Archive for the 'Gospel' Category
Fear Not
Hope for the Refugee Crisis
Mission and Motivation
In the previous post I included the trailer for a film about some of the work being done by FAI Mission. In the following half hour talk, Dalton Thomas gives a brief description of that ministry and the motivation behind it.
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Frontline Ministry
Rarely would the meaning of “frontline ministry” become so literal.
BETTER FRIENDS THAN MOUNTAINS VOL. II
explores the opportunities for a tangible witness of Jesus and the work of FAI Relief before, during, and after the campaign to liberate Mosul from the clutches of ISIS. Follow our team and get a first-hand look at what is means to give an incarnate witness of the Incarnate God amidst bloodthirsty conflict and carnage.
The power vacuum left by ISIS in Iraq and Kurdistan will bring a no less long and arduous road than the one to eradicate them from these territories. We are committed to mourning with these people through their losses, and moving forward with them into their futures.
http://www.faimission.org/watch-better-friends-than-mountains/
Why Must the Laborers Be Few? by Jordan Scott
My family cannot say that we were called by God to the Kurdish people. Four years ago, I didn’t even know who they were. However, my wife and I both bought into Jesus’ name being made famous where it was not. Then, some of my closest Christian friends decided to move to Kurdistan, and their decision that really helped direct my steps. That’s how my wife and two daughters ended up here. No audible voice from God, no highlight on a map, no specific burden for the Kurdish people—just a young, passionate family who loves the Lord and wants others to love Him too.
I recently drove into East Mosul with a team for a food and water distribution. As we were passing out packages of food, we would see families sitting next to the goods while another family member would go find a wheelbarrow to transport it. I see this one kid, about seven years old, sitting next to four cases of water. And a few feet away I see another kid, same age, sitting on the ground with nothing next to him.
If you were on the distribution with us that day, who would you give your water to?
America is sitting next to four centuries of “water”—four hundred years of access to the Gospel. The Kurds aren’t. I’ll let you make the choice.
Read complete article here:
http://www.faimission.org/articles/2017/8/5/why-must-the-laborers-be-few
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I came across the above article at a very opportune time. The fact that it was written only a day or two ago makes it seem even more significant.
Recently many of my posts have been addressing Christian attitudes to Muslims, something that has concerned me since seeing some of the hateful things written about Muslims, even by those considered to Christian teachers. (What kind of Christian witness do those attitudes display?)
After publishing those posts I’ve received some (well-meaning) advice: that I’ve been venturing into risky territory; that ministry to Muslims requires a special calling.
Firstly, I’ve never considered myself to have (or need) a special calling to minister to any particular group of people, Muslim or otherwise, and I’ve never considered myself limited to addressing one particular group above another, (most of what I’ve posted hasn’t been directed at Muslims anyway – but to Christians who’ve taken a very un-Christlike approach to Muslims).
I try to deal with opportunities and confront issues as they arise. I don’t believe I need to wait for a special calling to do so, and I don’t believe that the average Christian needs any special calling to permit them to act on whatever opportunities they find right in front of them.
Too many of us can be like the servant who chose to bury the money (“talent”) he was given by his Master, too afraid of doing the wrong thing and losing it, to put it to use and potentially make a profit for his Master.
Matt 25:14-30
We wait around for that assumed special, individual calling and in doing so miss the general universal calling of all believers. We rationalise our avoidance of certain possible actions with the excuse: “it’s not my calling”.
I know I wasted most of my Christian life avoiding so many opportunities that will never open up again. I look back and see so many possibilities that I didn’t act on – not because I wasn’t “called” to take them, but because they may have been inconvenient or caused discomfort: basically through fear of losing something I didn’t really want to give up.
I replied to that well-meaning advice I mentioned earlier by referring to the book of Acts and some of the experiences of Paul. Those experiences are also cited in the above article.
If the Lord doesn’t want you to go, He’ll stop you the way He stopped Paul in Asia.
(Acts 16:6-7 )
Am I denying that there ARE some special callings for particular people?
No – it’s clear that Paul was called to be the apostle to the gentiles, and God appoints some people to particular roles and tasks within His church and in the world; but we should not allow that fact to hold us back from general obedience to what he has commissioned His followers to do, when the need is clear and while we have the opportunity to do it. And if we are faithful doing that, we’ll find more opportunities opening up.
Joel Richardson interview
I’ve watched a few of Joel Richardson’s own videos and have found he shares some interesting ideas and insights.
Here is an interview with him, in which he gives his testimony, including details of his ministry to Muslims, information about the nature of Islam, and addresses the following:
What should be the Christians’ response to Islam and Muslims?
What is the primary mandate to believers when it comes to Muslims?
The consequences of waging war in Muslim nations and possible Christian alternatives.
The latter half addresses differing ideas about the “Rapture” and how our personal view of the rapture should and should not affect our behaviour as believers.
Joel Richardson’s website:
https://joelstrumpet.com/
