Randy Alcorn

“Many [Western Christians] habitually think and act as if there is no eternity. We major in the momentary and minor in the momentous.”

Prologue:

Randy Alcorn is one of most well known Christian authors today and is best known as the director and founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries. He’s written seven novels including the highly acclaimed, Safely Home. His most popular book, Heaven, is a comprehensive look at Heaven. His books focus on issues such as giving, money, stewardship, the sanctity of life, and eternity. He’s his story on how he came to know Christ, his trials and tribulations, and his impact on today’s church:

His Story:

Randy Alcorn was born on June 23 in 1954 in Portland, Oregon. At the age of four he moved to the Rockwood area of Portland and later to Gresham when he was seven. In his summers as a teenager he mainly did work on the farm. He played baseball, basketball, and football in junior high along with tennis. He grew up in a non-Christian home and His father was very strict.

At the age of 19, shortly after his first year of college Randy was robbed at gunpoint while working at a 7-11 store. He also worked at a chemical plant that produced Parsons ammonia and once had to run for the doors when an accident occurred spilling the ammonia through the vats.

Growing up, Randy did not go to church. One Sunday in third grade, though, his Mom took him to a United Methodist Church. That day they passed out Bibles to the third-graders and Randy took the Bible and put it on a shelf. Then in high school he was invited to a youth group at a local church. The gospel message began to be known to him and he started reading his Bible that he received years before. As he began reading, he started believing what he read. Randy was immediately drawn to the person of Christ. Then in August of 1969, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of 15. Here is a video where Randy briefly discusses how he came to know Christ: Randy’s testimony.

A year later his Mom, Lucille, would come to know Christ. She supported his writing and encouraged Randy in everything he did joining his church. They were very close and she was one of the closet friends he would ever have. In May of 1975, Randy married his wife, Nancy. Four years later, they had their first daughter, Karina and in early 1981 a second daughter, Angela. Four months later his mother died. Here is a video where Randy talks about his mother: Randy on His Mother.

Turning Point:

In 1977, Alcorn became a pastor for Good Shepherd Community Church just outside of Gresham, Oregon. In the late 1980′s Randy was involved in a peaceful civil disobedience on behalf of unborn children at abortion clinics. As a result there were lawsuits and he had to resign as Pastor of the Good Shepherd Community Church.

One-fourth of this wages were going to an abortion clinic and he couldn’t live with himself knowing that his money was going towards killing children. So he resigning in order to prevent the abortion clinic from getting any money. He goes on to say this about his resignation:

“So, I resigned and now it was “Ok, what can I do now?” Because everywhere else I worked that was anything more than minimum wage they will figure what is above minimum wage and take ¼ of it for the abortion clinic. So, what we decided to do was start a ministry, Eternal Perspective Ministries, and take the things that were closest to our heart – missions and Pro-life work – and expanding my calling that I felt towards writing, and speaking too, but especially writing – and that’s how we started our ministry.

His Story Part 2:

The ministry, Eternal Perspective Ministries was born. The ministry’s made focus was on things are unseen and it’s key verse is 2 Corinthians 4:18. It consists of only 6 people as of the present date and is a 501(c)3 non profit ministry. The royalties go to different ministries that Alcorn supports. All one hundred percent of it. He says this on the ministry as a whole:

“My ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity,” “I do that by trying to analyze, teach and apply the implications of Christian truth.”

Since Eternal Perspective Ministries was launched Randy began writing books and has never looked back from God’s calling for his life. His books are centered on how to view things such as money, possessions, suffering, and Heaven in light of eternity. His books include The Law of Rewards, The Treasure Principle, and The Grace and Truth Paradox. In fiction, He’s written fast-paced, gripping novels such as Edge of Eternity, Deadline, Dominion, and Deception. Along with these novels he’s written high successful novels such as Lord Folgrin’s Letters, The Ishbane Conspiracy, and Safely Home which received a Gold Medallion Award. The book, Pro-life Answers to Pro Choice Arguments, reflects Randy’s passion for pro-life and is used to train students and adults to defend the position in a secular culture. Alcorn speaks on the topic often around the country and speaks about his experiences in rescuing women in abortion clinics as well.

Randy’s Dad was very resistant to the gospel message and fought with his son’s faith through most of his life. He was very strict towards his son and let his feelings be known on Randy going to a Bible College instead of “making something” of this life. Then as an 85-year old, when he was thought to be dying, he came to know Christ. He went on to live for another four years and Randy and his father got to draw much closer before he died.

In 2004, Randy wrote the highly popular and best-selling book called, Heaven. The book is still one of the top-selling Christian books today and is considered by many theologians to be the best comprehensive book on the subject of Heaven ever written. Recently he wrote another comprehensive book titled, If God is Good, on why God allows suffering, pain, and evil into the world. In late 2009, Alcorn signed a statement called the Manhattan Declaration that calls on Evangelicals, Catholics, and Orthodox Christians not to comply with rules and laws that permit abortion, same-sex marriage, and other issues that go against the Christian doctrine. In early 2011, Alcorn released a new novel called The Chasm, which is an allegory that is similar to the Pilgrim’s Progress for the present age. He also released a short-devotional book called 90 Days of God’s Goodness that contains reflections of his book, If God is Good.

His Impact:

Randy has had a profound influence and impact on countless lives being a much needed voice for eternal spiritual matters that our culture easily dismisses. Many young women battling the choice of abortion have turned their lives around with his ministry. The importance of pro-life is being fought vigorously due to Randy’s passion for this issue. Also by having 100% percent of his ministries proceeds go to different ministries; Randy is backing up what he preaches, showing incredible integrity. Not only is He reaching adults with this ministry but he’s written several children’s books that help bring spiritual truths to a younger audience. Lastly, Randy takes time to write and minister to people on the internet through social networking writing spiritual insights into blogs and Facebook status updates on a consistent basis.

Lessons for His Legacy:

Alcorn’s life has many lessons that can be taken away and learned. For starters, God works behind the scenes of our lives and often times uses tragedy, pain, and persecution for His purposes. Throughout his life, Randy has faced many difficult circumstances, but it ultimately led Him to Christ and his fouding of the ministry, Eternal Perspective Ministries. Also by carrying out what he believes in, Randy is displaying a profound love to others. His principles of living for eternity, giving back to others, and living a lifestyle that honors Christ has become a powerful witness to the world. Integrity is something we all need to strive for in our everyday lives. Another message that resonates loud and clear with his legacy is that we have to fight for what we believe in. We have to take risks and be willing to face persecution because of our love for Christ and knowing in the end we will be rewarded for our efforts. Finally, there is always hope with God. Although his parents weren’t believers for much of Randy’s life, both came to know Him before they died. This was though constant prayer and a devout love he displaced to them. If you know a loved one who isn’t a believer; don’t lose hope, keeping praying, and never grow tired of showing God’s love to them in your actions. Randy Alcorn is a great example of a man of integrity, love, and perseverance. May we inspire to follow his example and live lives in light of eternity!

Visit Randy’s blog at:  

www.randyalcorn.blogspot.com.

Sources:

http://www.epm.org/blog/2010/Jun/1/video-q-randy-when-did-you-put-your-faith-christ

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Alcorn

http://www.epm.org/about-randy/

http://www.epm.org/faq/question/can-you-tell-me-little-about-your-family-history

http://www.christianbookpreviews.com/christian-book-author-interview.php?isbn=0842379428

http://www.christianbook.com/html/authors/4301.html

http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/authordetail.php?aut_id=136