Commission to Every Nation How People Just Like You Are Blessing Nations by Richard Malm Ore Publishing Texas Author Contact: RickMalm@cten.org
IN APPRECIATION Thank you, Jana, for being such a faithful traveling companion on this continuing Divine Adventure. Neither of us imagined the places it would take us and the things we would experience when we started down this road. We just knew we wanted to follow the Lord wherever He led. It's been fun. It's been exciting. But there have also been dark valleys and dry deserts. I'm so thankful I had you by my side to share the joys and sorrows as we journeyed together with Him. I also want to thank all those who have partnered with our ministry to make this amazing experiment possible. Some of you were with us from the very beginning. We were privileged to meet some of you along the way. We treasure your friendship, prayers, encouragement, and the financial investments you've made throughout the years. As you've sown into our lives, you've enabled this dream, which has enabled thousands of others to serve millions around the globe. Finally, thank you to all the current and former CTEN staff and missionaries. Your servant hearts have made CTEN much more than an organization. You've made it an organism, a living family. May it always be a community of brothers and sisters loving, laughing, and serving together to bring a smile to the face of our Father. Richard Malm Commission To Every Nation / 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS IN APPRECIATION... 1 INTRODUCTION... 3 It's Not Right Or Wrong, Just Different... 3 CHAPTER 1... The Lord Is Able... CHAPTER 2... I Didn't Think You Had A Chance... CHAPTER 3... Already Tried That And Totally Failed... CHAPTER 4... Does The World Really Need Another Mom And Pop Mission Agency?... CHAPTER 5... That'll Never Work... Chapter 6... Is There A Place For Me In Missions?... CHAPTER 7... I've Just Been Waiting For You To Ask... CHAPTER 8... You're Full-Grown Adults... CHAPTER 9... What Openings Do You Have In Missions?... CHAPTER 10... Now I Know Why God Wanted Me To Come On This Trip.... CHAPTER 11... I Can't Find Anyone To Pray With Me About This... CHAPTER 12... Don't You Have To At Least Pray About It?... A CONTINUING STORY... The Book of Acts is Still Being Written... ADDENDUM 1... Why Send Missionaries? The Four Most Commonly Asked Questions ADDENDUM 2... Speech By Gladys Aylward... ADDENDUM 3... Images END NOTES... Richard Malm Commission To Every Nation / 2
INTRODUCTION It's Not Right Or Wrong, Just Different I've been held at gunpoint twice, had a knife put to my throat, been surrounded by angry mobs, and faced other life and death situations. I've even been threatened with an IRS audit by a furious agent. But by far, the most terrifying experience of my life was driving in England. As everyone knows, the British drive on the wrong side of the road. And the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car. And the car had a manual transmission, so I had to shift with the wrong hand. Driving there was terrifying; but for the sake of all my British friends, let me assure everyone that there's really nothing right or wrong with British cars or British driving patterns. They're just different. One of the most important things a missionary learns when ministering in another culture is that different isn't necessarily right or wrong - it's just different. This is the story of a different way to do missions. In this book, I explain why we do things the way we do at Commission To Every Nation (or CTEN, pronounced: see TEN) and how our methods naturally emerged. Because we do things differently, it would be easy to assume I'm saying others do it wrong - especially since I'm passionate about the way we do it. Richard Malm Commission To Every Nation / 3
The truth is I have a profound respect for all the great mission organizations that do it differently than we do. A hammer and a screwdriver are totally different because they have different functions. Churches and mission agencies are like that. Each was forged by the Master to accomplish a different job. Tools even come in different sizes. As impressive as my huge wrench might be, it's totally useless when I'm working in a small space. God uses various tools, with various designs and various sizes, but every tool - like every individual - was designed to accomplish a specific purpose and functions most effectively when doing what it was designed to do, the way it was designed to do it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Jesus told us what to do - Go and make disciples. He didn't say how to do it. That has resulted in countless methods. Some drive on the right side of the road, some on the left side. Some go right down the middle and some avoid roads all together. It's not how we get there that matters, but that we all keep moving toward the goal - encouraging, supporting, and cheering for one another along the way. Your Name Belongs In His-Story? This is a story about how God surprised some very ordinary people and did some extraordinary things through them. Some of the names have been changed at Richard Malm Commission To Every Nation / 4
the request of those involved. But I could have just as easily used your name because I'm convinced God wants this to be your story, too. He wants to include you in his great plan and do marvelous things that astound even you, all of which brings glory to the only name that really matters - His. Throughout Scripture, God chose to work through weak, broken, and fallen men and women to accomplish remarkable things. Often, they were fearful and didn't want to obey: Gideon, Saul, Jonah. They messed up and were disobedient: Moses, David, Solomon. Many had huge failures in their past: Aaron, Peter, Paul. Many were of questionable character: Jacob, Rahab, Samson. Some would say God used them in spite of their flaws. I'm convinced He used them because of their flaws. That way, there could be no question as to Who received the credit for the phenomenal things done through them. We can all find reasons to believe God could never do miraculous things through us. It's not hard to list our disqualifications; I'm not smart enough, I'm not good enough, I've tried before and failed. I come from a bad background. I'm the wrong gender or the wrong race, born in the wrong place and at the wrong time in history. I'm not attractive. I don't have a charismatic personality. I have too many health problems. I never get any breaks. I've messed my life up too much. I've been messed up too much by others. I'm damaged goods. I don't have the proper education, experience, or credentials. I'm too old. I'm too young. Blah, blah, blah, blah. Richard Malm Commission To Every Nation / 5
But is it possible God ordained your upbringing, culture, financial situation, ethnicity, and even the tiniest aspects of your life for the specific purpose of doing amazing things through you to bring Him glory? What if those natural disqualifiers are actually why God wants to use you? What if God is looking for people who know they don't have what it takes? What if He allowed those weaknesses and placed you in that imperfect family so He could do amazing things through you that He could then boast about throughout the ages? And here's some good news: God is never disappointed with you. Why? Because He never had any illusions about how wonderful you were in the first place. He remembers we're all just dust. 1 Corinthians 1:26-30 gives us a checklist of qualifications God is looking for. Do you fit any of these: not wise, not influential, no special heritage, foolish, weak, humble, looked down on, counted as nothing? If any of these describe you, then you're qualified to get into God's toolbox and let Him use you for the purpose He designed and created you. "Time is running out... The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here." Now, more than ever, we need to respond to the heart cry of Jesus - pray and ask the Lord to send more workers. After we pray we need to be part of the answer to the prayer. Richard Malm Commission To Every Nation / 6
Your Piece Is Necessary There's a place for each of us in completing the picture of the Great Commission. Perhaps you're to go. Perhaps you're to support others through giving, praying, encouraging, or advocating for them. Most missionaries I know do all of the above. Whatever piece you have in the Great Commission puzzle, no matter how insignificant it might appear to you, it's vital that you do your part and remain open to doing more: praying more, giving more, perhaps even going yourself. Your piece of the puzzle is needed. A 10,000-piece puzzle is not complete if even a tiny piece is missing. And that missing piece, no matter how insignificant, stands out and mars the entire picture. Your piece is necessary. You are necessary. You are needed. Without your piece, the picture God is crafting is not complete. My piece may seem small In the plans of God's heart But the picture's not finished Till I do my part. - Rick Malm God is not looking for extraordinary characters as His instruments, but He is looking for humble instruments through whom He can be honored throughout the ages. - A.B. Simpson, Founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Richard Malm Commission To Every Nation / 7
Commission To Every Nation Staff 2017 Front Row (L-R): Jack and Carol Rothenflue, CTEN USA Director; Jana and Rick Malm, Founders and President; Jana and Trevor Eby, CTEN Canada Director Row2: Birdie and Dick Johnson, Pastoral Care; Tammie and Stephen Burger, Pastoral Care; B and Bob Nesbitt, Pastoral Care; Sensitive Regions, Pastoral Care Row 3: David and Janice Ewing, Pastoral Care; Rob and Joany Wills, Pastoral Care; Rita Hall, Publications Assistant; Tess Polk, Publications Assistant; Debi Stamm, Publications Manager Row 4: Angie Newby, Comptroller; Trinette Zirkel, Finance Manager; Laura Lee, Donor Care; Sylvie Beveridge, Canada Donor Care; Donna Ellis, Donor Care; John Hauk, Canada Finance Manager; Marcia Wortman, Assistant to the President; Buddy Slate, Facilities Care; Sherri White, Executive Assistant to the US Director; Mariko and Heath Meikle, Canada Missions Catalyst END OF SAMPLE We hope you enjoyed this sample. Get your paperback or ebook today from: Richard Malm Commission To Every Nation / 8