how it all fits together. It has been a great resource for personal devotions. Now it’s easier to use Daily Walk as a teaching or discussion tool for small groups. “Deeper Walk,” a small group study guide companion to the magazine, has recently been released and is available free for every Daily Walk subscriber. The guide provides engaging discussion questions that expand the magazine’s benefits in personal study, small-group study, and Sunday school classes. Visit www.walkthru.org/daily-walk-guide for more information. .

Regional News Indian Ministry Leader Dies > Dr. Vararuchi Dalavai, who pioneered Walk Thru the Bible’s ministry in India along with John Hoover in 1989, died in January at the age of 74 in Hyderabad, India. Dr. Dalavai was one of the first eight people trained by Walk Thru the Bible in India. While vice president of Bible Centered Ministries, he championed Walk Thru the Bible in South Asia, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mynamar, Bhutan, and Nepal. He continued in his leadership role with Walk Thru the Bible until 2005. Vallab Sathyabal has led the South Asia ministry since that time. Dr. Dalavai was known for his passionate service to God. Thousands of people were baptized and hundreds of churches were planted during the 42 years of his ministry with various organizations. He helped train many leaders who are still serving God and discipling others today across the nation and the region. “Walk Thru the Bible owes Dr. Dalavai a debt of gratitude for his work in establishing the ministry in South Asia,” said Phil Tuttle, Walk Thru the Bible president. “He laid the groundwork for much of what we’re doing in the region today.”

Middle East > Detour was recently taught in Syria to young Christian leaders in their 20s and 30s. In a time of difficult ministry in the war-torn country, the story of Joseph particularly resonates with many Christians and encourages them to endure. Crucible was recently taught to nearly 60 men in a small group setting in an unspecified country of the

Middle East. The study deals with issues like faith, purity, overcoming despair, character, and integrity. Many of the men shared about their struggles in areas addressed in Crucible, the Biblical Character Series course on the life of David. One man with a history of alcoholism accepted Christ.

Asia >

According to recent reports, Walk

Thru the Old Testament and The Biblical Portrait of Marriage are being taught with great effect in churches throughout mainland China. In addition, Story Thru the Bible is currently being translated for outreach to non-Christians and for developing disciples in China’s churches.

Latin America > Alejandro Oviedo recently taught 240 pastors in Detour, Walk Thru the Bible’s 6-session course in the life of Joseph, in Honduras. .

Attendees listen to speakers and recommit to their spouses at a recent marriage conference held in Cuba. 5

Much More than a Hike Seeking Seekers on the Appalachian Trail

ill Newman and Henry Aldunate had been on the Appalachian Trail for four and a half days without ministering to anyone. For most hikers, that’s not a problem. Many are there to get away from people, not find them. But for two men who had just left their jobs to step out in faith in a ministry to hikers? Well, they were beginning to feel the need to remind God why they were there—and that He had called them. Recalling a quote by E. M. Bounds about the importance of talking to God about men rather than just talking to men about God, they prayed. “He’s the one who has to bring it all together, or it isn’t going to happen,” Bill says. And that day, a young hiker walked up to their campsite and said, “I heard you guys were religious.” How did he know? Maybe they had left a Bible verse or written “God bless you” in the journal at one of the trail’s many shelters. Bill and Henry don’t remember, but somehow this 22-year-old hiker knew, and he began asking questions. He had only been in a religious building once in his life—for a Polish wedding, though he didn’t speak Polish and couldn’t understand the service—and had recently picked up a King James Bible from a trail shelter. He was stuck in Leviticus, where even experienced Christians can get

stuck. Bill and Henry promised to get him a new Bible and, when they were in town that weekend, found a trimline NIV that would fit into a Ziploc bag, perfect for a backpack. When they got back on the trail, they ran into the young man again, told him to start reading in the New Testament, and to come find them whenever he had questions. Several weeks and nearly a thousand miles farther north—somewhere in West Virginia—the hiker found them. He saw one of their entries at a shelter and hiked 26 miles to catch up to them. “I’ve gotten as far as the book of John,” he told them, “and I’ve read enough to know I need to make some changes in my life. Can we talk?” They talked, and the man soon accepted Christ. And in the 12 years since, Bill and Henry have seen that kind of story, in many different shades and variations, play out again and again. The unofficial chaplains of the Appalachian Trail have become a spiritual resource for fellow hikers.

“I was just amazed at how many opportunities I had almost on a daily basis to share Christ.”

ill and Henry began their hiking ministry in 2002, but Bill’s fascination with the trail began long before that. He had gotten a taste of hiking with his church youth group on a section of the trail in New Jersey, and ever since high school had set his heart on the idea of hiking the distance one day. In fact, through the coaching of a mentor, he stipulated time off for the hike when he accepted a job as camp pastor at Lake Ann Christian Camp in northern Michigan. “If I’m still here when I turn 40, I need six months off to hike the Appalachian Trail,” he told them. And when the time came in 1999, the camp let him take a sabbatical for his dream. “I was going to have six months in the

woods with my books,” Bill recalls. “I would finally get to write letters and journals and sit under the stars.” But on the trail, no one goes by his or her real name. They have handles. Bill’s friends had suggested that a preacher should go by the handle Circuit Rider, so when hikers asked him his trail name and followed up with the common question, “How did you get it?” Bill couldn’t help identifying himself as a minister. And that led to conversations that opened Bill’s eyes to the needs around him. “That summer, God really apprehended me. I spent more time with the unchurched, unsaved world than I had in a long, long time being a pastor. I was just amazed at how many opportunities I had almost on a daily basis to share Christ. It’s funny, people find out you’re a preacher, and they’ll want to share their heart or ask a question about the Bible or about God. Or even just, ‘Would you pray for me about something?’ It was amazing.” Over the next couple of years, God convinced Bill that this was his calling and opened doors of opportunity to make it happen. Bill had gotten to know Henry well as a fellow staff member at Lake Ann and asked him to be his ministry partner. So Circuit Rider and Sherlock, as Henry is known on the trail, set out in 2002 with the support of a home church but a lot of unknowns. They prayed over an envelope of $24, telling God that the mission would be over whenever the money ran out. But God has never let the money run out. They never ask for funds because they want to prove to skeptics on the trail that God is faithful to provide for needs. He has been, and they continue to walk by faith, both literally and figuratively. As a Walk Thru the Bible instructor—Bill was

Bill Newman, right, and Henry Aldunate at the TennesseeVirginia state line.

trained years ago to teach the Old Testament and New Testament events to youth at Lake Ann—he is able to communicate the biblical story clearly and compellingly. He and Henry have given out numerous Bibles, many of them the Daily Walk Bible for hikers who need help understanding the structure of Scripture or need a guided reading plan. And they are thrilled that some of Walk Thru the Bible’s resources are now in the form of apps, which take up no space in a backpack and can be downloaded at the next Internet connection, long before a mailed resource would arrive. They are now helping set up a coffee shop/ministry outreach center where hikers can take a break, plug in, ask questions, and download a variety of resources.

hy is the Appalachian Trail such a ripe field for ministry? As a well-known hiker expressed it to Bill several years ago, most people start out on the trail expecting a physical challenge. Maybe it’s on their “bucket list,” or maybe the idea of a 2,180-mile hike through 14 states on the most famous trail in the world is an irresistible adventure. After the first three weeks of blisters, fatigue, and getting in shape, they have the physical side of it down. But then comes the mental challenge. Can you get up in the morning and hike 20 miles even when you don’t feel like it? And know that you’ll be doing the same again tomorrow? And day after day for months? But what catches most people by surprise is that once the physical and mental challenges are met, the spiritual challenge confronts them. Suddenly, people who haven’t disconnected from the distractions of daily life for years have gaping stretches of time on their hands. They suddenly have time to ponder things they’ve never really thought about or grieve losses from years ago. Now that they have unplugged, they realize there must be more to life than the daily grind they just got away from. And questions come rushing to the surface. “Why am I here?” “Who am I?” “How did all this natural beauty come into being, and how do I fit

into it?” “Is there a God, and if so, who is He? How do I relate to Him?” What better time to run into a couple of ministry-minded chaplains with a shared love of hiking? That’s why Bill and Henry’s theme verse is Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” Hikers have put themselves in a place where they are forced to be still. Three questions occupy the mind of a hiker all day—“How far am I going to hike? What am I going to eat? Where am I going to sleep?”—but the questions that come up at the end of the day, when hikers sit at camp from 4 p.m. to sundown, are inevitably pointed toward God. Lives change around those campfires when Bill and Henry get into the conversation.

When people finally unplug, they realize there must be more to life than the daily grind they just got away from. And relationships continue long after the campfires. Bill and Henry now rarely thru-hike the trail because they have so many relationships and invitations throughout the year to follow up with people they have met. They exchange emails with people from all over the world—skeptics who began conversations with them on the trail and want to continue them afterward, people who are working their way through the Bible for the first

time and have questions, and many more. They have developed lasting friendships with people who hike the trail or live near it, many of them non-Christian but fully supportive of Bill and Henry’s work. It’s a pastor’s dream, Bill says. “What pastor wouldn’t give his right arm to come into his office every day and have this list of unsaved people clamoring to have him in their home? It’s unbelievable.” There have been a few times when Bill has had opportunities to teach a Walk Thru the Old Testament event at churches along the trail, and many more when he and Henry have purchased, mailed, or downloaded the ministry’s resources to hikers with spiritual questions and needs. But mostly they have long conversations with people who left the daily grind in search of something more. “The days

of the porch swing in America are gone—except on the Appalachian Trail,” says Bill. “That’s where you still have time to sit down and have deep meaningful discussions.” Those discussions continue throughout the year. Whether hiking or not, they are almost always involved in building relationships with the people they have met on the trail and in following up some of those long conversations. They are also increasing their reach; Henry recently trained a group of mission-minded hikers in how to minister to their peers. The unofficial chaplains of the world’s most famous trail continue to marvel at the number of people God has connected them with. Hikers seeking “something ” in nature are finding answers because of two faithful men who help them see the “Someone” behind it all. .

For more information about Bill and Henry’s ministry, visit www.heartbeatAT.com.

Country Profile

Appalachian Trail ear lion hikers per year; nearly 2,000/y Population: between 2 and 3 mil to the other; 1 in 4 are successful attempt a â&#x20AC;&#x153;thru-hikeâ&#x20AC;? from one end trail (the official distance varies due to Geography: about 2,180 miles th g) through 14 states: Georgia, Nor maintenance and minor reroutin ia, lvan t Virginia, Maryland, Pennsy Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wes t, Massachusetts, Vermont, New New Jersey, New York, Connecticu in stretches from Springer Mountain Hampshire, and Maine. The trail ine. Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Ma trail was trail was opened in 1923, and the History: The first section of the and tem U.S. National Park Sys completed in 1937. It is part of the public and private agencies, managed in a partnership between services, and clubs.

Maine

Ver. New York

N.H. Mass. R.I. Conn.

N.J.

Pennsylvania Md. D.C.

he Appalachian Trail is the best known hiking trail in the world, visited each year by nearly 3 million people: day-hikers who hike a portion of the trail, section-hikers who piece together the entire trail over years, and thru-hikers attempting the full distance in one hiking season. Many hikers are motivated by a simpler lifestyle, a desire to connect with nature, or the physical challenge. The trail includes about 250 shelters and numerous campsites, where hikers rest and connect with other hikers.

Del.

Virginia

West Virginia

North Carolina Tenn. South Carolina Georgia

Prayer needs: The trail is one of the few remaining places where people can unplug from their hectic life for months at a time. The quietness and beauty of nature offer ample opportunities to reflect on life in general and spiritual issues particularly. Whereas people in their daily routines often take very little time for reflection, hikers have plenty of it. Pray that in these “open” moments, many would find peace with God. In addition: • Pray for Bill Newman and Henry Aldunate as they minister to people on the trail. Ask God to bring seekers to them at opportune moments for ministry. • Pray that as God speaks through nature, not only on the trail but everywhere in His world (Psalm 19:1-2), He would open up ears to hear and draw hearts to Himself. Pray that people would truly “be still and know that He is God” (Psalm 46:10). • Pray for other “unofficial chaplains” to be raised up on the Appalachian Trail and on trails around the world to minister to hikers and answer the questions on their hearts. Pray that the Bible would become the most-read book in the hiking community. . Source for trail facts: www.appalachiantrail.com.

Beyond theUsual Global Consultation Sets Stage for Coming Year

aris in the snow, distinguished ministry leaders playing tag, fireside conversations over popcorn and tea. These are not normal scenes from a Walk Thru the Bible Global Consultation, but this year’s meeting was far from normal. How? For one thing, it included spouses. The annual Global Consultation typically brings together regional and national leaders from around the world for a week in January. In recent years, it has been held in places like South Africa and the Philippines. This year, thanks to some generous grants, it was held at WinShape Retreat on the Berry College campus in north Georgia and included the spouses who are so often vital but hidden partners in ministry. The conference included a two-day marriage retreat for leaders to strengthen their relationships for greater ministry impact. It was a rare opportunity for many wives to travel with their husbands and develop their ministry together. Part of the marriage retreat included some low elements of a “ropes course” designed to improve communication skills. Spouses led blindfolded spouses through the woods, couples supported each other on low tightropes and balance beams, and conversations gravitated toward trust issues and the desire for unity. Not only was it practical, it was fun. One couple remarked that in more than two decades of ministry together, it was

the only time they can remember actually playing with each other. Burdens suddenly felt a lot lighter, and relationships grew a lot stronger. Adding to the fun—and the sense that this was not a normal Global Consultation—was a surprise snowstorm on the free day between the marriage retreat and the business side of the conference. Many of the global leaders had never seen snow before and, along with some nearby college students, took full advantage of it by sledding down hills and making snow angels. Never mind the Indian saris, open-toed shoes, and other equatorial garb. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not to be missed. Not everything was different with this year’s conference. As always, it included quite a bit of strategizing for the upcoming year as well as reporting of last year’s impact. At the center of discussion was the global launch of God’s Grand Story, Walk Thru the Bible’s church-wide campaign package that helps every ministry and member of a church dive into God’s Word together and spark Bible-reading movements in communities. Pilot campaigns implementing four key elements—a Walk Thru the Old Testament live event, weekly sermons, small groups, and daily devotionals—were conducted in the U.S., South Africa, and the Philippines last year, with very positive feedback. Pastors love it, new small groups with a focus on Bible reading have been formed, and many marginal

church members have risen up and found their niche for service through the campaigns. A global launch is planned for early 2015. Leaders also reported on the impact of the first two installments of the Biblical Character Series: Crucible on the life of David, and Detour on the life of Joseph. International fields have used these resources in a variety of waysâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;for marriage retreats and leadership training, as well as in church-wide events. Leaders gave testimony after testimony of couples in crisis being reconciled, fallen leaders repenting and being restored, struggling believers making renewed commitments, and some participants making firsttime decisions for Christ. Whether from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, or the Americas,

the testimonies all carried a familiar theme of lives being changed. One conference attendee gave two presentations on his ministry in China, with encouraging reports of Walk Thru the Bible events having great impact in unregistered and underground churches. Leaders from Australia and Spain attended to help redevelop and reconnect their ministries for greater reach. And group brainstorming sessions helped leaders from diverse regions encourage and motivate one another and share strategic principles that have helped them in their fields. This synergy reflected a healthy trend toward decentralization. Where Atlanta was once considered the hub with the regions as spokes, the conversation is increasingly collegial, with each region bringing its strengths

This was a once-ina-lifetime opportunity not to be missed.

Ministry can create a lot of stress. A little lighthearted playtime can go a long way toward undoing it. 20

Friends of the ministry dined in Atlanta with international leaders and prayed for them the night before Global Consultation.

and best practices to the table. The agenda is less and less driven by the home office and more by the needs and expertise on the field. The result is greater buy-in and more effective strategies worldwide. By the end of the meeting, concrete plans for ministry initiatives were in place, relational bonds were stronger, and motivation was high. And the uncommon experiences of this week seemed to highlight uncommon expectations for the months and years to come. .

Into the Word w e e k l y

d e v o t i o n a l s

o n

PRAYING in FAITH

alk Thru the Bible exists to ignite passion for God’s Word wherever we go and to provide the opportunities and resources for eternal truth to work its way into people’s hearts. One of the best ways for the truth of scripture to sink in is to meditate on it daily. The following devotionals, adapted from indeed magazine, are a valuable tool to aid that process. One devotional is provided for each of the next 13 weeks. You can read the weekly reading any day during your week, but you may also want to revisit it every day of the week to make it a regular part of your time with God. If so, many have found this approach helpful: On Monday, read the devotional. Become generally familiar with the Bible verse, its original context, and the insights in the devotional reading. On Tuesday, look upward. How does this verse or passage apply to your relationship with God? What does it teach you about His will and His heart? What aspect of His character is He inviting you to experience and enjoy? On Wednesday, look inward. How does this truth apply to your heart

Week 1

March 31–April 6 Hebrews 11:1-6

BLESSED ASSURANCE Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1) In Word Jesus gave His disciples a remarkable promise about prayer: “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). It’s the summary statement following His wild claim that those who have faith in God can move mountains. But this verse is not only a promise; it contains a command that few people notice. Before the extravagant assurance

and your own spiritual growth? What does it teach you about yourself, your needs, or your goals in life? In what aspects of your personal life is God inviting you to grow and mature? On Thursday, look around. How does this truth apply to your relationship with others? What does it teach you about how to relate to them? What is God inviting you to do differently in your relationships? On Friday, look outward. How does this verse or passage apply to your ministry and mission in life—to your role in God’s kingdom, in society, and in the world? What does it teach you about God’s purposes? What part of His mission is He inviting you to participate in? On Saturday, look forward. How does this verse or passage apply to your future, both in this age and in eternity? What does it teach you about God’s plan for your life, now and forever? What aspect of eternity is God inviting you to participate in? This approach can help you look at God’s Word from every angle and incorporate its implications into your life. As you saturate yourself in scripture, God will shape your heart to align with His own.

that “it will be yours” is an imperative: “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it.” The writer of Hebrews says this is what faith is all about. His primary purpose is to assure Jewish Christians that the new covenant is true—that the history of God’s chosen people portrayed only a shadow of what Jesus now offers us. But the principle is the same whether we are talking about eternal life in the heavenly Kingdom or a short-term promise about prayer. The way of the Kingdom is faith, and faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don’t see. That means that when we request something God has promised but don’t see it yet, it’s still reality. It means that when the evidence isn’t visible yet, we shouldn’t be surprised. If faith is the way of the Kingdom, then the way of the Kingdom involves invisible realities. Of

course we can’t see the object of our faith yet. That would remove it from the realm of faith. We will eventually see what we’ve believed and hoped for, of course; faith results in sight at some point. But it usually doesn’t until our faith has become mature. That’s why God often delays the answers to our prayers. He’s waiting for faith to be truer and more certain. When it is, He rewards it with His favor. In Deed Whatever you ask for, believe that you have received it. Don’t be surprised that you don’t see it yet; you couldn’t have faith if you did. You could only have sight. But God honors faith. He keeps His Word and blesses those who know that with certainty.

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Hebrews 11:1-6

Matthew 9:27-31

April 7-13

April 14-20

April 21-27

THE RIGHT PLACE

PLEASING GOD

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

“According to your faith will it be done to you.” (Matthew 9:29)

In Word You’ve asked God to deal with a problem in your life. You pray for His help daily, hoping He will intervene. You are burdened beyond comfort, carrying your stress into your relationships and your work, letting it affect your health and your devotion. Sound familiar? You may not be going through such a trial at the moment, but nearly everyone has, at one time or another. And when we find ourselves in such a position, we turn to God for His help. It sounds spiritual, and perhaps it is. But it isn’t faith. Faith doesn’t hold on to worry and stress. Faith doesn’t hope that maybe God might possibly consider that perhaps we’ve met all the right conditions and prayed for the right things so He can potentially grant us what He wills. No, there’s an assurance in real faith that knows God will answer us according to His goodness. Faith doesn’t necessarily have all the details in place, but it always has in mind the One who holds all details in His hands. It is supremely confident in the will of God, whatever that will happens to be. Faith allows us to rest.

In Word It’s a startling claim, isn’t it? We’re told not only that God is pleased with our faith. That would be simple and encouraging enough. No, we’re told that it’s impossible to please God without faith. If we don’t allow ourselves to be in a position to believe what we can’t see, we can’t experience His pleasure. We have a lot of subtle (or not-sosubtle) ways of rebelling against faith. We get discouraged and frustrated when we have to wait for answers to our prayers. We assume God hasn’t answered us when we hear nothing but silence. We base our decisions on the evidence before us rather than the promises and wisdom of God. But when we demand to see those things we’re supposed to believe in, we’re really demanding to move from a state that pleases Him into a state that doesn’t seem to affect Him at all. We’re revolting against an opportunity to please Him. That’s why it’s essential to become comfortable with waiting on God, with trusting in His character when circumstances would pressure us not to, and with ignoring any evidence contrary to His promises. Life gives us plenty of opportunities to make a statement about who God is and about the integrity of His Word. When confronted with tension between what we see and what He says, which will we choose? The way of faith pleases Him. Anything less than faith doesn’t.

In Word Jesus speaks frequently of “great” faith. In one place, He could do no miracles because there was no faith there. He did not rebuke people who asked to have greater faith. Faith is apparently a very measurable thing. But just because faith is measurable does not mean it is just a matter of quantity. It is also a matter of quality. Faith is qualified not only by its object, but by its appropriateness. The object of our faith is God—He is large enough to accomplish anything on behalf of those who believe in Him. But the appropriateness of our faith is another matter. We can trust in God’s ability without knowing anything of His ways. We can believe that He might meet our need without any understanding of whether He wants to. And our suspicion of Him at this point is often the flaw in our belief. Expectant faith is not assuming that whatever we name we can claim. But neither is it simply a trust in His ability without any knowledge of His willingness. We know God can do great things on our behalf; we seldom believe that He will. Before Jesus ever asked the blind men in this story whether they believed He was able to heal them, they had already appealed to His willingness: “Have mercy on us,” they cried out (v. 27). They already knew what He was like, and they counted on His grace to be applied to them.

In Deed Don’t confuse pleading with God and believing God. Both are appropriate, but only one qualifies as faith. Many have pleaded for God to intervene but have had no confidence or even awareness of His power and His goodness. Real faith, on the other hand, is absolutely certain that the invisible God has a visible answer for us. Make real faith your goal. Consider who God is, and then ask yourself why you might have reason to worry. You’ll have a hard time coming up with a legitimate basis for your anxiety. When you get to the point where you can be sure—whether you see it or not—that God is taking care of you and will always take care of you, and that His care is the best there is or ever could be, then you have arrived at a position of faith. Ask God to bring you there, and then sit down and rest in that place. This is where God commends His people.

In Deed Maintaining faith can be extremely difficult, but it’s absolutely necessary if we are to please God. The tension between faith and sight becomes our testing ground to demonstrate what we believe about God. Will we hang on to what we know to be true, or will we live under the tyranny of all things visible? The line between the two can become very fuzzy sometimes, but the choices we make on our testing ground can be monumental. Regardless of what you see, choose faith. It always pleases God.

In Deed We often tacitly acknowledge God’s omnipotence, His ability to intervene in our lives, even in very specific ways. But this is only half of faith. It has nothing to do with our expectations as long as it remains only a theological proposition. The other half of faith is understanding the mercy of God and His great willingness to intervene. This is what brings His glory from the realm of theology into the practicum of our lives. You want mercy and power? Expect mercy and power. And it will be done to you.

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Matthew 9:27-31

Matthew 17:20

Matthew 17:14-21

April 28–May 4

May 5-11

May 12-18

BIG FAITH

BIG GOD

BIG MOUNTAINS

“According to your faith will it be done to you.” (Matthew 9:29)

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

In Word Many times we put our faith in faith. We take Jesus’ teaching about mustard seeds and mountains to mean that faith is the object we are to desire most. But we must be careful. Though Jesus is consistent and frequent in His praise of faith, He never says that faith is the end of the matter. It is not faith in our own ability to have faith that is the key to answered prayer. It is faith in Him. A bleeding woman came to Jesus for help in Matthew 9:20-22. She never said to herself, “If only I can muster up enough faith, I will be healed.” Rather, she says: “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus is the object of her faith. He commends her unbridled pursuit of Him and His power, not the self-cultivation of spiritual development. In her mind, there is nothing of herself in this pursuit—no strain to believe more, no determination to be better or to grow in knowledge. It’s simply Jesus. He is the variable that matters. Jesus’ commendation of faith is a far cry from some modern ministries’ emphasis on the faith of the believer. In fact, if we stressed the power of Jesus and never considered the quantity of our faith, we would be in a league with those whom Jesus rewards with words of approval. The substance of faith is never what matters; it’s the object of faith. How much we have isn’t the issue. It’s the One in whom we trust.

In Word The key to having mountainmoving faith is not the size of our faith. A mustard seed’s worth is enough. The key to this faith is the size of our God. And there is no shortfall there. Jesus is clear: Nothing will be impossible. Why, then, don’t we experience dramatic answers to our prayers as often as we’d like? If our faith isn’t too small— and it’s hard to get smaller than a mustard seed, so that can’t be the problem—and our God is so big, what’s the problem? It’s a matter of perception. Though God is big, our expectations for Him are not. Or they are misplaced. One way or another, they do not accurately reflect His power and His goodness and His wisdom. We misunderstand one of these three attributes. The answer to the immobility of our mountains is within us: It all depends on how we see God. Our inclination is to pray that God will move our mountains—according to our wisdom—so that we can see Him as able and willing. In His mercy, He sometimes answers. But God’s inclination is to reverse the order. He wants us to see Him as able and willing before we pray. Then we will see mountains move—according to His wisdom.

In Word This is both discomforting and liberating. It is discomforting because we don’t want so much to depend on us. We want God to intervene on our behalf regardless of how much faith we have, because we know how weak our faith is. But it can be liberating when we realize that sometimes the only hindrance to our prayers is our faith. All we must do is grow in faith, and then God will act. The problem we face with this is the order. We say we will have greater faith when we see more of God. God says we will see more of Him when we have greater faith. The belief comes first. This causes us great trouble. We wish we could have more faith; we really want to, and we try to muster it up. But we need something to base that faith on, and when our own experience is lacking in the miraculous, our faith finds no footing. We know there is a level of the faith life that is satisfying, if only we can get there. We’ve heard others tell of it, and we believe them. We just don’t think we have the means to get there. In Deed Our two-fold solution is simple. First, we must ask God to increase our faith. This is how a father appealed to Jesus when his son was suffering (Mark 9:24), and Jesus honored his request. Second, we must base our faith in God on something other than our own experience, at least until our mind’s beliefs become our heart’s realities. The Bible is the answer. Meditate on the psalms and praises of the Word. Worship Him for His goodness, His love, His power, His protection, and more. Saturate your life in His praise, and God will grow huge in your own eyes. And when He is huge, huge things happen—according to your faith. Jesus first made the blind men acknowledge His ability (v. 28). Only then did He answer. Faith is nothing in itself. It’s the object of our faith that matters. You want big faith? Worship a big God. The rest comes naturally.

In Deed Have you struggled to have more faith? Take your eyes off your faith and put them on God. Your understanding of God is your faith. Your belief will never grow larger; your view of God will. Meditate on His grandeur and you’ll find yourself trusting Him more. And you’ll also find that nothing is impossible.

In Deed Are there issues that overwhelm you? Relax and rejoice! God is teaching you an invaluable lesson about Himself. If you are crushed under the burden, He has you in a good place. He will drive us to this place whenever our problems are large and He is small in our eyes. He will let us be defeated so that we’ll have no choice but to turn our eyes toward Him. He will let us come to the end of our own abilities in order to accomplish His desire. What is this desire? For us to see Him as so large that everything else becomes small. But the mountains will usually remain until we see Him this way. Faith precedes experience.

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Mark 9:14-29

Luke 17:11-19

Hebrews 11:17-19

May 19-25

May 26–June 1

June 2-8

BIG PRAYERS

BIG ANSWERS

BEYOND LOGIC

“‘If you can’?” (Mark 9:23)

“Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:19)

He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son. (Hebrews 11:17)

In Word We know that all blessings come from God. He is the author of all that is good, and all we receive comes from His grace, not our merits. Knowing this, we might ask why Jesus says it is the faith of this leper that has made him well. Why doesn’t He say: “Rise and go; I have made you well”? Or “the Father has made you well”? Why does everything seem to depend on the faith of the recipient? Perhaps faith is the currency of heaven as dollars are the currency of the American economy. Perhaps God’s own ground rules for this planet limit Him to intervening in the affairs of man only when asked with a right understanding of who He is. Perhaps faith is a mystery we will never comprehend this side of heaven. Regardless of the reason, it is solidly biblical. God responds to faith in Him, and He often withholds His blessing when faith is absent. When faith is gone, God seems distant. And when faith is great, God reveals Himself as greater still. An awful lot depends on how we see God. If we see God as hard and begrudging, we will find Him to be so, both to His and our own disappointment. When we see Him as able, willing, loving, magnificent, and awesome, we will find Him to be so, to His and our own delight. This is not just a matter of psychology, in which the faithful and the faithless receive the same blessings but value them differently. It is a matter of a living relationship with an available God. When we open our mouths wide, He fills them (Psalm 81:10). When we don’t, He doesn’t.

In Word A childless couple had been told by an invisible God that they would be the parents of countless descendants. They had no Scripture or fellowship of believers to encourage their faith on a discouraging day. All they had was a promise and a lot of time to think about it. Too much time, in fact. They passed childbearing age, not just barely, but hopelessly. But against all odds, God fulfilled His promise. The child was born, the invisible God was vindicated, and the couple rejoiced. Then the unthinkable happened. Against all logic, God told Abraham to sacrifice the couple’s one and only son, who was their only link to the millions of descendants they were to have. Was God going to give them another child? Was He going to raise this one from the dead? No outcome seemed reasonable. Still, God’s instructions were clear enough that Abraham took a long walk up a mountain and raised his hand against his only son. Obedience was more important than the promise. That kind of obedience, at that kind of cost, required extraordinary faith. Abraham’s obedience is commended as the cornerstone of righteous, biblical faith. The faith that led Abraham up that mountain is unimaginable. Any illusion that the life of faith is a life of comfort and ease is undone by this story. Faith is excruciating, sometimes illogical, and always right.

In Word Many times when we are confronted with an “impossible” situation, we tend to ask God to help alleviate the symptoms rather than to intervene in a mighty way. It’s as though we are afraid of asking too much. We just don’t see miracles that often, so we assume God isn’t interested in doing them. But to the contrary, according to the Bible, He is intensely interested in intervening in our situations. He is waiting for simple, believing, worshipful hearts. Such was the case with the father whose son was possessed by a destructive spirit that “robbed him of speech” (v. 17). Everyone, including Jesus’ disciples, tried to help. No one could. What was Jesus’ response? Did He rebuke them for assuming too much from Him? No, He rebuked them for their unbelief (v. 19). When the father appealed to Jesus—“if you can do anything . . .”—Jesus finds the hint of uncertainty ludicrous. “ ‘If you can’?” He repeats incredulously. Of course He can. He’s God incarnate, the One by whom the father and the mute boy and the surrounding crowds were created. He is not limited by the situation itself in any way. In Deed Do our prayers also undermine Jesus’ mastery of a situation in our own minds? Do we also hint that He might not be able to do what we ask? That the circumstances might just be too overwhelming even for Him? Jesus would lovingly mock us as well with the same response: “If you can?” Of course He can. His adequacy is not the question. And because no situation is bigger than He, neither is any prayer. Our requests should be huge. The issue for us is not whether He can, but knowing His will and His ways—and assuming the best of them. Jesus really may answer our prayers exactly the way we expect Him to—or He may not. But He always stands ready to intervene in response to our belief. Never does He refuse a persistent, patient, trusting plea for His involvement. He is always willing. And He always can.

In Deed Does God seem absent? Unavailable? Slow to act and as overwhelmed by your problems as you are? There are times when He may test our faith in this way. But it is more likely that He is acting in exactly the way your faith expects Him to. You want big answers to your prayers? Pray big prayers, and know the size of the God you seek.

In Deed Does your faith sometimes defy logic? If not, it hasn’t been stretched as far as God wants to stretch it. Has God ever called you to give up His promise as an act of obedience? If not, your faith has deeper depths to reach. The God who commends and cultivates our faith will sometimes lead us into painful places, into unreasonable places, and into places that simply do not make sense. Why? Because real faith has to outweigh our emotional comfort, our human logic, and our passion for understanding. When it does, the Object of our faith has become the most important thing in our lives.

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Genesis 28:18-22

Ezra 8:21-23

Isaiah 37

June 9-15

June 16-22

June 23-29

SLOW FAITH

EZRA’S HONOR

BLESSING UNHINDERED

If God will be with me . . . then the Lord will be my God. (Genesis 28:20-21)

I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road. (Ezra 8:22)

Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God. (Isaiah 37:20)

In Word Ezra did what Asa wouldn’t do. He sought God in a time of peril. Unlike the earlier king who sought alliances for protection and only doctors for healing—faithless acts that put God last on the providence list—Ezra determined not to profane the name of the Lord. Having told Babylon’s ruler of the favor and strength of God, he could not slander the reputation he had just proclaimed. He knew his actions would speak louder than words. So he prayed. He didn’t pray and request an escort of warriors—that would have demonstrated a serious lack of faith. No, he just prayed, and God answered. Ezra demonstrates for us a dependence that God honors.

In Word There’s no better testimony than a story of supernatural intervention. When an unwavering pattern is broken by an unexplainable force, people take notice. Natural laws build into us certain expectations: gravity pulls us down, incurable diseases take lives, and might makes right in politics and war. So when natural laws are made to bow before a greater power, it’s a remarkable event. Hezekiah understood that there was a greater purpose in his prayer than saving his skin. There’s no doubt that he desired personal safety for himself, his city, and his people, but he saw a bigger picture. He knew that if an invading king who had never been stopped was suddenly stopped, the world would take notice. The God of the people who stopped him would be glorified. A weak city spared from a strong army would be shown to be unexplainably blessed. That dynamic has been repeated often in Israel’s history and in the history of Christian communities in oppressive countries. God is the defender of the underdog when the underdog happens to be someone close to His heart. Any power can prevail against human beings alone; no power can prevail against human beings backed by God.

In Word You’d think the vision would have been enough. Jacob was fleeing for his life from Esau—stealing blessings can make a brother angry enough to kill—and when he spent the night on a rock, he had a dream. It was a powerful dream, with angels ascending to and descending from heaven. With the vision came a promise: the promise given to Abraham for blessing throughout all generations to come. The implications weren’t lost on Jacob; he named the place “house of God” and built a monument. His vow, however, indicates the level of his spiritual maturity. He was still undecided about the greatness and worthiness of God. Lordship was still an issue. Jacob’s faith, even after an amazing night, was going to be conditional. “If God will be with me . . . then the Lord will be my God.” The reality of God’s presence had been made clear. The value of following Him hadn’t. As a result, Jacob placed conditions on his allegiance. That’s how we operate too. God understands; He had chosen Jacob unconditionally, and this wavering spirituality later turned into patriarchal substance. But it shouldn’t have been so long in coming. Jacob, like us, had all the upbringing and evidence he should have needed for a strong and vibrant faith. Instead, his patriarchal qualities only showed up after years in the school of hard knocks and a mysterious wrestling match (Genesis 32:22-32.) The faith of fallen human beings takes time to develop. In Deed Have you been overwhelmed with God’s awesome presence, built monuments to His glory, and then gone on to act with all the steadfastness of an agnostic? If you’re like Jacob—if you’re a human being in need of significant grace—you probably have. The self-will is often so stubborn. The remedy? Remember God’s past graces, but go ahead and count on His future blessings as well. Looking ahead to the promises He has given is a form of worship. Jacob’s “if” prayer was completely unfounded. God is with us. Know that, and live confidently under His lordship.

In Deed Do you trust God as Healer and then, as an afterthought, ask people to pray for your illness? Do you trust God as Provider and then, if you happen to think about it, pray for His supply? Do you trust God as Protector and then, just in case, invest in the best security systems money can buy? Are you an Asa or an Ezra? Human effort in meeting our needs is not a sin. There’s nothing biblically wrong with seeing a doctor, investing wisely, and locking your doors. The sin is in our hearts. Where do we place our hope? On what or whom do we depend? When we think of ministering in Jesus’ name, do we shy away from dangerous places because we’re just not sure God will protect? Do we avoid the expense because we’re just not sure He’ll provide? Has sin caused us to measure our well-being in terms of materials and strategies rather than in the God in whom we believe? God is first. Human effort is second, if at all. In God we trust. In human effort we obey what God tells us to do. But we can’t undermine our prayers with our own resources and then claim that we have faith. Faith actually trusts Him to do what He says He will do. Honor God with your faith, and He will honor your faith with Himself.

In Deed How can your life, your family, and your church impact the world? They have to be supernatural and unexplainable, provocatively over and above all rationalizations. Only then does a status-quo world take notice of a peculiar people. Natural laws are noticeable only when they’re broken. Live a supernatural life. Let God put His dreams into your heart, dreams that are so impossible that only He can fulfill them. Then live by faith in His might—visibly and powerfully. Ask God to make your life and your church unexplainable forces in your world. .

Step Into the Story

Promise, Patience, and a Path

Reading Between the Lines of Your Life

The most recent installment in the Biblical Character Series is Detour, a collection of resources on the life of Joseph. The following is an excerpt from the Detour book:

“

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.” That’s what we were taught in school, isn’t it? In any geometric problem, you could count on this unchanging fact. If you want to know the distance between point A and point B, all you have to do is calculate the length of the straight line between them. That’s an important principle in the world of science and math. It even makes sense in

developing a business plan or managing a project. But in our spiritual life? Hardly anyone has found it to be true. We serve a God who is thoroughly relational, and relationships can never be reduced to formulas, equations, or principles. There are invisible variables, hidden goals, purposeful processes that can’t be measured by human means. So on our journey with God through this life, we rarely walk a straight line. There is too much going on behind the scenes for a straight line to accomplish everything He wants to accomplish.

Step into the Story

(Contd.)

That means that many of the paths we take in our lives look like detours. They don’t make sense to us. Somewhere hardwired deep within our human nature is an expectation that because God is ultimately in charge, He will smooth out His purposes in our lives and lead us directly into them. If anyone can get things done efficiently, it’s Him. All power is at His disposal. So if He gives us a calling, a purpose, or a promise—if He wants us to move from point A to point B—He will be efficient about it. And in our eyes, that means we ought to be able to walk a straight line to get to where we’re going. That false perception has led to countless disappointments among His people. It’s true that God is ultimately in charge, powerfully efficient, and able to accomplish anything He wants. And it’s also true that He gives us specific callings, purposes, and promises to follow. But He sees far more than we will ever see. He knows what needs to happen in our hearts before we get to the destination. He knows what needs to happen in other people’s hearts too. In the ongoing drama of His story, He sees the whole stage and knows how to design the set. Sometimes the movements of various characters need to be orchestrated in detail long before we ever step on the scene. And He is so confident about the end that He can wait with enormous patience for it to unfold. This is the part that frustrates us most—the waiting. It usually doesn’t make sense to us. We’re convinced we’re prepared, we think the timing is right, and we’re ready to move forward. We make an assumption that our lives are linear, that geometric reasoning can be applied to the purposes of God. When His processes don’t flow as quickly or directly as we expect, we may grow disillusioned. We begin to question if He is really in charge at all. Some people even walk away from Him because the middle of the story is so discouraging and the end seems unrealistic. Does He really have a plan?

If so, it doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t even look like a plan. We’re tempted to give up. Detour explores the life of Joseph, who easily could have been tempted to give up and mentally and emotionally walk away from God’s purposes. God had given Joseph clear dreams and a strong sense of purpose, yet his life turned in the opposite direction. The dreams and the purpose seemed impossible. In spite of his integrity, Joseph suffered setback after setback—until God’s winding path took him directly to the fulfillment of all that had been foretold. In Joseph’s life, we see how God worked out His plan in unexpected ways, and what it all means for us. Sometimes we seem to be wandering aimlessly, far removed from our real passions and purposes, just like Joseph did. The roadmap to our destination takes crazy turns and leaves us either scratching our heads or crying out at God. We see in the life of Joseph, as well as many other biblical characters, that this process is not the exception, it’s the norm. This is how God works. It may be excruciating at times, but there is purpose in it. He is writing a bigger story and fitting us into it in ways we cannot yet see. Joseph didn’t give up. He submitted to the process and let God do His thorough, lasting work in his life and in the world around him. He responded to the detours with maturity and extraordinary patience. Because of that, he became a powerful example of how we can respond when life turns in a disappointing direction—and of what God does when we learn to trust His goodness in every situation. Joseph’s life can help you read between the lines of your life and discern what God may be doing. Regardless of where you are in your journey, you are part of His bigger story, and your role in that story is vital—even if it doesn’t make sense right now. .

God is writing a bigger story and fitting us into it in ways we cannot yet see.

For more information on Detour, visit www.biblicalcharacterseries.com. 28

Leader Profile

A Teacher at Heart Alex Colombo, Regional Director for South America

rgentina natives Alejandro and Mirta Colombo had been missionaries in Paraguay for nearly three decades when “Alex” first heard of Walk Thru the Bible. As administrator at a Christian school, he was reading Teaching to Change Lives by Howard Hendricks. At the end of the book, a web address offered more resources on teaching effectively. One click later, Alex was introduced to the organization that would change the course of his ministry. Alex began corresponding with Walk Thru the Bible during that year. The ministry lined up with a career change he had been praying about for years. “The Lord was challenging me to look not only for the country of Paraguay but for my country of origin,” he said. Soon that focus shifted to an entire continent. When Alex connected with Walk Thru the Bible, he began to catch a vision for South America as a whole. So after the 2007 school year ended, Alex began a formal relationship with Walk Thru the Bible that eventually led to his becoming the regional director for South America. He and Mirta moved back to Buenos Aires, where both of their grown daughters were living at the time. “I was praying for six years, but the Lord had prepared everything,” he says. “When it was time, it only took one year.” Alex is a teacher at heart, and he and Mirta both carry a deep burden for families and marriages. That gift and passion intersect in many

of Walk Thru the Bible’s relationship materials. “It is a hard time for families,” he explains, so he organizes marriage retreats across Argentina throughout the year that offer biblical principles to help people become better husbands, wives, and parents. Alex has developed a strong partnership with the Colombian Bible Society, recently helped Walk Thru the Bible re-launch in Chile, and assists work in several other South American countries. He finds it particularly encouraging when he hears of people who are praying for the work there. “It is very important to know that I have prayer support in the field,” he explains, “because it helps me feel that I am not alone.” The work in South America is difficult and often moves slowly, as many trained teachers cover their own expenses in order to teach Walk Thru the Bible events. “They need more support in order to give time to the ministry,” Alex says. In spite of financial limitations, however, Alex is actively looking for more leaders in various denominations to develop the ministry where he can’t. Denominational lines are often rigid in South America, hindering the effectiveness of a cross-denominational ministry. Our resources help him bridge those divisions. In addition to prayers for financial support and the work in general, he adds a specific plea: “Pray for open doors in other denominations.” .

Donor Profile

An Opportunity for Impact David and Brenda Ely

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Can we afford not to go?” David and Brenda Ely jokingly ask that question when considering whether to attend a Walk Thru the Bible donor event. It’s a reference to when they pledged to give a tenth of the proceeds from a pending sale to the ministry years ago, and after making the pledge received an extremely high bid. Both they and the ministry benefited greatly. But the unexpected windfall aside, the Elys genuinely consider their gifts to Walk Thru the Bible as an opportunity to impact the world. They have particular interest in the work in India from one event where they were impacted by then-regional director Dr. Vararuchi Dalivai. And as a Vietnam veteran, David wants to give a portion of their resources to support Southeast Asia. They don’t want to miss a chance to invest in what God is doing in either region, or anywhere else in the world. The Elys connected with Walk Thru the Bible in the 1990s, first by attending church with Bruce and Darlene Wilkinson and John and Diane Hoover, then by attending a donor event in Puerto Rico. That was where they pledged the portion of a sale of trees from some land Brenda had inherited, and were blessed with a higher-than-expected

offer. In the years since, they have become very involved, not only by investing their resources but also by getting to know many of the regional and national leaders who attend events and share about their ministries. “We enjoy being around the actual people our money is going to,” Dave says, describing memorable conversations with international leaders. They also appreciate how efficiently their gifts are used. “I’ve heard that it takes $125,000 to put a missionary family on the field. Can you imagine giving (South Asia director) Vallab Sathyabal that much money and seeing what he could do with it? Or any of the other leaders?” “It makes so much sense,” Brenda says. “They take the message to their own people. They don’t have to learn the language or customs and wait to be accepted into society. They are already there.” The couple has always felt a connection with Walk Thru the Bible’s vision of multiplying disciples through training and resources. “We know our money is going directly to the ministry and toward discipling people. We really like that aspect of it.” So much that they feel like they can’t afford not to be involved. .

“We know our money is going directly to the ministry.”

The Last Word

y first encounter with the Appalachian Trail was the spring of 1969. I was 10, and it was an overnight trip to Dragon’s Tooth in southwest Virginia. I grew up a stone’s throw from the trail and spent my childhood years in its shadow. It was not uncommon to make last minute decisions for a day hike to McAfee’s Knob, Humpback Rock, or Mount Rogers. Sometimes things convenient and accessible and easy are taken for granted. But even though the Appalachian Trail was all of those things to me, I never took it for granted. It inspires, motivates, and challenges me. Always has. Always will. There is a richness to the trail. The breadth of flora and fauna is staggering. The geology is fascinating. The micro-climates are numerous. You see amazing things, like sunrises that pierce the morning fog like beams of light at a laser show. Sunsets that defy the color palette. Waking up to hoar frost clinging to every single branch on every tree on every ridge that makes you think you are in a world made of glass. It’s hard to hike the trail and not see the God of the universe in all His grandeur and awesomeness. But the most amazing thing I ever saw on the trail was in 1985. As I rounded a bend in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, I witnessed a tug of war. On one side there was a tiny, collegeage girl. In the middle, the object of the tug-of-war was a brand new red, Jansport 3D backpack. And opposite the tiny little girl was a big ol’ black bear. I stopped and stared. My jaw dropped. I was at a loss for words. The tug of war only lasted 30 seconds. After it was over, I asked the girl, “What the heck were you thinking?” She said, “Brand new pack. My first trip with it. No way I was giving it up without a fight.” This issue of Pathways reminded me of that tug-of-war on the trail so many years ago. There is a sense today in which God’s Word is in a tug-of-war. On one side are those who seek to understand life through the lens of God’s Word. On the other side are those who try to understand God’s Word solely through the lens of the prevailing culture. Author Leander Keck calls it “faith seeking understanding” as opposed to “understanding seeking faith.” You see, your starting point makes all the difference in the world. Will you start with faith? With the Word? Or will you start with your own experience and the culture in which you live? Will you conform your life to God’s Word? Or will you make God’s Word conform to your life? Paul says it like this in Romans 12: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. Life and culture can change you. Alter you. Break you. But God’s Word can transform you. Make you new. Heal. That’s why we have a passion at Walk Thru the Bible to help you engage the Word, experience it, and love it. And the tiny little girl in the tug-of-war over her brand new backpack? She won. The bear went away empty handed. And hungry.

John Houchens Senior VP for Advancement/International

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In the next issue of Pathways: From European-style cities to remote rainforests, South America presents both challenges and opportunities for biblical discipleship.

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