A Word From the President

My wife and I were recently at our small farm that has been in her family since 1875. The farm is located near the Ohio River with scenic pastures and rolling hills. While there, we do what farm people do—work hard and enjoy visiting long-time friends. All of which is good therapy for us.

While there, we often visit a church pastored by a dear friend of mine from childhood. During a recent sermon, he began to share a prayer that one of his grandchildren, Benjamin, prayed for one of his friends who had a serious medical condition. As the pastor shared Benjamin’s prayer, I was touched deeply by a statement he made. Upon concluding his prayer, Benjamin said, “Lord, it is me, Benjamin.” What a powerful statement!

The young child’s relationship with the Lord was such that he called upon the Lord in a profoundly personal way.

His prayer led me to examine my personal relationship with the Lord and my prayer life. In calling upon the Lord, I realized more than ever that without Him, I can do nothing. My thoughts went to Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (KJV).

When I ask you to pray for us so that we may accomplish our mission of providing biblical education to Christian ministers and leaders around the world, I do so realizing that the world needs Christ, and we have students and graduates on the front lines for the Lord.

When I say I am praying for you, I want you to know that I mean it.

As I write this article, we have graduates in Liberia where the Ebola virus is running rampant; we have graduates in the Middle East where persecution, displacement, and killings are occurring daily. Calling upon the Lord to make a difference in people’s lives is a first step, not a last resort.

World events have called our attention to the fact that serving the Lord may mean literally sacrificing one’s life for the cause of Christ. Seeing students graduate brings a great sense of completion and achievement. At the same time, there is the reality that when we proclaim the gospel, we can come in contact with death, disease, and the demonic.

Paul asked for prayer, that the gospel might have free course. We must not forget to do the same for all who serve Him.

Thanks for all your prayers on our behalf. May God continue to use us so that the sun never sets on the ministry of Luther Rice.

– Dr. James Flanagan

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