What does it mean to step out in faith, to leave behind everything familiar and comfortable to follow a calling that seems both thrilling and terrifying? For the past 45 years, those of us serving here at Lamb & Lion Ministries have been taking an extraordinary journey based on a testament to unwavering faith, divine provision, and the power of saying “yes” to God’s call.
Our ministry’s story began in 1980, when a distinguished university vice president made a decision that would impact countless lives. At that time, Dr. David Reagan felt a fire in his heart—an urgent calling to proclaim the imminent return of Jesus Christ. What followed was not just the birth of Lamb & Lion Ministries, but the beginning of a movement to herald our Lord’s return, encouraging anyone who would listen to prepare their hearts for Him, and so “be ready.”
Today, April 1, 2025, as we celebrate what God has done through this ministry over the past 45 years, let us take a moment and explore the seven key elements that have sustained this ministry and made it so successful.
First Key Element: Answering God’s Call
It all starts with answering God’s call, taking that first step of faith in obedience.
To quote our founder, Dr. David Reagan: “It was 45 years ago on April 1st that I stepped out in faith to establish this ministry. At that time, I was the vice president of a university. I had 20 years of university career behind me as a professor of International Law and Politics and college administration, but God had put a fire in my heart to proclaim the soon return of Jesus. There was a big difference between preaching about faith and doing it. To step out in faith was very, very scary.”
Dr. Reagan took that very first step of obedient faith, and all who have served in this ministry since have likewise taken that same step of faith into full-time evangelistic ministry.
Second Key Element: Trusting God in Tough Times
It is a very, very difficult thing for a man to let go, to trust that God has everything in control, and to simply trust in Him, especially when times are tough. But, as Proverbs 16:9 reveals, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” We have learned to trust God, especially when the times are tough. As we’ve been obedient to God’s calling, we’ve learned that when God calls, He also equips and sustains.
Third Key Element: Spurring One Another On
This ministry has long been devoted to encouraging, praying, and financially supporting other faithful Christians who have also been called to share the Gospel, particularly the message of the Lord’s imminent return. It has been our great joy to “spur one another on to love and good deeds,” as Hebrews 10:24 encourages.
As Dr. Reagan remembered, “During the history of this ministry, we helped establish five other Bible prophecy ministries and support them on a fundamental basis each month. We give away more than 10% of our income each year. In fact, in one year, we gave over $350,000 to domestic and foreign ministries. I praise God all the time for using us as a channel of His blessings to provide for other like-minded ministries.”
Fourth Key Element: Devotion to God’s Word
This ministry is guided by God’s Word. As we teach Bible prophecy, we take care not to make wild predictions or sensationalist speculations. We are presenting Bible prophecy as it has been given to us in the Scriptures. And, we recognize that Dr. Reagan laid an excellent foundation for this ministry because of his personal devotion to God’s prophetic Word.
He once reflected: “Key to this ministry ever since it began is that every morning we gather together and start our day with a devotion. We then make a prayer list and spend about 30 minutes praying for the Lord to bless our outreach, each other, and over the letters that have been sent in requesting prayer.
Another key to our success over the years has been the fact that we have kept focused on what God has called us to do. He called us to proclaim the imminent return of Jesus and to preach the fundamentals of Bible prophecy, and we have kept focused on that particular goal. We simply focus on what the Bible says about the end times. We are praising God for keeping us to His message.”
Fifth Key Element: Passing the Baton
History has witnessed the Lord appoint His servants to work and lead His ministries for a specific time. But God’s message is greater than anyone’s short mortal lifespan. So there comes a time when a leader steps back and allows another to carry on God’s work. The idea of passing the baton brings to mind the image of a relay racer reaching out their hand to pass the baton to their teammate, one who is rested and ready to run the next leg of the race.
Four years ago, Dr. Reagan reached out and tapped Tim Moore to take the baton and lead Lamb & Lion Ministries. As Nathan Jones had taken the baton from his predecessor, Dennis Pollock. And all of us serving here today have taken the baton from others who once served in their roles, who had taken on the work from someone before them, all the way back to 1980.
Sixth Key Element: Being Thankful for God’s Provision
Periodically, especially after 45 years, it is appropriate to pause and thank God for what He has done, what He is doing now, and what He will do in the future. And that’s exactly what we are doing here today. So, “Thank you, Lord; great is thy faithfulness!”
There is one more of the seven key elements to a successful ministry…
Seventh and Final Key Element: Waiting With Hope
A Bible prophecy-teaching ministry, more than any other type of evangelistic or church ministry, holds the greatest hope—the blessed hope (as Titus 2:13 promises). Our work will finally end at the sound of a great trumpet call as Jesus Christ raptures His Church up to Heaven. Once that glorious day arrives at last, our waiting will be over, and our work, at least in this age, will be completed.
It’s a blessing to be able to look back over 45 years and reflect on God’s leading with you, and to see how our Lord has continued to be faithful to our calling to complete the work in which He has called us to do. I hope that our faith journey here at Lamb & Lion Ministries will encourage other people to step out in faith—maybe even you.
Thank you, and God bless!
Thank you God for this ministry. So faithful and true to you and your son and your Word. Thank you all for all the work and time spent to help us understand the word and the times we live in.
I am glad to find a ministry that is not lacking in the word, or guidance, and biblical teaching, and Israel’s history, the covenants that God made with Israel stand today. The history of the Bible and the people who lived in the days of Jesus, the Prophets, the Disciples, the Pharisees and Levites, and many of the Great Heroes like King David, as well as the Villains of the Bible make it a priceless resource in understanding today’s world and how mankind has not changed. There’s still good and evil. We all know that God’s word is the guidance and the hope we need. So thankful that Lamb & Lion have always been there to help people understand the need to know the word, know Jesus and how he never lets us down, and how to be saved. That is the most important thing we can do in our lives.