I was born in a part of the world where government did not merely govern roads, courts, and borders. It tried to govern conscience. That is why I do not take religious liberty lightly. When government begins to say, “You may believe that in your church, but you may not live it in public,” liberty is already in danger. When the state says, “Keep your faith in the sanctuary, but do not bring it into the classroom, the hospital, the workplace, the foster home, the adoption agency, or the public square,” we are no longer talking about religious liberty. We are talking about religious containment. And Biblical faith was never meant to be contained. Religious Liberty Is Not Religious Containment Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14, NIV). My friends, do not miss this. Light that is hidden is not fulfilling its purpose. Salt that loses its saltiness is not fulfilling its purpose. And a Church that silences her convictions to win cultural acceptance is not fulfilling her calling. There is nothing hidden about the Gospel. There is nothing secretive about redemption. There is nothing private about the Kingdom of God. Abraham obeyed God publicly. Moses confronted Pharaoh publicly. David worshiped God publicly. The prophets spoke Truth publicly. The apostles proclaimed Christ publicly. And Jesus Christ died publicly, rose publicly, and ascended in public glory. So what kind of Christianity says, “Believe in Jesus privately, but obey Him only where culture permits”? Not Biblical Christianity. Not the Christianity of Acts 5:29, where the apostles declared, “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (NIV). The Warning Light for Religious Liberty Is Flashing When you are driving your car and a red warning light flashes on the dashboard, you do not solve the problem by banging on the dashboard. You do not solve the problem by disconnecting the wire. You do not solve the problem by pretending the light is not there. You check the engine. There is a warning light flashing on the dashboard of religious liberty in America. In April 2026, the DOJ-led Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias released a report saying that Christian belief was too often treated as acceptable only when private, while Christian action flowing from those beliefs was treated as something to regulate, penalize, investigate, or exclude. The report points to conflicts involving abortion, sexuality, gender identity, marriage, parental rights, conscience protections, COVID vaccine mandates, education, public programs, and religious expression. Here are three facts Christians must face soberly. Fact No. 1: The Anti-Christian Bias Report Is Not One Isolated Complaint The report says the Task Force involved 17 federal departments and agencies. Seventeen. Not one agency. Not one local office. Not one isolated dispute. The report states concerns appeared across DOJ, FBI, IRS, HHS, Education, EEOC, HUD, DHS, USDA, State, SBA, FEMA, and other federal bodies. That should get our attention. Whatever one’s political party, whatever one’s preferred administration, whatever one’s view of this or that policy, no Christian should shrug when an official federal report says public Christian obedience has been pressured across so many areas of government. The issue is not merely whether Christians can attend worship on Sunday. The issue is whether Christians can live faithfully Monday through Saturday. Fact No. 2: The Numbers Suggest Troubling Disparity The report cites DOJ enforcement of the FACE Act and says the Biden DOJ requested an average sentence of 26.8 months for pro-life defendants, compared with 12.3 months for pro-abortion defendants. Actual average sentences, the report says, were 14.7 months for pro-life defendants and 3 months for pro-abortion defendants. The issue is not whether laws should exist. They should. The issue is not whether people should be accountable for unlawful conduct. They must. The issue is whether the law is being applied evenly—or whether citizens acting from pro-life and often religious conviction are treated more harshly than others. The report points to Department of Education penalties against Christian universities, including a $37.7 million fine against Grand Canyon University for alleged tuition-cost misrepresentation and a $14 million Clery Act settlement with Liberty University. It presents those penalties as disproportionate compared with penalties imposed on secular institutions, especially in the Liberty comparison to Penn State and Michigan State Clery-related cases. The issue is not whether Christian institutions should be accountable. They should. The issue is whether Christian institutions are being treated fairly—or whether they are being treated as uniquely suspect because they hold Biblical convictions. Fact No. 3: Anti-Christian Bias Reaches Ordinary Christian Life This is not only about prosecutors, universities, or federal agencies. This is about parents. This is about nurses. This is about teachers. This is about counselors. This is about foster families. This is about Christian charities serving the homeless, the hungry, the addicted, and the vulnerable. The report also highlights a notable disparity in DHS faith-based outreach. According to the report, DHS reviewed its faith-based engagements from March 2023 through January 2024 and found 61 meetings, roundtables, briefings, or listening sessions with outside faith organizations. Of those: 20 involved Muslim organizations 18 involved Jewish organizations 1 involved a Sikh organization 20 were categorized as interfaith engagements By contrast, only two engagements were explicitly identified as involving Christian organizations—one with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and one with an Arab Christian organization. The report presents this as evidence that Christian communities were underrepresented in DHS outreach, particularly given its estimate that Christians make up roughly 62% of the U.S. population. My friends, these are not minor matters. The report repeatedly frames anti-Christian bias not merely as hostility to private belief, but as government pressure against Christians who act on those beliefs. It cites examples of Christian students and pro-life visitors being told to remove religious or pro-life attire at federally managed museums; a Christian nurse allegedly coerced into participating in an abortion despite religious objections; Christian foster families and agencies pressured to affirm views contrary to their Biblical convictions or risk losing licenses and funding; and Christian charities serving the poor facing zoning enforcement and other regulatory barriers. The Real Question Is Lordship Too many Christians think religious liberty is merely a political issue. It is not. It is a discipleship issue. The real question is not, “Which party is in power?” The real question is, “Who is Lord?” Is Christ Lord only in the sanctuary? Is He Lord only during worship? Is He Lord only when obedience is convenient? Is He Lord only when culture approves? No. Jesus Christ is Lord over all—or He is not Lord at all. He is Lord over the Church. He is Lord over the family. He is Lord over the classroom. He is Lord over the hospital. He is Lord over the workplace. He is Lord over charity, conscience, speech, education, medicine, and public service. Romans 12:2 commands us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (NIV). Conformity does not always arrive with threats. Sometimes it arrives softly. Sometimes it arrives gradually. Sometimes it arrives dressed as professionalism, sensitivity, tolerance, or the desire to avoid controversy. Sometimes conformity simply looks like silence when Truth should be spoken. But Truth cannot be softened without being weakened. And Truth cannot be silenced without consequence. Conviction Is Not Cruelty Now hear me clearly: Biblical conviction must never become an excuse for cruelty. We must never confuse courage with contempt. We must never confuse boldness with bitterness. We must never confuse standing for Truth with despising those who disagree with us. Every person is made in the image of God. Every person. The confused child. The angry activist. The hostile official. The wounded neighbor. The critic who mocks us. The person who calls Biblical conviction hatred. We are commanded to speak Truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Truth without love becomes harshness. Love without Truth becomes compromise. But Truth in love is the way of Christ. The Greatest Danger Is Inside the Church The greatest danger facing the Church is not only external pressure, it is internal compromise. When the Church becomes more concerned with acceptance than obedience, she loses her prophetic voice. When pastors become more afraid of offending culture than disobeying God, the pulpit loses its power. When Christian institutions trade Biblical clarity for cultural approval, they may keep their buildings, their budgets, and their platforms—but they lose their spiritual authority. The apostle Paul warned that a time would come when people would not endure sound doctrine, but would gather teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3). That time is not coming. It is here. We are not called to be popular. We are called to be faithful. We are not called to be accepted by culture. We are called to be obedient to Christ. We are not called to win applause. We are called to bear witness. What Must Christians Do? First, we must pray. Pray for those in authority. Pray for judges, lawmakers, school boards, pastors, healthcare workers, teachers, parents, and public servants. Pray for those who oppose us. Pray for those who misunderstand us. Pray for those who believe lies about Biblical Christianity. Consider joining more than 500,000 believers across America in daily prayer through AWAKE America’s national prayer movement.  Second, we must know the Word of God. A Christian who does not know Scripture will be tossed about by every cultural wind. We must know what God says about life, marriage, family, conscience, justice, mercy, sexuality, repentance, grace, and salvation. Third, we must prepare. Churches, Christian schools, ministries, pregnancy centers, counseling centers, charities, and Christian organizations must strengthen their statements of faith, employment policies, facility-use policies, child-protection policies, and religious-accommodation procedures. Do not wait until the crisis comes to decide what you believe. Fourth, we must support believers on the front lines. Christian doctors, nurses, teachers, counselors, business owners, federal employees, military members, foster parents, adoptive families, students, and nonprofit leaders need prayer, wisdom, encouragement, and support. Finally, we must stand without fear. Not with panic. Not with hatred. Not with withdrawal. Not with partisan rage. But with faithful courage. God Has Not Lost Control Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid. The Church was born under pressure. The Church grew under pressure. The Church was purified under pressure. The Church has always been strongest when she has been most dependent upon her Lord. When the Church is pressured, God purifies her. When the Church is challenged, God strengthens her. When the Church is scattered, God multiplies her. When the Church is refined, God prepares her for greater glory. Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18, NIV). He did not say, “I might build My Church.” He did not say, “I could build My Church.” He did not say, “I should build My Church.” He said, “I will build My Church.” No government, no court, no agency, no cultural movement, no hostile ideology, and no power of hell can undo what Christ has ordained. Will You Stand? So I ask you plainly, my friends, not as a political question, but as a spiritual one: When pressure rises, will you stand? When Truth is unpopular, will you speak? When faith becomes costly, will you remain faithful? One day, every government official will stand before Christ. Every judge will stand before Christ. Every pastor will stand before Christ. Every silent believer will stand before Christ. Every one of us will give an account. And on that day, the applause of culture will mean nothing. The approval of institutions will mean nothing. The fear that kept us silent will mean nothing. Only faithfulness will matter. May He find us faithful. May He find us standing. May He find us unwavering in Truth and steadfast in love. And may our lives declare with quiet courage and unshakable conviction: Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

QUESTION: “So much of my life is occupied with dull and unimportant tasks. Are these important to God?” ANSWER: Our days are often filled with mundane tasks. There’s always something to clean or organize—dishes to wash, laundry to fold, dirt and dust to vanquish. But these seemingly trivial tasks are ideal times to meet with God. They teach us to be humble in heart and faithful in even the small things. They are opportunities to express our faith through obedience (see 1 Corinthians 10:31). Every believer in Jesus receives a purity before God based not on our merits but on Christ’s. This is the gift of salvation—a right standing before God. But there’s another purity that we are called to pursue daily. Paul exhorts us, “[L]et us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). You see, in response to God’s incredible gift of salvation, we commit to cleansing ourselves every day. We exercise daily faith so that we grow to see God at work in all things for our good and His glory. Instead of allowing frustration and exhaustion to inform your attitude, work to make these mundane moments special times of reflection and praise as you serve others and care for your home—carrying out these tasks as unto the Lord (see Colossians 3:23). Ultimately, all our efforts in life can be directed toward that one needful thing: a deepening relationship with God our Father.

In an age of indecision, God calls His people to unwavering commitment. Our postmodern, post-Christian culture is marked by indecision. Today’s generation wants to keep all options open. They are commitment-phobic. They reject the notion that faith in Christ requires an exclusive commitment, that a Christian must be loyal to Christ above all else. As churches capitulate to this prevailing cultural sentiment, they lead souls to keep one foot in the world. Jesus was clear about the cost of following Him, about the commitment He requires: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). He calls us to choose. THE MEANING OF MAKING A DECISION The word decision comes from the Latin decidere, which means to cut off. Once you make a decision, you cut off all other options or possibilities. Likewise, once you make a decision for Christ, you cut off all other callings that run contrary to the Word of God. When you trust in Him, He will give you the courage to act with confidence and faith. When you seek to bring glory to His name, the Lord will take care of the details. TWO LIVES, TWO RESPONSES In Judges 4-5, we’re introduced to two lives—one marked by indecision and doubt and the other by decisiveness and trust. Deborah was a great woman of God, who delivered Israel by making a resolute commitment to doing His will, come what may. Barak, on the other hand, was a weak and uncommitted man, who, though called to lead the Israelite army, refused to trust in God’s promises. These two Biblical figures lived during the period of history after God had given Jericho into the hands of His people so that Joshua could lead them into the Promised Land. Although God had shown Himself sovereign and faithful again and again, as time passed, the people became prosperous and forgot the Lord their God. They did what was right in their own eyes, rebelling against their Redeemer. The book of Judges records the pattern of this rebellion and God’s response. Each time His people turned their back on Him, God would remove His hand of protection over His wayward people, exposing them to their vicious neighbors, the Canaanites. A MOTHER IN ISRAEL, A REBUKE OF THE NATION Before Deborah, God had raised up Ehud to deliver Israel. But as soon as he died, the people returned to their rebellion and were suffering the consequences (see Judges 4:1-3). Finally, the people cried out to the Lord, and He raised up Deborah. I absolutely love the way she describes herself: “I, Deborah, arose, . . . a mother in Israel” (5:7). She could have called herself Deborah the judge or Deborah the deliverer or Deborah the prophetess, but none of these titles ranked higher than the honor and respect of a mother in Israel. Yet, she fully recognized Barak’s leadership role. He was the commander of the army of the Living God—an incredibly important position requiring deep faith, commitment, and bravery—all which he sadly lacked. According to the traditions and values of this ancient Hebrew culture, when a woman rose up to lead the nation, it was God’s way of shaming the men in that nation for abandoning their God-given role (see Isaiah 3:12). To their humiliation, the men were acting like children. God had called Barak to a particular purpose with the promise of victory. Indeed, Deborah challenged him, saying, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: . . .” (Judges 4:6). God gave Barak a divine strategy coupled with a divine promise. God would deliver Sisera, the leader of the Canaanite army, into Barak’s hands. THE FAILURE OF NERVE IS A FAILURE OF FAITH But Barak refused to go without Deborah. He basically said, “I will not go without mommy” (see v. 8). If the commander of the army is shrinking from his responsibility, imagine the condition of the rest of the army. Barak’s failure of nerve was a failure of faith and trust in the promises of God. Deborah knew that she was the rebuke of the faithlessness of Israel. She knew that the sovereign God would accomplish His purpose with or without Barak. She even prophesied, “because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman” (Judges 4:9). GOD’S PURPOSE WILL PREVAIL This is a powerful reminder for believers today: God “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11). If you obey God, you will be blessed. If you don’t, He will put you on the shelf and move on and use somebody else. So often we long to know God’s will for our lives. Fundamentally, Scripture tells us God’s will for us is to be found faithful wherever we are. Be faithful, and God will take care of the rest. Of course, God supernaturally sent the Canaanites running. Their leader, Sisera, didn’t even mount a carriage or horse. He fled on foot—all the way to the tent of a woman named Jael. She invited Sisera into her tent, tended to him, and covered him. Then, she took care of business—quickly killing the commander of the enemies of God’s people and thereby fulfilling Deborah’s prophecy. OBEDIENCE: NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS At the heart of the matter, Christian leadership simply requires obedience, nothing more and nothing less. We must be willing to stand up and lead our fallen culture. Someone’s going to do it. Let it be us who are willing to humble ourselves before God. Let it be us who seek His purposes, for His glory. Let us make a decision, cutting off any idols that have a hold in our hearts. Let’s serve God wholeheartedly, unashamed no matter what our culture says about us. SHINE LINE THE SUN Following their victory, Deborah and Barak sang: “So may all your enemies perish, Lord! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength” (Judges 5:31). It is my prayer that we would each make the decision to live for Christ and stand firm in that decision. No waffling, no going back, no listening to detractors, no distrusting God’s promises, no self-serving aggrandizement, and above all, no compromising God’s Word. That is the only way we’re going to impact and influence the world for God’s Kingdom. Be a friend of God, and you will shine like the rising sun. 4 TAKEAWAYS FROM THE LIFE OF DEBORAH As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, Deborah’s bold, decisive leadership is an exhortation to us all, leaving us with four key charges from God’s Word: Have confidence in God’s strength. The failure of nerve is a failure of faith. Prepare to be used for Kingdom purposes. If you don’t stand up, you’ll be shelved. Serve God whole-heartedly. Christian leadership is all about obedience. Stand firm in faith. As we live for Christ, we’ll impact the world for Him. Like Deborah, we are to respond immediately when God calls—rising up, trusting His Word, and acting with courage when others hesitate. The time for hesitation is over. Stand firm, obey boldly, and trust that the God who calls you will be faithful to accomplish His purpose in you.

Pastors facing growing pressure. Villages hungry for Truth—but unable to read the Word. Millions in the Middle East searching for hope. And God is opening doors. Through your prayers and support, you’re stepping into the story God is writing: shepherds strengthened, indigenous churches equipped, and broken souls transformed by Christ’s faithful love. This is The Open Door Campaign: God opening doors in places of great challenge and even greater opportunity. Dr. Youssef Prepares to Encourage U.S. Pastors in Islamic Hotspots As Islamic communities continue to grow in cities across the U.S.—from EPIC City, Texas, to Minneapolis—Dr. Michael A. Youssef has felt a burden to encourage pastors ministering in areas with significant Muslim populations. God is already opening doors for Dr. Youssef to connect with church leaders in key U.S. cities as they navigate these growing challenges in their communities. AWAKE America Rallies with Dr. Youssef are also on the horizon for multiple cities in Texas. It’s all part of Leading The Way‘s mission to mobilize believers in prayer and evangelism. “As Christian believers, we must be boldly preaching the Gospel everywhere we go,” Dr. Youssef told key pastors in Dallas. With rapid demographic shifts underway, he urged them not to be passive observers but to “train your people to go out into the trenches and preach the Gospel. You’ve got to be absolutely united in prayer and action.” Navigators Solve Key Problem in Indian Village On the other side of the world, Leading The Way is seeing a breakthrough on the mission field. In India, dedicated missionaries faced a key problem: Although people attended regular worship services across 350 villages, the older population still struggled to fully grasp the teachings. The problem? Illiteracy. If you’d handed them a Bible, they couldn’t read it—and they needed a lot more help to understand the teachings outside of the Sunday service. With limited time and resources, local pastors struggled to disciple their church members. Then, they received Leading The Way‘s solar-powered Navigator audio devices loaded with the New Testament and Dr. Youssef’s teachings. “The impact has been profound,” our field partners shared. “For many, this tool has bridged the gap of spiritual growth and understanding. Our pastors have found them to be an invaluable support. These Navigators have been an essential resource in areas where illiteracy remains a barrier to learning the Word of God.” A True Spiritual Awakening in the Middle East Certainly, God is doing a supernatural work in the Middle East, calling souls from darkness to light through dreams and visions. And as He transforms hearts of stone into hearts of flesh, Leading The Way stands ready to equip these new believers, like Ali, as they seek fellowship and discipleship. Ali had done everything Islam required—fasting, praying, giving. Yet, God felt distant. One day, he opened the Bible, read the Lord’s Prayer, and began to pray it himself: “Father in heaven . . .” That night, he dreamed of a Man so glorious he could barely look at Him. The Man poured water over his head, and Ali awoke shaken. He knew who it was. He began reading the New Testament and did not stop until he finished it. “I am convinced that Jesus is God incarnate,” he said. “He came to save me from the misery of sin.” He now longs to have a Bible and be baptized—something your partnership is enabling our Field Teams to do. Last year, your partnership enabled our Field Teams to have 49,067 conversations like Ali’s with viewers across the Middle East. An estimated 60-70 percent of viewers of our KINGDOM SAT channel are not Christian, yet they faithfully engage our Biblically-based teaching, apologetics, and worship programs. And with our new discipleship course, even more seekers can engage with the hope of Christ while new believers can deepen their faith.

For years, we have seen young men drifting—adrift from the Church, adrift from Biblical Truth, adrift from any serious sense of moral or spiritual responsibility. That is why Gallup’s recent findings deserve more than a passing glance. They deserve our prayerful attention. In just two years, the number of young men who say religion is “very important” in their lives has surged from 28 percent to 42 percent—a dramatic reversal after years of steady decline. It also found that 40 percent of these young men attend a house of worship at least monthly, and 63 percent claim a religious affiliation. At the same time, Gallup notes that religiosity in America overall remains near long-term lows, making young men an “emerging exception to the rule.” My friends, we should thank God for every sign of spiritual hunger. But let us not confuse hunger with conversion. Let us not confuse interest in religion with surrender to Jesus Christ. Let us not confuse a cultural turn with a spiritual awakening. Why Young Men Are Returning to Religion Gallup itself cautions that political dynamics may be playing a role in this renewed religiosity among young adults. That may be true. Politics can awaken concern. Politics can sharpen moral unease. Politics can even send people searching for order in a chaotic age. But politics cannot forgive sin. Politics cannot redeem a guilty conscience. Politics cannot raise a dead soul to life. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can do that. Still, we must not dismiss what may be happening. A generation of young men appears weary of aimlessness. They have been told that manhood is toxic, that conviction is oppressive, that truth is whatever the crowd says it is this week, and that pleasure is the highest good. And what has that produced? Confusion. Isolation. Passivity. Despair. One recent study on churchgoing and “deaths of despair” suggested that religious participation offers identity, meaning, and social connection that are not easily replaced. That should not surprise any believer. God made us for Himself. We will never be whole until we return to Him. Young Men Do Not Need Flattery. They Need Biblical Manhood. So what kind of word must the Church now speak to these young men? Not flattery. Not sentimentality. Not a baptized version of self-help. We must give them Biblical manhood.  For decades, I have warned that true manhood is not domination, swagger, or noise. Nor is it passivity, drift, or retreat. It is self-control. It is purity. It is courage under the authority of Christ. Young men must be exhorted to set an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity, and they must be reminded that their strength comes from the Spirit of God. God made Adam to lead, not to follow. That means rejecting the counterfeit masculinities of dictatorship on one side and abdication on the other. That is exactly the word this moment requires. Interest in Religion Is Not Enough Young men do not need merely to become more “religious.” They need to repent, believe the Gospel, and become men under the authority of Christ. They need to hear that a man of God does not hide—in the bottle, in the office, in distraction, in endless entertainment, or in cultivated irresponsibility. He accepts responsibility before God. He speaks the Truth. He repents quickly. He stands firm. He does not lead by theatrical bluster, but by being the first to serve. They also need to hear that Biblical leadership is sacrificial. A Godly husband is called to love as Christ loved the Church—nourishing, cherishing, sustaining, and protecting. He does not belittle a woman, neglect her, take her for granted, or abuse her. He is considerate, affectionate, empathetic, and sensitive. In other words, Biblical manhood is not harsh. It is not selfish. It is not performative. It is cruciform. It looks like Christ. And there is more. These truths make plain that a young man must begin now to become the kind of man who can one day build a God-honoring home. He must learn that what is spiritually important comes before what feels urgent. He must reject the lie that financial success alone is enough. Presence matters. Integrity matters. Repentance matters. The Word of God must become the playbook of his life, not a weekend accessory. He must become the kind of man who can teach Truth clearly, correct in love, and model repentance without hypocrisy. This is where I must move from observation to exhortation. Hear my message to young men below: What the Church Must Preach to Young Men Now Church leaders: If young men are coming through the doors, do not greet them with motivational speeches. Give them the unvarnished Gospel. Tell them the Truth about sin. Tell them the Truth about the Cross. Tell them the Truth about the resurrection. Tell them that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Then disciple them patiently, seriously, and lovingly. Fathers and grandfathers, do not waste this moment. Open the Scriptures with your sons and grandsons. Let them see you pray. Let them hear you repent. Let them watch you honor your wife. Let them see that your Christianity is not public theater, but private reality. The hardest place to set an example is in the home, because there our children see whether we are the same in private as in public. And young men, hear me. Do not stop at curiosity. Do not stop at attendance. Do not stop at saying religion matters. Come all the way to Christ. Submit your life to Him, moment by moment. Join a Bible-believing church. Seek out an older Godly man who will disciple you. Fill your mind with the Word of God. Flee sexual sin. Reject passivity. Reject domination. Reject every counterfeit of manhood that promotes compromise. Ask God to make you a man of courage, purity, tenderness, conviction, and Truth. This also speaks directly to the mission of Leading The Way. We do not exist to admire trends. We exist to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to prepare people to meet Jesus. We exist to take the message of Christ to those who have yet to hear it through every means God places in our hands. So if God is opening the hearts of young men in this hour, then Leading The Way must meet them there—with uncompromising Biblical Truth, Christ-centered teaching, and discipleship resources that call them beyond vague spirituality into obedient faith. This is the action before us. Pray for young men. Welcome young men. Disciple young men. Call young men to repentance and holiness. Support ministries that preach the Gospel without apology. The poll numbers may rise, or they may fall. Trends come and go. Christ does not. But when the Lord opens even a small door, His people must walk through it boldly. Friends, this is not the time to wring our hands. This is the time to lift up our eyes. A generation of young men is signaling they are willing to listen. Church of Jesus Christ—let us give them something worthy to hear.  

Stuck in two long hours of New York City traffic, Mae was on the hunt for distraction. She scanned the radio for something—anything. But what she encountered that day turned out to be everything. Mae was born to an Orthodox family in East Africa. Although she was baptized into the Orthodox faith and grew up going to church, she wasn’t truly immersed in God’s Word. As a result, like the seed that grew on rocky soil (see Matthew 13:5-6), her roots were weak, and her budding faith withered. Over time, Mae felt lost, wandering the world without peace, until one day, she prayed a prayer the Lord always delights to answer. She earnestly asked God to help her develop faith and to believe again. Not long after, Mae found herself in one of New York City’s infamous gridlocks. Turning to the radio for a way to pass the hours, she flicked between stations and static. Then a voice rang out with a message that cut through the noise and struck her heart—a sermon from Dr. Michael A. Youssef. Mae shares, “It felt like God placed that message in my life precisely when I needed it most.” That was four years ago, and she’s been listening to Leading The Way ever since—now through the Leading The Way app—and learning from Dr. Youssef’s sound Biblical preaching and books. “I can truly say my world has changed. I read the Bible and genuinely desire to keep growing,” Mae reflects. And she longs for others to experience the same kind of answered prayer. So when she heard about the AWAKE America Rallies coming to strategic cities nearby, she made plans to attend and gather with fellow believers to pray for revival in our nation. At the revival rally in Washington, D.C., Mae was deeply moved by Dr. Youssef’s Gospel message, and she wasn’t the only one. Recalling the many moved to tears that night, she says, “I hope many will be awake. I pray that Dr. Youssef continues to preach with such power and helps open more hearts to God. And I hope this movement continues to grow and spread to all states and countries.” Amen, Mae. That’s the kind of prayer God loves to answer.