Investing in the bank of Heaven: A message from the chancellor.

Walking down an airport jetway recently, I noticed a man carelessly dropping money ahead of me. Trying to get his attention, I called after him. His flippant response caught me off-guard. He yelled, “Keep it. Where I am going it has no value!”

While I am not sure if this man was headed to the moon or to the Amazon jungle, his statement reminded me of what should be foundational for every Christian. Philippians 3:20 says, “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” You and I are literally just passing through this world on our way to Heaven. As temporary residents, any earthly treasures accumulated have no value where we are ultimately headed. Do not forget Jesus Christ’s challenge to His disciples in Matthew 6:20: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven.”

In other words, make your deposits in the “Bank of Heaven.” Invest in the things that last forever. From chapels and classes at the Bible Institute, you know well that only two things will last for all eternity: the Word of God and the souls of men. Any future studies, your life’s work, and your resources should all be passionately leveraged for Heaven. So while you serve God with everything you have on this planet, remember where you are headed. You are just passing through. The only treasures you can take with you into eternity are the Scriptures and souls.

Resembling our Father: A message from the chancellor.

“Excuse me, sir... but do you know who you look like?” I hear it all the time — in airports, restaurants, and malls. Much to my chagrin, I am often mistaken for a well-known movie star. While I prefer to leave this person’s identity to your imagination, I must confess that I have been tempted to sign autographs on his behalf on more than a few occasions. Regardless of what people might think, my life is far removed from Hollywood stardom.

On the other hand, what a delight and encouragement it is when I am told that I resemble my father. My appearance, walk, and words are all strikingly similar to his. This is certainly no surprise, because from my childhood I learned from him and aspired to be like him in every way. Today, I consider it the highest compliment when a person identifies me with my dear dad.

In Ephesians 5:1, the Apostle Paul challenges the Ephesian believers with the command, “Be imitators of God as dear children.” Just like a child mimics his earthly father, Christians should strive to imitate their Heavenly Father in every way. This means learning how to walk in love as Jesus Christ did (5:2). It involves despising the darkness of this decaying and sinful world (5:3-14). It requires living wisely and leveraging every opportunity to serve and represent Him (5:15-21).

So ... who do you look like, anyway? Do people clearly see an unmistakable resemblance to your Heavenly Father? Live out your true identity as a child of God.

On the road again: A message from the chancellor.

Remember the words from the popular 1980s song, “On the road again — I just can’t wait to get on the road again?” While this song came long after the Apostle Paul’s time, he certainly would have identified with the lyrics. If such a thing existed, Paul would have qualified as a charter member of AAA or even as a platinum frequent flyer.

Paul covered more than 9,000 miles on his missionary journeys. Venues like synagogues, markets, and even Mars Hill provided him with a platform to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He did not wait for people to come to him — he went to them.

Following Paul’s example, Word of Life is increasing our road presence. Our goal is to leverage new opportunities to join with you and with local churches across America in getting the Gospel out. If you attended Word of Life rallies or traveled on tours with Jack and Harry, you know the value and impact of “hitting the road” and reaching people where they live.

This December we launched our brand-new Christmas production Magi.

Also, after a wildly successful pilot phase, Intersect Camps are now preparing for a new season of impacting thousands of young people in major cities across the Northeast. These one-day events are designed to take Word of Life camp to the cities of America. We have already seen more than 160 people trust Christ at these events. Check our website for more details and dates on these road initiatives. Get involved with us!

As we take some big steps forward, we can hardly wait to see you “on the road again.” In the meantime, thank you for your faithful prayers and friendship.

God at the controls: A message from the chancellor.

It was another trip to remember. As my plane taxied out to the runway a few days ago, a man suddenly threw off his seatbelt and rushed up the aisle. Through tears he expressed that he was feeling anxious and needed to get off the airplane. As you might imagine, passengers around me reacted with disbelief and disgust as our already-delayed plane returned to the gate. What’s wrong with this guy?

The truth is that this man is far from alone in dealing with the problem of anxiety. While unwilling to admit it, many people are deeply troubled with job insecurity, a volatile stock market, North Korean missile threats, and gun violence. Anxious thoughts have an incredible way of dominating our minds.

We live in a worried world, and I do not need to remind you that we as Christians are certainly not exempt from hard times and turbulence. However, Philippians 4:6 makes it crystal clear how God expects us to respond. Paul writes, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Easier said than done, right?

Whether you are a recent graduate of the Bible Institute or an alumnus from years past, God expects your total trust and obedience. You may not fully see it now, but He holds the controls and has an incredible plan for your life. When faced with the cares and uncertainties of life, God wants you to trust Him by taking your seatbelt off and rushing to Him. With complete confidence in His sovereignty and love, you can throw “all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

I am thrilled with all that God is doing in and through your life. Be sure to let me know how I can pray for you in the days ahead.

Confidence in the Gospel: A message from the Chancellor.

By Don Lough, Jr.

We live in a world where it is unpopular to take a stand for what is right and true. The message of the cross is considered nonsense to many. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are often labeled as exclusive, intolerant, and backward. Faced with this kind of pressure, it might appear attractive at times to simply take the path of least resistance and to assume a stealth mode.

The Apostle Paul’s declaration in Romans 1:16 jolts us back to the reality of where we really need to be as Christians: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” If there was ever a place for Paul to be timid and ashamed of the Gospel, it was in Rome. Rome was an arrogant city, a home to every conceivable idol as well as the center of intellectualism and philosophy. Here was Paul, a tentmaker by trade, proclaiming a message about a Jewish carpenter named Jesus who died a criminal’s death on a cross. Regardless, Paul affirms, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel....”

Where does this kind of confidence come from? Here are a few truths to consider. First, Paul believed that the Gospel is superior — not some fairy tale or story fabricated in the mind of man. The Gospel is from God and is about His Son, Jesus Christ. It is superior to any religious idea or philosophy. Nothing compares to the Gospel. Second, Paul believed the Gospel was sufficient. Don’t ever forget that the Gospel does not contain the power of God. Instead, the Gospel “is the power of God unto salvation.” Finally, the apostle also knew that the Gospel is simple. “It is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.” Many cling to the idea that salvation requires good works or special requirements. No — the Gospel calls for simple faith and trust in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, as the One who can save from sin.

Today, God has strategically placed you on this planet not simply to exist, but to make Him known. Do not ever be ashamed to share the Good News about Jesus Christ.

Miracle stories: A message from the chancellor.

By Don Lough, Jr.

The Word of Life story is a miracle story. Who would ever believe that a tiny island in the middle of Schroon Lake would become a Word of Life teen camp eventually impacting tens of thousands of young lives? Or that a communist trade union in Hungary would lease a priceless castle property to us with the stipulation that we let their unsaved children come to camp for free? We could never have imagined that God would entrust us with a Bible Institute campus in a visa-free zone in South Korea, allowing us to train students from all over Asia.

These stories are just the “tip of the iceberg” and a constant reminder that the Word of Life story is all about God. This ministry belongs entirely to Him. As we launch into a fresh season of reaching youth with the Gospel, we are claiming the truth of Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us.” What an encouragement to know that the God of our Founders, Jack Wyrtzen and Harry Bollback, remains our powerful and miracle-working God today. Even though we live in a world full of uncertainty, we still believe He is able to do far beyond whatever we ask or dream.

Making the most of youth: A message from the chancellor.

By Don Lough, Jr.

Young people have enormous potential to make a difference for Jesus Christ. At Word of Life, we believe in challenging children and teenagers with early opportunities to share their faith and to step up in serving the Lord. I’ll never forget Jack Wyrtzen’s periodic challenge to me as a young man: “Donald, let no one despise your youth.” He was basically telling me, “I believe in you – don’t let your young age hold you back from living out God’s Word.”

Several weeks ago, I had the privilege of meeting a young man from Mexico who recently joined our missionary team. His testimony was anything but ordinary. When he was 20 years old and a sales manager for the Ford Motor Company, he met an 8-year-old boy who boldly shared the Gospel with him and led him to Christ. No, this is not a misprint, nor is it the end of the story. After the young sales manager was disowned by his family for his newfound faith, the little boy swung into action and began personally discipling him. He assigned him 10 chapters of Bible reading every day and then took the initiative to connect him with Christian families and a local church. Today, the fruit of his ministry is a full-time missionary!

We need to be so careful not to allow negativity or low expectations to seep into our interaction with the younger generation. The reality is that it doesn’t take much to discourage a child or a teenager. What are you doing to encourage and motivate the young people in your sphere of influence to step up for Christ? Just think of the possibilities.

Thanks for standing with us as we challenge young people to “know, grow, and show” all over the world.

Why am I here? A message from the chancellor.

By Don Lough, Jr.

In the rush of life, it’s all too easy to lose sight of the fact that God has placed us on this earth for a purpose. Philippians 2:15 reminds us that God has strategically placed us “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” and that we are to “shine as lights in the world.” We are not here simply to exist. Our lives should be all about taking every opportunity to show and share the difference that Christ can make in life.

I was reminded of this truth while waiting for a flight a few months ago. I couldn’t help but notice a businessman just a few seats away. He was sobbing uncontrollably as he talked on the phone. It was clear that he was coming to terms with some very difficult news. To be honest, my first instinct was to find another place to sit. After all, this man really needed some privacy, right?

Then I was reminded, “Why am I here?” I knew this had to be a divine appointment. With my heart pounding, I slid next to the man and asked, “Sir, are you going to be okay? Would you mind if I pray for you?” His hostile response caught me off guard: “No — I don’t believe in God!” I said, “Excuse me, sir, I don’t know what you are going through, but God does exist, whether you believe in Him or not. Matter of fact, God loves you, and it’s pretty obvious that you need Him right now.” With words punctuated with profanity and sobbing, he began to unfold his story. He was highly educated and a successful robotics engineer. He admitted to me, “Until today, I thought I was God.” The devastating phone call had come from his son, his pride and joy, who was a professional athlete in the National Hockey League. He had called to tell his dad that his career was likely over and that he was on his way to rehab and prison for possession and use of drugs.

I responded, “Sir, I have some more bad news for you. God, in His Word, says that not only are you not God, but you are not even good” (Romans 3). I continued, “You said you don’t believe in God, right? Has it occurred to you that God put us together today? I could’ve sat in any number of seats in this airport. My being here at this exact moment is no accident. God has to exist!” He nodded affirmatively and replied, “You got me.” I prayed for him and his son and gave him a Gospel tract before we parted ways. While I’ve not been able to reconnect with this man, there’s no doubt that this was an assignment from God.

Of course, we all have work to do, places to go, and people to meet. But the primary reason we are here is to represent Christ and to “hold forth the Word of Life” to this world that so desperately needs Him. I’m convinced that God puts divine appointments on our calendars every day. Our responsibility is to recognize and seize these opportunities to share what Christ has done in our lives.