Developing A Heart For Missions and the Persecuted Church

Transcription

1 Developing A Heart For Missions and the Persecuted Church Compiled by Les Tepper And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 Revised: June 26, 2013 God s work done in God s way will never lack God s supplies. - Hudson Taylor

2 Contents Missions is not about the people who need God, it is about God Himself Purpose of Christian Missions... 3 God Loves Missions... 3 Why Missions?... 4 Missions: Project or Lifestyle... 4 John's Commending of Gaius... 4 Interested in Missions?... 5 Persecuted Church... 5 Safe for Democracy or Sent for the Gospel"... 5 A Passion for Missions in the Men Who Stay... 5 Missions: A Family Affair... 6 Something Radical Is Needed... 6 World Missions: The Purpose, the Promise, and the Price... 6 Driving Convictions Behind Foreign Missions... 6 Getting Involved... 7 Purchasing Bibles... 7 Open Doors - Sponsor Bibles... 7 Action Packs... 7 Bibles Unbound... 7 Bible and a Blanket... 8 Parachutes for Colombia... 8 Prisoner Alert - Sending Letters to Prisoners... 8 Participating with Strategic Partners... 8 Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Hostile and Restricted Nations... 8 Voice of the Martyrs Classroom... 8 All Opportunities To Get Involved With Voice of the Martyrs... 9 Raise Funds to Change the World... 9 Global Friendships - Door of Hope International... 9 Shoeman Water Projects... 9 Give-A-Goat Program... 9

3 Missions is not about the people who need God, it is about God Himself. The truth is that we struggle with a heart for unreached people because we don't know them. Their plight doesn't immediately affect us. We know this doesn't seem right, so when we are reminded of these unreached people we feel guilty for not being more concerned about them than we are. Unfortunately, as the missionaries go back to the mission field, their work and the people they serve recede back into the recesses of our minds and life goes on. What if, instead of trying to focus solely on arousing concern for the people who need God, we focused on pursuing God Himself and teaching others to do the same. What if the glory of God and seeing it proclaimed to the ends of the earth became our highest concern. I am not saying that we shouldn't be concerned with the eternal fate of those who have never heard the Gospel. We should. The question is how to develop that concern in a way that will last and in a way not based on guilt. I think the answer is to put missions in its proper place. Missions is important, but not as important as worshiping God. As John Piper said: Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. When people develop a passion for the glory of God in all the earth, they can't help but develop a passion for missions. As we pursue God and He becomes fully formed in us, we find ourselves desiring what He desires. We long for His name to be made great among the nations and we long for the nations to know the joy of worshiping our King. Purpose of Christian Missions There are many important responsibilities applicable to Christian missions. Yet, of all that can be listed, there are seven essential tasks that are most central. This article outlines and briefly discusses the seven main points pertinent to Christian missions. Christian Foreign Missions exists to: 1. Exalt the Name of the One True God 2. Exemplify the Body of Christ 3. Evangelize Unbelievers 4. Educate Disciples 5. Establish Local Church Bodies 6. Equip and Empower National Leaders 7. Encourage the National Church as Co-Laborers in Christ God Loves Missions God loves missions. Because He loves missions, He wants us to be involved in the work of missions. A missionary once stated that there are three kinds of people. The first kind are the Goers, the second kind are the Senders, and the third kind are the Disobedient. I love missions. I love going on missions trips. I also love sending others on missions trips. My heart beats passionately for missions, especially when it comes to church planting (both in the United States and around the world). One of the last things Jesus said to His disciples can be found in Matthew 28: Jesus said, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. I believe Jesus is telling us to do two things. One, go and share the good news of Jesus everywhere, both within our community (home missions) and outside of our community (foreign missions). Two, teach them to live the life that God has purposed for them to live. 3

4 Why Missions? This weekend we had our church s foreign missions banquet. We call it world outreach these days. But whatever we call it, it is important to remember why we do it. We don t just do missions because it is cool. Now, contrary to what many people think, I do believe mission is cool. You learn about lots of countries and cultures. You are reminded of the power of the gospel. You hear lots of interesting stories about how God is at work in the world today. In all these ways missions is cool and refreshing. But there are better reasons why we do missions. Here are some that come to mind. Missions: Project or Lifestyle Suppose someone in your church works with a ministry which regularly collects and distributes bibles and/or clothing. You search your house for items and bring a few for the collection. You have fulfilled a missions project and check it off your list of things to do. As a lifestyle you realize the continual need for bibles and clothing. You set a plan to purchase bibles and clothing throughout the year for this ministry. You search for bargains; you try to imagine who the recipients will be and how they will be blessed. They become as family members. The former is good and you have as sense of helping; however, the later is a commitment which can transform your life. The purpose of the church is to glorify God and take the Gospel to the world so as to make Christ known. Missions is risky; it forces you out of your comfort zone and demands of you to intercede and to intervene. You pray for one imprisoned for their faith; then you hear they've been martyred. You pray for years and nothing seems to happen; then God opens the heavens and delivers nations from oppressive bondage. You rejoice; you weep; you are transformed. You see the hand of God moving; no longer, in your heart or mind, is God a distant or historical figure, but rather an ever present help in the crises of the world in which you live. There's a famine in their land, not of bread, not of water, but of hearing the Word of the Lord. There's a famine in their land, they can be fed by no other than the Bread of Life, the One they hunger for! John's Commending of Gaius In writing to one of his converts, Gaius, John commended him for many things. First, John was pleased that Gaius knew the truth. If we are to be true to God, we must know the truth. In our day with so many tools available to us, there is no reason for any Christian in America to be ignorant of the Word of God. It is vital for our spiritual growth that we read, study, memorize, and meditate on the Bible. It is sad to say, but many who know the truth do not practice the truth. John commended Gaius, not only for knowing the truth, but also for walking in the truth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (3 John 3 4). We who know the truth must be careful to practice that which we know. One of the saddest things to witness is the horrible sins of people who know the truth. Biblical knowledge is important, but it is of no profit if it is not practiced. John also commended Gaius for his care for missionaries. Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: Because that for his name s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles (3 John 5 7). Gaius had extended hospitality toward the itinerant evangelist/missionaries who had ministered in his church. John pointed out that these missionaries labored for his name s sake. They had one driving motive for serving the Lord the name of Jesus Christ. 4

5 Interested in Missions? Jesus commands his church to be engaged in mission work! "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations... '" (Matthew 28:18-20). God gives the power and strength, through his Spirit, for our mission work. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Developing a Heart for Missions Since Jesus commands his church to spread the gospel, every church member has a part in this task. It is possible, and it is necessary, for each one of us to be active participants in spreading the gospel overseas, through prayer, giving, and being involved with specific missionaries. We need to be missions-minded; to be aware of the work God is doing throughout the world. How? read mission books receive and read mission prayer letters, magazines, etc. be involved with specific missionaries Persecuted Church I know that many feel that this is a topic that is best left to the experts. I must disagree. What many forget is that the New Testament was written by persecuted Christians to persecuted Christians. Throughout history, persecution has been the norm for most Christians almost everywhere. This is true even today. The Scriptures are replete with admonitions not only on how to stand firm in the midst of persecution but on the church s obligation and privilege of standing together with those who are persecuted for their faith in Christ. Hence, this is a subject that church leaders should have some knowledge of and be prepared to share on. One need not be an expert in order to be effective and knowledgeable. Best regards, Glenn Penner Chief Executive Officer The Voice of the Martyrs Canada Please visit: Safe for Democracy or Sent for the Gospel" President Woodrow Wilson s efforts to maintain neutrality were disregarded by German submarines. February 3, 1917, the U.S.S. Housatonic is sunk. Arthur Zimmerman, the German Secretary of State, attempts an alliance with Mexico for the invasion of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Three more U.S. ships are torpedoed. April 6, 1917, Wilson signs the declaration of war against Germany. April 24, 1917 Congress passes the Liberty Loan Act to raise funds for the war effort. Twenty billion dollars are raised in two years. From the declaration of war in April, 1917, to the Armistice in November, 1918, 4,744,000 Americans take part in the war, and 116,000 die. Such cost, such austerities, such strategies, such sacrifices, such enthusiasm, such dedication! For what? According to Wilson: The world must be made safe for democracy. A Passion for Missions in the Men Who Stay 5

6 I cannot get over the fact that there are more churches in the Twin Cities than there are Protestant North American missionaries to 1,930,000,000 Muslim, Hindu, Han Chinese and Buddhist people who have not been reached by the gospel. To whom much is given, from him much will be required (Luke 12:48). Surely this implies that churches and denominations with many members and many ministers should be giving many of these people to cultures which have virtually no gospel witness. I cannot see how we can go on with business as usual while this intolerable inequity exists: 650 Protestant North American missionaries minister to 1,930 million unreached people, while 1,000,000 Christian workers in America minister to 200 million people, most of whom are already reached. How will the church give an account of itself to the Lord?! Missions: A Family Affair Joshua was a mighty warrior. He was used of God to lead the nation of Israel from the wilderness into the Promised Land. By listening to God, Joshua led Israel to capture the Promised Land. In addition to being a greatly used man of God, he was conscious of his responsibility to his family. In Joshua 24:15, he challenges the people to follow Jehovah God. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Something Radical Is Needed There are twice as many churches in the Twin Cities as there are missionaries to all the unreached Buddhist peoples in the world. There are some 1000 culturally distinct Buddhist people groups that have no evangelizing church planted in them. Some 150 million people without Christ and without hope live in these groups. About 400 missionaries are working among these groups. But there are well over 800 Christian churches in the Twin Cities. World Missions: The Purpose, the Promise, and the Price The purpose of world missions is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God into people groups where there is no indigenous, evangelizing church. This assumes something about disciples and something about nations. These terms are used in Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. My assumption about disciples is that they are people who have seen the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6), and who cherish God in Christ as the supreme value of their lives (Philippians 3:8). My assumption about nations is that they are not geographic, political countries but tribes, languages, peoples and ethnic groups (Revelation 5:9; 7:9). Based on these two assumptions, then, the purpose of world missions is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God into people groups where there is no indigenous, evangelizing church. Driving Convictions Behind Foreign Missions There are at least 14 convictions that have driven Bethlehem s commitment to missions in recent years. The leadership knows them and loves them. They shape all we do. If you are a part of Bethlehem, you need to know them too. May the Lord cause them to capture your heart and fill you with fresh zeal for the greatest cause in the world. There are only three kinds of Christians when it comes to world missions: zealous goers, zealous senders, and disobedient. May God deliver us from disobedience! 6

7 Getting Involved Purchasing Bibles There are several organizations which collect Bibles for distribution. To participate in these opportunities one can purchase single copies or cases of Bibles from the following sources. Several of these sources sell foreign language Bibles and Christian literature. American Bible Society Bible League Bible Surplus Bibles At Cost Bibles By the Case Biblica Direct Christian Book Multi-Language Media St. Louis Book Fair 1 YMCA Book Fair sp= Conducted in April of each year 2 - Conducted in August of each year Open Doors - Sponsor Bibles Today, millions of Believers around the world are without a Bible. The need for Bibles around the world continues to grow as many come to faith daily in Jesus Christ. We all know firsthand the difference that owning a Bible makes in our lives, believing that God always leads and feeds His people with His Word. For more information, visit Action Packs Help persecuted Christians around the world! The Action Pack program is a great way to get involved with the persecuted church, and a wonderful way to bless Christians in other countries. The Voice of the Martyrs is currently sending Action Packs to Pakistan, Iraq and Sudan. When you place an order for an Action Pack, The Voice of the Martyrs will send you a special pre-printed vacuum bag to be filled with items you select from the list included with your pack. After you re finished packing the bag, ship your Action Pack back to us at The Voice of the Martyrs, and we ll distribute your Action Pack along with a color Gospel storybook, He Lived Among Us, to the country that currently needs Action Packs the most. For more information, visit Bibles Unbound In restricted nations around the world, persecuted believers have two requests: "Please pray for us" and "Please send Bibles!" Believers, as well as those seeking Christ, often wait years to own their own copy of God's Word, and they do so at great risk. But the requests continue: "Please send Bibles!" Through VOM's Bibles Unbound program, you can become directly involved in meeting this vital need. Even as you read this Web page, our field workers are collecting names of people who are waiting to receive a 7

8 Bible or have requested a Bible to share with others. These believers live in very hostile areas and willingly take great risks for the sake of God's kingdom. For more information, visit Bible and a Blanket Sudanese Christians have faced horrific persecutions at the hands of a radical Islamic regime. An estimated two million Sudanese have been killed during two decades of civil war, including many Christians. A glimmer of hope exists with the peace accords, and we can help our Sudanese brothers and sisters rebuild their lives and Christian witness. Sudanese Christians live a simple lifestyle, owning few or no material possessions. However, some items are essential to their survival. One blanket can make a difference. For more information, visit Parachutes for Colombia One of VOM s partners in Colombia is a pilot named Russell. VOM helped Russell purchase an airplane, and today that plane flies over FARC-controlled areas of Colombia dropping small packages attached to parachutes. The packages, which float down into FARC camps and villages, each contain a selection of Christian books as well as a solar-powered Galcom radio pre-tuned to a Christian station. Before the parachutes are dropped, the radio is turned on so that even if the parachute catches in a tree, someone will hear the radio and climb up to retrieve it. For more information, visit Prisoner Alert - Sending Letters to Prisoners You may select from the various phrases and Scripture verses we have provided. These will be translated in the appropriate language. We also encourage you to write a few simple lines in English. The prisoner or one of his or her cellmates may be able to understand it. For more information, visit Participating with Strategic Partners Thousands of pastors, church leaders, evangelists and lay workers labor to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in restricted nations around the world. Many of them live in poverty, their lives torn apart by prejudice, oppression and violent persecution because of their love for Christ. Through VOM s PSP program, you can help provide these warriors of faith with life-sustaining necessities such as food, clothing and clean water For more information, visit Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Hostile and Restricted Nations Your gift will allow The Voice of the Martyrs to fund production and distribution of JESUS: He Lived Among Us as well as other ministry tools provided to Christians in hostile and restricted nations, including videos, books, training seminars and other items. For more information, visit Voice of the Martyrs Classroom 8

9 This is the site for online classes sponsored by Voice of the Martyrs, Inc. USA. These courses will guide you through persecution studies, an innovative way to become informed and involved in ministry to the persecuted church. For more information, visit All Opportunities To Get Involved With Voice of the Martyrs For more information, visit Raise Funds to Change the World Have some fun and motivate your friends, all while changing the world. Now, in three easy steps, you can start your own campaign to change the lives of people in Asia with the love of Christ. You ll be up and running in minutes. Help provide Bibles, bicycles, BioSand Water Filters, and many more projects For more information, visit Global Friendships - Door of Hope International Would you like to make a difference in the world without leaving your home? Door of Hope International has an exciting new ministry called Global Friendships. We are looking for people who would like to become pen-pals with someone in an unreached people group who needs to hear the Good News. Build a friendship of trust and understanding that will be a bridge to sharing your faith in Christ with your new friend. Your s of encouragement may be the vital key to someone finding salvation and peace with God. For more information, visit Shoeman Water Projects Shoeman Water Projects collects donated shoes any kind, new or gently used from schools, churches, businesses and shoe drives, exports the shoes to street vendors in places like Haiti, Kenya and South America and uses the funds from exporting for clean water programs in communities around the world. For more information, visit Give-A-Goat Program The Bengali Evangelical Association The nation of Bangladesh is one of the poorest in the world. It is wrought with gross overpopulation and suffers from natural disasters; both of which combine to cause enormous loss of life on a regular basis. The Give-A-Goat program. For $45 you can buy a goat for a starving family. That one goat will transform the lives of that family in the following ways: Feed them: One goat can produce enough milk to provide the necessary nutrients to sustain a family in times of food shortages. Give them dignity: The nation is so poor that owning just one goat will take a family from poverty to middle-class status. 9

10 Allow them to give back: Goats are commonly known to give birth to twins and deliver one set per year. So when we give the goat to a family, we do it with the understanding that if that goat gives birth to twins, they give one of the two kids to another family in need. For more information, visit 10