What God is Saying

Sing to the LORD; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. — Psalm 96:2-3

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Wonderful children's DVDs about Christian heroes


I wanted to let you know about some awesome DVDs available for your children. They are DVDs based on the lives of Jim Elliot (missionary to Auca Indians), Perpetua (one of first Christian martyrs who heroically gave her life in the Coliseum), Eric Liddell (runner made famous in movie Chariots of Fire), John Bunyan (wrote Pilgrims Progress...most influential Christian book outside of Bible), Gladys Aylward (missionary to China who led over 100 orphans to safety during WWII), Richard Wurmbrand (imprisoned for his faith for 21 years in Romania and founder of Voice of the Martyrs), and William Tyndale (translated the Bible into English and killed by English government for that).

Each of them are TRUE Christian heroes and people our children should know about and admire. The DVDs are very well done and for those who were martyred (Elliot, Perpetua and Tyndale) that fact is done in such a way as to give honor to God and to show that their lives were not in vain. 

Plus, each DVD comes with about 30 pages of printable activities for your children. Nathan, who is 4, enjoys these and so does Grace so I would say they are geared toward Elementary age. All 7 would regularly be $105 but Vision Video (the production company) is selling them all for $60.  This is an awesome price for all 7 of them!  To order them go to Torchlighters

I wanted to let you know because, in my experience, it is often hard to find videos which are about heroic Christians and are done in such a way as to keep your children's attention. But these do both and I can't say enough great things about them! 

The following email explains more:

Vision Video is celebrating!

We started with a vision to give youth ages 8-12 alternatives to typical sports and entertainment heroes. Torchlighters is a series of animated programs, presenting the lives of true-life heroes from Christian history. When kids see what God can do through a "Torchlighter" who is devoted to carrying out His will and purposes, they too may want to carry a torch of faith by serving Him.

We are thrilled that, seven years later, we've shipped over 100,000 Torchlighter DVDs in the U.S. and many more internationally. In celebration of this tremendous milestone, we're offering the set of 7 for the special CELEBRATION PRICE of only $59.99 for a limited time. That is a $105 value at an over 40% savings!

For this super-low price, you will get much more than just a movie. Each DVD also comes with terrific extras such as a student workbook full of great activities, a teacher's guide with four lesson plans and discussion questions, and a full-length documentary on the hero featured!

Join the celebration! Now is a great time to introduce your children to these dynamic, faith-building stories at a price you can afford! Use promo code "TORCHDEAL" at step 4 of checkout for this special offer which expires July 10, 2010.



Tuesday, June 29, 2010

God Uses Women in Missions

"After the last road ended, there was still a 2-day hike to where the Balangao people lived. Two single women missionaries were making that hike. The Balangao, a tribe of former headhunters in the Philippines, continued to sacrifice to powerful and demanding spirits who caused sickness, death and constant turmoil. These women, trained in Bible translation, had volunteered to work among them.

When they arrived, they were greeted by men wearing G-strings and women wrapped in cloth from home-made looms. It is hard to say who was more amazed. The Balangao had asked for Americans to come live with them and write their language, but they never dreamed the Americans would be women!

An old man offered to be their father and was faithful in looking after them. Besides the work of translation, these women began giving medical assistance, learning about the spirit world, and answering questions about life and death. One of them, Jo Shetler, stayed for 20 years, winning her way into the hearts and lives of the people and completing the New Testament translation. Because of this dedication, thousands now know Jesus as Lord of the Balangao.

Jo Shetler, a shy farm girl with a dream, has stirred many with her story. However, stories remain unwritten of multitudes of women who likewise obeyed the call of God to serve Him on the far horizons. Many women do not realize how greatly God can use their giftedness and commitment in situations such as this."

This excerpt was taken from an article entitled Women in Mission by Marguerite Kraft and Meg Crossman. You can read it in its entirety at Women in Missions. During the last school year, our family truly enjoyed reading about Jo and the tremendous way God used her in an excellent book entitled And the Word Came With Power. 

God has used women tremendously in the missionary movement. Beginning with Jesus, he recognized and enlisted the help of women, as did Paul. One such woman was Priscilla. She had an impact for God in at least three different nations: Rome, Greece and Asia Minor. With her husband Aquila, they supported Paul, hosted him in their home, “led a house church, and were assigned by Paul to disciple the eloquent and committed Egyptian Jew, Apollos, ‘instructing him in the way of God more perfectly,’ (Acts 18:26)” (Kraft & Grossman). Priscilla' role in mission outreach did not seem out of the ordinary which leads one to believe that many women were involved in the Great Commission from the beginning. 
Despite the Protestant Reformation’s restrictions on women, some women did enter the mission field, usually married to missionaries. Their husbands recognized the role they could play in reaching women and children in these nations...people who would generally not respond well to a man or who may not have been allowed any contact because of their culture. These women “received very little recognition for the heavy load they carried, managing the home and children as well as developing programs to reach local women and girls,” (Kraft and Grossman). 
“Overall, probably two-thirds of the missions force has been, and currently is, female. Many mission executives agree that the more difficult and dangerous the work, the more likely women are to volunteer to do it!” (Kraft & Grossman) This is an amazing truth that may not be very well known. In fact, though most Americans would probably think that the largest women’s movement in American history was the suffrage movement, in fact, it was the women’s missionary movement...”By the early decades of the 20th century, the women’s missionary movement had become the largest women’s movement in the United States, and women outnumbered men on the mission field by a ration of more than two to one,” (Kraft & Grossman).

One group of people who are difficult to reach are Muslims. Yet, God is using women to reach them, partly due to the non-threatening nature of women. One such story is set in a nomadic Muslim group in Sub-Saharan Africa, where a single woman is effectively training Imams (Islamic teachers) in the gospel. They perceive her to be non-threatening, 'just a woman.' Building upon a foundation of interpersonal relationship and Biblical knowledge, she does not give them answers herself, but directs them to the Word. The Lord has confirmed her teaching giving dreams and visions to these leaders. As they have been converted, they are now training many others. She is accepted as a loving, caring elder sister, who gives high priority to their welfare," (Kraft & Grossman).

“From Mary Slessor, single woman pioneer to Africa, to Ann Judson of Burma and Rosalind Goforth of China, wives who fully served; from Amy Carmichael of India to Mildred Cable in the Gobi Desert; from Gladys Aylward, the little chambermaid determined to go to China, to Eliza Davis George, black woman missionary to Liberia; from translator Rachel Saint to medical doctor Helen Roseveare; from Isobel Kuhn and Elizabeth Elliot, mobilizing missionary authors, to Lottie Moon, pacesetting mission educator; from simple Filipino housemaids in the Middle East to women executives in denominational offices to unsung Bible women in China, the roll is lengthy and glorious!

That roll, however, remains incomplete, awaiting the contribution of current and future generations. God's women now enjoy freedoms and opportunities their forebearers never envisioned. Most small businesses started in the U.S. are owned by women. Women now hold highly responsible positions in government, business, and medicine. "To whom much is given, much is required." How will women of God today harvest such opportunities for their Father's purposes?

Women, stirred by the task that lies ahead, can mobilize, devoting their skills, their accessibility, their knowledge, their tenderness, their intuitiveness, their own distinctive fervor to the work. The pioneer spirit, full of dedication and faithfulness, which women throughout history have shown will set the standard. The task is too vast to be completed without all God's people!" (Kraft & Grossman).

Monday, June 28, 2010

Is America the rich young ruler?

This message has been weighing on my heart for some time. When I read the account of the rich young ruler, every time I am reminded, not only of myself, but of America. It's found in Luke 18:18-30

A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" America, a ruler amongst the world's nations, still, as a majority, looks to Christianity/Jesus for salvation. 

Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'" The message of the Bible is as true today as it was when it was written. We must obey its teachings in order to inherit eternal life.

"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.  America, throughout history, has done much that is good and has kept the Lord's commands in many instances. She is still a symbol of hope and freedom for many millions in the world. 

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." This is where the difficulty for me and the American Church lies. Many of us, when we read this, instantly feel uncomfortable. What is God saying? Are we to actually sell everything we have and give to the poor? That is a hard question because we are a nation with so much stuff! According to World Bank figures, there are only two countries who make more money, per capita, than Americans - Luxembourg and Bermuda. Now, we are a country who gives much to charity (see A Nation of Givers) but this only accounts for 3-4%, on average, of the yearly income of Americans. Thus, this is the question that each of us needs to ask...are we giving to the Lord all that He would ask of us? Are we storing up treasures on earth, with the money He has blessed us, or are we storing up treasures in Heaven? To put this in perspective...I read that Americans spend more money on cosmetics, annually, than they do on mission outreach. Are our priorities right, as a nation and as individuals? And for those of you who know me, you may be thinking..."what a hypocrite." Yes, we as a family are very well off and have accumulated a lot of possessions. I struggle with this reality daily. How to be obedient to God and not be the rich ruler. I don't have the answer to that. All I know is that it burdens my heart and causes me to seek after the Lord.

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Do we become sad at the thought of selling our possessions and giving that money for the furtherance of the Gospel? I believe our feelings about this reveal our inner beliefs on money in general. Is it God's money that He is allowing us to have for His purposes or is it our money? How each of us views this often determines our willingness to give generously. 

Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."Jesus never said it was impossible but He did say it was hard. And the worldwide facts bare this out. In other nations, the segments of the population which come to Christ more quickly are the poor and destitute. They have no great possessions to keep them tied to this world. They seem to be much more eager and willing to hear the Good News of Jesus, who promises them hope and peace in a difficult world.  But those who are rich tend to put their hope and security in their possessions, making it more difficult to appreciate and accept the wonderful gift of salvation that the Lord offers them. 

Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Here is the key...in our human nature it is almost impossible for us to imagine selling all our possessions, giving the money to the poor and following Him wherever He leads. But, if we are truly seeking after Christ, He is able and will give us the strength we need to do ALL that He has asked us to do.  Jesus ends this discussion with an incredible promise:

"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life." I believe it is so important for each of us to ask God what He would have us do and then to be obedient. The Bible is very clear that we are not to horde worldly possessions, building up our treasure on earth, but to give generously. May we give all that God asks of us, whether it be money, time or our very lives and believe that He is more than enough to satisfy and bring us joy and peace. 

Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Hot Water Bottle

THE HOT WATER BOTTLE - A True Story By Helen Roseveare, Missionary to Africa

One night, in Central Africa, I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all that we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying, two-year-old daughter.

We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive. We had no incubator. We had no electricity to run an incubator, and no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts.

A student-midwife went for the box we had for such babies and for the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly, in distress, to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical climates. "...and it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk; so, in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over a burst water bottle. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways. All right," I said, "Put the baby as near the fire as you safely can; sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm."

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with many of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily die if it got chilled. I also told them about the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During the prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt consciousness of our African children. "Please, God," she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, the baby'll be dead; so, please send it this afternoon." While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by way of corollary, " ...And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?" As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen?" I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything: The Bible says so, but there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time that I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel! I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone; so, I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then, there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children began to look a little bored. Next, came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - - that would make a nice batch of buns for the weekend. As I put my hand in again, I felt the...could it really be? I grasped it, and pulled it out. Yes, "A brand-new rubber, hot water bottle!" I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone: She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, "Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday School class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. One of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child -- five months earlier in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "That afternoon!" "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

Helen Roseveare a doctor missionary from England to Zaire, Africa, told this as it had happened to her in Africa. She shared it in her testimony on a Wednesday night at Thomas Road Baptist Church.

Do not fear the Muslims

"Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them." (Deuteronomy 1:29)
The Bible tells us more than 365 times not to be afraid, do not fear. But do we hear Him? Do we believe God when He says He will be with us and that we should not be afraid? 

The Muslim world terrifies many Christians. Images of hooded terrorists chopping heads off, of towers burning, of mobs chanting and lifting high their weapons seems to have immobilized the progress of the Christian Church into the Muslim world. Statistics speak this truth plainly. The greatest concentration of Muslims is in a place labeled the 10/40 Window which includes North Africa, the Middle East and Southern Asia. Many of these countries are predominantly Muslim. The Western Church sends only 1 out of every 40 missionaries to this region according to Jason Mandryk in State of the Gospel  This means that in many Muslim countries there are less than three missionaries per one million people. 
Why the imbalance...part of it is that many in the Western Christian Church fear the Muslims. 

Yet “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind,” 2 Timothy 1:7. The Church needs to believe in the power of God to overcome the obstacles Satan has placed in the 10/40 Window. The gates of Hades will not prevail against the Lord. We need to believe this and move out in trust, wisdom and power. 

We also, as Christians, need to learn about the Muslims. What do they believe? What is their family life like? What makes them happy, sad, concerned? As we learn about them, God can begin to break our hearts for them. They need to hear of the love of Jesus. They need someone who is willing to cast aside fear, which so easily entangles, and follow the call of Christ into the Muslim world. Jesus is waiting, but He needs obedient servants.

There are many stories of how God uses the willing servant to reach the Muslim people who He loves. One is set in a nomadic Muslim group in Sub-Saharan Africa, where a single woman is effectively training Imams (Islamic teachers) in the gospel. They perceive her to be non-threatening, 'just a woman.' Building upon a foundation of interpersonal relationship and Biblical knowledge, she does not give them answers herself, but directs them to the Word. The Lord has confirmed her teaching giving dreams and visions to these leaders. As they have been converted, they are now training many others. She is accepted as a loving, caring elder sister, who gives high priority to their welfare," (from Women in Mission by Marguerite Kraft and Meg Crossman)

We can begin today by praying for them specifically, learning about them and then asking God how He would have us reach out to the Muslim world, be it our neighbor, a university student in our city or to an unreached people group half way around the world. 

Monday, June 21, 2010

Why was Jesus so angry?

     Only once, in all of Scripture, is Jesus portrayed as passionately, actively angry. Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, Luke 19:45-46 and John 2:12-17, all record how Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem, saw the buying, selling, cheating and utter chaos that was going on, took a whip and drove out all those who were selling. I used to wonder at this. Why did He get so angry at the moneychangers and sellers of sacrificial animals in the Temple? Shouldn’t He be more angry about the injustice to people He saw every day -- slavery, treatment of lepers, shunning of children, disbelief, corruption of the religious leaders? But His righteous anger at the Temple points to a truth that I have only recently discovered.
      Jesus did not come to earth primarily for us, as we like to believe and are often taught. Yes, He came to earth to show us God, to teach us how to live and to die for our sins, thus purchasing salvation for all those who would believe. But his primary reason for coming to earth was to bring glory to God. “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.’ And what was the work? ‘I manifested Your name to the men You gave me out of the world” (John 17:4, 6)                                                                    
Jesus’ main concern was that His Father in Heaven might be worshipped fully and completely by those He had created. God is the creator of all things. He is so incredibly holy, mighty, just, beautiful...truly beyond words. He made us and sustains us and deserves all our thankfulness, praise, wonder and worship. Jesus recognized that more than any other human being on earth and He was jealous for His Father’s glory and worship.
     When He entered the Temple that day, whose actual building was directed by God “to establish His name there for His dwelling” (Deut. 12:2-14), His anger was roused by what He saw. In the Court of the Gentiles, the place set apart for non-Jews to encounter, worship, pray to and find relationship with God, He found noisy, smelly, deceiving distractions to this relationship, prayer and worship. How could people encounter God, pray to and worship Him amidst the buying and selling of animals and the hundreds of pilgrims yelling and arguing with money changers who were doing their best to make a profit and cheat country folks out of their meager earnings?
The fact that all this money changing and selling of animals was being done in the Court of the Gentiles showed the lack of concern and love that the Jewish leadership had for non-Jews. Time and again Jesus had seen their lack of concern for the Gentiles surrounding them. Like Jonah, they hoarded their “privileged” status as followers of God and were not eager to see Gentiles coming to faith in the one, true God. This, of course, did not reflect the mentality of all Jews but it certainly seemed to be the mentality of the Jewish Temple leadership who would allow such a cacophony of noise and corruption in the very place set aside by God for the prayers and worship of foreigners. This angered Jesus! How dare they prevent people from coming and worshipping the Lord? The Lord deserves all praise and glory and anything that hindered that, and hindered the salvation of Gentiles, needed to be destroyed.
I believe that all those who were there knew, in their hearts, that what was going on in the  Court of the Gentiles was wrong, even before Jesus so publicly pointed it out. The reason for my belief...no one challenged what  He had done; no one tried to stop Him. He was justified in His anger and His actions and they knew it! God deserved every bit of praise and worship and all people deserved an opportunity to meet Him, fall in love with Him and worship Him.
I wonder what Jesus would do today if He stepped into some of our churches? Would He find congregations totally focused on prayer and the worship of Him; congregations that welcome all who would seek Him, causing no hindrances to the worship of Him? Or, would He find churches eager to show off their wealth, eager to sell the worship goer the latest best-selling Christian novel, eager to entertain the congregation and the visitor rather than challenge them to serve God more whole-heartedly. Would He find red-hot worship of God, people whose primary goal in life is to glorify the Lord and find total satisfaction in Him or would He find luke-warm, self-serving, self-focused weekly gatherings of a bunch of people who call themselves Christians but who are living lives no different from the world around them?

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Are we Jonahs?

     Did the idea of missional outreach, of sharing the message of who God is and of His love for mankind, begin with the Great Commission? Is this the first time God tells His people to share the message of who He is with the surrounding nations? No, in fact the idea of mission outreach can be seen throughout the entire Bible, beginning with Abraham. 
     God did not choose Abraham solely because He liked Abraham and wanted to bless him alone. No, God chose Abraham so that "all the people on earth will be blessed through you," (Gen. 12:3). 
     Why was Israel chosen? Why were they set apart from the other nations? Was it because this people was better, more holy, than the nations around them? It only takes reading the Bible just a bit to see that this is not true. Israel sinned and disappointed God just as the other nations did. God singled them out to show Himself through them. They were set apart so that "God can pave the way toward achieving His world-embracing goals. In choosing Israel as a segment of all humanity, God never took His eye off the other nations; Israel was a minority called to serve the majority," (The Biblical Foundation for the Worldwide Mission Mandate by Johannes Verkuyl).
     Israel wasn’t blessed just to be blessed but they were a nation, set apart by God, to call all other nations to Him; to reflect His glory; to not only be blessed but to be a blessing, This idea of being blessed to be a blessing to others is what we, as Christians, are also called to do.  Since the beginning of time, God has loved all nations and desires to see all nations come to Him.  (To see this through Scripture, read Psa 67:1-7; Matt 24:14; Matt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:8, Rev 5:9-10 and Rev 7:9-10.
     Following Genesis 12, God gradually and indirectly draws people from other nations to Himself through His miraculous interventions on Israel’s behalf and through His show of power to bring them the promises of the covenant (land, children, His presence). In the process, some people of other nations (Rahab, Ninevah, Egyptians, Ruth, ...) are drawn to Him as well.                                                                                                               
     One story that has a lot to say about mission outreach is the story of Jonah. "Jonah is a lesson in educating a person to be a missionary. It reveals the need for a radical conversion of one's natural tendencies and a complete restructuring of his life to make it serviceable for mission," (Verkuyl). Basically, Jonah did not want to share the message of God's call and His forgiveness with the people of Nineveh because he did not think they deserved it. Nineveh had persecuted the Jews horribly in the past. Jonah didn't just fear this godless nation, he hated them. They did not deserve salvation in his eyes. But, as Jonah learned, it is not up to us to determine who deserves salvation...that is God's call and He wants all nations/people groups to turn to Him.
     No matter what Jonah did, he could not escape God's missionary mandate on his life. God pursued him relentlessly until he finally obeyed God. And to his amazement, the people turned to God with all their heart and repented. "What Israel continually refused to do the heathen Gentiles did do: the cruel king of Nineveh stands as anti-type to the disobedient kings of Judah," (Verkuyl). 
     So we see throughout the rest of the Old Testament, God countering Satan’s evil reign with His presence, blessings and intervention on behalf of Israel, for the nations. Israel is given the primary blessing but they are then expected to confer that blessing on the nations around them. When they ceased to do that, He caused them to be scattered in the diaspora. This scattering of the Hebrews resulted in their living in various nations, thus bringing to these nations the message of one, sovereign God, a message foreign to the polytheistic cultures around them.  The results of this missional outreach by the Jews during their dispersion is evidenced when, at Pentecost, there "were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven," (Acts 2:5).                
     As believers in Christ witnessed His return to Heaven, Jesus assured them of the blessing of His continued presence with them through the Holy Spirit, but He also charged them with a responsibility that went along with the blessing. Like the Hebrews, they were blessed to be a blessing to all nations. In the “Great Commission” they, and all Christians since them, are directed to go into all the world, past Jerusalem, Judea, Syria and even the Roman Empire and preach the good news of Jesus to everyone. And for each person that receives Christ as Savior, Satan loses a bit of ground.                                                                                                                      It is now up to us, as Christians, to follow in the footsteps of Israel and Jonah; to be a blessing to the rest of the world by blessing them with the message of Jesus Christ. But we have a choice, will we obey or disobey? And will we obey joyfully or reluctantly? "While God never forces any of us, He tenderly asks us to put our whole heart and soul into the work of mission. God is still interested in transforming obstinate, irritable, depressive, peevish Jonah's into heralds of the Good News which brings freedom...If a person draws his lifeblood from the one greater than Jonah and yet declines to spread the Good News among others, in effect, he is sabotaging the aims of God Himself. Jonah is father to all those Christians whe desire the benefits and blessings of election but refuse its responsibility. Thomas Carlisle's poem, 'You Jonah,' closes with these lines:
     And Jonah stalked
     to his shaded seat
     and waited for God
     to come around
     to his way of thinking.
     And God is still waiting for a host of Jonahs
     in their comfortable houses
     to come around
     to His way of thinking."  (Verkuyl)

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Pastors, your people are perishing because they don't know God

This article was written by a friend of ours. We have left two churches because of what he describes.


Pastors your people are perishing because they don't know God

June 16, 7:55 AM · John Rackliffe - Charleston Conservative Christian Examiner
"My people perish from a lack of knowledge." Hosea 4: 6

This passage of scripture has always spoken volumes, but more so even in these difficult times.  If you are in the market for a new church and your new to the Charleston area, as I have said in previous articles on this subject the task is onerous.  However, I believe God provides his people a good solution to this dilemma.  In choosing your next church ask yourself  "will my next place of worship reveal a deep knowledge of who God really is?" How can I tell, if the church I attend or am considering, is revealing to me who God is?

I believe the answer to this question is quite simple.  Is your pastor regularly teaching from the bible?  If he is not, if he is choosing topics, teaching from popular authors or theologians writings, or bringing in guests to talk about self help issues, it may  be time to look elsewhere.  The times we live in are difficult.  Terrorism, frequent natural disasters, the American dream disappearing before our eyes, and reports of wars all over the globe are in our faces daily.  People want to know why these things are happening and they want to hear it from God, not Oprah!

Pastors, if you are reading this, the people want to know what God has to say about our world!  Please tell them.  If you don't know read God's word and find out!  Your flock is perishing from a lack of knowledge.  Rev.  Shuler can't help you.  Rick Warren's books are inadequate.  1-800-Send Money is not the answer.  The Bible is our only answer book.  Please tell your people.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, if you leave church each Sunday with a sense that something is missing from your spiritual walk.  If you don't feel like you know who God is any better now than when you started attending your current church, perhaps its time to make an appointment with the Pastor and ask him why he is not helping you know who God is.

Many churches today are watering down the word of God and or not even using the Bible in their church.  God is bringing all of us through a great period of reflection and is allowing our Enemy (like he did with Job) to have his way in many things.  God is bringing all of us to our knees if we can see with Holy Spirit eyes that he ultimately is in control and wants us to trust him with everything.  If your church is not talking about this, if it is not worshiping and lifting up Jesus Christ, if entertainment over substance has infiltrated your Sunday services, God may be sending you a message to get out and find a place that will honor Him not the worship team!

Please pray for God to reveal to you where you should spend your worship time.  Ask him to help you find a good church, a bible study, or a home group that is learning about God from the Bible and who is honoring Him through genuine worship and personal obedience to His word.  Our time is short and God wants to use us for his purposes.  Get out of the dark places and move into the light so that God can put you to work.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The Incredible Power of God

Imagine a group of people who honor treachery as an ideal, the way we honor friendship, sacrifice and loyalty. Imagine telling stories to your children about the heros of old but instead of men like Daniel or David or George Washington, the stories are about "men who formed friendships with the express purpose of later betraying the befriended one to be killed and eaten...'to fatten with friendship for the slaughter.'" Now imagine that it is your husband or your father or your son who has been not only killed by his enemies, but then roasted, eaten and that his skull is used as a pillow by his murderer. Can we even begin to imagine such horror?

Now imagine that you are a missionary, sent to tell these headhunting, cannibalistic tribes that Jesus loves them. That God sent His Son to die for them and that His desire is that they spend eternity with Him in Heaven. But there is no response to your stories from the Bible. They have no concept of God, only demons. The only person in any Bible story they relate to is Judas. In fact, they admire Judas because of his betrayal of Jesus...he fattened Jesus with friendship for the slaughter!

This isn't fiction and it's not even ancient history. This describes many of the tribes living in the former Netherlands New Guinea, now part of Indonesia, known as Irian Jaya. And this took place in the 1960s!

But God did not leave these people alone, no matter how barbaric and scary their lifestyle was. No one is lost to Him and there is no darkness too dark for the Gospel to penetrate. God sent Don and Carol Richardson to the Sawi people. And the message the Richardsons shared with them drastically changed every part of their lives.

"It had taken nearly two thousand years for the message of that new value system to range from Galilee to the miasmal swamps of southwest New Guinea. On its way, that message had already challenged, engaged and conquered barbarity in many forms in the minds of millions of people, for it was an extremely mettlesome message. It was not cowed by earthly obstacles, for its strength was supernatural. It could not be intimidated, for it was itself the ultimate antidote to fear.

The message would not back away from any form of darkness, for it was light itself! It was not embarrassed if its bearers were sometimes plain, homely or even untaught - in fact it was fond of executing its most subtle strategies through such! To the consternation of its enemies, it could triumph even when its adherents were being decimated by sword or spear.

That message was the gospel of Jesus Christ. Its purpose was nonnegotiable - to persuade men from 'every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation' to repent and be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. That message was now about to invade the Sawi world, about to confront their idealization of treachery eye to eye in a relentless spiritual struggle for the souls of men, women and children. It would match prayer and preaching against spear and barbed arrow; faith and hope against systematized barbarity; love and compassion against entrenched fear and evil," (Don Richardson).

But how to reach these people with the Gospel? What would they understand? Had God left any witness of Himself in their culture which could give a clue to the Richardsons as to how to penetrate this darkness? Yes!!!!

To this people who would betray even their own families, there was one act that they would never betray...the giving of a peace child. The only way to ensure a lasting peace between tribes was if the two tribes exchanged children...a son from one tribe for a son from another tribe. As long as these peace children lived, there would be peace between the two tribes. Once Don Richardson witnessed this sad exchange (tragic for the parents who had to relinquish their children forever), the Lord showed him how this was an example of the ultimate peace child...Jesus Christ. So it was through this cultural window, and a few others, that the Richardsons were able to share of God's great love for the Sawi people. The light had penetrated the darkness and the darkness could not overcome it. Jesus had indeed brought peace to the Sawi!

Don Richardson's prayer so aptly expressed the wonder that I continue to feel as I read of such encounters: "I thank You, my Father, for laying the groundwork for our ministry to these people. The Sawi were strangers to our Judeo-Christian heritage, yet You so providentially ordained these redemptive analogies within their culture ages ago, so that one day we would find and use them for Your glory. You were concerned, not only to send messengers, but also to prepare a culture to receive their message.

As You prepared the Hebrews and the Greeks, so also the Sawi were not too insignificant or too pagan to receive this much of Your providence...I see now more than ever why You are called the God of wisdom and the God of love and the God of power. I praise You!"

To read more about this incredible story of how the Sawi came to know Jesus, read Peace Child by Don Richardson!

Why Pray?

     Many of us may have had this question come to our minds or may have been asked it of us: "Why pray? What is the point of prayer when God knows the future and is already in control of everything. If we cannot change God's mind, why should we pray?"

     I thought this was a very good, thought-provoking answer from the website http://www.gotquestions.org/:

     For the Christian, praying is like breathing. It is easier to do it than to not do it. We pray for a variety of reasons. For one thing, prayer is a form of serving God (Luke 2:36-38) and obeying Him. We pray because God commands us to pray (Philippians 4:6-7). Prayer is exemplified for us by Christ and the early church (Mark 1:35; Acts 1:14; 2:42; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4; 13:1-3). If Jesus thought it was worthwhile to pray, we should also. If He needed to pray to remain in the Father’s will, how much more do we need to pray?

     Another reason to pray is that God intends prayer to be the means of obtaining His solutions in a number of situations. We pray in preparation for major decisions (Luke 6:12-13); to overcome demonic barriers (Matthew 17:14-21); to gather workers for the spiritual harvest (Luke 10:2); to gain strength to overcome temptation (Matthew 26:41); and to obtain the means of strengthening others spiritually (Ephesians 6:18-19).

     We come to God with our specific requests, and we have God's promise that our prayers are not in vain, even if we do not receive specifically what we asked for (Matthew 6:6; Romans 8:26-27). He has promised that when we ask for things that are in accordance with His will, He will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14-15). Sometimes He delays His answers according to His wisdom and for our benefit. In these situations, we are to be diligent and persistent in prayer (Matthew 7:7; Luke 18:1-8). Prayer should not be seen as our means of getting God to do our will on earth, but rather as a means of getting God's will done on earth. God’s wisdom far exceeds our own.

     For situations in which we do not know God's will specifically, prayer is a means of discerning His will. If the Syrian woman with the demon-influenced daughter had not prayed to Christ, her daughter would not have been made whole (Mark 7:26-30). If the blind man outside Jericho had not called out to Christ, he would have remained blind (Luke 18:35-43). God has said that we often go without because we do not ask (James 4:2). In one sense, prayer is like sharing the gospel with people. We do not know who will respond to the message of the gospel until we share it. In the same way, we will never see the results of answered prayer unless we pray.

     A lack of prayer demonstrates a lack of faith and a lack of trust in God’s Word. We pray to demonstrate our faith in God, that He will do as He has promised in His Word and bless our lives abundantly more than we could ask or hope for (Ephesians 3:20). Prayer is our primary means of seeing God work in others' lives. Because it is our means of “plugging into” God's power, it is our means of defeating Satan and his army that we are powerless to overcome by ourselves. Therefore, may God find us often before His throne, for we have a high priest in heaven who can identify with all that we go through (Hebrews 4:15-16). We have His promise that the fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much (James 5:16-18). May God glorify His name in our lives as we believe in Him enough to come to Him often in prayer.

The Hope of a Coming World Revival

     Do you know that more people have come to know Christ in the last 100 years than in all the centuries before that combined? That is a staggering but exciting thought! Even though we may not be very aware of it in America, the Holy Spirit is moving and bringing salvation to untold millions throughout the world. That is just what the Bible said would happen as we anticipate the Lord's return. "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit," (Joel 2:28, 29). In this post, I hope to encourage you and excite you about what the Lord will do. Isn't it exciting to think that it may be done in our generation!
     So often the news tends to focus on the bad. And in reading the Bible we know that things will get worse as the end approaches (2 Tim 3:12; 2 Thes 2:1-3). "Famines, pestilence and earthquakes of staggering proportions will occur. Wars and intrigue will fill the earth. Hate will bind the hearts of men. No one will feel secure. As moral integrity breaks down, apostasy in the Church will increase. Those who do not conform to the spirit of the age will be hard pressed, and many will be martyred. (As you are reading this, many examples of these truths have probably come to mind.) Clearly, the cost of discipleship will be high. Yet, amid this terrible adversity, Scripture indicates that revival will sweep across the earth...the terrors will actually create an environment for earnest heart searching," (Robert E. Coleman).
     We are seeing this today in countries like China, Iran and Vietnam, where greater persecution of Christians is leading to greater growth in the Church! "Through the purging of revival, God's people will be brought to the true beauty of holiness. Our Lord expects to present His bride unto Himself 'a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless,' (Eph 5:27; 1 Jn 3:2-3; 2 Cor 7:1; 1 Pet 1:13-16; 3:4). The trials of the last days will serve as fires to refine the gold of Christian character. A purified Church will be able to receive unhindered the power of the outpoured Spirit, and thereby more boldly enter into the mission of Christ" (Coleman).
     God has never promised that He would save every Christian from suffering on this earth. That belief is easy to come by in the relatively safe Church of America but is not found in the Church in much of the rest of the world. Instead, Jesus promised His followers hardship at every turn. But in that hardship, He also promised to be with us, to refine us, and to use us for His glory and to draw others to Himself. We must not fear the affliction but understand it when it comes. This is a message for the Church in America! I believe our time of ease may be soon over. We, as a Church, need to prepare to suffer affliction as our brothers and sisters in Christ are doing throughout the world. And we must not fear this affliction but see it for what it is - a means for growing the Church of Christ, growing closer to the Lord on an individual level and ultimately glorifying Him as we show the world that our Lord and Savior, who suffered for us, is worth suffering and dying for!
     But in this suffering is the hope of a coming world revival! People who are full of the Holy Spirit as a result of their suffering, are committed to God's work. Do you know where there is a huge movement of people to bring the Gospel to the Muslims...China! A country of great persecution is burning with the desire to see those, lost in a religion of great persecution (Islam), come to Christ. An example of this is the ministry Back to Jerusalem. You can learn more about them at http://www.backtojerusalem.com/  When you go to the website you may notice that the pictures of many of the Christian leaders of this movement need to be obscured so as to protect them from a government who would like to destroy them. Where is this same passion for the Muslims in America? I believe that passion often comes with persecution, thus we see that the persecution that God allows His church to undergo is not in vain. It has a purpose!
     I believe that God's passion to get out the message of Jesus to the lost nations of this world will increase. You are reading this blog and I am writing this blog because He is growing in us a passion for the lost! Be encouraged that the greatest day of evangelism, what Joel 2:23, Hos 6:3, Zech 10:1 and James 5:7 refer to as the "latter rain," is before us. "The harvesting may be short in duration and may require enormous sacrifice, but it will be the most far-reaching acceptance of the Gospel this world has ever seen. The massive turning of Christ by people from the four corners of the earth will prepare the way for the coming of the King," (Coleman)
     "Anticipation of our Lord's return is a summons to action. We must cast off anything that blocks the flow of the Holy Spirit and commit ourselves to being about the Father's business. World evangelization now is the responsibility around which our lives should be centered. Whatever our gifts, we are all needed in the witness of the Gospel," (Coleman).
     Let's make this more personal for a moment. What trials are you facing in your life right now? For me, I struggle with an often-times rebellious little son, a reluctant homeschooler and a high-energy toddler. When the daily trials with these little ones occur, it is so easy to forget all about the Lord and act in the flesh...to get irritated, angry and then feel guilty. But what if I asked God for a new perspective? What if I asked Him to help me see the trials He allows in my daily life as ways to be purified in Him? As opportunities to pray more, trust more and grow more in the grace and knowledge of Jesus? He may be using the daily struggles of motherhood (or fatherhood, work, singleness, etc...for any non-moms who read this blog) as periods of refinement to grow compassion and patience in us, compassion that may one day extend beyond our own homes to the nations; patience that may one day be manifested in mission work for the Lord.
     Through the daily struggles and as we anticipate a coming world revival, prayer is our greatest resource. We need to be asking God daily, how do you want to use me? Who should I be praying for? What are You doing in the world and how can I get involved?
     "Something great is on the horizon. You can almost feel it in the air. Though forces of evil are becoming more sinister and aggressive, there is a corresponding cry for spiritual awakening. Across the world, never has there been more yearning by more people for spiritual reality, nor has the Church ever had the means it now has to take the glad tidings of salvation to the lost, unreached people of the earth. What a day to be alive!
     Certainly this is a not a time for despair. The King's coming is certain. And in preparation for His return we may be the very generation that will see the greatest movement of revival since the beginning of time!" (Coleman)
    


    
    

    

A sweet letter

I was so encouraged to receive the following letter from a friend of mine who is a missionary to Mongolia. It showed me the importance of having our children interact with missionaries....and email makes it so easy.

My daughter Grace had written Christine with some questions (an assignment in her Awana class). Here is Christine's heartfelt response:


Hi Grace,


This is Christine, one of your mother's friends.  I would love to take some time here to answer your questions regarding missions. :)

1. Where do you work?  I am working here in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (outer Mongolia).  Mongolia is sandwiched between Russia and China.

2. What is your job?  My job, just like you, is to let Jesus shine through me.  It's to let these people know how much Jesus loves them.  One of the ways I do that is to share what I know and have.  The Bible says, "do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it".  Proverbs 3:27.  God is allowing me to practice this verse everyday, here...by helping the existing church grow even more.  We are spending a lot of time with developing leaders here in Mongolia, as we are walking with them to discover more who they were meant to be to make a difference.

3.  Is it hard to be a missionary?  This is a tough question. :)  There are times it is hard, but it's been so rewarding.  My family and I have only been here for 2 1/2 years now, so since we are still learning and adjusting culturally, there have been difficult moments because we don't understand a lot of things about the culture.  Also, we are learning getting to know the people here, their ways of life, the way they think...and many times it's so different than what we are used to.  So in that way, it's been hard.  But the beauty of being here has been that I have been able to experience and find more treasures...that's God's love...and how high, deep, and wide His love is for me AND for Mongolia.

4. What kind of food do the people eat?  Mongolians really enjoy lamb meat.  So, most of the food they eat is with lamb...fried dumplings w/lamb (called ho-shurr), noodles w/ lamb and some vegetables (called cho-woung). Mongolians love meat, and don't like vegetables.   But now, you can find many restaurants where the Mongolians are getting a taste for foreign foods.  And because their are more and more foreigners here, they are learning to eat healthy, which includes eating vegetables.  Before, they thought that only animals eat vegetables, and humans eat meat.  But this thought is changing.

Grace, I hope this helps you with your AWANA homework.  I hope that you continue to really grow to be a beautiful woman who really is not ashamed of the gospel, but continue to "march for truth...building lives for Jesus".  Ultimately, whether I am here in Mongolia or there in the USA, God calls us (you and me) to behold His beauty...because Jesus truly is the only TRUE beauty.  We are responsible to share God's love, this good news with those around us, so they can also be beautified.  Who doesn't want to be beautified?  We want people to experience the true beauty..of Christ.

God, thank you for Grace.  Thank you that she is learning and growing in you.  Thank you that you are teaching her about the nations and different peoples...that there are so many people still needing to hear about you, but also grow in you.  Thank you for teaching her that about Mongolia and your love for these people.  God, continue to make Grace more beautiful as she grows so that she may shine even more for you.  Teach her your ways, guarding her heart, keeping her pure and holy, and so near to your heart.  Keep her strong and yet tender, Jesus.  Thank  you for loving Grace so much!!!  May she experience your love even more and more.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

OK, Grace.  Let me know if you would like for me to answer any more questions.  Bye for now!!!

Mrs. Park


Bruchko

Wow! I am just about finished with an amazing book called Bruchko by Bruce Olson. It is the story of his experiences among the Motilones, a "head-hunting" tribe of people in Columbia with whom Bruce, named Bruchko by the tribal members, shared the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I highly recommend it! I have finished it in almost three days. I plan to read it to my older girls.
Here is a summary, from Forerunner about him which is very encouraging. It's awesome to see God's hand at work!!!


Missions Report: Bruce Olson's and Colombia's Motilone Indians
By Jay Rogers
Published October 1992

Since 1961, missionary Bruce Olson has labored for the gospel of Jesus Christ among the Motilone Indians deep in the jungles of Colombia’s high Catatumbo region. But today Olson’s most exciting missionary work still lies ahead.

In the past thirty years, Olson has founded bilingual schools, medical clinics and agricultural centers among the Motilones. His Christ-like humility and work of service to the Motilones has earned him the status of a tribal member. Indian chiefs throughout the region representing 50 tribes and half a million tribe members look to Olson with great awe and respect. He has become a friend of five Colombian presidents; has spoken before the United Nations; and has received educational awards from the Colombian government. Although he completed college only through correspondence schools, his work on translating the Scriptures into the native Indian dialects has earned him honor among linguistics scholars.

Nineteen-year-old Olson first travelled to South America with only a one-way plane ticket and $70 in his pocket. A young person with a deep burden for Colombia’s hidden people, Olson set out in in search of the Motilones: a fierce, primitive tribe that no white man had ever encountered and lived. Olson’s adventures in Colombia brought him face to face with the Motilones when he was shot through the leg with a three foot arrow. He was brought as a prisoner to their camp to recover. “Bruchko” – the name the Indians gave him (the Motilones were not able to pronounce Bruce Olson) – eventually won over the hearts of these tribal people. Today the Motilones are almost universally converted to Christ.

Three years ago, Bruce Olson was kidnapped in the mountain jungles of Colombia and detained for nine months as a political prisoner by communist guerillas. Hoping to win him as a valuable communist leader, the communists attempted to indoctrinate him through daily political dialogues. “Papa Bruchko” – as they called him – became a source of fascination among the young recruits in training. Many of them began to join Olson in prayer and Bible study. As many as 60 communist guerillas eventually gave their lives to Christ. His refusal to join ranks with the communists earned him death threats and he narrowly escaped execution by a firing squad.

Fearing the reprisal of a united war effort of 50 jungle tribes, the guerilla leaders released Olson in the summer of 1989. The Indian tribes of Colombia had united against the guerillas in a war-pledge to defend Olson’s cause if he was executed. The unity of the Indian tribes behind one white man was unprecedented in Colombia’s history.

After his release, Olson found that he had become a national hero in Colombia. In the major cities, articles demanding Olson’s release had appeared almost daily in the newspapers. Olson’s courageous stance against the guerillas was one of the key factors which inspired the common citizens of Colombia to take a bolder, tougher stance against the drug cartels.

Since this time, the openness of the Indian tribes of Colombia to the gospel has become phenomenal. Many tribal leaders have requested that Olson begin to set up clinics, schools and agricultural centers. Some tribes have asked specifically to be taught about Jesus Christ. Olson reported recently: “In August, I was among the Cogi Indians in the mountains adjacent to Santa Marta. I baptized more than 40 adult believers. Several Motilone pastors accompanied me.”

In America, the story of Bruce Olson’s captivity brought unprecedented financial support for the work of Christ among the Motilones. For 28 years, Olson had operated with no official sponsorship, relying on only the contributions of friends, but when Charisma magazine ran a two part series: “Bruce Olson’s Nine Month Colombian Captivity” (November & December 1989), donors gave $100,000 to help “Bruchko” continue his humanitarian efforts and evangelism among the tribes of Colombia.

In addition to providing clinical supplies, scholarships and agricultural development, Olson has built several centers for the Motilones. In a recent letter, Olson explained the uses for one of the structures he is building: “Our Tibú Community House of Twelve Cultures, which we have named in Motilone: ‘Axdobaringcayra,’ is well on the way to completion. … The house will provide lodging for visiting Motilones. Tibú is the principal port of commerce for the growing tribal economy and it is the seat of government. Here we will organize Colombia’s first native language regional newspaper and house staff personnel for the northeast Colombian indigenous cultural publications.”

The cultural center he is now building will be a base from which to reach many of the tribal groups of Colombia. Olson reports that he still needs about $60,000 to complete this center.

Bruce Olson and the Motilone believers are the key to fulfilling the Great Commission in this area of the world. Jesus Christ has commanded us to go and “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20). Many of the nations – referred to by missiologists as the ETHNE, or “peoples groups” – in this area of Colombia are completely unreached with the gospel. We have an exciting opportunity to reach half a million people who have become miraculously open to the gospel in the past three years.

The Jesus Film and Haiti

All of us were so sad to learn about the devastation in Haiti following the January earthquake and I'm sure many of us continue to think of them and remember them in our prayers. Our 5-yr-old daughter, Rebecca, continues to be burdened for them and to pray for them every day. I was encouraged to watch this video and learn about the work God is doing in Haiti, specifically through use of the Jesus film.
If you are wondering what the Jesus film is, it is a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ  Jesus Film. This is a description of the film for those unfamiliar with it:

Every four seconds, somewhere in the world, another person indicates a decision to follow Christ after watching the "JESUS" film.

Every four seconds... that's 21,600 people per day, 648,000 per month and more than 7.8 million per year! That's like the population of the entire city of Seattle, WA, coming to Christ every 27.5 days. And yet, if you are like most people, you may have never even heard of it.

Called by some "one of the best-kept secrets in Christian missions," a number of mission experts have acclaimed the film as one of the greatest evangelistic tools of all time. Since 1979 the "JESUS" film has been viewed by several billion people all across the globe, and has resulted in more than 225 million men, women and children indicating decisions to follow Jesus.

"But how can any single film reach so many people and touch so many lives?"

It is the power of the Word of God in their heart language.

Based on the Gospel of Luke, the "JESUS" film has now been translated into more than 1,000 languages, with a new language being added nearly every week. This brings God's Word to people in more than 200 countries in languages they know and understand. By God's grace, it is yielding a spiritual harvest of unprecedented results.

Not only is the story of the "JESUS" film one of effective evangelism, but also of a powerful tool for expanding the church worldwide. In fact, according to Dr. Stephen Steele, former CEO of DAWN Ministries (c. 2001): "Three quarters of all churches planted in the last decade around the world used the 'JESUS' film as part of the church planting process."

God is using this film in powerful ways to reach people and build spiritual movements worldwide. The following video will show you how He is using the Jesus film in Haiti.

Christianity is surging in Indonesia says Time magazine

This article was in Time magazine on Monday, Apr. 26, 2010. You can find the article at Christianity's Surge in Indonesia  God is doing AWESOME work in Indonesia and throughout Asia!!!

Christianity's Surge in Indonesia  
By Hannah Beech / Temanggung

They flocked to the open field by the hundreds to praise Allah. In a village in central Java, just a few miles from where Indonesian special forces shot dead an Islamic terrorist linked to the fatal July bombings of two hotels in Jakarta, worshippers raised their hands to the heavens. But this ceremony, which took place as the call of the muezzin echoed in the sultry air, was not a celebration of Islam. Instead, in the heart of the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, Christians held a Pentecostal revival, complete with faith healing and speaking in tongues. As a tropical downpour fell, believers' tears mixed with rain — and a line of sick and disabled took to the stage to claim they had been cured by a God they, like Indonesian Muslims, call Allah. "People think Indonesia is just a Muslim country, but look at all these people," says pastor David Nugroho, whose Gesing church boasts a congregation of 400 worshippers today, up from 30 when it was founded in 1967. "We are not afraid to show our faith."

A religious revolution is transforming Indonesia. Part of the spiritual blossoming entails Muslims embracing a more conservative form of faith, mirroring global trends that have meant a proliferation of headscarves and beards in modern Islamic capitals. More surprising, though, is the boom in Christianity — officially Indonesia's second largest faith and a growing force throughout Asia. Indeed, the number of Asian Christian faithful exploded to 351 million adherents in 2005, up from 101 million in 1970, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, based in Washington, D.C.

Much of the growth comes from Pentecostal and Evangelical conversions, which have spread charismatic Christianity across the globe and are a large reason for estimates that by 2050 a majority of Christians will be living in developing nations. Already, less than a quarter of the world's 600 million Pentecostals reside in the West, where the modern movement has its roots. Indeed, Pentecostalism is believed by some to be the fastest-growing faith in the world, if measured by conversions as opposed to births.

Because of the relative youth of these Evangelical sects, they are less bound by the history of colonial conversion that has complicated the legacy of, say, Roman Catholicism or mainstream Protestantism. Instead, by focusing on personal salvation adapted to local environments, Evangelicals, especially Pentecostals, have found great success across Asia in recent years, from Indian metropolises like Chennai to rural China where homegrown sects are drawing in tens of thousands of people each year. The world's largest megachurch is the Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea, which claims a membership of 830,000 people. Its Pentecostal Sunday services regularly attract a quarter of a million people to an upscale neighborhood of Seoul. In poorer regions of Asia, as well as within many ethnic Chinese communities, converts are lured by the so-called prosperity gospel, an American theology linked to charismatic Christianity that promises riches to those who follow a moral path.

For many in the global Evangelical community, though, it is the faith's inroads in Indonesia — a nation with some 215 million Muslim adherents — that are most riveting. Exact figures are hard to gather in a country where conversions from Islam to Christianity face a stigma and likely lead to an underreporting of Christian believers. The 2000 census counted just under 10% of Indonesians as Christians, a figure many Christian leaders believe is too low. Anecdotal evidence paints a compelling picture of the faith's rapid rise. In the early 1960s, for instance, there were no Evangelical churches in Temanggung, where the soccer-field revival took place; now there are more than 40. In the capital Jakarta, newly built megachurches that might seem more at home in Texas send steeples into the sky. Other Christians worship at unofficial churches based in hotels and malls, where Sunday services rival shopping as a popular weekend activity. Asia's tallest statue of Jesus Christ, built in 2007, presides over Manado city in eastern Indonesia, while Indonesian cable TV beams 24-hour Christian channels.

State of Grace — and Disgrace
What is it about Evangelical Christianity that has so resonated in Indonesia? As in many other crowded, developing-world countries where a person can feel lost in a teeming slum, the concept of individual salvation is a powerful one. At the same time, the attempted hijacking of Muslim theology by a small band of homegrown terrorists who have killed hundreds of Indonesians in recent years has led some to question their nation's majority faith. So, too, has the general trend toward a more conservative Islam that has given rise to hundreds of religiously inspired bylaws, from caning for beer-drinking to enforced dress codes for women.

Not everyone, though, is celebrating Christianity's boom. Some Muslims view the faith as an unwanted foreign influence, even though Islam, too, is an imported religion. Since the country exchanged dictatorship for democracy more than a decade ago, a great diversity of voices has arisen. But an unfortunate byproduct of this pluralism has been an uptick in religious conflict, which has affected unorthodox offshoots of Islam and Christian sects alike. Although bloody outpourings — like the communal riots that claimed more than 1,000 Christian and Muslim lives in Poso and Ambon around a decade ago — have ceased, spasms of violence are still occurring.

Over the past couple of years, Christian groups say, dozens of churches and theological academies have been destroyed or forced to shut by Islamic groups who accuse Christians of stealing believers from Muslim ranks. Despite appointing prominent Christians to his Cabinet, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said little to defend religious minorities, and has remained silent as dozens of local governments pass Islamic-based laws that threaten Christian rights. Such moves "conflict with the constitution and have the potential to threaten freedom of religion in this country," according to Hendardi, chairman of the Setara Institute, a Jakarta-based NGO that promotes pluralism.

Last year, the Indonesia Ulema Council, an influential Islamic clerical body, sounded the alarm about Christian proselytization and called on Muslims to more staunchly guard their faith. The pace with which unlicensed churches are being shut down by local authorities is also increasing. Christians complain that gaining official sanction to build a mosque is easy while getting similar permission for churches is glacial. As a consequence, most Christian houses of worship are unofficial. "There is a real fear that Christianity is on the march," says Mike Hilliard, a Scottish minister who with his Indonesian wife runs an orphanage outside Jakarta that has been targeted by militant Muslims. "Because of this fear, emotions are easily stirred up and mobs can form quickly."

Defenders of faith have mobilized in neighboring Malaysia too. After a local court ruled on Dec. 31 that a Malaysian Christian newspaper could refer to the Christian deity as Allah, many Muslims, who constitute the multiethnic country's majority, protested. Christians professed puzzlement: when speaking Malay, they had used the word Allah for centuries — why the sudden outrage now? Prominent Islamic activists responded by saying that sharing one word for two different gods could lead some Muslims to unwittingly stray to Christianity. By January, passions had spilled onto holy turf, with around a dozen churches, one mosque and a Sikh temple attacked. Late that month, eight people were arrested for suspected roles in the firebombing of a Pentecostal church in the capital of Kuala Lumpur.

As both Muslims and Christians more fervently express their faith, a kind of spiritual siloing is developing in Southeast Asia, in contrast to the sectarian mixing that often characterized relations in previous generations. "Even compared to five years ago, relations between Christians and Muslims have worsened," says Father Andang Binawan, a Roman Catholic priest in Jakarta who holds a Ph.D. in theology from a Belgian university. "Many people now, including government officials, feel pressure by society to identify themselves as good Muslims and they worry that by associating with people of other religions, they will be seen as less pious. Even saying 'Merry Christmas' to a Christian can be seen as a problem."

At the same time, aggressive proselytization by Evangelical groups, both foreign and local, leads to accusations that Christians are hungry for souls — and church donations. Website and sermon invectives, in which some Christian preachers dismiss Muslims as terrorists, also feed a prejudicial cycle that is spinning both sides away from Indonesia's pluralistic underpinnings. (Unlike neighboring Malaysia, which was set up as a Muslim state — although one that guarantees minority religious rights — Indonesia recognizes six official faiths: Islam, Catholicism, Protestant Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism.) "We have many [religions], and they all coexist peacefully," President Yudhoyono told TIME last November. "This is the capital we will use to show that a clash of civilizations can be prevented." But even as he spoke, Christian theological students were staging a sit-in on a busy Jakarta street to protest having been intimidated into evacuating their campus after threats from Muslim mobs. A clash of civilizations seemed to be exactly what was taking place.

Raising Spirits
To get to the hip-hop concert, you have to walk through a five-star hotel's lobby, go past a parking lot and take a cramped elevator ride to the 12th floor. There, in an anonymous Jakarta annex syncopated by a purple strobe light, Indonesian youths dance for Jesus. The congregation bops to the beat, waving their arms in the air as the lyrics implore them to let their "lives be a celebration" of Jesus' love. After pastor Jose Carol takes to the stage, some worshippers whip out their iPhones, onto which they have loaded electronic copies of the Bible. Back when the Jakarta Praise Community Church formed a decade ago, only a couple hundred people attended its services; today the congregation has grown to 5,500 mostly young urbanites.

A few hours earlier, in Jakarta's Kemayoran business district, parishioners gathered in the main auditorium of the Evangelical Reformed Millennium Center, which seats more than 4,500 people. Above the crowds, a pair of giant TV screens broadcast the sermon of Stephen Tong, an Indonesian pastor who conducts weekly services throughout Asia — including Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong — and ministers to a regional congregation that has grown to 15,000 in just two decades. Opened in 2008, the church complex cost $30 million to build — and it took 17 years to obtain permission from local authorities. The privately funded church is the largest licensed one in the capital, although an unofficial megachurch with space for 10,000 faithful is nearing completion in a Jakarta suburb. When Tong, 69, raised a crucifix onto the church's massive steeple, worshippers at a nearby mosque complained. Tong didn't back down. "Jakarta has 1.2 million Christians, so a church for 4,000 people is nothing," he says. "We did this all legally, so why can't we put a cross on our church, just like mosques have their symbol?"

Other Indonesian Christians worry that such towering icons will only serve to inflame Muslim sentiment. The dangers are all too real. Take the hundreds of students from the Arastamar Evangelical School of Theology, who staged the November sit-in. They were subsisting in refugee-like conditions, sleeping on thin mats in an abandoned Jakarta building with no electricity or running water. Before that, the beleaguered students lived for months in a park, 35 to a tent. Yet on the outskirts of east Jakarta, the Christian college actually had a handsome campus. In July 2008, hundreds of Islamic extremists crowded the school's gates, accusing students of proselytizing among the local Muslim community — a charge the institute's leaders deny. When three students tried to escape, thugs threw acid in their faces. With local government officials advising the student population to decamp because of continuing danger, Arastamar officials had no choice but to accept the government's proposal for makeshift housing. "How can you say there is true freedom of religion here if things like this can happen to us?" asks school principal Jusup Lifire.

Muslim converts to Christianity are also targets, their apostasy viewed by some radical Islamic scholars as deserving of execution. Syaiful Hamzah grew up as the madrasah-attending son of a Muslim family in Jakarta that helped build the neighborhood mosque. But while working in eastern Indonesia's Maluku archipelago, which has a substantial Christian population, he was swayed by Evangelical teachings. By 2000, he had been baptized at a Pentecostal church and returned to Jakarta to begin theological studies. His family cut him off; one brother threatened to burn his house down. Undeterred, he began lay-preaching to a house-church congregation in his modest home near Jakarta's port. In 2008, a mob armed with clubs showed up and demanded Syaiful stop. He shuttered his church but still guides Muslim converts to Christianity, the number of which he says is growing, in part, because of the terror attacks unleashed in Indonesia in the name of Islam. "So many have converted," he says, "but they are afraid to say so publicly because Muslims will harass them."

The numbers of converts may not be as high as Islamic groups fear. Some so-called converts were Christians all along. In the 1960s, a government anticommunist drive forced each citizen to pick a religion for inclusion on their national ID card. (Suspected communists were quick to pick a religion to convince authorities they were not atheist Marxists.) Worried about future persecution and loath to give up the chance for certain career opportunities reserved for Muslims, some Christians chose Islam for their ID cards, even though they quietly kept going to church. Now they're officially switching to their true religion, seeing safety in growing numbers. Another significant group of Indonesian converts to charismatic sects is ethnic Chinese. But they are abandoning Chinese religions or mainline Protestantism, not Islam.

Still, it's hard to ignore the power of a revival like the one held in Temanggung — and easy to understand why some Muslims have reservations about encroaching Christianity. Permission to hold the meeting was only granted after the organizers put up a sign forbidding Muslims from entering. Nevertheless, among the line of sick and suffering hoping to be healed was an elderly Muslim man who others said was blind. After fervent prayers from worshippers in the driving rain, he suddenly blinked and gazed at the gathered crowd. "A Muslim who can now see," said pastor Jason Balompapueng, tears rising in his eyes. "It is a miracle." The faithful urged the tottering man onstage to bear witness to his regained sight. As the man clambered up the stairs, he removed his peci, an Indonesian fezlike hat often associated with Islam. A visiting minister from Jakarta blessed him. Another soul was saved, the Christian pastor rejoiced. Tomorrow, he vowed, there would be more.

—With reporting by Jason Tedjasukmana / Jakarta


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