Change Your World View

This past week, we had our monthly meeting of the 14 we are training- a time of sharing and teaching. This meeting was probably the most meat-filled, solid life practical teaching we have had together since we have been meeting these last 6 months.

The first day, we always come together for relational time where the guys share their successes in church planting and ministry. We have seen some good growth from these guys- the kind of growth that has started from a good seed.

The second day, we taught on observing the Lord's Supper, and surprisingly many of them had some good questions- we were able to clear up their questions and confusions surrounding this sacred time that a body of believers does together. First, we asked the question of what does the Lord's Supper mean to us as believers. Then, we looked at what the Bible says about it. We all came away with a much deeper meaning of what the Lord's Supper is, and we remembered the Lord through Lord's Supper together. With this, they should be able to teach their churches the meaning of it and model it for them, so it does not lose its meaning.

We also taught on Tithing- reasons for giving, how much to give, how to give, etc. Again, many questions were raised, and we looked at scripture together to find the answers. Many times, it is easy to try to give our answers to these questions, but we forget that our authority in our lives is God and God's Word. It has been a critical time for us to instill this into these men of the importance of scripture and how it MUST guide their lives and ministry.

The last day, we brought up something we have noticed lately when spending time in the field with our guys. Our translator, who is one of the guys we are training, asked me a question about water and oil, and how many believers in this part of the world bring these things for the pastor or church leader to pray over and take them home and use them. He asked if I knew of anything in the Bible that taught on these subjects. I could only think of the passage in James 5 where it talks about the sick brother who should call the elders to pray over them, annoint them with oil in the name of the Lord for healing. I visited one of our guys soon after this, and to my surprise, while we were praying in a house, our church planter brought in a cup of water. After we prayed for the house, no one drank it and the church planter then handed the cup of water to the house owner and said something to him in the local language. It happened at another house soon after, to which I asked our translator about it. We decided to bring it up during our next meeting, because most likely there were others who were practicing this in their ministry. So, we brought it up. To our amazement, 90% said yes to the question about whether it is right to pray over water or oil for healing purposes. This led us to a discussion about worshiping or putting our faith in created things other than the creator. That when we do this, we are making the name of Jesus meaningless- we are taking the name of the Lord in vain. It is idolotry, and idolotry is a sin. The object does not have the power. God has the power to heal. The discussion opened up, and after an hour of back and forth discussion, all changed their yes's to no's- some more enthusiastically than others, but I think God's Word made its point. It is amazing what the Bible can teach us if we just open it up, read it and study it.

Like I said, this was a great time (probably one of our best) of teaching and learning together. And, even though we are teaching, we are learning right along with these guys. My team-mate and I looked at each other during many of these discussions and said-"This would never be an issue in the U.S." It is a different world we are viewing here. So much of the Bible is living itself out right in front of us here in South Asia- more so than I would ever have imagined it.

God's love and grace is enough to cover it all.

2nd Generation

One of our main goals here is to equip nationals to plant churches that plant churches, so that we can have an out of our control/in God's control CPM. We have taken 14 and have been training them to be master trainer/church planters. One of the 14 has taken this to heart. I wrote not too long ago that he was skeptical about our method at first, of finding the man of peace in the village (from Luke 10:1-11). He went out on his own and used the Luke 10 method to see if it would work. To his amazement, God showed him 7 new villages with persons of peace. Since then, he has been on fire to continue and progress with these churches and get them to a healthy state so that they too can send out leaders to new places and find men of peace. He has also taken our training and taught 10 of his own existing church planters the methods we are teaching from the Bible. He challenged all of them to go to new villages that God leads them to and find men of peace. One has found 4 new places with 4 men of peace, all of them have accepted Christ and are now beginning to meet for church in their house. So, with just over 7 months of intensive training with our CP's, one has taken the challenge and ran with it. Even though, so far, only one out of 14 is really taking off, one is all that God needs to work with to bring glory to Himself and increase His kingdom on earth. Now the task is, as I said, to get these places to be healthy, solid churches that can one day send out leaders to new villages to build the kingdom. It is exciting what God is doing in this place.

They Get It

We have privilege of being overseas and working for the Lord. Nothing is more gratifying than having your hands open to what our Lord and Savior has called us to do. On top of that, we are blessed to have not one, but two churches directly involved in our ministry here. One, our home church who has sent us, has not only committed to pray for us, but has been to visit us twice since we have been here, and will come two more times this year. Another church; a relatively young church plant, has committed to praying for us, but has also come out of their comfort zone and brought a 2nd team to engage the lost here with us. Let me just say that "They get it." They get that it takes not only prayer but hands on committment to the cause of Christ.

Thank you LifePoint Smyrna and Ridgeview Community Church. It is you, who are being the hands and feet of Jesus in an extremely dark place spiritually, that are looking outward to the lost world rather than looking inward. It is you who are making an impact for the Gospel in a place that needs it so badly. You are the witnesses for Jesus to the ends of the earth.

More Workers for the Harvest

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.

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.