Awaken: Letters of a Spiritual Father to This Generation

by Terry Nance, Bill Johnson (Foreword by)

Overview

We live in a time when the church is failing to live up to its own standards. It has tragically been losing the respect of those it tries to win to Christ because it has succumbed to sin, pride, and corruption. In the past, a lost world looked to the church as the example of hope and integrity; today, many people laugh or roll their eyes when the church is mentioned. It has largely lost its relevance in the world.
In Awaken, best-selling author Terry Nance has composed a series of letters to younger and newer believers, aiming to help them avoid many of the sins and mistakes of their spiritual fathers as they hold high the standard of the kingdom of God with which they have been entrusted.
We the church must realize that we are called to be kingdom leaders for Jesus Christ, not empire builders for ourselves. We must awaken to the understanding that we carry Jesus to this world, and His spirit within us must be reflected in everything we do.
Nance’s challenge is clear: Set a standard of holiness in your own life, endure affliction as a good soldier of Christ, run your race with patience, and persevere until you come to the finish line. As you do, you will leave behind an army of leaders in the next generation who can take up your banner for Jesus and carry it forward with honor.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629116204
Publisher:	Whitaker House
Publication date:	12/10/2015
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

With more than forty years’ experience in local church ministry, Terry Nance is the founder and president of Focus on the Harvest, Inc. He’s traveled extensively for the past several years, awakening believers by helping them to discover their individual gifts and callings and to commit to the vision of their local church. Terry has authored three previous books, God’s Armorbearer, volumes 1, 2, and 3. These best-selling books have motivated thousands of Christians to stand with their leaders in faithful service, helping them to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. In 2008, Terry and his wife, Kim, began Impact Church, a dynamic and growing multicultural body of believers in Sherwood, Arkansas. Terry and Kim have been married for over thirty years and live in Sherwood with their three children, McCall, Alex, and McKenna.

Table of Contents

Preface: Setting the Record Straight 11

1 God Needs You 17

2 Secure Yourself a Secret Place 25

3 Sacrifice 33

4 The Test of Submission 47

5 Leading with Liberty 57

6 Spiritual Abuse 67

7 It's Time for Reformation 77

8 Seasons of Change 93

9 The Pit of Adversity 105

10 Jesus the Armorbearer Leader 117

11 Absolutes 125

12 My Best Friend 137

13 Set the Standard 149

14 A Letter from This Generation to Spiritual Parents 161

About the Author 167

Editorial Reviews

11/09/2015
Evangelical minister Nance (God’s Armorbearer) offers a collection of letters to young Christians from traditionalist churches aimed at helping them develop “Christian character.” He challenges the young or new in the faith to set high standards of holiness, build character rather than charisma, endure suffering for righteousness’s sake, and persevere in humility until the end. Nance uses personal stories and meticulous biblical references to argue that there’s a sickness in church culture that only new leadership can heal: spiritual abuse of power, personal hubris, sexual sin, and a liberal shift from absolutist theology. “Jesus made it simple. There is one God, one Book, one way.” Nance’s mentoring epistles conclude with a chapter by three young Christian leaders. They demand truth in a marketplace of ads; authenticity, not hyperbole; relationships built over time instead of youth used up like a renewable resource; and a listening ear and a correcting heart. Nance’s newest release advances his body of work on the elements of leadership required of faithful conservative Christians. For those who are not conservative Christians, it provides insight into an authentic traditionalist theology active in many churches today. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Paul told to the Corinthian church that they were living epistles, written in the heart by the Holy Spirit. This book is epistle material in its instructions to the young leader. Read it and allow the Holy Spirit to take you further and deeper in into how you should live the life of a God-called leader. Know that there are those who do have a desire to see you grow and succeed. This book is written clearly and accurately to give you, this new generation of leaders, divine insight into principles of leadership that you will not find elsewhere. Thank you, Terry, for being bold enough to communicate this vital message to the “young lions.”
—Sam Carr, Senior pastor, Word of Life Center, Shreveport, Louisiana


Awaken is a book for young and older ministers alike. It is bold; it is challenging; it is definitely needed, but most of all, it is anointed. Terry has earned the right to give an honest critique of the way ministry has been done and the way in which it needs to be done. Every word is bathed with love and grace. A must-read! Thanks, Terry.
—Steve Dixon, Senior pastor, Christian Life Cathedral, Fayetteville, Arkansas


This generation is crying out for true spiritual fathers, and Terry Nance has heard that cry. In his new book, Awaken, he passionately speaks as a true spiritual father would to a son or daughter who is genuinely loved—with their best interests at heart. While not ignoring the faults/sins of past spiritual leaders, Terry challenges this generation to rise up and be all that God has called them to be. Having known Terry for many years, I can assure you that these letters are written from the heart of a true spiritual father. This is a needed and timely book that can be trusted to place into the hands of young men and women who are weary of charisma and are desperate for character.
—Mark Cowart, Senior pastor, Church for All Nations, Littleton/Colorado Springs, Colorado; Liberal, Kansas


I have known Terry Nance for many years and have always found him to be a man of prayer. God has given Terry these letters to Awaken the hearts of ministers, young and old, and to speak to this generation about God’s plan for them on this earth. Through these letters from a spiritual father of the faith, we will begin to see the restoration that God can and will do in this generation! If you can live through the turbulence of the tests and trials you will face as a result of your choice to know God better, you will be rewarded with a greater sense of intimacy with the Creator. Allow yourself to be pliable in His hands and let your hearts be disturbed to action by these letters that God has given to Terry.
—Daniel Bohler, Military chaplain, pastor, missionary


Terry Nance is God-called to help this generation understand the strengths and weaknesses of the church in today’s world. His honesty is refreshing; his answers to challenges are clearly understood. This work is important to many in the body of Christ who see the challenges the world is throwing at the church. Awaken is a call to all who want the best of God for their lives.
—Sue Whiteley, Missionary to Romania


As one who is also committed to raising up spiritual sons, I was so excited to read Awaken. I only wish that in my early years I had read a book like this! In 1 Corinthians 4:15 Paul wrote, “Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel” (niv). Terry has captured the essence of this message from Paul by laying out some of the revelations he has received during his forty years of ministry. Terry writes as a spiritual father to every young leader, providing the necessary insight of a lifetime. These truths will save young leaders years of misdirection and pain. Awaken should be read annually to remind us to keep an eternal perspective. These truths are life principles that must be more than a quick read; they must be principles seared into our hearts. I highly recommend that Awaken be read by every spiritual father who understands the struggle with the spirit of entitlement and with the belief that we as leaders deserve special treatment. God help us to be awakened as spiritual leaders!
—Jerry Nance, PhD, President and CEO, Global Teen Challenge Columbus, Georgia

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