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STATE MISSIONS: Special Emphasis Theme 2024: An Acceptable Sacrifice
Paul White
This year, we are attempting to call attention to the conditions in our communities. It is alarming to imagine that the majority of Arkansans have no church affiliation at all. Before we succumb to the incorrect notion that there are already plenty of churches, did you know that if half the lost people in your community decided to attend church on Sunday, there would not be room for them?
I know of no neighborhoods where there would not be room for another God-fearing, God-honoring church. Keep in mind that we are talking about a Scriptural church. Like a boy in the early 19th century who watched out his window as the town’s lamp lighter went about his business of lighting the streetlights. The lad said to his mom, “Come watch. There is a man burning holes in the darkness.” What a marvelous illustration of mission work!
Doing for others tests our metal, yet God says our giving has a sweet smell and a pleasing aroma to Him. After all, He told us, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:19-21).
I believe the Lord has given us a way to be personally involved as a means of expressing our love for Him. No wonder Jesus said, “… behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35).
From Our Missionaries
Misión Creciendo en Cristo (Growing in Christ), North Little Rock: Juan Carlos Posadas writes, “It was a hectic week as we left early on Wednesday for the SOAR student conference. We were a group of 10 people, including students and chaperones. It was interesting to observe how the bonds of friendship between the students were strengthened throughout those days of being together for nearly 60 continuous hours and how it generated a more intimate friendship between some of them.
“Early Saturday, we continued preparing to receive around 200 people from the community at our first Family Festival, which we organized as part of the 9th anniversary celebration. The brothers from Prospect Baptist Church in Jonesboro joined the celebration by bringing their cotton candy maker, a snow cone maker, a grill for the Hotdogs and a group of volunteers. We played soccer, burst piñatas and gave away gifts, nachos, esquites (Mexican Street Corn Salad), pizzas, hotdogs, fruits and soft drinks. The event ended with an outdoor concert, which included a gospel presentation.
“At our Sunday meeting, we heard testimonies from two brothers and one sister of the congregation and preaching from Ricki Williams based on Acts 12. After that, we enjoyed a delicious lunch. Of course, we were bursting piñatas again. We are very grateful to our Lord. He has allowed us to celebrate one more anniversary of serving in this community.”
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “This Sunday, I was back from my vacation with my family. I thank God for this time of rest and the opportunity to do it as a family.
“Sunday was an inspiring service. We had several families out of town. We celebrated the Lord’s Supper, and Moses Rico brought the message of God’s Word. I am joyful for this couple from Aguascalientes, Mexico, who desire to serve the Lord. My focus with them is to train them so they have more tools and can better serve in the kingdom of God.
“As I mentioned in previous articles, the ethnic works have a disadvantage since our ministry is in a language other than English, which brings, as a consequence, that the only human resource we have is ourselves, that is to say, the missionary. That is why we greatly rejoice in the Lord when potential leaders arrive. Brothers, thank you very much for your prayers and support. To God be the glory!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “We had another really good week at Faith Chapel! We had a very good number, with four first-time visitors. We had other visitors too, mostly our ‘faithful visitors.’ Still, these first-timers were people we met and talked to at our annual outreach event on July 3, where we cook and give out free hotdogs, chips, water, popcorn, cookies and popsicles to the community on their way to watch the fireworks in the park.
This has been a successful event for us as people have been saved and have continued coming to Faith Chapel. If you recall my report from last year after the event, I asked you to pray for a young man I talked to about salvation in the street that night. He seemed under conviction and ready to come to repentance and give his heart to Jesus, but we got interrupted and separated, and I did not know for sure that he had been saved. But at this year’s event on Wednesday night, he came back and I knew him as soon as I saw him. We talked again in almost the same spot, and I told him how happy I was to see him and asked if he remembered our conversation. He did, and it turns out that he did indeed get saved and he knows it! He is going to church in Yellville, and I just praise and thank God for letting me know he is saved. I have thought about him ever since that night a year ago. Thank you for joining me in prayer for him and for praying every time I have asked you to. Please keep praying for us because God is answering them in mighty ways! I will ask you to pray for another young man that we dearly love who needs Jesus. I think he is under conviction as well.”
Faith Journey, Benton: Bryan Clay writes, “I had the opportunity to bring the message this week at Celebration Baptist in Haskell, our sending church. It was a blessing to be able to worship with those who have been a huge part in the birth of Faith Journey Mission and share with them the words that the Lord had laid on my heart. These folks have been an intricate part of helping me to grow and a great support to me through the years as my church family.
“We had a good group this week at the mission. We continued our study of Acts and discussed the role of our spiritual gifts. We also talked about how Joesph was a true encourager, so much so that the apostles called him Barnabas, which means ‘Son of Encouragement.’ We then took the spiritual gift test questionnaire to help understand our spiritual gifts and how it would be beneficial to use them in ministry.”
Misión Gracia Soberana (Sovereign Grace), NWA:Roberto Marcelletti writes, “I am very grateful to the Lord I was able to talk to the eight people who visited us last week. One of them is José Luis. I met him on Sunday at the fireworks near our house. He is a newcomer, and I asked him for his cell phone number. On Wednesday, we had a coffee, and I was able to share the gospel. He promised to go to church, but he works on Sundays. I ask for your prayers because he is looking for a new job to be able to congregate.
“We also visited the Pereira family. Four are in the family, and their daughter is a pregnant teenager. The women of our church were active in helping them. They got her a doctor in the city and gave her things for her and the baby, due to be born this month.
“In addition, I was able to meet with Franklin to have a time of discipleship and accountability as I train him for leadership.
“Sunday, in our service, we continued to expose the gospel of John, and we had a guest. She is a teenager who said, ‘I came to change.’ This impacted us a lot because most of the people who visit us are Catholics, and it’s her first time in a Baptist church.”
Epic Life, Pea Ridge: Jake McCandless writes, “Wednesday may have been one of the wildest nights in ministry I have experienced. It is a long story, but here is the short version. Our family was planning not to be at the Woodbridge Connection Group we lead because our neighborhood was having its big July 4 get-together. We had gotten a personal invite to go to one of the neighbors’ houses and eat and then another to watch fireworks with the neighborhood. Our group decided this would be best for us as we are trying to reach our neighborhood.
“The night before our group meeting, the coach set to host had to cancel, so we changed plans and did double duty. We took the food we were supposed to bring to our neighbors and had a great conversation with all who were there about our Bible Study. We came back and held our Bible Study. Then, our entire Bible Study group hung out with our neighborhood to watch fireworks. When we asked the neighbor putting on the fireworks show if we could bring our group, he said, ‘You’re welcome to bring them, but you know everyone will be drinking and saying bad words.’ To which we replied, ‘That’s okay, our group wants to see your fireworks show and meet the neighborhood, and we want to hang out with y’all.’ He replied, ‘That’s what I like about y’all. You stand for what you stand for but aren’t judgmental to others.’ He then proceeded to talk about needing to get back in church. Keep praying with us for our neighborhood.”