Why I Do Missions!

If you're interested, you will do what is convenient; if you're committed, you'll do whatever it takes. 

-J Assaraf

I attended Liberty Bible College for pastoral ministry. Little did I know how my world view would change at my first Missions conference. That is where I first met and heard Wayne Myers. My life's direction changed in that meeting! World Missions=The Father's Heart!

Upon graduation I journeyed with my wife Debi and two other great couples to Scotland. A thriving church was planted. I returned back to work as Assistant Director of Globe under the direction of Bob Bishop. I travelled extensively to churches promoting world missions. Many didn't have a missions vision or it was minimal at best. During these times I was making observations that guided me and the establishment of a 'Missions minded church' that I now pastor, The Vine Fellowship. Our vision statement...connecting to God, other Christians and the world defines who we are as a church and guides where we invest our time and finances.

Rescue the perishing, don't hesitate to step and help! Pro 24.11 TMB

Three things guided me these 20 years here: 1. An annual Missions Conference; 2. Involvement of the members in World Missions; 3. Care for the Missionaries during the conference.

1. Annual Missions Conference- This is what I consider the highlight of our year. We have a set date for it every year. We establish a theme, hang banners, invite missionaries, hold a 4 day conference, do Faith Promise giving, and enjoy the results. The Sundays before and after the conference are always given to Global Missions messages. I understand thoroughly that the Pastor is THE KEY to a successful Missions vision in his church. No vision + no program + no involvement=no heart of the Father demonstrated! I do not delegate missions to another!

2. If you relegate your Missions program to a budget item then your people will not have a heart for it nor be missions minded. We stress to our members that we focus on reaching the world through support of world missions. Through the missionaries we preach the love of Jesus, help feed hungry children, send students to school, teach people how to grow their own food, raise up and train indigenous pastors, plant churches, and train more missionaries to go out and do the same. We believe in and support world missions. Our people are directly involved by prayer, provision, and participation. We keep the missionaries and their respected needs before the people via Sunday, small groups, Bulletin boards, and prayer for them being incorporated on our published Church calendar. We give them the opportunity to be personally involved with a missionary through their giving. As Wayne Myers said, "Do your giving while your living that way you know where it is going!" Their participation is by attending the missions conference, meals and fellowship with missionaries, and short term trips to visit them.

3. Our care for the missionaries when they are at our Missions Conference can best be described as doting! We are compassionate, sensitive and caring to their needs. We make sure their time with us is a stress reliever not a means of added stress. We are light hearted, fun loving with them. We encourage their laughter and do fun things with them: we give them 'fun money' as they arrive to spend on what they want while with us, we take them shopping, do lunches and dinners with them and our staff, visit places around the area i.e. Dallas Cowboy Stadium, Dallas Aquarium, Ft. Worth Arboretum, Ft. Worth Cowtown, etc. We take them to game places i.e. Alley Cats, Dave and Busters, and give them game tokens and play Laser Tag, etc. When they leave we give them a generous honorarium!

But probably the biggest thing that our church does is consider the missionaries true heroes of the Faith! Standing ovations, cards of appreciation, hugs, and tears are demonstrated to them and for them! We love our missionaries!

The Vine Fellowship is committed and we do whatever it takes! Shouldn't we all???

Step In and Help!

Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help. Prov 24:11 TMB

What a great and dynamic Missions Conference we had last week! We do this on an annual basis. It is a highlight of our year. I don’t have these conferences for myself nor for the church's benefit; it is for our missionaries and those that are without Jesus! We are doing what we can to step in and help! A church having a mission’s conference shows missionaries that someone is behind them. It is a time to ‘renew our concern’ for them for yet another year. (Phil 4:10). It also shows our consistent effort to make this gospel of Jesus known in the entire world.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? Rom 10:14-15 NIV

That is why we do outreach globally as well as locally. We doing an Adopt-A-Block outreach for the month of April. Why? To show forth the love of Christ in a practical and tangible way that will affect lives.

Is it working?

Just this week we had a man and his son stop by the church. He had a box full of groceries that he wanted to donate to our food pantry. He said that he and his family had gone through a rough time last year and needed to rely upon the kindness of our church in our outreaches and food pantry.  They wouldn’t have had food without us! He now is on food stamps as he is looking for a job and they had more groceries than they needed. So, he brought them here to help us and others!

Man, that ought to make your heart rejoice and your mouth shout ‘Praise God!’

Pastor, make sure you keep your church Missions and outreach minded! That is our Great Co-mission!

Rescue The Perishing!

Today begins our World Missions Conference. It is an exciting time and in keeping with why we are here as a church and fulfills our vision as I mentioned last week (listen to sermon 'Why We Do Missions' here). Some weeks ago Pastor Rob shared his take on world missions here at the Vine:

The question has been asked, "If your church closed its doors and disappeared today, who would notice?" I believe the 14 missionaries along the back wall of our church represent hundreds of people who would notice if Vine Fellowship closed its doors today. The vision of Vine Fellowship is to connect people to God, other Christians and the world. Through these missionaries we preach the love of Jesus, help feed hungry children, send students to school, teach people how to grow their own food, raise up and train indigenous pastors, plant churches, and train more missionaries to go out and do the same.


I hope that world missions is a part of who are as a member of The Vine Fellowship. You play a vital role.  Not only do we Faith Promise financial support for our missionaries during our conference, but we also hear from our missionaries and allow God to speak to us about the role he wants us to play in these ministries. Another big role we fill is loving and supporting our missionaries. Your attendance at our gatherings shows our missionaries the heart of Vine Fellowship says to them, "Keep doing what you are doing. You are important to us and we will partner with you in this work." That is a great word from Pastor Rob!

Today, join with me in welcoming our missionaries. We say to them all this morning, 'We love you and we are very proud of you!’

Your Significant Life!

I preached a sermon on ‘Your Significant Life.’ It followed the my theme of my last blog, We are here by design not accident and have an important role to play in the lives of others that only we can accomplish! I have had people give me additional information of personal accounts of ‘The Butterfly Effect’ in their lives!

Joni Eareckson Tada writes: "In her quiet sanctuary Diane turns her head slightly on the pillow, toward the corkboard on the wall. Her eyes scan each photo. Every torn piece of paper carefully pinned in a row. She's praying. The creeping limitations of multiple sclerosis encroach further each year. Her fingers are curled and rigid. Her voice is barely a whisper. People might look at her and say, 'What a shame. Her life has no meaning.' But Diane is convinced that her life is significant; that her labor of prayer counts. She moves mountains that block the paths of missionaries, helps open the eyes of the spiritually blind in Southeast Asia, and pushes back the kingdom of darkness that blackens the alleys of the gangs in East Los Angeles. Diane is on the front lines, advancing the Kingdom of God.

This woman sees her place in the world. It doesn't matter that others may not recognize her significance. She is a woman of major significance influencing the lives of millions!

It's my prayer that you will discover the significance that has been yours all along as a child of the King. You may not be able to know the full meaning of every event, but you can know that every event is meaningful-and that you are significant!

Texas Room

Texas Room

Debi and I are in Scotland. We came over on Sept 27, 2010 to spend a late vacation with friends and a ministry we support here in Scotland.

The picture above is the Texas Room at the Overtoun House in Dumbarton, Scotland. It is run by our friends Bob and Melissa Hill. We decorated this room with things we brought over from Texas.

The Texas Room along with other rooms will help in the vision for the ministry:

Care for Young Mothers

Specifically we will be providing care for young mothers in crisis with a residential facility, which
will include nurturing, and training for life. These services will be comprised of training in life skills such as mothering and childcare, health and hygiene, job training, conflict management, and social responsibility. Our hope is to prepare them for their future life within the broader community and equip them to be responsible citizens. Local churches will help provide caring structures to ease their transition back into the community.

Women in Crisis

We will also provide for the short term care of abused women within our community in support of the current social work programmes. This would, in effect, be an emergency based provision
of love and care, as well as protection for these women while they await sheltered accommodation provided by the local authority. These facilities will house both the women and their children. It is our hope to work alongside local churches and social work to provide continuing support for these women within our communities.

The Vine Fellowship is delighted to fund and equip this room to be a place where the needs of women and young mothers can be provided.

Thanks to Bob and Melissa for the opportunity to provide for and serve this great ministry.

What’s Happened to the Great Commission?

Mt 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Ac 1:6-8
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

These are the wonderful and matchless words of Jesus. Here in these words are the strategy and call of His church until He returns. These are His methods and desire for His church. Many have preached on them but too few have actually put them in to practice! Some are hold up in their 'Jerusalem' and just concentrating on building there to the exclusion of the 'Judea, Samaria, and ends of the earth.' We stress bigger, better, and larger at home and have a minimal effort globally, if at all.

Less than 15% of evangelical churches have some viable form of a global missions program. And yet with just that 15% we are making some Kingdom advancements! Just think how this could all be ended and Jesus returns if we were all on board.

We have it all backward:
1. Looking to build at home instead of putting money and personnel into the Global cause.

2. We respond to a Global disaster with money thinking that qualifies as a missions outreach. It placates our consciences that tell us we are not doing the right things.

3. We build bigger and better buildings that get foreclosed on in down economic times.

4. We are suspicious towards the appeals to help starving children thinking it’s a sham and only stuffing someone else’s pocket.

5. We may have great leaders and communicators in the church today but they have no vision for Global outreach and are content to let the 15% struggle along to accomplish the task.

6. Leaders investing in their own personal lives and locality rather than investing in the Kingdom advancement.

Herein is the problem. I always taught in Bible College that the key to a successful Missions program in the local church is the Pastor. If he wasn't on board fully, the efforts of the church would be minimal. Here is the formula- pastor + no Global vision = no missions!

Mt 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Forgive us Lord Jesus for not doing what you commissioned us to stay here and do. Honest, we really do want you to return for your Bride even though we tarry and are busy just adorning ourselves.

You and Global Impact?

Discontented selfish Christians and churches never become great mission givers!

What is your global impact?

The Top Priority- period!

High on God’s ‘To Do List’ is the evangelization of the world. His early disciples were counted on to tell others. After all, ‘How shall they hear, Rom 10.15’, unless we are the ones who go and tell them.

There is a legend which recounts the return of Jesus to glory after His time on earth. Even in heaven He bore the marks of His earthly pilgrimage with its cruel cross and shameful death. The angel Gabriel approached Him and said ‘Master, you must have suffered terribly for men down there.’ ‘I did,’ He said. Gabriel continued, ‘Do they know all about how you loved them and what you did for them?’ ‘Oh no, not yet, right now only a handful of people know,’ Jesus replied. Gabriel was perplexed, ‘Then what have you done to let everyone know about your love for them?'

Jesus said ‘I’ve asked Peter, James, John and a few more friends to tell other people about me. Those who are told will in turn tell other people, and my story will be spread to the farthest reaches of the globe. Ultimately, all mankind will have heard about my life and what I have done.’

Gabriel frowned and looked rather skeptical. He knew well what poor stuff men were made of. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘but what if Peter and James and John grow weary? What if the people who come after them forget? Haven’t you made any other plans?’

Jesus responded, ‘I have no other plans. I’m counting on them.’

His early disciples adopted His priorities and devoted themselves to reaching their world. Christ counted on them, and they delivered. Have we done it as well?

We at The Vine Fellowship are serious about His priority- we support 15 missionary families around the globe. We do take seriously the top priority for Christ's church!

Failed Co-Mission

I am sitting here in Costa Rica on a balcony looking out to the Pacific with lush greenery, amazing Condos and homes spread around this beautiful resort, Reserva Conchal. Yet within miles of this place it still has much poverty and the need of Jesus.

It reminded me of the American church scene. We are building opulent ‘ghettos’ in the midst of suffering and poverty. We can hide out in our ‘resorts’ and soon forget why we are really here.

The American church scene is full of destruct, reconstruct, makeovers, get back to the basics, new models, new generation paradigms, build it bigger and they will come, have ‘rock concert’ performances and call it worship, etc. all trying to make the church better (?) and getting sidetracked in the process. Hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars are spent on conferences to teach us how to do it better, tear it down and redo it, criticize the current ones, establish new models, etc. Not to mention the countless man hours wasted getting to these conferences then sitting there dialoging about it all. There are even people who want to get paid to strategize, talk, dream and attend conferences. They want me to pay for a lifestyle of meaningless activity that falls short of producing any meaningful change for the Kingdom of God.

We have become a Mars Hill experience and are in danger of erecting a monument to the ‘unknown god’ because we have forgotten Him, His commands and His power. Forgetting that Jesus said He would build His church we have tried to contextualize it, homogenize it, strategize it, box it and then sell it.

My prayer is that all the naysayers will get off their big butts and get back to the stuff. If we don’t the world will still perish on our watch.

Lives Touched -

click pic to enlarge

We did our 'Thanksgiving in a Bag' outreach to the community today. Gave away 101 bags of Thanksgiving groceries and Turkeys.

We heard heart breaking stories and prayed for many of those attending. My wife, Debi, prayed for one lady to receive Christ- eternity is now in her heart!

I want to thank the wonderful crew of volunteers that came out and did 'the stuff' to make this a great success. God's love was demonstrated in a very practical way today!

Makes a Pastor proud!

Thanksgiving in a Bag - 2008

I am excited about this morning (Sat. Nov 22, 2008). We will do our annual Thanksgiving in a Bag outreach. It was a resounding success last year and I expect it will be again this year. I will publish pics of it next week.

Weymouth New Testament -- For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was homeless, you gave me a welcome... Mt.25:35

You can visit our website for more info here.

Power From On High!

‘We need the power in this last hour.’

The above words are from an old chorus we used to sing. I woke up singing this song in my heart this morning. I believe it was there because we studied a chapter from Bill Johnson’s book ‘When Heaven Invades Earth’ last night in our Life Group. It was his chapter on ‘Powerlessness: Unnecessary and Unbalanced.’

There were a few ‘ouch’ paragraphs in that chapter. ‘Ouch’ means a thought that struck deeply in my soul, made me feel uncomfortable, and I definitely got the point. Here’s one:
Many believers have made it their primary goal in life to be well respected citizens of their communities. Good character enables us to be solid contributors to society, but most of what is recognized as a Christian lifestyle can be accomplished by people who don’t even know God. While character must be at the heart of our ministries, power revolutionizes the world around us. Until the church returns to Jesus’ model for true revolutionaries, we will continue to be recognized by the world merely as nice people—while it is overcome with disease and torment, on its way to hell.

Many people think they are going to heaven because they live as good a life as the Christian they know. You hear it time and time again. They may be able to duplicate our good conduct, but they can never duplicate the power of God unleashed through us!

Even after being trained by Jesus Himself, the disciples were told by Him to wait in Jerusalem because they had need of power for the future task at hand. When they got it they knew it. It was an encounter with God that transformed them! We too are to receive that power not to help us overcome sin but to be active agents in changing the world around us!

Other ‘ouch’ comments from the book; Johnson states that too many Christians think they have to become better Christians before God can use them. That single lie has kept us in perpetual immaturity because it protects us from the power-encounter that transforms us. The result is we have converts trained and over trained until they have no life, vision, or ingenuity left.

Revolutionaries win because they have power. Saints, we need the power so that we can do what the disciples did, change the then known world. We deceive ourselves if we think we can do it without it!

They did it with power from on high!

Populate or Disintegrate!!

Stagnant -- not advancing or developing (the economy is stagnant)

The economy is not the only thing that can go stagnant. How about a church going stagnant? How about your church growing stagnant and becoming irrelevant to our society?

What are some signs of a stagnant (dying) church? Consider these (list not exhaustive):
-Declining or steady number of baptism, attendance, and giving
-Little excitement for outreach or mission to save the lost
-Few new and young families
-Church work is perceived as what takes place inside the church building only
-Prevailing sense of complacency
-Witness and outreach effort are done mainly by the pastors
-A high percentage of inactive members

Jesus stated what our purpose as the church was and if we fail to follow this we become like the list above:

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. Mt 5:13-16 TMB

Who among us wants to be thrown out, to be put in the garbage? None of us do! But that is what a church is in danger of if they fail to realize why they are here. Too many think churches are all about them, getting their needs met, and gazing at each other’s navels.

It is not! It is about being the Kingdom of God here on earth and visible to the world! It means demonstrating God’s love to all. It means going out to bring them in. It means inviting people to our activities. It means going out to where they are so as to reach them. How will they be saved if they don’t hear the message from you and me?

How do we avoid becoming stagnant?
-Invite your friends to services and special events?
-Endeavor to pray and seek new souls for the Kingdom of God.
-Encourage young families to come to the church.
-Help with your churches outreaches?

We either populate the church with new souls and families or we disintegrate!

(Listen, I am in FL for vacation- last post for a week! See you again on the 18th. Until then stay safe!)

Update- Pastor Phillip Miles Released!

This is an update on a previous post.

From the church website:

Monday, June 23, 2008

Pastor Phillip Miles is being released! The court of appeals deliberated for 10 minutes after arguments were made and reduced his sentence and ordered his immediate release from prison. We hope to have Pastor Miles home in the next several days. Thanks to all for your prayers and support.

Pastor Phillip Miles - Bullets Get You a Russian Jail Cell!

Travelling overseas in some countries is always a risky proposition. What you carry with you is always open to scrutiny. There are many things that I would suggest that you not take with you - add bullets to the list!

To know more about this and keep an update of Pastor Miles' appeals. go to Christ Community Church website and click on 'News Update.'

I have known his dad Houston for many years. Let's pray for them all and especially for Pastor Miles release and his wife, Lynn, to be encouraged and comforted.

Deputized!

The Sheriff is in town and you have been deputized!

Joshua 10:24-25 NIV
When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight."

Col 2:15 NIV
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Lk 10:17-19
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” NIV

There was a missionary who went to Africa to preach the Gospel. One day he was going to preach somewhere and he rode on his horse. When the horse got to a certain location, it stopped and refused to move. The man got off the horse and looked round to see what was there. He saw a big snake near a big stone and he was scared.

Having heard stories of dangerous snakes in Africa, he started to calculate what solution could help out. He decided to quietly move back to his horse and go back home, saying that he would apologize to the congregation for not coming. He then heard the Holy Spirit say he would have failed in his duty, if he did that. He summed up courage and picked stones and threw them at the snake. To his surprise, the snake did not move. He moved back and threw more; then he realized that it was already dead. This means he was occupied for about 30 minutes, by a dead, harmless snake.

We spend too much time concerned with the attacks of the devil when we have been given authority and power over him. Jesus wants us to walk in that victorious authority here on earth. It is part of His Kingdom being demonstrated on earth through us. We have been deputized-we are appointed by Jesus as His substitute with power to act!

Let’s act like it!

2008 Global Missions Conference

We just finished up our annual Missions Conference (been doing this for 18 years). I was asked by a pastor how we keep it going and get the participation of our people - my answer to him - Leadership!

We had a great time as we focused on the Heart of God for the lost. Our theme this year was 'Testify of the Light' (Jn 1:7). Our missionaries with us this year were Dirk, Elizabeth and Abigail Wood (South Africa); Craig, Michelle and Justin Logan (Philippines); Brad and Jan Thurston (Germany); Mark Ost (France); Noel Elberto (Pastor- Philippines).

The missionaries did an outstanding job in all the services. We had 'Christmas in March' giving them gifts, fun money, and a delightful Christmas meal with all the trimmings!

The picture above is our Fun Day at Alley Cats with our missionaries and our staff; and, of course, Starbucks.

Jesus said we are to go into all the world. What is it about that statement that so many churches don't get today with some even curtailing their global missions emphasis? I would hate to have to answer to our Lord for that one!

Tony Campolo once said, "You had better go to heaven with the picture of a international child that you are supporting on your refrigerator!" I might add you better have the names and countries of missionaries there also!

Let's be obedient to our Lord and fulfill His Great Commission! Pastor don't let it be your great omission!

Watch Online as Souls are Brought into the Kingdom!

We are in the midst of our annual Global Missions Conference. We've done this now for the past 18 years! A responsibility of the local church is to 'Go into all the World.' I really don't understand why pastors with all their various emphases fail in this area, fail to promote and fund Global Missions. What could be more plain and a directive from Jesus Himself. If you're not, it is disobedience!

Here is a list of the missionaries that the Vine supports. They are great Men and Women of God! We are very proud of them.

Missionaries with us this year are Dirk and Elizabeth Wood (South Africa), Craig and Michelle Logan (Philippines), Brad and Jan Thurston (Germany), and Mark Ost(France). We also have a special guest Noel Elberto, a pastor from the Philippines.

Mark Ost told us last night of a website that has been started in France in a number of languages that leads people through a 6 page introduction to Christianity. At the end they can respond by becoming a Christian. They have had over 5 million hits with close to 530,000 becoming Christians! You can track is online at http://www.topc.com/joy-in-heaven/.

Amazing, simply amazing! I am pumped! Check it out!!!

Savingsexcity.com ????!!!!???

Annie Lobert and Heather Veitch are “Hookers for Jesus.” They are born-again Christians who used to be prostitutes in Las Vegas, Nevada. Now they are sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people in Las Vegas, especially women in the adult entertainment industry.

Lobert and Veitch are preparing to testify for Jesus at the Adult Entertainment Expo, the biggest adult industry convention in the country, which takes place in Las Vegas every January and is the adult movie version of the Oscars. Lobert and Veitch will be working the convention floor handing out cards and telling whoever will listen about Jesus Christ. A lot of potential listeners are available as 40,000 are anticipated to attend the Adult Entertainment Expo.

Why the name, “Hookers for Jesus”? -- Veitch says it's catchy. She is not selling her body, but she is going into places where women do sell their bodies in order to introduce them to Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ came to save sinners. Pray for Lobert and Veitch as they witness for Jesus in a prominently sinful mission field. Glad God called them to this!

Thanksgiving in a Bag --

The last time we were at Deaver Park was to hand out Back to School Backpacks. Saturday, Nov 17th, we handed out 'Thanksgiving in a Bag.' The saints at the Vine took paper bags with shopping lists on them and filled them with items for a Thanksgiving meal. The church bought Turkeys with the help of a local Krogers.

A lot of work went into the preparation, setup, and the facilitating of the event. A big thanks to Brooke, Rob, and the great crew of volunteers that showed up and made it happen. Not only was there food but bounce houses, face painting, football, soccer, and just horsing around!

We were able to give out 100 'Thanksgiving in a Bag.' We had an opportunity to pray with over 90% of those that received the groceries for whatever needs they had.

Check out more great pictures of the outreach here!

It is definitely an outreach that we will be doing again!