Dear Friends:
Our monthly trip to Palomas is Feb. 9-10. If you would like to come, please contact Emiliano or me and we can explain details about the van going down and returning from The Light.
Last week, Pat and I attended a powerful Missions conference, called World Mandate. I would guess there were about 2,000 people in attendance, and most of them were, or had been, involved in missions during their lives. We were blown away to hear the stories about how powerfully God is moving in the gifts of the Spirit among missionaries in third-world countries. It is all very exciting as we get closer and closer to the time when the gospel is preached to all the world! Jesus said, in Matt. 24:14, And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. NKJV. In this time of electronic communication, missionaries are closing in on preaching the gospel to all nations. We love seeing how the witness is going out! We were also pleased to hear that one of the fastest growing areas of people accepting Christ right now is in Iran! Imagine! What might that mean for the world?
I was thinking about what Paul reminds us in Romans 10:13-15
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" NIV
There is an important progression here:
1. People all over the world need to hear the Good News that the Messiah Jesus has come to save them, set them free from bondage, and place them in a position of relationship with God that leads to eternal life. What could be better news than that?
2. God calls people to spread this Good News! In Matt 28:18-20, we are told: Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Jesus did not say this was optional. He calls all of us to go and make disciples of all nations, from our own USA to the darkest areas of the world.
3. People generally are not able to go unless they are sent. Sending someone requires prayer covering and providing resources so that the mission can be fulfilled.
In Palomas, there would be no mission if we did not have people participating in all 3 of these areas! By encouraging Pastors and congregations and kids and their parents in Palomas, people are being discipled and making and strengthening their commitments to Jesus! By going, our volunteers and obedient to the call God has placed on them to go. And by supporting this ministry through prayer and finances, you who send are also involved in the blessing of helping to bring the Kingdom into the lives of others!
What a great blessing it is as we all partner together to bring the Good News! And by these efforts, we are helping to fulfill what Jesus taught us to pray: “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt 6:10
We had a great time teaching the kids and their parents about how to discover their purpose in life this last month, and then we went to the Pink Store and celebrated the birthdays of 2 of our volunteers and also the birthday of the son of one of our former Casa girls.
The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.
Jim and Pat