LCMS World Mission and “Point of Truth,” The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod’s half-hour television worship program, are teaming up to produce eight special Ablaze!-themed episodes.
Scheduled to air Oct. 30-Dec. 18, the episodes are designed to teach Christians to share their faith with the unchurched in a specific setting or to witness to a specific category of people. Topics include witnessing to children, the terminally ill/dying, immigrants, and people in crisis situations. In each episode, Dr. John Nunes, research associate for urban ministries with Wheat Ridge Ministries, will deliver a sermon focusing on the Christian’s call to share the Good News of Christ with all people. Each week Nunes also will interview a Christian who has been a model of Ablaze! witnessing in that particular setting.
“The satellite network is a gift given to us by the Lord. We are thankful that ‘Point Of Truth’ can bring Ablaze! encouragement and guidance to Christians who desire to share the love of Christ with others,” said Dr. Robert Scudieri, associate executive director of national missions for LCMS World Mission. “This is one more way that the Spirit is using to share the Gospel with 100 million people by the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.”
During each program, Dr. Charles Manske, host of “Point of Truth,” will offer viewers a free Ablaze! adult Bible study booklet developed by LCMS World Mission and Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis. The first in what is planned to be a series of Ablaze! Bible-study booklets, this resource is designed to teach Christians to witness to the unchurched. Viewers also will be offered other Christian books free
of charge, including The Bible Promise Book; God, I’ve Gotta Talk to You; and At Life’s End: Words of Comfort and Hope.
Dr. Ardon Albrecht, producer and director of “Point of Truth,” personally selected the books because of their value for laypeople who may not be comfortable talking about their faith. The Bible Promise Book, for example, provides laypeople with more than 1,000 Bible promises designed to fit almost any witnessing situation. God, I’ve Gotta Talk to You is a classic CPH Arch Book that’s designed to help an adult take the first step in bringing an unchurched child closer to God, teaching him to pray. At Life’s End provides ideas for witnessing to someone who is terminally ill.
“Point of Truth” can be seen on Sundays on DIRECTV’s The Church Channel, 371 (noon Pacific time, 2 p.m. Central), and on that channel’s Web site, concurrent with its DIRECTV schedule. “Point of Truth” also can be seen in Europe, Western Russia, North Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East through satellite services carrying Trinity Broadcast Network.
For more information, an updated broadcast schedule, or to learn how your congregation can be a part of “Point of Truth,” visit its Web site.
Ablaze! began as a vision of LCMS World Mission to involve every member of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, its partner church bodies, and partner mission agencies in one focused and concentrated effort to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who do not yet know Him. The goal of Ablaze! is to share the Gospel with 100 million people worldwide by 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
Posted Oct. 7, 2005
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