By Pat Harrison, Founder & President

Fear has no place in a believer’s life because perfect love casts out fear. God is perfect (complete) love. And when we accept God’s love, fear cannot stay in our lives.

The devil will bring thoughts of fear, but we should not allow any fearful thought or insecurity to take root in our lives and become a stronghold that hinders us from the abundant life promised by Jesus.

By Buddy Harrison, Co-Founder

Third John 2 says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

The blessings of financial prosperity come to us as our soul—our mind, will, and emotions—prosper.

To come into the fullness of what God has for us, our minds must be renewed to the Word of God on a daily basis. (See 1 Cor. 2:6-16 and Phil. 2:5.) With minds renewed, we are able to move into God’s plan and understand His way and His purposes.

By Lonnie Hilton, National Director and International Vice President

We live in an individualistic, consumer-based culture where the customer is always right and “It's all about me!” A tragic issue arises when the church is viewed through the same eye of consumerism. Too often, too many people view the church as a place to go on Sunday where their needs will be met in a building designed to please them aesthetically, with programs and music they like, and preaching centered on seeing that they have a comfortable life.

By Jon Coats, Youth Coordinator

Have you ever felt stuck or frustrated because it seems as if your youth ministry isn’t going anywhere or producing any fruit? After all, you spend all week working hard at your secular job, caring for your family, and handling all your business. You not only committed to being a faithful church member, you also committed to overseeing the youth ministry. You may be blessed with a volunteer or two who, if he or she shows up on time, will help you with the youth. You go out of your way to plan special meetings, activities and trips that will engage and encourage the youth. But it seems as if the youth couldn’t care less about your “sacrifice.” Sometimes they show up, and sometimes they don’t. You begin to ask yourself, “Why can’t people be responsible and communicate?  Why is everything up to me?” Maybe you’ve never faced these situations, but for the rest of us it can be a weekly struggle.

By Arden C. Autry, PhD

“Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

Luke 18:1 (NIV)

It’s unusual to be told the meaning of a parable before the parable itself. But that’s not the only unusual feature of the parable known as “The Unjust Judge” or “The Persistent Widow” (Luke 18:1-8). The description of the unjust judge as a man who “neither feared God nor cared about men” (18:2) is a jolting contrast to God. Then, at the end of the parable, Jesus’ question turns our minds in a surprising direction.

By Gail Buse, International Ambassador

Since the summer of 1975, I have been traveling overseas in missions. I still experience the same challenge, regardless of how many trips I have taken: summarizing a trip so that others can see its divine impact and value.

The world thinks in terms of numbers and dollars. It measures success by a numerical standard. But how do we measure the success of a ministry trip? How can one measure the lives that are changed and transformed by the power of God and His Word? It can’t be just about numbers, for we are talking about fruit that is eternal and that remains.