Greatful, Thankful, and Humble

We are in Thailand on a visa run during the holidays, and I am studying different articles on missions for a Seminary class I am taking while we are here. I just wanted to share what God just laid on my heart while reading an article by Tracy K. Jones.

I am greatful for the Southern Baptist Church that is our family back home, from whom we have come overseas to do God's work. I love the staff, and I feel they are led by the two authorities in any Christ-follower's life- God and His word.

I am thankful for the IMB, through whom we have come to do God's work overseas. I believe the leadership to be fully led by Godly men who are also led by God and His word.

But, I am humble to think that a mere simple man can be used by God, who has called us out. We will not do the work, but through us He will do His work.

God calls, the church sends, the agency facilitates. At the front of all this, it is God who calls us. He calls all of us in His time, when He has equipped us in His own way for the task.

Is God calling you? How will you know if you aren't talking to Him? How will you know unless someone explains it to you, like your church staff? Ask God, ask Godly leadership.

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Every 2.5 seconds, someone dies in South Asia, 99% of those do not know the salvation that has been offered to them. How can they ask for salvation if they don't believe? How will they believe unless they hear? How can they hear unless someone tells them? How can someone tell them unless they are sent? (Romans 10:14-15)

God is calling. He has been calling since He gave us the great commission to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:18-20). That we will be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

It's not too late. After 16 years of professing that I was a Christ follower, He called my family and I to "pick up and move to the land I will show you." Many times, I wish I had heard that call earlier in my life, but God knew He had to do some pruning in my life. In 2005, it was time. I submitted. In His time. It wasn't too late for me, it's not too late for you. He may call you specifically one day. Just be ready to go where He asks you, with hands and a heart open to His will.

Rejoice!!

Our training in specific areas goes on over a 4 meeting period, with a couple of weeks in between meetings. I recently finished the first training which was a two day event about 1 hour from where we live. About 125 believers, 37 of whom were baptized after the training, were in attendance. Our first training consists of challenging them with the statistics of how many of their fellow people are dying without even knowing about the salvation that Jesus has made for us. The numbers here are astonishing. Every day about 2400 people die in our state, the majority of whom are going to hell because they had never heard of Jesus. So there needs to be a sense of urgency to share the Gospel and give everyone the same chance that they have been given- a chance at salvation.

We do this by teaching them how to share the gospel, because many do not know how and think that they need to bring someone to a pastor or church leader for them to be saved. This issue is solved by teaching them Matthew 28:18-20: that Jesus has given all of us the authority to go and make disciples. We teach them a method of sharing the gospel that is very easy for them to understand and remember, even though they may be illiterate. It is called 2-3-4. The 2 represents the Gospel, which has 2 parts- The first part is (1)Your Story or Testimony, and the second part is (2)His Story, or Jesus' story. Your story has 3 parts- (1)Your life before Christ, (2)How you met Christ, and (3)Your life after Christ. His story has four parts- (1)Judgement, (2)Repentance, (3)Jesus' sacrifice to take the punishment or the judgement for our sins, and (4)God raised Jesus to new life so that we could also have new life. We also teach them Romans 10:9, that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

We then challenge them to write out a list of all the people that they know who need to know Jesus. These are family members, friends, shop owners, etc. They are then to pray for God to lead them to the ones who will be most receptive to the Gospel, and share it with them using
2-3-4. They are to share with at least 5 people per week and tell the group the results during the next meeting. This is a way of showing them that we must be accountable to each other.

Yesterday, I did a 2nd training meeting with this group. The group dropped from 125 people to 60, but the results about their sharing was incredible. Some did not share, others shared with some, but many shared with at least 10 people if not more. We tallied up the totals and over 200 people heard the gospel for the very first time. We also counted how many accepted, and OVER 120 PEOPLE ARE NOW NEW BELIEVERS AND FOLLOWERS OF JESUS!! So, as the title of this post says, REJOICE!!

I reinforced to them on the great job they did, and told them that even though some of the people did not accept Jesus, those people have the seed of the Gospel planted in their hearts and minds and it is up to them to make the choice to follow Jesus now. We cannot force them to follow, only show them the way and let them decide.

So now, our next trainings are to encourage the people to continue to share the gospel, but then also teach them 2-3-4 and help them to start sharing the gospel also. We have also told them that they can baptize the new believers, as this is the first step of obedience to being a follower of Jesus. The teaching we are giving them, they are to begin grouping those new believers and teach them the things we are teaching them. We follow Paul's pattern in Acts, and through his letters where he entrusted his teaching of the Gospel to obedient and faithful men and women who would also go and teach it to others.

I look forward to meeting these obedient followers of Jesus again, and see how many more people have heard the Gospel and are now followers of Jesus. What's that sound? It's either the devil stomping mad or all God's people rejoicing! (Or both!)

Spiritual Warfare Hits Home

We expect the enemy to attack us here. Many times missionaries in other countries are hit with terrible persecution, sickness and sometimes even worse. We thought that spiritual warfare would attack us head on while here, and we were ready. But things are happening back home more than they are here, and it has hit us more where it hurts.
My wife's grandfather has been battling complications from a stroke he had last year. While she was able to visit him before we left for the field, his condition has worsened since we arrived and he is now getting full time care. It is hard on my wife, as she is wanting to be there, but she knows we have been called here and to stay the course. We have had other things happen among our family and friends since leaving, which grieves us more than if they were happening to us. The retired pastor of our home church as recently lapsed into full alzheimer's, where he cannot remember anything or anyone around him, and has been admitted to an assisted living facility where he will be safe. Most recent, my grandfather, has been having much back pain, so much so that he could not get out of bed. Just the other day he was admitted to the hospital because of the intense pain was not subsiding at all. We found out that he has bone cancer up and down his spinal column and also on the base of his skull. My grandmother and the rest of the family is having a hard time seeing him in such intense pain. This has really hit home for us, as now my dad's family has gathered together for support, and I cannot be there.
The enemy takes great delight in our suffering and the suffering of the ones closest to us. This suffering comes under counting the cost of being a disciple. Many times we find ourselves out in village areas wondering where we will sleep, which brings to mind Luke 9:58. But now we find ourselves worried about loved ones, and ask the question "Why are we here?" Don't get me wrong, we are not questioning our call, in fact there is nothing I would rather be doing. I am encouraged by the words of Jesus again in Luke 9:60- Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their own dead but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." I thank God for His word, in times of trouble and sorrow, He has always been there, always kept His promise to love me and provide for me and protect me and encourage me and never forsake me. His word is truth, and I will proclaim the kingdom of God to the nations, no matter what the enemy can try to hit us with, until God tells me one of two things- It is finished, or well done good and faithful servant.

Celebrate Every Day

There are so many things that get us down. Sometimes we wake up in the morning already overwhelmed with what is to come, and we forget to thank God for what we could be blessed with during the coming day. Other times, we wake up in a great mood, ready for what is in store for us, thinking we have it all figured out. Then, life grabs us, and the things of the world and our busy lives choke the joy from us. We begin to lose sight of what God is doing right in our midst each and every day. We cannot see through all the "stuff" how Jesus is interceding for us, commanding His angels concerning us. We do not see the little joys that happen and pass them over like bumps in the road. Oh, yeah, every once in a while we catch a moment and are able to feel God's blessing on us, but just as quickly as it comes, we allow Satan to steal it away even quicker. So many things hinder us from enjoying life, or should I say we allow these things to hinder us. We put off so many things because of circumstances and troubles and no time. For example, a call to your parents, siblings, your uncles, aunts, cousins. Saying an encouraging word to your children. (The last one I can REALLY step on my own toes for.) We grow up so fast, and our children do as well. One day, they'll be the one's moving away, and we'll think "Wow, where did all that time go? Why didn't I enjoy those times we were together as a family before the kids grew up?" (Again, my toes are hurting!)

I wrote all this, if it makes any sense, to direct you to a post at the blog of a friend of ours I read just today. One that is filled with triumph, and heartache. It is a story with a video that everyone must see, and you will realize that WE must celebrate every day, despite our circumstances, because those circumstances and troubles will be with us until the day the Lord has pre-determined to be our last. Please go here, and remember to wake up tomorrow celebrating what the Lord is going to do with you AND for you that day and every day. (Once again, I'm preaching to myself).

"This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Encouragement needed!

Still processing an incredible trip to South Asia, leaving behind two of the team for medical reasons, and negotiating our house. I need encouragement after yesterday's happenings.

Sister who was possibly to begin the journey home today with our worship leader has not been released medically. She may be released by Thursday, but her husband is going forward to go to her tomorrow. As I said, his company has graciously helped him to get to her side by paying for everything from his travel to all travel documents. Please continue to pray for this situation.

Sunday my wife and I looked through the offer we received and came back with a decent counter. Verbally, we heard that everything was fine, the only thing we changed was the price, by meeting half way between the two. While awaiting for the counter to be signed and sent back, we heard from our agent who said the people wanted to first look at a foreclosure property in our neighborhood before they signed. What???!!!

Quite the emotional roller coaster ride! After wanting to call fire from heaven down like James and John did on the Samaritans :-), I calmed down and asked forgiveness for my anger over the situation. Needless to say, we are disappointed, but have come to the conclusion that God is still in control of the situation, and will work things out in His time. We have prayed and sought His council for our disappointment. We are still proceeding as planned, because we trust that things will work out. We are too far along to stop preparing for our field orientation and trip into the harvest fields. Thank you all for your prayers, and please continue to pray for our spirits to be lifted and for the Lord to lift our heavily burdened hearts in this situation.

In Christ,
SAM