The retirement banquet for George Moody, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Security Pacific Corporation, was a celebration I'll not forget. The important thing for me was to listen to the account of George's rise to being one of the truly great business and humanitarian leaders of our time, while never missing a day of growth in the depth of his salvation. He was saved at an early age and he is being saved as Christ continues His work in him, opening the floodgate of His power in response to George's commitment of his immense challenges as lay leader of the American Red Cross and countless other causes, including being chairman of the board of my radio and television ministry.

John Singleton, following in George's footsteps, is now Vice-Chairman of Security Pacific Corporation and Chairman and CEO of Security Pacific Automation Company. The banquet honoring him was in support of one of his primary ministries as a servant of Christ. He has on his heart the poor, homeless, hungry, and broken men and women on the streets of skid row in Los Angeles. He believes that, through the power of Christ, people can be redeemed, rehabilitated, and returned to a positive place in society. This has involved him in leadership of the Union Rescue Mission and as the stemwinder of a campaign to raise missions for the work and a new building to house the homeless.

With equal zeal, John teaches an adult Sunday School class. Every time I visit with him, he's on fire about some new discovery he's made in his study and teaching of the Scriptures. Christ has him on the growing edge on all fronts, including developing a network of other top executives across the nation committed to servant ministry.

I see the same quality of growth in "being saved" among people in my congregation who are in the entertainment industry. I think of Clint Holmes, who is one of the rising singing stars in America. I've seen him bring tears to the eyes of the most secular audience imaginable, and the same audience to their feet for a standing ovation. And then to top it off by singing them into the agape heart of God.

If you were to ask Clint and his lovely wife, Brenda, if it is worth it to hang in there against the cultural currents that could easily take their life in a very different direction, they would answer that there's no other way than to keep on growing in Christ who saved them and is saving them. They express this commitment to grow in their salvation by daily prayer and study, involvement in support groups with other Christians, and by sharing their faith with nonbelievers.

It's easy to be critical of a lot of what comes out of Hollywood. What many do not know is that there are a great number of actors and actresses, writers, producers, directors, and technical people who are deeply committed to Christ. At great cost to their careers and time, they take their stand for what they believe.

Growing in "being saved," realizing the full measure of Christ's transforming, healing, repatterning power, is the goal of so many people whose stories I'd love to share. They are discovering that Christ saved in several in ways: initially, intensively in their inner lives, and inclusively in all phases of their relationships and responsibilities. And let me add another important in: their discipleship is intentional. A spiritual awakening is taking place in our congregation because of those who are convinced that Christ is able to save to the uttermost.