December 2021 Digital Frontlines

FRONTLINES DECEMBER 2021 / CBN.COM

Partners Sharing the Love of Christ

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CBN’S OPERATION BLESSING: LIFE-CHANGING SURGERIES

SAVING A WOUNDED TEENAGER

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CBN partners offer hope in the wake of the storm

Judith received the surgery she desperately needed.

Life dealt Judith an unfair blow. The young teenager was not involved in a nearby protest, but she was tragically struck by a stray bullet. At only 16 years old, she had received a life-threatening injury and was rushed to a hospital near her home in Nigeria.

The bullet had entered Judith’s abdomen, and doctors gave her a temporary colostomy that could be closed later once the injury had healed. But it was much too expensive for her family to afford.

“No matter how hard I tried, it seemed I would not be able to 2 frontlines

come close to getting the money for my daughter’s surgery,” Judith’s mother, Talatu, explained.

But soon, the family learned about the Life-Changing Surgeries program from CBN’s Operation Blessing—and this precious girl received the much-needed procedure. The love and generosity of caring partners helped make this possible.

Her mother was overwhelmed with joy.

“Thank you, Operation Blessing!”

Talatu said. “God used you to help my daughter.”

CBN’S SUPERBOOK

UNSTOPPABLE GOSPEL

Piercing the pandemic to reach a girl in Thailand

Bebe received the Gospel message even through the pandemic.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, 11-year-old Bebe was unable to attend her church in Thailand.

During the lockdown, she delighted in receiving video links of Superbook episodes from her teacher. Her favorite episode is “A Giant Adventure.” She explained, “It has made me confident that when God is with you, there is nothing you can’t do.”

Previously, Bebe wasn’t a very obedient child to her mother.

She used bad language, and she needed to be more responsible. But that changed after she began to regularly participate in her Sunday

school class, where she enjoys the lessons learned from Superbook.

Thanks to partners like you, Bebe can continue growing in her walk with God, even when she is unable to attend church. “I promise to stay on God’s path like how I’ve been taught,” she joyfully expressed.

Watch more stories from Superbook.

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Pat Robertson Focuses on the Leaders of Tomorrow Watch

Still bringing his perspective to The 700 Club

O

n October 1, as CBN celebrated 60 years since its first broadcast, Pat Robertson announced that he would no longer be a regular host of The 700 Club program.

“Today’s show will be my final as host of The 700 Club,” said Robertson. “My replacement will be my very capable son, Gordon, who will take over as full-time host of the program.”

Pat’s presence is still very much felt on the program. Every month, he answers viewers’ questions on a special version of The 700 Club that people have come to love. In addition to this interactive program, Pat also remains available as a senior consultant on international affairs, appearing occasionally as news warrants.

Pat’s focus is on the future as he looks forward to devoting his energy and experience full time to helping train and equip members of the 11,000-strong student body of Regent University in their mission: “Christian Leadership to Change the World.”

It has been an extraordinary 60 years of ministry that began in 1960 in a small television studio in Portsmouth, Virginia. With God’s blessing, CBN went on to become one of the largest global ministries in the world. Be sure to watch how it all unfolded at CBN.com/TheCBNStory.

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“‘Good and faithful’ doesn’t even begin to describe my father’s service to CBN for 60 years. His legacy and the example of his prayer life will continue to lead The 700 Club in the years to come,” said Gordon Robertson, who has now served as co-host and executive producer of The 700 Club for two decades. “And the best part is, he is just going across the street to Regent University and will be on The 700 Club regularly in the future.”

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CBN Partners Offer

NEW HOPE

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for precious children worldwide More

The most treasured gifts you are giving this year are not waiting under the Christmas tree. They are in Peru, Ukraine, and many other countries throughout the world. These gifts have forever changed the lives of the children who received them.

“There are 143 million orphans in the world today. … What’s perhaps even more astonishing is the fact that only 1% of those children 6 frontlines

will ever be adopted and find a forever family,” explained Terry Meeuwsen, founder of CBN’s Orphan’s Promise. “We exist for that 99%. We want to love, serve and support these children, and your support makes it possible.”

Raysa in Peru

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Raysa’s mother, Magaly, is a single parent in Peru. Her life isn’t easy. She sells handmade piñatas to provide for her children, including 3-year-old Raysa. Her precious little girl was born with a deformed foot that would cause her terrible pain if she tried to walk. For years Magaly tried to get help for her little girl, but nothing alleviated her pain. “Every time I tried to put her sneakers on, she cried,” said Magaly.

Engy in Mongolia

A beautiful little 5-year-old girl named Engy was brought to a center supported by CBN’s Orphan’s Promise, called the Children’s Place, by the police.

Her mother was in prison and nothing was known about her father. Shortly after entering the children’s home, this precious girl received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.

Engy became an excellent student and began to thrive at the children’s home supported

by Orphan’s Promise. Just before entering the 10th grade, she was able to study English at a local university.

Raysa needed surgical treatment on both feet, followed by casts and physical therapy. Thanks to faithful friends like you, the cost of all this medical care was taken care of by CBN’s Operation Blessing through the LifeChanging Surgeries program.

The surgery was successful, and Raysa is now happy and painfree! “I’m so grateful for all of the people that helped Raysa. From the bottom of my heart, I thank God,” said Magaly.

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Engy is thriving, thanks to partners like you.

Because she was dedicated to her studies, Engy recently graduated with honors from high school with a 97% average. Now Engy is preparing to enter a university that is located near the children’s home. Engy is studying to become an English teacher and says she is excited to see how God will direct her life.

Engy hopes to use her vocation as a teacher as a platform to share God’s love with others.

Festo in Tanzania

Festo is a precious young boy living in Tanzania. His parents are alive, but they abandoned Festo as a baby because they could not afford to support him. There are so many kids like Festo. Many wouldn’t consider him an orphan because his parents are still alive, but this dear little boy was still very much alone in the world.

In 2019, Festo came to live at a children’s home supported by CBN partners and Orphan’s Promise. Despite the many challenges he has faced, Festo has a radiant smile. He works hard in school, and thanks to you, he is receiving an education, eating nutritious meals, and more important, he is experiencing the love he never received from his parents.

There are thousands of children like Festo in countries all over the world who now have hope for a bright future because of generous friends like you.

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Festo is filled wit

h hope for a brig

ht future.

This holiday season, please remember how you are providing a light in the darkness for men, women and children—here in America and across the globe. As a faithful CBN partner, you are helping transform lives through Orphan’s Promise, Operation Blessing, The 700 Club, Superbook, and much more.

Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas Gift to You Watch

Enjoy the Christmas season with free features, music and movies from your CBN family!

• Delicious recipes from Gordon, Terry, and others to try in your own kitchen.

• Classic Christmas music complete with a crackling fireplace or the ambiance of your choice.

• Christmas crafts and special Superbook episodes to delight the children you love.

• Daily video devotionals as you prepare during this holy season.

Experience the joys of the season!

Don’t miss this simple way of enhancing your family’s Christmas celebration.

You can also download the CBN family app to your TV streaming device, tablet, computer or smartphone to watch anytime, anywhere.

JOIN US AT CBNFAMILY.COM DECEMBER 2021 9

CBN NEWS: HEALTHY LIVING

BETTER MENTAL HEALTH

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Science reveals the benefits of Bible reading Can Bible reading improve your mental health? If so, how—and who can benefit the most from increased Bible reading? These are the questions Dr. John Plake of the American Bible Society has been trying to answer, especially in the midst of current world challenges.

“We were extremely heartened to realize that in the midst of languishing in the struggle that the nation’s been in, people who Could you benefit from daily Bible reading? are deeply connected to the Bible future are among people who are and to a Christian community are remarkably resilient,” says Dr. Plake. the closest to the Bible.”

Dr. Plake says the research He says they discovered that if reveals that young people could people were Scripture-engaged benefit most from increased Bible and doing more than just putting engagement. “There’s a lot of in time reading the Bible, it would worry and a lot of stress going on in begin to shape their choices and young adults, and they don’t have transform their relationship with as much history that they can look God, with themselves, and with others. “So, when people are deeply back on and say, ‘Hmm, now faith is engaged with Scripture and they’re the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen.’ allowing it to touch their hearts, what we see is, really, markedly and And they can’t recount the stories statistically, significantly decreased of faith where God has brought them through hard times, like levels of stress,” says Plake. “We see older adults can.” increased levels of hope. Some of the highest levels of hope for the 10 frontlines

CBN’S OPERATION BLESSING: HUNGER STRIKE FORCE

BACK ON HER FEET

Restoring hope for a mother with lupus

Christina has enough food now to feed her family.

Restoring hope for a mother with lupus It was always a difficult choice— feeding her children or paying the bills.

But caring for her three sons was Christina’s top priority, even when she was choosing what bills to pay.

“Living in Texas, you’ve got to pay the electric bill. It almost feels like you’re drowning. … You lose hope,” recalled this single mother who is battling lupus.

“There are several times in my life that I have had flares where I have been bedridden,” she said. “It makes it hard to keep a steady job.”

But when Christina learned that her church had a feeding outreach— and partnered with CBN’s Operation Blessing—everything changed.

Now, thanks to compassionate partners like you, she can pay her bills and feed her family.

“The food from Operation Blessing has helped me get back on my feet,” she said joyfully. “It’s been a blessing to be able to have that stress taken off my shoulders. They have just totally changed my life and my children’s lives.”

Watch more stories from Operation Blessing Hunger Relief.

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SEEN ON THE 700 CLUB

YOUR QUESTIONS, HONEST ANSWERS WITH PAT ROBERTSON

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Q

How do I know the Holy Spirit is within me?

A

You can sense the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in Isaiah 30:21 (niv), Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

When the Holy Spirit is within you, He will talk to you in that still, small voice that leads you into all truth. If you don’t have that voice within you, I would question it and ask God to give it to you.

I’ve written a book on the Holy Spirit. It talks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and who He is and where He came from. If the Holy Spirit is within you, you will feel the presence of God and know His Spirit is within you.

Do you have a question for Pat? Log on to CBN.com/AskAQuestion and follow the instructions.

If you need prayer, please call our Prayer Team at 800-700-7000.

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This Christmas…

CONNECT YOUR CHILDREN TO THE STORIES OF THE BIBLE More

Through the free Superbook Kids Bible app, you will discover: • I nteractive content embedded within the Bible for an engaging biblical experience • Thrilling video clips from Superbook • Fun games, including trivia and word searches • Answers to hundreds of questions kids ask about the Bible

DOWNLOAD THE SUPERBOOK KIDS BIBLE APP TODAY

DECEMBER 2021 13

THE LIVING WORD REVEALED TO THE WORLD The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. ~John 1:14

by Gordon Robertson President and CEO

At Christmas we celebrate the coming of Jesus, the Word made flesh. He is not just words on a page, but the Living Word. He is the I Am—the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And He desires to reveal Himself to us.

knowing Him and being conformed into His likeness.”

We need to value what Jesus has done for us by His coming into the world, dying on the cross, and rising again. Not only do we have access to the Son of God, we have the right to be partakers of His divine nature.

He tells us, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to Jesus gives us this amazing promise him and dine with him, and he with Me” in John 14:21, “He who has My (Revelation 3:20). commandments and keeps them, it is The more we know Him, the more he who loves Me. … And I will love him that things of this world fade in and manifest Myself to him.” importance. Paul writes in Philippians So as we prepare for a new year, ask 3:8-10: I also count all things loss for Jesus to show Himself and speak to the excellence of the knowledge of you. Ask Him for a revelation Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have of His nature, that you may know suffered the loss of all things, and count Him. And you will experience the them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ living Christ as His Word comes alive and be found in Him … that I may in your heart—more and more each know Him. day. God bless you!

Paul is essentially saying, “I’ve lost Excerpted from a teaching at CBN Staff Chapel.

Scripture is quoted from the NKJV. everything; hallelujah! Because I can know Christ more. All that matters is 14 frontlines

TAX-WISE IDEAS FOR YOUR YEAR-END BENEFITS With the end of the year approaching, here are some tax-wise year-end charitable gift ideas and possible benefits for you:

DONATE SHARES OF STOCK OR OTHER SECURITIES • Charitable deduction for the fair market value • Eliminate capital gains tax on the appreciation FUND A CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY • Receive income stream for the rest of your life • Potential for a portion of income to be tax-free • Immediate (partial) tax deduction MAKE A QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION (QCD) • If you are 70 ½ or older, give “tax-free” directly from your IRA • A QCD will satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution, if applicable To learn more about year-end giving strategies, please contact us at 1-800-333-2373 or email PlannedGiving@CBN.org.

Frontlines is published monthly by The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463, 757-226-7000. Copyright © 2021 by The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. Frontlines may also be viewed online at www.CBN.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Due to Revenue Canada regulations, not all premiums are available in Canada.

Scripture is quoted from the following versions: The New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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