AGWM News

Beauty

After a stormy night of rain, lightening and thunder, I was driving to work this morning and spotted a rainbow right behind our southwest Missouri power plant. I stopped and took a picture and thanked God for the beauty He provides in nature.

Then I thought of a verse in the Bible using the word “beauty.”

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’” (Isaiah 52:7)!

Here at World Missions we just completed the Missionary Training for all the new missionaries. This past Thursday, June 25, I attended the graduation of the MKs (missionary kids) and the commissioning of the 61 missionary associates going to 26 nations around the world. This coming Thursday, July 2, I plan to attend the commissioning of the new missionaries.

This week the veteran missionaries are joining the new missionaries for the annual Missionary Renewal (formerly School of Missions) that is going on right now.

The new missionaries bring inspiring testimonies of how God led them to missions. The veteran missionaries come with their hearts and minds filled with all that God has done through them on the mission field.

People all around the world today are enjoying the beauty of God’s good news because of the beautiful feet of missionaries who were willing to leave the comforts of home to take them the good tidings of salvation.

Do you want to beautify your church? Don’t wait for the missionaries to call you. Take the initiative and contact a new missionary, a veteran missionary or a missionary associate in your area who is itinerating and invite him or her to share their calling with your congregation.

Click here to read a story of one of the new missionaries currently at the Missionary Renewal.

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Drought

My mother, retired missionary Ruby Wilkie, called me last night from her home near Seattle. “We set a record,” she said. “Today is the 30th day it hasn’t rained in Seattle.” Because of the drought Mom is having to water almost daily her beautiful flower garden. The rain barrel is dry so she is having to use city water. Others are also facing water shortages.

(She called the next day after I had written this blog and said after her phone call the previous day it started raining 6 minutes before midnight on the 30th day, so it only tied the record of 29 days.)

Many in the world today are experiencing drought, either physically, spiritually, or both.

Isaiah 41:17 reads: The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

Currently, approximately 130 new missionaries, missionary associates and their children are meeting here in Springfield for several days of training.

They are preparing themselves to take the gospel to the 4.4 billion people around the world who are living and dying with their tongues parched with thirst, not knowing that Jesus can give them living water. Some, such as those in the Africa Oasis Project, the Convoy of Hope and others will dig wells and build water purification systems, providing both spiritual and physical water.

As these missionaries come to our churches let’s partner with them to help them take Christ, the Living Water (John 7:37) to our spiritually drought-stricken world.

Click here to read an article of how people around the world are finding the Living Water. 

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Thoughts on Psalm 19:14

I still remember the incident when I was a young boy in Cochabamba, Bolivia, where my parents were serving as missionaries. We were in the living room having family devotions, as was our custom. That morning we read Psalm 19. Someone, I can’t remember who, suggested we begin quoting verse 14 during our worship time.

Ever since that day we quoted Psalm 19:14 at the end of our family devotions and I have continued the tradition with my family.

So this morning, before my wife, Beverly, went off to summer school to teach her kindergartners, and I came to AG Headquarters, we prayed together, then quoted Psalm 19:14:

“May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

From the beginning I concentrated on my two responsibilities; to be careful of my words and to guard my thoughts. Then, one Sunday, our pastor preached on this verse. He emphasized not only our responsibility, but also how God is our daily strength and provides redemption and renewal.

So now as I quote that verse each morning, I am reminded on a daily basis that I can expect God to not only guide my words and thoughts, but also to provide strength and renewal for the day.

Click here to read a recent article about Cochabamba, Bolivia.

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Rebuilt MAT Web Site Now Online

You can find the rebuilt AGWM Missions Awareness Team (MAT) Web site at www.mat.ag.org or by clicking on the MAT ad in the lower right of this AGWM home page.

MAT exists to assist pastors and lay leaders establish active and effective missions programs in their local congregations.

The Web site contains a wealth of helpful information for pastors, missions committees, congregations and districts. Currently there are more than a dozen downloadable manuals, some also in Spanish, such as: Proven Missions Convention Ideas, Why Missions? The Bible and Missions, The Four Pillars of Missions.

The Web site shows a map with the locations, names and contact information for all the team members, and much more information. 

Click here to read a recent article written by a local pastor about the MAT involvement in his church.

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AGWM Ministry Web Sites Linked Here

Assemblies of God World Missions has many different types of ministries such as churches, Bible schools, compassion ministries, literature and media ministries and a host of others.

For your convenience we have links to the Web sites of many of these ministries on this Web site. On the lower right of this home page you will see “Visit other AGWM related sites” where we have placed several of the major Web sites.

You can also go to each region and click on “Related Organizations” under the Regional Director for more ministries and Web sites.

Two of the ministries whose Web sites we have included are BGMC and King’s Castle Ministries.

Click here to read an article we posted last year about these ministries.

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Heard a good missions sermon lately?

Having been raised in the church I’ve heard thousands of sermons from the pew and preached some myself.

Paul wrote: How can they hear without someone preaching to them (Romans 10:14)? Preaching is certainly an important part of the church and of our personal spiritual growth.

I am currently looking over about a dozen sermon outlines our missionaries and other preachers have sent us to post on the AGWM Web site about our new missions theme “Every Way.”

One of the outlines is an illustrated sermon for children. Another outline discusses how a missionary’s cut hand changed the course of their family’s ministry. Another outline mentions the importance of faith promises. One sermon reminds us that if Jesus can use a donkey He can certainly use us for His Kingdom.

These outlines contain inspiring missionary stories and workable outlines and ideas that pastors and teachers can use in church or Sunday school classes on missions Sunday or in any service.

To find the current sermon outlines online go back to the home page, click on the “Resources” drop menu and go to “Sermon Outlines.” We plan to post the new sermon outlines in July, the start of our new missions year.

Click here to read a devotional from one of our missionaries you may be able to use in discussing missions.

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The President’s First 100 Days

Today marks the first 100 days of the presidency of Barack Obama. Traditionally, as with any new president, this becomes a time to evaluate how he is doing. Some will like his actions and give him rave reviews. His critics will point out his faults.

Many of us in our jobs receive an evaluation after the first 90 days of employment and an annual review after that. Students receive report cards that pass judgment on how they are doing in school.

Most of us are judged and evaluated in various ways.

The apostle Paul reminds us of a judgment that will come to all of us:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Each morning when our alarm goes off and we start a new day we are given an opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission (Mark 16:15) in whatever way God is directing us, be it in our home, community or around the world.

Each night as we retire for the night we can evaluate for ourselves how we have done that day.

Hopefully, one day, we all will hear our Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23)!

Click here to read one story of a missionary couple that I’m sure heard those words.

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Glory and Joy and Prayer

Recently in my daily devotions I read 1 Corinthians chapter 4 where Paul discusses some of the horrendous difficulties he and the other apostles went through for the sake of preaching the gospel.

I made this note in my journal: “Anybody want to become an apostle like Paul? What a résumé!”

Yet, Paul endured all he went through with joy and could even sing while in prison (Acts 16:25). In 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 he writes that his converts and those he disciples are his glory and joy.

Today, 2,700 Assemblies of God missionaries and missionary associates are scattered like light and salt around the world. Their missionary letters and reports are inspirational. Most are doing well and rejoicing in the growth and development of their ministries.

Others tell of hardship. A number of Christians around the world and sometimes our missionaries face persecution. Most missionaries and ministries are feeling the fallout of the global economic downturn. Health problems and other issues occasionally weigh them down. Yet they are rejoicing in spite of whatever they are going through because they are seeing God at work. The worldwide church is growing like never before through their efforts, even in difficult regions.

I know our AG missionaries, like Paul, would appreciate your prayers. Sometimes that’s all that keeps them going. Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:1, Brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

Click here to read one story of how prayer saved a missionary’s life. 

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4.4 Billion People Don’t Know About Easter

This Easter Sunday most of us will attend a special service at our church. It’s the time to show off new Easter outfits, have Easter egg hunts and get together as families.

Churches will put on plays, skits, have special music or in other ways portray the resurrection of Jesus. Pastors will preach about how Jesus died for our sins, rose from the dead and lives in our hearts if we will invite Him in. It will be a glorious day for millions of Christians around the world.

Last Sunday at our church we had a missionary speaker who was going to a country in southern Asia. “Only one percent of the people in this nation have even heard the name ‘Jesus’,” the missionary told us. “The Assemblies of God has not been in this country for very long and there is much work to do.”

Jesus died for all. He is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Yet, as we mentioned in the last blog, of the nearly 7 billion people in the world, 4.4 billion still have not heard an adequate presentation of the gospel. They don’t know that Jesus died for their sins, rose from the dead, and is offering them salvation and eternal life. 

This Easter Sunday, as we celebrate the greatest day in Christianity, let’s renew our commitment to pray, give, go — or do all three — so more of these 4.4 billion people will also have an opportunity to experience Jesus’ resurrection power in their lives.

Click here to read one of many stories about how people are coming to Christ. 

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What to do?

In this time of economic downturn we all are thinking a little more about our finances, especially as tax day approaches on April 15.

With the forlorn financial forecast we face, when many of us are cutting back on our spending, should we also cut back on our church-related contributions?

First, the Bible admonishes us to pay our tithe always, not just in the prosperous times. We need to continue giving 10 percent of our income to the Lord through our local church during both the good and difficult days. God will honor us as we do (Malachi 3:8-10).

Second, we should also continue giving to missions. Here are some reasons why: 

1.     Missions is at the heart of God. John 3:16 tells us that God gave His Son so everyone in the world might be saved. 

2.     We have a responsibility to take the gospel around the world (Mark 16:15). We can’t go everywhere, but we can support missionaries who do. Of the nearly 7 billion people in the world, 4.4 billion have not heard an adequate presentation of the gospel. There is still much work to do. 

3.     Missionaries and all ministers deserve our support. Paul reminds us: The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. … “The worker deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:17-18). 

Paul thanks the church at Philippi for giving him financial support in his missionary endeavors (Philippians 4:10-19). He says about the financial gifts they sent him: They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God (verse 18). 

4.     Missionaries use our offerings to spread the gospel around the world, often to the poor and needy. The United Nations estimates that 25,000 people die each day of hunger or hunger-related causes. The Bible declares: He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses (Proverbs 28:27). 

We are told we will be rewarded even if we give a cup of cold water (Matthew 10:42). 

Click here to read how one AGWM ministry is literally doing this. 

5.     Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:19-20: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” 

Everything else we spend our money on will one day get old and worn and have to be thrown away. Eternity gets closer with each passing day. Sending our money ahead seems like a good idea. 

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