Where Are We?

The final issue of Time magazine in 2011 named their selection for the Person of the Year as “The Protester.”  From Egypt, to Libya, to the main streets of the United States, people are rallying together to demonstrate that they are unhappy with their present circumstances, and desire change.  Of course, there are many on the fringe who mindlessly jump in simply because they seek attention or feel more self-worth being a part of something larger than themselves.  However, there are some people sold-out to their cause that are showing great tenacity.  While I may not necessarily agree with the change these groups of people are wanting, or their methods of protesting, I have to admire the passion of those who are legitimately trying to take a stand for something they believe in.

My question is, when did we as Christians lose this kind of fire and determination?  We are the recipients of eternal salvation, yet we concern ourselves with the feeble distractions of this world.  Hear the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:34-39 (NKJV):

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’   He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

If you are looking for a charming article on how to make and keep New Years’ resolutions, look somewhere else.  Our world is in desperate need of a Savior, and the only way they will be reached with the Gospel is if somebody goes and tells them about Jesus Christ.  Our world is hopelessly oppressed by a relentless enemy and needs Christians to stand up for what they believe in, open their mouth and proclaim the saving, healing, transforming name of Jesus.  What they do not need, is a group of people who have every excuse imaginable for not obeying the Word of God and living a solid biblical life.  They do not need people who waver in compromise when the easy way out is more convenient, or when confronted by the mocking words of their friends, family and co-workers.

Global Infusion is set for a record-breaking year.  In 2012, we will send out more mission teams than ever before into all the world, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that many people will be confronted with His redeeming love and plan of salvation.  Pray for us.  Support us.  Go with us.  We can change this world for Him, forever.

Next GI mission team:  TANZANIA (January 24 - February 5, 2012)

Goals:  Evangelism, Feeding Children

Support:  Donate    (select:  Tanzania: Outreach)

More Than Enough

Watch Jonathan's Video Update about this trip (from Nepal)

I have returned from the country of Nepal with our latest Global Infusion mission team.  It never ceases to amaze me how the majority of churches operate in second and third-world environments.  First of all, it seems they have more of a grasp on the fact that “church” is a body of believers and not a building.  I know this, because the places they typically meet would be equivalent to an over-sized tool shed in America.  Second, having “church” is focused on spending time together as a family of believers, which is why their services last for two, three or even four hours.  Third, I always smile during times of praise and worship when I am overseas. 

Apparently, villagers are under the impression that all you need for worship is one drum, or tambourine of sorts, and those in the audience are supposed to sing as loud as they can to God.  Of course I am being slightly facetious, and until you experience what I am talking about first-hand, you are completely missing out.  Last, the sacrifice involved in being a part of a “church” in places like Southeast Asia, China, or the Middle East is enormous.  It includes everything from walking miles upon miles to fellowship with other Christians, to enduring literal persecution for one’s faith.  This persecution may include assault, jail time, rejection from family and friends, loss of job, being shunned by their local community, and in some cases, death.

The believers I interact with overseas have concluded that Jesus is all they need.  In John 14:6, Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth and the life…”  What more do we need than to know the path we are taking in life, or being able to discern right from wrong, or living abundantly?  He is  El Shaddai.  The God that is more than enough. 

Why then, does Global Infusion continually send teams to reach people in places like Nepal?  There are two main reasons:  they have the greatest need, and we see the greatest return.

The abject poverty we encounter is unmatched in the West, which is why we facilitated a medical clinic a few weeks ago in Nepal that treated over 400 patients.  It is why we fed hundreds more.  In the midst of our medical work, we evangelized the area as devout Hindus were coming from miles around for treatment, but stayed to hear the Word of God.  We spent time with believers, praying with them, discipling them, and encouraging them.

Think of it as the two hands of the Gospel reaching out to the world.  Meeting tangible needs, but not leaving them without the hope of a Savior.  

That is why we go.

Thankless, or Thankful?

Here in the West, the focus in the month of November (October in Canada) often drives towards the Thanksgiving holiday.  It is that time of year, when people gather to celebrate all they are thankful for - or do we?  Has Thanksgiving merely turned into a springboard to Christmas?  Or Black Friday/Cyber Monday?  Is it just time off of school and work?  Why do we reserve just a few minutes around a table once a year to reflect on what we are thankful for?

Here is a great, and true demonstration of thankfulness (Luke 17:11-19, NKJV):

11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.  15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.  17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Let’s review.  First, leprosy is a terrible, contagious, skin disease that can spread from one person to another.  Lepers had strict rules to abide by, including living in a banishment camp away from healthy people.  The physical pain, and mental duress this disease brings is unfathomable.  Second, the men who were sick recognized Jesus, and recognized He had the authority to heal them.

Third, nine unthankful men (Jews, most likely) were healed on their way to the priests; one thankful man (a hated Samaritan, most likely) was healed at the feet of Jesus.

We have a lot to be thankful for as Christians - especially those of us who live in the West.  We face some adversity, but it does not compare to what many of our brothers and sisters in other countries face.  Let’s review this passage through the eyes of missions and evangelism:

First, sin is a terrible disease that has been known to spread from one person to another through acts of enticement, malicious intent, and retaliation.  Second, those who are bound up in sin may only know the saving power of Jesus Christ if they are told about Him - many, like the lepers, live in remote villages of the world.  Third, the impact of Jesus’ grace and love on most “foreigners” is humble thankfulness - they, in turn, feel compelled to share what He has done for them.

Be thankful every day, and go into all the world.

The Field

I have returned from the country of Nicaragua where our latest Global Infusion team of 37 optometrists (doctors), students and GI personnel treated 1,853 patients in less than a week. We were in both villages and small cities – we even had a door of opportunity open for us to treat over 200 local police officers and their families. We converted their main headquarters into a medical facility – we even invited their family members.

At one point, when the line had slowed down in the police station, I saw in the distance, a large cage attached to a building, and there were about 50 men in it.  I found out, it was a jail, and the cage was the common area the prisoners would be deposited when their family members came for visitation.  I walked over to the jail, and saw many women outside in line – mothers, sisters, wives, and girlfriends of the inmates.  There were even some children.  I saw their faces were greatly strained as the men in their lives have now been incarcerated and no longer able to provide for their family, or help at home.  So I got an idea.  When the women walked out of the jail, I stood there, and invited them over to our clinic – a free eye exam for them and their kids.  While some of the cops whined about being in line so long, these women and children’s faces lit up, and they gladly followed me over to the clinic.

As I was walking the women over to the make-shift clinic, the only thing in my mind was the Parable of the Great Supper in Luke 14 – where there is a man providing a great feast, and the invitees give every excuse in the book as to why they cannot come.  However, when he goes to find the least of these, they gladly come.  I’ve done a lot of missions work, but I couldn’t help but smile (and cry) as I led this group of women and children from the jail to the clinic, and I would turn around periodically to see if they were still with me – and not only were they with me, they were beaming with smiles, talking, laughing, and excited.

There is a field ready to be harvested, but it's not always where you think it is. 

Relativity

I’m getting (a little) tired of hearing about how everything is relative and that there are no absolutes in this world anymore.  “Your values and morals are defined by your perception of right and wrong,” people say.  “Your worldview has no reference point but your own concocted belief system.”  How ignorant of humanity to believe that our finite minds can become the moral compass that guides our values.  In one regard, the pendulum has swung from persecuting people of faiths, to a universal tolerance of all “religions,” beliefs, and even opinions.  “Whatever works for you,” has become the pad-answer of modern society.

How are we different as Christians?  What is it that sets us apart?  The obvious answer is that if nothing else, we will not be separated from our Maker for eternity in the life to come.  Both non-Christians and Christians, however, argue even this belief.  Some believe the idea of eternal punishment is a fairy-tale.  Without digressing too much on this topic, the Bible is very clear about the existence of Hell.  Though it was created solely for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41), those who have not accepted Christ will most certainly join him in what can be considered the “second death”  (John 5:29, Rev. 19:20).  Romans 3:23 is very clear about death being the resulting wage of sin.  No matter how people try to interpret the word “death,” there is no positive meaning for it.  Human beings inherently fear death, in any fashion – physical or spiritual.  Jesus also says in Luke 12:5, “But I will show you whom you should fear:  Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.”

How do we as Christians set ourselves apart from the world by being “in it, not of it” (John 15:19) without adopting a self-righteous demeanor?  Where is the balance between living a life that is obviously different than those who do not know Christ, and a “holier-than-thou” attitude?  The world has got to see a difference in this lifetime or they will not feel they have any reason to become a Christian (outside the power and intervention of the Holy Spirit, which is indeed necessary in every conversion).  We cannot play head-games with people.  They cannot be conned, or argued into Heaven.  They have to see the truth, and the Truth will set them free (John 8:32).

Breaking Point

Luke (1st mission trip) & Daddy

Imagine being in a mountainous region of Central America.  You have driven for 3 hours to reach the last, small, city before you enter into hundreds of square miles of villages - also located in the mountains.  You have a mission: reach a specific village to deliver the Gospel to those who have not heard, and deliver almost a ton of food to them because they are nearing starvation.
 

The only road to get to this village has a forty-five degree angle down, the roads are made of dirt, and it is raining.  Some of the roads have split and created two to three-foot caverns down the middle, and are as wide as six feet apart.  There is a caravan of 4x4 vehicles carrying food, and a team of people holding onto roll-bars in the back of the trucks.  Miles of terrain like this lie ahead, and then you approach a part of the road where the caverns are so deep and wide, that there is no way for the trucks to continue.  Walking on foot, carrying thousands of pounds of food, clothes, and items for children will be next to impossible given the weather, the terrain, the distance, and the weight of all the goods.  Going forward with the trucks could be dangerous, and there may be no getting back out of the area because the roads are so bad.  What do you do?  If you can imagine all this, then welcome to a day on the mission field with Global Infusion.

Jesus said, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”  (Mark 11:22-23).

Paul writes, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Tim. 6:12)

I believe there is a breaking point between relying on yourself and the miraculous - it is called faith. It requires complete, absolute trust in Jesus.  I also believe the we, as Christians, rarely put ourselves in this position.  The majority of our lives can operate without faith.  Sure we need to work, pay some bills, go to school, pay those bills, go shopping and buy gas.  But those without Christ do the same thing.  What are we doing to build the kingdom of God (not a castle for ourselves) that requires an absolute intervention of Jesus Christ, or it will absolutely not happen?

The end of our missions story in Guatemala is that we pressed on.  We filled the gaps in the road with boulders and went for it.  An unreached village heard the Gospel, some were saved, many more had the seeds of salvation planted in their hearts.  Thousands of pounds of food were given away, children experienced a VBS, and a local Pastor we work with made a strong connection with the villagers, and will return to them.

Be Intentional

Are you a planner?  Everyone is wired differently - some people commit to scheduling their lives down to the minute, while others live for the moment - and then there is everything in between.  Is one method better than another?  After all, when most people are searching for their own significance or reason for existence in this world, it is a very important question to consider.  Nobody wants to live a meaningless life.

Travel with me, back in time, to the pool of Bethesda.  This miraculous place on earth was where an angel would periodically stir the waters, and whoever stepped in the water first was healed of their disease.  A certain man, crippled for thirty-eight years, positioned himself near the pool, but could never get in quickly enough due to his infirmity.  One day, Jesus walks in to this area in Bethesda (planned or spontaneous?).  He sees the man, heals him (only), and leaves.  Was that on Jesus’ agenda for the day?  Or did He just “happen” to pass by?  The answer is found in a confrontation with the Jews who immediately question Him for healing on the Sabbath.

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. (John 5:19-20, NKJV)

Jesus listened to the voice of the Father, and intentionally obeyed, everyday.  Sometimes, He would be going somewhere (planned), stop along the way (spontaneously?), and a life-altering event would transpire.  If you don’t believe me, just ask the Samaritan women by the well (John 4:1-26).  Jesus was going to Galilee, stopped in Samaria, and an entire city was transformed (just keep reading, John 4:27-42).  How then, do we live an intentional, Spirit-led life like Jesus?

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  (John 16:13, NKJV)

We all have busy lives, but we all have choices too.  Jesus had the opportunity to do anything He wanted during His time on earth, but He focused on reaching the people He came to save.  He did not waste time, or resources.  He spent time discipling believers, and building relationships with the unbeliever.  He met needs, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  He intentionally went to those who needed Him the most.  In the midst of all the scheduling of our lives, we should do the same.  The eternal destination of literally billions of lives depend on it.

Happy 8th Anniversary, GI!                                                          
Jonathan Haward, President
Global Infusion