Friday, October 26, 2007

Beginning at Home

Tonight (October 26) I will bring a message with this title in a missions conference meeting. Following is a brief summation of the message.

The Gospel must be taken home. In Luke 16:27b the rich man in hell cried out for someone to go and warn his brothers of their impending doom. In spite of his personal anguish in hell-fire, this lost soul's concern that others not join him is notable. Though he had every reason to be self-absorbed, he was more evangelistically-minded than many believers today. Think of his indescribable torment as the literal flames of hell engulfed his entire body! Further, his torment was inescapable. From that day to this that rich man has never had one moment's relief from hell's misery! His suffering is also inexcusable. He didn't have to go to hell! Any soul that arrives in hell does so in spite of the warnings contained in Scripture. Isaiah 66:24 describes hell as a place where the souls of men will languish in eternal, conscious suffering. The fire will never go out! We must take the message home so that those we love will never face such a bleak eternity.

A second motivation to take the Gospel home may be found in our Savior's words to the former demoniac of Gadara recorded in Mark 5 verse 19: "Go home and tell thy friends." Our Lord commands us to take the message of salvation home. This delivered man heard his Savior say, "Tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee." Psalm 66:16 declares, "Come and hear, ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." The new believer need not worry that he does not know enough verses in order to testify of his faith, nor should the more seasoned believer fear a lack of theological preparation. Each redeemed soul can and should declare the great things God has done in saving his soul. The Savior also encouraged him to tell how God had mercy on him. This destitute and abandoned man was now a child of God, accepted by the God of the universe as His own son. No longer was he naked, but clothed in Christ's own righteousness. No longer was he out of his mind, but in his right mind by the mercy of God.

The Gospel must also go beyond home to the great beyond. Acts 1:8 declares, "Ye shall be witnesses." That is not a suggestion, nor even a command; it is rather a statement of inevitable reality. Acts 2:32, 3:15, 5:32, and 10:39 reveal that the early believers became witnesses as a natural result of God's supernatural grace changing their lives forever.

The sphere of that witness is found in the words "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." God's plan was that believers saturate their home area and then move progressively outward, declaring the Gospel in every place. In Acts 8:1 persecution effected the moving of the Gospel outward, and the early believers faithfully declared the Gospel everywhere (Acts 8:4). The final step of that outward expansion comes in Acts 13:1 when the Holy Spirit calls the first missionaries.

This is not to be an isolated series of events, but an oft-repeated pattern. As Paul went out, other churches were established to saturate their own area (1 Thess 1:6) which then expanded their influence over broader territories (1 Thess 1:7-8). Then other missionaries, such as Timothy and Titus, carried the Word even further afield.

I believe we have lost sight of this Biblical model. Modern evangelism suffers when our home area is not saturated with the Word. Have you become discouraged in God's service? Galatians 6:9 demands, "Be not weary in well doing, for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not." We must each do our part or the home base will become so depleted that foreign missions will falter. Remember, "the light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home." If foreign missions depended on your faithfulness here at home, how would missions fare?

Website Update

If you have not visited our website (pfamilypr.com) for a while, you will find a few significant changes. We have added 2 pages: Mission Teams and This I Believe. The first is intended to help those who would like to plan trips to PR or to some other location. The second is a personal doctrinal statement. In addition, the Home Page has been completely rewritten. As you look over our site, please feel free to send along your comments via email. Typos, items to add, revisions, general suggestions, etc. are all welcome.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Missions Conferences

So far in October, we have had the privilege of participating in several missions conferences. One was held in north-central PA and the other in south-central PA. The folks in both locations were amazing. Their support of world-wide missions was evident. Our family was able to help with special music, children's church, and the preaching and teaching of the Word. These churches ministered to us in ways they can barely imagine, and we thank God for each one.

Furlough can be an arduous trek across tens of thousands of miles, but stops like these make the journey worthwhile. We have also had some single meetings that have refreshed us as well, but there is just something special about a conference. We will be involved in 3 more missions conferences this Fall and numerous single meetings.

Our goal of full support seems so far away as to be nearly unreachable, but the arm of our God is not shortened, nor is His ear deaf to our call. We are convinced that His provision will come in His time. To add to our note of urgency, our mission board has informed us that we must be at full support before we return to PR.

A motto of sorts that has come to us over the past several years of ministry states the following: "All I can do is all I can do." This is used when a task seems daunting or time too short to accomplish a worthy goal. Furlough is such a task whose time rapidly escapes us. However, by May of 2008, we will have been in nearly 100 churches. Many of these are first time contacts. Only God can cause these meetings to result in support.

In spite of the importance of our support goal, we do not let that interfere with ministry. It has always been our desire to serve the Lord in these contacts and leave the results to Him. We have seen that He honors His Word and that He will pay for everything that He has ordered. With this confidence we go forward with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Bill's Dad on the Mend

On Tuesday, October 9, Bill's dad began to complain of dizziness, excessive sweating, and low energy. We encouraged him to call his doctor who gave him an appointment. At the doctor's office, an EKG showed a slightly irregular rhythm. The doctor sent dad to the hospital, expecting to schedule a stress test for the following morning.

At about 8:00 PM, dad started to experience severe chest pains. After taking 3 nitro pills and some other medications, the symptoms subsided a bit. Early on Wednesday morning the pain continued and was treated with the maximum dose of morphine. These developments canceled the stress test in favor of a catherization. The doctor installed a stint to open one artery which was 60% obstructed. We rejoice that he did not suffer a heart attack nor any damage to the heart.

On Thursday afternoon, dad came home and is resting for a few days before getting back to work. Please, pray for his complete recovery and that he will be able to lighten his work load.