Letter From the Office

Greetings from Back to Jerusalem, and thank you for taking time to read this newsletter.

Just a few months before his 100th birthday, Billy Graham passed away and went to be with Jesus. This was on Wednesday 21 February, the day after Billy Graham wrote his final social media article, which states the following: 

‘If you went for a walk in the woods, but then decided to wander off the path, and found yourself surrounded by a thicket of thorns and poison ivy, who would you blame? Would you blame the person who built the path? No, of course not. Instead you’d blame yourself if you were honest, because you alone were responsible for wandering from the path.

In a far deeper way, this is what happens when we decide to leave God out of our lives. For a time, it may seem like wandering away from Him doesn’t make any difference; it may even seem easier and freer. But eventually it catches up with us—just as wandering off that path and into the thicket caught up with you’. —Billy Graham

Did Rev Graham remember a person who once walked with Jesus while writing this final article? Maybe a face came to mind of someone he had known who was no longer serving in ministry. I don’t know, but I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words from 2 Timothy 4. While in prison he wrote to Timothy and shared about Demas, who had forsaken Paul, having loved this present world and departed(v10). Paul’s last words in this chapter encouraged Timothy to visit him in his prison ‘before winter’.

It is powerful to recount this passage as I remember seeing the prison building in Rome with Brother Eugene while we filmed the impactful nine-part BTJ series ‘Chasing Revival’, which will be released this June. 
 

The Apostle Paul’s, as well as Rev Billy Graham’s final writings reflected on those who may have walked away from their Calling. I want to use this article as a ‘Call out’ in 2018 to return to Jesus – ‘before winter’, return to your Calling, return to the Mission field, return home. God has a plan for your life, and the vision of Back to Jerusalem is filled with open doors and opportunities, as we see fields that are ‘white unto harvest’. From Iran to China and across the 10/40 window, God is moving powerfully. The church is growing at an incredible rate, and there is a place for you in this beloved Kingdom – Answer the Call, stand in the gap, and be amazed what God can do through you! Be reminded of Paul’s instruction from verse five of this final chapter, ‘fulfill your ministry’.

I also want to encourage you to be kept updated and informed of all that is happening through the vision of Back to Jerusalem. One way to do this is through the new and exciting BTJ App; more details are to come in this newsletter about the app and what it includes.

Finally, thank you to all who pray for the Chinese Church and missionaries; standing with this vision in prayer and support makes a huge difference. It is particularly precious to see so many new Gatekeepers each month! If you would like to learn more about how you can become a Gatekeeper and what this means to the Kingdom, please listen to our podcast, episode 290 entitled “BTJ Gatekeepers,” where Brother Eugene and I share about the Gatekeepers and how to be involved.

God Bless
Pastor Danny
BTJ UK Office