ABIDE MISSIONAL LIVING MAGAZINE

Letting Go

TO LET GOD

Beautiful Feet, Ugly Feet

Page 15

Page 5

When Missionaries Come to Town

Page 12

Missions Resources Page 21

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE BIBLE, GOD’S HOLY WORD. I WILL MAKE IT A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH. ITS WORDS WILL HIDE IN MY HEART SO I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST GOD.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE CHRISTIAN FLAGS AND TO THE SAVIOR FOR WHOSE KINGDOM IT STANDS. ONE SAVIOR CRUCIFIED, RISEN AND COMING AGAIN WITH LIFE AND LIBERTY TO ALL WHO BELIEVES.

Buy Authentic African Jewelry and support missionaries at the same time.

www.etsy.com/shop/kingdomfindsco A percentage of your purchase goes towards the missionary fund of The One Commission Foundation

Letter from the Editor Hello Readers, This is an exciting time for us at Upon This Rock Media, as we launch our first black missions’ magazine. Abide Magazine is designed for those who are mobilized to some degree but wants to be more engaged. It is also designed with missionaries in mind. Read their stories from the field, get to know more about their ministries and the people they serve as well as hearing from their hearts about topics important to them. Let us walk together missionally!

Why the name Abide? Besides the I AM statements of Jesus being among my favorite words of His, the word abide is personal. Unlike the word stay, abide means to remain stable or fixed in a state of love, according to Webster’s dictionary. It also means to continue in a place.

Jesus, the Son of God, invites these sin-stained, can’t get right but don’t know it yet, helpless, dumb sheep of people [us], to not only stay for a while but to abide in Him. It blows my mind that Jesus would want any kind of long-term fellowship with us, but He not only wants it, but requires that we pray without ceasing, (I Thessalonians 5:17). Constant communication. It seems unreal coming from a holy God. Major announcement ladies and gentlemen, that is who we serve. A holy God who cannot bear to be without us, who longs for us to love Him back and who spends His days showing us why we should. Wow! This assignment of starting a magazine has been three years maybe in the making, however, God only gave me Abide magazine a month ago. This tiny monthly magazine will be found online at www.theocfoundation.org The quarterly magazine, All-iN will be geared towards mobilizing and communicating to churches and organizations that God is indeed raising up an army in His black church. There is much work to be done, but to God be the glory. Stay tuned for the release date.

I hope you find in the pages of this magazine ideas for your church, organization or family to increase your level of involvement with missions, with missionaries in your life and more importantly that you are aware that God is in the middle of it all. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

Stay Blessed, Jacinta Russell Editor in Chief 2 | ABIDE

Mission Quotes and Notes “God is not looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him”— Hudson Taylor “The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.”—Henry Martyn, missionary to India and Persia “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”—William Carey, who is called the father of modern missions

On Being Brought from Africa to America

By Phyllis Wheatley

Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too; Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.

Some view that sable race with scornful eye; “Their colour is a diabolic dye.”

Remember, Christians, Negroes black as Cain May be refined and join the angelic strain.

About the Author Born in West Africa on May 8, 1753, Phyllis was kidnapped and brought to America in 1761 at the age of 8. While enslaved in Boston she was educated and mastered Greek and Latin.

Phyllis was the first African-American to publish a book of poetry and one of the first women to become published in the colonies in 1773. She lived a fairly short life, dying at the age of 31 on December 5, 1784.

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Beautiful Feet

Ugly

Feet

By Lily Field

How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! – Romans 10:15 4 | ABIDE

The story you are about to read is 100% true, however the names have been changed to protect the identities of the people mentioned.

Be blessed!

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he feet of Pastor R had led him away from the evil that divides his culture, not racism, as in the US, but the caste system, which declares some people literally untouchable. On one of my previous trips, Pastor R participated in a prayer summit we hosted to raise up intercession for this nation; which contains the largest number of unreached people groups in the world!

Pastors R’s team was assigned to a prayer walk in a slum for untouchables, which was built next to the largest river running through the city.

Pastor R was not from an untouchable caste, and custom dictated that he not only avoid all contact with untouchables, but that he avoids contact with anything they had touched. For example, I was told that if an untouchable person drank out of a glass at a restaurant, the restaurant staff would break the glass afterward to show other patrons that the glass would never touch their lips. During the prayer walk, Pastor R and his team walked into the house of untouchables who welcomed them and then he asked for water.

He drank the water offered out of their glass.

Everyone was shocked, the family told their neighbors, and there was now an audience for the gospel, all because of the radical, cultureclashing, loving feet of Pastor R. On this trip, I followed Pastor R’s feet back into another slum. Where we ministered to a children’s church- a tarp laid on the ground for the children to sit on. *Teenagers and adults gathered around on every side to listen.

Some children held back at first. And then came closer once they realized they were safe.

Some called to others in their houses, so the audience was vast.

Earlier that day, we had spoken at a Christmas program for national evangelists and that service was also conducted in the street. Over 100 chairs were set into a cul de sac in front of a believer’s home, and the message and worship and prayer was heard by those on their balconies, doorsteps and up and down the street.

On the drive to the slum I asked Pastor R what percentage of his ministry was to the unreached (defined as less than 2% evangelical believers) and he told me, emphatically, one hundred percent! *One of the amazing things about ministering in this most populated of countries is that unless you are indoors with the windows and doors closed, you are always in an open-air outreach situation.

The Feet of Pastor A Sister Virginia and I flew to another city in the north and stayed with Pastor A and his family. On the last day of our visit we followed him into the forty villages where he ministers, villages without a single church building or meeting place, but temples to idols everywhere. It was raining and freezing cold, and all of our feet were covered with mud as we tramped through the muddy dirt roads.

I was touched by his heart, a true disciple makers heart, going from home to home to encourage his flock of first-generation believers from Hindu backgrounds. I was particularly overjoyed because I had been able to minister and worship with this group of believers a year ago. During that visit, Sister Joy and Sister Tia and I all prayed for each woman. Now a year later, I was able to see them again and hear the testimonies of answers to those prayers.

One woman was rejoicing to be married to a believer. Many of the women were grieved because their marriage was arranged and if their parents were unbelievers or unable to find a believer, they would marry them to an unbeliever. However, Pastor A had told his disciples that he would not attend weddings between believers and non-believers, because discipleship is about obeying the commands of Christ, not just knowing them. But after this announcement, the very next marriage in the group was between two believers!

Another woman had received prayer about her infertility, and she presented us with her beautiful healthy baby!

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Call to

Christ

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f anyone does not know Jesus as their personal Savior and would like to here’s how:

Romans 3:23 tells us…For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Recognize God’s plan—peace and life.

He loves you and wants you to experience His peace and life. His salvation is open to all.

According to John 3:16…For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Realize our problem—separation.

Sin separates us from God when we choose to disobey and go our own way.

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Respond to God’s remedy—the cross.

We sinners serve a Holy God. In order for us to enjoy eternal life our sins had to be paid for and the only way to do that is the shedding of blood. God sent His son Jesus to earth for the sole purpose of dying on the cross. He suffered, bled and died just for you. The shouting part is that he rose again on the 3rd day; He is ALIVE and now sits at the right hand of Jesus, making intercessions for you and me.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrated his love for us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

Receive God’s Son as Lord and Savior Jesus is the only way to get to God and the only way to get to heaven.

John 14:6 Jesus said unto him (his disciple Thomas), I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

Call to Christian Discipleship Q: What is Christian discipleship?

A: Christian discipleship is our response to the call of Jesus Christ to follow Him. It involves a counting of the cost and a total commitment to Jesus Christ, so that the whole of our life is given to seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

(Taken from Baker’s Bible Study Guide)

There are four levels of discipleship: The Invitation:

Come to Me (Matt. 11:28)

Repent from your sins (turn away from) and receive Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him your personal Lord and Savior.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest”.

Learn of Me (Matt. 11:29) Prayer of Commitment “Lord Jesus, I believe that I am a sinner and that you died for all of those sins. I desire a personal relationship with you. I accept you into my heart and my life. Save me and make me new. In Jesus’ name, Amen”.

Next Steps: Please join a Bible believing Christian church.

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls”.

Follow Me (Matt. 16:24) Jesus said to his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”.

Remain in Me (John 15:4) Jesus said, “Remain in me and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me”.

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PRAY FOR BENIN REPUBLIC OF BENIN, AFRICA FACTS Population: 12.12 million People: More than 60 ethnic groups mainly in the South. Official language is French. Trade languages, Fon in South, Dendi in North.

Economy: Agriculture is the key to the economy with cotton accounting for nearly half of the GDP. Politics: Independent from France since 1960.

Religion: has complete religious freedom with Christianity making up nearly 40%; the largest group.

• Pray for missions. More laborers are needed because so many are unevangelized and responsiveness is high.

• Young people. Pray for outreach for this growing group. Not enough emphasis is being placed and they have become an even less priority from times past.

• Bible translation remains a pressing need.

Nearly half of Benin’s population is without a Bible or even a NT. • Media opportunities are highly strategic in an oral society with literacy rates of only 40%.

COUNTRY PROFILE PLEASE PRAY FOR • Economic development and endemic corruption.

• Structures of sin such as people smuggling and the black market are highly influential. Some 75% of economic activity is underground.

• Less-reached peoples. Most people are still considered unreached—only a handful of smaller peoples have a Christian majority.

• Animism is a powerful force. Although Christianity is poised to overtake ethnic religions in the near future, far too many Christians have a syncretized, compromised faith that sees them in church on Sunday and visiting the witch doctor during the week.

• The church in Benin is desperate for discipleship. There is need for trained pastors to meet the needs of the growing Christian population. There are not enough new leaders being produced.

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Benin’s shore includes what used to be known as the Slave Coast, the departure point for captives to be shipped across the Atlantic.

Elements of the culture and religion brought by slaves from the area are still present in the Americas, including voodoo - which has made a comeback in Benin and is even celebrated at the country’s annual Voodoo Day. On the economic side, however, the picture is less bright - Benin is severely underdeveloped, and corruption is rife.

While the country has experienced economic growth over the past few years and is one of Africa’s largest cotton producers, it ranks among the world’s poorest countries.

To the north, there have been sporadic clashes along Benin’s border with Burkina Faso. The trouble has been blamed on land disputes between rival communities on both sides of the border.

What is a Christian Missionary?

Christian missionary is someone sent by God on a task. The word “missionary” is the Latin equivalent of the Greek “apostle”, or “sent one”.

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Missionaries are distinguished by a “call” from God (Acts 13:2), although some believe Matt.

28:18-20 (“the Great Commission”) suffices for a cell to everyone.

Jesus met physical/emotional needs and saved folks. But preaching took the higher priority —-it is forever (Luke 4:40-44).

The call may be to a specific people, a country, or to a kind of ministry, such as teaching or medicine.

A missionary usually goes to a different culture and ethnic group. Paul went to Gentiles and Peter to Jews (Gal. 2:8). Global missions’ crosses culture with the Gospel.

What a Christian missionary is not:

This distinguishes missionaries from “witnesses,” the work of every Christian, and from local evangelist.

Missionaries are sent by God, through the Spirit, Usually by local churches (Acts 13:3).

Thus, began the very first “missionary journey.” The church then commissioned the team by fasting and laying on hands they were then sent off by concluded, they went back to first church, Antioch and “reported all that God had done through them….” (Acts 14:27). The church supports God’s global proclamation of Christ, or no one supports it.

A missionary is NOT someone who simply does the work of a deacon: Comforting the grieving Taking food to the hungry (Acts 6: 1-4) , etc.

Nor is the missionary someone who ushers in church.

A Christian missionary is not local evangelist —-that is a “witness” unless that person is witnessing cross-culturally ( that is to someone of a different ethnic group – for example, a Black evangelizing Hispanic immigrants).

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God said:

“I AM THAT I AM” Meaning anything and everything you need

HE IS (Exodus 3:14) 10 | ABIDE

Jesus was a bit more specific

HE SAID: I AM the bread of life (John 6:35) I AM the light of the world (John 8:12) I AM the door (John 10:7) I AM the good shepherd (John 10:11) I AM the resurrection and the life (John 11:25) I AM the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6) I AM the true vine (John 15:1)

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When Missionaries Come To Town

By Ellen Livinggood Editor of Postings

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rief home-assignment visits can leave missionaries and churches feeling disconnected. Real relationships require more than a quick Sunday-school update and a “Moment for Missions” report in the worship service before saying good-bye for another two to four years. What’s the solution when missionaries’ time is limited?

Better planning can help churches and global workers maximize the impact of even short visits. See the suggestions for both churches and missionaries as well as a customizable planning tool to clarify goals and make the most of your days together.

The ideas we offer here are designed primarily for “supporting churches”—those that contribute prayer and finances but don’t have the role of sending congregation. A “sending church” will want to do much more to facilitate their workers’ entire time of home assignment.

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We hope these ideas will help you make the most of every missionary visit.

Suggestions for Churches Start planning early.

Don’t wait for your missionaries to contact you. Annually ask all of your global workers if they will be coming on home assignment during the next year. If the answer is yes, set up a time and duration for their visit as far ahead as possible. This confirms your interest in them and facilitates adequate planning.

Encourage missionaries to spend as much time as possible with you.

Let them know up front that you are excited about their coming and want to

work with them to make it a highly productive time. We have developed a planning tool that will guide your missions team to help everyone prepare and communicate. Create a sheet for each visit and review it with your missionaries to forge plans in advance. Don’t assume they know what you want them to do. Suggest ministry opportunities, then ask for their feedback and adjust the plan.

Underwrite the cost of your workers’ visits.

Travel can be very expensive, and many missionaries on home assignment use rental cars for which they pay mileage as well as gas. The cost of meals on the road and nights in hotels adds up. Most workers do not have funds in their account to cover these expenses. If visiting your church requires flying, clarify in advance that you will cover the cost of the tickets. Don’t expect missionaries to visit if they have to invest a hefty amount of the support you give them to come to see you. Be generous!

Include activities that are fun and refreshing.

Ask ahead of time what your global workers would enjoy doing. Each missionary is different. Our planning tool offers some idea starters.

to ask your missionaries ahead of time to write up a “teaser paragraph” that will stimulate curiosity about what they will talk about. Circulate this on email or publish it in the bulletin to spark additional interest.

Feature your missionaries’ strengths.

Your job as missions leaders is to engage the communication methods that will best showcase your global workers’ message. If this is a couple, consider the speaking gifts of both husband and wife. Who is the most articulate speaker? Many churches find that the most important information can be conveyed succinctly when missionaries are asked specific questions in an interview format. If workers are most comfortable with small groups, concentrate on creating lots of those opportunities.

Let MKs make their own choices.

Ask parents what will make their children feel comfortable and welcomed. Some kids may choose to stay with parents; others may love to blend in with other children/teens of their own age. Few like to be singled out as unique. Offer options but never pressure participation.

Listen well.

Throw a party!

Well, at least sponsor a potluck and invite the entire congregation. If a Sunday-school class or small group is particularly interested in these workers, ask them to organize the event but consider including everyone. Ask your missionaries for an email list of those in your congregation who have been receiving their updates, then personally invite these people and anyone else you know who has been involved in their ministry. You may want

Your missionaries may enjoy hearing about the exploits of your local Little League team or how plans are coming along for the church expansion project. But it is more important for you to ask questions that help you really know your missionaries, the people they work with, and their ministry. Global workers long to have people share their passion for fulfilling the Great Commission. This is Continued on page 18 ABIDE | 13

A LONG ROAD TO OBEDIENCE

By Jacinta Russell

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bedience is a hard Christian concept to learn and practice, because it literally takes a lifetime. It’s what parents demand of their children and what God demands of His children. Missionary Bob Payne has had to come face to face with learning to obey God. He was married, had a child and was doing well according to anyone from the outside looking in.

Then one day his wife decided to go to church and get saved. He refused her pleas to join her but his wife never gave up hope while she prayed for his salvation. After agreeing to go to church, Bob then began to run from the sermons invitation to accept Christ. He said, “I know where all the exits are in the sanctuary because I used them all.” Eventually Bob did yield to Christ and accept Him as His personal savior.

Bob joined up with Henry Blackaby who later became his mentor. Blackaby is the author of Experiencing God, a guide to how to experience God through obedience and revealing seven realities of our walk with God. Bob notes there is a cost to obedience but disobedience costs more and it all boils down to a love problem. God doesn’t want to be number one He wants to be the only one.

On his first trip to the Ukraine, Bob baptized 37 people who had been told for 200 years, God was dead. In Northern Nigeria he trains pastors through the Experiencing God curriculum. In the city of Nineveh, the people are displaced because of ISIS. “Their willingness to forgive is what was so impressive,” he said the people there, ‘thank God for ISIS because it brought them back to God.’ How do you know it is God’s voice? Bob Payne puts it simply, if you don’t know, then that’s serious because it’s all about relationship. If there is doubt, then there is no God. He does not exist in unbelief.

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Letting Go

TO LET GOD

By Jacinta Russell, Editor

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very good parent has dreams for their children. Every functional family provides a level of expectation, rules, boundaries, and guidelines as to how to live life. The first 18 years the job is the same; provide, protect, discipline and love. Parents let go for the first time on the first day of school. Then a little bit when they get that first boy/girlfriend. Then they learn to drive, and you pray for safety while letting go a little more. These children, graduate high school and on to college. You miss them but you deal with it. These are all-natural progressions through life that each parent goes through, often, several times. What happens when God steps in and does his supernatural, never saw it coming, out of the blue reality on you? How do you respond, especially, when you are unfamiliar with the call?

Christian family who went to church weekly but had no exposure to world missions.

Gideon, the second oldest of four brothers, was a model citizen. He even received a full academic scholarship to an ivy league school majoring in science.

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YOU TOLD US ALL TO GO, BUT WHY MY CHILD?

The Introduction Gideon’s parents were faced with that. They had expectations and desires for him and all their children. They are a middle class black

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The stage was set and everything was going according to plan. His dear mother was thinking, he’ll finish school with a degree, get a job, make money and be an active part of her life. While away at school, Gideon’s church partnered with Launch Global, a missions organization. That was his introduction to global missions. He had been preparing to go for a whole year without her knowledge.

Gideon and his parents had the global missions’ conversation for two years. I kept hearing it, but I didn’t believe it, said his mother Romi, Gideon wanted extreme evangelism. He wants to take Christ literally into the uttermost parts of the world (Acts 1:8). Meaning the most dangerous, remote, Christian resistant places in the world.

God calls whomever He wants, whenever He wants and for whatever assignment He has for us. Traveling from the South to the North of the U.S., we’ll find an upper middle-class black family going through something similar with their daughter Lily. Lily’s introduction to missions came at a young age. She was introduced to strong black male missionaries and missions’ leaders such as Rev. Jeter and Rev. Amos while attending her grandmother’s church. Missions were later taught on her level by her mom during homeschool.

Lily was raised in a mission focused home, where Jesus was at the center, said her mom Kristy. Both of her parents felt the call to go but in different ways. “I was impacted by the need and a desire to share the gospel but was turned off by [the image of ] white people going to poor black countries.” Her father JT 16 | ABIDE

never had a desire to go to the field but to support. He was excited to see black leadership in sending organizations and supported them. They both were involved with the Navigators, where everyone associated with that ministry was considered a missionary.

Lily became fascinated with missions at 12 years old, remembers her mother, it was clear to us she was called.

The Grieving Process Six months after graduation, Gideon announced he was leaving for the mission field. “That’s when it hit like a ton of bricks, I couldn’t stop crying for a week,” she said.

Gideon’s resolve, ‘God is sovereign.’ He was leaving no matter what and Romi knew it.

“He had a fire in his bones,” she said.

Romi had to have a talk with God, “you told us all to go, but why my child?” During her grieving process she asked several questions, but ended with, how dare I stand in the way of what You have in store for him? Romi accepted God’s will but admits she wasn’t proud or happy; just numb. ‘I won’t get in the way but I’m not a cheerleader either,’ she said.

It was a struggle trying to get to the point of releasing him, she had to remind herself not to try to stop it in her heart. Stop fighting it, she said. That prayer was tested when Gideon’s leave date for Africa got accelerated. The support poured in and watching his faith grow was amazing, said Romi.

For Lily’s parents the process was a little different. Before going to the mission field, Lily received scholarships from ivy league schools once they read her essays. She accepted

the scholarship from a school in Atlanta, where she earned her masters’ degree. Kristy declares, that was just favor from God. When Lily left for Haiti, she had already left home.

Accepting the call was not hard but letting her go would take a leap of faith, said JT, Lily had a consistent focused desire to go. Like most fathers, the need to protect their daughters is strong. When he visited her overseas, he admits, ‘it took faith to leave her there, those accommodations are not the same.’ But JT has been amazed at how God has protected her.

Riots, health issues and hurricanes, God has kept her through it all. Lily has stayed even when it didn’t seem wise and went against popular opinion.

Acceptance When Romi heard the presentation, she got it. The part that stuck with her the most is, when you send me, your hands are doing the work as well. Gideon has an undeniable fire in his bones and according to his mother, he passed all ‘the tests.’ She would miss him greatly.

Now what? Well, Romi had resolved to stay on her post when it comes to prayer. To be sensitive to the Holy Spirit at what He says and be prompt. She had to learn to get comfortable with reality, and her and Gideon had to communicate more. She’s proud now, ‘he’s effecting change,’ Romi said, his seeds in the people will grow and his agency lights the fire for the people to carry on the work.

“Spoken obedience means you’re covered and if you’re covered, you’re secure,” said Romi.

Kristy doesn’t see Lily’s call as isolated, but as a family call; it challenges everyone’s faith, she

said. Lily’s oldest sister has made the most trips and is very supportive of her. Lily is no longer on the foreign mission field full time, but even in her new role, her sister is the supplementary support. Lily has supplied them with many stories of miracles you don’t hear today, and for that Kristy is grateful.

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IT CHALLENGES EVERYONE'S FAITH When Lily followed Christ overseas to become a missionary, she understood what she might be giving up; marriage and kids. But Kristy has not stopped praying. Her desire is to have more grandkids and for Lily to have a husband to look out for her welfare. Kristy had her last child and only boy at 45 years old, ‘its special when God gives it to you,’ she said, and God has not told me to stop praying.

Gideon is inspiring his church to support missions and is actively recruiting his younger brother. Romi is now a part of a global ministry whereas before it wasn’t a thought. ‘I needed exposure. The black church only go to missions during disaster relief. Gideon has opened my eyes.’ For that she is grateful.

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Suggestions for Missionaries Set specific goals for each church visit.

especially essential in the interview by the GO team/missions committee. Make sure to listen to their heart. You may discover that your global workers need additional levels of missionary care. Even if yours is not the sending church, you may need to step into the gap to minister to hurting workers. Remember that they have been on the front lines and probably have returned with battle wounds.

Sometimes it is easy to treat all churches alike, but every congregation is unique. As you plan, consider what you know about the church’s understanding of, and heart for, missions. Pray about what you could say that not only highlights your ministry but expands their missions vision. Dialog with the church’s missions leadership ahead of time about what you and they would like to accomplish. Feel free to share this article with your church.

Clarify and pursue strategic goals.

Do you have a clear idea of what you would like God to do in your church as a result of your missionaries’ visit? Has your GO team/missions committee defined how they would like to see vision increase, focused prayer be encouraged, or a shortterm team developed as a result? Share with your missionaries what you are asking God to do through their time with you.

Discuss the best way to influence the most people. Prayerfully seek to identify those in your congregation whom God might want to connect to these particular missionaries. Bring these people together with your missionaries in comfortable, informal settings.

Don’t just hang out with the missions gang.

The GO team/missions committee may be eager to engage all of your available time, but challenge them to consider a different strategy. What could happen if you prioritized time for strategic conversations with “Matt and Chris” church members who do not (yet!) have a high missions interest? Determine the best setting for such interaction. Perhaps “Terry” the missions team leader could invite Matt and Chris and you for lunch downtown. Plan carefully how you will share without overwhelming your new friends. Your lunch discussion can also give Terry some ideas of how he can share his missions passion with others.

Involve the not-yet-interested.

Don’t just ask missions enthusiasts to provide housing or meals for your missionaries. Instead, try to recruit those who have never shown missions interest.

And don’t be discouraged by “no” answers.

Ask the same people again the next time missionaries visit. Eventually they will say “yes,” and who knows what God will do!

If potential hosts are nervous that they won’t know what to talk about, give them a few questions to ask to get them past their fears that the conversation will lag.

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Be proactive about recruitment conversations.

Ask the church’s missions leaders if they can suggest the names of several people who might be willing to consider a missions internship, short-term assignment, or career missions. See if you can schedule individual, informal meetings with these people—maybe coffee at Starbucks or pizza after the church’s softball game. Simply share your own story, then challenge them to consider

what God might have as their next step in global engagement. As Chris from Hill Country Bible Church recommends, “Just ask!”

Share simple prayer techniques and requests.

Many believers you will encounter have no idea how to pray meaningfully for missionaries. They may have heard few stories of specific answers to prayer for God’s work on the front lines. Share what God has taught you about praying for those in spiritual darkness. Describe one or two practical ideas of how to build intercession into daily life. List key prayer requests that can be remembered through an easy acronym—maybe one request for each letter of your name.

Ways people can use their skills to help you.

What contribution could a short-termer make in a week, six weeks, or six months on your field? What could someone do to assist you on home assignment? Is there some type of expertise you wish you could tap into via a Skype call from time to time?

Make a list of every practical service you can think of. Share it with the missions leadership, interested individuals, small groups, etc. People want to help. Even simple things can begin a long-term, highly-fruitful partnership.

THE ONE COMMISSION FOUNDATION Fellow Helpers of the Truth 3 John 8 PURPOSE Missionary Care: to keep their names, faces and ministries before the body of Christ and to share His burden of love for missionaries with churches all over the U.S. Mobilizing: to mobilize the black church to the mission field Financial: to provide a grant to those currently serving in a cross-cultural ministry

HOW CAN YOU HELP? • Offering to pray for our missionaries—through our prayer initiative

Take the lead in conversations.

Some missionaries express discouragement when church visits are dominated by superficial conversations and unfocused questions. Yet many church attendees have no idea what to ask. Raise the quality of dialog by suggesting discussion questions for formal interviews or even for informal dinner conversations that focus on the information you most want to convey.

• Support missionaries through our grant program—online gift or through Kingdom Finds • Learn about our many programs and opportunities by visiting us online at www.theocfoundation.org or email us info@theocfoundation.org ABIDE | 19

Continued from page 5 One leader, whose husband had left her, was living with her son in a space only five feet by five feet. Yet this tiny space did not stop her being hospitable and she welcomed us in and served us chai and biscuits.

Afterwards, we went with the believers who had gathered in a stable for a worship service.

We sat in the straw, shivering, but Pastor A explained that if we covered ourselves with straw, it would keep us warm. I thought all the feet in that stable were unspeakably beautiful, they were the feet of saints who serve God in hardship, not for gain. For following Jesus, they have received not material blessings but hardship and persecution, and yet their feet still ran to proclaim the good news!

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There were so many more testimonies from the believers I followed and served alongside in South Asia. During my trip I reflected on how so many of our presentations about missions look: western, wealthy, white person is hugging or serving a poor person of color.

But we don’t see this imagery in the Scripture.

Missions are the call of the body of Christ to share Jesus with anyone who is lost and often the lost are the wealthy (remember the verse about it being harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God than a camel to go through the eye of a needle?).

Being a leader in my missions agency, I’m always asked how many missionaries we have on the field and when people hear of, for example, South Asians ministering to South Asians, they respond along the lines of, “Oh, so not missionaries of the field, workers on the field.” However, as I walked through the slums and villages of South Asia, I knew I was following behind missionaries in the truest sense of the word and I am honored to present a new image of missions. This is an image that I believe will be relatable to many more in the body of Christ.

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AFRICAN AMERICAN MISSIONS EDUCATION SOURCES African American Experience in World Missions: A Call Beyond Community Walston, Vaughn and Robert Stevens, eds

Venture into the world of overseas missions from an AfricanAmerican perspective. This collection of articles takes you deep into the history of missions in the African-American community.

Suggested General Missions Books Missions and Money: Affluence As a Western Missionary Problem

by Jonathan J. Bonk

This insightful, deeply probing book on the problematic relation of mission and money zeroes in on difficulties that occur when the evangelizer is relatively affluent and living among the poor.

A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael

by Elisabeth Elliot

A vibrant portrait of Amy Carmichael-one of India's most beloved missionaries. Follow the journey of a courageous Irishwoman who spent 53 years in South India without furlough, earning the nickname "Amma" or "Mother" from the underprivileged children she regarded as God's jewels.

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