The Passing of a Hero
We're writing today to honor the legacy of a true hero of the faith, but first, we felt it was important to share this quick encouragement:
The last year has been a challenging season for many of us and we know that many of you have experienced real challenges and heartbreak.
For those of you who are struggling, we want to tell you that we love you, we’re thankful for you, and YOU’RE NOT ALONE.
On the night before Jesus willingly went to His death, He prayed for US - passionately and urgently:
“My prayer is not for them [my current disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” [John 17:20-23]
As followers of Jesus it is our privilege to stand together, love each other, and pray for each other. We don’t always get it right, but based on these words of Jesus, we should certainly be trying.
Because of Jesus, no matter what we're facing, we can take comfort in the fact that we have brothers and sisters who are in this with us, whether we can see it clearly or not.
Jesus loves you, friends, and you're not alone.
This month - in the midst of this challenging season - we witnessed the passing of a hero of ours:
The great evangelist Luis Palau went home to be with Jesus on Thursday, March 11.
As part of the Palau “Next Generation Alliance” our ministry has been strongly impacted by Luis’ legacy. His commitment to help emerging evangelists opened doors for us to reach a large number of people over the last eight years and his life was a true inspiration to us.
In Luis’ final hours, he wrote a note to his friends and family encouraging them to not give up in their pursuit of Jesus and their mission to share His message with the world. This is a short excerpt:
“My time here on earth is done. God is good. I have no major regrets.
There is nothing better than serving Him and sharing His Good News Gospel…
I believe the Word of God and am eager to finish the race. I see the finish line right before me.
And will win the prize God pointed me toward and offered up to me.
But please, if you are to be impressed by anything about me or my life, then be impressed with this . . . .
I’m not all that special. I simply obeyed. I gave it my all.
Praise the Lord . . . He loves to use weak people like me to bring glory to Himself.
This has to encourage you! And it’s the truth!
If I could challenge you in one way right now . . .
as I face eternity and you continue on . . . it would be this:
Never let the fire of evangelism fade. Stand strong for the Gospel!
There is nothing better to put your life toward. A life poured out for the Gospel.
For His glory.
As our son Andrew so often quotes,
we are joining with God in rescuing those being led away to death.
Holding back those staggering toward slaughter (Proverbs 24:11).
It’s a glorious endeavor…”
We honor the legacy of Luis Palau, a hero of the faith, and we hope his words are an encouragement to you.
We also want to do our best to take up his challenge.
After a busy month in the studio (we can’t WAIT to share the new music with you!) we’re getting ready to head to Zambia, Africa in the next few days for our first major international event in more than a year.
Everything we do - from music and video production to national and international travel - is driven by one purpose: to share the love and message of Jesus with as many people as possible around the world, and as we prepare for Zambia and continue our production process we would love and appreciate your prayer for a few things!
1) Please pray for GRACE and WISDOM as we travel, and for a huge RESPONSE to the message of Jesus in Africa - international travel has become much more challenging, but we believe that God has called us to go and we can't wait to watch Him move!
2) Please pray for complete PROVISION for the Zambia event, and for our upcoming music production costs as we head to Nashville next month for mixing and mastering
3) Please pray for CREATIVITY, EXCELLENCE, and FAVOR in the studio - we’re praying that the new music would impact many people around the world, and introduce them to Jesus in a loving, authentic, and creative way.
Thank you again for your love and support friends - we love you and we’re immeasurably thankful for each one of you!