What are we supposed to be doing? Is what we’re doing having a real impact? Hard questions to answer sometimes, right?
We need to lift our eyes, on a regular basis, off of what’s all around us, and look out to what God is doing in the world. He cares about our lives, the stuff that they consist of and He’s got that stuff under His sovereign control. And so, we can look beyond ourselves.
At times, as support-missionaries, not working on the front-lines where “real” ministry is happening, it’s easy to not see the impact of what we’re doing. So, we’re trying to focus on a regular basis on the work God is doing out in the wide world. And in doing so, we see how what I do behind a camera, behind a computer, and in a studio, is in fact connected to God saving people, loving on them through His Word, and calling out a people for His own glory.
So, in these coming editions of “Good News, Greater Commission” we’re excited to share stories from the rim of the wheel of church-planting and ways for you to explore more than just following our work and lives.
CELEBRATE
In Papua New Guinea, where there are MANY young churches, with believers who are still being actively discipled by workers with Ethnos360 and others, one young church recently had to step up when major fuel shortages required the expat church-planting to leave the tribal location for contingency reasons. And did they ever step up! One of the team members talked about the final Sunday worship service before all the workers had to leave:
“Yedaas stood up in church and encouraged us missionaries. He read 1 Corinthians 15:58, “So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Then he said, “Don’t worry! Your labor hasn’t been in vain; we’re the fruit of your labor, and we’re ready to keep doing this work while you all are gone!”
Oh man! This gives me goose-bumps. Seeing this local church step up to take responsibility like this is just why the Lord allowed a fuel shortage to happen in the first place. We’re looking to plant churches that are truly self-sustaining BECAUSE those churches are connected to God and not just to the missionaries.
Read the full post
EXPLORE
What if you could take some time in these next few months of summer, to invest in your Biblical foundations?
Ethnos360 Bible Institute (where we both served for many years as staff and trainers) is offering some free courses through their online Bible Study platform. We can say without a doubt that you’ll love the teachers and the content and that it’s really well laid out and approachable. Plus, it’ll give us more to talk about. We’d love to see you explore it.
There’s no cost to try these out and if you want to dive in deeper, you can explore the full two year online program they offer. Take a peek at the six possible courses you can pick from!