Truth + Trust =Triumph and Tranquility
Dear Friends & Prayer Partners,
In this prayer letter I plan to share with you some thoughts from other writers about the degeneration of America, but first I want to focus your attention on the truth that Almighty God is the one and only Sovereign! He is almighty! It is important to be aware of the giants before us – but even more important to keep in focus the Majesty and Power above us and within us (if we are “in Christ”, He is in us by His Spirit)! “’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’ says the Lord Almighty.’” Zechariah 4:6 (NIV). David triumphed over Goliath because he did not compare Goliath with himself – he compared Goliath with God. If we focus our total attention on our problem, it looms bigger, so let’s always assess our problems in the proper perspective. “Oh Lord my God…How Great Thou Art!” Isaiah’s prayer expresses this thought perfectly: “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 26:3-4 (NKJV).
“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning (repentance) and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’” Isaiah 30:15 (NKJV).
Why Emphasize America?
“What does your emphasis on praying for America have to do with Overseas Outreach?” is a question that I’ve been asked and may occur to you as you read our prayer letters. I’m glad you asked! I truly believe that my repeated requests to pray for America have everything to do with overseas outreach. Why? Because for many years America has been the greatest missionary-sending nation in the world, but the rapid decline of the soul of America through the corruption of the culture and the churches by evolutionism, liberalism, humanism and despicable, detestable debauchery has sapped the strength of this once great nation and turned it into a mission field. Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis and Gary Bates of Creation Ministries International are both missionaries to America from Australia – and I also know of missionaries to America from South Korea, Africa and Russia. Why? It’s true that there has always been a need for outreach evangelism in America, but the intense cultural corruption of America and the flawed, compromising adaptation of cultural comfort of sinful human nature by much of the church growth movement has alarmed many brethren in other nations into sending missionaries here. They see the need for the clear and potent message of both John the Baptist and Jesus: “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!” The words “sin,” “repent,” “death,” “hell,” “punishment,” and “judgment” are practically anathema in the “sinner come feel good and comfortable here” type of churches.
This month many churches even celebrated “Darwin Day” to acknowledge the 202nd birthday of the author of “The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life”. Charles Darwin was a rabid racist to the core, and his miserable musings have corrupted the moldable minds of millions of minors (plus many who should have known better). Darwin’s writings formed the philosophical justification for the massacre of multitudes under Hitler, Stalin, Mao and other evolutionists. Sinful human beings do not see their need of the wonderful good news of salvation from sin until they realize the terrible bad news that their sin condemns them to hell because of the righteous justice of God. The murder of millions of innocent babies in America by abortion is excused by the evolutionist philosophy that they are not truly human because the embryo goes through stages of evolution before becoming human. This preposterous proposition set forth by the Darwinist Ernst Haekel was proven to be a fraud in 1874 – yet it is still being published in textbooks as fact and swallowed by the gullible and the willfully ignorant. In the face of all these historical facts, hundreds of American churches celebrated “Darwin Day”!!! Despicable and dangerous delusion!!! No wonder churches in other nations are sending missionaries to America!
America is heading down the same degradation trail of anti-Christ evolutionism as Great Britain and Europe, where multitudes of cathedrals and church buildings have been turned into museums, mosques, and markets. Great Britain once produced passionate, pioneer missionaries like William Cary, Hudson Taylor, C.T. Studd, and Eric Liddell. Not now! Evolutionism has strangled the soul of Great Britain and Europe. Perhaps the symbolic burial of missionary zeal happened when the body of Charles Darwin was buried with honor in the Westminister Cathedral – near David Livingston – men with opposite passions and opposite legacies. Compromising churches in America are polluting the soul of America and strangling missionary zeal. “Be zealous therefore and repent!” is the message that desperately needs to be heard and obeyed. Please pray for America!
Recently I heard a message by Ravi Zacharias, in which he told about an encounter he had in Albania. Following Ravi’s public presentation, a high official invited him to his home, where he told Ravi, “Albania is the most atheistic country in the world, and we have made a mess of things. Maybe we better start doing things God’s way.” Ravi then commented that it is so ironic that America as a nation with a godly heritage is now turning away from God and our heritage to the atheistic way. This is more than ironic – idiotic rebellion against truth and righteousness is a more apt description! Has it ever occurred to you that our Bill of Rights and our U. S. Constitution were preceded by and based on the Mayflower Compact, which was the mutual covenant of a transplanted local church to America? The “separation of church and state” as currently distorted by the humanists (atheists) of the ACLU, Freedom from Religion Foundation, etc. is a total lie from a true historical perspective. Our founding fathers were very concerned about protecting the church from the government – not vice versa. They had no intention of eliminating God from government.
Pertinent, Potent and Pungent Quotations
In view of these sobering conditions in our nation, I want to again share seven of the quotes we shared last year. Also I want to emphasize that there are very encouraging signs that Christians are waking up, forming prayer movements and speaking out boldly.
“Those who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.” ~ William Penn.
“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs only to be seen –
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face –
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.”
~ Alexander Pope
“I think most Americans are familiar with Edmund Burke’s statement, ‘The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.’ But Burke said something else that I think is just as important: ‘Don’t make the mistake of doing nothing because you can’t do everything.’” ~ AFA Journal, October 2009 (Interview with MIM).
“In the face of monstrous evil, he who remains silent must share the guilt!” Amen!
~ Lawrence White.
“I cannot – and I will not be silent – because God is my Leader!” ~ Martin Niemöller.
“All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing!” ~ Edmund Burke.
It’s not the economy – it’s the morality that is the issue! (R.D.)
“Pray fervently. Great movements of faith have always spread on the wings of prayer.” ~ Chuck Colson (re: the Manhattan Declaration).
Ravi’s Perspective
If you have heard Ravi Zacharias on his radio program or read his writings, you probably will not be surprised that I consider him one of the most interesting speakers and apologetics professors on earth. He travels widely and speaks in prestigious universities around the world. Last summer in his newsletter he shared his perspective about his expectation of a huge spiritual awakening arising in Russia. However, in his letter for the beginning of 2012 he shared that he and his team have decided for this year to focus on North America. For one of the most zealous, mission-minded, well read and widely traveled Christian evangelists to decide to focus his primary efforts on North America, there must be good reason – don’t you think? Maybe my repeated pleas for you to pray for America and to become bold witnesses for Jesus right here right now is not too far off target in the scope of world evangelization. Yes, I do believe my emphasis on America is in perfect harmony with our emphasis on overseas outreach!
On the other hand, our emphasis in our Overseas Outreach letters for nearly 14 years has been outreach to the Russian-speaking world – the former Soviet Union nations. I see Ukraine as a bridge nation between western Europe and the middle Asian nations on the east and Russia on the north. Here is Ravi’s perspective from his Summer 2011 newsletter.
“I recently returned from Moscow, Russia. I had the extraordinary privilege of speaking to well over a thousand people in that city. There were scores of churches and other leaders represented.
“I am convinced there is a revival just at the budding stage in Russia. I saw young people show up early just to get a seat. I saw them leaning forward, sometimes with tears in their eyes, listening intently. I saw those same young people singing. I saw twelve of the church leaders – the bishops – on their knees on the platform with their hands raised and praying on the closing night. I saw hundreds of people responding to the invitation; no doubt exists in my mind that we are on the verge of a great revival in that land. It may take time but I believe it will happen. In the wake of the Soviet Union’s seven-decade assault on the Christian faith, events like these are indeed cause for celebration. This great people, exceptionally gifted in literature, music, and athletic prowess are hungry for the Gospel but remain largely unreached. It was Roman Lunkin who made the comment that while the Russian people don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it is now hip to be religious in that region. We want to equip the people of Russia with the power and coherency of Christ’s Gospel. We want to bring them the defense of the Christian faith.”
Spring Mission Trip
I’m still working on the final touches for my itinerary for the spring mission trip to Ukraine March 29 to April 30, but it looks like a very full slate. We plan to publish the details of my itinerary next month.
Tribute to Georges & LaVerne Carillet
At the conclusion of the apostle Paul’s monumental defense of the doctrine of resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:58 he wrote:
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (KJV)
A few verses later Paul wrote, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” (16:13).
I know very few servants of God who are fulfilling these commands as consistently or effectively as Georges and LaVerne. She serves mostly in the background as Georges’ prayer warrior since having major health problems and knee replacement surgery (with another one pending). Recently in a prayer letter Georges asked us to pray for God to provide a younger man for him to train and mentor to eventually replace him as director of Commonwealth International University. I wrote back to him approximately the following: “Oh, that should be an easy task to find a replacement for you. All that is needed is a man with the patience of Job, boldness of David, wisdom of Solomon, leadership of Nehemiah, compassion of Jesus, compulsion of Paul, and persuasive power of Peter filled with the Holy Spirit.” Please send him names of candidates you think of. Aren’t we glad that “with God all things are possible”?
Prayer Requests
1. Georges slipped on ice and fell in Tennessee in January, severely injuring his back and side, forcing him to cancel many speaking appointments on their fund-raising furlough. Please pray for God’s healing, both for Georges and for LaVerne and for God to provide the needed funds for CIU.
2. The bitterly cold winter in eastern Europe has caused many deaths (122 the last report I heard – most of them in Ukraine). Also, many buildings have been damaged, including some belonging to orphanages. The Schalbyetski family was without heat for four days, and Anatoly was forced to spend money for a generator. Several of the kids had to go to the hospital. If God lays it on your heart to help, you can send it to Overseas Outreach, and I will take it to them. Anatoly has also had serious health problems. Please pray.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13.
Yours & His, Rick
From Our Mailbox
“We were glad to receive your newsletter update. We thank you for your sermon, congratulate you and Della with a blessed family anniversary, and thank you for writing Rick Yount and encouraging words in our address.
We appreciate your friendship and bond of fellowship in the Body of believers. We have been very busy with the beginning of the year and your prayers have been miraculously answered in relation to our influence and God’s provision. I have been teaching and preaching to workers and prisoners in 7 prisons in Kharkiv area. I plan to write more in our newsletter soon. This is besides my regular activities in CLC and other churches. Recently I visited “Fountain of Life” church at Docuchaevo. Remember? Now Alexey is the young minister there. Vladimir is now with the Lord. I am proud of Alex and his wife Tatyana. We may visit them in April.
Our winter is very hard now. We have frosts 20- 25 degrees below zero Centigrade and a lot of snow on the road.
…..Our expenses have increased due to the economic situation in country and the spread of ministry we have now. At the same time we thank God as He continues to support the ministry of the Gospel here. I wish I could talk to you more and share all in words but look forward to see you in April.
Did I tell you that Zhenya’s wife Vera in Kherson is now with the Lord? She was struggling with the cancer for more than a year. She passed away recently and it is big sorrow. Zhenya Siney is the pastor at Kherson Christian Church.
God bless you our dear friends,
Zhenya & Natasha” (Molodchy)
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“Thanks for the sermon.
Thanks for the news, too. It is good to enjoy the network of God’s servants at a distance … to recline and observe how people we know or have met thru the years are still involved in ministry in Ukraine, helping each other as they themselves serve too. I think of your letter from Rick Yount who was one of our “Man and the Christian Worldview” conference speakers during the early years of our conference. I rejoice when I learn that he is in Kiev or Kharkov teaching teachers about teaching and disciple making. I rejoice at the work of Zhenya and Natasha. Zhenya was one of our conference translators for many years. Natasha was one of my college students. They have labored boldly, steadfastly and effectively. On occasion I receive funds for them from a US professor who spoke at one of our conference quite a long time ago. He has not forgotten Zhenya, his translator and earnest servant of the Lord. His concern for Zhenya and Natasha encourage me to remember him, too. There are others that you have written about or quoted in this and other newsletters – Sergei, Vlad, John, and others. And Rick, you are part of that network in multiple ways. And you and I go back some 38 years, with a couple decades in the middle when we lost contact with each other. We met in Europe the first time and then the second time. It is grand to be part of the ministering body of Christ, but especially when you are able to look at many years and people you have known. It is almost like looking at decades as if they are all caught in this very moment. Praise the Lord.
Georges” (Carillet)
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The following is a portion from Sergei Golovin’s January newsletter:
“The month has ended with the extremely exciting and strategically important trip (‘landing party’ as we call it) to the Red Belt of Ukraine (the most pro-communist, pro-Russian, criminal and atheistic part of the country). It was a great adventure. Some of our plans had to be changed right on the way – traveling Ukrainian winter roads through snow blizzard with heavy loaded car was quite a challenge; my computer’s system collapsed and left me without communication in the middle of the trip also. Nevertheless we were ready to all these troubles, and in general the trip was extremely blessed. More then 100 pastors and youth leaders of the region came together at the city of Donetsk and we spend extremely valuable time exploring the most effective in their cultural and social context ways of spreading the Good News to nonbelievers and of rooting believers and their children in truth of the Bible from its very beginning to very end. Everyone in the group was supplied with books, videos, presentations, etc. and got an assignment to arrange a seminar, class or at least a sermon at their regions in a month period on the issues we learned together. So, the ripple effect is on the way. May the Lord be praised! Please pray for the workers for the harvest!
Please keep praying for our ministry, for all our projects, for our team, for our families, for God’s guidance in everything we do. You are in our prayers as well.
Yours by the love and grace of Christ Jesus
Sergei”
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“Thank you, Rick, for the excellent message in your January letter.
I love your keen sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and your unabashed attention on Jesus as our source in all things. Without Him I can do nothing. Through Him all things are possible.
I’d love to have extended time to fellowship with you and Della. Maybe someday.
We just were privileged to have Bruce Malone stay over night with us. He just left a couple of hours ago. What a delight. He was surprised to know that we knew each other. His creation ministry began, in part, as a result of seeing what I presented in my seminar years ago in his area of Michigan or Ohio. He has developed some really good stuff and I want to see it promoted much more.
Keep in touch, Rick.
Love you lots brother.
Dennis” (Petersen)
(Note: It was Dennis Petersen who first inspired me to become a creation evangelist. Sergei Golovin just published Dennis’ book, “Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation” in Russian in January. R.D.)