Grace and peace to each of you in the Lord Jesus.

I’m typing to each of you pastors because of your influence upon the people of God. Recently a brother in the Lord sent me this chilling information about the “Church” in America from a book he read by David Kinnaman (with the Barna group) called, Unchristian. He mentioned that over 2/3's of Americans aged 18 and older "have made a commitment to Jesus Christ at some point in their life." However only 3 percent of that group embraced all 8 components of the biblical world view that:

  • Jesus Christ lived a sinless life
  • God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe and he still rules it today
  • Salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned
  • Satan is real
  • A Christian has a responsibility to share his or her faith in Christ with other people
  • The Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches
  • Unchanging moral truth exists
  • Such moral truth is defined by the Bible

In principle, Satan and his hostile cosmic forces have been defeated through Christ’s ministry, death and resurrection. Though Jesus dealt a fatal blow, Satan is still viewed as “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), “the ruler of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2) and still controls “the whole world” (I Jn. 5:19) and commands a rebel kingdom of darkness (Col. 1:13). This Satanic kingdom is heavily at work in trying to decieve believers, “Now the Spirit expressly say that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of deamons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.” (I Tim. 4:1-2). From the statistics listed above, the enemy is doing a good job.

BUT NOT WITH US!! NOT WITHIN OUR CHURCHES AND ASSOCIATIONS! We will, “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3). This is why:

  • Our Theological Commitment as members of the UCA, “we commit to defend the “Great Tradition” (the faith that has been believed, in all places, by all people, at all times) as expressed in the Nicene Creed.
  • We equip emerging leaders in our churches through The Urban Ministry Institute.

The Spirit of the Lord is calling us in these “later times” to preach and teach with all boldness, passion and clarity the Word of God and to defend what the Church has always believed:

  • Jesus Christ lived a sinless life
  • God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the Universe and He still rules it today
  • Salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned
  • Satan is real
  • A Christian has a responsibility to share his or her faith in Christ with other people
  • The Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches
  • Unchanging moral truth exists
  • Such moral truth is defined by the Bible


May our Great God and King be glorified and honored through your labors for the gospel.

"....not of those who shrink back...." Hebrews 10:39

Rev. Bob Engel, N.W. Regional V.P
World Impact, Inc., Coordinator of Ministries, LA