Ministering Around The World- Part IV- North America

Mexico, Canada & USA

The home continent to a large majority of the missionaries in the world is North America. But sadly it has slowly become a mission field in their own rights. But even without that there remains the noble cause of strengthening and continuing the outreach from the proven foundations. For this article I have focused on couples reaching international areas of the States and missionaries/church planters in Canada and Mexico. While I highly respect the works being done by pastors and church planters in the States and the extremely important role they play in the Great Commision, I will be exposing the areas that I have been able to interview.

New Brunswick

Like many of the other continents many things will vary greatly from each country. I have so enjoyed delving into each of these ladies stories and seeing the beauty of how the Lord places each of us uniquely and equally equips us for our mission in life and those we are called to reach. It seems the more I research the more I find that the so called "easy" mission fields (those where people trust Christ quickly) are become very very few! The world is becoming much more predominantly filled with countries where the gospel is foreign or extremely skewed and the need for a faithful witness outweighs the need for a flashy speaker. While this should be true in every situation, when converts are arduously slow it will for sure test the resolve and calling of any man! But I am continually blessed to meet and interview many families who have done just that. Let's dig into their stories, shall we?

Labrador

I was able to interview 6 ladies for this article; 2 in Mexico, 1 in the USA and 3 in Canada. We have ladies represented from Ontario, Labrador, New Brunswick, NYC, and two areas near Mexico City. We have areas ranging from heavily laden with snow to dry humid climates, farm countries to urban America.

New Brunswick

Some ladies minister in areas overridden with religion,others with the neglected deaf culture and others with those very materialisticly blessed who struggle to see their need for a Saviour. From one extreme to another but all such a great need.

The ladies in Mexico serve amongst a great Catholic presence. In Canada it ranges from Catholic to United churches( a mixture of Methodist, Congregational and Episcopal), while the bigger cities will experience more of a multi-national religious pouring. On any given corner in Toronto you can find a church, mosque or temple to any religion you can imagine. The lady who I spoke to in NYC spoke of the unbelievable racial diversity with over 800 languages being spoken in her community, however their church area is mainly Jewish.

Some of these ladies serve in communities as small as 17,000 while other serve in places boasting 8 million people! What a drastic difference. For anyone who has lived in a tiny town you can attest to the transperancy with which most people live. Secrets don't last long and in some towns friendships are slowly won. While many times in big cities, people are equally distant and guarded with allowing people into their lives.

The need is baffling. Mrs. Gibson in NYC, told me that Today Magazine report that out of the 8.3 million people in the city only 5% were evangelical Christians.

5%!!!

That is mind blowing! A city on our own shores that claims so few Christians. What a mission field. One that takes much perseverance and faithfulness as those that stake their claim there are not easily persuaded to repent and accept Christ. They live in the upper crust of today's world. They have great jobs, good houses and live lives others covet. As the Bible says,

"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

I was told that Mexico is reported to be the second largest Catholic population in the world. What a battle they face, fighting against false indoctrination and the intense guilt and pressure often associated with the Catholic Church. As Miss. Castillo told me, one of her biggest struggles is to identify herself as different then the multitudes of Catholics around her. In these countries where Catholic is the only Christian name they have ever heard, they quickly lump everyone together.

In Canada, many people have a religious background, but like America Humanism has crept in and the chiefest sin has become offending someone. This unbiblical influence on offense, dilutes the message of Christ and changes his church from a place of holy worship to a place where sin is made at home and comfortable.

While we all know Mexico boasts a great number of missionaries, we can't begin to think it is enough considering the overwhelming statistics facing us of how many remain Catholic. In NYC there are actually quite a few church planters trying to carve out a work for Christ. But the road is slow and littered with discouragement. But praise the Lord he has given 40 couples the grace to be faithful and serve there with grace and obedience. For only through those things comes effectiveness and true success.

Canada reports a suprisingly small number of 300 Baptist churches in their country of 35 million and many of those are located near large cities. In places like Labrador there is known to be only 1 in the entire region. The need truly is great. But in these areas of Canada, you won't pop in and develop a booming church overnight. Many areas are clannish and either take offense to inferring they need missionaries or take years to accept you into the fold. In some areas that includes aboriginal tribes. Few have stayed the course long enough to reap the rewards. But praise the Lord God is working in those that have. Especially with young teens which in some areas have proven to be very receptive. Praise the Lord for reaching them young!

 

The time it takes to see people trust Christ in these North American areas varies greatly because most do have a foundation of Christianity of some form and have much of the information they need for salvation and are able to quickly accept Christ. HOWEVER, that doesn't seem to be what is happening. Especially in the more developed countries like America and Canada the daunting task is not to mostly teach them the concepts of Christianity but to convince them of their need. However amidst all this, there are those who are new to the gospel. The greatest of those two are the deaf in Mexico and the Japanese in NYC.

The deaf in many cultures are neglected and ignored. In some countries they have very very few resources to any form of education or the gospel. Like a child that has never known true love is distrusting and protective of their hearts, so are the forgotten deaf people. They need to see the proof of someone's love, in order to allow the seed of the gospel dropped into their hearts.

Not only do these ladies and the families face the struggle of reaching these people for Christ but also the task of helping them grow in Christ. When asked what their greatest ministry struggles were, they said, "overcoming culture pressure that affects biblical obedience, raising up male leadership, language struggles and earning people's trust who have become disillusioned and hurt by the Catholic Church, communicating the iminiate need of the gospel to affluent people." These are all great prayer requests for all of us to remember as we bring our North American missionaries friends names in prayer.

 

But more excitingly, I love to hear how each missionary has followed the Lord to find their unique niche in reaching people. All through obedience but each uniquely matched to the area and people God has called them to reach. In NYC, they have found that of course one-on-one witnessing is effective as well as English classes, children's choir events, Feast celebrations for the Jewish people and Bible distribution. In Mexico it is mostly made up of children's ministries and one-on-one outreach.

 

In Canada outreach ranges from door to door evangelism, youth ministries, ads in local papers and most uniquely in Labrador a ski lodge ministry. This church was given an old ski lodge that they are now able to use for public outreach and to give people the gospel. What a great way to use all we have been given to reach our mission field! I love it!

 

Many of these ladies are reaching mainly people native to the country that they serve but for a few such as those in New Brunswick and NYC have ministries enveloping many different nationalities and languages. They have willingly accepted the immigrants who have come to their areas and devoted themselves to reaching them equally with the gospel. It can easy to ignore immigrants and then complain about their heathenism. But I think God would have us to embrace the burden to reach all people of every race with the precious gospel most of them were deprived of in their Home Countries. What an amazing opportunity to complete the Great Commision from our own shores!

I have been blessed and burdened to learn about the mission field of North America. Thank you to all the ladies that assisted in this article including Joy Gibson, Donna Cook, Crystal Houghton, Cynthia Castillo and Amanda Dinsmore. I loved every minute of our interviews and seeing your burden and heart for your areas and how the Lord has worked in you so far!

 

Houghton's

https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.castillo.900

http://www.happyvalleybaptistchurch.net/

Cook's http://www.quintebaptist.ca/

 

Posted with Blogsy

Today

Today...

Today I want to be his helper... his help meet... his wife.

Genesis 2:18 "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone;

I will make him an help meet for him." 

When I think about when God created woman, I am reminded that woman was created out of His great love and compassion for man.

God saw a need that man had.

He was alone.

Proverbs 31:11 "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,

so that he shall have no need of spoil." 

Today I want to do him good.

He has so much weight on his shoulders. So much responsibility. When he comes home I want to greet him... to help bear his burdens... to listen.

A good meal.

A tender voice.

A smile.

Proverbs 31:12  "She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." 

Today...

Today I want to love him. I want to love him the way he needs... the way he craves. I want to give him the affection that is so desired, yet in this hard, harsh, calloused, sin-filled world it is so hard to find.

I am his helper.

I am his friend.

Titus 2:4  "That they may teach the young women...

to love their husbands..."

Today...

Today I want to be his biggest cheerleader, his tender companion, his partner in ministry.

I want the love of Christ to flow through me to him.

Because tomorrow he will have to go back out into the world and face it all again... seeking to glorify God while reaching out to a lost and dying world. And I want him to know someone is praying... someone is preparing a refuge for him... an oasis in the home for him to return to... someone is on his side at all times.

Today...

To all the missionary wives who support their husbands through every trial and hardship on the field, thank you.

Big Hurts, Big Joys

Missionaries probably experience the hardest hits in all the world’s professions. Opposition comes from within and without. It comes from misunderstandings and misjudgments and outright attacks. Some is brought on from our own failings, and some from ignorance, lack of faith, and just plain stubbornness. Sometimes, we aren’t willing to compromise. Sometimes we’re selfish. We get our eyes off of the Lord. Sometimes, evil attacks.

Missionaries get physically threatened and robbed. They even get death threats. (I don’t think these are uncommon, by the way.) Missionaries experience issues with host government paperwork. They stand in lines and wait . . . and wait. In some countries, officials want bribes in order to “expedite” permission.

The biggest heartaches come from ministry. Those are the hurts from unjust personal attacks and also seeing the natives turn from what is biblical and right and do their own thing. It’s watching them crash and burn—when it wasn’t necessary. It’s pouring our love into these people and caring for them, as if they were family . . . then seeing them reject godliness . . . and sometimes us, as well.

But, a missions ministry also holds the greatest joys. Nothing in the world is as beautiful as seeing a soul come to Christ. There is no joy greater than being privileged to lead someone to the Lord.

It’s satisfying to watch baby Christians follow the Lord in baptism and begin to grow. It’s a thrill to see faithfulness, a church plant, and spiritual growth. It’s exciting to see families acting according to the Word of God, and it’s also a privilege to give the Word to another human being.

Many of us get to speak at least one other language, live in a beautiful environment, and learn another culture. We get to see gorgeous architecture, appreciate native art and music, and travel to places other people only dream of.

We learn to love souls who are so different from us—yet so much like us. We see ourselves in a new way, and we understand more than ever how much we need the Lord every day.

We’ve become partners in God’s work. We’re ambassadors from our supporting churches to people they’ll never meet.

It’s a good life! 

It’s the best life.

A missionary woman’s joy depends on two factors:

1. Her relationship—intimacy and communion—with God
2. Choosing joy

Here are some wonderful passages about how to conserve your joy, no matter what your circumstances:

• Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. . . . If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full (John 15:4-5, 7-11).
• My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him (James 1:2-5).
• Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. . . . Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. . . . But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:1, 4, 19-20).

Abide in Jesus.

Choose joy.

Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast, unmoveable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know that your labour

is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Ministering Around The World- Part 3; Africa

I don't know about you, but I think that for me and many times for others, Africa is one of the first names that comes to mind as the iconic "mission field". I have found that through every study I have done of different mission fields, so many of my pre-conceptions have been shattered and replaced with true knowledge that better educates and burdens my heart for these places. Again, in so many hearts, Africa is the country over-flowing with missionaries and converts. Which in some places is true but I was surprised as I study to find the great need in Africa.

For some strange reason, it seems as people think of most of the world, they think of each country as an individual mission field. But for some reason, it seems for many as we look at Africa, we think of it as one big country. And if I heard that one country had 400 some missionaries, I would think it had plenty of missionaries. But when we stop and realize that the continent of Africa is a place with over 700 million people, 54 countries and 400 missionaries, the Need begins to shine through pretty quickly. It was a little difficult to find up to date statistics. But to the best of my ability it appears at least 15 countries in Africa have no gospel preaching missionary at all. 15 countries!!! That's not evangelized my friend. Many of those countries lack a gospel witness because of either violent Muslim areas or Political instability.

I was able to interview two different ladies that are serving in Africa; the Garcia's in Zambia and the Shelby's in Kenya. It was a blessing to hear these ladies share their stories, ministry and heart. It continued to amaze me how not only was Africa different than I imagined but also how different each area can be from each other. The struggles and experiences vary but both report great work being done for the Lord.

In Kenya, it was said that the religion is predominantly anamism and witchcraft. Even though 47% claim a Protestant faith it is very much intermingled with the religion of the culture. Churches and pastors even consult with the witch doctors on matters of their church. In Zambia, it is reported that the entire country is legally, in the constitution, stated to be a Christian religion. However, this is not based on the true gospel. So it has sewn a confidence in the people of a faith they don't possess. For any of those who have worked with people who have been told they are a Christian under un-biblical council know that it breeds a confusion and pride that is hard to combat. It can definitely cause difficulty in witnessing but the Lord definitely still does miraculous work when faithful witness' consistently proclaim the truth.

There is 48 million plus people in Kenya with 20 or less missionaries. That's a whole country with only 20 missionaries sewing the seed. Zambia is a country of approximately 18 million with 10 or less missionaries. Mrs. Tonya Shelby shared with me that in Kenya it usually takes a couple of months to see someone trust Christ but they are also able to share the gospel through door to door visitation and see people trust Christ. What a blessing to see the acceptance these people have for the gospel. They have a number of ministries they use to reach out to the people there; soulwinning, neighborhood bible class, evangelistic meetings in the market, orphan feeding ministries , an orphan home, a prison ministry, and Christmas treats handed out with Gospel tracts.

The Lord has greatly used the Shelby family through many years of ministry to reach hundreds of people and train many nationals and send out others to do the same, including starting 28 churches. They combat a religion that teaches the people to fear their dead ancestors. That their dead ancestors have the power to bring blessings or cursing son their lives. This brings a great burden of fear that causes them to follow traditions to appease these deceased relatives. What an amazing blessing to see them freed from this blindness. They have ministered among two very different people groups in their time there. One that is very open to them as outsiders but face extreme poverty and very short life expectancies, in some places only 35 years. What a ticking clock to get them the truth. On the other side, they minister to another group that is very clannish and it took them two terms to gain their trust so that they could share the gospel with them. What a miracle to see God's hand open once closed doors.

In Zambia, Mrs. Paolo Garcia tells me about how they have zealously been sharing the gospel who all will listen. These people are steeped in false Christianity and don't see themselves as sinners but as victims to evil spirits who cause the sin. It is vital to the choice, to trust Christ for salvation to see our own sin and inability to deserve or earn salvation on our own and our great need for the Saviouer. She shared how in generally it takes 12-18 months to see someone trust Christ there and that they as well as their church people make witnessing an active part of their everyday life to share the gospel with family, friends, and strangers. I love to see not only soul- searching ministries but also the value of becoming not just someone who attends soul-winning but a witnesser everywhere you go and through all that you do. From living in a country where it also took years to see fruit, I remember how we began to pray for God to show us every way we could possibly witnessing through any avenue possible and how he did time and time again. Mrs. Garcia is also able to minister in an orphan ministry there.

She also shared with me a unique blessing they have. You see, the Garcia family are missionaries from Mexico. So not only do they get to share the gospel with a country who deeply needs it but also they are able to help introduce missions to a country that is in the beginning stages of sending out missionaries to fulfill the Great Commission world wide. What an honor and privilege to help your home country take the next step in reaching the World for Christ. They are able to visit a lot of churches in Mexico that have never before given to Missions and encourage them to make that commitment.

I'm continuously blessed to meet and spend time with such great ladies. Every time without exception, my eyes are opened to unknown needs and amazing blessings. I sure love our Lord. He opens doors all over this great globe for ALL to hear the great message of His Son. Please take the time to pray for this in Africa today and for those serving there and for the un-evangelized areas that still need the Truth.

https://www.bimi.org/missionaries/ShelbyL.php

http://garciasinzambia.com/en/home/

Posted with Blogsy