RISE
UP
STORIES of REMARKABLE FAITH
and RELENTLESS COURAGE
Copyright 2018 by The Christian Broadcasting Network
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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Produced in association with the DRS Agency, Franklin, Tennessee www.drsagency.com
ISBN: 978-0-9905090-9-7
FOREWORD
God inspired the people who wrote the Bible many years ago, and He inspires us as we read it today. Thats why I love studying the language, customs, and context of Gods Word. I also enjoy seeing how people in biblical times acted and reacted to the world around them. There is a timeless quality to their joys and trials, their battles and triumphs. No matter what situation we may face today, we can find people in the Bible who went through something similar. We can see their struggles, relate to their dilemmas, and celebrate their victories.
As a student of both the Bible and politics, I find the reign of Israels kings in the Old Testament especially interesting. If you think the current political situation is crazy, just read the Bible. Both the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel produced some terrible kings, yet there were a few bright spots in Judahs line of rulers. One was King Asa.
Upon taking the throne, Asa boldly opposed evil coming from within the nation by tearing down pagan altars and idols. Later in his reign, he was confronted with grave danger coming from outside the country when one million Ethiopian troops invaded Judah. With a much smaller army, what was the king to do? Flee from battle and regroup elsewhere? Surrender to the enemy? Walk headlong into a slaughter? No. King Asa put his soldiers into positionand then prayed.
Asas prayer is something that anyone facing any obstacle at any point in history could pray. We read in 2 Chronicles 14:11: Then Asa cried out to the lORD his God, O lORD, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O lORD our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O lORD, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you! (NLT).
We can choose between giving up in defeator rising up in the limitless power of almighty God.
With that, Asas much smaller army went to war and won a decisive victory. Notice how the Bible describes it: So the lORD defeated the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and the army of Judah, and the enemy fled (v. 12 NLT).
God secured the victory; King Asa simply had to decide to trust Him to do it.
This is the same decision we face today, regardless of what obstacle we face or which army is standing against us. We can choose between giving up in defeator rising up in the limitless power of almighty God.
I dont know about you, but Id rather rise up.
Thats why I love hearing the stories of people like King Asa who face impossible odds, trust in the Lord, and overcome the biggest barriers imaginable.
Here at the Christian Broadcasting Network, I get to hear modern-day stories like this all the time. We have an amazing team of journalists and producers who travel the globe, looking for powerful testimonies of victory and redemption like the ones in this book. These stories really must be told. They should also be studied, prayed about, and discussed. As you read, you may be surprised to discover that other people have facedand overcomethe same trials that may seem impossible to you today.
I am delighted to present this collection of stories about people who did what others thought could not be done. In many cases, the men and women involved didnt think they could succeed, either. Yet even when they thought their opposition was insurmountable, the Lord was already at work. All it took was for them to join God in what He was already accomplishing: their victory. As you read, I pray that you will realize He is already at work accomplishing your victory too.
God bless you.
Gordon Robertson
INTRODUCTION
Humble yourselves, therefore, under Gods mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:67
Everyone has a story. Whether theyre rich or poor, young or old, male or female, faithful or faithless. It doesnt matter where they are, who they are, or what they do. From the five-year-old facing her first day of school to the eighty-five-year-old enjoying an afternoon in the park, everyone has a story. Our stories make us unique; they make us who we are. Even your most painful memory and traumatic life event is fundamentally important to making you, you. And its those storieswonderfully unique and surprising, inspirational and heartbreakingthat get us out of bed in the morning.
Its All Storytelling
According to the American Press Institute, A good story is about something the audience decides is interesting or important.
A great story often does both by using storytelling to make important news interesting. Certainly, thats been our experience. The biggest news in the world wont get much attention without a story behind it. People need stories. They crave stories. Its how we as human beings make sense of the world, and this has always been the case.
Jesus frequently taught using stories, which we know today as parables. When Jesus wanted to make a point, to really land a point in the minds of those around Him, He often wrapped that truth in the blanket of storyand were still telling those stories two millennia later. Stories last. They matter.
In our work with the Christian Broadcasting Network, we have personally investigated hundreds of stories. The process is usually similar, but what we hear and discover is different every single time we interview someone. When we prepare for a story like those routinely featured on The 700 Club, we try to talk to someone several times to make sure we have all the facts straight. Usually, the story idea comes to us with almost no detail or substance; its just an idea at first. For example, someone may contact us and say, Hey, I heard about a church in Iowa thats doing some cool work with international refugees. You should check that out. That may be all we know, but its a start. So, we start pulling the thread. Our producers will go into deepresearch mode. We make phone calls. We research online. We hit the ground, talking to the people involved and the surrounding community. When we do this, were not only after the facts; were after the story. And even after doing this every day, were almost always surprised by what we learn about people, communities, churches, and God. By the way, Abigail was personally involved in that Iowa church story, and what God is doing through that one church in a so-called flyover state is absolutely amazing. Youll read that story later in this book.
