By a PIONEERS missionary
Edwin, who was born into a Hindu family, turned to the Lord as a teenager after experiencing first-hand God's power over the deities his family had feared and worshiped for generations. Now, years later, Edwin is sharing his love for the Lord with others like him who have grown up in fear of the gods of their region.
 Edwin walks through the mountainous trails of the place he calls home, asking his Father for direction as to when and where to bring his message of truth and love. He has learned that all of the preparation in the world is of little value if he doesn't have a divine appointment to share. And so he prays.
In one of the far reaches of these mountains, Edwin was praying for days, weeks, and then months, crying out to his Father to make Himself known in this place. Still he had no sense of direction for where or when to speak in this area. Finally, after two or three months of prayer, Edwin felt directed to go to a particular village.
As Edwin approached the village, the crowd was not welcoming, and they held stones in their hands. One man stepped forward and said, "We have heard about the message you have brought to other villages in these mountains, and we don't want what you bring. You can turn around now, or stay and be stoned."
Edwin paused for a moment, wondering whether he had heard his Father correctly when He had directed him to this village. Then he knew he was in the right place and without hesitation sang a song he had not prepared, but that God had gave him for that moment.
As he proclaimed the glory, love, and majesty of the living God through song, fists softened and stones dropped. Hearts softened, too. At the end of the song Edwin met the embrace of the weeping village leader. He said, "The things we heard were wrong. Please tell us about this God you sang about."
| Myth #4: Missions is the church's job. |
Yes and no. The church fuels every successful mission effort through its support. The organization, however, cannot carry the responsibility without individual members also picking up the baton and realizing their role in the Great Commission. Evangelism is everyone's job, and so is mission. The question is: what part in God's great redemptive plan for the world am I called to play?
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| Go: EDGE Opportunities |
"Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." - Habakkuk 1:5
Come be part of a team this summer serving in parts of the world where Christ is not [yet] known. The Edge is a 6-10 week internship in global mission, starting this June. Learn from long term workers who are already serving, and consider how God may be calling YOU to engage in what HE is doing among the nations. Check out www.pioneers.org/edge and apply today! The application deadline is April 1st, so don't delay if you know someone who might be a good candidate for this opportunity! |
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In 1999 I stood in the midst of an unusual cemetery. It was a collection of bodies that were not buried but rather stacked in rows on a field, with police tape surrounding the area. These bodied were to be used as evidence in a United Nations investigation of Serb atrocities against Kosovars. The sad thing was that these atrocities had been committed in the name of Serb nationalism… and in the name of Christ.
Imagine helping your parents and siblings harvest rice in the tropical sun year round since the time you could walk. Your home was a small bamboo house on stilts close to all your other relatives who also worked the rice fields. Growing up you learned the Arabic prayers of Islam as well as the fear of evil spirits who lives in trees, rocks, and water sources. Your learned the skill of using a knife in order to kill animals for food or sacrificing. The knife was also at your waste at all times to ward off evil spirits that might want to harm you or your family. On holidays you visited the graves of your ancestors and prayed Arabic prayers for salvation and protection, believing your ancestors are closer to God. When a family member was sick, a visit to the dukun (witch doctor) was a common occurrence. Your world was a spiritual world, a world of black and white magic, fortune and misfortune, and good and bad deeds. This is the typical worldview of a Sumbi person. 
