Jan Markell’s Understanding the Times

Jan Markell's

Understanding the Times

Olive Tree Ministries



P.O. Box 1452, Maple Grove, MN 55311-6452

763-559-4444

OLIVETREEMINISTRIES



November, December 2018

What Happened to My Church?

By Jan Markell

Church issues are the most frequent inquiry I get here at Olive Tree Ministries. Other leaders tell me the same. What has happened in the last 30-40 years? Many people visit church after church only to walk away disheartened. Others are lifetime members of a church and have seen changes that left it unrecognizable-- spiritually speaking.

At first, members and attendees wonder if they are being a bit too judgmental, but the sad reality eventually sinks in that something has gone terribly wrong.

My background is in a fundamental church in Minneapolis that delivered verse-by-verse messages and had frequent prophecy conferences. Try to find that today! You will find a few but they are few and far between. This same church warned me about a coming apostasy back in the 1970s, but who knew it would get so bad starting somewhere in the 1990s? Nothing could have prepared me.

First it was music that became the great divider. Nobody minds some guitars and a bass, but into the second decade of the 21st Century, ear plugs are handed out as one enters the church sanctuary.

Some churches open with a secular song, dim the lights, add some smoky fog, and have an atmosphere similar to the local bar. All of this is to enhance choruses that will be sung two-dozen times by hypnotized church members. I would learn that it is to attract "seekers"-- a 21st Century term. Bill Hybels admitted that he came up with the term but confessed it didn't work well in his church!

Organs and pianos were tossed out 25 years ago because they did not promote "church growth." The overage 55 crowd was on their own. Some churches threw them a bone with an 8 a.m. service for those with gray heads. That trend began "the great divide" between generations.

Someone made a conscious decision that we should have a "new way of doing church", although many members and attendees agreed there was nothing wrong with old ways of doing church. Terms began being used like "purpose-driven," "seeker-sensitive," "church-growth movement," "postmodernism," "Emergent," and more.

People started to hear about love,

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"I Trust in You, O Lord . . . Our Times Are in Your Hands." Psalm 31:14-15

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What Happened to My Church?

By Jan Markell Continued from page 1

unity and tolerance. We must be known for what we agree on, not what we disagree on. Everything and everyone must be accepted.

pulpits are dispensing Osteen-type messages that talk about "your best life now" on this broken, corrupt planet.

Aberrations must be accepted. Sin must be accepted. People loved having their ears tickled. They would be encouraged to "feel good" and have their self-esteem built up. Sound doctrine was being set aside.

This is just a short explanation as to why e-mails and letters pour into this ministry and others asking about how they might find a healthy, relevant church in their neighborhood.

The saving of souls was being set aside for the entertainment factor and social justice causes. It seemed that many in the church no longer cared that so many were on their way to hell! What an offensive, intolerant thought. But clearly, sound doctrine will separate and divide so we must tread lightly in that area.

In 2017, my friend Terry James invited me to submit a chapter in his proposed book titled "Deceivers: Exposing Evil Seducers & Their Last Days Deception." I had been doing Christian radio across the country for many years and as I researched programs, I was reminded daily that there had been a straying from

Relevant issues have vanished. sound doctrine.

Pulpits have become afraid to talk about voting biblical values. Pastors quit speaking in favor of traditional marriage and against abortion. It seemed like an "eleventh commandment" came into the church: Thou shalt not offend. Taking a stand was clearly over.

When it came to issues like Bible prophecy, the silence became deafening! People were told this was "divisive" although rock music in the church apparently was not! Millions

I was confronted with the fact that I had two choices: I could overlook this trend or expose it. I took the warning to watchmen in Ezekiel 33 very seriously, and I determined to confront the false teaching headon and tell the truth about it. I did not want the blood on my hands! I knew this would cost me listeners and friends. I would soon find out that certain radio stations would marginalize me and even ban me for the naming of names.

are going to be left behind at the Was this too high of a price to pay? Rapture of the Church, but there I had to seriously ponder that and

are no warnings about this going count the cost. Could I stick with out from hardly any church. Instead, my plan? It's a big, lonely world. We

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"My People Perish for a Lack of Knowledge." Hosea 4:6

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What Happened to My Church?

By Jan Markell Continued from page 2

need all the support we can get. My plan would not win friends -- but it might save some people from making lifelong theological mistakes by revealing who and what could be trusted and not trusted.

I began my research by tracing the history of false doctrine and reckless church movements going back to the early 1900s to the present. From mystical madness, such as so-called Christian Yoga, to the experiential of the New Apostolic Reformation, wolves were prowling around the flock.

At the same time, I saw that discernment was going over a cliff as books like "The Shack" and "Jesus Calling" were embraced as much as the Bible.

An entire movement sprang up

around Todd Bentley, who kicked sick people with his biker boot to heal them, and this was celebrated.

Evangelical organizations like the NAE embraced global warming and called for America to destroy all her nukes. What does this have to do with the gospel?

Ecumenism soared and Protestants began embracing Catholicism. Kenneth Copeland announced that the Reformation was over.

I observed something called the "laughing revival" and I concluded that it wasn't so funny.

I could go on and on. You can see that the odds of you having a healthy, well-balanced church are slim but they are out there! If you have one, thank God for it daily. If you don't,

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WE HAVE A MOBILE APP!

Since you are on the move, take our radio program with you! We use the mobile app found on the Home page of . A new program is available every Saturday morning. It is free and convenient for thousands of users. The program remains on the app so you can listen at your convenience.

You can also stream the program at One Place as well as on our website.

If "Understanding the Times" radio does not air in your neighborhood, take advantage of these opportunities. Find the program on our website, , then go to "Radio," then to "Complete Archives."

"I Trust in You, O Lord . . . Our Times Are in Your Hands." Psalm 31:14-15

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Understanding the Times 2018 Conference

Presented by Jan Markell and Olive Tree Ministries

On Saturday, September 29, almost 4,000 people gathered from 55 states, Canadian Provinces or foreign countries. They came to Eden Prairie, Minnesota, just outside of Minneapolis, to enjoy our speakers and to fellowship with likeminded believers who are looking up. We offer complete sets of CDs and DVDs of this event.

Conference DVDs

We encourage you to get the conference DVDs which are just $5 more than the CDs. Two of our speakers used extensive video in their PowerPoint. These will be missed in the CDs, although we do offer them as well. Both CDs and DVDs contain speaker interviews with Jan Markell as a bonus.

Available on YouTube

If you cannot afford these products, the entire event is available on our YouTube channel found at Jan Markell. Go to "Understanding the Times 2018." Almost 400,000 people have viewed the various presentations online.

Save The Date For 2019:

We hope to meet again Saturday, September 21, 2019. The location is the same but further details are not yet available. Watch our website, newsletters, and catch radio announcements.

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"My People Perish for a Lack of Knowledge." Hosea 4:6

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Pastor J.D. Farag from Calvary Chapel, Kaneohe, Hawaii, was a favorite of the day. He also does weekly prophecy updates on YouTube.

Amir Tsarfati is a yearly draw as he teaches eschatology from the land of Bible prophecy--Israel, where he resides. Amir travels the world with truths from the Bible from a last days' perspective.

Pastor Jack Hibbs comes from Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills, California and is known for his online "Real Life with Jack Hibbs" presentations, also heard on Christian radio.

Eric Barger heads "Take a Stand! Ministries" and travels North America

with seminars helping people understand the times and contend

for the faith.

Pastor Billy Crone is one of the most diverse speakers in the church today. He comes from Sunrise Bible Church in Las Vegas and is best known for his productions with "Get A Life Media" online.

Conference Testimonies:

"I was so blessed to be there and I will be back. I have felt so alone for so long. No one wants to hear that the King is coming. I can never thank you and your staff enough." --Gary

"Thank you so very much for the streaming. We watched all day from Virginia."--Melissa

"Jan and team: This is the best conference I've been a part of in decades. Thank you very much."--Charlotte

"I Trust in You, O Lord . . . Our Times Are in Your Hands." Psalm 31:14-15

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