It was 1947 and Billy Graham was in the early days of forming his evangelical outreach to spread the Gospel to as many people as possible. In three short years by 1950 he would form the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and the race was on to reach the world for Christ. His conviction to share the Gospel was paramount but his burden to see new Christians grow into maturity in Christ weighed upon him just as heavily. Who would lead such a task and where would the courses come from? The answer came from Billy's friend, Dawson Trotman, who had been developing a course for years to train new believers on how to walk with Christ. After successfully training multiple US serviceman, God put on Dawson’s heart a vision. If Dawson could build an outreach at military bases across the country these trained brothers and sisters in Christ would return home to spread God’s word. His methodology was based on one of the greatest simple inventions of all time, the wheel.
The strongest part of the wheel, the hub, contains all the biblical ingredients from which everything is held together, "Christ the Center.". Galatians 2:20 states, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
The first vertical spoke of the wheel is, "The Word." Joshua 1:8 says, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success.”
The second vertical spoke is, "Prayer." John 16:24 states, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
The first horizontal spoke is, "Fellowship." Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
The second and final horizontal spoke is, “Witnessing." Romans 1:16 states, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”
The wheel would not be complete without the all-important outer rim, “Obedience." John 14:21 says, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
As we spur one another onto maturity in Christ, remember Gods provisions are already laid out for us in his work. Take hold today and see what great eternal works he has in store for you. See you in Church. Your brother in Christ, Dave K.
