Tyndale House Publishing and President George W. Bush Present a Faith-Based Initiative:

Here at Tyndale House Publishing, we have always believed that children are our future and that we should teach them well and let them lead the way.
      We also believe in selling lots of books.
      Over the past few months, our marketing staff had been meeting regularly for prayer, seeking spiritual direction for the company. Two issues consistently surfaced as areas of great concern:
      First and foremost, the rampant illiteracy of American children. Second, the large quantities of unsold Left Behind books languishing in our distribution warehouse.
      After much prayer and soul-searching, insight arrived. Why not use the Left Behind books to remedy the reading problems that plague America's youth? After all, great literature has always been a key to changing the course of a nation.
      Here's the really brilliant part: Why not offer the books to public schools as a government-funded initiative? The sheer inspiration of the plan was both daring and astounding!
      Utilizing President Bush's Faith-Based Initiative program, government funds will purchase the wildly popular book series for use in remedial reading programs throughout American public schools. Everyone wins! Struggling children will begin to enjoy the benefits of literacy for the first time and Tyndale will be able to move Left Behind product at an unprecedented level!
      Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins have given their vote of confidence to the project, sensing that this is indeed a divinely inspired plan.
      But wait, there's more.
      As countless American children begin to learn to read, their spiritual development will also begin to blossom. We are convinced that this powerful book series will do far more than entertain. It will prepare the hearts of children and usher in the return of the Lord and the final apocalyptic events of this fallen planet. It will launch the last great revival to take place before the secret rapture and the appearance of the Antichrist!
      This is an unprecedented opportunity for evangelism—and capitalism—which we simply cannot afford to pass up.
      Please pray with us as we launch out in this bold effort. At this very moment, we are running pilot programs in Dallas, Texas, and Wheaton, Ill.
      Already, we have seen dramatic improvements in reading scores. Eighth graders are suddenly reading at a fourth grade level. Preschoolers sit wide-eyed, listening as these powerful books are read aloud to them by their teachers. Violent playground conversions are taking place as children re-enact the adventures of Rayford Steele, Buck Williams and Hattie Durham.
      At this point, you may be asking "What can we do to partner with Tyndale at this crucial moment in history?" Very simply, there are three things you can do:

• PRAY. Pray for the government to mandate the use of the No Child LEFT BEHIND^TM reading program in all public schools.

• CONTACT. Contact your children's teachers, and your school board and demand that this cutting-edge curriculum be introduced in your local school system. Contact your congressional representative and encourage them to make sure the White House follows through on its commitment to this program.

• PURCHASE. Pick up a copy of Tim Lahaye's newest book: America's Last Hope, which explains in detail why the Left Behind series is vitally important to your child's education. It even includes a forward by former U. S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft.

We hope we can count on you to stand with us as we step out in faith!

By John Green
Illustration by Jason Seiler
Issue #197, January/Bebruary 2005