Paths v4n4 2015 fall web

News & Views from Walk Thru the Bible

Fall 2015

Deep and Wide in Kenya Meeting in the Middle East Weekly Devotionals for Fall

Walk Thru the Bible 5550 Triangle Parkway, Suite 250 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 www.walkthru.org Volume 4, Number 4 Fall 2015 Published quarterly President Phil Tuttle Vice President of Advancement Michael Gunnin Editor Chris Tiegreen Designer Michael Koiner Contributors Chris Tiegreen Emily Tuttle

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.

W

hile at our annual Global Consultation—this year it was held in Kenya—I listened intently as national director Stephen Mairori described his relationship with his family’s tribe. Stephen and many other family members moved to Nairobi years ago and don’t fit any tribal stereotype that Americans might imagine. But Stephen’s stories of how marriage and family customs are still practiced, even though the family is scattered, were fascinating. I was intrigued by the balance between honoring tradition and thriving in modern culture. Stephen, at home both in the city and the countryside, does that well.

Honoring tradition while moving into the future is something we want to do well too. You’ll find some exciting news in the pages of this issue of Pathways: Walk Thru the Bible has moved. We’re still in Atlanta , but we are in a new building. In times of transition like this, it’s hard not to look back over the years and appreciate our history; yet it’s excitin g to look ahead to a more streamlined and efficient workplace, a new season of ministry, and wide-open opportunities to reach the world. In some ways, this move marks a “reset” of our ministry, but one that brings all the best of our history into the future with us. We honor the past, but our focus is always forward. Our move is just one reflection of that focus.

That’s not the only news you’ll see in the following pages, of course .

You’ll read of our work in Kenya, under Stephen’s leadership, and how Walk Thru the Bible courses are used to train a new generation of pastors.

You’ll see updates on our work in other regions and announcemen ts of new resources. You’ll get an excerpt from one of those resources—our newest devotional on the Kingdom of God—and find weekly devotionals on what it means to love Him well. This is all just a glimpse of what Walk Thru the Bible is doing around the world, but I hope it’s an inspiring one. And I hope you see in it both the richness of our past and our excitement about the future of this ministry we share.

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.

Fall 2015

VOL. 4

NO. 4

Features

6 Deep and Wide

Extending Roots and Bearing Fruit in Kenya One of the greatest needs in Kenya’s churches is leadership training to keep up with their numerical growth. Walk Thru the Bible courses are helping meet the need.

18

Calm—and Courage—Amid the Storms Leaders from the Middle East Meet What happens at the annual Middle East/North Africa conference? Fellowship, strategizing, training—and exploring what it means to be Chosen.

20

A New HQ

The Place We Now Call Home

Devotionals 22 L G oving

od

Weekly readings excerpted from indeed magazine

departments

4

New at Walk Thru the Bible

5

Regional News

Resources for the coming year

Highlights from around the world

16

Country Profile

27

Step Into the Story

29

Leader Profile

30

Donor Profile

Kenya

An Excerpt from The One Year Heaven on Earth Devotional A Waiting Harvest Chris Matthews, coordinator for the Spanishspeaking diaspora An Opportunity for Impact Cody and Christine Nath

Cover: Kenya’s Christians pray for the glory of God to shape the country’s people as clearly as He has shaped its beautiful landscape.

What’s New @ Walk Thru Heaven—on Earth? >

D

o you wonder what God is doing on earth? Do you long for a thriving, intimate partnership with Him? Do you want a deeper, fuller experience with His work and His presence? The One Year Heaven on Earth Devotional will help you discover the richness of living in His Kingdom—not just one day in heaven, but right here, right now.

The Bible is filled with teachings about the Kingdom of God. In fact, it was one of the core messages Jesus proclaimed.

The One Year Heaven on Earth Devotional by Walk Thru the Bible author Chris Tiegreen will take you on a 365-day journey through these teachings, enriching your life with God’s wisdom, power, and love as you examine the nature of the King. The Kingdom of God is here among us— and you can be a part of bringing it to life in your family, in your community, in the world.

This devotional collection, originally appearing in indeed magazine, is published by Tyndale and will be released in paperback in October. It is available at www.walkthru.org/store and other online vendors, as well as Christian bookstores. See excerpt on p. 27.

Story Thru in Two Books >

A

few years ago, we published Story Thru the Bible (NavPress 2011) as an oral approach for small groups and families to “story through” the key characters and themes of Scripture. The storying approach—the most natural, memorable way human beings learn—is simple enough for anyone to use, yet effective enough to prompt change and growth among people of all age groups, levels of education and experience, and theological perspectives.

Now these stories have been repackaged as Story Thru the Bible: Old Testament and Story Thru the Bible: New Testament.

Each book contains 26 sessions and, if used consecutively, will take participants through the storyline of the Bible in a year.

For more information, visit www.walkthru.org/store.

4

Tu Andar Diario >

Y

our Daily Walk, a guide that leads readers through the Bible in a year, has been released in Spanish as Tu Andar Diario. This guide and the recent Spanish translation of The One Year Walk with God Devotional (Camina con Dios) are the first among several of our resources expected to be released in Spanish in the coming year. For more information, visit www. walkthru.org/store and click on “Spanish resources” in the left column.

We’re Moving! >

I

f you’ve visited our headquarters on North Peachtree Road in Atlanta (below), you’ve seen how well it has served Walk Thru the Bible for offices, events, training, and more for 34 years. But Walk Thru the Bible is beginning a new season in a new facility. Want to see what it looks like? Turn to page 20.

Regional News South America > More than 120 college students and other young adults from five provinces in Argentina gathered in the city of Salta in July for a weekend Detour event. Numerous decisions were made in response to this teaching on the life of Joseph. For example, one

the students to a competition to recite the storyline of the Old Testament, and many successfully completed it even though they had only heard it once.

Eastern Europe >

About 46,000 Romani people (gypsies) have signed up for God’s Grand Story in Romania and other regions of Eastern Europe in the coming months. The launch of this Scripture-immersion campaign will also include more than 10,000 teachers in Poland and 26,000 attendThe 7 Laws of the Learner being taught in ees in Moldova.

Colombia this summer

attendee from across the border in Bolivia was so affected by the session on forgiveness that he resolved a long-standing conflict with church leaders when he returned home. A woman from a nearby city described the event as a key factor in helping her overcome the pain of a recent traumatic event. The July gathering is an annual event for college-age people in Argentina.

Western Europe > A church in London’s Ethiopian community hosted an abbreviated Walk Thru the Old Testament event in July for 80 teenagers.

The event was a follow-up to a New Testament event last year. At the end of the first day, the pastor of the host church challenged

Southeast Asia >

Four master teachers in the Philippines led 180 police cadets through the Detour course in August. These officer cadets graduated soon afterward and were dispersed to their assignments throughout the country.

This is one of several opportunities Walk Thru the Bible instructors have had to work within government agencies to train people headed into positions of influence.

South Asia > Many live events were taught across India during the summer, including Crucible in the state of Uttarakhand, Chosen in Orissa and Bihar, and Invisible War in Orissa.

Europe/Central Asia > Walk Thru the Bible instructors trained missionaries in Solving the People Puzzle and How to Rebuild Your Broken World at a training center in the Kherson region of Ukraine in July. These missionaries will now be able to use these resources in their ministries not only in Ukraine, but also in their current assignments in Russia, Belorussia, and Moldova.

Africa > Walk Thru the Bible–Southern Africa has trained six fulltime instructors for children in Malawi in partnership with Walk Thru the Bible–UK and a ministry in Malawi. These instructors teach in 25 Malawian public schools every week, with more than 1,500 children being exposed to Bible teaching in their home language, Chichewa, each week. At least seven of these schools are in areas considered to be unreached.

Pastors from the Limpopo province of South Africa recently attended a Walk Thru the Old Testament event. Many, without any formal theological training, remarked how excited they were to understand the big picture of God’s story for the first time.

This group of pastors has influence over more than 100 villages in the region and said they were now even more motivated to share God’s Word with their people in a more meaningful way. .

5

6

Deep and Wide Extending Roots and Bearing Fruit

I

t’s often said of the church in Africa, with its rapid growth in the last few decades, that it’s a mile wide and an inch deep. In Kenya, it’s many miles wide—hundreds of them—and growing deeper every day. And Walk Thru the Bible, through its partnership with International Christian Ministries (ICM), has a lot to do with that.

Walk Thru the Bible began its partnership with ICM in east Africa in 1990. ICM had been providing theological training for indigenous pastors and church leaders since the late 1980s, first simply as a training center and then eventually as Africa Theological Seminary (ATS). In addition to its campus in Kitale, Kenya, it has established a campus in Kopsiro, near Mount Elgon in northwestern Kenya (see sidebar story p. 9), as well as campuses in Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Canada.

The seminary incorporates numerous Walk Thru the Bible courses into its training. Old and New Testament classes require training in Walk Thru the Old Testament and New Testament, teaching courses require 7 Laws of the Learner, 7 Laws of the Teacher, and Teaching with Style, and because HIV/AIDS is such a significant problem in many parts of Africa, God’s Answer to AIDS is also offered.

“I would say more than a thousand pastors have gone through our seminary in Kitale, and they have all been trained in Walk Thru the Bible courses,”

7

says Stephen Mairori, national director for Walk Thru the Bible and ICM in Kenya.

The Kopsiro campus—serving a tribal region that once had very few Christians among a population of hundreds of thousands but is now around 50 percent Christian—is much smaller, but is growing. Graduating pastors plant a church and then are urged to bring another pastor to the school.

Stephen explains: “We tell them, ‘You have your church here, but look at the next village. Go there, preach, reach out, and then bring that one to the school. It has been wonderful.”

“It was an unreached group for such a long time,” Stephen says. “There would be a church where a lot of people had come to Christ, but no pastor. They looked for the most educated one to be pastor, and the guy would have no idea what to do. So we began with something small, but now have graduated so many.”

8

T

his year’s Global Consultation—an annual gathering of Walk Thru the Bible leaders from every region of the world—was held in Kenya.

While there, Phil Tuttle teamed with several other leaders to launch the Crucible course in Nairobi (see sidebar story p. 13). About 150 pastors and church leaders gathered at a large church in the city for two days to be introduced to this course and learn how Walk Thru the Bible can assist local churches.

Because of the training offered at ATS, many Kenyan pastors are aware of Walk Thru the Bible courses. They have benefitted from Walk Thru the Old Testament and Walk Thru the New Testament for years. But many have hungered for something new.

The additions in the Biblical Character Series— Crucible, Detour, and Chosen on the characters of David, Joseph, and Mary, respectively—as well as the God’s Grand Story campaign initiative, which immerses participants in the story of Scripture, fill that need.

But for many attending the Crucible event,

Yes, God Speaks the Language

T

this was their first exposure to the ministry.

Nearly 40 signed up for additional training, while others discovered how Walk Thru the Bible can help them in the future. As in most parts of the world, many churches in Kenya have faithful, dedicated leaders who have never had an opportunity to receive ministry training. The partnership between Walk Thru the Bible and ICM provides a range of resources and avenues for equipping them.

Whether in churches new to Walk Thru the Bible or well familiar with the ministry, both old and new courses are meeting a need. “It is not like this information is outdated,” says Moses Wamal, a trainer and leader at ATS’ department of leadership. “Our assumption is often that people have already heard about it, without realizing that people are still coming because they have heard what others have learned. We need to teach new groups that keep coming.”

here were no Bibles in the Sabaot language in the 1980s. Fewer than 5 percent of the tribe on Mount Elgon in northwestern Kenya was Christian then. So when a Sabaot woman began to pray in her native tongue during a prayer service, the pastor stopped her. “There is no use,” he told her. “It is not written down, and God will not hear it.”

An elder in the meeting was grieved by the pastor’s words and resolved to get God’s Word translated into the Sabaot language. He had no money for transportation, so he walked most of the 240 miles to Nairobi and pleaded with Wycliffe Bible Translators to send someone to Mount Elgon.

Over the next few years, a translation team created a written alphabet for the language, and then another team began work on the translation.

International Christian Ministries (ICM)—Walk Thru the Bible’s partner ministry in central and west Africa—provided Bible training for the native translation helpers. In 1997, the Sabaot New Testament was finally finished and dedicated. ICM staff began a major evangelism and church-planting initiative and established a training center on the mountain. Finally in 2012, the Old Testament was completed.

Now, because of the combined efforts of several ministries, the Sabaot—about 50,000 people—are no longer considered an unreached group.

Approximately 50 percent are Christian, hundreds of new churches have been started, and the training center continues to train and send out pastors and leaders into the region. Evangelists and church planters among the Sabaot are even spreading out and reaching into nearby Uganda with the gospel.

And no one questions anymore whether God speaks the Sabaot language.

9

10

11

T

he church is growing, but there have been challenges. One month before Walk Thru the Bible’s leaders met in Kenya, gunmen from the Somalia-based terrorist group al-Shabaab attacked Garissa University in eastern Kenya, killing 147 people and injuring 79, mostly students. It wasn’t the first attack by the group in Kenya by any means. In 2013, assailants entered a mall in Nairobi with weapons and grenades and held numerous patrons hostage for four days. Before the siege was over, more than 70 people were dead and 200 were injured.

These events are the best known of the terrorist attacks in Kenya, but there are well over 100 others in the last three years. Though the violence is framed as retaliation for Kenya’s sending of security forces into Somalia, much of it is characterized by Muslim hostility toward Christianity.

Left: Stephen Mairori, ICM/Walk Thru the Bible director for Kenya Right: Elvis Mvulane of South Africa leads the first session of Crucible 12

(In the university attack, for example, the gunmen freed Muslim students but shot Christians.)

How has the church responded to such threats? “The first thing was anger,” says Stephen Mairori. “The church has been very accommodating to the Muslim community. Some people were saying, ‘We have turned all our cheeks. There are no more cheeks to turn.’ But in the long run, I think it will help them see the need. While Islam is militant, the church uses a different strategy.”

That’s a mark of maturity and depth. The church is growing in Kenya, at least numerically.

Now its leaders seek growth in discipleship and leadership training, and Walk Thru the Bible and its partnership with ICM are making great strides toward that goal. And the church is growing deeper by the day. .

A New Kind of Launch

A

s part of our time in Africa, our Kenya director, Stephen Mairori, asked me to help his team launch Crucible, our course on the life of David. They worked hard to bring together about 150 pastors and church leaders for a Friday and Saturday event in Nairobi.

People who know me even a little know I love to teach—especially a roomful of influencers. It’s the kind of opportunity that makes my heart beat fast and drives me to my knees in prayer.

But this time we decided to do something different. I would teach Sessions 2, 4, and 6. Three of our global leaders would teach Sessions 1, 3, and 5.

We hoped this would show that this material is easily transferable and motivate a lot of the pastors to sign up for training. It would also show that the truths in Crucible are not just American or African, but biblical—fully transcending cultures, centuries, personalities, and teaching styles.

Elvis Mvulane from South Africa launched us with a great session on “Image vs. Character.” His passion and fresh insights into cultural details I had never noticed reminded me how much more the world of the Bible is like Africa than America.

After I unpacked the theme of “Fear vs. Faith” in Session 2, Philip Tutu from Ghana lit up the room with Session 3 on “Circumstance vs.

Truth.” His fresh transparency about personal experiences pulled all of us into the cave when David passed up the perfect opportunity to eliminate Saul and seize the throne.

Then I taught Session 4 on “Deception vs. Integrity” as we explored the account of David and Bathsheba and the great cover-up that followed.

But something was different. I wasn’t tired. And neither was the audience.

Even after a long day everyone was locked in, and I sensed unusual power and freedom as I taught.

Even more people showed up Saturday. Sathyabal from India delivered the most insightful presentation of Nathan’s confrontation of David I’ve ever heard. None of us will quickly forget his masterful delivery of Session 5 on “Arrogance vs. Humility.” He even spoke proper British English, much to the delight of the crowd!

Then I finished our day with Session 6 on “Disappointment vs.

Expectancy” as David processed the news that he would not be allowed to build God’s temple. Rather than losing his joy, David devoted himself to set Solomon up for success and transition the vision to the next generation.

All in all, the event couldn’t have gone better.

Of course, the goal wasn’t merely to teach Crucible, but to launch it in Kenya. So how did we do?

More than three-dozen pastors and church leaders signed up for training. Others asked Walk Thru the Bible of Kenya to send someone to teach it in their church. And Stephen Mairori laughed his contagious laugh as he said, “That doesn’t even count all the pastors who just decided to launch their own sermon series on David starting this Sunday!”

Along the way, we discovered a brilliant new strategy I plan to use in every region each time we launch a new course.

—Phil Tuttle 13

14

Top left: A courtyard at the Desmond Tutu Conference Center in Nairobi, an affiliate of the All Africa Conference of Churches, reflects the hope of Christian leaders for a society transformed by the gospel. Top right: Worship in one of Nairobi’s many churches Bottom: Scenes from the Kenya 15 launch of Crucible

Country Profile

Kenya Population: 46 million ups Ethnicity: 108 ethno-linguistic gro

es ili (official), numerous local languag Language: English and Kiswah ublic Political system: democratic rep size of ntry in the world; about twice the Geography: the 47th largest cou Nevada no slim; 1.5% traditional; 4% other or Religion: 83% Christian; 11% Mu religion

16

R

eligious freedom is legally protected in Kenya, and churches and ministries operate without hindrance. That, in addition to strong evangelical presence in the country, has made Kenya a hub for missions and ministry. But just as everywhere, nominal or professed Christianity exceeds genuine discipleship, and the gap between the two is very noticeable in Kenya’s social problems and governing corruption. Kenya is known for scenic landscapes, diverse wildlife, a strong tourism industry. Its Christian leaders hope it will also come to be known as a gospel-transformed society.

Prayer Needs: Though Muslims and Christians have generally coexisted peacefully, occasional violent outbreaks have increased tension recently between the two groups. Within the church, periods of rapid growth have resulted in 38 million believers and 80,000 churches, but most Christian leaders see a huge need for spiritual depth and trained leaders. In addition: • Pray for increased unity between denominations and for servant-hearted leaders who will promote unity.

• Pray for the evangelization and discipleship of the younger generation—about 60 percent of Kenya’s population is under 25.

• Pray for opportunities for Walk Thru the Bible instructors and for ICM trainers and seminary leadership to train and teach many pastors. Ask that their ministries would be multiplied and result in new and growing churches. .

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

by Jason Mandryk, 7th edition, ©2010.

17

A statue of Mary (shadow at bottom) in Harissa, where this year’s Middle East/North Africa conference was held, overlooks the Lebanon coast.

18

Calm —and Courage—Amid the Storms

Leaders from the Middle East Meet

T

he annual conference for leaders in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region was held this summer in Lebanon. More than 100 pastors and leaders came from 11 countries to experience the new Chosen event training, enjoy fellowship with each other, and develop strategies for their ministries.

Many of those attending have been enduring persecution and other difficult circumstances, including civil war, the nearby threat of ISIS, and restrictive government policies. Even so, some ministries are thriving, and many people are coming to faith in Christ. They have requested even more biblical resources and are positioned to launch God’s Grand Story in their churches and small groups in the coming months.

A few quotes from the conference:

“I feel this course on Mary [Chosen] will satisfy the needs of the church.

We are serving all the denominations, and this will help us reach them. I am eager to take this back to Kuwait.”

—Yusef, an Egyptian ministering in Kuwait

“We want to praise God for the fruit of this conference. There were great touches from God; people’s lives are not as they were when they came. They are going back home to their countries—Syria, Jordan, Iran,

Lebanon, Sudan—enthusiastic and committed to teach this material.”

—Wahid Wahba, International Director for Walk Thru the Bible

“With all the things happening around the Middle East—some here have had bombs hit their homes— they realize that they are in God’s plan, even with all these things. A lot of them realized that in spite of the wars going on in their areas, God is moving in a way He did not move before. A lot of people are coming to Christ because of the crisis. One of the Syrians said, “If this is the price we need to pay for Syrians to come to Christ, so be it.”

—Laila Wahba

“My vision is for the unity of the church, and this course about Mary unites us. The motive of Mary was that she wanted to be glorified less so that God would be glorified more.

The message of Mary at the wedding of Cana is a message for all times: Whatever He tells you, just do it.”

—Josef, professor at a Coptic Orthodox seminary .

19

Our New Home

The New Headquarters of Walk Thru the Bible

M

any of our donors and partners have been praying for several years regarding our move—that we would find the right place, that the timing would be right, and that the move would support and enhance the ministry. Over the last few months, culminating in our official move at the end of

Walk Thru the Bible’s new offices north of Atlanta 20

August, those prayers have been answered!

These photos are just a glimpse of our new offices at 5550 Triangle Parkway, Suite 250, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. Pray for us to settle into the new location quickly and for multiplied fruitfulness in this ministry for years to come.

21

Into the Word w e e k l y

d e v o t i o n a l s

o n

Loving God

W

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

September 28–October 4 Mark 12:28-34

Love the Lord Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30) In Word Is the Christian life primarily about loving or doing? It’s a tricky question, isn’t it? On the one hand, if we say that love is the priority, we risk blending in with the rest of the world. After all, everyone loves. The objects of love may differ, but the presence of love is nearly universal. If our faith is about love—at least the human type—we’re not very

22

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.

distinguishable from the corrupt world we live in.

On the other hand, if action is the priority, we’re only one step away from becoming card-carrying Pharisees. Nearly every religion is filled with long “to do” lists. There is no end to the activities that spiritually hungry minds can come up with in an effort to get closer to God. The problem is, as we know, that good behavior never made any sinner acceptable to a holy God. It’s never enough.

So how can we love God in an authentically Christian way? When Jesus tells His listeners to love God with everything in them, what does He mean? What does that look like in the life of an ordinary believer? Is it a feeling? an action? an unsolvable mystery?

In Deed The love we are to have for God is unique among loves. It is

comprehensive. It is a radical reorientation of life around what we consider to be ultimately, overwhelmingly valuable. Is it a feeling? It certainly involves our emotions. Is it an action? It certainly involves our behavior. But it is more.

Loving God means doing God’s will because we treasure and value His plans. It means feeling passion for Him because He is worthy of our passions. It means expending all our emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical energy for His sake and not our own. Though we still relate to others and have activities in this world, everything is now in reference to His central role in our lives. As our greatest love, He takes His place at the core of our being.

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

John 14:15-21

Romans 5:1-5

Psalm 63

October 5-11

October 12-18

October 19-25

With All Your Heart

Worshipful Affection

With All Your Soul

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15 esv)

God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5)

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you. (Psalm 63:1 nlt)

In Word Why is the Christian life so hard sometimes? There are probably lots of legitimate reasons; after all, Jesus never promised that it would be easy. But one troubling reason shows up in our lives frequently: We find it hard to obey God because we don’t want to obey Him. And when we don’t want to obey Him, it’s usually because stronger desires compete against Him. Think about that. If God were truly the deepest passion in our hearts, anything that could interrupt our relationship with Him would be unacceptable to us. And yet we entertain such interruptions frequently.

The reason must be some deficiency in our love. We human beings have never had much trouble following our passions. If we have trouble following God, should we conclude that God is not our passion?

It seems logical. We always lean in the direction of the heart’s desires. We often have to subdue those longings and discipline ourselves against them. But suppose those desires always pointed in God’s direction. Our leanings would naturally take us where we need to go. Righteousness would be our instinct, not our obligation. Obedience would be our desire, not our hard discipline. God would have His way with us because His way would be the one we crave.

In Deed Does that oversimplify our struggles? Maybe. But they often, if not always, can be traced to a lack of love. We need to be reminded of our duties only when our hearts are not naturally following them. The reason we need self-discipline is because of competing desires.

That’s why the greatest commandment is to love God. Not only is this the reason for which we were created—and therefore the only means by which we can be fulfilled—it is also the key to discipleship, spiritual formation, evangelism, community, and more. A heart that loves God thoroughly is a heart that adoringly falls in line with His will and His ways. It’s a heart that naturally grows spiritually mature— and enjoys it.

In Word There’s a huge difference between knowing God as an obligation and loving Him as a companion. Though He is Lord, He doesn’t mean to “lord” it over us, demanding obsessive obedience.

He much prefers the kind of obedience that comes from affection and trust. As children who are enamored of their father, we are to love Him not with compulsion but with joy. Not to do so hardly fulfills the command to love Him. But for many of us, that’s a problem.

We love God with a sterile sense of duty rather than with an overflowing passion.

Our minds know the right thing to do, and in our best moments, we do them. But if our hearts are not in it? Well, we can love Him anyway, and we should. But it isn’t the best kind of love. He offers us a better way. Duty doesn’t connect us with His heart nearly as much as affectionate trust that what He has told us to do is good.

How can fickle hearts like ours love Him that way? How can our apathetic condition be transformed into an intimate, joyful love? There’s only one way. God offers to pour His love into our hearts. As Paul testifies, we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God because God has granted us the pleasure of doing so. Whatever hope we have in God, even when it comes through suffering and perseverance (vv. 3-4), does not disappoint. Why? Because it comes from God. He’s the source of our love.

In Deed If you’ve ever been frustrated at your level of love, welcome to the human race. Our hearts are hard and are not softened easily. But there’s hope: We aren’t called to generate more love. We’re told that love comes from the Spirit at work in us. The fact that love for God doesn’t come naturally doesn’t matter. We have a supernatural source.

If you want to love God more, try this: Ask Him to pour out His love in your heart. Test Him and see. Such prayers never remain unanswered for long.

In Word When the Bible refers to your soul, what does it mean? It isn’t simply the spiritual life, as modern culture has defined it. It involves everything about you: your personality, your will, your thoughts, your inner life. In the Law and the historical books of the Old Testament, the soul is almost always linked with the heart. In Job, it is almost always the place of bitterness. Anywhere in Scripture, it can be the site of grief, anguish, boasting, or great delight. “Soul” is the most comprehensive term for your life in the Bible, other than “life” itself.

So what does God mean when He tells us to worship Him with all our soul?

It means that deep in the core of our being, where we can hardly discern between good and bad motives or right and wrong desires, that’s where God must reign. It means that there can be no corner of our true selves that God does not touch. It means being laid completely bare before Him and letting the integrity of our love for Him—not to mention His love for us— shine brighter than any rival. It means that we love Him like our life depends on it.

Why is that so hard to do? Because it has to be real. It’s all or nothing. No one loves God with all his or her soul at about a 90 percent success rate. The soul cannot be compartmentalized into one area of life that loves God while other areas are withheld. If we’ve pledged our souls to Him, we’ve pledged ourselves. We’re His. There’s nothing left to hold on to.

In Deed The soul is hard to define, but God doesn’t really ask us to define it. He asks us to love Him with it. He tells us that our life is all about Him. That affects our commitments, our passions, our drives, our motives, our thoughts, our feelings, our will, and our ways. Our whole personality is to revolve around Him as the earth revolves around the sun. Our soul is the center of our lives, and He is to be the center of our soul. When we dive deep down inside, we should find Him there. That’s what it means to love Him with our soul.

23

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Psalm 25:1-5

1 Corinthians 2:6-12

Romans 8:5-8

October 26–November 1

November 2-8

November 9-15

Worshipful Will

With All Your Mind

Worshipful Wisdom

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

(Psalm 25:1 nkjv)

What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. (1 Corinthians 2:12)

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

(Romans 8:6)

In Word When God tells us to love Him with all of our soul, how do we actually do that? How is it possible to submit such a vague concept of ourselves to such a concrete command? The soul involves so much of us, isn’t it a massive undertaking to surrender it to God? That depends. Over the course of one’s life, it’s a massive undertaking.

Today, it isn’t. Think about that: God never asks us to love Him completely and consummately forever. He wants that, of course, but He doesn’t approach us that way. He approaches us right now. He wants us to love Him with everything in us at the moment. He wants that for this moment, and then when the next moment comes, He’ll want that again. But our whole lives all at once? He doesn’t give our lives to us that way; we can’t offer them back to Him that way.

That makes loving God a whole lot easier, doesn’t it? Whatever decision is facing us today is the decision in which God wants us to demonstrate our love for Him. Whatever struggle we’re having, or whatever depression we’re feeling, He only asks us to turn it over to Him minute by minute. We struggle with our eternal commitment to our Creator, but the struggle of the moment, while difficult, is a lot easier.

Our strategy for loving God is a matter of the here and now, not of the one day and forever.

In Deed Why is that important to know?

Because if we look at the big picture, we’ll get depressed quickly. We can see our failures in the context of our whole lives and assume that we’ve done a miserable job of loving God. Just like a married couple that always lives in the past, we’ll be doomed to repeat it—we’ll question our devotion because our devotion has a spotted track record. Or like a couple that hopes for the future but ignores the present road to get there, we’ll question our devotion because it always seems unattainable. God helps us not to play those mind games. He wants our love in the immediate decision, the current workload, and the present mood. Give Him your life and your love, one manageable minute at a time.

24

In Word Your mind has been highly trained. Maybe you didn’t know that, but it’s true. From the day you were born, you have been taught how to live. Your family, your culture, and your own exploration have given you plenty of ideas about who you are, how your world works, and what your God is like. The problem is that you’ve grown up with a finite mind in a corrupt world.

According to the Bible, we all begin with a darkened understanding. Despite the best intentions of our families and friends, our culture, and our own senses, we have distorted perspectives. Our understanding is only as good as the influences that have shaped it. And, in most cases, that’s not good enough. What’s the solution? Paul says to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

That means that once we’ve embraced God’s truth in Christ, we’re to embrace His truth about everything. We are to reject our old perspectives and live by the Spirit of truth.

Living the gospel, of course, is not simply a matter of the intellect. If it were, brilliant people would have it made, and the mentally handicapped would be far from God’s blessing. But we know that isn’t the case. We know that when God talks about obtaining wisdom from Him, it’s about perspective and wise living. It’s about knowing what to do with the circumstances, the gifts, and the relationships He has given us.

In Deed Do you know what to do with God’s resources? Do you know how to spend your life? Knowing such things requires a lot of time in His presence, His Word, and the community He has established. The only way to retrain a mind is by immersion. Old thought patterns are simply too deep; they can’t be redirected without considerable trauma. Let the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the people of God immerse you in His grace. Let your mind love Him in every way.

In Word Life and peace. Every human being craves such blessings. Every human being strives for them too. The striving can take many forms. Some seek their life and peace in work, others in relationships.

Some focus on their sexuality, others on intellectual inquiry. Some even reduce life and peace to such things as eating and drinking, or spending and acquiring.

Pleasure, passions, and people become the objects of our desire, as we try to construct our life and peace from the things around us. And though we seek the blessing of life and peace in such things, we are really accomplishing death for ourselves. Nothing will satisfy apart from the Spirit of God. Nothing.

The mind is a miraculous thing.

It’s also distorted. It doesn’t know how to worship God until it is told. Even then, it must be empowered. Fallen flesh does not worship God naturally, so our only hope is beyond the natural. If we really want life and peace, we have to realize that the mind will not find it with its own intuition or inquiry. It has to embrace an outside Guide. It needs the Spirit of God. Contrary to the tradition of many Christians, the mind is a critical locus of worship. The heart has its passions, and God loves it when those passions are directed toward Him. But God is worshiped logically and reasonably as well.

The Logos who designed all of creation with unfathomable brilliance and precision is worthy of our worship, and our worship of Him is not to be a worship from ignorance. The Creator gave us our own minds so that we might begin to understand His. In Deed Use your brain. That’s the encouragement of all the Scriptures that urge wisdom and intelligent worship. But submit your brain to the guidance of the Spirit. Make this your prayer: Lord, fill my mind with Your thoughts; give me insight into Your ways; help me to appreciate Your wisdom.

Let my mind behold Your glory. Grant me life and peace through Your Spirit.

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Psalm 18:32-36

2 Corinthians 11:23-29

Luke 7:36-47

November 16-22

November 23-29

November 30–December 6

With All Your Strength

Worshipful Energy

Forgiven Much

It is God who arms me with strength.

(Psalm 18:32)

I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. (2 Corinthians 11:27)

“Whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

(Luke 7:47)

In Word In the Bible, strength is very physical. It was the subject of psalms and songs whenever Israel defeated its enemies. It was the genius of Joshua, the blessing of Samson, and the provision of David.

It secured Israel’s borders and overcame its obstacles. And it always came from God. In the Bible, strength is also often internal. It was the fortitude of those who engaged enormous Philistines or corrupt kings. It was seen in Elijah’s zeal, Daniel’s boldness, and Jeremiah’s perseverance.

It was a sure sign of confidence in God’s power and glory, and it was the intended result of the Bible’s frequent command not to be afraid. It was the courage that grows from knowing the Almighty. It, too, always came from God. When God tells His people to love Him with all their strength, He means that we are to love Him physically and with courage. Every ounce of energy we have is to be directed in one way or another toward Him, His Kingdom, and His ways.

Just as a halfhearted love toward a spouse or a child is hardly love in the first place, so is halfhearted love toward God a shadow of reality. To sort of love God, to love Him a little, is not to love Him very much at all.

Devotion doesn’t come in portions. It is either there or it isn’t. And God urges us to make sure that it is there.

In Deed Assess your love for God. If you’re honest, you’ll come to the conclusion that many saints of old were forced to admit: Our love is usually lukewarm.

Martin Luther became so frustrated with the holiness of God vis-à-vis his own unholiness that he confessed, “Love God? Sometimes I hate Him.” Many Christians, though not nearly so blunt, have felt the same way. It takes an eye-opening experience with the grace of God to begin to love Him truly.

If your love for God is cold or distant, remedy the situation. No, of course you can’t manufacture love. But you can ask for the zeal of the Holy Spirit to kindle it in you. You can ask for the kind of love that consumes your whole being and is as deep as God desires—with all your strength.

In Word If ever someone loved God with all his strength, it was Paul. The energy that he expended for the sake of his King was not only admirable, it was supernatural. Though confessing genuine weakness (v. 29), he also claimed God’s strength (12:9-10). Toward the end of his ministry, Paul could tell Timothy that he was being “poured out” (2 Timothy 4:6).

Like all of us, he was being spent on his work and his relationships. Unlike many of us, all his work and relationships revolved around Christ.

Paul demonstrated what it means to love God with the kind of boldness, courage, and physical endurance that the great commandment back in Deuteronomy 6:5 (and repeated by Jesus in Mark 12:30) urged. And we can see such love in an even greater example. Jesus endured the Cross—boldly in His body and His willful courage—for the sake of the Father and for the sake of His Father’s chosen children.

Love was poured out from the Cross in the form of divine blood. That’s what it means to love God with all one’s strength.

In Word The greatest commandment of all, said Jesus, is to love God with everything we are and everything we have. We are to have passion for the Almighty that exceeds all our other passions. It’s what we were created for. But here, in the context of fallen humanity, Jesus lays down a principle about our love. It is contingent on the mercy we have experienced. The fallen human heart does not love the holy heart of the divine unless mercy paves the way.

And where love is faint, mercy has been missed.

Simon the Pharisee demonstrated little love for Jesus. Curiosity, perhaps.

Some level of hospitality, of course. But little love, if any. What does this say about his understanding of God’s mercy?

According to Jesus, it means he has missed it. He doesn’t have a clue. He probably sees himself right with God already. And he sees Jesus as a prophet, a teacher, a troublemaker who needs a good lecture, or something other than the One who takes away the sins of the world. He does not know Jesus’ forgiveness, and he doesn’t know his own need. And his love for Jesus—and for God—is miniscule.

In Deed It’s a hard act to follow, isn’t it?

But we’ve been called to follow it anyway.

To love God with all our strength, we are to spend our energy for Him, suffer discomfort for Him, and endure resistance for Him. It’s a high and holy calling, and we’re often afraid of it.

That’s where the supernatural strength of God comes in. Our fear makes us weak, keeping us from loving God with all of our strength. God, who knows our frailties, tells us to follow the example of Paul: to rejoice in our weaknesses and rely on God’s strength.

Don’t be afraid to hunger or thirst for God. Don’t shy away from labor and fatigue. Such gifts honor the God you serve. They are a form of worship. They are an act of love.

In Deed What about your love for God? Does it overflow with gratitude? Does it weep at His feet? If not, go back to the Cross. Get a good understanding of what happened there. Contemplate the huge chasm that once lay between the deadness of your spirit and the life of your God. Remember the cold rebellion—that chilling apathy toward our Creator—that we’ve all started out with. Understand that we were separated from any deserving claim on His goodness. Everything that brought us back to Him was all grace—nothing else. Pure, unbridled mercy. A love that knows no restraint and accepts no resistance.

Few people really understand God’s mercy. Become one of them. Know the magnitude of His grace. And let your love for Him reflect it.

25

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Mark 7:1-8

Psalm 31:21-24

Joshua 23:1-11

December 7-13

December 14-20

December 21-27

Near Hearts

A Sacrifice of Love

Love Comes First

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Mark 7:6)

Love the Lord, all you his saints! (Psalm 31:23 esv)

Be very careful to love the Lord your God. (Joshua 23:11)

In Word Throughout Scripture, God says He takes pleasure in the praises of His people. Regardless of whether those praises come from the mouths of babes, the songs of the assembly, or the stones crying out, God enjoys worship. But there is a prerequisite. It’s not every form of praise that He enjoys. It’s every form of genuine praise. It must be heartfelt. If it doesn’t spring forth from an overflowing heart— or at least a heart repentant for its lack of overflow—it shouldn’t spring forth at all.

Lip service has no place in His kingdom.

In spite of this verse—it is, after all, a quote from Isaiah, not a new piece of information for Jesus’ hearers—the Pharisees and teachers of the law didn’t get it. We often don’t either. We frequently sing our songs of worship with no real passion, read our responsive readings with no real sense of appreciation for them, and hear our pastors with no real retention of their words. It isn’t that we’re nonworshipers; we just slip easily into lukewarm worship.

It’s a short step from the warmth of interior fellowship with God to the coldness of outward expressions, even when the warmth was once vibrant and genuine.

At those times, the outward expressions were the delight of God. But they easily become empty shells. Our hearts wander far from Him, while our actions remain in place. And when our hearts are far from Him, He seems far from us.

In Word Being a living sacrifice is more than a holy obligation; it’s a holy passion.

It’s the lover who says, “I’d do anything for you. I’d sacrifice my life, my dreams, my everything for your welfare.” Few of us consistently love God like that, but that’s our goal. And the only way to get there is to ask Him for that kind of love. It’s supernatural. Only He can offer it and maintain it in our hearts.

How do we know if we have it?

We’ll know by what fills our minds when we lie down at night and when we wake up in the morning. We’ll know it by where we direct all of our resources and all of our abilities. And we’ll know it by the things we pray for.

If a stranger were to pick up the ledger of our checkbook and read it, would he know that we are lovers of God? If he were to examine our calendar, would he be able to tell that we have a holy desire for a beloved Savior? If he were to hear our prayers, would he find that we’re wholly dedicated to the will of Another? We’re reluctant to answer, because we know our shortcomings. We know how fickle our hearts and how self-directed our desires are. We know we have more than one agenda—God’s plus our own. We know we have a long way to go to be filled with a holy, God-centered love.

In Word As the aging Joshua gave his farewell address to the Israelites, he reminded them of everything God had done for them. The appropriate response to God’s faithfulness, Joshua said, was to “be very careful” to love Him. It is an act of the will, an intentional response to who He is.

But have you ever thought about what it really means to love God? Many who set out to love God focus on theology. But theology, while important and necessary, makes God an academic subject to study or a philosophical argument to prove. It may be a product of our love for God, but it does not define love. Discussions abound in which God is a premise—a subject viewed through a theologian’s microscope or a philosopher’s telescope—but in which there is no affection. Doctrine is critical for us to grasp, but it is not love. Ask any Sadducee.

Many who set out to love God focus on works. But works, while an essential outgrowth of love for God, can easily become an attempt to gain His approval.

In truth, they are not acts of devotion but acts of self-interest. We want to gain higher esteem in His eyes, something that makes us one of His “insiders.” We end up with a self-righteousness that fills us with brief satisfaction but leaves us empty of love.

Ask any Pharisee.

Many who set out to love God focus on emotions. But emotions, though a desirable and essential outgrowth of love, cannot define our love. They are far too fleeting. We end up riding waves of feeling or missing out on them altogether. Love remains constant. Feelings don’t. Ask any zealot.

In Deed Do you want the presence of God to be revealed in your life in a powerful way? Worship Him from your heart.

Read your Bible with a passion for His fellowship. Sing your congregational songs while meditating on each word. Fellowship with other believers with a thankfulness for the Spirit that works in and through them. As Paul instructs, “sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).

The warm, welcoming presence of God will be as real as the praises of your heart.

26

In Deed That’s okay. God’s grace is more than enough to cover our lukewarm hearts. But He doesn’t want us to remain ambivalent toward Him. He wants to stir us up to a consuming obsession with His goodness, love, and plans. He wants us not just to try hard to please Him—we’ve tried and failed so often—but to delight in Him. Like any lover, He wants to be our joy. Like a wife who craves evidence of her husband’s affections, or a husband who looks expectantly for affirmation from his wife, our God—though never needy—wants to be adored.

Can we adore Him? We must—it’s our created purpose, and it’s the only love we’ll ever have that will leave us completely satisfied. All others fall short, but passion for Him always fulfills.

In Deed So how do we love God? We lie at His feet and tell Him we are His. We seek to honor Him in all we do. We want to be like Him. We crave His fellowship. We pray His desires. We are consumed with, obsessed with, and filled with His ways, His works, and His will. The theology, the works, and the feelings will come. They are good—but only after the devotion. Love always comes first. .

Step Into the Story

Exploring the Kingdom

An Excerpt from The One Year Heaven on Earth Devotional Introduction >

W

hat was the major theme of the teaching of Jesus? That question is likely to prompt a variety of answers, most of them centering around what we commonly know as the salvation message. Yet words about salvation occur relatively

rarely in the gospels compared to another term: “the kingdom.” If we had to pick one dominant message of Jesus’ words and actions, this would be it.

The ministry of Jesus was filled with statements about the kingdom of God. The phrases “the kingdom of God,” “the kingdom of heaven,” or simply “the kingdom” occur more than 90 times in the gospels alone. When Jesus first began to preach, He said the kingdom of God was at hand (Mark 1:15). As He spent time with the disciples after His resurrection, His primary subject was to teach them about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).

On numerous occasions in between, He began parables with “The kingdom of God is like . . .” or described the kingdom ways. And His followers picked up the theme in Acts. All of them demonstrated the kingdom, some specifically preached about it, and, as the book closes, Luke is sure to tell us that the kingdom message was going forth unhindered. The gospels and Acts are kingdomsaturated works.

The idea didn’t begin in the New Testament, of course. Israel saw its existence as a manifestation of God’s kingdom. Hebrew Scriptures rarely used the word like the apostolic writers did, but the theme is certainly in them. From the very beginning of God’s redemptive history, He has sought to be seen as King over the world that rebelled against Him. With that in mind, it’s extremely important

27

Step into the Story

(Contd.)

to think about, meditate on, and pray about the kingdom message—not only so we can understand it, but so we can also live it and spread it. That’s why the daily readings in this book exist. They are reflections on Scripture through the lens of a kingdom citizen. They don’t answer all questions or develop a comprehensive theology of the kingdom; they simply invite us into kingdom thinking and a kingdom lifestyle. As followers of the King who spoke often about His kingdom, these are issues

and questions and ideas worth exploring.

Enjoy these readings as an adventure into the kingdom of God. Ask Him questions as you read, and listen for His answers. Take each lesson of each passage to heart as you read His Word each day. And may the kingdom come increasingly and powerfully in every area of your heart, your life, and your world.

January 1 > Kingdom Came “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near.” (Mark 1:15 niv) In Word In Mark’s gospel, these are the first words out of the mouth of Jesus. Anyone who expected the end of evil and the beginning of utopia would have gotten excited at first and then grown disappointed in the coming years—especially when evil seemed to win decisively on a cross in Jerusalem. Clearly the coming of the kingdom of God wasn’t a sudden shift in the ways of the world or an overhaul of government structures. So what exactly did Jesus mean when He said the time had come? In what ways had the kingdom of God come near?

Theologians are still trying to unpack that statement, but one thing is clear. The kingdom was near because the King was near. People got healed.

Evil was cast out of hearts. Dead people got up and walked around again. And truth astounded seekers and aggravated the keepers of the status quo.

These are signs of the kingdom and evidence that it has indeed begun to flourish. It is not a theory or an unattainable ideal. It is a dramatic intervention on a

fallen planet. It is the beginning of a radical restoration.

The kingdom is still growing and miracles still happen. That’s because the King is still among us.

He didn’t come for a while and then leave—what would be the point of that?—or give us a taste we would never be able to experience again. He came to stay. So if the time had come and the kingdom came near 2,000 years ago, and Jesus remained with us as He promised, then the time has still come and the kingdom is still near. Those who bow to the King have already entered the kingdom.

In Deed What does that mean in the reality of daily life? It means we can still experience the miraculous, still see hearts fundamentally changed, still overcome evil, and still receive wisdom and revelation from the King’s mouth. It means we need to look at the world not as others do but as citizens of another realm. And it means we need to act as though the time has come. Things are changing.

Everything is becoming new. .

Additional reading: Luke 2:29-32 “Whenever God rules over the human heart as King, there is the kingdom of God established.”

– Paul W. Harrison The One Year Heaven on Earth Devotional (Tyndale 2015) is available at www.walkthru.org/store and other online vendors, as well as Christian bookstores.

28

Leader Profile

A Waiting Harvest Chris Matthews, Coordinator for The Spanish-speaking Diaspora

M

and his wife currently live in North Carolina while uslims make up about 7 percent of Europe’s population. Ardent atheists— she has been working on a degree in counseling and getting supervised experience, but they travel the kind who are actively opposed to Christianity and seeking to rid the con- back and forth—not only to Spain, but also to other Spanish-speaking countries. About 75 percent of the tinent of it—comprise as much as 15 percent of the seminary students are Spanish nationals, and the population. Those are two powerful forces among other 25 percent Latin American. That many that could fill the vacuum left gives him connections and opportuby a diminishing church.

“Walk Thru To many people, that prosnities all over the Spanish-speaking pect looks overwhelming. To Chris world. the Bible is Matthews, Walk Thru the Bible’s Chris’ long-term vision is a power coordinator for the Spanish-speaking Europe—reaching the Spanish diasdiaspora, it looks like an opportunity. pora, reaching existing churches and pack of That’s because more than 3 million assisting church planters, mobilizing value-added Spanish-speaking people are scatSpanish speakers to become mistered outside of Spain, across Europe sionaries to Europe, and creating a services in many of its key cities, and Chris flow of resources into the region. As to bless spends much of his time envisioning a missions researcher, he is moved how to reach them. by the fact that Christianity is growexisting “When people get out of their ing on every other continent, in some ministries.” home culture and are in a strange places quite rapidly, but not in Europe. place, they are suddenly open to Rather, Christianity is being purged new concepts and ideas, and many from Europe’s institutions and written can be won for Christ,” Chris says. “And Walk Thru out of the continent’s intellectual life. the Bible is a tremendous vehicle to do that. It’s a Chris longs for that to change, and he believes power pack of value-added services to bless existing there’s a harvest waiting in Europe for those with ministries.” eyes to see it. And Walk Thru the Bible is a vehicle Chris helped start a seminary in Spain 15 years for equipping workers for the harvest. . ago and teaches Bible, missions, and theology. He

29

Donor Profile

An Opportunity for Impact Cody and Christine Nath

C

ody Nath remembers attending Walk Thru the Bible events as a child: “Walk Thru the Bible was one of the first ministries I was involved with, reading the Daily Walk Bible growing up and doing devotionals as a family. Now that we’re grown and can support ministries, we wanted to give to help continue the work Walk Thru is doing.”

Cody and Christine Nath are the second generation of Walk Thru the Bible supporters in their family. Cody’s parents, Bill and Jennifer Nath, have been involved with the ministry for the last 25 years.

For Cody and Christine, it’s the ministry’s focus on equipping leaders around the world that draws them to be involved.

“The ability to train pastors and teachers all around the world is really unique,” Cody said.

“The content library of Walk Thru the Bible is spectacular. The resources the ministry has developed, translated, and trained leaders with have changed so many lives. I resonate with that a lot. There are a lot of pastors and teachers around the world, but until they can be trained in solid content, their messages can be shallow. This is a great way for pastors to disciple their congregations in a deeper way, and I think that’s really powerful.”

The caliber of Walk Thru the Bible’s leaders around the world made a deep impression on the Naths. “When we are investing in ministries, the

30

people matter to us,” Cody explained. “The leadership at Walk Thru is really impressive to us. We can see their humility and their vision, and we can see their hearts. To see the commitment and passion of the international leaders is exciting for us.”

On a trip to India, Cody got to spend some time with Walk Thru the Bible–South Asia’s regional director, Vallab Sathyabal, and see his heart for reaching his nation.

“I have a good friend who’s a missionary in India, and I was visiting him a few years ago,” Cody recalled. “Brother Sathyabal heard we were there, and he took a 22-hour train ride just to show up to meet with us in Mumbai.”

“We’re so grateful for our brother Sathyabal and the work that’s going on in India, and we feel like God has put it in our hearts to support mission work there. There are literally a billion people—a seventh of the people in the world live there— and only a tiny minority of them know anything about Jesus. There’s so much opportunity to reach people. It’s a place where your resources can have a great impact. The numbers are staggering, and the people are amazing.”

For Christine, helping Walk Thru the Bible with its work in India and around the world is worth it. “I think it’s a good investment for us,” she said, “because they do so much with the resources they have. They keep coming up with new studies and fresh perspectives on the Bible. As you’re going through the Bible and going deeper, the Bible comes alive in your life. You take that depth and passion to people in places like India, and you can really see that God is doing something big.” .

The Last Word

T

he first email in my inbox this morning was from our partner in Pakistan. It was a report praising God for three conferences hosted in that country using Walk Thru the Bible resources. Nearly 600 people experienced our life-transforming resources during the three conferences, and 55 young Pakistani Christians committed to their lives to vocational Christian ministry.

Reports like this arrive regularly from all around the world.

Walk Thru the Bible has a global reach and every day our biblical resources and live events are changing lives. As you read this issue of Pathways, I hope you felt the breadth of our reach. Whether it is with our partners in Africa, like Stephen in Kenya or Chris in Spain, or in difficult places like the Middle East, God continues to use Walk Thru the Bible in unique and powerful ways.

That’s what I love about Walk Thru the Bible—the breadth of our reach. In more than 120 countries around the world, we help people understand the Bible and encounter God in His Word.

This global impact is possible only because many people support Walk Thru the Bible with their prayers and financial support. We could not produce quality resources, support our global partners, and host live events around the world without the gifts of many people who make this all possible.

Thank you for your partnership in ministry through your interest in this work, through your prayers, and especially through your financial support. As a partner with us, you share a part in every story and report you have just read in this magazine.

As I think about Walk Thru the Bible’s future, I believe the ministry opportunities God is placing before us are very significant. However, we will need the ongoing support of our partners like you to help fund them. Testimonies like the one I got from Pakistan this morning only happen when we have the resources to invest in our global partners. Together, we really can change the world.

Michael Gunnin Vice President of Advancement

31

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Walk Thru the Bible Ministries

5550 Triangle Parkway, Suite 250 Peachtree Corners, Georgia 30092

Electronic Service Requested

In the next issue of Pathways: With God, one open door leads to another. That’s how Walk Thru the Bible ended up at a training event in Armenia, and it’s how that event is leading to wider impact.

Discover more about Walk Thru the Bible at

www.walkthru.org