Greetings brothers and sisters … friends and supporters of Dr. Mark Christian and the Global Faith Institute. My name is Mark Woita, and I am a member of the GFI board … and privileged to be a long-time, close friend of Dr. Mark.
This coming Friday, February 24th, the movie “Jesus Revolution” is opening in theatres. The roots of this mighty movement of God started in 1967 or so and exploded in 1970s. I feel a strong connection to this movement. Why? Because I came to faith in 1976 while a student at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. I was a member of a fraternity that housed around 70 young men. Prior to 1976, I was aware of only one Christian living in that house. By the end of 1978, I counted around 60 who were attending a Bible study and/or prayer group! And this explosive movement was occurring all around campus at that time! There is no explanation other than God’s gracious choosing and calling. And I believe that the UNL movement was likely an extension / outworking of the Jesus Revolution that started in southern California, then spread throughout the world! Even to UNL.
Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) was birthed out of the Jesus Revolution. A second connection to the Jesus Revolution that I experienced was via the music of one of those early CCM artists (minister!), Keith Green. I attended one of his concerts around 1979, and it was one of the most Spirit-filled events I have ever experienced. When Keith’s second album “No Compromise” came out around that time, I was living with six other Christian men in a Navigator discipleship / training house. No Compromise played in that house nearly 24/7/365. Keith’s God-honoring, Spirit-filled music impacted us all, for life.
As a result of the above, I have great interest in watching the Jesus Revolution movie. I’ll think of it as learning about my spiritual ancestry. This past week I’ve already watched over a dozen hours of YouTube videos of that movement. There is much to glean from observing such a movement of God, and peoples’ role in it. It is those lessons I am pondering this week.
So, I hope that you will prayerfully and contemplatively watch the Jesus Revolution movie. And I hope you will ponder, and marvel at, the events currently happening at Asbury Seminary. And thirdly, I’d like to introduce you to Keith Green and his music by watching this video of perhaps my all-time favorite song, “Make My Life a Prayer to You” at https://youtu.be/Jd9MaBu3gAg.
Then, after completing the three requests above, ask our Lord to show you: how to love Him better, and how to allow Him to love people through you better (the two Greatest Commandments – Matthew 22: 34-40). And what role He would have YOU play in furthering His Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
I hope you will catch Dr. Mark speaking this Thursday, February 23rd in person in Lincoln over lunch, or in Omaha for dinner. Or online at 6p for free. See www.GlobalFaith.org for details and to sign up. Blessings!