World

The Midwest Meets the Middle East

“Can’t wait to see snow,” was my reaction when I learned that I had to travel to Chicago on a business trip at the ripe age of 22. I took a night flight, and although cold, the drive to the hotel was pleasant. A date at the federal courthouse awaited me the next morning, and since my lodging was only a couple of blocks from my destination, I decided to “hoof it.” And there it was… white, wet, cold snow. However, this stuff had no resemblance to what I had seen on television. Instead of falling from the sky, the […]

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The Significance of the 70th Anniversary of the State of Israel

The modern state of Israel celebrated its 70th anniversary on May 14. From its reestablishment in 1948 there has been war, contention and controversy. To be honest, that parcel of land has been a source of contention pretty much since the times of ancient Israel. This is further complicated by the strong polarized views held by many in the church. Battle lines over support or condemnation of the modern state of Israel have pretty much fallen along political lines, which have forced us to either care for Israel or care for the Palestinians. To me this is the symptom of […]

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Storms Inside Me

  This winter break, I, along with 450 other student ambassadors, embarked on a ten-day expedition to Israel. It was an experience I will never forget, and even more importantly, it taught me just how important Israel is to God. In total, eleven buses were filled with college students from all over the U.S., who had applied through their schools to become student ambassadors with a program called Passages to Israel. Along with thirty new friends, who quickly became family, I was on bus #9, one of eight students brought by faculty member Dr. Andrea Hazim, representing the Elev8Life educational […]

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Pro-Life Campaigns Celebrate Lives Saved

Three local 40 Days for Life campaigns joined March 2 to celebrate the mid-point of the life-saving initiative, observed Feb. 14 to March 25 in 47 nations. But the gathering for food and fellowship had more to rejoice over than just hitting the halfway mark of the 40-day period of prayer and fasting, community outreach and peaceful vigil for an end to abortion. The same day of the celebration, three women chose life outside the abortion facility where Tom Walker leads the Fort Lauderdale campaign. Two of the mothers chose life for their children because of a simple sign that […]

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Ten Things You Might Not Know About charity: water

The story of the founder Search Scott Harrison and charity: water and dozens of videos of Scott sharing his story pop up. Let’s just say he had me at Liberia. Even if you’ve never set foot in Buchanan, Scott’s story of sex, drugs, rock and roll, the 180 desperation can inspire, A.W. Tozer, supernatural healings, Mercy Ships, and launching charity: water might convince you of one thing. It makes total sense that God would use a burned-out prodigal nightclub promoter to launch a charity that works like a start-up. Water is often far and dangerous Today, millions of people, mostly […]

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Revelation Ministries Plans Christmas Performances and Trip to Israel

Revelation Ministries, a Christian performing arts group from Southeast Florida, has announced its Christmas performance schedule of “The Gospel According to Scrooge” and plans for a major mission trip to the Middle East this summer. The news comes following the passing of the organization’s founder and executive director, Travis Johnson. Johnson was production manager at First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale for about 15 years before founding Revelation Ministries, which has shared the gospel with music and drama locally and in Ukraine, Russia, England and Israel. “I called him the gentle giant because he was so soft spoken, so humble […]

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Operation Christmas Child: The Greatest Journey of a Shoebox

Operation Christmas Child is one of the many programs and activities done by Samaritan’s Purse, which also has year round disaster and relief programs. Every year prior to Christmas, churches, individuals and groups throughout the United States, Canada and the Western world donate over 11 million shoeboxes that are gathered and transported to Third World countries and areas hard hit by natural disasters or war.   Window of opportunity This time of year many of us are thinking about our plans for the holidays and planning our Thanksgiving activities, as well as getting ready for Christmas and New Year’s. It […]

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A Heart for the Lost in Japan

If asked to imagine where missionaries ought to serve, our imaginations typically conjure up pictures of the humid rainforests of the Amazon or the arid deserts of northern Africa. When we think of those who have not heard the gospel, we assume they must be living in remote areas or in squalor. The fact is that huge metropolises across the globe are teeming with lost souls roaming their streets in search of meaning and purpose. Japan—Tokyo in particular—is in desperate need of the gospel. This country, which we associate with advancement, technology and luxury, is actually a spiritual wasteland where […]

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Ramadan, Fasting and the Good News

This year Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, takes places from May 27 to June 25. For Muslims it brings thirty days of rigorous fasting, along with prayer, reading of the Qur’an and giving to the poor. Christians disagree strongly with Muslims about their understanding of God. However, Ramadan can provide a unique opportunity for Christians to show love and compassion to Muslims. Prayer, fasting, the reading of Scripture, care for one another and the poor — these are all practices with which faithful Christians are familiar. But we practice these within the wonderful freedom that we have […]

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Lessons from the Land: Before the Rooster Crows

  One of my most memorable experiences in Israel happened many years ago right outside the Old City of Jerusalem. I was living at a school on Mount Zion at the time, pursuing a master’s degree in Judeo-Christian Studies. As students often do, we came up with a bright idea that provided adventure while burning off pent-up energy from days spent in class. Our idea was to hike to the top of the Mount of Olives to watch the sunrise. Early one morning, while it was still dark outside, a group of about six of us began the hike around […]

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