Just as no one will know they are deceived until they are confronted with the truth, no one will know they are a false convert until they experience true conversion. May I lovingly invite you to examine yourself today and test your faith to see if it is genuine (2 Cor. 13:5). If you are truly saved by God's grace, it will give you further assurance of salvation. However, if you fail the tests that are given in James 2 and 1 John, trust the objective Word of God and not your subjective profession of faith. We have several links and resources available if you would like to study this important issue further. You can listen to the broadcast interview I did with my pastor, Jesse Barrington, on False Converts and Biblical Assurance. We also offer a DVD message on False Converts in the Church. If you would like to know how to help people examine their faith, listen to this message given by Jesse Barrington on "Walking Others through Biblical Assurance."

Mark Dever offers five activities of well-meaning Christians that are often mistaken for evangelism. True evangelism is not giving a personal testimony of conversion. When we give an account of our changed life, it can be wonderful and inspiring but, by itself, is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Another activity mistaken for evangelism is participating in social actions or political affairs. While demonstrating compassion and kindness by our actions is a good and appropriate behavior for Christians, such actions are not evangelism, unless they are accompanied with a proclamation of the Gospel. See other activities mistaken for evangelism here.

Church leaders at a conference in Mexico City emphasized unity and Christ-centered witness, as they discussed Our Lady of Guadalupe's ongoing call to evangelize. The event began with a procession bringing an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe into the gathering. "Our Lady of Guadalupe is the mother of the Mexicans, but she is also the mother of everyone who draws near to her," Archbishop Pierre, apostolic nuncio to Mexico, said Nov. 16. Cardinal Ouellet said we can draw strength from Our Lady of Guadalupe so that we may be disciples for her sake. He said she is "the foundation of the New World. Let us keep a fixed eye on our mother; she waits for us and she is with us." Read more.

Pope Francis sent his condolences for the death of the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch. The head of Buddhist monks in Thailand died Oct. 24 at the age of 100 years. Francis conveys to all the Buddhist Brothers and Sisters in the Kingdom of Thailand his most sincere condolences, assuring them of his spiritual closeness at this very sad time. He prayed for the departed, while beseeching God to grant consolation and comfort to all those who mourn his passing. The president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue voiced hope that the memory of the Supreme Patriarch may "be a support for those who are now in sorrow and an encouragement for those who will benefit [from] his spiritual legacy."

Pope Francis displayed a rosary in a box that was designed to resemble a packet of pills, during his traditional Sunday appearance overlooking St. Peter's Square. Joking that he's like a pharmacist, Pope Francis is promoting praying the rosary as medicine for the heart. About 80,000 tourists and Romans packed the square on a warm Sunday day. Source here.

Prayers and tears, hope and faith filled the room. One by one, hundreds of students waited for the chance to view, to touch, to kiss a precious relic of Pope John Paul II - a vial of blood drawn just days before his death in April 2005. "This relic has been traveling all over the world," Sister Maria Socias told the crowd gathered at McCarthy High School, reminding them that the beloved pontiff will become a saint on April 27. "You are privileged. Not everyone will get the chance to venerate the relic of John Paul II." The sacred relic travels the globe. "This will hopefully be a moment you will never forget for the rest of your life," said Socias, a member of The Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Watch video here.

An image of the Virgin Mary reportedly appeared on the floor of a school used as an evacuation center where an earthquake hit in Calape, Bohol. An evacuee said they were praying the rosary in front of an altar when they noticed a likeness of the Mother of Perpetual Help seemingly engraved on the floor. She said that they tried to wipe off the image, thinking that it was only due to dirt. But the image stayed even after they tried cleaning it off. Evacuees placed a big rosary around the image. Read more.

A symbolic act of pouring water into one common vessel, carried out by religious leaders representing Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist faiths, marked the significance of water in various religious traditions. This action took place at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 10th Assembly in the Republic of Korea. In almost all religions water is a symbol of cleansing, justice, and peace; and it is therefore profoundly relevant to the WCC assembly theme. The ceremony came as a joint initiative of the WCC's program for inter-religious dialogue and cooperation. It was opened by the WCC general secretary who offered Christian theological reflections on water. Read more.

The Vatican has published a new DVD that will help the faithful rediscover the importance of Eucharistic Adoration. The video contains testimonies of conversion thanks to Eucharistic Adoration. One Cardinal who encouraged the production of the video believes "the New Evangelization will not be possible if there is no Adoration." Read more.