America: Our Largest Mission Field

This chart illustrates the record number of FaithSearch outreach events in 2006.

The primary focus of thirty-one years of FaithSearch ministry has been the United States of America. This focus has resulted in some 2,124 outreach events, with 290,000 people in attendance; an estimated readership of our books of more than one million; and a reported 28,000 faith commitments to Jesus Christ.

Our pace of ministry in the USA is not slacking. In fact, it is picking up. FaithSearch set an annual ministry record in calendar year 2006, by presenting 236 outreach events—up by 88 events from last year, and nearly 14% greater than our previous yearly record of 208 events in 2000. About 2,238 people from all ages and a variety of social, ethnic and vocational backgrounds indicated a faith commitment to follow Jesus Christ at these events last year-and those are only the ones we know about!

Dr. Bierle was “doused” with the names of 2,238 people who made faith commitments at FaithSearch outreach events in 2006.

Over the years our events have been presented in at least thirty-two states and hosted by churches of about seventeen denominations, diverse university campus groups, camps, associations and private homes. The response is typically enthusiastic, even ecstatic:

• "Thanks for speaking the Truth. It was so encouraging to me as a fellow Christian to hear, after four years at a liberal university." —University student
• "It was an amazing presentation! Thank you SO much! It was FABULOUS, INSPIRING, and just AWESOME!!!!" —University student
• "These are the answers to the questions I was asking inside." —Youth
• "This was the best [presentation] I have seen, bar none! I heartily recommend FaithSearch to any church seeking to strengthen the faith and witness of its own members." —Pastor

From the first day of my commitment to evangelism through FaithSearch (many years ago!) my heart and passion have been toward America," said ministry president Don Bierle. "And we have continued to follow through on that calling. In God's providence and wisdom, He has chosen to direct us to proclaim the Gospel with evidence to the whole world as well, yet my heart still yearns for the lost of my own country."

As such, while being obedient to make the FaithSearch message available worldwide, we also retain our USA emphasis. More than 120 U.S. pastors and lay leaders have been trained as teachers to multiply the spiritual impact of FaithSearch Discovery in churches and communities across America. We have added the goal of equipping graduating Bible college and seminary students (the next generation of Christian leaders) to include the Gospel with evidence in their future ministries. The first such seminary class of twenty was trained in April.

Finally, we are endeavoring to partner with Christian groups on hundreds of U.S. college and university campuses so that together we may bring salvation to lost students in the prime—and often most challenging years—of their lives. The leaders of these campus groups will be equipped to use our presentations and publications so that through them the Gospel with evidence will be proclaimed to the next generation in America as well.

Jesus said that His disciples should be "witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). If our "Jerusalem" is America, then we have been doing that from the beginning, right into the present. And we will continue as He provides.

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