Later this week I leave for a 9 day mission trip to the Ecuadorian jungle. Last year I made a similar trip where we spent time doing construction on a church at a retreat for pastors and their families. We were on the fringe of the jungle last year, complete with running water and electricity. This trip we will travel into the jungle in the back of a produce truck and then hike for 1/2 day further to our destination. Yeah, it kind of reminds me of "Romancing the Stone" and them riding in the bus up the mountain with the chickens and pigs roaming free around their feet. We will spend 4 nights sleeping on mats under mosquito nets as we stay in a Huarani indian village. The days will be spent building a church - something this village has never had - and attending a Bible conference which I will be leading. It will be an exciting, exhausting, rewarding and tough trip - but loads of fun doing ministry in a totally different context.
Please pray for me and the rest of the team daily. Pray that the Gospel will be presented well everytime I stand to speak and that Christ will be honored. Pray for those who are lost to come to know Jesus as Savior. Pray for harmony among all those traveling and for our security. This is a pretty remote area and we need God's hand of protection all the way. Also, please pray for my ankle. If you have seen me lately, you know that I severely sprained my ankle the Saturday before Easter. It has made good progress, but is not healed to where I'm not still hobbling to some extent. Please pray that the ankle will hold up during the hike so that the men I am going with don't have to drag the pastor in and out of the woods. Too funny!
Thanks in advance for praying and I will report in detail when I get back about all God does while visiting this beautiful country on mission for Him.
Showing posts with label Missions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Missions. Show all posts
Monday, April 12, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
IMB Missionaries and Persecution...
I am in the office today after having spent the first part of the week in Richmond, VA at an International Mission Board meeting. It is my joy to report that the IMB is doing well and that the attitude among trustees is fantastic. Yes, we have been somewhat affected by the financial downturn in America resulting in some belt-tightening measures, but the organization is working harder than ever to make every dollar count and to provide maximum support to our missionaries around the world. There is a sense of unity on the board that is powerful and contagious. We are looking to the future together as we pray for God's leadership in the selection of the next president of the IMB. I ask you to pray as well for Dr. Jimmy Pritchard and the entire President's Search Committee as they seek God's man for this position.
While at the meeting I had the privilege of visiting with two long-term missionaries and their experiences around the world (names withheld to protect the obvious). This beloved couple has been on the field more than a quarter century, they have buried a son in Africa and faced untold physical persecution throughout their tenure. They are indeed heroes of the faith like those the writer of Hebrews describes as "of whom the world has was not worthy." Like those to whom they minister, they have come to realize that persecution is like the sun coming up in the East, it's going to happen. But of course this is reality for 80% of the Christian world who live with regular, on-going persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ. When asked whether he felt persecution would come to the United States, the missionary said, "Why would Satan want to wake us up (through persecution) when we've already shut up!" What a powerful and thought provoking response from someone committed to giving his life for the Gospel. This incredible servant made another statement that I leave you with today, a statement every evangelical Christian in America should hear and give utmost consideration. He said, "When you deny Christ and refuse to share God's truth of salvation for fear of persecution, are you not identifying more with the persecutor than you are with the persecuted?" What a question to ponder...
While at the meeting I had the privilege of visiting with two long-term missionaries and their experiences around the world (names withheld to protect the obvious). This beloved couple has been on the field more than a quarter century, they have buried a son in Africa and faced untold physical persecution throughout their tenure. They are indeed heroes of the faith like those the writer of Hebrews describes as "of whom the world has was not worthy." Like those to whom they minister, they have come to realize that persecution is like the sun coming up in the East, it's going to happen. But of course this is reality for 80% of the Christian world who live with regular, on-going persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ. When asked whether he felt persecution would come to the United States, the missionary said, "Why would Satan want to wake us up (through persecution) when we've already shut up!" What a powerful and thought provoking response from someone committed to giving his life for the Gospel. This incredible servant made another statement that I leave you with today, a statement every evangelical Christian in America should hear and give utmost consideration. He said, "When you deny Christ and refuse to share God's truth of salvation for fear of persecution, are you not identifying more with the persecutor than you are with the persecuted?" What a question to ponder...
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Missions Moment...
I am at an IMB trustee meeting and have just spent the last two hours with 8 new missionary couples headed overseas. Three are middle age and the others are in their mid-20's or so. Truly beautiful, gifted, awesome men and women with hearts burning for those in Poland, Spain, London, and other foreign European areas. Several things jumped out at me tonight -
1. They were obediently following the will of God. They have been called to serve in missions and were being obedient in every way. They were giving up promising careers of worldly reward for a more promising service and eternal rewards. They will not regret it.
2. More than one stated in their testimony that they had grown up in Christian homes but came to the place where they had to own their faith and not live off their parents coattails of faith anymore. This usually was the crisis moment God used to transition them to His call. He works like that if we pay attention. I remember when he did it in my life and Andi and I decided our faith had to be our own and it had to be real. It was scary but it was the best road to travel. Is your faith your own?
3. Finally, one young lady mentioned that before she was ever born, when her parents thought their nest was full, her mother was challenged to pray that God would raise up one of her children to be a missionary. She began praying. After that a third daughter was born, I met the answer to her mother's prayers tonight. She and her husband are moving to Poland. Okay, will you pray for God to raise up a missionary in your home? I'm going to, why not join me.
It's been a long and rewarding day.
Never yield your shield; Stay in the battle.
In Christ alone,
Byron
1. They were obediently following the will of God. They have been called to serve in missions and were being obedient in every way. They were giving up promising careers of worldly reward for a more promising service and eternal rewards. They will not regret it.
2. More than one stated in their testimony that they had grown up in Christian homes but came to the place where they had to own their faith and not live off their parents coattails of faith anymore. This usually was the crisis moment God used to transition them to His call. He works like that if we pay attention. I remember when he did it in my life and Andi and I decided our faith had to be our own and it had to be real. It was scary but it was the best road to travel. Is your faith your own?
3. Finally, one young lady mentioned that before she was ever born, when her parents thought their nest was full, her mother was challenged to pray that God would raise up one of her children to be a missionary. She began praying. After that a third daughter was born, I met the answer to her mother's prayers tonight. She and her husband are moving to Poland. Okay, will you pray for God to raise up a missionary in your home? I'm going to, why not join me.
It's been a long and rewarding day.
Never yield your shield; Stay in the battle.
In Christ alone,
Byron
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