Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 106

The Houston Chronicle’s Report on Southern Baptist Sexual Abuse, and the Lessons for All Evangelical Churches

On Sunday, the Houston Chronicle released the first of a three-part series titled “Abuse of Faith: 20 years, 700 victims: Southern Baptist sexual abuse spreads as leaders resist reform.”

Below are a few excerpts from the article—though please read it for yourself. (And remember, while this article and the investigation focuses on Southern Baptist churches, it largely applies to all evangelical churches.)

In June 2008, [Debbie Vasquez] paid her way to Indianapolis, where she and others asked leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention and its 47,000 churches to track sexual predators and take action against congregations that harbored or concealed abusers. Vasquez, by then in her 40s, implored them to consider prevention policies like those adopted by faiths that include the Catholic Church.

…Days later, Southern Baptist leaders rejected nearly every proposed reform.

…[since 2008] more than 250 people who worked or volunteered in Southern Baptist churches have been charged with sex crimes, an investigation by the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News reveals.

It's not just a recent problem: In all, since 1998, roughly 380 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers have faced allegations of sexual misconduct, the newspapers found. That includes those who were convicted, credibly accused and successfully sued, and those who confessed or resigned. More of them worked in Texas than in any other state.

They left behind more than 700 victims, many of them shunned by their churches, left to themselves to rebuild their lives. Some were urged to forgive their abusers or to get abortions.

…The investigation reveals that:

• At least 35 church pastors, employees and volunteers who exhibited predatory behavior were still able to find jobs at churches during the past two decades. In some cases, church leaders apparently failed to alert law enforcement about complaints or to warn other congregations about allegations of misconduct.

• Several past presidents and prominent leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention are among those criticized by victims for concealing or mishandling abuse complaints within their own churches or seminaries.

• Some registered sex offenders returned to the pulpit.

• Many of the victims were adolescents who were molested, sent explicit photos or texts, exposed to pornography, photographed nude, or repeatedly raped by youth pastors. Some victims as young as 3 were molested or raped inside pastors' studies and Sunday school classrooms. A few were adults — women and men who sought pastoral guidance and instead say they were seduced or sexually assaulted.

Read the whole report.

How Should the Church Respond?

First, let me state that I know many fine Southern Baptist churches as well as godly Southern Baptist pastors. I would never single out Southern Baptists, but since the article was about them I have no choice. All I can do is remind you that the lessons learned should be taken to heart by all evangelical churches.

Abuses such as those detailed in the article break the heart of God, and they should break ours as well. The church should be leading the way in helping and protecting the vulnerable and abused, not protecting and helping predators.

I highly recommend churches consider ways to be more proactive in preventing abuse. One resource that’s been recommended to me is GRACE, Godly Response to Abuse in the Church Environment, which provides a Safeguarding Program to help churches implement best practices to protect the vulnerable. (See this interview with the founder of GRACE.)

The Houston Chronicle set up a database that allows people to search for SBC pastors by name to see if they’ve been convicted of sex crimes. (It’s tragic that such a thing is necessary, but if it saves children and women and churches from sexual abuse,  I’ll be grateful they did.)

Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC, has written a good treatment of the article:

This report is alarming and scandalous, and the courage and grace of these survivors is contrasted with the horrific depravity of those who would use the name of Jesus to prey on them.

First, we must see with clear eyes what is before us. All rape and sexual exploitation is evil and unjust. Sexual abuse is not only sin but also a crime. All of it should be prosecuted in the civil arena, and all of it will be brought before the tribunal of the Judgment Seat of Christ. But nothing is worse than the use of the name of Jesus to prey on the vulnerable, or to use the name of Jesus to cover up such crimes.

We should see this scandal in terms of the church as a flock, not as a corporation. No church should be frustrated by the Houston Chronicle’s reporting, but should thank God for it. The Judgment Seat of Christ will be far less reticent than a newspaper series to uncover what should never have been hidden.

Read the rest.

Trevin Wax, who works with the SBC’s Lifeway Resources, is also outspoken in calling for reforms, and in his article cites other Southern Baptist leaders who are doing the same.

A Sacred Trust

Most of the sexual abuses in the article relate to children, and certainly that is the most horrific kind of abuse. However, calls for reforms in all churches need to extend to church leaders who are involved in immoral consensual sex with adults.

I wrote in a past blog something that bears repeating here. Ministry is not just a task. It is a sacred trust between the under-shepherd and the flock that has been entrusted to him by God. To misuse and violate that trust to achieve sexual conquest, or even emotional dependence, is a particularly deplorable behavior. Every time a Christian leader’s sexual sin is passed off as “an unfortunate indiscretion that came at a vulnerable point in his life,” responsibility is avoided or denied, and others—especially the members in the local church—are taught that emotional needs and inadequacies justify immoral entanglement.

Even the secular counseling profession considers it the highest breach of ethics to enter into a romantic and/or sexual relationship with a client. Indeed, sexual involvement with one who has come to seek emotional help or spiritual guidance should not only be considered fornication or adultery—it should be considered sexual abuse.

Any sexual activity that comes out of a ministry context is comparable to the child sexual abuse that’s at the center of the report, where the supposedly mature and stable adult figure takes advantage of his or her authority and credibility to initiate or allow a sexual encounter with the immature and vulnerable. In such cases, the person in ministry is a predator. And it is all the worse because we are trusted representatives of Christ.

When an Abuser Finds Another Ministry Position

The article highlights the problem of abusers who are hired by other churches and again placed in positions of authority. This is one of the worst things I’ve seen in churches. For example, a pastor has an affair and devastates the church, and then it comes out that the same thing happened at his previous church (sometimes churches). Either the pastoral search group/elders didn’t bother contacting leaders of the former church or they didn’t ask the right questions (or if they did, they weren’t told the truth). Everyone ends up suffering for this.  

There are a few reasons this happens:

First, leaders at both the previous church don’t want to look bad because it happened under their watch, and they should have known. Or perhaps they didn’t take seriously the warning signs.

Second, leaders don’t want their church to experience scandal or for members of the congregation to lose confidence in the leadership, so sometimes they let the pastor announce that he “feels led” to take on a new ministry position in another part of the country.

Third—and this one bothers me just as much as the other two—leaders don’t want to subject themselves or their churches to possible legal liability by sharing information that could result in their old pastor not getting a new ministry job elsewhere. When we fail to do right out of fear for personal consequences, while subjecting others to potentially terrible consequences, that is wrong with a capital W.

So the result of devastation at one church is silence, leading to repeated or greater devastation at the next church…and sometimes the next and the next. It’s maddening.

Sadly, this isn’t limited to sexual immorality. There are many areas, but a prominent one is financial immorality. Some church leaders are quietly dismissed for financial improprieties. But had they been more noisily dismissed, perhaps hundreds or thousands of others in future churches and ministries could have been spared, and the reputation of Jesus and churches would not once again be dragged in the mud. (For more, see my past blog on Are We Shooting the Wounded or Acting in Love By Not Soon Restoring Fallen Leaders Back to Ministry?)

A recent insightful Gospel Coalition article asks another pertinent question in the arena of abuse: How Do Churches End Up with Domineering Bullies for Pastors? Please don’t think I am trying to pile on pastors. I was a pastor, and many of my best friends are pastors. I know well and deeply respect dozens and dozens of pastors, and have had rich conversations with hundreds of them. But these good men, not claiming perfection for themselves, would be the first to say that they wish abusive pastors of every variety were removed from church ministry. When they are not held accountable by their fellow pastors and lay leaders, they can do great damage to churches, and sometimes irreparable harm to individuals who suffer abuse at their hands.  

Tim Challies offers some wise and extremely important thoughts about “Why We Must Emphasize a Pastor’s Character over His Skill.” 

Please, pray for your pastors. Respect and encourage them. And recognize they too—for their sake and the sake of their churches—need to be held accountable. They need to have people speak truth into their lives. May pastors and all who are part of Christ’s truth ponder these passages, beginning with one that reminds us who the head of the church and the only Good Shepherd and Chief Shepherd really is:

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:2-4).

“It’s time for judgment to begin with God’s own household. But if judgment starts with us, what will happen to those who refuse to believe God’s good news?” (1 Peter 4:17).

“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1).

For more, see Randy’s booklet  Sexual Temptation , which contains clear, preventive guidelines to avoid immorality, and also has a specific section for pastors and church leaders. See also his book  The Purity Principle .

Photo by Gregory Hayes on Unsplash

Wayne Grudem on Systematic Theology, and Why It Matters

I’ve shared before my appreciation for Wayne Grudem, who is the author of more than twenty books and a research professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary. Several years ago, he and I both spoke at the Clarus Conference, and did a couple of panel discussions together. I really enjoyed my time with him.

A few years ago Wayne shared that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and you can read his godly response to this news which he shared on Desiring God.

I’ve long recommended Wayne’s books on theology, and cannot emphasize enough the importance of learning systematic theology. Based on conversations I’ve had, I fear that many believers in churches today understand very little Bible doctrine. I want to encourage you to discover the joy of learning. I recommend not only Wayne Grudem’s large Systematic Theology, but also his abridged Bible Doctrine.

This article from him is a great introduction to what systematic theology is, and why it matters. —Randy Alcorn

What’s Systematic Theology and Why Bother?

By Wayne Grudem

Systematic theology means answering the question: “What does the whole Bible say to us today about any given topic?”

It means searching the Bible to find all the verses pertaining to a given topic of study. Then, we put all the verses together to understand what God wants us to believe. “Systematic” means “carefully organized by topics.” Thus, it’s different from random theology or disorganized theology.

You’re a Theologian

Even if you haven’t written a systematic theology—or even if you don’t consider yourself a theologian—you’re still doing systematic theology in some sense. Everyone has beliefs about who God is, who Jesus is, what salvation is, and how we should live as Christians. We’re all synthesizing those beliefs together.

So if you’re a Christian, you’re doing systematic theology, whether you’re aware of it or not. If you’re not aware of it, then your theology may not be very well organized, or it may not take into account verses from the whole Bible. There may be a verse here or there, or from certain parts of Scripture, but it’s not the entirety of what God reveals about a particular doctrine.

That’s why it’s important to study systematic theology—to understand what God says and what the Bible says.

How to Study Systematic Theology

Here are five ways we should approach systematic theology:

1. With prayer.

We should imitate the psalmist, who prays, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Ps. 119:18).

2. With humility.

Both Peter and James say God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Of those two categories of people, I think we all want to be among those to whom God gives grace.

A word of caution is appropriate: Be careful when you talk with others about theological topics, that you don’t let your temper run wild. That isn’t the way God wants us to talk about him:

The wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, and the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:17)

We must study systematic theology with humility and seek peace with others.

3. With reason.

Contradictions aren’t acceptable in the study of systematic theology, since there aren’t any contradictions in the Bible. 

Psalm 119:160 says “the sum of your words is truth.” The sum—when you put all God’s words together. There are many times we need to acknowledge mystery, paradox, and things we can’t fully understand. But that’s different from saying there’s a contradiction. God never asks us to believe a contradiction.

4. With help from others.

I have learned much about theology through conversations with others—in the library, in the hallway, or in the seminary lunchroom when talking with other students. Seek help from others as you study.

We use help from others when we read books on theology, since God has gifted the church with teachers (1 Cor. 12:28). We can learn about him from them.

5. With rejoicing and praise.

There should be joy in our hearts as we study these topics, and it should result in praise to our King.

Psalm 139:17 says, “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God. How vast is the sum of them.” The psalmist is overwhelmed with joy and praise for what God has revealed about himself and his deeds. This should be our response as well.

Why Study Systematic Theology

Studying theology is one of most important things we can do, since there is a relationship between what we believe and how we live.

The Bible speaks of doctrine that accords with godliness. For example, Paul encourages the Ephesian Christians to grow up into Christ so they won’t be tossed by every wind of doctrine, but will have stability and grow into maturity (Eph. 4:14).

On the other hand, if false teaching comes into the church—if people lose sight of true theology—then it can be harmful and turn people away from the faith. Paul warned the elders at the church in Ephesus:

For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:27–30)

Paul warns that false doctrine would come from believers within the church who adopt wrong teachings and are destructive in their influence. Damage comes from neglecting theology and allowing churches and organizations to stray into false teaching about the truths of God’s Word.

Studying systematic theology is important. We should do it with intentionality and purpose.

This post originally appeared in its entirety on The Gospel Coalition .

Photo by madeleine ragsdale on Unsplash

Are Prolifers Exaggerating the Reach of New York’s Reproductive Health Act?

After we posted the link to my recent blog about New York’s Reproductive Health Act on Facebook, an EPM board member and one of our staff had exchanges with commenters claiming we were sharing false information and exaggerating the law’s effects.

We always respond to people’s genuine questions, but I rarely defend myself to critics, knowing it seldom makes a difference when their minds are already made up. But when lives of unborn children are at stake, I and our staff believe in going the extra mile to speak up for them.

I really appreciated Kathy’s and Stephanie’s responses, but unfortunately very few people read them since they were buried under other comments. I wanted to share them in this blog so many more readers would see them. They’re important, as the same statements are being commonly made, and you may have conversations with those who simply don’t understand abortion-related laws and how courts have routinely interpreted the meaning of ”health” to be not only physical but also mental, emotional, and financial.  

Can you find articles in national newspapers and magazines denying that the New York law effectively permits abortion at any time? Of course. There are countless such articles. In contrast, here is one of several that disagree with those articles, and I believe, far more accurately understands the law and its language in light of the history of abortion laws and how they’re interpreted by the courts. (As Joe Carter points out in this article, the New York law simply reinforces how the existing laws are already interpreted in terms of allowing abortion up to the time of birth.)

This is an unusually long blog, but for those confused by the debate, and seeking to understand the issues, and how to respond to those who see it differently, I think it’s worthwhile. I should add that I have certainly seen prolifers overstate and misstate things—just as I’ve seen prochoice people do the same. That’s a given. The question is, in THIS case, what is true and what isn’t? I hope this dialogue is helpful to you.

One commenter wrote:

Mr. Alcorn is presenting as fact lies that he knows are untrue. Kind of calls into question all his books, doesn’t it? “This means a baby can be aborted any time before birth, for any reason.” This is plainly a calculated lie.

EPM board member Kathy Norquist wrote in response to this comment,

Perhaps you missed this in the article:

The New York bill mentions abortion in cases where “a woman’s life or health is at risk.” Greg Gilbert writes, “In abortion discussions, ‘health [of the mother]’ always includes everything. Physical health, mental health, financial health, social health. It’s anything you want it to be.”

He’s right—and in fact, in an adjoining case to Roe v. Wade, Doe v. Bolton, health was defined to embrace almost any consideration. Abortions were legal “in the light of all factors—physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age—relevant to the well-being of the patient. All these factors may relate to health.”

So it is not a lie, calculated or otherwise. There is nothing in the new bill that would prevent the killing of a baby at any stage because of how mother’s health can be defined. And there is no protection for the baby if it is “accidentally” born alive either. It can legally be left to die. And there are doctors who do late term abortions at any stage. These are the facts, sadly.

This person’s response was, “I am sorry you believe this fairy tale.” I certainly wish this were a fairy tale. But having dealt with abortion clinics, abortion doctors, and many women who have had abortions, I can tell you that without a doubt, this is true. The fairy tales are believed by people who deny what those of us who know the abortion business, and the women, know to be true.

Another commenter simply wrote, “False,” then linked to a Snopes.com video and article which claims prolifers have exaggerated the law’s reach and it in fact “does not allow for unrestricted abortion up through the normal term of pregnancy.”

Our staff member Stephanie Anderson wrote this in response:

Randy addressed this issue in the blog. Abortion for a woman’s health can and is frequently interpreted broadly and it would be untrue to say it’s not. The blog quoted Doe v. Bolton, which said abortions were legal “in the light of all factors—physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age—relevant to the well-being of the patient. All these factors may relate to health.” It can refer to all kinds of considerations, not just ones where the woman’s life is literally in danger. Even in those cases, third-trimester abortion is not necessary, though delivery certainly might be.

The commenter replied:

As I understand it, the part of the law that states that a woman may terminate a pregnancy after 24 weeks ‘if the health of the mother is at stake’ is the part of the law that has always been there. The only thing that was added to this section is an additional qualification of ‘if the baby isn't viable’. Statistically, a late term abortion is very, very rare. Less than 1.5%. And it is irresponsible to suggest that suddenly there is going to be thousands of women with healthy babies in their 8th month lining up for abortions for any reason.

IF he wants to talk about the “broad interpretation of health” then he needs to do some research and bring actual statistics into the post. Does this happen? How often does this happen? How are doctors broadly interpreting “health”. What are the actual statistics of late term abortions, and why are mothers choosing this? This would be a far more responsible way to approach this issue. Stating that the law allows for women to abort after 24 weeks “if necessary to preserve the mothers health or if the fetus isn't viable” (which is how the actual law is worded), telling people that “health” can be interpreted broadly but leaving out that this has always been the case, and then implying that “This means a baby can be aborted any time before birth, for any reason” is inflammatory, dangerous and divisive, as clearly evidenced by the comments on this post.

Our work as Christians is not to debate the evil things all those “other people” are doing in society. It’s to get our hands dirty. Volunteer in the community, meet people who are different than us, listen to their stories, meet their needs; love them. I think Jesus is grieved watching his church spew lies and misinformation into the world, causing judgement and condemnation towards people. Articles like this are actively hindering the people Randy encourages us to “pray for” from ever wanting to enter a church or get to know anything about Jesus. Which is exactly why Jesus went into a rage and overturned all those tables in the temple. They were hindering people from being able to worship. I believe there was another story about a millstone as well...

Stephanie replied:

You mention that statistically, late term abortions make up less than 1.5% of all abortions. So in 2017 approximately 882,000 abortions (see this table) were performed in the U.S. That means that approximately 13,230 late term abortions were performed in 2017. Please take the time to listen to this short explanation by an OB/GYN who explains the procedure of a late-term abortion. This barbaric procedure is happening thousands of times every year!

Regarding statistics for how often abortion is performed for a woman’s health, you’re asking for data that simply doesn’t exist. Yes, we have what the New York law says on paper—“if necessary to preserve the mother’s health” —but we also can see, from other states with similar laws (including Oregon), how it actually plays out in practicality. It means that in New York, a woman can now request an abortion after 24 weeks for almost any reason. (Will out of state women now come to New York to have abortions after 24 weeks? That already happens in Oregon.) 

We know that abortions that are truly necessary to save a woman’s life are extremely rare. (This doctor who has delivered thousands of babies says third-trimester abortions are never necessary to save a woman's life, though delivery certainly might be.) We also know that abortions in the case of rape or incest are also, statistically, rare. (The Guttmacher Institute conducted a write-in survey of 1,160 women in 2004 and found 1.5 percent of abortions were reported as due to rape or incest. See this article.) 

So what are the reasons for the remaining abortions? The Guttmacher Institute [affiliated with Planned Parenthood] says this: “The three most common reasons—each cited by three-fourths of patients—were concern for or responsibility to other individuals; the inability to afford raising a child; and the belief that having a baby would interfere with work, school or the ability to care for dependents. Half said they did not want to be a single parent or were having problems with their husband or partner.”

Those reasons could all broadly be interpreted [and in fact often have been] as related to a woman’s mental, financial and/or social health. What abortion doctor is going to tell a woman requesting an abortion for those reasons, “No, I won’t perform one. Those issues don’t relate to your health”? As shown by the Doe v. Bolton ruling, those issues can ALL be interpreted as related to it. So what the New York law effectively does is say that abortion after 24 weeks is now legal in any case as long as it can be said it pertains to a woman’s health. 

Scripture tells us to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” It’s not “inflammatory, dangerous and divisive” to warn women about the harm of abortion, and to speak to the dangers for our society when our culture embraces abortion. The law DOES expand abortion (otherwise, those who are pro-choice in New York wouldn’t be celebrating!) and so the prolife response and concern is merited. If speaking the truth in love hinders someone from coming to Jesus then they aren’t interested in knowing the real Jesus but a caricature of Him. You only truly love someone when you tell them the truth. Jesus was the perfect balance of grace and truth. Abortion hurts women and kills babies. And that’s the truth. And we need to share that truth in the spirit of love and grace.

And yes, there ARE many people out there “getting their hands dirty” and ministering to these mothers. Here’s one such group in New York. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do both: speak out publicly against abortion, and minister to women in need at the same time. And that’s exactly what many prolifers are doing.

The commenter replied:

So if, by your own admission, the statistics for how often “health” is interpreted more broadly than you’d like, don’t exist, how then is it honest or truthful to claim that the law is being abused? And how can you claim that these sorts of posts are ‘speaking the truth in love’? The context of that phrase was spoken by Paul to the Church as an encouragement for them to build unity within the church. As far as I know, the bible never commands Christians to force our beliefs or morality on anyone outside the church. So how can this be interpreted as loving to anyone outside the church, even if it is truth (which is questionable)?

Stephanie replied:

It is truthful to say that the law will be used in this way and more babies will be killed because that’s exactly the point of why it was passed and that’s exactly why it’s written in such a way to ensure there are NO restrictions on abortion in New York. This is from Desiring God:

The only restriction in the law is written to ensure that there are no restrictions whatsoever. It decrees that abortion may be performed “within 24 weeks from the commencement of pregnancy, or there is an absence of fetal viability, or at any time when necessary to protect a patient’s life or health” (Art 25-A).

This restriction mirrors that of the original Supreme Court decisions of 1973. Roe v Wade allowed restrictions to abortion (the threshold of viability being generally thought to be 23–24 weeks at that time) except when necessary to protect the life and health of the mother.

The companion decision, Doe v. Bolton, handed down with Roe, defined the health of the mother so broadly that it effectively removed the restrictions set in place by Roe. In Doe, the court ruled, “The medical judgment [for a late-term abortion] may be exercised in the light of all factors — physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age — relevant to the well-being of the patient. All these factors may relate to health.”

In RHA, by leaving the “health” of the mother undefined and broadly understood, NY lawmakers made abortion legal for any reason or no reason, at any point during the pregnancy and paid for with tax-payer funds. Our opponents see it this way, too. They cheered,

“Free abortion on demand! We can do it, yes, we can!”

In triumph, Cuomo ordered one World Trade Center to be lit up in pink.

The defenders of the RHA assure us that no woman would undergo late-term abortion unless something terrible and life-threatening was involved. Such a thing is “extremely rare,” it is said. Not true. New York’s own abortion statistics for 2016 reports 1,763 abortions were performed at 20 weeks gestation or later. Even if true, how does killing the infant born alive during an attempted abortion effectively save the mother’s life? In truth, there is no medical condition in late-term pregnancy in which abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother.

Stephanie again. And no, It’s not forcing our morality on anyone to speak up for human life and say it is wrong to kill innocent human beings, and to warn women of the heartache and pain that abortion brings. (Jackie Hill Perry shows us an example of that here.) True love acts in others’ ultimate best interests, and doesn’t just say what they want to hear, even though it may not sound “loving” to say that abortion kills children and harms women.

As far as forcing our beliefs on others, this is not just about our own personal religious beliefs (though certainly God’s Word should inform our beliefs). This is about a violation of human rights and speaking out for life. Randy writes in ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments, “The abortion issue is really a human life issue, a civil rights issue. It is not simply a religious issue, any more than the rights of Jews and blacks is simply a religious issue. Though most governments are secular, there is hardly a nation in the world where abortion was legal prior to World War II. You do not need to be a Christian, nor to subscribe to any religion, to believe that the unborn are children and that it should not be legal to kill them.”

The person replied:

There is no point in continuing to respond in this thread, because we are just going around in a frustrating circle. We clearly disagree with each other. I grew up on Randy’s books and other pro life rhetoric. I believed it for years. I still consider myself to be personally pro life, but I have learned the truth about the sordid history of the movement and I can see how the whole issue is used to manipulate voters into voting into office horrible people just because they are pro life. So I cannot in good faith or with any integrity stand with or for the blatant manipulation. You are free to disagree with me, as you clearly do, but if you’re interested in learning more about the history of the pro life movement, NPR has a great series on it.

Randy again: I’ll add a few final thoughts. One of the commenters referenced Christ’s words about a millstone, and said talking about abortion could cause us to violate what Jesus said. Here’s that verse: “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble” (Luke 17:2). I’m struck by the sheer deception-based irony. Instead of being used to encourage  people to be careful not to make little ones (including His young disciples) stumble/be hurt, which is Jesus’ intent, it is misused here to villainize those who are standing up for little ones to...what? KEEP THEM from being horribly hurt. And by extension, this could apply not only to the children harmed by abortion, but also to the women who are fed the lies and harmed by abortion.

We shouldn’t be surprised that the issue of abortion is surrounded by both outright and subtle lies of all varieties. Jesus said of the devil, “He was a murderer from the beginning.... When he lies he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). It is no accident that Jesus speaks about Satan’s murders and his lies in the same breath. Lies are the wheels that turn every holocaust. To pull off his murders, Satan tells us eloquent and persuasive lies. He masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), calling right wrong and wrong right, making people think they are taking the moral high ground even as they defend something unspeakably immoral.

No doubt about it: the abortion battle is being fought in the realm of thoughts and ideas, and even Christians are frequently taken in by the devil’s lies. That’s why Paul says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Photo credit: governorandrewcuomo on Flickr

What If God Calls You to Give the Shirt off Your Back?

Nanci and I love Mary Clayton Wood, now Mary Clayton Crow, one of our dear friends. She’s a godly woman who’s both fun and engaging, and has a big heart. She and her family have suffered some very serious and heartbreaking trials over the past few years, including the tragic death of her husband, Hunter Wood, who I considered a good friend. Through that, we’ve seen how God has grown M.C.’s character and trust in Him in even deeper ways.

Several years ago, M.C. shared at a Generous Giving Conference. I think you’ll find what she says in this excerpt from her testimony to be both encouraging and convicting. It fits with something I’ve been thinking about lately: how God desires for us to live a life of generosity that includes the people we encounter in person each day. Yes, stewarding our resources wisely so we can give generously to our churches and to organizations advancing God’s kingdom is vitally important. But it’s possible for us to dispassionately write a check or give online and forget that a life of generosity also includes giving of our time and money to those immediately around us. It’s not either or; it’s both types of giving that God calls us to:

A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water (Proverbs 11:25, CSB).

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion (2 Corinthians 9:11).

Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life (1 Timothy 6:18–19).

In this video, Mary Clayton reminds us that God may very well ask us to literally give the shirts off our backs. We should examine ourselves and ask: are we ready and willing to joyfully let go of possessions for God’s glory and others’ immediate and eternal good?

This below is an edited version of Mary Clayton’s story in the video. By all means watch the video, but if you wish to read the story, here it is:

In 2002, I started a women’s ministry called Women in the Vine with my neighbor. There were just about six of us and we started a little Bible study, which over the last seven years has exceeded anything I ever planned. We have about a hundred women who meet weekly to study the Word and really apply it to our lives, and the Lord has let us branch out into other things like inner city ministry.

But I realized that if I needed a shot in the arm, everyone else would need that same shot in the arm. So a couple of years ago during Lent, instead of “giving up” something, I challenged them to give away something. This Lent season, we gave everyone at Women in the Vine a copy of The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn. I told them not only did I want them all to read it, I also wanted each person to start giving something away every week during Lent, but there were two catches. At least one of those items had to be given away spontaneously, meaning someone complimented you on something and you had to give it to them right at that moment. Secondly, you couldn’t replace that item. It just seemed like a small little spiritual discipline, right?

Little did I know that the Lord was going to test me on this. Of course, if I teach it on Wednesday, He’s going to test me on Thursday, right?! He wouldn’t let me get away with it. I thought, This is going to be so easy. I can spontaneously give things away. I’m back on track with this. I’ve got this thing covered.

I walked into my kids’ school the next day, on Thursday afternoon with my favorite white blouse on (and I do love clothes!). I went to sign in to do some volunteer work or something for one of the kids, and the secretary looks at me (who I really hardly knew at all) and said, “That is the most beautiful blouse I’ve ever seen.” Of course I’m thinking, Did she just hear my message yesterday?  I go, “Oh, thank you so much.” And she said, “No, really, I think that’s the most beautiful blouse I’ve ever seen.”

I was like, Lord, what is going on here? I had said to the ladies at Bible Study that they needed to spontaneously take that item and give it on the spot. I actually had on a shirt under this blouse, so I could do that and still be modest. I just looked at her, and I signed in, and as I was walking out the door, she said “I tell you, I’ve never seen a blouse that beautiful.” I’m like, This is freaking me out! Lord, do you want me to take it off? Well, He did want me to take it off right then. But I didn’t.

I walked out into the hall and ran into two of my favorite Christian friends right there, separately. I told them both what had just happened. One had heard me give the message and she immediately goes, “No, I don’t think that was the Lord. That blouse looks so good on you!” Then I walked down the hall and ran into one of my Christian mentors. I told her the story and she said, “No, it would never fit her. You need to keep that blouse!” Okay, what is the point here? Sometimes when God tells me to do something, I can’t listen to what anyone else says.

So I did not give the blouse to her. I went home and I couldn’t sleep. Would you have been able to sleep?! All that’s ringing in your head is “That’s the most beautiful blouse I’ve ever seen.” And then the question begged was Why do I care so much about this blouse? It’s just an item. What it showed me was that these things that I thought I was learning to release still owned me. Things owned me. I didn’t own them and have stewardship over them.

So after a very bad night’s sleep, the next morning I took that blouse, put it in a gift bag, put a piece of tissue paper on top, and delivered it to the school. I said to her, “You know what, it’s Lent, and I just want to bless you during this Easter season and tell you how much God loves you. And I just want to give you this little gift.” I turned around and walked out. She looked at it before I got to the door and she started weeping. A week later I get a note from her, and it said: “This was the most meaningful gift I have ever gotten in my entire life, that you would give such a beautiful thing that you have to a stranger. You must really know God.”

This taught me that when I give extravagantly, even though it seems like a small gift monetarily, it opens the door for the Gospel. So it opened the door and took all the walls down. Just this week when I called the office for something else, she said to me (and I was stunned) “I will listen to anything you have to say because you are so giving.”

For more, see EPM's other resources on money and giving, as well as Randy's related books.

Photo by StockSnap on Pixabay

Charles Spurgeon’s Profound Humility

I love what Cody Cunningham has to say about the humility of Charles Spurgeon, one of my great heroes. I too read and really enjoyed Dallimore’s book on Spurgeon, one of my favorites as I was writing Spurgeon’s bio to introduce my book We Shall See God. In writing that book, I became Spurgeon’s coauthor, without his permission, drawing extensively from the best of his sermons about Heaven and the New Earth and adding my own thoughts, so it’s about half and half. If the saying “it’s easier to get forgiveness than permission” ever applied, I’m confident it will when I meet Spurgeon and explain how he and I wrote a book together.  :) It may help to tell him that all the royalties went to causes he would endorse! —Randy Alcorn

Spurgeon’s Humility

By Cody Cunningham

I recently finished Arnold Dallimore’s biography of Charles Spurgeon, the Baptist preacher known as the “Prince of Preachers.” If you’re familiar at all with Spurgeon, you’ve likely heard about how gifted of an orator he was or how effective he was as an evangelist. While those traits certainly did characterize his life and ministry, there are two other traits that struck me as I read through the biography.

Profound Humility

Charles Spurgeon had notoriety in this world that few, if any, pastors have ever experienced. He preached before millions of men and women, had his sermons circulated across multiple continents, and trained up an army of pastors who viewed him much like a spiritual father. In addition, the Baptist minister earned a fortune through the sales of his writings and the income generated by his speaking engagements.

Many pastors have drunk deeply from the poisonous springs of arrogance with far less popularity and influence than that of Spurgeon. Yet, the sense that I get from reading about Spurgeon’s life is not hubris, but a deep-seated humility.

One clear example of Spurgeon’s lowliness came when he was offered the teaching pastor position of New Park Street, the church in London that Spurgeon pastored for basically his whole ministry. The young preacher, who was only nineteen at the time, had originally agreed to come to New Park Street on a three months’ basis, but church members quickly urged Spurgeon to stay permanently as their pastor.

This is the young man’s response:

“There is but one answer to so loving and cordial an invitation. I ACCEPT IT.” But he continued: “I entreat of you to remember me in prayer, that I may realize the solemn responsibility of my trust. Remember my youth and inexperience, and pray that these may not hinder my usefulness. I trust also that the remembrance of these will lead you to forgive mistakes I may make, or unguarded words I may utter…Oh, that I may be no injury to you, but a lasting benefit.”

Nowadays, when pastoral candidates are speaking with a church, the flesh can make a man seem like they are near perfect. They speak of success in past ministries and of dreams for the future of this church. Yet, here we see a teenager begging for prayer, and warning that his youth will likely result in poor choices occasionally.

Utter Dependence upon Prayer

The fruit of Spurgeon’s humility was a reliance upon prayer. Seeing our sin in light of God’s infinite power and holiness leads to an acute awareness of our humble state, which leads to reliance upon prayer. Spurgeon’s life is a testimony to this golden chain of Christian humility.

Consider this anecdote from Dallimore:

Throughout his entire ministry many hearers remarked that, moved as they were by his preaching, they were still more affected by his praying. D.L. Moody after his first visit to England, being asked upon his return to America, ‘Did you hear Spurgeon preach?’ replied, ‘Yes, but better still, I heard him pray.’

It is so easy to focus on the man’s outward gifts and miss the passion and dependence upon prayer. We must not miss the implication here: We cannot expect to have a Spirit-empowered ministry if we do not possess a prayer-soaked ministry.

Public prayer is one component of a prayerful ministry, but how about private prayer? Lest you think his devotion to prayer was limited to the pulpit, consider these words from William Williams, a former student of Spurgeon’s Pastors’ College who spent a great deal of time with the famous pastor, “Mr. Spurgeon, when bowed before God in family prayer, appeared a grander man even than when holding thousands spellbound by his oratory.”

Spurgeon’s humility expressed in prayer should be applauded by us who stand upon his shoulders, but it should also be a characteristic that we pursue wholeheartedly. Our time and culture are different than Spurgeon’s day in many ways, but we still deal with the same struggles. The folks in his day, just like those in our day, too often focused on the outward without a thought about the pastor’s character. All of the recent pastoral scandals are symptoms of our unhealthy fascination with a minister’s external gifts.

What we need today in evangelicalism is not an army of preachers as gifted as Spurgeon. Rather, we need an army of leaders whose character is marked by deep humility that is demonstrated by a devotion to prayer, both private and public.

This article was originally posted on Cody's blog, and is used by permission.

Don’t Look Up at the Clouds to Get a Picture of the Eternal Heaven

Before I get to today’s blog, I want to first mention that the full Football Sunday videos I wrote about in a recent blog can now be downloaded by churches and individuals. (You’ll need to sign up or sign in to their site to download them for free.) This is substantial Christ-centered content with testimonies of eternity-minded athletes. I think you’ll be blown away by the spiritual emphasis as well as the production quality!

Now on today’s blog: the article below is excerpted from a 12-day devotional on Heaven I wrote, which is on YouVersion. I highly recommend the YouVersion app, which is on my phone and also available for computers and tablets. It has a selection of versions, including the ESV and CSB, as well as high quality free audio. There’s also lots of great free Bible reading and devotional plans.

Here’s Day 1 from my Heaven devotional:

A pastor once confessed to me, “Whenever I think about Heaven, it makes me depressed. I’d rather just cease to exist when I die.”

“Why?” I asked.

“To float around in the clouds with nothing to do but strum a harp . . . it’s all so terribly boring. Heaven doesn’t sound much better than Hell.”

Where did this Bible-believing, seminary-educated pastor get such a view of Heaven? Certainly not from Scripture, where Paul said that to depart and be with Christ was far better than staying on a sin-cursed Earth (Philippians 1:23). My friend was more honest than most, yet I’ve found that many Christians share the same misconceptions about Heaven.

In order to get a picture of Heaven—which will one day be centered on the New Earth—you don’t need to look up at the clouds; you simply need to look around you and imagine what all this would be like without sin and death and suffering.

So look out a window. Take a walk. Use your God-given skills to paint or draw or build a shed or write a book. Imagine our world—all of it—in its original condition: The happy dog with the wagging tail, not the snarling beast, beaten and starved. The flowers not wilted, the grass not dying, the blue sky without pollution. People smiling and joyful, not angry, depressed, and empty. If you’re not in a particularly beautiful place, close your eyes and envision the best place you’ve ever been—complete with trees, mountains, and waterfalls.

Think of friends or family members who loved Jesus and are with Him now. Picture them with you, walking together in this place. Now you see someone coming toward you. It’s Jesus, with a big smile on His face. 

At last, you’re with the person you were made for, in the place you were made for. Everywhere you go, there will be new people and places to enjoy, new things to discover. What’s that you smell? A feast. A party’s ahead, and you’re invited. There’s exploration and work to be done—you can’t wait to get started.

Heaven is a place worth thinking and talking and dreaming about. Once you understand what the Bible says about Heaven—especially when you learn to think of it in terms of the New Earth—you’ll look forward to living there!

Subscribe to “Fix Your Eyes On Eternity: A 12-Day Devotional On Heaven And The New Earth” on YouVersion to read the rest.

Browse more resources on the topic of Heaven, and see Randy’s related books, including Heaven.

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash

The U.S. Sends Millions to Countries That Persecute Their Own Citizens—for Being Christian

My friend Kerby Anderson, host of the Point of View radio talk show, is a veteran spokesman for causes honoring to Christ. I was very touched by what he wrote below and asked if we could share it. Let’s take it to heart and take appropriate action too. —Randy Alcorn

We Pay Them for This?

by Kerby Anderson

It’s hard to wrap your mind around. Every year, we send millions of dollars to countries that persecute their own citizens—for being Christian.

Open Doors ministry produces their World Watch List once a year. In it, they rank the countries of the world based on their persecution of, and opposition to, Christianity. The stories they tell about what these people face is unimaginable.

Stories like Hannah Cho in North Korea. Her mother was a Christian and taught her a very simple prayer when she was a child. Hannah still prays that prayer every day. She and her husband had six children before they were arrested for their faith. They were sent to a labor camp where they endured unimaginable torture and starvation. Eventually, Hannah was released, but her husband died in that camp, suffering at the hands of his tormentors.

In North Korea, Christians are viewed as hostile elements in society that must be eliminated. It ranks #1 on Open Doors list of the worst persecutors of Christianity. Yet… we gave North Korea $3.5 million in 2017 (most recent numbers available).

In Afghanistan, Christians can have their property seized, can be beaten, and even face death at the hands of their own family members or others in their community.

Ranking #2 on the list, Afghanistan received $5.7 billion from the US in 2017. Most of that was military aid, but $1.3 billion was not.

Rounding out just the top five on the list are Somalia ($584 million), Sudan ($193 million), and Pakistan ($837 million). Just these five worst offenders received almost $2 billion in non-military aid in 2017.

Every year, we give away billions of dollars to build up the economies of countries where people suffer and die, simply for following Christ.

Contact President Trump today and ask him to use U.S. financial aid as leverage to stop the persecution of Christians…Take a moment to stand in the gap for Christians around the world who are suffering for their faith.

Browse more articles on the persecuted church, as well as see Randy's novel Safely Home.

Photo by kantsmith on Pixabay

New York State’s New Abortion Law Withholds Liberty and Justice from the Most Vulnerable

Last Tuesday, on the 46th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the New York Senate passed the Reproductive Health Act, which allows abortions “after 24 weeks if a fetus is no longer viable, or if a woman’s life or health is at risk. Abortion also would be regulated in New York under public health law, instead of the existing penal law,” reports Syracuse.com. As Russell Moore explains, in effect, it “removes any protections as persons from unborn children at any stage of pregnancy.” This means a baby can be aborted any time before birth, for any reason.

Footage from the New York State chamber showed loud clapping and cheering when the bill was passed. Benjamin Watson, a friend and brother who stands for justice in every area with every person, not just some, wrote this in response:

It is a sad and evil day when the murder of our most innocent and vulnerable is celebrated with such overwhelming exuberance.

We SHOULD be supporting and encouraging the building of families which are fundamental to any society.

By not doing so, we invite consequences untold https://t.co/LOBRM0O2D5

— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) January 23, 2019

I stand with Ben and everyone else who decries the celebrating of literally cutting to pieces precious and innocent babies created in God’s image.  I read some of the pushback against Ben Watson’s words that people expressed on his Twitter account. I weep at the blindness of those who profess to believe in justice, yet withhold it from the most vulnerable children. God help us.

More than ever, we must show the men and women indoctrinated to believe abortion is the best choice, that while the alternatives are challeng­ing, only abortion kills an innocent person. It has by far the most negative consequences in a woman’s life, and in society as a whole.

The New York bill mentions abortion in cases where “a woman’s life or health is at risk.” Greg Gilbert writes, “In abortion discussions, ‘health [of the mother]’ always includes everything. Physical health, mental health, financial health, social health. It’s anything you want it to be.”

He’s right—and in fact, in an adjoining case to Roe v. Wade, Doe v. Bolton, health was defined to embrace almost any consideration. Abortions were legal “in the light of all factors—physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age—relevant to the well-being of the patient. All these factors may relate to health.” [1]

In my book ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments, I further address the question of “What About a Woman Whose Life Is Threatened by Pregnancy or Childbirth?” We never want to send the message that the women are less important than babies. But it is an extremely rare case when abortion is actually required to save the mother’s life. Abortion for the mother’s life and abortion for the mother’s “health” are usually not the same issue.

It’s never in anyone’s best interests to kill a child. It’s not just the child who suffers, it’s her mother. Precisely because the unborn is a child, the consequences of killing him are severe. It’s the identity of the first victim, the child, that brings harm to the second victim, the mother.

That’s still true in New York. And it’s certainly true everywhere else, too, including where you and I live. So may God help us to reach out in compassion and love to both the unborn and their moms. I encourage everyone to especially pray for prolife ministries and outreaches in New York, who more than ever need our support and encouragement in helping the vulnerable and speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Browse more prolife articles and resources, as well as see Randy's books Why ProLife? and ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments.

[1] Doe v. Bolton, U.S. Supreme Court, January 1973, No. 70-40, IV, 11.

Football Sunday: A Terrific Resource for Your Church and Family

We normally don’t blog on weekends, but time is an issue, and getting out this blog now might allow pastors and others the heads-up they need to take advantage of a great opportunity!

I mentioned Football Sunday in a blog a few weeks ago, but this is the week where everything comes together. It’s still not too late for your church to use some or all of the resources to make Super Bowl Sunday a day of outreach and spiritual growth. Even millions of people who aren’t football fans attend parties and gatherings every year on Super Bowl Sunday, which is the single biggest secular event of the year in the United States. Last year an estimated 103.4 million people watched the Eagles beat the Patriots.

Sports Spectrum, an affiliate of the excellent ministry Pro Athletes Outreach, puts together a high quality Christ-centered program for Super Bowl Sunday. It’s both edifying and evangelistic and can be effectively used in church services, or in any home watching the game. You can show the whole thing or just choose one segment. One great idea is to use it as a positive alternative to the halftime show! Both adults and kids will listen to and be inspired by the testimonies of players. 

In this video Benjamin Watson, tight end with the Saints, and a brother in Christ I deeply appreciate, talks about 2019 football Sunday. Please take just one literal minute to watch this now:

Watson, one of the NFL players I featured in my January 11 blog, will host the program. As previewed in the video above, NFL quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Case Keenum, linebacker Damario Davis, and players from the Rams and Patriots will be in the video. I know Ben, Kirk, Case, and Demario, and in conversations and emails and texts concerning God and His Word, have found each of them to be true followers of Jesus.  

The Football Sunday video is still in production because it’s only been six days since anyone knew who would be playing in the Super Bowl! The final video will be released on Wednesday, January 30. You can sign up to be notified when it’s posted.

I think it’s important to emphasize this is NOT fluff. We don’t need fluff in our churches. This is substantial Christ-centered content with testimonies of eternity-minded athletes. It’s not preachy, but it’s powerful. 

Over 20,000 people have professed a faith in Jesus as a result of showing the videos in churches. If you want to know for sure it’s worthwhile (and I commend you for that), watch last year’s 2018 Football Sunday event (27 minutes), hosted by beloved commentator James Brown. I think you’ll be blown away by the spiritual emphasis as well as the production quality.

Here’s some info from that Football Sunday website:

Football Sunday is a free event that can be used as a sermon or halftime show replacement. On Super Sunday 2019, players from the season’s championship teams as well as other pro-football players will share the love and truth of Jesus—in a way your attenders have never heard before.

Shown in nearly 5,000 churches and seen by more than 3,000,000 people, Football Sunday has become an outreach tool for churches to reach sports fans in their communities. 

You can show the whole video as part your service, or select favorite segments to use as part of your service and message that day. 

If you’re reading this before your Sunday services, consider giving your pastors a heads-up. Forward them this blog. Encourage them to check out footballsunday.com. It may not be too late to ask your pastor to show that one-minute video and encourage people to invite friends and family to church on February 3.

And don’t forget, even if your church doesn’t use the video, you can watch it, or parts of it, before the Super Bowl or at half time. It’s a great way to get the gospel out to friends and family.

Paul says, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23).

Be Aware of Human Trafficking and Pray as You Travel This Year

January is Human Trafficking Awareness month. Sadly, no community—yes, even here in the United States—is immune to the evils of human trafficking. That’s why we all need to be aware of the signs and if we see something, report it. Send Relief put together the following helpful prayer guide to bring awareness to this issue. Also check out this podcast and this article, both with more specific information on knowing the signs of trafficking. —Randy Alcorn

As-You-Travel Prayer Guide

• 46,876 miles of interstate

• 100,000 daily flights

• 53,000 hotels and over 5,000,000 rooms

• 185 US ports

The pavement, airways, hotels and ports constitute the network for human exploitation and slavery. As you travel, here’s how you can pray:

• Pray for the trafficking victim: strength, freedom, safety, hope, help, healing, and restoration. Pray for their families and that they can be reunited.

• Pray for exits along the interstate which includes:

• Truck Stops: Girls (called “Lot Lizards”) are dropped off by traffickers to go from truck to truck asking the truckers to buy them. Pray for Truckers Against Trafficking, Transport for Christ and other organizations who work to educate truckers and truck stop employees about human trafficking. Pray that the Human Trafficking Hotline number will be placed at all Truck Stops.

• Rest Areas: Traffickers may stop with victims to use restroom and to clean up as they often move the victims from city to city. Movement lessens the chances of them getting caught. Pray that the Human Trafficking Hotline number and materials can be placed in Rest Areas and that security is trained and placed at all rest areas.

• Motels & Hotels: Victims are often advertised on social media sites, appointments are made, and a buyer (the “John”) meets them at motel or hotel room. Pray that motel and hotel employees will be trained and will sign ECPAT’s code of conduct against sex trafficking. Pray that missing and exploited children’s pictures and booklets will get into the hotels so that children can be identified and rescued. Pray that the Human Trafficking Hotline number can be placed at facilities and in the rooms.

• Restaurants and Businesses: Pray that business owners are made aware of human trafficking and do not participate in sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Pray that they will be open to looking for missing and exploited children.

• Ports: A barge can hold as much as 1,500 tons of cargo. Not all containers can be inspected. Pray that port workers become educated on human trafficking, look for suspicious containers, and the resources and technology become available to make it possible to inspect more containers.

• Borders: Some borders have rivers, fences, checkpoints, and workers going back and forth across each day. Pray for Border Patrol and others that protect our borders to make a conscious effort to look for human trafficking.

• Stateline Checkpoints: Many truckers drive their trucks through checkpoints every day. Pray for the workers at the checkpoints to keep an eye out for human traffickers. Pray for more laws and better technology to inspect cargo that is processed through the checkpoints.

• Airports: Pray that all airport employees will be trained to recognize trafficking and place information regarding trafficking within the airports. Pray for pilots and flight attendants to be trained.

• Bus Stations and Train Stations: Pray for training for all employees in both of these transportation industries. Bus stations are notorious for traffickers hanging out to pick up runaways.

• Pray that law enforcement will be trained on what to look for and pray for their safety.

• Pray that the traffickers will be caught and prosecuted.

• Pray that buyers will be caught and prosecuted. If there was no buying, there would be no selling.

• Knowing that God’s grace is for everyone, pray for the trafficker and the buyer to be convicted of their sins and that they come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This does not mean that they should go free and not pay for the consequences of their crimes.

• Pray for ministries as they seek to assist through providing shelter, food, clothing, transportation, and restoration.

• Pray for churches as they become knowledgeable about human trafficking, willing to educate others, and open to minister where God leads.

• Pray that human trafficking is stopped. Victims of Human Trafficking are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor. Victims are young children, teenagers, men, and women.

Human Trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. The Human Trafficking Hotline number is 1-888-3737-888.

You can also download the PDF of this information to share.

If you’d like to finally support organizations actively working to end human trafficking and minister to victims, check out these ones recommended by EPM: Compassion First, Door to Grace, Gotta Go Ministries, International Justice Mission, and Love146.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash