Growing Concerns

 

The privilege of living life as a part of worldwide missionary outreach and ministry has allowed me to experience life on many different continents and cultures. As many of you know, I was born and raised in Southern Africa, but you might not know that I have had the privilege of visiting and at times ministering alongside missionaries on six of the seven continents.

I have also been blessed to experience so many cultures in approximately twenty-five countries. This has allowed me to observe in what ways each culture has its positives and negatives. As it relates to ministry, cultures help guide you to an understanding of how best to approach people with God’s Word.

In Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, he explains how he dealt with all of life’s changes: “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might, by all means, save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22 

So, we can see that though our approach may need to vary, depending on culture, it also can be varied depending on the specific person’s own personality. This is true for all those that the Lord brings into our lives. It is quite clear, that the unique needs that different individuals have can often play a real role in determining our approach to sharing the gospel.

Over the past twenty-four years that I have been in full-time ministry, the country I am a citizen of and the country the Lord has allowed me to live in and serve, continuously changed with so many new developments, perspectives, and differences.

In the earlier years, I saw the vast differences to be related to culture only, but since the internet age the world has become a smaller place, and cultures have increasingly become intertwined with each other. What I saw and experienced and the way in which I approached ministry in my younger years requires a fresh outlook to teach today’s world.

As we travel we have come across these new and changing interests that hold people's attention. We see that so many modern-day events and new experiences call us to rethink just how we as missionaries approach those new subjects or issues in our ministry. We appreciate and understand their concerns! We recognize that this ever-changing world is disturbing to many! As we better understand how the world is changing it reminds us of the verses from 2 Timothy 3:1-5. In these verses, we have been clearly warned not to live like these “last days” lifestyles. We know we must take this warning to “turn away” as our own personal life choices if we are not to live disobedient lives ourselves. Pray for us, please.

“This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.”  

2 Timothy 3:1-5

So, as we respond to these concerns, we strongly believe we must re-focus our lives with prayerful concern and wisdom from the Lord.

We know that one aspect of ministry, (no matter the changes that go on around us,) should never change and it is the Great Commission that the Lord specifically has asked us to fulfill:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:

 and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” 

Matthew 28:19-20

We have observed so many times that once a person has accepted Christ as their personal Saviour the Holy Spirit works within them, helping them to see these warnings and truths for themselves. Others need to live a life pleasing to the Lord, but we know this never comes through our arguments or our efforts at convincing others. We can do nothing in ourselves to change the minds of others. The wisdom from above teaches us to be patient with those who are not yet making all the life choices needed to live in a new and different way. So, we share the truth and wait until the time that those we witness to turn to Christ, or those immature believers we meet have decided to respond to the truth. We want to faithfully continue to keep our eyes fixed on the Lord.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” 

Hebrews 12:2-3

By God’s grace, we do not want to allow the things of this world to distract us from sharing the Good News! Pray for us as we witness to all whom the Lord allows into our lives.