OBEDIENCE
July 25, 2026
Dear Heritage Bible Church Family and Friends,
Even though Generation Z folks, those ages 14-29, are expressing a renewed interest in spiritual things, the heartbreaking statistic still hasn’t changed. Two-thirds of today’s youth will leave the church by the time they reach college age, and very few will return. In fact, according to Lifeway Research, “70–88% of youth born in evangelical homes leave the faith after one year in a secular college.”
Now, I’ve said the same thing since 1975, and I now have the statistical data to back it up. For the last 50 years, American churches have tried to entertain the youth, rather than teaching them the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. Therefore, the youth grew up with a shallow faith, with no answers to the basic, fundamental questions of life. Their faith was tied to the youth group rather than developing biblical convictions they would not compromise. When they encountered the winds of worldliness and wickedness, without those deep roots of faith in God and in God’s Holy Word, they folded like a cheap tent in the wind.
When I speak to children, young-teens, older-teens, and college-age youth, they say they are hungry for truth!! They’re tired of the shallow entertainment they’ve been fed—they want “meat”! They love the authoritative teaching from God’s Word, as long as the transformed life of their teacher backs it up.
In last week’s sermon, I challenged our students to understand that the “Price of Success” is to meditate on the Word of God. In this sermon, I remind them that the “Price of Obedience” is their unconditional love for the Lord.
· The sermon may be viewed at theheritagechurch.org
· The sermon will be available on our website and YouTube.
· The YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com@heritagebaptistchurchperry
· Thank you for your continued support. Please share this email with anyone you think might find it helpful for their spiritual growth.
Pastor Wayne and the whole Heritage Family
Wayne J. and Linda J. Edwards
PO Box 766
Perry, GA 31069 USA
706-599-3966
wnledwards@gmail.com
THE WATCHMEN’S REPORT
News Stories that Connect with Biblical Prophecy
By Wayne J. Edwards, July 25, 2026
My Fellow Watchmen,
The greatest threat to real evangelism today is “decisionism.” Decisionism is a method in modern evangelism that reduces salvation to a simple human choice, such as raising a hand, walking an aisle, or repeating a printed prayer. Critics correctly argue that “decisionism” threatens true faith by bypassing the need for genuine repentance, therefore minimizing sin.
Decisionism produces a false assurance of salvation based on a ritual they performed, rather than the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
John 6:44 says, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him at the last day.” If salvation hinges on a human decision, the church’s job is to remove any cultural or religious obstacles that might offend or prevent a person from making that decision to save themselves. This is why the goal of the megachurches is to make the “seeker” feel comfortable. Therefore, decisionism is the greatest engine behind the rise of modern megachurches in America. This shift from expository preaching (verse-by-verse explanation) to topical preaching (theme-based application) is the primary tool megachurches use to keep their large, non-denominational crowds engaged week after week.
Beloved, the Bible says the initial evidence of true salvation is genuine repentance, which means turning away from our sins and the ways of the world, turning to Christ and becoming a devoted disciple. As Watchman Nee wrote:
“Repentance means a change of mind. Formerly, I thought sin was a pleasant thing, but now I have changed my mind about it. Formerly, I thought the world an attractive place, but now I know better. Formerly I regarded it a miserable business to be a Christian, but now I think differently. Once I thought certain things delightful, now I think them vile. Once I thought other things utterly worthless, now I think them most precious.”
Please forward these timely news stories and articles to those you think might be interested.
Pastor Wayne
Wayne J. and Linda J. Edwards
PO Box 766
Perry, GA 31069
706-599-3966
wnledwards@gmail.com