We're Back!

We're back from our hiatus! Sorry for the pause, we took some time to commission new material. We're raring to go with a feature by one of our own LWM missionaries, Bettie Colson in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala! Bettie wrote this article for her blog and we seized it as valuable missions advice to share with you. We have seen many a missionary falter and fail due to lack of understanding the very principle Bettie aptly describes here. 

God Does Not Want To Use Us!

by Bettie Colson

Living Word Missions

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala 

God does not want to use us.

That sounds pretty strange when we are so accustomed to thinking that way, even praying that way. “God, use me…” Sounds pretty spiritual! And our intentions are right – we want to be pleasing to Him, to be pure and holy, and we want His Kingdom to be established on Earth by means of our lives and service.  But I just did a search in the Bible for the words use, used, useful in English and Spanish (thanks to technology!), and surprisingly didn’t find anywhere that God wants to use us.

We are to pattern our lives after Him; we are to love as He loves. We love because He first loved us. God is love! Jesus is our example of God’s love. We are to walk in the very same principles that He showed us. Did Jesus use his disciples, or serve them? He even went so far as to wash their feet! He showed us by word and example that the greatest among us is the one who serves.

Should we use people? We know that this is wrong. Anyone who says, “I feel used,” is not expressing a positive experience. I like the phrase, “Use things, love people. Not the other way around.” So then, how would it be that God could give us an example of using people, but forbid us to follow that example? Let’s step out of our religious thinking for a minute! “Oh, but He’s God, He can do what He wants.” Yes, He is God, but He has limited Himself in order to be a loving Father to us, and an example that we can follow, in attitude, word, deed, and character. I did not find anywhere in His Word an example of Him using people!

I know what some may be thinking right now, “So what does God want to do with us, then?” Rather than “using” us, He wants to live through us. He wants to pour out His life and love to the world through us. For Him, we are not just tools to be used as a means to an end. We are that “end”; He created us to be the objects or the recipients of His love. 

God has repeatedly used the comparison of Him being our Father to the way that we relate to our own children. Would it be right for us to “use” our children for our own purposes? (Although many people do just that!) But we do pour our life and love into our children expecting that our influence on them will in turn have an influence on others. In that sense, we love the world through them, and our lives live on through them even after we are gone. It is the same with the influence that we have with those that we lead. It has been said that leadership is influence, but “leaders” who use their followers have their own selfish gain in mind, and not the benefit to their followers.  Leaders who pour themselves into their followers will see the multiplication of their influence.

It may seem like a slight difference, but for me this has been a paradigm shift that has helped me to see my relationship with God more clearly. It also leads me to believe that the former mindset could be a major cause for “burnout” in Christian service.  Yes, we are to serve God untiringly! That is the example that He has given us in Jesus! But we are like the hose that gets wet as the water travels through it. As the Bible says in Proverbs 11:25, “He who waters will himself be watered.” As God’s life and love passes through us to others, we gain strength. This mentality also helps us to discern God’s voice as He speaks to our spirit.  We can recognize His will and purpose as He first works in us, and then through us. 

Today, let’s ask the question, “God, today – how do You want to love the world through me?”

I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God, the One loving me and giving Himself over on my behalf.  (Galatians 2:20 LITV)

And all things are from God, the One having reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and having given to us the ministry of reconciliation, as, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not charging their deviations to them, and having put the Word of reconciliation in us. (2 Corinthians 5:19-20 LITV)

This Month: A One-Two-Knockout!

This month's feature is a double-header written by two guest authors on a common theme: Children & Youth Missions. When two of our requests to potential authors came back with articles on the same theme, it was clearly the Holy Spirit! Especially since one of those articles comes from beloved LWM missionary duo, Jean-Claude and Sundie Noah. The Lord led the Noahs in transitioning to the U.S. last month in preparation for their next ministry assignment. Dynamic youth ministry is the legacy they leave behind in Cameroon and the hallmark of their ministry going into the future. We are endlessly thankful to the Noahs for 14 years sowed into the youth of Cameroon! Enjoy this awesome one-two-knockout on the growing global movement to reach earth's children and youth!

1) Children Breaking Resistant People Groups!

by Private Contributor
Nairobi, Kenya
What does children’s ministry have to do with penetrating resistant people groups with the Gospel?

I was recently attending a saturation church planting training in Africa. During a break one of the parishioners told me a story of a young man that was severely beaten after coming to Christ in a very resistant area. Every time we encounter something like this as a result of our spreading the Gospel, we are challenged to the core of our Faith. The immediate question that tries to invade our mind is: should we have put this child at physical risk by bringing him or her to a saving knowledge of Jesus? Of course this dear soul is more precious than anything in this life, but was there a better way?

While you’re still debating with yourself over the previous sentence, let me tell you about a phenomena happening among an organization I work closely with. As we have launched hundreds of children’s Bible clubs in very resistant areas, there have been extremely few and comparatively minor repercussions as children are born again. What we have seen as the clubs have matured is the transformation of adults in great numbers. This turns the standard missions paradigm on its head.

What’s causing this seeming reversal of attitude among resistant people groups? In short: the children’s Bible club has become a valid part of the community. This doesn’t happen overnight but it doesn’t take decades either. After several months of parents seeing the positive change in their own children, resistant attitudes toward Christianity melt away (or better, the parents become followers of Jesus.) The club becomes an integrated part of the community, not some outside threat.

Here’s how it works: a children’s Bible club is launched in a resistant area with lessons that are first based on Old Testament stories. Once it is sensed that the community is accepting the club as part of village life, New Testament concepts are added little by little. Stories of who Jesus is and why God sent him are integrated until the children can come to a point of accepting Jesus into their hearts as Savior. By this time, the families with children in the club are experiencing positive transformation. In one of our targeted villages, the children of the village Imam pestered their father to attend the Bible club until he relented on one condition - that he could listen to what was being taught. The result: the Imam found Jesus as Savior too and became a spiritual leader in the community for Jesus!

Intrigued? Treat yourself to this short video:

2) The Power of a Youth Movement!

by Jean-Claude & Sundie Noah
Living Word Missions Missionaries
Detroit, Michigan

In 1992, I (Jean-Claude Noah) gave my life to the Lord. That same year, there were three young people who had in their hearts a desire to pray to God. They were not born again and did not understand what was happening to them; they just knew that they needed to pray. They gathered together every Saturday to pray and after three months, forty young people had joined the group (myself included). There wasn't a leader and so every week, someone different was designated to share the little knowledge they had about God or the Bible. It was the supreme work of the Holy Spirit.

We were so passionate for God, that people started asking us what was going on. The Spirit of God started manifesting in our midst and young people were baptized with spiritual gifts. The gift of prophesy flowed. We evangelized by singing praises to God and by praying. Parents began to open their doors for us to meet in their homes and they were touched by God.

One day, in 1993, a man of God visited our group. No one had ever seen him before. He introduced himself as Bro. Hal Rahman. We asked him to come back and teach us as we were all very ignorant of spiritual things. He came back the following week. He asked us a question during his teaching that touched me deeply:  "Who is Jesus for you?" Over several weeks, Rev. Rahman continued to minister to us. We began to see a bigger picture and a vision was born.

We organized a youth festival and asked Rev. Rahman to preach. His message was on sanctification, something we knew nothing about. That night, 300 youth gave their hearts to Jesus.

In 1994, we held another youth festival with the theme, Youth Aflame! During one of the meetings, we were worshipping, singing the words, "Holy Father, we wait on You for fire!" The fire of God filled the hall. Youth were baptized in the Holy Spirit, consecrating their lives to Jesus, repenting of sin, falling under the power of God. We went out on the street to evangelize the next day and almost 400 youth came to the Lord.

It was out of that youth festival that the ministry, Youth Aflame, was created. We worked under the leadership of Rev. Rahman. Between the end of 1994 to 1996, we had gone and evangelized every school in the city of Douala (business capital of Cameroon). We encouraged youth to create music and drama groups to evangelize in their schools.

100 youth groups/clubs were created form 1995 to 1996 and we were winning 1,000 to 1,500 youth to Christ per week. Churches were launched, missionaries were sent. We have been able to pioneer in the area of youth ministry in Cameroon. We were among the first to use the style of Christian rap music to minister to youth; for the first time, a Christian youth group was allowed to march in the annual youth parade; God opened a door for a 180 Youth Center to preach the gospel and disciple thousands of youth.

Many of the original youth from that prayer group are now full time missionaries, senior pastors or Christian business people. They were on fire for God and were able to influence a nation for His glory.

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment!

by Reverend Bert Farias
Director of Holy Fire Ministries
Windham, NH

Recently, on the way to a meeting, a pastor friend of mine blurted out, "give negativity no breath," and out of my spirit I responded with, "and give positivity no rest." As the meeting started, I prayed and thanked the Lord that what the devil meant for evil and destruction in Haiti, He would turn it around for good. People immediately began to rejoice and praise the Lord. I'm sure there were many others praying also, and even though this earthquake was a great tragedy, we cannot do anything about what has already happened. Too many people are dwelling on the negativity having to do with this whole thing.

A couple of days later the following turn of events occurred. A CNN correspondent reported that when the 5.9 aftershock hit on Wednesday morning, all the people in a hospital raised their hands and..."they asked JESUS to forgive them and they asked JESUS to save them; and then it (the aftershock) stopped."

This was on CNN, seen around the world! That was a real miracle! The name of JESUS proclaimed on CNN worldwide. "His mercy endures forever."

We are living in the day where, if the people of God will pray, there will not only be a sudden turn-around in situations, but there will even be an unseating of evil power and the destinies of nations will be changed.

Photo credit CNN.com

Referenced CNN Article:
"8 Days After Haiti Quake: More Survivors, 5.9 Aftershock." CNN.com January 20 2010.
Related CNN article:
"Many Haitians Religious Faith Unshaken by Earthquake." CNN.com January 18 2010.

The 7 Mountains of Culture: What It Means to “Close” this Great Commission!

by Reverend David E. Henry

Tulsa, OK

Among Christians who take Jesus’ words very seriously, it is common to hear the phrase, "closure of the Great Commission".  Any time an important issue is discussed, it is very helpful to define ones terms.  So, what do we mean when we say “closure of the Great Commission?”  How do we measure progress toward this goal?

        
I have given these questions a lot of thought.  I have read numerous books written by friends and acquaintances who are similarly probing the meaning of this concept.  There are two passages in the New Testament that are ground zero.

    
Mark 16:15, “And he said, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”

    
And we find a much fuller expression in Matthew 28: 19-20, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”

For a long time, most of my life, I’ve considered that Jesus’ words here mean that we should at least get our foot in the door, so to speak, in each nation.  I thought that we should preach the gospel, get people saved and healed and plant some churches in every ethnic/linguistic group in the world.  That alone is a staggering task.  But is that what Jesus meant?  Let’s take a closer look.  The central phrase in Jesus’ words is, “make disciples of all nations.”  In my former way of thinking, I believed that it would be sufficient for us to have at least made some disciples in each of the 16,000 or so ethnic groups that make up this planet.  You know, ‘Make a few disciples at least out of all nations and many more if possible.’

After much serious consideration and meditation on the Scriptures I now believe that my former model of Great Commission closure is much too modest and small.  We are commanded to make disciples of entire nations.  How many?  All nations.  In case you’re tempted to think I’ve been drinking something strange or smoking dope and got my mind all messed up let me share with you some mind snapping Scriptures:

Revelation 21:23-26, “And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.  The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.  In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;  and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it;” NASV

I had never seen this before.  Entire nations would walk in the light of the Lamb of God, Jesus.  I think we need to raise our sights higher and aim for what the Lord is aiming at.  Entire nations.

Revelation 15:11, “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.’” KJV.  These nations are destined to become nations that belong to Jesus.

      

Outside Jesus’ kingdom there will still be the lost, the liars, the fornicators, those who prefer darkness to light, those referred to as the “dogs” in the book of Revelation.  An Argentine evangelist friend of mine, Ed Silvoso, has stated, “We should make it very difficult for people to go to hell from our city.”  Or from our region or nation.  It appears to me that the Spirit of God is speaking something new to the church; it is something old, but it is also something we haven’t heard very well or clearly, so it seems new.

      

A couple years before Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, died, he was to meet with Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), arguably two of the largest evangelistic ministries on earth.  Both of them felt independently led of God to write down a list of strategy changes that needed to be made before we would ever see nations transformed from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of God. When Dr. Bright showed Loren Cunningham his list, he said the Lord had shown him that there are seven mountains of culture. Christians must go in and take the reins of leadership if we are to see long-lasting changes in each nation. His list included seven categories: religion, family, media, entertainment, education, government, and business. Loren Cunningham was astounded. He then proceeded to take a list out of his pocket and show it to Dr. Bright. His list contained the same seven categories. God showed them both the same thing at the same time for the same purpose. He, in essence, told them, "I want nations."

Now, if they were the only two, I would be impressed to think seriously about a ‘sea change’ in the way we approach missions and ministry.  But they are not the only two.  Last April, in Austin, Texas, I met a man I would have to call an apostle, named Johnny Enlow.  He has written a book called, The Seven Mountain Prophecy, in which he documents how God spoke to him about the seven mountains of culture that control the corporate mind of a nation.  The list God pointed out to him was precisely the same as that shown to Dr. Bright and Loren Cunningham.  I was so impressed with Johnny Enlow and his book, I read it four times through, cover to cover.  God is up to something.

Here is a question for you to bring this a bit more into focus.  Today is January 19, 2010.  So far this year, this baby beginning of the year, what person has most powerfully preached the gospel of Jesus Christ?  I submit for your consideration a Fox Television news journalist named Britt Hume.  I estimate that several tens of millions of people have heard him comment about Tiger Woods, that he should seek the forgiveness and restoration that is available only in Christianity; it is the only way to put the pieces of his life back together.  It has caused a furor in the media world.  He has subsequently been interviewed on national TV to explain what he meant and he did a very commendable job of graciously advocating even more clearly his faith in Jesus Christ.  He has been lambasted for his audacity.  Other journalists have bitterly attacked him, but he has kept both his job and his cool.  He is very near the top of the media mountain.  He has credibility built up over twenty years in the limelight.

When he gently says that a world class sports star with a shattered life needs Jesus, it carries an authenticity that few if any evangelists or pastors could equal. 

As a result of hearing Britt’s testimony of finding peace and wholeness in Jesus after the suicide of his 28 year old son a few years ago, millions of people are now considering what that might mean for their own broken lives.

This is just a blog and not a book, so I’ll stop here for now.  I would be interested to hear what I have written may mean to you.  I have much more that God has been speaking to me along this line of thinking.

Dave Henry

P.S.  I highly recommend Ed Silvoso’s book, Transformation.