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Return to the Fountain

By Evan Burns


SVM2’s 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting beginning February 15 will engage the theme of returning to Christ as the Fountain of Life. Highlighted in each of the 21 days will be the core elements of repentance, personal holiness, finding joy, healing, and satisfaction in Christ, and being channels of that Fountain to the nations. Our conviction is that empowerment to proclaim the gospel to the nations comes from personal holiness. And personal holiness comes from diligently seeking the face of God, abandoned devotion to Jesus Christ.


“‘Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate,’ says the Lord. ‘For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and created for themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.’” (Jeremiah 2:12-13).

When the Spirit of Christ awakens us to all that Christ is, He comes in a flood. In seasons of awakening, the manifest presence of Christ is often described as a boundless fountain or a surging river. There is something about flowing water, whether it is a leaky pipe or a surging river, it cannot be stopped—just channeled. It is no mistake that some of the most passionate hymns were written during seasons of awakening, and they often describe the outpouring of the Spirit of Christ with flowing water. Even today, those hymns still speak to the often-discouraged longings in our hearts for something more. We sing songs like, “Here is Love,” which was the feature song written during the 1904 Welsh Revival. It has been considered the greatest far-reaching revival in history, literally wrapping the globe within a few years.

Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Lovingkindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten,
Throughout heav’n’s eternal days.
On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.

Could it be that we sing old-fashioned songs like this even today because deep down inside we are longing for something more? Could it be that the prosperity gospel that is being broadcast around the world is leaving us disillusioned as with stagnant waterless wells? Could it be that the reason the emerging generation feels so unworthy and unqualified to follow Christ to the nations is because this generation has been so saturated with information and opportunity that we have lost our thirst for the Fountain?

Of course, we have a strong spiritual thirst. This is evident in the record number of worship songs that have been sold and produced. It is evident in the books being sold. In this generation there are many players, but few prayers. We are quick to hang out and enjoy ourselves, but slow to wrestle in prayer and spend ourselves. We love to watch movies, but we’re lazy in watching over our hearts. There is so much levity and casualness in our generation, that we don’t even have a category for sobriety and holiness.

Through discussion and reflection with message bearers and mission mobilizers, I have heard a common theme describing the emerging generation. This generation is looking for something real. Students are overwhelmed with the flood of opportunities at their finger-tips. This generation is also in bondage to feelings of unworthiness and uselessness.

What we need is not another church or campus ministry, not another website or blog. We need holiness. Holiness that heals. Holiness that offends. Holiness that hurts the eyes. Robert Murray McCheyne said, “The holy life is a God-besotted life.” The holy life is a life that goes hard after God. The Holy Spirit says without holiness we will not see God. (Heb 12:14) And the pure in heart shall see God. (Matt 5:8) This generation is thirsty for waters that do not fail. We have rejected many of the old leaky, polluted wells our parents have dug. But if we do not watch over our hearts which are the wellspring of life, (Prov 4:23) we will dig our own wells. If we think we can see God in Christ with the casual, cool manner with which we seek and speak about Him, we are fools. And we are even more foolish to think we can make a difference in the nations without first being filled with power from on high, without first drinking from the Fountain.
The baton of the Great Commission is being passed on to this generation, and it is ours to finish, if we would be filled with the fullness of Christ. But many in this generation feel unworthy and unqualified to take the gospel of Christ to the nations. And so in disappointment and despair, many put off getting right with God till some later date, maybe after they graduate or get married. Then they will really commit themselves to following Christ. So, until that “later date” comes, this information-saturated and opportunity-seduced generation builds its broken cisterns unaware, calling it hanging out or having fun. It would be different if it was fellowship, but if Jesus is never mentioned in our hanging out and there is no encouragement from the Word spoken, is that still biblical fellowship? Does our hanging out encourage holiness? After endless nights of fun and entertainment, do we feel refreshed by the Fountain or sick from bad water?
We must come to the Fountain, and drink… and drink… and drink. Jesus Christ is the Fountain of Life. When we come to Him as our Fountain, only then will we know the cleansing power of the ocean of God’s love. We may know how to explain the basic truths of the gospel, but have we experienced the joy and the healing power of the gospel? Do we experience it regularly? This is the holy life that sees God—the Fountain-drinking life. This generation will make an eternal impact among the forgotten people and finish the Great Commission when it is infatuated with the Fountain, cleansed in the Fountain, refreshed by the Fountain, carried along in the current of the Fountain, and used as channels of the Fountain to the dehydrated souls of the forgotten peoples.
Please join us for the 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting as we return to the Fountain, repent of our broken cisterns, and taste and see that the Lord is good. Maybe then, together, this generation will sing a theme of redeeming love.

"There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die."(By: William Cowper)

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

I have talked with Joanne Bonilla, the president of the PUP for Jesus
Movement, and Jhoi Colitoy, facilitator of the UP Christian Community,
about hosting the NYMM Summit in February next year. They will be
meeting with the other leaders of their network on Tuesday and
Thursday this week.

Please pray that they will bring up our request in their meetings and
that their response will be positive. The target dates are February
18-20 but we are open to an earlier date. We can have summits in both
their campuses if both of them accept.

Both campuses are strategic to the movement: PUP for their historic
role as the first site of the NYMC as well as their reputation for
aggressive Christian student witness, and UP as the hub and "alaga" of
nationwide campus ministry organizations.

Counting on your prayers,
Joy

~~~ We are the NYMM Young People at your service ~~~

NYMM Manila core group meeting

NYMM Manila core group meeting
Gateway Food Court near Time Zone, Cubao, QC
October 17, 2007
7:27 - past 9 pm

Present: Joy C. Solina, Eman ortaleza, Ramona Simons, Rome Escabillas,
Lorah Grace Singson, Flor dela Cruz, Art de Guzman, Jazmin Nogales

Agenda: NYMM presentation to churches and ministry partners,
strategies to recruit more mobilizers

Opening prayer by Eman

Topics discussed:
1. Eman summarized the discussion of the previous meeting with Ptr Bob
Lopez and Ptr Bani Miguel about buying into the NYMM vision held at
the Presbyterian main office in Starmall, Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong. One
of the insights shared in that meeting was the neediness of churches
compared to campus ministries in learning how to mobilize young people
for missions.

2. Joy presented a printout of the sample Powerpoint presentation for
NYMM which she plans to bring with her to Mindanao and show to
potential partners. Comments from the group were on the questions that
should be answered by the presentation, such as:
a. Why should I join NYMM?
b. What can I get out of NYMM that I can use for my church? or How can
NYMM help me and my church?
c. What resources can NYMM offer the church?,
d. How do we impact people? and
e. After getting trained, what do we (the church) do next?
Joy will revise the presentation to answer the questions then use it
in her Mindanao trip. The group also raised the question, should young
people be further divided into subgroups ages 13-19, 20-25, and 26-30
years old.

3. Strategies suggested that would help churches equip their youth for
missions were:
a. forming interest groups the way 180 Degrees does theirs in music
and arts that can become missions teams in a geographical area,
b. develop youth-friendly missions training resources such as
contextualizing the CSM books Worker to Witness and A Higher Purpose
for Your Overseas Job for younger people.
c. offer resources for regional training and organizing missions events.

Next meeting will be on November 17, 9 am. Venue to be announced later

Closing prayer by Rome

~~~ We are the NYMM Young People at your service ~~~

Testimony: Missions For Christ

Dear NYMC friends and bretheren,

Asalamalaikom Malaikom salam! Quef Halek!

Well "Missions for Christ" is not my song ACTUALLY its God's song, He wrote it in my heart a day after 9/11 attack then I shared what God has given me TO A MISSIONARY FRIEND and after some friends and christians use it in missions or sung it on camp's missions night. I was encorage by the life of a christian american friend, Matt Delane in whom he was the first person I sang the song to him as my encouragement to him as missionary in the Phil. (he actually wants to go to China, Phil is the training ground). He was blessed and said, "Hey Boe can we record this, this will encourage alot of believers who wants to follow Christ in Missions arond the world'... so we started with a scratch recording hehehe well the sound was technically fine...then I heard about NYMC about the songwriting contest. There I went in the conference with my Church Band who supported me, I wasnt expecting that song will win I just want that song to encourage others Christians who have the desire to spread the Word of God around and anywhere in the world. But God let me win the contest with a title and a lil money. I was so very happy! yehaaa!!! can I shout for joy?!! alright! hehehe

Later, I realize that God has a better and wonderful plan for me...as mentioned in one of the countries in that song...Saudi ARabia, Philippine or CHina,....He put me here in the Middle East. Asalamalaikom Malaikom Salam..Last month was rAMADAN and I'm begining to understand their culture as a join them in their fasting but I prayed not in the mosque but sa tunay natin na Panginoon Hesus. Stricto and buhay dito, but salamat sa Diyos dahil medyo maluwag ng ang Bagong hari compared noon. Sa mga 'M' ay mahirap na share ng salita ng Diyos dahil maraming sila Batas na ginawa pa noon ng kanilang ninono its not just a religion, its their CULTURE. Marami ako nadiscover at patuloy parin sa Mission na binigay ng Panginoon...gaya ng Kinanta ko na 'MISSION 4 CHRIST' now I reliaze that I was not just singing that song but I was "LIVING" that song with my own LIFE for Jesus.

COntinue to pray for me and support Missionaries, for Matt Dillane in CHina and his wife, and for other people esp in CHina, Khazakstan, Indonesia, AFrica and other lands, reaching to those who are lost..THIS IS OUR COMMON GOAL!


You have been chosen to carry the LIGHT (Jesus), GO GO GO! kun nasa puso mo yun bakit mo tangihan ang ating Panginoon. Sya lang naman ang tunay na dahilan kun bakit nabubuhay tau...panalangin at pagisipan ang pag pasuk sa Missions dahil hindi basta basta ito ito ay BUHAY mo sa Panginoon kahit Pugot ang Ulo o Kamatayan at Paghihirap ang haharapin ay sulong parin dahil si Cristo lang ang kahulogan ng lahat ng ito.

ANg dahilan kun bakit ang mga FILIPINO ay halos nasa kahit saang sulok ng Mundo ay katulad ng buhangin na sobrang dami kung bilangin mo, ay dahil karamihan sa atin ay CHRISTIANO at gusto ng DIyos na maikalat ang salita nya hangang lahat ay makarinig at sa kanyang pagbabalik gusto nya tau lahat ng mga anak nya ay magsasama-sama.

Pagpalain kau lahat, God bless you all and continue to bless GOD, Mabuhay and mga Missionero at ang NYMC!


Masalama,



**Boey
Al-Khobar, KSA

** Boey was a student leader in InterVarsity when he was in college. He joined NYMC'2k2 in Dumaguete and his composition was the theme song of the said event in 2002.

Land of Possibilities

Dear Egroupmates and friends:

I returned from Mindanao the night of the barangay elections last Oct
29. I considered my trip both too short and just right. Too short
because the time spent in travel kept me from visiting more people,
and just right because my pocket couldn't have sustained me for
another day! But the Lord provided gracious, generous hosts and
companions who made the whole time enjoyable and enriching.

My time at the bcer (biennial consultation on ethnic religions) was
well-spent. I met the missionaries (including the mbbs) I wanted to
see and savored precious minutes chatting with each one. I was even
able to meet the widow of one of the martyrs featured in the book,
"God's Foot Soldiers" and gave her a copy of it. [For those of you who
do not know what "God's Foot Soldiers" is all about, please visit
www.csm-publishing.org and go to the video section] I asked one field
worker who is now in a "shadowing" role if cpm is already happening in
the upg and he nodded. I have also listened to presentations on how to
share the gospel to ms and what strategies they use to keep their
ministry going. Some organizations use business as mission locally.
Verrrryy interesting for mobilizers like me.

God blessed me with a much willing traveling companion after bcer, my
fellow delegate Ruby Pabalate from PMA. She traveled with me to
General Santos and back to Davao City to meet and talk to people set
up for me by another mobilizer named Dory Magabulo. I had the pleasure
of speaking to the young professionals fellowship of General Santos
Alliance Church, the Metro Davao Alliance Young People's prayer
fellowship activity in Calinan, Davao City, an MSU-Gensan university
professor who disciples her students to the mission field, the
Southern Mindanao student leaders of IVCF in their LCDC, the pastor of
Mangub Alliance Church who knows the elders of the city and the
national youth director of CAMACOP. (Guess what denomination dominates
the cities we traveled in.)

I will never forget the two young pastors who approached me after I
led the prayer time for the 13 upgs in the country at the young
people's prayer fellowship. The first to approach me was the church's
associate pastor. He introduced himself to me then told me how much he
identified with the prayer item on field workers because he used to be
one. But the work was so hard that he had to settle for a
re-assignment to the church where he is presently serving. But after
the prayer time, he said that he wants to go back! Then he introduced
me to the senior pastor who didn't look that much older than him and
teased him about going back to their former assignment. The senior
pastor also admitted that he used to minister among the ms. During
that brief moment of koinonia (because we had to rush off to travel to
our host before nightfall), I thanked them for telling me their desire
and encouraged them to study less offensive ways in ministering to ms.
I hope that wasn't a judgmental remark. I had been told that
well-meaninged pastors in their denomination do not know the role of
contextualization in ministering cross-culturally. Some have paid the
high price with their lives. But the Lord of the harvest will keep
sending workers when His people keep praying...

Our hosts in both cities were both field workers and swinging singles
just like Ruby and me. Both were longer-time friends of Ruby than me,
so the bonding continued for Ruby and deepened for me. We got to see
where and how they live. It was quite humbling to be ministered to by
such special people. We got a glimpse of the many people who support
them and who would be interested in the NYMM. Even the elderly Ptr
Bert's questions over Sunday lunch educated me a lot in how a local
church pastor thinks about cross-cultural missions. They (the pastors)
won't remain a upg for very long when mobilizers like me take the time
to relate to them in a non-threatening way. He wanted me to stay until
Friday so that he could have me speak at the ministerial fellowship
meeting! Of course, I couldn't, but I'm taking note of that
opportunity.

If there's anything my Mindanao trip did to me, it is gaining a fresh
resolve to promote the movement among "men and women of peace" in the
Body of Christ. It made me dream again of how we can raise generations
(plural po) of cross-culturally missions-minded young people willing
to go to the ends of the earth for the Lord before He returns. Many
have already gone unrecorded. I suspect a lot from Mindanao. But many
more can still go. The paradigm is already shifting. But we must keep
doing our part -- pray, give and mobilize.

My devotion this morning from Henry and Richard Blackaby's
Experiencing God Day-by-Day was based on the feeding of the 5,000. The
message was amply titled "Don't Avoid the Impossible." What are the
NYMM's five loaves and two fishes? What is the Lord telling us to do
with them? When we obey His word, we will witness the miracle.

The journey continues,
(Ate) Joy

P.S. Please log on to our new blog put up by Vir,
http://www.nymm.blogspot.com, and post some comments of encouragement
and suggestions, too. If you feel led to help set up a website for
NYMM, let us know. A website is really more appropriate.

~~~ We are the NYMM Young People at your service ~~~

Testimony Time

Below is a testimony of a student who joined the 30 days prayer focus for the "M" people. Be blessed and encouraged! - Vir

__________________________________________________
"The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the word "Muslim" is a fierce-looking man with a gun in his hand. I had always associated violence with Muslims, particularly in Mindanao. The mere mention of Mindanao made me shudder. This maybe because of what I see on TV and the newspapers. I was also a product of the missionary work of the Burnhams, so Martin Burnham's abduction (by the Abu Sayyaf) and death (during rescue operations) left a great impact on me.

My perceptions started to change when I befriended some Muslims from Mindanao. I study in a school where most students came from that part of my country. I had always been taught as a Christian to love our enemies but I had never thought of seriously praying for them. Thus, I gladly welcomed the opportunity to pray for Muslims (when I attended the ramadan orientation). I decided to give up, at least, one meal a day during the season of ramadan. Some friends were skeptical when I told them what I planned to do and why I was going to do it. But others encouraged me. When my fast begun, I had to endure taunts such as "This food is soooo delicious!" from friends during mealtimes. By God's grace, I did not give in to the pressure. I usually eat bread or oats in the morning which sustained me the rest of the day. But as a full-time student who attended classes early in the morning, skipping lunch for 30 days was a real sacrifice.

Praying for Muslims strengthened my prayer life. I noticed that I still had strength to work for the rest of the day even if I did not eat in the morning and at noontime. The prayer guide not only helped me know what to pray for but also became an eye opener to me about Muslims. They are human just like the rest of us. They experience the same pains, struggles and problems as I do. The only difference is that I have Jesus and they don't.

I pray that the flame that God has fanned in me to pray for our Muslim friends does not diminish and that I will continue to pray for them even beyond the season of ramadan." - Jean

We encourage everyone to send us your reflections and experiences on any missions activity you had before. Thanks po! - Vir

The Cost and Blessing of Being a Christian Missionary by John Piper

"I Am Sending You Out as Sheep in the Midst of Wolves"
The Cost and Blessing of Being a Christian Missionary


By John PiperOctober 21, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matthew 10:16-31

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. 26 "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

When Jesus had finished his great saving work, and had laid down his life to save millions and millions of people who would believe in him, and had risen from the dead, he gave this final mandate to his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
That mandate—to go and make disciples of all the peoples of the world—is as valid today as the promise that supports it: "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." If the promise is valid today, then the mandate is valid today. And the promise is valid because it's good, Jesus said, "to the end of the age." So until Jesus returns the promise holds that he will be with us. And that promise is the basis of the mandate, and so the mandate holds today. Jesus is commanding us—commanding Bethlehem—"Go make disciples of all nations."

The Apostle Paul's Ambition: Frontier Missions
The apostle Paul is the most prominent missionary in the New Testament. He gave his life in obedience to Jesus' mandate. He said in Romans 15:20-21, "I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, 'Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.'"

This is the difference between and local evangelist and a frontier missionary. Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5, "Do the work of an evangelist." That means: As the pastor of a local church in a place where the gospel as already taken root, keep on winning people to Jesus. They may know about Christianity and live near lots of Christians there in Ephesus, but keep on evangelizing them. Tell them the gospel. Show them love. Keep on trying to win them. That's local evangelism. And all of us should be a part of it.

But this is not what we mean by frontier missions. Frontier missions is what Paul did: "I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation." Frontier missions is crossing a culture to plant the church where the gospel has not already taken root. This is the mandate that is still valid for us today. The job is not done. And the word of our risen king Jesus is binding on us today as much as when he first gave it.

Unreached People Groups
This is why we speak of unreached people groups. The most helpful website I know of for understanding and researching the unreached peoples of the world is the Joshua Project. It lists a total of 15,965 people groups in the world. Of these, 6,434 are still unreached, defining unreached as a "people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group"—which means, in their definition, fewer than 2% evangelical Christian.

So Jesus gave the mandate to us to make disciples of all these groups, and Paul modeled what frontier missions looks like, making it his ambition to proclaim the gospel where the church was not already planted. And today the mandate holds ("Make disciples of all nations"), and the promise holds ("I will be with you to the end of the age"), and the stakes are eternal ("Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him," John 3:36).

Who Will Go?
So the question is, "Who will go? Who will proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ where the church is not yet planted and flourishing? Should I go? I ask myself this at least once a year. And I mean it seriously. I am willing to go. I think every follower of Jesus is bound by the cords of love and obedience to say, "I am willing to follow you wherever you lead me." Every believer in Jesus should say, "Here am I, send me, if that is your will."

It is not the Lord's will that all of his followers be frontier missionaries. But some he calls. How he does it is a wonderful and mysterious thing. No one can explain how the work of God in your life rises to the level of a compelling call to missions. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, and it is marvelous and unfathomable in our eyes. But this we know, from Scripture and from church history and experience, that one of the instruments God uses to awaken a compelling calling to missions is the preaching of the word of God. And specifically the preaching of passages of Scripture that describe the mandate and its costs and blessings. So that is what I want to do in the time we have left.

The Coming of the Son of Man to Judge Israel
In Matthew 10:16-33, Jesus is telling his disciples what it will cost to bear faithful witness and make disciples in the coming years and what blessings they can count on to sustain them. The text relates directly to the next forty years after he departs, but it is true in principle for the rest of the age. He says in verse 23, "When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." I don't understand the "coming of the Son of Man" in this verse as the second coming of Christ. If it were, this text would be false.

Just like the New Testament speaks of the coming of the kingdom of God in several stages and manifestations, it also helps to think of the coming of the Son of Man in several stages and manifestations. He came to earth the first time and died; he came as the risen Christ from the dead; he came in judgment in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 by the Romans armies; he has come in power from time to time in Great Awakenings. And he will come in visible bodily form at the end of the age. So I take Matthew 10:23 to refer probably to the coming in judgment in AD 70. "When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes to judge the Israel"—which happened in a decisive way forty years later.

A Fearless Witness in the Face of Danger
But the fact that these verses refer directly to the work of spreading the gospel to unreached people between AD 30 and 70 does not mean they are irrelevant for us. What Jesus says about the cost and the blessings of the missionary mandate in these verses is true today. And his main point is crystal clear: Be a fearless witness in the face of danger. My prayer, as I draw your attention to it, is that the Holy Spirit would use it awaken or confirm his calling on your life.

Six Costs of Frontier Missions
This text powerfully speaks for itself. So let me, without too much comment, focus our attention on six costs and ten blessings of being on the frontline of frontier missions. These difficulties are the kind of thing we may expect today even if in God's forbearance we may be spared some of them. First the costs.

1. The cost of being arrested by authorities. Verses 16-18: "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles."

2. The cost of family betrayal. Verse 21: "Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death." This is almost unbelievable: Fathers and children will so be so opposed to the Christian faith, they will want each other dead rather than believing.

3. The cost of being hated by all. Verse 22: "You will be hated by all for my name's sake." Be careful that you don't elevate friendship evangelism to the point where this text makes evangelism impossible. You will be hated by all does not mean: You can't do evangelism.

4. The cost of being persecuted and driven out of town. Verse 23: "When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next."

5. The cost of being maligned. Verse 25b: "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household." Jesus died in our place so that we might escape the wrath of God, not the wrath of man. He was called to suffer for the sake of propitiation; we are called to suffer for the sake of propagation.

6. The cost of being killed. Verse 28: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." So they can kill the body. And sometimes they do. Don't ever elevate safety in missions to the point where you assume that if one of our missionaries is killed we have made a mistake. Jesus said plainly in Luke 21:16, "Some of you they will put to death."

For two thousand years, thousands of missionaries—unnamed people of whom the world is not worthy—have counted this cost and put their lives at risk to reach the lost with the only message of salvation in the world. And the reason they could do this is because the blessings so outweigh the costs.

Ten Blessings of Frontier Missions
May the Lord make these ten blessings that I am about to name overcome all your fears and give you a passion to know him like this.

1. The blessing of being sent by Christ. Verse 16: "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." "I am sending you out." It is deeply satisfying thing to be sent by the living Christ into his work.

2. The blessing of being given words by the Spirit of God. Verses 19-20: "When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." What a wonderful thing it is to sense the presence and power of the Spirit in your life, giving you the words you need.

3. The blessing of experiencing God's fatherly care. Verse 20b: "For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." Jesus makes explicit that the one caring for you is your Father in heaven. You may have to leave father and mother to be a missionary. But you will always have a Father who cares for you.

4. The blessing of salvation at the end of it all. Verse 22b: "But the one who endures to the end will be saved." When all the costs have been paid, we will have the great end of salvation. We will be raised from the dead with no sorrow or pain or sin, and we will see Christ and enter in to his joy and hear the words, in spite of all our imperfections, "Well done."

5. The blessing of knowing that the Son of Man is coming in judgment and mercy. Verse 23b: "You will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." This was a great encouragement to those persecuted disciples. Jesus comes at just the right time in historical judgments and deliverances, and he will come at the last day and vindicate all his people.

6. The blessing of belonging to Jesus' household. Verse 25b: "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household." Whatever rejection we may experience, Jesus wants us to be sure we are ever aware: This rejection is a sign that you are mine. You are part of my household.

7. The blessing of knowing that the truth will triumph. Verse 26: "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known." Nothing is hidden that will not be known. For a season in this world, people will mock your proclamation of the truth. They will say, "What is truth!" But know this, and hold fast to this blessing: The truth will be known. Your proclamation will be vindicated. "Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known." Count on it. What is scoffed at now will be written across the sky someday. And one minute of that vindication before all your enemies will make every act of patient endurance worthwhile.

8. The blessing of having an immortal soul. "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." The soul of the Christian is indestructible. "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24). We have already passed from death to life. Henry Martyn, the missionary to Persia, said that he was immortal until his work on earth was done. True. And he would have also agreed that in the fuller sense: You are immortal after your work on earth is done. That is Jesus' point here.

9. The blessing of having a heavenly Father who sovereignly rules the smallest details of life. Verse 29: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father." Jesus mentions the fall of a sparrow to the ground because nothing seemed more insignificant than that. Yet God, your Father, oversees that and governs that. So you may always know that your Father, who loves you as his precious child, oversees and governs every detail of your life.

10. The blessing of being valued by God. Verse 31: "Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." God does not despise his children. He values his children. For two reasons: One is that in union with Jesus Christ all of his perfection is imputed to us. The other is that by the Spirit, we are being changed from one degree of glory to the next, and God loves the sanctifying work of his own hands. He delights in what we are becoming.

God's Call to Frontier Missions
How does God call people to give their lives in missions? He does it, along with other influences, by the mysterious and wonderful awakening of fear-conquering desire for the work through the preaching of his word. He does it by helping us count the costs so there is no romantic naiveté about missions. And he does it by filling us with a longing to know these blessings to the full.

For many of you God has been doing this for some time now. And this message is a seal to what has already been done. For others of you, this message has awakened a new sense of calling. And you really believe God is stirring you to go. May the Lord confirm his work in your life.

CrossTrain Seminar

CrossTrain Semina
Cross-Cultural Ministry Effectiveness Training

October 27, 2007 (Sat)

A Higher Purpose for Your Overseas Job

Training for OFW “tentmakers” and for partially or fully-supported missionaries. Training for those who are going out and for pastors and other church leaders who want to equip church members for ministry as OFWs.

Date: Oct 27 Cost: P120 (includes book)
Venue: International Mission Board office, 2715 Park Ave., Pasay

November 12-16 (Mon-Fri)

Church Planting Movements & Missions
Learn principles and practical methods for working toward the multiplication of disciples and churches - even in countries where persecution is strong. Trainers include a pastor with firsthand experience in multiplying house churches. Call for details.

November 26-30 (Mon-Fri)

Cross-Cultural Ministry Training Module
Topics include Hearing God Speak, Chronological Bible Storying, Role of the Missionary and CPM Strategy. For those preparing for cross-cultural ministry within or beyond the Philippines. Training appropriate for “senders” as well as “goers.” Venue: International Mission Board office, 2715 Park Ave., Pasay

During the first week of December

God’s Global Glory (G3)
Jim Thurber will be presenting this one-day, life-changing seminar – formerly known as “Cat and Dog Theology.” Venue and date to be announced. Call for details.

For additional information on any of the above seminars, contact:
CrossTrain: (0917) 613-6844 ~ (02) 434-2832
E-mail: crosstrain@asia.com

180 Deg concert in Baguio

Dear Group,

Greetings from the 180 Degrees Office!! We wanted to give you an update for your prayers during Oct 26-Nov 2. We will be ministering in Baguio and Kibungan giving four concerts, two workshops, and leading one worship service.

If any of you know some youth in Baguio, please inform them about our free concert on Monday, Oct. 29, 6 p.m. at Guiding Light Evangelical Church. I'm sorry I don't have the exact address at this time.

For those who don't know us, we train youth in cross cultural missions using music as our medium.

We will begin having auditions for batch 6 from March-May, 2008. Our actual schedule will start in June. Check out our website for details of what to prepare for the auditions. www.the180degrees.org 180 Degrees is based in Marikina City.

Spread the word!!!

God bless you all as you minister to youth, inspiring and challenging them for cross cultural missions!! Thanks for your prayers for our hectic schedule.


Tita Ramona Simons
Director

Ff: For Your Comment

Dear Egroupmates and Fellow mobilizers:

I have revised the Powerpoint presentation based on our discussion last Oct 17. Please see if the text below makes better sense to local churches. I will be using this script for my meetings in Mindanao next week. If you can send me your comments before Sunday, all the better. But I can use this for the meantime as a working presentation. Thank you for your time and input!

Ate Joy


The National Youth Missions Movement (NYMM)

Why Youth & Missions?

*Young people (ages 13-30 yrs old) make up 30% of the country's population. If they serve Jesus Christ as Lord, they become a formidable force to bring the gospel to all nations.

*Many young people work (and are going to work) overseas so they need to be equipped to do missions among the nations.
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*Historically, God has used the strength, commitment and passion of young people to advance His kingdom. Our youth can continue making history this way! They can do it together with NYMM.

NYMM is a network of youth ministries, missions organizations and churches working together to prepare the youth for cross-cultural missions.

The Vision - "Raising generations of Filipino youth for cross-cultural missions"

What We've Done So Far
1.
Handled missions-focused prayer meetings in the following churches in 2006: God's Light International Ministries, Diliman Campus Bible Church, Pildera 2 Baptist Church

2.
Started regionalizing NYMM in 2006 thru:
a) 1st regional leaders' training in Cebu (May 1-7)
b) The Call missions event in Cebu (Nov 27-28)
c) National Youth Missions Congress in Bacolod (Dec 26-29)

3.
Conducted a short-term mission exposure trip to Kibungan, Benguet in April 2007

4.
Participated in the worldwide 30-days prayer during ramadan campaign in 2007 thru:
a) holding a ramadan orientation for students in Polytechnic University of the Philippines in cooperation with PUP for Jesus Movement
b) translated the 30-day prayer guide for families to Tagalog for use of Tagalog speaking churches

How We Can Help You
1.
Sponsor or help plan prayer mobilization events such as the ramadan orientation and prayer meetings for missions.

2.
Provide prayer for missions resources, such as the 10/40 window prayer calendar (1 year prayer guide for upgs around the world) and the ramadan prayer guide.

3.
Train regional teams on how to plan, organize and follow-up a regional youth missions event to spark missions movements among youth in their church, community and campus.

4.
Refer or link up with missions agencies and organizations that offer missions awareness trainings [such as the Condensed World Missions Course (CWMC) and the God's Global Glory seminar] and outreach opportunities here and abroad.

What We Also Plan to Do
1.
Consult with youth leaders and ministers in Mindanao

2.
Take part in the Student Volunteer Movement 2 video project in January 2008

3.
Host an NYMM summit during the silver anniversary of the Philippine Missions Association (PMA) in February 2008

4.
Develop an NYMM training track for young people in churches

How to Contact Us
Email us at firebrands7@gmail.com
Visit our blog at footsoldiers.blogspot.com