I received a letter the other day from some missionaries who, like many others, are experiencing a decline in their offerings. I think we can all agree that our finances can be a real challenge. It's hard to make ends meet. For some of us, we have more month left at the end of the money. Unfortunately, one of the first places people look at for cutbacks is in giving. It has the least impact on us personally. When I read the letter from these missionaries, I wondered if people have considered what would happen if all the missionaries had to come home because of lack of support? What would this world be like without missionaries? What if there were no more missionaries?
What if...
there was no one to go to hostile countries and tell them of God's love?
there was no one to translate the Bible into foreign languages and dialects?
there was no one to start orphanages in poor and destitute countries?
there was no one to care for the widows and elderly in third-world countries?
there was no one to train pastors, evangelists, and teachers in countries eager to learn?
there was no one to take medicine or medical help to dying nations?
there was no one to bring the Light of the world into a darkness of lies?
there was no one to see, first-hand, the persecution of the Church in other countries and bring news back to America?
These are just a few of the things that missionaries, whom we know personally, are doing for the Kingdom of God. Some of these things we have done ourselves. Missionaries, sent ones, are God's vehicle for taking His good news to the nations.
They are the ones to accomplish the command Jesus gave - "Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations .... teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;" (Matt. 28:19,20)
And in Mark 16:15, Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." In Acts 1:8, Jesus said we would be a witness to Him to the end of the earth. Romans 10:14 & 15 asks us, "How can people believe something they haven't heard, and how can they hear about it unless someone tells them, and how can someone tell them if they can't go?"
Missionaries are a primary means of spreading the Gospel in the whole earth. Jesus isn't returning until the Gospel is preached to all the nations. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matt. 24:14) We know personally how financially challenging these days are. Acts 29 Ministries has been affected. We support missionaries through Acts 29. Some months are more challenging than others, but we have determined that we are not going to stop. The world needs missionaries. God needs missionaries. If you support a missionary - praise God! Keep it up! If you have stopped supporting a missionary, please reconsider.
Giving into the Kingdom should not be the first place to go for cutbacks. You may not think you have anything left to give, or you may think the little that you have won't do much good. Look at it like this - if you gave a dollar a week, that's fifty-two more dollars that missionary has than if you didn't give. In some countries, $52 could be a month's groceries. God gives seed to the sower. If you have a heart to give, God will show you where the money is. And it will probably be in places you haven't looked before.
Next time you see a missionary, or send an offering to your missionary, tell them how much you appreciate what they are doing. If you're not supporting a missionary, find one to support. Keep the Gospel spreading throughout the world!
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