Pass It On!

“From one man he created all nations…His purpose in all of this was that the nations should seek after God and perhaps feel their way towards him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.” Acts 17:26-27.

God shaped my colleague Harold to teach others to be faithful in sharing the Good News.

"In 1982 my wife and I said good-bye to comfortable teaching and nursing careers in Ontario to return to Africa. Over the next 12 years we were privileged to teach in two seminaries and mentor young men and women in mission – especially reaching out to Muslims.

Recently a friend phoned from Oklahoma; “I just returned from Africa where I spoke in a missionary conference to over 80 national workers. Their goal is to plant a church in every Muslim town and village in the north of the nation. One evangelist came up to me and asked, “Do you know any Canadian missionaries? A missionary from Canada taught me in seminary about how to engage Muslims with the love of Jesus. He even took us to Muslim villages on weekends to practice what we learned in class. I am putting into practice what he taught me and Muslims are coming to Christ!” “What is that missionary’s name?” I enquired. “Harold…”

I relate this story to emphasize the importance of passing the baton through training others. We can be used by God to launch whole Christ-ward movements, if we are faithful and are willing to release control to His Spirit, allowing the Word to come alive.

Today we continue to facilitate Disciple Making Movements training conferences across Canada as well as leading “Sharing Your Faith With Muslims” seminars in churches and small group settings. What we learned and put into practice in Africa many years ago, we are applying here in Canada. God has brought the nations to us!

Some Principles of Baton-Passing:

1. Disciple believers to grow in love and obedience to the commands of Christ.

2. Teach believers to not only witness as a lifestyle, but to speak boldly.

3. Be an Example – Be a practitioner yourself!

4. Trust the Holy Spirit to be the teacher as the Scriptures are opened to seekers after Truth.

On one of our journeys with students into a Muslim stronghold, we stopped by the kraal of the paramount chief of the area to ask for permission to show the Jesus film in the town market. When we arrived, we were informed that Chief Kalunda was too ill to meet us. I asked if we could pray for her. She agreed and two of my students and myself were ushered in to see her. We called on the Father to heal her in the name of Jesus.

On the return journey the next day, as we neared the kraal, I noticed a woman standing along the dusty road, waving us down. It was Chief Kalunda. She had been watching for us to let us know that Isa had healed her. She said, “From the moment you prayed, my body began to receive strength.” That was the beginning of a great move of God among these Muslim people that continues to this day. He is still in the saving business."

Yes, Lord Jesus, we rejoice that you are drawing men and women to become true seekers after God. Amen.

Wanted: Missions Coach

"...I urge you...to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit..." Paul in Romans 15:30&31a.

Before starting our blogs, my wife and I discovered that many Christians on their own have started to reach out to Muslims in their neighborhoods, schools, or at work. This is truly amazing! There are mechanisms in place to encourage workers on assignment with a Mission agency and are financially supported by their church. But who will be a 'missions coach' to 'lay-Christians' with vision of reaching Muslims 'at home'? This will take a paradigm shift.

So where do these volunteers do their work/ministry. They may be volunteers at a university or a college ESL setting--like a conversation group. It's often a spin-off from work. Although I'm a supported missionary I've volunteered for many years at places where I've aided newcomers in conversation skills, filling out paperwork, homework or writing a resume. Some visionary young Christian moms are pro-active in relating to transplanted women. It works best if the 'lay Christian' offers to visit in the newcomer's home first. They are honored by this gesture and often say "this is just like back home".

All of this goes largely unnoticed in churches since missionaries are adopted only when there is money involved. Most churches have a 'missions committee' that coaches supported workers--mostly ministering overseas. But I haven't seen any church that has a 'go-to' person to cheer on 'lay-Christians' reaching out evangelistically.

What type of coach/encourager do these workers need? Someone to share with about their vision or activities of reaching out. Most of this is a hidden ministry. Ideally such a coach encourages these 'lay ministers' to share highlights and needs. With permission they can be shared with others in a church.   

We recently transitioned off of receiving a regular salary and started living off of pensions and investments. Our agency has a category for us--we are now 'associate missionaries'. The expectations are less but we still have some of the benefits of being connected to our group.

Many churches and agencies have been slow to respond to the missionfield at our doorstep. But we've found an effective solution--the development of a prayer network. Most of our prayer partners have tracked with us for many years. They are a treasure! Key to a dynamic network is to provide regular information for pray-ers to take to the Lord. Although a story of someone moving toward Jesus or following him is a tremendous encouragement to them, most of our prayer partners are thrilled that God is at work, however that looks. 

Where does one start with such a network? Often the people closest to us. Ministering in the West, we feel comfortable using email for updates. It is wise to refer to a person with an initial only and use photos sparingly--always with permission to show to 'our friends'. You may want to start with a bi-weekly update if you are meeting someone or involved in a program regularly.

Dear Lord, Thank-you for faithful Pastors who also coach parishioners and cheer them on in outreach. Please raise up prayer partners for those who find themselves alone or unsupported in their ministries. Amen.

Jesus the Messiah

"This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah...Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born..." Matthew 1:1, 18.

"In the Bible, prophecy is very important. In fact, more than one-third contains prophecies, making it the most unique book. We read much prophecy in the writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekial, Daniel, Zechariah, and in the book of Revelation. There are prophecies about different empires and kings, such as Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, Assyria, Babel, and Persia. One prophecy names Cyrus, the Persian ruler, 200 years before his coming to power. Other prophecies are about Greece and its divided kingdom, the Romans, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the captivity and return of God's people." The Unique Christ, Nizar Shaheen.

I just finished a 2 lesson series for an adult Sunday School class on Prophecy. I printed this 'scroll' of over 300 Messianic prophecies (click) starting with Genesis 3:15 with their fulfillments!! One thing was clear to Jews, the Messiah was coming. There was a period of over 400 years between the Old and New Testament when there was no new public message from God. But God started speaking when  the Astronomers arrived from the Middle East. They had been tracking this star for a few years and followed it all the way to Jerusalem and talked about a king being born. King Herold caught off guard asked the scholars about the birth of a king. This led the Astronomers right to Jesus the Messiah in Bethlehem. God made sure that the details of the prophecy made 700 years before the birth of Jesus were exactly fulfilled. A virgin would give birth to the Messiah in Bethlehem. Huge miracles.

The Messiah - Christians don't make a big deal of his name. Some are familiar with The Messiah production with the Hallelujah chorus imbedded. Most forget that Jesus Christ(in the Greek) means Jesus the Messiah --the anointed one.

Muslims mostly gloss it over. Sura 4:171 mentions that "Jesus was the 'Word of God, the Messiah, and has the Holy Spirit." Although the Qur'an refers to only one Messiah eleven times, some Muslims reject the uniqueness that this title implies by stating that there are many who are called Messiah in the Old Testament.

Nizar Shaheen points out that this genealogy(Matthew 1:1ff) written to a Jewish audience in mind, makes sure that this is the very one--the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament. And what a testimony it is that 61 of these 300+ prophecies were fulfilled during the first advent of our Lord and another 31 during Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Isn't that amazing--92 of these prophecies were fulfilled to the detail. Our God is amazing.

It spurs us on to continue sharing the message of the Messiah. From this vantage we are assured that:

• God keeps his promises
• He is sovereign
• He has a divine and specific plan
• The central theme of the Messiah coming is to reveal his plan of Salvation
• Proof of the deity of Christ
• The fulfillment of the prophecies draws people to the truth--so important in sharing the Good News with our Muslim friends

Dear Jesus, we pray that you would continue to draw Muslims to yourself--your whole message revealed in the Old and New Testament. Prepare us for your second Advent to take all believers to heaven. Amen.