Gospel Drift – a shift away from the message of the whole gospel. This happens when people stop reading their Bible, understanding its true message, and living according to it. Focus gets distracted away from Jesus and onto worldly pursuits (self). The resulting spiritual slumber puts Jesus in the back seat and changes His message -- often imagining that Jesus came primarily to make our personal life more pleasant, or to strengthen our position in the world – rather than to save us from our sins and reconcile us to God so that we would be more useful instruments for His purposes. Gospel Drift leads to a life of unbelief (doubting God), or bitterness of heart, or infighting with fellow believers over non-essential differences. The end is our spiritual coldness and a life that dishonors Christ.

Everywhere we go in the Americas, Africa and Europe, we meet pastors and church leaders who come to recognize how far they have fallen into this – straying away from Jesus and His Word.

The Bible warns against drifting away from our relationship with God and His gospel! Hebrews 2:1-3 urges, “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For since the Word proved unalterable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”

Please pray for Equipping Servants/ Disciples Making Disciples as men and women in North and South America, Africa and Europe set time aside to study the Bible to understand the Bible and to live the Bible, so that they can faithfully teach and preach the Bible in their local churches. Pray that the Lord will help each of us experience deep transformation in our lives through the power of the gospel.

Pray that God will keep us vigilant and alert to the wiles of the Devil and to every current straining against God’s work:

• Through prayer, talking to Him honestly and earnestly, pouring out our hearts, and seeking His guidance and presence.

• Through reading and meditating on His Word, allowing His truth to permeate our minds and hearts, and applying it to our daily lives.

• Through fellowship with other believers, walking humbly together with Biblical friends and holding each other accountable in love.

• By seriously and intentionally living out our faith every day, aligning our lives with the reality of who Jesus is.

Ministry Travel plans October/ November

• Oct 3 – Kep and Debbie to Brazil (ESI pastors conferences Rio and Sao Paulo with Elias and ministry partner Billy King – GET his newly released book The Gospel Uncompromised – it will seriously encourage and challenge you in your own walk with God)

• Oct 13 Kep to Uruguay ESI; Debbie to Bolivia for Women’s Conference

• Oct 22-26 – ESI Latin America country-leader meetings in Colombia

• Oct 27-Nov 2 – Kep to Liberia with Paulo for ESI Facilitator Training in Monrovia

• Nov 13-16 – Kep and Debbie to Cowen, West Virginia to lead first-ever English ESI Facilitator Training in USA

Thank you for praying!

Kep and Debbie

ESI (Equipping Servants International/ Disciples Making Disciples) is a ministry of Parkside Church, 7100 Pettibone Rd, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023.