|
Michael Youssef's Satellite Television Channel Celebrates One Year Anniversary
ATLANTA (March 1, 2010) — Michael Youssef, Founder and President of Leading The Way, is pleased to announce the one-year Anniversary of his latest venture, THE KINGDOM SAT. This 24/7 satellite television channel is providing sound Biblical teaching to homes in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.
"This has been a miraculous year," stated Michael Youssef, Ph.D. "When we went on the air 12 months ago, we did not comprehend the extent of the impact this one television channel would have on so many lives. We are sharing the love of Jesus Christ to the people of this region who are in desperate need for Biblical truth."
Launched as the first Christian television channel of its kind to cover the Middle East, North Africa and Europe, THE KINGDOM SAT quickly experienced unprecedented expansion last fall. THE KINGDOM SAT was selected by Nilesat (Atlantic Bird 4A) to become the first Christian channel ever allowed on the Arab satellite platform. In addition to Nilesat, THE KINGDOM SAT broadcasts from the Hotbird 8 platform. An estimated 150 million homes receive these two satellite services.
Established in March 2009, the channel's mission is to proclaim the power of God's Kingdom, uplift believers, and reach the lost through Biblically-based teaching programs. The channel combines programs from well known pastors/teachers in the United States and England along with programs that are created by the indigenous leaders of the region. Programs are broadcast in Arabic, North African French and English.
Find More Information on THE KINGDOM SAT.
Michael Youssef Shares Biblical Perspective on Natural Disaster in Haiti
ATLANTA (January 20, 2010) — Michael Youssef, Founder and President of Leading The Way, offers a biblical perspective on the disaster in Haiti and all the major disasters that impact individuals around the world each day. By looking at a passage from the book of Luke, Dr. Youssef shares the proper response to tragedy.
"You mean Jesus made comments about disasters in life?" asked Dr. Youssef. "Yes, and he was very clear about how we should think about them," he stated. "We have to be very careful not to make judgments concerning the cause of tragedy."
Here are some excerpts from Dr. Youssef's message on the topic:
"During the time of Jesus, people were as curious as we are about natural and man-made events. They wanted to know why, just like we do. People never change. They were anxious to draw sweeping and erroneous judgments."
"In the example of Luke 13, the people were making judgments that their calamity must have fallen on them because they were miserable sinners, worse sinners than all the others — that is why these things happened to them ... that is why they were killed that way. They were saying that the people must have deserved this horrible death. This sort of false conclusion is not new. It's as old as the Book of Job. Jesus communicated that those killed are no worse sinners than anyone else."
"Jesus was saying to take this tragedy as God's warning to you. For your sake, for your family's sake, for your future's sake, for your eternal life's sake?"
The comments come from a 2005 sermon at The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta, GA.
Watch the video.
Michael Youssef's Evangelistic Outreach Shakes the Middle East
ATLANTA (December 8, 2009) — Michael Youssef, Founder and President of Leading The Way, held a three-day evangelistic outreach in Alexandria, Egypt at the request of 45 local churches. More than 100 church leaders invited local citizens, circulating 23 buses throughout different areas of the city each night. Despite the threat of persecution and the fear of the H1N1 virus, nearly 2,000 people gathered for each open air service.
"It was a remarkable event," stated Michael Youssef, Ph.D. "Thousands heard the Word of God and over a thousand expressed that they gave their lives to Christ, including an influential Muslim family. I believe this could be the start of a great revival in the region."
Dr. Youssef is heard regularly on radio in the Middle East. He also shares the love of Christ through His new 24/7 satellite television channel — KINGDOM SAT. This channel, the first ever allowed to broadcast on an Arab Satellite Platform, known as Nilesat, proclaims the power of God's Kingdom, uplifts Christian believers, and reaches the lost through biblically-based teaching programs. In addition to Dr. Youssef's daily programs, the channel features the most well-known teachers and evangelist from both the West and the East. The programs are translated into Arabic and African French. Learn more about the KINGDOM SAT.
In addition to the Alexandria Outreach, Dr. Youssef held a special service at Cairo's Ramses College in October. More than 3,000 attended, with many accepting Christ as their Savior.
Michael Youssef Signs Manhattan Declaration
ATLANTA (December 1, 2009) — Michael Youssef, Founder and President of Leading The Way, is encouraging all Christians to sign the historic 4,700 word Manhattan Declaration. This declaration commits each signer to adhere to their convictions, informing civil authorities that the signers will not — under any circumstances — abandon their Christian consciences.
"We are a Christian nation — founded upon Christian principles. However, over the past year, we have seen a focused effort to move our country and our institutions in the total opposite direction," stated Michael Youssef, Ph.D. "Now is the time to stand for the core principles that not only built our country, but also protected it for more than 230 years."
Here are some excerpts from the declaration:
"We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial differences to affirm our right — and, more importantly, to embrace our obligation — to speak and act in defense of these truths. We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence."
"We recognize the duty to comply with laws whether we happen to like them or not, unless the laws are gravely unjust or require those subject to them to do something unjust or otherwise immoral."
"We will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide or euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriage or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family."
Read and sign the full document.
Watch a video of Michael Youssef's recent message documenting America's Christian roots.
Dr. Michael Youssef releases You Want Me To Do What?
ATLANTA (March 9, 2009) — Today Michael Youssef released his 21st book, You Want Me To Do What: Get Off Your Blessed Assurance and Do Something!
In You Want Me To Do What?, Dr. Youssef walks readers through the story of Joshua to help them discover how to take on what seems to be the impossible to learn from failure, complete the victory, claim their inheritance, and share their story.
"This is arguably [Dr. Youssef's] greatest book yet. It shows that God can use ordinary people for extraordinary tasks ... It does not matter how qualified you are, or how gifted, but how dedicated and yielded to God's will. This book is ... practical yet profound ... I recommend it to the hilt," said Dr. R.T. Kendall former minister of Westminster Chapel in London, England.
Michael Youssef is the founding Rector of The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia and the host of Leading The Way — an international multi-media ministry that passionately proclaims the uncompromising Truth of the Gospel to more than 4 billion people each year.
Leading The Way announces launch of Hindi Dubbed TV Program
ATLANTA (March 2, 2009) — Leading The Way is pleased to announce the launch of THE KINGDOM SAT television channel.
THE KINGDOM SAT is a 24/7 satellite television channel, on March 2, 2009 that reaches 120 million homes in 66 countries in the Arabic speaking world. In addition to Dr. Youssef's television programs that are translated into Arabic and French, THE KINGDOM SAT offers sound, biblical teaching programs from leading pastors and teachers from North America and the United Kingdom that have been built and translated to be effective programs for the Arab world.
THE KINGDOM SAT joins Leading The Way's English-Arabic dual-language broadcasts and print resources in offering solid, doctrinally-sound biblical teaching through satellite television technology — a popular and widely used technology in the region.
"This region needs sound, biblical teaching. THE KINGDOM SAT is reaching Christians in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe who are starving for Scriptural nourishment. We are also strengthening underground churches with theological teaching programs and reaching the lost by proclaiming the love of God and the power of His Kingdom." said Majeed Ghaleb, Director of THE KINGDOM SAT.
Now celebrating more than 20 years of ministry, Leading The Way's television and radio programs are broadcast in more than 20 languages, covering more than 200 countries. Leading The Way produces DVDs, CDs, books, and related resources to spread the light of Christ around the world.
First launched in 1996, the ministry's dual-language radio programming includes broadcasts in Mandarin, Indonesian, Turkish, Punjabi, Russian, Farsi, French, Hindi, Bengali, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Amharic, Tamil, Thai, Portuguese, and Albanian. Sorani, the ministry's 20th dual-language was discontinued in late 2007 but recordings are available on www.leadingtheway.org.
This Atlanta-based organization partners internationally with in-country follow-up teams to encourage new believers in their faith, helping God's Kingdom to grow around the world.
Leading The Way to Expand Outreach in Pakistan and India; Launch Urdu Programming
ATLANTA (April 13, 2008) — Leading The Way has announced that Urdu will become the next translated language in the ministry's dual-language program.
The Urdu language was developed during the 500-year period of Muslim rule in Pakistan, evolving from the Hindi language spoken in the Delhi region. Urdu is heavily laden with Persian and Arabic words, and is written in the Persian script. Today it is the official language of Pakistan.
Leading The Way's English-Urdu broadcast is slated to begin airing on July 5 from Irkutsk on Saturday and Sunday evenings (9:00 p.m. local time in Pakistan and 9:30 p.m. local time in India). The shortwave broadcast will reach the nearly 46 million Urdu speakers in Pakistan and the northern states of India including Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. The dual-language program format features Michael Youssef's biblical teaching in English, translated phrase by phrase into the spoken dialect of the people in each targeted region.
"When the Lord opened the door for the Urdu language to join our dual-language program," said Majeed Ghaleb, international director of Leading The Way, "we felt that the time had come for Leading The Way to reach out to an area of the world that is very difficult for missionaries to reach. Urdu is a vital language used in both Pakistan and India. We are spiritually thrilled to know that many will be blessed and come to know Jesus Christ as a personal Savior through Dr. Michael Youssef's messages. There is nothing to be compared to gaining a soul for Jesus. This is the great commission that every believer should be burdened by."
Leading The Way launched its dual-language program in 1996 with its English-Arabic broadcast. Since then, the outreach has grown substantially and also includes broadcasts in Mandarin, Indonesian, Turkish, Punjabi, Russian, Farsi, French, Hindi, Bengali, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Amharic, Tamil, Thai, Portuguese, and Albanian. Sorani, the ministry's 20th dual-language was discontinued in late 2007 but recordings are available on the ministry's Web site. Many listeners use the dual-language programs as a tool to practice their English — and as a result of tuning in; they are exposed to the Gospel.
Now celebrating 20 years of ministry, Leading The Way's television and radio programs are broadcast in more than 20 languages, covering more than 200 countries. Leading The Way produces DVDs, CDs, books, and related resources to spread the light of Christ. This Atlanta-based organization partners internationally with in-country follow-up teams to encourage new believers in their faith, helping God's Kingdom to grow around the world.
Leading The Way Announces Radio Format Changes
ATLANTA (April 9, 2008) — Leading The Way, the television and radio broadcast ministry of Michael Youssef, Ph.D., is pleased to announce a format change for the daily radio broadcast.
The radio program has undergone a significant review, and has emerged with a new, more focused presentation of Dr. Youssef's vision for "passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth."
As a result, the Leading The Way radio program will no longer feature a mid-break spot, but will present the truth of God's Word without interruption. Additionally, the daily program will be lengthened by one minute (1:00) to provide additional teaching time for Dr. Youssef.
By passionately communicating uncompromising Truth through creative methods, Leading The Way is providing hope that is revolutionizing lives at home — and around the world. The daily radio broadcast is aired on hundreds of outlets across North America, including significant partnerships with American Family Radio Network, the Bott Radio Network, Crawford Communications, Moody Broadcasting, Salem Communications, Wilkins Communications, and hundreds of independent radio stations.
Listen online to Leading The Way radio
Michael Youssef's New Book Introduces Concept of Positive Living
ATLANTA (March 18, 2008) — In 15 Secrets to a Wonderful Life, Michael Youssef, Ph.D., highlights the danger of relying solely on the power of positive thinking. Citing the case of Enron, which fell dramatically from "America's most innovative company," to the largest bankruptcy case in U.S. history, Youssef submits that Enron chief Ken Lay's "over reliance on positive thinking ... helped produce one of the worst failures in business history."
In 15 Secrets to a Wonderful Life, Youssef leads readers in a new direction with an emphasis on positive living, a concept that revolves around these key ideas:
- Giving and Receiving Forgiveness: Learning to enjoy forgiveness
- Overcoming Timidity: Relying totally on God
- Mastering the Art of Peacemaking
- Sorrow — The Backdoor to Joy: The road to happiness
- Getting Through Giving: The power of generous and sacrificial giving
After trying positive thinking and struggling with it through stressful times, Youssef thought, "there must be a way to live positively, regardless the circumstances of life." In his book, he highlights the biblical steps to living a positive life. With inspiring and instructive excerpts from Paul's letters in the book of Second Corinthians, Youssef highlights Paul's secret to living a positive life despite negative circumstances. By remaining focused on heavenly realities, you can thrive in the midst of your trials.
If you've ever tried positive affirmations or thinking and you've struggled to "keep thinking optimistic thoughts during times of trial and stress," then Michael Youssef's 15 Secrets to a Wonderful Life is for you.
Order your copy of "15 Secrets" online.
3.9 Billion People Have the Opportunity to Hear the Gospel
ATLANTA (June 11, 2007) — With the launch of two new language programs, Portuguese and Sorani, Leading The Way is pleased to announce the fulfillment of Project 3.9 by '09 providing 3.9 billion people the opportunity to hear Leading The Way, in a language they can understand. The final two languages necessary for this project were added to Leading The Way's programming line-up this summer, two years ahead of schedule, bringing the total number of dual-language broadcasts offered to 20.
When the leaders and Board members of Leading The Way decided to embark on Project "3.9 by '09," in 2004, they had no way to anticipate the early completion of this ambitious project. The goal of "3.9 by '09" was defined as:
3.9 billion people will be provided the opportunity, by the year 2009, to hear Leading The Way messages on radio in languages that they can understand.
With dual-language radio programming already in place for 10 languages, in over 60 countries, Leading the Way's international team was met with the task of determining a strategic plan to expand radio coverage into languages that both served the needs of unreached peoples and were possible to produce within budget and time constraints. The plan that was determined called for a total of 20 languages to be put in place, to meet the needs of less privileged populations of over 100 nations.
Leading The Way dual-language broadcasts are available in Arabic, Mandarin, Indonesian, Turkish, Punjabi, Russian, Farsi, Bengali, French, Hindi, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Amharic, Tamil, Albanian, Thai, Portuguese, and Sorani. Leading The Way is broadcast via radio and television 2,300 times each week to over 200 countries.
Portuguese Broadcast to Begin in June
ATLANTA (May 31, 2007) — To complement a strong Spanish-language presence in South America, Leading The Way is pleased to announce the addition of a Portuguese dual-language broadcast, for the nation of Brazil. Portuguese will be our 19th dual-language, and Brazil will make the eighth South American country to be reached by Leading The Way's radio programming.
As the world's fifth-largest country in size and its seventh-largest in population, Leading The Way felt Brazil was a strong candidate for the launch of our next dual-language program.
The English-Portuguese broadcast for Brazil will reach an estimated potential audience of 170 million people — mostly residents of the larger cities within Brazil, where more than 80 percent of the people live.
While English is a required subject in most schools, few Brazilians speak it very well. But most students know that becoming competent in English — particularly American-English — can lead to more opportunity and income. The unique format of the dual-language broadcast will provide a chance for Brazilians to improve their English skills while exposing them to the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Leading The Way's English-Portuguese broadcast will be dispersed through a network of AM, FM, and Shortwave broadcasts every Saturday and Sunday, beginning in June.
When Leading The Way first launched the "3.9 by '09 Project" in 2004, the ministry had dual-language programming in eight languages. Three years later, there are 19 dual-language programs reaching over three billion people worldwide.
Leading The Way's Dual-Language Ministry Adds Thai as 18th Language
ATLANTA (April 10, 2007) — Thai has just been added to Leading The Way's list of translated languages in their dual-language program format. The first English-Thai broadcast was aired on April 1, 2007.
According to Yezdi Bhada, Ph.D., Consultant for International Operations, Thai proved to be "one of the more difficult languages to produce in the dual-language format." There was a time when it looked as if the Thai language would be dropped from Leading The Way's plans because of the many hurdles that arose in producing the program. But "the Good Lord brought a golden opportunity to us through one of our network sources," says Bhada, and Thai is now on the air.
Although the Thai people enjoy religious freedom and the government tolerates free expressions of faith, the percentage of the population that is Christian is extremely low (approximately 1% nationwide). Christian missionaries have been present in Thailand since the 1500s, but the spread of the Gospel has been almost non-existent. There is an extreme lack of Christian materials, including Bibles, available to the Thai people, making Leading The Way's broadcast one of the few resources available to this region.
Using conversational English classes as a tool for sharing the Gospel has already proven to be an effective evangelism tool, especially among university communities. Leading The Way hopes to benefit from this desire to learn English and to use it across all of the broadcast areas.
Partnering with Voice of Peace Christian Communication Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the program will be broadcast to Thailand over seven stations.
Leading The Way Reaches Albania
ATLANTA (January 9, 2007) — Launched on January 2, 2007, Albanian is the newest translated language added to Leading The Way's dual-language program roster. It is the 17th language in an impressive list of other dual-language radio programs.
Transmitting from Dajti Mountain, Ardenica and Petresh, the program (translated "The Way") is broadcast via FM radio airing on weekdays and reaches 70 percent of the territory of Albania. Areas reached include Tirana, Durres, Kavaja, Lushnja, Fier, Vlora, Elbasan, Cerrik, Librazhd, Fushe Kruje, Kucova, and Gramsh.
Albania was under communist rule until the early 1990s when elections put an end to 46 years of communism. The transition to a democratic government has been difficult and has resulted in high unemployment, poverty, and widespread corruption. Although their economy is growing, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe. It is the only European country to have a Muslim majority with 70 percent of the population being Muslim. Albania is also a country with only a small amount of minorities -- 95 percent of the population is Albanian.
After starving for spiritual guidance for decades, the Albanians are now open to the Gospel. Let us pray that the Lord would use the Leading The Way English-Albanian broadcasts for His glory to bring many into His kingdom with the life saving truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Leading The Way Gets SIRIUS
ATLANTA (December 20, 2006) — Leading The Way is pleased to announce the launch of our daily radio program on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. Beginning January 1, 2007, Leading The Way with Michael Youssef can be heard Monday through Friday at 6:00 a.m. ET on SIRIUS Channel 161, in addition to its existing air time, Sunday mornings at 10:00.
Leading The Way continues to broadcast via XM Satellite Radio at 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET daily and at 5:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.
An international media ministry based in Atlanta, Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef broadcasts the message of Christ more than 2,300 times weekly over radio and television — in addition to Internet broadcasting and live streaming. The ministry also produces a variety of resources — including books and audio series — designed to help Christians to grow in their faith and to equip them for ministry.
Leading The Way Receives Television Award from National Religious Broadcasters
ATLANTA (December 14, 2006) — For the second consecutive year, Leading The Way has won The National Religious Broadcasters' (NRB) award for "Best Television Special Programming."
The award-winning video, From Michigan to the Middle East and Radio Monte Carlo, explores how Leading The Way ministers to isolated listeners in hostile lands. These individuals often grow up never hearing about Christ, and when they do come to faith, they feel as if they are the only Christians in the world. The video documents their stories and how Leading The Way ministers to these men and women.
"We are thrilled to receive this award for the second year in a row," said Joshua Youssef, executive vice president of Leading The Way. "It is an honor to be recognized by our peers, and exciting to share the story of our behind-the-scenes work with both the committee and our partners. God has richly blessed us and challenged us to reach even more people and countries with the Gospel message."
An international media ministry based in Atlanta, Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef broadcasts the message of Christ more than 2,300 times weekly over radio and television — in addition to Internet broadcasting and live streaming. The ministry also produces a variety of resources — including books and audio series — designed to help Christians to grow in their faith and to equip them for ministry.
Leading The Way Begins Broadcasting in Bethlehem
ATLANTA (November 28, 2006) — Leading The Way's English-Arabic dual-language program is now airing in Bethlehem, the city of Jesus' birth.
This broadcast — launched on September 1 — features the biblical teaching of Michael Youssef, which is translated phrase by phrase from English into Arabic. The half-hour program is simulcast on two FM stations — 87.5 FM and 108 FM — at 9:00 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The program also can be heard live at www.radioisis.net.
It is the first time Leading The Way has received clearance to air its Christian broadcasts on an FM station in the Arab world. The program is designed for Arabs and English-speaking groups in both Bethlehem and the western part of Jordan.
"We are pursuing every opportunity to air our dual-language program on FM radio, as FM is our priority to target indigenous groups," said International Director Majeed Ghaleb. "When we had this window to the Arab world, we immediately pursued the venture."
Michael Youssef to Speak at Christ Tabernacle in New York
ATLANTA (November 17, 2006) — On Monday, November 27 at 7:00 p.m., Dr. Michael Youssef will greet Leading The Way listeners and viewers and sign copies of his latest book, Discover the Power of One.
Dr. Youssef will deliver an uplifting message and the Christ Tabernacle Choir will provide special music. Dana Blackwood, from Dr. Youssef's church in Atlanta, Georgia, will also perform.
This rare event will take place at Christ Tabernacle, 64-34 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale, New York 11385. The book signing will take place after the program.
In his new book, Michael Youssef examines the life of the Old Testament prophet Daniel and explains how, with God's help, you can make a difference for good and for God in your world. With Discover the Power of One, you will learn that the impact of your life is as unlimited as the God you love and in whom you trust.
Leading The Way can be heard in the New York City area on Christian radio station WMCA, AM 970, Monday through Friday at 8:00 a.m.
For more information or for directions, please contact Christ Tabernacle directly at 1-718-386-8882 or visit their Web site: www.christtabernacle.org.
Leading The Way adds Tamil to its dual-language program; ministry's outreach to India expands
ATLANTA (October 30, 2006) — Tamil has become the 16th translated language in Leading The Way's dual-language program.
The ministry's English-Tamil broadcast, which began October 29, airs from Sri Lanka on Saturday and Sunday evenings at 10:45 p.m. local time. The AM broadcast will reach India's state of Tamil Nadu, which is located on the country's southern tip. The program format features a Christian message from Michael Youssef in English, which is translated phrase by phrase into Tamil.
One of the world's oldest languages, Tamil is an official language of India, Singapore, and Sri Lanka; it also is spoken in Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, and in emigrant communities across the globe. An estimated 65 million people speak Tamil, one of the world's top 20 spoken languages.
"We are thankful for the opportunity to air Leading The Way programming in the Tamil language," said Majeed Ghaleb, international director of Leading The Way. "The goal that God has given Michael Youssef for the ministry is to reach 3.9 billion people with the Gospel message by the year 2009. By His grace, we are ahead of schedule for making that goal a reality. We want to make the message of Christ available to as many people as possible."
Leading The Way launched its dual-language program in 1996 with its English-Arabic broadcast. Since then, the outreach has grown substantially and also includes broadcasts in Mandarin, Indonesian, Turkish, Punjabi, Russian, Farsi, French, Hindi, Bengali, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, and Amharic. Many listeners use the dual-language programs as a tool for practicing their English — and as a result of tuning in, they are exposed to the Gospel.
An international media ministry based in Atlanta, Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef broadcasts the message of Christ more than 2,300 times weekly over radio and television — in addition to the Internet broadcasting and live streaming. The ministry also produces a variety of resources — including books and audio series — designed to help Christians to grow in their faith and to equip them for ministry.
Michael Youssef's Latest Book Helps Readers To Discover the Power of One
ATLANTA (September 15, 2006) — One person can make a difference. That's the message Michael Youssef communicates in his new book, Discover the Power of One: Make Your Life Count.
In Discover the Power of One, Dr. Youssef examines the life of the Old Testament prophet Daniel and explains how, with God's help, one person can make a difference for good and for God in the world — no matter how dark, pressure-packed, or troublesome that world may be.
With Discover the Power of One, Youssef communicates that the impact of a Christian's life is as unlimited as the God he or she serves. "The power of one Christian is never limited to that person's abilities, intelligence, skills, or personality," Youssef says. "A Christian is a person who is vitally linked to an unlimited God."
Making a difference nearly always comes down to one person's taking the initiative to become a positive presence in a negative situation, Youssef says. "Because Jesus overcame all evil, and because we as Christians live and move and have our being in Christ Jesus, the Lord challenges us to overcome the negative cultural pressures of this world just as He did," he writes.
Daniel is a superb role model when it comes to the power of one person to make a difference, Youssef says of the Old Testament prophet. "It is his story — and his example — that is at the heart of this book. Daniel's impact and influence were far-reaching — indeed, his influence reaches all the way to you and me."
Discover the Power of One will be released November 2, but you can pre-order it online today. Youssef has authored more than 20 other titles, including Divine Discontent, Empowered by Praise, and The Leadership Style of Jesus.
- - - - -
Michael Youssef, Ph.D., is the founding pastor of The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia, and the host of a worldwide radio and television program, also based in Atlanta.
Dr. Youssef was educated in Australia and in the United States. He and his wife have four grown children.
Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef airs on hundreds of radio and television outlets throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Dr. Youssef also hosts a dual-language radio program, which translates his biblical teaching phrase by phrase from English into a number of languages, including Arabic, Mandarin, Indonesian, Turkish, Punjabi, Russian, Farsi, French, Hindi, Bengali, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, and Amharic. These programs are broadcast to most of the world's population.
Leading The Way to Receive $50,000 Match for Dual-Language Ministry
ATLANTA (August 31, 2006) — Leading The Way's $50,000 dual-language match has been met!
Since the start of the match campaign, $84,962.39 has been given to the ministry's dual-language outreach, which broadcasts Michael Youssef's teaching messages in English, followed by phrase-by-phrase translation into one of 15 languages. With the addition of the match funds, the amount given to expand the dual-language ministry is $134,962.39. The money will be used to launch the dual-language program into even more languages, including Portuguese, Japanese, Thai, and Tamil.
Funding for the campaign — which began in July in celebration of 10 years of the dual-language outreach — was provided by a generous ministry friend who offered to match gifts given to the dual-language outreach up to $50,000. Gifts that continue to come in for the campaign will still go toward the dual-language outreach — they just will not be matched.
"We are grateful for the funds that the Lord has provided through Leading The Way's generous ministry partners," said Michael Youssef, Ph.D., president of Leading The Way. "I wish to thank those who heard God's voice and responded by giving — I am so thankful for their sacrifices. It is my prayer that God will bless them for their faithfulness and that many people will come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior through our broadcasts. May God use these gifts for His glory."
The dual-language program began in 1996 with an English-Arabic broadcast. Since then, the outreach has grown to include programs in Mandarin, Indonesian, Turkish, Punjabi, Russian, Farsi, French, Hindi, Bengali, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, and Amharic. The outreach ministers to listeners in more than 80 countries around the world.
Leading The Way Launches Its 15th Dual-Language Program
New Amharic-language broadcast airs twice a week in Ethiopia
ATLANTA (July 24, 2006) — Leading The Way is pleased to announce the addition of the 15th language in its dual-language broadcast outreach.
The ministry's English-Amharic broadcast, which began July 21, will air twice a week, targeting the African country of Ethiopia. The national working language of Ethiopia, Amharic is a Semitic language and is spoken by an estimated 52 million people. The language also is spoken in Eritrea, Egypt, Israel, and Sweden.
The program format features a Christian message from Michael Youssef in English, which is then translated phrase by phrase into Amharic. Many listeners use the broadcast as a tool for practicing their English — and as a result of tuning in, they are exposed to the Gospel.
"This new broadcast keeps us on track for reaching our ministry's international goal, which is to provide 3.9 billion people with the opportunity to hear the message of Christ in a language they can understand," said Yezdi Bhada, Ph.D., international consultant for Leading The Way. "We hope, with God's blessing, to achieve this goal by the year 2009, and we are thankful for the widespread support we've received for this outreach.
"People are learning about Jesus in faraway lands — in their own languages and in the privacy of their own homes. This is crucial because in some countries where we broadcast, churches are scarce, and it is a risk to even tune in to a Christian broadcast such as ours."
Leading The Way's dual-language program began 10 years ago with the Arabic language. Since then, the outreach has grown substantially and also includes broadcasts in Mandarin, Indonesian, Turkish, Punjabi, Russian, Farsi, French, Hindi, Bengali, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Cantonese.
Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef is an international media ministry based in Atlanta. Founded in 1988 as a local radio program, Leading The Way is now broadcast via radio and television in more than 100 countries. The ministry also produces a variety of resources — including books and audio series — designed to help you to grow in your faith and to equip you for ministry.
A Milestone in Ministry: Leading The Way's Unique Outreach Hits Decade Mark
ATLANTA (July 12, 2006) — It's been a decade since Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef introduced its unique dual-language program — and the ministry continues to add new languages to the lineup.
The outreach — in which Dr. Youssef's teaching messages are translated phrase by phrase from English into another language — first started with Arabic in 1996. Since then, the program has grown to include 14 translated languages, reaching nearly 100 countries. A broadcast featuring Amharic — the 15th translated language for this outreach — is slated to begin airing in Ethiopia July 21.
Many listeners tune in to improve their English, thereby increasing their value in the marketplace. As a result, these radio listeners are introduced to the Gospel. It's a novel way of drawing a unique audience to God's Word.
"We never dreamed that the dual-language concept would be so successful," said Joshua Youssef, vice president of Leading The Way. "We thank God for how He has used this outreach to spread His hope and salvation in many places where the Gospel is met with hostility."
While the dual-language concept initially was met with some skepticism, any hesitations were laid to rest when letters from listeners started pouring in. And the testimonies have continued to grow each year, as the ministry receives both heartwarming and inspiring stories from our listeners around the world.
A pastor from the Ivory Coast of Africa — where Leading The Way broadcasts its English-French dual-language program — recently wrote in to express his appreciation for the ministry. "Since I found this broadcasting some months ago, I try not to miss it on Saturday and Sunday evening," he writes. "Sometime I follow it together with some friends. In fact, Leading The Way helps me a lot both in the understanding of God's Word and my English vocabulary. This programme helps in two ways — in my spiritual life and also intellectually, as it strengthens my English."
A regular listener to the Russian dual-language broadcast wrote: "Thank you very much for your programs. I am paralyzed and can't move. Your sermons are a spring of living water for my soul. Lying in bed I listen to your programs and pray for you."
The Punjabi program has helped Prakash, a listener in India, to grow closer to the Lord. "Your program has helped me to have a deep relationship with God," he writes. "I admire your wonderful efforts to prepare this meaningful program for our benefit. I desire to know more about the Lord Jesus, so please help me to grow in the Lord."
Youssef said the dual-language program will continue to add languages, as the ministry's goal is to provide 3.9 billion people with the opportunity to hear the Gospel in their own language by the year 2009. "In the coming months, we want to expand our dual-language program to include Thai, Tamil, Portuguese, and Japanese — allowing us to reach more than a half-billion potential listeners," Youssef said. "We hope to reach as many people as possible with the message of Jesus Christ."
Leading The Way's dual-language program is currently available in Arabic, Mandarin, Indonesian, Turkish, Punjabi, Russian, Farsi, French, Hindi, Bengali, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Cantonese — with Amharic set to begin this month.
Leading The Way's English/Spanish Dual-Language Outreach
Continues to Grow
ATLANTA (April 20, 2006) — Less than a year since Leading The Way launched its English/Spanish dual-language broadcast, the ministry is expanding the program by leaps and bounds.
Trans World Radio has added Leading The Way's Spanish broadcast to 43 stations in the Spanish-speaking world, including four United States outlets. Most of the stations are local FM stations for Hispanic listeners. The new programs can be heard in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Spain. In addition to these programs, the ministry also recently started airing the Spanish program on a U.S. station in New Mexico, where the Hispanic population is more than 40 percent.
Leading The Way's dual-language broadcasts feature Michael Youssef's Gospel messages in English, which are translated phrase by phrase into one of 14 languages. Many listeners tune in to learn English — and, as a result, hear the Gospel.
In addition to the increased broadcasts, Leading The Way is developing Spanish-language resource materials, which will be offered free of charge to listeners from Spanish-speaking countries. Also, the ministry offers follow-up communication to Spanish-speaking listeners who contact us.
"This is an exciting time in the ministry of Leading The Way," said Vice President Joshua Youssef. "Spanish is consistently listed in the top four languages for international communication, and it's the second most common language in the U.S. It's only natural for us to want to expand our outreach and to share the message of Christ with those who speak Spanish."
It is estimated that some 500 million people around the world speak Spanish, one of the official languages of the United Nations. In fact, Spanish is the primary language in countries across four different continents.
Leading The Way first started airing English/Spanish dual-language programs from Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, in May of 2005. These broadcasts — which are aired in a shortwave format — can be picked up in Cuba, in the Caribbean, and in several countries in Central and South America. The Spanish outreach expanded in October of 2005 when the ministry's English/Spanish broadcast began airing on two Atlanta-area stations.
Sample a program and read more about Leading The Way’s English/Spanish dual-language program
Leading The Way Launches Cantonese Broadcast in Unique Format
ATLANTA (March 26, 2006) — Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef is launching its Cantonese dual-language programming this month — the 14th such programming of its kind. The broadcasting format is unique to Leading The Way and has paved the way for Dr. Michael Youssef to be heard in more than 100 countries via 800 radio outlets around the world.
Different than a strict translation of his messages, dual-language is just as it sounds — a program edited for an international audience and consisting of a sentence or phrase in English and then a direct, immediate translation in another language.
Dr. Youssef explains that the dual-language programming serves two purposes. "We hope listeners will come to faith in Jesus Christ, but we also would like to see them acquire an understanding and knowledge of the English Language," he said.
More than 65 million people speak Cantonese, the language mainly used in China's southeastern area — including Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan. It has been estimated that there are more people learning to speak English in China than there are people who speak English in the United States. A recent Newsweek International article reports that "there are more Chinese children studying English — about 100 million — than there are Britons."
According to Youssef, Leading The Way's dual-language program draws people who probably would not listen otherwise. The ministry's goal is to reach two-thirds of the world's population by 2009.
"Christian radio, in a format such as this, is an ideal way to reach people with a pre-evangelistic message," Dr. Youssef said.
The Cantonese version will be aired twice weekly via the Far East Broadcasting Company.
In addition to Cantonese, Leading The Way includes dual-language broadcasts in Arabic, Mandarin, Indonesian, Turkish, Punjabi, Russian, Farsi, French, Hindi, Bengali, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese. The ministry plans to soon add Japanese and Thai to its roster by the first quarter of 2007. Additionally, programs featuring Portuguese and Amharic languages are in development.
Leading The Way is the international media ministry of Dr. Michael Youssef. Founded in 1988 as a local radio program for Atlanta, Leading The Way is now broadcast via radio and television in more than 100 countries.
You've heard about it; perhaps you've even read it. And the movie will be in theaters soon. The Da Vinci Code has been making headlines — and turning heads — since it was published three years ago. Michael Youssef addresses the controversy surrounding the Dan Brown novel in his upcoming series “Debunking Da Vinci,” set to air on Leading The Way television and radio in May. Here Dr. Youssef shares a preview of the series that will shed light on the truth about Da Vinci.
Debunking Da Vinci
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.
ATLANTA (March 20, 2006) — The book The Da Vinci Code has sold some 40 million copies. The movie, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, is promising to draw millions of viewers. That is why, on April 30 at The Church of The Apostles, I will begin a short series of messages entitled "Debunking Da Vinci."
As we prepare to celebrate the most important day in the Christian calendar — namely, the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead — the secular media and many professing churches are trying to debunk the Resurrection.
This should be no surprise to any believer. The "spirit of the age" has always been at conflict with the Spirit of God. Even in the third century, heretics (called the Gnostics) tried to deny and to invalidate the Resurrection. So much of their teaching is what The Da Vinci Code perpetuates and popularizes.
The controversy surrounding the book and the movie is a marketing bonanza for the book's author, who is making millions of dollars by stirring this conflict! However, the real reason why people deny the historical fact of the Resurrection is never based on evidence. If you subject the event of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to the normal historical tests (i.e., two or three eyewitnesses), then you would be overwhelmed to know that there were more than 500 eyewitnesses.
So what is the problem? Admitting to the historical truth of the Resurrection would demand submission to Jesus Christ as the Lord God. That one thing is what the natural man fights against so vehemently.
However, for those of us who joyfully believe in the Resurrection — based on its evidentiary fact — and willingly submit to Jesus Christ as very God, we are assured of eternal life with Him.
So regardless of what goes on around us or around the world ... we have read the last chapter, and we win. Regardless of what new heresy is being perpetuated, Jesus Christ is still King of kings and Lord of lords.
Hallelujah! Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed! Hallelujah!
- - - - -
For more on Dr. Youssef's response to The Da Vinci Code, watch our upcoming television series, "Debunking Da Vinci," beginning May 4 on Leading The Way. This revealing series will also air on Leading The Way radio May 22-26.
Find a station near you
Ministry Partners Exceed Goal for China Matching Grant
ATLANTA (December 20, 2005) — Leading The Way is pleased to announce that its recent matching grant for ministry to China has been met.
Through the grant, donations of $150,000 were matched dollar-for-dollar by two generous partners, doubling gifts given toward Leading The Way's work in China. Of course, donors still are welcome to give toward the ministry's work in China — gifts just won't be doubled.
"We are delighted and humbled by the response to this important campaign," said Dr. Michael Youssef, president of Leading The Way. "We thank God for what He has accomplished and for what He is going to accomplish in China with these funds."
With the funds, Leading The Way plans to expand its English-Mandarin dual-language broadcast in China and to add an English-Cantonese program.
In fact, Leading The Way's Cantonese broadcast in China — originally scheduled to start in 2007 — has been moved up and is slated to begin airing in April of 2006.
"It is through the generous support, gifts, and prayers of our ministry partners that God has allowed us to spread the Gospel in China and around the world," Dr. Youssef said. "And we want to continue doing so until Jesus comes back."
- - - - -
For more information about Leading The Way's work in China, watch a video sample of the China field report. To get your copy of our China DVD, click here.
To partner in the ministry of Leading The Way around the world, make a gift today.
Leading The Way Donates $25,000 to Katrina Relief Efforts
ATLANTA (November 22, 2005) — Leading The Way has donated $25,000 to 8 Days of Hope, a relief effort for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The donation consists of Leading The Way's remaining funds designated for Katrina relief efforts, said Dr. Michael Youssef, president of Leading The Way.
Leading The Way collected some $47,000 to aid victims after Katrina struck the Gulf region at the end of August. The ministry used about $22,000 toward purchasing and distributing Bibles, books, and other evangelistic materials to help meet the spiritual needs of Gulf-area residents.
By giving to 8 Days of Hope, the ministry will be helping to meet the victims' physical needs as well.
Beginning on December 10 and concluding on December 18, 8 Days of Hope is a volunteer-organized relief project to aid the victims of Katrina. The project is focusing on repairing homes of those most in need in the Gulfport, Mississippi, area. With a goal to recruit 500 volunteers to help in their efforts, 8 Days of Hope is working with and through local churches in Mississippi's coastal area.
"We are grateful for the generosity of our partners who were so willing to reach out to their neighbors in a time of need," Youssef said. "We wanted to be sure that funds designated for Katrina relief indeed went to Katrina relief, which is why we are pleased to present to 8 Days of Hope the remainder of the contributions we collected."
Youssef announced the ministry's contribution on American Family Radio.
"We applaud the efforts of 8 Days of Hope and encourage our partners to continue praying for the ongoing relief work in the Gulf area," Youssef said.
For more information about 8 Days of Hope, visit www.eightdaysofhope.com.
Leading The Way Receives $150,000 Matching Grant for China
ATLANTA (November 15, 2005) — Leading The Way has been given a generous matching grant to help us expand our dual-language broadcast in China. This means that every gift you give to this initiative — up to the grand total of $150,000 U.S. — will be matched dollar-for-dollar by this generous grant.
The timing of this grant could not have been better. During a recent trip to China, Leading The Way witnessed firsthand the strong desire that so many Chinese have to learn English. And we were delighted to discover that one very popular way by which they are doing this is through our unique dual-language program. Additionally, the Chinese government recently mandated that every person in the service industry learn English in preparation for the 2008 Olympics to be held in Beijing ... meaning that there is an even greater interest in our program than ever before!
Still, our radio broadcast only airs on weekends ... and it is only produced in Mandarin. That’s why we have stepped out in a bold new multi-year initiative. Our goal is to expand the number of times our Mandarin program is released — and to develop an additional program in Cantonese. From the many testimonies we receive in response to our Mandarin program, we know that God already is doing a mighty work in this part of the world. And we are positioned today to make an even greater impact for the Gospel. Please, give as the Lord directs and continue to pray for those who listen now and in the future to our programs around the world.
Make a Gift Today
New Tax Benefits for Donors
ATLANTA (October 20, 2005) — Gifts given to Leading The Way between August 28 and December 31 of 2005 may be eligible for special tax qualifications under the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 (H.R. 3768). Among other benefits, this legislation, passed by the House and the Senate on September 21, 2005, permits an individual donor to make qualified cash contributions until the end of 2005 and to deduct up to 100 percent of his “contribution base” (generally, the donor’s adjusted gross income). Any excess deduction may be carried over to the next five tax years. Gifts do not have to be designated for hurricane relief.
For more information about the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005, click here.
|
