Save the Date!

If you love missions, then it’s concert-going season!

From September 20 through October 15, believers just like you from around the world will pray together once a day for compassionate ministry needs on a specific mission field during WGM’s concert of prayer.

Each day, the WGM website will highlight the compassionate ministry shared in the September/October 2010 issue of The Call magazine. Join us by dropping by the site to share your prayer for the field.

Gustavo's Search

An excerpt from Gustavo's Search
By Lori Lampen, Bolivia
July/August 2010

“Does God care how much I’m hurting right now?” “Does He listen to my prayers?” “Why does He feel so far away?” Over the next 20 minutes, I listened and silently prayed for wisdom and guidance to know how to respond to Gustavo. What a loving God we serve! God saw an unsaved man struggling with the pain of life’s circumstances. God cleared a busy salon’s schedule and orchestrated the need for pictures on my really bad hair day—only to prove to a searching man that He exists. That He knows. That He cares.

Saying goodbye, Gustavo was reflective. I knew God had spoken to his heart through the Bible verses He had brought to my heart to share. “Gracias, gracias!” Gustavo said as he gave me a cultural kiss on the cheek and then followed it with a big hug. “I’ll be praying for you, Gustavo,” I assured him.

God uses His people on a daily basis to share with those seeking His truth. Are you willing to be used? Take a moment to have this conversation with God.

God,
I want to be salt and light to those I come in contact with, whether in a beauty salon or while walking down the street or shopping in the mall. I am Your servant, willing to listen and to share Your truth with those who are seeking You. Please send seekers across my path so that I may be Your witness.

Jesus, I also pray that Gustavo will continue to seek and find the truth that he can only find in You. Speak to his heart and draw him close.

I ask these things in Your name.
Amen.

Trash to Treasure

An excerpt from Trash to Treasure
By Laura Coulter, Volunteer
July/August 2010

Char Dabill with Honduran kidsOne man’s trash may be another man’s treasure, but in Baxter, Minnesota, Char and Bob Dabill and their friends use other people’s trash to build up treasures that will last for eternity. Each year, the Dabills hold garage sales to raise money for World Gospel Mission projects in Honduras. In 2009, they held five garage sales and raised about $12,000.

This kind of ministry can easily be repeated. Get together with family or friends and hold a garage sale for missions. Visit www.wgm.org/catalog for some ideas on projects you can raise money for.

Gloves

An excerpt from Gloves
By Zach Motts, Japan
July/August 2010

Yet, as I thought about why I felt so empty and used, I wondered if I was just like that homeless man. I’m a missionary who is supported by a large number of amazing people who believe in reaching out to other people. So, I asked myself, “Do my supporters feel that way?” Is that what I do to them? Do I say, “God will bless you. God will bless you,” and then walk away without even asking their names? Are they just expected to give and not know where the money goes?

I would feel like a selfish idiot if I started yelling at a homeless man that he should ask me my name. However, if our interaction was more than a simple transaction of money or goods, if our interaction was on the level of a dignified human exchange, if it was something that transformed both of us, then we would care about each other, and then we would both receive.

If you are a missionary, has it been a while since you have contacted certain members of your support team? Who on your contact list could benefit from a call or a handwritten letter? Is there someone who has been faithful to you whom you know very little about? Take time to contact that person this week.

Meet the Carters

An excerpt from Meet the Carters
July/August 2010
Brad and Elizabeth Carter

Brad Carter, Spain

“I am, ideally, an independent filmmaker. More realistically, I’m a computer/audio-visual geek. But a missionary? Now that’s stretching it. Or is it?

Elizabeth Carter, Spain

In Spain, I’ll be working at a Christian cultural center for immigrants from northern Africa and doing what I already love to do—helping individuals and families find solutions to problems and learn to live better than they’re living now. I’ll be teaching Spanish and life skills classes and might be able to do some formal counseling.

Although Brad and Elizabeth are not in Spain yet, they hope to be soon. The apprehension about their odd combination of skills and how that would work on the mission field is gone, and now they are excited to see what God will do.

So, if God can find a perfect ministry fit for a filmmaker and a family therapist, what makes you think He can’t use you? God created you for His purpose. Take the next step and talk to WGM about the skills and talents you have, and let’s explore what field has been waiting for you.

Explore current personnel needs on WGM fields at www.wgm.org/go.

How does the church do missions?

CHURCH CHALLENGE

Hanfield United Methodist Church
By Jenny Shaffer, WGM Writing Intern
January/February 2008 Call to Prayer

How does the church do missions? In the WGM community, many churches have found innovative ways. The Church Challenge shows how one church is doing missions today. Think about how your church could do missions and then by all means “Just do it!”

What comes to mind when you hear the word “missionary”? Is it a picture of a holy, righteous servant of God who gives up everything to work in a far-off country?

So often we have an up-on-a-pedestal image of who missionaries are and feel that we cannot relate to them. Maybe we haven’t traveled to a foreign country. Maybe we don’t like speaking in front of crowds. Maybe we think we’re not qualified enough. Whatever our hesitation is, it creates a divide between us and missionaries.

Eliminating the barrier that people seem to put up between themselves and missionaries is one reason Hanfield United Methodist Church in Marion, Indiana, established their Missionary in Residence program. Although similar programs have been in place on college campuses for some time, Hanfield has adapted the concept for the local church.

Hanfield has always valued missions. Their vision is to be “a church without walls, joyfully ministering to the felt needs of our community, nation, and world.” To improve their worldwide reach, they created this unique way to simultaneously educate their church members and minister to missionaries. By inviting missionaries to spend a month at Hanfield, they allow the missionaries and church members to build stronger relationships.

“Missionaries can’t develop relationships with the church when they fly in and out,” Pastor Tim Helm explained. “Hanfield wants to really connect with the missionaries we support, so the Missionary in Residence program is a win-win idea. It blesses the missionary and allows our church to be strategic about missions.”

During the time that the selected missionaries are on homeland ministry assignment, they commit to spending one month at the church. They teach in every adult Sunday School class, share in small groups, go out to eat with different families in the church, preach at least one message during morning worship, and work on a special project with the Hanfield missions committee.

“This is how relationships are built,” said Pastor Helm, “and how the missionaries learn our church’s DNA.”

The church makes a commitment, too. Supplying housing for a month is just the beginning. The church also commits to providing 1/12th of the missionaries’ monthly financial support and to continue investing in the field on which those missionaries serve. They send work teams that assist with projects and ministries and that see firsthand how the church’s investment results in changed lives.

Hanfield started their Missionary in Residence program in September 2002. The first couple they hosted were Kasonaga and Illunga Munza, United Methodist missionaries to Congo and Zambia. Since that time, the church has hosted WGM missionaries Bill and Lydia Allshouse (2003, 2007), John and Beth Muehleisen (2005), and David and Debbie Hawk (2006).

Encouraging church members to visit the fields on short-term missions trips is also part of the strategic plan. Pastor Helm shared, “[one of my dreams is] that every Hanfield-ite would go on at least one missions trip.”

For example, while David and Debbie Hawk were at the church in 2006, they traveled with a group from Hanfield to explore the possibility of WGM’s assisting the Honduran Holiness Church in beginning churches in El Salvador. When the Hawks—who had served in Mexico and Honduras previously—completed their homeland ministry assignment, they moved to El Salvador. They are working in church planting, community development, education, and ministries to at-risk youth.

One member of the 2006 Hanfield team that accompanied the Hawks was Aaron Johnson. In the summer of 2007, Johnson led another Hanfield team to El Salvador. The team helped with a basketball camp for youth and the remodeling of a home for use as a ministry center. After these two missions trips, Johnson says, “You may think of missionaries up here,” waving his hand above his head, “but you realize they’re just normal people, too.”

Hanfield United Methodist Church adopted a creative approach to solving two common church problems. With just this one program, they have enabled missionaries to feel plugged into the church and encouraged church members to feel pulled toward missions.

In Mark 16:15 (NIV), God calls us to “go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation,” but He doesn’t necessarily say how. Hanfield is working on fulfilling that commission in some creative ways. Don’t be afraid to be innovative in your approach to missions.

Giving the Gift of Connectivity

CHURCH CHALLENGE

Bauer Community Fellowship
Giving the Gift of Connectivity
By Sarah Westfall, Administrative Assistant/Copywriter
November/December 2008 Call to Prayer

Technology has become an essential tool for today’s church in the United States. If you tried, I almost guarantee you would struggle to find churches that do not have a website, never use PowerPoint or a projector, or do not at least have microphones or sound equipment. While many churches use these technologies during Sunday services or as a jump-start to their Christmas cantatas, Bauer Community Fellowship in Hudsonville, Michigan, decided to take it one step further.

About a year ago, BCF began to tackle how they might become better partners with the missionaries they support. Sure, the church sent money every year and had missionaries speak when they were in the States. But BCF wondered whether they were really connecting with their missionaries. As members of the Body of Christ, should their partnership in missions go deeper? The answer was yes—but how?

BCF’s lead visual tech, Bob Young, along with the missions committee decided to equip their missionaries with a webcam, a small camera used to transmit video over the Internet. A webcam allows people to hold a live video chat, connecting people in a way that far surpasses e-mail or a phone conversation because you not only hear the person’s voice but you also see his face and emotions.

Using webcams, BCF now spends five to ten minutes one Sunday morning a month having a live discussion with one of its missionary families to learn more about the family’s life and ministry. The webcam video feed is projected on a screen so the congregation can see and hear the missionaries; additionally, the missionaries are able to see the congregation on their end through a second webcam placed in the church sanctuary. This sanctuary webcam allows the missionaries to see what is happening in the church during the interview, and they can also remain connected after the interview and be a part of the worship service.

Bauer Community Fellowship has been able to give the gift of connectivity to its missionaries as well as its congregation. How can our churches better utilize technology we already have to connect with our missionaries? What can we provide in addition to financial and prayer support that will fuel a deeper commitment not only to the missionary but also to the cause of missions?

In a way that makes sense for your church, consider the following suggestions for using technology to enhance your missionary interface and to give the gift of connectivity:

• Dedicate a page on your church’s website to your missionaries. Include missionary pictures, links to their websites or blogs, contact information, and updates or prayer needs.

• Stream your worship services on the Web and invite your missionaries to participate. In addition to using webcams to interview missionaries, your church can use this same technology at a very minimal cost to have your worship services streamed live from your church’s website.

• Record a two- to three-minute phone call interview with a missionary and play this missionary update over your sound system during your Sunday morning service. Consider projecting a picture of the missionary while the audio is playing to connect a face with a name and personal story. Ready to take the next step? Post the recorded interview to your website as a downloadable MP3 file.

• Give your missionaries digital cameras and ask them to share their recent photos with your congregation from time to time. Be sure to also send the missionaries photos of church events and members of your congregation.

• Make missionaries your Facebook friends! If your missionaries and members of your congregation are on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/) or another online community, encourage your congregation to add the missionaries as friends so they can stay in touch by posting photos, leaving comments, and sending messages.

• Use PowerPoint or another visual medium to project missionaries’ pictures, prayer requests, current projects, or contact information before, at the beginning of, or after your weekly service. Getting the word out can be challenging, and a consistent, visual reminder is key to keeping people connected.

• Send missionary care packages that include CDs or DVDs of a particular sermon or sermon series. If any of your missionaries is a pastor on the field, this gift may be particularly helpful in encouraging spiritual growth and in fostering continued connection to the church.

When God Says Go

CHURCH CHALLENGE

College Wesleyan Church (Indiana)
When God Says Go
By Sarah Westfall, Contributing Writer
January/February 2009 Call to Prayer

Almost daily, we see the devastation caused by natural disasters or local crises on the nightly news. Do we as a Church simply shake our heads and wonder, “Why, God?” for a brief moment, only to go on with our daily lives? What if just part of the “why?” is that God wants His Church to actually step up and be the Church, the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to people in need?

Last summer, southern Indiana experienced the worst flooding in over 90 years. The city of Columbus, Indiana, was one of the hardest-hit areas. Several inches of rain came down in a very short amount of time, so the waters rose quickly. Many people had only minutes to get to higher ground before their homes were filled from the flooding. Most affected residents had very little time to rescue more than themselves.

The devastation left by the flooding was overwhelming. The interiors of homes were ravaged by the waters. Walls, floors, and family valuables were caked with the mud and debris that had been carried in by the strong flood currents. Most homeowners had to completely gut large portions of their homes, tearing out drywall, carpeting, and even wall framing in order to avoid decay and the growth of harmful molds.

However, many people did not have the time or resources to make their homes livable again. Although some homeowners received government aid to help with repairs, many either did not receive assistance or did not receive enough to cover all the expenses. Even if residents were able to purchase supplies, many did not have the needed skills or time away from their jobs to do the projects on their own. Hiring workers only costs more money. For many, the situation seemed impossible.

Only two hours north of Columbus, members of College Wesleyan Church in Marion, Indiana, decided that they needed to help.

“Earlier this summer, we had begun discussing how we as a church need to be ready to respond to emergency situations that come up locally, nationally, and globally,” said Jim Vermilya, College Wesleyan’s volunteer outreach pastor. “Then, just a couple of weeks later, we received word from Pastor Wes Jones of Flintwood Wesleyan Church (in Columbus) [who was] asking for teams to help them with post-flood clean-up projects. It seemed rather obvious that God was wanting us as a church to respond to the situation, so we did.”

Before heading to Columbus, the team did not know what to expect.

“Most of us had seen the brief television footage that was taken during the flood, but after the waters receded, the TV crews left,” said Pastor Jim. “So when we arrived there a month after the flood hit, what we saw [at] the outside of the city was quite different from what we saw on the insides of the homes.… When you walk into a home, seeing the water-stained line a few inches up from the floor where the flood waters once were, and when the smell of black mold hits you in the face as you walk through the door, you really start to get a sense of what these people are going through.”

On three separate Saturdays, flood relief teams from College Wesleyan traveled to Columbus. They gutted interior drywall and insulation, cleaned and packed away salvageable items, hung new drywall, cleaned homes, and took the time to talk to and encourage the flood victims. The teams went home tired and blistered, but they had learned what it meant to be a missions-active church, to say “yes” when God said “go.”

Maybe your church also wants to be more missions-active right where you are by responding to crises in your area. To you, Pastor Jim offers this advice: “Don’t just talk about it; do it. Plan ahead. Be preemptive so that you are ready when the crisis hits. You cannot respond to every crisis, but you must be ready to respond to those that the Lord prompts you, so be ready.”

Here are some practical suggestions for making it happen:

• Set aside crisis funding in your annual outreach budget, so you, too, can mobilize teams from your church to go and give hands-on relief.

• Create a list of crisis relief volunteers you can contact when a need arises.

• Have an annual Crisis Relief Supply Drive, asking each church member to bring in nonperishable items, bottled water, or cleaning supplies. You can then store the items until a crisis occurs and aid is needed.

• Research ways that other churches or organizations provide aid to people in need.

• Determine an area in your church building where you could house displaced families, if needed.

• In your Sunday service or small groups, have a prayer time focused on crisis relief. Ask God to prepare the church with the wisdom, spiritual sensitivity, and courage to act.

Is your church actively engaged in missions? I want to know. Write me at tellthecall@wgm.org.

How to Build a Church in Five Days

CHURCH CHALLENGE

Mount Olive United Methodist Church (Indiana)
How to Build a Church in Five Days
By Rachel Elwood, Writer
March/April 2009 The Call

Yes, it’s possible! With a congregation of mature, gifted believers and a desire to “plant” new seeds of faith in others, Mount Olive United Methodist Church in Marion, Indiana, helped grow a brand-new church in Honduras in five days. Here’s how they did it.

1. They viewed people with compassion.
Without question Mount Olive UMC takes a deep interest in bringing Christ’s love to hurting people. “It’s so important to realize that it’s not all about us,” says music minister Tim Becker. “It’s easy to get so caught up in ourselves that we don’t do a good job in reaching out to other people. It’s about God’s family.”

2. They offered missions opportunities at local, state, national, and international levels.
From volunteering at the local women’s shelter to building wheelchair ramps for disabled individuals, from bringing relief to flood victims in Indiana and Louisiana to organizing several missions trips a year to Honduras, the church desires to have a variety of hands-on experiences available for church members. “My goal for the church is to be faithful to God’s calling,” says Pastor Bob Dexter. “This has been a very exciting congregation to be a part of. Over a period of time, people have become very focused on how we can show the compassion of Christ to others.”

So how did Mount Olive get hooked on Honduras? According to missions chair Joy Wickline, “One guy badgered a couple other guys to go on a work team with him, and on the last night in Honduras, they met a group of street children at church. Their hearts were ripped to shreds, and when they came back, they decided they needed to do something.”

3. They showed commitment to a particular field or project.
Mount Olive had been sending teams to the Manuelito Project in Honduras for several years before the opportunity to build a church came up. Started by a Honduran church, the Manuelito Project rescues children from a life on the streets and gives them an education, a healthy lifestyle, unconditional love, and most importantly, the knowledge that they are children of God. Mount Olive has been—and continues to be—involved with construction at the project. “Anyone can go, no matter what age, what their profession is—there’s always something to do,” says Galen Clark, longtime church member who has been to Honduras multiple times.

Through serving at Manuelito, the church came to know Pastor Jorge Pinto, the founder of the project. Jorge is also a WGM board member, president of the Honduran national church, and a dynamic pastor who has founded several churches. Jorge approached the church with a vision to build a church for the Lenca Indians, an indigenous people group who live in a remote mountainous area.

4. They didn’t do it alone.
The team of men from Mount Olive was joined by a team from another nearby church, La Fontaine UMC, whose pastor is the son of Mount Olive’s previous pastor. In addition, a team came from the Honduran church where Jorge pastors. “It was so neat to have them all working together on the church,” said Colleen Hawk, missionary to Honduras who also traveled with the three-church team to the Lenca village.

For Tim Becker, it was an especially meaningful experience, “I expected God to show Himself during that trip, but I didn’t know it was going to be through relationships with people that I really didn’t have a lot in common with. But we had the same God and we had the same saving grace of Christ. It was obvious from the beginning that it was all one big family.” Since this trip in 2006, La Fontaine UMC has sent teams several times to the village and is financially supporting Amore y Vida (Love and Life), the Lenca church.

5. Most importantly, they worshiped the Lord together.
What a powerful moment, having just finished constructing the church, to worship with the Lenca people on Sunday morning in the building. And yes, they built the church in five days! And for the three churches—Mount Olive UMC, La Fontaine UMC, and Dios Es Amor (God Is Love)—who sent people to build, the worshiping continues to this day.

So how does the story end? It doesn’t! Like all good stories, this one keeps evolving. Amore y Vida has gone through some transition and is now awaiting the arrival of a new pastor to lead the church. Pastor Bob Dexter, who recently accepted the call to pastor Mount Olive, and the church are busily planning its upcoming trips to the Manuelito Project in Honduras.

Do you want your church family to be a part of “transplanting” their faith to new believers in new places? Do you want to know more about how your church can get more involved in missions? Contact Todd Eckhardt at church@wgm.org.

Enroll Your Church in Missionary Boot Camp

World GO! Manual
Enroll Your Church in Missionary Boot Camp
By Tracy Dubois, Web Writer/Writing Internship Coordinator
July/August 2008 Call to Prayer

Sound off…1, 2! Sound off…3, 4! Sound off…1, 2, 3, 4! Throughout the July/August 2008issue of Call to Prayer, WGM’s bi-monthly magazine, readers were invited to return to school as WGMU taught them about educational ministries around the globe. In this edition of Church Challenge, we’re not sending you back to the comforts of a classroom with desks, chairs, heat, and A/C. No, we’re sending you off to boot camp—WGMU style.

Attention! File in, shine those shoes, and drop and give me 30!

As Christians, we are called by Christ, our CO—commanding officer—to minister. Whether we live in the hills of West Virginia or the streets of Budapest, Hungary, we are called to preach the gospel wherever we are. WGMU works to support missionaries who serve in faraway places, but we also exist to train and equip Christians who minister in their daily lives as waitresses, bankers, salesmen, etc. This is where the World GO! Manual and your church come in.

Just as the military’s boot camp is intended to train soldiers, the World GO! Manual is designed to train us in the church to be witnesses for Christ right where we are. Our CO set out a missionary-training model in Acts 1:8, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Our Jerusalem is where God has planted us right now—our hometowns, neighborhoods, and workplaces. Our Samaria is the people we have the least desire to help, and the ends of the earth are where we train other soldiers for battle.

Attention! Time to suit up for missionary training. Meet me at the track at 0500 (that’s 5 a.m.) for a five-mile run, and drop and give me 20!

In order for us in the church to accomplish our call, we need to develop specific skills—praying, witnessing, serving, loving, giving, partnering, enduring, teaching, and planting. And guess what? Each skill is covered in a section of the World GO! Manual.

As you study the book, you will follow the fictional life of graduate student Mark Evans. Each section features a story about Mark as his notion of a missionary is revolutionized through his encounters with missionary to Africa Randall Volarez.

Attention! You are to be commended for your faithful service! Now drop and give me 10!

Just as military personnel earn medals for their service, you will receive a reward as you complete each section of the World GO! Manual. After reading each section, you will complete one of four action items, each of which includes questions to answer before, during, and after the process. Complete your assignment and receive a missions merit pin as a reminder of the skill you learned.

The World GO! Manual can be used by small groups, Sunday School classes, youth groups, or the church as a whole. You can go at your own pace and even work through the manual several times, choosing a different action item each time. Remember those choose-your-own-ending books from the ’80s?

This manual is a resource every church can and should utilize. Now is the time for your church to enroll in boot camp as you pray, witness, serve, love, give, partner, endure, teach, and plant for the Lord. We are His witnesses to the ends of the earth!

Contact WGMU’s Development Office at development@wgm.org or 765.671.7244 to learn more about this great resource or to secure your own copy of the World GO! Manual. Be prepared so your church can answer “Aye, aye, Sir!” the next time our CO asks, “Who will go?” Get started on the manual today!

Is your church creatively “doing missions”? Let us know so we can possibly feature your church in an upcoming Church Challenge. E-mail your comments to tellthecall@wgm.org.

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Be blessed.

Kristi Crisp
www.wgm.org/call

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Missionary Valentine Box

Kids' World
An excerpt from Matthew's Missionary Valentine Box
By Frank Martin, Support Staff
July/August 2010

The day finally came when Faith arrived. After Faith had spent some time getting to know Matthew and his parents (Dave and Deb), Matthew showed Faith his box and then dumped out all the change. Believe it or not, that little boy had collected over $20!

There is a sequel to this story. Matthew did not do this just one time. He continues to collect money from those who visit his home, and when a missionary comes for a visit, he promptly gives them what he has collected since the last time a missionary had passed through.

My wife, Sharon, and I had the privilege of staying in Matthew’s home and receiving his offering for missions. His efforts show me that you don’t have to have a million dollars to have a part in God’s kingdom. Just use what you have, and let God take care of the rest!

Have an extra shoe box? You can create an offering box for missions, too.

You can find more fun ways to get kids involved in missions at www.wgm.org/kidsworld.

Creative Outreach

An excerpt from Creative Outreach
By Meg Dul, Hungary
July/August 2010


I love how God created us individually, knows us personally, and puts us right where we should be for His glory. He knows the talents He has gifted us with, and, like the parable of the talents, expects us to use them for Him. So He guides us to the place where people need someone just like us to share in the way only we can. I’m glad for the doctors, nurses, teachers, evangelists, farmers, and construction workers who are using their talents for His glory. And I’m so very glad that God has a place in ministry for His creative children too.

Has God blessed you with a creative side? How are you using those skills for His glory? Ever thought about starting an art club or quilters group or teaching English in your neighborhood? Your talents open opportunities to share Christ with others.

Where Do I Begin?

An excerpt from Where Do I Begin?
By Kristi Crisp, Support Staff
July/August 2010


Are you seeking ways to expand your mission field? I want to share with you a few things that I have learned.

1. Know your limits. I am a mother of a 4-year-old and a 7-year-old, and I work full time. I don’t have oodles of free time, but I do have some. Take stock of your to-do lists and determine how much time you have to give. Outreach doesn’t have to be stressful, so make it work in your schedule.

2. Do what you’re good at. It’s not a bad idea to take an inventory of your spiritual gifts. That way, as you explore your options, you can better choose opportunities that work best with your skill set.

3. Network. Let me offer you a few suggestions of where to look for ministry opportunities. Talk with people involved in the community, sharing with them ideas on how you would like to serve. They may know of needs or connect you with the right people who can help. Chat with your church leaders. They are often aware of community needs and can present some options for you. As you have learned through this issue of The Call, don’t forget to look for nontraditional ways to serve, using talents you never thought about using for evangelism.

Do you have a book you would recommend to someone looking for a creative way to serve? Drop the title of your favorite reads in the comments.

Don't Let the Government Decide

An excerpt from Don't let the Government Decide
By Tim Rickel, Support Staff
July/August 2010

I don’t know anyone who enjoys thinking about the possibility of dying. I also don’t know anyone who would like the courts to decide what happens to their children or how their estate is divided up. So if you are one of the millions of folks who have thought, “I’ll worry about that later,” I encourage you to call or write to WGM today and ask for more information on what you can do to make sure that you leave clear instructions on how you want your estate handled when you are no longer here.

Contact Shelly McCollum, WGM’s chief financial officer:

World Gospel Mission
Stewardship Office
3783 East State Road 18
P.O. Box 948
Marion, IN 46952-0948
Phone: 765.671.7247
E-mail: stewardship@wgm.org

The Fragrance of Ministry

An excerpt from The Fragrance of Ministry
By Ann Seaney, Peru
July/August 2010

Sometimes ministry opportunities popped up quite unexpectedly. One rainy Sunday evening, I was walking home from church when I heard a cry for help from an elderly lady who was afraid to walk home alone in the dark. She had been visiting a friend and seemed quite disoriented. She took my arm and held on tight as we walked through the neighborhood to her house. How glad I was to be able to be a comfort to her. How humbling it felt to hear her thank God for sending an angel to walk her home.

I believe God is pleased as we live our daily lives being a fragrance for Him—someone who lifts the spirits of others and reminds them of Jesus. Is your presence making a difference to those in need?

What are you doing to leave the sweet fragrance of ministry with the elderly in your community? Over the next month, volunteer a couple of hours at your local nursing home or plan to take a meal to a couple of shut ins from your church. Your loving gesture will be a delivery of encouragement.

Ready for an Empty Nest?

An excerpt from Ready for an Empty Nest?
By Shelly McCollum, Support Staff
July/August 2010

I look at those sad parents at high school graduations and weddings differently now. I know what they’re going through! Perhaps you have friends who are about to become empty nesters. Share your experiences with them and let them know you have a shoulder they can lean on during that time. It is said that time heals wounds, and as I look back over my experience, I can say that it’s true. I actually started to get used to this new phase in my life and was really beginning to enjoy it and then—she moved back! Next time she moves out, it will be different. I will be prepared!

Are you an empty nester looking for ways God can use you and your newfound spare time? Here are a few of my suggestions:

* Take a long walk through your neighborhood and pray for your neighbors. Have you taken time to get to know them? Are they Christians? Think about ways they can become your mission field close to home.

* Get some other empty nesters together and plan a short-term missions trip. Plan your trip at www.wgm.org/teams.

* Start a small group at your church for empty nesters. Study the World Go! Manual and discover how you can have an impact in your sphere of influence. Download the manual at www.wgm.org/worldgo.

Launching Rubber Bands

An excerpt from Launching Rubber Bands
By Glenlyn Conley, Volunteer, Mexico
July/August 2010

During the past several weeks, I’ve made one important observation. A willing attitude plus acts of obedience yields success! Perhaps the next time the Holy Spirit tugs at your heart regarding a need for Christian missions, you’ll rethink your indecision and hesitancy. For example, think of the story of the five loaves and two fish. Jesus took a meager amount and magnified it incredibly to the extent that there was even leftover food. In like manner, God honors and blesses even our minute efforts.

Each of you has unique skills and special gifts. I hope you’re eager to share them.

Is it time for you to stretch? Short-term volunteers are needed on several WGM fields. To learn how you can fill this need, contact Troy Simpson at recruiting@wgm.org or 765.671.7226.

Theater Meets Missions

An excerpt from Theater Meets Missions
By Rachel Elwood, Support Staff
July/August 2010

Think that God wants you to set aside your mad knitting skills, love of classic cars, interest in bowling, or your secret dream of making it big in Nashville? Not on your life! He gave them to you not only for your own enjoyment but also to reach people no one else—and nothing else—can. But God didn’t intend that to stop at a local level. Missions opportunities exist within World Gospel Mission to use all your gifts. To learn more about these opportunities, visit www.wgm.org/go.

It's Concert Time!

If you love missions, then it’s concert going season!

From September 20 through October 15, believers just like you from around the world will pray together once a day for a specific mission field in WGM’s concert of prayer for compassionate ministry needs around the globe.

Daily the WGM website will highlight the compassionate ministry shared in the Sept/Oct magazine. Drop by the site to leave your prayer for the field.