There’s something you need to hear today. There are things you need to know. Things you can be sure of, and can count on.
You need to hear this because most everything you see and hear and read these days is bad news — scary and frustrating and depressing news. You may be losing hope for the world in general and our country in particular. You see hate all around you. You are beginning to wonder if any sense of morality and righteousness still exists. You fear for the environment in which your children and grandchildren will grow up.
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Yes, it’s unsettling out there. But there are things you need to know. Things you don’t always hear about.
On average, studies show around 68,500 people accept Jesus as Lord and Savior every day. That’s roughly 25 million each year. That number is based on self-reported conversions and may not reflect persons who do not declare their decisions publicly. The numbers could be much higher.
Data also indicates that tens of thousands of people enter formal Christian ministry every year, with an increasing focus on youth ministry and bivocational positions as entry points.
Each year in the United States alone more than 75 million reportedly volunteer to serve in food banks, non-profits and community improvement organizations. That’s roughly one of every four adults in our country. In addition, surveys show that more than 54% of all Americans help neighbors in some informal way each year, such as running errands, caregiving, sharing tools, money and resources, etc.
Volunteers reportedly provide nearly 5 billion hours of service each year, with an economic impact worth $167 billion. Thousands of churches donate billions of dollars and put in thousands of manpower hours helping victims of disaster in all corners of the globe.
God is still in control
You need to know that God is still in control! That He is working through His people to accomplish His plan. That there is so much good going on. That if we hang in there in faith, we’re going to be okay.
The prophet Isaiah tells us, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please’” (Isaiah 46:10).
Don’t let the world get you down. Be part of lifting it up. It’s trendier than you think.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Ken Lass is a retired Birmingham television news and sports anchor and an award-winning columnist for numerous publications and websites.
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