CLAY CENTER — The great college basketball coach, John Wooden, once said, “Without proper self-evaluation, failure is inevitable.” Why? Because one needs to know the state of things based on a given standard, whether they have succeeded or failed. Without evaluation one has no idea where they are headed or how they are doing, and therefore they will face failure at some point. So let us evaluate 2025, according to God’s standards, and see how we did.
1. Record low birth rates. In July, a report came out stating our new birth rate is 1.6 children per woman. This is a record low and far beneath the population replacement rate of 2.1. This is alarming! It communicates that young people are rejecting God’s plan for marriage and family. Our young are instead remaining single, moving in together outside of marriage or having no children. Experts predict this trend will continue for the next 75 years.
2. Assassination of Charlie Kirk. On Sept. 10, while Charlie Kirk was holding a microphone on a college campus, and preparing to answer a question about mass shootings, he was shot and killed before a live in-person and internet audience. Millions around the world watched in horror. Why? For his message. The killer and those who supported his cowardly act, rejected Charlie’s biblically principled message. This is deeply concerning because it communicates how millions of Americans support violence against people who courageously speak God’s truth on controversial moral issues.
3. Record illegal immigration numbers. During President Joe Biden’s administration at least 8 million illegal immigrants entered the United States. A record number. This was terribly concerning, but more so, has been the evangelical church’s response to President Donald Trump’s effort to find and deport those illegals. Church leaders protested these efforts, declaring the biblical mandate to welcome the stranger, while deceptively neglecting to mention the pain and suffering mass illegal immigration has brought upon millions of families.
In 2025, our nation has sinned against God in these and in many other ways. For we have justly suffered with God’s hand of judgment against us. Yet, in the face of His justice, we saw His mercy.
1. College campuses. In February, God led a woman to organize a worship event at Ohio State University. During winter temperatures over 6,000 students showed up, heard the gospel, cried out to God and a couple thousand turned to Jesus while many were baptized in the back of rental trucks. This effort was duplicated at multiple college campuses in 2025.
2. Mass baptisms. In June, God led a man to unite a remnant of faithful churches to preach the gospel, call people to repent of their sins and then be baptized in the name of Jesus. That effort resulted in hundreds of churches joining together to baptize nearly 30,000 people across America.
3. The Charlie Kirk effect. In September, immediately following Charlie’s death, God miraculously began drawing people to Himself. Many churches reported a 15% to 30% increase in attendance, while Bible sales rose by 36% in September alone. Thousands went to church for the first time, testified to a new faith in Jesus, were baptized, attended prayer vigils across America, and over 100 million heard the gospel around the world at Charlie’s memorial service.
Praise God for His undeserved mercy. He once said, “I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me … I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people …” (Isaiah 65:1-2) God is not finished with America, nor any nation, nor even you or me. In the face of our disobedience, His merciful arms remain open wide through the glorious cross of Christ. As we move into 2026, let us have hope in this. Confess your sins before God, turn from them and yield yourself fully to Jesus that you might walk in the fullness of His blessings.
A prayer for you – Lord God, we confess our national and personal sins. Forgive us, O God! Cleanse us and make us holy. Whatever it takes. Change us, that we might glorify you in all we do in 2026. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Clint Decker is president of Great Awakenings. Share comments at cdecker@greatawakenings.org and follow his blog at clintdecker.blogspot.com.
