AGWM News

People

A few weeks ago my wife and I went on an Alaska cruise. A wonderful experience. We had great weather, panned for gold, saw whales, took lots of pictures and ate all the food we wanted anytime we wanted.

Aboard the ship there were people from many parts of the world. We saw people dressed in colorful national costumes, heard various English accents and foreign languages and observed a variety of different cultural practices. 

That setting reminded me of heaven. Not because of all the good food, the relaxing leisure time (with no phone or Internet), the many enjoyable activities or the gold we panned. But because of the people.

The apostle Paul tells us that in his vision of heaven “I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9). 

Today the Assemblies of God is involved in bringing people into the family of God in 213 countries and territories around the world. How exciting it will be to meet people from all these places in heaven. 

Hopefully I am doing my part, along with many others, to help our missionaries reach as many of these people as they can while there is still time. God has enough mansions for all of them.

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No Saturation Point

AG World Missions just concluded the 2010 Missionary Training and Renewal where they commissioned 62 missionary associates and 89 new career missionaries.

With the downturn in the economy and many of our churches struggling to get by, and some of our veteran missionaries facing financial challenges themselves, why send out more missionaries that also need to raise support?

Several years ago I heard one of our district superintendents preach a message titled “No Saturation Point.” This superintendent, from a district that is near the top in number of missionaries it sends out, said that with God there are no limits.

If we believe that God owns the cattle on 10,000 hills — as well as the gold and silver and oil in those hills — and that all things are possible to those who believe, then we don’t need to worry about putting a cap on the number of missionaries we send out or what the limit of our church’s missionary budget should be.

Some of us need to think bigger than what we are doing today. Isaiah wrote: “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes” (Isaiah 54:2).

Until the rapture, God will continue to expand His worldwide Kingdom. Jesus reminds us: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

Even though the Assemblies of God now numbers more than 63 million worldwide (which is nearly one percent of the world population), there are still billions of people who have yet to hear the gospel.

Our current number of 2,700 missionaries and missionary associates are doing a great work for the Lord, but to reach the other 99 percent we will need many more.

God has no saturation point. He will continue calling people into missions until Christ returns, and missionaries will continue to go to the ends of the earth — and places in between. And God will continue to supply their needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippines 4:19).

Let’s us continue to do our part to pray, to give, to go — or to do all three.

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Contrails

I love watching contrails. Just ask my wife. When we are out driving on a clear day I will often point out the beauty of a long, white streak of condensed water vapor being formed in the blue sky behind the silver pinpoint of a jet trekking across the heavens.

This morning on my way to work I saw a beautiful contrail through my windshield; a pink streak flashing across the gray sky of the early morning dawn.

As I watched this majestic man-made masterpiece I realized it represented people who got up very early this morning and were traveling from somewhere to somewhere.

I wondered if there were any missionaries on that plane. Husbands, wives, children who, after years of preparation, were finally on their way to fulfill God’s call on their lives. Or maybe missionaries returning for another term on the mission field.

Maybe they were going to Haiti or Chile to help the earthquake victims. Maybe they were on their way to Latin America or Africa or Asia or Europe to teach pastors how to better lead our growing churches overseas.

I prayed for God’s anointing and direction and protection over them and their families. And I hoped that all of us remaining back home would continue to pray and support and hold up in any way we can our missionaries who are crossing the ocean to tell others the good news.

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Response to the Haiti Earthquake

I’m sure, like me, you were shocked by the devastation and death caused by the earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12.

But it has been rewarding in the days following to see how God’s people are rising up to help. Our missionaries already in Haiti, along with Convoy of Hope, HealthCare Ministries and others, are rushing personnel, food and other supplies to the island.

We have posted several articles on the Web site showing the generosity of God’s people responding to this ongoing need.

When we stop and think about it, there are needs all around us. I had just sent an offering for Haiti when one of our coworkers had her house robbed and vandalized. An envelope was sent around the office and I felt impressed to give again. Tomorrow or the next day another need will come into focus where I will be asked to help.

In his book Remember the Poor, AGWM Executive Director John Bueno, writes: “But what Scripture is saying to me is that … a natural result of our born-again experience will be a response to the needs around us.”

When I am asked to give I often think of the many Scripture verses that address this topic.

For example, Paul writes: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. … As it is written: ‘He that scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever’” (2 Corinthians 9:6,9).

Solomon adds: “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshed others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).

None of us has enough money to give generously to all the poor and needy around us. But hopefully we will be generous in giving to those needs the Lord lays on our hearts.

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Christmas on the Mission Field

Growing up as an MK on the mission field, among the barrels of supplies my parents brought from the States were several cans of cranberry sauce.   

This special treat was saved for Christmas dinner and other special events.  Even today, several decades later, every time I sit around a holiday feast and cranberry sauce is served, it takes me back to those days in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Being thousands of miles from home, our only “relatives” were other MKs and missionaries that we called “Uncle” and “Aunt.”  At the Christmas season we usually gathered in one of our homes.  The kids played, the adults visited and we all ate and enjoyed good times of fellowship.  My mother would fix carrot pie. With the right spices it tasted just like pumpkin pie.  Great memories.

But still we missed our families and friends in the States. Especially at Christmastime.

This Christmas season let’s remember our missionaries.  Being separated from family and friends and church and homeland can be tough. Let’s pray for them.  Let’s let them know we are thinking about them. An offering or a gift at this time of year would mean so much to them.

(Check with them before you mail a package to see if they can receive it without a lot of cost or effort.  An offering to their personal account might be better.)

To send your missionaries a special Christmas offering, click here.

Write the missionary’s name in the box.  Fill out the form that opens up. If you write “Christmas” or “special offering” in the comments box, the missionary will receive that gift as a personal offering.

In whatever way you can, remember your missionaries — and their kids — this Christmas.  It will make this time of year so much bright for them.  And for you.

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Willie

It’s fall already. Where has the year gone? I’m busy in the evenings and weekends trying to finish some outdoor projects around my home before winter sets in. Whether we’re having fun or not, time flies.

Reminds me of Jesus when he said, “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4).

Paul added: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Just yesterday we posted on this Web site the fall quarter “AGWM Current Facts and Highlights” you can find by going to “Resources” and scrolling down to “AGWM Current Facts.”

This report points out that in this decade the Assemblies of God worldwide has grown by 83 percent, that the number of churches and preaching points have grown by 60 percent, and that our Bible schools and Bible school extensions have grown by 18 percent.

The report also points out that 9,757 AG churches in the United States gave a total of $207.7 million to missions in 2008.

We can see that the 2,713 AGWM missionaries and missionary associates, along with our U.S. congregations, are working for God while it is day and making the most of their opportunities.

I was intrigued by the missionary who recently told the story of Willie. After years of prayer and witnessing, this 93-year-old German finally accepted Christ. We plan to post his story in the next few days.

Let’s continue to work and pray and give and go and do all we can so more people like Willie will be brought into the kingdom of God while we still have the opportunity.

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Reunions and the Unreached

A few weeks ago I attended my Bible college reunion.

I had a great time fellowshipping again with classmates I have been in contact with over the years. But I especially enjoyed catching up on the lives of other classmates I hadn’t seen since I graduated from college many years ago.

One of the men I reminisced with has a stateside ministry. Several years ago he felt led by the Lord to begin taking overseas ministry trips. His aim is to preach to people still unreached by the gospel.

As I sit in front of my computer I have access on the Internet to a plethora of religious and biblical information. Here in my office I have several Bibles, commentaries and other Christian books and periodicals. I attend a nearby church with a pastor and other church members who minister to me. I am a member of a Christian family and associate with other Christians.

So it’s hard for me to imagine that in this day when telecommunications and rapid transportation is shrinking our global village, that there are still people who have never heard the name of Jesus and don’t realize there is a God who created them and loves them. But there are. Millions of them. Probably billions. And they have no one around to tell them, or no way of finding out.

Further, because of their location and circumstances under which they live, they will never hear the gospel. Unless my friend or someone else makes the effort to go to where they live and tell them.

I asked this preacher to send us an article about his ministry to the unreached that we can hopefully post on the Web site the next several weeks.

But as I thought about what he is achieving, I asked myself if I was doing enough to take or send the gospel to the unreached people at the ends of the earth?

The realization that they are living out their lives without hope is heartbreaking. The knowledge of their eternal destination unless someone tells them about Jesus is a tragedy.

I asked myself if I thought I was doing enough for them and I didn’t like my answer.

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Mt. Rainier

We just returned from several days of vacation in the Pacific Northwest where I was born and lived for several years.

One day we drove up the slopes of Mt. Rainier to an area called Paradise and had lunch at Paradise Inn. But because of low clouds and fog rolling in we never did see the mountain.

It wasn’t until I was flying home several days later in a Boeing 717 that I got a good view of the majestic landmark that is portrayed on Washington State license plates and many other places.

Isn’t life like that sometimes? We know God is there with His power, peace and provision. But occasionally the perils, pitfalls and perplexities of life obscure our view of God and what He is doing in our lives. We seem to be walking through a fog and don’t know where God is or what’s ahead for us.

Sometimes it’s not until after we have risen above the situation that we can look back and realize God was there all the time, even if we couldn’t see Him.

So during our trials, when we don’t see any solutions — along with Job — let’s remind ourselves and the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

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Johnny Cash and Other Heroes

Johnny Cash was one of my heroes growing up. I loved listening to “Ring of Fire,” “Orange Blossom Special” and other great songs of his, both secular and sacred. Along with the album “Folsom Prison Blues” I have a record of his rendition of “Suppertime,” my mother’s favorite song, and some of his gospel albums.

My son, Matt, and I were privileged to briefly meet Johnny Cash in 1994 after a concert of his in Branson. What an honor to shake his hand, tell him how much I enjoyed his music, and have him pose with us for a picture. I have that picture on my office wall.

I also meet other heroes on a regular basis: missionaries.

In response to God’s call on their lives they left the comforts of home and have given to the Lord their time, efforts, talents, dreams and goals.

Some travel the world preaching in revivals. Some teach in Bible schools, training national workers to do the work of the ministry. Some plant churches among people groups that have never heard Jesus loves them. Others do compassion ministries to the billions of people who suffer daily from lack of food, water and shelter.

I have in front of me a letter from a missionary couple serving in Swaziland where nearly 40 percent of the adults have HIV. A young couple from my home church went to Africa as missionaries with their four small children. A Bible college classmate of mine for years has traveled with the Gypsies in Europe.

Our missionaries spend their working years ministering to people around the world, trying to go everywhere to share Christ with everyone. They are heroes to the people to whom they bring the joy of salvation. They are heroes to me and I’m sure are good and faithful servants in the Lord’s eyes.

Maybe one of these days I can get my picture taken with some of them.

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Stuck

Last night my wife and I had our son and daughter and their families over for dinner and a movie. After a meal of spareribs, sweet potatoes and zucchini (from my garden) and cake (decorated by our grandkids), we turned on the television.

The grandkids would have rather watched “Bolt” or even “Cinderella,” but instead I showed them my old movies from when I was a child on the mission field.

The movies included several scenes of our Dodge Power Wagon, a five-ton army style truck we used to get around on the roads and ox-cart trails of the 1950s in Bolivia. Some of the footage from the old 16-mm movie projector, now on DVD, showed us being stuck in the mud or in a river and using our winch to pull us out.

As I watched the old movies and remembered those days I thought about David in Psalm 40 where he wrote, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire.”

Back then when we got stuck in the mud and mire or river crossings we depended on the four-wheel drive of the Power Wagon and the sturdy winch on the front bumper with the steel hook and cable to get us out.

How much more can we depend on the Lord to pull us out of the slimy pit of sin or free us from the mud and mire of life’s problems that sometimes get us bogged down.

David goes on in this psalm and writes, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”

Whatever you are going through today, be encouraged to realize when you turn to God He hears your cry. He loves you. He will answer. He will lift you up and get you out and set your feet on a rock. He will put a new song in your mouth and your heart.

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