Second 8th Week Ministries, Inc.
Raising Public Awareness to Issues of Faith Crisis
and Providing Solutions 

 

Dr. Eric vonAnderseck first introduced the term “Exigent Faith” in his doctoral thesis, which he published in August of 2005 after 28 years research into faith crisis phenomena, documenting its pandemic symptoms and behaviors. He further developed a Choice Education program to assist Christians to identify and overcome faith crisis as well as identify their spiritual goals and achieve them. Dr. vonAnderseck introduced God’s Intelligent Design for Christ-Centered Spiritual Transformation and together with a team of trained volunteers he has donated over 5 million dollars worth of humanitarian services.  

Second 8th Week Ministries Mission 

Our goal is simple:  To raise awareness to the spiritual problems people face and to provide faith participants with free education and the tools they need to successfully reach their spiritual goals. 

Identifying the Problem 

          Statistics support claim of faith crisis 

2.1 billion Christians in the world. 85 % of Americans claim to be Christian.1  

According to the Barna Group, 72% of Americans believe in God when described as the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect creator of the universe who rules the world today. Almost nine out of ten people (87%) say the universe was originally created by God. And the idea that “every person has a soul that will live forever, either in God’s presence or absence,” is also embraced by 79% of American adults.2 

According to the Barna Group, the number of unchurched has risen from 39 million in 1991 to 75 million in 2004. 13 million of these people were formerly churched.3 

Barna claims: "Few believers said that their church lacked programs, but most Christians complained that little is done to effectively motivate and facilitate their development as genuine, fervent followers of Christ. Our surveys among pastors showed that they dismissed such views as excuses and as inaccurate, but the bottom line remains unchanged: most Christians are simply not making progress in their personal spiritual development."4  

David Lukoff, Ph.D., renown psychologist, author, and lecturer, in his 1998 paper, “From Spiritual Emergency to Spiritual Problem: The Transpersonal Roots of the New DSM-IV Category,” wrote; “only 19% of adult Americans regularly practice their religion. Some 22.5% exhibit ‘only trace elements’ of religion in their lives; another 29% were rated as barely or nominally religious, and 7.5% describe themselves as agnostics. The researchers concluded that most Americans claim a religion that does not significantly inform their attitudes or behavior.” 

Dr. Lukoff’s study was in response to the American Psychological Association (APA) commission of a new diagnostic category called “Religious or Spiritual Problem” (Code V62.89 in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-Fourth Edition APA). The attention of the APA to spiritual crisis gives us an idea of the magnitude of the problem we face.  

Failing to reconnect with God at church and claiming a religion that does not significantly inform their attitudes or behavior, Americans headed for the therapist couch to fill the gap. How prepared were psychiatrists to help people with their religious and spiritual problems? Dr. Lukoff, in his paper, “From Spiritual Emergency to Spiritual Problem: The Transpersonal Roots of the New DSM-IV Category” identified this problem:  

In a survey of APA member psychologists, 60% reported that clients often expressed their personal experiences in religious  language, and that at least 1 in 6 of their patients presented issues which directly involve religion or spirituality (Shafranske and Maloney, 1990). Another study of psychologists found 72% indicating that they had at some time addressed religious or spiritual issues in treatment (Lannert, 1991) . . . In a survey of Association of Psychology Internship Centers training directors, 83% reported that discussions of religious and spiritual issues in training occurred rarely or never. One  hundred per cent indicated they had received no education or training in religious or spiritual issues during their formal internship. Most of the training directors did not read professional literature addressing religious and spiritual issues in treatment, and they stated that little was being done at their internship sites to address these issues in clinical training (Lannert, 1991). A national study of APA member psychologists found that 85% reported rarely or never having discussed religion and spiritual issues during their own training (Shafranske and Maloney, 1990). Similar findings from other surveys suggest that this lack of training is the norm throughout the mental health professions (Sansone, Khatain, and Rodenhauser, 1990).

According to this study, America neared the turn of the century and faced the new millennium with a mental health profession that was  undereducated about how to help people with religious and spiritual issues. People who failed to achieve their spiritual transformation goals in church  were likely to also fail to receive the type of guidance they needed from the mental health professionals as well. Realizing this to be the case, we have seen a new merger take place between religion and science as they join hands to find the missing key to spiritual transformation. This new merger between religion and science means that there is a resurgence of interest in these last days about our spiritual roots, the design of our souls, the purpose of life, and our destiny. However noble that pursuit is, the attempts to shed light on the mystery of man’s existence is challenged when researchers and scholars try to make sense of human spirituality and spiritual crisis without first building an understanding of the role of the Antichrist spirit and his system.  

This is like trying to develop a vaccine for an infectious disease without first understanding the pathways of the disease, the stages of the disease, and its transmission system, to learn how the disease moves through the body and is transmitted to the general population. Efforts to bridge the gaps in understanding spiritual transformation are further challenged by lack of a reality base. We understand that money gurus are popular because they can talk people through their financial problems with answers that do in fact relate to how the financial world is geared. They can engage people with advice they can immediately apply toward financial freedom. Financial freedom is a concept that people do indeed understand. It’s about control. It’s about empowerment and how to use the capital you have to put yourself in the driver’s seat. When we talk about spiritual freedom, that too is about control and empowerment. People want to know what they believe and why, and they want a tangible reality to their faith that does indeed correspond to how God has geared the spiritual world. People become disillusioned in their faith when the advice they follow does not empower them. This is why so much of Christianity is geared toward achieving what people are missing in their day-to-day walk with God. Believers pursue a closer relationship with God because the simple “how-to” dynamics of daily fellowship and communion with God are missing. Believers pursue victory over themselves, the world, and the devil because the simple “how-to” dynamics of daily spiritual warfare are either extremely distorted or entirely missing. This lack of reality base means that although the Bible is preached from the pulpit every Sunday, most Christians don’t experience the reality of the message in their lives. 

Christian leadership in agreement that faith crisis exists: 

“There is a dimming of the gospel taking place in America.”  Steve Hill5

 

 “…most believers haven’t been equipped to know what they believe…” Josh McDowell6

 

“The average Christian is living a defeated and frustrated life.” Bill Bright7

 

“There is a growing sense of failure among the church leaders I talk with, and we are looking for something more meaningful.” Willard8

 

“In my tradition conversion was very important, but because lives were rarely transformed, we also had revivals where people could rededicate themselves to Christ—and they did frequently. But as a pastor watching this, it became clear that I really didn’t have anything to help these folks.” Zander9

According to Second 8th Week University independent study:

            With 87% of Christians not satisfied that their faith education and still trying to validate their faith years after they made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ are Christian program objectives still valid?

          While Christian leaders are clearly educated to the fundamental knowledge of Jesus Christ (what the Bible says about His birth, life, death, and resurrection) they are not able to build a strong faith with that knowledge alone. Lacking the foundation knowledge of Jesus Christ faith continues to go into crisis. 

Christian Leaders are coming to Second 8th Week Apostles’ University and talking openly about their experience with Exigent Faith and asking for help for themselves and their congregations:  

“My experience with exigent faith has been one of absolute confusion…I had pondered why it was so hard to receive the type of changed (transformation) that I know God wanted me to have and that I knew I could have.”

 

“Oftentimes I felt that we needed to grow as congregations and I would introduce programs…They all would “work” for a season without translating any meaningful lasting growth and increase in the believers.”

 

“I have taught about the power of God, practiced ways in which I thought God’s power was to be released, and have been frustrated at the elusiveness of the power of God in my personal life.”

 

“I have had experiences with many programs that promises results, however, I have been disappointed with the sustainability of each thrust.”

 

“My experience has been a long time search, trial & errors in coming to know Jesus in the fullness and the power of His resurrection.”

 

“Yes, I have experienced Exigent Faith symptoms. I call my symptoms a spiritual wilderness. Wandering back and forth looking for truth and light, but I remained clueless.”

 

“I have done a lot of fasting and prayer for revival yet there isn’t any in my inner man.” 

 Leadership experience with Exigent Faith translates into their congregations also experiencing faith crisis:

“I never had a problem in believing in breakthroughs," going deeper, .etc, but  experiencing that was something else.”

 

“Although I  knew that I must be in Christ and He in me I did not know how this should take place.”

 

“I feel that I will never measure up to what I've been taught. I feel anxious & stressed.  I am desperately hungry for God. I feel pressured to participate in church events.”

 

“I have been to revival, after revival, and I have been to various conferences where people come looking for lasting change, healing and deliverance, (even spending thousands of dollars hoping to secure a blessing) and still experience a roller coaster like Christian walk.”

 

“Most of my Christian experience has been with programs that you hope would transform your life. One gets excited for a while but soon reverts back to the patterns of the old nature.

 

“No body could tell me how to have faith in God. No matter how much I tried to work up this “feeling” of “faith” I still felt empty and void of hope. I experienced a loss of self worth, thinking that I would never have the kind of faith that will please God enough to even hear my prayers.”

 

“I have learned that no matter how much I study the Bible, go to church, or read Christian books it's all of no avail if I don't have some permanent changes and transformations in my life.”

 

“God was not in the hype that promised great change within but progressively left me with a bankrupt faith which I called spiritually shipwrecked.” 

Turning Faith Around, Restoring Hope, Refitting Faith to the Headship of Jesus Christ: 

Read what people are saying about Second 8th Week Humanitarian Services through their Choice Education Program: 

 “I thank God for Second 8th Week Ministries and the ground breaking studies, tools, and repurposing of faith in Jesus Christ. The simplicity is a marvel!”

 

“I'm experiencing the kind of peace that I have not experienced before. It seems unreal sometimes how quiet my life is now.”

 

“Everyone promises their teaching on purpose and destiny will transform, refresh and empower. This is the first time I have ever experienced a Christian leader actually delivering good on his promise. The results continue to enlarge, expand and increase...its truly remarkable.”

 

“God, by His grace, drew me to Second 8th Week Ministries. It was like a light going on in the darkness. I gained a new born confidence in my Christian faith.”

 

“My trust and faith in God is rebuilt and I have regained a mental and emotional wellbeing that is important to me as a husband, father, and as a contributor to my community.”

 

“Inspires me toward consistent and satisfying service to God and others.”

 

“As a paramedic I see a lot of trauma cases. I commend Second 8th Week Ministries for identifying spiritual trauma and for the education they provide to turn things around.”

 

“I became involved with Second 8th Week Ministries online Distance Learning program in March of 2002. I examined the teachings that were made free of charge and knew that this was what I'd been searching for so long. The training and support I received superseded all my expectations to restore in me the joy of my salvation, showing me how to have a purposeful Christian life.”

 

“Constructive! I am no longer trying new ventures all the time trying to ‘get God involved’ in my life; I am now skilled with answers based on biblical facts and enjoy a vibrant daily relationship with Jesus Christ.” 

References

1    Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html; Christian Statistics: The Largest Christian Populations. Ash, Russell. The Top 10 of Everything (New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 1997), pp.160-161. December Advance Newsletter (Kainos Press, 1996), Adherents.com. http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_christian.html 

2  Barna Group; Retrieved June 10, 2005 from http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/PageCategory.asp?CategoryID=2

3  Barna Group: http://www.barna.org/ FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=163

4  (Barna G. Discipleship Insights. November 28, 2000. Retrieved November 14, 2003 from http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=76) 

5  Grady, J. Lee. “Charismatic Leaders Address Ministry Trends.” Charisma +Christian Life. Pastors and ministry leaders gathered in Dallas in January to discuss the future of the church. Retrieved March 21, 2006 from http://www.charismamag.com/display.php?id=12567

6  “Josh McDowell and the Quest for Da Vinci.” The 700 Club. Retrieved May 5, 2006 from http://www.cbn.com/700club/Guests/Bios/Josh_McDowell051206.aspx

7  Bright, Bill. “Campus Crusade for Christ.” Transferable Concepts. Retrieved June 12, 2005 from http://www.basicsteps.org/transconcepts/ 

8  “The Apprentices.” Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal (Summer 2005), vol. XXVI, no. 3, p.20. Retrieved August 16, 2005 at http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2005/003/2.20.html

9 “The Apprentices.” Christianity Today: International/LeadershipJournal (Summer 2005), vol. XXVI, no. 3, p.20. Retrieved August 16, 2005 at http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2005/003/2.20.html

Index