Commands of Christ

One of the things cross-cultural workers often struggle with is deciding what the most important things are to teach to new believers/churches.  One of our goals in the School of Frontier Missions (SOFM) is to help students strip away the things our culture has attached and discover what, at its simplest, someone must do to be a disciple of Jesus.

The best teaching resource I've found comes from George Patterson.  George worked in Honduras and has been a pioneer in the area of planting churches cross-culturally.  On a side note, I love having George speak in the SOFM because, even in his mid 70's, he's jumping off chairs and teaches with a passion I haven't seen from many people. George stresses that the most important thing to teach new believers is obedience to Christ.  You might say, "Duh! But how does that look?"  Patterson teaches that everything Jesus commands in the gospels can be boiled down to 7 basic commands*. I've listed them below with a few references.  He says that these are the ABC's of both discipling and church planting.  I'd encourage you to evaluate your own obedience in each of these areas.  

1. Repent and Believe (Mark 1:15)
2. Be Baptized and continue in the new life it initiates (Matt 28:18-20)
3. Love God and neighbor in a practical way (Matt 22:37-40)
4. Celebrate the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:17-20)
5. Pray (Matt 6:5-15)
6. Give (Matt 6:19-21, Luke 6:38)
7. Disciple Others (Matt 28:18-20)

George Patterson

*taken from the article "The Spontaneous Multiplication of Churches" by George Patterson

Quote of the Week

Our quote this week comes from Samuel Zwemer, a man nicknamed "The Apostle to Islam." I've always felt a sort of kinship to Zwemer, who was born in Vriesland, MI and graduated from Hope College, both of which are close to my childhood stomping grounds.  Through the years I have seen people who match this description and I pray that more are raised up.

"The great Pioneer Missionaries all had 'inverted homesickness,' this passion to call that country their home which was most in need of the Gospel. In this passion all other passions died; before this vision all other visions faded; this call drowned all other voices. They were the pioneers of the Kingdom, the forelopers of God, eager to cross the border-marches and discover new lands or win new empires" – Samuel Zwemer

Samuel Zwemer

Road Trip

This weekend we will be piling in the car and making our way up to Michigan.   We are looking forward to spending a couple weeks with family and friends.  If you'd like to hang out, use the contact button to shoot us an email.  We'd appreciate prayers for safe travel.

CCMA #4

Today for your viewing pleasure, here is the fourth and final installment in the Cross-Cultural Misadventures.  This episode takes a light-hearted look at some cultural faux pas in China.

Quote of the Week

Our quote this week comes from author Patrick Morley.  I love this quote because I think too often we hear the words of Matthew 28:19-20 without considering the power and promise behind them.  I think if we truly grasped the power behind the mandate, we would be much more likely to step out and, as William Carey said, "Attempt great things for God."

"If the Great Commission is true, our plans are not too big; they are too small." - Patrick Morley

Patrick Morley

Short-Term Outreaches

One of the things I think every follower of Jesus should be involved in is short-term outreaches.  I see a couple of benefits of being involved in these programs.  The first is to the participant.  Taking part in short-term outreaches, especially cross-cultural ones, gives the participant a bigger view of the world, and a look at what Father is doing and how He is moving in different parts of the world.  The second benefit is to the long-term worker.  Short-term workers who come through can provide great blessing and help to the long-term team.

I have seen both of these at work in my own life.  As I was growing up Father really used my experiences in short-term trips to prepare me for what we're doing today.  It started with trips to inner-city Detroit and then grew steadily as I took trips to Mexico, Romania, Chili, and then SE Asia in my DTS.    Then when we were living overseas it was such a blessing to have a short-term group come through who was willing to serve and help in any way.

To help facilitate any interest in trips next summer, I will post about YWAM Jax Beach's Summer 2014 STO program once we have it set.

Playing with kids in the Philippines

Our SE Asia team

Quote of the Week

Our quote this week is actually a story taken from Carl Madeiras' book Speaking of Jesus. I won't go into too much detail, because we talked about it when reviewing that book, but I really like making sure the emphasis is on Jesus, and nothing else.

"I remember hearing a story about Charles Spurgeon debriefing his young intern preacher after he delivered the sermon.  Dr. Spurgeon told the young man that he did a great job, but that he missed one key element.  The young preacher asked what that was was. "There was no Christ in your message, son. We preach Christ here at New Park Street Church."  The intern was shocked. "But, sir," he replied, " I was preaching from the book of Ezekiel."

Spurgeon responded, "Son, until you can find Christ in Ezekiel

 you will not share my pulpit again."

 

Quote of the Week

Our quote this week comes from Edward Lawlor.  Mr. Lawlor was a former superintendent general of the Church of the Nazarene.  I love this quote because it addresses a mindset that I see very often here in North America.  That mindset is one that rests in the idea that America is "blessed by God," or is at least one of His favorites, so what happens in the rest of the world doesn't really matter.  I think this quote offers a good challenge to stop our navel gazing and join Father on His mission.

"If God's love is for anybody anywhere, it's for everybody everywhere" - Edward Lawlor

Thangka Project 3

Today we'll explore the third thangka from the Tibetan version of the Hope Project.  To recap, this project utilizes a series of four thangkas (Tibetan "poster" art) to walk oral learners from creation through the ascension.   On this thangka listeners are introduced to Jesus.  The stories on this thangka begin with the birth of Jesus.  Continuing on it deals with His baptism, temptation, ministry and the last supper.  The bottom two sections tell the story of Jesus' arrest, trial and crucifixion.  You'll notice that the curious nomad (from the previous thangkas) is in the crowd watching the crucifixion, seeing that the promises God made were being fulfilled.