But the two would never meet again. Later that year, President Kennedy was assassinated. Graham writes that his hesitation at the car door still haunts him after all these years. “What was on his mind? Should I have gone with him? It was an irrecoverable moment.” Are there moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroad, when the decision made in a moment can change us forever? I believe the answer is yes. There are truly pivotal times in our lives. And there are decisions made during those times that forever alter our destiny, as well as the destiny of others. These pivotal times come not only for individuals; they also come for churches, denominations, and even entire movements. I believe this country’s larger Christian community currently stands at such a moment. I know that God has been immensely blessing us. He has blessed us for a reason. It is not to make us spiritually fat and self-centered. Rather, it is to be an awesome body of believers doing His work in the world. As big a body as we are and as strong as we have become, however, we will fail in God’s call if we do not experience His hand of blessing in the future. I believe we could lose that blessing and that we are at an irrecoverable moment. Is it already too late? Many now question the future of the evangelical movement because millions of Christians do not participate or have decided to no longer participate in the growth of the kingdom.
God is calling Many factors may well spell the end of a bright future for evangelical churches. I believe God is trying to get our attention. He is calling for Christian leaders and laypeople to wake up to the realities of the twenty-first century. He is calling the body of Christ to supply missional leaders able to take advantage of the manifest opportunities before us for the glory of God. Some believe we are moving quickly toward a European style of postmodern lethargy, where people are apathetic to and unconcerned for the church. Some say the time of the church has passed. Personally, I do not feel it is too late for our churches to grasp the opportunities God has for us. I have traveled all over this nation, and I can tell you I am cautiously optimistic about our future. I say cautiously because of the divisions rife among us, and the forces in our society that mitigate against the spiritual. But I am optimistic, and I base this not only on what I see among the people of God, but also in what I believe Scripture teaches.
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Introduction