Christ revealed at unique events

By Martin Davis

As a missionary evangelist, I work through special events, such as the Rose Bowl Parade, to creatively share Christ with people in settings where crowds gather. But I always look for opportunities to build personal relationships because I also understand how important they are to receptivity for the gospel.

Recently I participated in the Wichita River Festival Outreach in Kansas. While doing street witnessing, I paused on a walkway with ICE (Intentional Community Evangelism) volunteer Walt Dejager. We watched as Darrel Davis talked to a group of young people on the river walk below us.

Juggalos are fans of a certain kind of punk rock who have formed themselves into a family, a closed community of young people who brand themselves with piercings and tattoos. I admired Darrel’s ability to relate to the Juggalos. Darrel is accepted by them. He’s spent a time over the years building a relationship them, and their rapport shows. From my vantage point, I felt like a mere onlooker to evangelism with this closed community because I didn’t have that kind of experience.

          

Beside us, a young woman spoke up. “I was down there last year,” she said softly. “I was one of them. That guy led me to Jesus. I turned my life around.”

Walt and I looked at each other. Here at our elbow was someone special, a person who could go where we could not.

“Do you feel comfortable enough now to start building a relationship with those you used to hang with and start taking them to church?” Walt asked.

She considered. “Do you think I ought to do that?"

We explained that if she was no longer tempted by their lifestyle, she could help reach Juggalos with the gospel. “It might just be God’s calling on your life.”

God placed that young woman in our path at just that moment not only as a call to her but as a reminder to me: God will faithfully prepare and send the right person to go places where I cannot. When a special event ends, God’s intervention in people’s lives continues.

Martin Davis is a North American missionary serving in California.

A quarter of Americans likely to claim no religion in 20 years

If current trends continue, a quarter of Americans are likely to claim "no religion" in 20 years, according to a recent report by Trinity College based on the 2008 American Religious Identification Survey. Americans who identify with no religious tradition currently comprise 15 percent of the country, representing the fastest growing segment of the national religious landscape. "Religious Nones" accounted for just 8 percent of the population in 1990. The '90s saw a boom in secularism -- each year 1.3 million more adult Americans joined the ranks of the Nones.


According to the report, "“None” is not a movement, but a label for a diverse group of people who do not identify with any of the myriad of religious options in the American religious marketplace – the irreligious, the unreligious, the anti-religious, and the anti-clerical. Some believe in God; some do not. Some may participate occasionally in religious rituals; others never will."

So where did these Nones come from? The majority (73%) emerged from religious homes, the vast majority of which were homogeneous, according to the survey. Twenty-seven percent of Nones had a non-religious parental role model.

Because of the gain of younger members, we can expect to see more Nones in the future. "Twenty-two percent of the youngest cohort of adults [18 to 29 year olds] self-identify as nones and they will become tomorrow's parents," according to the report. "If current trends continue and cohorts of non-religious young people replace older religious people, the likely outcome is that in two decades the nones could account for around one-quarter of the American population."


Interestingly enough, there is a variety of belief in God among the Nones, ranging from theism to atheism. Twenty-seven percent believe there is definitely a personal God. Another 24 percent believe in a higher power and 16 percent aren't sure.


This provides a great opportunity for Christ followers to tell the Nones about the One who wants a personal relationship with them. 

Happy New Year!

By Jorge Sedaca
The Jewish community worldwide will celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, beginning at sunset Friday, September 18. It is the beginning of the year 5770. This also marks the beginning of the High Holiday season which ends 10 days later with the celebration of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
The biblical basis for this celebration is actually the Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:24-25; Num. 29:1-6). Typically, the shofar (ram’s horn) is blown in the synagogues to mark the beginning of the new year. Apples dipped in honey are served at home to symbolize the hope of a sweet year. The traditional greeting is l’shanah tova, the wish for “a good year.”
This is a joyous occasion but also a serious one as each Jewish person begins to look inward to make an evaluation of their life. This retrospection culminates in Yom Kippur, the holiest day for the Jews, where true repentance should take place.
Please take a moment to pray for the salvation of the Jewish people. These coming days provide an excellent opportunity to engage them in spiritual conversations that can lead to sharing the Gospel. Make the Apostle Paul’s words your own, as he shares in Romans 10:1, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them [Jews] is for their salvation.”
For more ways to connect with your Jewish friends click here .

Seven ways to connect with Muslims during Ramadan

Here are some bridges you can build to your Muslim friends for the sake of the gospel:

1. Try to visit them in the evenings rather than during the day. If you visit in the day they will still insist you eat and drink, even though they will not, and it is a bit awkward for both parties.

2. Invite them to your house during Ramadan to break fast together after sunset. Ask them beforehand what is important for this special meal called an "iftar" and where to buy it.
  
3. Keep in mind that visiting and sharing meals is more appropriate toward the end of the month. Ramadan starts out rather somber and ends up more festive, especially with the big holiday at the end.

4. Be ready to tell your Muslim friends what you believe about fasting. They will probably ask you, so do your research ahead of time and learn what the Injeel (Bible) says about fasting. (see Isaiah 58:6-12 among others)

5. Challenge your Muslim friends to read the "4 Holy Books" (Torah, Psalms, Gospels, Koran). Every good Muslim tries to read through the Koran beginning to end during Ramadan. The Koran also commands Muslims to read these other Holy Books. Do some research and find one (Bible) for them in their own language.

6. Consider a practical way to bless them in Jesus name during the three-day holiday at the end of Ramadan. This holiday (eid al-fitr) is similar to our American Christmas with new clothes, gifts and lots of visiting.

7. Pray! Intercede for Muslims throughout this month. May the Holy Spirit move and work among them in this time of spiritual devotion, radically changing hearts and revealing Jesus to them in a powerful way.
 

"Ramadan Karim" (Happy Ramadan)

Editor's Note: This week marks the last week for Ramadan, the Muslim month-long celebration that ends Saturday, September 19.

My name is Larom and I am nine. My grandparents were born in Turkey, my parents and I were born in Russia, and my little brother was born here in Tucson, AZ. I speak three languages fluently. We moved from Russia to America two years ago, and I had to say goodbye to my two best friends and all my cousins and our dog. I don't know if I will ever see them again. When we came to America I thought everything was very strange -- funny talking, funny clothes, and no trees! It doesn't even ever snow here! I didn't think I would ever like it in Tucson, but then when school started I learned things fast and I met new friends and I found some things about this country that I like. There is one whole isle at the grocery store that is just candy, and there is an ice cream place that has 31 different flavors! I want to grow up and be a teacher in America and help kids who don't speak English.

Pray That Larom And her family will discover more things they like about America, and also discover Jesus. This community of Meskhetian Turks is very closed to the Gospel, please pray that God will give them ears to hear.


"Ramadan Karim" (Happy Ramadan!)