All posts tagged Items of Thanksgiving

Cornerstone Bible Institute Graduation

by Alpha Omega Institute on May 22, 2013 in Stepaneks from the Front with No comments

 

Rich and EugeneI had the honor of giving the Cornerstone Bible Institute commencement address for our daughters’ (Claudia and Abby) graduation in Hot Springs, SD.  It was a lovely day, and graduation went very well.  The girls’ old friend, Eugene the Lion, showed up to congratulate the graduates.  Of course, Abby and Claudia sank deep in their chairs when they discovered that Eugene was there.  They have fond memories of Eugene and traveling with the Johnsons as we taught creation.

But how did I become the commencement speaker?  Well, I had just joined the board of CBI  (it was my very first full board meeting) and they needed a speaker.  I did not realize until it was too late, the board usually has a new board member or someone who has a graduate speak. Well, I had both!  If I had to speak about bacteria, black holes, or junk DNA, then it would not have been a problem, but this was out of my comfort zone.

GraduationThat is where God likes us to be, out of our comfort zone. Beyond our abilities so we cannot get the glory, He gets the glory… and that is exactly what happened.  He received the glory during the address.

But why would I join the board of a small Bible college?  Cornerstone Bible Institute is a Bible college dedicated to protecting and defending the Word of God.  Many Bible colleges are compromising with evolution and liberal theology, but Cornerstone is standing firm on the Rock of a literal Genesis and creation.  The Creator, Jesus Christ, is the Rock and the Truth.  Cornerstone believes that there is absolute truth and they teach it.  Because of their commitment to the truth, I wanted to be a part of equipping  students to be sound in the Word.

 

Rich Stepanek

If you would like to see if an AOI seminar is right for you, or you would like to help the work of Alpha Omega Institute, please visit our website events page or our donate page. Keep up to date with what AOI is doing.  Thanks for your partnership.

Sands of Time

by Alpha Omega Institute on May 7, 2013 in Johnsons from the Front with No comments

 

TNL at CMUSometimes I am reminded about how long we have been in the Creation ministry. A few weeks ago, I was teaching for Master Plan Ministries (MPM) at their weekly TNL (Tuesday Night Live) meeting on the campus of Colorado Mesa University. They begin the evening with about a half-hour of praise and worship, followed by announcements, and then a time of teaching.

After the praise and worship time, the worship leader approached me and inquired if I remembered his parents. He told me who they were, and I realized that I had known this young man since he was in diapers! He was a toddler when Marilyn and I had joined with Alpha Omega Institute in January of 1994.

As I looked around the crowd of 65 students, I recognized several other ‘kids’ (I consider everyone younger than me as a ‘kid’) that my wife and I had known for years. There was a girl whose parents have always been encouragers of our ministry. Another girl had attended a Vacation Bible School we presented when she lived in Denver … at that time she was in the first grade. We also had worked with her recently at a Bible camp where she had been a camp counselor. The young man playing the bongos with the band … we had taught him creation (along with his brother and sister) at the same Bible camp, and later worked with both he and his brother (they were also counseling campers). The director and his wife of MPM … we had also taught their children at camp and worked with several of them, also at Bible camps.

Another young man, that was not there that evening, we have also known since he was a toddler. Over the years we have worked together several times – he had a Bible study in high school that I shared at several times, and we went on several mission trips together. At this time, he is raising support to work full-time with MPM on the Auraria Campus in Denver, Colorado.

Several months ago we were teaching in a church in western Kansas, and had a young lady share with us that she had attended one of our Creation Vacation Bible Schools when she was about 8 years old. What made my wife and I feel very old at the time … she was holding the hand of her 8 year old daughter!

We realize that we are getting old. However, I have searched the Bible and have not found any examples of those in ministry retiring. So as we approach (very quickly) social security age, we are going to keep on keeping on as long as God continues to give us the energy and health to do so.

 

Lanny Johnson

If you would like to see if an AOI seminar is right for you, or you would like to help the work of Alpha Omega Institute, please visit our website events page or our donate page. Keep up to date with what AOI is doing.  Thanks for your partnership.

Plan ‘B’

by Alpha Omega Institute on April 30, 2013 in Johnsons from the Front with No comments

Spring Storm

Inclement weather almost kept us away from a pastor’s conference we were to teach, in north central Nebraska last week. The morning began with rain, which soon turned to sleet, progressing to heavy wet snow. We only had 60 miles to travel, but the roads were quickly covered with snow and ice, coupled with a driving blizzard-like wind. Because of pulling a 31 foot trailer, we were able to only creep along at 35 miles per hour, plowing through occasional snowdrifts, to finally reach our destination. I don’t mind telling you, there was a lot of prayer going on in the cab of the truck on that journey.

We were the first to arrive at Camp Witness, a Bible camp where the conference was being held. As we dropped down into the narrow valley where the camp is situated, we beheld a beautiful scene. The storm had covered the road with a 6 inch layer of undisturbed snow. The boughs of the trees were straining under the heavy load of virgin white snow … we had entered a winter wonderland at the end of April!

The storm began to abate in the afternoon, and amazingly, almost all the camp staff, pastors and wives, ministry workers, vendors, and musical groups were able get to the camp in the late afternoon. The only individual who couldn’t make it was the main speaker for that evening’s program.

“Well, Johnson,” the camp director joked, “You were the first speaker to arrive, so you just volunteered yourself to stand in for the no-show speaker.” However, he wasn’t joking … I became plan ‘B’! We had to laugh. About a year and a half before, I had finished up teaching 3 weeks of youth Creation programs at this camp. There was a couple’s marriage conference to be held right after the youth programs were finished, so my wife and I decided to attend for a little R&R. The speaker for the marriage conference was also a last minute no-show because of an unexpected surgery, so because I was already at camp and available, I became plan ‘B’, and did the speaking!

Now don’t get me wrong … I am not complaining …Whether I am plan ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, or whatever,  I love to have the opportunity to share God’s Creation every chance I get.  One thing I have learned over the years is to be prepared – “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” I Peter 3:15

 

Lanny Johnson

If you would like to see if an AOI seminar is right for you, or you would like to help the work of Alpha Omega Institute, please visit our website events page or our donate page. Keep up to date with what AOI is doing.  Thanks for your partnership.

The Orchestrating Hand of God

by Alpha Omega Institute on April 25, 2013 in Stepaneks from the Front with No comments

 

California Seminar Tour 1We are just in the second week of our California seminar tour.  We recently finished teaching at our second church, Fellowship Bible Church, of Belmont, CA.  Our time there was very encouraging.  They had four different teaching sessions from Thursday to Sunday.  The session on Friday was especially well attended with the auditorium filled and rows of chairs placed in the entrance area for the overflow crowd.  Sue also had a large group of kids on Friday night to minister to in the children’s program.

We also enjoyed great Chinese food and fellowship as we dined with old and new friends.  What a blessing the Lord brings with the care and encouragement we receive from the Body of Christ!

California Seminar Tour 2During our California seminar trip, we have seen the hand of God working in many ways.  It is always a joy to see how He works to orchestrate our schedule.  Going into the trip, we had about five days that we had been unable to fill.  But by God’s grace, He brought three opportunities for Christian school teaching into those vacancies.  In addition to that, a church member graciously offered his vacant house for us to use for a couple days to rest and catch up on some work.  What an answer to prayer it has all been!

 

Rich Stepanek

If you would like to see if an AOI seminar is right for you, or you would like to help the work of Alpha Omega Institute, please visit our website events page or our donate page. Keep up to date with what AOI is doing.  Thanks for your partnership.

Faithful Friends

by Alpha Omega Institute on April 24, 2013 in Johnsons from the Front with 3 Comments

 

Faithful FriendsWe have watched God be faithful to supply our physical and spiritual needs as we have served Him spreading the Creation message for the past 20 years. When Lanny was first called to go into this ministry, his father asked him how he was going to support his family.  Lanny’s reply was, “I’m not … God is going to supply our needs.” As we stepped out in faith, God was faithful over the years to provide for us. God’s faithfulness was a huge witness to all our family (our girls included … oh yeah … and his wife!).

In chapter 17 of Exodus, Moses and the Israelite people also experienced God’s sustaining help. They were attacked by Amalek, a nomadic tribe. The unprovoked attack was from a well trained and experienced army. Moses told Joshua to choose men from the Israelites – this rag-tag group of untrained soldiers obediently followed Joshua into battle.

Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of a hill over-looking the battle with the rod of God.  When he held up his hands, Israel prevailed, but when his hands became too heavy, then Amalek prevailed.  Aaron and Hur came along side to help support the hands of Moses. Victory was theirs!

Moses was determined to remain obedient to God, but he found it physically impossible.  With support from friends, Moses was able to complete the job God had given him to do.

God uses faithful friends to provide the support that we need at Alpha Omega to take the Creation message to the world. Thank you faithful supporters for standing by us and helping God supply or needs!!!

Giving almost always falls off in the summer and leaves us wondering if we will get a paycheck in the fall. Please pray with us that our supporters will stick with us though the summer months and give us victory over financial and physical fatigue.

 

Marilyn Johnson

If you would like to see if an AOI seminar is right for you, or you would like to help the work of Alpha Omega Institute, please visit our website events page or our donate page. Keep up to date with what AOI is doing.  Thanks for your partnership.

Sacred Delight

by Alpha Omega Institute on March 27, 2013 in Johnsons from the Front with No comments

 

Last Sunday, a pastor friend shared these song lyrics by a vocal group named Sunday Drive. The lyrics were a great reminder of what Jesus Christ did upon the cross for each and every one of us that believe in Him. Have you come to the Savior in search of His forgiveness?

 

Sacred Delight

 

Did you smile when you made the moon
And gave the sky its color?
Did creation dance in rhythm to
Your song of life, I wonder?
Did the angels know you knew my name
Did you tell them out of all you made
Why you gave me your image?

Is it true I’m your heartbeat?
And you love me more than anything?

What sacred delight
What infinite wonder
That I’m precious in Your sight
You love me like no other, no other
Oh, sacred delight

Did you think of me the day you died
That I would dare intend this?
Did you know one day I’d come to you
And search of your forgiveness?

Is it true I’m your heartbeat?
And you chose to die than to live without me?
What sacred delight
What infinite wonder
That I’m precious in your sight
You love me like no other, no other
Oh, sacred delight

 

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross …” Heb. 12:2a

 

*Sacred Delight lyrics © BUG MUSIC

Songwriters: MATT HUESMAN, WESTLEY WILLETT

 

Lanny Johnson

If you would like to see if an AOI seminar is right for you, or you would like to help the work of Alpha Omega Institute, please visit our website events page or our donate page. Keep up to date with what AOI is doing.  Thanks for your partnership.

“I Didn’t Like It – I LOVED It!”

by Alpha Omega Institute on March 26, 2013 in Nuttings from the Front with No comments

 

A young girl, about 9 years old, told Mary Jo that she really enjoyed the Creation evening we did with her church group for kids, saying that it was really fun. Mary Jo asked if she enjoyed the teaching session.
The first part of her answer would cause any speaker’s heart to sink. She said, “No, I didn’t like it!”   After a short pause, she added, “I LOVED it!”     Whew!

The same evening, another 4th or 5th grade girl came to Mary Jo with a question after the teaching session. She wanted to know a commonly asked question – “If God made everything, then who made God?” Mary Jo explained that God was eternal—He was always there –He had no beginning and no end –He is from everlasting to everlasting. She said, “Oh, I’ve been wondering about that for a long time.” She then talked about evolution and that even if there was a Big Bang, then “where did that come from?” She was asking the rhetorical question seeing the problem with the naturalistic (no God) perspective.

These kids are smart! But it shows that the evolutionary squeeze is already tightening around the brains and hearts of even elementary school children. I’m glad for the opportunities Mary Jo and I, as well as the rest of our speaking teams at Alpha Omega Institute, have to impact these young geniuses before they are trapped by anti-God philosophy!

 

Dave Nutting

If you would like to see if an AOI seminar is right for you, or you would like to help the work of Alpha Omega Institute, please visit our website events page or our donate page. Keep up to date with what AOI is doing.  Thanks for your partnership.

Hungry for Answers

by Alpha Omega Institute on March 22, 2013 in Stepaneks from the Front with No comments

 

Well, that Tuesday (see my last blog “Genesis Series on the Road…“) Sue and I, with the help of our son Joel, taught six hours at Faith Baptist Church in Pawnee City, NE.  The seminars went very well.  I taught one hour on dinosaurs, science, and the Bible, and the next five hours we spent on the Genesis Series. We covered Genesis chapters one and two.  Sue, with her changes to the children’s ministry, was a big hit.  The people at Pawnee were truly “hungry” for the information and requested a continuation of the Genesis Series at a future date.

Two boys, who were in either 5th or 6th grade, came up to me after the last evening’s program wondering if there was another two hour program tomorrow.  I was sorry to say that there wasn’t.   It is very encouraging to see young people getting so enthralled about the Word of God!

From March 8th through the 10th,Sue, Joel, and I were at the Fairview Baptist Church near Towanda, KS.  The pastor scheduled eleven hours of teaching, which is quite unique for us since we normally teach for only four to six hours at a church.  The goal of the seminar was to cover Genesis chapters one through three by teaching two hours on Friday night and another five hours on Saturday.  The plan for Sunday was to teach approximately four hours of my creation science series.

I was not able to finish Genesis chapter three Saturday afternoon, and the interest was so great, that many attendees requested two more hours on Sunday afternoon to allow us to finish the chapter!   We were amazed!  Thirteen hours of teaching in one night and two days.  Sue ended up teaching eleven hours for the children.  People of this country are hungry for the foundational teachings of Scripture and science!

 

Rich Stepanek

If you would like to see if an AOI seminar is right for you, or you would like to help the work of Alpha Omega Institute, please visit our website events page or our donate page. Keep up to date with what AOI is doing.  Thanks for your partnership.

Answered Prayers

by Alpha Omega Institute on March 21, 2013 in Johnsons from the Front with No comments

 

Last summer we took our 6 year old (at that time) grandson to a local Bible camp where we were teaching. We were blessed to be able to lead him to the Lord that week. We were also blessed to be there for his professing his faith through baptism just last month.

Last Easter our oldest granddaughter (now 6 years old) gave her life to the Lord, and this past Sunday at her church she went forward requesting baptism. She will be baptized on Easter morning!

This is answered prayer for me and my wife. You see, I never prayed for my children’s salvation, because both were saved before I became a believer. However, since I put my faith and trust in Jesus, I have continuously prayed for my grandchildren, that they might also accept the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

God has answered my prayers for three of my grandchildren! The remaining two are still very young, but I will continue to pray for them!

 “Children’s children are the crown of old men;” Pr 17:6a

 

Lanny Johnson

If you would like to see if an AOI seminar is right for you, or you would like to help the work of Alpha Omega Institute, please visit our website events page or our donate page. Keep up to date with what AOI is doing.  Thanks for your partnership.

Genesis Series on the Road…

by Alpha Omega Institute on March 14, 2013 in Stepaneks from the Front with No comments

 

We had a wonderful time at Sheridan Lake, CO, teaching and having fellowship with the saints.  We taught eleven hours at Sheridan Lake Bible Church, and nine of those eleven hours were spent teaching Genesis chapters one through three.  Even with the nine hours of teaching, we did not quite finish Genesis chapter three.  It was a casual time of teaching, and during the teaching I enjoyed answering various questions they had about Genesis and creation in general.  After all was done, the pastor shared his thoughts about the importance of taking Genesis literally and not falling for the wisdom of the world.

The following Tuesday evening we started teaching at Faith Baptist Church located in Pawnee City, NE.  Since I was just here last year, and taught my creation science series, I thought I would teach my Genesis series.  While I taught the young people and adults, my wife Sue, taught the children.  She is improving her programs by incorporating creation science power point presentations into her time with the children.  She is excited about the changes and so are the children.

I truly enjoy teaching the Genesis series, because Genesis proclaims many of the scientific concepts and laws modern scientists have just discovered in the last few hundred years.  In other words, Genesis is relevant to scientific discovery and things we observe today.  I was always taught that “the present is the key to the past,” but that worldview can cause many scientific mistakes.  The truth is “the past is the key to the present,” and this is why Genesis is so important for scientific research today.  Stay tuned for more from the Genesis Road Show.

 

Rich Stepanek

If you would like to see if an AOI seminar is right for you, or you would like to help the work of Alpha Omega Institute, please visit our website events page or our donate page. Keep up to date with what AOI is doing.  Thanks for your partnership.

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