MOTIVATION 4 INT'L MINISTRY
Motivation
What motivates this ministry? With thousands of other ministries out
there, why start another? Because we believe clearly from the
Scriptures that it is on the heart of God to reach with the Gospel
people from every nation. Now many people know about short-term or
long-term missions, which are a vital part of this, but did you know
that there are many hundreds of thousands of international students,
short-term workers, and recent immigrants including refugees in the USA
right now? Some come from countries where it would be very difficult
for them to hear the Gospel. Others come from lands where they could
be imprisoned, denied work or even killed for becoming a Christian.
And here they are, many with a more open heart and with a greater
opportunity to hear the Gospel than ever before. Yet all too many go
home never having seen the inside of an American home or heard that
Jesus loves them and offers eternal life.
According to International Students Inc., only
30% of international students ever see the inside of an American home.
Some of these internationals are highly educated, the cream of the
crop. When they go home, it may be to a position that can influence
the course of their nation. The State Department on its website lists
100s of people who studied here and later occupied a major role in
their country’s government, including presidents & prime ministers
.
Sadly, many get no chance to hear the Gospel. Ho Chi Minh lived and
worked in Boston from 1911 to 1913. Though he lived near a huge,
evangelical church, he left untouched by the Gospel, eventually
becoming communist leader in North Vietnam. Since learning of this,
that church established a huge international outreach. On the positive
side, some national-leaders-to-be have found faith here. Think of the
influence we can have. A teacher on trial in a Muslim country for
unintentionally insulting Islam faced 10 years in prison until a Muslim
who had just came back from the U.S. to occupy a role as dean defended
him BECAUSE he had experienced tremendous kindness from 2 Christians
when he had felt his loneliest <
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2000/006/3.29.html> .
Naturally, each international is precious whether influential and
attending F&M or a refugee who came here with virtually nothing or
a worker temporarily transferred. And each international can influence
others within their culture in ways that missionaries dream of, if they
are discipled from the beginning to see themselves as reproducers.
The largest motivation comes from Scripture. When I searched for words
like “nation” “peoples” “foreigner” and “Gentile” throughout the Bible,
I found over 500 instances. Reading some of these we see that, God has
a love for all peoples, He wants them to know Him and for His justice
and mercy and love to be known throughout the world. He desires praise
and songs and communion with people everywhere. The Great Commission
tells us to “go into all the world and make disciples of all nations”
but in America God is also reversing the paradigm and bringing the
nations to us. We should still support traditional missions
wholeheartedly but also take advantage of the far less costly option of
being missionaries in our own country. Having served in Japan 12
years, I know how much pressure there is not to become Christian and
how precious each conversion is. Do you know that in a given year more
Japanese come to Christ overseas than do in Japan? Thus the
opportunity we have here is astounding, and the cost comparatively
low. By learning to listen to a foreign accent, tasting food you’ve
never tried before, helping someone who needs transportation or an
English tip, and praying for & then wisely using an opportunity to
share Christ, you might start a ripple into eternity among a peoples
precious to God. In return you’ll often get deep appreciation for your
friendship, a new way of viewing life, and hopefully the joy of seeing
a foreigner become family. Most of all, loving people from other
nations here, clearly pleases Christ our Lord and Savior.
Motivation for International Student Ministry (From InterVarsity’s International Student Ministry Website.)
AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL (Glen Zumwalt’s
tongue-in-cheek prayer shows reaching out to internationals here makes
tons of sense since God made every request true.) http://www.intervarsity.org/ism/article_item.php?article_id=104&pf=1
LORD JESUS, you've told us to take your Gospel to all peoples of all
lands. But we find this too hard! We're required to leave families,
friends and familiar culture and go to a strange land to tell your
message in a foreign language to an alien people. Most of them already
have a religion which is interwoven into their whole culture and
lifestyle. Besides, we Christians aren't welcome in some parts of the
world, and are forbidden to teach your message (or even to go) to some
lands. And the cost! If we really tried to reach the world in this
generation, it'd bankrupt us all.
So we propose an alternative plan: you send the world to us! Have them
come at their own expense - and learn our language before they come!
Make them hungry for our friendship, anxious to come to our homes and
willing to go to church with us. Send the young, teachable ones. Send
those who are bright and vigorous, who'll someday be leaders in their
home countries. Arrange for them to stay for several years so we can
win a hearing for the Gospel and have time to teach them well after
they become believers. Especially send many from places where
missionaries are forbidden to go, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and
Mainland China. [Send them too from countries like Japan and Thailand
where the pressure to conform is great and there are oh so few
believers (my addition).] How many, Lord? Oh, some 700,000 perhaps,
well spread around the country so many churches and individual
Christians can take part.
Now, if you'll do this, then we promise to make sharing Christ with
these people one of our highest priorities. We'll get to know them, win
a hearing through extending friendship and try to learn how to explain
your Gospel to them clearly. We'll work and pray. It might sound like a
lot to ask, but you can do it, can't you?
[Verses cited for Bible Study: Acts 8:25-40, 13:47; Genesis 12:3; Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:18-19, 31:12-13;
1st Kings 8:41-43; Psalms 67:2-7, 96:1-10,13; Isaiah 56:6-8; Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 15:8-12; and Revelation 5:9, 7:9-10.] |
