vision

MOVING FORWARD – ON THE CUTTING EDGE

(July 15, 2017) Missionary statesman George Forbes boldly declares:

Anyone who is moving forward is moving into new territory, new experiences, new challenges and new opportunities.

This is applicable in all areas of life, including world evangelisation. If ever there was a time to move forward, it is now as we move into the second half of 2017!

Obedience
Obedience is the key word as we consider the world situation of the growth of the church of Jesus Christ. There has been much moving forward over the centuries as his church has grown.

When David Livingstone, the great missionary to Africa, said, ‘I am prepared to go anywhere, provided it be forward,’ he was expressing a heart of faith and commitment.

Dr Livingstone was prepared to face change, uncertainty and unlimited opportunity, to reach people who had never heard the gospel.

Passion, vision, dream, mission, inspiration
Livingstone had set his heart on China, however the opium war blocked his plans to leave England and go to that nation. (more…)

MONEY FOR MISSIONS

(May 15, 2017) Missionary statesman George Forbes shares a BIG challenge…

At last, I have got onto the subject of money for missions! This is a big subject because the need is big.

I mean really BIG!  Regrettably, it sometimes becomes a point of confusion and even conflict when the amounts of funding for global mission are seen as diverting, or reducing the funding for local church needs.

I say, ‘Thank God for the pastors who understand this problem area and ensure good balance and understanding is maintained in their church. I belong to such a church, for which I gave thanks to God every day. I especially thank him for my pastor.

(more…)

THE SECOND STEP IN RESTORATION

tim-edwards(March 6, 2017) Tim Edwards brings a timely, challenging kingdom word…

Church – and the kingdom – is not about me; it’s about God and all of us together. 2017 is the beginning of a new season, a new chapter, a new day and I personally can’t wait to see where God takes us all on the journey.

Every Christian shares a clear purpose that is given to all who love and obey God. As Christians who who are aiming to live a Christ-like life, we all have the same purpose as recorded in Matthew 22 and 28…

  • The great commandment – asking us to ‘love God and love one another’
  • The great commission – asking us to ‘go’, to take that love out to the people, into life, and offer everyone the opportunity to connect to God
  • Loving God, people and life summarises our shared purpose as Christians.

(more…)

THE MAKING OF A MISSIONARY CHURCH

George Forbes 2010(March 6, 2017) Missionary statesman George Forbes shares from experience on a successful mission’s strategy…

Missionary churches do not just happen!

They are born of a vision, founded by a pastor who has heard from God and grow to become a missionary church over a good period of time. They do not simply or suddenly appear. They are the outcome of multiple factors in the plan and purposes of God for the extension of his kingdom. (more…)

THE BUZZ

GLEANINGS (February 17, 2017):

  • TEN WAYS TO LOVE – No commandment greater
  • MIRACLE AND SALVATIONS IN VIETNAM – Prayer and  Christian love
  • MOVING ON – From dream to reality!

_______________________________________________________________________________________

NO OTHER COMMANDMENT IS GREATER!

Carol Round(February 17, 2017) Carol Round, Special to ASSIST encourages…

‘”And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” The second is equally important: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” No other commandment is greater than these’ (Mark 12:30-31NLT).

For over 11 years, I’ve sat down at my computer each week to write this column. It wasn’t part of my retirement plan after leaving education in 2005. But God had other plans. (more…)

MEDICAL DOCTOR’S HEART ATTACK LED TO NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE IN HEAVEN

Mark Ellis newAugust 5, 2016 – Mark Ellis shares yet another incident of answered prayer and the supernatural…

As a staff physician at the University of Texas Health Center he was well acquainted with the symptoms of a heart attack. But this time, the MD wasn’t examining someone else – he was grappling with troubling signs of his own.

At home, Dr Gerry Landry (55) felt overwhelming fatigue and crushing pain in his chest for more than an hour. ‘Denise! This is serious! Please pray!’ he called out to his wife.

Peace defying understanding
Denise Landry began to pray after she called an ambulance. She also called Christian friends to pray. (more…)

WHEN IS MISSIONS NOT REALLY MISSIONS? (May 9, 2016)

Erica GraceErica Grace, ex-missionary to South America, cuts to the chase!

I find looking at churches’ bulletin boards and websites rather interesting, don’t you?

It’s quirky, I know, but I feel CBBs/websites say a lot about the church. If the board is full of out-of-date events and has been gathering dust for a long time, it tells me no one has captured the vision of this valuable tool. It can be the same with some church websites!

On the other hand I’ve seen some masterpieces too!

Missions involvement
But one thing I’m always looking for is their missions’ involvement. What is this church involved in outside their own building? (more…)

FEELING HELPLESS? KEEP PRESSING ON – BUT NOTE…

Dr Robert & Maureen (2)Robert and Maureen McQuillan share…

February already! If God were to judge our 2016 life achievements by a row of 12  candles that had been lit in anticipation, he’d be reminding us that one is already snuffed out and we’ve only eleven more before the year is gone.

It’s the proverbial case of tempus fugit (line 284 of book 3 of Virgil’s Georgics, where it appears as fugit inreparabile tempus: ‘It escapes, irretrievable time’). We usually say ‘time is on the wing!’ (more…)

UNPACKING THE KINGDOM JOURNEY – FROM AMBITION TO ACHIEVEMENT

James Alvinia

Youth leader James Alviani shares his heart…

Becoming a Christian at age 15 my pastors gave me all the support and encouragement I needed to grow in my relationship with God – and to figure out his calling on my life.

A youth leader at 18, I attended a large youth conference resulting in my ambition to replicate that conference in our church so we could also do something great. I didn’t realise that God wants us to get his vision and dream for our place, rather than copy other ministries. (more…)

PASTORS, CHURCHES AND MISSIONS

George Forbes 2010

Missionary statesman Dr George Forbes recalls one of Dr Ralph Winter’s powerful statements:

‘Unless and until the church in faith, makes the future of the world more important than the future of the church, the church has no future.’

Dr. Winter was named among the Top 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America by Time Magazine (2005) and this heart-searching statement was burned into my heart and memory years ago.

(more…)