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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

More than peanut butter.....


January has traditionally been a month where we focus on missions and this year has not been an exception.  Our church assembly the last two Sundays has been a blessing to see all 12 of the missionaries our church supports in various parts of the world. 

This past Sunday, the blessing was exceptional as we actually got to meet three such men who work with their respective churches in Brazil.   Each of the three were given a few minutes to talk about their congregations and the points of emphasis in their work, for which we could be praying.

This brought back a few memories of my younger years when an African missionary we chipped in to support would come home and tour the churches giving a slide presentation of events and worship in the foreign country.  As a young observer, I was always amazed at how much could be accomplished by such few workers with limited resources. 

Back to the current report, which was not a pressurized plea for tons of money, the ministers from the three locations in Brazil spoke, not about numbers or statistics or dollars, but about the changes they were witnessing in lives.  Yes, there are plans for continuing God's work in their respective cities, but the part that touched me deeply, were the stories of converted drug addicts and alcoholics, whose lives were changed.  When I use that word "changed"  I really mean there were changes that can be represented only by a 180 degree turn around.  These druggies profess and follow Jesus Christ as the power to bring about radical changes.  The best part of the story came as we were told their conversions led the previous addicts not only into loved members of the body of Christ, but people who were in training to be ministers and other church workers who would be leading communities to Jesus.

One "church" in Brazil has no building in which to meet, and doesn't want one.  Their weekly Sunday morning assembly is in a large park, outdoor church, and aims at ministry to the homeless.  They have a church service and encourage  the homeless to attend and stick around after church for lunch. 

Most of the time when we think of supporting missions, we think we are about to hear a sermon on more and more money.  Financial things come into play in mission work, but when you can catch a story of a life transformed from drug dealer to minister of the gospel, it's worth it. 

I was really taking in the joy with which the reports were given, and wishing I had unlimited funds to really support a work like that.  It was then I realized their message was aimed at people like me who feel like we have met the requirements of reaching out, by putting a jar of peanut butter in the grocery give-away box.  I am happy I can do that, but with just a little more effort toward supporting such ministries, and the dedication to be in prayer for continued success in the work of missionaries, I know we would be amazed at the changes in those people and in us. 

Jesus wanted us to know this was his will when he gave the Great Commission, 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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