Witness the Work that God Is Doing in the Church Today
New devotional from Darren Carlson combines a survey of Acts with stories of the living and growing church of the Twenty-First Century
Because the media doesn’t report the spread of the good news across town and around the globe, it’s easy for Christians to be unaware of the incredible work God is actively doing today. The same God who turned the world upside down two thousand years ago is still changing lives and communities today.The gospel continues to spread and transform lives across cultures and contexts today, just as it did in the early church.
In his sixty-day devotional, Witness: Missional Devotionals from the Book of Acts (New Growth Press/October 20, 2025), Darren Carlson shares the stories of modern-day Christians and draws parallels to the experiences of first-century Christians in the book of Acts, giving readers a virtual world tour of God’s work both near and far.
“We are living in what may be the greatest advance of the gospel in history. More people than ever, in more corners of the world and in more languages than ever, are worshipping the Lord and following Jesus. The Holy Spirit is moving in ways that are hard to even explain. However, our perception of the Lord’s work around the world often remains limited, as we struggle to grasp the full extent of what God is doing in both our neighborhoods and far-flung locations,” Carlson writes.
Each day’s devotion includes a passage from Acts, a reflection on its significance, and a modern-day story that connects the biblical text to contemporary experiences. As readers dive into the book of Acts, they will be challenged to look for ways God wants them to grow as his ambassadors and develop a deeper appreciation of the unity and diversity of the global Church. This devotional provides a fresh and engaging way of studying the book of Acts, presenting readers with a unique perspective on the text by connecting it to the modern global Church.
Readers of Witness will learn to pray for the global church, engage in their local community, and consider their role in God’s mission. Carlson also encourages Christians to expand their expectations for what God can do and engage more actively with the worldwide Christian community. The short daily format allows the devotional to be used by individuals, families, small groups, and entire churches.
“I’ve seen firsthand what the Lord is doing, and I can’t wait to share it with you. I’ve spent years teaching the Bible around the world and equipping pastors and church leaders from a myriad of countries. I’ve invested countless hours researching and documenting the story of how the Lord is drawing people to himself and growing his global church. My heart is to take you on a trip around the world—a virtual tour of God’s work in people groups both near and far—so you can see and marvel at what God is doing right now. I want to anchor these stories in the story of the early church in Acts so that you can see that the same God is at work today. As you consider his work in the first century, my prayer is that you will consider what he wants to do in and through you—and in and through his church—right now.”
Darren Carlson, PhD, is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Bozeman, MT and the founder of Training Leaders International, which provides theological training to underserved areas around the world. Carlson is the author of Witness: Missional Devotions from the Book of Acts and the executive producer and creator of Jesus in Athens, a movie depicting the work of God amid the refugee crisis in Greece. Darren and his wife, Amy, have five children.
For review copy and interview information, contact:
Audra Jennings – audra@newgrowthpress.com
