We live in a time when the church is failing to live up to its own standards. It has tragically been losing the respect of those it tries to win to Christ because it has succumbed to sin, pride, and corruption. In the past, a lost world looked to the church as the example of hope and integrity; today, many people laugh or roll their eyes when the church is mentioned. It has largely lost its relevance in the world.
In Awaken, best-selling author Terry Nance has composed a series of letters to younger and newer believers, aiming to help them avoid many of the sins and mistakes of their spiritual fathers as they hold high the standard of the kingdom of God with which they have been entrusted.
We the church must realize that we are called to be kingdom leaders for Jesus Christ, not empire builders for ourselves. We must awaken to the understanding that we carry Jesus to this world, and His spirit within us must be reflected in everything we do.
Nance’s challenge is clear: Set a standard of holiness in your own life, endure affliction as a good soldier of Christ, run your race with patience, and persevere until you come to the finish line. As you do, you will leave behind an army of leaders in the next generation who can take up your banner for Jesus and carry it forward with honor.