What Can I Do To Get More Involved In Missions?

August 26, 2015 by Patrick Leave a Comment

We are continuing on in our blog series, “Questions I Am Asked.” From time to time I am asked by good folks who believe God wants them serving in their local church, “I don’t think God is leading me to the mission field, but how can I get more involved in missions while serving God here in the States?” That is a great question! That is the focus of today’s post.

A common misconception in churches across America is that the task of world evangelism belongs on the missionaries. You will not find any such teaching in the New Testament! The task of world evangelism does not lay on the missionary, but on churches, and when you boil it down, churches are made up of believers. The task of world evangelism belongs on believers. Not everyone will be missionaries, taking the Gospel to another part of the world, but every believer ought to be involved in world evangelism. The question is, “How?” Here are a few ideas…

Go on mission trips. Your church supports missionaries, make plans to go spend a week with one of them. There are missionaries that are planting churches and training men in almost every part of the world, Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, North America, and South America. Getting a glimpse of what God is doing around the world will kindle a fire in you that very few other things will.
Correspond with your missionaries. Know them, know their names, their countries, their families. Email with them or use a type of social media to stay in contact with them. Ask them how you can pray for them. Send their families cards/letters, or even a small box of gifts (if possible).
Learn more about the countries around the world. There are all kinds of ways to do this. Operation World is a great option. You can learn about the need of every country around the world.
Pray with other members of the church for your missionaries. Get others involved by praying with them for your missionaries before or after a church service. Knowing your missionaries and praying for them together will knit your hearts together for the cause of world evangelism!

There are many more things that you can do to get more involved in world evangelism. These are just good examples. God is working around the world, get involved in world evangelism!

Country of the Week: Afghanistan

August 25, 2015 by Patrick Leave a Comment

General: A landlocked mountainous country with plains in the north and southwest, Afghanistan is located within South/Central Asia. Despite having numerous rivers and reservoirs, large parts of the country are dry. two-thirds of the country’s water flows into the neighboring countries of Iran, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan. Languages are Pashtu (used by 50% of population), Dari (Afghan Persian, used by 70%).

Population: 31,108,000 (estimated 2013)

Gospel Need: Largest Religion is Islam

Islam – 99.85%
Christians (those who believe in salvation by faith in Jesus) – 0.0% (a few over 8,000 believers, which is less than a tenth of a percent!)

Pray for Afghanistan that the light of the Gospel will pierce through the darkness. For more information, click here.

Highlighted Bible Reading – Ezekiel 48

August 24, 2015 by Patrick Leave a Comment

Bible Highlight: Ezekiel 48:35

The book of Ezekiel ends with future prophecy. 48:35, the last verse of Ezekiel, gives us a most exciting prophecy. All of the city and temple that had been described, what is it called? “It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.” There is no better name!

There are a lot of cities in this world. I really enjoy many of them. On deputation, we have two favorites, San Francisco and Chicago. We have really enjoyed Cleveland, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Dallas as well. Each of these cities are special to me for different reasons. Obviously Atlanta is where I grew up and is special to me as well. We have lived in Arequipa and in Santiago. Both are special. We are giving our lives to serve God, reach others, train men, and plant churches in Buenos Aires. This is a most special city to me. There are lots of cities that come to my mind, but none of them have this name, “The LORD Is There”! The day will come when this city will be the most important, most special city in the world. It won’t be because the food, the weather or seasons, the landmarks, the sights, or anything else. The LORD Is There, that is what will make it the greatest city on earth!

Questions I am Asked: What Is Your Greatest Fear?

August 18, 2015 by Patrick Leave a Comment

It has been a while since I have posted anything in this series, “Questions I am asked”. Of late, I have been asked a number of times now a most strange question. I don’t recall being asked this question before a few months ago, but since then I have been asked 3-4 more times. This question is the subject of this post.

“What is the greatest thing you fear?”

I was a bit taken back. This is not a normal question, or is it? I have never thought about this. What is the greatest thing I fear? I have spent a lot of time focussing in on preparation, the “how to”, the language and culture acquisition, but I have not given any thought to what I fear. I was asked this same question in 3-4 different churches. So what is the answer to this question? What is the greatest thing I fear in going to Argentina, in learning the language and culture, in proclaiming the Gospel, in starting churches, discipling new believers, in training men?

I don’t know. I don’t fear failure. My identity in Christ is such that “success or failure” on the mission field does not make my Heavenly Father any more pleased with me. The disciples had power from Jesus. They were sent out and excited to see the results of what went on. Jesus turned their eyes to something else, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20). Their “success” wasn’t what Jesus wanted them to focus on, Jesus wanted them to focus on their identity in Christ! I don’t fear danger. It seems that people have stories of the dangers of Argentina. I tell you that Argentina is as safe and as dangerous as any other country in the world. There are places in my hometown in Georgia that seem “dangerous”. Bad things happen everywhere. We may certainly be robbed, beaten, or even killed, but those bad things are possibilities here in the United States. I don’t fear those things here, and I don’t fear them there. I don’t fear Argentina for my family. My wife and daughters have adapted in Peru and Chile during our internship there. They got around, made friends, and enjoyed themselves. I know hard times are ahead, but I believe my family will adapt and get through those hard times. I don’t fear losing support (one Pastor told me that they asked a missionary what he fears most and his answer was loss of support once he was on the field). I believe God has called us, I have worked hard and God has (and is) giving the increase. I believe God has built and will keep our support.

“I don’t know” is not the best answer. There are things I don’t look forward to (like the struggle of finishing up language school or not understanding the culture as I learn and adjust) but I don’t fear them. I leave you with a verse. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28. Fear God, don’t fear anything or anyone else.