President's Perspective: What Will Make Us Missions-Active Christians?

What Will Make Us Missions-Active Christians?

---

By Hubert Harriman, President
July-September 2015

I heard the story of an exasperated farmer who was talking to another farmer about the lazy fellow he had hired some days before. Pointing in the man’s direction at the end of the field, the farmer said to his friend, “If it moves, it’s a post.”

It is our conviction that every believer is to be missions active. We view this, not as our WGM “thing,” but as a biblical mandate. But sadly, when it comes to real missions activity, some people are about as active as a post. I speak frankly, and with deep concern, when I say there is a terrible inertia that has gripped the American church concerning kingdom work. At best, many of our attempts at stirring up believers result in no more than sputters and stops.

As a young pastor, I had the responsibility of mowing the parsonage and church lawns, and my tool was an old push mower that gave me fits. One hot summer day, needing to mow the lawn in preparation for Sunday, I got the mower out and pulled the cord. It came to life, but within a few seconds it stopped. I did this innumerable times, and each time it would sputter and stop. Dripping with sweat and quite frustrated, I called our head trustee for help. (I’m not a mechanic.) Charlie could fix just about anything. He studied the mower awhile and then did something I had never seen a mechanic do. He turned the mower over and gave it a swift kick. To my shock, the thing ran all day! I started wondering if I could get the same results if I did that with my congregation.

Well, I can guarantee you that won’t work with people! There’s only one thing that will make us missions-active believers. Jesus left us neither doubt nor room for dispute when He said,“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NASB). There’s absolutely no sense trying to yank people’s cords, hoping they’ll get started. The fact is, if we aren’t missions active, we have never been Spirit-filled. That’s all. While we might work ourselves into a sweat trying to get Christians stirred up, Jesus unbendingly calls us to get filled up.

What would happen if we started listening to Jesus? We need go no further than the book of Acts to know the answer to that question. So help me God, I want to be numbered with that crowd. Will you join me?

ACT: Ready to walk deeper into missions activity? The World GO! Manual is a good resource to really challenge and inspire you with practical missions activities. Purchase a copy at www.wgm.org/worldgo.

An excerpt from...

Does It Matter that I’m Not a Preacher?

---

The key to using your talents in missions
By Jared Gleason, Support Staff
April-June 2015

When you think about missions and missionaries, people like William Carey, Amy Carmichael, and even the apostle Paul come to mind. They were great missionaries, and God used them in amazing ways. But fast forward a few years, and it’s clear that missions has changed—dare I say, it’s always evolving.

As I work with individuals interested in missionary service, I sometimes get asked the question, “Does it matter that I’m not a preacher?” A good question. The short answer is “No, it doesn’t matter.” Yes, missions does include preaching and evangelism, but it can also include teaching English, performing surgery, and fixing cars.

It’s exciting to see how God uses key people with different skills and talents to expand his global Church. I think of a photographer who provides family portraits to families in Albania, a mechanic who teaches young boys how to maintain vehicles in Honduras, and a young adult who plays soccer and Ultimate Frisbee with atheist and agnostic college students in Argentina. Some awesome ministries, right? God never ceases to amaze me in the ways He connects people and provides opportunities to speak into their lives.

What is your skill? What is your passion? Have you asked God how He can use you in missions? Here are some current opportunities/positions in which you or someone you know can serve in missions and be a part of what God is doing around the world:

• Food Service Director (Arizona)
• Family Counselor (Mexico)
• School Teachers (Uganda, Bolivia, Paraguay, and more)
• Small Business Facilitator (Honduras)
• Radio and TV Personnel (Haiti, Kenya)

These are just a few specific positions currently needed around the world. For a larger list, visit www.wgm.org/go. However, it is impossible to list all the ways God can use people to bring others into relationship with Him. I ask that you pray and ask God how He wants to use you in missions. You and your talent may be the key to someone else discovering Jesus and entering into a personal relationship with Him.

MORE: If you feel as if your interests or skills can’t be used in missions, get in touch with Jared. He shares, “I’m always up for a challenge. I’d love to help you find that ministry God has in mind for you.” Email Jared at recruiting@wgm.org.

An excerpt from...

Keys from Retirees

---

Lessons from the trenches
By Rachel Elwood, Support Staff
April-June 2015

“Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.”(Deuteronomy 32:7 NIV)

On this website, we’ve created a section called Heroes of the Faith to honor retired missionaries. As we’ve been gathering these stories over the last few years, we’ve stumbled across some wonderful words of wisdom from these incredible faith-filled men and women. Some of these saints have gone to be with the Lord since our conversations with them, and we’re thankful we had the chance to capture their stories.

Louisa Ammerman (1913-2011), served in Burundi: “Be willing to make the adjustments cheerfully and joyfully. Don’t be depressing or despondent. Try to see the best in everyone. Try to live in the right relationship always, both with others and with God.”

O. Carl Brown (1918-2010), served in Haiti with his wife, Martha: “Be in the Word and see where God’s heart is. When you go forth in the call, you’ll have a real love and desire to follow through. You’ll have continued enthusiasm about the Word. In doing so, God opens doors.”

Edna Dewey, 108, served in India with her late husband, Clifford: “Be sure you’re called [to missions]. Don’t go on your own. The work is hard enough that you need the Lord’s help constantly. There are disappointing times, but you pray through it, and get over it.”

Evelyn Harriman, 90, served in Bolivia and Paraguay with her husband, Harold: “A new missionary in Bolivia once asked me for some advice about adapting to the culture. I said, ‘Don’t speak English in front of Bolivians!’ You’ve got to love and respect them, and it’s not nice to speak a language they don’t understand in front of them. The land needs to become your land.”

Tim Hawk, 68, served in Honduras and at headquarters with his wife, Sharon: “From the very beginning, realize building relationships is the most important part of your ministry. Learn to invest yourself in people, not in busy work.”

Sue Martin, 74, served in Haiti and Haitian American Ministries: “Have a consistent devotional life. God is in control of what’s happening; be submissive to what He leads. Obedience—if you have that, you can adapt to any situation.”

Ellen Pfirman, 77, served in Burundi, on the American Indian Field, and in Kenya: “As a new missionary, I was as green as I could be. We had to trust the Lord through all the different circumstances, and I saw that He was faithful in all the problems we faced. He didn’t abandon us. The fact that we didn’t live in fear was a miracle.”

Paul Shingledecker, 68, served in Burundi and Haiti and at headquarters with his wife, Pat: “My prayer for every new missionary who came to Haiti or to one of our fields when we were regional directors was that within the first six months, and preferably within the first six weeks, they would find one close national friend. When that happened, it almost always changed their whole outlook on the culture, country, and language learning. All of a sudden the differences were no longer bad, just different! Deep national friendships make a missionary and nearly always assure his/her success.”

Caroline Heater Smith (1936-2014), served on the American Indian Field: “There are traits a person needs to be a missionary: getting up on time, going to bed at a decent time, learning to eat things you don’t want, having your devotions, and a sense of humor. Always be able to see the funny side of things.”

Mary Smith (1912-2010), served in Kenya and at headquarters with her late husband, “Hack”: “It’s the safest place in the world: being in the will of God. The most fulfilling life you can have is working for the Lord on the mission field or in His service.”

MORE: Want to hear the rest of these retired missionaries’ stories? View the Heroes of the Faith section.

Yard Sales for Missions

An excerpt from...

Yard Sales for Missions

A checklist for your missions event
By Shelly McCollum, Support Staff
October-December 2013

Do you use a checklist or Post-it® notes as reminders of tasks you do not want to forget? If you do, you will love this checklist idea for a yard sale for missions. We all have things around our house that we do not use anymore. Why not have a yard sale and donate the proceeds to your favorite cause or missionary?

Weeks leading up to the sale:

• Pick a cause or missionary who will benefit from your sale.
• Gather unused items and sort into categories.
• Price each piece using pre-priced tags or masking tape (my favorite).
  • Keep prices in even amounts and price nothing under 25 cents to make giving back change easier.
• Decide on a location and gather tables, benches, and clothes racks.
• Check on deadlines for placing advertisements in newspapers and online.

Week of sale:

• Begin set-up.
• Work on wording for advertisements. Include key items such as “children’s clothes, baby bed, household items, sofa, fishing equipment, toys.” Don’t forget to include starting and ending times. Including the phrase “Proceeds go to missions” also helps draw people. Some will even tell you to keep the change.
• Place the advertisement in the newspaper and any online venues. Talk about it on Facebook.
• Pick up change from the bank—quarters, dollars, fives.
• Line up helpers for the day. If you have large pieces of furniture, having someone who can help lift and carry furniture is a big help.

Day of sale:

• Put signs up on your street directing customers to your location.
• Assign jobs to helpers—cashier, bagger, someone to answer questions, someone to straighten up clothes and other areas.
• Be prepared to open on time.

After sale:

• Consider donating whatever is left over to charity. Some charities will pick up your donations for free.
• Send in your gift to your cause or missionary. Mission accomplished!

MORE: If you need help choosing your cause or missionary, visit www.wgm.org/causes or www.wgm.org/missionaries for inspiration.

ACT: Click here to download, print, and share this yard sale checklist with others.

Go Green for Good

An excerpt from...

Go Green for Good

Love Jesus AND the Planet!
By Rachel Elwood, Support Staff
October-December 2013

There are lots of reasons to “go green.” Here’s a new spin: let’s make eco-friendly choices in order to have more financial resources to give to missions.

Without question, many green practices will save money. But what do we do with the money we’ve saved? What if we used our energy savings and frugal measures as a way to have more money to give back to the Lord?

Here are a few things you can do to have more money to give to missions—and you’ll be doing your part to help the planet as well.

First, two practically no-brainer ideas:

• Set a goal of a week to refrain from spending money on nonessentials. Drive less. Use up items in your pantry and freezer instead of running to the store. Use your things longer before you replace them. Resist advertising that tells you your life will be fulfilled if you just buy this one thing for $39.99. (Trust me, it won’t.)
• Switch out your incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent. These bulbs come in a range of light shades besides office-glare bright. Because they use about 75 percent less energy, last up to 10 times longer, and emit less heat, one bulb will save you up to $80 over the life of the bulb.

These next items take a little more time and effort, but are very worthwhile:

• Change your car habits. Get your car tuned up. Make sure the tires are fully inflated. Combine errands around town and carpool to events and work. 
• Get your kids involved. Train them to turn off the water when they brush their teeth, turn off lights when they leave a room, and play outside instead of watching TV.
• Do an energy audit of your home. Think creatively about changes you can do to make your house more energy efficient. Get your furnace and air-conditioning checked out. 

Then, pick a missionary or a project to donate your saved “green” to! That $80 from changing your light bulbs will buy eight Bibles in Kenya, give school supplies to 11 kids in Uganda, or send six teens to youth camp in Peru.

MORE: Need more ideas? Check out www.wgm.org/catalog orwww.wgm.org/missionaries.

Missions Book Recommendations

An excerpt from...

Missions Book Recommendations

Titles to add to your reading list
October-December 2013

Muslims, Christians, and Jesus
Recommended by Mike Chupp, Kenya

Recommended to me by a fellow WGM missionary working in the Middle East,Muslims, Christians, and Jesus by Carl Medearis has opened my eyes and revolutionized my thinking. This book is the most succinct and informative book I have ever read on Islam and Muslims. As an American missionary from the Midwest who has had little contact with Muslims (even while serving in Africa), this book was a tremendous challenge to me. It is a powerful help to any follower of Christ who desires friendship and fellowship with Muslims in his or her life. Reading this book has made me realize the huge “black hole” that exists in my knowledge base and experience in relation to what Muslims believe and who they are as a people and culture. I challenge you to get a copy and ask God’s Spirit to open your heart and mind to Carl’s message of reaching a huge population in our world that God loves and Jesus died for.

Western Christians in Global Missions: What’s the Role of the North American Church?
Recommended by Todd Eckhardt, Support Staff

If you have a heart for the Great Commission, here’s a book to add your must-read list—Western Christians in Global Missions: What’s the Role of the North American Church? by Paul Borthwick. Don’t let the long, complicated title fool you. The book is not complicated. In fact, it is one of the most helpful books I’ve read in identifying the role you and I play in this changing world.

Today, the Church of Jesus Christ is exploding in Asia, Africa, and South America. Meanwhile, churches in Europe and the United States are closing at an alarming rate. Borthwick honestly identifies the role of the North American Church in this well-written book. Here’s a hint: it is wrapped up in discipleship. After all, isn’t the Great Commission all about making disciples? Grab this book and allow God to redefine your role in your local church and in God’s global Church. 

Woman to Woman: Sharing Jesus with a Muslim Friend
Recommended by Rachel Elwood, Support Staff

You don’t have to go to Saudi Arabia or wear a burka. You don’t have to know the Qur’an inside and out. Ladies, all you have to do to share Jesus with a woman of the Muslim faith is be willing to listen, let down your defenses and fears, and allow the Holy Spirit to move. Author Joy Loewan shares her story openly and honestly, guiding US-based readers to a better understanding of the unique culture of Muslim women. You’ll come away filled with compassion for Muslim women, and you’ll be equipped with practical ideas to engage them in friendship in your own community.

ACT: These books are available for purchase at www.amazon.com.

What to Do to Be a Missionary

An excerpt from...

What to Do to Be a Missionary

By Jared Gleason, Mobilizer
October-December 2013

World Gospel Mission has a great program called Missionary Discipleship for those wanting to serve in long-term missions. This three-year program includes one year of training and fundraising in the U.S. and two years at your ministry location.

Just like the name implies, the MD program intentionally focuses on mentorship and discipleship. Our goal is to give you tools and support so you can have a successful ministry.

How do you get started?  Here’s a quick list:

1. Talk to your family, friends, and pastor. These individuals are essential in helping you pursue your calling into missions.
2. Apply with World Gospel Mission. Fill out the preliminary application available at www.wgm.org/md. We’ll then help you through the rest of the application process.
3. Attend a Candidate Review Weekend at WGM headquarters. We’ll meet with you face-to-face and talk about your calling and vision for ministry.
4. Be approved as a missionary disciple. A formal interview is held at the end of the Candidate Review Weekend. You are assigned a staff “coach” to help you the rest of the way.
5. Attend training sessions. Training events focus on mentoring ministry partners, fundraising, cross-cultural ministry and living, language acquisition, and more.
6. Develop your sending team. Talk with friends, family, your church, and others about how God has called you into missions. Help them become more missions-active. We’re all in this together!
7. Receive language training. Language is key in ministry. This usually takes place at your ministry location after you are fully funded.
8. Serve. Do what God has called you to do. You will not be alone; veteran missionaries will be with you to help and encourage you along the way.

I would love to speak with you and hear about how you’d like to use your gifts and talents to make an impact for Christ around the world. Contact me at recruiting@wgm.org or call 765.671.7226.

ACT: Click here to download, print, and share this becoming a missionary checklist with others.

Missions? That's a Given.

An excerpt from...

Missions? That's a Given

By Hubert Harriman, President
October-December 2013

When I was just out of college, I worked in the packaging department of a trailer factory. Our job was to package the right nuts, bolts, screws, and other essentials that would make possible a full assembly. I had to know the list of items that had to go in those packages. To miss something would cause a breakdown in the final assembly of the trailer. We would render it useless just by missing one vital item.

Discipleship is really all about the right listing in our lives, learning and discovering what matters and what doesn’t matter, and giving full attention to the more important. The Bible gives us many “lists” of essentials:

• Paul gives us the list of the fruit of the Spirit, essential for spiritual life (Galatians 5:22).
• Paul also speaks to the list of “The full armor of God,” essential for spiritual victory (Ephesians 6:14-18).
• Peter gives the list of “qualities,” essential for spiritual growth (2 Peter 1:5-6).

To miss anything on the list is detrimental to our spiritual lives.

One American company makes a point of excluding the obvious in its public statements about itself. Some organizational values are considered so basic that there is no need to point them out. They are what some would call a given. For instance, the expectations of food quality and employee integrity are givens. Likewise, when we talk about missions as presented in the Bible and expected in the Christian life, we ought to say, “Missions? Of course! That’s a given.”

God very clearly speaks to lists of Christian involvement that should flow easily and quickly out of our lives simply because we know the work of His Spirit in our lives. Missions is on that list. “It’s a given!” But His work in us changes the list from something we might force ourselves to do to something we want to do and have the ability to do because of His very nature and power in us.

So how’s that going in your life? I pray God will quicken in each of us the very heart of God for a lost world. Ask God to lead you in making a list of ways He wants you to be involved in this great enterprise called missions. 

ACT: Get in the Word. Hubert offers four passages of scripture in this article. Take time this week to study this “list” of essentials.

Prayer Calendar: June 9-15, 2013

The Call's prayer calendar offers this mission's prayer point for this week:

PRAY that Taylor Christian School and Taylor Community Center in McAllen, Texas, will bring hope to their surrounding community.

"God loves to use the things we’re excited about to build His kingdom. When He called Peter and Andrew (Matthew 4:18-19), Jesus didn’t say, “Come, follow me, and I will make you teachers.” He said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” He knew this terminology would capture Peter’s and Andrew’s attention because fishing is what they did for a living." ~Debbie McKelvey, from Where Do Your Interests Lie?

If You Have a Semester

An excerpt from...

If You Have a Semester

By Gabe Bain, Volunteer
April-June 2013

If you are like most Christian college students, you are looking for ways to use your talents to bring glory to God and further His kingdom. 

As a writer, I often found it difficult to discover opportunities to serve God with my writing. As a student journalist, telling the truth can be a great way to use my God-given talents, but sometimes I felt like I wanted something more.

Last April, I learned about an opportunity to become an intern and write for World Gospel Mission. I did not know much about WGM or the internships they provided. I just knew writing, school credit, and missions all sounded great to me. I was able to meet certain graduation requirements, and more importantly, glorify God by telling the story of missionaries around the world.

I sent in my application and left the rest in God’s hands. I was called for an interview and was accepted. The warm environment created by the staff made the three-month experience very enjoyable.

WGM provides many internship opportunities, ranging from writing and graphic design to photography and marketing. You can gain real-world work experience as you serve God with your talents. You will also be blessed by the staff that works here. They demonstrate what a walk with God should look like.

If you have a semester, don’t drag your feet on a great experience and opportunity that could shape your passions and sharpen your talents. A semester of serving and loving with your gifts is waiting for you.

If you have a semester, apply for a WGM internship at www.wgm.org/
internships.

What do you have? We have little girls.

An excerpt from...

What Do You Have? We Have Little Girls.

By Billy Coppedge, Uganda/South Sudan
April-June 2013

We have little girls. Our family, whether officially or not, is involved in loving little children, both ours and those around them.

Joanna’s mother sent a children’s magazine for our two oldest girls, Elsie Jayne (4) and Lucy Mae (3). It had a picture of a children’s Bible club. The girls immediately wanted to do a Bible club with their friends. Joanna decided they could plan something for the next school holiday. The girls told me all about it, but I was actually quite insincere in my enthusiasm and expectations.

My conviction came when they assembled the invitation list. They wanted to invite two Hindu boys, Kitron and Hersh. Now, Kitron had been previously very mean to Elsie Jayne. I felt uncomfortable with him being at our house. But Lucy Mae said Jesus had put Kitron on her heart, so Kitron was invited.

The week for the Bible club came and anywhere from 40 to 60 kids came daily, including Kitron. Organized chaos would probably best describe our “program,” but at the end of the week, 19 kids prayed to make the decision to follow Jesus!

What do we have to offer Jesus? We have little girls.

Those little girls are being used by Jesus, not only to stretch their father’s faith, but also to share Jesus with other children. Did I mention Kitron was one of those 19? Hallelujah! Praise God forever! The kingdom is a little more crowded because of two little girls’ desire for a Bible club.

ACT: Does this story inspire you to get your little ones involved in missions? WGM can help with ideas at www.wgm.org/kidsworldgo.

Hazel's Quilts

An excerpt from...

Hazel's Quilts

The Fabric of God’s Blessing
By Rachel Elwood, Support Staff
April-June 2013

“My ability to sew is God’s gift to me, and what I do with it is my gift back to Him.”

Hazel Dowden was blessed with an aptitude for sewing and has been active in using her talents ever since she was 12 years old. The mother of two and grandmother of five began making quilts when her grandchildren were born. As the children grew up, she began looking for other people to make quilts for, including shut-ins from church, people in nursing homes, newborns in hospitals, foster care children, and the police department where she lives in Plainfield, Indiana.

“Whoever God would put on my heart, I would make them a quilt,” Hazel said.

A few years ago, God began leading Hazel to explore giving her quilts to missions. She contacted Deb Cunningham, a staff member at WGM, to see if any WGM field could use the quilts. Deb’s response? “Oh yeah! We can use those!”

Today, Hazel’s quilts can be found all over the world: Kenya, Honduras, Indonesia, Haiti, and, of course, the USA. Right now, she’s working on a large number of quilts to take to the Africa Gospel Church Baby Center in Kenya. The Baby Center is a home for orphaned and abandoned babies, including those who are HIV positive. Hazel and her husband of 44 years, Ted, are looking forward to their first missions trip there this summer.

Hazel treasures the hours of labor, spending a lot of the time talking to God. “That’s when He gives me people to make quilts for,” she said. “I pray over the quilts as I make them. For example, when I give a quilt to a newlywed couple, I tell them, ‘When you have problems, and you will, realize that when you cover up with this quilt, prayer will cover you with His grace.’”

“I get a blessing when I make the quilts,” she said. “It’s all God’s time and it’s all His work.”

What gift has God given you that you can use to return the blessing? Take some time to consider how God can use your practical abilities for His glory.

Discover the Now

An excerpt from...

Discover the Now

By Hubert Harriman, President
April-June 2013

One of the greatest promises given to God’s people is “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him,” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV). Our problem is that we tend to relegate promises like this to the distant future and rob ourselves of discovering the now of God.

• We do this with the presence and power of sin in our personal lives, accepting a thinking that says: “Someday you will know freedom, but not as long as you are in this body.” But along comes the apostle Paul who won’t be still because he has discovered that we can be set free from the body of this death (Romans 6:22-23), now!
• We do this with the presence and power of sin in other people’s lives, succumbing to the life-killing thinking that we can’t change it, so why try. But along comes an army of Spirit-filled people who won’t be still because they have discovered a Power beyond themselves, causing them to defy the odds and storm this dark world with the light of the life-changing gospel, now!

What if we surrendered ourselves to God’s promises and allowed Him to work in us and through us? What would you and I discover? You have heard me speak of the need to discover a divine cause for your life. But this begins first with a discovery of what God can do in us and through us, if we’ll let Him. What if we let Him? Think of the power that will unleash. Think of the impact we could have in our world!

Ready? Let’s discover the NOW of God!

ACT: Not sure what you have that God can use? A great resource for you in this exploration time is the book SoulShift. The “Consumer to Steward” chapter will especially help in the self-discovery process. Take a look at www.oursoulshift.com.

Use What You Do and Where You Live

An excerpt from...

Use What You Do and Where You Live 

An adaptation from 31 Days of Homemade Missions on www.thehallahans.blogspot.com
By Kelly Hallahan, Uganda

I love the idea of homemade missions. My definition of homemade missions is simple; it’s anything you do where you live to expand the kingdom of God around the world. It’s great to talk about living so that others may be transformed into Jesus’ likeness, but how do we actually make it happen? 

Let’s be honest: some days, all that gets done is shopping for groceries, shuttling kids to school, and fixing dinner. But what needs to change is how I go about doing those things. I need to shift my focus.

One vital question to ask multiple times a day is: “Who is with me right now?” I could shove those relationships to the sidelines so I can [insert one of your hobbies], or I can invest time and energy into those relationships and make our minutes together count for eternity.

Another question is equally vital: “How can I be a catalyst for transformation in their lives?” I don’t know who God is calling you to touch today, but I’m sure He will tell you if you ask Him.

Maybe you feel as if there is no one around. May I suggest that you find a new circle of influence? Step outside your bubble and start making new friends. Ask Jesus to give you eyes to see the person right in front of you who needs Him.

And maybe you feel as if the dishes and the laundry are your best friends. Washing the dishes is not transformational—unless it’s you He wants to transform. He always has more ways He wants us to become more like Him. Can you clean dishes for the pure joy of serving Jesus? He would be so blessed.

PRAY: This month, spend part of your prayer time asking Jesus to give you eyes to see the person (or people) in your circle of influence who needs to know Him and listen for what He asks you to do to touch their life.

Prayer Calendar: April 1-6, 2013

The Call's prayer calendar offers this mission's prayer point for this week:

ASK Jesus to help you make every moment of your day count for eternity.

Not Just a Coffee Table Prop

An excerpt from Not Just a Coffee Table Prop

How to make the most out of The Call
By Rachel Elwood, Support Staff
January-March 2013

If you’re like me, when a magazine comes to your home, you read through it quickly, looking for topics you’re interested in or writers you follow, and then you toss it on the coffee table.

But The Call isn’t just a magazine; it’s inspiration to be a more missions-active Christian. The Call can be a teaching tool. Here are a few suggestions for using it to introduce others to missions.

Social Networking: Did you read something that gave you new ideas on how to share Jesus with others? Post it in your Facebook status. The entire issue is online at www.wgm.org/call, so you can post a link to an entire article. Publicly sharing your passion for missions can have a significant impact on others.

Give It Away: After you’ve enjoyed reading The Call, why not pass it on? Give your copy to a friend or neighbor and help spread the message of the Great Commission. Need more copies? Contact us and we’ll send you additional copies at no cost to you.

Action Step Challenge: Get practical! Every article in every issue of The Call has an action step that relates to the story. That may be praying, giving a financial gift, studying a Bible passage, or doing a specific task, such as writing an encouraging note to someone who gets on your nerves. Get a group of friends together, such as your Sunday School class or Bible study group, and have each person select one action step to complete that week. The next time you meet, talk about your experiences. Prepare to be amazed at what one small group can do for the kingdom!

ACT: Can God use something as simple as a magazine to speak to someone’s heart? We sure think so! Renew your free subscription today or sign up a friend.

Paper Beads for Missions

An excerpt from Paper Beads for Missions

By Kayla Spencer, Volunteers In Action Participant
January-March 2013

I had the opportunity to visit Kenya as a Volunteers In Action participant in the summer of 2009. During my six weeks there, I worked with World Gospel Mission missionary Robyn Moore and the ministry the Least of These, as we cared for vulnerable children in Nairobi.

On one visit with Robyn to a children’s home, I met a tiny little boy named Samuel. He looked to be about 1 year old. As Robyn administered health checkups for the children, I had the opportunity to hold Samuel. He was wearing a thick sweater that covered his frail body. When I held him under his arms, I thought they might break off. He had looked decently healthy in appearance until that moment, but I realized then that this precious little boy was malnourished. That was my first experience with this kind of suffering.

As I held that precious child, God broke my heart. It was not one of those experiences like at a conference or camp where you have a “Jesus high” that lasts a couple weeks and then fades away. This is one of those experiences that completely changed my life.

After arriving home, God gave me an incredible idea as I looked down at the paper bead necklace I was wearing. It was a beautiful necklace with beads made of recycled magazine paper. I had purchased it from a street vendor in Kenya. I could use my money to buy paper bead necklaces that I could give as gifts for donations. I’ve now been selling necklaces for a few years. With each necklace, I ask for a $10 donation. The necklaces cost me $3, which leaves $7 per necklace to give to the ministry.

It has been incredible to see how God used my time in Kenya to have even greater impact on the ministry after I returned home. I love knowing that the money I am raising is helping such a good cause—helping little children like Samuel.

ACT: Partnering with a ministry is as easy as selling paper beads like Kayla has discovered. If God is calling you to raise funds for a missions need bigger than your “$100,” then The Great Co-Mission Catalog may be a good resource for you. Find your project at www.wgm.org/catalog.

Children to the Mission Field?

Children to the Mission Field?

By Pastor Ryan Bash, Team Participant
January-March 2013

Someone asked me a great question regarding the purpose of churches sending a team to the mission field. He inquired about the benefit to the missionaries and the benefit to the team itself. Given that our church was sending 15 workers (including six children!) to McAllen, Texas, to help with the ministries of Taylor Christian School, I counted it a wonderful opportunity to share my heart for missions. He, in turn, encouraged me to share this answer with others. So why do we go? And in particular, what is the value in sending children?

For the Missionaries…

Most career missionaries have made tremendous sacrifices to serve where God has called them. One of the greatest gifts short-term teams can offer these missionaries is the reminder that they are not alone. When we come and serve alongside them, we communicate that they are not forgotten, that their ministry matters, and that the church back home is ready to do whatever it takes to help them succeed in spreading the gospel. In short, our mindset must not be one of a gracious benefactor, but that of a humble learner. We need to be people who want to help in any way we can—both while onsite and once we get home.

For the Team…

The team gets to enjoy a week immersed in a different culture. The greatest benefit to the members of a short-term team is that they return as missions-minded people. Our Lord has called His followers to go into all parts of the world to make disciples and to be His witnesses. Going to the mission field, as opposed to simply sending money, serves to instill in us a passion for God’s children all over the world. Ideally, such an experience will lead us to give even more, be emboldened to share our faith at home, and grow more sensitive to God’s specific invitations to Christian service in our own lives.

For the Children…

When they are at a young and impressionable age, we are teaching them the value of Christian service. We are teaching them how to work and serve in difficult conditions. We are introducing them to the varied faces of world Christianity. We are inspiring a whole new generation to care about what God is doing in neighborhoods all over the world. Thus, when they are grown and making decisions about their own time and resources, we will have established a foundation for selflessness and missions-mindedness. We are benefiting not only them, but also the church.

ACT: Want to help your church become more missions-minded? Take charge and invite others to take a short-term trip in the coming year. Explore the places you can go atwww.wgm.org/teams.