Transcript

Alex McFarland hosts the Hamilton Corner on American Family Radio

>> Joseph Parker: Darkness is not an affirmative force. It simply reoccupies the space vacated by the light.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: This is the Hamilton Corner on American Family Radio.

>> Joseph Parker: It should be uncomfortable for a believer to live as a hypocrite, delivering people

>> Abraham Hamilton III: out of the bondage of mainstream media and the philosophies of this world.

>> Alex McFarland: God has called you and me to

>> Joseph Parker: be his ambassadors even in this dark moment. Let's not miss our moment.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: And now the Hamilton corner.

>> Alex McFarland: Alex McFarland here.

American Family Radio Network welcomes George Barna on tonight's show

Very, very honored to be sitting in for attorney, pastor and broadcaster Abe Hamilton iii. And we've got a fantastic show. I'm not going to take up a lot of time with any sort of opening monologue or anything because we have with us, to begin the program tonight a, name you've probably heard for much of your Christian life. it's almost impossible to hear, evangelical conservative preachers who don't cite at least some point during their message. George Barna. George Barna is a Christian. He's a researcher, a trend watcher. I really think he applies sociology and really observance of the culture to the Christian worldview. And I cannot overstate the respect I have for this man and the great contributions he makes to Christianity, Christian scholarship and it is a privilege to have him on the program with us right now. Welcome to the American Family Radio Network. George Barna, welcome sir.

>> George Barna: Alex, it's so great to be back with you. I mean we've done shows on various places over the years and I love your work and it's wonderful to be with you. Thanks for having me on.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, God bless you and thank you.

Tell us about your website and where people can follow your research

Before we go too much farther, tell us your website, what is your most recent book and where, where may people follow the research that you do?

>> George Barna: Well the most recent book is called Raising Spiritual Champions. it won't be the most recent book for long. I'm finishing my manuscript for my next book this week, so that'll be coming out in June. So looking forward to that. But people can follow all of our research either at Cultural Research center dot com. you know we have the Cultural Research center at Arizona Christian University. So that's that's where that's coming from. Or they can follow it on my website, which is georgebarna.com

What led you into doing what you do? I'm curious

>> Alex McFarland: I've got to ask you this. What led you into doing what you do? And you know, it's been my joy since really the late 80s when I became a Christian. I was in college and just in the providence of God, I discovered Chuck Colson and C.S. lewis and biblical Worldview. And really, as far back as I can remember as a believer, I have read your data. And, you know, it's just been so helpful. And first of all, I want to say thank you. I know I speak for millions of Christians throughout the world that have really been helped by the research and the writing that you do. I'm curious as to know what led you into that.

>> George Barna: Well, you know, there are a lot of ways I could answer that. One of those, as well as baseball cards. Because that's really what got me interested in statistics. All my friends love the pictures. I love the flip side with the microscopic print, all those numbers. And, I realized before I reached double digits in terms of age that those numbers told a story for every one of those players, if you knew how to read the numbers. So that's really what got me interested in numbers. After I get out of grad school, I started working in the secular market research field. I was primarily engaged in politics. I'd been a campaign manager, campaign pollster. I've been doing that. But then a Christian media management company came in to have our company test some of the television programming for their clients. People like Oral Roberts and, Billy Graham and Youth for Christ World Relief. And so I got assigned the account because it just so happened I was the only Christian in that huge research company. And then that company hired me away while I was there because I had just become a Christian. I didn't know much about the faith. They sent me to an NRB conference back in Washington, D.C. in 1982. M. And, they had three keynote speakers. And I thought, well, I should go and hear all these people. I don't know who they are, but they must be a big deal. So the first one was Chuck Colson. I, you know, I knew him because of politics. I didn't know anything about his faith. And, when he started talking about it and then got into the whole worldview issue, thought, whoa, that's something else. Then the next day, the keynote speaker was. Was Charles Stanley. Never heard of him. But, oh, my gosh, he blew me away, you know, just showing me. How do you study the Bible? How do you think about God's Word? That was amazing. And then the third day, the keynote speaker was Francis Schaer. Oh, never heard of him. Oh, my goodness. Yeah. I mean, what a lineup, huh? You know, so this, you know, cranky little man gets up there in his, you know, Swiss outfit, is I forget what they call that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he gets up there, and he was incredible, you know, and I got to meet him and the whole thing because, my first book had just come out. It came out with his publisher, Crossway, so, you know, I got to see him. But, what an introduction to Christianity. So it was right from the beginning that I got to know about this concept of worldview and eventually work with Chuck Colson doing the research behind his book, which was an answer to Schaeffer's Booker, you know, a takeoff of Shakers Schaefer's, how then shall we live? And his, you know, how now shall we live? So, yeah, it's been a heck of a journey. And, you know, here I am at Arizona Christian University, which is a school that's dedicated to developing biblical worldview.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> George Barna: And, the first thing they asked me to do was to measure that in all of our students and then to put together a measure that Americans can take. So we've got that online now. So, yeah, it's been a great ride.

>> Alex McFarland: amen.

You know, I love to hear the journey of people like yourself

You know, I love to hear the journey of people like yourself and just in the providence of God. Oh, my goodness. you're a new believer, very impressionable, and boom, boom, boom. You hear Chuck Colson, Charles Stanley, and Francis Schaefer. and the trajectory of your life was set.

>> George Barna: It really was. I mean, all three of them became heroes of the faith for me. You know, I got to meet all of them. Got, to work with a couple of them, two of them. And, you know, it was just amazing. it's like, when God wants you, he'll set you up for success. And if you're willing to do what he calls you to do, it's going to be unlike anything you could have imagined.

>> Alex McFarland: Indeed.

David Frum talks about the spiritual battle that the Western world finds itself in

so I want to queue up a question about the spiritual battle that the Western world finds itself in. You know, when I became a Christian in college, Reagan had just started his second term. He was maybe in the second year of his second term. And at UNC Greensboro, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I just began to notice that it seemed like every professor I had hated Ronald Reagan, hated Jerry Falwell, who was very prominent there in the late 80s, and a brilliant. I went to Liberty, to grad school. Dr. Falwell was a brilliant, thinker for Christ. And even people like Billy Graham, they would just denigrate. And I just remember, I thought, now, this is odd. It doesn't matter if it's English. Math or philosophy. Every one of my professors despises everybody that's on the conservative, spiritual, political right. And, you know, as the years went by and I read, I began to really learn about the, the drift away from a biblical foundation, not only in America, but the west, all of that. To say this, if you were trying to describe the last 50 to 70 years of American life, to someone who didn't even know all the trends, how would you describe, the America of World War II to America of the 21st century?

>> George Barna: You know, when I go back 50, 60, 70 years, one of the things that I think, based on the way that I look at society is, which is looking at data. I want an objective understanding of what's going on. I don't want to read newspapers, you know, because that's all subjective. At least it's become that way. And so when I look at that, back in the day, we had a group of people who, even if they weren't deeply spiritual people, they recognized that they weren't God. They recognized that there was a God and that he was all powerful. He was all knowing. He was just perfect powerful. When you look at our nation today, we reject that notion because we've been seduced into thinking that, that we are the God of our own life. You go back 70 years, you find out that most Americans believed that there was absolute moral truth and that it mattered, that it should shape a person's life. And that, if you chose, because it's always a choice, if you chose to reject absolute moral truth, there would be consequences for that. You could make that choice, but you were going to pay for it. In America today, the vast majority of people, particularly in the professions you were talking about, reject the notion that there is absolute moral truth and have this perspective that each individual determines truth for themselves based on their feelings, their experiences, their desires. It's their will that determines what's right and wrong. And, and so you start looking at all these major differences between what America was founded upon, what we believed for a couple hundred years, and how well it served us. And then you look at the turning points that happened in the 60s and 70s that drove us to a completely different philosophy of life or worldview, and the harm that that has caused not only to our nation, but to individuals, to families, to institutions. And it's in some ways an easy fix because we can identify what caused the crumbling of America. But in some ways, it's almost an impossible fix because what's happened is Pandora's box is opened and We've jumped out and we're full of ourselves now. And we're not willing to go back and recognize, you know what? I am the creation of that holy, righteous, powerful God. I live because he wants me to live. And he has a purpose for me. And if I fulfill that, I bring honor and glory to Him. If I don't, I bring dishonor to him. And I will never feel satisfied, I'll never feel fulfilled. I will not be living up to my potential no matter how many degrees I get, no matter how many homes I own, no matter how much money I make. Because my life is all about God's will for it. So it's a very, very different world that we live in than my parents and grandparents did.

>> Alex McFarland: Do you have hope that America will experience a revival, a spiritual, a, great awakening?

>> George Barna: You know, I, I think the Bible's kind of clear that we never know when those things are going to happen. We cannot reasonably predict them. If I had to guess, just based on the data that I have about the trajectory of our country today, morally, spiritually, worldview, wise, I would say probably not in my lifetime. Now the good news is I'm an old guy, so my lifetime is probably not going to be that much longer. So it doesn't, you know, put us, you know, in a very difficult place for a long time, hopefully.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, I for one am praying for your longevity.

>> George Barna: Well, I don't know, you know, I know where I'm going. I'm kind of anxious to get there myself, but.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay, okay.

>> George Barna: You know, I appreciate your sentiment. yeah, I think it's really going to take a move of the Holy Spirit as it always is. But, we are really deep in the hole that we dug for ourselves. And so the kind of man made programs that we typically turn to, to turn things around I don't think are going to do much for us. It's going to take a lot of repentance. I mean, deep, serious repentance. A lot of prayer and a lot of trust in God and God alone for that to happen. I pray that it happens in my lifetime. I'd love to see it. I'd love to be part of it. I'd love to cheer it on. But yeah, it's going to take a lot.

>> Alex McFarland: We've got to take a brief break. The voice you're hearing is George Barna. your website again, quickly sir.

>> George Barna: Either cultural research center.com or georgebarna.com okay folks, stay tuned.

>> Alex McFarland: Alex McFarland here, by the way. You can Listen to this show [email protected] all the shows are archived, and this is one I think you might want to share and spread around. We've got a brief break. More with George Barna on the Hamilton Corner after this. Stay tuned.

Joseph Parker shares his favorite psalm from Psalm 23

>> Abraham Hamilton III: A, discipleship minute with Joseph Parker.

>> Joseph Parker: Sheep desperately need a shepherd, and we are like sheep. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Psalm 23 is not just a nice poem. It actually is one of the most favorite passages in all of God's word. But the fact is, it's not just a nice poem, a nice psalm to be drawn from. It's a weapon, an important tool for us to read and meditate on every day, to confess and stand on. Father, thank you for the gift. Psalm 23 is. Thank you for the opportunity for us to speak Psalm 23 and to know that we can trust your word. You have guidance, you have counsel. You have encouragement, strength, wisdom and power. So much more for us as we simply read and meditate on your word and listen to the voice of you, our great shepherd. Thank you for the opportunity to do just that. In Jesus name, do pray. Amen.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Shining light into the darkness.

Only about 4% of American adults have a biblical worldview, George Barna says

This is the Hamilton corner on American Family Radio.

>> Alex McFarland: Welcome back to the program. What a privilege always to glean from the wisdom of George Barna. And before the break, I posed the question about a spiritual awakening. And, you know, it's interesting, George, Last Easter, the famed atheist Richard Dawkins, wrote a piece. And, he and I have. I interviewed a number of atheists for a book I was writing on atheism. And I never conversed with him, but we did email back and forth, and he's just an intractable atheist. However, last Easter he lamented, walking through London on Easter Sunday morning, that he did not hear church bells ringing, but he heard the minarets calling people to Islamic prayer. And even Richard Dawkins said he's concerned that the vacuum created by the loss of Christianity, it's not just neutral, but what's rushed in to fill it has been, you know, Islam and other worldviews, help people understand that, whether it's personally or culturally, if, you know, Jesus said, he who doesn't stand with me scatters. As the biblical worldview has partially retreated from our culture, a lot of very dangerous things have come in in its place, haven't they?

>> George Barna: Well, they really have, Alex. I mean, you know, our studies show that right now only about 4% of adults in America have a biblical worldview. And for the most part, that has been replaced by what we call syncretism, which is essentially, cut and paste kind of worldview, where what people do is they get exposed to all kinds of worldviews. There are many different worldviews, and people are choosing bits and pieces from each one of them, bolting them together into a customized philosophy of life that makes them feel good rather than one that helps them to discern truth and purpose and righteousness. And so I would, you know, guess that Mr. Dawkins was really feeling the loss of the stability that we get when the values of our culture are based on m. The truth principles that God gives to us in His Word. And what we've replaced it with are the feelings and the ideas of the day. And they change constantly. They're unreliable, they're unstable. They're not true in most cases, but they're coming from the syncretistic approach to life, where we're constantly looking to make ourselves feel comfortable, to make ourselves feel important, to make ourselves feel like we are in charge, and so we don't have to worry about what the government, much less God, tells us we ought to be doing or thinking or even hoping for. So it's a very different day and age. And I understand what he was talking about, particularly as you go through London these days. London has always been my favorite place in the world to visit. And, years ago, I turned down a job there working for a huge research company. And I kind of kicked myself now thinking, yeah, I should have gone there while the getting was good, because I don't think I'd want to be there today.

Do you believe transgenderism is the ultimate expression of relativism

>> Alex McFarland: transgenderism. Do you believe that transgenderism is, like, the ultimate expression of relativism? And let me explain, because, you know, it's one thing if a person says, you know, God can't tell me how to behave, but transgenderism is essentially saying, not God, not anybody can even define what I am. I, and I alone will define my existence and what I am. And, do you believe that the rise of transgenderism is maybe a sign that our culture is just reprobate, not even able to discern truth from error or even reality from unreality?

>> George Barna: Well, Alex, Yeah, I kind of think that the Bible tells us that God has placed a conscience in us, and that conscience brings us back to, his righteousness, his glory, his perspectives, his truth principles. And so if we are open to identifying real truth, God has given us the tool, the mechanism to be able to do that, and then the Holy Spirit will build on that. I think that when we look at things like transgenderism, what we're seeing is the rampant selfishness of people who are willing to beat down what their conscience might tell them in order to, to elevate themselves to the throne of the world in which they want to live. They basically want to be the God of their own existence. And that, that sexual, preference that they're expressing I think is just a very overt way of letting people know, hey, nobody's going to tell me what to do. I'm in charge of my own destiny. And I don't care what your Bible or your Quran or your Bhagavad Gita or whatever it is that you turn to for truth. I turn inward because I'm the only one who can know what's right for me. So, yeah, I think it's just one of many instances where people are looking to establish themselves as the center of their own universe.

>> Alex McFarland: did you know Charlie Kirk?

>> George Barna: Yes.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, same, here. And in fact, he spoke for, one of my conferences, exactly two weeks before he was shot. What? You know, he had his share of critics, of course, when he would speak at colleges, and some of whom would be very vehement and yell and shout out. But, how did that impact you? That it's not just spirit to disagreement, but you know, I think about some of the school shooters at Christian schools, I mean, the ideological left and the trans activist. Not just disagreement, but wanting to kill voices of opposition. that's very concerning that we're at this point in our culture.

>> George Barna: Well, you know, Alex, I tend to look at it as that being an indication of just how effective Charlie was. You know, why do they want to get rid of Mr. Trump, President Trump? Because he's incredibly effective. He's got a worldview that has become increasingly clear. He surrounded himself with an effective team of leaders who buy the same vision and they're working cooperatively toward that. And I think Charlie had that same kind of condition where, you know, people would listen to him, they'd be impacted by him and they thought, man, I, you know, other than spew hate, I don't know how to tear apart what he's saying. So we've got to get the microphone away from him.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> George Barna: And you know, I think that's a lot of what this violence that we're seeing is that the truth is just so powerful. People think the only way we can, you know, get rid of that truth is to get rid of the truth teller.

Alex: George Barna, thank you for being with us

>> Alex McFarland: We've Got a transition, to a different segment here, but, George Barna, I appreciate you so much. Give your websites one more time.

>> George Barna: Yeah. Either georgebarna.com or cultural researchcenter.com God bless you.

>> Alex McFarland: Thank you for being with us. But even more importantly, thank you for the work that you do for the body of Christ worldwide, myself included. Thank you.

>> George Barna: Yeah, thank you, Alex. Good to be with you.

>> Alex McFarland: God bless you.

Since 2019, enrollment in Christian education has increased by 35%, says George Barna

The voice you were just hearing is that of George Barna, the Barna Research Group, and so much data that he's provided as a, statistician and trend watcher. But we're gonna, gonna change gears here and bring up two very close friends and colleagues. you know, I read a statistic, and I'm sure that they'll comment on it. Mike Pickett and Andrew Wommack, beloved colleagues in the gospel. Do you know they say since 2019, enrollment in Christian education has increased by 35%, whether it be K12 Christian schools, Christian colleges, or online Christian courses. There's a great hunger for the word of God. And that's good news. And, it's been my joy, speaking of Christian education now for more than 10 years, to teach at Charis Bible College in Woodland Park, Colorado, and to, sit at the feet of Andrew Wommack and, just to be blessed to enjoy, the teaching of this dear brother, Andrew Wommack, founder of awm, Andrew Wommack Ministries, Charis Bible College, and Mike Pickett. They are both with us now. guys, this is a rare treat to have both of you simultaneously to be on the American Family Radio Network. So thanks for making time, guys.

>> Mike Pickett: Well, thank you for having us, Alex. It's always a blessing to be with you. You're awesome.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, God is awesome. And, hey, by the way, folks, listen up. One of the great happenings every summer is the summer family Bible Conference at Charis, in Woodland Park. If you've never been, ah, I could take the whole show to tell you, how great this is. You will not be disappointed. It's at pike's peak in just some of the most beautiful country God created and the speakers. And then there's there's a pageant that, there's nothing on Broadway comparable to the patriotic play and musical they put on every year. And it's my great privilege this summer I'll be speaking. But, before we get into some questions, Mike and or Andrew, give us the websites.

This year we have a new musical entitled Finding America celebrating the birth of America

Tell us about summer family, and just, any other great happenings at Charis that You want people to know about,

>> Mike Pickett: like you were saying about the summer family Bible Conference. This year we have a new musical entitled Finding America and it's celebrating 250 years of the birth of this nation. And as you've said Alex, the people who put on our plays have been offered a lot of money to go to Broadway and put them on there. That quality and it be special. And then we have you and we have David Barton, Bill Federer, E.W. jackson, Chad Connolly, Richard Harris, just on and on speaking. And it's all going to be patriotic. It's all going to be about this nation and the privileges that God has given us. And we have a special youth program where we turn our, what I call the Barn, it's a 1500 seat auditorium and we turn it into an actual colonial set and it will have colonial people dressed in character and doing things. And I mean the youth program is so good that we have to force the adults to stay in the adult thing. They want to go in. It's really good.

>> Andrew Wommack: Yeah, we ah, that's for 12 and under and then we also do have a youth program for teenagers and that's for 13 all the way up to 20. And that's also an incredible time where we're going to be celebrating the United States and everything that's happened here. So to find out more information you can check us [email protected] or you can go to charisbiblecollege.org org Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

Truth and Liberty started nine years ago to motivate Christians to get involved

And I know coming up really quickly at the first of May is well, Truth and Liberty. And either Mike or Andrew explain what truth and liberty is. And then I know there's a board meeting that I'll be at and a banquet as well at the first part of May. Tell us about that if you would please guys.

>> Mike Pickett: Well, truth and Liberty is something we started I don't even remember exactly. I think it was probably around 2017, so it's been nine years or something. And it was basically just to get Christians motivated to get involved in the culture because there's so many Christians they believe that you know, politics are dirty, which they are. And that's the reason Christians need to be there. So clean it up. But anyway, it was to motivate believers to get involved and to take a stand on morals. And it has really developed into something that is beginning to get traction and make it, it's making a difference. And we've actually got a lot of People contacting us now and wanting to be on our broadcast. It's being broadcast on our Gospel Truth Network. And soon we're planning on putting this on God TV that reaches worldwide. And so, Truth and Liberty is a big deal. And we're going to have that awards banquet. Do you remember when that is?

>> Andrew Wommack: It's the 1st of May, 1st of May.

>> Mike Pickett: And we're going to be honoring David Barton and also Tina Peters, which some people don't know Tina, but she was the county clerk out, in I think it was Grand Junction if I'm not mistaken. And she saw the shenanigans that were being done by our Secretary of state and it was crooked. And they came in and were. And they wiped the computers and changed everything so that nobody could check up on stuff. And Tina saw it coming and so she did a backup. And anyway, they have persecuted her and right now she's in jail. She was put in jail by Colorado because it is such a liberal state and they're accusing her of, cheating and doing these things. And of course everything she did was after the election. It didn't have a thing to do with it. She was trying to preserve the data and show that there was like, I forget the number, but 10,000 irregularities in there. And so they, they came and wiped everything out, put her in jail. But we're gonna honor her for standing up and taking a stand.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Mike Pickett, Mike and Kari Pickett have been friends for quite a number of years. And let's talk for a moment about just the miraculous growth of the college. And folks, it's been my great privilege and is my great privilege to teach apologetics there and biblical worldview. And I've taught very much in the school of practical government, which is a, third year program. And we talk about, it's really political science and why Christians need to run for office and how to do it. everywhere I go, I meet people that are the graduates and they're so enthused. And Mike, for those that may not know about Charis, try to help people understand the just how exciting it is that they're are thousands and thousands of people, young people eagerly learning the word of God. Oh my goodness, there's a break. I hear this music. Okay guys, give websites and we'll unpack after this break.

>> Andrew Wommack: So again our website is awmi.uh net check out the ministry and then charisbiblecollege.org to check out the Bible College.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay? Very special guest, Andrew Wommack. You've probably heard him your whole life. Mike Pickett. and we'll talk further, folks. Do you know in John 10:35, Jesus said the scripture cannot be broken. That's why we stand on the word of God. That's why we preach, teach, proclaim and endeavor to live the gospel. Because heaven and earth will pass away. God's word will stand forever. Matthew 24:35. Stay tuned. More on the American Family Radio Network after this.

>> Christopher Woodward: Hi, I'm Tim Moore, senior evangelist on Christ in Prophecy. Can you see the signs of the times multiplying all around? Jesus is coming back and he doesn't want his people to be unprepared to stay up to date about unfolding events and get a biblical perspective on the signs of the times. Listen to Christ in Prophecy here on American Family Radio. Join us Sundays at 11am Central as we reveal the prophetic hope for those who believe in Jesus Christ, as well as the Bible's warning about God's coming wrath to those who don't yet know him.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: The Hamilton quarter podcast and one minute commentaries are available at afr.net back to the Hamilton Quarter. American Family Radio.

Alex McFarland talks with Andrew Wommack about Charis Bible College

>> Alex McFarland: Welcome back to the program. Alex McFarland here, so honored to be talking with Bible, teacher educator, Christian leader and the founder of Charis Bible College, Andrew Wommack and executive vice president Mike Pickett, husband of Kari Pickett, who is also an evp, longtime friends and colleagues. Mike, before the break, I wanted to, sort of cue it up. And for those that don't know, you know, Charis is very exciting. And the thing that thrills me about it, the thousands of young people coming to learn God's word to prepare for a life of impact. But, describe Charis for those that, maybe have never been to Woodland Park.

>> Andrew Wommack: It's a great question, Alex. I'd say we're a lot like a Thanksgiving get together with all the trimmings. we, we have an amazing time where we have students from 18 years old all the way up to 90 years old, people coming in to really understand who they are in Christ, the word of God, and discover their callings. What's really amazing about it is that we don't just, we're not just available for pastors to come in or for future ministers, but it's for people in the workplace. It's for stay at home, mom and dad. It's for really anybody who wants to grow in their relationship with the Lord and what we've seen, as you had mentioned at the top of the show, the top of our, our talk together was the fact that there is a growing desire for Christian education for people to really know and understand the Word of God. Because people are starting to understand that without the Word there's really no meaning to life. And so as they continue to grow in their revelation of who God is in them and who they are in Christ, people are discovering something greater for their lives and they're discovering purpose and calling and relationship with the Lord that's setting them free from, from past addictions, from past things that would cause them to stumble in their lives. So it's just super excited. You know, we have our fastest growing demographic. Our children are kids in their 20s and our median age just this past year has dropped from 40 down to 37. So we're seeing younger generation, more and more coming to discover who they are in Christ. And what does the word actually say about what God can do in and through them? It's really exciting to see.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really is. And in the, coming up on 11 years. I suppose it was 11 years ago that I went up on the mountain with Mark Cowart and Andrew was saying there's going to be this building over here and that building and it's all happening, but the growth has just been vertical and it's God's doing. But ah, Andrew, let me ask you this. we hear the phrase the, the seven mountains of influence or the engines that drive the culture. Talk to us, about how God's word really, really does speak to every area of life and culture.

>> Mike Pickett: You know, Charis Bible College reflects that because the first two years, the first year is just getting established in basic Christian doctrine. It's, it's basically an apologetics course. The second year is very practical about hands on things. They have to go on a foreign missions trip and I mean this changes people's lives. But then our third year, we have eight tracks and it addresses those seven mountains of influence that you're talking about. So we not only have a ministry track and a worship track, but we've got film and production like you had mentioned earlier about our productions that we put on here. And people have been offered millions of dollars to go to Broadway. It's that quality. And so that film and production track, they actually are the ones that make the sets, that design the costumes, that write the scripts. It's hands on. And I don't think that there's any place in the country that you could get as good of an education in film and production. And then we have a practical government school. You've ministered in that quite a few times. We have a business school that is I think one of the best. And we've actually got graduates over in Africa now that out of do you remember this Samuel, how many

>> Andrew Wommack: people he's currently employing? 17.

>> Mike Pickett: Yeah, but I'm saying they had a contest in, in Africa and I forget but it was hundreds of thousands of people applied and our graduate won and they said they had never seen a presentation that was that good and so that's the quality. And he now has how many people working?

>> Andrew Wommack: 17 people.

>> Mike Pickett: And it's just awesome to see what's happening. So we've got practical government, we got business, we've got global training, which is training people to run our ministry in all of our Bible colleges.

>> Andrew Wommack: And then also we have a leadership track that students can go through on what we call a part time basis. So it's full time school but they go on, they come on a part time basis. So it's really as you had mentioned, Alex, all spheres of those seven mountains are being covered through the different tracks that are being offered during third year of Charis Bible College.

>> Mike Pickett: And David Barton is a guy who established our curriculum for the practical government school. And they actually go on a trip to the Denver, capital and see things done and then they take a trip to Washington every year where they actually sit in and see bills that are being voted on and things like that. So it's really practical. I think it's good.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Well, it really is. And the thing, I applaud you both for having a long view. I meet a lot of Christians, I love the church, I'm on the road, I'm in a pulpit somewhere pretty much every weekend out of the year. And Christians, they'll say, oh, the world is so bad, I want the trumpet to sound and let's go on to heaven. And of course we, you know, like Paul said, to depart and be with Jesus, which is far better. But I think we in the church, we need to live as if we might be here another 500 years because we can't just retreat and let the world implode. We've got to build and prepare for the Great Commission long after we're gone. so you guys have a long term view of the church's role in this world and I think that's great.

>> Mike Pickett: Well you know, the command of Paul to Timothy is to take the things that he had learned and commit them to faithful men and women who will be able to teach other people. And so this has been my goal from day one, to try and make disciples. And Charis Bible College is the best tool we have for making disciples. And Mike could give you probably more details, but, we have people on every continent of the world. We have people that are on television and radio, people that are running for government, people that are pastoring. just, I mean, it's sending people everywhere.

>> Andrew Wommack: So right now we have more than 9,000 people who are going through the Charis Bible College all over the world, as well as more than 16,000 graduates. That's all encompassing more than 22 different nations throughout the world, with 56 Bible colleges, 22 offices and growing. So we're just excited to see. You know, you had mentioned this earlier as well, Alex. there's a hunger for the Word of God. People are recognizing that the Word is the solution. And the thing I really appreciate about Charis, which is on Andrew's heart when he first founded it, is the fact that we have only one textbook, and that's the Bible. It's the Word of God. To go through. To think about going through Bible college and not opening the Word is just crazy to me. So I, I think it get that aspect of, if you're going to know the Word, then you have to open the Word, you have to study the Word, you have to be in the Word. And that's what we're seeing is bringing the greatest change in people's lives as they walk through that process of discovering all that the Word says about them.

>> Mike Pickett: And, And Alex, we've just gotten through with our, what we call the Festival of Nations. And I think it's become all of our favorite thing because we had all of our directors, they're here now, and they came from all over the world. And we had people sing the same song in all of these different languages. We had everybody wear their native, garb. And I mean, some of them were extreme, but we had them come, we had the Africans dancing up and down the aisles and it. And then we had them give testimony about people that have been raised from the dead, people that are being healed, delivered, saved, baptized in the Holy Spirit. And I mean, it is just revival on a world scheme. It's awesome.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Praise God. It's a little snapshot of every kindred tongue, tribe and nation praising the Lamb. amen. Amen.

God TV was started in 1995 and is huge overseas

Well, let's talk. Time fleets away. There's so much I want to ask, you, you brothers, but, God tv, what is that and how does that play into your fulfillment of the Great Commission?

>> Mike Pickett: Well, God TV was started in 1995. I've been broadcasting twice a day on it since 2000. So 26 years I've been on there. And, and God TV is huge overseas. But in the United States, because of change of leadership and different things that happen, it's only got one outlet in the United States, and it's a long story, but they came to me and wanted to turn the station or the network over to me. We didn't seek it. And so I just kind of casually said, well, see what's in it. And nearly nine months later, we bought the station for half of what they had somebody else wanting to buy it for. And what it's doing. It's got a worldwide platform, and I could spend a lot of time talking about it. But we're going to be able to expand in the US which is what we were planning to do with our own network, Gospel Truth Network. We are going to be able to expand at about 1:12. The cost of what it cost us to go on these other things because God TV has been around. They got grandfather clauses. And one network that I was paying 200,000amonth for, we can now get for 60,000 a year, 5,000amonth. That's the amount of money that we're saving. Plus, it's already got all of the social media, the apps and things that we were working towards, but they're five to 10 years down the road. They've already got it. So it's going to allow us to just leapfrog forward maybe 10 years and save a tremendous amount of money doing it. And I think it's one of the biggest things that God's ever led us to do. It's awesome.

>> Alex McFarland: Praise God. Praise God.

Alex McFarland: Christians need to vote in midterm elections

folks, if you're just tuning in, Alex McFarland here, along with Mike Pickett, EVP of Charis Bible College, and Andrew Wommack, the founder and the president of AWM and Charis. guys, I'll throw this to both of you. the war in Iran, by the way, it started on a Saturday. I was there Monday after it began. This was several weeks ago. And. And, there was a Charis student from Iran. And, I actually interviewed her for the radio. And she said to me, she said, one of the great untold stories are how many thousands and thousands of people in Iran are becoming born again Christians and leaving Islam, and, many times they pay with their life. But, Andrew, let me ask you, the war in Iran, and we've seen the rise of antisemitism and hatred of Israel. Very sad. What are the spiritual implications of what's going on in the Middle east and the world right now, in your opinion?

>> Mike Pickett: Well, the control of Iran has been demonic. It is nothing short of demonic. And for 47 years, they have been committed to the destruction of America. Of course, they had the hostages for 444 days, but they have been the major backer of, terrorism and instability in the Middle east. And it is demonic. And they have been trying to eradicate not just us, but Christianity, the Western culture, and this should have been done 47 years ago. I think President Trump has more guts than any president in my lifetime. He's doing what's right, regardless of what the results are. Is he doing everything perfectly? You know, in hindsight, we may see that some things could have been done better. But what he's doing is awesome. I applaud it. And I just had one of my major leaders from Uganda here, and I asked him what he thought, and, I mean, he began to prophesy and he said, this is not only changing the US this is resetting the world, the world order. And I mean, things that, ah, just a year ago, nobody would have thought possible. It's happening now. And I mean, Trump is literally realigning, reshuffling the whole world order. And I think it's ordained of God.

>> George Barna: I love it.

>> Alex McFarland: I think he's the Winston Churchill of our times. I mean, I really do.

>> Mike Pickett: I would think that it's even greater than that now. I think Winston Churchill, he was in a defensive position posture, you know, and he preserved and kept Hitler from just taking over things. But Trump is actually aggressive, and I just think he's the best president in our lifetime.

>> Andrew Wommack: For years, everyone's known that they have to do the right thing, but President Trump's the only person to actually do the right.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, exactly. praise God. How important is it that Christians vote in the midterm elections?

>> Mike Pickett: It's essential because if we lose the midterm elections and the Democrats get in, they've already said that they are going to impeach him. And, you know, like they did in his first term, over and over, they're going to do everything, delay tactics. And, just in the last week, they've actually said that they are going to do things in vengeance in retaliation and try and overturn all of these things. And so Christians listening or watching this, they need to get out and vote and they need to influence other people. We need to be proactive. And Alex, I know that some people think I'm extreme on this, but I don't understand how a person can call themselves a Christian and vote Democratic.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Mike Pickett: That's terrible that I say that. But you read their platform. Everything they've got is 100% against the word of God. And I agree.

>> Alex McFarland: And I, want to encourage people to begin to pray, maybe even fast and pray, for the midterm elections. I mean, we must. Mike Pickett, EVP Andrew Wommack, founder, thanks for being with us. we've only got a few seconds. Mike. Give those websites again, please.

>> Andrew Wommack: Again, Those websites are awmi.net or Charis Bible College today.

>> Alex McFarland: God bless you. The views and opinions expressed in this

>> George Barna: broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of

>> Alex McFarland: the American Family association or American Family Radio.