Encouragement For Missionaries

Once again I want to share with you a post from my son's blog. It is entitled "Reflections on Central Asia 4 - Holding The Ropes."It says something that I wish to say and I pray that we - as church leaders - will see and sense the same need. I do encourage you to click onto his blog once and a while - it does provoke some thought. Here is the link -- Meditations On The Law.

Here is his posting:

"There is nothing like visiting friends that you haven’t seen in a long while. That is just what we were able to do while on our trip to Central Asia. A few years ago we sent out a couple from our church to serve in Central Asia. Now, for the first time, someone from our church was there to see them.

It was only for a day, but it was delightful. We got to see them, their new baby, and talk about how we might work with them in the future. The truth is, we won’t be able to do much. The country has tight restrictions and if we were to take a team to work with them, it would put a big target on their back. They would be kicked out soon after we left.


But, with that aside, I learned a lot from the short time we had with them. First, they desperately need encouragement from home. Don’t get me wrong, they’re excited to be where they are, but their spirits pick up when they know that people are praying for them back home. Especially when some of those people get to see them face to face.

This, of course, brings me to my point. I can’t really reflect much publicly on the time we spent with them. But, I can encourage your church to get involved in the lives of some of the missionaries that your church has sent out (notice the expectation for your church to be sending out). And, to the missionaries, I encourage you to reach out to your churches back home (notice the expectation for you to have a church back home). It is a two way street. Send teams to your missionaries, even if it is just to take care of the kids. Send them care packages, pray for them, email them, skype with them. Whatever you can do to let them know that their church is behind them—do it. It will mean the world to them and it will give them boldness and energy for the sake of the kingdom. In essence, that encouragement is kingdom building work.

Then, after you’ve encouraged your missionaries, encourage your church as well…"

On my recent mission trip to a "closed country," I also experienced the same buren as my son was talking about above. I do so appreciate those that sacrifice so much and carry their families to such places. Not just the sacrifices that put some in harm's way - but just the sacrifices they make in such extreme conditions when they could be here and have the freedom to serve God in some degree of comfort. The young couple I worked with, I can not tell you their names - but I am praying for them daily. The young couple he is talking about, I know and love dearly. In his church, they pray for "Ruth and Boaz." They can not call them by name. Nor can they tell the specifics of their work. I rejoice for that couple - for our God knows their names and knows the sacrifices when we just lamely lift them up in our prayers.

Let me encourage you to personally do - and lead your church to do - what my son asked:

(1) PRAY for them - and let them know you are doing that!
(2) Find some way to visit your "friends." A card--letter---email of encouragement (being very careful not to be too specific)--- if you send an email say something like---"I was talking to father about you tonight and all of our brothers and sisters have been talking with him about you. It brings us such joy to remember you every day. Every time we gather, we think of you and wish you the very best."
(3) You don't have to say all the above - just send a card that says we love you.
(4) Truly think about sending a small group to visit them and encourage them - maybe help them around the house/with children/carry them some supplies from back home
(5) And yes - encourage your church to be missionaries in their mission field daily as well!

I like his assumption that you - as a church - are sending out missionaries. If we would think that way about our churches, we could greatly impact our world!

Macs and Christianity

Recently I read a post on my son's blog -- his blogsite is meditationsonthelaw.wordpress.com. I thought it was pretty good and that I would share it with you - I think he hits the "nail on the head." We - as people who say we are burdened for those around us simply do very little to demonstrate that we really care. I think he writes pretty well--of course, I am his father.

"I have recently decided to join the throng in buying a Mac computer. I have been greatly impressed with what people have told me about the Mac and what I’ve seen the Mac do. Another thing that really impressed me was the customer service I received when I visited the Mac store two nights ago.

The girl that helped me talked with me for well over thirty minutes. She didn’t push the most expensive product down my throat. She didn’t try to convince me to buy accessories I didn’t need. The store was packed with people, yet she didn’t try and rush me at all. She wasn’t sure if she would make the sale (she didn’t), but she gave me her full attention. One thing that really impressed me was that she asked me a lot about my job, schooling and what exactly I was studying. She was trying to help me get the best computer for what I needed.

I know she’s trained to do this, but it was a refreshing experience. I do plan on looking for her when I do buy a Mac (hopefully later this week). But, the thing is when I walked out of the Apple Store I wondered, “Do we Christians invest even thirty minutes into someone’s life? Do we do it with such attention and care as she did?” It was just a thought that crossed my mind and challenged me. What do you think?"

As Baptists we are "trained to" do this - share Christ with those that are lost and minister in His name to the people around us in need. YET- unlike the young lady trying to sell him a new computer, we still do not take the time to "close the sell." When was the last time you took 30 minutes to get to know the people around you and offer them the hope for their lives that only Christ can bring? Perhaps we need to take a trip to the closest computer store for some motivation.