C. Lacy Thompson
LBM Associate Editor
Deborah Jensen recalls a missions presentation that emphasized the need for
persons to give their lives to sharing the gospel with others around the world.
“I said, God, where are all those people –
and why dont they go?And God said, Why dont you go? ”
Deborah Jensen recalls a missions presentation that emphasized the need for
persons to give their lives to sharing the gospel with others around the world.
“I said, God, where are all those people –
and why dont they go?And God said, Why dont you go? ”
Frida Robles speaks of a dream she had over the course of several
days. It haunted her – images of people going down a dark hole without
knowing Jesus Christ.
Joel Schlect tells of the moment he heard God ask him, “Are
you willing to weep over the lost?”
Jennifer Waldrep simply explains: “Life is short. I want
mine to count for Gods kingdom.”
Meanwhile, Nick Evans tells of a worship service about a year
ago, when he heard God say to him, “Now.”
For Evans and dozens of others, “now” came last week
as they were commissioned to international missions service during a service
at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport.
“This is like a big celebration,” Pastor Churck Pourciau
told hundreds of persons gathered for the Southern Baptist International Mission
Board Service.
It also was a challenge – of those committing their lives
to missions and those who God may be calling to do so as well.
“Our call to go (into the world and share the gospel)
is a mandate, …” International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin told
service participants at the outset. “Its not just about these missionaries
being commissioned. It may be about Gods call on your life. May he find
us responsive.”
That challenge was stressed throughout the service. Even the
procession of flags from world countries where Southern Baptists have a missions
presence served as a reminder.
Mixed with the colorful national flags carried by area young
people were gray flags as well – representing those who have not yet heard
the gospel.
International Mission Board Vice President Avery Willis told
participating youth, “One day, God may let you carry that flag into one
of those countries.”
Willis reminded persons that God is at work in remarkable ways
throughout the world. “All around the world, God is at work in ways weve
never seen before in history. … Were seeing unprecedented things happen.”
Willis cited a range of statistics to illustrate, noting:
n Southern Baptists now number more than 60,000 churches
overseas, an increase of 16.7 percent this year. Willis specifically cited Zambia,
which has grown from no churches to 176 in just one year.
n An average of about 18 churches a day were started overseas
last year, a jump of 37 percent in starts.
n Southern Baptists number 38,294 outreach groups overseas.
Added with churches, that represents almost 100,000 gospel efforts.
n A total of 451,301 overseas baptisms were reported last
year, the first time Southern Baptists have exceeded the 400,000 mark. They
crossed the 100,000 mark in 1980, 200,000 in 1988 and 300,000 in 1994. “Thats
almost a Pentecost every other day, … 150 Pentecosts a year, …” Willis
said of last years total. “This is harvest time all around the world.”
n Southern Baptists also number 461,901 persons in Discipleship
Training overseas.
n Southern Baptist partners overseas are joining the missionary-sending
ranks as well. Last year, the partners sent out 2,690 home missionaries of their
own – and 1,383 international ones. Willis said missions leaders are looking
forward to the day when the overseas partner unions send out more missionaries
than Southern Baptists do.
Service participants then heard from the 65 international workers
being commissioned, including nine missionary associates, two reappointees.
Charlie Bone told service participants how opening his home
to a visiting missionary also opened him up to “a strong call to be obedient
to God.”
Mary Sue Brown said her commitment to missions simply “followed
strongly my commitment to Jesus Christ.”
Christine Clayton said the needs she and her husband saw on
an overseas missions trip challenged them. “Now, more than anything, we
want all people to have a hope in Jesus, not only in this life but in the life
to come,” she said.
Carol Evans recounted the day about 18 months ago that her
husband telephoned to say he had heard a call to missions. She began to cry
– she had heard the same call.
Louise Hendley said she clearly heard the call from God as
she watched the Berlin Wall come down several years ago.
Mark Jensen acknowledged that he came to missions after a struggle.
“Despite my objections, (God) changed my perspective. He changed my attitude.
He changed my heart.”
Another appointee simply noted how God had whispered to him
throughout life, “Whenever youre ready, Im ready.”
God may be whispering the same thing to others, Rankin indicated
in his missions charge during the service.
Rankin urged missions appointees and others to remember the
words of God in Habbukuk 1:5 – “Behold, … I will work a work in
your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told to you.”
God is promising the same thing today, Rankin insisted. “God
is saying, Im going to do a work in your day that you will not believe,
…” the missions leader emphasized.
“You will not believe what hes prepared for you.”
Indeed, God has put an open door before the commissioned workers,
Rankin said. It is a door “no earthly power can shut” – not government,
culture or hostile religions, he added.
Workers may not find immediate response on their assigned field,
Rankin continued. “But God has said, I will not leave or forsake
you. I have placed before you an open door. ”
Workers also will encounter other beliefs and lifestyles, Rankin
added. But they must remember they go with the power of the gospel – and
nothing else can testify to life-changing power, he said. “That comes only
through Jesus Christ.”
In all instances, the workers must remember to walk in obedience
with God, Rankin stressed. “Your joy will reamin full if you abide in him
and keep his commandments and follow his Word,” he emphasized.
Others need to make the same commitment, Rankin said, lamenting
the “tragic gap” between the vision of all the world knowing Jesus
Christ and the reality of the day.
Hundreds of people groups around the world have not heard the
gospel of Jesus Christ, he noted.
“Why? Because no one has said, I will go. ”
Some Christians have placed “geographic restrictions on
their call to ministry, Rankin warned. And even though, the convention numbers
almost 5,000 international missionaries, that is only about 0.03 percent of
all Southern Baptists, he said.
“Are these the only ones God is calling? Is God saying,
Youre exempt. … I dont think so. God is calling us
to surrender. He is calling us to obedience.”
Indeed, the call simply is to be willing to go where God leads,
Rankin indicated. “You dont have to know where hes leading.
You dont have to know his plans for your life. All you have to do is come
and lay your life on the altar. …
“It just may be that God is calling you, …” Rankin
concluded. “Hes saying, Look among the nations and be amazed.
Im doing a work among the nations that you would not believe if you were
told.
“Are you willing for God to do that work through you?”
Give it 1/5
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