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Greetings,
"My Bible oozes with missions. I think I must have a special
Bible because other people don't seem to think their Bibles ooze. Or
maybe it's because my Bible has transformed itself over the years,
because now that I think about it, my Bible seems to talk a lot more
about missions now than it did five years ago.
"Well, I know that God's Word doesn't change. Could it be then,
that I have changed? That must be it. Maybe even more about missions
is written in the Word than I can see now. I guess God will continue
to reveal more of His heart for the world as I continue to seek Him.
How exciting life is with God."
(a student's testimony from the book, Missions in the 21st
Century by Tom Telford)
| Men in Missions |
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We men!-We are the stronger sex; It has always been so!
We send our gifts to mission fields, To which the women go.
While up the steepest jungle paths, A woman bravely treads,
We men, who are the stronger sex, Do pray beside our beds.
When women leave to go abroad The heathen souls to reach,
We men, who are the stronger sex, Do stay at home to
preach.
While women, in some far off shack, Do brave the flies and
heat,
We men, who are the stronger sex, In cool and comfort eat.
Fatigued and weary, needing rest, The women battle on.
We men, who are the stronger sex, Do write to cheer them
on!
O valiant men!-come-let us sleep And rest our weary heads.
We shall not be the stronger sex If we neglect our beds!
(from an article by Paul Fleming entitled, "Here I am;
send my sister!")
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| Missions Operations Order |
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Anyone who has served in the United States Army is familiar
with an operations order. It is a formal, structured
declaration of instructions for the execution of a given
mission. Every planned battle is preceded by a written and an
oral dissemination of the Operations Order. The following is
an Operations Order for the Great Commission:
1. SITUATION "For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). Half the people
in the world do not know a Christian who speaks their
language, eats their food, or wears their clothes. The church
does not exist within their culture.
2. MISSION "Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations" (Matthew 28:19). Create and maintain the "kingdom of
God" within every existing linguistic and ethnic
context.
3. EXECUTION "As my Father hath sent me, even so
send I you" (John 20:21). Incarnate the church in a new
context the way God incarnated Himself, by the power of the
Holy Spirit with the participation (prayer and sacrifice) of
God's people.
4. SERVICE & SUPPORT "How then shall they
call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they
hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except
they be sent" (Romans 10:14-15)? Local churches send resources
of people, money, and prayer so that someone can live and
minister within an un-reached culture. Agencies providing
support (Bible translations, Gospel recordings, radio
broadcasts, medical assistance, famine relief, etc.) enhance
effectiveness. Other organizations contribute by serving the
resource base, sending agencies, and support agencies.
5. COMMAND & SIGNAL "And upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it" (Matthew 16:18). Jesus is the Commander-In-Chief.
His followers act on His Word and in His name. Though diverse,
they unite to accomplish the mission. Each one contributes
according to his or her abilities and circumstances.
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| Ex-Missionaries |
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Ten Reasons Why Missionaries Leave the Field and Don't
Return
- God told them to leave.
- Poor leadership on the field
- Unrealistic Expectations
- Immorality/pornography/other marriage problems
- Inability to get along with others
- Failure to learn language and adapt to the culture
- Teamwork/pastoral care/morale support
- Problems back home; problems with children; problems
with the home church
- Lack of financial support/financial pressure
- Spiritual opposition
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| Sayings of Studd and Stewart |
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Send us people with initiative, who can carry
themselves and others too; such as need to be carried hamper
the work and weaken those who should be spending their
strength for the heathen. Weaklings should be nursed at home!
If any have jealousy, pride, or talebearing traits lurking
about them, do not send them, nor any who are prone to
criticize. Send only Pauls and Timothys; men who are full of
zeal, holiness and power. All others are hindrances. If you
send us ten such men the work will be done. Quantity is
nothing; quality is what matters. "FORWARD EVER; BACKWARD,
NEVER!"
(C.T. Studd, Missionary to China, India, and
Africa)
To accept Christ is to enlist under a missionary
banner. It is quite impossible to be "in Christ" and not
participate in Christ's mission in the world.
(Dr. James S. Stewart)
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| Neglected Doctrines |
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Beginning in the Spring semester of 2005, "Neglected
Doctrines" (BI 210) will be added to the curricula of
Biblical School of World Evangelism.
This course examines the presence and prominence of the
biblical teachings of sacrifice, self-denial,
suffering, and Christian love while establishing
the integral role each plays in true discipleship and the
fulfillment of Christ's mission on the earth.
It is all too apparent that we must emphasize a
"missionary-making" theology if we are going to produce
"frontline soldiers" who are both committed and equipped to
plow (and plodd) the harder areas of the "field."
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Missions Resource |
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"As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not
fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Joshua 1:5).
This promise must have meant much to Joshua as he assumed
leadership of Israel.
The promise is for us as well. We know this because
the New Testament qualifies a similar promise in the context
of world missions, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19, 20). In
context, this promise is for the participants of world
evangelism!
God's presence is the greatest resource in missions.
It is God Himself who moves through us to cross the
cultural and social barriers which hinder understanding and
acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let us be mindful of God's promise. We must refuse to
evaluate our chance for success in terms of our own abilities
and resources. We have far more than our own strength to count
on. We can depend on the resources and promises of
Almighty God! |
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