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Bethea Retires from Board Chairmanship

October 20, 2021 By LMW

LMW Thanks Bethea for his leadership

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At the Fall Board Meeting, the board and staff had the opportunity to thank Richard Bethea for his dedication to LMW. A long-time board member, Mr. Bethea chaired the board for six years before his retirement this year. Chuck Zeiser presented a commemorative clock and thanked Richard for his leadership and service. Mr. Zeiser fondly recalled the Bethea’s frequent and warm hospitality and especially praised Mildred’s cooking. Mr. Bethea led the board through several pivotal moments including the completion of the KJV and NIV Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible® and the creation of the LMW App which allows hundreds of users to access the Bible, outlines, and commentary wherever they are.

(Pictured left to right: Joanne & Zeiser with Mildred & Richard Bethea)

In memory of Renee Bottoms

October 1, 2020 By LMW

Yesterday, many LMW folks, past and present, gathered at the graveside of a beloved colleague, J. Renee Bottoms. We at Leadership Ministries Worldwide mourn her passing yet rejoice that she is in the presence of her Lord. Renee worked at LMW for seventeen years on the editorial staff until her retirement in January. Her keen eye for detail was a great asset to the ministry. Originally from Texas, Renee worked as a family practice attorney for many years. When she moved to Chattanooga with her husband Rick, she began working for LMW. Her legal background and meticulous nature served her well at LMW; her skills were invaluable during the creation of the NIV collection of The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Renee’s sweet spirit of encouragement along with her devotion and love for Jesus were hallmarks of her personality.

Please pray for Renee’s husband, Rick, and other loved ones she is leaving behind. Pray also for her colleagues at LMW who carry on, encouraged by her faithful example.

The Gospel in China

March 5, 2019 By LMW

A young American man travels to a Chinese college on a mission to share Christ. A young Chinese woman travels to an American college, hears the gospel message and accepts Christ. Years later the two meet in China, where they are both serving Christ.

They marry, start a family, and dedicate their lives to serving God in China despite the constant hardships. “We are always facing stress and obstacles and attack. But God is faithful through it all. We turn to God every day.”

Matt and Anna* are serving in a large city as part of a house church of around 200 members, most of whom heard and accepted the gospel as college students. As parents of young children, Matt and Anna have made natural connections with these other young families who are seeking truth and meaning for their life.

Being a Christian today in China can be challenging. But the believers who are faithful are fervent in their faith. Matt says, “There are no ‘pew-warmers’ in China. If you are in church, you really want to be there. There is no one going to church for social reasons or status, because being a Christian does not improve your social status.” 

In Chinese society, Christianity is looked down on. The schools teach atheism, and the Chinese people in general are far more interested in self-advancement than in sacrificing self for the overwhelming value of accepting Christ. Matt tells us, “Most men see their job as making money. It’s the number one barrier to becoming a Christian. They say, ‘If I say yes to Christ, will that inhibit my ability to make money, to support my family?’ Because it might. To get the best jobs, you need to be a communist party member, and if you’re a party member, you shouldn’t believe in God.”

Christian persecution is on the rise in China as the church grows. House churches are facing increasing pressure – some have been raided and their members imprisoned. Anna says, “Many people are awakened through persecution and come to love God more.” There is a government-sanctioned Christian church in China, but they are directly controlled by a department of the government. House churches resist government control as they recognize that Christ is the head of the church.

While they are illegal, house churches in China are generally accepted. They preach the gospel,  teach the children, worship regularly, and have small groups for personal growth. But they are careful. House churches don’t keep a membership list, don’t keep the church’s money on hand, and they do have back-up plans for continuing even if the government tries to shut them down. Most house churches worship in homes or office buildings to stay off the radar of government officials.

Many of the believers at Matt and Anna’s church have had to make sacrifices for their faith. They have a full-time pastor, which is unusual in China. That man gave up a secure professorship to become a pastor. “When he made a decision to quit his job, his co-workers and parents thought he was crazy. Why would he quit a stable and prestigious job to serve as a pastor? Being a pastor is basically viewed as being unemployed in China – a very shameful thing. But eventually he led his family to the Lord, and they understand his passion.” His job as pastor is doubly challenging as churches generally don’t plan to support a pastor. Matt says, “the concept of giving money is virtually unknown in China. Pastors are challenged to teach the concept of tithing to people who have never considered giving financial support to anyone outside of their immediate family. It’s hard. Christians really have to grow to be willing to give money away.”

Virtually everyone in a house church is new to the faith. In the cities, they are made up of young educated people who heard the gospel in college. In rural areas, church members are older, often uneducated. Religion has been suppressed for so long in China, that there is very little remaining history of the Christian faith, particularly in the urban areas. A friend of Matt’s became pastor at a rural church at age 14. The congregation was largely illiterate, but this young man could read and the people in the church wanted to hear the gospel. God used this pastor in mighty ways, and now, in addition to pastoring a house church in an urban area, he leads a network of rural churches.

“There is a great need for training of pastors in China,” Matt says. “While there are a few seminaries, they are operated by the government, which makes their teaching suspect. A few underground seminaries have been started, but they are quickly shut down.” In addition, there is very little access to quality biblical resources, and it can be difficult to find a Bible in China.

In spite of the many years of persecution in China, God’s Kingdom continues to grow as the Chinese people are presented with the gospel message. It is estimated that there will be more Christians in China than in any other country in the world by 2030. God’s power and presence is being revealed to millions of believers in that country as the gospel message spreads.

LMW invites you to pray for the gospel in China. Matt and Anna ask that we pray specifically:

  1. For their safety and health. China is very polluted, and their family has struggled with respiratory issues.
  2. For the Christian home school program they have started – that more parents will have the courage to send students to them, and for the safety of the school, students, parents, teachers.
  3. For a change in the mindset of the Chinese leaders, to see that Christians are good people who desire to influence Chinese society in positive ways.

* The missionaries’ names were changed to protect their identity.

NOTE: LMW has long been active in getting resources for teaching and preaching into China. Much of The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible® has been translated into Chinese, and some of the volumes are available on the free Chinese Bible app, WeDevote. We anticipate having the Chinese language Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible available on the LMW App by 2020.

God’s Light Shines in the Darkness

February 7, 2019 By LMW

“Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners.” Hebrews 13:3

LMW recently received a letter from an inmate in a Texas prison: 

    “I am currently a mentor, teacher, and facilitator in the faith-based program where I also am a resident. It is a true blessing to be able to live here in this part of the Unit and to be a part of the discipling of men in here and throughout the whole Unit.
    The Lord is so present here and the entire culture on our farm has begun to shift as the Holy Spirit has been busy molding and shaping and teaching us how to walk and talk in ways that both honor and serve God…. God has shown me so much grace, love, patience, forgiveness and mercy! Through His forgiveness and tenderness and continual pursuit of me, today I am beginning to walk in a right relationship as His son and servant.”


What a blessing! This prisoner is serving God, teaching His Word, and discipling those who receive the gospel message. We came to know him when he requested Outline Bible Resources to use as he teaches others in prison.

LMW often receives requests from prisoners seeking a better understanding of the Bible; men and women who want to grow in their faith and deepen their relationship with the Savior. As funds are available, we ship the books they request to their address in prison. 

Can you help us equip this man, and the other inmates who seek to shine Christ’s light in the darkness of prison? Your support enables us to share God’s Word with the lost here in the USA and around the world. Please join us by Giving Now!

“The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.” 
Psalm 69:33

LMW App Preparing to Launch!

December 18, 2018 By LMW

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas! We have been working all year to get this gift ready for you: the LMW app, just in time for Christmas! Have a look at the video overview, then sign up to be notified as soon as it is released – in the next few days.

Scripture, outline, and commentary are fully integrated in one easy-to-use app, making it simple to study the Bible, prepare sermons, and create lessons on the go. All 44 volumes of the comprehensive Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible® are included, giving you everything you need to preach and teach confidently.

We are also excited to announce that our most popular handbooks, “What the Bible Says to the Minister,” “What the Bible Says to the Believer,” and “What the Bible Says to the Business Leader” are now available in the Amazon Kindle Store, and as an e-book from your favorite e-publisher, including Kobo, iBooks and others.

I pray that these resources and the LMW app will bless you as you bless others. May God grant you a merry Christmas and much joy in the New Year.
Blessings,

Dave Worland

President/CEO

Giving Brings Thanks

December 10, 2018 By LMW

In this season of giving, it is a powerful thing to see your gifts result in an overflowing of thanksgiving:

  • Thank you my friends for the books that you offer to us. With these kinds of books I am gaining more knowledge. Thank you again for the great thing you’re doing.” Malawi
  • “LMW materials are blessing the people at a large scale. Pastors like the books so much that they demand more and more books in their congregations for their spiritual growth.” Pakistan
  • “The best resource for sermon preparation and personal study. Thank you so much for making it available.” USA

Your gifts bring thanks as pastors around the world share the gospel – God’s perfect gift of salvation to people who are living in darkness. Will you partner with LMW to equip pastors, leaders and students of the Bible to fulfill the Great Commission?

Here are some ways you can give:

  1. Go to LMW.org and join our prayer list. Or simply remember us in your daily prayers.
  2. Connect us to pastors, ministries, and leaders engaged in gospel ministry around the world.
  3. Give financially. We rely on your donations:
    1. GIVE – with a credit card: lmw.org/give
    2. GIVE – by mailing a check to LMW, 1928 Central Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37408
    3. GIVE – Appreciated stocks and equities. Donating highly appreciated investments allows tax deductions without capital gain tax penalties. Contact us for information on how to transfer stocks.
    4. Minimum required distributions from IRA’s. At age 70½, most retirement accounts require that you receive a distribution. GIVE by delivering the distribution to LMW, to avoid including it as taxable income in 2018.
    5. GIVE using a Donor Advised Fund like The Generosity Trust, the National Christian Foundation or a brokerage or community.
    6. GIVE from the proceeds of sales of business interests, business assets, and other appreciated assets.

Need more information? Contact Dave Worland at [email protected] or by phone at 423-803-4303. Thank you! Your gifts change lives. Please pray for us. We are praying for you. “In all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel. . .” Philippians 1:4-5.

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