Opportunities Abounding All Around the World

The needs around the world are overwhelming and this will always be the case.  At World Impact Now we believe in a full and complete gospel which seeks to take Jesus and the Kingdom of God to the places where God has assigned us.

For us this means overseas work in Uganda and the Philippines preaching the gospel and ministering to the needy-- specifically the poor, widows, orphans, prisoners, the sick, etc.  We have wide open doors for much ministry and we want it to be fruitful.  We are thankful for the pioneering work and vision that has been implanted for this work and we want to do one thing-- press on in spite of all obstacles.

It's rather simple in one way:  Discover the heart of God and do it- trusting Him to provide the love, compassion, open doors, and resources.  Whatever God has called you to do persevere in it and as long as you are convinced say depart to the nay-sayers and enemies.  If God wants to shut something down let him.  He will open up something else.  Be refreshed knowing that He knows what He is doing, He can do what you think He cannot, and He can resurrect that which seems dead.  He is in charge of all relationships, partnerships, etc.  It is His ministry and let's trust that He will put us in the right place.  Dream big, pursue hard, and fight the good fight of faith.  It is a war and at times we suffer personal casualties, etc.  Don't give up.

We have a team departing for the Philippines Thursday, April 5.  Pray for us if you would.  Our next exciting trip to Uganda is slated for October 25-Nov 5.

Pick up Your Mat and Walk Chapter 1: Blues Traveler

Pick Up Your Mat and Walk

Recovering From Traumatic Failure

Chapter 1: Blues Traveler

“Your damn right I’ve got the blues, from my head down to my shoes.”  Buddy Guy

Classic rock is my music of choice.  After all, my formative years sliced right through the 70’s and early 80’s.  My iPod is loaded with all my favorites from days gone by.  Yet, it is blues music that often inspires me during times of trouble.  I guess I would call it real music for real people. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005 I served in the heart of New Orleans as a volunteer Chaplain with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team.   During my time there my good friend Willie and I had the chance to go see Willie “Hambone” Lockett at the Funky Pirate Blues Bar on Bourbon Street.  Their band was real cool, as you would expect, and even played nearly all of our requests, including “Mustang Sally!” Now that is something you cannot experience at a Lynryrd Skynyrd or Aerosmith concert!  In between sets I handed “Hambone” a wooden cross and said, “Jesus cures the Blues.”  He said, “Man, I don’t want to quit playing the blues.”  I replied that he did not have to quit music.  Instead, I explained that when we have the blues inside Jesus can set us free from them.  He put the cross in his pocket.  Upon resuming their gig the band played my requested B.B. King and Buddy Guy music.

This book is about overcoming failure and is addressed to those who have been derailed by poor personal choices.  In a sense this is the human condition.  Yet, sometimes we can make decisions that have disastrous consequences.  Just look at the biblical heroes—Samson, Solomon, Judah, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, King David, Peter . . . the list goes on and on.  Yet somehow many of us fine Christians have bought into a bill of goods that denies grace to the “worst sinners” or gives them grace with an asterisk attached!  Shame on us for sometimes condemning the fallen to doom and destruction.   I hope my story can paint a different picture and inspire hope for the hopeless.  Of course, rather than read this book you could just read the Scriptures themselves to see countless stories of redemption from devastating life choices.  However, it is good to hear real stories from contemporaries.  Thus, I write with the conviction that some will be encouraged, challenged, and revived. 

An additional goal I have is to encourage an atmosphere of restoration and hope in the body of Christ. Many in the Church who have blown it are hopeless because no-one has offered to them a branch of healing and recovery.  It is true that some folks have some rather large skeletons in their closets.  Unfortunately these fleshless bones rattle day and night as reminders of failures that have not been overcome.  It is our duty as brothers and sisters in the body of the Lord Jesus to help destroy these skeletons with grace and mercy.  I am not oblivious to the fact that this an uphill battle against formidable opponents, both demonic and human.  My prayer is that many will experience the reverse of what happened to the dry bones of Israel in the book of Ezekiel.  May the united devilish bones created by transgression and failure cease to rattle in arrogance against us, be dismantled, and come apart in a heap, no longer to haunt those whom Christ wants to be free.  This is something we can all fight towards for one another.   As Hebrews 12:12 says, “Strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble.” 

I want to see folks in the most extreme circumstances of failure experience extravagant joy and victory.  In order for this to happen we all must embrace the real Jesus and accept His unbelievably lavish gifts toward us . . .  all the while wild-eyed and astounded as we understand that such grace is even on the table. For many the gift is too good to be true and thus the elusive freedom never comes.  Worse still is the church that preaches such liberation and yet refuses to allow it to be received in practical terms by those who have no other way out of their predicament.

I write as one who has been to hell and back. Of course, I am not alone.  There are plenty of others who have been through even worse than me and overcome far more than I.  Prior to my personal fall, I had seventeen years under my belt as a Christian.  I was a respected pastor and leader in my community and among my friends. Then came the blues, big-time failure followed by years of depression. I quit living.  I was taken out by Satan, just as he had hoped . . . and to this end he continues to work against God’s people.  I was overtaken by rejection, low self-esteem, identity crisis, humiliation, despair, fear, doubt, hopelessness and occasional thoughts of suicide.  These all came rushing in and they brought their friends.  I was facing the giants of the land and they were killing me. 

I became a Christian in 1980 and was really fired up for Jesus.  I was a rebellious teenager and then, having been set free, I eventually became a leader in our youth group.  I could not get enough of the Word of God and loved to talk about the Lord.  Prayers were being answered.  I finished high school and went to Montreat-Anderson College, what was then a junior-college in the mountains of North Carolina.  There I continued to grow and sensed the Lord calling me into ministry.  I was eyeing a four year Christian school after that.  But then, as often happens, my plans became subservient to Another’s.  To everyone’s surprise I enlisted in the United States Navy not long after graduating from Montreat.  My explanation was that Jesus was calling me to minister His gospel to military men and women.  I did this very thing for more than six years, serving at Whidbey Island, Washington State, the Mediterranean Sea, and Scotland.  During my first tour I married Shelly Hummel whom I had met at Fun in the Son in Jekyll Island, Georgia.  We began our life together in Washington State.  We experienced the heartache of military separation and the joys of solid friendships with other Navy families.  Our final duty station was at RAF Machrihanish in Scotland where I received the call of the Lord to leave the Navy and go to Seminary.  So we took our newborn baby Kaitlyn and headed to Jackson, Mississippi to begin another three year tour of duty at Reformed Theological Seminary.  After a marvelous time there we moved to Roanoke, Virginia where I became the Pastor of Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church.  The year was 1994.

Now I was doing what I perceived the Lord had set about for me in life: full-time Christian ministry.  The lines had fallen to me in pleasant places.   The church was small and beginning to show promising signs of advance after a couple of years.  Then the wheels came off.  Enter the blues.  A year later I had resigned my pastorate, gone to jail, lost my reputation, and was in a fight for the future.  All seemed lost and much was.  How quickly life changed as a result of a web of bad decisions followed by devastating consequences.  I went from a life on the rise to the bottom of the barrel.  One of my last sermons as an official minister was on the Prodigal Son, the story of a man whose life I was emulating. 

No doubt your life has been affected by the blues.  It is commonplace for all of us.  Perhaps that is why the book of Psalms is the favorite book of so many.  It is the ultimate blues guide. The Psalms comfort because they remind us that the Lord understands the human condition.  He knows about failure, sin, and all the trappings that go with them-- even though He has never experienced them Himself—though He has been punished for the same. This of course does not mean He condones or approves of failure or transgressions.  Nevertheless, He does have a solution and incredible gifts to offer to those who have been devastated by the ill-fruits they have sown.

Do you think that no-one has screwed it up more than you?  Does your mind tell you that the consequences you are facing are harsher than what others have had to encounter?  Why have others committed similar blunders or worse and gotten off lighter than you? Do you sometimes want to give up on the Christian life and just be normal?  Does it seem that God does not really care for you?  Isn’t it tempting just to think that all this Jesus talk and pursuit is just a waste of time?  I have thought each and every one of these thoughts.  We are all in good company with people like Jeremiah, Job, Jonah, and Elijah.  All of these men wanted to die because of failure—either their own or what they perceived to be God’s failing of them. 

Are you angry with God because of what He allowed to happen to you?  Why did He not protect you from such a fall? Yeah, I have been there also.  Welcome into your world the various complaining writers of the Psalms.  In that glorious book of songs we read things like, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? (Psalm 13:1).  Or consider Psalm 74 which begins, “O God, why have you rejected us forever? Many of these cherished songs are songs of lament and cries for help in the midst of distress.  This indicates that our God understands our blues.  In addition, it is in the Psalms that we best learn to pray about our anger and hurts.  So, be honest with God about how you feel.  We have a rich history of biblical heroes from the over the past four thousand years who often wore their hearts on their sleeves.  This is one of the glories of the biblical record.  You are not alone.  Of course, most of us reading may already be aware of these failants who have gone before us.  That still does not solve my personal dilemma.  After all, my situation is . . . well . . . my situation.  It is one thing to read about the struggles and successes of others.  Altogether different is when my dirty laundry makes up the illustrations for others to view and try to learn from.

The answers may seem clear and easy and are often presented as such.  Yet my life and yours are more complex as are the forces that stand in our way trying to hide our hearts and eyes from a comprehension of the healing, recovery and restoration that is available.  I am not suggesting it is easy to overcome.  I am just suggesting it is possible.  Even further, without reservation, I say with authority that the Lord wants you to be free and fruitful once again.  Yet the stark reality is that many never escape from the strong grip of the demons that attach themselves to the afterlife of failure.

For various reasons some go into thoughts of suicide or check out of life because the avenues of hope seem so slim or totally non-existent.  For others the gospel message of a continuing salvation and forgiveness is just too good to be true.  They can preach it to others but have a hard time accepting such lavish grace for themselves.  Once the roots of the blues take hold and dig down into the depths of our being they are hard to pull out. Nor does all our biblical knowledge or theology necessarily provide any comfort. Many a man or woman with a nicely packaged theology have tossed in the towel and gotten out of the game.  It is suggested at www.peacemaker.net that 1500 pastors in the United States leave their ministries each month due to moral failure, burnout, or conflict.  There is little doubt in my mind that many of you reading can name a few yourself.  Fortunately, the Good Shepherd and Good Physician has a way out and a remedy.  The difficult part of course for all of us is the application of His solutions.  I don’t know how to apply His gifts to every situation or each person.  However, let us remember that Jesus not only has a cure, but He also is a master at applying the medicine to each individual case.  As for my situation, I can only share my story and the way I am seeking to continually come out of the blues.   I pray that my story encourages you along the road to deliverance that is available, that the bright Sonshine will shine on you, and that you will walk through the  open door to full re-entry into all that God desires for you.

Upcoming Ministry Through World Impact Now

As we move forward to finish the year and look ahead to next year we are sending out this update to ask for your prayers and/or investment in kingdom building.  To the right side of the site you will see some calendar events and trips for the upcoming year.

What are we trying to accomplish?  We are internationally involved in church planting, evangelism and pastor training in Uganda and the Philippines.  In Uganda we are researching the building of a medical clinic, do prison ministry there and work with Orphan and widow ministry--which includes support of an Orphan school.  In the Philippines we are involved with a Christian training school and support of pastors in poverty as well as seeking to build churches and invest in adventurous ministry on remote Fuga Island.
Locally we are involved in homeless and prison ministry, primarily through the Samaritan Inn and Kairos prison ministry. 
Below is a working, estimated budget for the remainder of this year and next.

Budgeted Item                                       2011                 2012


Philippine Pastors in Poverty                 $3,600.00        $7,200.00
Philippine Trip 1                                                            $4,000.00
Uganda Trip 1                                                               $3,500.00
Uganda Orphans and Widows              $200.00            $2,400.00
Iona Scotland Retreat                                                    $2,500.00
Admin Expenses                                   $100.00            $1,200.00
WIN US Retreat                                                            $500.00
US Travel                                                                      $1,200.00
Director Support                                   $3,000.00         $48,000.00
Ch Planting/Projects                             $2,000.00         $24,000.00
Budget Totals                                       $8900.00           $94,500.00

Our church planting and projects includes investment in a farming/agricultural project in Uganda, building churches in the Philippines, support of Christian school in the Philippines, possible medical clinic in Uganda and other things.  Contact us for further information.

Check out Todd’s new blog connected to the writings of C.S. Lewis and Dietrich Bonhoeffer at www.bonnieandlewis.blogspot.com

Clarifying the Vision of World Impact Now

The below is a clarification of World Impact Now, who we are and what we do. The sections in brief are: Foundational matters, our work in general, our fields of operation, our organization, and our commitment.

Foundational Matters

1. We believe God wants to save people in the fullest sense of the word, an ongoing work of Jesus touching lives in a multitude of ways. Our statement of beliefs is a separate entry on this site if you wish to view it.

2. We only want to go where God seems to want us to go, where effective doors for ministry seem to be open, and where we can have strong parterships. Right now that includes Uganda, the Philippines, and India on the international level. In the US it is the Samaritan Inn homeless ministry and Kairos prison ministry. We are not the only ones going and we cannot go everywhere.

3. We want to enable Christians to do ministry. We do this by providing trip opportunities and working with individuals and churches who want an opportunity to get deeper into missions.

4. We believe we must be connected and accountable. We desire closer relationships with churches and accountability to the local churches we are connected with. We still believe in local churches as the primary chosen instruments of God to do His work in the world. Many have abandoned this belief. In addition, our finances and budgetary figures are available to anyone who wants to see.

5. We are not ashamed to take your money and give it away because we are convinced God wants to impact the world. For what its worth, those most blessed in the world with financial goods have a responsibility to give radically to impact those in the world who are in need. In addition, we are called to establish the kingdom of God to the remotest parts of the earth.

6. We believe in a complete gospel which includes both evangelism and doing righteousness and justice (good works). We see no dichotomy between the two and we choose both.

7. We want to promote humility, unity and good leadership in the ministry.  We realize others are doing what we are doing and even more. We do not stand alone and are not unique. The world-wide team is huge. We must be faithful to do our part. We want to be examples of integrity, accountability, and passion in leadership and service.

What We Are Doing at Home and Abroad

1. Prayer movement: Without prayer what can be accomplished? We are beginning Wed morning prayer from 7:15 to 8:00 am and all are invited to join us wherever they are.

2. Resource Mobilization: We are looking for ways to raise a minimal $100,000 a year for now. This is challenging and difficult but must be done.

3. Matters of Justice and Righteousness: We are committed to ministering to the hungry, widows, orphans, prisoners, and suffering people in the world. There is no escaping that these folks are on the heart of God. We have open doors in all these areas at home and abroad. We can only do our part.

4. Preaching the Gospel: We want to reach people and nations with the only name given by which anyone can be saved. We are not ashamed to proclaim Jesus as the only saving solution to people all over the world. This has provided some exciting mission opportunities at home and abroad. Just last week a woman at the Samaritan Inn in Roanoke rushed forward saying she wanted to give her life to Jesus.

5. We believe Christian life and ministry should be fun:  We are very serious about what we do and very sure that God wants us to have fun while we do it.

Our Fields of Work and Projects

A. In the United States:

1. We work with churches and other organizations in unity to:
a. Help the homeless and suffering:  Primary venue for this is the Samaritan Inn where we preach each week and help serve meals.
b. Prison ministry: We work through Kairos prison ministry in Virginia and are interested in more open doors on the local level.
c. Prayer and teaching ministry:  We are stepping up into more opportunities to teach the Scriptures, facilitate prayer, and encourage missions at the local church level. We are available to speak, do retreats, etc. as opportunities arise.

B. International
1. The Philippines: We work with nearly 30 churches and more than 50 pastors in efforts to reach the Philippines and SE Asia. We are helping establish new churches, doing joint-evangelism and joint-mission with Filipino pastors, and trying to help Filipino pastors in poverty. Fuga Island is an exciting part of our ministry there.
2. Uganda: The Lord really brought this one to us and we are very excited to see an interdenominational unity form after our first visit. Together with Ugandan Christian leaders we are uniting in ministries of preaching the gospel and ministry in the prisons, among orphans, and widows. We are seeking to help them buy plantation crop land and pigs in order to help them be more self-sustaining.
3. India: We partner with another organization there in Southern and Eastern Asia. The opportunities there are expansive and our focus is on pioneering ministries that are taking huge risks to reach the unreached in India and beyond.

C. Other Burdens

Some other areas we consider important include:

1. Helping Christians seek an outlet to use their gifts and passions related to mission and service.
2. Ministering to Pastors and Christian leaders at home and abroad. Many are burned out, discouraged, etc. To them the ministry has become a burden and no more fun is being had.

Our Organization

World Impact Now is a non-profit organization comprised of 6 board members which includes two staff who raise their own support ($36K annual goal for each in 2010). Our budget and plans include mission trips throughout the year, support of pastors in poverty, help for the Samaritan Inn, church planting in foreign countries, investment among the needy, kairos prison ministry, minor admin costs, US travel, and support of radio and Bible school ministries in the Philippines. Our office is out of a home so we have almost zero overhead-- and we like it that way. Our overall budget is in the $100,000 annual range.

Our Commitment

As an organization we wish to be open, honest, accountable, and pursuant of the kingdom of God in this world above all things, working in partnership and unity with others. We want to promote integrity in mission and leadership. We exist to help people and we are not looking to please men. Finally, we take our work seriously and we plan on having as much fun as possible while we do the work God has laid before us.

The Haiti Medical Mission

We are happy to announce that a medical team from Roanoke, VA has come together for a trip to Haiti. We are coordinating with other agencies and locals on the ground to set up medical teams and assistance for one week in Port-au-Prince. We will operate in orphanages and other local areas. Our team will take in medical supplies, toys, and other items for the sick, injured, children, etc.

We will follow on the heels of several other teams who have been setting up on a weekly basis in the same areas. These areas are "safe" and security is in place to look after our team on the ground. Local pastors and leaders will pick up, transport, and assist our team with the necessary logistics.

If you would like more information you may contact us. If you would like to give medicines please contact us. You can also give needed funds with your credit card via paypal at this site or send in a check to World Impact Now, PO Box 20852, Roanoke, VA 24018. Your gift will be used for Haiti.

Statement of Faith

World Impact Now Statement of Faith

1.        We believe that God is one God in three persons:  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all one God united in three persons, all being co-equal.  Each is God and each was involved in the creation of all that has been created.  As such, the Lord Jesus was eternally begotten of the Father and not made.

2.        We believe in Jesus Christ as the central figure in history.   Trust in His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead is the only way to salvation.  He is God who became the incarnate Son of Man through the miracle of the Virgin Birth.

3.       We believe in the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross and His bodily resurrection from the dead as the key events in all of human history.  Jesus is alive and active in the world today and will be so until He returns to the earth at the end of history.

4.       We believe in the Holy Spirit as the person who indwells followers of Christ with power to be witnesses who seek to make Jesus Christ famous.  The key manifestations of those filled with the Holy Spirit are boldness for Christ and the demonstration of the fruits of the Spirit as outlined in Scripture.

5.       We believe the 66 books of the Old and New Testament Scriptures to be divinely inspired and authoritative for the belief and practice of professing Christians.

6.       We believe in the ongoing mission and work of Christ through the Holy Spirit until the return of Jesus.  This means that the Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is the agency through which God’s work on earth is done.  

7.       We believe in the Church as the body and bride of Christ.  She has been charged with accomplishing God’s work on earth and Her mission will be successful as is outlined in the book of Revelation which tells us that people from every nation, tribe, language, and people will be saved.

8.       We believe in an aggressive approach to world missions in light of the promise of salvation reaching the ends of the earth as outlined above and due to the fact that this spreading of the gospel to all nations is one of the key markers we are given to indicate when the Lord will return.

9.       We believe in the literal, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is coming again and when He does the new heavens and new earth will be established. 

10.   We believe all ministry of the Church should follow from the heart of God as described in Scripture.  As a result, we are committed to:  serving the poor and needy, loving widows and orphans, reaching the lost of this world with the gospel, providing healing for the sick, and encouraging the discouraged.  All service we do should be dominated by grace and mercy to all people.

The Fuga Island and Northern Philippines Trip

Join us for a Trip to the Northern Philippines and Fuga Island April 12-23

Evangelism, Medical Distribution, Church Planting, Prayer Ministry, Etc.

This trip is for anyone called to go and we could use some medical personnel and medicines.

Cost is $2000.  More details below.  More info email tapreach@yahoo.com or call 540-353-6370.

Passport Required, Visa Not Required

Application:  Please fill out and submit a short application for this trip and send to us.  I will send it to you via email.

THE VISION

This will be my 5th time to Fuga Island, pursuing a vision begun in 2003 for seeing this tiny island used for God's kingdom purposes--sorta like the isle of Iona in Scotland in the 6th century.  There is one church on the island, recently rebuilt by Church of the Holy Spirit, Orchard Hills in Roanoke, VA.  Our plan is to build one more church on the other side of the island.

To get to the island one must ride a boat 3 hours from a place called Taggat in Claveria.  At this launch point we have also begun a new church led by Filipino pastors.  We hope to build them a building in the near future.

APRIL 12-23, 2010 TRIP

Our team will depart the US on April 12 and land in Manila just after midnight on the 14th of April.  We will spend the night in a place called the Shalom Center and then fly to Laoag City, Philippines on April 14.

We will spend a day in Laoag and then take a 3 hour bus ride to Taggat, Claveria.  Depending on the size of the team we will leave some folks here to do ministry-- prayer ministry, services evangelistic in nature, medical if we have the personnel.

 Please begin praying for all facets of this trip, including logistics, ministry, empowerment for ministry, and the coming of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ onto the island and Taggat, Claveria.

From Taggat it is a 3 hour boat ride to Fuga Island. Those not wanting to ride the boat will stay in Taggat and do ministry! We will be on the island approximately 5 days and will travel around to different villages by foot or by boat. 

On Fuga we will conduct medical ministry and do evangelistic ministry.  We do need medicines and we do need persons on the trip that can give out basic anti-biotics, vitamins, etc. to the people.  This is the most primitive and poor area in all of thee Philippines with no facilities, no doctors, no electricity other than generators.  The Island has @2500 or so residents and 7 different villages.

OTHER INFORMATION
The cost of this trip is $2000 and no special shots are required.  This will cover all travel, food, lodging, etc.  Tickets will be purchased after Feb 15 so please plan to send in funds around this time.  Checks should be made payable to World Impact Now and sent to PO Box 20852, Roanoke, VA 24018.

DEPARTURE
We will depart Laoag City for Manila on April 22 and spend the night again at the Shalom Center.  The next morning we will fly home to the United States.

MORE PICTURES

Browsing the pictures at the links below will give you a better feel for the environment of this trip.  If you want to see more extensive pictures you can click on any of the links below.  The last one is amateur video!


Sea Travel to Fuga

Worship and Ministry on Fuga Island

Land Travel Between Villages on Fuga

Food and Cooking on Fuga

Claveria, Taggat (The Launch Village to Fuga)

Amateur Video

If you would like to go on this trip or make donations (medical or financial) toward this trip please contact us at tapreach@yahoo.com.  You can also make donations via credit card with Paypal on this blog site.

Play The 2010 World Impact Challenge

We Christians in the Western World have the means to change the world.  God has given you and I the responsibility--by going and giving.  Let's all volunteer and serve by giving away our time and more than 10% of our money this year to churches, the poor, the needy,  and other kingdom projects.  Time is running out for you and I to make an impact.

1.  Would you support a poor pastor at $25 per month?  If so, you can help spread the gospel.  We are seeking 60 people to do this.

2.  Would you help support a gospel radio station in the Philippines at $100 a month?  This runs the whole radio ministry for the proclamation of the gospel in  the Northern Philippines each Sunday.

3.  Would you provide a one year scholarship for a Bible student in the Philippines for $100?  $100 will provide for all expenses for one year to a future minister of the gospel.

4.  Would you help us support a homeless ministry in Roanoke, VA called the Samaritan Inn this year?  We want to give a mere $100 a month to this long-time standing ministry.  They can always use volunteers.

5.  Would you help send Christians into the prisons through Kairos Prison ministry?  We want to give $100 a month to this ministry.  Are perhaps God is calling you to get involved in prison ministry?

6.  Are you interested in taking part in kingdom work overseas?  Go with us to Uganda, India, or Fuga Island this year with us.  If you can't go we can use help in paying for trip expenses and airfares. It will change lives, including yours.  See dates on this blog site.

7.  Would you like to help build a church for primitive Fuga Island in the northernmost part of the Philippines.  One Church can be built for $8500.  We want to build two.

8.  Would you like to go with us for a spiritual renewal conference in Scotland (isle of Iona) in July.  See dates at this blog site.

9.  We are boldly asking God for 3X more donations than we took in last year, but a mere $119,000.  And without shame we are asking you to take part.

10.  Buy Jewelry and Support Missions. January Special:  Buy one at regular price and take two at half-price (take the most expensive at half-price)
      a.    see catalogs by clicking on Jewels For Missions
      b.    host a show in your home and earn free jewels
      c.     shipping is $3.80 UPS shipping for any size order
      d.    Jewelry has a life-time guarantee

Please contact us for any futher information on our ministry, trips, retreats, or projects.  We are not the "only game in town" and God may be calling you to work and give through others.  We are happy for that.  Our responsibility is to let you know what we are doing and seeking to do.  All we know is that together we have the means to change the world.  Sadly, individual Christians world-wide give less than 2% of their income to God's work.  Many churches teach a tithe but I say that the promises and blessings of the gospel are much better than those of the law-- so why are we limiting ourselves by a 10% rule?  Should we not be giving beyond this amount?  Those who have been forgiven much love much.

Want to help?  There are two ways to do so.

1.  Through Paypal (Credit Card) on this site.
2.  Send a check to World Impact Now, PO Box 20852, Roanoke, VA 24018 

I encourage you:  Forget the past (the good and the bad) and reach forward to what lies ahead in 2010 and beyond.  In Christ, TA (President, World Impact Now)

The War of Armageddon

What is the War of Armageddon?

1.  Revelation 16:16 says "they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon." This means in Hebrew Mountain of Megiddo. Two verses earlier we are told that the false trinity (Dragon, beast, and false prophet) send evil spirits to the kings of the earth to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.

2.  Thus the battle of Armageddon has to do with the gathering of world-wide political leaders over the entire earth to stand against Christ and His people (the Church).

3.  This same gathering for war is spoken of again in Revelation 19:19 (the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse (Christ) and against His army (The Church).  See also Rev 20:8 where the nations of the earth are deceived and gathered together for war.

4.  NT references:  Revelation 11:7 (the beast making war with the church and seeming to overcome and kill believers); Revelation 16:14-16 (see above); Revelation 19:19; Revelation 20:8

4. The Players:  The Beast and the Nations (Kings) of the Earth VS Christ and the Church

5.  Is the battle literal or figurative.  We believe very clearly figurative.  Consider:

    a.  OT prophecies of the final battle of history take place, without exception, in the immediate vicinity of Jerusalem and Mount Zion.  The plain of Megiddo is a two days walk north.
    b.  No Mountain of Meggido exists.  The name Armageddon means Mount of Megiddo or "mountain of attack."
    c.  OT battles in the plains of Meggido (the book of Judges (Barak and Gideon), the deaths of Saul and his sons, death of King Josiah, Zechariah 12-14) are typological pointers to the final battle of history which is Satan VS Christ and His Church.  It is there that the Israelites had some of their greatest victories and defeats.  Armageddon is the battle which has been going on and will continue to go on.  The time of this battle is between the first and second comings of Christ.  Such a view as we have here accepts the 1000 year reign of Christ as current (symbolical) and not future (literal).  
    d.  This spiritual battle which sees the saints (all true believers) persecuted has been clearly going on since the book of Acts and will continue until Christ judges the enemies of Himself and the Church.
    e.  Studying the results of the battle in Revelation 16, Revelation 19, and Revelation 20 shows in each instance a supernatural picture of the destruction of Satan and those who stand with Him.  See 16:18-21, 19:20-21, and 20:9-10.  There is no literal battle that takes place.  It is a supernatural and spiritual one.

6.  Armageddon is the culmination and climax of the war that began in Genesis 3:15 between Satan and Christ.  Revelation 12 explains this long battle in detail.  The final battle is a spiritual one that has varying degrees of intensity and at times looks as though Satan is the winner.  The Church is seen as destroyed in Revelation 11 (the Two Witnesses representing the Church dying and rising again) and throughout church history there have certainly been periods where the light of the Church burned dim.

Conclusion:  The Battle of Armageddon is the ongoing effort of Satan to destroy Christ and the Church as mentioned in Revelation 12.  He deceives nations and kings and leaders of all sorts to take their stand against the Church.  This is just as we have seen it as we study church history for the past 2000 years.  In the end Christ will deliver His church from years of persecution and opposition.

December Christmas Gifts

As we prepare for the coming of Christ in this season we are saying thanks to all who have given to Christ through us in order to promote the mission of making Jesus Christ famous in all the earth. We have a couple Christmas gift ideas for your loved ones here as well as some ways you can help God's mission at home and abroad through World Impact Now at the end of this year and next.

Christmas Gifts For You or Your Loved Ones

1. Celtic Daily Prayer (Click to see)

2. Celtic Woman Christmas (Click to See)

3. Jewelry! Buy Jewelry from TA and help missions. www.liasophia.com. Buy two get up to four more expensive items at half-price. Host a show gets lots of free jewels, lifetime guaranteed. Locals can come see with their own eyes.

Support a Pastor in Poverty

We are looking for folks who will give $25 a month to pastors in poverty overseas. We are looking to help 60 or more pastors and other leaders

Build a Church on a Primitive Island

We are hoping to build two churches in connection with the Fuga Island Project in the Philippines. Help us do it. $24,000 will build two churches.

Invest in our Ministry

We are not high pressure fund-raisers and believe that God is big enough to supply. We only present opportunities. We have plans to invest $130,000 in kingdom funds for next year to promote our Lord and we need $14,000 as we close out this year to accomplish our goals. If you can help do so. In 2010 we will be involved in Uganda, Philippines, India, Scotland, and locally in Virginia the Samaritan Inn and Kairos Prison Ministry.

Go With Us On a Trip (see trips on right side of this web-site)

Preparing for Christmas

As you prepare for Christmas this year remember that the coming of Christ was in fulfillment of the promises to Abraham and his descendants as Luke 1:55 and Luke 1:73 make crystal clear. Jesus is the fulfillment of the ancient promises and the only way to have relationship with God. Spend time in the Gospels and be content that though the story is Old it can be refreshing. There is no new story to be had. No new story is needed. However, let us hope for fresh revelation and fresh experiences of the living Christ who is God with us, revealing to us the trinitarian life of community which is fulfilled when we love others and give ourselves away to them. The best gift you can give anyone is to die for them by dying to yourself as you are with them.

The Trinity Makes His Home Within You

One of the key truths of the Christian church which is often neglected is that of the Trinity. Though not a biblical word it is beyond doubt that there is but One God existing in three persons who are wrapped up in love for one another. Let us avoid the heresies propagated here which were both ancient and modern. The truth is that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. The biblical evidence is overwhelming. They are not three modes or expressions of God but each one is fully God. The astounding thing to get is not a full comprehension of this mystery but a wonder that He as three in One has come to live within each person who has embraced Christ. Consider the following:

1. The Holy Spirit lives within you as promised in John 1417: "He abides within you and will be in you"
2. If you love Christ you will be loved by the Father. If not, you cannot know Father, Son, or Holy Spirit.
3. If you love Christ you will be loved by the Father and He and the Son will come to make their home with you. John 14:23

So we see that all three dwell within the believer and that knowing Him requires embracing Jesus Christ. Without Christ there is no possible knowledge of God. What an exclusive and offensive message. Stick to it and imitate for God and others the love that exists between each member of the Trinity. Understanding these things is one of the keys to the Christian life.

Key to Spiritual Battle

1 Chronicles 5:20-22 provides us with a key to the battles we face in our daily lives. (It does pay to read through the Genealogies!):

"they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him . . . For many fell slain, because the war was of God."

What we know is that for those who have pledged allegiance to Christ the main war is of God as we fight against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heaven places. Let us be careful lest we choose battles that God Himself has not chosen. This requires a sensitivity to the Spirit under the tutelage of the inspired Scriptures which we must know and cannot be left to our own whims.

Here in this passage is a commentary on much of the Psalms which are the cries of Christ and His Church against persecution and trials within the war of life which is composed of numerous battles. The keys for God's people are:

1. Cry out to Him in the battle
2. Trust Him to hear and answer
3. Count on the falling of the enemy as when Jesus saw Satan falling from heaven like lightning
4. Make sure your battle is of the Lord and not of your own devising

Keep up the good fight!

Join the Great Dance

For the relationship of the holy trinity as a Great Dance we have to thank St. Gregory of Nazianzus (4th Century) and C.S. Lewis (Perlelandra). It is the exciting reality that the members of the Trinity were in love with one another and had pleasure in giving themselves away to one another. Thus we see in the Scriptures that the purpose of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son, the Son's will was to do the will of the Father, and the Father glorified the Son and has given Him the kingdom.

God created and has called all of us to get in on the Great Dance by giving ourselves away in love to one another. In the gospel of John you are told that if you love Jesus you will be loved by the Father and the Father and Son will come and make their abode with you. The Holy Spirit is then promised in this passage as being sent by the Father to us and then later the Spirit is said to be sent by the Son. There is no contradiction here. The three are one and they are seeking to invade your life with their life-- which is a dance of love. See John 14-15

World Impact Update:

We encourage all to get in on this dance of love. What is God calling you to do in terms of bearing the fruit of love in the world. To bear fruit is why you were created and chosen (John 15:16). We challenge you to find your fruit-bearing place in the world which requires you give yourself away. Here is what we are trying to do and you are invited to join us if you will:

1. Uganda November 2009
2. Philippines December 2009
3. Monday Morning Prayer at 7:30 at the Daily Grind Coffee Shop 419
4. Wed Devotional Lunch at 12 Noon Corned Beef and Co.
5. Ministry to the Homeless and Down and Out Thursdays 11:30-1:00 at the Samaritan Inn
6. Fuga Island, Philippines April 2010
7. Spiritual Retreat to Iona, Scotland June-July 2010
8. Raise $20K for the remainder of 2009
9. A goal of $150k raised for our budget in 2010

Please pray for these matters, consider going with us on a trip, praying with us, or giving financially. We have no idea how all these things will happen. Thank God that He can do all things. If you have prayer requests or want to help please contact us. In Christ, Todd

Farm Prayer Event Like Woodstock?!

On Friday Night October 16th we have an opportunity in Roanoke, VA to make a difference in our communities, country, and world. Yeah, that is right. I am actually crazy enough to believe that God has organized a one night all night prayer and worship meeting that can have a big impact on lives world-wide and could be the start of something special . . . or at least a continuation of the already special something started long ago in the garden. We don't expect 500,000 people but . . . you could be there. Mark your calendar and travel to a place known as Taylor's Farm (not Yagurs Farm in NY!)

After missing the 1969 Woodstock festival Joni Mitchell wrote a song called "Woodstock." Here are some of the lyrics: "We are stardust, We are golden, And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden."

Well, some of the woodstock generation made it back to the garden due to the Jesus Revolution of the 60's and 70's. I believe God has called me to organize a one night all night "prayer march" on a farm near Roanoke, VA. It will begin Friday night, October 16 at 7:30 and last through the night. Perhaps God will use us to help others get back to the garden or return there ourselves . . . Here are some of the things you would need to know for this night.

1. There will be Live music
2. There will be Prayer groups meeting on the grass to pray in 45 minute bursts
3. Each prayer group will have a prayer leader and will be organized around various specific themes. In other words, we won't be sitting around sharing prayer requests.
3. Midnight bonfire with prayer and music
4. Smores and drinks provided
5. Bring your own blankets and/or chairs
6. More info to come later

I will be taking these night marches on the road to Uganda and the Philippines later this year. Mind you, this is nothing new in the annals of Christianity. However, it is what God has called me to do so there you have it. I only expect God to show up and change lives, perhaps some folks will get healed, etc. It will be something special.

This began one day while reading the book of Joshua, chapters 9-10. Then came these verse sand the calling: "So Joshua came upon them (5 kings and their armies) suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal. And the Lord confounded them before Isreael, with a great slaughter at Gibeon . . . the Lord threw large stones from heaven on them . . ." Joshua 10:9-11. The next day the sun stood still. God is calling us to fight in prayer on behalf of others and this is what we shall do the night of October 16, 2009!

For more info or if you would like to help in any way (prayer leaders, setup, advance prayer, finances, etc) call me at 540-353-6370 or email me at tapreach@yahoo.com.

Isaiah 1:21-26 Devotion

Isaiah 1:21-26 Text

How the faithful city has become a harlot, she who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, but now murderers. Your silver has become dross, your drink diltued with water. Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; everyone loves a bribe and chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, nor does the widow's plea come before them. Therefore the Lord God of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares, "Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries and avenge myself on My foes. I will also turn My hand against you, and will smelt away your dross as with lye and will remove all your alloy. Then I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning; after that you will be called the city of righteousness."

Isaiah 1:21-26 Devotion

What stands out here is the definition of what makes a person, city, people, or nation a faithful city or a city of righteousness. This is all very practical stuff. First, we see that the once faithful city is thus no longer but rather a whore. But note at the end of this passage that once again they will be a city of righteousness and that restoration happens. This is encouraging to all people everywhere-- that restoration is possible. However, the process of being made that way appears from this passage to be painful. It is one of discipline.

Note also the things that constitute unfaithfulness as listed here. Namely,

murder: are there any of us who hate others and speak to them or about them as Jesus has forbidden in the Sermon on the Mount?
rebellious rulers: If I am a person of authority am I rebellious against the Lord? What about the rulers in our society?
Loves a bribe: are we easily bought so that others suffer. Do we show favoritism based on favors given to us?
Chases after rewards: do I obey Christ out of love for Him or am I chasing after rewards? Do I do good in order to receive a good pay-off for my good deeds?
Not defending the orphan and widow: this seems to always come up in the OT (and also the NT) and it is time we paid attention to the orphans and the widows and not consider ministry to them as a lower tier of ministry.

Are you faithful? Are you considered righteous? Take a look at this passage to see how God defines such terms. They have to do with action on behalf of others and not treating others badly.

The Exciting Fuga Island Project

More than Five Years Ago God gave a vision for reaching and using a small, primitive island in the Philippines for His purposes. We are seeing that vision come to certain fruition and are excited to share with you what is happening. Here is a history of what has happened thus far!

1. 2004: A handful of believers began urgently praying at a campground facility on the South China Sea in the Philippines.

2. 2005: Todd and other Filipino Pastors lead a team to Fuga Island for evangelism.
3. 2006: Pastor Allan Bagoisian commits to pastoring a church on Fuga with in a dilapidated church building.

4. 2007: A second combined US and Filipino team goes to Fuga to do further evangelism and medical missions. A continued response to the gospel with baptisms.

5. 2008: A third US and Filipino team goes in; Orchard Hills Church in Virginia rebuilds the one church building on the island.

6. 2009: A fourth return trip to Fuga island doing evangelism and more baptisms; A boat is purchased for the ministry on Fuga Island through donations; Two more Filipino pastors commit to ministry on Fuga Island; A new church plant begins on the eastern side of the island with reports of an overflowing house church.

7. 2009: A new church plant begins in Taggat, Claveria under the direction of Pastor Glenn Pedronan, Philippines. This house church is already overcrowded also. Taggat is the launch point for boats to go on the three hour journey to the island and is known as "Fuga Village."

8. We have begun supplemental financial support for the pastors who are sacrificing great comforts to serve the Lord on the island.

9. Pastor Allan has married a school-teacher on the island.

Fuga Island Project Future Plans

1. Purchase land for the church plant in Taggat, Claveria

2. Build two new churches, one in Taggat and one on the Island

3. See the permanent establishment of a second pastoral couple on the island.

4. A 5th US/Filipino trip in April 2010 to do medical and evangelistic missions

Would you like to get involved in this Project?

1. Pray for the Fuga Island Project and Vision

2. Go with us to Fuga or Taggat in April 2010. Part of the team will go to the island and part can stay behind and minister in Taggat (the launch site for the boats). Some are fearful of the boat-ride but you can still go and stay in Taggat! We will do medical missions and evangelism, church planting during this trip.

3. Consider helping us buy land, build churches, and support the pastors on the island. Current estimated cost for the completion of the Project as it now stands: $20,000-25,000

To Donate to the Fuga Island Project mark your donations for Fuga Island and send to:

World Impact Now, PO Box 20852, Roanoke, VA 24018

Isaiah 1:18-20

Isaiah 1:18-31 Text
"Come now, and let us reason together", says the Lord, "though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Isaiah 1:18-20 Devotion

The invitation of God to reason together is legal language, the verdict of the highest court in the land. The verdict for all of us is "guilty . . . but . . ." The color red (scarlet) relates to blood-guilt and of course on any article of clothing is a nightmare to get purely clean. To be able to go from scarlet red to pure white is the greatest news given to mankind. It is the same as going from being a prostitute-whore to becoming a virgin again. Such is impossible except with God. This is exactly what happened with Israel and thus makes the study of their whore-dom and forgiveness very compelling to any and all of us who have given ourselves away to other gods-- whether to gods of sex, drugs, materialism, slander, gossip, or whatever it may be.

The invitation is twofold, however. First, we can be completely and actually totally clean by God's grace. However, combined with this is the necessity to repent and obey. The value of the one is nullifeid without this second response on my part. It is Lordship over your life that He demands which the gospels and New Testament also make perfectly clear. Without repentance and following Jesus as Master there can be no forgiveness. To refuse obedience is to reject the offer of forgiveness and a voluntary forfeiting of his blessings in your life. The road to blessings in whatever form always goes through obedience. Obedience will not save us or make us clean. Ironically, only the red blood of Christ can take out the dark red stain of sin . . . and that is procured by faith. However, faith without works of obedience is dead and thus we see that any person who will not follow Jesus as master will neither know God nor forgiveness.

Isaiah 1:10-17 Devotion

Isaiah 1:10-17 Text

10Hear the word of the LORD,You rulers of Sodom;Give ear to the instruction of our God,You people of Gomorrah. 11"What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?"
Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. 12"When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? 13"Bring your worthless offerings no longer,Incense is an abomination to Me, New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies--I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. 14"I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15"So when you spread out your hands in prayer,I will hide My eyes from you;Yes, even though you multiply prayers,I will not listen Your hands are covered with blood. 16"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight Cease to do evil,17Learn to do good; Seek justice,Reprove the ruthless,Defend the orphan,Plead for the widow."

Devotion

Here we see the comparison of Israel to Sodom and Gomorrah as complete. Many tend to think of homosexuality and wanton sexual sins when they think of those cities but as seen last week this was not their root problem, but rather a symptom. As was pointed out in the previous entry it was their failure to fight for justice and righteousness in society that led them far from God. Here we see the same with the people of God.

Could it be that all of my outward acts of worship are a stench in God's nostrils? Could it be offensive to Him when I raise my hands with closed eyes while singing loudly in church? Could it be that my service to Him in the church and community is considered by Him as worthless? Well . . . yes. It was the case for Israel and is the case for some so-called Christians today.

God took no pleasure in all the acts of Israel's worship. Note that their church worship gives Him no pleasure, is an abomination, and He cannot endure it. He is weary of it. In fact, He will not hear their prayers. Why? Because their hands were covered with blood. They were not protecting the widows and orphans and the ruthless were allowed to run rough-shod over the helpless. This reminds us to put no confidence in how we feel regarding our acts of worship-- singing, Bible studies, quiet times, prayers, etc. It could be that all these things mean nothing at all to God.

Many times we think God is angry about our wrong actions. . . and He does hate sin. However, let us not forget that often Jesus wants us to focus on what we are not doing that we should be doing as the main offense to the Lord. In other words, it is not what I am doing so much but what I am NOT doing. What has the Lord called you to do that you are not doing? In the case of Israel here it is to do justice and righteousness. The problem is that we often talk of these things, and even teach them. But it is doers of justice and righteousness that God is looking for.

Again, we have a way out if we are failing at this point. Verse 16-17 tells us all we need to know to get on track: Wash, repent, and do good. That is the summary of what it means to follow Christ. Wash in His blood, turn from your sins, and begin to do good-- practicing justice and righteousness-- which always includes serving the helpless and needy. How are you doing in doing on behalf of others?

Isaiah 1:1-9 Devotion

Isaiah 1:1-9 Text

1The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2 Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks,"Sons I have reared and brought up,
But they have revolted against Me. 3"An ox knows its owner,And a donkey its master's manger, But Israel does not know,My people do not understand." 4 Alas, sinful nation,People weighed down with iniquity,Offspring of evildoers,Sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the LORD,They have despised the Holy One of Israel,
They have turned away from Him. 5 Where will you be stricken again,As you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick And the whole heart is faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing sound in it,Only bruises, welts and raw wounds,Not pressed out or bandaged,Nor softened with oil. 7 Your land is desolate,Your cities are burned with fire,Your fields--strangers are devouring them in your presence;It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers. 8 The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard,Like a watchman's hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city. 9 Unless the LORD of hosts Had left us a few survivors,We would be like Sodom,We would be like Gomorrah.

Devotion

Can it be that you and I are less intelligent than an ox or a donkey? They have no problem realizing who owns them and whom they obey. Yet, do we listen to the One who has purchased us with His own blood? It is a strong rebuke that God's own purchased people do not know or understand Him. Of course, this goes way beyond challenging us to just know His word. To know Him is to obey Him. As George MacDonald said, "It is better to be an atheist who does the will of God, than a so-called Christian who does not." Those who are quick to call Jesus "Lord" . . . are they obsessed with doing the will of God. It is our actions which always tell the story of whether we are also guilty of despising Him. I am thankful for George MacDonald for reminding me that having a correct theology does not mean I know God as I claim I do. It is the doing of the word that was important in the Old Testament and was important to Jesus. To refuse obedience is to refuse His lorship over my life and the end result is a forfeiture of His blessings in my life. Such a rejectin of the One true God can then result in our losing our minds and hearts to depression, grief, frustration, various illnesses, and eventual hardening and despair.

Thankfully, there is still hope for all as the history of Israel is designed to point out. God holds out grace for them (and us) at the end of this passage. There are survivors! It may surprise you to know Ezekiel 16:49: "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Of course, this describes us in America very well and reminds us that failure to love others can result in moral degradation which we see plenty of as well. The key question for my life and yours is: do I show that I know Him by my obedience to His will and ways? If you have revolted from obedience to the one who bought you, repent and turn back to following Him as your master and owner. Disobedience is rebellion. By God's grace show yourself one of the survivors who escape His judgment.