Missions: Kickin' it Old School

It is certainly thrilling, challenging, and scary to head up a missions organization, church, or do any faith-based endeavor for the Lord Jesus. Doubts creep in at times and sometimes one is left wondering . . . am I doing the right thing? Or is this gonna work?

Well, although it sounds cliche, in the end it is God who must make it work. Futhermore, He is faithful to His own projects and plans. That is why I so much appreciate a couple of missionaries from the 1800's, namely George Muller and Hudson Taylor.

These men both attempted great things for God and kept at it when it looked like the way forward was impossible. Amazingly, neither of them never solicited funds for their work. They simply prayed and stepped out in faith to do what God called them to do. Muller was so bold as to say that His work had the goal of proving to God's people that God is faithful. There were no fund-raisers, no support letters, no banquets and in many cases no publication of the needs of the ministry. When I read about the fruits of their ministry I am left wondering (and believing) that God is the same today as always in the past. He can certainly work this way. Does He want me to operate a missions organization in the same way? Does He want churches built and ministries funded in this way. Well, maybe. Then again, God is the master of variety so let us not pigeon-hole Him into required methods that we have seen work elsewhere.

I pray the Lord will once again strike strong in the hearts of Western Christians, calling men and women to be bold risk-takers, intent on taking the gospel to peoples who have never heard of Jesus. I pray once again for sweeping national revival in America, like in the old days of George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Finney and others . . . beginning with individuals in churches and then spreading. And how cool would it be to see it across the board denominationally, perhaps especially in the mainline churches?

I heartily recommend two books which are of great encouragement to those concerned about God's ability to provide and His work in accomplishing His own mission through focused individuals. The one is George Muller of Bristol by Arthur Pierson and the other is Hudson Taylor: The man who believed God by Marshall Broomhall. Of course, there are other books about these two that may well suffice.

I also commend to you mission trips that we have coming up. First is an 8 day missions retreat from Aug 25-Sep 1. This will be on the isle of Iona and only costs $1800. You will never find this trip through a tour group so cheap. Next, Orissa India, site of recent persecutions of Christians. $2500 for this one Sep 22-Oct 3rd. Third, Nov 5-16 into Uganda, Africa ($2500) and finally to finish out the year: The Philippines (Dec 3-13). Cost TBD but in the $2000-$2500 range.

Please pray to the Lord of the harvest for people to go on these trips and for the successful mission of World Impact Now to the world. Interesting, a group of churches in Africa recently prayed and fasted for a month for the ministry we are trying to do. That blows my mind! Thanks to all of you who remember us in prayer.

Obedience VS Right Theology

I know many people with the right theology . . . well, at least what I consider to be good and solid. None of us have the perfect mind but some are perhaps more accurate of mind than others. Yes, theology is important and I am in not in agreement with those who have no place for doctrine or theology in their Christianity. However, what good is a “correct theology” without obedience to the living Christ? None whatsoever according to Jesus of Nazareth. Calling him Lord and espousing all the right answers without doing what He says leads to the crawling condemnation of “I never knew you.”

The key to a vibrant Christianity is a true knowledge of the resurrected Jesus, the one who requires daily obedience and relationship. Such knowledge is nothing short of an experiential knowledge, biblically, theologically, and practically speaking.

George MacDonald would say that those who have a deficient theology yet live in obedience to Jesus know him better than the others who are most accurate in their mental understanding of the truths about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And with this does not the early leader of the first church in Jerusalem agree? Indeed, James teaches us that the demons all believe. In other words, they have a great theology . . . as do Pharisees and other hypocrites. What sets people apart as God’s own is a life of obedience.

The result? Study theology and doctrine and seek to love the Lord with all your mind. But do not forget that to really love Him requires also the heart and body as well, which includes the emotions and the will.

The Iona Retreat

Iona is a small island that was used of God in the 6th century to spread the gospel throughout Britain and into Europe. It is our inspiration for our Fuga Vision, another small island in the South China Sea in the Northern Philippines.

We are going to this island Aug 25-Sep 1, an 8 day trip, with 5 days on the isle of Iona. Our focus will be to pray and study, discuss missions and kingdom work in the world. For those who come, we want it to be a time of spiritual refreshment and re-focus on the radical call to build God's Kingdom.

The cost for this trip is $1800 and will involve one night in Oban, Scotland as well as one night in Glasgow. The rest of the time will be on the isle of Iona. Accommodations are set for one place at present but we should be able to get more depending on how many are interested in coming. If you are interested I need to know asap. A $1000 deposit will be needed by June 1st in order to secure airfare and a place to stay. Contact me at 540-353-6370. Blessings, TA