Synopses & Reviews
Elmer Towns’ Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough has become must-reading as this powerful spiritual discipline of fasting has seen a revival among followers of Christ. Now Towns digs deeper into one of the most popular forms of fasting today, the Daniel Fast. With an emphasis on a healthy, simple diet, The Daniel Fast is named after the prophet Daniel who participated in a partial fast for spiritual purposes. Daniel was taken captive into Babylon when he was 16 years old. The Babylonian king wanted the young prophet to help him administer his rule over the captive Jews—and he wanted to “Babylon-ize” Daniel, to make the young man of God more like him. The first step the king took in his campaign was to provide a sumptuous feast to tempt Daniel—food fit for a king— basically fattening comfort foods. In response, the prophet refrained from the king’s table, choosing instead to eat only vegetables and to drink only water. He honored God over
the king. Dr. Elmer Towns introduces readers to the spiritual, physical and mental basics of the Daniel Fast, coaching them through either a 10-day or 21-day period of renewal, and he includes original Daniel Fast recipes created by executive chef John P. Perkins. Dr. Towns addresses practical questions, such as what to eat and when, as well as how to pray effectively. Readers will learn how to encounter God during their fast, how to worship through self-discipline and how to pray for specific answers. They will also explore the role of weeping, repentance and spiritual warfare in their life of faith. Daniel is a model to God’s people of someone who chooses spiritual nourishment over bodily satisfaction, in The Daniel Fast for Spiritual Breakthrough, God’s people can learn to follow his example.
Review
Dr. Elmer Towns is a giant among men. His influence on tens of thousands of students, laity, and ministers places him at the forefront of educators. His heart for the Church and prayer has had ripple effects across denominational lines. He is a hero for many, and his life and ministry are a blessing!
Michael Catt
Senior Pastor, Sherwood Baptist Church, Executive Producer, Sherwood Pictures
Elmer Towns is my friend. We met first in 1978, and he has been an encouragement to the Lord’s work here in Korea. Walking with Giants tells of his friendship with many of the pastors of the world’s largest churches and many nations of the world. He has a love for all the believers in all the denominations and has been a friend of pastors in all of these groups. Elmer Towns is a Baptist, and he has great love for those who love Jesus Christ. My church is Pentecostal, and he preached here, and was used of God. I recommend this book to all who want to walk with giants and learn from them.
David Yonggi Cho
Pastor, Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul, South Korea (World’s Largest Church)
On July 4, 1971, when I was four years old, my family was having a picnic with Elmer and Ruth Towns, and we walked up to the top of Sharp Top, the highest mountain in Virginia. It was hot, and I was tired and wouldn’t go on. So Elmer lifted me onto his shoulders and took me to the top. I thank God for the many different ways Elmer has carried me over the years. Now, it is my privilege to be his pastor and to “carry” him and the work of Thomas Road Baptist Church forward. One of the things I like about this book is that Elmer honors my father, noting it was Jerry Falwell, Sr., who had a vision to start Liberty University and had great faith to make it happen. This book talks about what God has accomplished at Liberty and how Dr. Towns was involved. Read this book and praise God for what He has done.
Jonathan Falwell
Senior Pastor, Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Virginia
Elmer Towns is a gifted Bible teacher and faithful preacher of the Word of God. His life’s story will warm your heart as he shares the deepest hurts of a young boy who overcame the struggles and turmoil of a difficult childhood by meeting the Savior. His commitment to Jesus Christ has led him into pulpits and classrooms, and many young men and women have learned the great truths of Scripture under the careful teaching of my friend, Elmer Towns.
Franklin Graham
President and CEO, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, President and CEO, Samaritan’s Purse
Review
Walking with Giants is a moving account of how God used a man who was committed to service, righteousness and humility before the Lord. As a graduate of Liberty University, I walked behind the giants mentioned in this book, and God used them to influence my life in profound ways. I would not have had the family, the husband or the life I’m living if they had not served the Lord so well. Those who are unfamiliar with the circumstances of Elmer Towns’s life will read this book with wonder . . . and those who have been blessed to know him will read it with gratitude.
Dr. Angela Hunt
Christy Award Winner and Bestselling Author
Walking with Giants takes us on an insightful journey through the last 70 years of evangelicalism from the perspective of one of its key movers and shakers. During the trip, you will laugh out loud as the 19-year-old preacher, Elmer Towns, motivates the recently regenerated town drunk to help paint their dilapidated church. Six decades later, you will weep as he relates the loss of Jerry Falwell, his dear life-long teammate. Walking with Giants is a great read.
Dr. Bill Jones
President, Columbia International University
Elmer Towns has been my mentor for more than 40 years. He first touched my life through his books and then through his life. He has spent his life challenging pastors and church leaders around the world to enlarge their vision and passion for the cause of Christ. His life has touched mine and now will touch yours as you read this book. To Elmer, my great friend and mentor, I say, “Well done! You have lived well!”
John C. Maxwell
New York Times Bestselling Author
Dr. Towns is one of the most influential Christian leaders of the twentieth century. As co-founder of Liberty, the Lord worked through Dr. Towns to truly change the course of history. All of Liberty’s now-innumerable graduates carry within them the influence of Dr. Elmer Towns—myself included. This giant of the faith has shaped my life as a minister. Dr. Towns has been my Sunday School teacher, professor, ministry colleague and friend. I am confident that his amazing story will continue to point lives toward Christ for decades to come.
Alex McFarland
Apologetics Director, North Greenville University
Walking with Giants gives helpful insight into the life of Elmer Towns, one of the greatest giants of our day. This great man has served as my teacher, mentor and friend. He has influenced me to be a better husband, father, pastor and author. Now, in this revealing book, you too will have the incredible opportunity to learn and gain from his many years of experience. This book will inspire you to love God and do great things for God.
Steve Reynolds
Lead Pastor, Capital Baptist Church, Annandale, Virginia, and Author, Bod4God
Review
I remember joking about my friend Dr. Towns in front of thousands of Liberty University students at convocation. I said, “Dr. Towns has no unpublished thought,” to the roaring laughter of those who know and love him. It seems to be true—my shelf is filled with his wisdom, just as that convocation arena was filled with those influenced and touched by his life. Read this memoir of a man who changed the world.
Ed Stetzer
President, LifeWay Research
I first met Dr. Towns when I was a college student working on staff with John C. Maxwell in Lancaster, Ohio. From 1972 until this day, he has been a friend and mentor to me. I’ve had the opportunity to co-author books and share speaking events with him. What you see is what you get! Elmer Towns is a good and godly man whose walk matches his talk. Walking with Giants is a reflection of a life well lived by one of my heroes of the faith.
Dr. Stan Toler
Bestselling Author, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Jesus’ teaching on humility would preclude any establishment of a Christian Leaders Hall of Fame. However, if there were one, Elmer Towns would surely be inducted as our “Number One Number Two Leader.” His obedience to God’s call to enable Jerry Falwell to skyrocket to a legendary Number One did not detract in the least from his own destiny to emerge as a top-ranking history-maker in American Evangelicalism. The chronicle of Elmer Towns is like no other, and I speak for multitudes when I express deep gratitude that his story will now be perpetuated through this superb memoir.
C. Peter Wagner
Vice president and Apostolic Ambassador, Global Spheres, Inc
Elmer Towns is my friend, my mentor, my golfing companion and, most importantly, my prayer partner! Walking with Giants is the story of a life well lived. You will be inspired, encouraged and motivated to make yourself available to the power of God. These memoirs are proof of what God can do through one individual who fully surrenders himself to God. After reading this book, I am reminded of the words of missionary C. T. Studd: “Oh, let us not rust out—let us not glide through the world and then slip quietly out, without having even blown the trumpet loud and long for our Blessed Redeemer. At the very least let us see to it that the devil holds a thanksgiving service in hell, when he gets news of our departure from the field of battle.”
Dr. Steve Wingfield
Evangelist, Steve Wingfield Evangelistic Association
D. L. Moody once said that when a believer is fully dedicated to the Lord, it is amazing to see what God can do through that person’s life. This is certainly true of Elmer Towns. As you read this book, you will marvel at how God has used Dr. Towns in numerous ways around the globe for His glory. Elmer and I were students together at Dallas Seminary in the fifties. He and his wife, Ruth, and I and my wife, Dottie, were good friends. His dedication to the Lord was obvious even then. May you glorify the Lord as you read how He has worked in Dr. Towns’s life and ministry. To quote his favorite Bible verse, “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass” (1 Thess. 5:24, NASB).
Dr. Roy B. Zuck
Senior Professor Emeritus of Bible Exposition, Dallas Theological Seminary, Editor, Bibliotheca Sacra
Synopsis
God created the human body as a finely tuned instrument of enormous power, but it requires fuel to operate. To make sure your body gets enough fuel to run efficiently, God created in you an appetite for food, which we call “hunger.” So, why would you ever ignore hunger and choose not to eat? Going without food for spiritual reasons is called fasting and is a spiritual discipline with a long and important history in Christianity.When accompanied by your earnest prayers, fasting demonstrates your sincerity to God. In The Beginner’s Guide to Fasting, beloved teacher-theologian Elmer L. Towns introduces you to the basics of this powerful spiritual discipline. You’ll find an overview of fasting in the Old and New Testaments as well as answers to your questions about fasting and physical health, social interaction, spiritual warfare and much more. This is an essential handbook for all who long to draw closer to God through biblical spiritual disciplines!
Synopsis
Going without food for spiritual reasons is called "fasting", a spiritual discipline with a long and important history in Christianity. When accompanied by earnest prayer, fasting demonstrates our sincerity to God. In The Beginner's Guide to Fasting, Elmer Towns introduces the basics to those who may have never fasted before and reviews the fundamentals for seasoned intercessors. An overview of fasting, from the Old and New Testaments, answers questions about fasting related to physical health, social interaction, spiritual warfare and much more. This is an essential handbook for all who long to draw closer to God through biblical spiritual disciplines. RECOVER AND REFORMAT.
Synopsis
Did you know that God sings? There are many things God does that you may not have thought about ever before—and the more we know, the better we can respond to Him. God sees. God winks. God hears. He cries, He waits and He runs. He is jealous and gets angry. He smiles, frowns and laughs! Reflecting on the attributes and activities of God is the best way to become like Him. In
God Laughs, Elmer Towns and Charles Billingsley invite the reader to deeply consider God’s character and qualities. They contend that it’s only as we get to know Him that we can become more like Him, and it’s only when we glimpse God for who He is that we can worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Readers are challenged to dig deeply into Scripture, where God reveals that He has a heart . . . and a nose . . . and that He whistles!
Synopsis
God created the human body as a finely tuned instrument of enormous power, but it requires fuel to operate. To make sure your body gets enough fuel to run efficiently, God created in you an appetite for food, which we call “hunger.” So, why would you ever ignore hunger and choose not to eat? Going without food for spiritual reasons is called fasting and is a spiritual discipline with a long and important history in Christianity.When accompanied by your earnest prayers, fasting demonstrates your sincerity to God. In The Beginner’s Guide to Fasting, beloved teacher-theologian Elmer L. Towns introduces you to the basics of this powerful spiritual discipline. You’ll find an overview of fasting in the Old and New Testaments as well as answers to your questions about fasting and physical health, social interaction, spiritual warfare and much more. This is an essential handbook for all who long to draw closer to God through biblical spiritual disciplines!
Synopsis
Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough is a thought provoking book on one of the least understood, but most powerful disciplines of Christianity. Most believers know about fasting, but few of us really understand the wonderful benefits that come when we fast with purpose and direction. Written in Dr. Elmer Towns dynamic; descriptive style, this book gives the why of fasting, rather than just the how. Towns avoids a glut of techniques and schedules, and instead provides a probing look at Isaiah 58, often called the fasting passage. Learn how fasting can strengthen your faith and draw you closer to God, helping you to be a true overcomer in Christ.
Synopsis
Discover Nine Ways to Break Bondage and Get Closer to God Through Fasting. Learn how fasting can strengthen your faith and draw you closer to God, helping you to be a true overcomer in Christ. This book gives you the biblical reasons for fasting, and introduces you to nine biblical fasts--each designed for a speciific physical and spiritual outcome.
Synopsis
Sharing God's Word with children can be the most spiritually satisfying experience of your life. But if you've never taught kids before the prospect can be terrifying! Let Elmer Towns put your fears to rest as you read through 24 "bite-sized" topics covering everything from motivation to gifting to teaching methods! This easy-to-read book will inspire Sunday School teachers - new and experienced - to embrace with joy their important role of teaching children of all ages about God's amazing love.
Synopsis
The personal study guide leads individuals through the nine fasts described in Dr. Towns bestselling book
Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough. By the use of questions the learned is guided through the different purpose and elements of each type of fast. It is for every Christian who is seeking a deeper relationship with God, strengthened faith and an understanding of the relationship with God, strengthened faith and an understanding of the discipline of fasting. This study can be used by individuals for personal study or as a test for small Bible study groups.
Synopsis
Elmer Towns is known around the world as cofounder of the world’s largest Christian university and as author of more than 175 popular books on prayer, spirituality and the Church. His is also known as a motivator par excellence of men and women who long to be exceptional for the cause of Christ. But not many people know that a long “desert experience” lies behind Towns’s extraordinary success, an experience that taught him how to be, in the words of the apostle Paul, “crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20). In these memoirs, one of the modern Church’s most influential teachers shares his fascinating life story, drawing out principles that can be applied by anyone seeking to become great in God’s kingdom. Leaders and students alike will be challenged to greater faithfulness and encouraged to seek God more deeply.
Synopsis
Prayer and Fasting go hand in hand. Jesus taught the Lords Prayer as the model for how to pray and showed us that when we prayed this way, it praises God and covers everything believers need in this life to attain eternal happiness. The Bible teaches fasting as an expression of faith in Gods word and will. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray the Lords Prayer, He immediately concluded, Now when you fast . . .” (Matthew 6:16).
Fasting with the Lords Prayer will invigorate your faith because it offers hope to those who worship through prayer and fasting, for when we worship God, he comes to receive our worship. Towns explains the importance of prayer and fasting as well as six ways to fast, then examine in depth the seven petitions of the Lords Prayer and conclude with 21-day fasting devotional. Readers will experience deep spiritual results when two of the most powerful resources God has given us for our faith and ministrypraying the Lords Prayer and fasting, are combined in intercession to God.
Synopsis
After Jesus taught His disciples what we know as the Lords Prayer, He continued His teaching: Now when you fast . . .” Not if you fastwhen! Our Lord knew the supernatural power and intimacy with the Father that emerges from a life infused with spiritual disciplines. Fasting with the Lords Prayer is your guide to praying as Jesus taught and fasting for breakthrough answers from our heavenly Father. You will find practical, biblical guidelines to help you prepare for and experience a meaningful fast, and an in-depth exploration of the seven petitions of the Lords Prayer. Plus, 21 daily readings will add richness to your time spent drawing closer to God. The Father is ready to meet your need. Are you ready to draw near and pray?
Synopsis
Join three seasoned church-ministry experts on an insider’s tour of the most innovative churches today! Discover a dozen types of innovation, each with profiles of congregations that have implemented that innovation. This is more than a show and tell tour, however. Each chapter offers a solid take-away for church leaders on how to learn and apply the appropriate innovation profiled. The authors also offer scripturally-based assessments of both the positive and negatives implications of implementing each innovation, providing guidance and wisdom. There are many ways to present the Gospel, and this timely book will serve as a springboard for church leaders scratching their heads and asking themselves, “What should we do next?” By learning from a dozen different church types, church leaders can become more intentional about exploring new directions and reaching more of the world for Christ.
Synopsis
The church of today doesn’t look or act like it once did. Take a look around communities nationwide and you’ll see local churches taking on a variety of forms and expressing themselves in a multitude of ways. Now you can join three seasoned church-ministry experts on an insider’s tour of the most exciting innovations in churches today! Throughout this engaging book, you’ll discover multiple profiles of cutting-edge churches that have implemented each innovation in their own way.You’ll explore churches that have dared to be different, from Ancient-Future Postmodern Churches to Cyber-Enhanced Churches to churches that are intentionally multicultural. More than a show-and-tell tour, each chapter offers solid takeaways as you learn from the innovative direction that other churches have taken and come up with your own. The authors also provide guidance and wisdom through scripturally based assessments of both the positive and negative implications of implementing any given innovation in your church.There are many ways to present the gospel. God is using innovative expressions of the church today to reach many different types of people. Come discover with Towns, Stetzer and Bird, how God has blessed churches such as yours as they have stepped out to find fresh ways to make better disciples. There’s never been a better time to explore innovative new directions for your church and reach more people for Christ.
Synopsis
Fasting has always been a powerful spiritual discipline, and the Daniel Fast has long been a popular form of fasting. But what is the Daniel Fast?When the prophet Daniel was taken captive into Babylon, the king saw in him a promising leader and administrator. If only the young man could be “Babylon-ized,” perhaps he would help the king rule over the exiled Jews. The king’s first step toward Daniel’s “corruption” was to provide a sumptuous menu to tempt him, full of fattening comfort foods and rich wines. The prophet’s response was to eat only vegetables and drink only water. He chose to honor God over the king.
The prophet Daniel is a model for anyone who longs to honor God and experience the spiritual breakthrough that begins with prayer and self discipline. In this new guide to fasting, Dr. Elmer Towns, author of Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough, coaches you through a 10-day or 21-day period of renewal. He answers practical questions, such as what to eat and when, and addresses deeper issues as well—how to pray effectively, how to encounter God during your fast, how to worship through self-discipline, how to pray for specific answers, and, at the same time, how to fast with a healthy diet. You’ll also find original Daniel Fast recipes created by executive chef John P. Perkins. Choose spiritual nourishment over bodily satisfaction, as Daniel did, and invite God to change your life!
Synopsis
The early believers of Jesus Christ knew that they were not just members of an organization, nor were they just an extension of Old Testament Judaism. They knew that they were followers of the living Lord Jesus Christ. They were members of a thing called the church. Through the centuries, the church has been the most powerful transforming force in history. Yet in America many observe it as anemic and powerless. Author Elmer Towns contends that there is good news; there are many things that are still right with the church. What Is Right With the Church affirms the positive things that are present in the church today, and what will carry it forward as a transforming force. This book is not a defense of the traditional church, nor does it run to embrace all new forms of worship. Rather this book examines the biblical nature of church allowing the best to come forth. It is not a book about old churches, new churches or home churches. It is a book about what is right about every true church, no matter the expression, history or culture. A growing number of people are not aware of the enduring strengths of the church. The author contends that if believers in Christ are to effectively move forward with healthy communities and a vibrant faith in this new century, they must be established on foundational, biblical truths and core values. And when this happens, the church thrives as a transforming force.
Synopsis
The church should be the greatest “gathering” on earth because it is the Body of Christ, yetmany people view themodern church as anemic and powerless— or worse, harmful and possibly dangerous. Why? Perhaps most postmodern Americans believe that the church is simply a belief systemlikeHinduism, Buddhism and Islam; they lump Christianity with all the other religions, and suspect that it’s all about rules to control people’s behavior.Ormaybe themedia’s politically correct agenda, which denies supernatural Christianity and explains away God’s authority found in the Bible, has distracted people from recognizing the church as a transformative force for good in the world. Elmer Towns suggests that the Body of Christ is at its best when it focuses on Jesus . . . and he delivers the good news that there are many churches who are doing just that! In What’s Right with the Church, Dr. Towns takes you on a tour of churches that are carrying forward the Early Church’s mission and transforming their communities, in spite of media skepticism and cultural cynicism. These local bodies look different from one another, but they are each “getting church right” in similar ways. Dr. Towns contends that there are a few essentials that, when the church gets them right, ensure that the Body of Christ moves forward in its mission with power and purpose. These basics include the Bible, sin, worship, serving and the Great Commission—and, of course, Jesus Christ! Celebrate what God is continuing to accomplish through the global church, and find out how your local fellowship can join with Him to transform the world.
Synopsis
Towns reveals the power of prayer in this fascinating look at the Lord’s Prayer. Each chapter examines a line from the Prayer, revealing power points for every believer desiring a more dynamic prayer life.
Towns says: “What would you say if you were ushered into the throne room of God with only one minute to request everything you needed, but didn’t know how to put it into words? The Lord’s Prayer includes everything you need to ask when you talk to God . . . it is a model prayer that teaches us how to pray.”
Synopsis
Since Old Testament times, God's people have engaged in the spiritual tradition of fasting: going without food for a predetermined length of time to accomplish an important purpose or goal. Fasting can be done for any number of reasons: to get to know God better, to wait on God for an answer to prayer, to listen to God, to worship Him and much more. In these pages, you'll discover why you should fast, how to prepare for your first fast, what kind of fasts to follow, how to get started, and what to expect after you are finished. Learn how you can master this powerful spiritual discipline with the friendly assistance of "The Beginner's Guide to Fasting".
Synopsis
For those who have ever stumbled over what to say while praying, or for those who want their prayers to be more effective,
How to Pray When You Don’t Know What to Say offers clear guidance on the importance of prayer, a vast array of ways to approach God, why some prayers are not answered, how to deal with doubts about God’s ability to answer prayer, what not to do when praying, and more. In his encouraging style, Elmer Towns doesn’t induce guilt about not praying; rather, he makes readers want to drop to their knees in anticipation of meeting with the God of the universe. By following Elmer’s lead, your prayer life will never be the same.
Synopsis
Shed a spiritual light on one of the biggest problems facing people today, the need to put the role of money in a proper perspective and how to solve our money problems. Elmer Towns states at the outset that this is not the primary purpose of fasting and prayer. Instead, it is all about knowing God. It is not about withdrawing prayer on an as needed basis from some spiritual ATM kiosk. It is about meditation, studying the scriptures and communion with God. When we fast and pray in faith, asking for Gods help and provision, He begins to teach us how to become good stewards of what He has provided. Includes chapters devoted to topics like Fasting to Learn Stewardship, Why We Have Money Problems, Faith Approach to Asking for Money and many more. Once you understand why we you money problems you can do something about it with this practical step by step guide.
About the Author
'\'ED STETZER is co pastor of Lake Ridge church in north Georgia, and research team director and missiologist at the North American Mission Board for the Southern Baptist Convention.
WARREN BIRD is the research director for Leadership Network, a think tank that works with America\\\'s most innovative churches. There, he researches cutting-edge churches and works with their leaders to multiply their evangelistic and disciple-making influence. Bird has served churches for more than 15 years in various roles from pastor to church planter. A seminary adjunct professor, he is the editor or coauthor of 17 books and a Gold Medallion Award winner.
\''