Dr Paul Allen

One of the hardest things missionaries encounter is the grief of apostasy. Apostasy is when professing believers abandon their faith, often due to persecution, sin, or simply hardened hearts.  Personally Shaken The apostle Paul referred to believers in the church of Philippi as his joy and crown. He invested his life for these brothers and sisters; he loved them and longed to be with them (Phil. 4:1). Like Paul, missionaries today experience unspeakable joy when those among them hear the gospel and, against all odds, believe in Christ. They rejoice deeply and acknowledge the hard things they’ve endured are worth it for the sake of someone’s eternal salvation. Sadly, when those same loved ones fall away, the opposite can be true. If there’s no greater joy than seeing those you’ve reached walking in truth (3 John 4), there’s perhaps no greater sorrow than seeing them abandon their faith. In such cases, missionaries may have serious doubts: Why did we even move here? Has it all been a...

I was startled when I read in Mark 16:8 that the disciples, before Jesus ascended to heaven, did not believe. The same unbelief is found in Mark 16:11. Then, two verses later, in verse 13, the same four words– they did not believe. Again, in verse 14, the same four words–they did not believe. But what amazes me most is the fact that in the next verse, verse 15, Jesus said to these unbelieving and fearful believers, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”  If I had been there, please allow me to say this, I would have approached Jesus from behind and whispered into His ear, “Master, Lord, don’t You know that the disciples You just gave the Supreme Commission to are a bunch of unbelievers? They will never be able to do it.” I think Jesus would have turned around, put His finger over His lips and said quietly to me, “Bonnke, you don’t know that I have a secret.”  What was the secret? In verse 20, we read, “They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord w...

If you truly care about his or her soul, you will get beyond “do you believe in Jesus?”. It’s not enough to ask someone if they believe in Jesus. Sadly, a lot of the time even if they answer yes, they are still a hell-bound soul.  Obviously, we can’t know people’s hearts, but we know what they say, and simply saying “I believe in Jesus” is not enough.  Perhaps there are some countries on earth, where simply saying that might be enough. Maybe in countries where there is strong persecution. Where false versions of Christianity are not prominent. But it is imperative if you care about the souls of those around you, that you learn how to ask the right questions to understand whether someone truly knows Christ or not.  Recently Kevin Max, a former member of dc talk, declared on social media that he is an “Exvangelical”. He declared that after being on a journey of many years, that he is no longer an evangelical and that he now has embraced the “universal Christ”. He is pro-LGB...

Old Synagogue in Korazim Israel. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Corazim_synagogue (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Luke 11:20-24 Then He began to reproach the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin ! Woe to you, Bethsaida ! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes . Nevertheless I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you. And you, Capernaum , will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.” Jesus ’ harsh reproach against the cities in which most of His miracles were done seems on the surface to be less justified than His comparatively mild rebuke of...