A beloved professor at Moody Bible Institute, Dr. Bill Thrasher, talks with Wayne Shepherd about his own faith story and teaching on prayer. (click for more)

For more about prayer: www.VictoriousPraying.com

Interview Notes – Dr. Bill Thrasher

Theme: Spiritual formation, prayer, and the Christian life

Background:

• Dr. Bill Thrasher is a longtime professor at Moody Bible Institute.
• Passionate about prayer and the spiritual disciplines.
• Emphasizes the importance of a personal relationship with God over mere religious activity.

Key Topics:

1. Spiritual Formation:
   • Formation is more than just head knowledge; it’s about transformation into Christlikeness.
2. Spiritual formation includes both the inward and outward life.
3. Prayer: Prayer is central to Thrasher’s teaching and personal life.
4. Encourages believers to see prayer not as a duty but a delight.
5. Advocates for honest, heart-level conversations with God.
6. The Role of Weakness:
   • Emphasizes that God uses weakness to shape dependence on Him.
7. Weakness is not a disqualifier but a platform for experiencing God’s grace.
8. Practical Advice for Believers:
   • Cultivate a rhythm of prayer and time in the Word.
9. Use journals, prayer lists, and Scripture meditation to stay engaged.
10. Be patient with spiritual growth—it’s a lifelong journey.
11. God’s Sovereignty and Faithfulness:
    God's faithfulness is a constant theme.
12. Encourages trust in God even when prayers seem unanswered.
13. Encouragement to Ministry Leaders:
14. Ministry must flow from one’s personal walk with God.
15. Avoid burnout by remaining anchored in prayer and spiritual disciplines.

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Former NBA star Mike Newlin talks with Wayne Shepherd about his basketball career and his long commitment to his relationship with Jesus Christ. (click for more)

Background & Basketball Career

• Mike Newlin was a standout NBA guard, scoring over 12,000 points.
• Drafted by the San Diego Rockets, who became the Houston Rockets one week later.
• Known for his discipline—trained 6–8 hours a day in high school.
• Believes time, not talent, is the key to success.
• Described his entrance into the NBA as the "easiest thing" he'd ever done because it was the logical result of consistent hard work.

Conversion to Christianity

• Became a Christian at age 27, just before an NBA season.
• Was at the peak of his career, considered a top guard in the league.
• Transition was costly: after his conversion, a coach benched him for three years, claiming he didn't trust believers.
• Struggled emotionally and spiritually with the fallout—it took 40 years to fully process the pain of that loss.

Spiritual Growth & Life After NBA

• Studied Bible doctrine daily for nearly 50 years.
• Learned Greek, Hebrew, and Latin; currently still in seminary.
• Sees life as preparation for the Judgment Seat of Christ.
• Believes salvation is by grace through faith alone, distinguishing it from his Catholic upbringing.

Core Beliefs

• One moment of faith—even the equivalent of a "quark" (billionth of a billionth of a grain of sand)—can determine one's eternal destiny.
• Feels called to write as a ministry using his background as a hook to reach others.
• Stresses the importance of nibbling at the Word of God daily.
• Encourages others to pursue God's plan actively: “Today is what matters.”

Life Lessons

• Suffered in silence under benching but later wished he had confronted the situation more maturely.
• Believes God tests us in the area we care most about.
• Thinks Christianity shouldn't make us passive—he had to learn to balance faith and human relationship dynamics.
• Emphasizes personal study of Scripture over relying on others for spiritual growth.

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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Colby Barrett, Executive Producer of the documentary, A Faith Under Siege, talks with Wayne Shepherd about Russian forces persecuting Ukrainian Christians. (click for more)

A Faith Under Siege can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E4gJWdsyAA&ab_channel=AFaithUnderSiege

The film is endorsed by Mission Eurasia. To read Faith Under Fire: Understanding and Responding to Religious Persecution, click here.

🎙️ Interview Overview
•Host: Wayne Shepherd
•Guest: Colby Barrett – entrepreneur, filmmaker, former US Marine Corps captain, and peach orchard owner in Colorado.
•Topic: The documentary film A Faith Under Siege, covering the persecution of Christians in Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

📌 Key Points from Colby Barrett's Story
•Background:
oRaised in Western Colorado, not in a churchgoing family.
oCame to faith in the military; baptized in Japan.
oMarine Corps officer, later a successful businessman.
oOwns an organic peach orchard in Colorado.
•Call to Ukraine:
oInitially declined a friend’s invitation to join a humanitarian convoy to Ukraine.
oFelt a spiritual pull to learn more.
oResearch revealed shocking statistics of persecution (e.g., over 650 churches destroyed, 49 clergy killed, nearly 20,000 children abducted).
•Birth of the Documentary:
oFelt called by the Holy Spirit to document and raise awareness.
oAssembled a team including local Ukrainian film crews and worked with the Ukraine Freedom Project for access.
oTraveled 1,200 miles across the frontlines; faced real danger but felt God’s protection throughout.

🎥 About the Film: A Faith Under Siege
•Focus: Persecution of Protestant, Evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish faith communities in Ukraine.
•Distribution: Aired on CBN, Newsmax, TBN; available free on YouTube and faithundersiege.com.
•Support Resources: Church screening kits, discussion guides, and prayer guides are freely available.

💔 Key Findings Highlighted in the Film
•Faith Persecution:
oRussian forces deliberately targeted churches and clergy.
oExample: Pastor Britton’s church was taken over by Russian troops and converted into a cultural center.
•Propaganda Clarification:
oRussian claims that Ukraine is persecuting Christians are misleading.
oUkrainian laws targeted only churches tied to Moscow for national security reasons, not faith suppression.
•Child Abductions:
oNearly 20,000 Ukrainian children abducted to Russian “re-education” camps.
oIntended to erase Ukrainian identity and militarize the children.
oNGOs like Save Ukraine have rescued around 1,500 so far.

🙏 Spiritual Reflections
•Personal Impact:
oBarrett was deeply moved emotionally, especially when worshiping with Ukrainian believers.
oEncountered raw grief (e.g., a father who lost his wife and daughters to a missile attack).
•Call to Action for the Church:
oUnderstand that persecution is not about denominational lines but an assault on faith itself.
oAuthoritarian regimes (like Russia, North Korea, Iran) oppose Christianity because it challenges state control.
oChristians are urged to pray, raise awareness, screen the film in churches, and support aid or volunteer work.

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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Far East Broadcasting Company
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Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!