The Purpose of Suffering: Why God Allows Persecution

Hello, friends, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus.

Today, I want to talk about something that weighs heavily on my heart—something that comes up again and again as I've learned about the persecuted church and prayed for the lost around the world.

It's the question of suffering.

Why does God allow His people to suffer? Why does persecution exist? And what are we supposed to do with these realities in our comfortable Western lives?

These aren't easy questions, but they're important ones. So let's explore them together today.

First, let me be clear about what the Bible says. Scripture tells us repeatedly that if we follow Christ, we will suffer. This isn't a maybe. It's not a possibility. It's a promise.

Listen to these words from Jesus Himself in Matthew 5:10-12:

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

In John 15:18-20, Jesus said:

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you."

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-11:

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."

And perhaps most directly, in 2 Timothy 3:12:

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

So the question isn't whether Christians will suffer. The question is: Why?

Jesus tells us that we will be persecuted. But listen carefully to the reason: Because in no other act of a human being is God's love shown more profoundly.

Jesus was the ultimate martyr. He gave His life for us, and He tells us time and again that we must be willing to do the same for others. And that is exactly what Christians are doing all over the world right now—today, in this very moment.

Think about this: As people willingly sacrifice their lives—not just through death, but also through other types of loss and persecution—those around them see a God who is worth giving everything for.

When they see Christians give everything for God, they begin to believe that God loves them and will give everything for them.

Actions speak louder than words, don't they? When people see Christians who are bold in their belief, who desire to tell others about Christ even at the risk of persecution, unbelievers often want to know more.

Paul himself said in Philippians 1:14: "Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly."

Here's something remarkable that history has proven time and again: The Christian Church grows through persecution.

There's an ancient saying that has stood the test of time: "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."

God is glorified when people see that faith in Him is worth losing everything on this earth—even life itself. This isn't theoretical, friends. We're seeing it happen right now in places like Iran, China, and across the 10/40 Window. The more Christians are persecuted, the more the church grows.

Now, let me interject some thoughts about America at this point.

Right now, there is much concern about the future of our nation—morally and financially. Many Christians are worried, anxious, looking at the changes around us with fear.

But I want to challenge that perspective. I don't think we, as Christians, should be worried and concerned, or look on potential hardship as entirely bad.

Listen to what Robert E. Coleman wrote: "The Church should not fear affliction, though it causes anguish and even death. Suffering may be necessary to convince us that we do not live by bread alone. When received as an expression of God's trust, our suffering can be a means of helping us comprehend more of the love of Christ, 'who suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps' (1 Peter 2:21)."

Without hardship, probably few of us would learn much about the deeper life of grace. We all know this is true in our own lives, don't we? When we go through difficult times, it draws us closer to the Lord.

Think about your own life. When have you grown the most spiritually? Probably during your hardest seasons.

So maybe—just maybe—God has more difficult times ahead for the Church in America in order to draw her closer to Him and purify her for greater works as we anticipate the return, someday, of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In addition to persecution and suffering drawing the non-believer and us closer to the Lord, it helps to keep in mind that we are in a spiritual battle.

The Church doesn't talk about this as much as it used to. Remember the old hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers"? But just because we don't talk about it doesn't mean the battle isn't being waged.

Satan hates us. This is a spiritual battle first and foremost.

Ephesians 6:12 says: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

This battle is greater than any other battle on earth. And unlike any earthly war, it's a battle not just for freedom on earth but freedom from Hell and Satan for eternity.

Jesus gave us a profound picture of this in John 12:24-25:

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."

Friends, this is the paradox of the Kingdom. Death produces life. Sacrifice produces fruit. Suffering produces glory.

Now, let me be completely honest with you. I write all this fully aware that I have never suffered on the scale that many are suffering today.

I haven't been imprisoned for my faith. I haven't watched my church building burned down. I haven't lost family members to martyrdom. I haven't been beaten for preaching the Gospel.

I pray that when suffering comes in my life—and Jesus promised it will—I will be reminded of all of God's promises that He will be with me and will give me the strength to endure.

I share all this with the belief that we, as a Church, need to be mindful of those who suffer. We need to:

Pray for them. Consistently, fervently, specifically. Pray for Pastor Son Hyun-bo in South Korea. Pray for the underground church in China. Pray for believers in North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria. Pray by name when you can.

Do all we can to help them. Support organizations like Voice of the Martyrs. Write letters to imprisoned believers. Advocate for religious freedom. Give financially to help persecuted Christians.

Be prepared for suffering ourselves. As much as we can be. Because if persecution comes to America—and increasingly, it seems it might—will we be ready? Will we stand firm? Or will we compromise?

And here's the promise we hold onto. Romans 5:3-5 tells us:

"Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Suffering isn't wasted. It produces something beautiful in us. It creates perseverance—the ability to keep going when everything in us wants to quit. It builds character—the depth of soul that only comes through fire. And it births hope—a confident expectation that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He'll do.

Friends, this life is so short compared to eternity!

If we are asked to suffer so that Christ will be glorified and so that other people will not suffer for eternity in Hell, shouldn't we be willing to obey?

Think about it: What's 20, 40, 60, even 80 years of difficulty compared to eternity? What's losing everything on earth compared to gaining everything in Heaven?

This isn't just theological theory. Right now, there are believers around the world making this calculation and choosing Christ. Choosing to risk everything. Choosing to lose everything. And they're doing it joyfully because they know the math works out—eternity with Jesus is worth any temporary suffering.

So here's my question for you today: Are you willing?

Are you willing to suffer if God calls you to it? Are you willing to sacrifice comfort, reputation, safety, even life itself for the sake of the Gospel?

I'm not asking if you think you could do it. I'm asking if you're willing.

Because willingness is what God is looking for. He'll provide the strength when the moment comes. But we have to be willing.

So what do we do with all this?

First, examine your heart. Are you living a safe Christianity or a sacrificial one? Are you protecting your comfort or pursuing God's glory?

Second, learn from the persecuted church. Read their stories. Study their faith. Let their courage inspire yours.

Third, pray for a willing heart. Pray the prayer: "Lord, I'm willing to be made willing."

Fourth, start small. Begin sharing your faith more boldly. Stand up for truth even when it's uncomfortable. Practice sacrificial living in small ways so you'll be ready for big moments.

Fifth, keep the eternal perspective. When life gets hard, when following Jesus costs you something, remember: this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Friends, I don't know what God has in store for America, for South Korea, for any of us individually. I don't know if we'll face the kind of persecution our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world face.

But I do know this: God is worthy. He's worthy of our lives. He's worthy of our suffering. He's worthy of everything we have and everything we are.

Heavenly Father, help Your Church be willing to give it all. May we be willing to be that seed that falls to the ground and dies—that's when we see the harvest. That's when multiplication happens. That's when the Kingdom advances. May we be a Church that doesn't shrink back from suffering but embraces it as a gift—a terrible, painful, precious gift that allows us to participate in Your sufferings Lord Jesus Christ and see Your glory revealed through our weakness. In Your name, Lord Jesus, amen. 

Thank you for joining me in this difficult but necessary conversation today. I pray it has challenged you, encouraged you, and prepared you for whatever God has ahead.

Until next time, keep your eyes on the nations, remember those who are suffering, and hold loosely to this life—because eternity is coming, and Jesus is worth it all.

Episode Description:

Why does God allow His people to suffer? If we follow Christ, the Bible promises persecution—but understanding the "why" changes everything. Discover how suffering displays God's love most profoundly, how persecution actually causes the church to grow ("the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church"), and why America's potential hardships might be exactly what the Church needs to draw closer to God. This vulnerable, honest conversation explores what it means to be willing to suffer for Christ, how to support the persecuted church, and why this short life of potential suffering is worth it for eternity. Are you willing to be that seed that falls to the ground and dies so others might live?

Listen to this on my podcast at Spotify podcast

Wake Up Church: The Battle is Real

Hello, friends, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus.

Today, I need to have a sobering conversation with you. Things are changing rapidly—both in America and around the world. Many Christians are concerned, wondering what the future will hold for us and our children. Anxiety can quickly set in.

Or maybe you're one of my friends in South Korea right now, where something alarming is happening. Religious freedom—something they have long taken for granted—is being threatened in ways they never imagined.

Yes, we need to pray for our respective governments, for wisdom and for Godly guidance. But things may not change. In fact, they may get worse.

This shouldn't worry us when we remind ourselves that God is in complete control.

So what do we pray for?

I believe one of our overriding prayers, as Christians, in all the change around us should be that the Church in America, South Korea, and throughout the prosperous parts of the world will wake up to the spiritual warfare that is being waged around her.

We have been lulled to a peacetime mentality for too long by the prosperity of our countries. But Jesus and Paul and others said time and again that we are at war!

Listen to these verses:

• 2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight"
• 1 Timothy 6:12 - "Fight the good fight of faith"
• Ephesians 6:12 - "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness"
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh

The Christian Church is in a global war much worse than World War II, and it stretches to every town, village, and home. Its casualties don't just lose an arm or leg but their very souls to eternal damnation!

May we wake up, out of our peacetime living, and wage this warfare on behalf of our Lord and Savior!

Let me tell you what's happening right now in South Korea—a country that was once called "the Jerusalem of the East," a country that sends the second-most missionaries out into the world, a country with six of the ten largest Christian churches in the world.

On September 8, 2025, Pastor Son Hyun-bo, the 63-year-old leader of Segero Church in Busan—one of South Korea's largest congregations with over 4,000 weekly attendees—was arrested and imprisoned by the South Korean government.

His crime? Preaching from the pulpit. Organizing prayer rallies. Daring to address moral issues like Biblical marriage in his sermons.

This is a man who transformed a dying church of 20 members into a thriving megachurch that baptizes over 1,000 new believers annually. A former Special Forces soldier who was beaten for his Christian faith but evangelized his entire platoon. A man who has served the same church for over 30 years.

The government claims he violated election laws by interviewing a political candidate and organizing "Save Korea" prayer rallies. They called him a "flight risk"—a man who has lived openly in Busan for three decades, cooperated with investigations, and left all his sermons publicly online!

Just two days before his arrest, Pastor Son had met with Charlie Kirk at a "Build Up Korea" event.

Friends, this isn't an isolated incident. Since June 2025, when Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party was elected president, there has been a systematic campaign of persecution against Christian pastors and political opponents.

In October 2024, over one million Christians gathered for the "1027 United Korean Church Worship" rally, defending their values: freedom of worship, opposition to same-sex marriage, and protection against anti-discrimination bills that would muzzle preaching about Biblical sexuality.

The government is responding with raids on churches, arrests of pastors, and what many are calling a calculated assault on religious liberty cloaked in the language of "election law violations."

Now, you might be thinking, "That's terrible, but at least we have religious freedom here in America.” Right?

Wrong, I need to tell you—the same erosion is happening here, just in different ways.

In 2024 alone, according to the Family Research Council, 383 churches in America suffered 415 separate attacks—including vandalism, arson, shootings, and bomb threats. That's down slightly from 485 incidents in 2023, but compare that to 2021 when only 98 churches were targeted.

The attacks are most frequent in California (40 incidents), Pennsylvania (29), New York (25), Florida (25), and Texas (23).

And in our schools—the battleground is intensifying. Prayer in schools has long been restricted, but now there's growing debate about any religious expression at all. Christian students face pushback for sharing their faith. Christian teachers are told they cannot express their beliefs.

Just recently, intense controversy erupted over whether states can require public schools to display the Ten Commandments or teach Bible-based curriculum. The battle lines are being drawn over what role, if any, Christianity should have in American public life.

Back to our complacency - Christians used to be aware of and wholeheartedly join in the battle for men's souls. Look at the hymnals of old—"Onward Christian Soldiers," "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus." We sent missionaries by the boatful and lived lives of meeting basic needs rather than wanting more and more!

But America, South Korea, and other prosperous nations have become like the third soil in Jesus' parable of the soils. Jesus sows His urgent seed—the Word of God. But instead of taking it up as our sword and bearing fruit, we "are those who hear the Word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful" (Mark 4:18-19).

I'm convicted as I look at just the wealth that Jeff and I have accumulated at the expense of sending more of the money God has blessed us with overseas, where souls are being won or lost for Christ. How many people's lives could have been touched for just the cost of the pretty things I have sitting on my shelves?

Yes, changes in our countries are starting to light some fires under Christians. But shouldn't fires have been lit already when we saw the atrocities Satan has undertaken in this world time and again over the past few decades?

AIDS orphans. The genocide in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and most recently Nigeria. Persecution in China and Iran. The horrific October 7 slaughter of Jews at the hands of Hamas. North Korea, where Christians are the enemy of the state, where three South Korean missionaries are currently serving life sentences simply for sharing the gospel.

The list goes on and on. 3.2 billion unreached people. Muslims with less than 5 missionaries per million Muslims. Women and young girls sold into sexual slavery.

So, my number one prayer, more than anything else, is that God would use the rapid changes in this world to get Christians on their knees.

And I suspect that as Christians pray fervently, their prayers will change from:

"Lord, preserve the prosperity and richness of this nation and my lifestyle"

To:

"Lord, may Your will be done. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. May the Gospel be preached to the ends of the earth to glorify Your name and save people, just like me, from Hell."

Yes, I am concerned. But it's for the soul of the Church.

May we turn our hearts, minds, and pocketbooks over to the Lord. May we be willing to tithe—even fast—the "American Dream" for the thousands of unreached people groups in the 10/40 Window, for the persecuted church in South Korea and around the world, for the trafficked children, for those trapped in slavery.

May concern for the glory of Christ and love for His people change America and South Korea and any other home country of my listeners,  back to countries with God as our foundation—truly!

So what do we do?

Pray for South Korea: Pray for Pastor Son Hyun-bo and other imprisoned pastors. Pray for the one million Christians standing up for religious freedom. Pray that God would turn back this tide of persecution.

Pray for America: Pray for our churches under attack. Pray for Christian students and teachers facing increasing restrictions. Pray for a spiritual awakening that makes these battles worth fighting.

Wake up to the real war: We're not fighting a culture war or a political war. We're fighting for eternal souls. Every day, thousands slip into eternity without Christ. That's the real emergency.

Simplify your life: Ask God what you need to let go of—what comfortable thing you're clinging to—so you can invest more in His Kingdom.

Support the persecuted church: Organizations like Voice of the Martyrs, Remember Those and Open Doors provide ways to stand with our suffering brothers and sisters.

Support missions: Especially to the unreached. That's where Satan is fighting hardest to keep people in darkness.

Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil... praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication."

The armor is for warfare. The prayer is for battle. This is not peacetime Christianity!

The Church in South Korea is under attack. The Church in America is under attack. But more than that—3 billion souls are still in darkness, unreached, unloved, untold about Jesus.

This is the battle. This is the war. And we cannot afford to sleep through it any longer.

Will you wake up? Will you join the fight? Will you pray as if souls depend on it—because they do?

You, my friends listening to this podcast—you are the prayer warriors whose prayers will help bring this to pass!

Heavenly Father, we admit that the prosperity of our nations has lulled us to sleep. But You are using these difficult times to shake us awake. Please help us not to waste this moment. May we not let anxiety or fear paralyze us. Instead, may it drive us to our knees. Let it break our hearts for what breaks Yours. You are worthy of it all! In Jesus’ name, amen, 

When the Church wakes up, when we remember we're in a war for souls, when we're willing to sacrifice our comfort for His glory—that's when revival comes. That's when nations are transformed. That's when the Gospel advances to the ends of the earth.

Thank you for joining me today. I know this was heavy, but it's truth we need to hear. May we remember that Jesus is coming back for us. The question is: how many will we bring with us? Until next time, keep your eyes on the nations, stand firm in the battle, and never forget—we win in the end.

News Sources Referenced:

• Bitter Winter (bitterwinter.org)
• The Daily Wire
• The Washington Stand
• CBN News
• International Christian Concern (persecution.com)
• Family Research Council
• ZENIT News
• Various religious liberty organizations

Listen to this on my podcast at Spotify podcast

A Fire is Burning: Gen Z Revival

Hello, friends, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus.

Today, I have some incredibly exciting news to share with you—news that should make every believer's heart leap with joy! After our last episode about prayer and moving the hand of God, I want to show you what God is doing right now, in this moment, in response to the prayers of His people.

Something remarkable is happening in America. A fire is burning. And it's burning brightest among the generation many had written off as the "least religious generation"—Gen Z.

Let me share some stunning statistics with you that came out just this year.

According to the Barna Group's 2025 State of the Church project, which surveyed over 130,000 adults over twenty-five years, we're witnessing what may be a turning point for American Christianity.

Since 2019, the proportion of Gen Z men who say they have made a personal commitment to follow Jesus has risen by 15 percent. Millennial men? Up by 19 percent!

And here's what's absolutely remarkable: As of 2025, 43 percent of men report attending church weekly, compared with 36 percent of women. This completely reverses the long-standing pattern of female leadership in religious participation.

Young men—the very demographic that culture told us were "toxic" and hopeless—are flooding back to Christ!

But that's not all. Listen to this:

Bible sales in the United States surged 22 percent in 2024 compared to 2023! That's 13.7 million Bibles sold in just the first ten months of 2024, up from 9.7 million in all of 2019. And while total print book sales only increased by less than 1 percent, Bibles are flying off the shelves!

And friends, here's what's most exciting: Many of these buyers are first-time purchasers. People who've never owned a Bible before are walking into bookstores and saying, "I need one."

The American Bible Society reports that 44 percent of Gen Z adults say they are curious about Jesus and the Bible, and 21 percent say they've increased their use of Scripture in the last year.

This generation is hungry—desperately hungry—for truth, for meaning, for something solid to stand on.

And now, let me tell you what's happening on college campuses across America.

Picture this: 8,000 college students packed into an arena. Not to watch basketball. Not for a concert. But for baptisms.

Hundreds stepped into portable baptismal tanks while their friends cheered. Five hundred professed faith in Christ that night alone. This happened at the University of Tennessee just weeks ago.

The Unite US revival movement, which began at Auburn University two years ago, has now spread to more than 20 college campuses nationwide.

But here's a story that really captures what's happening. Just this past week, CBN News reported on something extraordinary at East Carolina University—one of the country's top party schools.

At the Kappa Sigma fraternity house—not exactly where you'd expect a prayer meeting—they held what they called a "Night of Hope."

Instead of the typical Friday night party, scores of young students gathered to listen to the Gospel. Evangelist Doug Elks shared John 3:16 and Romans 5:8 with them: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

The night featured testimonies from Christian athletes, including ECU baseball player Parker Byrd, who lost his leg in a boating accident and went on to play Division 1 baseball. He told the crowd, "I had a total of 22 surgeries in 45 days. Obviously, I had my right leg amputated below the knee... honestly, a lot of you guys are probably like, 'man that's awful,' but it's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

He explained that before losing his leg, he lived as a lukewarm Christian. "It took till the accident to open my eyes to see what God could do with my life," he said. 

At least 10 young men went forward during the altar call, and another 50 or so prayed with the evangelist. Former ECU baseball player Carter Cunningham prayed, "Oh Lord, I do believe there's a revival going on in our generation, that can be led right here through ECU, through the students... Lord, I just pray You can give them the boldness to proclaim Your name."

And at least two other fraternities have already reached out about holding a Night of Hope at their frat houses as well!

If this can happen in a frat house, it can happen anywhere!

So what's happening? Why is this generation—after decades of decline—suddenly turning back to Christ?

I believe several things are converging:

First, they're exhausted. For decades, secular culture has told young men their masculinity is toxic. They've told young women that marriage and motherhood is a trap. They've flooded schools with confusion about the most basic truths of biology and identity. They've characterized parents who object as domestic terrorists.

Gen Z has grown up to be the most anxious, depressed, and lonely generation in history. They've been told they can be anything they want, but deep down, they're searching for something or someone to tell them who they actually are.

Second, they're hungry for truth. In a world of relativism where everything is fluid and nothing is certain, this generation is discovering that the Bible offers something their culture can't—absolute truth that has stood for thousands of years.

As C.S. Lewis wrote, we need to let the "breezes of the centuries" blow through our minds. Truths that have endured for millennia are more reliable than the trendy philosophies invented five minutes ago.

Third, they're rebelling. And isn't that beautiful? They're rebelling against the establishment that told them God was irrelevant. They're rebelling against the emptiness of secularism. They're rebelling by turning to Jesus Christ!

And this isn't just happening in America. In Britain, the share of people between 18 to 24 who attend church at least monthly jumped from 4 percent in 2018 to 16 percent today—including a 21 percent gain among young men!

In France, the Church baptized more than 17,000 people in 2024, the highest yearly number in over 20 years.

This is a global movement of the Holy Spirit!

Do you remember our last episode about prayer? About how prayer moves the hand of God? About petitionary prayer being rebellion against the status quo?

Well, this is what happens when God's people pray! For years—decades—faithful believers have been crying out to God for revival, for awakening, for this generation. And God is answering!

Now, I want to be careful here. Not every young person buying a Bible is actively reading it. Not every student attending a campus revival event is truly surrendering their life to Christ. We must continue to pray for genuine, lasting transformation.

As Greg Stier, founder of Dare 2 Share, wisely notes: Until believers have an upward concentration on Christ, an inward consecration of heart, and an outward activation with the Gospel, we're not quite at full revival yet.

The pattern in Acts is clear: The power of prayer shakes the building. Then the power of the Spirit shakes the believers. Then the power of the Gospel shakes the city.

We're seeing the first two. Now we need to pray that these young believers take the Gospel to the streets, to their friends, to their classmates, to the nations!

So here's my question for you today: What role will you play in this movement?

Will you pray for these young believers? Will you join them, if you are Gen Z, or mentor them if you are older? Will you support campus ministries? Will you encourage the young people in your church who are on fire for Jesus?

Will you stop writing off Gen Z and instead see them as God sees them—as a generation hungry for truth, ready to be mobilized, eager to make their lives count for something eternal?

I think about my own children and the children in our churches. I think about how we've been praying for them, teaching them about the Great Commission, showing them God's heart for the nations.

And now I'm seeing God raise up an entire generation who doesn't want the shallow Christianity of comfort and convenience. They want the radical, world-changing faith of the early church. They want to count the cost. They want to make a difference.

This is exactly what we need for the Great Commission! Remember when we talked about the 3.2 billion unreached people? About how only 3.4 percent of missionaries serve in the 10/40 Window?

God is raising up a generation of young men and women who won't be satisfied with business as usual. Who will say, "Here am I, send me!" These are the ones who will take the Gospel to the hardest, darkest places on earth.

This isn't just about revival in America—though praise God for that! This is about God preparing an army of young warriors to take the Gospel to every nation, tribe, people, and language.

Listen to what the prophet Joel said in Joel 2:28:

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions."

Praise God! I believe we're watching this unfold before our eyes!

So what can we do?

Pray! Pray for these young believers. Pray for protection from the enemy who will try to snuff out this fire. Pray for discipleship and spiritual maturity.

Support! Support campus ministries like Youth With a Mission, Turning Point USA, Cru, InterVarsity, BCM, FCA, and others who are on the front lines of this movement.

Encourage! When you see young people passionate about Jesus, encourage them! Don't dismiss their zeal. Fan the flames!

Equip! Help them understand the Great Commission. Introduce them to unreached people groups. Show them how they can pray, give, and go.

Get out of the way! Sometimes the best thing older generations can do is step back and let the Holy Spirit work through young people in fresh ways.

I am more encouraged about the future of the church than I have been in years. Not because of programs or strategies, but because God is moving.

When young men in a fraternity house are praying for revival instead of planning the next party, God is moving.

When Bible sales are exploding among first-time buyers searching for truth, God is moving.

When thousands of college students are getting baptized in football stadiums, God is moving.

The question is: Will we move with Him?

This generation doesn't need our judgment or our cynicism. They need our prayers, our support, and our example of what it looks like to follow Jesus with everything we have.

So let's link arms with them. Let's fan the flames of revival. Let's watch what God will do when a generation decides that Jesus is worth everything!

Lord Jesus, You re simply amazing! You are working in our world, in this generation, and all to bring as many of the lost to know You as possible. Holy Spirit, please keep moving in hearts and lives. Please keep spreading truth that tears down the lies of the enemy. Please keep empowering Your Church to share Your love with the nations. We stand in awe of what you are doing in our time! In Your name, amen. 

As my friend Dana said to me…how privileged we are to be able to dip our oar into the river of the movement of God, right here, right now! 

Thank you for joining me today. I pray this has filled your heart with hope and stirred you to prayer. The best is yet to come, friends. Keep your eyes on the nations... and watch what God will do through this generation!

News Sources Referenced:

• Barna Group - State of the Church 2025 Report
• CBN News - ECU Fraternity Revival Story
• American Bible Society - State of the Bible 2024
• Christianity Today
• Wall Street Journal
• Axios
• Various Christian news outlets covering campus revivals

Listen to this in podcast at Spotify podcast