A quick update on some things. My family and I had a great time in Thailand. We were able to eat some good western food, which is a break for us. The kids were able to spend time with their friends, and visit some cool places like the zoo, and a place called Tiger Kingdom, where you are able to sit with, and pet LIVE tigers! The family had a great time, while Dad took a seminary class offered overseas by Southern Seminary. It was my first college-type class in 15 years, but things went well. It was a good time of discussion and learning about mission strategy. We have arrived home to resume work, which a trip I had planned to visit some of our 14 was cancelled due to bad weather. All seems to be going well back home however, and we have been rested up for the next six months of work.
I received a phone call from one of our 14 who has not let the cold nasty weather stop him from doing God's work. He wanted to rejoice with me and said he and one of his CP's had found 4 new persons of peace in new villages. Praise the Lord! More workers for the harvest!
We have some friends from our home church who are going through the IMB to Africa. They are in the process of selling their house so they can go to orientation this summer. Praise the Lord, more workers for the harvest! Check out their blog Geonosis and follow their journey to the field. This makes the 3rd family, including us, that our church has sent to the mission field in the last year and a half. More are in line to go, and it makes us proud to be encouragement to those who are being called out. We are also proud to be part of a church body that is committed to reaching the lost of the world- to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. (Luke 10:2) Continue to pray that more workers are sent to the harvest fields, because the harvest IS plentiful.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Notes From The Field
I have just returned from four days on the field, and I had an encouraging time visiting 3 of our 14 this past week. We went with Paul*, whom I had visited with a couple of months back. He was excited to find people in a new place interested in the Gospel. Paul has been going back there often, and has 2 men of peace in this village of fishermen. One of them was always drinking alcohol and getting drunk. He would argue with his wife and children. He had been listening to the Gospel from Paul*, but hadn't accepted. One day, one of their children was sick, but he had no money to take him to the doctor. He remembered that he could pray to Jesus for help, and the next day, someone gave him money to see the doctor- the exact amount needed! From then he has been believing more. One night, his wife had terrible stomach pain. It was 1 o'clock, so no doctors were available at that time. He prayed to Jesus to heal her. Immediately, she felt better! Since seeing God's power, he has repented and believed. He no longer drinks and he feels peace in his heart. He has been a witness of how God can change lives. Many others have seen the change in him, and it is only a matter of time before this village begins to accept Jesus. Church meetings take place every week in their house, and Paul* is teaching him the things we teach Paul*. Praise the Lord!
I visited with another of our 14, Matthew*. Recently, he had 2 young men come to know Jesus. They went and shared with one of their friends, and he accepted Christ. I taught all three about assurance of salvation in the Bible, and also about baptism, as they have not taken it yet. They have been believers now for 1 month, and their friend for 1 week. One of Matthew's* church planters that he has been teaching, has had 5 people in a village he has been sharing in come to him wanting to know more about Jesus. On Saturday, December 6, he and Matthew* are going to share the gospel with them. We are praying that they receive it and become fishers of men!
I also received word from my team member about another of our 14, who I was not visiting this week. James*, who has a network of CP's and a mission organization, has been very forward about pushing his guys to do the things we are teaching. He himself committed in his plan to visit 6 new villages. However, running a network and organization, he has been very busy and unable to visit any new villages. James* called and he had taken Thomas*, another of our 14 who lives near him, with him to a new village. He said that he was excited to have found a person of peace and that they accepted Christ as their savior!
Slowly and little by little, our 14 are catching the vision. Once we get more of them to consistently do what we are teaching, and coming back to report to the entire group to rejoice, the whole group will begin to move forward even quicker.
Pray for our 14, that they continue to put into practice the things we are learning together, and that they remember that planting churches is not enough- they need to plant churches that plant churches. That is how over 1 billion souls have a chance to hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus!
*Names of 14 changed to Apostle names for security.
I visited with another of our 14, Matthew*. Recently, he had 2 young men come to know Jesus. They went and shared with one of their friends, and he accepted Christ. I taught all three about assurance of salvation in the Bible, and also about baptism, as they have not taken it yet. They have been believers now for 1 month, and their friend for 1 week. One of Matthew's* church planters that he has been teaching, has had 5 people in a village he has been sharing in come to him wanting to know more about Jesus. On Saturday, December 6, he and Matthew* are going to share the gospel with them. We are praying that they receive it and become fishers of men!
I also received word from my team member about another of our 14, who I was not visiting this week. James*, who has a network of CP's and a mission organization, has been very forward about pushing his guys to do the things we are teaching. He himself committed in his plan to visit 6 new villages. However, running a network and organization, he has been very busy and unable to visit any new villages. James* called and he had taken Thomas*, another of our 14 who lives near him, with him to a new village. He said that he was excited to have found a person of peace and that they accepted Christ as their savior!
Slowly and little by little, our 14 are catching the vision. Once we get more of them to consistently do what we are teaching, and coming back to report to the entire group to rejoice, the whole group will begin to move forward even quicker.
Pray for our 14, that they continue to put into practice the things we are learning together, and that they remember that planting churches is not enough- they need to plant churches that plant churches. That is how over 1 billion souls have a chance to hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus!
*Names of 14 changed to Apostle names for security.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Latest Ministry Update
After much traveling, and some stomach issues that have knocked me down for some time, I am back. November has been a busy month for me. I traveled out to the east of our state to visit 5 of our 14. It is a 10 hour train ride, which was 5 hours late due to mechanical problems. This interrupted my schedule somewhat, but I was still able to visit all of our guys in the 4 days I spent there. We rented a taxi to take us around. We took a 2 hour drive to one place where one of the 14, James* runs a school for pre-K through 1st. He then took us 45km away, about 3 hours more, down some of the worst roads you could imagine, and here I was with a bad stomach. I made it fine, and we were able to spend some time in the village of another of our 14, Philip* and his son Thomas*. We found that Philip had found 3 places with men of peace. From Luke 10:1-11, we taught all of our 14 to pray and let God lead them to the village where He wants them to find the man of peace. So, Philip got on his bicycle, peddled 20 km to the first village, 15 more km to the next, and 10 more km to the next. He has been doing this for the last 3 months every week, traveling to each of these places to start churches in these places. That is dedication. I want to challenge those of you who think it is too far away to develop a relationship with your neighbors that live right next door. Just think of Philip, who travels 6-7 hours by bike to plant churches. This is one sold out follower of Christ! We finished with Philip and Thomas by praying with them, and for them and their families.
We then came back to where James' school was, and spent time praying with him and his family for his ministry. He has been able to speak to one Muslim man in his city, and the man has been very receptive to hear what James has to say about the Gospel. The relationship is developing. We also met with Titus*. He is a young man, who has been faithful to go to new places to share the Gospel and search out the man of peace, but has been unsuccessful due to his age. Many people will sit and listen to him, but are not accepting. In this place, if you are young, many older people will not put stock into what you say. James has said that he will go with Titus and help him have some credibility among the people.
The next day, we met with Andrew*, who runs a large church in another city. He has 10 CP's that he is teaching all the things we are learning together, and he is also teaching and challenging his 35 church members to go into their neighborhoods and share the Gospel and start new things in their villages. Many of them have had success with the things we have been teaching and slowly they will become church planters as well. Nathaniel*, one of our other guys I was able to meet with, has 2 different churches in different areas. He has selected 4 from one and 8 from another and has been giving them the training and teaching we have been giving him. They are receptive, and things are going slow, but once they start to happen, God will begin to move quickly that no one will be able to control it.
We have heard so much good progress from our 14, as we have all come together this week to meet as we do every month. Please continue to pray for our ministry and our 14, that they will continue to be faithful to put the things we are learning into practice. I am encouraged by their dedication and faithfulness to carry out these things we are learning together.
We then came back to where James' school was, and spent time praying with him and his family for his ministry. He has been able to speak to one Muslim man in his city, and the man has been very receptive to hear what James has to say about the Gospel. The relationship is developing. We also met with Titus*. He is a young man, who has been faithful to go to new places to share the Gospel and search out the man of peace, but has been unsuccessful due to his age. Many people will sit and listen to him, but are not accepting. In this place, if you are young, many older people will not put stock into what you say. James has said that he will go with Titus and help him have some credibility among the people.
The next day, we met with Andrew*, who runs a large church in another city. He has 10 CP's that he is teaching all the things we are learning together, and he is also teaching and challenging his 35 church members to go into their neighborhoods and share the Gospel and start new things in their villages. Many of them have had success with the things we have been teaching and slowly they will become church planters as well. Nathaniel*, one of our other guys I was able to meet with, has 2 different churches in different areas. He has selected 4 from one and 8 from another and has been giving them the training and teaching we have been giving him. They are receptive, and things are going slow, but once they start to happen, God will begin to move quickly that no one will be able to control it.
We have heard so much good progress from our 14, as we have all come together this week to meet as we do every month. Please continue to pray for our ministry and our 14, that they will continue to be faithful to put the things we are learning into practice. I am encouraged by their dedication and faithfulness to carry out these things we are learning together.
*For security, original names have been changed to Apostle names.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Give Us Some Biblical Feedback!!!
We live in a place where festivals are plenty. These festivals honor false gods and idols. We have been invited to attend some of these religious ceremonies, and we kindly arrive as guests, but do not participate in the worhsip or ritual. Still, we are invited to most of them by our neighbors. This week, the Hindu festival called Chhath (pronounced chut) is taking place. This is a sun worship holiday, with the main rituals taking place this morning and evening. The women of the home fast from food and water for 2 days, and many parties are put on with guests showing up and food being cooked and given to the guests. The worship of the sun takes place at sunrise and sunset the chosen day. People buy food, like fruit, cookies and other things and offer them as sacrifice to the sun. The food is then eaten as the ladies break their fast, and the leftovers are offered to the neighbors - which is where we come in. Our good friends in our building brought us some food and actually said that this is the sacrifice food from today. We know that this is just food, and if they just gave us food, we would accept it and eat it. The Bible is clear in stating that you should eat what is put in front of you. But, when the unbeliever gives us food and they say this food has been sacrificed to an idol, then we should politely decline it. Not for our conscience, but for the unbeliever's, because when we witness to these people, they will wonder why we took part in food sacrificed to their idol when we proclaim to follow Jesus only. It is bad for our witness.
I have read this passage in 1 Corinthians 10 many times, but this is the first time I was confronted with it. My first thought was not to be rude. We accepted the food with thanks, but we have not eaten, and will not. The couple left, and then we looked at the passage in scripture again. We discussed and came to the conclusion that we should tell them that we did not eat their gift, though we are thankful for them thinking of us and bringing us food. We must also explain why. They know that we are followers of Christ, but they do not know why we do some things, and refrain from others. This will be an opportunity to witness and share our faith. Another reason we did not eat the food is because the girl who comes and cooks and cleans for us everyday is a believer, and we do not want to be a stumbling block to her walk, as it also says at the end of 1 Cor 10.
Anyways, let me know what you would do/would have done in this situation. Anything different? Give me some feedback.
I have read this passage in 1 Corinthians 10 many times, but this is the first time I was confronted with it. My first thought was not to be rude. We accepted the food with thanks, but we have not eaten, and will not. The couple left, and then we looked at the passage in scripture again. We discussed and came to the conclusion that we should tell them that we did not eat their gift, though we are thankful for them thinking of us and bringing us food. We must also explain why. They know that we are followers of Christ, but they do not know why we do some things, and refrain from others. This will be an opportunity to witness and share our faith. Another reason we did not eat the food is because the girl who comes and cooks and cleans for us everyday is a believer, and we do not want to be a stumbling block to her walk, as it also says at the end of 1 Cor 10.
Anyways, let me know what you would do/would have done in this situation. Anything different? Give me some feedback.
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