a tough question

Last night, I took part in a conference call for Operation Christmas Child volunteers from the central Mississippi area.  The plan is for us to do these once a month just so that we can stay connected and share ideas and such.  When I received the agenda for the call via e-mail, I quickly scanned through it and set it aside.  I did read the "Intro Question" but didn't stop at that moment to think about it.  It wasn't until Frances (our area coordinator) asked the question, and then chose me to pick on answer first, that this question really hit home with me.

What one way will you personally increase Gospel Opportunities in 2010?

I gave an answer with some things I have planned through our relay center and, at the time, it sounded okay.  But after the call had ended I really started thinking.  Of course, the Gospel Opportunities she was referring to are shoeboxes.  Each shoebox represents at least one person who will have the opportunity to hear the Good News, and in some cases each shoebox could reach up to 10 people.  This is what motivates me to personally pack as many boxes as I can and to encourage others to do the same and I will continue doing that very thing this year.

But, this question hit home with me in a different way as well.  As much as I love the ministry of Operation Christmas Child, I can't help but wonder if it fulfills my personal responsibility to reach the world around me.  No matter how many shoeboxes I touch each year, I cannot personally share the gospel with even one of the children who will receive those boxes.  Knowing this makes me thankful for the words of 1 Corinthians 3:7 ~ So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Please don't misunderstand me.  I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that God has called me to do what I do with the shoebox ministry.  As a matter of fact, there have been few times in my life when I have been so sure that what I am doing is what God has called me to do.

But that question up there has been like a beacon flashing in my head since last night and it forces me to ask another question:  what does God want me to do in my own back yard to personally share the Gospel with the people that I can see and touch and talk to?  The truth is,  I don't have an answer to that question ... at least not yet.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  Matthew 7:7-8

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 alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  Matthew 28:19-20

something special

This is a really special time in the life of our church. Right now, for the first time in the nearly 25 year history of the church, we have a mission team gearing up for a week of sharing God's love in Alaska.

Our church has always been mission minded. We have done local missions and we are great at giving money to missions, but we have never sent out a mission team from our church. Up to now, our biggest mission project has been Operation Christmas Child. This is a project that I love and will be blogging a lot about later in the year, but, as wonderful as it is, I don't think it is the same as sending out a mission team. I am so excited for the 4 people who have taken on this challenge to step outside of their comfort zone and do something they have never done before.

We have already seen God's hand in getting them to Alaska in the first place. I have to admit to a bit of skepticism at first. We first met the missionaries that our team will be working with in January ... not even four months ago. When Brad first began talking about going to Alaska for Crab Fest, I assumed that they were talking about Memorial Day 2010. But they felt so strongly that they needed to do this NOW, this year, that they couldn't imagine waiting a full year. So they forged ahead, making plans and trusting God to provide exactly what they needed to make this work.

And, God has provided. As I am typing this, the first two members of the team, Brad and our pastor, Bro. Don, have arrived in Anchorage and will be going on to Kodiak Island today. The other two members of the team should arrive in Anchorage late tonight and will head out to Kodiak tomorrow. I am so thankful for these four people. I believe that God is going to lead our church to a new level of missions because of their willingness to step out on faith and serve Him. I pray that God will show us, as individuals and as a church family, where and how He wants us to continue doing missions. Whether it be in our own backyard or in some remote land, we want to be open to His calling.

Our real life friends, Brad and Amy, have a blog that Brad will be updating from Alaska. I hope that you will visit them and perhaps even offer a few words of encouragement.

And to Bro. Don, Brad, Alicia and Hunter ... we love y'all and will be praying that God will guide every step and every word as you share His love with those you meet this week.