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Neil Anderson

Neil T. Anderson (N/A–N/A) is an American preacher, theologian, and author renowned for his influential ministry within evangelical Christianity, particularly as the founder and president emeritus of Freedom in Christ Ministries (FICM). Born on a farm in Minnesota to Scandinavian parents, he grew up in a rural setting before joining the U.S. Navy after high school, where he trained as an electronics technician and served as a sea and rescue swimmer. After an honorable discharge, he pursued engineering, graduating from college and working as an aerospace engineer at Honeywell. His life changed when he became a Christian through a Lay Institute for Evangelism by Campus Crusade for Christ, prompting him to resign from his engineering career two years later to attend Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, where he earned multiple degrees, including a Master of Divinity. Anderson’s preaching career spans over 20 years as a pastor across various roles—high school campus pastor, youth pastor, college pastor, associate pastor, and senior pastor—before he transitioned to academia as chairman of the Practical Theology Department at Talbot School of Theology. In 1989, he founded FICM to equip Christians to live free from spiritual bondage, emphasizing identity in Christ and spiritual warfare through bestselling books like Victory Over the Darkness (1990), The Bondage Breaker (1990), and The Steps to Freedom in Christ. His ministry has reached a global audience, with resources translated into over 30 languages and offices in 40 countries. Now residing in Franklin, Tennessee, Anderson continues to influence evangelical thought through preaching, writing, and conferences, leaving a legacy rooted in helping believers overcome personal and spiritual struggles. He is married with children, though specific family details are not widely documented.
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Neil Anderson delivers a powerful message urging parents to be vigilant and stand firm in the faith against the subtle but dangerous influences of the occult that are infiltrating the lives of children through games, media, and entertainment. He highlights the spiritual bondage and deception that children unknowingly fall into when engaging in activities like 'Bloody Mary,' Ouija boards, and other occult practices, emphasizing the need for parents to be aware and guide their children towards the truth found in Christ. Anderson stresses that despite the many temptations and dark influences in the world, Jesus is the ultimate source of freedom and light, capable of dispelling the lies of Satan and leading children to true liberation.
Children and the Occult
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith The school administration in a Christian high school found out that nearly every student in the school had played "Bloody Mary," a popular party game among some groups of children. A common version of the game requires a child to go into a completely darkened bathroom alone, spin around six times, face the mirror, and call upon Bloody Mary to show herself. In many cases these children saw something frightening in the mirror. There was no physical explanation for seeing anything in a totally dark room. These children had unwittingly opened themselves up to the god of this world. Bloody Mary is only one of the more "innocent" ways our children are giving Satan a foothold in their lives. Games like the Ouija board and Dungeons and Dragons are other common means by which children are introduced to the occult. The music, movies, magazines, television programs, and substances our children are exposed to create gaping doors of opportunity for Satan to seduce them. At one public high school in Southern California, 133 students were referred to the school psychologist during the first six weeks of classes because of their involvement with Satanism and the occult. Most children don't even realize the spiritual bondage they are submitting to when participating in these activities. What's worse, most parents don't either. Children are dabbling in all kinds of occultic experiences: astral projection, table lifting, fortune-telling, astrology, crystals or pyramids, automatic writing, tarot cards, palm reading, spirit guides and blood pacts. In addition, the New Age Movement, permeating our society and our public education system today, is the source of many pitfalls. Much of the world's attempt to amuse and entertain our children leads them into darkness. No matter how many dark doorways beckon to your children, Christ is the ultimate door to freedom. He is the truth and the light that dispels the lies of Satan and the darkness of the world. Teach yourself and your children to know and choose the truth. Prayer: Lord, help me equip my children to recognize and dispel the darkness in the worldly amusements and entertainment which surround them.
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Neil T. Anderson (N/A–N/A) is an American preacher, theologian, and author renowned for his influential ministry within evangelical Christianity, particularly as the founder and president emeritus of Freedom in Christ Ministries (FICM). Born on a farm in Minnesota to Scandinavian parents, he grew up in a rural setting before joining the U.S. Navy after high school, where he trained as an electronics technician and served as a sea and rescue swimmer. After an honorable discharge, he pursued engineering, graduating from college and working as an aerospace engineer at Honeywell. His life changed when he became a Christian through a Lay Institute for Evangelism by Campus Crusade for Christ, prompting him to resign from his engineering career two years later to attend Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, where he earned multiple degrees, including a Master of Divinity. Anderson’s preaching career spans over 20 years as a pastor across various roles—high school campus pastor, youth pastor, college pastor, associate pastor, and senior pastor—before he transitioned to academia as chairman of the Practical Theology Department at Talbot School of Theology. In 1989, he founded FICM to equip Christians to live free from spiritual bondage, emphasizing identity in Christ and spiritual warfare through bestselling books like Victory Over the Darkness (1990), The Bondage Breaker (1990), and The Steps to Freedom in Christ. His ministry has reached a global audience, with resources translated into over 30 languages and offices in 40 countries. Now residing in Franklin, Tennessee, Anderson continues to influence evangelical thought through preaching, writing, and conferences, leaving a legacy rooted in helping believers overcome personal and spiritual struggles. He is married with children, though specific family details are not widely documented.