“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13 NKJV
As we prepared to open the doors of TTT in 1966, we presented the challenge: “Who? You, with George and Mary Dooms, working together. Why? If we don’t care about the teenagers in our communities, who does?”
There were over 300,000 teenagers in the area surrounding TTT, then called “The Valley of Opportunity” – a 100-mile radius from US 41 North at Boonville New Harmony Road, on the outskirts of Evansville, Indiana; 4 miles north of the airport and 4 miles south of Interstate 64.
The need: “But even if our gospel is veiled (hidden), it is veiled (hidden) to those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 4:3 NKJV
The plan: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 NKJV
The result: “And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.” Acts 13:49 NKJV
From the outset, TTT has continued to be aggressively evangelistic, Bible believing, and church connected.
“Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.'” Matthew 16:16-18 NKJV
At TTT’s 2,000th consecutive Saturday, May 29, 2004, “Church Triumphant” (by Bill and Gloria Gaither) was presented by combined church choirs with national Youth Evangelism Association teen talent winners, directed by Teresa Patchin and narrated by TRUTH’s Roger Breland.
“God has always had a people. Many a foolish conqueror has made the mistake of thinking that because he had forced the church of Jesus Christ out of sight, he had stilled its voice and snuffed out its life. But God has always had a people! The powerful current of a rushing river is not diminished because it is forced to flow underground; the purest water is the stream that bursts crystal clear into the sunlight after it has forced its way through solid rock!”
The STRATEGY: Small Town Rural America Target – Evangelizing God-given Youth.
South of the Border Nachos Night November 2 is to encompass a special salute to the ministry on the Jurua River in Brazil, South America, a Motorcycle Sunday School Mission, but really using boats, because the ministry is to people living on boats.
December 7 will celebrate with Jesus’ birthday cake, using the theme of the “wordless book” to share the Gospel. The Motorcycle Sunday School Mission in Cambodia will be highlighted.
Saturday, January 4 will thrust into the new year, spotlighting the Motorcycle Sunday School Mission in Indonesia.
God willing, February 1, 2025, TTT Christian Youth Ministries will celebrate the 59th anniversary “Telling The TRUTH to/through teenagers.”
The doxology (affirmation of praise to God) at the end of the model prayer that Jesus taught is from 1 Chronicles 29:11: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all.”
As God guides and provides, TTT will enhance and expand the LYRIC – Leading Youth Resource Information Connections (people and places).
LYRIC is far more than a compilation of tangible entities. LYRIC is a transferrable Christian communication concept – “why,” more than “how” or “what.”
The big “why”: Telling The TRUTH to/through teenagers “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 NKJV
Dr. Earl Radmacher wrote: “Psalm 67, a psalm of praise, serves as a marvelous invocation and doxology in worship. The poem calls the nations of the world to praise God, to join Israel in honoring the Creator. There is: (1) a call for God’s blessing for the purpose of world evangelization; (2) a call for the nations to bless the Lord in view of His righteous judgments; (3) a call for the nations to bless the Lord in view of His coming kingdom.”
Let’s consistently pray for the vision: Every youth, before turning 20, to hear the Gospel with an invitation to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”