Ask Jack
Jack Voelkel is urbana.org's Missionary-in-Residence - in this column, he answers questions about missions, knowing God's will, and other issues.- Explore the archived topics on the right
- Find out more about Jack
- Ask Jack a question now
- Read the most recent answers below
Questions about:
Apologetics and Theology
 | Sarah V. (03/01/10) Hi, Jack! [Your answers are clear and thought-provoking and you ask great questions: You must be an IVCF staffworker!] I have a question... |
| Patricia (02/26/10) Hello Jack: I feel so blessed every time I "listen" to you. I have a question that have been pondering for a while: How somebody can... |
| alexander RIvera (02/01/10) Hello Jack, I was a... |
| Fernando (01/30/10)
Hello... |
| Abe (01/29/10)
I... |
| Sergio ! (01/27/10) luke 9:27 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God." what's your take... |
| Kevin (01/20/10) Hello Jack, I am preparing to go on a short-term mission trip this summer with a group of college friends. However, the sending agency... |
| Andrea (01/15/10) Hey Jack, I greatly appreciated your Urbana presentation on Spiritual Warfare. Would you be able to e-mail me the handout so that... |
| mohamed (07/30/09) who loves me really?... |
| Laverle (06/01/09)
Have you heard of the Emerging Church? I guess there is both good and bad mixed in with it. How important is truth? Or man's... |
| George (04/18/09)
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| Grace (04/13/09) I know these things are true: (1) Our prayer does not change God's mind because He is omniscient and eternal and omnipotent. "I the Lord... |
| Makhethe (04/09/09) Hi Jack, I was reading some of the older questions on your blog and came across one response in which you mention that Sunday is the... |
| Trish (03/04/09) I have been attending a church for the past 2 years. I attend fellowship regularly and serve the community whenever there is an opportunity.... |
| Regina (02/27/09)
I... |
| Simon Alle (02/27/09) Dear Sir, Greetings. This is Pastor Simon Alle from India. I have a Bible question on ‘Heart’ that is to be cleared to me for my edification.... |
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| Kelsey (02/02/09) Hi Jack, My good friend is Jewish. I was wondering if it was okay to go with her to services. She is very involved in her synogogue,... |
| Heather (02/01/09) I have some days where I feel so overcome with guilt about not being the person that I want to be. I get discouraged, down and overwhelmed.... |
| Cindy (01/09/09) Is it common for Christians to go through periods of "doubt" or concern about their standing with the Lord? If someone were to die during... |
| Gayle (01/04/09) I just read or answer to the correspondent who wanted to understand how to reconcile the teachings of the Old Testament to the New Testament. I... |
| Leigh (12/24/08) Response to Rajeev Nandakumaran I realize it's been a while since this was written, but I still feel that it is a worthwhile discussion. I... |
| unsure (12/24/08) This is a follow-up question to Rajeev's. How does someone know if they have the gift of prophecy? What exactly is the gift of prophecy.... |
| Abe (11/29/08) Thank you very much for your answer to sassan's question. I apreciate it very much. I have struggles with overanalyzation at times as... |
| Omar (10/29/08) Hi Jack! What do you think? Do we need to pursuit God to find the Truth, or do we need to pursuit the Truth and there we may or may not... |
| Brian (08/05/08)
Hello Jack,
I was just reading Romans 5, and verses 15-19 have proven quite puzzling for me. I think I understand that... |
| Valerie (08/04/08)
Is it possible for the spirit of God to leave a person? I know longer feel God's presence, and I am currently undergoing a lot... |
| Mary (07/23/08) Is KP Yohannan wrong when he says 80,000 people are slipping into hell every day and they've not heard the name of Jesus? Or 200,000 people... |
| Sarah (07/03/08) Hey Jack, Thanks for taking the time to read this. My question is, what does the Bible/ God say about the consumption of alcohol. Is... |
| M (07/02/08)
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| Jane (07/02/08)
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| Kenneth (06/25/08)
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| David (04/18/08) Hey Jack! Thank you for all the wisdom you share and your excellent answers to some tough questions! This question is something I was... |
| Fred (04/16/08) 1. If senders are important in missions, why do missions conferences, books on missions, ... rarely discuss the importance of senders?... |
| Brian (04/01/08)
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| Kenneth (04/01/08) Hi Jack: I've noticed in my e-mailing from Urbana.org within stories his Name is JC, not as declared by Grabel the angelic messenger to... |
| Brent (02/01/08) Could Jesus have sinned? Not that he would have but did he have the actual capability to sin? Thanks Jack! |
| kenneth Van Der Slyus (01/29/08) more of a statement; catholicism is a religion:Mark 7:vs 6 Christianity is a relationship with the promise from the empty grave. religion... |
| Anne. (12/20/07) NIV or KJV Lessons. i am planning to join a course, i was asked if i would like NIV OR KJV, could you please tell the difference & what... |
| Jason (12/11/07) Hey Jack, What is the difference between Regeneration and Justification? Jason |
| Cindy (12/05/07)
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| Anonymous (11/20/07)
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| Maggie (11/14/07) I am looking to pursue an education in Biblical studies to prepare me for church planting and mission work. I have had a hard time however,... |
| Gloria (11/13/07) Hi Jack, Have should we Christians view the teaching of the "prosperity gospel"? thanks! Gloria |
| Lori (11/07/07) I homeschool a high schooler and I am thinking of creating a semester missions based "course". I'm not sure where to start, but I know... |
| eve (11/07/07) Hey Jack, I just stumbled upon this website randomly five minutes before I have to go to work, so I'll make this quick. Have you ever... |
| melvin ardon (10/24/07)
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| sarah jin (10/21/07) How can I get God's attention so that the big image, one of the biggest buddha can be bombed or removed from HK Dayushan? For the lord... |
| Stephen (10/21/07)
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| Jessica (09/27/07) THis is more of an apologetic question. What can be said about Bahai-ism and how it includes Christianity? How can I discern how it strays... |
| Joel (09/10/07) Greetings Jack, Thanks for being sucha good resource. God bless you, man. I have an inquiry for you. Situation: I am in my second year... |
| Erica (08/30/07) I was recently visited by a Jehovah's witness and I didn't want to be rude so I listened to what he had to say. He gave me a few verses... |
| Cindy (08/26/07) Hi Jack, Regarding the verse, Proverbs 19:18: Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.... |
| Rick (08/26/07) Question about unreached people groups (those that have not heard of Jesus and Him their Savior). Jesus said ‘no one comes to the Father... |
| Ross (08/06/07) I know that Lucifer first sinned against God. Would Adam and Eve still sinned if Lucifer had not? Ross |
| Jennifer (07/29/07) My close friend and I disagree on this issue, and it is kind of a problem. He believes that God doesn't love the unbeliever, and I believe... |
| Shaun (07/26/07) hi jack, with the noah's ark story, god decided to flood the world and kill everyone but noah and his family and the animals. What gave... |
| Debra (06/26/07) Jack, do you have any statistics on the number of missionaries who have to leave the field for reasons other than retirement or end of... |
| Jon (06/21/07) Dear Jack: Recently I've felt God calling me to spend a period of my life dedicated to the study of his word, and I'm interested in... |
| Brian (06/20/07) Hi Jack, I'm really mixed up about the phrasing of 1 Timothy 5:12. It says that the women from the passage are "condemned," some translations... |
| Lars (06/06/07) Hey Jack, my freind who i'm praying for and trying to lead to christ was tlaking to me the other day about Jesus and God. She told me... |
| Megan (06/01/07) i was just wondering how you can be sure that christianity is the only way...i have encountered many friends as of late who believe that... |
| Rajeev Nandakumaran (05/29/07)
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| Allen (05/28/07)
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| Ted (05/11/07) Hi Jack, I believe God has given us some very good discipleship materials. I have used them in India with good response. What are... |
| Zionites (04/30/07) Hi! I have a Question that I spent hours struggling with it. My church friends and I just couldn't get the satisfying answer. Please help... |
| Rick (04/29/07) When did Jesus come into being? (not come on earth, but rather come into existence) Was he up in heaven every since the beginning of time?... |
| Kimberly (04/13/07) I want to know about everything. Why are we here? Kimberly |
| Joel (04/12/07) Greetings Jack, I am currently doing a research paper on Christianity and the many groups and denominations that call themselves Cristians.... |
| Christina (03/30/07) When the Bible says we are saved by grace through faith, what exactly are we having faith in? And what is the nature of this faith? Faith,... |
| Jeremy (03/29/07)
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| Mike (03/20/07) Why are there other religions? The founders of other religions were people created by God, but they are obviously people going against... |
| D. (03/20/07) Hi, Jack, Could you share how do YOU understand what means to worship in spirit and truth? THANK YOU. D. |
| paul (03/08/07) Why does an all-powerful, all--knowing, and pefect God need to be, or even want to be, worshiped? |
| Shaneil (03/01/07) What is Evangelism? What is Missions? Shaneil |
| Cherrie (02/28/07) I heard it said that 'missionaries are becoming a dying breed' and that a lot of missionaries don't make it past the first year. Can you... |
| Dennis (02/24/07) What happens to people who died before Jesus Christ or Native Indians who never had missionaries come to them or young children or babies... |
| Ralph (02/22/07)
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| Deb (02/15/07) God controls our minds. Yet sometimes, it is difficult for people to control. With so many things happening in life all at once, it is... |
| Dean (02/13/07) Does urbana have a doctrinal statement of beliefs? if not then what is the theology of this ministry? thanks. Dean |
| Natalie (01/19/07)
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| Val (01/09/07) Hi Jack. I have 2 questions. I had a born again experience recently. This was hard to figure out, although quite lovely for the simple... |
| Oby (01/01/07) My question is kind of stupid. I want to know why does God choose to pick us, humans, to be his workers particularly to spread the gospel... |
| J (12/30/06)
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| J (12/28/06) I know this is kind of a generic "hard" question on Christianity, but why is there suffering / inequality in this world? (Or rather, why... |
| Megan (12/14/06) Hi...I have a question about worship. I figured it was probably ok to ask you since a large part of Urbana involves worship. I have always... |
| Jesse (11/27/06) Hi Jack, How important is it to attend the local church for the "ministry" minded college student? Isn't keeping unity in the... |
| Laura (11/26/06) Jack, I have just read Revolutiuon in World Missionsby K.P. Yohannan which has given me some good realizations but also left me with a... |
| dianne (11/21/06) how can satan posses a person? Is it true that a person without a religion can be easily posses by satan? |
| Melanie (11/18/06) I'm planning on attending Urbana06, but when I read some of the answers you provided to young people, I was highly disappointed... There... |
| Ginger (11/09/06) How are Christians supposed to reconcile the Old and New Testament? What I mean is this: people often dismiss the OT practices (such as... |
| Joshua Guthrie (11/07/06)
Poor Jack, I feel back your probably getting slammed with hundreds of emails!
So here's my question, I got in a pretty heated... |
| Christine (10/31/06)
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| Joel (10/29/06) I first became interested in missions because of excitement over the impressive "Holy Ghost stories" of supernatural provision and intervention... |
| kaycee (10/29/06) what is the greatest area of need? and what is the purpose statment of ur orginization? |
| martha (10/06/06) what is the scripture that answers the question? "why is there such misery in the world, why do I suffer so much? what have I done to... |
| Alice (10/03/06) Dear Jack, I've been reading through your Q&A and really appreciate the hard work and care you've put in to answer the questions. I... |
| Kristyl (10/02/06) Since we can't change God's will, how isn't praying for the salvation of the unsaved futile and a waste of time and emotion? Kristyl |
| Emily (10/02/06) Jack, I am looking for information on the the importance of training national leaders to take over for the missionaries. Can you give... |
| Melissa (09/05/06) Jack, After living out of the area for many years, I have recently returned to the church where I grew up. During those many years,... |
| Najean Phillip (07/25/06) Hi, would you say there is difference between evangelism and mission? |
| Pete (07/24/06) Jack, In your response to "lay ministers..." you seem to only "professional preachers/missionaries" are "Apostles, not any "laity." I have... |
| Timm (07/19/06)
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| Allison (07/11/06) Do you feel that the... |
| amber (06/28/06) who is to blame for the fall of man? adam or eve? |
| Aaron (06/22/06) Jack: I have a question...what are te Gnostic Gospels? Are they supposed to be part of Christianity? What about Thomas?? and his supposed... |
| Danny (06/13/06) Is there any real difference between God allowing something to happen and God causing it to happen? |
| Jane. (06/09/06) Dear Jack, I'm planning to take a correspondence course, how do I know they are genuine, are they helpful, if they are not accredited,... |
| Laura (06/07/06) Jack, A coworker and I had a very interesting discussion last week: he asked me if I believed in hell? He went on to explain that he didn't... |
| Cynthia (03/28/06) Hi Jack, I believe that as a Believer I do not confess my sins to get forgiven, because I am forgiven. In 1John 1:9 I was told that... |
| Cherie (03/17/06) Hi, I've been studying Calvinism and have been finding it very confusing. I am starting to doubt and think more about some of the doctrines.... |
| Danielle (02/08/06) Hi Jack! So In Job 1 it speaks of the angels and satan presenting themselves before God. Can Satan really come into the presence of... |
| Elizabeth (02/06/06) Hi Jack, I am studying variuos religions. A few weeks ago, I came into contact with Mormons, and have been talking with them. They seem... |
| Cecilia (01/26/06)
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| wendy (12/09/05)
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| sarah (11/15/05) What is the purpose of the church? What is our role in them as Christians? Are there books that you would recommend to someone who is struggling... |
| Patricia (10/19/05) What was the purpose of the experience of the "transfiguration of Jesus" (Matthew 17)? How can I contradict a spiritualist that sustains... |
| Stacy (10/19/05) Hi, My husband and I have been reading through Revelation and have been pondering end-times. Do you know where the rapture belief came... |
| Kimberly (10/17/05) Jack, I am a 37yr old single woman who is considering artificial insemination via a sperm donor. I am wondering what the church's... |
| Mike (10/14/05) Faith...how does one act in faith? I interact with people who are severely ill all the time. Some get better, some don't, some linger... |
| Carli (10/11/05)
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| Valeria (09/29/05)
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| Chris (09/28/05) Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? well of course to die for our sins. but why couldn't have God done it another way. I mean yes... |
| Julia (09/20/05)
Hey Jack, I have a pretty broad question. I recently started going to a church that is Calvinistic. I would like to do research... |
| Brenna (03/25/05) A friend of mine who is spiritually seeking asked me how I knew Christianity was right verses other religions. I know it's right but I... |
| Shirley (02/21/05) 1. Why is God’s redemptive mission and the Bible indispensable to each other? Make an outline of the points you would use in proving this... |
| Pastor Chuck (08/09/04) Thanks Jack for being close by ! I am soon to address PSP candidate-students. It would be helpful if I could inform students regarding:... |
| Chip (06/20/04) What do you feel about the matter of Calvinism which says that the elect will be saved regardless of what I do in the missionary cause.... |
| Chip (06/20/04) Jack, What is the m... |
| Brian (05/27/04) what did you mean by this, "The Lord saved me out of the Mormon church 24 years, so I know it is possible." I'm trying to get an understanding... |
| jack (10/19/03) Explain why there is a need for world development? jack |
| Sandra (07/24/02) What is the difference between a born again Christian and a Christian? How will you know the difference? |
| jenny (07/09/02)
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| Rachel (09/15/01)
Hi Jack, In the light of recent events my question is, as christians is it right to support war in the name of justice which would... |
| Paul (04/28/01) Jack, I'm really interested as to how the current Israel/Palestine conflict fits into the prophesies in the Bible. (I tried to go to a... |
| Tom (11/16/00) Hi Jack, I will tell you about my background. I am a student from outside the USA. At home we used to have the meetings of theosophical... |
| Heili (04/26/00) How important is it to join a missions organization with a specific doctrinal statement versus joining one with a more general statement... |
| Abby (name changed) (11/23/99)
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