Dear Visionary Leader: We have been walking through the Hall of Fame of Faith. We’ve been talking about faith: what it is, how to get it, and why we need it. We have been studying the Old Testament heroes of faith who are highlighted in the New Testament. In Hebrews 11:20, we read, “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” There was a student who was finishing up his examinations just before the Christmas Holidays. He had not really studied hard and the professor asked an exceptionally hard question. The student didn’t have the foggiest idea what the answer was, but he thought perhaps that he could get…

Dear Visionary Leader: Dr. Warren Weirsbe stated, “A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.” For example, how would you like to get on an airplane that had never been tested? How would you like to have a doctor do surgery on you who had not passed some tests in medical school? I heard of a man who was having surgery and the doctor said, “You seem nervous.” He said, “Yes, this is my first surgery.” The doctor said, “Yes, I know how you feel. It’s mine also.” We read in Hebrews 11:17-19: “By faith Abraham, when he was tried (tested), offered up Isaac: and he that had received…

Two years ago, at the time of the 500th Anniversary of Luther’s nailing the thesis to the church door in Wittenberg, God spoke to me clearly, saying, “I am about to thrust the church into a new apostolic epoch – it will not be optional.” We are in desperate need of a new Reformation of the Church. The coronavirus may be our opportunity to examine our practices and redefine what it means to be the Church. Here are seven things that, I believe God is saying, must change. 1. The Church Cannot Continue as it has Functioned for Our Lifetime. God is calling us away from the definition of the…

Dear Visionary Leader: Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, “Little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul.” How would you like to have great faith? When we came to Jesus Christ, God enrolled us in the School of Faith. Life is the classroom, the Bible is the textbook, the prophets and the apostles are the professors, and Abraham would have to be the Dean in the School of Faith. Abraham was an amazing man. His name is loved and revered by Jews and Christians alike. He’s called the “father of them that believe.” In Hebrews 11:8-15, we read: “By faith Abraham, when he…

Dear Visionary Leader: In Hebrews 11:7, we read concerning Noah, and “by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”   The Titanic set sail in 1912. The same year my grandmother was born. It was coined unsinkable, yet, that’s about the only thing it ever really did; sink! It was filled with lavish splendor. There were ballrooms, theaters, beauty salons, tennis courts, sauna baths and much more. I believe the sinking of the Titanic is a…

Dear Visionary Leader: Enoch is an unusual Bible character who appears three times in the Word of God, but he is an important figure in studying the Second Coming. In Genesis 5:21-24, we are told of his birth, that he walked with God, had a son, and was raptured into heaven. In Hebrews 11:5, we read that he pleased God and that he was translated into heaven. In Jude 14-15, we learn that he preached to the ungodly of his day and warned them of the coming of the Lord in judgment. As we continue our series entitled, Walking In The Hall of Fame of Faith, we have now come…

Dear Visionary Leader: In Hebrews 11:4, we read: “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaks.” Abel being dead still speaks today. He preached his own funeral. What we see in Abel is a shadow of the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we continue walking in the hall of fame of faith, we come to Abel, who represents the dedication of faith. The Old Testament is a book of shadows that point to New Testament truths. For example, in Colossians 2:17,…

Dear Visionary Leader: Last Week in Orlando, FL, the Global Church Network was incredibly grateful to have leaders travel from throughout the United States to attend our amazing Ambassador Leadership Intensive! Our speaker, Dr. Doug Wead, brought two powerful messages from inside the White House during his position as Advisor to two United States Presidents and interviews with six Presidents, First Ladies, and families.  Dr. Wead is one of the most sought after speakers today. He is featured on the major US News Channels. The Global Church Network also officially launched SYNERGIZE 2022 Pastors & Leaders Conference.  Even though Synergize 2022 is eighteen months away, the conference is more than 60% sold out!  If you…

Dear Visionary Leader: I heard it said many years ago: Christmas is Christ with us, Easter is Christ for us, and Pentecost is Christ in us. I trust that you and your ministry is on the pathway to personal Pentecost this coming weekend. Two weeks ago, the Global Church Network was fortunate to host The Normal 21st Century Church Livestream. Twenty-six Christian leaders brought powerful presentations, challenging us NOT to go back to normal, but to move forward to the Christ-given normal of victory!  As Dr. Kenneth Ulmer stated, “The worst place to be is where God was, instead of where God is now.”  We are humbled to report that more than 37,000 pastors and leaders joined us from every world region for…