Paths v4n2 2015 spring

News & Views from Walk Thru the Bible

Defying Trends in the UK The Philippines

Discipleship of a Nation Weekly Devotionals for Spring

Spring 2015

Walk Thru the Bible 4201 North Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30341 www.walkthru.org Volume 4, Number 2 Spring 2015 Published quarterly President Phil Tuttle Vice President of Advancement Michael Gunnin Editor Chris Tiegreen Designer Michael Koiner Contributors Chris Tiegreen Emily Tuttle Derrick Lim Jay Raymund Alvaran Dave Domingo

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

© 2015 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 Biblica.

Used by permission of Zondervan.

All rights reserved.

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n the surface, this issue of Pathways might look like a study in contrasts.

On one hand, the United Kingdom appears to be a post-Christian society where teaching the Bible is difficult and churches are struggling. At the other end of the spectrum is the Philippines, where the Bible is welcomed in nearly every segment of society and we just launched a course with more than 6,000 in attendance. But if you look closely, you’ll notice common themes: God is alive and well in both countries. People in both societies are hungry for truth. And, as with everywhere else in the world, hearts are longing to be a part of something larger than themselves.

That’s true of you and me too. It’s why we at Walk Thru the Bible do what we do. We long for significance, and we want to make an eternal impact for God’s kingdom. We can’t manufacture spiritual fruit, of course, but we can trust Him for it. He works through people who step out in faith and dependence on Him. Virtually everything you see in this issue of Pathways is an outcom e of trusting God—trust that He will accomplish His purposes, that He will bring people into relationship with Him, that He will provide the funds for carrying out the work. In the pages that follow, you will read about how our team in the U.K. is taking advantage of great opportunities to reach the next generation with the truth of Scripture; how our team in the Philipp ines envisions discipling an entire nation; how Middle East leaders press ahead in uncertain times; and how our leaders and supporters trustingly pour themselves out for the sake of others. And you’ll also find weekly devotionals on trust itself.

I hope you’ll enjoy this opportunity to see what Walk Thru the Bible is doing around the world, and I hope it reinforces your trust in God’s goodness to His people. He is doing great things in many places, and we can all be thankful to be a part of them.

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 2015

VOL. 4

NO. 2

Features

6 Defying Trends with the Word

Teaching the Bible in a Culture That Has Forgotten It The United Kingdom has a rich Christian history— and a current trend of moving away from it. Walk Through the Bible U.K. is doing something about that.

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The Direction of a Nation

Detour and Discipleship in the Philippines Our partners in the Philippines envision a wave of modern-day Josephs to influence their nation, and are using the story of Joseph to raise it up.

Devotionals 22 T G rusting

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Weekly readings excerpted from indeed magazine

departments

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New at Walk Thru the Bible

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Regional News

Our new vice president of Advancement Highlights from around the world

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Country Profile

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Step Into the Story

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Leader Profile

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Donor Profile

United Kingdom

A Vital Ministry in the Middle East: and How You Can Help A Friend of Churches Chae Lee, director for South Korea The Value of Relationships Jim and Kathy Fountain

What’s New @ Walk Thru New Advancement VP >

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alk Thru the Bible welcomed Michael Gunnin as its new vice president for advancement in December.

Michael most recently worked at Biblica (formerly International Bible Society) as its southeast regional representative. He has also been a pastor and has served in development roles in Christian higher education and international ministry. He is a graduate of Point University (formerly Atlanta Christian College) and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

The Best Story . . . Ever! >

Jesus in the OT >

his spring, Walk Thru the Bible adds to its long history of publishing devotional books with a new family oriented book, The Best Story . . . Ever! This devotional, subtitled How God So Loved the World, includes 36 20-minute readings, each focusing on an Old Testament story— “God’s Rainbow Promise” about the flood, and “God Chooses a Man and Makes a Family” about Abraham, for example.

Each story reading is followed by a Scripture reading (“Let’s Read God’s Word”); questions for family members to discuss (“Let’s Talk”); and then either “Living God’s Word,” which emphasizes applying biblical truth practically, or “Knowing God’s Word,” which explains a biblical concept like sin or covenant. The chapter concludes with “Let’s Pray,” with guided suggestions for making prayers personal.

The Best Story . . . Ever! will be available in April. See www. walkthru.org/resources for more details.

esus in the Old Testament? Of course He’s there, and not just in prophecies about the coming Messiah. He wasn’t a last-minute thought or Plan B. God foreshadowed His coming from the very beginning.

Jesus in the Old Testament, a six-week guide for small-group discussions or individual study, takes readers through every section of Hebrew Scripture to discover hints, images, and direct references to Jesus. As part of the God’s Grand Story series of resources, Jesus in the Old Testament can be used as part of the God’s Grand Story churchwide campaign or by itself.

Each session of Jesus in the Old Testament includes five devotional readGod’s Grand Story ings, pages for notes and journaling, questions for discussion or personal reflection, and leader’s notes. It will be available in April. Look for details at www.walkthru.org/ resources.

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“Walk Thru the Bible is a perfect place for my passion and calling to help people find joy in learning the Bible,” Michael said. “I love to connect people’s desire to give with opportunities to see their gifts make a significant impact in the Kingdom.”

Michael said he is drawn to Walk Thru the Bible because of the unique and creative ways the ministry helps people engage with God’s Word. “I’m looking forward to seeing us build on our nearly 40-year history and launch into a season of growth and expansion.”

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A resource from the

Series

Regional News Asia > God’s Grand Story, our campaign that immerses entire congregations in God’s Word for six weeks, was launched in South Asia in October and November—initially in 337 participating churches (though the number is growing) with more than 20,000 participants. An additional 18,000 people attended services for the sermon component of the campaign. The small group component included 952 small groups.

This launch was the beginning of an initiative that will reach about 1.2 million participants over the next year, and many more in years to come. The material has been translated into 12 languages for use in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.

Many participants in the initial launch have commented on how the teaching affected them. “I did not realize how little I knew until going through the Old Testament event,” said one lifelong Christian. An assistant pastor with no formal training remarked on how useful the course will be not

only in his personal growth but also in his ministry. “The daily readings have changed my perspective of the Old Testament,” added a small group participant.

Studies have shown that church attendance and Bible reading alone do not necessarily prompt transformation in a person’s life, but when someone engages in God’s Word at least four times a week, his or her growth and understanding increase significantly.

God’s Grand Story guides every ministry of a church through Scripture to help immerse each participant in the Bible daily until it becomes a long-term practice.

Latin America > Daniel Benitez of Spain taught a Walk Thru the Old Testament event in Cienfuegos, Cuba, to more than 140 people in November.

But this was not a typical Old Testament event. It was the firstever presentation for the visually impaired. About 60 attendees were blind, another 40 had severe visual impairment, and another 40 had other disabilities.

How was such a visually oriented course presented to people without sight?

The manual has been developed in Braille, and another largeprint version was available for those with limited sight. Trained monitors who had already been through a Walk Thru the

Old Testament event in Spanish were placed around the room to assist with hand signs. And each gesture was explained so participants could understand the reason behind each movement.

Throughout the event, the blind and partially blind were cooperating in learning the new signs together. Please pray for opportunities to conduct more events in Cuban churches.

Africa > At least 200 churches have already committed to participate in the initial launch of God’s Grand Story in Burundi. The component materials—a small group discussion guide with daily readings, sermon outlines, and DVD recordings—have been translated into local languages, and leaders in Burundi hope to eventually reach 1,000 churches and 500,000 participants. .

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Defying Trends with the Word

Teaching the Bible in a Culture That Has Forgotten It

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innea wanted to attend a Bible school, but she wasn’t drawn to any near her home in Sweden. So she began her search like most people do today; she Googled. In the process, she discovered Capernwray Bible School—a nine–month, residential program of Bible study at Capernwray Hall in northwestern England near Lancaster.

So Linnea moved from Sweden to the United Kingdom, excited about spending the year learning the Bible in preparation for wherever her career happens to take her after completing her education. Like many Capernwray students, she has planned other studies later. But she knows that being rooted in Scripture is vital to whatever calling and career she follows. It’s worth a year away from college or a job opportunity.

Capernwray is the first and largest of 21 affiliated Bible schools around the world—“the Capernwray Missionary Fellowship of Torchbearers.” It began in 1947 and continues to influence generations with Christ-centered biblical teaching. It has a definite appeal not only for its program but also for its location in the rolling hills of Lancashire and proximity to England’s beautiful lake district. The large, castle-like house was built in 1805 on 175 acres of property and remains surrounded by meadows, sheep, and dry stone walls. In other words, it’s a quintessential English setting.

This year, 172 students from around the world—some from the U.K., but many more from continental Europe, North America, Africa, and

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Asia—enrolled for study at Capernwray. Like Linnea, they are looking for a life-changing encounter with God’s Word, but unlike her, most knew someone before coming—a pastor, siblings, friends, or parents (“this is where my parents met” is oftspoken background information). Whether from Kenya or Kansas, they love God but want to know His Word better than they do. And they want it to sink deep into their hearts and guide them for life.

As in every year, one of students’ first experiences after arriving at Capernwray was a Walk Thru the Old Testament event taught by Paul Keeys, director of Walk Through the Bible U.K. (yes, it’s spelled differently there). He begins by asking what they hope to learn from his presentation. “I want to understand what happens after 2 Samuel,” one says. “Where can we see Jesus in the Old Testament?” asks another. Then for two days, Paul presents the overview of the biblical story, complete with hand signs, interesting facts, and key characters, events, and themes.

It’s the perfect kickoff to this year of learning,

Paul Keeys leads more than 170 students in Walk Thru the Old Testament at Capernwray, a Bible school in northwestern England.

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and it’s followed a month later with Walk Thru the New Testament. The leaders of Capernwray invite Paul back every year because the events are engaging and effective, and they immediately draw the students into their studies. Throughout the year, they will dive deeper into the biblical text. But because of Walk Through the Bible U.K., they are able to begin with a firm grasp of the big picture.

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alk Through the Bible U.K. celebrated its 30th anniversary last year. As in the U.S., the ministry began with the Walk Thru the Old Testament and Walk Thru the New Testament events, and that instruction has continued throughout the three decades. There are currently about 20 active instructors who teach about 100 events a year, and the teaching has broad appeal across denominations—Church of England, Methodist, Catholic, Pentecostal, and many more. Paul has taught not only at schools like Capernwray but also at institutions like the London School of Theology. Few

ministries can claim that sort of reach, but that has been one of the hallmarks of Walk Thru the Bible in most regions of the world. In focusing on the biblical story, it naturally explores common beliefs between Christian groups.

That focus also enables Walk Through the Bible U.K. to teach in public schools. Religious education is a requirement in the U.K. for the final two years of primary school, but only for instruction that is “non-denominational, non-confessional, and non-conversionary.” In other words, it has to be instruction about religion rather than persuasion for a religion. But adapted versions of the Old Testament and New Testament events—called “Bible Explorer” in the U.K.—accomplish that for instruction in both Judaism and Christianity, thus fulfilling the curriculum requirement. That makes it easy on teachers, most of whom don’t want to fulfill the religious instruction requirement themselves.

And it also enables Walk Through the Bible to give students a memorable, educational, and positive impression of what the Bible is—an alternative impression from the one secular society gives them.

It gets kids excited about Scripture.

Beyond schools, many event attendees in the U.K., especially those in more traditional churches, don’t know what to expect when they come to a Walk Thru the Old Testament event, but virtually all enjoy the experience. More than 95 percent who respond to the questions at the end of the event say they would recommend it to a friend. That can only happen when a ministry is good about adapting to its audiences over time, which Walk Through the Bible U.K. has done well.

“I think when we started 30 years ago, we saw it primarily as an educational ministry,” Paul says. “That’s still true in schools, of course, but in churches we’ve morphed beyond educational to inspirational ministry. We want to inspire people.

What are you going to do with what you’ve learned? How does the Bible impact the way we live our lives, deal with our neighbors, and live day to day? That has changed a little from the beginning, even though our primary focus has remained the same.”

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Capernwray Hall was built in 1805 and has been used as a Christian center since 1947.

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hat’s a needed focus in the United Kingdom, which, like most western countries, faces a host of issues in an increasingly pluralistic, multicultural—and decidedly secular—society.

There was a time when the British Isles were the hub of the modern missionary movement and home to many of western Christianity’s most influential figures. Many believers around the world can trace their spiritual heritage back to people like William Carey, David Livingstone (Scotland), Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael (Northern Ireland), Rees Howells (Wales), C. T. Studd, and more. It’s where Wilberforce stood for justice and Spurgeon preached the gospel.

Now nearly a third of the U.K.’s population claims no religious affiliation, and many are outspoken against Christianity and religion in general. The 20th century undermined both the British Empire and British spiritual foundations, though in rather separate ways, and as a postmodern worldview has risen in influence, church has in many ways been marginalized. Secular society is “headed up by highly intelligent people,” Paul says.

“They have a great voice in the media, and they know how to make Christians and Muslims look ignorant.”

Islam is another front. The increasing Muslim population, with a correlating rise in the number of mosques, is seen as a threat not only among Christians but across British society. Recent events in France and elsewhere—the Charlie Hebdo massacre, for one example—have raised the question of whether terrorism will erupt in the U.K. as well.

“People are worried,” Paul says. “There’s a certain level of panic.”

But Christians in the British Isles also face struggles from within. Denominations and churches tend to emphasize differences, even though there are plenty of areas of unity. As with Western Christianity in general, they are splintered on current hot-button social issues like sexuality and abortion, as well as ministry methodology and policies. That’s why Walk Through the Bible’s approach of emphasizing areas of agreement and exploring common beliefs in the Bible is so needed and valuable. It’s a unifying voice in a fractured Christian culture.

Walk Through the Bible U.K. reaches 30,000 students a year, most of whom have no other exposure to the Bible.

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hat this voice is so freely allowed into public schools may seem surprising, even with the caveat that the Bible Explorer program simply teaches the biblical story without preaching it. In fact, some parents do question the school system when their children come home raving about the Old or New Testament stories. A few ask why this “Christian rubbish” is being promoted.

The answer, of course, is that it’s part of the syllabus.

Each school can choose two religions to teach in the last two grades of primary school. Some feel compelled to teach Islam because of its rising influence in the area. Others might opt for Hinduism, especially in and around London, which has a significant Indian population. But Bible Explorer’s Old and New Testament instruction covers both Judaism and Christianity, each in five one-hour sessions that fulfill the requirement. And because from a teacher’s perspective it’s an entertaining, easy-access program

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that holds students’ attention, it’s an attractive choice for many. Walk Through the Bible reaches 30,000 students a year, most of whom have no other exposure to the Bible than what they learn in those five or ten hours.

“It used to be such a key thing for parents to pass on stories to their kids,” Paul says. “Now they have iPads or watch TV. So when kids go to school and hear a teacher telling great stories—whether Shakespearean or biblical or anything else—they are fascinated.”

The result is that students come away with a positive impression of the Bible and general knowledge of its major themes. Most British students (and adults, for that matter) can’t name the four gospels or identify the basics of the Christian faith.

And studies show that the religious instruction requirement in public schools has not significantly changed that—in general. But that isn’t true for schools that use the Bible Explorer program from Walk Through the Bible. It’s far more memorable

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and engaging than most of the other options. Students are actually excited by what they learn.

So the roughly 350 Bible Explorer presenters continue to teach the Old and New Testaments in schools across the country—for now. But the window of opportunity probably won’t last forever.

“This requirement may not stay in the curriculum many years longer,” Paul says. “Because of the hassles between faiths, secular society increasingly believes this would be a better world if we could have education without religious instruction.

“If the government decides we can no longer go into schools, we’ll need to move quickly into another area to reach this generation,” Paul says.

“But I don’t know how else we will reach them if not through the schools. They certainly aren’t coming into churches.”

So the school program is a vital ministry as long as the window of opportunity remains open.

But Paul and the Walk Through the Bible team are also trying to think creatively about ways to reach

adults who don’t come to church or who come only occasionally. Walk Thru the Old Testament and New Testament reach committed Christians on Saturdays and other special events, but with some innovative tweaking, perhaps they could reach congregations on Sundays, when less committed Christians and seekers attend.

A new emphasis on biblical storytelling Paul calls “Talk the Word”—the “orality” method Walk Thru the Bible U.S. has been exploring in recent years—is also reaching audiences without the lengthy time commitment of an Old or New Testament event. It involves simply telling a biblical story and then involving the audience in asking questions, making observations, and exploring the core truths.

“Churches love it,” Paul says. “I don’t think a single church has had us once and then not asked us back to do it again from a different passage. I’m 100 percent convinced it’s going to expand.”

That’s the hope of Walk Through the Bible U.K. in every area of ministry—Old and New Testament events, Bible Explorer instruction in schools, higher education events like Bible schools and seminaries, teaching congregations through Talk the Word or other adaptive approaches, and even leading frequent tours to the Holy Land. In a secular culture often antagonistic to God’s Word, Walk Through the Bible is patiently, persistently helping every generation become more deeply rooted in it. .

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Country Profile

United Kingdom the world) Population: 63.7 million (23rd in dle ; Asian 6.3%; European 3.3%; Mid Ethnicity: Anglo-Saxon/Celtic 85% /Caribbean 1.4%; other 1.1% Eastern/West Asian 1.9%; African ttish regionally recognized: Scots, Sco Language: English (official); also Gaelic, Welsh, Irish, Cornish cy monarchy, parliamentary democra Political system: Constitutional in the world, slightly smaller than Geography: 77th largest country Oregon an, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Religion: Christian 59.5% (Anglic slim 4.4%; Hindu 1.3%; other Methodist are largest groups); Mu up to 34%) 2%; none 25.7% (some estimates

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he United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) has been a Christian nation and a political, cultural, and economic leader in Western civilization for centuries. The Anglican Church is recognized as the Established Church of England, and the Presbyterian Church is recognized as the Church of Scotland. Secularism grew throughout the 20th century, and today between one-quarter and one-third of the country claims no religious affiliation.

Prayer needs: As in most Western countries, the United Kingdom has experienced cultural and religious tension with the rising influence of cultural minorities. The church feels pressure from secular society and from the growth of Islam. It also experiences quite a bit of tension from within, as Christians debate ministry methodology as well as a range of pressing social issues. Pray for: • unity within the church. Pray that Christians would keep their focus on their common love for the Lord and His mission and not get distracted by less-important differences.

• a winsome Christian witness in the midst of cultural clashes. Pray that Christians’ reputation and testimony would grow stronger in the eyes of secular society, the Islamic community, and other nonChristian groups.

• Walk Through the Bible–United Kingdom. Pray that the ministry would continue to have open doors in the public school system and that it would continue to find creative ways to reach churches and the communities they serve. .

Sources: U.S. Department of State (www.state.gov), CIA World Factbook (www.cia.gov), and Operation World

by Jason Mandryk, 7th edition, ©2010.

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Direction of a Nation

The

Detour and Discipleship in the Philippines

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ear the end of His time on earth, Jesus told His followers to go and make disciples of all nations. If discipling an individual means teaching that person to surrender all aspects of his or her life and character to God, discipling a nation means reaching people in all spheres of society with the gospel and teaching them to live for the kingdom. It means changing the direction of an entire nation by changing the people in it.

The Walk Thru the Bible Philippines team is well on their way to making disciples of their nation.

By leveraging the power of individual relationships, they are reaching people at every level of society in the Philippines with the truth of Scripture. From schools to offices to the military to families, the team is putting biblical resources into the hands of people who can influence the future of their country.

In November, Phil Tuttle and a team traveled to Manila to launch one of the ministry’s newest courses, Detour, on the life of Joseph. Christ’s Commission Fellowship, one of the most influential churches in the Philippines, hosted the event, and its pastor, Dr. Peter Tan-Chi, taught the course

alongside Phil.

More than 6,000 people from all over the Philippines came to learn from Joseph’s life. Some drove 13 hours to get to Manila from southern Luzon, and others flew in from Palawan, Cebu, and Mindanao to represent all the major island groups in the country.

Walk Thru the Bible’s national director for the Philippines, Federico Tancongco—known to friends as Fetan— describes the widespread reach this event had among the Filipino people: “A cross section of Philippine society was represented socially and geographically. There were lawyers, doctors, military officers, people in media, athletes, college professors, heads of seminaries, students, whole church pastoral and administrative staff, small group leaders, overseas workers, and entire families. It’s difficult to think of a demographic that was not represented.”

Fetan’s own family bought 50 tickets to the event so they could invite their friends and family.

“We invited professionals, students, officemates, former classmates, nephews and nieces, anyone we felt would be blessed by it. The youngest was 17,

Filipinos are no strangers to tragedies and unforeseen detours.

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the oldest was 60,” he said.

The story of Joseph’s life is especially meaningful to the Filipino people. Situated in one of the most natural-disaster-prone places in the world, they are no strangers to tragedies and unforeseen detours that change their life plans. More than 12 million Filipinos are living and working in other countries, and many of their large extended families are spread out around the world. The first two sessions of Detour about Joseph’s family and his work were deeply relevant to most of the people who attended.

But the final two sessions about forgiveness and Joseph’s legacy made the biggest impact.

Phil and Peter Tan-Chi alternated teaching, using personal stories from the critical moments in their lives to connect Joseph’s story with our lives today.

Years ago, when Peter and his wife, Deonna, were out leading a Bible study, their oldest daughter, Joy, and two of her friends were brutally raped in their home. A gang of men broke into the house with guns, tied up all the children, and took the girls from room to room, raping them repeatedly.

Christ’s Commission Fellowship, a non-denominational church in Manila, hosted the nationwide launch of Detour.

Right, Dr. Peter Tan-Chi co-taught the event with Phil Tuttle.

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In the aftermath of the trauma, the Tan-Chis had to decide how to move forward as a family. Through much counseling, prayer, and support, they made the decision together to forgive the men who had violated their daughter.

Joy told her story at the Detour event, Deonna shared how she dealt with the experience as a mother, and Peter spoke as a father about his decision to forgive the men who hurt his family.

As Peter taught about forgiveness in the face of impossible injustice, many people wept and made decisions to forgive people in their own lives. Hundreds committed their lives to Christ.

Across the country over the next few days, radio hosts talked about the Detour conference and more people got to hear about the amazing impact of Joseph’s story. The ministry workers who attended the event said over and over how excited they were to go out and continue the work God has called them to after being reinvigorated by such a large gathering of so many diverse groups of people in their country.

This event has laid a strong foundation for incredible future ministry impact in the Philippines. The conference saw leaders from many denominations in the Filipino church who normally do not cooperate come together because they love the way Walk Thru the Bible resources avoid doctrinal divisions and speak truth to people’s hungry hearts. Invitations have already begun to flow in to host more events around the country.

Pastor Tan-Chi’s dream is to develop modern-day Josephs across the Philippines and around the world. By equipping men and women in every sphere of society with the truth of the gospel and the tools they need to influence the people around them, an entire nation can be changed. This Detour event was a huge step toward raising up a new generation of Josephs ready to make disciples of their nation. .

See the one-minute highlight video at www.walkthru.org/DetourPhilippines.

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Into the Word w e e k l y

d e v o t i o n a l s

o n

Trusting God

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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 30–April 5 Isaiah 37

Trust Uncompromised This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the point of birth and there is no strength to deliver them.

(Isaiah 37:3) In Word God had invested a lot in Israel. The nation had been through seasons of exuberant celebration over God’s mercies and power, and it had been through seasons of open rebellion and dreadful consequences. Through it all, God had been faithful, upholding His covenant even while disciplining His

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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.

children. But now the situation looked bleak. The Assyrians were surrounding Jerusalem and had the power to destroy it. King Hezekiah was in a jam.

The questions God had addressed through Isaiah in the first thirty-five chapters of the book all led up to this point: Is our God unique, or is He one of many gods among the nations? Does salvation come through political alliances or through God’s power? When circumstances look impossible, can compromise make the best of a bad situation?

We know the answers to these questions, especially having read Israel’s history and Isaiah’s prophecy. We know the end of the story. But if we were within the walls of a surrounded city listening to the taunts of a God-mocking general who had already destroyed all the cities he’d previously attacked, we might waver between faith and compromise as

Hezekiah did. We might see our nation, church, or family as a project God had started but was now aborting. We might feel the shame of bringing a baby to term and not having the strength to deliver it.

In Deed As uncomfortable as it is, that’s a great situation to be in if—and only if— it prompts us to put down our strategies and trust in God. Those who compromise their worship of God by bowing to the dictates of circumstances will never find rest. But biblical faith looks beyond walls, surrounding armies, and excruciating labor pains. It sees the God above them all, and it believes.

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Isaiah 37

Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 6:25-34

April 6-12

April 13-19

April 20-26

Fear Undone

Above Our Worries

First Things First

I am going to put a spirit in him so that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword. (Isaiah 37:7)

“Do not worry about your life. . . . Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

(Matthew 6:25, 33)

“Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”

(Matthew 6:25)

In Word In the midst of a desperate situation, Isaiah gave Hezekiah the reassurance he needed: “Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me” (v. 6). In other words, Hezekiah was to ignore the fact that a powerful army was surrounding him. He was to look instead to the character of the God who made a commitment to the kingdom long, long ago. He was reminded to focus on who was really in charge.

That advice is easy to hear and to accept as God’s voice. For many of us, however, it’s nearly impossible to follow.

We want to believe it. We say we believe it. We just have a hard time keeping our minds off of the threats. We worry about what will happen next and how we’ll manage to deal with it. We play out scenarios in our minds about all the possibilities before us, calculating our responses to almost endless variations. We become downright obsessive.

The words of God in verse 7 ought to remind us how silly our obsessions can be. God can put a spirit of any kind into an enemy or a situation. He doesn’t manipulate the human race like a puppeteer, but He certainly knows how to use our moods, decisions, and circumstances for His purposes. And when those who oppose His kingdom have made a stand for their own agenda, He can harden a heart (like Pharaoh’s) or instill fear (as He did with the king of Assyria) to thwart them. God’s desire is to establish His own plan. If we’re in line with it, we have nothing to fear.

In Word We most often read the instructions of Jesus as messages about us.

But there is another meaning to them all.

They are all messages about God as well.

We know what this statement says about us—that we are worriers by nature. But what does it say about God? That if Jesus is in a position to tell us not to worry, it must mean that His Father is aware of our needs and our future, and able to do something about them both.

We often get such advice from friends. “Don’t worry. It will be okay.”

But this is just advice, encouraging words meant to help us keep a positive outlook.

Our friends can really do nothing to change a stressful situation other than be with us as we walk through it. Jesus can do more than this. His encouragement comes from His intimate knowledge of the Father.

His words are more than gentle advice. He knows something we don’t know.

In Deed Ask God today how His heart perceives your circumstances. Draw near to Him in intimacy and let Him whisper His plans in your ear. You’ll be encouraged by what you hear. He’s sovereign, and nothing can thwart His purposes for you.

Lay down your obsessive fears, and be fascinated with His goodness instead.

In Deed What Jesus knows is this: God feeds and clothes His children. No one who trusts in Him is abandoned by Him. They may go through hardship; they may even die. But never before He specifically allows it in His own timing. Never is their provision beyond His purview. While the pagan world takes provision as each individual’s responsibility, Jesus says the initiative is God’s.

Above our worries is an active Provider with a perfect sense of timing. He is in control, even when we aren’t sure how tomorrow’s needs will be met. When we run after provision, we are running after the wrong thing, something that God has claimed as His domain. We are to run after His kingdom and righteousness. That’s what we were made for.

In Word If other people were to calculate how we spend our time, or the allocations in our checkbook, what would they say about our values? Would they notice the kingdom as our highest priority?

Would they say we truly know what life is about?

We are told not to worry about what we will eat or drink. Why do we have that tendency? And why would God turn our attention away from it? The answer to the first “why” is that we get our priorities mixed up. We spend all our time trying to sustain ourselves so that we might experience and enjoy life. But we never get around to experiencing and enjoying life because we’re spending all our time on sustaining it. Our priorities are wrong.

The answer to the second “why” is that God wants us to invest in what is valuable. In spite of all the obsessiveness about food in our culture, and in spite of all the billions spent on marketing the latest “look,” these things are temporary. In the eternal scheme of things, food and clothes and other externals have no significance.

They are not valuable. They only support what is valuable—life. We act as though the wrapping is more important than the gift. We don’t recognize real value.

In Deed What are we to do with mixedup priorities and misplaced values? Lay them aside. Look at what God does with His birds and His lilies. They spend all their lives just “being” for the glory of God. We spend all our lives just “doing,” often for the glory of something less. We need Jesus to come along and radically revise our conception of things. He takes our upside-down thinking here and turns it upright, the way God intended it. He urges us to measure our priorities by the ones God has for us.

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Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Psalm 40:1-5

Mark 4:35-41

Matthew 14:22-33

April 27–May 3

May 4-10

May 11-17

Naked Faith

Don’t Worry

Sovereign . . . and Good

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust. (Psalm 40:4)

“Quiet! Be still!” (Mark 4:39)

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)

In Word Those of us who claim a relationship with God have placed our trust in Him. But when it comes to daily living, we tend to trust a lot of other sources of help as well. Few of us have learned to trust the Lord alone. We usually trust the Lord and financial resources, medical research, counselors’ advice, popular opinion, or any number of other avenues of assistance.

None of these in themselves are necessarily false helps. The issue is our heart attitude of trust. Do we know in our hearts where our help really comes from? It comes from God. David claims that the person who makes the Lord his trust will be “blessed”—utterly happy, spiritually prosperous, envied, and honored. God’s “shalom”—His peace and wellness—will be upon him. The picture is of someone who has forsaken all confidence in other things and cast himself without reservation—even recklessly—on God. It is a naked faith, with no human props to fall back on. It is a spiritual placing of all eggs in one basket.

This kind of trust requires a certain amount of courage. It hangs everything on an invisible God. It does not hedge its bets but believes that God, as He is revealed in His Word, will act toward us as we have been told He will. But in the end, it is the safest trust there is. God has never failed anyone who has invested all hopes in Him. In Deed How pure is your trust? Are you using God to fill in the gaps around your other sources of help? Do you have a plan B if God doesn’t intervene the way you want Him to? If so, do not expect the blessedness of being abandoned to Him. That only comes with a pure, unbridled faith in God alone. No false idols, no confidence in the flesh, no backup plans, no pride. Make the Lord your exclusive trust, and expect to be blessed.

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In Word There is something profoundly comforting about the fact that Jesus can immediately quiet the winds and waves that besiege us. It doesn’t matter whether they are forces of nature, forces of the underworld (see the next passage, Mark 5:1-20, for an example), forces of the circumstances that surround us, or forces of our own creation. Whatever is out of control, He can control it.

The unsettling part of this is that He often doesn’t. We, like the disciples on the boat, have fretted over threatening forces and said to Him: “Don’t you care if we drown?” (v. 38). And while we can certainly assume that He cares, we cannot assume that the winds will die down right away. Sometimes He lets them rage.

Perhaps it is to prolong the question of verse 40—”Do you still have no faith?”—or to cultivate in us the right answer to that question. Whatever the reason, it is alarming, and we cannot calm down until we are able to join in the affirmation of verse 41—“Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Only when we are there can we rest.

The assurance we have is that He will bring us there. It is a certainty, just as certain as the disciples’ safety in the boat that day. He was not going to let them drown, no matter how afraid they became.

Even when it seemed all else was completely out of control, He wasn’t. There was purpose in His silence, and there was good timing in His rebuke of the elements.

He doesn’t miss a thing.

In Deed What threatens you? Are you feeling out of control? Perhaps the elements have frightened you out of your wits. Don’t worry. He is the absolute authority over everything in your life, if you will trust Him with it. There is perfect timing in His commands, and your storm will not linger a moment too long. Recognize who He is—even join in His rest in the back of the boat. Learn that when you are with Him, every threat is a false one.

In Word How often we need to hear these words from Jesus! We grow weak when the troubles of life threaten us. Difficult trials come, and we grow suspicious of God, wondering if His will for us might be too hard this time. We let fear invade us and paralyze us. All the while, we forget two unalterable facts that the Bible emphasizes again and again—God is sovereign, and He is good.

There is nothing beyond God’s control. Old Testament stories of the Red Sea, Jericho, Goliath, captivities, fiery furnaces, lions’ dens, and the like should have convinced the disciples that even when perilous threats arise, God always uses them purposely to further establish His people. Jesus affirms the sovereignty of God; He numbers the hairs of our heads and watches over sparrows. When this Jesus walks across life-threatening waters and says, “It is I,” fear should vanish. God is sovereign.

But God’s sovereignty often means nothing to us unless we also know that He is good. An evil or dispassionate god could be sovereign, and we would not trust him.

But the disciples should also have known from the Old Testament that the sovereign God is kindly disposed toward His people.

He shepherds them, shelters them, nourishes them, and delivers them. Jesus has also made this clear: The Father gives good things to His children and blesses them.

When His Son walks across life-threatening waters and says “It is I,” it is not for further danger. It is for relief. God is good.

In Deed The wind and waves of this world are harsh. When we obsess about them, we grow suspicious of God’s power and goodwill. Our courage fails us. But anyone who has a hard time making it through the storms of this life needs to clutch these truths like a lifeline that will pull him or her to safety. God’s sovereign power supervises everything that comes into our lives, no matter how threatening it appears. And He is—in His unchanging nature—very, very good.

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

John 14:1-4

Matthew 26:36-39

Luke 10:21

May 18-24

May 25-31

June 1-7

The Immovable Rock

A Matter of Trust

Pleasure in Trust

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

(John 14:1)

“Not as I will, but as you will.”

(Matthew 26:39)

In Word Jesus is preparing His disciples for the most catastrophic experience they will ever face—His execution. Their Messiah, their Liberator, their political Savior is about to die a shameful death. Their hopes for revolution against Rome will be sealed in a guarded tomb. They will suffer despair and disillusionment. Their world will be rocked.

We know the end of the story; we do not despair when we read of Jesus’ preparation for death. Our hearts are not troubled, because we know of the Resurrection and the power of the gospel. No, our hearts are troubled about other things. We see what is going on in the world around us and wonder if the end is near. We hear of wars and rumors of wars. We are panicked by falling towers and biological pathogens.

We notice that the site of the Crucifixion is once again the most controversial plot of land on the planet. And we worry.

Jesus says “don’t.” Our hearts should not be troubled. Even if all hell breaks loose around us—and for the disciples, it quite literally did—there is a place of supreme safety beneath the surface of those turbulent waters. Jesus dwells there, and He allows us to dwell with Him even now. The world cannot touch the one who rests in Jesus’ care, however brutal it becomes. It may threaten all that is corruptible—our possessions and our bodies—but it can never harm our lives.

In Word Jesus taught us to pray like this, resigning our will to that of the Father (Matthew 6:10). And then He went out and followed His own teaching. It is a mystery to us that there might be some discrepancy between the Father’s will and the Son’s, though we can certainly understand the impulses of human flesh resisting the torture of the Cross. But with us, there is no mystery. There is frequently a divergence between the divine will and ours; we face constant tension between our impulses and His direction.

In our prayer life, this is especially troublesome. We know how to pray for our desires, but we wonder whether our desires are consistent with His. We are told to pray specifically, but taught to pray according to His will. And when we don’t know the specifics of His will, this is a problem. How do we overcome it?

George Müller, the nineteenthcentury believer who ran orphanages entirely on faith, said that in every prayer he sought to begin with no will of his own. His first words in each request were a disavowal of his own preferences. After self-will was removed, God’s will would become clear. Many believers testify to the same principle: God’s will becomes evident when ours becomes subdued. Then we can pray—and act—as specifically as He directs.

Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” (Luke 10:21)

In Deed Worry occurs when we’ve overvalued something that is corruptible.

We know that possessions, opportunities, health, relationships, jobs, and all else we need for day-to-day existence are important. But they are not essential to our life in Christ. We often overvalue them—they become our idols—and we overestimate our role in preserving them. When they are threatened, we worry. Our hearts are troubled. But if we fix our hearts exclusively on Jesus, our hearts find rest. Our Refuge, our Shield, and our Provider tells us not to worry. And He can be trusted. The Rock of Ages does not move.

In Deed The issue this usually raises for us is trust. It’s a hard thing to resign selfwill in a situation and cast ourselves with unreserved abandonment on the Savior. It feels careless, like jumping off a cliff and hoping He’ll catch us. As trustworthy as He is, we remain suspicious that He might not act in our best interests—that there might be some conflict between what is best for His kingdom and what is best for us.

But there never is. There’s no difference between His will and what we would want for ourselves if only we knew all the details. We can say “not as I will” and always trust Him to step in with His best.

With His character, He could do no less.

In Word So much of our lives is counterintuitive; it doesn’t make sense on the surface. Trials go against our natural understanding, defying the human reasoning that we rely on so heavily. The road God put us on may take a sudden turn.

Circumstances that were comfortable may be radically stripped from us in a moment.

Or, we may just question why He made us the way He did. And we wonder how to make sense of it all. We want understanding, but live in confusion.

Jesus gives us a model of how to respond to God when things don’t fit our own wisdom. He is facing no crisis in this text, just acknowledging that the ways of God contradict the ways of man. If we were God, we would not have hidden eternal mysteries from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children. And we certainly are not inclined to praise God for doing so. We are dumbfounded at the obscurity of His logic. But Jesus affirms God’s counterintuitive ways. He simply attributes them to “the good pleasure” of the divine will.

In Deed Our mouths should be so filled with praise. It’s easy for us to honor the ways of God when they coincide with our logic. It’s difficult when they seem obscure.

But an implicit trust in God’s will, curious as it may be to us, is the key to being “full of joy through the Holy Spirit.” It’s also a product of that fullness. They feed each other. Trust in God results in mouths full of praise, while praising God results in hearts full of trust. Are you disturbed by the mysteries of God’s will? Aim to participate in this blessed cycle. Then His good pleasure will be yours.

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Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Psalm 139:23-24

Zechariah 2

1 Chronicles 16:8-13

June 8-14

June 15-21

June 22-28

Anti-Worship

The Occupant

A Culture of Dependence

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

(Psalm 139:23)

“I myself will be a wall of fire around it,” declares the Lord, “and I will be its glory within.” (Zechariah 2:5)

Look to the Lord and his strength.

(1 Chronicles 16:11)

In Word It’s a little disturbing to us that David equates anxious thoughts with an “offensive way” (v. 24) in this psalm. We’re anxious by nature, frequently wondering how things will turn out for us. We know bad things happen to all kinds of people, and it’s only natural for us to worry that they might happen to us. Life can be stressful. So what’s wrong with being stressed?

Think of what our anxiety says about God. When we harbor anxious thoughts, we are saying that the One who has promised to take care of our future (Jeremiah 29:11) might not do a good job of it. It says that the One who has promised to walk us through the waters and not to allow the fire to burn us (Isaiah 43:2) might abandon us to the waters and the fire. And it says that His presence in the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4) might not be enough to calm us. We don’t realize it, but our emotions often tell our Provider that we don’t think we’ll have enough provision, tell our Savior that we’re afraid of not being saved, tell our Comforter that we’re uncomfortable, and tell our Deliverer that we’re sure we’ll remain captive. Our hearts actually slander Him when we don’t trust His protection, His strength, and His love.

We don’t mean to; we’re just anxious. But our anxiety can be awfully offensive.

In Word Marie Monsen, a Norwegian missionary to China years ago, was in a village under siege by bandits. In her bed one night, she awoke to the sound of the bandits breaking through the village walls. As she prayed, Zechariah 2:5 came to mind, and she saw a wall of fire around her.

Remarkably, she was untouched—even undiscovered— by the bandits all through the night.

That’s a personal application of God’s promise to His people. Whether dealing with individuals or churches, God functions as a wall of fire around those who believe that He will. His people are His habitation, after all. He has calculated us meticulously with plumb lines (Amos 7:7-8) and measuring rods (Zechariah 1:16).

He does not work such precision only to leave it unguarded, where vandals can deface and destroy. You and the church are much too vital to His plan—and to His heart—to be left alone.

You are also much too vital to be left vacant. God fills His human city with divine glory. You may not see it right now, or only in glimpses if you do, but His glory is part of the plan. The Architect’s design will glow from without and within; it’s a beautifully lit structure.

In Deed Imagine a son lying awake at night wondering if his parents are going to feed him tomorrow. Or a daughter wondering if she will have something to clothe herself in. That might happen in some homes, but what does it say of the parents?

Nothing complimentary.

But we who worship God cannot praise Him with such insecurities. Our fears are a form of anti-worship—a clear declaration that our God might not have promised us enough, or might not be able to follow through on what He has promised. Yes, He will let us go through hard things, but never outside of His timing or beyond His protection. So worship Him. And don’t worry about it.

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In Deed If you tend to worry a lot, you are questioning the wall of fire that surrounds you. You are doubting His strength (or willingness) and are suspicious of whether His glory really dwells within. That may sound harsh, but we all do it. And God’s response is to assure us— repeatedly, emphatically, and intensely—to trust Him. “We must protect this house” is a common battle cry for sports teams in their own stadiums. How much more is God zealous for His house! His city, His well-crafted dwelling, is to be the seat of His glory. He protects it and He fills it with Himself—you, your family, your church, everything—at all costs.

In Word We forget it often, but our selfsufficiency dishonors God. Just as a toddler who has had to learn to survive on his own reflects poorly on his parents, children of God who will not trust His provision and strength reflect poorly on Him. It isn’t that His provision and strength aren’t available, but our independent streak overestimates our resourcefulness and underestimates His love.

Many of us have been trained to admire the independent and to strive for self-sufficiency. We’ve been led to believe that taking care of ourselves is desirable.

But have we learned that from the Word of God? No. God tells a military leader like Gideon to reduce his army so that the power from above might be demonstrated more clearly. God inspires little shepherd boys to venture into deep valleys to take on imposing giants. God’s chosen people are pressed into a hopeless situation at the edge of the sea and given military victory by marching in circles. His chosen leaders are raised up from floating baskets in the river and humble mangers in the stable. He delights in the humility of mankind and the impossibility of its circumstances.

Why? Because humility and impossibility set the stage for His power. Weakness demonstrates His strength. Human futility is a platform for His capability.

When we look to His strength, He enjoys displaying it.

In Deed When people look at you, do they see self-sufficiency or reliance on a greater sufficiency? Do they know where your strength comes from? If not, ask yourself why God is not more clearly the source of your life.

Create a culture of dependence in your life. How? By acknowledging your need constantly. It may not be natural to do so, but it’s an accurate reflection of reality.

Those who look to Him are looking to the most potent force in all of existence. And, as another psalm says, “those who look to Him are radiant” (Psalm 34:5). No one who calls on His strength is disappointed. .

Step Into the Story

Ministry in the Middle East

a vital

. . . and How You Can Help

Y

ou’ve seen the headlines. You know how volatile the Middle East can be. You know the depth of spiritual need in many of its countries. Perhaps you’ve even longed to make an impact on the region with the gospel.

The good news is that you can. By partnering with Walk Thru the Bible, you can provide significant support for fruitful ministry in Muslim countries. And one of the most immediate ways is by supporting our annual Middle East/North Africa (MENA) conference this summer.

Regional and sub-regional directors, from at least 12 countries across the MENA region, as well as key pastors and instructors—a total of about 150 people—will convene at an undisclosed location during the summer for their annual time of strategizing, equipping, planning, and fellowship.

Many will come from high-risk or war-torn places at considerable hardship.

Why do they risk the potential trouble?

Because it’s worth it—in terms of ministry impact, partner relationships, and renewed focus and energy. Last year they trained 253 pastors and teachers, reached 4,000 people through events and 25 million through media, and distributed 150,000 resources. They understand the strategic significance of the work they do and the role Walk Thru the Bible plays in this region.

This year’s MENA conference will emphasize two of our newest resource and event projects: • Chosen: Our course on the life of Mary is not only important as a bridge between Protestant and Catholics in the West; it’s also a significant bridge into the Orthodox church in the East and the Muslim world. Mary is actually the only woman named in the Quran (other women are mentioned, but not by name).

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Step into the Story

(Contd.)

Muslims have profound respect for Mary as the mother of Jesus (Isa). This course, still in development, will be presented at the summer conference, and regional directors will strategize on its use in Orthodox communities and the Muslim context.

• God’s Grand Story: The launch of our campaign that immerses congregations in Scripture for six weeks will spread throughout the Middle East/North Africa region this year and, depending on funding, could reach 700 churches and 130,000 participants in 13 countries. This program has the potential to revitalize and strengthen congregations, equipping them to make a significant impact in their communities.

Other resources and events are still highly valuable assets in the Middle East. Story Thru the Bible, an oral approach to teaching the Bible, can be particularly effective among oral learners in some countries. Past installments of the Biblical Character Series—Crucible on the choices of David and Detour on the life of Joseph—continue to be taught

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in areas where believers acutely feel the heat of a crucible and are enduring the hardships of apparent detours. And our Walk Thru the Old Testament and New Testament events, as well as other events and biblical resources, continue to be useful ministry tools in the region.

How You Can Help > This strategically important conference comes at a cost of about $50,000 for the venue and accommodations, travel expenses, and ministry materials and implementation in the region. Your support helps make it all possible. You can be a vital part of what God is doing in the Middle East by funding this time of training and equipping.

If you would like to give to this year’s MENA conference and Middle East ministry, you can send a check in the envelope provided in this magazine (please designate MENA in the subject line), or give by credit card online at www.walkthru.org or by calling 678-578-5534. All gifts are tax deductible.

Leader Profile

A Friend of Churches Chae Lee, director for South Korea

S

ome things haven’t changed since Chae Lee began teaching Walk Thru the Bible courses in 1991. Korean Christians loved the Bible then, and they love the Bible now—and Walk Thru the Old Testament and Walk Thru the New Testament remain the most popular teaching events.

“That’s our foundation, our core,” Chae says.

So Chae has spent much of his time over the last two and a half decades translating Biblefocused resources from Walk Thru the Bible’s North American ministry into Korean, as well as developing supplementary material—teacher’s guides, workbooks, visual presentations—to add to the package. He has had opportunities to pastor churches, but strongly believes his calling is to provide broader support with Walk Thru the Bible’s resources and address South Korea’s distinct needs.

Because South Korea is a country rich in Christian resources and pastors have so many options, the quality of Walk Thru the Bible materials and Chae’s enhancements are essential for their effectiveness. And they apparently are effective; many pastors keep coming back for more.

Chae considers at least two factors to be vital to the ministry’s ongoing success in South Korea: his network of good relationships with influential partner organizations; and Walk Thru the Bible’s emphasis on supporting the local church. “We have a good reputation for going through appropriate channels,” Chae says.

Because of a proliferation of splinter movements and cults, that’s important in Korea. Teaching lay people through the church rather than outside of it reduces any suspicion that Walk Thru the Bible is competing for loyalty. “We come alongside the church to build it up, not detract from it,” he says.

Chae describes South Korean Christianity as “pastor dependent,” which means that in order to impact the church, he must focus on training leaders. Of course, that’s one of Walk Thru the Bible’s priorities and what the ministry does well around the world. But in many places, the ministry’s resources are targeted for pastors who may not have any formal training at all and desperately need equipping at foundational levels. Not so in South Korea, where church leadership is highly educated and well trained. But even though pastors don’t need foundational training, they often need help with a practical approach to teaching.

Walk Thru the Bible courses give them practical tools.

Chae hopes to expand the ministry’s work into China and among Korean congregations in South America, where he has worked with churches in Peru, Argentina, and Brazil—because no matter where Korean Christians live, they still love the Bible. And Chae loves to give them practical ways to learn it. .

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Donor Profile

The Value of Relationships Jim and Kathy Fountain

J

im and Kathy Fountain first encountered Walk Thru the Bible when friends invited them to a conference in Florida where they heard about the mission and the global reach of the ministry. They were impressed with the strong theological teaching they heard at the conference, and after hearing about how their friends had been supporting the ministry for years, they decided to get involved too.

“We trusted our friends, and we knew they love God’s Word. We’ve seen His Word change people in our own lives, and that’s what Walk Thru is about. We wanted to be part of it,” Kathy explained.

Recently, Jim got to use Walk Thru the Bible resources to impact people in his own community through a Bible study he’s part of: “We realized that even after studying the Bible together for 20 years, we still didn’t feel like the men really knew the Bible. So we decided to have a retreat and host a Walk Thru the Bible live event for our group so we could come to understand the whole story of the Bible and build a strong foundation for future studies.

“Phil Tuttle came and taught us, and not only did we take the men in our Bible study group, we also decided to host the event at an addiction recovery camp. We invited men who are recovering

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from addictions. They’ve been in a Bible study as part of their program, and the director of the camp was ecstatic about being able to tie in all the biblical teaching they’ve had in a 24-hour event.

“By the end, the unity of that group was phenomenal. From the doctors and lawyers and businessmen who had been coming to our Bible study for years, to the men recovering from addiction, through the Spirit our group was unified and we all learned so much together about God’s Word.”

One of the other things Jim and Kathy love about their involvement with Walk Thru the Bible is the global influence they get to have.

“Jesus is being revealed by His Word in all these countries. He’s being revealed to people all over the world by Walk Thru the Bible, and that’s so exciting,” Kathy said.

Jim agreed. “Something that has really touched me is to see the impact around the world that Walk Thru the Bible is making. It’s emotional, it’s encouraging, it’s a joy, and it’s a privilege to be part of an organization that reaches out across the comfortable borders of the United States and says that other people are as important as us, and reaching them with the gospel matters. It’s an eye-opener, and it’s an encouragement for me to continue supporting Walk Thru the Bible.”

The Last Word

I

believe one of God’s favorite words is “new.”

God is in the business of making things new. He restores broken things into something better. He promises a day when He makes a new heaven and a new earth. He brings new life to dead souls. He loves to make new things.

There is a new energy and excitement at Walk Thru the Bible.

Whether it’s the global launch of God’s Grand Story or new initiatives to reach the next generations, God is at work at Walk Thru the Bible giving new vision, new growth, and new opportunities.

I’m excited to be the newest member of the Walk Thru the Bible team. Having served as a pastor, in Christian higher education, and most recently in a global Bible ministry, my calling and passion is to help people experience God’s Word. Walk Thru the Bible is uniquely positioned to help people around the world experience the Bible and encounter God in His Word. I’m honored to a part of this family.

To those of you who have supported Walk Thru the Bible with your gifts and your prayers— thank you. Thank you for ensuring that the important work of Walk Thru the Bible is funded. But more importantly, thank you for ensuring that millions of people around the world have the opportunity to engage the Bible in the powerfully creative ways Walk Thru the Bible provides.

Please know that the advancement team is here to serve you. If there are ways we can assist you, questions we can answer, or even ways we can just pray for you, I hope you will not hesitate to call.

I look forward to the opportunity God will give me to meet many of you. I would love to hear the new thing God is doing in your life.

Gratefully His and yours,

Michael Gunnin Vice President of Advancement

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In the next issue of Pathways: Kolkata (Calcutta) is known as the cultural and economic hub of eastern India, as well as a city of great diversity and need. Walk Thru the Bible resources and teaching events are bridging divisions and feeding hungry hearts with truth.

Discover more about Walk Thru the Bible at

www.walkthru.org