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Retreat when the goin' gets tough?
Posted by
Bob Fetherlin
,
20 March 2009
·
741 views
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!
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!
