The Results Are In!

This past Sunday, you may recall that I took a survey of the class asking certain questions about sharing your faith. Here are the results:

Question #1 - I

• have never shared my faith: 2%
• have only occasionally shared my faith: 76%
• am always looking for opportunities to share my faith: 22%

Question #2 - I have the most trouble sharing or am most fearful to share with:

• family: 36%
• friends: 14%
• co-workers: 16%
• total strangers: 34%

Question #3 - I have the least trouble sharing or am least fearful to share with:

• family: 23%
• friends: 22%
• co-workers: 17%
• total strangers: 38%

Question #4 - I believe sharing one's faith is:

• optional: 10%
• not optional: 83%
• is for those with the gift of evangelism: 8%

Question #5 - I have personally:

• never openly shared my faith: 8%
• never led anyone to the Lord: 44%
• led at least one person to the Lord: 48%

What can we take away from this? Here are some of my observations.

• Not surprisingly, we have the most trouble sharing with family (36%), but we also seem to have as much trouble sharing with total strangers (34%).
• On the other hand, I was somewhat surprised to see that sharing with family is the second easiest group (23%) behind total strangers (38%).
• I was encouraged to see that a full 8 in 10 of you (83%) know that sharing your faith IS NOT optional.
• I was also encouraged that 48% of you have led at least one person to the Lord - though that leaves 52% who have never led anyone to the Lord.
• Finally, and here is what I think is the most telling statistic about why we are not doing a better job at leading others to the Lord - 3 in 4 of us (76%) only occasionally share our faith.

I wonder - do you think there might be a correlation between us not sharing our faith and not leading anyone to the Lord? But of course there is! It is my prayer and hope that when we finish our 4-week series on "Sharing Jesus Without Fear" that this is the one trend we can reverse.

A Helpful Tip!

Every day, we are bombarded by the temporal value system and "advertising" of the world through the things we see, hear, and read.

Television... Radio... Email... Websites...

Because of these non-stop attempts to get into our wallets and take our attention off what really matters, it is EXTREMELY important that we renew our minds with the eternal value system of God's Word so that each day we regain focus on the important issues of who we are, why we are here, and where we are going.

A very helpful habit is reading affirmations from God's Word each night before going to sleep.

Yes! You Can Share Jesus (and) Without Fear!

Starting this Sunday, we will be doing a 4 week series entitled "Share Jesus Without Fear". But is that possible? Absolutely! I was recently exposed to Bill Fay's teaching in a seminary class and I must say that it has impacted my life like few things have ever done so before. Why not make plans to be with us for the next four weeks as you too can discover how to positively, absolutely, AND successfully share your faith with friends, family, and associates. Hope to see you staring this Sunday.

Dobson endorses Huckabee

Mike Huckabee has won the endorsement of one of the most high-profile evangelical leaders in the country.

James Dobson, who heads Focus on the Family, made the endorsement on the same day that Mitt Romney suspended his campaign. Dobson says he had been reluctant to make a primary endorsement, but in a statement says that Romney's decision "changed the political landscape."

Dobson's statement also reiterated his declaration on Super Tuesday that he could not in good conscience vote for John McCain, the frontrunner, because of concerns over the Arizona senator's conservative credentials. He says Huckabee's positions on social issues are "unwavering." Dobson concedes that Huckabee faces "an uphill struggle," but is the best "remaining choice for president."

Other leading evangelicals who have endorsed the former Arkansas governor include Jerry Falwell, Jr., Janet Folger, Dr. Don Wildmon, Tim and Beverly LaHaye, author Jerry Jenkins, publisher Stephen Strang, and three prominent Southern Baptist pastors: Jack Graham, Jerry Vines, and Jimmy Draper.

McCain has won more than 707 nominating delegates, more than half the 1,191 needed to win the nomination. Huckabee has 195.

BARNA: Born Again Voters No Longer Favor Republican Candidates

One of the most reliable constituencies of the Republican Party in recent years has been born again Christians. Our latest national survey of likely voters, however, shows that the Republican Party has lost the allegiance of many born again voters. The November election is truly up for grabs - and if the election were held today, most born again voters would select the Democratic Party nominee for president, whoever that might be. The study also looks at the preferences of evangelicals, the role of "values voters," and people’s beliefs about whether Mormons are Christians.

>> read the full story

Eat a Hamburger and Give Some Hope!

On Saturday, Feb. 16, Triad Ladder of HOPE will be holding a fundraiser at Fuddruckers on Wendover Avenue. Simply go to eat from 5:00-9:30 p.m. and a percentage of your total meal will be given to the ministry. Questions? Call Sandra Johnson at 883-2233 (ext. 207).