This is the Truth Network. Kingdom Pursuits, where you hear from ordinary people instilled with an extraordinary passion. Together we explore the stories of men and women who take what they love and let God turn their passion into kingdom pursuits.
Now, live from the Truth Booth, your host, Robbie Dilmore. How fun! Here we are today on the last kingdom pursuits of 2025 and talking about One of my favorite, absolute favorite discussions I could possibly ever have, and that of discipleship, right? That it is part of the Great Commission, as you know, that God said, right, go make disciples of all nations and baptizing them in the Name of the Father of the Son, that that is the great commission. And so that idea of what is disciples, how do you make them and I got to tell you that I learned something here a few weeks ago when I started beginning to understand a little bit about the Cook Media Group Global and David C.
Cook. that wow I never thought about Making children disciples. And that's one of the cool, cool things that they do. And we have actually an old friend of mine, used to be my son's head of school at Calvary Baptist Day School, David Johnson, who's actually now with Cook Media Global. And so I know God has taken your passion to make disciples your whole life, David.
And now here you are with this global opportunity. Robbie, thank you. It's good to be on your show this morning. You've hit it right, right down the middle. I love the idea That a ministry is wholly dedicated to making disciples in the name of Jesus Christ.
That's exactly what David C. Cook for 150 years has been doing, and I'm blessed to now be a part of that ministry. Yeah, so exciting. interview I did earlier on True Talk Live this month. Uh we talked about uh that your guys are doing this all over the world in ways that I had no idea because he had several brands, Integrity Music and David C.
Cook. And so as we Go through the show today. I hope you'll understand, like, I've come to understand the amazing thing that God's been doing. Um, Behind this company, that honestly I didn't know much much about. David, how did you come to discover?
It's um it's Okay, so there's the there's another part of the story that I have been involved in As I graduated from Dallas Seminary many years ago, I was involved in Christian education first as a Bible teacher. And I thought, as many had done with me, to make disciples through education. And then I moved over into athletics at the same time.
So as I saw the extension of the classroom onto the playing field, in my case, a football coat. I really recognize the way in which we discipled Is a is a a wide variety, and there's a lot of ways in which that is accomplished in the kingdom. One of the things that I had continued to grow and do is help ministries find key leaders.
So I got involved in executive search, and one of the people that I happen to know through my contacts in the football world. Was an HR director with Cook. We had known each other many years before. with other ministries and he was trying to find a particular person for a chief level officer and I helped him find that person. And as it turns out, I then became very exposed to David C.
Cook's ministry. I was not aware of. Um The publishing company, but I was aware of its authors. At the time, the best known was Francis Chan, and his book, Crazy Love, was a bestseller of blessing millions of people.
So as I began to learn more about the ministry, And told that story hundreds of times to potential candidates, I fell in love with what they were doing.
So over the course of the next few years, I've Maintained my contact with them. And then, about four or five months ago, another close friend of mine actually joined the ministry. We began to talk about. What the needs were, and what he was doing, and I was invited to join the team, and suddenly.
someone like myself on the outside is now working within the ministry. In the development world, which is telling the story and helping bless millions of people through its ministry. It began with a desire to disciple and then moved over into helping find key leaders for the company. And then to become a member of that team is a real blessing. Oh, so cool.
You know, those who may not be familiar, I hope you're going to get familiar, as they have this phenomenal publication called the Action Bible. Um that they give how many of those things like They're millions to kids, right? In their own language. Yes, it's it's one of the most amazing stories. I love the scriptures.
I hold a very conservative position, like most of your listeners, I'm sure, do. It's God's word. it's it's divine it's it's in its inspiration we can trust it it's infallible in its teaching So from everything about it, when I first started learning to read the Bible, I was in college. And I didn't have any context. I was not a church attender.
I did not grow up in the church.
So, the Bible for me was like a rumor. I didn't really understand what it was about. I had seen Ten Commandments, which was for the first time ever, I sat and watched that wonderful show. And I opened up this King James Bible. And I started trying to follow along the movie story.
And I realized, wait, this book may be real. And it hit me that I didn't really connect the book to its story. I didn't know the stories of the Bible. I didn't know how it would apply to my life. I didn't really understand those things.
And one area. Became a student at Dallas Seminary over the time of coming to Jesus in college, being discipled by a seminary graduate. Being introduced to how to read my Bible. It was a life-changing event for me. Salvation brought my reconciliation to Jesus, through Jesus to the Father.
Peace was in my life, but I didn't know. The stories, and I didn't understand those things.
So I began to read. And I've had these images and this idea of what it would be like and what it was like. I think what's happened over time is to tell that story We've seen millions of people come to the faith in Jesus Christ through the Jesus film. from Campus Crusade Now Crude. My own son gave his life to Christ when he was four years old watching that film, with me sitting on the couch.
one Saturday morning.
So to see the stories. to read the text, but see the stories Is a powerful reality for people, children in particular. And even though the book is for adults, it can begin with children if we can talk to them at the level at which they understand and engage. And images are a big deal to them. Robbie, you probably remember those days in Sunday school when we had felt boards and we told the story of putting the action figures on the felt boards.
Uh you know, those days are wonderful and It blessed millions of people in the church.
Well, the Action Bible does that with illustrations. And it is a masterwork of the story of the redemption of God. Redeeming his people, but children and adults who help children understand those things. can see it in most vivid ways. And it's been over millions of people in David C.
Cook in its creation, but also in its mission. to bless people. That is one of the leading things we raise money for to give away to children around the world. Right, and around the world.
So they're, you know, different countries in South America and Spanish and Portuguese, and then in Africa, you know how many dialects that they have over there, and then in Asia, oh my goodness. And so here's this Bible as we're raising money again here on the Truth Network. I hope you've heard the ads for davidccook.org slash radio. If you go to davidccook.org slash radio, easy enough to donate this time of year if you're thinking about any of your gift. Oh my word.
Like. How cool to think that as you're making disciples of these children, You know, they have that natural energy, they have that childlike faith, and it spreads like wildfire, right, David? Oh jazz. And the enthusiasm of children is such a blessing to anyone who's involved in youth ministry. I think that's one of the things that when we get to a certain point, we tend to outgrow the vibrancy and the excitement of the faith.
And I get that, and I understand that because there's a maturing to go deeper and understand those things. But there's There's something that we lose out with the the enthusiasm and the joy and the wonder and the surprise. and the discovery that we see in the life and the face of children When they hear that God is real, that God loves them, and then they can see the story of people who have been. been redeemed and God's revealed himself to them. And their lives are changed, and then they recognize that they're part of that story too.
Oh, that's so cool. To be able to do that. We gotta go to a break, I'm afraid, David. When we come back, of course. We got to play a little shenanigans because it is Kingdom Pursuits, and you'll have a chance to call in and win.
And so we're going to come back with a whole lot more. DavidCcook.org. We'll be right back. You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. Welcome back to Kingdom Pursuits, where we hear how God takes your passion and uses it to build the kingdom.
So blessed today to have with us. David Johnson with Cook Media Global. David Ccook.org/slash radio is what we've been talking about today. And we've been talking about disciples. And so it's time to play a little shenanigans, as we always do, David, if you've ever heard our show before.
So, speaking of disciples.
Now the fun begins. Oh, yes, it is. We have some shenanigans to play and at the end we'll give you a... Riddle that you can call in and win.
So, how fun.
So, the way this works. David, as you hear that music in the background, is we're going to ask some riddles about discipleship that are actually a little bit punny. And you can see if you want to. Try to win. What do you think?
Okay, this is fantastic. Oh, good.
Okay, so Nick, of course, is an expert. He's been doing this for years now. And so, you know, part of it is: so, what did the disciples publicist? Tell them to do at the Last Supper, Nick. David, what do you think the disciples publicist?
We're talking about the 12 disciples. What did the disciples' publicists tell them to do at the Last Supper? Hmm. You got any ideas, Dave? I'm thinking that's okay.
I'm having to warm up to this, Robbie. This is, I wasn't quite ready for this. I'm going to say, um,. Oh, it's too silly. I'm just going to say, go tell it on the mountain.
But that's the thing. Yeah, that would be good. That would be funny. That'd be good. What do you think, Nick?
I don't know. Everybody that wants to be in the picture gets on this side of the table. Uh This one's a little easier. You might could get this one if you know what curling is.
So, why does Jesus always go first when the disciples go curling? Why would Jesus always go first? when the disciples go curling. You mean like yeah, wait they're curling these stones. You you you kind of take these curling with the Olympic.
Yeah. Because let they who is without sin cast the first stone. He always goes first. Oh man, I'm gonna pick up my game, Robbie. I'll be like that.
And this is my personal favorite on the list, and I bet you can get it, okay, now that we've got you good and warmed up.
Okay, why did the disciple go to the other side of the road? Why did the disciple go to the other side of the road? Hmm. You're gonna like this, David. I know you will.
All right, Nick, I wanna I wanna let you go first. I want to let David go first. All right.
Well, obviously to get to the other side, but that just doesn't seem cool enough. to get across. Yeah. He went to the other side of the road to get across. Yeah, so last one on my regular list here is: what did the disciple say to the man who complained about his Facebook obsession?
The man was obsessed with Facebook, explaining it to the disciple. What did the disciple respond to him? Ah man. Yeah, he's been sick. Nick's having he's struggling today.
What do you think, David? You got this one? I think it wants to be something about your life or your friends.
Something like that.
Sorry, I don't follow you. Oh, there you go.
Okay. All right.
Or you could say, sorry, I'm not following you.
However, that.
So at the end of those shenanigans, you knew that we would actually have a riddle for you to call in and win. David and Nick don't get to play on this one.
So, with that said. Oh. Here we go. If you can answer this question, which disciple in the Bible could not be guiled? What disciple in the Bible could not be guiled?
And if you can answer that, Nick, tell them what they'll win. Absolutely. Yes, you'll be winning a prize from Arcanine Pursuits Prize Vault. If you know the answer to Robbie's Riddles, give us a call at 866-348-784. You'll be meeting the bookthedoctrines.divide.
Erwin Lutzer, The Doctrines That Divide, or if you like, The Gospel Backscratcher, all these things we have in. The Kingdom Pursuits Prize vault. You just got to call. 2026 calendar. Yeah, we have the date the word 2026 calendar.
866, the number to call in and win. If you know which disciple in the Bible could not be guiled, 866-348-7884. 866-348-7884.
So we got the shenanigans out of the way, David. Getting back to David C. Cook. Again, davidccook.org. This amazing.
operation and and I'll tell you one of the things that literally blew my mind When I was doing the interview a couple weeks ago, it was Integrity Music.
So you've got the Action Bible, you've heard about that, and then they have this organization, obviously, going around, but then they have music. And so um Like, some of your songs have been gigantic hits that are worldwide. Just blows my mind what integrity music is, as well, right? I think if we look at the full experience of the believer, worship is one of the most important. We obviously are committed to God's word with our resources, our authors.
The outreach to children. It's Active Bible is a portion of that, but also we work on a curriculum. It's called Life on Life, which our in-country trained teachers do. And then we have the story of Jesus.
So we've got. A very simple lineup for global outreach and the global mission. But when you consider the love language, and I think your earlier conversation with Jonathan Brown. the chief global officer for Global Mission, which is part of the the Cook Media Global. And David C.
Cook is the resources. What you discover is the music and the love languages that we discover are universal in their messaging. And I think this is one of the great stories, the Waymaker is an international written worldwide international song. And David C. Cook's mission is to help disciple Making materials, but also to help in the leading of the saints in worship.
And a large portion of church worship includes materials Songs From The integrity music.
So it it really is the fuller commitment is to serve the body of Christ in Psalm. And Integrity Music is a portion of that. I know. As I have processed that, David, again, when you're talking about Waymaker, the song I hope a lot of you have heard, I certainly just absolutely love it. I love the version by Leland myself.
But it was written by a girl in Nigeria. And picked up by Integrity Music, obviously recorded by several big, huge stars. Um and then Made available through their resources. like he talked about the sheet music all those things to churches you know, across the world. Um Like you said, worship.
Is at the heart of every disciple. I mean, you know, it's a big way that we sing to our Lord, you know, and so it's just absolutely cool, I think. I think that we're being made aware of what God is doing, and He's doing it through this organization that's been around for 150 years. David C. Cook, again, David C.
Cook.org/slash radio is a way if you're feeling that at the end of the year. But one of the neat things is. How much you guys steward the whole fundraising Idea. Like a lot of ministries, you don't know where that money's going, but David, you guys are on top of that.
Well, we are. And if I could go back and recognize How helmet. Yes, there's a sense, Robbie, around which nonprofits And there's both Christian or religious and non-Christian, non-religious nonprofits. And they all depend on giving because it's one of the great examples of the American economy, it's a grace economy. And what we've discovered over the years is when a need arises People respond to that need.
I mean, Compassion International is one of the largest nonprofits in the world. By way of budget, but also by way of impact. And it started in the Korean War with a soldier that could not handle the fact that. Children were being left behind and abandoned in the cold winter streets in Korea.
So he literally picked up the child and started taking care of them. And that. created the sponsorship model. Of the way compassion blesses millions of children around the world for decades.
So what happens is David C. Cook was founded 150 years ago in Chicago after the Chicago fire. And a man, David C. Cook, literally started teaching children That were dispossessed from their homes, they were recovering, and while the parents are working to get the thing fixed. In Chicago, he's ministering to the children.
So grace is the foundation of a Christian nonprofit. We see it in Churches, we see it in Ministries like David C. Cook that's totally dedicated to advancing. the gospel of Jesus Christ and discipling. people in his name and helping people worship him in song.
So we are committed as a ministry to ensure that 100% of the donations. that people give to cook. give to our ministry, go directly to the field. All of the coverage of the overhead salaries and expenses are provided by operational foundations from the
