Dear Praying Friends,
Warm regards to each of you and thank you for committing each Wednesday to prayer for our prodigals and revival.
The church in Sardis lacked reality, and the devastating indictment of the Lord against this group was, “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Rev. 3:1). A reputation with no reality is hypocrisy and it can be a problem for all of us. Every time it shows its false face, it needs to be unmasked by the truth. The message the Lord is teaching us through all of this is to allow His Word to transform us into people who are more like Jesus.
People who reflect the heart of Christ are the type of people the world needs. Ted Engstrom said:
The world needs men and woman—
Who cannot be bought,
Whose word is their bond,
Who put their character above wealth;
Who possess a will,
Who are larger than their vocations,
Who will not lose their individuality in a crowd,
Who will be honest in small things as in great things,
Who will make no compromise with wrong,
Whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires,
Who will not say they do it “because everybody does it,”
Who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity,
Who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success,
Who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular,
Who say “no” with emphasis, although the rest of the world says “yes.”
Ted Engstrom was a person like this. Dean R. Hirsch, head of World Vision International described him, "Dr. Ted made work and faith walk together.” Former president of World Vision and executive director of Youth for Christ, Ted died on July 14, 2006 at age 90, having lived a life of integrity and faith. According to Rich Stearns, president of World Vision U.S., “Engstrom was best known for his uncompromising commitment to serving the poor and for helping others grasp God's perfect and immeasurable love.”
May God help us to be people whose lives are marked by integrity and love.
Sincere love,
Bryan and Rachel