From The Pastor's Heart - January 11, 2009
Dear Church Family and Friends,
Tuesday Lomax and Linda Skinner will be returning for their 7th term as Baptist Mid-Missions missionaries to Germany. They began their journey as missionaries in 1974 and have been faithfully serving since that time. It has been our privilege as to serve as their home church and sending church since 1979. This is a responsibility that we do not take lightly as their church family. These are a few of our responsibilities as their sending church:
The sending church sends its own. — Acts 13:1-3 tells us that the church at Antioch released Barnabas and Saul, two of its key leaders, to be missionaries. Any church that wants to advance the kingdom of God on earth surely wants its own people to be a part of that process. It should be our desire to continually see members of our congregation called, commissioned and sent to the mission fields of the world.
A sending church significantly supports its missionaries, financially and materially. — Scripture indicates that Paul and Barnabas depended on the local church to anticipate and meet their material and financial needs, even though they could be self-supporting missionaries. Perhaps the church at Philippi provides a good example, as Paul thanked them in Phil. 4:16-18: " For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God."
The sending church diligently, passionately prays for its missionaries. — The church at Antioch was a church committed to prayer (Acts 13:2-3). Prayer is the lifeline for any missionary. The sending church is committed to more than "bless the Joneses" prayers. It aggressively seeks to stay aware of the details of its missionaries' service. It realizes that the missionary is engaged in spiritual warfare and prays accordingly. The sending church is alert to current events and news around the world and prays when it sees political, religious, and cultural events that affect its missionaries.
The sending church takes the responsibility of nurturing its missionaries. — The sending church seeks to nurture its missionaries when they are on the field or at home on furlough. The sending church provides a spiritual, emotional, and material lifeline to its missionaries overseas, and joyously welcomes them back home, intent on refreshing them, meeting their needs, and learning from them.
A sending church does not see missions as just another responsibility of the church, but as a great privilege and opportunity. Its missionaries are not burdens or obligations. There is much more exchanged than financial support and prayer letters, because the church sees its missionary as a living extension of itself.
Tonight we will be taking time during the Evening Worship Service for Lomax and Linda to share how we can best pray for them as they return to Germany and we will be having a special time for prayer. Be sure to be part of this special service!
A Great Beginning…
The first Sunday of 2009 was a great day here at Union Grove. We had a good attendance in both Morning Worship Services, during our Bible Fellowship Hour, and the Sunday Evening Services. I love every service, but Sunday nights are a blessing because it is the only service during the week when the entire church family has the opportunity to meet together during one service. This past Sunday night our sanctuary was filled and the presence of the Lord was so evident. Never underestimate how much your faithfulness is a blessing to me and how much it is appreciated. If you do not normally attend the Sunday evening service I want to challenge you to plan to join us tonight. I believe it could be one of the best hours of your week!
You are loved,
Pastor Ken
Tuesday Lomax and Linda Skinner will be returning for their 7th term as Baptist Mid-Missions missionaries to Germany. They began their journey as missionaries in 1974 and have been faithfully serving since that time. It has been our privilege as to serve as their home church and sending church since 1979. This is a responsibility that we do not take lightly as their church family. These are a few of our responsibilities as their sending church:
The sending church sends its own. — Acts 13:1-3 tells us that the church at Antioch released Barnabas and Saul, two of its key leaders, to be missionaries. Any church that wants to advance the kingdom of God on earth surely wants its own people to be a part of that process. It should be our desire to continually see members of our congregation called, commissioned and sent to the mission fields of the world.
A sending church significantly supports its missionaries, financially and materially. — Scripture indicates that Paul and Barnabas depended on the local church to anticipate and meet their material and financial needs, even though they could be self-supporting missionaries. Perhaps the church at Philippi provides a good example, as Paul thanked them in Phil. 4:16-18: " For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God."
The sending church diligently, passionately prays for its missionaries. — The church at Antioch was a church committed to prayer (Acts 13:2-3). Prayer is the lifeline for any missionary. The sending church is committed to more than "bless the Joneses" prayers. It aggressively seeks to stay aware of the details of its missionaries' service. It realizes that the missionary is engaged in spiritual warfare and prays accordingly. The sending church is alert to current events and news around the world and prays when it sees political, religious, and cultural events that affect its missionaries.
The sending church takes the responsibility of nurturing its missionaries. — The sending church seeks to nurture its missionaries when they are on the field or at home on furlough. The sending church provides a spiritual, emotional, and material lifeline to its missionaries overseas, and joyously welcomes them back home, intent on refreshing them, meeting their needs, and learning from them.
A sending church does not see missions as just another responsibility of the church, but as a great privilege and opportunity. Its missionaries are not burdens or obligations. There is much more exchanged than financial support and prayer letters, because the church sees its missionary as a living extension of itself.
Tonight we will be taking time during the Evening Worship Service for Lomax and Linda to share how we can best pray for them as they return to Germany and we will be having a special time for prayer. Be sure to be part of this special service!
A Great Beginning…
The first Sunday of 2009 was a great day here at Union Grove. We had a good attendance in both Morning Worship Services, during our Bible Fellowship Hour, and the Sunday Evening Services. I love every service, but Sunday nights are a blessing because it is the only service during the week when the entire church family has the opportunity to meet together during one service. This past Sunday night our sanctuary was filled and the presence of the Lord was so evident. Never underestimate how much your faithfulness is a blessing to me and how much it is appreciated. If you do not normally attend the Sunday evening service I want to challenge you to plan to join us tonight. I believe it could be one of the best hours of your week!
You are loved,
Pastor Ken
Comments
Could you do a post on cardboard testimonies? I wasn't in the service where you first spoke about this, but I've heard you mention it several times lately.
Then Kim mentioned that exact phrase on her blog.
I would love to know more about this!