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Dear Friend, The last four weeks I have rejoiced in our Lord, Christ telling you how He has blessed me with the young leaders He has called to Coming Clean Ministries. I never could have imagined what an awesome privilege it is to be called to empower amazing young leaders. Many times through out our lives we struggle with the sin of pride. It is something that in some degree or another afflicts all of humanity, and what is most interesting is that it seems to hit harder those whom God has called to be His leaders. As one looks at the downfall of many religious leaders and churches today, one can easily observe the sin of pride. It is very addictive to be in front of a crowd of people, which at times seem mesmerized by what you are saying and often times lift you up on a pedestal. When I first began to speak before large crowds, I had to fight the sin of pride as many people would come and ask for my autograph. Often times I felt as if I was someone special, when in reality all I was simply a sinner to whom an amazing Savior had come and rose from ashes. Many nights I would go to bed fighting feelings of guilt. When the Lord called me back to full-time ministry I truly believed that through Christ I would change the world. At times I felt privileged, at times I felt worried, and at times I felt burdened. When I saw the movie the Passion, I experienced Christ's pain when the serpent came to Him and told Him that carrying the burdens of humanity was too much for one man. By no means can the burden I carry for the youth of America be compared to the burden's Christ carried for us, nonetheless, mine where just as big to me. When the Lord revealed to me that I was not the one to change the world for Him but that His calling on my life was to empower, lead and guide an amazing youth He was going to call to our ministry, at first I felt relieved and elated, but at the same time disappointed. You see my friend the sin of pride quickly crept in and told me, "Jorge you are not going to be in the limelight as you have always been." And it was not until I confessed this sin, to my Lord who knew me, that I felt the relief from its burden and chains. It was at that moment of crying out to the Lord that I realized what an amazing honor it is to serve, and to empower an entire generation to be the next leaders of this world; to lead them, to guide them and to encourage them when the burden gets too heavy. It is an honor not to be in the limelight, and to sit back and know that through my giving of myself others are empowered. My friend, we spend too much time empowering ourselves never to realize that the greatest honor is only found when we empower others. I truly believe that if we apply this principle to our lives we will see drastic changes in our world. When we seek to understand others before being understood we truly find the face of Jesus. When our mission becomes to lead, guide, and empower our children to be the leaders of our home, instead of dominating them, we will see glorious change in our families. When I first started Coming Clean Ministries I remember sitting with my dear friend Guy Mitchell and expressing our desires that Coming Clean Ministries not be about Jorge L. Valdes, that if one day I went on to be with the Lord the ministry will continue to grow bigger and bigger, and that our ministry was not about one person, one story, but about an amazing God who intervenes daily in extraordinary ways through extraordinary people. Coming Clean Ministries is about His story in the lives of His children. My friend, it is my prayer that you will seek the Lord's guidance and wisdom in leading you to empower your children, your spouse, your employees, and your friends to be the leaders that will go on and build a greater America. I know that Ty, Guy and I cannot wait to see what the Lord will do through James, Angie, Cassie, Jared and Brian. God has blessed me with amazing young people who will go on to change the world! Please pray for me that God will give me His wisdom to lead His youth. God bless you, Jorge
Jorge Valdes, Ph.D.
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