About the Book
"Absolute Victory" by Billy Joe Daugherty is a book that explores the concept of victory from a Christian perspective. Daugherty discusses how to overcome challenges and obstacles in life by relying on faith and trust in God. He emphasizes the importance of staying positive and keeping a strong mindset in order to achieve absolute victory in all areas of life.
Nik Ripken
Nik and Ruth, with 3 children, served for over 32 years obeying Christ’s command to share Jesus across the globe. After 7 years in Malawi & South Africa, they moved to Nairobi, Kenya to begin work among the Somali people (1991-1997). Since that time (1998-2013) they have journeyed globally among people whom, when they gave their lives to Jesus, faced increasing persecution for their faith.
The Ripkens and their teams served throughout the Horn of Africa within famine and war zones; resettling refugees, providing famine relief, and operating mobile medical clinics. Formerly Muslims, many Somali believers, suffered for their faith. Most were martyred. Near the end of the Ripken’s tenure among the Somalis, their 16-year-old son died of an asthma attack on Easter Sunday morning. He’s buried at the school from which the other Ripken children graduated.
One year later, the Holy Spirit led the Ripkens to begin a global pilgrimage to learn from believers in persecution how to recapture a biblical missiology of witness and house-church planting in the midst of persecution and martyrdom. Most of all, believers in persecution modeled for the Ripkens how to trust Jesus completely. Many of these lessons have been lost or forgotten by the church in the West.
Currently the Ripkens have interviewed over 600 believers in persecution, exceeding 72 countries. Sitting at their feet, the Ripkens learned from the suffering church how to thrive amidst suffering, not merely survive. The Ripkens, using everything they’ve learned from believers in persecution are creating resources as gifts from the church to the church. To date they have created articles, books, a music CD, a documentary, workshops, and other tools that allow the church in persecution to teach the church in the West about its biblical heritage of both crucifixion and resurrection. A teaching DVD is included in future plans. All these tools are designed to challenge believers to boldly follow Jesus, sharing their faith with others-no matter the cost.
The Book of Life
Before the night he was betrayed, The Lord of glory died; Indeed before the world was made, The Lamb was crucified. Before the sin, the spear, the lash (Eternal was the flood!) God put his inkwell at the gash, And filled it with his blood; Then with his crimson ink and quill, A holy world compiled, And wrote his kind and costly will: The name of ev’ry child. Then, finally, with tears, he took A blade to foreordain, And graved the title of the book: The Life, the Lamb, the Slain. * * * And if your name is written there, Though you may be the least, You will not fall to any snare, Nor bow before the Beast. You will not marvel when it roars, Nor any feat admire, Nor drink the poison that it pours, Nor taste the Lake of Fire. But you will live forevermore, Where dusk and dawn are done. The Lamb will be the moon, and soar Around an endless Sun. And if, lamblike, you taste his shame And finish life abased, Remember, written one, your name Will never be erased. * * * And so you ask, “How may I know My name is in the Book? May I beseech my God to show The page where I may look?” No. None may peer within by prayer, Nor if he wait, or strive. You know your name is written there, Because you are alive. Rejoice, my child, all heaven sings When you make demons fall. And yet to be inscribed with kings In heav'n surpasses all. Article by John Piper
