ATLANTA, GA (ANS) -- I met up with Craig von Buseck, Director of Ministries for www.CBN.com, during the International Christian Retail Show in Atlanta this week. (The last time I attended this event it was known as Christian Booksellers Association Convention). Craig is passionate about the need for Christians to do more than just Google the news - he is urging believers to “pray the news.” He and co-author, Wendy Griffith of CBN News (www.cbn.com/cbnnews), have produced a book that they hope will stir people out of complacency and into prayer.
Watching the news these days can stir up various emotions - anger, fear, anxiety depression and a sense of despondency. The world seems to be on a downward spiral and heading out of control. And many believers have a feeling of hopelessness and despair. It seems more comfortable for them to cut themselves off from the world and enter into their own little cocoon of religious isolationism.
But Craig argues that we cannot afford to be overwhelmed by the very bleak state of affairs in our world. He is the author of the new book, “Praying the News” (Regal Publishers) which is scheduled to be released on September 11th this year, the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
He points out in this book that we have an obligation to get involved. We are called to be “salt of the earth” and a “city set upon a hill that cannot be hid.” (Matt 5. 14 & 16). In times past there were men of God who felt that in order to preserve and develop their personal holiness that they should take drastic action. This would require them to step out of the world and live a life of isolation and asceticism in caves or monasteries. But the Word of God makes it plain that we are called to be ambassadors for Christ, and change agents in our society. We are His representatives and must work in cooperation with Him to make a difference.
The apostle Paul declares that our role is to be an ambassador. As ambassadors we have the full weight and authority of God to represent Him in a foreign land where we are strangers and pilgrims. We are to convey the message that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. We have to understand that we have been given authority to act on His behalf.
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Cover of the book |
Over a thousand people turned out for the march. Within months the city was rejuvenated and the gangs and drug lords withdrew as they saw their influence and sales dramatically diminish. As a result, the town has adopted a new moniker, “City of Hope”. Craig and Wendy go on to cite many other incidents in this challenging book.
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The May 2004 Manchester March |
“Praying the News - Your Prayers are More Powerful than You Know” - is a challenging new book by Craig von Buseck and Wendy Griffith. Published by Regal Books, it is due to be released on September 11, 2011.
(article used with permission)
Nico Bougas is the International Coordinator of Hellenic Ministries (www.hellenicministries.com).
He has a master's degree in communication from Wheaton Graduate School and M. Div and D. Min degrees from Trinity Theological Seminary. He is the author or co-author of four books. He previously worked for Youth for Christ in South Africa and was Editor of In Magazine and Christian Living TODAY and now serves as Consulting Editor to JOY Magazine. For further, information contact: nico@bougas.info.
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