?Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.?
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Hebrews 11:1
Dear friends and ministry partners,
I hope our November update finds you well, strengthening your walk with Jesus, and growing in faith. With all the uncertainty and chaos around us, I?m reminded of our need for a deeply rooted and vibrant faith.
?How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers? (Psalm 1:1-3).
God continues to open many new doors of opportunity for the ministry of Love & Truth Network. Pastors, Christian leaders, mom and dads, and many other Christ-followers are looking for real answers to their own struggles against sexual sin, as well as the tsunami of cultural pressure and enticement to embrace and celebrate all forms of sexual indulgence and alternative identities.
From my vantage point, through the work and ministry I regularly engage in, we are now living in a time when Christianity, Biblical values, monogamy within heterosexual marriage, and raising children to know and follow Jesus are increasingly regarded as evil and dangerous. I witness this perspective both as subtle and overt within our country and other parts of the world.
In our schools, entertainment, social media, legacy news media, politics, the public square, and even within some churches and denominations, ?sexual minority? status is rapidly becoming more valued and protected in our country than freedom of religion or freedom of speech.
For example, the growing popularity for ?the rights? of grown men to dress up as bizarre, highly sexualized caricatures of women, dance and gyrate in front of young children in public schools, libraries, and ?family-friendly? drag shows is considered a protected and important value by many activists and societal leaders, rather than the outrageous child abuse that it actually is.
If you?ve been following our newsletters or have heard me speak at your church or a conference, you know that we aren?t promoting a message of animosity or anger toward the LGBTQ+ community, or toward the sexually and identity confused. Rather, we believe the hidden sexual compromise and hypocrisy throughout our churches and the lives of vast numbers of Christians has weekended our spiritual vitality, authentic witness, and ultimately the culture around us.
The Church needs to be revived, across all denominations. While we may agree with the teachings of Scripture regarding a sexual ethic, are we actually living that belief out in our private lives as pastors and Christian leaders? Are the people in our churches living out these truths or are they living compromised and double lives? From our experience in 20 years of ministering to these areas of need, we have learned that even many theologically solid churches are full of sexual sin and addiction. This perspective isn?t based only in our personal experience. Unfortunately, the statistics are clear and overwhelming.
Even with all the moral sin and compromise surrounding us, I am incredibly hopeful. I know the power of God to transform lives ? I?ve lived it personally, and I?ve seen it at work over and over again in the lives of others. I know the power He blesses an honest and vulnerable church with to see lives radically transformed through truth and love working together in uncompromising and compassionate ways.
It is a profoundly comforting reality that God is still on His throne. The rebellion and foolishness of man only highlights our ignorance and underscores our total bent toward sin apart from Jesus. God is not flustered by world events. While we certainly do not know for certain, possibly we are actually living in the last days before Jesus returns for His bride. It seems the signs around us may be pointing toward that very reality.
Our modern-day, radical trends to push and popularize sexual anarchy against God?s clear, beautiful and blessed design for male and female union under the commitment and protection of covenant marriage is nothing new. However, from dehumanizing gender confusion and mutilating the bodies of suffering children and adults to align with internalized dysphoria, to the mass-murder of children in the womb, to serious global economic concerns, forecasted food shortages, political upheaval, war, threats of nuclear war, militant medical malpractice, a powerful cancel-culture targeted against truth or even questioning a political/legacy-media approved narrative, the entire globe seems to be in upheaval and anguish.
In the midst of all of this, we are called and empowered to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ for a lost and out-of-control world. The apostle Paul writes, ?Namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God? (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).
Over and over again, I return to the powerful truth that the apostle John writes, ?And they overcame [Satan] because of the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death? (Revelation 12:11).
Because of the blood of Christ to cleanse and break the chains of sin, and our testimony of the misery He rescued us out of, Transforming Congregations is on the frontline of the battle for the minds, hearts, and souls of men, women, and young people. The world-system wants to trap them in confusion and despair, but we are called to be part of God?s counter-cultural Kingdom ? leading people to new life in Jesus. What an honor!
We need your partnership. If you believe in the work we?re doing, would you:
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- Pray for us ? for open doors, boldness, protection, messaging with clarity, and compassion
- Open doors for us within your various circles of influence ? your pastor, church, etc.
- Financially partner with us ? a year-end and/or monthly gift would help tremendously. Every gift, no matter the size, has such value.
Your fellow-laborer,
Garry Ingraham
Partnership Invitation
