Dr. Lance Halick, a successful Christian businessman in Canton, Georgia, vividly recalls the night his life changed its course forever. It started simply enough as a night out with his family. Lance and his wife, Debi, treated their family to a performance of the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” in 2008. Sitting in the audience, as the music for the prelude began, Lance started weeping. He heard Jesus say something to him that confirmed what he had known for years: “I want you to get ready.” Lance knew exactly what Jesus meant. “I knew I was called to be a pastor in full-time [...]

As an educator, you are thrilled when your students succeed in life. I felt such joy as I read a report last week from an alumnus with a Doctor of Ministry degree. She is the Director for our campus in Brooksville, a small community of about 8,000 located about 40 minutes north of Tampa. This campus, over the last 10 years, has trained 330 students who faithfully serve in their local churches as ushers, greeters, children and nursery workers, as well as in visitation and prayer. In addition, many graduates have pursued full-time ministry. I was delighted to hear how our [...]

In October 1998, Russ Montgomery carried into Cuba a leather bound Life Application Bible for Fidel Castro. In November, Russ received word that Fidel had read the Gospel of Luke and the study notes, which gave him a new understanding of the meaning of Christmas. Russ was delighted – and even more so in December 1998, when Fidel declared Christmas a legal holiday in Cuba for the first time in thirty years! Russ’ adventures in Cuba began 1995, in the middle of the U.S. embargo, when he visited as a guest of the Cuban United Methodist Church. At the end of [...]