A View from the Fields, March 2004

02.25.2004

Lee and the youth did a fine job in leading us in the morning worship on February 22. Prayerfully this will be an annual event. You need to know they put in many, many hours of practice. You also need to know the youth workers (many behind the scenes) put in many, many hours pulling the youth led service together. Youth, thanks for your gift to Jesus and your brothers and sisters in Christ.

I have a challenge to lay before you. ARBC is in a partnership with Ron and Robin Brown who serve in Gyor, Hungary. We have 11 people praying and planning to go to Hungary on a mission trip. The trip is scheduled June 2-14. They need our help to be able to make this trip. They need our prayer cover and financial help.

They way I would like for ARBC to look at this mission trip that is an extension of ARBC. It is not these 11 alone who are going, it is ARBC that is going to Hungary. They will represent us. According to the New Testament, Paul likens the local church to a body. We are interconnected. Part of our body will stretch its arms across the Atlantic to eastern Europe to minister in Jesus name to, and with, Ron and Robin Brown.

Because they represent us, we are in a very real sense sending them. Therefore, I want you to go before the Heavenly Father and ask Him what is to be your part in ARBC’s mission trip to Hungary. Maybe He will say pray. Maybe He will say give. Maybe He will say pray and give. Wil Powell has some fundraising projects that will help raise some of the support. The total cost per person is about $1500. (This includes airfare, lodging, food and transportation). Wil has figured a way for us who are led by the Lord to give to Hungary. If 120 people will provide $120 each, that would meet expenses. It will cost about $120 for each person for each day.

Now, to complicate matters, this is the time of the year we take up our Home Missions Offering. I know neither you nor I have an infinite supply of money. Therefore, we have got to make it a real matter of prayer which way the funds we have available to give should go.

I have two kids who feel the Lord wants them to go to Hungary. In addition I was a Home Missionary in Iowa and know the need to provide funding to send Home Missionaries to places like Iowa. Colorado is a mission state. Most of the population of Colorado is unchurched. We need church planters here. Therefore I need to give to Home Missions. So you see, I too, must hear from my Heavenly Father in this matter of how much to give, in which direction. There is one thing I do want to encourage you not to do. Don’t take your tithe money and give to either project. These are special offerings over and above our tithes.

It’s always something, isn’t it? Maybe this is by design. Maybe it’s to keep us dependent on our Lord to show us the way. Remember the way is a Person. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life…” As we focus on Him, He will guide us in the way we should go.

See you on the Lord’s Day

Jim

P.S. When the Lord impresses you to give to Hungary or Home Missions, just use your offering envelope and designate the amount to Hungary or Home Missions.

Posted by at 01:00 PM