Our Missions World, Spring, 2000
Week of Prayer for North American Missions
How "On Mission" Believers Can Support North American Missions
These articles have taught believers how to be On God’s mission by being involved in evangelistic missions. On Mission Christians support NAMB and the missionaries through giving their money, time and talent.
On Mission to Every Tribe and Nation
Revelation 14:6 talks about the angel who "had the eternal good news to announce to the people of every race, tribe, language and nation on earth." (CEV). All of God’s creation is part of His missionary heart.
The Greek word for good news is the source word for the English word evangelism. Ethnic congregations have a special responsibility and ability to evangelize other ethnics.
Ten Assignments for On Mission Christians
Pray for NAMB missionaries in every worship service, Bible Study or home meeting. Every missionary from the WOP asked for daily, specific prayer. Get and use the WMU WPNAM guide to Prayer.
Teach missions education to adults and children. Help everyone in the church understand God’s instruction to seek and to save the lost. The WMU Missions Plan Book and Ministry Ideas book can help.
Teach an evangelism class such as the One-Day Soul Winning Workshop, available in 13 languages from NAMB/Lifeway. Each of the missionaries talked about the need to share Jesus with the people you minister.
Develop new ministries to reach out to the community. Freddie Mae Bason suggests "churches to develop a directory for services because many people call in for help. They cannot get conned as easily if they work with a local agency." Find out local help with homeless shelters, abuse, clothing and food. By working together the church can help the person better and be good stewards."
Provide training and copies of the I Care About You witnessing leaflet from WMU (available in 7 languages).
Teach your congregation about the Cooperative Program and Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions.
Invite a North American missionary to speak to your church or WMU group.
Adopt a missionary family. Several of our WOP missionaries mentioned the encouragement that comes from churches that write to them and show their support. Contact NAMB or the state convention for missionaries that are close by. Write to them and let them know you are praying for them. Ask for specific ways your church can help their ministry.
The missionaries also ask you to challenge your church to add or increase sacrificial giving to the Cooperative Program and Annie Armstrong offering.
The missionaries suggest "to get involved by doing short term missions" Contact 1 800 hmbvols for information on short term North American Mission opportunities.
Celebrate Jesus 2000
One major way for every ethnic believer to support north American Missions is to participate in Celebrate Jesus 2000 (CJ2K).
CJ2K has the goal to help believers pray for and share Jesus with everyone in North America by the end of the year 2000.
Thousands of churches are praying and sharing with every person within a chosen Zip Code. It would be a great idea to pray for and witness to every person from your language group in your Zip Code.
CJ2K churches are having special evangelism events in their community. These events include ways to bring unbelievers to a party or celebration. Believers share Jesus while the unbelievers are there.
There is more information available through your association, state convention, or at www.celebratejesus2000.org.
Missionary Advice
Jones Lo is the NAMB National Missionary for Chinese. He became a Christian as a young man. When he was 14 he felt a call to missions and finally surrendered to that call at age 25.
He believes it is important for every Christian to be involved in missions. "God calls us to be missionaries. Not everyone can be a fulltime missionary but every Christian is called to do God’s mission work. So all of us are involved in missionary outreach."
He has three prayer requests:
Pray for the supply of workers in the ethnic churches
Pray for missionaries and pastors among ethnic congregations
Pray for all of the new ethnic churches to be nurtured to be self-producing.
Conclusion
The year 2000 Week of Prayer can last one week or an entire lifetime. These lessons can make a difference in every ethnic congregation if they are used.
Be in prayer about how to support North American missions, missionaries, and missions offerings. Then lead your church to be "On Mission" by supporting North American Mission work.