My friend, Kevin Peterson at R&R magazine asked for my goals for 2009. Here's what I sent him.
1. Vision Casting: It's absolutely imperative to be clear in our mission, vision, goals and strategies.
2. Communication: I believe it's almost impossible to over-communicate. We must be connecting regularly with out stakeholders and our team.
3. Revenue: Whether for-profit or not-for-profit, we need to be intentional and innovative in seeking to strengthen our core financial strategies.
4. Image: We need to be creative and clear in presenting our image to the general public and our stakeholders and branding ourselves consistently.
5. New technology: We must go after emerging technologies that enable us to connect with the next generation of media consumers. That includes streaming, podcasting, social networking such as FaceBook and YouTube, blogging and texting.
6. New Talent: To use new technology, we need to recruit new talent--20-something talent that can intuitively use new technology to reach the new audience.
7. Collaboration: We can't do it alone. We must connect and partner with other entities that can complement our resources in reaching our goal.
8. Team Building: We must focus on our team. What are we without our talented people. Encourage them. Communicate with them. Develop their leadership skills for the future.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A More Austere Christmas
Jesus, God’s Son, came to a world of poverty, born to a poor, humble girl living in an insignificant village. He was born to poor, peasant parents. His birthplace was a barn. How different from the glitzy, materialistic, hedonistic holiday celebration of today!
This is going to be a very interesting Christmas. We’re not hearing as much about the frenzy of shoppers seeking the latest and greatest gifts for their loved ones. In fact, we hear that stores won’t be selling as much. People are cutting back on presents and giving to charity. Our daughter suggested instead of buying presents, each of us in the family look for things we no longer use—but someone else in the family would enjoy—and give that personal gift to that specially chosen person. What a great idea! And that’s what we’re going to do.
The incarnation has a lot more to do with poverty than extravagance. The Bible says Jesus did not consider His position with God a thing to be grasped, “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant” (Philippians 2:7, NKJV). Jesus later taught there’s a blessing on the “poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).
During this time of economic uncertainty and tightened budgets my prayer is that we might move a step closer to the truth of the incarnation—”He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9, NKJV). Let’s pray that as we reduce our trust in money and seek to become more like our Savior that we might experience the kingdom of God.
May you experience a true and joyful celebration of the Savior’s birth and sharing the good news which will be for all people who live in a world of spiritual poverty.
This is going to be a very interesting Christmas. We’re not hearing as much about the frenzy of shoppers seeking the latest and greatest gifts for their loved ones. In fact, we hear that stores won’t be selling as much. People are cutting back on presents and giving to charity. Our daughter suggested instead of buying presents, each of us in the family look for things we no longer use—but someone else in the family would enjoy—and give that personal gift to that specially chosen person. What a great idea! And that’s what we’re going to do.
The incarnation has a lot more to do with poverty than extravagance. The Bible says Jesus did not consider His position with God a thing to be grasped, “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant” (Philippians 2:7, NKJV). Jesus later taught there’s a blessing on the “poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).
During this time of economic uncertainty and tightened budgets my prayer is that we might move a step closer to the truth of the incarnation—”He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9, NKJV). Let’s pray that as we reduce our trust in money and seek to become more like our Savior that we might experience the kingdom of God.
May you experience a true and joyful celebration of the Savior’s birth and sharing the good news which will be for all people who live in a world of spiritual poverty.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Prayer: Who's Listening?
One of the things I value among our HCJB Global team is our monthly Day of Prayer. A regular time focused on prayer is an effective way of demonstrating our total dependence on our heavenly Father.
For a long time, I considered prayer as a way to ask God for things I wanted or needed. Certainly God invites us to bring our needs to Him in prayer. There are wonderful examples of miraculous answers to prayer in HCJB Global’s 77 years of ministry.
Recently God has been teaching me that prayer is much more than talking to Him. A greater benefit of prayer is listening to God. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of coming to our heavenly Father with an open Bible and open heart, ready to hear what God wants to say to us.
Jesus taught us to pray: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” At HCJB Global we do pray His kingdom will come on earth. We also pray His will be done. But as we pray those things, we’re really asking that His kingdom and His will would be accomplished in our lives.
At Moody Radio we started a weekly “Stand Up Prayer.” We would come together as a team—not to pray for our own health and welfare—but to
specifically seek God’s direction and wisdom in our service to Him. Yes, we’d make requests, but primarily we sought to hear God’s voice and sense His direction for our lives.
Could I ask that this month, as we pray around the globe, we intentionally set aside our own needs and focus on the giver of every good and perfect gift? Let’s quiet our hearts and minds so we can hear God’s voice speaking to us about what He wants to do in us and through us in the year ahead.
Acts 4:31 states, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (NIV).
For a long time, I considered prayer as a way to ask God for things I wanted or needed. Certainly God invites us to bring our needs to Him in prayer. There are wonderful examples of miraculous answers to prayer in HCJB Global’s 77 years of ministry.
Recently God has been teaching me that prayer is much more than talking to Him. A greater benefit of prayer is listening to God. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of coming to our heavenly Father with an open Bible and open heart, ready to hear what God wants to say to us.
Jesus taught us to pray: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” At HCJB Global we do pray His kingdom will come on earth. We also pray His will be done. But as we pray those things, we’re really asking that His kingdom and His will would be accomplished in our lives.
At Moody Radio we started a weekly “Stand Up Prayer.” We would come together as a team—not to pray for our own health and welfare—but to
specifically seek God’s direction and wisdom in our service to Him. Yes, we’d make requests, but primarily we sought to hear God’s voice and sense His direction for our lives.
Could I ask that this month, as we pray around the globe, we intentionally set aside our own needs and focus on the giver of every good and perfect gift? Let’s quiet our hearts and minds so we can hear God’s voice speaking to us about what He wants to do in us and through us in the year ahead.
Acts 4:31 states, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (NIV).
Prayer
Word from Wayne
Dec. 2, 2008
One of the things I value among our HCJB Global team is our monthly Day of Prayer to say to us.
Jesus taught us to pray: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” At HCJB Global we do pray His kingdom will come on earth. We also pray His will be done. But as we pray those things, we’re really asking that His kingdom and His will would be accomplished in our lives.
At Moody Radio we started a weekly “Stand Up Prayer.” We would come together as a team—not to pray for our own health and welfare—but to
specifically seek God’s direction and wisdom in our service to Him. Yes, we’d make requests, but primarily we sought to hear God’s voice and sense His direction for our lives.
Could I ask that this month, as we pray around the globe, we intentionally set aside our own needs and focus on the giver of every good and perfect gift? Let’s quiet our hearts and minds so we can hear God’s voice speaking to us about what He wants to do in us and through us in the year ahead.
Acts 4:31 states, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (NIV). . A regular time focused on prayer is an effective way of demonstrating our total dependence on our heavenly Father.
For a long time, I considered prayer as a way to ask God for things I wanted or needed. Certainly God invites us to bring our needs to Him in prayer. There are wonderful examples of miraculous answers to prayer in HCJB Global’s 77 years of ministry.
Recently God has been teaching me that prayer is much more than talking to Him. A greater benefit of prayer is listening to God. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of coming to our heavenly Father with an open Bible and open heart, ready to hear what God wants
Dec. 2, 2008
One of the things I value among our HCJB Global team is our monthly Day of Prayer to say to us.
Jesus taught us to pray: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” At HCJB Global we do pray His kingdom will come on earth. We also pray His will be done. But as we pray those things, we’re really asking that His kingdom and His will would be accomplished in our lives.
At Moody Radio we started a weekly “Stand Up Prayer.” We would come together as a team—not to pray for our own health and welfare—but to
specifically seek God’s direction and wisdom in our service to Him. Yes, we’d make requests, but primarily we sought to hear God’s voice and sense His direction for our lives.
Could I ask that this month, as we pray around the globe, we intentionally set aside our own needs and focus on the giver of every good and perfect gift? Let’s quiet our hearts and minds so we can hear God’s voice speaking to us about what He wants to do in us and through us in the year ahead.
Acts 4:31 states, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (NIV). . A regular time focused on prayer is an effective way of demonstrating our total dependence on our heavenly Father.
For a long time, I considered prayer as a way to ask God for things I wanted or needed. Certainly God invites us to bring our needs to Him in prayer. There are wonderful examples of miraculous answers to prayer in HCJB Global’s 77 years of ministry.
Recently God has been teaching me that prayer is much more than talking to Him. A greater benefit of prayer is listening to God. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of coming to our heavenly Father with an open Bible and open heart, ready to hear what God wants
Friday, November 14, 2008
My Utmost
In my devotional reading this morning:
"God works all things for good to those who live Him and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
"The circumstances of a saint's life are ordained of God. In the life of a saint there is no such thing as chance. God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you cannot understand at all,but the Spirit of God understands. God is bringing you into places and among people and into conditions in order that the Spirit in you may take a particular line. Never put your hand in front of circumstances. All your circumstances are in the hand of God. Therefore never think it strange concerning the circumstances you are in."
Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for His Highest"
"God works all things for good to those who live Him and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
"The circumstances of a saint's life are ordained of God. In the life of a saint there is no such thing as chance. God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you cannot understand at all,but the Spirit of God understands. God is bringing you into places and among people and into conditions in order that the Spirit in you may take a particular line. Never put your hand in front of circumstances. All your circumstances are in the hand of God. Therefore never think it strange concerning the circumstances you are in."
Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for His Highest"
My Utmost
In my devotional reading this morning:
"God works all things for good to those who live Him and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
"The circumstances of a saint's life are ordained of God. In the life of a saint there is no such thing as chance. God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you cannot understand at all,but the Spirit of God understands. God is bringing you into places and among people and into conditions in order that the Spirit in you may take a particular line. Never put your hand in front of circumstances. All your circumstances are in the hand of God. Therefore never think it strange concerning the circumstances you are in."
Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for His Highest"
"God works all things for good to those who live Him and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
"The circumstances of a saint's life are ordained of God. In the life of a saint there is no such thing as chance. God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you cannot understand at all,but the Spirit of God understands. God is bringing you into places and among people and into conditions in order that the Spirit in you may take a particular line. Never put your hand in front of circumstances. All your circumstances are in the hand of God. Therefore never think it strange concerning the circumstances you are in."
Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for His Highest"
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Ecuador
We've just returned from Ecuador after a whirlwind week of meetings, lunches, dinners, receptions and travel.
We visited Shell to see our hospital, our school and our missionaries who faithfully serve in the jungle. A highlight was standing in the radio room of Nate Saint's house and reliving the events surrounding the death of the 5 missionaries in 1955. That event triggered tens of thousands to commit their lives to cross-cultural ministry. It’s just like God to turn a terrible tragedy into a great expansion of His Kingdom
We visited the hydro-plants in Papallacta and Lorreto which furnish electrical power for the HCJB radio transmitters saving HCJB $500,000 a year in utility costs plus supplying power to the country of Ecuador which provides another $500,000 in annual revenue to the mission. Those facilities are a great tribute to the vision, ingenuity and perseverance of the HCJB Global team
We had meetings with Hospital Vozandes staff which is 90% Ecuadorian nationals. The hospitals in Quito and Shell provide valuable health care to thousands of Ecuadorians who would not have access to medical attention. They demonstrate the caring love of Jesus to many needy people who don’t know Christ.
We met with the water projects leadership and staff. These teams go into a needy community, provide clean, safe water to the people. Working with a local church, they point the community to the Living Water.
Our Corrientes project is working to train and mobilize believers in Ecuador to reach out to Ecuadorians in the proclamation of the Gospel and eventual cross-cultural ministry. The goal is to hire an Ecuadorian director of Corrientes and to work hand-in-hand with a coalition of other like-minded Ecuadorian ministries.
We spent a day with HCJB Radio personnel, viewing studios and strategizing on the most effective use of media in the midst of continual changes in the media world. It’s sad to see the antennas and transmitters on Pifo being dismantled. The new Quito airport is adjacent to our antenna farm. Plus the audience for short-wave is diminishing. One option we’re exploring is to repurpose the transmitters and antennas for a shortwave ministry to India and China, which represents 2/3's of the world population.
The CCC (Christian Communications Center) trains young Latin American students to use media to share the Gospel via radio, video and modern digital technology. One of the strategic goals of HCJB Global is to train the next generation of communicators to use the next generation of technology to reach the next generation of media users. Half the world’s population is under age 25, which may be the largest unreached people groups in the world.
We were joined Saturday night by a group of U.S. Christian broadcasters who are spending the week touring HCJB Global ministries in Ecuador. These stations represent potential ministry partners for some of our global media projects.
With the U.S. broadcasters, we attended a Spanish Church in Quito. The service was entirely in Spanish, music and sermon. But we were able to catch the drift of the content...and certainly caught up in the energy and spirit of the believers. God is alive in Latin America!
A highlight of our Sunday was to serve 280 adults and children at Pan de Vida, an outreach started by HCJB, which provides a teaching and worship experience for adults and children followed by a nice meal in the courtyard. We all dug in, cutting vegetables, serving the food, and intereacting with the poor, but beautiful people of Quito. We really felt it a privilege to be the "voice and hands" of Jesus.
Sunday night, our coordinator of International Health Care gave an inspiring report of how God is using our medical teams with our disaster response teams to show the love of Jesus in times of crisis. She described the powerful impact of working with our radio partners to provide basic health and hygiene information on radio, plus providing basic clinical and educational service in our radio areas.
God is expanding our vision as we see God working throughout Latin America and in the 5 global regions to provide media ministry, health care and leadership development. Though Latin America is a "reached" continent, there are still many who do not know the Lord. And there are many believers who can be motivated and trained to serve.
HCJB Global is using media, human care and leadership development to reach people who have never heard, to reach people groups with limited access to the Gospel and to mobilize those who can serve. But global evangelism is the "point of the arrow" for HCJB Global. When we provide emergency response, the goal is to introduce people to Jesus. When we provide clean water, it's to point to Jesus, the Living Water. When we provide healing help through our hospitals and clinics, it's to introduce people to the "Great Physician". In our broadcasting operations, we seek to communicate about the One who came to demonstrate the love of God and the gift of eternal life to our needy world.
I'm privileged we've been called to this unique and powerful ministry. We really appreciate your prayers as we take on this powerful challenge.
Thank God! Call out His Name!
Tell the whole world who he is and what he's done!
Sing to him! Play songs for him!
BROADCAST all His wonders!
I Chronicles 16:9 (The Message)
We visited Shell to see our hospital, our school and our missionaries who faithfully serve in the jungle. A highlight was standing in the radio room of Nate Saint's house and reliving the events surrounding the death of the 5 missionaries in 1955. That event triggered tens of thousands to commit their lives to cross-cultural ministry. It’s just like God to turn a terrible tragedy into a great expansion of His Kingdom
We visited the hydro-plants in Papallacta and Lorreto which furnish electrical power for the HCJB radio transmitters saving HCJB $500,000 a year in utility costs plus supplying power to the country of Ecuador which provides another $500,000 in annual revenue to the mission. Those facilities are a great tribute to the vision, ingenuity and perseverance of the HCJB Global team
We had meetings with Hospital Vozandes staff which is 90% Ecuadorian nationals. The hospitals in Quito and Shell provide valuable health care to thousands of Ecuadorians who would not have access to medical attention. They demonstrate the caring love of Jesus to many needy people who don’t know Christ.
We met with the water projects leadership and staff. These teams go into a needy community, provide clean, safe water to the people. Working with a local church, they point the community to the Living Water.
Our Corrientes project is working to train and mobilize believers in Ecuador to reach out to Ecuadorians in the proclamation of the Gospel and eventual cross-cultural ministry. The goal is to hire an Ecuadorian director of Corrientes and to work hand-in-hand with a coalition of other like-minded Ecuadorian ministries.
We spent a day with HCJB Radio personnel, viewing studios and strategizing on the most effective use of media in the midst of continual changes in the media world. It’s sad to see the antennas and transmitters on Pifo being dismantled. The new Quito airport is adjacent to our antenna farm. Plus the audience for short-wave is diminishing. One option we’re exploring is to repurpose the transmitters and antennas for a shortwave ministry to India and China, which represents 2/3's of the world population.
The CCC (Christian Communications Center) trains young Latin American students to use media to share the Gospel via radio, video and modern digital technology. One of the strategic goals of HCJB Global is to train the next generation of communicators to use the next generation of technology to reach the next generation of media users. Half the world’s population is under age 25, which may be the largest unreached people groups in the world.
We were joined Saturday night by a group of U.S. Christian broadcasters who are spending the week touring HCJB Global ministries in Ecuador. These stations represent potential ministry partners for some of our global media projects.
With the U.S. broadcasters, we attended a Spanish Church in Quito. The service was entirely in Spanish, music and sermon. But we were able to catch the drift of the content...and certainly caught up in the energy and spirit of the believers. God is alive in Latin America!
A highlight of our Sunday was to serve 280 adults and children at Pan de Vida, an outreach started by HCJB, which provides a teaching and worship experience for adults and children followed by a nice meal in the courtyard. We all dug in, cutting vegetables, serving the food, and intereacting with the poor, but beautiful people of Quito. We really felt it a privilege to be the "voice and hands" of Jesus.
Sunday night, our coordinator of International Health Care gave an inspiring report of how God is using our medical teams with our disaster response teams to show the love of Jesus in times of crisis. She described the powerful impact of working with our radio partners to provide basic health and hygiene information on radio, plus providing basic clinical and educational service in our radio areas.
God is expanding our vision as we see God working throughout Latin America and in the 5 global regions to provide media ministry, health care and leadership development. Though Latin America is a "reached" continent, there are still many who do not know the Lord. And there are many believers who can be motivated and trained to serve.
HCJB Global is using media, human care and leadership development to reach people who have never heard, to reach people groups with limited access to the Gospel and to mobilize those who can serve. But global evangelism is the "point of the arrow" for HCJB Global. When we provide emergency response, the goal is to introduce people to Jesus. When we provide clean water, it's to point to Jesus, the Living Water. When we provide healing help through our hospitals and clinics, it's to introduce people to the "Great Physician". In our broadcasting operations, we seek to communicate about the One who came to demonstrate the love of God and the gift of eternal life to our needy world.
I'm privileged we've been called to this unique and powerful ministry. We really appreciate your prayers as we take on this powerful challenge.
Thank God! Call out His Name!
Tell the whole world who he is and what he's done!
Sing to him! Play songs for him!
BROADCAST all His wonders!
I Chronicles 16:9 (The Message)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Word from Wayne on Leaving Moody Radio
I don’t want this to be about me. Because it’s NOT all about me. I’ve loved what I do at Moody Radio. I love my friends at Moody Radio. I love their commitment to Jesus Christ, to proclaiming the Word of God and helping listeners grow in the way they follow Him.
I love the magic of radio. This week we did the live show with Michael W. Smith in front of a live audience. The countdown concluded. Chris pointed to Mark. It was a magic moment. The microphone opened and tens of thousands of people were instantly connected. I’ve done this for 40 years and have never lost the magic of radio.
This isn’t an easy job. Media is changing. The way people use radio is changing. There’s the challenge of raising funds for a $20 Million ministry. I know through years of listener response, you can’t please everyone. Someone’s not going to like the music. You have too much talk. You’re too liberal. You’re too conservative. You’re too serious. You joke too much. So I’ve graduated from Toughskin University, knowing Christians care so much about life, their faith, their radio station, they express strong feelings about how we do things.
The toughest thing is leaving the people. The people who make up the Moody Radio team are the best--the most talented, most dedicated team I’ve ever worked with. And, with a few exceptions, they're nice. After all, out of a staff of 200, you’d expect a few grouches, right? (You know who you are.)
But really, I’m glad I’m sad. Frankly, I’m honored they're sad. I’d hate after all these years they'd be having parties in their offices knowing I was leaving. It’s interesting even people I didn’t think liked me have expressed appreciation. So I think, Man, if I had known I was so well liked, I would have stayed. It’s a reminder that we should all be more encouraging to our colleagues.
And though it’s with deep sadness we move on, intellectually, spiritually, we know it’s God’s direction. Henry Blackaby once told me: “Don’t tell God you’ll do anything for Him if you really won’t do it.” That’s the problem. I have a note in my journal that I’d “do whatever; go wherever” God would so lead. Through His Word, the Holy Spirit’s quiet voice, the counsel of godly, respected friends, and through God’s hand in life circumstances, we got the call. One of the verses I discovered in the process of seeking His direction was Romans 9:12 in The Message: “His purpose is not hit-or-miss, dependent on what we do or don’t do. But a sure thing determined by His decision flowing steadily from His initiative.”
So God directed us to HCJB Global, whose declared end is to use media and human care to reach those people groups who have never heard, those with limited access to the Gospel. And my deep passion is to reach the lost with the Message of Jesus of Nazareth. I don’t have the gift of evangelism. I have a passion for evangelism--and the spiritual gift of leadership that will facilitate the passion.
And the strong work at Moody Radio will go forward: Proclaiming God’s Word, helping listeners take the next step in their walk with Christ, being a trusted voice and friend, unpacking issues from a Biblical world-view.
I pray my investment in articulating those ends, placing great people where they can shine for Jesus, and establishing a positive environment for ministry will produce decades of effective radio ministry.
And you’ve not heard the last of me. HCJB Global will be partnering with Moody. You’ll hear reports of what God is doing around the Globe. Which fulfills another verse God showed me: Those who were never told of Him will see. Those who’ve never heard of Him will get the Message.” How’s that for confirmation?
From the depths of our hearts, Norma and I thank you.
I love the magic of radio. This week we did the live show with Michael W. Smith in front of a live audience. The countdown concluded. Chris pointed to Mark. It was a magic moment. The microphone opened and tens of thousands of people were instantly connected. I’ve done this for 40 years and have never lost the magic of radio.
This isn’t an easy job. Media is changing. The way people use radio is changing. There’s the challenge of raising funds for a $20 Million ministry. I know through years of listener response, you can’t please everyone. Someone’s not going to like the music. You have too much talk. You’re too liberal. You’re too conservative. You’re too serious. You joke too much. So I’ve graduated from Toughskin University, knowing Christians care so much about life, their faith, their radio station, they express strong feelings about how we do things.
The toughest thing is leaving the people. The people who make up the Moody Radio team are the best--the most talented, most dedicated team I’ve ever worked with. And, with a few exceptions, they're nice. After all, out of a staff of 200, you’d expect a few grouches, right? (You know who you are.)
But really, I’m glad I’m sad. Frankly, I’m honored they're sad. I’d hate after all these years they'd be having parties in their offices knowing I was leaving. It’s interesting even people I didn’t think liked me have expressed appreciation. So I think, Man, if I had known I was so well liked, I would have stayed. It’s a reminder that we should all be more encouraging to our colleagues.
And though it’s with deep sadness we move on, intellectually, spiritually, we know it’s God’s direction. Henry Blackaby once told me: “Don’t tell God you’ll do anything for Him if you really won’t do it.” That’s the problem. I have a note in my journal that I’d “do whatever; go wherever” God would so lead. Through His Word, the Holy Spirit’s quiet voice, the counsel of godly, respected friends, and through God’s hand in life circumstances, we got the call. One of the verses I discovered in the process of seeking His direction was Romans 9:12 in The Message: “His purpose is not hit-or-miss, dependent on what we do or don’t do. But a sure thing determined by His decision flowing steadily from His initiative.”
So God directed us to HCJB Global, whose declared end is to use media and human care to reach those people groups who have never heard, those with limited access to the Gospel. And my deep passion is to reach the lost with the Message of Jesus of Nazareth. I don’t have the gift of evangelism. I have a passion for evangelism--and the spiritual gift of leadership that will facilitate the passion.
And the strong work at Moody Radio will go forward: Proclaiming God’s Word, helping listeners take the next step in their walk with Christ, being a trusted voice and friend, unpacking issues from a Biblical world-view.
I pray my investment in articulating those ends, placing great people where they can shine for Jesus, and establishing a positive environment for ministry will produce decades of effective radio ministry.
And you’ve not heard the last of me. HCJB Global will be partnering with Moody. You’ll hear reports of what God is doing around the Globe. Which fulfills another verse God showed me: Those who were never told of Him will see. Those who’ve never heard of Him will get the Message.” How’s that for confirmation?
From the depths of our hearts, Norma and I thank you.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Let Your Heart Be Broken
Though leaving Moody is difficult, God keeps re-affirming our call to this global outreach. This morning at Moody Church, Norma and I stood with tears in our eyes as we sang this hymn:
Let your heart be broken for a world in need.
Feed the mouths that hunger, soothe the wounds that bleed.
Give the cup of water, and the loaf of bread;
Be the hands of Jesus, serving in His stead.
Here on earth applying principles of love
Visible expression, God still rules above.
Living illustration of the Living Word;
To the minds of all who’ve never seen or heard.
Blessed to be a blessing, privileged to care;
Challenged by the need apparent everywhere.
Where mankind is wanting, fill the vacant place.
Be the means through which the Lord reveals His grace.
Add to your believing deeds that prove it true;
Knowing Christ as Savior, make Him Master too.
Follow in His footsteps, go where He has trod.
In the world’s great trouble risk yourself from God.
Let your heart be tender and your vision clear,
See mankind as God sees—serve Him far and near.
Let your heart be broken by a brother’s pain;
Share your rich resources, give and give again.
(Text by Brian Jeffrey Leach)
This was another confirmation of God's direction. And this hymn could really be a theme for HCJB Global Hands and Voice. I'm making this my prayer focus for the next few weeks. May we as God's servants make this our heart's prayer.
Let your heart be broken for a world in need.
Feed the mouths that hunger, soothe the wounds that bleed.
Give the cup of water, and the loaf of bread;
Be the hands of Jesus, serving in His stead.
Here on earth applying principles of love
Visible expression, God still rules above.
Living illustration of the Living Word;
To the minds of all who’ve never seen or heard.
Blessed to be a blessing, privileged to care;
Challenged by the need apparent everywhere.
Where mankind is wanting, fill the vacant place.
Be the means through which the Lord reveals His grace.
Add to your believing deeds that prove it true;
Knowing Christ as Savior, make Him Master too.
Follow in His footsteps, go where He has trod.
In the world’s great trouble risk yourself from God.
Let your heart be tender and your vision clear,
See mankind as God sees—serve Him far and near.
Let your heart be broken by a brother’s pain;
Share your rich resources, give and give again.
(Text by Brian Jeffrey Leach)
This was another confirmation of God's direction. And this hymn could really be a theme for HCJB Global Hands and Voice. I'm making this my prayer focus for the next few weeks. May we as God's servants make this our heart's prayer.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The Call
A lotof soul-searching, rather God-searching went into the decision to go with HCJB Global. God directs us primarily through:
His Word
His Spirit
His direction of circumstances
Counsel of wise, trusted friends
When the search process got serious, I took a day to get with God. Norma was out of town on a Saturday. Ispent the entire day reading God's word, on my knees in prayer, on my face seeking His direction.
In my regular personal study, I was in the last part of Romans. And these are the verses that popped out that day and provided God's direction:
Those who were never told of Him will see. Those who've never heard will get the message. Romans 15.21
All the nations of the world can know the truth. Romans 16.25
How can they believe in Him if they've never heard of Him?
And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them about Him?
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?
Romans 10.14-15
We asked God to write it on the mirror. Well, this was pretty close. When you tell God you'll do anything He asks, then you ask with sincere and open heart, then He gets your attention with these obvious statements, how can you say "no"?
I heard long time ago, you can't say "No, Lord." The two words don't go together. If he's Lord, you don't say no. The only correct answer is "Yes, Lord" "Yes, Sir!"
His Word
His Spirit
His direction of circumstances
Counsel of wise, trusted friends
When the search process got serious, I took a day to get with God. Norma was out of town on a Saturday. Ispent the entire day reading God's word, on my knees in prayer, on my face seeking His direction.
In my regular personal study, I was in the last part of Romans. And these are the verses that popped out that day and provided God's direction:
Those who were never told of Him will see. Those who've never heard will get the message. Romans 15.21
All the nations of the world can know the truth. Romans 16.25
How can they believe in Him if they've never heard of Him?
And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them about Him?
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?
Romans 10.14-15
We asked God to write it on the mirror. Well, this was pretty close. When you tell God you'll do anything He asks, then you ask with sincere and open heart, then He gets your attention with these obvious statements, how can you say "no"?
I heard long time ago, you can't say "No, Lord." The two words don't go together. If he's Lord, you don't say no. The only correct answer is "Yes, Lord" "Yes, Sir!"
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
HCJB Global
I wanted to let a few of my close friends know I’ve accepted the position of President/CEO of HCJB Global, starting November 1, 2008. Leaving our work and friends at Moody will be difficult. I’m grateful to the Lord for our years at Moody. I treasure the experience and the friendships. My hope is that I've help make Moody Radio an effective ministry, a healthy place to work and a strong team to carry forward.
Clarence Jones took his experience at Moody leaving Chicago for South America to start radio station HCJB in Quito in 1931. Today HCJB Global Voice and Global Hands is an international ministry with 800 staff and 230 missionaries and annual budget of $39M. The corporate headquarters is in Colorado Springs. The Global Technology Center is in Elkhart. Regional centers focus on Asia Pacific, Sub-Sahara Africa, Euro-Asia, North Africa-Middle East, Latin America and North America. Currently HCJB Global Voice has outlets in 100 countries broadcasting in 120 languages and is using podcast, video production and mobile devices to present the Gospel.
The mission of HCJB Global is to reach those who have never heard and to equip those who can be mobilized. Media, healthcare and leadership training are the strategies used to come alongside indigenous ministries to plant, train, equip.
God has clearly directed us as we’ve sought His will in this opportunity. The verse that sealed it was Romans 15.21: “Those who were never told of Him will see. Those who’ve never heard of Him will get the Message.”
Clarence Jones took his experience at Moody leaving Chicago for South America to start radio station HCJB in Quito in 1931. Today HCJB Global Voice and Global Hands is an international ministry with 800 staff and 230 missionaries and annual budget of $39M. The corporate headquarters is in Colorado Springs. The Global Technology Center is in Elkhart. Regional centers focus on Asia Pacific, Sub-Sahara Africa, Euro-Asia, North Africa-Middle East, Latin America and North America. Currently HCJB Global Voice has outlets in 100 countries broadcasting in 120 languages and is using podcast, video production and mobile devices to present the Gospel.
The mission of HCJB Global is to reach those who have never heard and to equip those who can be mobilized. Media, healthcare and leadership training are the strategies used to come alongside indigenous ministries to plant, train, equip.
God has clearly directed us as we’ve sought His will in this opportunity. The verse that sealed it was Romans 15.21: “Those who were never told of Him will see. Those who’ve never heard of Him will get the Message.”
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Speaking Truth in Love
Every advance in technology designed to improve our lives seems to create new problems and challenges. The cell phone, which allows us to be constantly accessible, also interrupts meals, concerts, meetings, sermons and even prayer.
The television with its marvelous ability to transmit news with pictures around the world also is responsible for lowering moral standards, creating obsession with celebrities, fostering materialism, even prohibiting physical fitness and encouraging obesity.
The Internet is a marvelous invention. It allows us instant access to information. It enables us to instantly and inexpensively communicate to friends and family across the country or around the world. We can access news, sermons, music, and devotionals of every sort.
On the Internet, we can build social networks and connect with the daily lives of our friends and family. We can access blogging sites and gain information from and endless list of sources.
But we've learned we can't always trust the Internet. We know that we can’t with confidence say “It must be true because I saw it on the Internet.” The Internet is a constant source of mis-information. Emails forwarded to multiple addresses multiple times perpetuate urban legends and fabrication. Wikipedia is no longer considered a reliable research source because anyone can insert information on Wikipedia.
And we’re all familiar with the very serious and increasingly pervasive problem of internet pornography which is destroying careers, marriages, and personal lives of both men and women.
But here’s another issue. Rudeness and lack of civility. I follow several periodicals that make their content available on email. Some of these content distributors also allow readers to blog, or add their own comments or reaction to those articles.
Internet anonymity removes inhibitions. And what appalls me is the how the anonymity provided by the Web gives people the boldness to be totally rude, un-civil, unkind, and un-Christian. It’s great we’re giving people a voice. But what that amounts to is that it’s attracting hateful people who use the web blog in a way that is angry, crude and hurtful.
Recently a widely read Christian magazine featured an article on a well-known ministry who with wisdom and courage conducted a thorough survey on their own effectiveness in achieving their goal of spiritual growth in their members. What they found revealed they were missing the mark and their people were not maturing into Christ-centered believers.
This ministry had to courage and humility to reveal the results and announce their commitment to make adjustments in their approach to ministry. Some readers responded on the magazine’s blog with accusations, finger-pointing, strongly-worded, judgmental criticism. Rather than commend this ministry for their humility and courage, they piled on the unkind, destructive and hurtful diatribe.
The popularity of the web and the anonymity it provides may all contribute to this unhealthy environment. I see it in some of the email that comes to my in-box as well.
Well, whether we’re speaking one-on-one, face to face; or whether we’re making anonymous comments on a blog, we need to remember the Biblical exhortation to kindness, gentleness and self-control. Speaking the truth. Absolutely. But always speaking truth…with love.
The television with its marvelous ability to transmit news with pictures around the world also is responsible for lowering moral standards, creating obsession with celebrities, fostering materialism, even prohibiting physical fitness and encouraging obesity.
The Internet is a marvelous invention. It allows us instant access to information. It enables us to instantly and inexpensively communicate to friends and family across the country or around the world. We can access news, sermons, music, and devotionals of every sort.
On the Internet, we can build social networks and connect with the daily lives of our friends and family. We can access blogging sites and gain information from and endless list of sources.
But we've learned we can't always trust the Internet. We know that we can’t with confidence say “It must be true because I saw it on the Internet.” The Internet is a constant source of mis-information. Emails forwarded to multiple addresses multiple times perpetuate urban legends and fabrication. Wikipedia is no longer considered a reliable research source because anyone can insert information on Wikipedia.
And we’re all familiar with the very serious and increasingly pervasive problem of internet pornography which is destroying careers, marriages, and personal lives of both men and women.
But here’s another issue. Rudeness and lack of civility. I follow several periodicals that make their content available on email. Some of these content distributors also allow readers to blog, or add their own comments or reaction to those articles.
Internet anonymity removes inhibitions. And what appalls me is the how the anonymity provided by the Web gives people the boldness to be totally rude, un-civil, unkind, and un-Christian. It’s great we’re giving people a voice. But what that amounts to is that it’s attracting hateful people who use the web blog in a way that is angry, crude and hurtful.
Recently a widely read Christian magazine featured an article on a well-known ministry who with wisdom and courage conducted a thorough survey on their own effectiveness in achieving their goal of spiritual growth in their members. What they found revealed they were missing the mark and their people were not maturing into Christ-centered believers.
This ministry had to courage and humility to reveal the results and announce their commitment to make adjustments in their approach to ministry. Some readers responded on the magazine’s blog with accusations, finger-pointing, strongly-worded, judgmental criticism. Rather than commend this ministry for their humility and courage, they piled on the unkind, destructive and hurtful diatribe.
The popularity of the web and the anonymity it provides may all contribute to this unhealthy environment. I see it in some of the email that comes to my in-box as well.
Well, whether we’re speaking one-on-one, face to face; or whether we’re making anonymous comments on a blog, we need to remember the Biblical exhortation to kindness, gentleness and self-control. Speaking the truth. Absolutely. But always speaking truth…with love.
Influence Culture
Over the centuries, the church has been taken mixed postures in how we relate to our culture. Jesus taught we are of necessity “in the world” but not of necessity “of the world.” As J.B. Philips effectively translates Romans 12:2, we’re not to “let the world squeeze you into its mold.”
On my commentary this week, I quoted Andy Crouch from his book Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling. Crouch points out various postures Christians have taken regarding our culture: condemnation, critique, consumerism, and copying. We can’t just stand back in a condemnatory posture. By doing so, we alienate those we are trying to reach. But if we only consume or copy culture, we lose our calling to be salt and light.
Crouch recommends a posture of cultivation and creation: nourishing the best in our culture and creating things that have never been done before. We at Moody Radio can do that. We’ve called ourselves to help listeners unpack today’s issues from the Biblical world-view. We can affirm the good things in our world. And we can create positive, innovative content that can help people connect with our Message.
I don’t want us to become so taken with the evils of the world that we neglect the great positive, life-changing truth of God’s word. As we move to more talk about issues, it cannot be at the expense of our main calling to point people to Christ, the living Word, and the Bible, God’s written word.
Paul, the Apostle, said it perfectly. “Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
On my commentary this week, I quoted Andy Crouch from his book Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling. Crouch points out various postures Christians have taken regarding our culture: condemnation, critique, consumerism, and copying. We can’t just stand back in a condemnatory posture. By doing so, we alienate those we are trying to reach. But if we only consume or copy culture, we lose our calling to be salt and light.
Crouch recommends a posture of cultivation and creation: nourishing the best in our culture and creating things that have never been done before. We at Moody Radio can do that. We’ve called ourselves to help listeners unpack today’s issues from the Biblical world-view. We can affirm the good things in our world. And we can create positive, innovative content that can help people connect with our Message.
I don’t want us to become so taken with the evils of the world that we neglect the great positive, life-changing truth of God’s word. As we move to more talk about issues, it cannot be at the expense of our main calling to point people to Christ, the living Word, and the Bible, God’s written word.
Paul, the Apostle, said it perfectly. “Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
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