Recent KBM Podcasts
- Homemade Gods (37:08)
The only lasting cure for idolatry is a fervent love for God. The hardest step is seeing our idols in the first place.
- Empty on the Inside (38:18)
If you don’t know God, it’s not God’s fault. God has already done everything necessary for you to have a relationship with him. - He Doesn’t Need Your Help (35:53)
The gospel begins with God. It doesn’t begin with Jesus or with us. The divine plan of salvation begins with the God who designed it.
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Blog entries for the category China
Random Notes
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, May 7
A few thoughts on a variety of topics:1. The China broadcasts continue three times a week (M-W-F) at 6 AM CDT (7 PM China time). Check out our Chinese website and the iPhone and Android apps.2. We have just posted the Spring 2012 KBM Newsletter with the headline “We Need More Anchors.” Later this month we expect delivery of 100,000 copi...
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Free Apps for China Broadcast
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, April 10
I have some good news for those who have been following our new thrice-weekly China broadcasts. We now have free iPhone and Android apps that will download the broadcasts directly to your smartphone: Free KBM China Apps The apps automatically download each new Mandarin program. We expect these apps to be the primary way we reach younger listeners i...
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Many Join in Prayer to Support China Broadcast
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, March 29
Thank you!By the grace of God and through your prayers, the first Keep Believing China broadcast on Monday went without a hitch. By now the second broadcast has already taken place. And the 3rd broadcast begins in 20 hours. We intentionally started with a series on the Deeper Meaning of the Cross because we wanted a strong focus on the death of Chr...
We Prayed for China Today
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, March 26
The first Keep Believing China broadcast is now in the books. We have heard from friends in Florida, New York, Michigan, Texas, Oregon, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Montreal, South Korea, Nigeria, Tanzania, Alaska, Haiti, Chicago, Pontiac and New Lenox, IL who were praying with us. Here are few pictures we have received:…
In the Cities and Villages: The Harvest is Plentiful
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, March 26
“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest’” (Matthew 9:37-38).This banner hangs in my office at home. We bought it at a Christian scroll shop in China a few years ago. The hand-painted banner c...
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Send Us Your Pictures on Monday Morning
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, March 23
62 hours. That’s how long (as of this writing) until our first China broadcast. This is the culmination of a long process that the Lord put it in motion nine years ago when Josh (our oldest son) went to China to teach English. One thing led to another and then to another, and in the sovereignty of God who knew about this all along, her...
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Will You Be One of the 1000 on March 26?
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, March 3
The first Keep Believing broadcast to China begins in a little over three weeks. On Monday, March 26, at 7 PM in China, we will broadcast our first program from the Trans World Radio facilities on Guam. 7 PM in China equals 7 AM in New York, Atlanta, and Hudson, Florida.That’s 6 AM in Tupelo, Dallas, and Chicago. It’s 5 AM in Denver, Sa...
Weekend Update
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, February 17
On Saturday morning we leave for a week of ministry at Word of Life Florida. This marks the 19th year that I’ve spoken at the conference center. When we first went there, the center was at the end of a gravel road in the middle of nowhere. I remember speaking to 19 people one morning that first year. Now hundreds come for each session. The pr...
Will You Be One of the 1000?
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, February 10
45 days and counting.That’s how many days until the first Keep Believing China broadcast beams into mainland China. On Monday, March 26 we’ll begin a thrice-weekly broadcast (MWF) into China with a potential listening audience of 878 million people.We’re asking God for 1000 people to join us in prayer as the first broadcast airs...
Many Will Pray for China on March 26
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, January 25
We’ve had excellent response to our call for 1000 people to join us in prayer at 6 AM on Monday, March 26. At that hour the first-ever Keep Believing China broadcast will beam into mainland China from the island of Guam. Here are some responses:From a friend in another country: “I will get up early on March 26 and pray for the First Bro...
3.26.2012
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, January 17
Mark this date on your calendar: Monday, March 26, 2012. That’s the date of our first radio broadcast into mainland China. At 7 PM on March 26, from the studios of Trans World Radio on the island of Guam, we will begin our thrice-weekly broadcast to China. When it’s 7 PM in China, it’s 6 AM in Chicago (you can do the math for…
14 Minutes for China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, December 17, 2011
On Thursday I wrote about an opportunity to invest in our new Keep Believing China partnership by giving $12.50 to cover the cost of one minute of broadcasting into China. A friend who saw that post sent this note:I just bought 4 more minutes of “air China” time to give as gifts...14 minutes so far.Here’s what I’m doing...
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A Gift for China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, December 15, 2011
Are you looking for a last-minute Christmas gift?What about giving the gift of God’s Word to China? In April 2012 we will begin broadcasting three times a week into China from the Trans World Radio facilities in Guam. Our potential audience in Mainland China will be a staggering 878 million people. That’s more than twice the po...
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The Future of the Chinese Church
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, November 4, 2011
This little boy represents the future of the Chinese church.Earlier this week his mother put him down for a nap in the apartment where we stayed in Dalian. His grandfather serves as a church worker in a Chinese city with very few Christians. He and his mother and father and grandfather came to Dalian to spend two days with us. I was very pleased wh...
Church of KFC
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, November 2, 2011
If you want one picture that will explain one part of modern China, this will do as well as anything else we saw. If the picture looks like a church, that’s because this building was once a church. After the 1949 Revolution the church was closed and the building taken over by the government. In recent years some savvy businessmen bought the b...
Two Days With the Pastors in Dalian
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
For the last two days Mark and I have been speaking at a pastor’s conference in Dalian, China. To put the matter that way probably makes people think of hundreds of pastors gathered in a large church sanctuary, with bright lights, a worship team, and high-powered services.That might happen in America.But we are i...
Student Night in Dalian
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, October 30, 2011
Friday night was a new experience for us. I’m not sure exactly where we were in Dalian because it was late and Chinese cities are a forest of skyscrapers. Pastor Peter led us to a building where we took the elevator to an upper floor and entered an apartment where a house church meets. There were about 40 university students there, all in the...
Day 5: Betsy’s Story
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Here’s the video from Day 5 in which you get a glimpse of our first session with the students and also we share a testimony from Betsy, a student from Taiwan....
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Day 4: Visit to a Buddhist Temple
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, October 24, 2011
Here’s today video in which we visit a Buddhist temple on Jeju Island.
Day 3: Young Nak Presbyterian Church
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, October 23, 2011
Here’s the video from Day 3 of our Korea-China trip featuring our visit to the Jeju Young Nak Presbyterian Church....
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Day 2: Airport Evangelist
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, October 22, 2011
Here’s the video from Day 2 of our trip to Korea and China in which we meet a man carrying a cross at the airport in Seoul:...
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Day 1: Somewhere Over the Aleutian Islands
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, October 21, 2011
Mark and I left yesterday on a 17-day trip to Korea and China. Here’s the video update from Day 1....
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How to Pray for Those Who Travel
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
This morning Marlene and I are driving to Dallas for what will be our longest trip of the year–17 days in all. On Thursday Mark and I are flying from Dallas to Seoul, South Korea and then on to Jeju Island where we will team-teach 1 Peter next week at Word of Life Bible Institute. On October 29 we’ll fly to Dalian, China to spend a few ...
Good Times at the KBM Board Meeting
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, October 17, 2011
Here’s a scene from the KBM board meeting on Saturday morning. L-R Peter Faulkner, Chris Johnson from Trans World Radio, Cliff Raad, Doreen Mahlstedt, MaryAnn Spiegel, Dave Hoy, Ray Pritchard, Marlene Pritchard, Nick Pritchard, Mark Pritchard. Board member Skip Olson took the picture. Webmaster Derek Taylor arrived a few minutes after this pi...
KBM Launches China Partnership
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, September 30, 2011
“I think you should consider a partnership with Trans World Radio."That simple comment, made a year ago by someone we met at a Bible conference in Michigan, started a discussion that led to a major decision.Last Saturday the Keep Believing board voted to enter a strategic partnership with Trans World Radio (TWR) to do ministry in China....
China: Open Doors, Many Adversaries
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Two recent articles help us think about the growing impact of Christianity in China. The first article asks a simple question:Christianity: China’s Best Bet? Here’s a quote that shows both sides of the current dilemma:Some experts believe that China could soon be home to the largest Christian population in the world. And the Chinese go...
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Message from Peter Wang
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, January 20, 2011
A few days ago I had a Skype conversation with Peter Wang, our “Keep Believing” man in China.During our conversation Peter recorded a short greeting to the friends who have been praying for him. I know he is very grateful for your prayers. The greeting is not quite three minutes long. I hope you’ll take time to listen to it. ...
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Thanksgiving Greetings from Peter Wang in China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, November 25, 2010
We just received this note from Pastor Peter Wang in China. Please continue to pray for Peter and for his family and for their congregation.Dear Mentor Ray and all KBM friends,Peace and grace be with you all in JC,We are hard but thankful in this special season, and we greatly appreciated what you have done for us in Jesus Christ, we love to see yo…
Visit to Dalian University of Technology – New Video
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, November 11, 2010
On Sunday, October 17, God opened the door for a major speaking event in China. Despite official opposition and repeated attempts to shut down the event and a last-second change of venue, almost 500 students came to Dalian University of Technology to hear me speak about “The Wisdom of Solomon."
Saturday Night Thoughts
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, October 23, 2010
A few Saturday night thoughts . . . 1. After visiting three different Chinese house churches, we were impressed with their emphasis on prayer. In American churches, we pray and then we get down to business. In China prayer is their business. They pray together, they pray out loud, and they pray often. Peter Wang put it very simply, “When you ...
Our Trip in Pictures
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, October 21, 2010
I am writing this note from the “Hub Lounge” at Incheon Airport in Seoul, South Korea. After two wonderful weeks in Korea and China, we are on our way home. As a way to remember God’s blessings, here are some of our favorite pictures from the trip. ...
Preach Less, Pray More
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, October 20, 2010
On Sunday morning we attended a house church in Dalian. They moved to the apartment after the authorities forced them out of the rented facilities where they had been meeting. Since then some believers have left but the core remains strong and committed.The first people arrive at 8:30 AM to pray. Following Chinese cust...
Monday Morning Miracle
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Yesterday Peter took us on a ride outside of Dalian. It’s hard to explain the nature of Chinese cities because they consist of massive apartment buildings that sprawl out in every direction. The vast majority of people live in those high-rise buildings. You don’t see very many single-family homes. There are a few but not so many. So the...
Hundreds Attend Sunday Night Student Event in Dalian
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, October 18, 2010
On Sunday night I spoke for a “Meet the Author” event for students from six different universities in Dalian (metro population: 6 million). The authorities had put pressure on the organizers not to have the meeting, including much pressure on the key student leader on Saturday, asking him to postpone the event. As late as Sunday afterno...
“My God Is Much Bigger Now”
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, September 13, 2010
This morning I spoke with Pastor Peter Wang in China for over an hour about the events of the last week. The police came on four different occasions to his church, attempting to shut it down. On Friday morning 20 police officers came and took him away for interrogation. On Sunday just as he was preparing to preach, police burst into the worship ser...
Pray for Pastor Peter
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, September 11, 2010
Many of you know that Pastor Peter is our “Keep Believing” man in China. He pastors a house church in a large Chinese city. Last Tuesday the authorities came and without explanation began to harass him and the people of his congregation. Here is the story (edited for security reasons):Without knowing why, our church has been under inter...
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KBM China Page Now Online
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, January 15, 2010
Over a year ago we organized a China Task Force to begin work on translating my sermons in Chinese so that KBM could reach the 1.1 billion Chinese-speaking people around the world. It turned into a very complicated project involving many technical issues regarding how to properly display Chinese characters on a website built for the English languag...
Keep Praying for China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, December 25, 2009
Yesterday I ran across an article called Atmosphere of Fear at Christmas in North China. Here’s how the article begins:Christians in north China are facing a Christmas of fear after 10 local religious leaders were jailed in recent weeks and their new church shut down amid a crackdown on unauthorised worship.Five of the church leaders were giv...
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Chinese Treasures 5.0
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, May 18, 2009
The Digital Bible Society has just released an amazing CD called Chinese Treasures 5.0 containing 177 different Bible, books and other Bible study resources available free of charge. They will send you a CD free along with the permission to copy it for the purpose of giving it to Chinese-speaking friends around the world. Best of all, this CD is co...
China’s Communists Get Religion
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, March 9, 2009
George Thomas of CBN News says that China’s Communists have changed their attitude toward religion. After decades of persecution and official opposition, China’s leaders have started to see the value of Christianity in promoting stability and harmony in society. At the recent National Congress in Beijing, President Hu Jintao added the w...
New English-Chinese Podcast
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, November 25, 2008
We have just posted our first podcast in two languages. Several weeks ago I spoke for the 100th Anniversary service of the Chinese Bible Church of Oak Park, IL. Just before I spoke, I was introduced by Pastor Timothy Fung, the pastor emeritus and a longtime personal friend. Pastor Fung serves on the Board of Reference for Keep Believing Ministries....
Excellent Article on the Chinese Bible Church of Oak Park
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, November 20, 2008
The Wednesday Journal ran a nice article on the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Bible Church of Oak Park. The church has a long legacy of faithful ministry and now is a multicultural congregation with services in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. ...
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Next Stop: Florida
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, November 17, 2008
We are now halfway through our final big trip of the year. When we left on Thursday, we had four major events in front of us:KBM Open House — SaturdayChinese Bible Church of Oak Park— SundayWord of Life Bible Institute — Monday-FridayVisiting friends in Columbus, OH — Saturday-MondayIn terms of days we’re not yet at th...
Can I Borrow Your Codec, Please?
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Basically we are in full countdown mode for our final big trip of the year that starts on Thursday and takes us to Illinois, Florida and Chicago. First up is the Keep Believing Open House this Saturday night. Thanks to the kindness of some friends, we are able to use a beautiful meeting room at Concordia University in River Forest in suburban Chica...
Christianity and China—Two Recent Articles
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, October 25, 2008
Here are excerpts from two recent articles about the growth of the Christian movement in China: Christianity FeverAs the Chinese search for a new social philosophy in this new century, China’s resurrected church brings hope for the future. Public opinion about Christianity has turned from negative to positive. Believers report, “Many pe…
A Note From Pastor Peter in China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, September 14, 2008
I have written before about my friend Peter who pastors a house church in China. In the last few months, we have been working with Peter to establish “Keep Believing China” to provide Chinese-language translations of sermons on the Keep Believing website. So far Peter has translated over 100 of my sermons in Chinese. He keeps the Bible ...
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Eric Liddell Book Released in Chinese
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, August 4, 2008
Just in time for the Beijing Olympics, Evangelical Press has released a new book on the life of Eric Liddell whose amazing story was told in the movie Chariots of Fire....
“Jesus in China” on PBS Tonight
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tonight at 9 ET (8 CT) PBS is running a special called Jesus in China. The show feature Chicago Tribune bureau chief Evan Osnos as he investigates the amazing growth of the Christian church in China. Check out this story he wrote called Jesus in China: Life on the Edge. The article includes this very impressive audio slideshow. Because the church i...
Jesus in China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, June 19, 2008
Next Tuesday night PBS will broadcast a special program called Jesus in China about the amazing growth of the Christian movement in China. The program airs in most places at either 8 PM or 9 PM.…
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KBM and the China Earthquake
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, May 26, 2008
Two weeks ago a devastating earthquake struck the Sichuan province in China. At first the death toll was estimated to be 32,000. As of this writing, the number has climbed to 65,000. The final figure will be far larger. Over 300,000 were injured. Tens of thousands are missing with over 5 million left homeless. Yesterday a s ...
Bump a Man and See What Spills Out
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, May 25, 2008
“You never really find out what is inside a man until he is bumped and you see what spills out.” Carl Lundquist
Chinese Translation of “The Healing Power of Forgiveness”
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Chinese translation of The Healing Power of Forgiveness has just been released. You can order copies fromElim Christian BookstoreB1F, No. 210, Sec. 4Chung-Hsiao E. Rd.Taipei 106Taiwan R.O.C.
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Be Still and Know
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, May 20, 2008
We have posted a new sermon called Be Still and Know. The sermon came in response to a question from a friend in China who wondered why God sent the terrible earthquake that took so many lives in the Sichuan province last week. As I considered his question, my mind was drawn to Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God. ...
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Earthquake Damage in China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, May 18, 2008
The New York Times has published this interactive map showing the earthquake damage in China. Click on the camera icons to see photos from the region. The death toll now stands at over 32,000, with the final numbers expected to be much higher. A friend in China told us that for the first time, the government is concerned ab ...
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Back to the Bible—Next Week!
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, May 17, 2008
Next week (May 19-23)Back to the Bible will broadcast five messages I gave on the topic of “The Healing Power of Forgiveness."Here is their bio and announcement of the programs next week.Click here to find out where the program is broadcast in your area.I first met Wood Kroll, senior Bible teacher at Back to the Bible, whe ...
Tuesday Morning Scattershooting
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Various, mostly unrelated notes from hither and yon . . .William McGurn has some nice words about Wheaton College in the Wall Street Journal.Speaking of Wheaton, Eric Rubio had a great freshman year there.Several people have called or written to ask about Josh and Leah who teach English in Nanchang, China. After the devasta ...
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We Shall Behold Him
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, May 12, 2008
Legendary gospel singer and songwriter Dottie Rambo died yesterday morning when her tour bus ran off a road in southwest Missouri and struck an embankment. She was 74 years old. She had more than 2500 published songs, among them a song of great hope called “We Shall Behold Him.” When I woke up this morning, I thought about ...
News from China and Canada
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, April 7, 2008
1) This morning I received a note from ZDL Books in Beijing. They publish the Chinese translation of The ABCs of Wisdom. Here was the unexpected good news:"You will be glad to know that your book ’The ABC’s of Wisdom’ is now our best selling title! We have sold nearly 30,000 copies now and it is still go ...
Things to do Before Going to Chicago
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, April 7, 2008
Early Thursday morning—around 5 AM—we leave for Chicago. We are eating dinner that night with friends in Chicago, on Friday we have a home meeting in Oak Park, on Saturday we have a board meeting and a meeting for volunteers who are helping us “optimize” the sermons on the Keep believing website, on Sunday I’m preac ...
China Updates
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Check out these China-related items . .Anthony Bollback and his son Jonathan run an informative website called Church in China.You can subscribe to ZGBriefs and receive a free weekly digest of China-related news.Our son Josh has been doing some China Chopstick Math. Each year the Chinese use enough disposable chopsticks (45 ...
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Got Bible?
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, April 1, 2008
I just found a blog called Got Bible? Some cool stuff here. Check out this post called 13 Answers to the Question, “Where Can I Find . . . in the Bible?
Three Good China Books—And One More
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, February 27, 2008
For those wishing to know more about the church in China, these three books are a good place to begin.Jesus in Beijing by David Aikman Before writing this book David Aikman served as the Beijing bureau chief for Time magazine. If you want the most up-to-date treatment of the Christian movement in China, start with this book ...
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William F. Buckley
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, February 27, 2008
I can’t remember exactly when I first heard of William F. Buckley or when I first saw an issue of National Review, but I know it must have been in 1966 or thereabouts. I was a teenager at the time and far disconnected from life outside the small town in Alabama where I grew up. This is what I do remember. David Neal a ...
Josh’s China Video
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, February 26, 2008
At this moment we are somewhere in the air over the Pacific Ocean on our way back to Chicago and then on to Memphis and then back to Tupelo. Total time from Shanghai to Tupelo is about 21 hours. We have had a wonderful time in China, and we have seen the Father’s hand at work in so many unexpected ways. If you wonder ...
Nanchang Chronicles—Day 7
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, February 24, 2008
This morning I spoke to the English-language fellowship in Nanchang. They meet each Sunday morning at a hotel in the center of the city. Two years ago only 6-7 people attended. Now they usually draw 50-60 people. Most are Americans and most are English teachers serving with the English Language Institute of China. Some of ...
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Nanchang Chronicles—Day 6
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, February 23, 2008
Here’s a slideshow of our final days in Nanchang. There are 21 pictures in all. Click on each picture to read my additional comments. Then click on “Resume Show” to go to the next picture.NOTE: The slideshow should start automatically. If it doesn’t, push down the Control (Ctrl) button while clicking ...
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Nanchang Chronicles—Day 5
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, February 22, 2008
Our time in Nanchang is coming quickly to an end. In the last two days we have toured the new campus of Blue Sky University, met “Billy” the waiban, and lit a few fireworks on the basketball court to celebrate the Lantern Festival. Here’s a slideshow of our last two days in Nanchang. There are 20 pictures in all. You ...
Nanchang Chronicles—Day 4
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, February 22, 2008
So what’s it like in Nanchang? A friend who has been here for a while said that Nanchang isn’t like Beijing or Shanghai. Nanchang is the “real China.” It’s easy to tell the difference. Beijing and Shanghai are both enormous cities, with populations that rank among the largest in the world. In Beijing you h ...
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Nanchang Chronicles—Day 3
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Today we toured the downtown area again. While Josh and Leah and Marlene checked out a store, I checked out 8-1 Plaza, located in the very center of the city. The plaza has historical significance because it commemorates the founding of the People’s Liberation Army in this area on August 1, 1927. Here are a few shots ...
Nanchang Chronicles—Day 2
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, February 20, 2008
On Tuesday we traveled to downtown Nanchang to visit the Wal-Mart. It’s fun seeing a Chinese version of an American institution. The store is located right off the main square in the very center of the city—an ideal location for shoppers. They say it is incredibly crowded on the weekends. On one huge floor they sell ...
Some Advice to the Discontented
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, February 20, 2008
We have just posted a new sermon called Some Advice to the Discontented. Here’s an excerpt:You are where you are right now because God wants you there. You may be happy about your current circumstances or you may be miserable. Most likely you are somewhere in between. It doesn’t matter. You are where you are at ...
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Where is Nanchang?
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, February 19, 2008
This map shows where Nanchang is located in relation to several to important Chinese cities—Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong—and also the island of Taiwan. A quick glance tells you that Nanchang is located in the southern part of the country. It was originally one of the so-called “furnace cities” where emperors would banish ...
Nanchang Chronicles—Day 1
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, February 18, 2008
As I write this note, it is early Tuesday morning in Nanchang, China. Marlene looked outside and said, “It’s a beautiful, gray day,” and indeed it is.I took this photo at our hotel in Shanghai. Note the bright colors of our suitcases—easier to find them coming off a baggage claim carousel at the airport. We filled al ...
iPod Paradise
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, February 17, 2008
I can’t tell you where we are at the moment except that we are in the air somewhere between Chicago and Shanghai. I can report that we’ve been in the air a long time, that we’ve had three meals, and that we have watched at least three movies and a bunch of TV shows. To be truthful, we haven’t exactly ...
Shanghai in 35 Hours
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, February 15, 2008
We should land in Shanghai in 35 hours. At the moment we are at the Tampa airport preparing to fly home to Tupelo. We arrive at 8:30 PM, unpack, wash clothes, repack, adding the big bundle of thing we are carrying over for Josh and Leah, go to bed, get up at 2:30 AM, drive to Memphis, check in for our 6 AM flight to Chicago ...
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Shanghai in 72 Hours
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, February 14, 2008
Marlene figured out that we will be in Shanghai in 72 hours. That’s startling to think about given that at this moment, we’re in our room at Word of Life Florida where the Bible conference won’t wrap up until tomorrow morning.Today we’re in sunny Florida. By Sunday we’ll be in China.We do live ...
Christmas in Nanchang
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, December 29, 2007
Josh has posted a slideshow called Christmas in Nanchang. “The Father is doing BIG things in Nanchang these days.”
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Dallas Seminary Offers Online Classes for Students in China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, December 29, 2007
The Dallas Morning News says that students in China can now take online courses from Dallas Theological Seminary. The article begins by describing a course on Bible Study Methods taught by seminary president Dr. Mark Bailey. It ends with a frank statement about the reality of teaching the Bible with the approval of the Chin ...
2007—Looking Back on a Year in Blogging
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, December 28, 2007
Here are some of the most popular weblog entries of 2007. By “popular” I mean only that these entries brought the most feedback, not that people always agreed with what I wrote. In some cases readers disagreed strongly with some points that I made, which is fine with me. I am grateful to everyone who read this b ...
China Bans Bible for Olympic Athletes
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Evidently the organizers of the Summer Olympics in Beijing are afraid of the Bible because they have put it on the list of prohibited items for Olympic athletes coming from other countries. Here are several articles:The Olympic BibleChina Bans Bibles for Olympic AthletesIn addition, visitors to China are being warned not to ...
KBM Board Meeting Last Friday Night
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, November 5, 2007
Last Friday night the Keep Believing board met in Elmhurst, IL. We had two special visitors that evening. Ernie Schulz joined us to talk about the Anchor Book Depot, and Derek Taylor presented a plan for the brand-new Keep Believing website that will be introduced in January. Pictured from left to right around the table are ...
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Beautiful Feet
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, August 13, 2007
This morning Josh and Leah leave for China where they will be team leaders for a group of English teachers serving with ELIC. Last Tuesday they started their training in the Los Angeles area. On Thursday they met their team. Last night all the China teachers and leaders were commissioned for service. From Los Angeles they f ...
WMBI Interview This Morning
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, August 13, 2007
This morning I’m doing a live interivew on WMBI (90.1 FM) in Chicago from 10:05-10:20 AM.
God at Work in China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, August 11, 2007
Check out this article called Christianity Finds a Fulcrum in Asia. The author puts forth a number of stunning claims and predictions, including . . .10,000 Chinese become Christians every day.Chinese may comprise the world’s largest concentration of Christians by 2050.China feels an enormous spiritual hunger caused i ...
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On the Road Again
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, August 9, 2007
After an all-too-brief stay in Tupelo, we are on the road again. This time we’re driving to Chicago, but not the usual route through Memphis and up I-57. We’re taking the Natchez Trace to Nashville where we will catch I-65 to Louisville and on to Indianapolis. Tonight we’ll be in South Bend, Indiana becaus ...
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China—Crackdowns, Conversions, Hungry Hearts
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, July 20, 2007
So what is the state of the church in China these days? It all depends on who you ask. I have heard several knowledgeable people say the same thing. “Everything you hear about China is true somewhere.” It’s a big country with 1.3 billion people. Everyone agrees the church is growing at a phenomenal rate. That obviousl ...
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“Y’all Let Those Puppies In”
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, July 19, 2007
The phone guy just left after spending a few hot and sweaty minutes getting our phone service working again. After checking things outside (ok) and inside (no dial tone) and after venturing into the attic (temp around 125), he discovered a broken wire from the box in the attic to the jack in our bedroom. Took him maybe five ...
China Clippings
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, July 7, 2007
Anthony Bollback has just posted the latest edition of China Clippings. Here’s an excerpt:University students in China are showing signs that they will be the next great wave of evangelism in China. In the last issue of CHINA CLIPPINGS it was reported that evangelism is leaping forward among China’s university s ...
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Why God Chooses Cracked Pots
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, July 6, 2007
Today during an interview I was asked why so many of the heroes of the Bible had serious flaws. My answer was simple. That’s all God has to work with. All the perfect people are in heaven. The only ones on earth are the folks with serious weaknesses. The talent pool has always been pretty thin when it comes to moral p ...
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The Other Side of the Story in China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, June 22, 2007
Here’s the other side of the story in China. Compass Direct reports on house church leaders recently arrested.Government-sanctioned persecution of Christians has darkened the landscape of Xinjiang province in north-western China. Most recently, an estimated 30 house church leaders were arrested on April 19 in Aksu cit ...
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Global Proclamation Academy
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Today I taught at the Global Proclamation Academy (GPA) in Dallas, a unique training opportunity for younger leaders from emerging countries. The requirements for attending GPA state that you must be under 35, already an active Christian leader in your country, and you must be recommended to attend GPA. Only one person is c ...
Bits and Pieces
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, June 20, 2007
*Here are three blogs worth checking out:The Normal Christian BlogBiblicalStudies.org.ukDigiTrail Blaze*Good News from China. There has been a Christian explosion among Chinese intellectuals. Read the whole article and you’ll discover that the term explosion is not an exaggeration. The church is China continues to gro ...
Just Do It
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Over the weekend we talked with someone (A) who told us about a friend of hers (B), someone she has known for many years. It seems that this friend (B) offended someone else (C) eight or nine years ago. The precise details don’t matter, except that what was done was petty and meanspirited. Now the course of life has c ...
Should Christian Leaders Receive Public Immunity?
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, May 4, 2007
Last week I wrote an entry called Bill O’Reilly Doesn’t Quite Get It. My post drew quite a bit of comment and even stirred up a bit of debate about the existence of God. But the most fascinating response had nothing to do with what I wrote but with the fact that I wrote it at all. Someone sent an email objecting ...
China Clippings
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Anthony Bollback has just posted the latest edition of China Clippings. A Chinese government official recently estimated the total number of Christians in China at an astounding 130 million. Perhaps the greatest need is for trained leaders in the local churches to disciple the estimated 7-10,000 new converts every day.
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Video Tour of the Cosmos
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Ron Ethridge invites us to take a video tour through the cosmos to appreciate the greatness of God.
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Create in Me a Clean Heart
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, April 25, 2007
We have just posted a new sermon called Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Serious Call to Sexual Purity. Here’s an excerpt:Purity is worth it because the pure in heart see God. They know him deeply, personally, intimately. They have an inner peace that others do not have. They see God and know the comfort of his presence ...
Chinese Translation of “The Incredible Journey of Faith”
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, April 17, 2007
The Chinese version of The Incredible Journey of Faith has just been released. For other Chinese translations, click here and here.
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Woodward Avenue Baptist Church
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, April 16, 2007
Yesterday Marlene and I had a wonderful time at Woodward Avenue Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. I grew up in that area so it was a sort of homecoming for me even though I didn’t know most of the people in the congregation. Pastor Ron Ethridge is a personal friend so we felt enormously welcomed from the momen ...
The Great Firewall of China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, April 5, 2007
Is your favorite website banned in China? You can find out by going to the Great Firewall of China.
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Leah’s New Sermon CD Covers
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, April 5, 2007
Check out the brand-new sermon CD covers Leah designed for the five CD sets we plan to offer. Click on the Stealth Attack cover and a slide show will come up on your screen. It will take you through the CD covers and the individual CD labels for all five sets. Leah did the designs and Josh helped post them on the Internet.O ...
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Mid-Afternoon Ramblings
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, March 14, 2007
It’s time to go for a bike ride. But first a few items on my desk . . . 1) Doug Bandow offers an up-to-date look on the struggle for religious liberty in China. Here is the money quote:Yet even as the PRC grows in international confidence, its Communist party remains paranoid, fearful of the very diversity encouraged ...
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When Christians Disagree
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, March 12, 2007
We have just posted a new sermon on the website:When Christians DisagreeHere is an excerpt on three warning signs that you’ve let “your issue” impact your life negatively:Our danger is that not only will we disagree and separate, but that we’ll cross the line from justifiable disagreement to anger and bitterness ...
Trouble With the Weekly Email Sermons?
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, March 5, 2007
If you have signed up for the weekly sermon emails, this note is for you. If you signed up but aren’t receiving the sermons:In early January we switched to a new system for sending out the sermons. Even though visually the weekly sermons look the same, we are using a new company and a different program to send them ou ...
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Albany Airport—3:45 PM
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, March 2, 2007
Last night we had six or eight inches of snow at the BI, and this morning when I tried to get my car out of the driveway, it just kept slipping and sliding and finally got totally stuck. That meant I missed eating breakfast with Mike and Betsi Calhoun. When I called them at 7 AM to report the bad news, Betsi told me she had ...
Day 14
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, March 1, 2007
I am writing this note from my cabin on the campus of Word of Life Bible Institute in Pottersville, New York. As Jack Wyrtzen used to say, Word of Life is “high in the Adirondack Mountains.” Tonight we have no doubt about that because a massive winter storm has this region squarely in its cross hairs. I just checked the wea ...
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You Can’t Help a Liar
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Recently I spent time with someone involved in ministry to students. Occasionally he is faced with difficult disciplinary decisions when the young people break the rules of the group. “I’ve dealt with everything you can imagine. Every sort of sexual sin. Cheating. Breaking the law. You name it, I’ve seen it,” he ...
Good News From China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, February 26, 2007
Anthony Bollback has posted the latest edition of China Clippings. Anthony and his wife Evelyn served as missionaries in China in the 1940s, leaving just before Communist forces took the city where they lived. When Marlene and I were at Word of Life Florida several weeks ago, we had the privilege of eating lunch with Anthon ...
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NYC-Kennedy Airport—2:04 PM
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, February 26, 2007
I am writing this note shortly after 2 PM EDT, which means that we left Merced, California over 25 hours ago. Marlene has been back in Tupelo for about 11 hours. I’ve been stuck at Kennedy Airport in NYC all day because the snowstorm that passed through last night caused hundreds of flights to be canceled, including m ...
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“I love that man”
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, February 25, 2007
It’s 5:54 PM and I’ve been sitting in the San Jose airport for almost four hours. Marlene left on a flight for Phoenix and then on to Memphis three hours ago. Mark and Vanessa at this moment are somewhere over the Pacific Ocean on their way back to China. In about an hour I fly to Los Angeles, then have almost f ...
Ballistic Christianity
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, February 25, 2007
We have just posted the sermon I preached last Sunday at Elmhurst (IL) Christian Reformed Church:Ballistic ChristianityHere’s an excerpt:Jesus saw the multitudes. That’s hard to do. In the last year, I’ve been traveling a lot, preaching in different places. I’ve been in and out of so many airports th ...
Atlanta Airport, 8:36 AM
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, February 22, 2007
I am writing this brief note in the Atlanta airport. Last Friday we flew to Chicago for four days where we had two home meetings, an Internet meeting, I preached twice on Sunday morning with a luncheon following, we had an afternoon meeting plus an early morning breakfast meeting, another lunch meeting, then a four-hour KBM ...
O’Hare Airport, 4:52 AM
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, February 20, 2007
I am writing these words at 4:52 AM at Gate L9 in Terminal 3 of O’Hare Airport in Chicago. Last night, which really hasn’t ended yet, we had a Keep Believing Ministries board meeting that finally wrapped up sometime after 11 PM. We did our final packing and got to bed about 12:30 AM. That was OK except that we c ...
A Warning to Wine-Drinkers
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, February 14, 2007
We have just posted the newest sermon in the “Transformed Life” series:A Warning to Wine-DrinkersHere’s an excerpt:Thirteen years ago I met an Israeli tour guide named Zvi. He was remarkable in many ways, but most of all because he is a born again Jewish Christian believer in Jesus Christ. One morning he told the amaz ...
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China News
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, February 1, 2007
Anthony Bollback has posted the latest edition of China Clippings. Josh and Leah visited China while we were in the Holy Land. Here are some photos from their trip. Here is an updated report on religious freedom in China. The article notes the continuing need for trained leaders for the burgeoning Christian movement in Chin ...
100 Huntley Street
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, February 1, 2007
This morning I’m flying to Toronto where tomorrow morning I’m doing an interview on 100 Huntley Street, Canada’s premier daily Christian television program. We’ll be talking about my book The Healing Power of Forgiveness. The program is broadcast across Canada and can be viewed online and by satellit ...
Love on the Great Wall
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Shortly after midnight on Sunday night, the phone rang, jarring us awake. We had been expecting the call but it came as a surprise anyway because we were already asleep. On the other end of the phone, I heard Mark’s voice, “Mom and Dad, we’re engaged.” He was using a cell phone to call us from the Great Wall of ...
Sermons for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, January 16, 2007
On January 21 thousands of churches will observe Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Since 1973 this observance has taken place annually on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision that legalized abortion in America. Here are some sermons that may help you in your preaching and Bible teaching this week. T ...
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Miniature Earth
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Check out Miniature Earth for a sobering view of our world (HT to Dwight Nelson).Here are two blogs from the other side of the world:The Journey (Australia)Life in China
Two New Sermons
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, January 7, 2007
Here are the latest sermons on the KBM website:God’s Medicine for a Sick WorldAdoption: Plenty of Room in the Family
What’s Happening in China?
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, December 29, 2006
Get Religion has up-to-date coverage on Christmas in China. Anthony Bollback has posted the latest edition of China Clippings.Mark writes from China with a call for pastors who preach with ferocity and compassion.On December 22 eight house church leaders were tried and sentenced to prison. I found an excellent news article ...
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A Restaurant, A Movie and a Very Decent Man
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, December 28, 2006
1) If you ever come to Gulf Shores, be sure to eat at Doc’s Seafood Shack in nearby Orange Beach. The sign out front says they have have the World’s Best Gumbo. With that kind of confidence, how could you resist? The place doesn’t exactly look like a shack; it’s more of a rundown, retro-50s kind of l ...
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After Jesus
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Tonight CNN presented a two-hour special called After Jesus: The First Christians. The program traces the beginnings of the Christian religion from its days as a sect within Judaism to its recognition as a favored religion by Emperor Constantine in AD 313. It attempts to grapple with a question that is both historical and t ...
Jay Bakker’s Strange Religion
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Until last week I had never paid any attention to Jay Bakker, the son of Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Messner. Then someone sent me a link to a CNN article called What the Hell Happened to Christianity? It turns out that Jay is the pastor/founder of a church called the Revolution, with branches in Atlanta, New York and Charlot ...
China Tidbits
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, December 19, 2006
1) Do they celebrate Christmas in China? The answer is yes and no. The Chinese (especially in the larger cities) recognize the holiday and enjoy the bright lights, gift-giving and the part about Santa Claus but do not understand the message of the birth of Jesus. 2) Mark has posted some new pictures from his recent birthday ...
Dudley and Tom
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, December 18, 2006
This weekend Tom and Fay Phillips came through Tupelo on their way to Arkansas. When they arrived late Saturday afternoon, Tom and Dudley immediately became lifetime friends, so much so that Dudley decided Tom’s lap was the ideal place for a nap. They both seemed to enjoy it. We told Fay that they need a basset hound ...
Four More Christmas Sermons
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, December 13, 2006
As you can tell, I’ve been ransacking my sermon archives to pull up all the Christmas sermons. This is part of our commitment at KBM to provide a wide range of free biblical resources via the Internet to people around the world. In the process, I discovered four sermons that had never been posted on the website. I jus ...
Christ B.C.
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, December 13, 2006
This four-part series explores the Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus Christ. Feel free to use this material in any way that may be helpful to you as we prepare for the celebration of our Lord’s birth.Born of a Virgin A Prophet Like Moses Lamb of God Seed of the Woman
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China Clippings—November Edition
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Just in time for Thanksgiving Anthony Bollback has posted the November edition of China Clippings, focusing this month on the burgeoning Back to Jerusalem movement. Thousands of Chinese Christians have dedicated themselves to carrying the gospel outside China, through the Muslim countries to the west, all the way back to Je ...
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Uncommon Prayer—The Twelve Stations of Love
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, November 20, 2006
Phil Miglioratti of the National Pastors Prayer Network took last week’s sermon on The Agape Factor and turned it into a unique concept called Uncommon Prayer—The Twelve Stations of Love.. This is an excellent example of how preaching and corporate prayer can complement each other. By the way, recently Phil was inter ...
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KBM China Update
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, November 16, 2006
A few months ago, soon after we organized Keep Believing Ministries, I announced our first project. We wanted to equip 25,000 pastors and church leaders in China with free copies of the Chinese translation of An Anchor for the Soul. This week we finally reached the goal. On Tuesday we wired the funds to the publisher. Sever ...
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Three Noteworthy Articles
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Here are three articles only loosely connected . . . USA Today reports that blogging has now entered the classroom as an educational tool.Keith Drury has written a helpful analysis of how the Internet is changing the church. Church leaders would do well to consider all six points he raises. Click here to read responses to D ...
All Saints Day
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, November 1, 2006
This is All Saints Day, one of the finest, most joyful days of the Christian year. It’s the day when we remember and give thanks for all true believers around the world, especially those who have gone before us into heaven. Evangelicals often pay little attention to the Christian year (for various reasons), but this i ...
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China Clippings
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Anthony Bollback has posted the October issue of China Clippings. This month’s edition focuses on the spread of the gospel along the ancient Silk Road, part of the movement to take the gospel from China into the Muslim countries to the west and ultimately back to Jerusalem, where it all began 2000 years ago.
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Married Couples Now a Minority
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, October 16, 2006
Here’s a significant statistic every church leader should know about . . . Married couples are now a minority in the U.S. For the first time ever, less than 50% of American households are made up of married couples. Here is the money quote:The numbers by no means suggest marriage is dead or necessarily that a tipping ...
Chinese Churches Challenge the Rules
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, October 6, 2006
I found a good article in the Washington Post about how some churches in China are challenging the rules of the Communist government. A sidebar to the article contains a video of authorities recently demolishing an illegal house church. The article discusses the new boldness of Christians in the Wenzhou and Zhejiang provinc ...
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News, Notes and Comments
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, October 5, 2006
1) We have just posted the first sermon in the series The Transformed Life (Romans 12-16):God’s Altar Call2) When Nick called this afternoon, we chatted about this and that. At the end of the conversation, he said, “Go Rebels! Go Huskies! Go Bears!” The Rebels are the Ole Miss Rebels who are off to a 1-4 start this se ...
New Pictures From China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Mark has posted some new pictures from China.
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NewSong Fellowship Church
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, October 2, 2006
I am writing this note in the Atlanta airport on our way back home from NewSong Fellowship Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Most people know that Lancaster is the center of a large Amish community. However, we didn’t see a single horse and buggy. I learned that Lancaster County is home to over 600,000 people. That s ...
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An Article and a Blog
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Brian Bill sent along two very helpful links:1) China’s New Legal Eagles. Evangelical leaders spur the civil rights movement as believers begin to speak out in order to nudge China toward freedom and true civil liberty. 2) Seth Godin’s Blog. Cutting edge marketing ideas from a leader in the field. Written for bu ...
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Encounter on the Escalator
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, September 20, 2006
On Monday I flew home from a weekend conference in Vineland, New Jersey. As sometimes happens on the back end of a trip, I was thinking about things I have to do this week and it seemed overwhelming. Frankly, I felt a bit discouraged. When I got the Atlanta airport, I was feeling tired and down and as I sat on the train tha ...
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123 Days, 2 Hours, 50 Minutes, 5 Seconds
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, September 16, 2006
Mark has a MySpace China blog. His counter says that there are 123 days, 2 hours, 50 minutes, 5 seconds until the Holy Land tour, January 17-26, 2007. By the way, we now have 15 people signed up for the tour. We expect to have a group of 25-30 people. If you are thinking about going with us, now is the time to sign up.
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Wash For Life
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, September 16, 2006
Today is Wash for Life . I hope this great idea spreads to thousands of youth groups next year.
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Anchor for China Project Nears Completion
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, September 13, 2006
In June we announced the Anchor for China project. We asked the Lord to help us equip 25,000 Chinese pastors and church leaders will free copies of Anchor for the Soul, a simple presentation of the gospel. Even though the book has only been in print since March, it has already been widely distributed. Several bookstores hav ...
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Korean Version of “Beyond All You Could Ask or Think”
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Several years ago I wrote a book based on the prayers of Paul called Beyond All you Could Ask or Think. The Korean version has just been released by DMI Press in Seoul, Korea.
More Good News From China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, September 7, 2006
Anthony Bollback has just posted the September edition of China Clippings. As always, the news from the Middle Kingdom is a mixed bag. Along with open doors, repression seems to be on the increase. (See Behind China’s Big Chill for details.) But here’s some good news about reaching Chinese students who have come ...
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What Is Saving Faith?
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, September 6, 2006
We have just posted a new sermon on the website:What is Saving Faith?
The War for China’s Soul
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, August 24, 2006
A friend who plans to travel to China in October asked which books he should read in preparation for his visit. I recommended these three:Safely Home by Randy Alcorn. A beautifully written, eye-opening novel about an American businessman in China whose life is changed by his encounter with Christians from the underground ch ...
One-Sentence Prayers
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Recently I have been thinking about the prayers I pray, especially the one-sentence prayers that come so often to mind. These are “arrow prayers” that shoot from earth to heaven and reach the heart of God. If it seems odd to pray one-sentence prayers, I remind you that the Lord’s Prayer is essentially six short petiti ...
Looking for Dudley
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, August 21, 2006
This is the story of my day . . . 1) Got up and put Dudley outside so he could do his business and play with Jake. For those who don’t know, Dudley is our nine-month-old basset hound and Jake is Alan’s chocolate lab. We’re keeping Jake this week while Alan is on a medical missions trip to Ecuador. 2) Jake ...
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Saturday Shout Out
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, August 19, 2006
A big Saturday shout out to Alan, BJ, Linda, David Langerfeld, and the 33 others from the Tupelo area who are currently on a medical missions trip to Ecuador. They are serving in the mountains south of Quito, not far from the volcano that erupted several days ago. As Nick said, “It sounds like their trip is going to be a bl ...
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The Best Time to Plant a Tree
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, August 15, 2006
“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is today.” Chinese proverb
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Outside In—a Blog About China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, August 15, 2006
A friend tipped me off to a China blog called Outside In. It gives you a good sense of what’s it’s like for an American to live in China today.
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Interview with Kevin McCullough on WMCA Today
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, August 15, 2006
I am being interviewed by Kevin McCullough on WMCA in New York City today from 1:20-2 PM CDT. We’ll be talking about Credo plus I’m sure we’ll discuss Israel and the crisis in the Middle East.
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Saint Dudley
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, June 28, 2006
It is late in the evening as I type these words. I stepped outside a moment ago and heard a symphony of nighttime sounds in the forest. Crickets galore, and frogs, and various creatures moving around in the woods. Inside the cabin the dehumidifier drones on, erasing all the sounds of nature. Upstairs Marlene is in bed readi ...
KBM Anchor for China Project
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, June 17, 2006
At the recent Keep Believing Ministries (KBM) board retreat, we unanimously approved making China our first major project. Despite decades of Communist oppression, the church in China has not only survived—it has thrived. Here are three articles that explain the amazing growth of the church in the world’s most populo ...
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Seeking Help for the KBM Logo
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, June 16, 2006
At the KBM board retreat two weeks ago, we discussed the need for a logo that could be used on our website and on all of our printed material. Here is a quote taken verbatim from the minutes of the retreat: KBM LOGO: By general consensus, it was determined that Ray would issue a general appeal via the “blog” as ...
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Onward Christian Soldiers—in China!
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, June 15, 2006
Anthony Bollback has just posted the June edition of China Clippings. It is full of good news about the progress of the Christian movement. He quotes extensively from a recent Newsweek International Edition story by Susan Schafer called Onward Christian Soldiers. The subtitle reads, “Chinese missionaries are winning souls a ...
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KBM PO Box Now Working
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, June 1, 2006
Last month I announced the formation of Keep Believing Ministries. In that entry I mentioned that we had just opened a PO Box and a bank account and could now take donations. That simple announcement has turned into a bit of an unexpected adventure . . .Two weeks ago we opened our bank account and PO Box in Elmhurst, IL. I ...
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How Well Do You Handle Change?
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, April 20, 2006
A friend sent this quote, which is slightly paraphrased from the Coporate Shrink in the March 2006 issue of Fast Company:By the time one hits mid career, personalities and styles are largely set. The biggest variable in the Journey is ones own choices of personal flexibility and open-mindedness to listening and learning. ...
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Chinese Translation of ABCs of Wisdom
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, April 9, 2006
We just received word three days ago that the Chinese translation of the ABCs of Wisdom has been officially approved for publication in China. The book contains 100 character studies based on the book of Proverbs. Here are two pictures of the book: Here is the special introduction to the Chinese version:It is an honor f ...
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The Couples Retreat
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, April 8, 2006
9:58 PM The couples retreat seemed to go very well. I spoke three times, on “Respect: The Foundation of a Strong Marriage,” “A Judgmental Spirit: The Enemy of a Happy Marriage,” and “Commitment: The Key to a Lasting Marriage.” There was lots of chatter and laughter before and after the sessions, and a good bit of give-and-t ...
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The Latest Dudley Pictures
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, April 1, 2006
Davis Duggins sent me this note several weeks ago:This past weekend I finished re-reading your book on the Lord’s Prayer. I came across a line that made me smile (p. 103). You were talking about trusting God even when he doesn’t answer our prayers. As examples, you mentioned not getting a new dress or “perhaps i ...
Mark and His Team in China
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, March 27, 2006
Here is a picture of Mark and his team in China. Scroll down to see a picture of Mark by himself.
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Cataclysmic Times
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, March 27, 2006
The following sermon has just been added to the website:Cataclysmic Times: Spiritual Warfare in the Last Days
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“Pastor Ray, Isn’t That a Little Harsh?”
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, March 9, 2006
This afternoon I taped a one-hour interview for “Christian Radio Magazine” that will air nationwide on Good Friday. We were discussing my new book, Credo: Believing in Something to Die For. Here was the final question of the interview:You write “If you truly do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus, you have place ...
Duct Tape on the Trunk
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, February 25, 2006
A few weeks ago I decided that instead of flying to Word of Life Florida, as we usually do, we would drive. That way we could carry our bikes with us. The conference center is located about four miles from the Suncoast Trail, a 41-mile paved bike and hiking trail built alongside the Suncoast Parkway. Every year I try to rid ...
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Heading for New York
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, January 30, 2006
7:45 AM Tom and Sharon Nutter recently adopted a baby (Danielle) from China. They’ve blogged about their adoption adventure.7:43 AM Pastors, be sure to check out Transforming Sermons, a weblog devoted to preaching sermons that change lives by the effective proclamation of the Word of God.7:29 AM Zion Church of Sheboy ...
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Another Brother Joins the Ranks
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, January 10, 2006
4:20 PM Nancy Pearcey explains why intelligent design will win.3:56 PM God at work on the other side of the world . . . Another brother was added to the ranks tonight . . . A guy we’ve met with for two or three times was the only one to come, and we were going to give the bridge the gap speech to everyone to ensure t ...
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China in Twelve Days
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, January 3, 2006
11:45 AM “It does not matter whether or not people understand us or think we are even sane as long as we are true to God. Obedience to him is the important thing.” Theodore Epp9:12 AM One of our favorite Christmas cards came from some friends in Oak Park who sent us a card featuring traditional Chinese paper cutting. Each c ...
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Monday, August 16, 2004
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, August 16, 2004
5:08 PM Monday shout-out to Jenna Culbertson, "Old Tractor," Rick Ezell, to Butch Henderson and my brother Alan who are headed soon to Ecuador on a medical missions trip, and to Norm and Gwen Bowman in Barcelona. 10:00 AM 'Tis the season for anniversaries. This Sunday marks our 30th wedding anniversary. I'll preaching i...
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Thursday, July 8, 2004
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, July 8, 2004
4:43 PM Today's entry in the Crosswalk weblog is called Not Perfection, But Progress. 10:22 AM Senator Orrin Hatch persuasively explains why we need the Federal Marriage Amendment. 9:45 AM Speaking of Alabama, I received an email this morning from Debbie Bolton King with the news that her mother died on July 5. Dolores Bolt...
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Thursday, June 10, 2004
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, June 10, 2004
10:06 PM This afternoon I stood behind Kevin McHale. I also walked by Patrick Ewing. I saw Larry Bird from a distance, and I was sitting down when B. J. Armstrong passed by. It happened at the NBA Pre-Draft Camp at Moody Bible Institute. Mark is working at the Solheim Center this summer, which means he is helping with secur...
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Thursday, April 29, 2004
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Thursday, April 29, 2004
9:53 PM Marlene called to say I should watch MSNBC and I would see one of my friends on TV. Turns out that Pastor Erwin Lutzer of Moody Church in Chicago was part of a four-way interview regarding "The Da Vinci Code." He has a new book out called "The Da Vinci Deception." 9:21 PM All is well as the week rolls along ...
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Monday, April 19, 2004
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, April 19, 2004
3:45 PM Two notes relating to An Anchor for the Soul: From Andrea Shelton of Heartbound Ministries in Ringgold, GA: Thank you for your donation of 1200 books for Heartbound Ministries' Easter outreach program at Georgia State Prison in Reidsville, GA. Thank you also for the 50 books you sent for our prison chaplains to plac...
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Friday, March 12, 2004
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, March 12, 2004
9:58 PM Two new sermon series just posted on the website: Joyful Living in a Grumpy World: Philippians (13 sermons) Street Smarts: Proverbs (12 sermons) Hat tip to Kathy Duggins for putting these sermons online. 9:57 PM Arrived back home a few minutes ago, weary from the week of ministry and the travel, but grateful to God ...
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Sunday, February 22, 2004
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, February 22, 2004
9:59 PM Mark called this afternoon to talk about the situation in Haiti. Cap-Haitien has fallen to the rebels who are fighting to oust President Aristide. Cap-Haitien, Haiti's second-largest city, is on the northern coast. I preached there last May at the church founded by Henoc Lucien. (Click here and scroll down to the re...
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Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, January 28, 2004
10:33 AM Anyone out there feeling a little bit "imperfect" today? Thank you, I see that hand being raised. Mine too. Here are some encouraging words for "imperfect" people from Charles Spurgeon: Do you not feel in your own soul that perfection is not in you? Does not every day teach you that? Every tear which trickl...
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Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Wednesday, January 14, 2004
10:04 PM End of a busy day in Florida. If possible, today was even nicer. I told the folks in the morning service it was “just another day in paradise.” After the service one of the missionaries (Jeanette Silver) said she had gotten a phone call from Carrie Cleaver in Oak Park. Carrie called to say that I am her p...
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Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, December 23, 2003
3:32 PM The video presentation of Two From Galilee is now online and ready for viewing. 10:37 AM We received $44,000 in the Legacy Campaign Building Fund on Sunday. 10:35 AM More renovation news … It looks like they are nearly finished installing the glass in the portico archways. Roof almost completed. The gym has b...
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Tuesday, December 9, 2003
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Tuesday, December 9, 2003
7:21 PM David Limbaugh documents the increasing hostility to Christianity in our society. He ends with a question worthy of discussion:It's one thing for Christians to argue that they should rejoice in their persecution – that's even biblical. But it's an entirely different matter for us to stand by idly as our cultur...
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Monday, December 1, 2003
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Monday, December 1, 2003
7:00 PM Marlene and I just got back from buying a Christmas tree. We couldn't find anything we liked at one store so we were on our way to another store when we saw Christmas trees for sale behind the Portillo's at the corner of Des Plaines and Roosevelt Road in Forest Park. So on impulse we pulled in to the Christmas tree ...
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Friday, November 28, 2003
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, November 28, 2003
9:36 PM Notable Quote: "In the world it is called tolerance, but in hell it is called despair … the sin that believes in nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die. - Dorothy Sayers" ...
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Saturday, November 22, 2003
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Saturday, November 22, 2003
8:47 PM The World Magazine weblog continues its discussion of how best to express opposition to gay marriage. 8:42 PM Okay, so it was the most important game in maybe 50 years. Which means I'll be 101 the next time Ole Miss plays a game this important. 7:22 PM On the brighter side of life, got an unexpected email from a pas...
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Sunday, November 2, 2003
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Sunday, November 2, 2003
9:23 AM Steve Chapman says a good word in favor of silence and introspection and blasts the incessant use of cell phones in all public places—he doesn't mention church services, but he could have. And I agree 100% with his comments. Nice excerpt:Hard as it may be to believe, people once managed to fill these idle mome...
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Friday, September 19, 2003
Posted by Ray Pritchard on Friday, September 19, 2003
10:47 PM Tonight Marlene and I did something unusual for us: We went to see a movie. I don't think we actually go to a movie theater more than once a year (although that may change a bit now that we are nearly empty-nesters). We saw the movie "Matchstick Men" at the Lake Theater in Oak Park. The movie has received rave ...
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