Paul Washer brings powerful messages on reliance on God, church-driven missions, attributes of God

Noted for his straightforward and passionate biblical messages, Paul Washer told the Columbia International University student body that he has been serving the Lord for almost four decades and every year he has a greater recognition of his weakness.

The founder of HeartCry Missionary Society was preaching from 2 Corinthians 5 when he said with a tremble in his voice, “people are so wrong about how God uses people.”

“You see a man or a woman who is willing to fight hell — to go in anywhere, anytime for the cause of Christ or you see someone with exceptional piety and devotional life, you automatically attribute it to something within them,” Washer said. But he quickly added, “That is not the case. They have absolutely nothing but the wisdom of God’s Word and the power of God’s Spirit —that’s what causes them to walk so close to Christ.”

CIU Student Body President Alex Brickey said after the message that he was especially impacted by Washer’s emphasis on the fact that we bring nothing to our salvation “except our sin” as Washer stated it, and that we’re wholly reliant on Christ.

“He also emphasized that if you are gifted with a particular skill it is your responsibility to use it to glorify God through helping others,” Brickey said. “Paul Washer provided such a great reminder of the necessity of Christ within my life.”

Meeting with Pastors 

Washer’s visit to CIU included guest appearances in classes, and a lunch with about two dozen local pastors and church staff members where he was asked about his views on missions. He expressed concern that spiritually immature men and women are being sent to the mission field.

“What do you need for missions? You need churches with elder-qualified men who are following 2 Timothy 2:2 ‘entrusting these things to faithful men,’” Washer began. “Churches that practice the Scriptures, practice church discipline, that are raising up elder-qualified men who will send elder-qualified men to plant another church.”  

He also noted that other ministries such as orphanages and campus ministries should be tied to local churches.

Washer was a missionary in Peru for 10 years, during which time he founded the HeartCry Missionary Society to support Peruvian church planters. HeartCry’s work now supports indigenous missionaries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Eurasia, North America and Latin America.

Engaging the Community 

In an evening message attended by about 500 students and community members, Washer preached from chapter three of Romans, noting the great divide between sin and the greatness and holiness of God.

He started in verse 23:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

“Does that terrify you?” Washer asked. Has it ever terrified you? You can hear something over and over until it loses its meaning.”

He said people in today’s culture do not deny being sinners, but they don’t care.  

“And why do they not care? Washer continued to question. ”They do not know the One against whom they have sinned, because so little is preached today in the modern-day pulpit about the attributes of God.”

Expounding at length on God’s justice, mercy and vindication, Washer asked another question of the Shortess Chapel audience.

“If you do not know Him, what should you do? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved,” Washer concluded quoting Acts 16:31. “Repent of your sins and believe.”

Among the many students who appreciated Washer's message was junior Joshua Kirkpatrick

"It was great to have him at CIU," Kirkpatrick said. "Washer clearly explained the essentials of the Christian life that we must seek to love God, and that it's Jesus Christ who saves us and works in us to live out the Christian life."  

Hear Paul Washer's CIU messages at CIU's podcast page. 

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