Category Archives: Ministry Updates

A Lasting Gift

The Christmas season represents the time for celebrating the ultimate Gift to mankind – the birth of Jesus, the Savior!  Jesus was given to us as a gift.

“…but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). 

As Christians who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord, we have set aside the Christmas season to remember that Gift – and we do so by giving gifts to others!

While some Christians may get hung up on the exact day Jesus was born or refuse to celebrate the Christmas season because they believe it has become too commercialized, I think it’s important to remember just what Christmas means to God!  You can trust that the birthday of God’s only begotten Son is important to Him and He is not offended that we celebrate it! 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

 But while we are giving gifts in celebration of the Christmas season, remember also that Jesus is coming again and He’s coming very soon!  The events of the Revelation Days are not slowing down because our calendar says it’s the Christmas season! 

The events of Revelation propel us towards the Second Coming of Jesus and the end of the age.  We have a tremendous responsibility in the midst of all the shaking and turmoil around us.  Our temptation is to focus on the events, but our responsibility is to stay focused on the God of the events, and understand His heart and priorities.  Very little of what we do in this life will matter unless it echoes the heart of God.  Here is what God has said about his heart:

 …not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)

 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)

Even so, it is not the will of your Father which is in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:14)

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in Heaven, over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)

My passion and the reason for my life, is and always has been, to reach as many people as possible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  God called me and gave me the vision for Christian broadcasting as a young man.  I’m not young anymore, but I’m still the same man who received that call over 50 years ago, and the passion is even more urgent as we see the time of His return growing closer.

 When you think about what the word “broadcasting” means, it means a wide distribution.  Television, with its 21st century capabilities, has the ability to reach into virtually every home all over the world. 

 When the disciples were commissioned to “go ye into all the world and preach the gospel”, they never imagined that they could do so via the miracle of television and multiply the effects of their message many times over what they were able to do as individuals.  Yet, you and I are fulfilling that great commission today via Christian broadcasting.

 Jesus said:

 “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4)

And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14)

Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (John 4:35)

“…The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37).

 The work is still being done every day in Christian broadcasting, yet there is coming a time when the work will be over and we will give an account for what we did or didn’t do.  I need help to continue doing the work of the Lord in Christian broadcasting.  This Christmas season, Lori and I pray that we can stay on the air with your help for as long as He tarries.  Together, we will give a lasting gift of the message of Jesus to a lost and hurting world.

  “…then He shall reward every man according to his works.”  (Matthew 16:27)

 We long to hear “well done, good and faithful servant”!

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in Jesus!

God loves you, He really does!

Jim

Morningside Vision

Within the vision for beautiful homes and lovely surroundings at Morningside, I see a community that is knit tightly together in all things. Most of you know that I teach and proclaim to the Body of Christ that there are perilous times to come. When perilous times come, a Christian community is a place not only of refuge, but also of strength, fellowship, and spiritual power. It offers hope for difficult days and practical help for making it through tough times – together in Christ.

As I have stated in my book “The Refuge”, “in the days ahead, the only place you will find the help you need will be the community of believers, the church, the refuge.” Morningside is being developed with a vision for the New Testament pattern for the body of believers and for discipleship. Morningside represents an exciting portrait of the Body of Christ as it was meant to be – and an inspiring invitation to all believers to experience the fullness of God working in their midst.

The vision for Morningside includes individual homes, apartments, condos and an RV park nestled within the natural beauty of the Missouri Ozarks. There is something for everyone here. We designed it that way for you and your loved ones.

Morningside represents New Testament Christianity applied to twenty-first century living.

Security cannot be found in money, materialism, or church infrastructure. Our true security rests in Christ and in His family, working to overcome the obstacles of life. Morningside represents the Body of Christ, gathered together in one accord, to bear one another’s burdens, to open our hearts to a fresh outpouring of God’s supernatural presence in our midst.

We must learn to love one another with a fervent faith that counts everything as joy and transforms every difficulty into an opportunity to live out the love of Christ.

We are busy here at Morningside with building and developing the infrastructure for a beautiful community of believers. If your spirit resonates with what is going on here, we would love to have you come and preview Morningside and all it has to offer. Just as the body needs every part, we will not be complete until every part is here, working together as a vibrant, living organism – The Body of Christ – in action!

Masters Commission Graduation

On Sunday, May 30th, we graduated the pioneering class of Morningside Media Master’s Commission (MMMC)! As part of their training here at Morningside, the MMMC Class of 2010 was responsible for ministering to over 20,000 high-school students inside their high schools and over 1,000 said the sinner’s prayer to be born again just in Michigan alone! This is what our MMMC school has done: they produced, directed and hosted over 90 hours of their own broadcasts in their very own program titled “Safelock” which is soon to be syndicated around the world! That’s quite an accomplishment for a first-year class!

I am as proud as if I gave birth to each one of those children! Parents, family and friends were glowing with pride and admiration! It has been an amazing year and God has given us amazing grace! Lloyd Ziegler, the founder of Master’s Commission and Lori’s mentor, delivered a stirring message via video to share his congratulations and to exhort the class. He told the students that this graduation will be a launch to go out and be world changers for the Kingdom of God.

We had a very special rose ceremony for Dee and Jerry Crawford, victorious warriors who have given all to the vision of Morningside and to Master’s Commission. Without a builder, you have no building, and without a vision, people perish. And Dee and Jerry Crawford have stood with me in this vision throughout this year, and that’s why we honor them!

Lori shared that this Media Master’s Commission is a brand new baby because the focus is almost entirely on media! Though Master’s Commission is not new, there has never been a Media Master’s Commission before – we pioneered the program here at Morningside with the help of our partners and friends. It was designed for young men and women who want a career in Christian broadcasting. Their training consists of every aspect of television from camera operation to performing arts to talk shows geared towards the youth of today. Within the very first week, they were running cameras, shading, directing and producing television shows.

When I helped pioneer Christian television 45 years ago, God gave me the vision to leave a legacy and train up the next generation, a generation that will not compromise the Truth and will be passionately preparing a people for the Prince of Peace to return! This will be the generation that will usher in the coming of the Lord! They will guard the Truth of His Coming and be messengers who herald it!

My message to the students was from Esther 4:14. You have come to the kingdom for such a time as this! NOW is your time! Where you’ve been wounded I’m giving you authority to bring healing to other people. He will take your mess and turn it into a message. He will take your pain and turn it into gain. You made it, others have given up. The reward goes to those who finish the race!

We are doing all that we can to declare the soon coming King! We are teaching and training, equipping and exhorting! We are sharing everything the Lord gives us with you to help you be ready for times ahead. Our faith is not in words only, but in action to research and offer you the best of what we find to help you and your loved ones through every circumstance.

Hear the Word of the Lord with us! Get ready NOW with us! Test all that is said and done, and hold tight to the Truth!

God loves you, He really does! And we love you too.