Hello there everyone. Well as you might expect, the days have been exciting as of late for the Simmons clan. We’ve had about all the moving, packing and planning we can handle, but there’s one more BIG move coming…and it’s coming fast! We’re in the home stretch of our journey towards ministry in Papua New Guinea and have been blown away at the generosity of God’s people throughout it all. We are now at 67% of our monthly support goal and only have little bit further to achieve 100% before it’s time to begin our ministry in New Guinea.
We would love the opportunity to share the ministry God has for us and challenge you to become more involved and more engaged in the battle raging for the souls of men. Scripture tells us that there is no difference between you and the people across the globe, and that the same Lord is Lord over all. It also says this, “For whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?” What will you do about that passage? Will you Go? Or, will you stay and send someone? Or, will you stay and send no one?
This is from scripture not from the mouths of humans, so if you are convicted, if your conscience is troubled, maybe God is prodding you to take a step of faith and use the gifts He has given you for His glory and not your own. We are strangers in this world, destined to be with God for eternity. The life we live on this earth is but a vapor, a wave tossed in the ocean, and it’s fading fast. We have to choose to make every moment count and you are the only one who can make that choice. I challenge you to pray about your involvement in the fight for the lost. Will you lay your treasures up in heaven for an eternal reward, or will you lay them on earth, where they will pass away? Wouldn’t you like to stand before the Lord at the end of this life and say, I fought the good fight, I kept the faith, I finished the race for you Lord.
It’s been a terrific journey and a wonderful privilege to be part of the big picture of missions. We are currently 3 months out from our planned departure from American soil onto what promises to be the adventure of a life time as our family attempts to follow God’s leading to the remote country of Papua New Guinea. There are over 800 separate people groups in New Guinea alone who have never had the opportunity to hear the Truth of the Gospel in their own heart language. Our job will be to provide essential technical services to the missionaries slugging it out in the tribe, fighting harsh climates, homesickness, lack of fellowship with fellow believers, and separation from modern conveniences we so often take for granted. As a Tech Specialist it will fall to me to troubleshoot, repair and help missionaries maintain essential equipment they rely on for survival in the harsh jungle environments. Equipment such as Solar panels, batteries, appliances, generators, chainsaws, vehicles, water filtration systems, and sanitation systems, to name a few. As Tech Specialists our motto is “Time is a Non-replaceable resource,” which means we want to help the translators and church planters remain focused on the task they came to do, not struggle just to survive, but to communicate the Gospel to the people before they pass into a Christless eternity.
I hope you have gained insight into the urgency of speeding the Gospel to those who live in a world of hopelessness and fear, a world that offers them little else but assurance of an eternity apart from Christ — that is, unless we Christians make it our priority to share the truth that we have known for generations. Please pray about how the Lord would have you get involved in your community, in your church, or in missions. Maybe this is the opportunity you need to take that first step of faith towards a stronger more intentional walk with the Lord and what He has planned for you. When I answered the call, I had to give up my dream for my life and grab hold of God’s dream for my life…a dream MUCH more fulfilling than any dream I ever had for myself! Maybe it’s time you considered the same. We’re SO excited to see what He has ahead of us! If you want to know more about New Tribes or missions in general, please call or email me at the contact information provided on this blog site. This is your opportunity to make a choice that could affect the lives of people all over the world. What will you choose?
mike says
Josh how much are you short on money. , I can help a little. Im in Senegal doing the USG version of humanitarian work. Let me know. How hope the Simmons crew enjoys PAPA New Guinea.