Musings and meditations about missions from a missionary.
I came across this modern day parable representing the intense focus on local ministry, and the trifle that churches spend on foreign missions. I think you will like it. It is very short (about a page long) but it is a good read.
The Art of Persuasion Universal principles of influence. The author gives 6 tips to get people to be persuaded by your request.
Missionary Problems Difficult This post is my own response to an article in “Askamissionary.com”
“What do Missionaries wish they had known before they first went?”
As a missionary, what are we doing in making a missionary presentation? Perhaps to answer the question, we need to look at this from the opposite angle, why should people listen to missionary presentations? I came across an interesting post here Why hear a Missionary Presentation? which got me thinking.
I think one of the most biblical reasons I have come across is from
Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
The presenting of what a missionary does on the mission field is very important. But beyond just important to the missionary because he needs more prayer and money, or important to the church because they don’t know where their money is going and want information, it is important because God says it is important. Without a clear deep rooted belief that this is necessary AND BIBLICALLY COMMANDED, a missionary will not fulfill God’s purposes and objectives in giving their missionary report.
Jesus told His disciples to “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields” (John 4:35b), and hearing a missionary presentation is one good way to obey that command. (Barbara’s observation)
I think that this is very true. This passage reveals the biblical command for us to “disengage” with our local ministry for a spell, and engage with world missions. This is what the Great Commission is all about, “Go out and teach ALL NATIONS” Mat. 28:19. We cannot get away from this command, and somehow, through the proxy system know as missions, we are to fulfill this part of God’s command as equally as we do locally in our home church where we live.
This “engaging” is much more than sending a check or praying a prayer. It is getting involved with the work of missions outside of the United States (or wherever your home country is). This means first of all praying for the work there. Without information on what is being done, how it is going (frustrations, set-backs, and victories) as well as plans, you cannot pray intelligently. The most important part of praying is being accurately and timely informed of prayer needs and answers.
A Review of the Sales Navigator App for iOS is a reference to an article on mapping contact information and grouping and dealing with them.
Link: A Review of the Sales Navigator App for iOS by Adam Young
(Note that I, personally, am an Android user, so I don’t have an Apple phone. Actually, any sales app can be used by a missionary, but I personally prefer and use TNT Connect which is especially designed for use by missionaries, including keeping their support and donations information, as well as reminders for thank you notes.)
Missionary on and his Furlough Spiritual Needs is an article by David Cox (veteran missionary) to help pastors and missionaries.
How Pastors can help their missionaries on Deputation is help from a veteran missionary of over 30+ years on his opinions and suggestions. Some missionaries have done a jam up job on raising support, and most of what I say is not applicable to them, because they have enough money coming in each month as well as funds accumulated in their bank accounts to live several years without any noticeable financial problems. While some are “well off”, a vast majority of missionaries are on the edge of financial chaos and ruin. It is a miracle how they hold their lives together.
Note: The references to “missionary” or “missionaries” in this article are specifically referring to missionaries home on furlough, doing deputation work, or just resting.
Helping Returning Missionaries are my thoughts and suggestions for missionaries returning on furlough to the States.
Helping Returning Missionaries
By Missionary David Cox
I recently saw a post on LinkedIn about helping missionaries returning from the field. I felt it was pretty poor and scarce as far as information and material, so I am making a similar post, and trying to fill it out more.
Missionary Problems: “I wish I had known how difficult long-term fruit really is.” explores the fact that seeing spiritual fruit in a person’s life is a long term affair.
This post is my own response to an article in “Askamissionary.com”
“What do Missionaries wish they had known before they first went?”
To be truthful, long term results are very difficult to get.
I have been a pastor and missionary since 1986. Working with people is great. But when you have less than 10 years of working with a group of people, you see fruit. That fruit often disappears over longer time periods. What you thought were great, well-established Christians really weren’t.
I see the problem here in various forms. My observations come from years in the ministry, and from examining my own ministry and its results, as well as other people’s ministries. Some of my observations and comments are very simply my personal convictions. I have always done things like x-y-z, or I have never done things like that.
“What do Missionaries wish they had known before they first went?” Missionary Problems: Missionary Life