How do you know you’re called to missions?

It’s almost a sacred ritual—the process by which someone came to understand that the Lord was calling them to the mission field. It usually involves being humbled by the Lord, growing in an affection for him and his glory, and feeling broken over the reality of people made in the image of God, dying in their sin without news of the gospel. As a result, it’s an intimate and deeply personal process.

Because it is personal, we are often quick to think it should be private. Who has the right to say you shouldn’t do what God has called you to? It can turn into a Ring you caress on your own, but hate to let anyone else examine.

What starts as a tender and precious experience of God’s graciousness in growing you turns into a bludgeon you can use in order to guard yourself from anyone telling you ‘no’ or ‘not yet’.

The danger with this approach is that while you may find yourself well-protected from ungodly discouragement from fellow Christians, you will also find yourself walled off from the godly wisdom of fellow Christians. Moving overseas, moving into places with little to no access to the gospel, these are decisions with tremendous costs. They shouldn’t be made lightly. And any Christian who cuts himself off from the input of mature believers who know him well is a Christian listening closely to Lady Folly.

Self-Affirmation is Insufficient
Add together the challenges of ministry, the challenges of cross-cultural ministry, and the fact that we are not all-wise, and we should quickly recognize the value and importance of the discerning counsel of fellow Christians.

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By a divinely orchestrated “accident,” I found myself at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham this past Sunday morning.

At the beginning of the service, I was delighted to witness our new 36-year-old IMB president baptize his son Caleb. When Platt came to Brook Hills 8 years ago, it was just David and Heather. Now there are six Platts, two of whom were adopted – including Caleb, from Kazakstan. The emotional baptism was followed by David Platt’s last sermon as pastor of the church. The mutual affection between pastor and parish was palatable. The service concluded with the Brook Hills faith family commissioning David as President of Southern Baptists’ International Mission Board.

Back to the sermon – Platt began his message openly pondering – What do I preach today – on this last day as your pastor? Appropriately God led him to 1 Corinthians 15.
David began reading from the first verse.

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you.

Platt explained that in this chapter, Paul addressed three reasons to hold fast to the gospel with radical faith. It was not surprising that Platt’s final message and his passion for the author of that message would not vary at all from the messages that have resounded from Platt over the past eight years.

Platt explained: Casual, comfortable Christianity is not Christianity at all. This gospel changes the way we live.

And as he has done so often, Platt reminded the audience of the daunting global reality that stands in stark contrast from the gospel of light:

• a billion people in desperate spiritual need.
• 20,000 children will die of hunger-related disease –  today!
• 4-5 billion people who “right now are on a road to an everlasting hell.”
• a couple of those billion “have never, ever heard the gospel.”

Platt’s voice raised and quivered as he challenged the audience: We Don’t Have Time To Play Games!

We have a mission that warrants radical urgency and my prayer (Brook Hills) is that you won’t forget that.

Don’t shrink back. Hold fast to this gospel with radical faith.

Some may say that David Platt is too young. Others might complain that he has never lived on an international mission field. How could he lead the International Mission Board?

So why is the most significant global force of missionaries finding such excitement at David’s appointment to the IMB? What is it about David that rivets thousands of young Christians, let alone young Southern Baptists?

A few of David’s characteristics were apparent on Sunday.

• He is real and approachable. Few refer to David as Dr. David Platt, Brother Platt, Pastor Platt. Most just call him, “David” or simply “Platt.”
• David’s every thought and fiber overflow with the gospel message that demands radical faith. You know where David is heading with his messages. Expect to hear the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
• David’s is neither a mindless nor a passionless message. In this Sunday’s message, like many of his books and sermons, Platt addressed a deeply theological and controversial issue – the reality of hell, the imminence of death, the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection and the consequences of choices made in this life.

Platt unfolded his theological argument asserting that the resurrection is real—

But if Jesus did not rise from the dead . . .

Then our faith is futile and we stand guilty of sin.

If Jesus did not rise from the dead .  .  .

Then our message is false and our mission is destructive.

If Jesus did not rise from the dead .  .  .

Then those who have died in Christ have been dammed before God.

And If Jesus did not rise from the dead .  .  .

Then radical, sacrificial, risk-taking faith is to be pitied in this world.

Obviously that is not where Platt’s message ended. His exegesis of the entire chapter led to his final, emotional charge to his beloved Brook Hills family.

I call you, Church at Brook Hills, to lead this church in such a way that it only makes sense that Christ has risen from the dead. Eight years ago, in His grace, God led me to Brook Hills. But in these last days, the King has made it clear that I have another battle to fight.

Regardless, let us hold fast to this gospel.

Platt concluded his message reading 1 Cor 15:58

. . . be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

In response, the entire congregation joined together in a mass commissioning prayer for the Platt family.

Jim Shaddix, Pastor for Teaching and Training, challenged the Platts as follows.

“Time is short and the task is tall but God has equipped you. You have often quoted C.T. Studd who said, ‘I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.’

David, now is your chance to go run a rescue shop and bring Southern Baptists with you.”

As is their weekly practice, David Platt, now the president of the IMB, concluded the service by leading the congregation in the recitation of the Great Commission. This was certainly a fitting end to one era and an appropriate beginning for the next.

David’s messages in this series are available at www.brookhills.org/media/series/for-the-love-of-god/

A historic phone call between the leaders of two nations set in motion a flurry of speculation, fears and concerns. So as followers of Christ, what do we do?

We pray, as suggested in the following prayer guide for Iran from centralasianpeoples.imb.org.

Today’s Prayer

PERSIANS OF IRAN – (PURR-zhuns) Iranians love Jesus, because Islam considers Him to be a good man and a prophet. Since Iran’s Islamic revolution in 1979, there has been an increasing dissatisfaction and a longing for “something more.” People are hungry for the Gospel, and many are coming to faith in Christ. Please pray that God’s kingdom will continue to be established in Iran. Ask God to use this nation to spread the Good News, rather than the beliefs of Shia Islam, to its neighboring nations that follow Sunni Islam. read more

Growing up I was surrounded by many godly influences and some great examples of taking up the cross daily. One of the biggest influences in my life has been, and continues to be my father, who chose to leave what was familiar to him and go to share Jesus with those who had not heard. I watched him live a lifestyle that honors and glorifies God. It’s not surprising that my Dad would challenge me to do the same.

My dad has given me two challenges; first to seek joy, and secondly to find something worth dying for and then live for that. Dad helped me to realize that as a child of God I have access to the greatest gift in the world. Why would I ever settle for less by pursuing empty fulfillment in shallow places?

I don’t know of anything that’s worth dying for that isn’t about bringing glory to God. If I am able to fulfill this challenge, then in the end, if I die young or live to be a hundred, people will see that I lived a life worth living.

Our friend Samuel is a great example of living with joy and being willing to die for Christ’s purposes. As a young man Sam became a follower of Jesus in the midst of a nation that opposes Christianity. Because of his decision to follow Christ, Samuel’s friends reported him in to the authorities and had him arrested.

While Samuel was in prison he experienced extreme persecution including physical and sexual abuse because of his faith in Jesus. Samuels imprisonment was a horrible situation, but because of the way that he handled it and used it to glorify God, it became an encouragement and further challenge as I was able to see the example set by Sam of having found something worth dying for and living for it in great hardship. Through severe persecution Samuel grew stronger in his faith in Jesus when he could have easily denied Christ in order to get a quick release from prison.

After several months Samuel was released and was whisked out of the country to safety. While in exile he spent a lot of time in prayer, trying to work through what he should do. In the end Samuel decided that he should go back to his home country to share the good news of Jesus with his people. Samuel knew full well that he could be killed or imprisoned once again. Our friend decided that taking the Gospel back home was worth even his life. So he made a choice to go back for the honor and glory of God.

Samuel found something worth dying for and decided to live his life for that. Will you commit your life to something worth dying for?

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Matthew 16:24-26 (NIV)

The link at the end of this post takes you to a NY Times article about the imprisonment of two Afghan followers of Jesus. Both remain imprisoned solely for Faith in Jesus Christ.

In Feb 5, 2011’s NY Times, RAY RIVERA published a straightforward article about the predicament of Afghanistan’s dependence upon the West for it’s own freedom from the oppression of the Taliban, while remaining ambiguous on religious freedom for Afghan citizens.  Currently at least two Afghan Christians remain in prison with no ability to receive representation. These two men are followers of Jesus Christ, despite the fact that their government oppresses and imprisons those who adopt faith in Jesus as God and Savior of all who repent of their own sins and believe in Him, confessing Jesus as Savior and Lord. Afghans view Jesus as a prophet, but not as the one True God, in whom eternal forgiveness can be found.

The dilemma for the two Afghan prisoners of faith, Sayed Mussa and Shoaib Mosawi is that they waste away in Afghan prisons, refusing to denounce their faith in Jesus as the Messiah, in spite of what seems to be a guaranteed death sentence for leaving Islam. Apparently these two men would be freed if they denounced their faith.  Afghanistan has signed the International Human Rights Agreement guaranteeing religious freedom, yet their civil law seems to conflict with their equally potent Sharia (religious) law. Sharia, according to some experts demands death for these two “apostates” or anyone who leaves Islam for a faith other than the one handed down to them from their parents. So, in fact, religious freedom is being put to the test in Afghanistan.  These two men did NOT ask for this situation. They didn’t appeal to the government for the right to be Christians. Both were simply practicing their faith when the government stepped in.

Mussa recently wrote a letter in which he declared his willingness to die for his faith. So what do we as Christians do? Particularly, those of us who live in a land that provides us the opportunity to change our faith as many times as we wish? I will not attempt to play God for you by offering an answer to that question for you. I’ll speak for myself.

I must pray for these two men and others like them, as if they were my own brothers, my own children, or my earthly father. These are OUR family of faith. As God hurts for them, I must hurt for them.

I must reflect on my own faith?  Do I really believe? Do I actually follow Jesus to the point that He asks? Am I truly obedient in my freedom?  I have no government inflicted prison walls closing in on my faith. So am I exercising the freedom gifted to me by God?  So how far should I travel, to what extent must I restrict my own leisure in order to extend God’s gift to others who don’t know faith in Christ? Lord help me to walk by faith, truly living as a follower of Jesus, truly sharing my faith with others. Help me to extend water to the thirsty, and freedom to the imprisoned. Lord help me to live obediently for you, by you, and with you. Lord forgive me for failing to do so.

Is there anything else that I can do for Mussa and Mosawi? That’s a difficult question and I’m looking for guidance on the appropriate answer. Too much attention may complicate matters for these two men. Yet doing nothing seems insensitive and uncaring, even inhumane.  I await the advice of those wiser than me who are closer to the situation.

I did chose to publish this post, because a circulation (NY Times) much broader than mine, has gone public about the information. I prayerfully pass it on to the readers of MissionLeader.com.

Read the Article in NY Times

I want to introduce Scott Brewer.  He is Pastor of Meadowbrook Church in Redmond, WA and is also President of the Northwest Baptist Convention representing SBC work in the North West.  Scott attended the GCR Task Force Report and gives these reflections.  I’m particularly interested to hear the response of this church planter/pastor/ convention leader from a “pioneer” state. Such a pioneer perspective will not be heard as loudly or as often as that of a pastor or leader from a Southern State.  It’s worth listening.

Reflections on the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force Report
Scott Brewer, February 26, 2009

Because of my role during this year with the Northwest Baptist Convention I was invited to attend the February 22, 2010 meeting of the SBC Executive Committee. During the evening plenary session the GCRTF gave their report. My reflections are in essence my process of thinking “out loud”. I haven’t drawn any conclusions yet. The report was described as “preliminary” and therefore may see some change. A final report is to be released to the entire convention May 3, 2010. A vote on the recommendations is expected at the annual meeting of the SBC June 15-16, 2010.

The report was given in 6 “Components” and I’ll respond to each.

Component 1
I understood this to be a call to Southern Baptists to being a more focused missional people. As such we would agree that the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be presented to every person in the world and that we must be about the work of making disciples. In this component I heard the call to a new day of including the next generation of leaders, building trust and unity across the convention and elevating the importance of the local church over the convention.

No one can disagree with Component 1. I did not hear anything that would indicate how we would address this. As with subsequent components, the questions “how will we address this” and “who will be accountable for addressing this” was not clear.

Component 2
I heard this component to be a call to reinvent the North American Mission Board. At the heart of it I heard the call for “empowering” NAMB in the works of starting churches and strengthening churches (in evangelism and discipleship) by decentralizing NAMB out of Atlanta and deploying personnel around the country. This decentralization would happen by creating 7 regions.

This component includes an empowering of NAMB financially by doing away with “cooperative agreements” with state conventions. As I understand it, with respect to the NWBC, we would no longer receive CP dollars from NAMB for church planting and church strengthening (which is a large portion of the NWBC budget). Rather NAMB would use those funds for implementing their strategies in each of the newly formed 7 regions. Obviously this raises questions about the future of state conventions that exist outside of the South. I’m not sure how a large southern state convention would be impacted by this but our convention would be radically impacted.

One stated goal was to see a redistribution of CP funds that make up the NAMB budget so that areas of America that are outside of the South would receive more funding for church planting and strengthening. The funding suggestion though is in the context for greater empowerment of NAMB’s involvement in these regions with the stated goals of seeing better efficiency and accountability of the funds.

A final piece to this component was to see NAMB develop THE “Leadership Center of America” for training and developing church planters and church leaders. This overlaps with the assignment of Lifeway and therefore will involve some clarification of who will do what.

Component 3
This component suggests that the International Mission Board must be released to accomplish the mission of reaching un-reached people groups “without regard to any geographical limitations”. I heard this to be a call for IMB to not only be intentional about penetrating every people group outside of America (even so-called closed countries) but also those same non-American people groups within the USA.  This component seeks to leverage that IMB expertise upon US soil. I think this has been something needed for some time. How this will be coordinated with a more empowered NAMB remains to be seen.

Component 4
The recommendation for this component is to move the responsibility for stewardship emphasis and promotion away from the SBC Executive Committee and to the state conventions.  The EC has held this responsibility since 1997 when Lifeway said that they could not effectively carry out this assignment. In short, I simply see this recommendation as a way to add some justification to the later recommendation for moving 1% of the CP money that the EC receives to IMB.  How state conventions that are outside the south and that will already face significant financial “hits” from these recommendations can add the stewardship assignment remains to be seen.

Stewardship emphasis and promotion is very significant since the average Southern Baptist contributes only 2.56% of their income. The mission of the church is seriously hampered by this poor stewardship.

Component 5
In short this component seemed to me to be a redefining of how Southern Baptist giving is considered and categorized. While affirming the importance of the Cooperative Program, the recommendation is to identify a larger category of missions giving called “Great Commission Giving”. Therefore, a church’s giving through the Cooperative Program as well as other designated giving for state conventions and local associations would all be considered Great Commission Giving. I think this also includes a local church’s mission projects and trips.

The implications are not clear to me but here’s what occurs to me. For years there have been churches that have chosen to redirect their giving around the CP and directly give to IMB or NAMB or seminaries, etc. because of the dissatisfaction with either what their state convention was doing or with the amount of CP dollars their state convention kept before passing it on to the national level.  A result of that practice was that those churches looked like poor contributors to missions because their CP numbers were low. It seems to me that being able to count a church’s CP contributions and designated contributions as the new benchmark of Great Commission Giving better legitimizes those churches with low CP numbers.

I think one of the desires of the GCRTF was to address the shortfall of national dollars available for the work of missions and IMB especially. There has been an unsuccessful call for several years now for state conventions to keep fewer CP dollars and pass on a greater portion. This seems to me to be a way to get around that. I could be way off base here.

Component 6
The GCRTF recommends that the CP breakdown of funds increases the IMB share by 1% so that it is now 51% and decreases the Executive Committee share by 1% so that it is now 2.4%.  I agree that IMB should receive more of the CP pie. I could agree to 55% but from which area to take those funds I don’t know.

Closing Thoughts:
1. It seems to me that the call for being a more focused missional, unified people is right but must contain some idea about how to get there. Trust is a “relational thing” and relationships demand time and proximity with each other. This also demands humility and a willingness to give up power. Only a Spirit stirred repentance and recommitment to Christ’s mission can do this.

2. Something radical does need to happen with NAMB. Decentralizing and regionalizing makes some sense. What impact will this have on advancing the reorganization and new direction of the NWBC? There has already been so much change for our staff I’m concerned about morale and the capacity to focus on today and implement newly developed strategic plans.

3. How will all of the GCRTF recommendations play with the average pastor and church? I consider myself to be aware of and involved in convention life in an above average way and at the end of the day we only have so much time for convention matters.

4. What’s the answer to the “so what?” question? If all of the GCRTF recommendations move forward, what difference ultimately will that mean to 40,000+ SBC churches? It will impact church plants because they have limited autonomy and have to be responsive to convention initiatives or practices in order to receive their funding.   Established churches do not.

Eddie Cox, Prayer Director-IMB

This post is submitted by Eddie Cox, the Director of Prayer for the International Mission Board. Eddie and I entered the mission field together in 1983. Visit the Prayer Director’s Blog.

The old adage, “Be careful of what you pray for, because you just might get it” took on a whole new level of meaning for me one night in southeastern Ethiopia.

My team of 9 men had been traveling in two limping pickups all day long.  The earthen road was like driving on an old fashioned washboard.  By the end of the day, our voices were raspy from our loud, staccato conversation; our faces looked like red raccoons from the road dust blowing through the windows; and our bodies were sore from being tossed to and fro in the truck.  I remember having longed all day for the evening hours when I would be able to “stretch out” under the stars in my miniature mosquito pup-tent.

That evening, as I popped my tent rods into place, I gazed on one of nature’s spectacular electric light shows dancing on the northern horizon.  Since we would be sleeping out in the open with only a net to protect us from the rain, I quickly lifted up a prayer in hopes that God would spare us from the storm.  The following morning, I awakened rested, a bit stiff, but thankfully dry.  I whispered my heartfelt appreciation to the Lord for keeping the rain at bay.

As was our practice in each village we visited during our journey, we met with the village elders, asking them to describe their greatest needs.  Even though the priority might change from village to village, the content was identical: water, health, agriculture and education.  In one particular village, following a visit to an abandoned clinic, the village leader rode with us about a mile outside of town to their water source, a dried up riverbed.  From my vantage point on the elevated banks, I noticed several clumps of women, girls and boys kneeling in the sand.  A closer look revealed that the villagers were digging holes in the riverbed where dirty water could collect.  As soon as the murky water was a couple of inches deep, they would dip it out with tin cans.  Each can of water then would be poured into 1 gallon jugs for transport by foot back to town.

I was especially touched by one group of children, which was managed by an older brother.  As soon as his little sister had filled their gallon jug, he hung it on her back with a well-worn strip of fabric and marched her off to town, just as one would coax a burro to market.  I gasped at that moment as the Holy Spirit reminded me of my thoughtless prayer of the previous evening.  Tears of contrition immediately ran down my dusty cheeks, and I fell before the Lord to beg for His forgiveness.  It was a hard lesson learned, but one I hope to never, ever forget.

Approximately, 2.2 million people die each year due to unsafe drinking water.  That’s 6,000 deaths per day, 90% of which are children under the age of 5.  How would God want you to respond to this tragic need?  Ask Him.  Then, follow His direction.

This post is a continuation of Acts 1:8 Now, a Bible study for missional living.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in ?    Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”    Acts 1:8

Lesson One: First Things First
Jesus’ words found in Acts 1:8 constitute one of the most profound utterances of our Savior. These final words of Jesus shaped the DNA of the first church like few other statements.  If we think the words were important 2000 years ago, those same words should be no less powerful today.

Unfortunately, the status quo teaching and preaching regarding Acts 1:8 reflects an exegesis that neglects truth for the sake of convenient hyperbole.

Second only to Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8 is one of the most widely used “mission sermon” texts.

When you read this passage, what are the first words that jump off the page at you? __________  ____________ ______________  _____________ ______________

Describe below the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the following three Acts 1:8 expressions. (There are no wrong answers.)

Jerusalem –

Ends of the Earth –

As a rule, we describe these three or four locations in terms of proximity to me.

Jerusalem –  My hometown or closest family and friends (near me).

Judea & Samaria – Beyond my hometown (outside my home town).
Ends of the Earth – Far away from my hometown (outside of my nation).

There’s a basic factual-geographic issue that turns this analogy on its head.

Jesus, who spoke these words, would never have considered Jerusalem his hometown. Witnessing in your hometown is the right thing to do, however, that was not Jesus’ point in Acts 1:8.

Looking through the same old lens
Since we are trying to look at this passage through a new lens, we need to remind ourselves of the previous manner in which we have viewed this scripture.

The following are three common ways in which we have approached Acts 1:8.

Stay in Jerusalem unless God specifically tells you to go.  Acts 1:8 is more about verse 4 than about verse 8. The point is to wait.  Simply wait and do nothing else until God tells you what to do. Only those with an extraordinary call have a responsibility for ministry beyond my friends, family and my hometown.

Prioritize my hometown – God cares more about my hometown than the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 means we are to first complete the work in my hometown; second we are to consider working beyond my hometown but within my nation. Finally at some later point in time we are to hire professional missionaries, send them and pray for them as they go internationally.

Number one (above) focuses upon staying and waiting. The focus of number two (above) is on the sequence and priority for geographical distribution of the gospel – first witness to my city, then witness to my state and my nation, and when you have reached your city and your state and your nation, only then consider getting involved in witnessing internationally.  Both of the above interpretations focus on geography – the location of service.

God commands His followers to go as His witnesses near, far, and farther. Acts 1:8 commands all of God’s people to mission work in the following three locations:

in my hometown,

within my nation,

and throughout the world.

Each of these understandings in isolation falls short of the primary teaching of Acts 1:8.

What then is the main point of Acts 1:8?
Is it primarily about the geographic location of Christian missions activity?

Is Acts 1:8 a command or is the verb tense a foretelling of what God will do through His people? Since Jerusalem was NOT Jesus’ home town, why do we assume that Jesus’ reference to Jerusalem is a command for us to be a witness in “my home town?” These are just a few of the questions that must be asked. Examine this passage from a First Century perspective –THEN- in order to understand how it relates to us NOW.

More about Acts 1:8: Then and Now  on the next post…

Today marks the first of several posts which essentially make available to you portions of the Missional Discipleship Guide written by Mark Morris called Acts 1:8 Now. The intent is to provide fresh eyes and application for a local church, a small group, or an individual establishing a personal World Christian plan for missional living. The entire study will be available later for download on this site.

Acts 1:8 Now

Preface: Acts 1:8 Now

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

There are at least six reasons that Christendom needs to take a fresh look at what has become a status quo, self-serving utilization of this familiar mission passage. Theologians and preachers work diligently to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Interestingly, we have a bad habit of taking this familiar passage and simply riding the wave of rhetoric, accepting a less than thorough examination of its meaning. Without praying over, studying, and exploring these well-used passages, missionaries, preachers, and writers alike have merely co-opted their predecessors’ conclusions. If the same level of scrutiny, prayer, and study were applied to Acts 1:8 as we apply to other less familiar passages, then Acts 1:8 Now would be unnecessary. Six reasons follow.

Acts 1:8 is commonly interpreted with an incorrect verb tense. (Was Jesus commanding His disciples to go and be His witness or was he prophetically stating an eternal reality? Is Jesus saying “GO!” or is He stating, “You will go.” What’s so important about the verb tense?)

Acts 1:8 is most often used to articulate a mission strategy of proximity which ignores historical and factual data. (Jesus’ home town was not Jerusalem, yet we apply this passage by advocating a strategy based on Jerusalem as my “hometown” mission field. We extrapolate from this passage that Jesus is commanding us to witness to “my Jerusalem” or my hometown and my family and friends. If that was Jesus’ message, why didn’t he say, “you will be my witness in Nazareth?”)

Acts 1:4 has been used to mandate a strategy of inaction. (Just wait. If God doesn’t call you to go, then you are only responsible for ministry in your hometown.)

The places of Acts 1:8 –Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, and the ends of the earth– have been used almost exclusively to advocate a strategy of proximity without any thought to the more significant theological underpinnings. (What is the theological significance of the places of Acts 1:8? What is the theological significance of Jerusalem as a center of Truth and a hub of the dissemination of spiritual Truth? How does a theological view of Jerusalem affect the way we apply Acts 1:8 in contemporary missions?)

Contemporary Christians tend to view biblical place-references (Judea & Samaria) from a Western view of geo-political entities, i.e. nations. However, the biblical worldview is much more influenced by people-group thinking than by geography. (Dividing up mission organizations and mission strategies into local and global, near, far, and farther is organizationally helpful. Perhaps we should not focus as much on the places, rather on the peoples of Acts 1:8: their worldview, their ideology, and the status of their spiritual health.)

Theologically sound exegesis has been ignored for the sake of convenient rhetoric. We mean well, but familiarity with this passage has bred a casual approach to Acts 1:8. We are so ready to jump to Acts 1:8b that we pay no attention to Acts 1:8a. (How does the application change if we view the places mentioned in Acts 1:8 not as my places of mission activity, but as God’s arena of mission action?)

May God open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts and may He kindle fresh insights into local and global ministry. It is time to evaluate church missions activity, organizational missions priorities, and personal missions values through a new lens.

(More from Acts 1:8 Now in the next post)
© mission leader, inc.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated are taken from the Holy Bible, NIV.

How about some radical giving?!

As many of you know my wife, Cindy has been in a year long battle with Multiple Myeloma. Read more about that journey below. We spent a big part of the last 12 months traveling back and forth between Memphis and Nashville in order to undergo an autologous stem cell transplant at . Unlike many patients, Cindy was extremely blessed to be eligible to donate her own stem cells for cleanup and later re-infusion back into her own body. This process was grueling, extremely risky, but has prolonged and improved Cindy’s life. There will be more treatment for Cindy and possibly another transplant.

Through this journey, we met some of our fellow patients who were unable to use their own marrow or stem cells for treatment. Some have waited for years for a match, their condition deteriorating slowly in the process. Others never find a match and succumb to their disease. Seeing the dramatic impact on Cindy’s well being, I made an easy decision. Without hesitation, I committed myself to become a bone marrow or stem cell donor. I contacted the bone marrow donor society and began filling out the required survey to donate. I was very, very disappointed to learn that my particular back problem disqualifies me from being a donor. I’m not giving up though. I’m going to keep pursuing it to see if there is some way I can donate.

We’re living in a time of increased willingness of young adults to make personal sacrifice for a higher cause. Young christians are making a difference in our world through radical expressions of brotherly love. The Green Revolution leads us to recycle, turn off the lights, down-size our vehicles, and donate funds to produce clean water around the world. We know that every good citizen donates blood regularly. On and on grows the list of sacrifices we make for saving our planet, helping our fellow man, and serving the common good.

Here’s what I’d like you to consider.

I’m not asking you to give up an organ or limb. I’m asking you to pray about offering up a few million of the youngest cells in your body in order to save a life or two. It does involve some sacrifice. Adult stem cell donations require seven days of getting an injection to cause your stem cells to rapidly reproduce. Yes that’s a pain. When you are “ripe” you will begin to have some back pain which will tell you “it’s time.” The stem cells are drawn from your blood during a 4 hour process of being hooked up to a machine that extracts the stem cells. It’s the easiest way you’ll ever save a life.

Take the first painless step by going to the international donor site. Complete the online questionnaire to see if you are eligible. If you find that you are eligible, pray about what’s next.

I saw my wife’s life extended and improved by her stem cells. I desperately want to do the same for someone else, but I’m not eligible.

It’s a great way to give about a gazillion pieces of yourself, in the form of stem cells. This small sacrifice could save a life.

Pray about it.

*Do me a favor – if you complete the donor survey, come back to this article and leave your comment. You might encourage someone else to do the same.