BEYOND OUR WALLS

AAUUUGH! THE MONEY’S ALMOST GONE, WHICH OF THESE BILLS ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE UNPAID THIS MONTH?! Do you suppose wails like this are limited to those of us on the home front? No, you undoubtedly realize that people everywhere run short of funds for their daily needs and for accomplishing things that deserve getting done.

Our point this time around is that missionary people and projects get to hurting financially just as surely as others. You already knew that, of course, but it may be worth stopping to remember that, as for many of us during these times of economic decline, the problem can be more acute than usual. A significant source of mission support, for example, comes from the investment earnings of those with stocks and bonds, and many with investment income are giving less than they were. In addition, in some countries, inflation rates skyrocket, making it impossible for a mission to accomplish what it did before. These financial problems are sometimes so severe that missionaries have to return home to increase their level of support before they can go on with their work, and a few never get back to the field. This happens even in the best of times, and it’s happening now.

For all we know, something like this might be happening to several of the missionaries we help support, but one case in particular has come to our attention recently. Doug and Sherry Barron are part of Campus Crusade for Christ’s program for recruiting and sending Latin American mission teams to those parts of the world where the greatest number of unreached peoples live. Their income dropped dramatically after the September 11 attack, and they realized discretionary income was going to New York. They hoped for improvement in October, but it didn’t happen, and their support dropped to 60 percent of normal. The result may be that they soon will have to stop their work completely and spend all their time getting their support level back to a workable level. The work, as we said, will stop! People from Latin America planning to go to other lands as missionaries, won’t, and people who would otherwise soon see the JESUS film won’t see it and won’t have the opportunity to respond to its message.

What do we as Christians trying to be obedient to the Great Commission do about this kind of thing. Maybe enough will be given by our church to increase support of our missionaries in 2002, but at this writing that remains to be seen. There is also the question of what we should do as individuals. Some who support the Barrons or others may find that the Lord wants them to increase their monthly support a bit or shell out a little extra for a time. A number of extra gifts from those who can make them often make a significant difference. Of course, all of us should ask God what He wants us to do. The Barron’s need more people than they now have who can provide monthly support of their ministry, and it would be great if that support could come without their having to stop their work to seek it.

As Pastor Schmitt reminded us a few weeks ago, only by giving ourselves to God first can we truly know what he wants us to do about giving. It is through an intimate relationship with Christ our Lord that we will do whatever He wants us to do about giving and everything else in our lives. Others can only inform us about needs and encourage us to let God guide us as He will.

You may be aware that many sending agencies won’t permit their missionaries to remain on the field if their support levels drop beyond a certain point. This is true, for example, of the Latin America Mission, and several years ago Bob and Donna Waguespack faced the same situation the Barrons are up against now.

Maybe this is a suitable time for us, as a part of giving ourselves to God, to consider what He says to us throughout the Scripture about the imperative of reaching all the peoples of the world.

The all peoples imperative comes from God’s commitment to bless, without fail, all the people groups of the world through Abraham’s descendants. The promise is the backbone of the Bible and the scriptural foundation for our worldwide outreach and support for Christian missions in many places. God is using us and others to fulfill His purpose. We invite you to read and meditate on some instances of the promise.

-The promise to Abraham: Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 18:16-18; Genesis 22:15-18.

-The promise to Isaac: Genesis 26:2-4.

-The promise to Jacob: Genesis 28:10-14.

-David’s recognition of the promise: Psalm 22:27-28.

-Isaiah’s recognition of the promise: Isaiah 44:22; Isaiah 49:1, 5-6.

-Simeon’s awareness of the promise: Luke 2:30-32.

-Jesus’ proclamation of the promise: Matthew 28:19; Mark 13:10; Luke 24:44-47; Acts 1:7-8.

-Paul’s recognition of the promise: Galatians 3:6-9.

-The promise in John’s revelation: Revelation 5:8-9; Revelation 7:9-10.

Don’t forget to pray for those serving beyond our walls who First Presbyterian helps support and, also, any you may help support outside of our church budget. Does it make any difference? Missionaries think so, and the Bible teaches that there is some kind of relationship between fervent prayer and success in spreading God’s word. The Session has authorized the production of an up-dated Missions Directory, so you’ll soon have better information at your fingertips. Meanwhile, be sure to use the information from the Lantern and Focus on Mission times as a basis for prayer.

Don’t forget that, a few years ago, we "adopted" two groups for special attention–the Dalits of India and the Suri of Ethiopia. John and Gwen Haspels are returning to their work among the Suri this month, and they’ll soon be working with the recently born Suri church to take the gospel to the neighboring Baale people. Remember John Haspels’ labor day sermon, "Break Camp and Advance." There’s a "reading pack" on the Suri work in the missions files in the church office, and you can borrow it.

And Witnessing Ministries of Christ has just sent us their fascinating annual report on the astonishing work among the Dalits of Uttar Pradesh. There the Rural Presbyterian Church-India continues to grow at the amazing rate of over 8,500 new believers per month. There are now ten self-supporting, mission-ready presbyteries there, three more than last year, and sixteen more being developed. What a story!

The Barrons! David Sallee and the Bridge Ministries! The Christian Day Nursery! The Prasads! Charles Diebold! Donna Evans! The Gospel Rescue Mission! The Greens! The Harveys! John and Gwen Haspels! The s! The Pattons! The Pickerings! The Pontiers! The Prasads! Imelda Novera and Yolanda Barrera! St. Luke’s Clinic! Bill and Sue Soldwisch! Lu Stephens! The Trudells! The Waguespacks! Casa de Peregrinos! Our own Deacons! The Presbyterian Women! Do you know what all of them do? If you don’t, why not resolve to find out by the end of 2002?!

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Last update 2006-01-10 21:18:21