Category: Missions/Evangelism

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.

Have you ever wanted to know what countries have more a greater or lesser percentage of lost people? Take a look at WorldMap.org. According to their website, their

mission is comprehensive: To create maps of languages and people groups for each country of the world while linking appropriate missions related data. The status of each language and people group is evaluated with regards to the JESUS Film and Bible translation as well as their current level of exposure to the gospel message (also known as the "Status of Evangelization").

 

God has been dealing with me recently about witnessing, and I need some ideas. For those of you who don't know, I work at the International Mission Board (IMB). I would call this a Christian environment. I wake up, go to work, come home, go to church, and have little interaction with those outside "church." I need some ideas on how to witness to people.

I'm looking for ideas that are outside the box. Ideas that show people I really care about them. How can I reach people in my daily life that shows

1.I care about them
2.I care about what happens to them
3.I want more than to just make a tick mark in a book

For this reason, I'm not considering ideas like door knocking, street preaching, etc…. I need some practical ideas.

So, who was Lottie Moon? Do you know? Is it just a name on an offering for you? Click here for more information on Lottie Moon

The IMB recently commissioned the second largest group of missionaries ever. According to this Baptist Press article,

The second-largest group of new missionaries in the history of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board featured plenty of variety. But all 116 of them share one thing in common: a clear call from God to go to the nations with the Gospel.

 

According to this Baptist Press article, people are willing to become missionaries, but the funding isn't there. Christians, wake up! God has blessed America! We have tremendous wealth. It is high time we stop trying to "keep up with the Joneses" and start focusing on what is important. Do we really need new cars every three years?

They are willing, are we?

I scanned the certificates the Men of HBC got over the weekend for helping HSM and FFC. To see larger versions of these images, simply click them. If you want to read more about our mission trip to help HSM and FFC, read this blog post.

Sorry for not blogging yesterday. The Men's Ministry from Highland went to Princeton yesterday to work with a ministry called Heaven Sent Ministries and Food for Children. I met Lyle, the founder, about three years ago when I he called and asked me about his website. Here is a brief description about both ministries (from their websites):

HSM:

Heaven Sent Ministries was created in September 1997. Responding to a need to help people experience short-term missions, the nonprofit organization began as a facilitating agency helping to obtain passports, visas, and other paperwork required for traveling to other countries. As the agency grew HSM began leading trips to places like Guatemala, Nicaragua, Africa and India. 

Over the years the mission of HSM has developed to include pastor training, church construction, feeding programs and medical missions. People from all over the country have joined under the umbrella of Heaven Sent Ministries to travel abroad.

A domestic side of the ministry called OperationSHARE helps show the love of Christ by donating products and goods to local churches who in turn provide these free of charge to families in need in the local community, city, state, and across the U.S.

The goal of the ministry is simple. Look to see where God is working and join Him.

FFC: 

Food For Children is a ministry outreach of Heaven Sent Ministries. The primary purpose of Food For Children is to feed starving children around the world a nutritious balanced meal enabling them to overcome the ravages of malnutrition. The food not only targets the immune system but also stimulates the brain for learning. We buy bulk ingredients directly from the manufacturers and package the nutritional food at our headquarters in Princeton, WV. As we feed the children we are showing the love of God in a tangible way. This opens the door for us to share with them how to come to know Him personally.

Cyndi had our camera, so I didn't get to take any pictures (bummer!), but Lyle took a picture and gave us a certificate. I'll scan it tomorrow and post a copy online for all to see.

We had four guys go, and we had a great time. The trip down took about 5 hours 10 minutes. We stopped at a Tudor's Biscuit World for breakfast. Once we arrived, Lyle and Scott showed us around, and filled us in on what was going on with the ministry. It was exciting!

We ended up and packaged 2376 meals (a total of 396 bags). The cost to HSM was $596 for the raw materials (that is $0.25 per meal. Yes, 25 cents!).

Thanks everyone for going. Thanks Lyle, Scott, and the rest of the HSM/FFC staff for allowing us to come and help them out.

Ever wonder how you can support international missions? I was poking around on the IMB homepage and found this brochure.

Pentecost Sunday, May 15, 2005 is the Day of Prayer and Fasting for International Mission work. More information can be found at the Day of Prayer homepage: http://ime.imb.org/dayofprayer. The IMB also has a video available for download at http://real.imb.org/emdmpeg/DOP2005India/DOP Promo.mpg