Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Facepalm (05/15/14)
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TITLE: The Great Omission | Previous Challenge Entry
By Trudy Newell
05/22/14 -
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I am embarrassed, humbled, and frustrated for God’s people in America. Since returning to the States I realize just how blind the Lord’s people are. The phrase “The great commission has become the great omission” is no longer just a saying.
God has brought the world to us. I go into Walmart and see people from Japan, from Africa, from South America.
Recently, when in Dallas, at one Walmart I counted at least 16 different languages being spoken.
I remember the old coke jingle, “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony…”
Coke has a world-wide mission, so does McDonalds.
It blows my mind that in India, where they hold the cow sacred and don’t eat meat, McDonalds has built a thriving business. Ever heard of veggie burgers?
But somehow the church of God is not willing to change our approach, not the message. We will not open our eyes to the opportunities God has given us.
He has opened a door that no one can shut.
I left Iran in 1979 along with 25 coworkers never to return. God shut that door rather firmly. BUT He has not forgotten the Persian people. He scattered them all over in places where they could hear the gospel. There has been an abundant harvest. What missionaries could not achieve in 150 years of sharing the Word of God in that land, God did in His own unique way. Iranians are coming to Christ today!
* A dear friend has a passion to see Farsi-speaking kids reached for Christ. God is blessing.
* Several Iranian brothers and sisters have fruitful ministries.
* There is couple in the mid-West who have a tremendous ministry, reaching Iranians in the USA and around the world. They have distributed hundreds of DVD’s and other materials. They use the internet too.
* One couple has a radio broadcast in the Farsi language.
* There is a couple working with Iranians in Turkey, while another couple makes frequent trips into Turkey to minister among Iranians there.
* One couple in the Washington DC area has had fruit for their labor among the Persians.
All the above are dear friends. This is just a picture of many opportunities there are to reach the needy strangers in our midst. Why can’t people see?
In August our North America team working among such immigrants will be having our annual conference. Of the 22 missionary units only three are fully supported. The rest of us struggle. One reason is that as soon as you return to the States you are no longer considered a missionary. This is in spite of the fact that we have years of experience among the people we work with. We know the language and the culture. In reality if the churches were doing their job, it would not be necessary for missionaries to do it.
We pray regularly with another missionary couple who work with churches to help them reach out cross-culturally. As they call churches and talk to pastors, there is not much interest. It has been an uphill struggle.
There is no shame in needing encouragement and direction to reach out to people of different cultures. It’s natural to be shy, unsure of yourself, and even afraid. What does bring shame is when churches are not interested in reaching out.
If we don’t reach out, who will? How will the scene in Revelation 5 ever take place where they “sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open the seals; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation…” Rev. 5:5 NKJV?
We know it will happen, because God is sovereign. He wrote the last chapter. But what if we fail to do our part? What if we don’t obey?
When we stand before Him and He shows us all the ways He wanted to use us it may be embarrassing.
I don’t know how you feel, but I don’t want a double facepalm on that great Day.
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Well written.
God bless~