“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” Romans 10:13-15
"It breaks my heart that God-called people want to go — and millions need to hear the Gospel message from them — yet we don't have the funds to send them," Rankin said in a statement. "I pray this situation will convict our hearts and challenge His people to do whatever it takes to get the Gospel to the whole world."
This statement from Dr. Jerry Rankin, President of the IMB, came in response to fact that reduced giving during the current economic downturn has forced the International Mission Board trustees to reduce the number of new appointments to its career, apprentice and associate programs. New appointments will continue on a more selective basis, involving the most strategic assignments.
So there a people called of God and ready to go, but there are no funds to send them. Some of these people are from our community, maybe our chruch.
Southeastern Seminary’s Dr. Nathan Finn, wrote the following on his blog concerning this situation:
“….instead of being negative, why don’t we do something about this? What if every one of us provoked by the economic effects on missionaries did just something greater than complain? What if each leader pushed for “not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice” for the nations? What if every pastor in the SBC took a special offering for missions? What if Jerry Rankin stood up at the SBC and report that we in fact in ONE SUNDAY made up the shortfall? Outsiders might think of us less as people bent on fussing and more about the gospel. People in our churches might begin to believe we are serious about fishing for men rather than arguing over how we divide up the bait.”
AMEN, Dr. Finn! Are we serious about fishing even when conditions are not the best? Could it be that in the providence of God He has brought us to this time of recession for the His glory? I think so. This is His pattern throughout scripture.
“God does his great advancing work again and again when it looks least possible for us. He promises the heir when Abraham and Sarah are too old to have children. He splits the Red Sea when Israel is hopelessly trapped by Pharaoh’s army. He gives manna when there is no food in the wilderness. He stops the Jordan River when it’s time to take the land. When a city stands in the way, he makes the walls fall down. When the Midianites were as many as the sand of the sea, God whittled Gideon’s army down to 300 so God would get the glory for the victory. When Goliath defies the armies of the Lord, God sends a boy with a sling and five stones .When the Son of God is to come into the world, God calls a virgin to conceive.” And when the mighty devil himself is to be defeated, a Lamb goes to the slaughter. God intends to advance his saving mission in the world—the spread of the gospel and the growth of his church—precisely at a time when human resources are least able to support it. This is how He guards His glory. (John Piper, What Is the Recession For?)
Our church’s leaders believe God is leading us to respond to this critical situation. You will be hearing more about Summer International Missions Offering in the next few weeks. We will receive this offering on Sunday, July 12. Please join us in praying for this and the other mission’s opportunities that face us this summer.
"It breaks my heart that God-called people want to go — and millions need to hear the Gospel message from them — yet we don't have the funds to send them," Rankin said in a statement. "I pray this situation will convict our hearts and challenge His people to do whatever it takes to get the Gospel to the whole world."
This statement from Dr. Jerry Rankin, President of the IMB, came in response to fact that reduced giving during the current economic downturn has forced the International Mission Board trustees to reduce the number of new appointments to its career, apprentice and associate programs. New appointments will continue on a more selective basis, involving the most strategic assignments.
So there a people called of God and ready to go, but there are no funds to send them. Some of these people are from our community, maybe our chruch.
Southeastern Seminary’s Dr. Nathan Finn, wrote the following on his blog concerning this situation:
“….instead of being negative, why don’t we do something about this? What if every one of us provoked by the economic effects on missionaries did just something greater than complain? What if each leader pushed for “not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice” for the nations? What if every pastor in the SBC took a special offering for missions? What if Jerry Rankin stood up at the SBC and report that we in fact in ONE SUNDAY made up the shortfall? Outsiders might think of us less as people bent on fussing and more about the gospel. People in our churches might begin to believe we are serious about fishing for men rather than arguing over how we divide up the bait.”
AMEN, Dr. Finn! Are we serious about fishing even when conditions are not the best? Could it be that in the providence of God He has brought us to this time of recession for the His glory? I think so. This is His pattern throughout scripture.
“God does his great advancing work again and again when it looks least possible for us. He promises the heir when Abraham and Sarah are too old to have children. He splits the Red Sea when Israel is hopelessly trapped by Pharaoh’s army. He gives manna when there is no food in the wilderness. He stops the Jordan River when it’s time to take the land. When a city stands in the way, he makes the walls fall down. When the Midianites were as many as the sand of the sea, God whittled Gideon’s army down to 300 so God would get the glory for the victory. When Goliath defies the armies of the Lord, God sends a boy with a sling and five stones .When the Son of God is to come into the world, God calls a virgin to conceive.” And when the mighty devil himself is to be defeated, a Lamb goes to the slaughter. God intends to advance his saving mission in the world—the spread of the gospel and the growth of his church—precisely at a time when human resources are least able to support it. This is how He guards His glory. (John Piper, What Is the Recession For?)
Our church’s leaders believe God is leading us to respond to this critical situation. You will be hearing more about Summer International Missions Offering in the next few weeks. We will receive this offering on Sunday, July 12. Please join us in praying for this and the other mission’s opportunities that face us this summer.
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