Missionary Drive

[seguidordejesus]

Hi Berk. Consider this my post.

I have been concerned about the accumulation of "things." We try to limit the things we gather into our home just to stay accustomed to living simply and not become too attached to stuff.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Newman

Stmatt- Except for the very high-risk areas in muslim territory and the like; the Gospel is often going forward naturally through people from that area rather than foreigners; although we obviously have missionaries in all parts of the globe.

The fields have been plowed, the seed sown from earlier times and the harvest is happening NATURALLY.

What can we do now? If God hasn't called one directly; then send money to those that are already there working in the harvest fields across the globe. In doing so; we have put our American resources to very good use while the other countries natural resources (the people) are being used to further God's Kingdom.

Sis, we have not reached the whole world as of yet. While I agree that much has been touched, the UPC alone has how many missionaries??

In speaking with a missionary to France a little bit back, he said there are many cities in France that do not have an apostolic work within them. Approximately 8 or 9 years ago there was not one Apostolic church in Mongolia. I was considering going with a missionary as he attempted to establish a work there. Africa alone has millions of homeless children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic that need a missionary to come and house them, and teach them of Jesus Christ. I am sure there are places that Sis Alvear and her group have not yet reached in Brazil. West Knoxville, TN has no Apostolic church. Sprucepine NC has no Apostolic church.

If we think the work is going good, we have sadly lost sight of the lost souls all over the world. While I am all for establishing and raising up nationals, it is a far cry from being done. Millions die daily without ever having heard the gospel. Yet we in America have it so much we have almost become immune to it.

Maybe Sis Alvear can come on this thread and let me know if I am wrong. But from every missionary I have talked with, the need for workers is great, and many times there may just be a handful representing Christ to a whole country.

[Malvaro]

in my observation, being willing to be called to a missions fields requires two things of any person/couple/family.... a) willingness to sacrifice and b) selflessness vs pursuit of personal ambitions

i think these are the two primary reasons that so few acknowledge a missions calling.... or even would want one for that matter....

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Malvaro

in my observation, being willing to be called to a missions fields requires two things of any person/couple/family.... a) sacrifice and b) selflessness

i think these are the two primary reasons that so few acknowledge a missions calling.... or even would want one for that matter....

These are also the qualifications of being a true Christian.

[Malvaro]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

These are also the qualifications of being a true Christian.

they certainly are....

but could we say that every Christian whether pastor, saint, elder, etc would be willing to sell everything and leave the "tithing church" the "good paying job" cash in their retirement fund and/or childrens college fund to go to a country that may not know anything about???

not many....

[RandyWayne]

in my observation, being willing to be called to a missions fields requires two things of any person/couple/family.... a) willingness to sacrifice and b) selflessness vs pursuit of personal ambitions

i think these are the two primary reasons that so few acknowledge a missions calling.... or even would want one for that matter....

Amen, and it can further be boiled down to a concept called love. Your neighbor is not just the idiot who lives next door, but also the small family living in a cardboard box next to a Mexican dump.

[Malvaro]

another thing to ponder is.... would "knowledgeable" folks be willing to fight through all the FM red tape to get to their target country???

does the UPC really have their "ducks in order" for an increased influx of missionary workers.... AIMers... etc

[RandyWayne]

The body of Christ. Just as old Israel had Kings and Priests, the current church as those with a gift of outreach and those who PROVIDE for that outreach. Some simply do not have the personality to ask someone to church, but they are still providing means for others to do it.

[Sister Alvear]

[QUOTE=stmatthew;232126]I have always been a big reader of Missionary biographies. I love to hear the stories of different missionaries and the sacrifices they made. I guess most of what I read would have been in the 1900-1960 timeframe. One thing that I noticed is that there was a big push for missionaries to go into all the world. I do not hear much anymore about a call to missions.

Did there used to be services specifically geared towards the promotion of "calling missionaries" to the field? Why do we have so few going into the mission field.


Whether we want to admit it or not we live in a materialistic society. There is a difference in a God Called missionary and a professional missionary.
Many churches have been hurt by so called missionaries. I have talked to pastors that wept and told me of monies they had put in places that did not even exist!
What Jesus told us so long ago still is true today, the harvest is white and the laborers are few.
So much red tape for organizational missionaries some stop even before they go!
Not many are going to live today like Arlei and family that we just sent out to the jungle city of Barra do Corda in the state of Marahao. Consider the pictures below:

[Sister Alvear]