Friday, March 20, 2015

The Heart of the Father is Missions!

I was always intrigued by the stories I heard from missionaries who came to visit our church. I heard stories of how God raised people from the dead, supernatural supply and protection. I was amazed as I heard stories about the power of Jesus Christ to change and transform lives.

My first hands on experience was a short term missions trip to Tijuana, Mexico. My parents sent me to visit an orphanage that missionary Ray Morken has raised up. It was there during that trip that I made a commitment to serve God on the missions field.

The heart of God is to reach the world with the message of the Gospel. John 3:16 has to be what motivates any missionary, to share this message of Gods love to the world. Just yesterday, I shared this simple message with a young man who is struggling with alcohol wanting so desperately to be set free and as I shared this simple brought tears to his eyes as he understood the love of God.

The world needs Jesus! The calls still rings from Isaiah, "who will I send, who will go for me? Psalms 2 says, "ask me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance." People all over the world need the Lord.

It is a fact that not everybody who is born again will not be called to work as a missionary in foreign fields. There is a mission field everywhere we look, in our neighborhood, schools, jobs and communities. Everybody needs to be active in some part of missions, winning souls for Christ.

I have seen since answering the call in the 70"s to "Go",  a decline in interest and support for missionaries in many people and churches. Missionaries need the support of the Body of Christ! It takes money to minister to people. The Gospel is free but someone has to pay the freight! Most missionaries do not have the ability to be on national christian television to share about their ministry or the time to travel and visit congregations to raise funds. The heart of the missionary is to be on the field, working in the harvest field winning souls for Christ.

I learned a long time ago who my source is. I have seen God meet needs in a miraculous way. He has always used though, some person somewhere to send a check or an offering. The way for every need to be met is for people to hear from God and obey His voice.

I want to encourage you to pray and ask God how and who you should support. Therre are many missionaries with valid ministries who are doing a wonderful job. Pray for them and send them an offering from time to time.

Jesus said, "The harvest is ripe and the laborours are few, pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborours into his harvest."

Your for souls,
Patrick