Missions and Outreach Tidbits Why does God allow poverty? A letter from Zimbabwe Does anybody hear her? Go and make disciples Thanksgiving The Good News Hungry Planet - Time Magazine Photo Essay

Two guys are talking to each other, and the one of them says he has a question for God. He wants to ask why God allows all of this poverty and war and suffering to exist in the world. And his friend says, "Well, why don't you ask?" The fellow shakes his head and says he is scared. When his friend asks why, he mutters, "I'm scared God will ask me the same question." Over and over, when I ask God why all of these injustices are allowed to exist in the world, I can feel the Spirit whisper to me, "You tell me why we allow this to happen. You are my body, my hands, my feet." - Shane Claiborne, The Irresistable Revolution, Zondervan, 2006

A letter from Zimbabwe How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. (Hab. 1:2-4)

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see? Or does anybody even know she's going down today Under the shadow of our steeple With all the lost and lonely people Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?          - Casting Crowns, © 2005 Club Zoo Music These challenging words from the chorus of a song about a homeless woman remind us as a church congregation not to look inwardly but to see the needs around us. Jesus said: "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light." (Luke 8:16, NIV). Let us share this light, this hope, that we have found. Back to top

"Go and make disciples of all nations..." – Jesus, Matthew 28:19 (The Great Commission) "The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed." - J. Hudson Taylor, founder of Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) International. As Christians, we are called by the Lord to participate in reaching people from every tribe, tongue and nation. All Christians - not just missionaries - are called to this great task. OMF offers some ways you can be involved without actually going to a foreign country: Pray - for a specific missionary, ministry, or people group Send - others as missionaries through encouragement, logistical support, and financial giving Welcome - international students attending either of our universities Back to top

Thanksgiving As we give thanks for all the blessings we enjoy, we must think about our world where 3 billion people survive on less than $2 a day and nearly that many are still unreached with the gospel. But, some would say, giving too much to indigenous ministries in the developing world creates an unhealthy dependence and destroys dignity. However, perhaps we should also consider the perspective of John Rowell, president of Ministry Resource Network, pastor, and author of To Give or Not to Give: Rethinking Dependency, Restoring Generosity, and Redefining Sustainability (2007): "[That foreign funding is a negative influence] is not Paul's perspective. As the apostle writes in 2 Corinthians 9:8-14, charitable giving is not an insidious danger but an important kingdom dynamic. Those who receive material help will not only have their physical needs met, they will be grateful and rejoice over God's grace. They will praise the Lord. They will pray for the donors who helped them. They will feel more connected with the body of Christ because of the relief they have experienced through the generosity of their spiritual brothers and sisters. "Paul offers Christians an amazing promise: 'You will be made rich in every way so you may be generous on every occasion.' This verse applies to rich and poor believers alike, and we must assume that shared wealth is one way God intends to prosper poorer brethren so that they too may practice generosity. As Jesus himself put it, having freely received, all disciples are expected to freely give. This passage reflects an expectation that the ongoing ministry of giving and receiving is part of God's plan for his church in all ages, all cultures, and all economic levels of society. "In the tension between encouraging generosity and discouraging dependency, we find one of the most crucial places for us to discern what we must learn and unlearn to be effective agents of God's mission in the world. In the final analysis, we ought not to be confused about where God stands on the matter. His position is made too clear in Scripture. God so loved the world that he gave—and so must we." Read the full article Back to top

The Good News "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19 NIV) Jesus, after reading this passage from the scroll of Isaiah 61, then amazed his hearers by informing them "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:21) This was no ordinary good news, and no ordinary messenger. It was nothing less than God's long-awaited salvation, proclaimed by the Messiah himself. God had indeed come to the rescue of a world in need. No wonder, then, that it became known in short as to euangelion, the good news. Such good news is for sharing, and any church worthy of the name must ensure that it happens. - the Rev. Dr. Michael Green Back to top

Time Magazine Photo Essays - Hungry Planet: What the World Eats    Part I      Part II      Part III

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