reach
CBN EUROPE Partner Magazine
LIVING IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE We need to live by God’s rules not by the rules of this fallen world
SHOULD CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN? WHO DOES GOD WANT YOU TO BE? www.cbneurope.com | 0300 561 0700 | October 2015
Inside this issue 18
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08 Turn To God | Page 04 Broadcast Schedule and Updates | Page 06 When Death Becomes Life | Page 07 Living In Two Places At Once | Page 08 Teaching Success | Page 10 Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? | Page 12 Who Does God Want You To Be? | Page 14 Pray For Us | Page 17 The One Thing We Should Desire Most | Page 18
Connect with us PO Box 700, Hereford, HR1 9EW, UK 01 513 3738 (ROI) 0300 561 0700 / 0800 432 0700 (UK) +44 207 101 7045 (Europe)
www.cbneurope.com facebook.com/700clubeurope twitter.com/700clubeurope youtube.com/The700ClubEurope
Our vision
The Christian Broadcasting Network (UK) is a registered charity (110 1659) and is the European HQ for all CBN broadcasting and CBN International humanitarian activities. CBN is a member of the Evangelical Alliance and is in active partnership with key partners in the UK and Europe. Our purpose is sharing the message of hope in Jesus Christ, providing humanitarian relief and alleviating poverty. It is our vision to share the Gospel in a relevant way to all generations and see people walk in their true potential in Jesus Christ.
Broadcasting
Practical Relief
Prayer Ministry
CBN’s broadcasting ministry reaches out daily to millions of viewers across Europe through multi-language broadcasts of The 700 Club, Turning Point, Christian World News, 700 Club Interactive and more.
CBN’s Orphan’s Promise and CBN International humanitarian relief teams are providing short and long term relief to vulnerable children, families and communities around the world.
CBN’s UK based Prayer Line is providing a vital life-line to thousands of callers each month. We listen to, and pray with, callers as well as providing free materials to build and strengthen faith.
“Christian Broadcasting Network is a family of ministries, working in countries all over the world.”
Turn To God
WE RECOMMEND
Everyday, we are faced with the challenge of adjusting and conforming to the culture that is around us. Romans 12:1-2 (The Message) says, “Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God.” There are so many pressures that bombard our minds and thinking, through media and society that, unless we make a conscious decision to rise above them, they will seek to drag us down. Here at CBN, we don’t want to adjust or conform to the culture that is around us; we want to be a ministry that is helping by broadcasting and bringing hope through TV and online platforms. Our vision is to help set the tone within our culture and along with other partnering ministries, to turn our nation back to God and His ways. Within the last few weeks,CBN has partnered with Expovida International Conference in London. Their objectives are to see unity within the Body of Christ and to raise up an altar of worship and training for discipleship of the nations. During these two days, delegates came from the UK, Europe, Latin America and other nations. Our CBN team were able to interview delegates and capture footage, as well as having a guest appearance from Gizmo from Superbook. What a great time of partnering with another ministry! We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our donors and partners for praying and standing financially with us. Because of your obedience, we are able to make a significant difference in the lives of individuals and communities.
Allen Carter, CBN UK Prayer Centre & Office Coordinator
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HALLOWEEN Should Christians celebrate Halloween? Leading Christian thinkers discuss views on Halloween and how Christians should respond to it. Visit cbneurope.com/ halloween
LOVE TODAY What is love in today’s society? How has culture today affected our upcoming generation and how they view the meaning of the word? One of our young writers Liz, gives her view on what has happened to the meaning of love today and the damage that has been done through modern culture, in a poetic writing style. Read all our blog posts at cbneurope.com/blog
Thank you CBN partners for giving during this past Mission Week. We we will continue to change lives for Jesus together.
www.cbneurope.com/donate
Broadcast
Schedule and Updates
The 700 Club
The 700 Club Interactive
Turning Point International
On the air continuously since 1961, it is one of the longest-running programmes in broadcast history with Pat, Gordon, Terry and the CBN News team.
Hosted by Gordon and Terry, 700 Club Interactive is designed with you in mind; your voice, your requests, your community.
Hosted by Muyiwa Olarewaju, Turning Point offers a mix of insightful features, interviews and inspirational music.
Revelation TV (Sky Ch. 581 / Freesat Ch. 692) Mon-Thurs at 3pm.
KICC TV (Sky Ch. 591) Sat 8am and Sun 9:30am.
Revelation TV (Sky channel 581 / Freesat Ch. 692 / Freeview HD Ch. 241) Mon-Fri at 6pm + 11pm with next day repeat at 8.00am Gospel Channel (Sky Ch. 587) Mon-Fri at 6pm.
TBN UK (Freeview Ch. 65) Mon-Fri at 1.30 pm.
BELIEVE TV (Sky Ch. 596) Mon to Fri 4:30pm, Sun 10:30am, Sat 1.30pm.
Christian World News
OHTV (Sky Ch. 199) Sun 2:30pm. LOVEWORLD (Sky Ch.586) Tue and Wed 8am, Wed 4pm and Sat 2pm.
Loveworld TV (Sky Ch. 586) Tue-Fri at 8.30am with various repeats throughout the week. TBN UK (Freeview Ch. 65 / Sky Ch. 582) Mon-Fri at 1.00 pm.
ABN TV (Sky Ch. 235) Sun 7:30pm. Revelation TV (Sky Ch. 581 / Freesat Ch. 692) Wed 3am. KICC TV (Sky Ch. 591) Mon at 3pm, Tue and Thurs at 11pm, Sat at 9am.
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Roku TV Watch our free 700 Club Continental TV channel.
Superbook Superbook teaches children the Bible in a way they understand and enjoy. UCB TV (UCB Player), TBN UK (Freeview Ch. 65), LOVEWORLD (Sky Ch.586) and ABN TV (Sky Ch. 235). For more information visit sky.com/tv-guide
When Death Becomes Life Michael felt like someone had just punched all the air out of him as he heard the doctor’s words: “You are going to die.” Diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, the scans showed deadly black masses and lesions. The medical experts offered no hope. Devastated, Michael went home and tried to function. One day, as he was watching The 700 Club’s ministry segment, he was stunned at what he heard: Pat felt led to pray for “someone with black masses and lesions in their lungs to be healed!” Michael believed God was speaking to him. Filled with faith, he agreed in prayer for healing. Then, after his next doctor’s visit, Michael called CBN’s Prayer Centre with an astounding report: A new set of scans showed that the lesions and black masses on his lungs were completely gone. He had his whole life ahead of him! Michael is praising God that you provided the encouragement and ministry he needed at a crucial time. CBN partner, you make it possible for people in crisis situations, here and around the world, to receive lifechanging ministry every day through The 700 Club. Watch testimonies at www.cbneurope.com/stories
TESTIMONIES “I had been suffering from a serious injury to my knee and been off work for almost 9 months. I had been told by my doctors that the only solution was surgery. My wife and I were watching the 700 Club - a story about a lady who asked God for healing. My wife decided to pray for what the lady had prayed, whilst she had her hand on my knee. During their segment a word was brought about two people, one who had a hand on the other and the injured person was suffering from a right knee injury. They said: ‘You are now healed’. From this miracle, life has continued to move forward, I have found a better job and am now beginning a sports ministry” From Steven “My spirit, soul and body is highly lifted up by these wonderful and inspiring daily devotions you send to my email. Thanks.” From Mariam Send your testimony to us: PO Box 700, Hereford, HR1 9EW, UK or email to testimony@700club.tv
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Living In Two
Places At Once In our busy and hectic lives we often wish we could be in two places at once. Well, do you know what? As a Christian you already are!
Our feet may walk on this earth, we may work in it’s fields or factories and even hold a passport that says ‘Citizen of the United Kingdom’, but Paul says our ‘Citizenship is in Heaven’ (Phil 3:20). So in our day-to-day life what does this mean? How can we practically live this out? I believe we need to see a bigger picture of who we are by seeing the reasons God has for calling us out of this world to live in His Kingdom. The key to this is found in 1 Peter. 2:9: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellences of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Peter here is applying to Christians a direct quote from Exodus 19. A time only three months since the amazing escape from Egypt, when the memories of slavery and the images of armies and chariots washed away, were still very real. God was saying that He wanted this new small nation to be His priests. In other words He wanted them to be His physical representative on earth. They were to be set apart so that the other nations of the world would see in them God’s holiness, awesomeness and blessing as they lived out their lives. In effect, people would know God’s character by knowing them. When Jesus came He fulfilled this calling, He was the true image of the invisible God (Col 1:15), without sin, fulfilling what Israel should have been. He said ‘If you have seen me you have seen the father’ (John 14:9). He
displayed faithfully what God was like. Now the baton has been handed over to us. We are His body left on earth, and until He comes again our purpose is to show ‘the world’ what God is like. Fortunately, we have the Holy Spirit who enables us to do this, by producing in us the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control we need (Gal 5:22).
“People should be able to look at us, and our relationships with each other and see God.” People should be able to look at us, and our relationships with each other and see God. We need to be living by our King’s rules not by the rules of this fallen world. In every day life we should have reactions and mindsets that are often opposite to the world’s. For instance the greatest amongst us will be those who serve, those who do us wrong, we will forgive, those who hate us, we will love, those who curse us, we will bless. Living like this will set us apart, living in God’s kingdom, under His rule, but very much intertwined with this world; two places at the same time. By doing this we also become what Jesus called us to be: “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5:14,16) John Bezant works at CBN Europe in the Prayer Centre.
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Global impact LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE DOING AROUND THE WORLD During a recent month: GUATEMALA
Nearly 1,500 children from El Rosario benefited from a medical mission. It was accomplished with the support of more than 20 doctors with different specializations. MYANMAR
Ten wells were drilled in Magwe Division, one of the dry regions in Myanmar, and benefited 250 to 350 villagers, who are mostly poor farmers. A young man in the village shared, “What a blessing. … The water we got is clean and we have already started to drink directly from it and have not had any problems.” PHILIPPINES
The Prayer Centre received approximately 13,530 calls, 119,285 text messages, as well as 6,244 letters, email messages, and online chats, resulting in thousands expressing their desire to live for Jesus. Additionally, our humanitarian teams served over 111,300 meals to 6,545 children in schools and communities affected by an earlier typhoon.
Teaching
Success
CBN partners help kids break the cycle of poverty In a war-torn community in Myanmar, refugees began returning as peace resumed. Barely able to rebuild their own devastated homes, they gazed sadly at the village school, a small bamboo hut in ruins. That rickety little school represented the hope of a better future for their children, giving them the means to escape poverty and become literate, learn a trade, or even attend college How would that happen now? Building Schools, Building Lives To their surprise, CBN’s Operation Blessing International (OBI) partnered with another ministry to restore the school, supplying building materials, a generator, and a clean water unit, as well as tables, chairs, books and more. The entire village rejoiced as more than 100 children were able to return to learning, and fulfill their dreams!
This same joy has spread worldwide, through CBN’s international outreaches, bringing education to destitute children, from poor rural villages, to terrorist strongholds. For example, OBI has built or renovated and equipped schools in Haiti, Philippines, Kenya, Myanmar, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and Mexico, along with developing educational programmes worldwide. Also, the children’s homes and outreaches sponsored by CBN’s Orphan’s Promise (OP) provide schooling for poor and abandoned children, while offering job training to orphaned teens, so they can become self-sufficient and avoid the traps of trafficking and drugs. Plus, through back-to-school programmes and scholarships, parents get the help they need to keep their kids in school, and it’s making a difference. Overcoming violence and terrorism
In places like Africa and the Middle East, young people are caught in the crossfire of violence and terrorism, and their need for an education is crucial. OBI is aiding ISIS victims in Turkey who have fled Iraq, by offering food and essentials. They have also started a feeding programme for refugee children attending a makeshift school, and have donated school supplies. In the heart of Boko Haram territory, Nigeria, OBI has provided food, supplies, school equipment, computers, and increased security at a Christian boarding school near the site where over 270 schoolgirls were kidnapped last year. Teams are repairing the dormitories and drilling a well for 200 boys and girls residing there. CBN partners are changing lives and destinies in so many other ways, from disaster relief to sharing the Gospel message worldwide.
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Should Christians
Celebrate Halloween?
The origins of Halloween are Celtic in tradition and they believed Samhain, the lord of death, sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could escape only by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. The waning of the sun and the approach of dark winter made the evil spirits rejoice and play nasty tricks. Believe it or not, most of our Halloween practices can be traced back to these old pagan rites and superstitions. In today’s Western culture it is nearly impossible to “avoid” Halloween. As Christians you and I are placed in this world to be a light in a world of darkness. There is no lasting benefit to ignore a holiday that exists around us, but it also does harm to celebrate Halloween as it has originated and grown over the centuries.Christians should be teaching their children (age appropriately) that there is a spiritual world filled with goodness from God and evil from Satan (Eph. 2:1-10) and that life with Christ has power over darkness (I John 4:4). Rather than “hide” in the face of evil, we should unashamedly and boldly create an alternative that is positive and uplifting; that celebrates good over evil and the triumph of God over Satan. We need to provide an environment that also makes room for heaps of fun while using the day as a “teachable moment” to celebrate God’s protection, provision and purpose for our lives. Full article and others on the topic at www.cbneurope.com/halloween
CBN Broadcasting
Facts
Did you know that CBN’s headquarters are based in Virginia beach, USA? In obedience to the Lord’s instructions to Pat Robertson, CBN purchased 142 acres of land in Virginia Beach which now houses studio’s as well as CBN’s Regent University.
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KIDS
Free Apps Download the latest apps including CBN Radio, Superbook Kids Bible, The 700 Club, MyCBN and many more!
www.cbn.com/mobile
Competition Winner Well done to Eliora Joan who won our Colouring Competition! We hope you will enjoy watching the many Superbook DVDs you now have!
Following Instructions In this new episode, Chris neglects to listen to his father and follow the directions. Suddenly, Superbook takes them to spend time with Eliezer and learn the value of being obedient. Available for purchase at www.cbneurope.com/resources
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Who Does God Want You To Be? This is a question that I meditate upon each morning as I prepare for the day ahead. Sometimes the answer is so clear that I float through my daily activities with a divine sense of purpose. However, there have been days where I scratched my head in confusion. Perhaps the largest problem in determining who God wants us to be is the battle between being a Cultural Christian and a Bible-based Christian. The term Cultural Christian has become a popular buzzword in theology circles in recent years. Author Patrick Morley defines it as someone who has divided his loyalties between God and the things of this world.
“Perhaps the largest problem in determining who God wants us to be is the battle between being a Cultural Christian and a Bible-based Christian.” I worked for many years in sports media. Due to the demands of reporting on Sunday games, I found myself compromising my faith, telling myself on any given Sabbath, “Even though I can’t be in church this morning, I will in the evening.” I rarely followed through. I was always too tired, had too much work to do, or my colleagues wanted
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me to go out to eat. I was allowing my world to dictate how I practiced my faith. I had become a Cultural Christian without even realizing it. The only way to determine who God truly wants us to be is to stay rooted in His Word as a Bible-based Christian. Psalm 1:1-3 says, Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Remember, quality time spent with God will greatly enhance your outlook on life. The more time you spend with someone, the better you know him. The better you know someone, your knowledge and belief in them becomes clearer. Therefore, as your faith becomes stronger your love for God becomes greater. Chris Carpenter is the Director of Internet Programming for CBN. com and also serves as lead producer for myCBN Weekend.
PRAYER CHANGES EVERYTHING
Our Prayer Centre team is here to pray and stand in faith with you. We believe that God can restore, heal and renew.
CBN EUROPE
CALL OUR PRAYER CENTRE 0300 561 0700 (UK) / 0800 432 0700 (UK) 1 513 3738 (ROI) / +44 207 101 7045 (Europe)
“
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...
�
Romans 12:2
Daily Devotion Receive life changing devotions every day, totally free by email! Subscribe online at cbneurope.com/devotions
Pray for us Here at the CBN UK Prayer Centre, we pray daily for the needs of our partners and ask our Heavenly Father to pour out His blessings upon their lives. God is calling us to be a people of prayer and “through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let our requests be made known to God”, according to Philippians 4:6. As CBN is daily on the front lines of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world, we really need your prayers too! Below are some current topics you could join with us in prayer for. Thank you for standing with us!
We pray for our media team as they step out into a new realm of filming content for The 700 Club and online ministry.
We also pray for our partner TV ministries, for continual favour and freedom to broadcast without restrictions here in the UK and in Europe.
Let us together lift up the staff and management at our UK based Prayer Line as they are on the forefront of spiritual warfare, declaring God’s Truth in situations.
We stand with our CBN / Operation Blessing / Orphans Promise regional offices and the staff worldwide – for protection, blessing and increased impact.
Thank the Lord for giving us favour and open doors to see His Word get into Primary Schools in Wales and the wider UK through Superbook.
We give You thanks Lord, for our faithful partners and pray Your provision and protection over them. Provide every need in Jesus’ mighty Name.
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The One Thing
We Should Desire Most
Everything Jesus did on the cross was out of love One of Jesus’ most famous parables is about a farmer sowing seed, which symbolizes spreading the Gospel. Seed falling on a footpath can’t take root because the ground is so hard. Seed springing up on rocky soil wilts under persecution. Seed growing among thorns is choked by worldly cares. Yet seed sown on fertile soil produces a bountiful crop. This parable, found in Mark 4:3-20, is true of our own lives. Our fruitfulness is based on how we cultivate our soil. What type of ground is in our hearts, allowing the Word of God to grow and mature? Our post-Christian society is like the footpath that is trodden down, with no knowledge of the Bible. It is very tough for seed to penetrate the soil and germinate in our culture today. Around the world, many people face persecution. In America, most of us who are Christians must deal with thorns, the cares and concerns of the world that threaten to choke out the Word in our hearts. The New Testament gives us insight into living a bountiful, fruitful life. In the middle of Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14, he stops to write the great passage on love in chapter 13. If you do incredible things, yet don’t have love, you are just a clanging cymbal. You may give
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away everything, yet without love you accomplish nothing. In Revelation 2:2-4, God says, “I know your works, your labour, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. … You have persevered and have patience, and have laboured for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love”. Everything Jesus did on the cross was out of love. So here is a key to His parable about the sower: the good soil is love. Our long-term worth is not based on what we do, but on the amount of love we show. St. Patrick prayed, “Christ in the eyes of everyone who sees me, Christ in the ears of everyone who hears me.” Let’s pray that everyone we encounter sees and hears not us, but Christ. So how deep is our soil? Are we rooted and grounded in love? The enemy wants to rob us and divide us. If we are walking in love, forgiveness, humility, and unity, then together we can produce an abundant crop. God bless you. Gordon Robertson, Chief Executive Officer of CBN.
“Here is a key to His parable about the sower: the good soil is love.”
CBN Partners You Make a Dierence
As a CBN partner you help provide medical care, clean water, humanitarian aid and a message of hope to those who need it most.
Become a world changer. Join CBN partners and bring the love of God to millions of hurting people every day. Call 0300 561 0700 or 0800 432 0700 (UK) / 1 513 3738 (ROI) /+44 207 101 7045 (Europe) or visit www.cbneurope.com/donate or fill in the enclosed form and return to us.