A lot of attention has been focused on St Francis of Assisi after Cardinal Bergoglio took the name of Francis upon his election as Pope. As well we should, because St. Francis taught his followers to share the Gospel more by what they do than what they say.

Next week, on April 8, we mark the life of another Francis who, it is believed, is also a role model for the new Pope. On that date in 1541 Francis Xavier began his extraordinary missionary journey to the East. Over the next 10 years he traveled through 50 kingdoms and baptized more than 1,000,000 people. He founded churches from India to Japan, earning the title “Apostle to the Indies.”

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Beyond his importance as an Asian missionary, Francis Xavier pioneered a return of Christian missions to its Gospel roots. The Medieval model of missions called for conquest and forced conversion, as exemplified by the Spanish conquests and failed conversions in the New World. Francis Xavier showed that heartfelt conversion won by the love of God was not only more scriptural, it was more effective. In that sense he is the father of all modern Christian missions.  

Francis Xavier lived in an age of upheaval, when Europeans had begun challenging the pagan kingdoms of the East for commerce and, later, military supremacy. The European traders were interested in gold, not God, but they undermined the power of the Pagan Kings and the Pagan Gods they claimed to represent. The traders also curtailed the power of the Islamic merchants and stopped the Islamic expansion into the Far East. As a result, societies which had been closed to Christianity became more open, and Christian missionaries were able to present the Gospel. For Francis Xavier, a million baptisms followed.

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These European powers eventually spread their empires throughout the world, replacing Pagan kingdoms in the Americas, Africa and Asia. While these nations were seldom, if ever, interested in spreading Christianity, many missionaries followed in the footsteps of Francis Xavier and brought God’s love to the colonized peoples. Today there are thriving Christian communities in the Americas, Africa and Asia because of these missionary efforts.

Also, today, we find that it is Europe which has abandoned its Christian roots and fallen into darkness. So, it seems somehow to be fitting that a Pope taking the name Francis would come from a place which was Christianized by missionaries like Francis Xavier, and would now return to Europe to preach a new evangelism to the lost Europeans.

We pray for Pope Francis, a man of the Spirit and a uniter of Christians, that he will help lead the whole church to challenge the European societies and open them to the Gospel like the Europeans did to the Pagan world 500 years ago.

We pray also for the unity of the church and a spiritual awakening of the church to enable it to be faithful in our generation as Francis Xavier was in his.

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There’s no doubt that a spiritual movement is taking place across college campuses. In almost every region of the country, young people are having their lives impacted by the love of Jesus Christ. This week, thousands of students at Baylor University gathered for 72 hours of continuous prayer to ask God for revival on their campus in Waco, Texas.  

Since 2019, students have gathered for FM72, or Fountain Mall 72, under a white tent for three days to pursue “the heart of God.” 

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Each year, the tent has gotten bigger, the crowds have gotten larger, but the heart has remained the same. 

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“It’s a week given to prayer,” Charles Ramsey, Ph.D., associate chaplain and director for Chapel and Campus Ministries at Baylor, shared on a social media post. “Prayer is powerful. Things happen when we pray.” 

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This year’s event kicked off Mar. 30, and concluded Apr. 2. Organizers estimate that nearly 3,000 students gathered on the initial night event to worship, pray and hear an encouraging message from Lisa Koons, the mission and justice director of the 24-7 Prayer Movement USA.

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Students stood shoulder to shoulder under a nearly 10,000-square-foot canopy each night to also celebrate their fellow students who made decisions for Jesus Christ. 

By the end of the three-day event, 35 students gave their lives to God and many of those students took part in water baptisms.

“He transformed my life and I want to live everyday for Him,” one young woman remarked before being publicly baptized.

To read the full story, visit our content partners at CBN.

Reprinted with permission from cbn.com. Copyright © 2025 The Christian Broadcasting Network Inc. All rights reserved.

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In a powerful prophetic moment, Mike Thompson delivers a stirring message that resonated with the spiritual urgency of the times. Filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Thompson declares, “Rise up, rise up, lion’s army, rise up for the victory at hand.”

One of the key reasons we must declare victory right now is what Thompson says is a “Philistine spirit” trying rise up against our nation.

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“The battle is the Lord’s, and the victory is yours, but keep your eyes upon the victory,” Thompson says.

He urges Christians not to be distracted by the enemies rising against them, but to stand firm in their faith, knowing that they will emerge victorious. This Philistine spirit is a symbol of opposition to God’s purposes, but Thompson reassures believers, “You shall defeat the enemy in every turn, for the enemy is not God; he is a wicked spirit, a usurper.”

Just because the enemy is real, we need still to remember and realize that our God is much greater and more powerful than anything that the darkness tries to throw at us.

“The true spirit of God is moving not only through you and doing spiritual warfare but He is moving with victory and reward upon the face of the earth,” Thompson says.

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He encourages believers to embrace the Holy Spirit’s anointing, which brings both personal and spiritual breakthroughs, declaring, “It will come at times in a soft way that softens your heart and brings loving embraces with your family… but it also comes in the area of strength as you fight the enemy.”

This divine empowerment, according to Thompson, is the key to cultivating the kingdom of God on earth.

“The kingdom of God is as a seed that is planted and it grows up and it yields the fruit that is necessary to promote the covenant of God,” he says.

He also stressed the importance of discerning between the true voice of prophecy and the false voices of the enemy. “You’ll operate not in the false voice of prophecy but in the true voice of prophecy, which is from Him, your Lord and your Savior,” Thompson says.

In these tumultuous times, Mike Thompson’s prophetic word is a powerful call to rise up in faith and authority. The Philistine spirit may be at work, but the victory already is ours through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we stand firm, focusing not on the battle but on the promised triumph, we will witness the kingdom of God advancing mightily in our lives, our nation and the world. Now is the time to embrace the victory—your destiny is unfolding in the glory of God.

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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

There’s a battle raging in America today, but it’s not just political—it’s spiritual. And if the church doesn’t open its eyes soon, we may find ourselves complicit in affirming lies that come straight from the pit of Hell.

As reported by The Christian Post, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), and several of her colleagues called out what many believers already sense in their spirits: the transgender movement isn’t just a cultural shift, it’s a spiritual deception.

“I think it’s a direct attack on God’s creation,” Greene said on the “Right to the Point” podcast. “God created us male and female just like the bill is stating, male and female in His image, and that’s why the Left is attacking it.”

That’s not just political rhetoric—it’s biblical truth. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” No middle ground. No confusion.

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Greene and other congressional leaders are backing H.R. 1399, the “Protect Children’s Innocence Act,” a bill that would make it a felony to perform sex-change procedures on minors. It also gives harmed children the right to sue those responsible. That’s more than policy—it’s an act of compassion to protect kids from irreversible damage.

Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) didn’t mince words: “It’s a lie from the pits of hell that you can change your sex; you can’t change your DNA.” She’s right. We’re not just dealing with bad science—we’re dealing with demonic lies that twist God’s design.

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What’s even more alarming is when these deceptions creep into the church. Greene took aim at North Point Community Church, led by pastor Andy Stanley, after a leaked video allegedly showed staff being trained to affirm trans pronouns and names for minors. “That should never happen in church, because that is… confirming Satan’s lie to these vulnerable children,” she said.

This isn’t just a political battle, folks. As Rep. Harshbarger pointed out, “What the Bible says is … what is construed as right in the end days will be looked at as wrong, and what is wrong will be looked at as right.” We are there. Isaiah 5:20 warned us: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”

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Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) tied it all back to the Garden of Eden. “It’s a great lie that Satan had from the very beginning… he is a liar and deceiver,” he said. And that same lie—that we can redefine ourselves outside of God’s image—is being sold to our children today. Tragically, even some churches are buying in.

Let’s be clear: Christians aren’t called to hate. We’re called to love with truth. Telling someone the truth about who they are in Christ is the most loving thing we can do. Affirming confusion is not compassion—it’s spiritual compromise.

This is more than a bill. It’s a line in the sand. As believers, we must choose whether we will stand on the unchanging Word of God or bow to the pressures of culture and deception.

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

They say convenience is king—but what if that convenience comes at the cost of your freedom?

Right now, while most of the world is distracted, a new financial system is quietly moving into place: Central Bank Digital Currencies, or CBDCs. The European Union is already planning to roll out the next phase of its “digital euro” in November 2025, and few people are paying attention to what that really means.

At first glance, it sounds innovative. A digital euro? Easy to use, modern, secure. But look deeper, and you’ll start to see the dangerous framework of what could become a system of total control.

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CBDCs are different from cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. They’re not decentralized or anonymous. They’re issued and operated by central banks, meaning the government—or whoever holds power—can track, program, and even shut off your money with a click.

Catherine Austin Fitts, a former government official and current president of Solari Inc., didn’t hold back in her recent talk with Hillsdale College. She warned that CBDCs would allow governments to enforce real-time financial mandates. Think about that: they could limit what you buy, where you buy it, and even if you’re allowed to buy at all.

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If that sounds far-fetched, just remember what happened in Canada. During the peaceful trucker protests, the government froze the bank accounts of not only the organizers—but also everyday citizens who donated to support them. No trial. No warning. Just cold, hard digital power.

Now imagine a world where there’s no cash backup, no privacy, and no way out. That’s the foundation of what many believe is the “beast system” prophesied in Revelation.

Total Control Through Technology

It’s not just about money. It’s about building a digital control grid. Your phone, your car, your home, your health records—they’re all going digital. And once they’re tied to a centralized digital ID and currency, your entire life can be tracked and manipulated.

The Bible warned us about a time when “no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark” (Rev. 13:17). That’s not speculation. That’s prophecy. And we’re watching the groundwork being laid right now.

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The Church Must Wake Up

This isn’t just a political or economic issue. It’s spiritual. The enemy has always tried to silence the Church, and digital control offers a powerful weapon to do it. Ministries that refuse to bow to the culture will be labeled “dangerous.” Their bank accounts could be frozen. Their status revoked. Their lights turned off—all with the press of a button.

If we, the body of Christ, stay silent, we risk being swept into this system without resistance. But we’re not called to be passive. We’re called to stand.

As Paul urged in 2 Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Tom Hughes, a California-based pastor and prophecy teacher, opened his recent episode of The Tom Hughes Report with a punchline that feels more like a punch to the gut in today’s cultural climate: “How do you know if a politician is lying? The answer—their lips are moving.”

But Hughes wasn’t just talking about politicians. He was warning about something much deeper and far more dangerous: the rise of deception on a global scale—technological, spiritual and political. “It is almost impossible to tell who is lying or what is a lie. And the deception is growing worse. In fact, it’s growing much worse,” Hughes said.

That’s not hyperbole. It’s biblical prophecy, he argues. Referencing Jesus’ words in Matthew 24, Hughes reminds viewers that the very first sign Jesus gave of the end times wasn’t war or famine—it was deception. “Take heed that no one deceives you,” Jesus warned.

The Tools of the Trade

“Deception today is marketed and mechanized,” Hughes said. “Machines spew out lies by the thousands 24 hours a day.” He wasn’t just talking about fake news. He emphasized that with AI, even middle schoolers can now generate lewd images of classmates—lies that look so real they destroy lives. “Such AI-generated images have already spread to middle school and even elementary school campuses,” he said.

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The rise of this kind of deception is what Hughes calls “the age of deception.” And it’s being fueled by tools that previous generations couldn’t even imagine.

“All at a time when the means to create and spread lies is rising to a level previous generations could not have imagined,” Hughes said.

The Death of Journalism

Hughes didn’t hold back when it came to the media either. “Journalism has been hijacked,” he said. “Many journalists were paid just to report on the narrative they were told. They compromised the truth and facts for money.”

He cited multiple examples—from the media’s role in downplaying concerns about COVID vaccines and lockdowns, to inflated claims about climate change and political manipulations during the 2024 election cycle.

“They told us repeatedly that President Joe Biden was of sound mind, sharp as a tack, too energetic for his young staff members to keep up with,” Hughes said. “Later, they turned on President Biden like hungry sharks smelling blood in the water.”

The result? American trust in media has crumbled. “Only 31% of Americans expressed a great deal or fair amount of confidence in the media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly,” Hughes said, citing a 2024 Gallup survey.

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The Echo Chamber Effect

Even social media isn’t safe. In fact, Hughes believes it might be the most dangerous vehicle for deception yet. “People will pick the news that fits and reinforces their already existing worldviews,” he said. “Social media surrounds you with a bubble of things you like and agree with.”

This polarization even extends into families. “If you have adult children who no longer contact you, it may be busyness or thoughtlessness. But it may also be that your adult child fell for the growing belief that most parents are toxic,” he said.

From Eden to the End Times

Hughes connects today’s deception back to the Garden of Eden. “‘Did God really say that?’” he quoted Satan’s words to Eve. “‘You will not surely die… you will be like God.’”

That same lie, Hughes believes, is being repackaged today through promises of immortality via AI, transhumanism and quantum computing. “You’ll be able to live forever, well, that’s a lie,” Hughes said. “But that was the lie of the devil in the Garden of Eden.”

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He tied these developments to prophecy about the Antichrist, who he says will come “with lying wonders, fake miracles.” Hughes believes that people will be deceived into thinking that technology, not Jesus, is the key to salvation. “The deceit of the Antichrist and false prophet is going to come with lying wonders… They’re not going to be real miracles, but they’re going to appear that way.”

Anchored in Truth

Despite all the chaos, Hughes doesn’t leave his audience in despair. “God is still on the throne,” he declared. “He’s not surprised by the direction this world is headed. In fact, He told us about it ahead of time so that we would be prepared, not panicked.”

Quoting John 8:32, Hughes reminds viewers, “‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’”

And in his final plea, Hughes delivers a gospel invitation: “If you don’t know Him yet, don’t wait. Now is the time to put your trust in Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life, just as He said, the only answer to the deception of this world.”

As the program ended, Hughes gave a familiar exhortation rooted in Titus 2:13: “Encourage one another and live with urgency, because the trumpet could sound at any moment. Maranatha, the King is coming.”

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Standing on the historic Huldah Steps in Jerusalem, Bible teacher and evangelist Perry Stone shared a message close to the hearts of many Christian parents and grandparents: the salvation of their families.

Stone, known for his prophetic insight and deep scriptural teaching, delivered what he called “one of the most different messages” he’s ever preached from the Holy Land. This time, he didn’t focus on prophecy or historical revelations — he talked about the heartbreak many believers face when their children or spouses walk away from the faith.

“We receive a lot of prayer requests for men and women and moms and dads saying, ‘Would you pray for my children? They’re not saved.’ A lot of wives say, ‘Would you pray for my husband? He doesn’t know the Lord,’” Stone told the gathered crowd.

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This burden stirred Stone to seek the Lord for answers — not just comfort. What he uncovered is something many in the church might recognize but haven’t always addressed.

In a particularly touching moment, Stone recalled a conversation with an elderly woman from Georgia who broke down in tears over her unsaved children and grandchildren. Her confession was striking.

“She said, ‘My problem is I never taught them how to love Jesus. They never fell in love with Jesus. I tried to get them to fall in love with the church doctrine,’” Stone recounted. “‘When they got to be 18, they said, “We don’t want this bondage,” and they left and they will not come back.’”

That story became a centerpiece of Stone’s message — a call to parents to shift their focus from rigid rule-keeping to fostering genuine relationship between their children and Christ.

“As long as you preach, will you tell people to raise their kids to fall in love with Jesus?” the woman had pleaded. “Don’t fall in love with a doctrine, don’t fall in love with just a strict teaching, don’t fall in love with a holiness movement. Fall in love with Jesus.”

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Stone added, “That’s really true. If you love the Lord, your heart is to always try to do the right thing. And I’ll tell you something else, if you love the Lord and you ever do something you shouldn’t do, your heart always wants to turn back to the Lord.”

For Stone, this wasn’t just anecdotal, it was a revelation.

“So one of the reasons that some people are not in church today is they were taught the dos and the don’ts, but were never taught how to fall in love with Jesus,” he said. “If you will teach your little children and your grandchildren how great Jesus is… and with childlike faith, you teach them while they’re young, I do believe what the Bible says: train them up in the way they should go, and then when they get older, they shall not depart.”

With cultural values constantly shifting and distractions all around, Stone’s message serves as a clear reminder to parents and church leaders that eternal impact begins at home and is rooted in love.

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

A proposed bill in Illinois is drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers and families alike for potentially criminalizing parents who homeschool their children. House Bill 2827, dubbed the “Homeschool Act,” would require parents to register with their local public school through a “homeschool declaration form,” with failure to comply punishable by a misdemeanor.

Democratic State Representative La Shawn Ford, who represents parts of Chicago, joined critics Thursday during a rally in downtown Chicago. “This bill is a pipeline to the criminal justice system for parents,” Ford said. “How can we criminalize parents for wanting to love their children?”

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The bill also mandates that homeschooled children meet the same immunization and health examination requirements as public school students if they wish to participate in extracurricular activities. In addition, the legislation would require private schools to submit student contact information to the state, a move opponents call government overreach.

Critics argue that the bill undermines parental rights and disproportionately targets minority communities, where homeschooling has seen significant growth. Since the pandemic, the percentage of Black families in Illinois choosing homeschooling has grown from 3.3% to nearly 17%, according to Ford.

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Bobby Sylvester, vice president of the Urban Center, warned that the legislation would allow state intrusion into private education. “This bill would require private schools to hand over names, phone numbers, and addresses. That is government overreach,” he said.

Supporters, including the bill’s sponsor, Democratic Rep. Terra Costa Howard, argue that stronger oversight is necessary. The legislation follows a ProPublica report alleging that Illinois’ lax homeschooling regulations failed to catch cases of child abuse. The bill includes a provision allowing the state to request teaching materials if there’s suspicion a child is not being properly educated.

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Opponents counter that no evidence links homeschooling to a higher risk of abuse than public schooling. Homeschooling advocates say the bill could force parents to keep children in failing or unsafe schools due to fear of prosecution.

Chantal Moore, a mother whose autistic son thrives in a homeschool environment, said, “Keeping our children safe is not acquired by a form, but by standing as a community together.”

Aziza Butler, a former public school teacher and homeschooling mother of six, added that the bill threatens educational freedom and misdirects resources away from struggling public schools.

This article originally appeared on American Faith, and is reposted with permission.

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The timetable of Jesus’ crucifixion when compared with the Passover celebration is just incredible. According to the Torah, at the time of Passover a number of events had to take place in a specific order and at specific times.

1. The Passover lamb had to be selected on a specific day.

Exodus 12 instructs that the Passover lamb be chosen on the tenth day of the first month. By the time of Jesus, only lambs from Bethlehem were considered eligible to serve as Passover lambs. So the lamb born in Bethlehem was chosen and brought into Jerusalem from the east (down the Mount of Olives) and entered the city through the sheep gate.

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On the tenth day of the first month Jesus, the Lamb born in Bethlehem, came down the Mount of Olives and entered Jerusalem. (This is called His “triumphal entry”!) As He entered, the people waved palm branches and shouted, “Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord! Save us, son of David!” (Matt. 21:9, my paraphrase). By mass acclamation Jesus was designated Israel’s Messiah! The crowds had chosen their Passover Lamb.

2. The lamb then had to be examined.

The Torah instructed that once the lamb was chosen, it had to be carefully examined for blemishes. Only a perfect, spotless, unblemished lamb would suffice for the Passover.

After arriving in Jerusalem, Jesus went to the temple to teach. While there, He was approached by the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and teachers of the Law. Each group posed difficult questions, trying to trap Him. (See Luke 19:47–48.) Essentially, they were looking for any blemish that might disqualify Him as Messiah. But no one could find fault with Him. He was without blemish.

3. The leaven (impurity) must be cast out.

The Torah instructs that before the feast, all leaven (impurity) must be cast out of every Israelite home. Each mother took a candle and searched out impurity, removing it from her house. This regulation is still observed today. Passover is a time to cleanse every house. Every observant Jewish family carefully cleans their house before Passover. Every trace of impurity is removed.

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After Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, He entered the temple and cast out the moneychangers (Matt. 21:12–13). He was following the biblical instruction to prepare for Passover by cleansing His Father’s house.

4. The lamb was taken to the altar for public display.

On the morning of the fourteenth day of the first month, when all has been set in order, the lamb is led out to the altar. At 9:00 a.m., the lamb is bound to the altar and put on public display for all to see!

On the morning of the fourteenth day of the first month, when all had been fulfilled, Jesus was led out to Calvary. At 9:00 a.m., just as the lamb was being bound to the altar, Jesus was nailed to the cross and put on public display at Calvary!

5. The lamb was slain at a specific time.

At exactly 3:00 p.m. the high priest ascended the altar. As another priest blew a shofar on the temple wall, the high priest cut the throat of the sacrificial lamb and declared, “It is finished!” At 3:00 p.m. on that High Holy Day, at the moment the Passover lamb was being killed, Jesus cried with a loud voice, “It is finished,” and gave up His Spirit! In Greek the term translated “It is finished” means “The debt has been paid in full!” God came! Jesus became the Passover for the world! It’s no wonder John the Baptist introduced Jesus by saying, “Behold, the Lamb!” (John 1:29, NASB). It’s no wonder Paul wrote, “Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7). Passover is Jesus!

To read more from Chuck Pierce’s The Passover Prophecies, visit this link.

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Chuck D. Pierce is president of Glory of Zion International Ministries.

In a recent reaction video, podcast host Kap Chatfield dives into a powerful message from Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell that challenges popular ideas about discovering one’s calling. The viral clip has struck a chord—especially among Christians seeking clarity on their God-given purpose.

Chatfield opens the video by asking the question many believers wrestle with: “How on earth do you find your calling?” But he quickly notes, “Your calling might not actually be the thing that you want to do. What happens then?”

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Pastor Mitchell, who has been preaching for over a decade, shares that ministry was never his personal ambition. “I pastor out of obedience. I preach out of obedience. I don’t do it out of my natural desire,” he says. “Ministry is a cross that I bear. It is not glory for me.”

Despite his dynamic preaching and growing influence, Mitchell recalls resisting the pastoral call. “I wanted to be like Billy Graham,” he says. “I wanted to be an evangelist… I didn’t want to be in a local church.” He remembers the exact moment God called him to pastor on Apr. 14, 2004, and his four-year struggle to surrender.

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Chatfield connects this to a broader issue: many people are trying to manufacture their purpose. “A calling requires a Caller,” he warns. “If you’re trying to build your own life and slap His name on it like a bumper sticker, that’s not blessable.”

Pastor Mitchell’s testimony reminds us that true purpose comes not from following our passion, but from obeying God’s voice—especially when it’s hard.

No matter how hard something is, ultimately, God wants us to be able to surrender everything to Him. In order to truly find a fulfilling life, God is asking that we trust Him with the greater, more perfect plans He has for us.

Be on the lookout for Kap Chatfield’s new book coming next year, Prosperity is Not a Curse Word.

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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.