“And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.  Out of their most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.  Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.  And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will” (II Cor. 8:1-6).

Dear NDI Partner,

Many of you, like me, watched the last Presidential Debate between Senators McCain and Obama.  It was obviously their most pointed and poignant debate.  Many issues of paramount concern to Christians were more clearly stated by them than ever – especially concerning abortion, freedom of choice, stem cell research, Supreme Court appointees, taxes, race, etc.  The differences in their positions could not have been more clearly articulated.  Now it is in our power as citizens to “vote our conscience” in this crucial election – which will probably be the most important in our lifetime.

While this is not the proper forum to analyze their debate or positions, it was interesting to me that both candidates made several references to NDI!  Did you hear it?  Both McCain and Obama stated strongly that “We need a NEW DIRECTION in America today!”  I couldn’t agree more!  That’s a message we have been preaching for 40 years in America and around the world! 

But a “new direction” to us means going back to the “old direction” that our country was originally founded upon.  Those Judeo-Christian principles that are the moral, legal and cultural underpinnings of American life and governance.  It is those principles that made America the great nation we have been in the past – the “shining city set on a hill” that is the last and greatest hope for liberty, democracy, and equality for mankind.

As a nation we have not always lived up to those ideas and ideals.  Often we have fallen far short of our own standards of “freedom and justice for all.”  But even in our lowest times as a nation, we have not ceased to be the envy of the free world.  America is still the number one desired destination for all of the repressed peoples of the world.  They still look to us as the great “land of opportunity” where any person can reach their potential – which is why we continue to be inundated with legal and illegal immigrants.  As a result, we are the only nation on earth that has to erect fences to keep people out – rather than to keep people in! 

In spite of our current economic crisis, I believe that we can once again rise to greatness as a nation.  However, it will not take place without a national spiritual revival that takes us back to the “Faith of our Founding Fathers.”  We have been living in a false “economic bubble” for decades.  We have been on an unrealistic materialistic binge that is now being “corrected” on Wall Street, Main Street and the Back Streets of America.  It is long overdue and will not be quickly or painlessly fixed – on a personal or national level.  Whether this is a recession or depression, it cannot be corrected with a “business as usual” attitude or actions.  We must deal with the root rather than the fruit of the problem.  And this next Presidential election will largely determine what “new direction” will be taken to try and fix our economy.

After the recent economic “crash” on Wall Street, the media pundits were using ominous words like: “Economic Meltdown”…”Total Collapse of our Financial System”…”Unprecedented Bank Closures”…”Lending Institution Collapse”…”Economic Tsunami Sweeping Across the World”…”Worldwide Recession,” etc.  Obviously these kinds of words create panic in the public and become a “self-fulfilling prophecy.”  There are not many political purveyers of hope right now!

From a Biblical perspective, one has to ask if this is the “Big One?!”  Is this the worldwide total economic collapse that John forsaw in his revelation when he wrote about “Babylon the Great”: “In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!” (Rev. 18:17). 

At this point I can personally relate to the words of the prophet Amos who said of himself: “I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet” (Amos 7:14).  But it does not take a Biblical prophet to see from this latest financial crisis that a worldwide economic collapse is possible now as never before in history.  That’s because unlike any other time in recorded history, the world economic systems are intricately connected together.  The old economic truism is now more true than ever: “Whenever Wall Street sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold!”  Right now they all have a serious case of the “financial flu!”

So you and I are in the midst of an international, national and personal economic crisis that impacts every one of us.  Some are better equipped to “weather this storm” than others.  Sadly, millions of Bible believing Christians will be just as negatively impacted as non-Christians because they too have been “living above their means” and are “in debt up to their eyeballs!”  So when the economic “house of cards” collapses, their life-style will collapse along with it.  That’s a painful way to learn the Biblical principle of debt taught in both the Old and New Testaments: “The borrower is a slave to the lender” (Prov. 22:7).  As a result we are to: “Owe no one anything but the debt of love” (Rom. 13:8).

Past times of economic “depression,” “recession” and “correction” have shown that the first place that most people – including Christians – start cutting back is in their benevolent giving.  Because most Christians only “tip” rather than “tithe,” they just cut down their tipping at church each week when the offering plates are passed.  And giving to non-profits often significantly falls off – except by the radically committed Christians who have a “Madedonian spirit” that I wrote about above. 

This is where we can not only learn from the Macedonian saints of the First Century – but also from our brethren in the Two-Thirds World in the Twenty First Century.  In spite of their “severe trial” and “extreme poverty,” God’s grace caused them to “overflow with thanksgiving” and “rich generosity.”  As a result, the Macedonian Christians continued to “…give as much as they were able and even beyond their ability.”  And all the while they called their giving a “privilege” rather than a “sacrifice.”  What a conviction that is to my own living and giving! 

Because of our Judeo-Christian heritage as Americans, giving is in our DNA.  That’s why studies show that Americans are the most generous people in the world and Christians are the highest per capita givers in America.  Because of that fact, studies show that giving to charities only dropped about 1% during the past 3 recorded recessions in America.  And that faithfulness has certainly been true with our NDI partners like those of you receiving this email.  You have faithfully and generously stood with us through “thick and thin” – for which we are deeply thankful!

During times like these, we can learn a lot from the churches in Macedonia, as well as from our brethren in other countries.  For them,  persecution,  poverty and privation are the norm – not the exception, like it is for us.  Right now our beloved partners in Zimbabwe are living with the world’s highest inflation – some 215 million percent!  I can’t even begin to imagine that economic reality that they have now been living under for the last several years!  And yet, they are finding God faithful in the midst of their trials and tribulations.

When you receive and read this email, I will be in flight to India and Bangladesh for ministry until the end of the month.  Christians in India right now are facing renewed persecution by the Hindu militants – especially those in the State of Orissa.  In the last few weeks more than 30 Christians have been killed…3,000 homes burned…130 churches destroyed.  Christians in Bangladesh constantly live under pressure and persecution from militant Muslims – just like in the majority of other Islamic countries.  So I do covet your prayers for these next two weeks of ministry.

Finally, to give you a bit of historical perspective, I am sharing below a few pictures from my first trip to Bangladesh and India for Franklin Graham and Samaritans Purse back in 1987.  Franklin just honored my sister-in-law, Becky Williams, with a million dollar gift in her honor to a hospital in India – please note the pictures from the “million dollar party” he threw for Becky! 

So I trust you will be blessed and encouraged by these following pictures out of our ministry archives that show God’s faithfulness through partnership with people like you!

For His Kingdom & Glory,

PS: Because of my constant travel recently, I have still not reported to you on my last trip to Africa…the Bible Distribution in Haiti…and the Church building project for the Haitian Diaspora in Freeport, Bahamas.  Hopefully those will be sent out to you next week while I am in Asia.  So be watching for them.

Me teaching at a Pastor’s Conference in Bangladesh 21 years ago.

Young pastors eagerly taking notes as I taught.

Giving some of my books and Study Guides to the local Bible College

It was a joy to teach that first Conference in Bangladesh with the late Roy Gustafson of the Billy Graham Association, one of the great Bible teachers of the last century.  And music was provided by Dennis Agajanian.

Dennis Agajanian is still considered one of the best guitar players in the world and continues to sing regularly with Franklin Graham.  He also sang when Becky was honored by Franklin for her 30 years of service.

After that first Conference in Bangladesh Franklin had me go to India to dedicate several churches and Jesus Wells.

One of the first ECI Churches I ever dedicated with Dr. Ezra Sargunam, whom I will be with on this trip.

One of the first “Jesus Wells” I had the joy of dedicating in India for Franklin and Samaritan’s Purse.

Here Franklin surprises Becky with the “one million dollar check” to the Lok Hospital in Bombay, India, in her honor.

Becky and my brother, Ed (right), along with Dr. Stephen Alfred, founder and CEO of the Lok Hospital who came over for this surprise presentation.

It was a great joy for me and my sisters and brothers-in-law to surprise Becky on this event.  Dr. Keith & Hannah Thompson (left), and Dr. Charlie & Judy Baer (right), joined for a picture with Becky, Ed and Dr. Alfred.

Ed, Becky and Franklin after the presentation at The Cove, the Billy Graham Training Center near Ashville.  This was not only a commemoration of Becky’s 30 years of service to World Medical Mission as Franklin’s first and longest running employee, it was also her 70th Birthday.