national transformation

Merry Christmas from Germany

2011-12-26T23:39:00.000-08:00

Mark is with his wife, 3 children and 3 grand-children in Germany for the Christmas holidays, and will be speaking at Agape Christian Center January 8 in Ramstein-Meisenbach.

Mark will be in Los Angeles and Israel

2011-03-15T21:33:00.000-07:00

Mark Beliles will be in Los Angeles, California for meetings with various leaders March 17-18 and then he will be in Israel March 21-27.

Bolivia trip

2011-02-26T20:56:00.000-08:00

I was in Bolivia for a week and had a very fruitful time training 350 leaders about politics, plus met with many other leaders in business, media, church, schools, etc. See this photo of some of the people we trained (I am in the middle). I was blessed to partner there with fellow-lecturers Morton Blackwell and Steven Clouse from the USA and Sylvio from Italy. Our host was pastor Irene and the coordinator of everything was Miguel Moreno. (see photo)
I also recently shared teaching time in a U.S. seminar with the recent President of Equador (photo).

Enjoy This DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY http://t.co/Xta9ywt

2010-12-21T21:15:00.000-08:00

Enjoy This brief DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY http://t.co/Xta9ywt

Share ideas & ask questions of fellow-transformers in our Google Groups

2010-12-09T15:13:00.000-08:00

Hi fellow-transformers,
A new resource that we developed this year for our premium members is an email-based google group for discussing ideas and asking questions of one's peers involved in transformation work. We have four discussion groups in all: church/moral transformation, educational transformation, financial/business transformation, and political/government transformation. Experts provide articles for discussion and post their thoughts from time to time. These groups have just got off the ground in the last couple months and only a small number of people have joined them so far, but we expect them to grow to serve many people in years to come. We have been allowing these groups to be accessible to anyone for free for these first few months, but that will no longer be possible by January 1st. If you want to check them out just reply to me and I will get you the link to enroll.

Ronald Reagan Thanksgiving Day Address 1985

2010-11-25T14:26:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving greeting from Reagan in 1985

2010-11-25T14:22:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ejDVsfUQj4

Deut 1:13 "Choose" godly leaders - Remember to VOTE!

2010-11-01T22:53:00.000-07:00

God led Moses to delegate to citizens the power to elect their civil leaders. Deuteronomy 1:9,13 "Moses said (to the people)...CHOOSE...officers from among your tribes." The vote was given by God's guidance to bless the nations. Remember to use this blessing and VOTE today!

America is truly an exceptional place

2010-10-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

I have had the privilege to traveling to over 40 countries on almost every continent and meet beautiful people and enjoy amazing cultures. I am more committed to serving the nations of the world than probably most people, yet all of this exposure to the nations has only confirmed to me how exceptional America is. Not because its people are superior or its natural resources or its buildings, etc. But it's the American Christian heritage and the biblical worldview that was so strong in the founding of the nation that produced something entirely different in the history of the world, something the French political philosopher Alexis DeTocqueville marvelled at in his book Democracy in America. Much of that worldview is now disappearing and we face many difficulties as a result, but still it is an exceptional nation. In this light, I enjoy the words of Marco Rubio in this ad that he produced for his Senate campaign in Florida.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbaP0Jzd6QA&feature=player_embedded

Pray for the turning of America

2010-10-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

With less than two weeks left before the elections, it appears that many Americans are waking up to the precipitous place to which we have come as a nation. It is apparent that many Republicans are going to be elected to Congress and to state houses, but what is even more exciting is that many of them are strong Christians who hold to a Biblical worldview. Let's pray strong to the finish that "the righeous" might be in authority so that the people may rejoice again. Proverbs 29:2

60 Day trial membership offer

2010-09-16T16:55:00.000-07:00

Announcement: For the next 60 days the Providence Foundation National Transformation Network is giving access to some of our Transformation Tools normally only available to members. You can read articles by our experts regarding transformation of churches, schools, business and government and interact with them and other professional peers by joining an email discussion group in one of those four areas. If after 60 days you want to continue then you can become a member by joining at half the usual membership rate. If you have not already received an email (Reformation Report) to invite you into this 60 trial offer, then email us at nationaltransformation@gmail.com and we will send you the invite.

The risks involved in burning the Koran are mainly the fault of Islam - 22 Words

2010-09-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

The risks involved in burning the Koran are mainly the fault of Islam - 22 Words

We should both condemn and defend the burning of the Koran

2010-09-07T22:40:00.000-07:00

Romans 12:18 and Hebrews 12:14 are verses that encourage us to pursue peace with all men as much as possible.Although the burning of the Koran, which a pastor in Florida is promising to do on 9-11, is legal and we should defend his right to do it based on the First Amendment, it is also unnecessarily offensive and should be criticized by all Christians. Just because something is a right constitutionally, does not make it right morally or civilly.
I criticized the proposal to build a mosque near ground zero for the same reason. It is their legal right to build that mosque, yet it is offensive to build it so close to a place where Americans mourned the loss of so many lives at the hands of Muslim extremists.

On stage with Sarah Palin at Glenn Beck event

2010-08-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

I had the honor to be on stage at the Glenn Beck event that gathered half a million people a couple days ago in Washington, D.C. and there I met Governor Sarah Palin and had a few words with her. She is a Spirit-filled believer in Jesus Christ who is serving in the difficult arena of government and politics. Whether she runs for President or not, she already is having a great impact by encouraging and endorsing other Christians to run for office all across America. May God continue to bless her with wisdom in how to use her popularity to bring godly transformation and reformation of government

standing before half a million with Glenn Beck and 240 pastors

2010-08-29T14:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I and my wife Nancy were honored to be included with 240 pastors who came up at the end of the Restore Honor rally that Glenn Beck organized at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. I also met Sarah Palin briefly. Here is a clip of us at the finale of the event. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiUO-L5hs1I

The Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg Virginia > News > First Jamestowne church likely found

2010-08-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

The foundations of the first church at Jamestown Virginia (erected 1608) was just discovered. May God return America to it's spiritual foundations now more than ever. See The Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg Virginia > News > First Jamestowne church likely found

Speaking in May at Transform Korea 4-14 Conference

2010-05-18T13:46:00.001-07:00

At National Association of Evangelicals in Guatemala

2010-04-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

At a church in El Salvador

2010-04-24T07:05:00.000-07:00

At the Nehemiah Center in Managua, Nicaragua

2010-04-24T07:03:00.000-07:00

a reason to like massachusetts

2010-01-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

For the first time in my years as an adult I have a reason to like Masschusetts for something other than its pilgrim and patriot history. It is fitting that the year of the "tea party" movement and voices raised against taxes and the power of the state are being heard strongly right now from the voters of the Bay State. May God continue to raise up and bless those who will lead us back to the Christian and early American idea of limited government.

Joy to the World

2009-12-24T22:35:00.000-08:00

Let earth receive her King!...He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love.

The Spark of Patriotic Fire

2009-09-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

Reading the news (although scantily covered by democrat-allied media, formerly known as the mainstream media) this past weekend, I was encouraged to see hundreds of thousands of people that protested in Washington. And the thing that was most encouraging was that they spoke out against out-of-control spending and intrusiveness of the American mega-state. I am convinced that our greatest threat today is the exaltation of the state (i.e. statism) in place of God. It seems like the state bailing out banks and companies, paying for more education or health care, etc, etc is something that is benign, perhaps even "good." But when God saw them building a great tower at Babel it was not an obvious evil, yet God saw the danger and decided to "come down" (i.e. intervene in human affairs) and stop it (Genesis 11). Statism is a problem in both major parties today. George Bush saw no problem with his major increase in funding of education at the beginning of his presidency and then did not flinch to spend billions at the end of his term in office. In his first 6 months Obama has spent fourfold what Bush did!
All of it was unconstitutional but it no longer matters. Many of our founders (Thomas Jefferson was one) died in debt and bankruptcy because they neglected their farms and businesses for so many years during the Revolution and then suffered in the economic chaos that followed. Yet not one expected the government to bail them out, even though they were so beloved by the American public. Our founders said that government funds were never to go to anything that was not consistent with the powers listed in the constitution and certainly never for anything that did not serve every citizen at once (called the "general welfare" as in contrast to special welfare).
When the British government first started to increase taxes in the early 1770s few people spoke out. One person wrote to Boston's Sam Adams and complained that “They are dead, and the dead cannot be raised without a miracle. But Adams responded: “Never Despair. That is a motto for you and me. All are not dead, and where there is a spark of patriotic fire, we will rekindle it.” Soon thereafter Adams went on to start the committees of correspondence that helped unite people to stand up for their "rights as Christians."
I think I see new sparks.
Yet at the same time I grieve over the murder of a prolife activist this past weekend. It has been hardly noticed, yet I find in it even deeper resolve as the high cost that some of us must pay is made more clear. But the blood of martyrs is like seed. May it sprout up and grow until all of our God-given rights to life and liberty are restored to our land.

New Granddaughter

2009-08-15T18:09:00.000-07:00

My second grandchild was born this week! My son's second daughter, Micah Anne Beliles, was born in Guam. The mother, Carrie, and the older sister, Faith, are doing well, and grandmother, Nancy, is departing Monday for Guam for three weeks. Meanwhile, I will be guarding the home front and taking care of our two dogs, Maggie and Beau.
Sometimes family matters like these may appear relatively unimportant in the big picture of transforming nations, but really all lasting change in culture is done multi-generationally through institutions such as the family and church.
I have been reading Deuteronomy lately and have been especially attune to the frequency of references to parents having duties to teach and mentor their children and even their grandchildren.
Thank you Lord for entrusting me with three wonderful children and two grandchildren so far.
(I have posted a photo of my two granddaughters.)

2009-06-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

Governor Mark Sanford's disclosure of infidelity in his marriage was a disappointment to many religious conservatives, as is any similar incident when a political leader who generally holds to policies closer to a Biblical Worldview, effectively ruins his potential for national leadership. An article today entitled Will Scandals Inspire Stray of Evangelicals from GOP? asks if this would discourage loyalty of conservative Christians to the Republican Party.
I don't think most Evangelicals vote Republican because of a belief that it's leaders are less subject to such sins. Democrats only rarely feel the need to confess their sins, even though they are surely guilty of such things as much or more (John Edwards reluctantly confessed and was forced to do so because of his national status as a recent vice-Presidential candidate.) Name the last state political leader or congressman among Democrats who has humbly confessed wrong in this way. No, Democrats tend to yawn at such things and even frequently begin to champion such vices as rights.
That Republican conservatives confess and often resign over their moral failures is all due to the dominant presence of religious conservatives in the party. Twenty five years ago, Sanford's marriage failure would not have been an issue. That there really are moral standards in the party today and that it costs one's trust and respect when they violate those standards, is what makes me more proud to be associated with Republicans. If religious conservatives were not here, then a Sanford confession would not occur, and other political leaders would be even more likely to do such things, and this behavior would then causes fewer religious conservatives to be a part of the party.
It is the same in a church. A minister who confesses his failure does not normally destroy a congregation. It ends up strengthening the beliefs and morals and lifestyle that it stands for in the first place. This is the very reason that the Bible, unlike every other holy book in world religions, never hides the moral failures of its heroes. Beliefs are deepened and a perfect and holy God who chooses to call and use imperfect sinners for His purposes, is revealed in even more glory and awe.

2009-06-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

Between Feb 24 and May 13 this year I spoke to over 15,000 people in six countries (in the following order): Hungary, Netherlands, Zambia, South Africa, Ukraine and South Korea. (I was seen on television by millions more in these places.) Several thousand of those I taught were influential leaders of governments, businesses, schools and churches. Significant partnerships were established with universities and other academic institutions in South Africa, Hungary, and South Korea. I am posting one photo of some of those I taught in Korea. More will come soon.

2009-06-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

This blog will attempt to share stories and offer commentary on the role of Christians in influencing their nations.