“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 NKJV
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that who believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17 NKJV
Christmas Eve 1968, Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon, entered lunar orbit. The astronauts – Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders – did a live television broadcast from lunar orbit, showing pictures of the earth and moon seen from Apollo 8. Lovell said, “The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring. It makes you realize just what you have back there on earth.” The crew took turns reading from Genesis chapter 1.
William Anders: “For all the people on earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message we would like to send you: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, let there be light; and there was light, and God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.”
Jim Lovell: “And God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. And God said, let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. And it was so. And God called the firmament heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.”
Frank Borman: “And God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ and it was so. And God called the dry land earth; the gathering together of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.”
Borman then added: “And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a merry Christmas, and God bless all of you – all of you on the good earth.”
Where in the world have you been?
We’re celebrating Jesus’ virgin birth every TTT December Saturday. February 1 is to be TTT’s 59th birthday, God willing. March 1 through May 3 is “Hosanna Highway.” April 5 focuses on Jesus’ birth, life, betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection.
The week after He was raised from the dead, Jesus gave the Great Commission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 NKJV
For nearly 59 years, TTT’s mission continues: Telling The TRUTH to / through teenagers …to win them to Christ and train them for Christ; teaching them how to share their faith through their local churches, on their campuses, throughout their communities, and into their world, wherever God leads them in their future.
Teenagers from all 50 states have been trained as TIGERs: “Teens Involved Going Evangelizing Regularly.” And students have come to and from over 40 nations, learning how to share the Gospel.
“Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” Acts 8:4 NKJV
Where in the world are you now?
TTT continues every Saturday in person, and (since March 2020) online, reaching throughout the Tri-State, across America, and into nation after nation, reconnecting with many of those trained through TTT, and their families and friends.
Within 100 miles of TTT are 93 Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky counties, and over 400,000 10-19 year-olds. Having gone to many of these communities, we want to return and reach beyond. STRATEGY: Small Town Rural America Target: Evangelizing God-given Youth.
“Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied …” Acts 6:7 NKJV
God willing, evangelistic youth efforts can happen in community after community, as people in each county help connect with pastors and youth workers who will pray about the possibility of working together to reach students ages 10 through 19 in their communities for Christ.
Where in the world will you go?
As happened in the early church, the outcome: “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” Acts 17:6 NKJV
Let’s keep Christ in Christmas. As we move into 2025, make sure Christ the Lord is your Lord all year long.