- Is The Institute For Christian Apologetics
A 501C3 Corporation?
- How Often Does The Board Meet?
- Who is on ICA's Board of Directors?
- What is Mount Carmel Outreach?
- Why the name Mount Carmel Outreach?
and What Is Your Mandate?
- What is Apple Canyon Christian Center?
- Is Apologetics outreach popular and
widely understood in Evangelical circles?
- What Is Our Ministry Ethos Or Attitude?
- From 1984 until the present what are
some of the ministry highlights?
- Is MCO/ICA a missions organization?
- Has your ministry changed since moving
to your new headquarters?
- Why is your ministry located out
in the more rural area of Northern Illinois?
- Is your ministry headquarters a "Christian
Camp" facility?"
- What were you looking for in a mission
headquarters?
- What About Reverend Johnson's Family?
- Is the headquarters property used
for ministry now?
- Will there be property improvements
for additional local ministry and what is the
timetable?
- What property areas need work?
- Does Satan attack you more because of the
ministry you are in as it confronts the occult and
the cults? If so how does he attack you?
- What Motivates You To Persevere?
- Do you have recommendations available?
- How Can I Help?
QUESTION: Is The Institute
For Christian Apologetics A 501C3 Corporation?
ANSWER: Yes! We have been incorporated since
1985. All contributions are tax exempt. We are recognized
as a tax exempt not-for-profit corporation by the State of
Illinois and a 501c3 by the federal government.
QUESTION: How Often Does The Board
Meet?
ANSWER: Schedules permitting there is a
permanent day set every month for a board meeting. There is
also an annual board meeting for out of town members to attend.
QUESTION: Who is on ICA's Board of
Directors?
ANSWER: President Rev. Kevin S. Johnson,
Vice-President Mark Franzen, Secretary Gavin S. Rittmeyer,
Treasurer CPA Donald Clark, Joel Griffith, Dr. H. Wayne House,
Julie Johnson, James Korleski, Eric Pement and also on our
Founders Board Joseph Boyd Whitchurch. Below is a brief Bio
of each member.
(Our President's Bio is found elsewhere
on this site.)
Mark Franzen is married and the father of
two children. He is also the head of chemistry at a large
pharmaceutical firm. He has served on the missions commission
and church commission of the second largest Free Church in
the world.
Gavin S. Rittmeyer is married and the father
of four children. He travels nationally and internationally
in Europe representing a large industrial firm as a product
developer and negotiator. He is very active in youth ministry
at the same Free Church that Mark, Donald, Kevin and Julie
are members.
Joel Griffith is the co-host, co-founder
and co-producer of Perspective Underground radio program.
He has 23 years background in secular and Christian broadcasting
and was the News Director for two Christian radio stations
for over five years. He is currently the main writer for Slavic
Gospel Association and has visited Russia several times in
that capacity.
Dr. H. Wayne House is married and has two
grown children. He holds a doctorate in theology and one in
law. Wayne has served as the President of The Evangelical
Theological Society and is a founder of the Evangelical Council
On Manhood and Womanhood. He is the author of over thirty
published books and articles. His life experiences have included
hosting a radio program, being a volunteer sheriffs deputy
as well as being a campaign leader for a congressional candidate.
He teaches overseas in both Europe and the Pacific Islands
and also leads tours to Israel. He has been a professor of
theology and law at such esteemed learning institutions as
Simon Greenleaf School of Law and Dallas Theological Seminary.
Julie Johnson is married to Kevin and the
mother of six children. She is a stay-at-home mom and home
schools all of the children. Without her contributions the
ministry could not have developed as it has.
James Korleski is married and the father
of six grown children. He is the owner and operator of Korleski
enterprises a wood processing firm involving a saw mill and
processing plant which produces hard wood flooring. He is
also the owner of a large herd of Elk. When former Governor
Tommy Thompson (Currently Secretary of Health and Human Services
in the Bush Administration) of Wisconsin wanted to sign a
bill into law concerning Elk he went to Jim's home and signed
it on his kitchen table! Jim has been a church elder and is
currently teaching Sunday School at a Free Church.
Eric Pement is married and the father of
three children. He was a Senior Editor of Cornerstone magazine
and the editor of the Contend For The Faith book that contained
all of the written presentations of the Rockford Conference
On Discernment And Evangelism. He has been widely known as
one of the top counter-cult apologists of our time. Eric is
currently the President of Evangelical Ministries To New Religions
a national coalition group composed of a number of Apologetics
ministries. He is currently in seminary full time.
Joseph B. Whitchurch is married and the
father of two grown children. He holds a Masters degree in
Apologetics from Trinity Divinity School. Joe and his wife
Kim spent three years as overseas missionaries with Zambian
African Fellowship of Evangelical Students in Zambia, Africa.
Currently he is the Regional Director of Intervarsity Christian
Fellowship for the northern half of Indiana. Joe is one of
the founders of The Institute For Christian Apologetics and
Mount Carmel Outreach.
QUESTION: What is Mount Carmel Outreach?
ANSWER: MCO is a division of ICA like Apple
Canyon Christian Center. It is meant for the purpose of warning
the body of Christ about, and reaching out to, false religions,
cults and the occult.
QUESTION: Why the name Mount Carmel
Outreach? and What Is Your Mandate?
ANSWER: It is meant to commemorate the victory
of the God of the Bible over false prophets and false religion
that occurred in ancient Israel during the life of Elijah
the prophet and as recorded in 1 Kings chapter 18. In verse
21 of that chapter it is told that "Elijah came near
to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate
between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but
if Baal, follow him." People involved in false religion
of all kinds are faced with this same choice and have a decision
to make when confronted. Part of the job of an apologist is
to provide a "reasoned defense" (Greek = "apologia"
see 1 Peter 3:15) for the truth that will help the unbeliever
or the confused Christian to make the right choice for the
true God. One of the most respected Bible scholars of our
time, the late F.F. Bruce, said that 48% of the New Testament
is apologetics in nature. The Scriptural mandate for apologetics
can be found in 1 Peter 3:15 which tells us to "Always
be prepared to give an answer (an apologia) to everyone who
asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But
do this with gentleness and respect" and Jude verse three
"Earnestly contend for the faith that was once and for
all delivered to the saints." It was this last verse
that gave rise to the names of our newsletter The Contender,
our Website: www.contender.org
and our E-mail address contender@aol.com.
Primary doctrine concerning who God is and how one is made
acceptable to Him matters most in the apologetic endeavor.
To do this requires good communication skills and a knowledge
of the culture and false world views you wish to convert.
The command to follow the Apostle Paul's personal example
found in Philippians 3:17, coupled with the description of
his example in Acts chapter 17, shows that he had studied
the pagan Hellenistic culture he was trying to win and had
made himself familiar with their language and their belief
systems.
QUESTION: What is Apple Canyon Christian
Center?
ANSWER: It is our ministry headquarters
located on 5 acres of land that has a 3,000 square foot auditorium
(currently under renovation), a prayer/wedding chapel, a recording
studio, a "stockade fort/log cabin area being refurbished
for a safe play spot for children, a multi-purpose building
which needs further remodeling and a parsonage for Reverend
Kevin S. Johnson and his family which also contains: a fulfillment/shipping
room, a research library/office area, a guest bedroom for
missionary and visitor use, and a room for board meetings
and small dinners.
The mission of Apple Canyon Christian Center is both utilitarian
and ministerial. It is being utilized as the headquarters
of our mission and for local, regional and national outreach
through mailings, personal one on one counseling, small retreats,
the phone-lines, the Internet and our radio program. It also
has potential for future local outreach in the form of the
auditorium, the stockade/log cabin fort for young people ,outdoor
music concerts (we have eight outdoor spotlights but need
seating and a stage/gazebo for performers). Inviting the Tri-state
area to gospel sings and interesting speaking events may result
in apologetic/evangelistic opportunities as Evangelicals are
a minority in this area.
QUESTION: Is Apologetics outreach
popular and widely understood in Evangelical circles?
ANSWER: We are very thankful for the many
people that have been touched by and who have supported this
ministry. Even though we have thousands on our mailing list
we still find there are many Christians who don't understand
Apologetics. One pastor, who was very familiar with our ministry,
told us that if we were handing out "hugs" instead
of "slugs" we would have a lot more support because
"people today like warm fuzzies." He went on to
say that he considered our ministry much more important in
addressing the needs of the hour than some other very well
funded "popular" ministries he knew about. It thus
becomes a part of our ministry to inform and instruct our
brothers and sisters in Christ about the Scriptural premises
and commands for Apologetics. This always flies in the face
of the post-modern so called "tolerance" and "political
correctness" that seems to fill the very cultural air
we all breathe in the western world today.
Many Christians have been affected by this evil atmosphere
and it makes fundraising, for the purpose of winning those
lost in false religion and philosophy, difficult at best!
This hasn't through the years, and won't in the future, deter
us from pursuing our ministry objectives. Jesus puts a very
low value on popularity when He said in Luke chapter 6 verse
26 "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that
is how their fathers treated the false prophets."
QUESTION: What Is Our Ministry Ethos
Or Attitude?
ANSWER: Communicating The Truth In Love.
. .
We believe in being at peace with all men in as much as it
is up to us. (Romans 12:18) Being at peace "with all
men" does not include acceptance of all of mankind's
various false views of reality. We believe that love is not
rude (1 Corinthians 13:5). 1 Peter 3:15 commands us to: "In
your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to
give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason
for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and
respect." (emphasis ours). In order to fulfill these
requirements of Scripture we believe it is necessary to study
the world we live in and have a genuine love and humility
toward the lost, knowing that "there but for the grace
of God go you or I."
We also believe that it is proper at times to speak a bold
word of correction "for there are many rebellious people
mere talkers and deceivers... ruining whole households by
teaching things they ought not to teach....therefore reprove
them sharply so that they will be sound in the faith"
(Titus 1:10-13 emphasis ours). This should be done after loving
polite discourse has first been attempted.
Majoring in the Majors and Minoring in the Minors.
. .
Jesus chided the Pharisees for "tithing mint dill and
cumin" while neglecting the "more important matters
of the law, justice, mercy and faithfulness" He told
them they should have "practiced the latter without neglecting
the former" Matthew 23:23. This tells us that all scripture
is important but some portions are weightier than others.
Because of this we ought to put heavier emphasis on those
essential doctrines that must be believed in order to be considered
a Christian while allowing for loving and courteous disagreement
on secondary points of conflict within the church. Those four
major areas of absolute doctrinal truth that cannot be compromised
are:
1. Christology: The Person And Work of Jesus
(Yeshua), The Messiah from Nazareth. That He was both God
and Man and that He paid the entire price for the sins of
all mankind past, present and future.
2. Soteriology: What must a person do to
be saved? Eph.2:8,9
3. The Godhead: Creatorhood, Transcendence,
Perfect Moral Character, Omni-Attributes and The Triunity
of the Persons of the Godhead.
4. The Inerrancy of The Bible: That God
has spoken authoritatively and that the Bible doesn't "contain"
the word of God but IS the very word of God from cover to
cover.
QUESTION: From 1984 until the present
what are some of the ministry highlights?
ANSWER: They are in The following categories:
Radio: Our ministry really began on the
radio. In 1983 we were asked to be guests on WOC AM Radio
in Davenport, Iowa on the secular Jim Fischer program with
160,000 listeners. Kevin Johnson and his friend were asked
to name off those groups the Evangelicals believed to be cults
and then answer callers questions for 90 minutes. Jehovah's
Witnesses, Mormons, Bahais, and Jesus Only Pentecostals were
represented by callers. Joe Whitchurch and Kevin were invited
back the next year to do the same thing. We have also guested
on a number of other local radio programs all over the country
from Los Angeles to Chicago to South Carolina. Rev. Johnson
was the featured guest on the USA Radio Network's Point of
View with Marlin Maddoux and also appeared on the Moody Radio
Network.
Our radio appearances increased and became regularly scheduled
events every month in our local Rockford, Illinois area. Our
President Rev. Kevin Johnson was asked to be one of the regular
co-hosts for a program that future Congressman Don Manzullo
hosted. It was here that he met, Joel Griffith, who was to
become a lifetime close friend and partner in ministry. He
was at that time News Director for two Christian radio stations.
When Don ran for Congress the then station manager asked Joel
and Kevin to co- host a program. This began a partnership
that was to become Perspective Underground which has been
heard all around the world from Israel to Japan. In addition
to our radio program of ten years secular radio has also had
us on as guests from time to time.
Television and Video: There has also
been video and television appearances on shows like Chicago's
TV 38 where Kevin was repeatedly featured on their Emmy award
winning Among Friends program and on a special they did on
the Heaven's Gate suicide cult which also included Tal Brooks
from California and Eric Pement who is on ICA's board. The
700 Club has featured Kevin's testimony repeatedly and he
also appeared in four of Jeremiah Film's internationally released
videos speaking on the Occult and from Jerusalem on Bible
prophecy.
Writing: ICA board member Dr. H.
Wayne House asked for help in researching and writing his
Cults Charts Book for Zondervan Publishers. Board members
Eric Pement, Kevin Johnson, Joel Griffith and Gavin Rittmeyer
answered the challenge and contributed to seven chapters.
Kevin did the entire section on the New Age Movement as he
grew up in a home that was inundated with it. Our main writing
vehicle "The Contender" has taken many forms from
newspaper to newsletter to its current status as an Internet
newsletter/journal on our website. Currently Kevin is involved
in a writing project with Dr. Phillip Moore of Atlanta Georgia
on the origins of Jewish and Christian divergence.
Speaking: We have filled many pulpits
and taught in many churches all over the country. We have
also spoken repeatedly to secular organizations such as Kiwanis
and Rotary Clubs. We have been invited to speak at Christian
schools as well. We have addressed the students in the chapel
services of Judson College, Trinity College, and the graduate
school of Moody Bible Institute. Christian groups have sponsored
us to speak repeatedly at Purdue, Southern Illinois, Northern
Illinois and Bradley universities as well as at a number of
colleges.
Branches: At one time we had five
branches including our home branch in Rockford, Illinois.
Three of these went on to form their own ongoing countercult
ministries and one left full time ministry. Our board determined
that our future policy would be to concentrate on our original
home branch's development.
Conferences: We have held two major
conferences one in 1997 called Contend For The Faith in Indianapolis
that was hosted by our Indianapolis branch and The Rockford
Conference on Discernment and Evangelism in 1989 which is
the largest international Evangelical conference on the Cults,
the Occult and discernment issues ever to be held in the history
of the Midwestern United States. People came from Canada,
England and Scotland, as well as from all over America. It
was co-sponsored by TV 38 in Chicago, WQFL and WGSL radio
stations and First Evangelical Free Church, all in Rockford,
Illinois. It was co-hosted by The Institute For Christian
Apologetics and Evangelical Ministries To New Religions. The
Steering Committee consisted of Dr. Gordon Lewis, Eric Pement,
and Rev. Kevin S. Johnson.Those speaking included the best
experts in the Christian Apologetics field such as: Dr. Gleason
Archer, Trinity Divinity School, Deerfield, IL;Dr. Vernon
Grounds, Trinity Divinity School Deerfield, IL; Dr. Erwin
Lutzer, Senior Pastor of Moody Memorial Church, Chicago; Dr.
Ruth Tucker, Trinity Divinity School, Deerfield, IL ; Dr.
Robert Morey, and many more 50 in all. ICA board member, Eric
Pement, worked hard to publish the 312 page Contend For The
Faith book.This contained the formal written presentations
of the workshops which found its way into the top researchers'
hands throughout the country.
QUESTION: Is MCO/ICA a missions
organization?
ANSWER: Yes, our mission is to reach out
to post-Christian/post-modern pagan America i.e. the liberal
"churches", and those who are trapped in false religions,
the cults and the occult. The ultimate role models for what
we do are Jesus and the Apostles. Our first priority for ministry
is to our families first, then to the Body of Christ and finally
to the lost -in that order. We perhaps can't win everyone
we meet but we are called to be a faithful and persevering
witness.
We can greatly multiply our missionary efforts by making
disciples in the true churches then helping and encouraging
them to reach the lost. Since 1984 our Monday night meeting
at First Free Church has averaged between 25 and 45 people
on a regular basis and hundreds on a rotating basis. We have
had around 20 different denominations represented there. Our
goal both there and at our Thursday night meetings in Durand,
IL is to help the believer to be able to speak cogently about
their Christian worldview around the water cooler at work,
across the coffee table at home and on the phone to friends
and loved ones.
Because of the interest in the cults, the occult and Bible
prophecy in the general public we have been uniquely able
to give the gospel (the death of Jesus, the God/man, as substitutionary
payment for our sins, His burial and then His resurrection
for our justification) in secular venues such as Rotary and
Kiwanis clubs, fire and police departments and liberal churches.
(the week this is written Rev. Johnson will be filling the
pulpit of two combined United Methodist congregations on Sunday
morning). We have also addressed all of the public school
teachers for an entire school district, and given the gospel
to the whole senior class of one secular high school, We mentioned
in our first FAQ bookletabout University and college ministry.
We have also worked with Wendy Griffith, currently of the
700 Club, to produce a segment on Bible prophecy for a local
NBC channel when she was there.
QUESTION: Has your ministry changed
since moving to your new headquarters?
ANSWER: No, not essentially. The mainstays
of our ministry i.e. public speaking both live and on radio,
phone counseling and writing have remained the same as when
we first became home missionaries in 1984. All things have
been enhanced for the most part but not drastically changed.
The one hour drive that is needed to go to our Monday and
Thursday night classes provides a time for listening to tapes
and/or fellowship. This doesn't mean that traffic isn't challenging
at times!
QUESTION:Why is your ministry located
out in the more rural area of Northern Illinois?
Answer: We wanted to move away from the
city for the sake of security for both the ministry and the
family. We also needed much more room. Back then a brother,
after visiting our office, told us that it was like we were
"shoe-horned into the cockpit of an F-16." He led
prayers in a Sunday School class that God would allow us to
find a place that would accommodate our needs. The property
we are now on is a direct answer to his prayer, our prayers
and those of our other partners in ministry to that effect.
God also objectively confirmed this move....
After purchasing the property we needed a certain sum of
money in order to also purchase the lawn equipment and various
other things that didn't come with the property proper. They
were to be sold in auction if we didn't want them. The previous
board voted to defray the cost item by item. After they were
done they said we had to have the money to them the Thursday
before the auction. We called them on Thursday and informed
them that we had not yet received the funds. They then gave
us one more day. On Friday we found one envelope in our mail
box. It was from a lady who explained that her father had
passed away a year before and had left her a sum of money.
She had dedicated a certain unusual amount to be given to
a ministry God would "hand pick." That exact amount
was what the former board had come up with and that we had
mentioned in our newsletter about the property! She was a
former New Ager who had heard me speak on the New Age Movement
at Purdue University in Indiana.
Rural doesn't mean "cut off from the world." We
live in the 21st century which allows for communication from
any place on earth. Whether a person calls us from 7, 70,
700, or thousands of miles away it makes no difference in
theinformation we will communicate. We have Fax, E-mail, regular
mail (a very modern post office three miles away) and regular
phone capabilities. Our phone number is given out via the
radio on a weekly basis and has been mailed to 42 states.
We are also able to monitor via satellites all the national
and even local city news from all over the country.
QUESTION: Is your ministry headquarters
a "Christian Camp" facility?"
ANSWER: Most emphatically No! Because of
its rural setting this is the conclusion that some people
jump to. It has never been used as a camp. It used to have
two older people with no children using it as a halfway house
of sorts for ten years. Locally it was then an event oriented
ministry with speakers and music in the auditorium and on
a smaller scale in the house. We are working on the auditorium
(refurbishing, construction and painting) to make it able
to be used for daytime retreats, music, night time seminars
and other such events in the future as the Lord leads. We
have no intention on ever using it as a camp.
QUESTION: What were you looking
for in a mission headquarters?
ANSWER: We needed a place that would accommodate
all aspects of our ministry, like a radio production studio,
guest bedroom, research library and office -not to mention
a healthy safe place for our director to live in with a family
of eight, now containing young children and his elderly widowed
mother. The ministry to his widowed mother helps us fulfill
the injunction given in James1:27 "Religion that God
our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look
after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself
from being polluted by the world." We found the ability
to do all of this and more in the property that is now our
headquarters.
QUESTION: What About Reverend Johnson's
Family?
ANSWER: We have sought to keep his family
protected from the spotlight and the feeling of "living
in a fish bowl" that characterizes the testimonies of
so many missionary and clergy kids. We are strong believers
in the privacy of the home. The need to protect that is greater
where the dad's work is in the public eye and is of a confrontational
nature.
However, their parents are willing to share some things
about the children such as:
The Family Then (Circa 2000):
All of the boys Travis (21), Joshua (17), Caleb (14), Ethan
(11), and Daniel
(8) have been primarily home schooled. Katie is 21/2 and
loves life. Travis doesn't live at home anymore but at his
grandma's. He has joined the National Guard so he can afford
tech-school while he works at her restaurant. Joshua is a
strong believer and likes to write short stories. He finished
his GED test in half the time allotted and was found to be
in the top 5% of the country in social studies. He also received
the highest grade (also in half the time) on his constitution
test. The teacher at Highland Community College said she
has never seen such a high score there. He got one question
wrong! The teacher then verbally asked the question and he
got it right! They are usually allowed to get 50% wrong and
still pass this test. Joshua has been home schooled since
3rd grade. Since then he has faithfully and enthusiastically
attended Mount Carmel Outreach Monday nights with his dad.
He is currently enrolled at Highland for the Fall. Caleb
is a believer and displays a very giving nature. He enjoys
Wednesday nights at church, basketball and camps. Ethan is
also a believer and especially likes memorizing scripture
and joining in the competitive games at Awanas. Daniel confesses
Christ is a typical eight year old and loves to play outside
and do all those things associated with being his age, like
playing with his cars in his sandbox and Civil War soldiers.
All the boys have bikes and love computers. Katie must have
CAT scans, blood tests, and chest x-rays every three months
for the next four years because of the Wilms tumor cancer
she had. Otherwise she is growing and displays a strong vocabulary
and an even stronger personality!
The Family Now (Circa 2006):
All of the boys Travis (27) is married. Joshua (23) is A
Supervisor for UPS, and goes to college part-time, Caleb
(20) manages his brother's and two twin cousins' band THE
BROKEN FALL and co-writes some songs, Ethan (16) is lead
singer, guitar player and one of the main song writers
for the BROKEN FALL and they have been awarded "The
Areas Best New Up And Coming Band" by the Mayor of
Rockford, IL in a "Battle of the Bands" contest
sponsored by the Rockford Public Library where each band
member was awarded a 2/3 partial scholarship to the Kieth
School's "Band Camp" they also took second place
(with a cash prize) in the line up of 8 bands. Shortly
after this, they took first place in another battle of
4 bands at Temple Baptist Church; and Daniel (14) has started
to learn bass guitar and has been primarily home schooled.
Katie is 8 years old and plays piano very well as she has
been taught the last two years by her Aunt Joy and she
is now considered cured of cancer with her 8th birthday!
PTL!!!!
QUESTION: Is the headquarters property
used for ministry now?
ANSWER: Absolutely!! We do intend to continue
to improve the property for expansion of local ministry as
we are located in a spot heavily populated by former Chicago
residents, Roman Catholics, liberal mainline churches and
Unitarian Universalists. However, even with development work
yet to be completed, it has met and will continue to meet,
our mission's ministry needs most admirably.
Following is a room by room description:
The Radio Studio: Our radio studio
has been producing Perspective Underground regularly which
hasalready been heard regionally, nationally and internationally
from this property. Some listeners have told us they plan
their day around listening to it. Hundreds of these programs
have been produced since we have been here. We have recently
been invited to be on the Information Radio Network's satellite
and Website which receives 6,000 hits daily. They also provide
news to hundreds of Christian and Conservative radio stations
across the country. If this is His purpose for us we trust
that He will provide the funding necessary to make it possible
and will direct our steps as we seek it.
The Fulfillment Room: Our fulfillment
room adjoins our office. This room stores our tapes and tape
covers and also has a multiple high speed duplicator that
copies the master tapes. In addition to the normal mailing
materials one would expect here, it also has thousands of
catalogs stored in it which feature 107 tapes of the radio
program's timely interviews with the major Christian teachers
and authors of our time. The catalog includes tapes of two
major conferences we have held on the Cults, the Occult and
on Comparative Religions. Individuals who have signed up for
our mailing list in forty-two states have already received
these catalogs. Our mailing address, e-mail address, phone
number and Website are all prominently displayed in these
catalogs and we help people from all over the country.
Our Office: These catalogs were created
in our office on our computer. Also in our current office
Eric Pement, Joel Griffith, Gavin Rittmeyer and Rev. Kevin
S. Johnson researched and worked on the composition of seven
chapters of "The Cults Charts Book" by our board
member Dr. H. Wayne House. This was internationally released
on Zondervan Publishers. In this office people are counseled
and witnessed to via E-mail, instant messaging, and phone
conversations. The radio program Perspective Underground has
been digitized in this office and was sent out on the Internet
to be heard and commented on by listeners as far flung as
Jerusalem, Israel and Japan. It was also in this office that
our Website was created and continues to be developed.
The Guest Bedroom: The guest bedroom
has been host to many college students that have stayed a
number of weekends. One "intellectually hard case"
agnostic told us that he received Christ as a result of the
weekend he spent here. It has also been used by missionaries
needing a place to stay, two American authors and twice by
an Israeli one. It also has been used by others who have come
to stay meeting ministry needs and the personal needs of our
Rev. Johnson's family. In the future we hope to have a speaker
stay here, appear on our radio program, address a local church
and speak in the auditorium once a month. This will also take
financial backing in order to happen. Please join us in prayer
for this.
QUESTION: Will there be property
improvements for additional local ministry? What is the timetable?
ANSWER: This property does allow for future
expansion if the Lord so wills (see James 4:15). In His timing
it will happen if He wants it to and not before! We will NOT
go into debt to finance any improvements with only certain
necessary exceptions to that rule if they present themselves.
We have a no debt policy when it comes to all projects. With
this said, we still have made incremental steps, some large
and some small, on our way to having the property able to
expand to have more local ministry for the Tri-State area
we are located in. Rev. Johnson already does pulpit fill and
other speaking engagements in local churches near our headquarters.
QUESTION: What property areas need
work?
ANSWER: The Following Need Work:
THE AUDITORIUM: We are currently working
on the auditorium to replace rotted wood on the entry porch
and around the fascia boards, replacing walls in the bathrooms
and painting. We would also like to enclose the kitchen area
making it able to be eventually heated with the bathrooms
and entrance hallway. We have secured the 3,500 square foot
ceiling and are awaiting the person who offered to paint it!
We also need landscape grading in the back of the buildings
to take water away.
THE MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING: We have
put in a basement foundation for a building that was ready
to collapse, thus keeping it in play for future use. It is
currently being put to good use housing many donated second
hand building materials. Having this building has allowed
us to empty the auditorium and begin work on it. We will finish
the building when the Lord provides the funds for the materials.
We wanted to use this for a fulfillment building before we
sent out our catalogs to 42 states and advertised it on the
Internet. Reverend Johnson's daughter's illness and a sudden
drop in funds to do this caused us to have to postpone it
We used another room adjoining our current office for that
purpose so that we could do the mass mailing last summer.
As it turned out, we were not surprised and swamped as other
on-line businesses had been that year. By God's grace we had
enough in place to handle the demand as it came in.
THE LOG CABIN FORT: Last year we put
weathered stockade fencing around the existing small log cabin
near the pond. The idea is to eventually use this area for
an enclosed playground for little ones while their parents
attend a musical or speaking event outside during nice weather.
We have repairs to make to the porch overhang and we would
like to put a swing set and sandbox inside it. A flagpole
is also in order.
PERFORMANCE GAZEBO: Eventually we would
like to build a gazebo that would allow for gospel music groups
to perform here as well as outdoor addresses by Christian
speakers. This would be constructed on a rise in the ground
that overlooks a large outdoor lawn area on the other side
of the creek that faces the pond. We have eight outdoor spotlights
towards this end. Eventually, portable outdoor seating may
be possible for this area as well. It will also need some
landscaping in the form of fill dirt to keep moisture away
from the seating area.
QUESTION: Does Satan attack
you more because of the ministry you are in as it confronts
the occult and the cults? If so how does he attack you?
ANSWER: Satan attacks all Christians that
are truly serving Christ. His tactics differ according to
the strategy he has found to be most effective in each case.
The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2:11 "so that
no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not
ignorant of his schemes" A ministry is more vulnerable
to "whisper campaigns" faultfinding and grumbling
because of its obvious reliance on the goodwill of the Body
of Christ for its support. Satan knows this and, though he
has attacked us supernaturally in some strange and unique
ways in 17 years of ministry, more often than not his most
hurtful and effective strategy is to attack us through brothers
who are open to his suggestions like the Apostle Peter was
when Jesus rebuked him saying "Get thee behind me Satan."
(Matthew 16:23 and Mark 8:33). Peter surely thought he was
giving godly advice when he spoke to Jesus but he wasn't and
that's the rub -and the grief.
General Grant And "The Cracker Line"
General Grant, in America's Civil War, was trying
to take "Lookout Mountain" and the rest of Tennessee.
In order to attack the enemy he had to keep his position in
Chattanooga safe and his men well fed there. In order to do
this he developed a strategy of having huge wagon trains perpetually
moving supplies from Nashville in the north down to Chattanooga,
located at the base of Lookout Mountain in the south. This
became known as "the cracker line." The Confederates
rightfully decided to attack the "cracker line"
whenever they could in order to disrupt the needed supplies.
Satan does the same thing with missions and churches. Christians
are the source of support and he must stop that "cracker
line" from being faithfully in touch with a ministry.
The enemy knows he must get close enough to a ministry in
order to do damage to it. The Apostle Paul spoke of being
in danger from "false brothers" in 2 Corinthians
11:26. Some will criticize a ministry because plans have had
to be changed at times but it is often caused by a temporary
drop in support. For instance a very large monthly donor of
many years abandoned us halfway into a building project for
uncertain reasons. Paul ran into this sort of thing as well
when he wrote"You know that everyone in the province
of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes."
2 Timothy 1:15 (NAS95)
Most ministries can tell the story of people they have come
to rely on letting them down and being changeable and inconstant
in their support. Sometimes one person's doing this can trigger
discouragement in others. Those that are on the periphery
of a ministry may not understand why plans sometimes change
and the ministry may not be at liberty to tell them about
someone else's misdeeds that caused the problem initially.
We are all called on to trust the Lord first and then to sometimes
sacrificially trust others. The extension of trust by a ministry
to an individual or individuals can be very costly indeed
....especially when planning is involved.
GOSSIP: Satan's Artillery
We are all fallen and not omniscient and therefore these kinds
of mistakes are almost inevitable when dealing with others.
This can lead to pious sounding faultfinding such as, "Well,
if you were truly in touch with the Lord He would alert you
to who these people are so you won't get let down." That
is a very presumptuous attitude which assumes God will always
protect us from all dangers and not let us make mistakes.
This certainly wasn't true in the lives of the Apostles. Paul
was sorely disappointed, not only by those we've mentioned
but also by John Mark which led to disagreement between him
and Barnabus (see Acts 15:37).
People involved in gossip and backbiting in the church will
seldom call it by its proper name. We Evangelicals have pious
sounding euphemisms for gossip. We may say we are just "very
concerned" or that we are praying for "so and so"
because of "such and such" instead of courageously
and kindly approaching the person alone.
It is funny that the one gossiping expects the presumption
of innocence and pure motivation to be extended to him while
many times questioning others' motives. Someone may be envious
of or despise another person or ministry, if he is clever
he will do good to the person and speak well of him in order
to maneuver himself into a spot where his evil intentions
of harm can be accomplished. This can be done by involvement
that engenders some form of dependency. The Apostle Paul wrote
about hurtful gossip about his ministry. "For they say,
"His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal
presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible."
2 Corinthians 10:10. The Bible also clearly shows how one
group of people can damage another by evil speech "But
the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles
and embittered them against the brethren. Ac 14:2"
"He Just Won't Listen..."
We are willing to listen to constructive criticism
but we are not willing to give a carte blanche promise that
we will follow the opinions of others. There are those who
equate "listening" to agreement. Dr. Walter R. Martin
was criticized throughout his long career for having too much
interest in evil things like the cult's "doctrines of
devils." Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse warned him early on
that he must "ignore the barking dogs along the path"
and keep his eyes focused on doing what God wanted him to
do. He would listen but not agree with "the dogs."
Therefore, some of "the barking dogs" would undoubtedly
have accused him of not listening to them.
QUESTION: What Motivates
You To Persevere?
ANSWER: Love of God, His word, His Church,
our families, and finally love of the lost is the short answer
to this question. It is a great privilege to serve Christ
and to represent His agenda to a lost world on behalf of your
brothers and sisters. It is an awesome and humbling responsibility.
Our President Rev. Kevin Johnson and his wife Julie have
proven they are "in it for the long haul." Over
17 years they have been doing the ministry of calling the
church to Apologetics outreach. What started by writing on
their kitchen table has grown to touch people from all walks
of life all over the world. Their perspective is one of lifetime
commitment which allows them to see many things differently
from those who do not share that outlook. This attitude which
results from trusting in the Lord has sustained them through
lean and dark times.
Perseverance -The Key To True Spirituality
Perseverance is not understood much in our fast food
and microwave oven culture. It is sometimes looked down upon
for its unchanging quality and often called foolish if it
costs you materially. It is, however, essential in obeying
God's will for your life. In a much more Christian time in
our land it was idiomatically understood that "a task
worth starting is a task worth completing." C. S. Lewis
pointed out that the character trait of loyalty depends on
perseverance and integrity. Without perseverance we don't
have the ability to see things through that God may want us
to and we may be disloyal when we leave others in the lurch
because of our impatience.
"Waiting on the Lord" is not popular today as it
is assumed that "progress" is all about brevity
and fast results (both of which are relative terms and open
to disputation). The truth is that it isn't! People get discouraged
when impatience rules. This has been called the tyranny of
the urgent. We are not ultimately called to show so-called
"timely results" as much as we are called to persevere.
The Holy Spirit reminds us in Paul's writings: "Let us
not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap
if we do not grow weary." It's the "due time"
and its definition that modern man has a problem with. Sometimes
we get weary before we should because we impose our timetable
on God and don't allow His eternal perspective to supersede
our finite one.
Reuven Doron of "Embrace Israel Ministries" recently
sent us a very good short commentary on perseverance: "in
our human weakness and limited view of God's eternal plan,
we are often vulnerable and can easily slip into the traps
of despair and hopelessness set up by our crafty adversary.
When oppressive circumstances linger beyond our breaking point,
and when our heart's prayersseem to return void and empty
handed time and again, the test of perseverance begins. In
fact, according to the Word of God, perseverance is central
to godly character (2-Peter 1:6). Four times the churches
in the Revelation of John were commended for it, and Paul
categorized it as a gift from God in Romans 15:5.
God's redeeming and perfecting work in the human soul is
often contrary to human reasoning. It is not simply good character
that ensures our ability to survive and even prosper in the
trials of life, but rather it is the presence of adversity
that will produce character, and that, according to scripture,
through perseverance! As Paul wrote, "we also exult in
our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
and perseverance, proven character; andproven character, hope;
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has
been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit
who was given to us." (Rom. 5:3-5)
QUESTION: Do you have
recommendations available?
ANSWER: Yes, on our website or in booklet
form!
QUESTION: How Can I Help?
ANSWER: We need financial supporters
for: our ongoing monthly expenses, for the cost of buying
remodeling materials, airtime on satellite, airtime and advertising
to new radio stations and for internet streaming of the radio
program. We are also looking for people with building and
remodeling skills. If you can give freely and cheerfully (see
2 Cor. 9:7) "as unto the Lord" understanding that
things are accomplished in His way and time and not necessarily
in ours, then we welcome you! Mature believers in Christ are
the ones we seek to help us.
Mount Carmel Outreach
All donations to The Institute For Christian
Apologetics are
tax-deductible, greatly needed and equally appreciated!
Make your checks out to:
The Institute For Christian Apologetics
Send them to P.O. Box 5761 Rockford, IL 61125
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