Category: Missions/Evangelism

Here is a link to a blog ran by a missionary in Australia: http://www.backyardmissionary.com. I haven't read all his posts yet so I don't know if I agree with his view or not. I hope by reading his site, I can get some ideas on how to be a "missionary" in Richmond (he is virtually a native Australian).

[Update 11 March 2007] As I was copying this article over, I wanted to let everyone know that I don't support everything (probably most) of this guys stuff.  After reading his blog for a few weeks, I made up my mind he was fairly liberal.  But, he's still in my rss reader. 

It probably isn't obvious, but I'm looking for ideas…ideas on how to meet people. Does anyone have any ideas?

If I were a betting man, I would bet that there are people willing to serve God, but don't because they cannot get support. How many more could be reached via CP on Baptist Press asks this very question. It is well worth thinking about.

It irks me that people will buy an RV and go to the lake for a month, but they won't invest a couple thousand dollars and a couple weeks in eternity by going to a foreign country and sharing the Gospel with people who have never heard," Wittman said. "Either we are or we aren't disciples. If we are, then each of us should be involved in some way in sharing the Gospel.

You know, it irks me too. Why aren't we more Kingdom minded? Is it because we don't care? Are our hearts that hard? Are we really saved?

http://www.missiology.org. I found this site by surfing the net this evening. It looks interesting to me. Possibly someone else out there will find it interesting too.

Here is another interesting site I came across this evening. http://www.globalopps.org/. THis is an interesting idea. In fact, it is a really cool idea. What a way to gain access to "closed" countries. Enjoy!

While surfing this evening, I came across this article with points on witnessing to a Muslim. I found it very interesting. Here are a summary of the points made:

1. Where did Jesus say, “I am God, worship me”?
2. “Why do you worship three gods? How are you better than idolaters? Repent and acknowledge that God has no equals.”
3. “How can you demean God and say he begets a son? God has no female partner that he should have a son. Begetting is an animal act that is not fit for the holiness of God.”
4. The Bible has so much evil in it: murder, rape, incest, prostitution, adultery. It is immoral. How can you believe it is the word of God?
5. Jesus prophesied the coming of Mohammed: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” (John 14:16). Why do you not believe Jesus?
6. The Bible has been corrupted. How can you trust it?
7. Your Bible says that God “rested” on the seventh day. Your “god” is weak. The Qur’an says God never grows tired. God cannot be tired! How can you believe in such a weak god?
8. The Bible says not to eat pork, and that men must be circumcised. Why have Christians turned away from the commands of God?
9. Why does the Bible show Jesus drinking wine, and even using a miracle to create wine? Why all this moral decadence?
10. How can you say God did not create evil? Who but God can create?
11. Jesus did not die, neither was he crucified. Why do you believe God would abandon Jesus to such a death?
12. No one can atone for the sins of another. No one can carry another’s sins. When you live sinful lives and trust Jesus to save you, are you not just kidding yourselves?

Many Christians have grown up in cultures that are Christian in name only, and too often we let ourselves be dragged down into the godless lifestyle of the atheists and agnostics around us. If you are a Christian who has let sexual temptation drive his life into sin, who has let greed or selfishness or worldliness drive his life away from God, the first thing to do is to turn back to God. Someone who has turned away from God cannot witness to him effectively. If you want to effectively witness to people who pray five times a day, fast 40 days a year, and have large portions of their scriptures memorized, each of us then has an obligation to make sure his own life is in order. Each person must examine himself before presuming to instruct others.

How about it? Are we really christians, or are we just doing what we always have done?

I was reading PersecutionBlog today and came across this article talking about Islamic Terrorism. This ties in, interestingly enough, to a recent Fatwa by US Clerics against terrorism.

First off, let's get something straight: Islam is a violent religion. The Koran clearly states that "believers" are expected to cleanse the world of "infadels." Translation: mulsims are supposed to kill non-muslims.

Along these lines, here is an additional link declaring why the fatwa is bogus.

As Christians, we are to love these people. They are the way they are because they don't believe in the God (the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). They need to know that God isn't impersonal. He loves us and wants a relationship with us. That relationship comes after we are made right by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus (Isa), on the cross. He was crucified, died, and rose again three days later.

Christians, if we don't tell, who will?!

This IMB map gives a good overview of where the lost in the world are located.

I'm learning more and more about things the International Mission Board does. For example, you can go here and get sent an e-mail every week day detailing out prayer requests. Below is an example of what you'll get:

WORLD LEADERS Please pray today for President Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan (central Asia, west of China).

COSTA RICA Pray for the missionaries serving in Costa Rica. Last month there were attacks on several missionaries–spiritual and physical. Several of these missionaries are students studying Spanish in Costa Rica before moving to their field of service. Pray for their protection from the enemy as they move about the country. Pray for devotion and renewal in their walk with our Father. http://www.macregion.org/

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO Team Guadalajara writes: "Thank you for your prayers for an area known as Santa Fe. The first phase in this planned community has 10,000 houses, and there is no evangelical church in the area. We have encountered few Christians, and each one has explained that they drive more than an hour to attend church. Pray for outreach activities on June 18-24. The gospel will be communicated through drama, games and a crucifixion scene where 'Jesus' (an actor) will explain his future plans after the cross. Pray that a church will be birthed in Santa Fe. Intercede for F as he leads this work." http://www.macregion.org/

MUSLIMS OF THE BALKANS Please pray for two students coming to spend their summer among the Muslims of the Balkans. They will be distributing the Word in an urban area, as well as encouraging and discipling national believers.

UNENGAGED PEOPLES OF SOUTH ASIA There are almost 4 million Kachhi Hindus living in India. They speak the Sindhi language as well as several other major languages. The Bible, the JESUS film, Christian radio broadcasts and other Christian materials are available in their language. However, there are only about 200 known Kachhi Christians. Pray that the Lord's message will spread rapidly among them and be honored wherever it goes. Pray that these few Christians will be bold in their proclamation of the faith. Pray that they will be delivered from evil and perverse men who would seek to destroy them. http://www.neglectedfields.net/

SOUTH ASIA UNBOUND The young man had been acting strangely. He tried repeatedly to run away, with the people of his village grabbing him and holding him until his brother arrived to take him home. One day he broke away and ran and ran. The villagers tried to follow him to bring him back, but he never stopped running. Days passed. The believers from the village began praying constantly for him. Finally, someone saw the run-away collapse under a tree. The believers gathered around him, but when they touched his body, it was already turning cold. They carried him home and continued to pray over him. They did not want to call a doctor, only pray. Finally, the young man regained consciousness and shared this testimony: "While I was running, it seemed to me that two girls were carrying me along and we were following a big, strong man wearing black. He ran, and we ran behind him. Then there was a man in white near us, carrying a rope. He struck the three others and they fel l to one side. I myself also fell, but to the other side. I was now unconscious under the tree. Then the man in white stood next to me and offered me the rope he was carrying. He told me to grab hold of it and stand up. At that time, I realized this man in white was Jesus Christ, and he is truly the one to believe in. At this point, I regained consciousness." He accepted Christ as his Savior, and he now joins the believers in rejoicing and telling the Good News to others who are bound in the dark kingdom of Satan. Praise God for the persistence in prayer of the believers. Praise Him for answering, for revealing Himself, and saving this young man. http://www.go2southasia.org/

MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL For the past two months, you have been praying for three Muslim people groups that have no known Christian work among them. These are the Moghal (in Jammu and Kashmir in India), the Mawalud (in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, India) and the Qazi (in Bihar, Gujurat, Rajasthan and West Bengal, India). This month plead for God's mercy upon these peoples, and intercede for the governments (all kings and authorities) of the states in which they reside, according to Paul's instructions in 1 Timothy 2:1-4. http://btw.imb.org/

In this blog entry, I asked for ideas of how to witness to the lost when I am emersed in Christian Culture. At my new Job, I'm going through new employee orientation. In that, I was able to interact with lots of different people from lots of different areas. One of those areas was exactly what I was struggling with. Isn't God wonderful how He brings people together?! Anyway, back to the point.

In talking with this guy, he said that we need to be purposeful about it. We need to pray that God would make us sensitive in our daily life to the people around us. Because, while we may not realize it, we interact with a TON of non-believers all day long. Here is just a short list to prove my point (and his too):

the gas station attendant
our next door neighbor
the people across the street
the lady at the grocery store

That list could go on and on.

So, this morning, I'm reading today's My Utmost for His Highest and the title is "Don't Slack Off" and deals with this subject. The verse used was John 14:3

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

This snippet was also in the thought: 

…I must take time to realize what is the central point of power. Do I give one minute out of sixty to concentrate upon it? "If ye abide in Me" – continue to act and think and work from that centre – "ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Am I abiding? Am I taking time to abide? What is the greatest factor of power in my life? Is it work, service, sacrifice for others, or trying to work for God? The thing that ought to exert the greatest power in my life is the Atonement of the Lord…. "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do." The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and his apparently free choices are God's fore-ordained decrees. Mysterious? Logically contradictory and absurd? Yes, but a glorious truth to a saint.

So, we know that:

1. We must witness
2. God will do what we ask within His will
3. We need Opportunities

Therefore, if we ask God for opportunities to witness and the sensitivity to see those times, He will provide.

So, while I'm still looking for ideas on how to interact with people, I'm going to be asking God for opportunities to share Him with a lost world.