Seeing a Better World

An excerpt from Seeing a Better World
The power of a team
By Paul Yarger, Hillsdale Area Men With Vision
April/May/June 2011

Seeing a better world is the way the Hillsdale Daily News described our recent home improvement project. We completely re-roofed the home of a disabled neighbor lady in our village of Ossea, Michigan—the home of Hillsdale Area Men With Vision.

For about seven years, our local chapter of nearly 20 men, mostly retired, has been giving time and expertise to help the elderly and needy of our community by volunteering one or two days a week from April through November. We have been sharing our witness for Christ by helping many who can’t help themselves. Our Hillsdale County Community Foundation has helped us with funding for some of the materials, and donations from others have made this all possible.

By getting our hands dirty, we earn the right to pray and share with many recipients. It brings outreach ministry down to the local level. This is our Jerusalem, so to speak. God be praised!

Yes, our MWV group is making it a better world, both for today and, the Lord willing, for many more tomorrows.

ACT: Want to know more about the Men With Vision team (chapter) in your area and how to get involved? Contact Bill Bucher at mwv@wgm.org or 765.671.7217.

Tricks of the Trade

An excerpt from Tricks of the Trade
By Tracy Dubois, Support Staff
April/May/June 2011

Even if you’re not a sports fan, you’ve probably heard of the Harlem Globetrotters. They use insane basketball skills and humor to entertain audiences. However, basketball, and sports in general, can bring more to your life than entertainment. Sam Sisley, an education major at Ohio Christian University, uses his ball-handling skills to share the love of Christ.

“This is a great platform for getting children’s and youth’s attention. They see us do basketball tricks and then listen to the positive message we bring. Thousands of people have learned how much God loves them, and many kids have accepted Christ as their personal Savior.”

When asked what advice he would give to people wanting to get involved in sports mihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnistry, Sam used the slogan from the famous Nike ad—Just do it!

“Anyone can use the abilities and talents God gave them for something more than themselves. Your talent may not be basketball, but God gave you a gift and you should use it.”

ACT: Are you part of a team that wants to do more? Contact teams@wgm.org to find out how you can use your talents on a WGM team, either stateside or abroad. Start your journey today!

For the Love of the Game

An excerpt from For Love of the Game
By Robyn Moore, Kenya
April/May/June 2011

My team around the world is like a baseball team. We are the Least of These ministries, working with more than 1,000 orphans and vulnerable children.

Do you want to join our team? We welcome new fans and players.

Concession workers are needed to buy food for orphans. To give a gift, visit www.wgm.org/leastofthese.

Cheerleaders are needed to faithfully pray for those serving in Kenya working with the Least of These ministries.

More players are needed. Is God calling you to be a part of the team here in Kenya? He knows what is needed and what skills, gifts, and talents you have to offer.

Honduras Work Team Highlights

An excerpt from He Knows Them by Name
Honduras work team highlights
By Carol Mast, Short-term Volunteer
April/May/June 2011


Talanga is the location of the second phase of Project Manuelito. We spent a week with the 18 kids who live there. These kids had spent almost a year at the transition house, and then moved to Talanga where they live, are loved, and attend school. We hugged, played basketball, hugged, played soccer, made crafts, and hugged some more.

On our last night in Honduras, Pastor Pinto took us to the streets to see where the kids come from. The team passed out food, hugged some more, and prayed with some. Our hearts were broken.
God loves each person our team met, and He knows them by name. He heard and answered my prayers. He broke my heart.

ACT: Carol’s team showed the love of Christ in Honduras through playing sports, praying, and sharing food and hugs. This could be your experience, too. Trips to Honduras are available all times of the year. To join or schedule a team, sign up at www.wgm.org/teams.

An excerpt from The Bicycle
By Frank Martin, International Pastor
April/May/June 2011

The bicycle is a good example of what prayer should be in our lives. The frame represents prayer itself, attaching to all other parts of life.

The chain illustrates love, driving everything we do. Love grows as we spend time in God’s Word.

The rear wheel stands for our family. Everything we know about God must first be acted out in our homes.

The bicycle represents how prayer applies to our lives, but it is useless without the rider. And that rider is you! The bicycle and you make a powerful team! With prayer, you can show the world that this thing we call the spiritual life is real. Renew your team effort by taking the bicycle of prayer and putting your talents and gifts in motion. God wants to use you and your bicycle of prayer to change the world!

ACT: Get weekly bicycle (prayer) exercise for WGM missionaries. Learn more and sign up for Prayer Lifeline at www.wgm.org/lifeline.

It Takes a Team!

An excerpt from It Takes a Team
By John Muehleisen, Africa
April/May/June 2011

By this time, Ruthven’s heart had softened toward spiritual things. He and other families in the community agreed to offer their homes as security against the church loan. Soon, a church was started.

Ressie and her family prayed for Ruthven for over 30 years. In 1979 he was hospitalized with heart problems and black lung disease. Thinking he was near death, Ruthven asked a pastor to come pray with him. He was saved and he lived a few more years as a transformed man.

Ruthven and Ressie’s youngest child, a son named C.R., accepted Christ as his Savior and felt called to preach. He attended Asbury University (Kentucky) before going on to Asbury Seminary. He was a student at Asbury during the 1970 revival. As a result of this revival, many student teams went out to minister in churches on weekends. C.R. was a member of a team that went to a church in St. Clairsville, Ohio, for revival services, and at the end of the Thursday night service, a 13-year-old boy walked down the aisle. C.R. prayed with him as he gave his life to Jesus. That young man’s name is John Muehleisen.

Whose redemption depends on your obedience today?

What neighbor, family member, or stranger is waiting on you to persevere in prayer and to give of yourself, your time, your money?

ACT: God used Team Ressie to make an impact in her community. What can you and your sphere of influence do to leave a missions impact where you live? The World Go! Manual is a great study to get you started. Call Tara Mast at 765.671.7244 to purchase a copy, or download it for free at www.wgm.org/
worldgo.

Get Off the Bench!

An excerpt from Get Off the Bench
By Rachel Elwood, Support Staff
April/May/June 2011

Sometimes you need a solid kick in the pants to get off the bench. I care deeply about issues in our world—creation preservation, women’s rights in Third-World countries, evangelism in cultural context, and lots more. But when it comes to actually—gasp!—doing…well, that’s a different story.

As it turned out, my “orphan” is a skinny 16-year-old girl who just needs some encouragement and love. Yep, I signed up to mentor a high school student, even though I’ve never thought of myself as a kid person! We meet once a week to munch on Taco Bell takeout and talk about school, boys, family, hopes for the future, and life in general.

It’s a small thing, you know? God is helping me see that I have to get in His work, changing hearts and transforming lives.

Consider this your solid kick in the pants. Get in the game, and go show someone some Jesus love!

ACT: Get off the bench! What’s a need in your community that you can help with? Contact your church for suggestions on a ministry where you can plug in.

Why Coach?

An excerpt from Why Coach?
By Troy Simpson, Support Staff
April/May/June 2011

Jesus had a team called the disciples. Jesus recruited and chose His team through a series of “tryouts.” Jesus coached His team daily, giving praise when things were done right and correction when needed. Jesus knew when His team was all on the same page, and He knew when at least one was no longer a team player. And talk about pressure! If Jesus’ team had not been ready, the salvation of the world could be lost. He did all of this without any all-Americans, not one all-conference player, or even an honorable mention. Jesus took players that nobody really wanted and worked through them to create His church.

ACT: Ministries come in all varieties, and often they are not what we would have chosen. Is God asking you to use something ordinary in your life as a ministry? Pray for guidance in this area.

Picking Your Team

An excerpt from Picking Your Team
By Kelly Hallahan, Uganda
April/May/June 2011


Every church needs a good team. Here are the key players and how you can maximize their potential:

1. Pastor
•Pray for him or her that God will increase his or her passion for missions.
•Sponsor his or her trip to visit missionaries your church supports.
•Pray for him or her to take the Perspectives course or a missions class at a local Christian college.

2. Missions Committee
•Global Outreach Weekend—WGM would be glad to help your church explore its missions plan for the greatest impact.
•Connect with other missions committees. Host a missions prayer breakfast and invite missions committee members from other churches. Perhaps have a missionary or someone who has been on a short-term trip share. Encourage one another in missions.

3. Missionaries
•Missionaries want to be involved in your life and in your missions journey.
•Invite a missionary to dinner while they are on homeland ministry assignment.
•Send personal and church prayer requests to your missionaries.

Living Links

An excerpt from Living Links Make a Team
By Joe Kunkle, Bolivia
April/May/June 2011

In less than 15 seconds from the time the human chain idea flashed through my mind, we had Isidro on the deck to safety. It took a minute or two for him to cough up the water from his lungs, but soon we knew he would be all right. We bowed our heads and thanked God for sparing this young man’s life. I have no doubt that God put the “human chain” idea in my mind. Some of us got wet and others remained on the deck, but all of us were vital links in this team effort!

Many of you joined hands with Ellen and me in ministry and have not let go! Without you who have remained on the “deck,” holding tightly to our hands, Ellen and I could not have gone into the “water” to grasp the hands of people drowning in the despair of sin. Thank you for joining hands with us to bring salvation to people in Bolivia and Paraguay.

ACT: To grasp Joe and Ellen’s hands, consider a financial gift to their ministry at www.wgm.org/joekunkle.

Teammate Wanted

An excerpt from Teammate Wanted: Treasurer in Uganda
By Jonathan Mayo, Uganda, with Rachel Elwood, Support Staff
April/May/June 2011

The field (that is, the operation of missionaries and national workers in ministry) could go for a while without a field director. Ministries can function and programs can continue, but we simply can’t operate without a treasurer. It’s one of the key positions on the field.

Opportunities abound to interact with nationals and minister to missionaries as we work together to share Christ’s love with Ugandans who need to know Him.

Volunteers are welcome! If you would like more information about serving in Uganda as the treasurer, please contact Jared Gleason at 765.671.7227.

Cheerleaders Needed!

An excerpt from Cheerleaders Needed!
Musings of a retired WGM missionary
By Anonymous
April/May/June 2011

And then other changes happened, such as churches that had supported us for many years on the field now wanted to support new “active” missionaries (and rightly so). An increasing number of friends who had faithfully supported us went to be with the Lord. Other faithful partners lost their jobs or retired and were unable to continue as financial supporters.

So, you get the picture—I am missing some cheerleaders! WGM has not diminished medical care or other benefits, but my account and others have increasingly larger negative balances. You can understand how the overall ministry of WGM is affected.

What can you do? Become a cheerleader for retirees by asking others to pray and give a special financial offering to a WGM retiree.

ACT: Give to a WGM retiree at www.wgm.org/retirees.

Special Teams

An excerpt from Special Teams
Making critical plays in time of crisis
By Hubert Harriman, President
April/May/June 2011

Like many others, I enjoy watching football games. A select group of players that I especially like to watch is called “special teams.” These players go in for certain critical plays in the game and often have a huge impact on the direction the game takes.

God has given World Gospel Mission “special teams” in strategic missions challenges—people who specialize in helping during critical moments in missions. One of those special teams is our Crisis Team. These players have a huge impact on the direction that events will take in the aftermath of a crisis. You know who you are because you’re energized, focused, and ready to play at a moment’s notice when the call comes for you to respond.

ACT: To give to the President’s Crisis Fund online, click here. To donate offline, send your check, with account number 41116-CALL in the memo line, to:

World Gospel Mission
P.O. Box 948
Marion, IN 46952-0948

Check your mailbox!

Your April-June 2011 issue is landing in mailboxes all over the US. Has your issue arrived?

You'll notice some changes with this issue - the size is smaller for starters. The Call is now more portable so take it with you while you wait at soccer practice with the kids, the doctor's office, or slide it in your Bible for prayer time - however you use the magazine we hope you find this feature to be helpful.

Let me know your thoughts on the other changes. I would like to hear from you.

Blessings,
Kristi Crisp
The Call editor
World Gospel Mission

www.wgm.org/call