Welcome back to our second installment in the series ‘Am I Called to Be a Missionary.'

As mentioned last week, the idea of a Missionary Call is a frequent topic of discussion at missions events and conferences. People are so concerned about getting it wrong that they would rather not do something unless they know that God has not called them to do so. We hope to bring some clarity to this topic of the Missionary Call.

So let’s get to Part two.

Is Everyone Called to be a Missionary?
​
With missions defined, next we ask, “What is a missionary?” And Scripture has a surprising answer.
Some have said that the word “missionary” is not in the Bible, but that isn’t quite true. We derive words like missionary and missions from the Latin missio, which simply means sending. The Greek equivalent is apostelló, from which the word apostle comes. While there were only twelve Apostles—“sent ones”—commissioned by Jesus to lay the foundation of the church, in a broader sense, anyone who is “sent” carrying the gospel message is a similar type of missionary ambassador.

We would think, then, that a missionary is simply sent to win as many converts as possible. But that wasn’t the Apostle Paul’s job description. After spending only a short time traversing the Roman Empire and planting churches in a handful of key towns, Paul says, “[F]rom Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:19). How had he “fulfilled” the ministry of the gospel—as in, mission accomplished--when millions of lost people remained throughout the Roman world?

It is not the missionary’s aim, necessarily, to see every single individual won to faith. Rather, a missionary is one who serves in a culture long enough to see a healthy church form, full of converts capable of evangelizing the rest of their people. Paul established churches as beachheads to ensure that the gospel would spread. When a healthy church with qualified leaders was planted and ready to own the mission for themselves, Paul’s work was done.

In recent years, a terribly disproportionate number of missionaries have been sent to minister in places that have already been “reached”—where there are sufficient evangelical believers already present to evangelize the rest. According to the Joshua Project, more than 90% of “missionaries” serve “reached” people groups.

Meanwhile, the “unreached”—those who have little or no access to the gospel, with no churches or believers in their context to share with them—comprise about 7,000 people groups. That totals about nearly 4 billion people who have never heard of Christ. Most of these people groups live in North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, India, and the Pacific Islands, a region of the world known as the 10/40 Window (based on lines of latitude and longitude).

Unlike most unbelievers the North America and Europe who could easily hear the gospel through a Christian friend or nearby church, unreached people generally have no churches to visit, friends to call, or sermons to stumble upon on the radio. Though some may have heard of a “Jesus,” they have never understood the gospel itself. They are lost.

God may be drawing you to become a Pauline-type, pioneering missionary, “fulfilling the ministry of the gospel” among people who will otherwise perish without hearing about Jesus. Or perhaps he is leading you to be a Timothy-type missionary who comes in after the pioneer to strengthen and build young communities of faith (1 Timothy 1:3, 2 Timothy 2:1-2).

Not everyone can be a missionary. However, everyone can have a part in the bigger task—by going, sending, supporting, or mobilizing others.

Either way, a missionary is not just an adventurous, free spirit stirred by a noble social cause. A missionary preaches the gospel with the aim of starting churches that can reach people groups among whom Jesus is not yet known and worshiped.

To repeat, it is clear that not everyone can be a missionary. However, everyone can have a part in the bigger task—by going, sending, supporting, or mobilizing others. What is your role?

Do you long to devote your life to this task? Do you have the desire to cross cultural boundaries, or help send those who do? If so, God’s Spirit may be directing you. We implore you to pray, study God’s Word, and obey God wherever He leads. Eternity hangs in the balance for billions.

Check out the ways that OMS Canada can help you make an impact on reaching the unreached.
Click here to visit our website.

Stay tuned for Part three in this series!

OMS Canada is a faith-based missionary sending organization. Our primary purpose is to recruit and mobilize missionaries who will take the gospel to the nations according to the command of Jesus Christ in the gospels and in the book of Acts. Matthew 28 contains what is known as the Great Commission.

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in2 the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)

One of the most frequent comments heard at a missions event or missions conference is ‘I’m not sure I’m called to be a missionary. This misunderstood idea of a call to missionary service is perhaps the single issue that prevents people from even considering missions as a vocation. Over the next six weeks, we will consider this idea of the missionary call in four blog posts and perhaps bring some clarity to the idea of the missionary call and the process of receiving the call.

Before we do that, though, we need to be clear on what missions is. This week we will talk about what missions is and is not.

What Missions Is and Is Not.

“Missions exists because worship doesn’t.” (John Piper)
​
God is a missionary God. He is passionately committed to spreading His fame and His glory to all nations.

So how should we define “missions?”

First, we must start with what missions is not. God commands His people serve the poor and hungry, but mercy ministry and social justice are not missions. If we reduce missions to providing relief, education, or compassion—in other words, if everything is missions—then nothing is.

Similarly, missions is more than sharing the gospel. If missions simply meant evangelism, then we could all do that in our hometown without crossing cultures.

To define missions, we must begin with the gospel, then work out to consider what God is doing in history.

The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ’s death, resurrection, and reign to save sinners. This was necessary because, although all human cultures have knowledge of God through creation (Romans 1:19-20), every people group has rejected God (1:21-23) and is born in sin, trapped under God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3). Since God’s standards of good and evil are written on every heart, all are accountable for their sin—even if they’ve never heard of Jesus or read the Bible (Romans 2:14-15). Humans in all cultures are equally lost, in need of rescue from an eternity in Hell.

The good news is that “God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus Christ—the ultimate missionary—left the comforts of heaven, crossed into our world, died in our place, and rose in victory. Now all who repent and trust in Christ are made right with God and given eternal life.

What is God doing in history? At the onset of God’s redemptive plan, he promised that through Abraham “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 17:3). Jesus, the promised offspring from Abraham’s line, purchased “people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” on the cross (Revelation 5:9). Right now, God is making a people for Himself—bought by Jesus—from among the nations. We call that people the church.

Christ told His followers, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21). We are commanded to disciple all the nations (Matthew 28:18-20) until the earth is “full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). God’s work in history will be finished when all His people from every tribe and language are worshiping Christ in heaven (Revelation 5:9).

The gospel is the message God is using in history to save and set apart a people for himself in the church from every nationality, language, and ethnicity. Missions, then, is what carries this gospel to all the nations. It’s the job of the church that’s between Christ’s first coming and His return.

So what is missions? Missions is the task of proclaiming the gospel to every people group that has not yet heard it, in order to establish churches—churches that will carry on mission by reaching their culture, teaching others, and sending missionaries out.

For more information about people, tongues, tribes, and nations, read this post about Unreached People Groups.
​
Next week we will ask the question “Is everyone called to be a missionary?”
 
 

 In this dark, fearful and confusing time for Haiti, God continues to do that which only He can do:
win the battles. 

​For hundreds of years, hundreds of thousands of people in Haiti have gone to the witchdoctor, looking for help, looking for answers, looking for something better. On Friday, one of these witchdoctors came to Emmaus instead, looking for the same thing. 

Praise the Lord, something better is not far off, His hand is not too short to save. Be encouraged by this quick testimony from President Matt Ayars, bringing light to things that cannot be changed...CHANGING.
 
“Hi everyone. Matt Ayars here, President of Emmaus University in Haiti, and I wanted to share a quick story. With so many people who have been praying and fasting for so long for Haiti’s release and Haiti's redemption, and God buying back Haiti so these manifestations and political instability, all this stuff going on is just a result of, I believe, God bringing Haiti back to Himself and I had an experience today that I think is illustrative of that and that really confirmed that conviction in my heart.
 
So a few weeks ago, I visited a witchdoctor to share with him the gospel, and he's a guy that I know and I have met before. No other witchdoctor kind of gave us a tour of the voodoo temple and explain to us, you know, kind of, the talismans, and how it works, and the pantheon of deities, showed us, you know, with his mystic snake that sits up in the ceiling and explain to us how the sacrifices work and explained all the different demons and spirits that he served. At the end of our time together, you know, I very clearly shared the gospel with him, and he seemed open to me but not ready to make a decision. It's not the first time I've shared the gospel with him and not the first time that I've even prayed with him. He seemed closer this time than ever before.
 
And then just today, less than an hour ago, he came with his assistant who was with him at the temple. He came to tell me that he had stopped all of his activities as a witch doctor. He was no longer living there on the site where the temple was. He had moved and had found a truck and try to pick up the truck, trying to get back to work and doing some side jobs in the meantime.
 
So it was, there was nothing but wonderful news for me to be at a church. A graduate is the pastor of this church. And so I asked if I could pray with them. I prayed with them. And a lot of you know that every Monday night I do a Bible study with welcome from Haiti that's just about a mile down the road. A lot of young men, similar to these guys to the witchdoctor and his partner who I met today, met with today, and I invited them to Bible study Monday nights, which they were enthused about. And so I too am really excited to have them doing that Bible Study Group, progressing, I think, closer towards making a decision and growing and maturity and hopefully you know discipleship being the main goal there.
 
And then I also sent them away with a couple brand new Creole Bibles and a book on spiritual warfare, a book on the Holy Spirit, and that book on the Holy Spirit talks about how the Holy Spirit's uniquely different from spirits of animism which he'd be very familiar with. And also a book on the life of radical discipleship, a book by John Stott. So they left happy, enthused, encouraged, excited about joining Bible study and studying the literature I had given them. But to me it was a wonderful illustration of the power of Satan and darkness, being lifted from Haiti. Pray for revival, pray for repentance. We pray that people who have been held captive by the darkness and the lies that the devil would come to the light, and they would come to Christ, the one in whom all truth is found, and in whom all liberty is found, for the forgiveness of sins, life everlasting and for eternal, satisfying joy and peace.
 
So, again, thank you. I hope you find this story encouraging, as I did. Thank you.”
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=rlodCMUyQSM&feature=emb_logo
 
Stay up to date here where we have updates about what is happening in Haiti. 

Canadians recognize Remembrance Day, originally called Armistice Day, every 11 November at 11 a.m.
It marks the end of hostilities during the First World War and an opportunity to recall all those who
have served in the nation’s defence.

On this day of remembrance, I would like to challenge you to remember something else as well.
​It is the Gospel, and it is not just for the new birth; it is for your new life as well.

I love to find and share practical methods or techniques for living the Christian life—ways other Christians live out their Christian faith day-by-day. As I speak with people, as I read books, as I listen to sermons, I am always looking for these tips that might be called “faith hacks.” I am going to share one with you today. It comes from Jerry Bridges and deals with the importance of preaching the Gospel to yourself everyday.

Bridges has written in several of his books about the importance of the daily practice of preaching the Gospel to yourself. In “The Discipline of Grace” he writes, “When you set yourself to seriously pursue holiness, you will begin to realize what an awful sinner you are. And if you are not firmly rooted in the Gospel and have not learned to preach it to yourself every day, you will soon become discouraged and will slack off in your pursuit of holiness.” He also gives an overview of the practice: “To preach the Gospel to yourself, then, means that you continually face up to your own sinfulness and then flee to Jesus through faith in His shed blood and righteous life. It means that you appropriate, again by faith, the fact that Jesus fully satisfied the law of God, that He is your propitiation, and that God’s holy wrath is no longer directed toward you.”

But it is in “Respectable Sins” that he gives the practical example from his own life. Here is how he preaches the Gospel to himself every day:

Since the Gospel is only for sinners, I begin each day with the realization that despite my being a saint, I still sin every day in thought, word, deed, and motive. If I am aware of any subtle, or not so subtle, sins in my life, I acknowledge those to God. Even if my conscience is not indicting me for conscious sins, I still acknowledge to God that I have not even come close to loving Him with all my being or loving my neighbor as myself. I repent of those sins, and then I apply specific Scriptures that assure me of God’s forgiveness to those sins I have just confessed.

I then generalize the Scripture’s promises of God’s forgiveness to all my life and say to God words to the effect that my only hope of a right standing with Him that day is Jesus’ blood shed for my sins, and His righteous life lived on my behalf. This reliance on the twofold work of Christ for me is beautifully captured by Edward Mote in his hymn “The Solid Rock” with his words, “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” Almost every day, I find myself going to those words in addition to reflecting on the promises of forgiveness in the Bible.

What Scriptures do I use to preach the Gospel to myself? Here are just a few I choose from each day:
As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)
“I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
(Isaiah 43:25)

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. (Romans 4:7-8)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

There are many others, including Psalm 130:3-4; Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 38:17; Micah 7:19; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:13-14; Hebrews 8:12; and 10:17-18.

Whatever Scriptures we use to assure us of God’s forgiveness, we must realize that, whether the passage explicitly states it or not, the only basis for God’s forgiveness is the blood of Christ shed on the cross for us. As the writer of Hebrews said, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (9:22), and the context makes it clear that it is Christ’s blood that provides the objective basis on which God forgives our sins.

That has been his daily practice for many years. Why don’t you make it part of your practice, and see the difference it makes to begin each day reminding yourself of who you were, and who you now are in Christ?

Milton Vincent has written a little book called, “A Gospel Primer for Christians” that could be very helpful in preaching the Gospel to yourself daily. It includes hundreds of Scripture references to reinforce the truth of the Gospel.

Do you make it your practice to preach the Gospel to yourself? If so, what have you learned?
How do you go about it?   Please leave a comment below to share your experiences.

You can also check out our blog page here where you can find updates from our missionaries around the world and various blogs for your own growth!

Change is something that comes as a result of something new happening; an alteration, shift, transition, or transformation. The result can be a positive thing or even a challenge for us because it may be unusual or unfamiliar at first.
 
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:19
 
God allows us to experience new things so that we can grow and depend more on Him, so it is important that we remain focused on God during times of change and remember that He is the One
​who is in control.

In Ontario, we experience four different weather seasons throughout the year:
​spring, summer, fall, and winter.
 
These seasons vary and as a result they impact our daily living. What activities to do and not do outdoors, what to wear, what to cook/eat, etc. These seasons can even impact our moods and how we feel.
 
Spiritual seasons are also very significant and things we all go through.

Let’s do a comparison with weather and spiritual seasons and see how they can relate:
 
Spring

• Rain, water, plants, grass, and flowers starting to grow.
• Most of us don’t like rainy weather, but it’s necessary for growth.
• Spiritually, this can be a season of growth in our walk with God. We may not enjoy being stretched but we need to remember that these situations will cause us to grow.

 
Summer

• Flowers bloom, the grass is green, and the weather is nice and hot outside.
• We do sometimes complain when it gets too humid, but it is a wonderful thing to go camping outdoors and enjoy some fresh BBQ    on a summer day.
• Spiritually, this can be a season of blessing where we simply enjoy the good things that God has blessed us with.

 
Fall

• Leaves change colors and fall, a season of winter preparation.
• Seeing the leaves change color and peak is a beautiful sight. When they fall, the trees are bare and this doesn’t look so beautiful for us.
• Spiritually, this can be a season of change and newness. This is not always easy at first, but we need to remember that God is in control of the change. He directs our steps.

 
Winter

• Cold weather, snow, nothing growing outside.
• We get to enjoy outdoor winter activities and sports, we dress in layers to keep warm, and drink hot chocolate while watching a Christmas movie.
• Spiritually, this can be a season of dryness. We can feel like nothing is happening and that we are not growing. Let’s be encouraged that God is always working, even when we don’t see any fruit or results.

 
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
 
Let’s be encouraged to trust God in all seasons. We can be assured that we will not walk through any season alone. God is with us and as we trust and serve Him, He will make all things work for good in our lives.
 
What season are you currently in? How have seasons of change in your life allowed you to deepen your faith and get closer to God?
 
Please leave a comment below to share your experiences with others as we all continue to grow in this journey together by God’s grace.   It would also be great connect with you. Simply click here   to  do that.
 
To Him be all glory.
 

How much do you know about Missions?
​
How much do you know about missions? Are you a missions hero or a missions zero? And what about your church? Is it a missions hub or a missions flub?

Regardless of where you may place yourself or your church on the missions knowledge continuum, there is always room for improvement. And missions education is the way to improve your missions knowledge.
​
​Missions Education falls into three categories.

1. Missions Awareness
   Missions awareness is all about knowing current missions information – world news, current trends, missions news, missions obstacles, your church’s priorities, goals and plans, your church’s missionaries, your denomination’s missions commitment and involvement.
2. Missions Promotion
   Missions promotion refers to keeping missions in front of yourself and in front of the church. This happens through advertising, stimulation and encouragement to personal involvement in missions. It is about the development of the resources necessary for cross-cultural missions – funds, prayer, support, personnel.
3. Missions Education
   Missions education deals with the basics. It is the ongoing development of an understanding of God’s purposes in the world, what missions is, why we do it, where we are headed and what has been done. It starts with Bible study, including the integrating themes of redemption and God’s glory, and includes the historical spread of Christianity, missionary biographies, missions strategies and missions progress.

Now, for those who would say that their missions education is adequate or effective, I would offer the following suggestions for what must characterize effective missions education.

1. Missions education must be ongoing in order to account for new people joining the church, children growing up and for continuing education.
2. Missions education should be comprehensive, covering a broad scope of themes and topics.
3. Missions education should be integrated, provided for and by all departments and programs.
4. Missions education should be compelling. It would be a shame to bore people with God’s global purpose.
5. Missions education should be varied, utilizing a variety of methods.
6. Missions education should be graded for all age levels and all spiritual development levels.

Missions education may utilize the following formats;

• Pulpit preaching
• Elective classes
• Courses as part of the church/Sunday school rotation
• Curricula for small groups
• Training from visiting missionaries
• Video series
• Special events
• Outside courses like Perspectives on the World Christian Movement or Kairos.
• Conferences like the Missionfest or Urbana or CROSS that happen in many cities

​We have some free resources available for use by yourself, your small group or you church to help further missions knowledge through missions education. Check it out here
​
We would also be happy for the opportunity to speak to your church or a missions group, a small group, youth group or a Sunday School class. Contact the office and we will arrange the date.
God’s heart truly is for the nations and it is our great privilege to join him in this pursuit resulting in his great glory and our everlasting joy.

“Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You!” Ps. 67:4-5

Well, OMS Canada’s 75th anniversary event, the unFinished Conference, took place two weeks ago.
This blog post is a review of the event with some thoughts about our future.

Fair Havens Ministries was the location for the conference. For many years OMS Canada Retreats were held at Fair Havens, so it seemed an appropriate venue to hold the anniversary event. And we were not disappointed. The staff did an exceptional job of caring for us. The meeting spaces were excellent. The accommodations were comfortable and the food was fantastic. Special thanks to Tara for her patience with us; we had never planned an event like this.

The opening session on Friday evening had us in Irwin Chapel. Esther Cooke and Ruth Williston were our excellent worship leaders for the weekend and they did a super job of it. The theme for the conference was the unFinished Task that Jesus gave to the church. This was reflected in our worship by the theme song, “Facing a Task Unfinished”. The lyrics reminded us of God’s blessing and His intention for that blessing to be a blessing to others as well.

Dr Stan Dyer then led us in a rehearsal of OMS’ history, beginning with our founders, the Cowman’s, and the beginnings in Canada with Bill and Blanche Frith. It was abundantly clear that God had been gracious to OMS Canada and faithful in all His ways. There is a legacy to godly leadership and fruitful service for the Kingdom of God. This was celebrated.

In the second main session on Saturday morning, Dr Bob Fetherlin, President of OMS Global, reminded us of the task that remains unfinished, using Genesis 12:1-3 (all the peoples will be blessed) and Acts 1:8 (you will be my witnesses). As people who have been rescued, we are to help rescue others. He has given to us the ministry of reconciliation and we are blessed to be a blessing. Our task is to create new links in the gospel chain to reach those who have never heard. And our ministry is to be ‘Glocal’, ministry that is both local and global.

In the third main session on Saturday evening, Dr Randall Mah of Wycliffe Bible Translators gave us a snapshot of how the gospel is doing in the world today. He reminded us that when the nations are referenced in Scripture it does not mean a geo-political country as we often assume. Rather, it refers to people groups, ethno linguistic groupings of people, connected by culture and language. He told us that there remain approximately 3,000 people groups with less than 2% evangelical Christians. These are the Unreached People Groups (UPG). And until each of these people groups have been penetrated by the gospel and a community of worshippers established, the task remains unFinished.

There were a number of breakout sessions that also took place on Saturday. Three missionary families shared on the theme “A Day in the Life” of a missionary. These were well attended and we were challenged by their experiences. There were also sessions on Short Term Missions, Dynamic Women in Mission, Unreached People Groups, Business as Mission, Billion.Global, and Kairos. We trust that these sessions challenged each one to become more involved in completing the great commission.

In the final session, we were challenged to embrace the 20/20 Vision. By God’s grace, we will believe for 20 new missionaries by the end of 2020. It is a vision that is disproportionate to who we are at OMS Canada but not at all disproportionate to who God is. To support this vision, the OMS Canada Board of Directors have enacted four strategic initiatives. These strategic initiatives have been designed to increase our exposure to those individuals to whom the Lord of the Harvest is speaking about service among the nations.

The first initiative is to hire a full-time Recruiter. If we are serious about doing our share to complete the task, it will involve many more missionaries. And if we are serious about new missionaries, then we believe that a full-time recruiter is necessary. And God has provided extra funds from a generous donor who passed away last year.

The second initiative is to encourage all of you to investigate the opportunity to take the Kairos Course ( https://simplymobilizing.com/courses/kairos/ ). This course will make it very clear what the task is and what is our responsibility. It will also provide us proximity to those people in Canada who are serious about learning of missions and more apt to consider serving among the nations.

The third initiative is the Missions Kickstart program. One of the challenges faced by post-secondary students is student debt. The Missions Kickstart program is an opportunity for OMS Canada to assist graduates pay back their student loans on the condition that they have been approved for missionary service with OMS Canada and will commit to a term of service. Our aim is to be able to move these people to their field of service in a more timely manner by removing the burden of student loans.

The fourth initiative is the 341 Prayer Groups. Prayer triplets are not a new concept to the church. They have been used to fruitful ends around the world. We are asking you to meet with two other people at least once a week to pray for one more new missionary by the end of 2020. That’s 3 people praying 4 1 more new missionary by the end of 2020. When you do form your group, we ask you to let us know about it so that we can pray for you and keep you up to date on how God is answering prayer.
Share your group details here - https://forms.gle/oY17iJ8Snqp9iX5x8  

​The only instruction given in regards to getting new missionaries is to pray. One of the passages where we see this is Matthew 9:38. Jesus has looked out on the crowds of people with compassion because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus said to pray earnestly, therefore, to the Lord of the harvest to send more labourers into the harvest. This is what we are committing to do and this is what we are asking you to commit to do as well.

So we challenge you to join us in our commitment to see the task Finished and hasten the day of
Christ’s return.
​
To find out more about any of this, don’t hesitate to call or shoot us an email.

When we hear the word impossible we think of something that is not able to be done and that can easily allow a person to be filled with:  fear, uncertainty, worry, and helplessness.
 
Now, when we hear the word possible we feel a lot better because it tells us that something can be done. That gives us confidence, hope, peace, and assurance.
 
Today I’m happy to say that, with God ALL THINGS are POSSIBLE.
 
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God;
all things are possible with God.”
Mark 10:27
 
When we face situations in our lives that seem impossible, it ultimately gives us the choice to either focus on those things and keep struggling or to surrender everything to God and trust in Him.

​There are several different things we can do to remain encouraged when trusting in God for the impossible. Here are 4 for us to look at:

1- Pray  
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours.”
Mark 11:24
 
Prayer is the key to every victory that we experience in life. We need to constantly be in communication with God no matter what we are going through. We can have the assurance that God will answer us according to His perfect will for our lives.

2- Believe  
“He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible
for you.”
Matthew 17:20
 
We need to have faith, to believe. This allows us to keep moving forward and to step into the great things God has for us. When things seem impossible, we need to remember that with God all things are possible. This verse demonstrates the power of faith, and it just takes a tiny bit of it.
 
What are you believing God for today?

3- Remember  
“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:22-24
 
We all fall short every day and we need to remember that. We need to check ourselves daily and ask for God’s forgiveness and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We cannot successfully do the things that God has called us to without the realization that we need God, we cannot do it on our own.
We need to remember this when we are trusting God for the impossible.

4- Surrender  
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3
 
Surrendering is not an easy thing to do, but it is necessary as we grow in Christ. We all have hopes, dreams, and visions. Let’s surrender these to God and allow Him to guide us so that He may have all the glory. This is what growing in Christ is all about, we are just vessels and our King of glory is worthy of all honor and praise.
 
Let’s be encouraged today, whatever impossible situation you are facing. There is hope and it is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
To Him be all glory.
 
 

By Bob Fetherlin, President One Mission Society Global
 
Why have I had a multitude of opportunities to hear the good news of Christ, while so many have never had the chance, even once? This is the greatest of all social injustices. 

​We have the needed people, money, technology, and strategies for everyone to hear. Yet, millions languish with critically low or no access to the gospel, This must not continue.

After many conversations, fasting and much prayer throughout 2014 and 2015. I was convinced God wanted one Mission Society to take a bold step of faith, a vision far beyond our resources, but not beyond his. In the conversation with a co-worker, the idea of giving at least a billion people, over 10 years the opportunity to hear, understand and believe the gospel came into focus. This vision quickly became an unquenchable passion.
 
But was God really calling OMS to this vision? It was tested in 2015 by presenting it to the OMS missionary leaders, the Men for Missions Cabinet, and the OMS Board of Trustees, who consistently and strongly affirmed it. We launched the Billion.Global vision in July 2016. We recently completed year three of the 10-year journey.
 
Since the first year of this vision, we’ve emphasized evangelism and discipleship. A few criticisms have come. But instead of being discouraged, they have strengthened the resolve to press forward.
 
Amazingly, God has given some great servant leaders to shape and give direction to Billion.Global. He has led many organizational partners to engage with us in carrying it out. Collaboration between partners is growing, generous people give to support the vision. Most importantly, more people are being given the opportunity to hear the best news ever and become disciples!
 
Hudson Taylor wrote, “There are three stages to every great work of God. First, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.” The most recent Outreach magazine gives an update from somewhere between stage one and stage two. Wouldn't it be wonderful if a future issue focused on stage three, all for the God's glory?
 
Type billion.global into your browser to learn more.

Almost every evangelical Christian would affirm a commitment to the importance of prayer in their life and in the ministry arenas in which they work or volunteer. Missions is no exception. Do you really pray for missions? What do you pray for missions? How do you encourage others to pray for missions. Here are four concrete ways to elevate the status of prayer as it relates to missions.

1. Make prayer the missions priority for your missions team and your congregation.
       a. Set a personal example by praying for one or more missionaries daily.
      b. Set a team example by praying first in every missions team meeting.
      c. Program prayer into every missions activity.
      d. Include prayer for missions and missionaries in every corporate prayer meeting.

2. Recognize that people are motivated to pray for people they love.
       a. Develop personal prayer for missionaries based on relationships.
      b. Set a goal for the number of people who will commit to pray for a missionary.
      c. Use the missions conference to inspire individuals to pray for a missionary.
      d. Ask individuals to commit to pray faithfully for one year for a specific missionary.
      e. Ask them to write the name of the missionary on the conference commitment card.
      f. Provide the names of those who sign up to the missionaries they will pray for.
      g. Ask the missionaries to send their prayer letters to those individuals.
      h. Remind the individuals of the commitment they made.
      i. Renew prayer sign-ups annually.

3. Facilitate ongoing relationship development
      a. Encourage the missionaries and prayer partners to develop relationships.
      b. When your missionaries visit your church, facilitate their meeting with their prayer partners.
      c. Communicate success stories.

4. Pray corporately for the world, countries and people groups.
      a. Use resources such as the Global Prayer Digest, Operation World, etc.
      b. Participate in the Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Day of Prayer for the Unreached and other           special prayer events.
      c. Personalize where possible by identifying countries and peoples with missionaries you support.

Have you ever wondered what to talk about with a missionary that visits your church or that comes for a meal at your home? Good questions are the fuel to a great conversation. They are the door by which you can discover who a person really is. 

You may have thought, “I don’t really have much in common with these missionaries. They live in a foreign country and do something I would never dream of doing.” Or maybe you think that missionaries get tired of answering questions. However, the truth is that most of them are excited to talk about the people and country they love.

If you have ever thought any of these things before, then here are some great questions to ask next time you are with a missionary.

Ask about their calling
1. How did God lead you to become a missionary?
2. What did you do before you were a missionary?
3. What advice would you give somebody who have felt that God may be leading him or her to become a cross-cultural missionary?

​Ask about their country
4. How would you describe your neighbours and the people that live in your town?
5. What were some of the biggest adjustments and challenges you had to make when you started living in your place of service?
6. What do you miss most from Canada while you are on the field? What do you miss most from your country while you are in Canada?
7. How do people in your country view Canada? What are some cultural differences or barriers that you have had to overcome?

Ask about their work
8. What is the best part about being a missionary? What are some of your favorite things you get to do in your work?
9. What does your typical week look like?
10. What are some of your biggest victories from the past year?
11. What were some of your biggest challenges during the past year?
12. What are some of your big goals and desires for your future ministry?
13. How can people and churches here in Canada better help your work?

Find out who they are
14. Tell me a funny story about something that has happened to you as a missionary.
15. Have you read any books that have been particularly helpful to you? Do you listen to any podcasts or preachers that are an encouragement to you?
16. What is one of the most encouraging things somebody has done for you while you were on the field?
17. How is your family doing?
18. What are some activities that you like to do as a hobby or to relax?

Find out what you can do for them
19. How can I pray for you? If the setting permits, ask to pray with the missionary that very moment. Surprisingly, there have been very few occasions that people have done this for us, and yet we deeply appreciate it. It is powerful to have people not just pray for you, but with you.
20. Is there something I can do to help your family right now or while you are on the field? Again, you may be amazed at the response to this question. Most times the needs are very simple – getting to do a load of laundry, mailing a small package, or recommending a good place to take their kids for the afternoon.

You may be surprised. The more you talk with a missionary, the more you may find out that they enjoy many of the same things you do. They may share similar struggles with you. They may be more like you than you thought at first glance.

​So the next time you are with missionaries, don’t hesitate. Go talk with them, Your thoughtful questions just may open the door to a terrific conversation, an encouraging moment, and even a new friendship.

Take Action:

• Preach and teach without flinching about sin, repentance and the lostness of man. Maintain a focus on God’s heart for the human soul.
• Model and insist on godly living among your congregation. The pendulum has swung from works to grace, from legalism toward license. Expect those who come to faith to experience life change and to learn obedience by faith.
• Teach your people how to lead people to repentance and faith. Make sure your new missionaries are able to lead people to Christ, and are able to do so in their own culture as well.
• Highlight the news, especially the international news, drawing attention to the results of sin, man’s need of a Savior, and the transformation brought about by the Gospel.
• Select, support, and undertake outreach and missions ministries and projects that include or focus on life transformation. Ask your missionaries how their ministries contribute to reaching the lost and give testimonies where possible.