All posts tagged Prayer requests

Ducking the Tornadoes

by Alpha Omega Institute on May 25, 2011 in Nuttings from the Front with No comments

Mary Jo & I are in Springfield, Missouri, right now conducting a week of creation training. To get here, we drove right through Joplin, Missouri, less than 2 hours before it was devastated by the huge tornado. A third of the city of Joplin was hit hard as you have seen on TV news reports. There are still 750 or more people missing with 122 reported fatalities. (Pray for those families!) Had we not gotten on the road much earlier than we anticipated on Sunday, we would have been in the midst of the tornado. We are grateful for missing that one!

Earlier that same day, we went right through the area in Oklahoma City that was hit with a tornado yesterday. Last night, the weather service is reporting a significant chance of tornadoes where we are staying just outside Springfield. YIKES! We are hoping the Lord allows us to duck those as well.

Where Mary Jo & I live in Grand Junction, Co, we are happy to report that they have not spotted a tornado for almost 100 years. So, right now, we are certainly enjoying the teaching time we have with this group, but there are pangs to be in our own hometown where we don’t have to sleep with one ear tuned for the tornado sirens!

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.

Raising Up Faithful Men to Preach

by Alpha Omega Institute on March 9, 2011 in Stepaneks from the Front with No comments

This was my fourth time to travel to India teaching creation.  The spiritual hunger I observed was  greater than all previous trips.  Many have been taught evolution and have compromised Scripture with this philosophy. 

Once they realize the fallacies of evolution, and Genesis is true history, a burden was lifted and you could see the joy arise in their faces.  Many truly understood the importance of this message and some are eager to teach this message to others. 

Rich and Sandeep - Interpreter and Trainee

We are now in the process of equipping and training Indians so they can reach others in India.  2 Timothy 2:2  And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

It is essential that God’s Word is spread through this multiplication concept the Lord has given us.  By training faithful, native men, the message can be communicated more effectively in their own language and culture. 

Please pray for our efforts in India, and especially for those receiving training.

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.

Not In Our School!

by Alpha Omega Institute on February 9, 2011 in Johnsons from the Front with No comments

Students hearing the truth at FCA

Several weeks ago, I was invited to speak to a group of Fellowship of Christian Athletes at a charter Middle/High school. Because FCA is considered a club, we were able to meet in the classroom of a Christian teacher before school started.

One of the student leaders had repeatedly requested admission for me to teach in the school, but her request was denied by the school administration. We have seen this happen a lot in the past. The excuse that is almost always given is evolution is science and Creation is religion; therefore, because of the so-called “separation of church and state,” we are not allowed to teach within the school.

I assure the administration that I will not speak of Creation at all – I will only giving evidence against evolution. Yet we are still denied. When asked why the denial, I was once told, “If you show what is wrong with evolution, and a student then asks you what do you believe in, then you are legally able to tell them, and we don’t want to go there.”

Teaching on the "Icons of Evolution"

Since I couldn’t get into the school, I shared with the 30 students and 2 teachers of FCA a talk on the Icons of Evolution. These icons (so called “proofs”) of evolution have been shown to be wrong many years ago … so why are they still being taught as truth in many textbooks today? Most of the students agreed that some of these “proofs” were in their books.

I had several thank us for opening their eyes to some of the falsehoods they are being taught. I pray the small seed of truth we were allowed to teach will make them more aware of the many other false teachings of evolution.

Lanny Johnson

Church Sign of the week:

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.

Wait Upon the Lord

by Alpha Omega Institute on January 26, 2011 in Nuttings from the Front with No comments

The AOI Board met this past weekend to consider direction and set the budget for 2011. This January meeting is always vital as we seek the Lord together to discern His goals and budget for the year. We are so grateful for a Board that prays!

This year, we face a very real challenge, as year-end giving was substantially down. Since we already operate on a very “lean” budget, cutting expenses by much would be detrimental to our ability to reach people with the truth of creation and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, after prayer and consideration of Scripture, the Board determined to move ahead, trimming where we can, but trusting in the Lord and focusing our efforts on the ministry He lays before us.

Psalm 127 says: “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it; except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” This is God’s work. If we attempt to do it apart from Him, it is all in vain. However, we also have a part to play – we must build and we must watch [be on guard].

Isaiah 40:21-31 reminds us that God is Creator; He is in control and does not grow weary. As we wait [hope or trust] on Him, He will renew our strength. Then we will “run and not be weary” and “walk and not faint.” In other words, we will have strength both for the “sprints” and the long haul.

The battle rages around us. Please pray that all of us at AOI will continue to look to the LORD, put our hope in HIM, and walk out each day, doing exactly what HE shows us without fainting or turning back.

Mary Jo 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.

“Passionaries”

by Alpha Omega Institute on January 25, 2011 in Johnsons from the Front with No comments

Last week, I was able to attend a pastor’s regional conference. At the conference I had the opportunity to share a little about AOI’s ministries, and to hear from pastors about some of the victories and defeats they experienced this last year. I heard lots of good “stuff”, but one talk really got me to thinking.

In John 4, we read the account of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. As a result of this woman’s encounter with Jesus, she believed, and immediately went to town to tell others of the good news of Jesus Christ.

A missionary pastor from Albania (a very atheistic country) tells how many people in that country are coming to know Jesus. Twenty five years ago there were probably only 5 or 6 Christians there. Today it is estimated there are over 10,000 believers. Many of the new Christians are immediately going out among their friends and sharing the joy and hope of their salvation. They don’t wait to be baptized, or to be trained, or to study and learn the Bible … they are so passionate about the joy of their salvation that they want to share their experience immediately. The pastor has coined a word for these people – “Passionaries”.

Hearing these accounts of Passionaries, I wondered … have many of us lost our passion for our salvation through Jesus Christ? Do we need to ask the Lord to once again stir our hearts for a desire to share the message with others, to once again be bold Passionaries?

Lanny Johnson

Church sign of the week:

Freaked Out!

by Alpha Omega Institute on January 21, 2011 in Nuttings from the Front with No comments

I just received these thoughts from a man in Texas who we have had the privilege to help train in creation. What he reports really concerns me:

The Spanish pastor at my church shared with me that our denomination’s theology conference was taking place at our local church and that there was a Genesis & Science session. Without even thinking about it (and doing my due diligence), I asked for a free pass to this session and eagerly attended. It all seemed fine and dandy until the speaker . . . (yes, I should have done my research before coming in to waste my time here) began saying that he believed that Genesis 1:2 referred to a time where Satan and the angels who followed him fell and that is why the beautiful creation was formless and void. Wow! Then he said that he was sure the universe had a beginning and that it was at the beginning, but he could not say when that beginning happened; that he could only talk about historical times beginning with Abraham; that he could not assure that the 6 days of creation were actual 24-hour days; that you cannot take ALL of Genesis 1-11 literal… He could not address the issue of dinosaurs and Noah’s ark, nor how could you talk about a young earth if the earth gives the appearance of millions of years.

Yes, he presented some solid theology, but intertwined with some strange beliefs to say the least.

As if this wasn’t enough, during the Q&A session, the questions that came from the pastors caught me off guard showing a complete lack of knowledge on the subject, some of them preaching right now about Genesis but not being able to address questions coming from their congregation.

Man… this is really a depressing and worrying situation. . . . Even though I’ve read on the denomination’s site that they believe in basically what I believe, this session freaked me out.

This underscores the importance of scheduling AOI speakers at these conferences! God’s Word does not have to be compromised! For more information, see http://www.discovercreation.org/newsletters/TheisticEvolution.htm and

http://www.discovercreation.org/kids/documents/NovandDec2001KTB.pdf

Dave Nutting

Planning from the homestead

by Alpha Omega Institute on November 10, 2010 in Stepaneks from the Front with No comments

We are home for the holidays and busy scheduling our creation tours for next year.  I am planning to travel again to India in January and February.   Then in March and April, we will be in Iowa and Illinois.  I do have a few dates I need to fill. If you are reading this blog and know of some churches or organizations that would benefit from a creation seminar, please call the AOI office or myself at 970-263-4196. 

The most difficult part of my job is planning a speaking schedule.  It helps when I have multiple requests to fill prospective dates.  In May we will be in Michigan, and in June we have the CHEC homeschool convention in Denver and an IFCA National Convention in Kentucky.  This should keep us busy for the first six months of the year.  Please pray for effective scheduling and a harvest from those we will speak to in 2011.

Rich Stepanek

Released From the Burden of Evolution!

by Alpha Omega Institute on November 5, 2010 in Nuttings from the Front with No comments

“I’ve been released from the burden of evolution!” This was told to Mary Jo & I by a college student from China while we were speaking recently at the University of Minnesota. She said the release came after our programs we gave one year ago at the University.

I can’t think of a better way to put it. It hit the nail right on the head! Evolution is indeed a big burden. It keeps young and old alike from responding to the Gospel or from growing heavenward in their faith and relationship with God. Her response fits so well with others who told us, “I was relieved to know I can believe the Bible.” 

Keep praying so that many others will be “released from the burden of evolution!” Released to believe! Pray further that with the heavy weight taken off, they will flourish in their growth and soak in a deep relationship with their Creator.

Dave Nutting

In The Public School Arena: Highschool and University

by Alpha Omega Institute on October 27, 2010 in Stepaneks from the Front with No comments

In Harrison, NE, I had the unique opportunity to speak in a public school.  Over a two day period, I spoke to four different science classes.  Some of the students already believed in creation, so the teaching reinforced their beliefs,  but others were doubtful, and so the information was a challenge for them to rethink what they believe.  Many of the students also attended our evening seminars held at a local church. 

We appreciate the Christian teachers in public schools, and the pastors who work so diligently to guide young people to know the truth.    Please pray for these faithful servants of the Lord!

 The last stop on our month long seminar tour was in Laramie, WY.  I conducted a tour at the University of Wyoming’s Museum of Geology.  There was good attendance with a wide range of ages represented.  It was an excellent museum to show the mistakes that scientists have made in reconstructing dinosaurs.  They have a tendency of making them look more bird-like than they actually are.   We were pleased to see the attendees’ high level of interest in the information and their many good questions.

I also had the opportunity to join a friend of mine at his booth, which is set up every Friday at the U or WY student union.  We were there all day fielding questions about creation, Christianity, and Christ.  We were an encouragement to those who believe and a challenge for those who didn’t.  The secular humanists also had a table in the student union.  We had a wonderful time conversing with them as they sent their people our way. 

I was amazed at the lack of true scientific knowledge, especially about: the Law of Biogenesis; the new discoveries in genetics; and the Bible.   To believe in evolution, one must believe in spontaneous generation which has been proven false by science decades ago.  Their reply was, “we are still trying to find a way spontaneous generation could happen” (using intelligence in their experiments by the way).  

I learned firsthand that people are willingly ignorant as stated in II Peter 3:5,  “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:.”  I pray for these unbelievers (for we love them) that God would unblind their minds so they can see the light of the glory of Jesus Christ.

Rich Stepanek

Northern Illinois University Ministry

by Alpha Omega Institute on October 20, 2010 in Nuttings from the Front with No comments

I recently finished speaking 5 nights to students at Northern Illinois University. I am now ministering to Minnesota universities and churches for a packed 2 weeks. Some nights at NIU we had really die-hard skeptics; yet other nights (Thursday), I had no verbal skeptic in the group. It seemed I was coming alongside to aide mostly Christian students. That is OK too.

Two goals of AOI are to strengthen Christians and reach unbelievers. The first part is exactly what happened at NIU. Several who had attended multiple evenings expressed their appreciation—especially that they could be free to believe the Bible! About the other goal, please pray that the seeds planted among those who were skeptics or on the fence will sprout and grow well!

Dave Nutting

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