Marching Orders: 2017- Year of Deployments

There are about 150,560 US Military Troops overseas at this time. 56,000 in the Middle East close to Enemy Lines. But most are bored silly, quartered in bases out in the dessert, doing PT, rehearsing, taking turns pulling guard duty, spending hours a day on the internet, counting the days until they return to their home base or end of contract.  Why are these real life action figures just sitting around?  Because their leaders haven’t given them ORDERS TO ENGAGE. The war is slowly being won and the US is doing minimal combat; just flying bombing missions. For those of us with loved ones overseas we thank God for this lull in the action. But there is a spiritual parallel to soldier boredom.
Just like the vast majority of our service men and women, most Evangelical Christians in the US are sitting around with NO MARCHING ORDERS from their Pastors. But, unfortunately, we are not winning the war. Christians do their Sunday formation and blend in with the rest of the world the rest all week. Our Spiritual Warfare Victories are declining, and apathy could set in.

Spiritual Trend for South Carolina
YEAR                           % Evangelical Christians         % Catholics     % Non Believer
1991                                                    88%                                 6%                      3%
2009                                                  73%                                 10%                    10%
According to the U.S. Times, while mainstream Christianity adherents are declining in the last decades, the Faith that is growing the most in the US today is Mormonism, followed by Islam.  How can this be?  Most likely the Muslim faith is growing due to the influx of Muslims immigrating into our Country. And Muslims have more kids than typical Americans. The Mormons also have larger families (3.8 Kids Average vs. 1.8 National Average). But the Mormons, they are Americans, not immigrants! So, why are they number one in growth in the majority of States?  They are increasing their numbers and not declining because of their CONSTANT MISSIONARY EFFORT. Those pairs of Mormon Missionaries with their white shirt, tie, and name tag walking the streets or riding bikes are in practically every free country and their beautiful Mormon Temples are polka-dotting the Globe. But what are we going to do to better our numbers here in the Carolinas?

A Call to Action
I make a plea to our Pastors and Leaders to lead our Churches into a Fight of Faith on three main fronts. (1) In our Towns and Cities (2) In our Homes, and  (3) Overseas:

1. Our Church Members in the Carolinas should act as if they are the overwhelming majority and be comfortable promoting their faith in public. We are ¾ of the people in the workplace and out shopping in the malls. According to the polls, we are not a small minority. We are still way ahead of any other belief system in our State. We have lots of company. Our Religion is not illegal. The problem is we are not united or organized and assimilate too much television that comes from other States that have a different religious profile. We are not Californians or New Yorkers. Should we be like them? Should we follow their ideas of correctness?
2. We must train up our sons and daughters according to our spiritual identity. If Parents and Leaders set the example, we are doing what we can to maintain our numbers in our State.  But if we don’t strive for the faith in our homes, hold up God’s Word as our Hope, if we try to be just another family in the Melting Pot of America, then the Church will continue losing ground for generations to come.
3. Churches should be constant and aggressive with a Significant Missions Effort. When our Church Parents go abroad, and or send their Youth also, we bring in Evangelistic Zeal to our Church. Putting Boots on the ground in another country spreads the Gospel, but more than that, it changes us into Obedient Christians. I’m not saying copy the Mormons. I’m saying Obey the Great Commission. By visiting and working with Christians in other Nations, forming alliances we help them advance, but we also catch their fire.

Spiritual Trend for Nicaragua
While we see reduction in numbers of Evangelicals in our States and apathy in our ranks, the scenario in Nicaragua is the total opposite.
YEAR                           % Evangelical Christians         % Catholics     Believer w/o affiliation
1991                                                  4%                                    90%                              ?
2009                                                30.8%                              45.9%                          20.3%

You can see there is a different dynamic going on in this country. Notice how the Evangelical Population is the underdog but is moving forward! Teams coming from other countries has been so effective in boosting them that last month ( Aug. 2016) someone ( no letterhead or signature on the communication) in the upper echelon of the Government was feeling intimidated and tried to impose migratory controls over “Religious Groups Entering into Nicaragua”. But hundreds of Evangelical Pastors representing 30.8% of the population fully aware that we are in a spiritual battle for this country, went to the Federal Office and appealed that this effort to curtail the Missionary Effort be retracted. I was the only Gringo there, but I got my turn at the microphone also to prophesy to the officials about the error of their ways. And the government subsequently stood down! We fought the battle and won a decisive victory. The door to Nicaragua for missionaries is still WIDE OPEN!
When visitors come to Nicaragua they notice immediately how Nicaraguans are open about their faith. On Buses and Taxis slogans about God prevail. The Government, Political Correctness, declares it is Christian also. I’m not saying that sin does not abound. But, the people openly acknowledge God. Preaching is acceptable in Public Places. New Churches are popping up everywhere. Nicaraguan Evangelicals love to go to church (more than the Americans). They love Street Campaigns, Praying for Neighbors, All- night Prayer Vigils and fastings. The Christian Radios have the most audience. To win votes, mayors donate building materials for Churches.  What a difference!
Join in on the Revival!  Don’t bring an American Christianity in Decline mentality. Bring a love for Jesus and Join In. We, from the Bible Belt, have a wonderful Christian heritage. We are well versed in the Holy Scriptures, and have a lot to share. We can take the heat! ( Isn’t it true that every US Marine born east of the Missisippi has to go to South Carolina for Basic Training!) Missionaries and Mission teams are making an impact on this nation that is about the size of our state. If EFI can unite and organize in an organized missionary effort we will see big results at home and abroad.
Come and see. Come and Help. You’ll take some Zeal, many stories and maybe some great coffee back home.

United for the Harvest,
Bryan Hutson - Managua, Nicaragua