Participating in God's Global Mission - Yes, YOU!

Traditionally, Christians think that the only way to get involved in missions is to be a full-fledged missionary and travel to some dangerous cannibalistic tribe infested jungle. (Okay, I am over-stereotyping) But I have found many Christians not participating in God's mission work because they do not know how to besides becoming a missionary, or they are simply apathetic. Another reason could be the lack of knowledge - who to pray for? who to give to? where to go and support? what can I help if I can't travel?

So if you're stuck in your own country, or you know you're not going to be a missionary(which IS definitely alright), one of the best ways you can help and participate in God's global mission is to give and support a missionary.

Have you heard of people groups called Gond, Halba, Bhatra, Thakur, Raut and Mahara? You haven't? So do I. But a native missionary I am supporting in India is reaching out to them. I don't have to(and probably can't) be there to tell them that Jesus loves them. A number of these groups are unreached people groups who desperately need the gospel (See: The Joshua Project)

So am I telling you that you can pat yourself and feel good about reaching out to people living overseas without having to lift a finger? NO! I am telling you that you have an OBLIGATION to engage yourself in God's global mission in reaching and discipling people of all nations. And one simple way is to help support a missionary who is in the field doing the outreach work while you serve God by your giving. So why spend money on things that will fleet away? Give some of your money to things that are of eternal value. Support a missionary today(Go to: www.gfa.org)

(P.S. It's only USD30 a month! And it'll go a long way for them!)

The Little Ones Are Waiting

"many things can wait, the child cannot... to him, we cannot say tomorrow; his name is today"

These words from a UNICEF office caught me. How often do we say tomorrow? "Wait a while more and see. Do not be rash. Others are helping." Frankly speaking, what else is there to "see"? What is so rash about giving some money so that a child's life can be rescued? Who doesn't know that there are many organizations helping needy children but are there enough?!

We can reason all we want and some reasoning are not invalid(but still incomplete). My question therefore is: ARE YOU PLAYING YOUR PART IN SAVING LIVES, ESPECIALLY THE LITTLE ONES? What are you doing with that extra money you have every month? Do you not know that your money can go a long way in helping a child? Do you know there are many many worthy organizations with a worthy cause you can give to in saving lives? Waiting & doing NOTHING makes you and me a murderer. Yes, a murderer.

Imperfect and limited as we are, we ought to do at least our bit - in small or big ways for the little ones. If you would like to know how you can help, email me at: revivalgen.jasonlee@gmail.com. I will provide you information and links to organizations that are doing their part in helping needy children and saving lives.

Matthew 25:41-46
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

You've been warned.

Are you giving to the poor?

This serves as a reminder for us, followers of Jesus Christ.

Excerpt from the book, "Anthropological Insights for Missionaries", in Chapter 11 - The Unfinished Task.

"David Barrett points out that 780 million people today live in absolute poverty, a condition of life defined by the World Bank as a condition "so characterized by malnutrition, illiteracy and disease as to be beneath any reasonable definition of human decency". Roughly 500 million of these needy are on the edge of starvation, and another 1.5 billion are malnourished.

Of the 125 million babes born in 1981, 12 million died before their first birthday, and another 5 million will not see their fifth birthday. One child in four suffers from malnutrition; four of every five children lack adequate health care. The poorest children are often parents themselves: 40 percent of the first births in the Two-Thirds World are to girls fifteen years old or younger.

In contrast to this, the 1.5 billion followers of Christ own two-thirds of the world's resources and have an average yearly income more than three times that of non-Christians. Not all Christians, however, are materially wealthy. Almost 200 million live in absolute poverty, while 750 million of their fellow Christians live in affluence. Although most well-off Christians support relief, on an average they give less than 3 percent of their income to Christian ministries. If they were to give even a tithe, Barrett concludes that "to a large extent, the global sharingby Christians of money, wealth, property, and goods could solve most of the problems of famine, poverty, disease, unemployment, dangerous water supply and so on"

Are you heading towards the right direction? Or are there holes in your pocket? Start giving.

"For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'" - Deut 15:11(ESV)

Don't we dare forget that.

"I want something better, what's wrong?"

I am now reading a book called "Good News to the Poor - Sharing the gospel through social involvement" by Tim Chester and I have learnt a lot from it and many things have set me thinking. Just the other day, I was reading a portion on consumerism and something struck me.

I was getting a little dissatisfied with my D70 DSLR camera recently because of its metering and white balance processing and I was thinking of getting a newer camera. Even the compact cameras these days metered better than my D70(except the lens I have is better). So I was busy shopping for a possible camera to replace my D70 and I didn't even balk at the price (1.4k onwards). I was basically obsessed with the idea of getting it and thinking of ways to reduce the cost until reality struck. Isn't it too much to spend that amount of money on another camera?(when I already had one!!!) Won't that money be better used for future endeavours in missions or some form of work among the poor? I haven't though of that untill I read the portion of the book on consumerism and I snapped back to my new self; not the old selfish self that was crucified on the cross. That old selfish self craves for personal pleasure and wants to feed the lust of the eye - I see, I want, I covet. I was convicted immediately and repented. All along, I thought I was contented with many things but even then, there are loopholes that need to be guarded and I thank God for showing me my weakness. To get the better camera now would be unthinkable.

Excerpt from the book:John Calvin condems 'obstentious banquets, bodily apparel and domestic architecture'-what we would call fancy dinner parties, designer gear and an obsession with home improvements. "All these things are defended under the pretext of Christian freedom", he continues. 'They say that these are things indifferent. I admit it, provided they are used indifferently. But when they are coveted too greedily, when they are proudly boasted of, when they are lavishly squandered, things that were of themselves otherwise lawful are certainly defiled by these vices'

Some stats: 1.3 billion people live on less than one US dollar a day - about 1.50 Singapore dollar, 2.6 billion people lack basic sanitation and 1.2 billion do not have adequate housing. Over 20,000 children die evey day of diseases we could prevent. So the next time you say, "I want something better than this. What's wrong?(in buying it)", look at the statistics above and you know something is very wrong.

It all started with Giving

You went to a place for holidays and someone you hardly know paid for your hotel. On top of that, your transport to the place and back was paid for and to top it off, you even received some cash after your holidays! Sounds crazy? Yes it does and it happened to me. I am really 'blown away' by God's generosity.

The Lord of Host challenge us in Malachi 3:10, "Test me in this(i.e. giving) and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it". Having you been tithing? Challenge yourself to up the 10%. A pastor once told me about what happened to him when he increase his tithing after becoming convinced that he should give more than the starting 10%. And he lived in more exciting days ever since.

I have also heard many stories from many different people about God's amazing providence too. And I am sure these people are not stingy with God. Why? Cos His word is always true - "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." ~ 2 Cor 9:6. Events in life gets tastier as each one unfolds the truth of God and when I look back, I understood certain truths more. "At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need" ~ 2 Cor 8:14. Generosity can only be practiced, and that's how you experience the floods of blessing that God is talking about and the joy that comes with it. That is why it is written in Acts 20:35- "It is more blessed to give than to receive". It is not to say receiving is bad. But that in first, giving, we are more blessed because the receiving that comes after that means so much more than just receiving and not giving. For example, you give some money to a needy family. You may not receive your money back but when you see the joy in their hearts, don't you receive that joy too? :) But without the giving, there is no real blessed receiving.

I'll end with John Wesley's famous relevant-till-today quote:
"Earn all you can
Save all you can
Give all you can"

Happy Easter!
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" ~ John 3:16