NOTE: This is Part 2 of a prophetic word spoken by Prophet Stanley Frodsham, who was a personal friend of Smith Wigglesworth as well as a traveling companion and author of one of the books about him. It was given in Chicago in 1965, five years before he died. This day is upon us. Take heed. Read Part 1 here.

I warn you to search the Scriptures diligently concerning these last days. For the things that are written shall indeed be made manifest. There shall come deceivers among My people in increasing numbers, who shall speak forth the truth and shall gain the favor of the people. For the people shall examine the Scriptures and say, “What these men say is true.” Then when they have gained the hearts of the people, then and then only shall they bring out their wrong doctrines.

Therefore, I say that you should not give your hearts to men, nor hold people in admiration or adulation. For by these very persons Satan shall gain entry into My people. Watch for seducers! Do you think a seducer will brandish a heresy and flaunt it before the people? He will speak words of righteousness and truth and will appear as a minister of light, declaring the Word. The people’s hearts shall be won. Then when the hearts are won, they will bring out their doctrines, and the people shall be deceived. The people shall say, “Did he not speak thus and thus? And did we not examine it from the Word? Therefore he is a minister of righteousness. This that he has now spoken we do not see in the Word, but it must be right, for the other things he spoke were true.”

Be not deceived. For the deceiver will first work to gain the hearts of many, and then shall bring forth his insidious doctrines. You cannot discern those who are of Me and those who are not of Me when they start to preach. But seek Me constantly, and when these doctrines are brought out, you shall have a witness in your heart that these are not of Me. Fear not, for I have warned you. It is possible that the very elect may be deceived. But it is not possible if you walk in holiness and uprightness before the Lord, for then your eyes shall be open, and the Lord will protect you. If you will constantly look unto the Lord, you will know when the doctrine changes and will not be brought into it. If your heart is right, I will keep you. If you will look constantly to Me, I will uphold you.

The ministry of righteousness shall be on the wise—his life shall agree with the Word, and his lips shall give forth that which is wholly true; there will be no mixture. When the mixture appears, then you will know he is not a minister of righteousness. The deceivers speak first the truth and then error, to cover their own sins, which they love. Therefore, I exhort and command you to study the Scriptures relative to seducing spirits, for this is one of the great dangers of these last days.

I desire you to be firmly established in My Word and not in the personalities of men that you will not be moved as so many shall be moved. I would keep you in the paths of righteousness. Take heed to yourselves and follow not the seducing spirits that are already manifesting themselves. Diligently inquire of Me when you hear something that you have not seen in the Word, and do not hold people in admiration, for it is by this very method that Satan will hold many of My people.

The Way of Triumph

I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly, that you may triumph where I triumphed. On the cross, I triumphed over all the powers of Satan, and I have called you to walk in the same path. It is when your life is on the cross that you shall know the victory that I have experienced. As you are on the cross, seated in Me, then you shall know the power of the resurrection. When I come in My glory, the principalities and powers in the heavenly places shall be utterly broken. Fear not, for I have given you the power whereby you may tread down the powers of darkness and come forth victorious through every trial. As you are on the cross, then you are victorious. It was on the cross that I triumphed over all the powers of the enemy. My life shall flow through as you enter into these precious truths. Look unto Me and appropriate My life. As your eyes and desires are toward Me and you know what it is to be crucified with Me, then you shall live, and your anointing shall increase. It was not in My life as I walked upon the earth, but rather it was in My life as I hung upon the cross that I openly spoiled principalities and powers.

I am showing you truth that shall cause you to overcome, to have power over the wicked one; this is the truth that will liberate you and those around you. You shall know also the fellowship of My sufferings. There is no other way whereby you may partake of this heavenly glory and reign with Me. My Word says that if we suffer with Him, we shall reign with Him. I desire to make these truths real within you. As you keep them before you, you will in turn liberate many who are in bondage. You will have revelation of those who are in darkness and will have the keys to liberate the captives. Many seek to liberate but do not have the keys. Upon the cross continually, you will know the power of My resurrection.

If you will indeed judge yourself, you shall not be judged. As you seek My face and desire to be cleansed by Me in all truth and sincerity of heart, I will judge you in the secret place, and the things that are in the secret place of your heart shall not be made manifest to others. I will do it in the secret place, and no man will know it. The shame that will be seen on many faces shall not be seen on your face. Therefore in mercy and love, I am instructing you in order that you may partake of My glory. As you are willing to walk with Me and rejoice in your sufferings, you shall in turn partake of My glory. Look unto Me, for you have need of power to overcome the wicked one and the bondage in other’s lives.

I said that if a man will judge himself, he shall not be judged. It is not My good pleasure that the shame of My people be seen by all. How can I judge the world if I judge not first My own house? Hearken unto these things that I am telling you, for if you will not hearken unto Me, thy shame shall be evident to all. {eoa}

Bert Farias‘ The Real Salvation, The Real Gospel, The Real Jesus and The Real Spirit Of Revival are a tetralogy of books to help the body of Christ overcome the last days seduction and will greatly strengthen and establish you in truth during these perilous and difficult times. Get your copy today in paperback or Kindle.

From Dallas, Texas, to Charlotte, North Carolina, to Ferguson, Missouri, deadly police shootings have rocked cities across the U.S.
    
Chaos, riots and racial strife sometimes followed.
    
Just miles away, however, these recurring incidents hit close to home for Terrance Howell.

This former police officer joined the force in Franklin, Virginia, hoping to make a change in his community.
    
“As a police officer you’re wired differently,” Terrance told CBN News. “Most people, when they hear gunshots, they’re running away from where the shots are coming from. As a police officer, you are trained to go to where those shots are going.”

Franklin’s police chief still remembers Terrance for that “little something extra” he brought to the job.

“We come into this business with the thought that we are going to change the world and do good things,” Chief Philip Hardison said. “In the five years Terrance was with us, he did good things, and he changed at least the impressions of many people in this community in a favorable sense as to how police officers in this city are viewed and trusted.”

Resurrecting an Old Dream

Terrance’s faith fueled his work ethic, but it also triggered a change.
      
“So you’re comfortable, you’re serving the force, you’re doing what many would consider an honorable career, and to be a man of color doing it too is also honorable,” CBN News reporter Efrem Graham said. “What’s happened? Is there a wrestling inside you? What’s going on?”

“Growing up I always wanted to be a musician,” Terrance responded. “Music was always something that was just very important to me, running through my family. My family is basically a family of musicians and ministers. I wanted to also be a musician.”
    
“I remember plenty of times working on the night shift of having thoughts and visions—what if, what if I pursued music?” he recounted. “What if I gave it a shot? I wonder what could happen. I would always have that in the back of my mind, but reality would set in: This is what I’m doing now.”

Terrance convinced himself law enforcement was the right career until an unusual encounter completely changed the direction of his life.

A Life-Changing Encounter
 
“I was actually thinking about a career in music when I was serving subpoenas. One day I was just going door to door, putting subpoenas on the door, and there was an older gentleman who was just watching me from his front porch, rocking back and forth. Just watching me.”

The man called out to Terrance.

“He said, ‘Young man, come here.’ So I came to where he was,” Terrance said. “He pulled himself up on the railings, and he looked at me square in my eye and said, ‘When you are going to put that badge and gun down and begin your real work, son?'”

In shock, Terrance asked the man to repeat what he said.
    
“Your real work is in the kingdom of God. Your real work is in ministry, and it’s only so far you can go wearing that badge and gun,” Terrance said to CBN News as he recounted the man’s words. “It’s time to put it down and begin your real work.”

A Leap of Faith

Terrance has never seen the man again.

“I knew it was of God,” the songwriter said. “I made the decision right then to take that leap of faith and to jump.”
   
That leap has propelled Terrance into a successful music career, and in 2014, he launched Revival Music company.

But it is more than just a label. Terrance said it’s a movement to bring unity and healing to diverse communities.
   
“My joy in today’s session is bringing in people together,” he said after a live recording in May. “Bringing in different backgrounds, different races coming together … united in one goal, and that’s to worship and to show love to one another.”
 
The recording includes CBN’s own Joseph Stallings and Sharon Jackson.
  
“I’ve been in a lot of groups, played a lot of music and sang a lot of songs, but what’s different about revival worship is that it’s not about the song. It’s really not about the music when it comes down to it—it’s about the relationship between people,” Joseph said.

Sharon said that she is drawn to being a part of this record label.
 
“Each person is important,” she said. “And the other thing that I love is that each person is so different. I think that says a lot in our culture when we’re from different churches, when we’re from different ethnic backgrounds, when we’re from different denominations, and different places … and we are able to come together and make this really cool music together.”

It’s a sound that Terrance says always carries a special message.

His new song, “Untainted Love,” is no different.
  
“This love He has for us is untainted. It’s not tainted by the failed expectation of ‘I fell short of His glory today. I didn’t quite measure up as a Christian to where I should have been,'” Terrance explained. “But His love goes beyond that. It transcends all of that.”

It’s powerful message that Terrance hopes will transform lives, heal communities and bridge the divide. {eoa}

Copyright The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., All rights reserved.

The U.S. and Israel have announced a pact to establish a cybersecurity working group.

The first president of the United States, George Washington, gave a sobering warning in his farewell address on Sept. 19, 1796. He emphasized the two “great pillars of human happiness,” which he identified as “Religion and morality.” He then reminded his listeners, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports.” He capitalized the word “Religion,” referring to Christianity.

Washington sounded like Paul, speaking to his beloved flock before leaving them (Acts 20:28–31).

Crossing God’s Boundaries

In recent years, the United States has crossed every boundary that brought demise to other nations. Who ever thought in America we’d see the day when public schools would not allow students to pray or mention the name of Jesus? Or the day a Christian baker would be sued and lose his business for not baking a cake for a gay wedding?  Or the day when the demon goddess Kali would be projected on the Empire State Building?

We will never be able to say the prophets did not warn us. I recently heard Messianic Jewish Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, author of The Harbinger and The Mystery of the Shemitah, say on a radio program, “America is now overripe for God’s judgment.” Rabbi Cahn continued, “If you’re not born again, you must be born again, and this is the time … If you are a believer … if there’s anything in our life that is not right, we need to get it out now.”

A person or nation who does not turn away from wickedness can go too far for too long, and then it becomes too late. Jeremiah warned Israel over and over again, but they mocked and ridiculed him. He tried interceding for them, but God said it was too late (Jer. 7:16-17). Israel would go into captivity in Babylon for 70 years as a result of their repeated disobedience.

We find this exact theme in the New Testament in Paul’s letter to the Romans. There is a point of no return when God turns people over to a reprobate mind, lost without hope (Rom. 1:28-32).

The Roman Empire experienced a decline and fall, and America has been following an eerily parallel path. Witnessing firsthand the deterioration of an empire is chilling. Rome went from a state of wealth and influence into nonexistence, with many of the mile markers we, in the United States, have already passed. America’s decline may take generations as Rome’s did. The United States may one day become a satellite nation of the new Europe. Depending on our decisions and actions toward God in the days ahead, America’s demise may come suddenly due to nuclear attack, EMP attack, financial collapse or foreign invasion.

A Better Future for America—Revival and Outpouring

Prophecy isn’t meant to frighten us; it is meant to enlighten us and give us hope. No matter how dark it gets, Jesus promises never to leave us or forsake us but to walk with us and work with us (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5). As the darkness deepens, the light of Christ in us will grow brighter (Titus 2:12-14).

God never intended for us to walk in hopelessness. He intended for us to be people of faith, and faith is the substance of things we hope for (Heb. 11:1). God is calling us as ambassadors to be hope distributors in these last days (2 Cor. 5:20).

Yes, America may collapse. But there is another possibility, a real hope—revival!

And we have biblical precedent for this. If people listen and turn around, judgment can be softened or even averted, as it was for Nineveh: “When God saw their actions, that they turned from their evil ways, He changed His mind about the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it” (Jon. 3:10).

On the Threshold of a New Dimension

I believe strongly that we, as the church, are on the threshold of a whole new dimension of God’s grace and glory. I believe we will be a 21st-century church with 1st-century power; we were handpicked by God to live in these times, an unleashing of God’s glory, an anointing that past generations have prayed and fasted for is coming; and God is preparing us for a greater level of testimony than the majority of people of all generations have ever heard about.

Now is the perfect time to intensify our fasting and prayer for America and its leaders. Every time people humbled themselves in fasting and prayer, without exception, God did something extraordinary. Even wicked King Ahab, a man sold out to the devil at a deep level, averted judgment when he humbled himself with fasting (1 Kin. 21:27-29).

If we, Spirit-filled believers, will take our positions as God’s anointed ambassadors on earth with the help of the Holy Spirit, God will heal this land, and we will win millions more to Jesus Christ before His coming. Even so, come quickly, Jesus! {eoa}

Dave Williams serves as a pastor, teacher, speaker, author and trainer who has authored more than 60 books that inspire readers in many areas of Christian living. His book The New Life has sold more than three million copies, and his articles have appeared in numerous national magazines. This article is an excerpt from his book Hope in the Last Days.

Many in our country today, Christian and non-Christian, have lost their way on the issue of respect for our authorities and our country. Every other Monday night, I have the deep privilege to associate with a marvelous patriot. Frank is a past international director of Toastmasters and is in the club of which I am a member. He delivers stirring speeches on patriotism from memory at 90 years plus. Frank flew numerous missions over Belgium and France after the Battle of the Bulge broke out. As he would say, “Lt. Frank, ready to go to war as a glider pilot in Operation ‘Varsity’ [Invasion of the German Rhineland] with a flak vest, a steel helmet, a pistol, a carbine, four hand grenades and the copilot’s seat in a CG4A glider.”  He would miraculously survive machine-gun fire while pinned down by a German gunner after landing his glider. Listening to Frank, a brother in Christ, has made me take a deep look at my own journey of understanding patriotism. I’ve landed on the truth that Christians should be great patriots.

Sadly, some of the sharpest, most mean-spirited criticism, complaining, judgments, sarcasm and gossip comes out of the mouths of those who name Christ as Savior. Often these words are pointed at those in authority and our country. It is as though our president and others in leadership can’t be human today. The simplest error in pronouncing a name or remembering a detail results in their being the butt of hyper-sarcastic jokes, and far too large a number of Christians fall right in line with the world. The truth is, our words expose our heart (see Matt. 12:34). If you find yourself in this crowd, the question you have to ask yourself is, “What does this do to my testimony?”

Jesus prayed to the Father that the disciples would not be taken out of the world, but rather that they would be in the world and kept from the evil one who rules it. One of the greatest paradoxes of the Christian life is fully exposed in John 17:15: Christians are to be in the world, but not of the world. We are to raise children, respect authorities and be involved in our educational systems, business enterprises and public affairs. In particular, the Scriptures give us pointed direction about our attitude toward authorities: “Make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone, for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Tim. 2:1-3).

At a distance, patriotism might make it appear that we are just like many nonbelievers in the world, but up close, when our values are challenged and our character is tested, people must see that our standards for living and our citizenship are not of this realm (Phil. 3:20). However, Jesus’s prayer was we would be kept from the evil one while in the world. No matter how different we are as Christians, our charge will be to infiltrate the world’s culture by being light and salt, and yes, that means government also. However different the body of Christ is from other groups in the world, the church will never be sequestered physically or practically from the world. It will be intertwined in the very fabric of society.

We are brought into the kingdom of God to bring His kingdom to this earth, right where we live in the United States: “The kingdom of God does not come with observation. Nor will they say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For remember, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). We are God’s agents of redemption in the lives of men. Jesus came to set the captives free (see Luke 4:18), and when He ascended to heaven, He gave that calling to His disciples. We now have this calling, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will carry on His work (John 14:12) in the U.S.

I graduated from Oral Roberts University and later worked in administration there. President Roberts’ vision for the school was that his students would go into every person’s world. Practically, he envisioned students going into business, medicine, law, the arts and, of course, government.

We are charged by Jesus Christ to bring the kingdom of heaven to the U.S. and the world. My friend Frank has helped me demythologize patriotism and just be Christian about it. We must pray for our leaders and country. We must be all in supporting our country and seeing the kingdom of heaven come here. Yes, we must be great patriots. {eoa}

Tim Cameron is the author of The Forty-Day Word Fast and, most recently, 40 Days Through the Prayers of Jesus. 

On the morning of June 27, 2016, Yosef Farris awoke, like most in the Christian town of Qaa, around 4:10 am to the sound of an explosion. A policeman, he rushed toward the town center. On the way, he heard a second explosion. Then a third. By the time he arrived at the scene of the explosions, he saw what little remained of his brother, George.

Moments before, George, a Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) veteran, had tackled one of the suicide bombers to the ground. The bomber then detonated his bomb, killing them both. George almost certainly saved lives, but his wife Donia, standing nearby, was critically wounded in the blast. Yousef rushed to his sister-in-law, whose torso had been ripped apart. Moments later, a fourth suicide bomber emerged, who was shot and wounded, though he still managed to detonate his vest, injuring several more citizens of Qaa.

By 4:30 am, the town had endured four suicide bombers in an area of perhaps 50 yards. The attacks claimed five lives, including George’s, and wounded 19.

The terrorists weren’t finished. Several hours later, as Qaa was tending to its wounded and mourning its losses, four more suicide bombers attacked, this time closer to the town center, where a statue of St. Elias stands. The police suspected they’d been hiding in a nearby alleyway. The first ran past the statue toward St. Elias church. Seeing that he was a terrorist, policemen shot him dead. Three more emerged in rapid succession, blowing themselves up and wounding 13 more residents.

Click here to read the rest of the story. {eoa}

This week is Energy Week at the White House, a week where efforts are focused on getting the message out about President Trump’s plans for the nation to be good stewards of its vast natural resources.

Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, who as a former Texas governor has a wealth of experience in that regard, delivered the message for the first two-thirds of Tuesday’s White House Press Briefing. He projected abounding excitement for what his department—one he promised to eliminate if he had won the 2016 presidential race—will be doing:

This week, the Trump administration will bring together state, tribal, business, labor—all together, one room—happily sitting down and discussing how we’re going to go forward, what the path forward is for U.S. energy dominance,” he said. “And President Trump wants America to achieve energy dominance by utilizing our abundant resources for good, both here and abroad. An energy-dominant America means self-reliant, it means a secure nation, free from the geopolitical turmoil of other nations who seek to use energy as an economic weapon. An energy-dominant America will export to markets around the world, increasing our global leadership and our influence.

Perry said the U.S. has been a “net energy importer” since 1953, but the Department of Energy and the entire Trump administration have been working to reduce regulatory burdens to reverse that trend. Next year, the U.S. is on track to become a “net energy exporter”—meaning it exports more of its energy resources than it takes in from other countries.

He added that American companies are already exporting liquid natural gas to Europe and Asia, and that “unleashing our full energy potential” will lead to substantial job growth and expansion in every segment of the U.S. economy.

“This week we will also reaffirm our commitment to clean energy,” he said. “That binary choice between pro-economy and pro-environment that has perpetuated—or, I should say, been perpetuated by the Obama administration has set up a false argument.

“The fact is, we can do good for both—and we will. There was one fact missing from the headlines about the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, and that is that the United States already leads the world in lowering emissions. And we’ve done this through innovation and technology, not by signing agreements. The Paris Agreement put the taxpayer on the hook for a costly deal. There was a billion dollars already out the door. Thankfully, this president has the good sense to step in before billions more had been committed.

“We’ve already seen the fruits of innovative, clean technology, like CCUS—carbon capture, utilization and sequestration. The Petra Nova plant, just on the outskirts of Houston, Texas, uses a process to remove 90 percent of the carbon dioxide after coal is burned to generate energy in a clean way. Then it uses that captured carbon for enhanced oil recovery.

“Instead of preaching about clean energy, this administration will act on it. I believe no clean energy portfolio is truly complete without nuclear power, and so does the president. If you want to see the environment and the climate that we live in affected in a positive way, you must include nuclear energy with zero emissions to your portfolio. Do it safe, do it thoughtfully, do it economically. Under the leadership of the United States, the world can benefit from that.”

Perry said nuclear energy development—particularly by focusing on technology improvements—could be a “game changer” and play an important role in the Trump administration’s development of the nation’s clean-energy portfolio. Echoing past administration statements, he said the U.S. will have a “broad, all-of-the-above” energy portfolio that will lead to reducing trade deficits and job creation.

“We look forward to hearing from Americans this week about how we can best move forward to reduce unnecessary government regulation and bureaucracy to promote jobs and economic growth in the energy sector,” he said. “For years, they have been overregulated by Washington politicians and bureaucrats who believed they knew best. The lecturing is over with, and now it’s time that we listen.”

Perry then took questions from the media. You can see that portion of the press conference in the video clip above. {eoa}

There is a time for deep repentance, a time for war and a time for rejoicing! We have been warring and repenting. Today, let’s rejoice and worship! Days of rejoicing are days to reflect on what the Lord has accomplished. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the generations that followed them built altars of remembrance to the Lord for what He had done. Faith rejoices even before it sees the victory!

“You shall rejoice before the Lord your God—you, your son, your daughter … the orphan, and the widow who are among you—in the place where the Lord your God has chosen to place His name” (Deut. 16:11).

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

• Throw your hands in the air and joyfully thank the Lord that you know He is hearing your prayers.
• Be specific as you thank Him for answers to the things you’ve been praying for, even though you haven’t seen the answers yet.
• Go and tell somebody else all that you know the Lord is doing. Tell your family, a neighbor, a stranger or tell the world on social media.

A prayer you can pray:

Lord, I rejoice in You today! All of Your promises are “yes and amen” to me! You are forgiving our sins, healing our nation’s breaches and moving us closer to a great awakening each and every day. I can’t wait to tell my family, friends, neighbors and the whole rest of the world how awesome You are. I can’t wait to see those who have pitted themselves against You begin to turn toward You. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

Today’s decree:

I decree that the Lord has heard our prayers and supplications and that He is worthy to be praised! {eoa}

Dutch Sheets is an internationally recognized author, teacher and conference speaker. He travels extensively, empowering believers for passionate prayer and societal transformation. Dutch has pastored, taught in several colleges and seminaries and served on the board of directors for numerous organizations. Dutch’s greatest passion is to see America experience a sweeping revival and return to its godly heritage. He burns to see people find God’s “dream” for them and tap into their destiny. Dutch is a messenger of hope for America, encouraging believers to contend for awakening in our day and reformation in our lifetime. Dutch has written over 20 books, many of which have been translated into over 30 languages. His international best-seller, Intercessory Prayer, has sold nearly 1 million copies worldwide.

This article originally appeared at .

Countless studies report Millennials are not in the pews, and one campus pastor thinks he knows why: Vacation Bible School.

“Rarely does a biblical image so singularly justify a church practice as the seed imagery does for VBS, because as an outreach strategy, VBS is usually a flop, but still the chorus echoes across the country, ‘At least we planted the seed,'” Peter M. Burfeind writes for The Federalist. Burfeind also serves as a campus pastor at the University of Toledo.

“That may be true, but as long as we’re using biblical images, let’s remember the devil’s seeds also—the weeds. In the case of VBS, we have to ask: Is VBS part of the ecclesiastical cocktail leading to the decline of Christianity in America? More specifically, did it help drive Millennials, the demographic leading that decline, from the church?”

Each summer, churches across the United States gear up for weeklong programs that teach the gospel in a fun, memorable way. Attendees learn new songs, Bible verses, crafts and how to tell their friends about Jesus.

Herein lies the problem, Burfeind writes. VBS teaches children that church should be entertainment, and if they get bored, they move on to the next thing—VBS, church, programs and eventually—or eventually just leave it all together.

With articles online that place music, snacks, recreation time and crafts above time spent in the Bible, Burfeind’s analysis sounds solid.

He writes:

Is it any wonder after 30 years of a Christian populace bopping around from church to church seeking the highest entertainment value, the kids grew up and decided to seek their sense of the holy and eternal in religious alternatives like progressivism, a more serious world religion, or even radical Islamism? Or does it surprise us that after growing up in a faith life backdropped with cartoon caricatures, the apparent substantiality of science was enough to dismantle such childish thoughts?

Folks, we’ve raised our children to leave the church. The loss of Millennials has no one to blame but the parents and church leaders of the past 40 years. Forty years of a strategy of marketing the faith through the medium of pop culture has backfired, as every study of Christianity in America has revealed the past ten years.

But Burfiend isn’t suggesting doing away with the church summer classic. Rather, he advises congregations write their own curriculum under pastoral guidance rather than literally buying into the theme of the year.

VBS remains one of the few church events devoted entirely to encouraging children to tell everyone they know about the love of God. We definitely need more of that. {eoa}