The Bad News about the Good News
From:
Apostle Steve Allen
Hello Dear Friends,
I remember the story about the
pastor who stood at the pulpit one Sunday and announced to the people: "Folks, I
have some bad news, some good news, and some more bad news." Quickly he had
everyone's attention. "The bad news is that the roof on this church is shot and
we have to replace it. But the good news is, we have the money! But the bad news
is.....it's in your wallets!"
Funny, huh? But interesting. I believe that the money is always there for the
work God wants to do, it's just that it's in our wallets and bank accounts! I
heard the other day about a major missions organization that reported that it's
now taking missionaries three years to raise their support. Think about it,
hundreds, maybe thousands of missionaries who are ready to go but they have to
wait three years because they can't get enough financial support. Is it because
there's no money to send them? Probably not. The money is there, it's just tied
up in other things.
It all reminds me of a scripture in Romans 10:14-15. Paul is asking a series of
questions that are pretty revealing and convicting, and maybe even a little
uncomfortable. Pouring out his heart for the people who don't yet know about
God's love, he asks,
"How, then, can they call on the One they have not
believed in?
And how can they believe in the One in whom they
have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching
to them?
And how can they preach unless they are sent?"
Now here's the question. Where is the bottom line in this text? Where does the
responsibility rest for whether or not lost people ever hear the Good News about
Jesus? With the messenger? Apparently not. The word says it's with the sender!
Paul takes the process all the way back to the source, a sender!! For 2000 years
the great commission has depended on two kinds of people sacrificially playing
their part, the senders and the sendees.
Friends, there is still so much work to be done here in South Africa. We are
experiencing the miracle of changed lives everyday! We're already half way
through
Nation Builders and our 13 students are known and respected throughout the
entire community.
More and more young people are
being drawn to the presence of God. The school is open and asking for our help
and several hundred young people come to our Youth Meeting every Friday night!
Hope is being restored to those who have lived their whole lives in poverty and
injustice. Sons and daughters are dreaming like never before.
And yet, we too are feeling the effects of the current economic downturn.
Several of our most faithful partners have had to withdraw or reduce their
support for a season. The reality is that we have only a handful of people who
have been able to give on a regular basis, so losing anyone is a blow. You know
that I have not written very often to ask for your help, but I am asking now.
Can you pick up where these faithful senders have left off? Both of our
families, the Sphars and the Allens, want to ask you to pray about supporting us
in this next season. We need you to keep "sending" us! Believe me when I say
that no gift is too small. If you can help us, please write and let me know and
I will email you with the easiest way for you to send your monthly gift.
Friends, we are willing to keep sacrificing to rescue the spiritually hurting
and dying in South Africa. Would you also be willing to sacrifice to help us do
just that? None of us can afford to delegate the sacrifices to someone else.
Thank you for your help. Blessings upon each and everyone.
|
