Like many of you, there have been several behaviors that I have witnessed from Christians that
has surprised me and even saddened me. One of those is the deeming who is entitled to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. Those are pretty strong words but bear with me. Since the time of announcing our calling to become missionaries to Native Americans, we have had people advise us we can't consider ourselves missionaries because we aren't on foreign soil. "America has been evangelized" they say. We've also been told " Missionaries need to be overseas where people haven't had the opportunities to hear the Gospel that Americans have had." American Christians like to pat ourselves on the back, don't we?! I don't know of any one place in the world that can say they no longer need missionaries, because everyone has heard the Gospel. Ephesians 2:11-12
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Recently our family held our annual back to school event where our ministry gave school supplies to not only Native American children but also children who are homeless and children of migrant workers. God blessed us to serve over 200 children. Included with school supplies we offered Bibles and tracts. What a blessing when 199 accepted them! But our biggest surprise came when 2 teenagers came to our table and my husband offered them Bibles. "What's a Bible?." they asked . My husband responded that it is God's Word. Still confused they asked their mother if they could have one and she said yes. This wasn't a matter of not knowing the English language, it was a matter of not knowing the Hope God gives us. If America is evangelized, how is it we have people who do not know what a Bible is? I cried when later in the evening my husband told me of this encounter he had. How precious are the Words of our God? They are lifesaving, a balm for my soul, my Hope. So how sad is it that someone doesn't even know it exists?
As Christians we must never become complacent that everyone we pass on the street whether on American or foreign soil, has heard what Jesus did for us. Making Him known is our job.
2 comments:
May we never forget our own!! Thank you for what you do. There is a great need in America doe missionaries and especially among our Native Americans. Prayers for your family. As Mission Evangelist my family is going in 2 weeks to work our good friends in Idaho working with Natives . serious business. Hope our paths cross one day! In Christ Alone, Melissa Moore
God bless you for your work and outreach to Native Americans. In North America we know the gospel has gone out for centuries. Yet many, especially Native Americans have been very thoroughly shown a gospel that was not of God. They need more than ever to be shown that God really is love and that he loves them too so that they can accept Christ as their saviour rather than believe that Christ abused them. How better to do that than through those that really have the love of God in them. May He give you grace and wisdom as you reach out to these dear ones. xx
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