The Alliance eCommunity: The Alliance eCommunity -> Bob Fetherlin's Blog

I love a great fireworks display. Watching the explosion of sounds, the cocktail of colors and intricate patterns of light against the night-time sky delights me.

Fireworks are beautiful but brief. They are visible one moment and gone the next. The delight quickly passes.

This is the month to celebrate Thanksgiving. It's that time when we have a national holiday to give thanks to God for who he is, for his goodness and faithfulness, for his bountiful provision. We have one day a year set aside to do this.

I'm guilty. I've planned ministry initiatives, had them all on paper with all the key people lined up and committed to carrying them out, then invited God to bless my work. It really was more my work than his when I stop and think about it. Prayer was the last component.

As we think about four Pushing Back the Darkness initiatives, where does prayer fit in? It's got to be first and foremost. Today we're praying . . . before we know the countries where these initiatives will be birthed, before we know the people who will be sent, before we know the strategy. This prayer is with the understanding that if God is not in these initiatives from the start, they're sure to fail. If God's power is absent, we'll be fighting with the weapons of this world. Instead, my heart's passion and longing is to fight "with weapons that are not of this world, that have divine power to demolish strongholds" (2 Cor 10:4). The places where these four initiatives are likely to be birthed will be places that are strongholds of darkness, where intentional barriers have been set up to keep anything and anyone associated with Jesus Christ out. Only God's power can break down these centuries-old strongholds.

So I'm praying. Many others are praying. You're invited to pray. The first probe team is on the ground now in Central Asia. Pray for God to guide them, for favor with local people, for great connections with those already seeking and serving Christ in these difficult places, for eyes of faith to see what God wants them to see, for his revelation of what he wants to C&MA to do to help push back the darkness. The desire of our hearts to invest among people who today have critically low access to the gospel. This is high risk . . . hard, rocky soil with many potential weeds to choke the seed . . . extremely difficult . . . and quite frankly overwhelming from where I sit. But prayer gives me hope. It strengthens my heart and the hearts of those on the probe team today. And it demonstrates desperation for God's involvement, leading this right from the start.

This is not about us going in, then inviting the King of Glory to follow us. It's about his going in ahead of us, then our discerning how to follow him!

All of us long to understand why we're here on this planet, what our purpose is. These words from Hudson Taylor are challenging and insightful as we seek to discover our purpose:

"Finding one's purpose with God can be a strange and mysterious journey. Or it can be as plain as asking God for a task and then watching your desire for that task grow within you.

Problem is, most of us forget to ask God to fill us with a fervent spirit to serve him. Then years later, we wake up and realize we had our life. We made our small choices . . . our safe choices.

But somehow we missed the richness of following our God down an unchartered path."

Consider this: Ask God for a fervent spirit to serve him, do with all your heart the tasks he puts in front of you to do, and follow him down an unchartered path.

As a Christ follower, are you growing? If so, what have you done in the last week to contribute to your growth?

There are two dimensions to personal spiritual growth. First and of greatest importance is God's part . . . his grace and redemptive involvement, his Spirit's work. Your intentional investment is the second.

I'm sure you've nourished and cared for your body in recent hours. Have you nourished your soul from the Scriptures? Has encouraging time with other believers been a part of your recent schedule? Are you reading a faith-building book? Other than a brief pause to thank God for your food, any prayer with another person over the past twenty-four hours? Have you had an unanticipated experience of awe in realizing how great God is? In the last couple of days, have you felt at all overwhelmed by his love for you? Has the name of Jesus been mentioned in any conversation this past week with an unbeliever? Is there an area of your life you're now working on in an effort to become more like Christ?

Have you had any death-to-self funerals today? Has self been on the altar to die once again so that Jesus can live in and through you? When selfishness has welled up within you, have you applied the Spirit's power to crucify that old nature?

Do you right now have a grateful heart? Has that normal bent to complain and talk negatively about others been replaced by words of thankfulness, encouragement, worship and blessing?

If you've been too busy to think about growing in these areas, stop for just a moment. Take a deep breath . . . and ask God to help you grow to become more like Jesus . . . and to invest in those areas of life that are most important in his sight. You may be very surprised at what can happen as you play your part . . . and he plays his!

Here's a huge question that has been stalking me for weeks now. If we brought every US Alliance international worker home and started all over again, where would we go? In other words, if we could make a fresh start today, to what countries would we go? What countries would we not go to? Let's ponder this question in our hearts for a few moments . . .

In some places where we have people today, we'd continue. In other places, we'd say,

Having missionaries in this country last century was important, but it's not as needed now. Today there are Alliance churches and many other partners there who can carry on the work. In alignment with the heart of the Apostle Paul and A.B. Simpson, let's go to places and peoples where access to the gospel is critically low . . . that those who have not yet been told about him will see, and those who have not yet heard will understand.

If we're in countries we would not go to, we should put a transition plan in place and with resolve, graciously, gradually exit. History tells us those churches will get along much better without us than most of us would think . . . because even though we are no longer there, God is! And the more they depend upon him rather than us, the healthier they'll be.

The result of thinking through this strategic question well helps us see where we need to be going to push back the darkness!

Most who read this blog will never meet my Mother. She's 85 now, frail, with deteriorating eyesight. Recently she signed a power of attorney so that I could help her with her bill paying and banking.

As I got into her financial records, I noticed a mysterious, monthly withdrawal of a relatively substantial amount. Concerned, I asked her for an explanation. "Oh, that's what I give to the Lord each month. I have a missons pledge, a building fund pledge, plus I give to support the on-going ministry of the church." I was shocked . . . the amount in question was nearly 40% of her very limited monthly income.

I wanted to blurt out, "But Mom, that's too much. You're giving more than you can afford!"

Before I could get these words out, Mom reassured me, "Bob, God has always taken care of me."

Upon further reflection, I realized this kind of giving has been a part of Mom's heart and practice for years. She's obsessed with Jesus, and this is an expression of that holy obsession. Now it's up to me to not only be challenged by her example, but to follow in her footsteps.

Malachi 3:7-10 puts the challenge before us:

"Return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty.

But you ask, "How are we to return?"

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me."

But you ask, "How do we rob you?"

"In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-- the whole nation of you-- because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

I'm grateful for this heritage of giving!

Over the past few days we've had the agonizing experience of a personnel reduction of thirty missionaries. We worked feverishly over many months trying to avoid this. It got to the point recently where we realized we had no choice, especially in light of the economic challenges impacting our nation. As we shared this news, our missionaries (including those impacted)exhibited tremendous grace. It said so much about who they are and their trust in the God they serve. I'm convinced He is going to provide for them in amazing ways in the days ahead, continuing to use and bless their lives.

A very articulate C&MA missionary, Tim, recounted some interesting facts from the past:

DURING THE DEPRESSION

-C&MA missionaries first entered Cote d'Ivoire in 1929-30, planting the first churches among the Baoule people. Today there are some 2,200 churches there with over 300,000 Alliance believers.

-In 1929 Alliance workers went to Laos, out of which God called the Hmong people en masse to Himself. Due to war and persecution they have emigrated all over the world, taking the gospel with them.

-When the depression was at its height, Robert Jaffray established the first congregations of the Kemah Injil Church in Indonesia, which now numbers about 2,500 churches and over one half million constituents.

DURING WORLD WAR 2

The Alliance refused to retreat under the pressure of war, pledging in 1942 to send out 250 new missionaries. Within four years, this goal had been achieved!

DURING THE VIETNAM WAR

2008 marked the fortieth anniversary of the ultimate sacrifice of Bob Ziemer, Ed and Ruth Thompson, Ruth Wilting, Betty Olsen, Carolyn and Leon Griswold, who died during the Tet offensive. Already in 1962 the Viet Cong had taken Archie Mitchell, Dr. Ardell Vietti and Dan Gerber from the Banmethuot Leprosarium. Today the Vietnamese C&MA (Tin Lanh) numbers over one million believers!

DURING THIS RECESSION?

What if the Alliance had turned inward during those trying times and followed the natural tendency to give less for fear of lack? What if we had retreated from a world in turmoil? What incredible opportunities might have been lost forever?

Tim concludes his thoughts saying, "I am convinced that, during these hard times, history will record another remarkable advance of the gospel if we do not fall back!"

While some might characterize the reduction of our missionary force by thirty persons as a retreat, my deepest longing is that His power be displayed so that we have greater impact than ever before. May we not shrink back. Thirty people is 5% of our Great Commission Fund-supported force. May He multiply our efforts and impact. May we be so consumed with passion for Him and His mission that we advance, even during these challenging times!

It's no secret. Our economy is heading southward and there's no quick, easy solution. Things are likely to get worse before they get better. What will be the impact of tough economic times when it comes to Alliance missions? Bringing international workers back to the homeland? Making major, ministry-impacting cuts in expenses? Being overwhelmed with fear, discouragement . . . even panic?

Historically some of the greatest advances of the Church of Jesus Christ have taken place during tough times. That's when we're forced to rely on God rather than ourselves (2 Corinthians 1:9b). Whether it's been the economy, government opposition, an opposing belief system, or the failure of Christian leaders, God has enabled strength to be birthed in his people in their times of intense distress and weakness.

Here are a words of hope for these challenging days:

THIS SITUATION IS NOT A SURPRISE TO GOD - "Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all." (1 Chronicles 29:12).

EVEN WHEN OTHERS ARE OVERWHELMED BY WHAT'S HAPPENING, BY KEEPING OUR EYES ON THE ETERNAL WE CAN BE REVITALIZED DAILY IN THE MIDST OF THIS TEMPORARY TREND - " . . . we do not loose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light a momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

GOD CAN DEMONSTRATE HIS POWER DURING OUR MOST VULERABLE TIMES - "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power can rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness . . . in hardships . . . in difficultures. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

WE ARE TO BE PRAYERFUL, PEACE-FILLED HOPE BROKERS EVEN IN THE MOST TRYING OF TIMES - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

In tough times, solutions to longstanding problems are discovered. New, impactful models of ministry are developed. Bold faith risks are taken. In all of this, God prunes us in preparation for new growth.

In light of these tough economic times, what's the future of Alliance missions? Change is inevitable. Trust in the Lord of the harvest is intensifying. Calmness is prevailing. Our ears and hearts are inclined towards him. . .

BECAUSE "the God of all grace, who caled us to his eternal glory in Christ, after we have suffered a little while, will himself restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:10-11)

For God's people and his work, there are difficult but great days ahead!

A recent picture I saw made me feel great angst and distress. It was taken in a country where the persecution of Christ followers has risen dramatically in the past year. A radical persecutor bent on destruction and death was standing on top of a church building. He was committing a lewd, vile act with the cross on the front roof of the church while others were cheering him on from below. Moments later another picture was taken showing this church building being torched by the persecutors. I felt my gut wrenching as I looked in shock at these pictures.

Where is God in all of this? He is not asleep. He sees and knows what's happening, and His patience has limits. Because of who He is, there is hope.

Here is a word for persecutors of those who worship Jesus Christ: "Who is it you have insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One . . . " (Isaiah 37:23).

We know from Revelation 6:9-11 that a time will come when the blood of those killed "because of the word of God and the testimony they maintained" will be avenged. We also know that vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19), that it is His to repay. As for us as Christ followers, we are to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21), loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).

What do I do with my reaction to this man defiling a cross on top of a place where Christ followers worship? I must understand there's still time for him to repent, believe and acknowledge Christ as Lord. Like Saul of Damascus in Acts 9, this man's life can be radically transformed by Christ. Forgiveness and grace are richly available, even to persecutors. This seems counter-intuitive, yet it's true.

At the same time, this forgiveness and grace will not last forever. The blood of Christ followers spilt at the hands of persecutors will be avenged in God's way, in His time.

Lovers of Christ, take hope!

Persecutors, respond to Christ's grace now . . . or face Him as the the rider on the white horse whose name is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11-16). He will avenge, He will bring judgment and justice in His time.

Today I'm in the cold northern part of our country, and I've run into some areas where my cell phone coverage is not very strong. In fact in a few places I've been, I can't send / receive calls due to lack of coverage. When I'm in dead spots, it feels frustrating.

In looking at our world, there are dead spots. They lack coverage. The people living in these areas have never had opportunity to hear, understand, and believe the good news of Jesus Christ. This Christmas, there will be no celebration in these dead spots. While we talk about the second coming of Christ in our churches, these are places where people have never heard about his first coming in Bethlehem. This both grieves and motivates me.

In dead spots, many people are walking in darkness not because they have rejected the light. Rather the light has never shone where they are. They've lacked access to it. God can use us to turn this situation around!

Through God's work through us, and our obedience to him, may the people walking in darkness see a great light. May a light dawn on those living in the shadow of death (Isaiah 9:2).

Christmas began in the heart of God. It is not complete until it reaches the heart of man.