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Listen Now Monday, July 31, 2017
Penna Dexter hosts today’s show and her guests are Michael Johnson and Eric Mock from Slavic Gospel Association. They tells us about Christianity in Russia and Former Soviet States.
In the second hour she will discuss a Gallup report about the rise of Non-denominational Protestants.
Also in the second hour Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness discusses President Trump’s recent reversal of Obama’s transgender experiment on the military.
Penna Dexter
Point of View Co-Host, Penna Dexter frequently sits in as guest host for Kerby Anderson. Her weekly commentaries air on the Bott Radio Network. Penna’s heart is in educating and encouraging Christians to influence the culture and politics. She worked as a consultant overseeing the launch and production of the Family Research Council’s nationally syndicated radio program, Washington Watch Weekly. For eight yearsRead More
Guests
Michael Johnson
President - Slavic Gospel Association
Michael Johnson returned to SGA as president in May 2017 after previously serving as vice president of advancement from 1996-2004. Michael combines an extensive background in the marketing and advertising field, as well as broad experience in lay church ministry and international missions.
Michael’s advertising career began with Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising in New York City, and continuing with the Bloom Agency and then Gray Advertising. Prior to his return to SGA, Michael served for several years as senior vice president of the highly respected firm Douglas Shaw and Associates in Naperville, Illinois. Michael’s unique experiences in the business world, coupled with his years of dedication to Christian missions, especially in the countries of the former Soviet Union, have prepared him to lead SGA’s ministries forward in the challenging days ahead.
Michael holds a bachelor’s degree and certificate from a two-year Bible institute, is a licensed minister of the Gospel and received an Honorary Doctorate from the All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists for his work in that country. He and his wife, Erin, have two grown sons, Alex and Lukas.
Michael’s advertising career began with Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising in New York City, and continuing with the Bloom Agency and then Gray Advertising. Prior to his return to SGA, Michael served for several years as senior vice president of the highly respected firm Douglas Shaw and Associates in Naperville, Illinois. Michael’s unique experiences in the business world, coupled with his years of dedication to Christian missions, especially in the countries of the former Soviet Union, have prepared him to lead SGA’s ministries forward in the challenging days ahead.
Michael holds a bachelor’s degree and certificate from a two-year Bible institute, is a licensed minister of the Gospel and received an Honorary Doctorate from the All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists for his work in that country. He and his wife, Erin, have two grown sons, Alex and Lukas.
Eric Mock
Vice President | Ministry Operations - Slavic Gospel Association
Prior to joining SGA, Eric was engaged in military flight test and space systems integration for 16 years. While serving on the International Space Station program in Moscow, he developed a special love for the Russian people.
Called out of aerospace into ministry in 2002, Eric travels and ministers throughout the Russian-speaking nations and the USA to serve faithful Bible-preaching churches. His passion is to see God’s people serve and live their lives on mission for the sake of the Gospel. He is also the pastor of River’s Edge Bible Church in Pecatonica, Illinois, where he resides with his wife, Kristi. Eric has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, an M.B.A in International Development, and a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Called out of aerospace into ministry in 2002, Eric travels and ministers throughout the Russian-speaking nations and the USA to serve faithful Bible-preaching churches. His passion is to see God’s people serve and live their lives on mission for the sake of the Gospel. He is also the pastor of River’s Edge Bible Church in Pecatonica, Illinois, where he resides with his wife, Kristi. Eric has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, an M.B.A in International Development, and a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Fate of Religious Freedom
When the Soviet Union was dissolved on Dec. 26, 1991, the future looked bright for faith groups.
During nearly 70 years of Soviet rule, religious practice had been gradually forced out of public and private life. Faith leaders were sent to labor camps and sacred buildings fell into disrepair.
But 25 years ago, the tide was turning. Newly established constitutions protected religious freedom and sought to create environments where churches and the state could thrive.
Leaders recognized “the positive contribution religion could make to the building of new countries,” said Brian Grim, who worked in what is now Kazakhstan from 1989 until the mid-1990s.
But this optimism soon gave way to paranoia and a protectionist mindset in many post-Soviet nations due to pressure from Orthodox Christian leaders and the rise of religiously motivated terrorism in surrounding countries. Half of the 15 former Soviet countries were called out this year by the U.S.
During nearly 70 years of Soviet rule, religious practice had been gradually forced out of public and private life. Faith leaders were sent to labor camps and sacred buildings fell into disrepair.
But 25 years ago, the tide was turning. Newly established constitutions protected religious freedom and sought to create environments where churches and the state could thrive.
Leaders recognized “the positive contribution religion could make to the building of new countries,” said Brian Grim, who worked in what is now Kazakhstan from 1989 until the mid-1990s.
But this optimism soon gave way to paranoia and a protectionist mindset in many post-Soviet nations due to pressure from Orthodox Christian leaders and the rise of religiously motivated terrorism in surrounding countries. Half of the 15 former Soviet countries were called out this year by the U.S.
Elaine Donnelly
President - Center for Military Readiness
Elaine Donnelly is president of the Center for Military Readiness, an independent, nonpartisan public policy organization that specializes in military/social issues. Founded in 1993, CMR advocates high, single standards in all forms of military training and sound priorities in the making of military/social policies.
Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger appointed Mrs. Donnelly to be a member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) for a three-year term (1984–1986). In 1992, Pres. George H. W. Bush appointed her to the Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces.
She is the author of a chapter titled “Defending the Culture of the Military,” which was published by the Air Force University Press in the book Attitudes Are Not Free – Thinking Deeply About Diversity in the U.S. Armed Forces, released in May 2010 and now in its third printing. In May 2007 the Duke University Journal of Gender Law & Policy published her comprehensive, peer-reviewed article titled “Constructing the Co-Ed Military.”
Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger appointed Mrs. Donnelly to be a member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) for a three-year term (1984–1986). In 1992, Pres. George H. W. Bush appointed her to the Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces.
She is the author of a chapter titled “Defending the Culture of the Military,” which was published by the Air Force University Press in the book Attitudes Are Not Free – Thinking Deeply About Diversity in the U.S. Armed Forces, released in May 2010 and now in its third printing. In May 2007 the Duke University Journal of Gender Law & Policy published her comprehensive, peer-reviewed article titled “Constructing the Co-Ed Military.”
Trump right to reverse Obama's transgender experiment on the military
In 2016, President Barack Obama lifted the ban on openly transgendered people entering military service. His administration announced, further, that the Pentagon would pay for medical gender transitions. This was viewed as necessary lest transgendered servicemembers turned instead to suicide, or drug and alcohol abuse.
President Trump reversed this decision last week. He made the announcement, as is his self-destructive wont, via Twitter, making it essentally impossible for him and his administation to explain their rationale. A limit of 140 characters, or a multiple of that in a series of tweets, is not remotely sufficient to lay out a case for a complex and contentious policy. But Trump does not seem to care for making the case — his very similar snap announcement and lack of coordination on his "travel ban" was very similar — preferring to drop bombshells, letting critics freak out, and leaving it to his underlings to clean up the mess as best they can.
President Trump reversed this decision last week. He made the announcement, as is his self-destructive wont, via Twitter, making it essentally impossible for him and his administation to explain their rationale. A limit of 140 characters, or a multiple of that in a series of tweets, is not remotely sufficient to lay out a case for a complex and contentious policy. But Trump does not seem to care for making the case — his very similar snap announcement and lack of coordination on his "travel ban" was very similar — preferring to drop bombshells, letting critics freak out, and leaving it to his underlings to clean up the mess as best they can.
Non-denominational Protestants on the rise
NASHVILLE (BP) -- Data pointing to a dwindling percentage of Americas who identify with a specific Protestant denomination has spurred calls for churches marked by God's "presence and power" and for reemphasis of biblical doctrine.
Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines said a strong denominational identity doesn't seem to hinder the church he pastors or the SBC. Still, the manifest work of God in a church is far more important than its denominational identity, he told Baptist Press.
"We are 'Bellevue Baptist Church,'" Gaines said of the Memphis-area congregation he leads. "I don't believe the word 'Baptist' hinders our ministry. I don't believe being part of the SBC hurts us. I believe if what is happening in and through a specific local church is Christ-honoring and Spirit-anointed, people will come and get involved regardless of what the name of the church is or what denomination it is part of."
According to the Gallup polling organization, just 30 percent of American adults identified with a specific Protestant denomination in 2016, down from 50 percent in 2000. Over the same timeframe, the percentage of Americans who regard themselves as Christians without claiming a specific denomination rose from 9 percent to 17 percent, a July 18 news release stated.
Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines said a strong denominational identity doesn't seem to hinder the church he pastors or the SBC. Still, the manifest work of God in a church is far more important than its denominational identity, he told Baptist Press.
"We are 'Bellevue Baptist Church,'" Gaines said of the Memphis-area congregation he leads. "I don't believe the word 'Baptist' hinders our ministry. I don't believe being part of the SBC hurts us. I believe if what is happening in and through a specific local church is Christ-honoring and Spirit-anointed, people will come and get involved regardless of what the name of the church is or what denomination it is part of."
According to the Gallup polling organization, just 30 percent of American adults identified with a specific Protestant denomination in 2016, down from 50 percent in 2000. Over the same timeframe, the percentage of Americans who regard themselves as Christians without claiming a specific denomination rose from 9 percent to 17 percent, a July 18 news release stated.
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