Articles include:
Utah Church Celebrates Missions
Book Review by Bennett Sanderson
Pray for our
Utah-Idaho
Team of 10 serving in the Middle East
this month.
Missions Involvement! Missions Giving! Missional Living!
As a missions leader I am always on the lookout for simple, inexpensive resources that can be used in any church – no matter the size, as well as resources that are intergenerational. I am excited to tell you about Generation M (M stands for missions!), a new downloadable missions resource. It’s an access point that connects believers of all ages to an increased biblical and missional understanding of their responsibility and opportunities for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. It can be used in small group settings of any kind. The “Christ Followers” series is based on the book of Acts, specifically Acts 1:8, and provides an undated lesson plan that includes the following:
- A 52- week Bible study divided into four units of 13 sessions ($9.99 for each unit and once you purchase a download you can make as many copies as needed!)
- An integrated structure that includes discussion of the contemporary world, present-day missions, and missions involvement.
- Quarterly units of study adapted to the educational needs of all age ranges, including preschool, children, student/youth, and adults.
- The Bible study portion centers on relevant ideas for ministry in today’s world.
How do you access Generation M – Christ Followers series?
The units are now available for purchase on www.wmustore.com website under the ‘digital downloads’ at the top of the page. You can also download a free sample!
Resource Links
Drama and Skits that promote Missions Education from IMB
http://ime.imb.org/resources/
download/skits.asp
Your Church a Worldwide Mission Center
The Acts 1:8 Challenge
WMU challenges Christian believers to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God.
For great missions education material for every age level visit www.wmu.com
Backpack Missions
An Exciting
Anytime Anywhere Children's Mission Education Strategy
http://www.namb.net/site/c.9q
KILUOzEpH/b.1704255/k.9885/
Backpack_Missions.htm
Interview
with a Missions Leader
WMU’s spring edition of Missions Leader features an interview with Rick Warren, the influential cofounder and senior pastor of California’s Saddleback Church and author of best-selling book, The Purpose-Driven Life. Read about Warren’s call to ministry, passion for missions, heart for the AIDS crisis, and how missions leaders can pass on the passion for missions to the next generation.
First Baptist Church Vernal Celebrates Missions
On December 10, FBC, Vernal, Utah used both sunday services to promote the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and to "love on" several of God's choicest servants and their families. Pastor Bob Wells and his family was invited to spend the day with the people of the church. Wells and his family were asked to share their ministry at Living Waters Baptist Church, East Carbon, Utah with the sunday school classes in a question and answer time. Wells also brought a message during the morning worship time. There were four baptisms that morning and both the Sunday School (90) and Worship service (131) were the highest the church has seen in a long time.
Beth Ann Williams and her family joined us for the evening sessions. The evening started off with a fellowship dinner featuring dishes from Mexico (to represent the new Spanish ministry), Taiwanese (representing a church member who will be working with IMB missionaries in Taiwan) and Middle Eastern dishes
(for the three who may go overseas next year). Tables were set up around the gym displaying information and encouraging people to get involved in the Disaster Relief ministry and mission trips to World Changers, East Carbon, Mexico and Idaho.
Following the meal, a mission service was held. Both Pastor Wells and Women's ministry consultant Williams shared about their ministries. The church then shared a love gift and gift baskets with each of them. Pastor Randy Myers shared a message about God's heart for missions. The Lottie Moon Christmas offering was taken. After a time of sharing how the church is an Acts 1:8 church, the total for the LMCO offering was announced. The church had set a goal of $5500. The total of the offering and pledges was over $6100. After much praising the service was closed. What a marvelous day in the Lord!!
Submitted by
Pastor Randy Myers
FBC Vernal, Utah
Book Review
And the Word Came with Power. By Joanne Shetler with Patricia Purvis. Orlando: Wycliffe Bible Translators, 2000. 164 pages. Paperback, $8.99.
Imagine driving three days from civilization then hiking two more. Imagine leaving behind your family and friends then moving into a village of headhunters. Imagine having to learn an unwritten language, organize it into an alphabet, build an entirely new vocabulary, and then interpret the New Testament Bible into that language, all while caring for the sick and overseeing a brand new church. That was Joanne Shetler’s task with the Balangao people in the Philippine mountains. Her book relates the amazing story of how God’s word has power to cross cultural bounds and change people’s lives. Shelter presents the personal struggle she faced in realizing her dream in reference to God’s ultimate plan.
Shetler tells of the balancing act between
caring for the needs of the people and getting her language work done. One at a time Balangao people began to understand and accept the Gospel. They began to see God work in various ways through the American woman who had come to write down their language. She directed them to the Word, and by the Word they were changed. She struggled against evil spirits, constant questioning, and major disappointments. Through all of Shetler’s efforts the people were best drawn to God simply by the revelation of His Word. The people not only accepted the message of Christ; they also accepted His charge to tell others the gospel. They went from village to village helping to do for others what Shetler had done for them.
The story itself makes this book worth reading. The Balangao people are a
testimony to Jesus' passion to see people from every nation redeemed. This story is made even more compelling because Shetler tells it from a context to which all Christians can relate. She is searching for God's will for her life, and it is only through full submission to Christ that Shetler sees her dreams realized and her Savior glorified. In the end she is not a woman of great strength or great knowledge or great skill; she is simply a woman who believes with all her heart in the power of the God's Word to change the world.
Reflecting on her time in the Philippines, Shetler said, “I have learned to surrender my dreams to Him. And He has made the reality of living according to his plan even better than my greatest dreams.”
Reviewed by
Bennett Sanderson
Mission Pastor
NorthStar Church
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
Bloggers Invited
Telling the stories of Utah-Idaho Southern Baptists together on mission. http://www.uanditogether.blogspot.com/
Help us
make this an exciting place to read about what God is doing across
Utah and Idaho by sending us your stories and pictures to bpepper@uisbc.org.
Telling others about the site.
We Want to Hear From You!
· Tell us about how God used you to teach others to be on mission
· Share a testimony about your mission trip
· Ideas on raising funds for mission trips
· Share with us how your group is on mission
· Review of mission education material you have used
· Book reviews
email to bpepper@uisbc.org
or
snail mail to
UISBC, Bill Pepper
PO Box 1347
Draper UT 84020
For more information about Missions Education and Involvement in Utah-Idaho
visit us at
A Special Thank You
