I'M EXCITED ABOUT MISSIONS! AREN'T YOU?

Map in CEF director's Reese Kaufman's office, indicating where the sun is shining on the world.

 

One of life's great mysteries I started think about while in Junior High: Why did some missionaries have full 8 1/2 x 11 length prayer letters, folded in half so they can fit in the bulletin, while others' letters were half that size?

I don't know how long it took me to figure that out, but it still wasn't long. The full size letters were from CBFMS missionaries, while the half page letters came from CBHMS missionaries. The ones serving on foreign fields got the full size paper, while those on the home field (North and Central America) only got the half page.

Which left me wondering why they thought the home missionaries didn't deserve the same amount of paper the foreign missionaries did.

One other thing I noticed. At Verde Baptist Church, the Conservative Baptist church I attended, they had pictures of their missionaries and where they served. There, at least, the foreign and home missionaries got an equal due.
Then, when I attended Cactus Baptist Church when I moved to Phoenix to start college, I would see a different set of pictures. Mel Bitner, who was in France, was on both missionary boards, but the others were different. Why? Because CBFMS and CBHMS would appoint the missionaries, and then the missionaries would "discover" their support at the various local churches. Each congregation would choose who they supported.

Over the years, I moved East. In that move, I noticed fewer Conservative Baptist Churches, and more Southern Baptist. the main difference? How they support missions. The Southern Baptist Convention has the Cooperative Program (CP), so basically all Southern Baptist Churches are supporting all the Southern Baptist Missionaries.

One thing that excites me are the Lottie Moon Christmas and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offerings. As you'd expect, any Mission organization has overhead costs, and for the Southern Baptist Convention, the CP takes care of those. With the Lottie Moon Offering, 100% goes to the international missionaries; the one named after Annie Armstrong goes entirely to those serving in North America. (I'm posting this the final day of Annie Armstrong this year.)

Why do those offerings excite me? Because at the beginning of those offerings they send out a pamphlet on how to pray for specific missionaries each day for a week. Usually, I select one or two to keep praying for after the offering ends. 

Becky and I are also interested in other mission organizations. Becky's active with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), which has official workers in every country except one (can you say North Korea, boys and girls?). We used to volunteer with Voice of the Martyrs and actively correspond with two sister ministries Spirit of Martyrdom (which is in Clarkdale Arizona, where the CEO attends Verde Baptist Church) and Vision Beyond Borders. We've attended dinners for Wycliffe Associates (where they send workers to take care of things like teaching and construction so the Wycliffe translators can concentrate on translating). One of my former roommates is active with Community Health Evangelism and Medical Ambassadors International. 

International Learning Center, Rockville, VA

 How many would think Thru The Bible would fit in the conversation? Oh, but they do. That program is heard in 120 languages and dialects around the world. No, you're not going to hear Dr. J. Vernon McGee's Texan accent speaking in Tagalog or other languages, or even the quartet singing "How Firm A Foundation." The programs are more aimed at the locality it's aimed for.

Are you excited about missions? If so, what excites you? If not, what would it take to change your mind? 

A NEEDED CALL TO PRAYER IN LIGHT OF THE CHAOS IN AFGHANISTAN

Refugees of Parga by Francesco Hayez

 

 "But the end of all things is at hand. Therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." 1 Peter 4:7, NKJV.

Is what's going on in Afghanistan a sign of the end times? Maybe, maybe not. What has no maybe about it is that we need to take Peter's advice on being serious and watchful in our prayers.

Today, Becky received three calls to prayer for Afghanistan from different ministries on our e-mail, and she thought the three put together made an interesting picture.

1. Franklin Graham is calling for a day of prayer tomorrow (Aug. 22) for Afghanistan. Yes, there is a place for private prayer, but there is also a place for public petition for great needs. There were corporate prayer meetings called by great leaders like Samuel, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Esther and Mordecai, and Nehemiah. After being threatened by the Sanhedrin, Peter and John met with the congregation and prayed for boldness. And we should be praying for those who are being kept from leaving Afghanistan.
2. Gregg Harris, THRU the BIBLE's President (the ministry founded by Dr. J. Vernon McGee), also asked for prayer for our fellow believers in Afghanistan. Harris said, "This is a young church, a dynamic church, one of the fastest growing in the world, that was already under great persecution and suffering. And now, unless God intervenes, they will be facing even greater persecution and possible and probably martyrdom for their faith in Jesus." He then adds their work in the Pashto language spoken by millions in Afghanistan. "The vision is that anyone in that region will be able to hear the clear, systematic teaching of the Bible through the ministry of THRU the BIBLE in the Pashto language."
3. Michael Youseff of Leading The Way mentions various ways to pray, including 1) for a hedge of protection around His people - especially women and children; 2) for the conversion those in power in the Taliban, and 3) that God can bring good in the midst of tragedy. Youseff then adds, "But remember this: if we don't remember them in their time of need, who will remember us in time of need?" He closes by urging us to pray and trust God to do the impossible.

One other thing that Youseff pointed out is that we shouldn't be pointing fingers. AMEN. In addition to praying for the people in Afghanistan, we should be on our knees interceding for President Biden. Right now, the question of whether he did the right thing is not the issue. We see him standing by his decision, but what is going on inside? Could it be that God is dealing with him? We need to pray for President Biden, not with a political mindset, but remembering he was made in the image of God just as we are.

Will you join me in praying for this need, individually and in groups, and praying that God uses it for His glory?