I would be willing to bet that you have never read an article in a newsletter that began with something like this: "Our program in such-and-such city was an abysmal failure! Hardly anyone showed up, and those who did left early..."

Of course not. We all usually cover over the "failures", find anything positive at all, and write about that. It's called human nature. Or, just PR.

Perhaps the time has come to break the mold, not just to be a nonconformist, but because it illustrates a point that I have been pondering.

In this issue of The Flier, I'd like to report on the Grand Western Adventure and Family Bible Conference. It didn't happen. In spite of a significant advertising campaign, and notwithstanding the fact that many expressed an interest in participation, in the end not a single person registered for it. Not one. In fact, this was the second year in a row we have had to cancel this program due to insufficient registrations.

I needn't hide from you the natural sense of discouragement that we felt as a result of these cancellations. Questions came to our minds about our direction, and even our legitimacy as a ministry organization. In other words, we linked the lack of participation in these programs to our overall "success" level, and began to wonder if we were somehow beginning to fail.

That word, "success", however, recalls to mind the commissioning of Joshua in the first chapter of his book. Joshua's life was going to be an amalgamation of thrilling victories, stunning defeats, bold steps of obedience, and thoughtless rebellion. Knowing full well what lay ahead, the Lord gave him this very strict command:

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8, emphasis added)

Notice the use of that term, "good success". In the original language the thought conveyed is not "success" in a business sense, but rather the attainment of wisdom, understanding, prudence, and even skill. In other words, Joshua's success was not to be measured by victories on the battlefield or the devotion of the people of Israel to his leadership. His success was in his growth in wisdom.

And what is this wisdom? It is the assimilation and correct application of the Word of God. Psalm 1 pictures that idea with a fruitful tree by the rivers of water. As we drink in the rivers of living water (the Word of God), we develop (as Proverbs 9:10 puts it) a true "fear of the Lord", which in turn produces godly fruit. This is what God calls "success", regardless of our performance by other criteria.

Of course, this understanding flies in the face of current perceptions. Even in Christian ministry, we tend to look at bank accounts, participation levels and full calendars as indicators of "success". Well, they may be indicators of organizational success in the world, but, in the end, this is secondary. God is not interested in making us (individuals or organizations) into great success stories. His primary purpose has been and always will be to glorify Himself in and through us as we bear godly fruit in our character.

So, next time you're faced with a situation that does not turn out the way you wanted it to, or even think it should have, don't be discouraged. Just remember that God's purposes are different from and deeper than ours. I'm not saying that we should not learn from mistakes, or possess an apathetic attitude. What I am encouraging is simply a deeper dependence upon and faith in the Word and work of God - a work that, in spite of our outward "failures", will always in the end produce good success.

In His Service,

Stephen Tecklenberg
President / Executive Director

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Ministry Report

Romania. On February 19, Steve Tecklenberg departed for Romania to engage in two weeks of ministry. Divided almost equally, the time was spent in two locations, with each one having it's own unique thrust.

During the first week Steve once again taught at the A.M.C. Golgota Bible School in the town of Talmaciu. The administration of the school graciously gave him virtually the entire week (20 class hours) with approximately 60 students representing many areas of that country. They eagerly received the instruction given on the early chapters of Genesis, it's interpretation and application in ministry.

While at the school, Steve was also asked to minister in several churches. This included a very encouraging meeting with the youth group from the evangelical church in Talmaciu itself, in which Steve spoke on the life of David and his contest with Goliath. The response afterwards indicated that the young people had come with open hearts to receive the message of maintaining a proper perspective toward the "giants" we all face in life.

Steve next traveled to Bucharest, where over the years he has developed some very close relationships. Through these contacts, he was invited to minister at a youth conference that was conducted in a local church. Donning his instrument flight training glasses as an illustration, Steve warned against the reliance on our own feelings and perceptions, and challenged the young people to devote their time and attention to the external, objective, and absolute truth of the Word of God.

The breadth of ministry activity, combined with the warm responses to the messages, served to make this particular ministry in Romania one of the most encouraging in memory.

South Carolina. Two weeks after returning home, Steve received a surprise invitation to teach for a week at his alma mater, the Evangelical Institute of Greenville, SC. The student body at the Institute includes individuals from a number of countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. It was therefore a great privilege to teach them, knowing that these young men and women are preparing to return to minister in their homelands.

Steve gave his "Origins And The Christian" series, emphasizing the authority of the Word over matters of science and history. As a result, several students expressed a desire to learn more about the issues addressed as they saw the relevance of the teaching to their overall Christian walk and ministry.

Arizona. In mid-April, Steve joined his friend Bill Hoesch of the Institute for Creation Research on a research trek in a part of Grand Canyon. Bill has been involved in a project studying a unique fossil deposit in that region, and Steve has been privileged to assist on several occasions.

The true highlight of the journey, however, was their interaction with the Hualapai Indian guide assigned to monitor them as they were operating on reservation territory. It became evident very quickly that the guide, who at one time had professed faith in Christ but had been discouraged in his walk with God for several years, was being drawn by the Lord back into fellowship with Himself. As the days passed, the joy that came over him was a great encouragement, and also a great stimulus to pray for our Native American brothers and sisters in Christ.