As I have traveled across the country this past year, I have often been approached by pastors whose churches are struggling financially. For many churches, low offerings have resulted in financial stress and in some cases, has brought the ministry to a halt.

The October 10th edition of USA Today reported that “ …per capita giving in the United States was lower than the worst year of the Great Depression.” The article went on to say: “Americans spent $310 million in the first-day sales for Grand Theft Auto IV.… In 2008, Baptists gave less than 200 million to missions.”

When we pause to think of these two statements we gain perspective on the condition of America. When tough economic times come, charitable giving is the first to decline while entertainment and pleasure remains a priority.

For Christians, giving to the Lord is not a variable option that reflects the economic condition, but rather a command to obey from the heart. David Livingstone once said, “The spirit of missions is the spirit of our Master, the very genius of His religion…. It requires perpetual propagation to attest its genuineness.” We must give to the Lord so the Gospel can be spread across our country and around the world.

Since we concluded our Missions Conference two weeks ago, to God’s glory our church family has committed over $1 million to worldwide missions. I believe this to be a sign of a healthy church, and I thank the Lord for Christians who respond to God’s Word rather than to our country’s economic status.

As we enter this Thanksgiving season, may we remember to thank the Lord by giving back to Him. May we show our thanks by giving, and may we seek to spread the Gospel throughout the world.

By now, most every American Christian has heard of the Seeker Sensitive church movement. This movement, which began approximately twenty-five years ago, was a stated attempt to develop church programs and adapt church philosophy through the “felt needs” of those within our society.

I remember in 1987 receiving an invitation to a seminar where I would be taught how to poll a community and find out what kind of a church the community was looking for. The seminar said that if our community did not want conservative music, they would teach us how to replace conservative music with more of a rock ‘n roll style. The seminar advertisement also mentioned altering the style of preaching to more of a conversational teaching and perhaps having offering baskets at the back rather than passing an offering plate.

Since then, the types of changes that have taken place in the church have been significant. After twenty-five years of this humanistic approach, and after hundreds of seminars teaching this approach, we are now seeing the results in our society. I believe American culture is reflecting, in part, the compromise of American churches and pastors. Many pastors who have been so obsessed with pleasing people have simply forgotten some of the basic commandments of the Word of God.

God’s Word is very clear that the Christian is to be conformed to Christ and not to this world. Even on very important subjects related to the current election, many pastors have been silent because, once again, their goal is not to be faithful to the Word, but to keep people happy!

I think it is critical that Christians remember some very important principles in the Word of God as we approach this election. Let us not be seeker-sensitive voters. Let us be sensitive to the Word of God and to the Saviour.

It is critical that we, as a nation, retain our support for Israel. Genesis 12:2-3 says, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” God has promised that He will bless those who bless Israel and that He will curse those who turn their backs on Israel.

It is critical that we, as a nation, remember that God recognizes the life of the pre-born child. (Jeremiah 1:5)

It is critical that we, here in California, vote according to the Word of God on Proposition 8. God’s Word declares that He established the first marriage between a man and a woman.

The list goes on, but certainly these are three vital areas that must be emphasized in these final days. Please pray for America during this time, and pray for pastors everywhere, that they will teach and preach the Word of God faithfully. Honestly, pastors do not need to endorse candidates if they have rightly divided the Word of God for four years prior to an election. If proper preaching and teaching has occurred, God’s people will know how to cast votes on the various issues and candidates. Let’s pray that there is enough salt and light to help us stand in this society once again.

Every summer, I strive to read as many books as possible. It is imperative to constantly be growing and developing in a spiritual walk with Christ, and I believe godly books can certainly help in that endeavor. It is a personal goal of mine to glean from good books in the summer months, and I encourage our staff and church members to do the same. I recently took to time to compile a list of recommended reading material. While we cannot endorse every word or concept in the books on this list, they have been generally helpful in my life and ministry. Many of these books can be purchased a www.lancasterbaptist.org/bookstore.

In Matthew chapter 9, we find Jesus going about His father’s business.  He was teaching, preaching and healing the sick among the people. He then pauses for a moment, and the Bible records these words:

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

This week, during our Mission Conference at Lancaster Baptist, we are considering His harvest. It has been our privilege as a church family to host a number of missionaries who have answered the call of God in their lives and have gone to the foreign field. It has been a thrill for me to see these families share their burdens and visions for their fields.

This year we constructed a village on the front lawn of our campus for the children of Lancaster Baptist. The name of the village is “Wynochu Village” (Why not you). Each day, the children have had the opportunity to visit the missionaries in their huts and learn more of their fields. It has been a blessing to watch their excitement for missions, and we pray that their hearts will remain tender toward lost souls as they grow older.

Last night Dr. Sisk brought a powerful message from Psalm 2 in which he asked the question: “Who wants the heathen?” Sadly, too often Christians stand by as the heathen go to Hell. What are you doing to make an impact for worldwide missions?  We can all do something. We must go. We must give. We must pray.

Charles Spurgeon once said,
“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap into hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”

Please pray that we would allow God to do a great work in our lives this final night of the Missions Conference.

The fall months are perhaps my favorite time of year at Lancaster Baptist Church. The weather is changing, school is well underway, and the festivities of Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner.  Most importantly, however, this time of year reminds me of the harvest of souls in our community and around the world.

This past weekend, Lancaster Baptist held its annual Open House Sunday. During the week leading up to the Open House, our church family had the privilege of knocking on every door in the Antelope Valley with a Gospel tract and friendly invitation to church.  Last Saturday morning, we gathered together for our final day of soulwinning before our Open House Sunday. It was a thrill for me to see over 1,500 soulwinners prepared to go and compel others with the Gospel of Christ.

To God’s glory, we were able to knock on nearly 85,000 doors and see over 170 people accept Christ as their Saviour during this week of outreach. I am thankful for a church family who follows God in obedience and who goes “publicly and from house to house,” as is modeled in Acts 20:20.

When Sunday came, we were already anticipating that God would do a great work in our midst.  As I brought a salvation message during both services, it was wonderful to see God at work in the hearts of those in attendance as the altars were filled with people responding to His gift of salvation. We praise the Lord for the 130 people who accepted Christ as their Saviour.

As we thanked the Lord for the miracles of the day, I told our church family on Sunday night that the true victory in the Christian life is obedience to God. As we respond in obedience to God’s Word and as we are faithful to do what He has called us to do, He will mightily bless.