"Eyes Wide Open" (EWO) is a family ministry which God place upon our hearts, being first concieved at the start of 2005. The next two years were spent studying, praying and understanding the mission put before us. During the spring of 2007 we began doing bi-monthly powerpoint presentations and developing study materials on different subjects at our local church. We have recently spoken to several churches introducing the ministry and its focus on Biblical authority using apologetics. During the 2007-08 school year we taught classes on apologetics and biblical authority to home-schooled students one day a week through May at another church. We've developed several different seminar style training sessions, including study guides, each dealing with a wide range of popular arguments coming from a culture that consistently exalts itself against the knowledge of God's Word. .
EWO MISSION STATEMENT:
"CASTING DOWN THE CLAIMS OF A CULTURETHAT EXALTS ITSELF AGAINSTSadly, many in the secular world view Christianity as a religious mythodology held dogmatically by weak minded believers employing blind faith. This image has taken hold, in part, because churches have taught "WHAT" Christians should believe but rarely "WHY" it is believable. EWO's purpose is to instruct believers how to defend what they believe by understanding the reasons why they can and should believe . This not only strengthens the foundation of their faith but increases the likelihood that they will share that faith with others. (we have seen actual results in our on church with those who haven't witnessed to others in years) We have seen young and old alike become more active in witnessing to others as they become comfortable with their ability to logically respond to commonly asked questions. For example, why they believe the Bible is God's Word, why evil existence, and why Jesus is the only way.Today many Christians and even some pastors cannot give sound biblical and logical responses to questions being put forth by our culture. It seems that every time a Christian goes on Larry King or some other secular media outlet, they get questioned about Jesus being the only way to eternal life. Of course, this is done to paint the Christian as intolerant. However, rarely does the guest give a biblically sound logical response and some even deny the claim altogether.Is it any wonder we see surveys indicating that over 85% of teens from evangelical homes are leaving the church after they leave home, when the leaders of the very faith they claim provide such weak responses or even give unbiblical ones. Many of those young people end up looking to other religions or philosophies they see as being more logically sound and seem to make a more noticable difference in the lives of those who profess them. They do this rather than blindly believing a religious faith that to them is seemingly indefensible based on the responses they have gotten over the years from pastors, teachers and parents who love God but are not really sure how to logically tell someone why they should also. This makes the following EWO Statement of Focus all the more true.EITHER WE WILL TEACHOUR CHILDREN TODEFEND THEIR FAITHORTHE WORLD WILLTEACH THEM THEIRFAITH IS INDEFENSIBLEEveryday our culture is bombarding us with man made philosophies, ideas and pop-psychology. It can be found in the media from cartoons to "Christian" programing. It's in our schools from kindergarten to college, and not just public but even private "Christian" schools and seminary colleges. Ask yourself this, why is it that many Christian high school graduates entering seminary with a biblical world view graduate without one?EWO was created to fulfill the commands of scripture; that we proclaim the truth and give a reasoned defense for the hope we have within us and do it as Peter commanded, with kindness. (1 Peter 3:15)God Bless,Pastor Scott Cosper
