Interview with Don Shank

CNG radio for today's culture and timeless truths come together is reasoned, relevant content, apologetics, worldview and answers to the questions that you need to know need to know from Alex McFarlane ministries. This is true for a new generation radio and now the man who preached in 50 states and 50 days speaker, writer, and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarlane, the great commission in the church in every age is called to present the gospel to the world and make disciples of all nations that nothing 28 1820 Christ as he was leaving this world he would ascend back to heaven, but he gave his followers the charge to go into all the world and make disciples of every nation, and I think about Mark 1615, where Jesus to preach the gospel to every creature today on P&G radio were going to be talking about the great commission and I think about the great founder of Methodism John Wesley who said we have nothing to do but saving of souls. And that's true that his life's highest calling, and that is certainly the priority for the church and preach every Christian, Alex McFarlane here with P&G radio and were so excited because today we bring back of) to the ministry of a valued colleague and brother Don Shan of the high T IDE or as an iPod of the ocean in a wave of God's presence and God's power and God's message we want this part of the gospel to shape the world and a man the Lord is using to help accomplish that is Don Shank and he's a longtime friend of ministry and you've heard his voice before but it's good to have them back from all of our travels all of his travels in and done a great have you on the show again asked where are you calling them from you for this opportunity. All that was very happy that you think about you and I pray for you and I need to go on your website and the you and I've known each other through our mutual colleagues and friends the Hamilton's Mike and Debbie Hamilton many listening that get our emails and press releases.

No Hamilton strategies are up in Pennsylvania but tell us a little bit about the tide. I know many blisters are familiar because we we talked about it before, but the background of the tide and how you became involved in the ministry street was started by God gave a pastor here in Chambersburg in 1946 to start a radio ministry that would like to see God planted that is nurtured and grown over the past 70 some years to an international radio broadcast in the 70s English program was first taken overseas and then we began realizing that people respond best to gospel when they hear in their own language so that we cover something for something that they can really embrace as part of their own culture God who speaks their language. So over the last 40 years.

The ministry has really put the focus on starting Christian radio programs in countries where people don't have access to the gospel through radio corrupted 25 different languages well and doing that in eight different countries. I joined the ministry in 2001. My wife and I just returned from 12 years serving as missionaries in Africa begin where God might be leading us to deploy everything this way open the doors and placed me here and it is wonderful to be a place where I can still be at the heart of missions. Even though God has me with my feet on the US. I still get to go take a leader to leader training teams in the various countries. I still have help to coordinate and direct ministry activities Warner Bros. helping to build God's kingdom in the hearts of people around the world. Don as United team. Reggie to do the show signing a lot of books for high school grads and college grads and I'm getting ready to go and speak to a group of graduate and you know a lot of times young people will ask Nina how did I discover God's will for my life and you know what the future to be like when you're walking with Jesus in your daily continually trying to cling to Christ and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit because of the roadmap. Kind of like self.

Does this verse in Proverbs chapter 16 verse lines always come slightly out of man plans his way, but God directs his.

I've seen it, both in the ministries. I think two of Jonathan wiki without me.

He said perhaps the Lord will act, but he didn't have a clear plan when he went to the tax authorities and end up with a great victory there. He knew God had made a promise and he took steps in that direction and that limit terrified a little bit what I mean like all of the Bible school, often with the graduates when they were graduate they would be looking one area where does God want me to serve. What does he have in mind what you're seeking God's call and we want to do that but always told him don't just look for open doors because the doors would always be open sometimes you turn and see if it opens and God will open it. I think that is just this is wonderful.

The wage jobs does Josh shape and mold and direct us, you're going back to the tide ministry there was a time when we put a really a strong focus on adding new languages in my Board of Directors that I want to go out there and identify where are the opportunities I came back with a whole list of countries and languages were there was a great need and we added it over that. We added 12 new languages. Of those 12 new languages, eight of them were not on my list Board of Directors. God took this. I think our vision for God to give us that we needed to be out there more languages, was a clear vision but God, opened the doors along the way and shape the path has taken subscription regeneration radios from the combat connectedness with more of our conversation with Don Shank world missions bringing the world to Christ and how you can be involved in the way from I am a watchman ministries use today's I am a watchman minute reading warning labels can be entertaining. The TV remote control warning label red not dishwasher safe. The warning label on an iron read never press close when on the body. You know those warning labels came about because at some point some person, probably a male thought it would be a good idea to save time and iron his clothes when they were on or clean the TV remote by putting it in the dishwasher. Humans seem to need warnings. The wise heed warnings hundreds of practical and prophetic warnings can be found in Scripture. They are provided to ensure our protection and prepare us for the future. I encourage you to take advantage of free I am a watchman resources to grow in the word become more aware of the prophecies that warn of what is to come.

People be faithful, be a watchman, I am a watchman.com first Peter 315 tells us to be ready always to give an answer for the hope we have were instructed to be prepared to defend our faith. This is Alex McFarlane for the life answers teams students we train at North Greenville University, a leading Christian college in South Carolina. The life answers. Teams are made up of students who will inspire and equip your congregation. These apologetics teams train speaking churches to youth groups and train Christians of all ages to address key issues of our times. From a biblical perspective like is there a God is the Bible true. What about gender and moral issues. Call me at 864977 2008 and we will arrange for the life answers team to come to your church and give a presentation that will benefit your people for years to come.

864977 2008 and always be ready. You know, Romans 116 says for. I'm not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God to bring salvation to everyone who believes. That's what your kids need before they go to college. That's the theme for the 2019 TNG Christian apologetics youth July 29 through August 2 at Camp kale North Carolina speakers include of course Alex McFarlane along with Daniel Ritchie, Andy Lawrenson and Mickey Addison exciting worship. Every night is rock solid teaching every day. And yes, it's a summer camp with all the summer camp activities. Your kids would expect the TNG Christian apologetics youth camp July 29 through August 2 at Camp kale to learn more and to register, call 800. Yes, God, one 800 yes God in the number one or email info and truth for a new generation.com timeless truths in a soundbite culture for a new generation radio about the truth from a generation radio you never going to click mission I think about the quote by John Piper were he says go stand or disobey. That's pretty blunt eventually.

Where to go ourselves forward to help stand or where not really being obedient to our Lord's great commission back to P&G radio out your conversing with our dear friend Don Shank will remind people that we have got a lot going on with truth and regeneration. This fall will be in Richmond Virginia this fall will be in Ohio this summer are unashamed annual apologetics youth camp is coming up July 29 through August 2.

And you know there is still time to join with young people from a number of states I will do all the fun Things like ropes course and kayaking and all that but 15 sessions on worldview apologetics. Just what does it mean to be a disciple of the walk with the Lord and how to study your Bible and great practical basic ground-floor Christianity and so you can go to the website truth for a new generation.com truth F4 truth for a new generation.com and you can learn about the campus can be phenomenal in the Northeast quarter of North Carolina Camp kale right outside of Elizabeth City just a little bit south of the United tidewater Virginia area. Amazing. We would love to see you young people there every year. Kids just love it.

They can get their lives to Christ, and will challenge you to invest a week that will count for a lifetime to transfer new generation.com well. A man is invested his life and bringing people to Christ and just really and all, everything that this ministry does. In this man who I believe is a great leader, Don Shank is with us right now and on before the break we work. We were talking about all the languages when the tide is putting the broadcast in a new language and how you can begin to do that you have to get translators for or do you find native the invoices there in the land where your ministering.

How does that work we do not do any translation service. What we do is we work with people on the ground so that we get someone we find a convert. Somebody who can be disciple and got the point where they are deep enough in their faith is strong enough in theological understanding that they can share the gospel effectively over the radio in their own language so there speaking to people in the language that those people asked identify with able to put it in a very culturally relevant context.

People I come to realize that this is not a foreign culture element trying to attack their culture, but rather it's a God who loves them and cares for them deeply and speak their language so that they can have a personal relationship with God and at the very greatest it is a challenge for us because we also have to set up accountability structures because we want to know all received 25 different languages I don't week. Any of those languages fluently and so we try to work together. We will have additional contacts in the countries where we can get feedback from the programs. We also want to make sure because the enemy can come and we find in so many countries. Syncretism.

Syncretism is, is when perhaps a cultural belief or practice. Yes, incorporated into Christianity there's a mixing and a guy losing give an example of this where one item student in Zimbabwe came to with the probably said I have a problem. My family wants me to bless their ceremony to welcome the spirit of the dead back into the village. Christians need understand that that's not how faith works just because he's a pastor, they can become less you can have your ancestral spirit worship along with worshiping Jesus you can worship God and worship in spirit, but there you have to explain the difference to say that Jesus Christ brings freedom from all that and you can mix that in and it doesn't take a lot of time and a lot of prayer to retrain tribes and villages and people to live biblically rather than through past superstitions and practices. We train volunteers on the ground to be able to help people walk through that and see the truth in another place where in India where multiple gods are just the fact probably one of the biggest issues that we have their is getting people not only to embrace Jesus Christ as Savior.

But then to say now all those other gods have to go away because it'd be in India for people that all yet. I believe Jesus Jesus to life cluster of God that I have before me. But Jesus is the only one I think we have to promote this message here in America in the West to become a Christian were not adding Jesus to our already crowded cabinet of God's and priorities that were emptying out the shelf and now there is one name on our list one priority in our life and it's the Lord Jesus absolutely everything else in our lives gets what we find is that in these countries where people face persecution where where life is difficult economically and just the whole Pirate Bay lifted that truths of the gospel is the foundation they stand on and when they find that foundation, they stand so firm I think people from erotic pastor from here in the US to train and teach in other countries and they come back inspired and challenged by the depth of commitment that they see in believers in these countries who give everything you submitted to Christ, and Christ is there rock yeah you a quick break we come back on the path that people can be involved as a listening post on the challenge you to go on an international missions trip maybe deals with Don in the tide because it will change your life forever. It will forever shake moving forward. How you look at the Lord Jesus and your walking witness for him to continue ready it will be back after this, as we take a break, let me tell you about 310 three books that will answer questions that come your way from others or even yourself without the Christian faith. Number 110 answers for skeptics today. Skeptics are looking for authenticity, integrity, and straightforward faith in this book you will learn how to answer intimidating questions.

Identify the roof issues behind those questions and dismantled the spiritual bombshell dropped by nonbelievers. Those usually end up just being a puff of smoke, number 210 answers for atheists were Alex looks at the philosophical assumptions at the root of atheism and agnosticism exposing logical historical and conceptual fallacy. Alex shares clear explanations of beliefs and biblical answers to those questions that often leave you stumped, but no more than number three. The 10 most common objections to Christianity and how to answer the know many Christians hear these objections and have a crisis of faith, but Alex and Dylan have been around.

They visited many places and talked with many people through the years and could offer straight answers that will give you confidence and understanding about your beliefs, so the 310s once again 10 answers for skeptics 10 answers for atheists and the 10 most common objections to Christianity and how to answer find them wherever Christian books are sold for Alex McFarland.com no need to have a Bible degree from Liberty University to love, Sir, pray, worship, obey God they can make life more vibrantly when you're ready for a religious studies degree find more than 60 ministry degree options – there stood Dr. of Ministry when LeBlanc prayed for divinity courses at Liberty University where we train champions for Christ that a liberty.edu\explorer to learn more as limiting.edu\explorer to learn more for apologetics, resources, books by Alex McFarland and to find out where Alex is speaking to visit Alex McFarland.com welcome back to our conversation with John Shank of high. I love that great quote John Piper that I quoted Piper earlier but Piper said that evangelism is because worship doesn't currently exist among all people. In one of our great incentives for doing missions and evangelism is to increase the worship of the one true God, the person is giving his life to doing that is John Shank are guest right now in a God before the breaking talk about going on mission trips and and you are right to see indigenous pastors selflessly serving in to see what the Holy Spirit, God does on the mission field does change people forever talk about that sort for American Christians that they love the Lord and am not disputing that you know the most out of their comfort zone that that some of Gartner's genome going there in a long line on Sunday because the preacher went over 10 minutes and then they got to the restaurant late, talk about the transforming that ministering on foreign soil can have on Western Christians biggest effect as is to make it even more real and I don't want to do so to come across as saying faith is real for many people, I think, as you mentioned so much of us here in North America we do have life relatively easy when you experience so much of God's blessing in our lives we've never had to bump up against anything that has challenged us to make a firm or choice between the world and God's kingdom, we see that in other people we see in countries where someone is willing to give up their life rather than give up their faith and to realize if it came to that for me would I do it.

I think for many believers who never had that experience to see. Yes, Jesus words that you're available, you will be persecuted and that that that persecution will come but there will be martyrs in the face of that God still give you the power and the strength to stand firm in your belief because your hope is in the future, not just in our present situation and so I think here in North America. We put so much emphasis on our financial security and when you take all that away, what you have left. If you don't have face to stand on you. Nothing. I'm sure you remember the book tortured one brand went talking about being in prison, and whoever was caught sharing the gospel received a severe beating and brand talks about how they were happy to preach the gospel and happy to be beaten daily and he said the guards were happy beating us and we were happy preaching the gospel. Everyone was happy. Now that that's you surprised that most people never even ponder beating or martyrdom to the gospel, but this Don when when Christ gave the great commission to the church make disciples of every nation preach the gospel to every creature in this gospel of the kingdom will be preached to the ends of the earth and then the end will come. Comfort and safety was even part of the discussion was what, no, noblack lawyer gets a little bit dangerous, then you can maybe choose another place or removing another area of there was this a very clear concise director go and preach and that's that's what our partners are great. Now we do is adapt to certain situations.

For example in India where we have discipleship activities going on in various areas people record.

There is a a lot of persecution by the local nonbelievers against new believers and they recognize a strange face in the community that we vacant to training what we call there a lot of volunteers who serve as we call the village teacher. So it's a convert from that community gives trains to discipleship activities and they can then lead and disciple their own neighbors, rather than having someone else come in.

You know that might be an Indian phase coming in. They recognize that it is not from this village and another adaptation they were at yard sales go make disciples and baptize them that baptism you believers want to be baptized. One of the things that we've done in Asia is to delay that document baptism a little bit when he is baptized is immediately the community use that as our conversion and in some of the space they actually have anti-conversion laws in India. They serve that they assimilate and begin to see this person has faith, and may soon accept them as a Christian. So when they see them being baptized is all about what Christians do the conversion and the baptism are separate little bit, but it still becomes very hard. For example, in the Paul. It all just share one thing there. The Paul will say that they have freedom of religion. You can practice whatever religion you want, but you cannot make a convert cannot proselytize or target some of the change of faith establish this particular visit were just really that time… Appreciate you so much Lily encouraged those be involved in missions and be involved in the high is a lot you can do and it begins by becoming informed the donkey the website if you would like.org and goes outside.org and read all of our ministry activities are much more about how God is impacting the world through our radio broadcasting discipleship. God bless you post the part of knowing Christ and helping make him known. Thanks for listing the PNG radio PNG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex McFarland ministry, PO Box 10231 rural NC 27404. That's PO Box 10231, Greensboro, NC 27404 call us at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God in the number one. Forgive online@alexmcfarland.com while you're there, listing the program archives. Read Alex's blog invite Alex to speak at your event or contact Alex with a question or comment, Alex McFarland.com. Thanks for listening today and join us again next time is we bring you more true for a new generation fund TNG radio