Church Leadership Archives - Stand Up For The Truth Podcast

Todd Nettleton is the Director of Media and Public Relations for The Voice of the Martyrs and host of VOM Radio. Todd serves as a voice for persecuted Christians, working with the media to tell people in the United States about the faithfulness of Christ’s followers in 60+ nations where they face persecution for wearing His name.

During 17 years of service at VOM, Todd has traveled the world to interview hundreds of Christians who’ve endured persecution in more than 20 nations. He has been interviewed more than 2,250 times by various media outlets, including CNN, The Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, the BBC, Moody Broadcast Network, Christian Broadcasting Network, Newsweek, The Voice of America, Mission Network News and Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Todd and his wife, Charlotte, have two college-aged sons. In his spare time, Todd enjoys reading, writing, music, travel and sports, including serving as commissioner of a fantasy football league. In 2015 he ran his first half-marathon.

In spite of all the violence in America, and a growing hatred for God and His Word, we are still very blessed as Christians to be Americans because of the religious freedoms we have.  That could be changing. But we have not yet suffered to the point of torture or death for our faith in Jesus Christ.

The same cannot be said for millions of Christians suffering around the world, whose very freedom and life are in danger because of their faith in Jesus Christ.  Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs joins us to look at our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who remain faithful to Jesus despite imprisonment, torture and even martyrdom.   Will we be as faithful to Christ if and when it comes to our shores?

Fascinating stories shared by Todd Nettleton on today’s podcast:

2. I travelled to KENYA last month to interview one of the first (maybe the very first) ethnic Somali to become a follower of Christ. Quite an amazing story of how he came to Christ 50 years ago…and the persecution he’s endured since then, including from his own family, but also the amazing ministry of planting 22 churches!

3. Met this week with Susanna Koh, the wife of Pastor Raymond Koh, who was abducted in MALAYSIA more than two years ago and has not been seen or heard from since then. A couple of updates on their story:

4. NEPAL: Nepal changed the law in 2017 saying that foreigners involved in converting people would be sentenced to five years in prison. Now, a South Korean Christian has been arrested and charged under that new law. He was released to go to the hospital…but could be facing five years in prison.

5. SYRIA: Great story in our August VOM magazine about a brother in Syria who was kidnapped for being a Christian—even though he wasn’t a follower of Christ! He was born into a “Christian” family, then kidnapped and held for ransom. But through that experience he truly met Jesus…and is now following Christ and serving Him!

6. ERITREA: Please keep praying for Eritrea! There was a wave of arrests of Christians in June, with as many as 500 Christians being taken into custody. This even after the “peace agreement” between Ethiopia and Eritrea last year that was supposedly going to produce better human rights situation for Eritreans…

7. TURKEY: Interesting story about laying the foundation stone for the first new church building in Turkey in more than 100  years. Of course it is for the Orthodox community and NOT a church for Muslim converts, but it is a significant thing, and even the president of Turkey was there for the occasion. Hard to know right now if this is PR or if this represents a true change in the government’s treatment of traditional Christian communities there.

The post Would You Give Up Your Life for Christ? Persecution Update appeared first on Stand Up For The Truth Podcast.

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Parents really have their work cut out for them today. Christian kids need a solid foundation of truth and a biblical worldview. Unless things change, things will only grow worse for our nation and the Church in America.

Dr. Mark Eckel of Ratio Christi Ministries joins Mike and David for a discussion on how to reach people with truth from Scripture when many are seeking answers in all the wrong places.

Check out weekly two-minute videos at Comenius Institute.

The post Apathy or Apologetics: What Can Christians Do? appeared first on Stand Up For The Truth Podcast.

How can we know for sure that the Bible is true?  Pastor Jeff Solwold of Calvary Chapel in Madison, Wisconsin joins us to share how we can know and trust the truth God has given us in His Word.  You can hear Pastor Solwold’s teachings at 5am weekdays on our flagship station, Q90 FM.

In our final segment we talk about how the liberal media, whether it be television or social media, can no longer be trusted to report actual news and have all fallen into camps of propaganda for their political and cultural biases.

The post Affirming the Truth of God’s Word appeared first on Stand Up For The Truth Podcast.

In our first segment we are joined by James Hirsen, a media analyst and best-selling author who discusses how much of corporate America is selling out to a radical left-wing agenda.

The post Don’t Buy the “Media Spin” About a “Kinder, Gentler” Socialism appeared first on Stand Up For The Truth Podcast.

Mike and David are joined by Julaine Appling of Wisconsin family Action to discuss an exciting new initiative they have to help pastors get to know our government representatives, pray for them, and help them when controversial, difficult moral issues arise.

In our final segments we look at a few news items including a Christian organization that believes the social justice movement infiltrating the church is the greatest single threat to sharing the gospel, and more intolerance from liberals who claim they are all about tolerance. We also look at some Prosperity Gospel preachers who wear $40,000 watches; is it wrong and if not, where do you draw the line?

The post Shouldn’t the Church Influence Government? appeared first on Stand Up For The Truth Podcast.

Rev. White is the founder and CEO of Dispensational Publishing House. He also teaches Bible online through Randy White Ministries, and pastors the Taos (NM) First Baptist Church. Rev. White hosts an excellent Thursday evening Bible Study online that you can do here.

[NEW BOOK!] The Bible Graphically Presented

Dr. White’s Ask the Theologian broadcast

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The attacks on the validity and truth of the Bible have become more common and intense. How can we know that the Bible is the Word of God and answer the charges of skeptics?

Pastor Randy White joins Mike and David for a look at the history of the Bible and how we can confront false accusations about it with truth.

1 Peter 3:15 states:

“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

This requires that we we know God’s Word as well as trust God’s Word.

Romans 15:4 states:

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. Romans 3:2

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son,i]">[i] with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:16-21

The post How The Bible Came to Be appeared first on Stand Up For The Truth Podcast.

Today we take another look at the state of Christianity in America and discuss the real hostility and discrimination against believers in Christ, as well as the possibility the gospel may soon be banned in our nation.  We discuss the so-called Equality Act and its threat to Bible-believing Christians, and explain how the church itself has practically opened the door to welcome discrimination against God’s truth and the gospel. Why? Because we want to be loved by a world that hates Jesus and His Word.

How can Christians fight this coming persecution?  What happens if that battle is lost?  Is Christian persecution God’s way of separating the wheat from the chaff?

Your comments are welcome! [email protected]

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:17-20

ARTICLES

US Pastor Formerly Imprisoned in Turkey Concerned About ‘Growing Hostility’ Toward Christianity in America

“I’m really astounded at the speed with which I think the U.S. is imploding,” he stated. “There are any number of issues where it seems that it’s no longer enough for a person of faith to get along with, or to serve, or to treat well someone they disagree with.”

“I think that [within] the political business, media, celebrity class, and also academia, it seems that there’s much more of a demand that people of faith approve of, that they validate, that they celebrate things that they actually disagree with,” Brunson lamented.

Petition Launched After Amazon Pulls a Number of Books About Leaving Homosexuality

Amazon pulled a number of books on leaving homosexuality — some that could be considered “conversion therapy” books and others that were simply writings from those who were delivered from homosexuality by the power of Jesus Christ.

LGBTQ activist: “[Some of] these were books were lying to parents on how they could cure their children from being gay or trans. It’s lying because it’s actually just a form of abuse,”

FAQs: What Christians Should Know About the Equality Act

The Equality Act would amend two landmark civil-rights laws—the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act—to change the definition of “sex.” Instead of the term being solely in reference to biological men and women, it would also cover sexual orientation or gender identity for the purposes of employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, education, and federal programs.

According to the bill, the term “sexual orientation” means homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality, and “gender identity” means the gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual’s designated sex at birth.

Anti-Christian Bias, Unequal Outcomes in ‘Equality Act’

Have No Fear!

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.“ Matthew 10:26-33

The post Is Christian Persecution in America Just Around the Corner? appeared first on Stand Up For The Truth Podcast.

We’re joined by Pastor Carl Gallups today as we try to look at today’s news from a biblical perspective, and try to see how all that is happening around us fits into God’s plan for the world. His latest book is Gods of Ground Zero.

Pastor Carl Gallups joins Mike and David to discuss an article from the Christian Post speculating on what healthy American Churches will look like ten years from now. We start our discussion on this topic assuming we will not yet face open persecution for our Christian beliefs ten years from now.  What kind of changes will we see in strong Christian churches in America?

We also discuss how the country has changed over the past 40 years.  In 1980, after the U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey team upset the powerful Russians, goalie Jim Craig draped himself in the American flag and cried as he sang our national anthem.  This month the Megan Rapinoe-led team cursed President Trump, disrespected the flag, and made sure a Christian player was kicked off the team because she did not agree to wear an LGBT ‘Gay Pride’ jersey.

Lastly, we look at the growing tensions and alliances in the Middle East as nations start to come together against Israel, just as the Word of God warns us.  Could war break out any day?

Article discussed: Healthy Churches in 2029: 10 major changes in 10 years

The post What Will the Church in America Look like in Ten Years? appeared first on Stand Up For The Truth Podcast.

President/CEO of Ratio Christi

Growing up in Utah as a sixth generation Mormon, Corey came to Christ in 1988 and he has since been a youth and college pastor, a Bible college and university professor, campus minister, lecturer, and first and foremost an evangelist. From 2009-15 he served on staff with Cru’s Faculty Commons ministry at Purdue. He is an Adjunct Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions at Indiana University-Kokomo. He is variously published in journals. He is co-author of Leaving Mormonism: Why Four Scholars Changed their Minds (2017), co-editor of Is Faith in God Reasonable? Debates in Philosophy, Science, and Rhetoric (2014), and author of Moses, Maimonides, and Thomas Aquinas on the Good Life: From the Fall to Human Perfectibility (forthcoming 2018). He holds masters degrees in philosophy, biblical studies, and in philosophy of religion and ethics. His PhD is in philosophical theology from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Miller lives with his wife Melinda and three children in Indiana. He is passionate about defending and proclaiming the truth of the Gospel in winsome and bold ways.

Mike and David also look at a perspective on persecution from David Curry, President of Open Doors, USA.  Mr. Curry admonishes the American Church for being enamored with entertainment while our Christian brothers and sisters around the world face imprisonment, torture and even death fore their faith in Jesus Christ.  Are we as a church detached from our suffering family in Christ? By ignoring the reality of Christian persecution will we be unprepared for it when it increases in America?

Finally, we take a look at conflicting polls about support for abortion. What is the truth?

The post Are We Prepared? appeared first on Stand Up For The Truth Podcast.