“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 NKJV
February 1, God willing, is to be TTT’s 59th birthday.
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” Proverbs 27:1-2 NKJV
Autographing the book “The Spark that Ignites (God’s promise to revive the church through you),” author Robert E. Coleman wrote this note: “God bless you George. May the fire of revival always burn in your ministry to the praise of God.”
While I was working with Word in Waco, Texas as Advertising Director, Kurt Kaiser was Director of Artists and Repertoire. Kurt and his wife Pat, and Mary and I were part of a small group weekly Bible study. Kurt’s musicianship was superb, but he introduced me to his friend Ralph Carmichael, who was encouraging Kurt to begin writing songs.
Kurt wrote the song “Pass It On”: “It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it. You spread His love to everyone, you want to pass it on.”
“I wish for you my friend this happiness that I’ve found. You can depend on Him, it matters not where you’re bound. I’ll shout it from the mountaintop, I want my world to know: the Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on.”
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV
“Fan the Flame” by Jim Cymbala: “Not ashamed of the Gospel. ‘The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Asl the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”‘ (Luke 10:1-2). Jesus spoke these words to a group of His followers who also were going ahead of Him.”
In “Think Ahead,” Craig Groeschel writes: “Process precedes progress. As you work your plan and see some progress you will want to do it consistently every day. And if you do it consistently you will reach your goal.”
TTT’s ongoing vision: Every youth, before turning 20, to hear the Gospel with an invitation to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The need has ever been greater to reach and teach teenagers and preteens, and caring adults, with the message of the Gospel. A recent Barna survey reported that less than 1% of US 13-14 year-olds have a biblical worldview.
As we went with the Gospel last summer to nine counties in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky through Fair Share, we experienced this first-hand. Most of the teenagers and preteens we talked with had virtually no knowledge of the Gospel or God’s Word. And yet many were very responsive when we shared God’s ABCs of salvation, and a number of them responded and made the personal decision to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Both Matthew and Luke tell us that Jesus told His followers to ask the Lord to send out workers.
Hosanna Highway, March 1 through May 3, encompasses God’s redemption plan from creation through “the Gospel everywhere.”
Ninety-three of America’s 3,141 counties are within 100 miles of TTT.
February 4 is to be “First Tuesday” 90-minute luncheon, with fellowship and training for pastors and youth workers at TTT and online. Saturday, February 8, Leading Youth evangelism training will be available for students and adults. It will continue to be offered every second Saturday in March, April, May, and June, to prepare and equip adult youth workers and 10-19 year-olds (TIGERs – Teens Involved Going Evangelizing Regularly) to take “Fair Share” to county fairs and street festivals during July and August.
PRAY – People, Resources, Action, You.
Have you received the light? To whom will you give the light? Inform. Invite. Be the spark. Ignite. Fan the flame. Light the world with God’s glorious Gospel.