Source: Charisma News

Support groups exist for people struggling with all sorts of things—from mainstream issues like divorce and cancer to offbeat items like caffeine and hoarding—but many are shocked by a new community created by atheists.

The Clergy Project, formed by the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Science and Reason and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, aims to help clergy who have “seen the light” move beyond faith.

“The Clergy Project exists to provide a safe haven, a forum where clergy who have lost their faith can meet each other, exchange views, swap problems, counsel each other—for, whatever they may have lost, clergy know how to counsel and comfort,” atheist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins writes on the site.

Although the Clergy Project launched as a private, invitation-only website in March, it went public on Oct. 7. It started with 52 members and has grown to nearly 100. With the unveiling of the website, the group expects hundreds more.

“We know there must be thousands of clergy out there who have secretly abandoned their faith but have nowhere to turn,” Dan Barker, a former evangelical preacher, said in a statement Friday.

“Now they do have a place to meet, a true sanctuary, a congregation of those of us who have replaced faith and dogma with reason and human well-being.”

The Clergy Project was started by Barker, Dawkins, philosopher Daniel Dennett and researcher Linda LaScola.

In a study conducted by Dennett and LaScola, “Preachers Who Are Not Believers,” several pastors were interviewed in 2008 and 2009 who no longer believed what their parishioners thought they believed. The study was the source for some initial members of the project.

The administrators of The Clergy Project are both active pastors in the United States who claim to have lost their faith and are looking for an “exit strategy.” The project says the most difficult issue for these religious leaders is financial.

“It is hard to think of any other profession which it is so near to impossible to leave,” Dawkins wrote on the site in a welcome message. “If a farmer tires of the outdoor life and wants to become an accountant or a teacher or a shopkeeper, he faces difficulties, to be sure. He must learn new skills, raise money, move to another area perhaps. But he doesn’t risk losing all his friends, being cast out by his family, being ostracized by his whole community.”

The website currently features two testimonies: one from “Lynn,” who writes she is “an active Methodist pastor who is also an atheist;” and one from “John Compere,” a psychologist and former Baptist minister.

What could cause these pastors to lose their faith? It could be loneliness and discouragement. According to a recent LifeWay Research survey, 98 percent agree with the statement, “I feel privileged to be a pastor,” with 93 percent strongly agreeing. Only about 0.5 percent of pastors disagree with the statement. Still, these same pastors are keeping their faith.

“Many oft-quoted statistics speak of miserable and unhappy pastors, but that’s not what we see when we actually ask them,” explained Ed Stetzer, vice president of research and ministry development at LifeWay Christian Resources. “There is discouragement and loneliness, but when 98 percent agree it is a privilege to be a pastor, we also know there is a great honor to being a pastor.”

Could these pastors be part of the great falling away that Paul described in 2 Thess. 2:3? Or is this atheist group simply trying to exploit a rare occurrence?

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions,Your old men shall dream dreams.” — Acts 2:17

You told me to resist the devil and he would flee from me,

But I have no resistance.

You have all the power and resistance I’ll ever need,

So give me the power to resist.

You told me I could move my mountains

If I had faith even as a mustard seed;

Yet my mountain won’t move

Even though my faith in you is as great

As I can conceive it.

You made the heavens and earth;

Please move my mountain.

You said, “Flee the very appearance of evil!”

So I ran hard,

But sin overtook me

In my finest hour of effort.

You have power

Over all the power of the enemy

With miracles, signs and wonders.

Deliver me from the trap of Satan.

I don’t even have the strength to put on the whole armor,

So dress me as my armor-bearer.

Do for me what I know I cannot do for myself.

– David Wilkerson

Amen and amen!

Val

by David Wilkerson

[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

“Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).

Believe it or not,

That is the question.

Did Jesus really walk on water?

Heal lepers?

Raise the dead?

Make the blind to see?

Cause the wind and waves to obey?

Cast out devils?

Heal lunatics?

And turn water into wine?

To believe all of that

A man would have to believe in miracles!

Yet a man cannot believe in Christ at all,

Unless he believes in miracles—

His resurrection

And ascension.

He is either dead or alive,

And if alive—

It is a miracle!

And all He ever did was miraculous.

Believe it all.

That is faith!

That’s a good word!!!

David Wilkerson believed and he is enjoying his Eternal Reward. Way to go, David!

Va;

The question has often been asked – Are Allah and the God of the Bible the same Supreme Being, perceived and worshipped differently?

Perhaps answers to the following questions will help to clarify the matter.

1. Do their followers believe a common doctrine? Does their teaching concerning the way of salvation, faith and prayer point to one Source?
2. Do they accept a common Holy Book as absolutely inspired and the rule of faith and doctrine?
3. Are their followers celebrated in each other’s areas of influence and treated as part of a common Body?
4. Are their places of worship welcome in countries focused on one or other of these two faiths?
5. Are their lifestyles similar in any way?
6. Do they share a common viewpoint regarding Israel?
7. Is Jesus Christ recognized as Messiah, Lord and God and given the place of pre-eminence in both faiths? (Pre-eminence – “first place” – the focus of faith.)

These are serious questions and demand a serious and sincere response.

The God of the Bible
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
- John 3:16

The God of Islam
“God has no son”

“It’s Your Call”

Val

Vision of the Present and Coming Western Church – 06-05-11:

I saw the people of God scattered in dark foreboding waters. They were broadly scattered and mostly trapped into an apathy of the status quo. As I looked I could see that many were comfortable being scattered and overcome by the spirit of the age, but I sensed a storm was about to shake many out of their apathy and awaken them to repentance and revival.

As the sea began to roar in the coming storm I was able to see that many individuals were alone, discouraged and struggling as the waves and wind began to beat upon them. Some began to realize the bondage and danger they were in and call out to God, seeking a way of escape, many had begun to seek out others in the tossing waves and together they had managed to keep their heads above the swelling storm and encourage each other to hope and trust in Christ.

I was fascinated and moved with empathy and compassion as I saw my brothers and sisters struggle and endure; what I saw happen next amazed me. Those who began to seek a way out of this ocean of bondage were lifting their heads, seeking their Lord, seeing a glimmer of the revelation of His kingdom, power and glory and beginning to move towards the brightening land that was visible on the horizon of the dawning day. Those that did this were for a time fighting for their lives as the waves tried to push them down, crashed over their heads as the wind stung their faces and sought to blind them to the hopeful vision they were beginning to see.

Those who didn’t struggle had no such drama and were carried along by the storm, spared the battle that these others were going through. Some struggled for a time, became discouraged that things seemed to get worse and lay back, defeated in the dark waters.

As I watched those that refused to quit, it was as if these persevering, praying, struggling saints suddenly became vessels, like small fishing skiffs, or mullet boats as we call them. The wind and waves tried to sink these vessels but as they got their bearings and began to steer the course towards the growing glory, the bows of the boats rose above the waves and the wind filled the sails and sped them towards their destination. Because they had persevered and not been thrown off course these people began to rejoice in the stability and freedom they were experiencing now they had escaped the clutches of the raging sea.

I was excited as I saw that this was God’s church that was being raised up, those in the vessels were of one heart and mind, focused on the Lord, His kingdom and glory and filled with hope and joy. Some of these vessels would rescue others as they sailed along and had soon grown into a great multitude. As I saw what I believe the Spirit told me was the end time church, I was impressed that they were what could best be described as a powerhouse of encouragement, unity of purpose, prayer, proclamation and exhortation.

I saw one of these vessels cutting through huge waves that were seeking to drown a group caught in the storm. A cry of intercession came forth from the body of believers in the ship that had a power like holy violence, it was as though the darkness was in an instant driven back and the roaring waves scattered. The sacrifice of these vessels, in seeking to save those lost in the worst of the storm meant they had to turn aside from their straight path and the comfort of rising above the waves, and again be for a time be beaten and tossed by the storm, but love enabled them to endure this for the joy of seeing captives set free. I was weeping as I saw this great love and sacrifice for the sake of others being expressed by the church.

I then made two errors in comprehending what I was seeing, both ideas were met with the rebuke of the Lord as they rose from my heart. The first was that this church seemed to be free from leaders as we know them in the church today and just seemed to be made up of ordinary everyday people doing extraordinary things. I was asked a question. “Have I not set in my church leaders, teachers, prophets, evangelists and shepherds; for what purpose are they given to the church?” I instantly knew my heart was wrong, this end time church was not against leadership, but was in fact the product of ministry gifts that are focused on maturing and mobilizing the saints to be God’s people.

There were prophets in the Spirit of Elijah, convicting, challenging and proclaiming holiness. As I looked closer I saw such people uniting families, diverse cultures and age groups on the vessels they served on. I also saw teachers, evangelists and other gifted leaders, all were giving glory to God and proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ. He was their head, their vision and their treasure. None were elevating themselves above the people, they were lifting up Christ and enabling people to truly know and walk with God for themselves. One crucial characteristic of these groups was that they were all extremely sensitive to, and empowered by the wind of the Spirit, and were no longer fearful of the storm or its power.

The other error I made was in determining in my heart to devote myself to becoming part of the glorious church that I had just seen.
I was shocked that such a goal was subject to correction as I saw it as a noble and valuable pursuit. I was encouraged to, “Seek first the Lord and His righteousness,” and warned of the danger of settling for any experience, movement or ministry along my journey that would cause me to camp at a certain place of progress and lead me to not continue in the upward call of God in Christ. I knew that my carnal, religious heart could easily settle for less than the fullness that God desires to bring to His church.

One tragic part of the vision was that in the dark stormy sea I could see large crowds of people gathering together but seeming to be at ease in this environment. As I looked closer I saw that these groups of people were gathering around gifted and charismatic people who held these storm tossed but united believers together with their words, slick presentations and dynamic personalities. I thought that they also would acknowledge that they were trapped in worldly, satanic or other enslavements in this storm and find freedom as others around them had begun to.

As I considered this I saw that during this time these groups would also gather new- comers who were drawn to the big crowds and the bold encouraging words that the leaders spoke. I heard many of the people trapped in these groups encouraging each other that their church was growing and that this was a sign of God’s blessing upon them.
They were also questioning the authority of these other believers sailing past them to freedom, feeling they were not in proper submission to church leadership. They were sadly comforted in their blindness.

Some leaders did realize the deception they were living under and turned from being the centre of these groups and began to humble themselves and lift up and turn the eyes of their followers to Christ.
Soon many of these groups were becoming like the othe

rs that I had seen, escaping the storms, being mobilized in their true gifts and callings and finding liberty and victory in their lives, with Christ as their head.

I pray this will encourage everyone in the storms they are facing or about to face.

Note From Val

This is a vision from the Lord Himself. May we be found faithful in following Him and also in encouraging those leaders God has raised up and empowered with spiritual gifts to bring maturity to the Body of Christ.

By David Sanford
Special to ASSIST News Service
PORTLAND, OREGON (ANS) –

If I talk a lot about God, the Bible, and Church, but I fail to ask about other people’s needs, I’m simply making a lot of empty religious noise.

There are three things that last forever: faith, hope, and love: But the greatest of them all is love. — 1 Corinthions 13-13

If I graduate from theological seminary and know all the answers to questions you’ll never even think of asking, and if I have all the degrees to prove it.and if I say I believe in God with all my heart, soul, and strength, claiming to have incredible answers to my prayers, but I fail to take the time to find out what makes others laugh and why they cry, I’m nothing.

If I sell an extra car and some of my books to raise money for poor starving kids somewhere, and if I give my life for God’s service and burn out after pouring everything I have into the work, but do it all without ever once caring about the people, the real hurting people-the moms and dads and sons and daughters and orphans and widows and the lonely and forgotten-if I pour my life into the Kingdom but forget to love those here on earth, my energy is wasted, and so is my life.

Here is what love is like.genuine love. God’s kind of love. It’s patient. It can wait.

It helps others, even if they never find out who assisted them. Love doesn’t look for greener pastures. Love doesn’t boast. It doesn’t try to build itself up to be something it isn’t.

Love doesn’t act in a loose, immoral way. It doesn’t seek to take, but it willingly gives. Love doesn’t lose its temper. It doesn’t keep changing its mind. Love doesn’t think about how difficult the other person is, and certainly doesn’t think of how it could get back at someone. Love is grieved deeply over the evil in this world, but it rejoices over truth.

Love comes and sits with you when you’re feeling down and finds out what is wrong. It empathizes with you and believes in you. Love knows you’ll come through just as God planned, and love carries on to the end. It doesn’t give up, quit, diminish, or go home.

Love perseveres, even when everything goes wrong and the feelings leave and the other person doesn’t seem as special anymore. Love succeeds 100 percent of the time.

That, my friend, is what genuine love is!

Well said!!!

Val

Esther lived in the 5th Century BC during the time of Persian rule under the capricious King Ahasuerus (Xerxes).

This Old Testament book – named after her – tells the story of a plot to exterminate the entire Jewish nation and how God used a believer to bring those plans to naught.

This was a woman who lived “for such a time as this”. May her story challenge each one of us to fulfill our God-appointed destiny.

Return tomorrow for more about her amazing story.

Val Waldeck

Excerpt from His Eye Is On The Sparrow

“And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, ‘It is better for me to die than to live.’” – Jonah 4:8

Everything seemed to be going wrong for Jonah. Even the precious shade disappeared as the plant collapsed. He could not understand that God had done this. It just looked as though everything was against him. Instead of praying, he cries out to die.

How often do we not continue in our misery, when God has made full provision for peace and joy to flood our lives? It is much like driving our motor car on empty and stressing in case we run out of petrol on a lonely road, when we have the finance to fill the tank.

Jonah was full of complaints, and now the Lord had given him something to really complain about! The sun was cooking his brains and he yearned for some shade, even if it was the shade of the grave.

How silly, when he could have been rejoicing and singing with the new converts in Nineveh and enjoying the blessing and presence of the Lord.

Are you feeling miserable? Why not leave your faulty shelter and return to the Lord?

Val Waldeck

Excerpt from His Eye Is On The Sparrow

“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory ..”
(Eph. 3:16)

Everything we have and are comes as a result of God’s grace and favor. He is the Source of all spiritual strength and revelation-knowledge.

The question is: what is the measure He uses with us? Just how much spiritual strengthening is available to you and me? Is it according to our faith? Our works? How much we know? Does it come as a result of hours of praying and fasting?

What is the basis of His revelation-knowledge? What is the secret of receiving from God? How can we truly come into an experiential knowledge of His amazing love?

It is awesome to realize that the measure God uses is according to His riches! His resources are glorious and unlimited and all He gives us comes from the Rich Treasury of His Glory.

Prayer is the key to these resources and faith opens the door.

We often think we need more money, more possessions, more friends, more opportunities. The truth is that we need to know more of God – and we will find that we have everything we need in Christ.

All we have to do is ask.

Val Waldeck

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Excerpt from His Eye Is On The Sparrow