...Intent on one purpose:
NO LONGER SURPRISED!

By Dr. Don Bierle

When I titled my first book Surprised by Faith, I was celebrating my discovery that faith does indeed make sense, and that there are surprisingly supportable answers to the most important questions in life. As Faith Studies International looks ahead to our next quarter-century of ministry, perhaps I should consider writing another book, called No Longer Surprised!

As we began this work, I had no idea what God would do. But after 25 years, observing His guiding hand and faithful provision, I am no longer surprised at the opportunities He has entrusted to us. The doors for ministry that have been opened both humble and amaze me-but they're not really surprising. God has been doing this on a "just in time" basis throughout our 25 years.

An Unchanging Mission

Our mission is focused on the Faith- Search message-persuasively and continuously calling people to new life through faith in Jesus Christ since our founding 25 years ago. Recently God clarified to me how He has been maturing FaithSearch, and how He wants to expand its proclamation in the years ahead.

It's A Big (read: Lost) World

Since our founding we have been doing ministry using an "addition" strategy -each evangelist calling people to follow Jesus at FaithSearch LIVE events. In the '80s, this was primarily in homes; in the '90s, churches and public venues were added. These continue today as God transforms thousands of lives through larger-scale FaithSearch events. But I'm convinced God wants us to be concerned about the lost millions in the world. He is calling us to add another dimension to FaithSearch-multiplication!

Extending the Vision: "Give it Away"

More than a year ago I was convicted that the FaithSearch message was to be extended to "all peoples everywhere." I formulated this conviction as follows: 'Extending the Vision' is our passion and resolve to fulfill God's vision and call for Faith Studies International, by renewing our zeal to use the proclamation of FaithSearch to reach the diversity of people in North America, while extending His redemption to people in new geographic regions, languages and cultures. How to do that was not clear--at first.

This multiplication paradigm is pointing to an unprecedented growth of our spiritual impact.

Last fall, while deep in thought about our future, my mind suddenly focused on a new action concept: "Give it away!" This second conviction explains how the first would be possible: Equip indigenous peoples to proclaim the FaithSearch message in their own context of culture and language. I believe it was a "God-moment" of ministry guidance to show us how to reach millions of lost people.

The Faith Studies' staff and Board were "united in spirit" that this paradigm represented another stage in the maturing of FaithSearch. The growth of a professional support staff, the placing of the FaithSearch message into a powerfully visual, computer-based presentation, and also into Surprised by Faith and other FaithSearch publications--all have made the message stable and transferable for others to teach. This multiplication paradigm is pointing to an unprecedented growth of our spiritual impact in the Twin Cities, the United States, and around the world.

Meanwhile, we must continue to build a highly qualified faculty of evangelists who will conduct FaithSearch LIVE and other FaithSearch events, reaching thousands for Christ. They must also have a burden to be multipliers, and be gifted to motivate, train and equip others of every color, culture and language, to carry on the proclamation of the FaithSearch message.

We Can Only Imagine

As we became "intent on one purpose," we began to imagine all that God can accomplish through us. The FaithSearch message is already being translated into eight Indian languages, as well as Spanish, Russian and others. Nearly 4,000 Christian pastors in India have been equipped to teach this to their congregations. They will be supported by fifteen indigenous Campus Crusade staff with advanced FaithSearch training.

As a result, in 2004, around the world, the FaithSearch message of forgiveness of sin and assurance of heaven will be proclaimed by word or print to over 575 people per day-365 days per year! On average, this means more than 11 commitments to Christ each day-365 days a year-as a result of the FaithSearch message! (And there are scores more we'll never hear about.)

God willing, that's just the beginning. Within five years, the multiplication strategy in India could result in nearly one million people hearing the message of FaithSearch each year. Hispanic ministries won't be far behind. We are also considering a strategy to put FaithSearch into the hands of every pastor and lay teacher in America so they can teach it in every church that wants it. Potentially, by releasing it to God, He can take the message of FaithSearch to indigenous leaders and teachers in many languages on every continent within this first decade of the 21st Century.

We have prayed for, and received, conviction by the Holy Spirit that this is the right thing to do. We believe this is the direction that will continue to experience God's hand of blessing. That's the most important thing to assure a future and a hope for Faith Studies International. And I won't be surprised if He does even more than we've imagined (Ephesians 3:20).