TEAMS IN ACTION
NEW Gospel Outreach in
Regions Beyond
NEW Medical Dental Evangelism and Church Growth
NEW Graduation of Students
New Mission Churches
NEW Baptist Mission Started in Zapotillo, Honduras
New Bible Institute Courses by Extension
New Juan Alberto Herrera's Testimony
New First Bible Institute Course taught at Danli January 2005
Seminary Extension Courses in Managua, Nicaragua
Christian
Missionaries and Missionary Christians
by Tom Ascol
"We never test the resources of God until we attempt the impossible" -- F. B. Meyer
"We must do something!
Expect great things from God! Attempt great things for God!"
-- William Carey,
father of the modern missionary movement.
"Anything God has ever done He can do now. Anything He has ever done anywhere, He can do here! Anything God has ever done for anyone He can do for us" - A. W. Tozer
San Francisco de Soroguara, Honduras, March 2002.
“You shall be my witnesses . . . to the remotest part of the earth” – Acts 1:8
M |
edicine – the magnet that draws
people to Christ.
Medical-dental-evangelism teams are self-contained. Prior to the time of their arrival mission teams spend months purchasing and packing medical supplies for shipment to Honduras.
“We want to
discover where God is at work, and with His permission get right in the middle of what He
is doing.”
Several months before the team arrives the Field Director visits the community and gets the cooperation of the school director, teachers, mayor of the town, local pastors, etc. who are responsible for publicity and getting the community to respond to the medical caravan. The most important question: “Is God at work in this community? Does He want this team to work here at this time?” If there is no clear conviction that God is leading us we do not go to that town with this team.
We typically work out of school buildings because they are centrally located in the community and provide sufficient space for medical, dental, pharmacy, eyeglasses, sleeping quarters, kitchen area, etc.
Our Honduran cooks prepare the food at the work site. Some teams bring a helper to assist in the kitchen. High sanitary conditions are maintained to guard the health of all team workers.
On a recent trip to San Francisco de Soroguara community the school director helped
with registration of patients and listened to the messages preached in the worship
services. During the last service he sat on the front row listening intensely. As soon as
the invitation was given he responded giving his life to Christ. He told the local pastor,
“I am ready to help you and the church in whatever way I can. I will be there Sunday
to worship and go out with you to serve.”
“A missionary is one whose heart is broken by the things that break the heart of God.” |
We use classrooms for medical stations which usually consist of six to twelve doctors and nurses working in a large room. We set up a pharmacy in another school room, and use rooms for dental, eyeglasses and worship services. Sometimes dentists work outdoors on the porch.
We must never make an apology for being
in dead earnest about world missions . . . We must not retreat until Jesus Christ tells us
he made a mistake in coming into the world to redeem men.
We conduct around twenty-five worship services during each team visit. Every patient must attend a worship service before he can see a doctor or dentist.
Children’s worship services are held in separate areas so their needs can be adequately addressed.
I SAW GOD DO IT
Everyone who makes decisions during the week receive immediate follow-up. After a person makes a decision another pastor or team worker immediately spends time explaining to the person his decision and answering questions. In San Francisco de Soroguara and La Union 115 people made decisions for Christ, and we treated a thousand patients with free medicine and services.
After the team leaves town the local pastor, or the pastor of the church that is starting a new work in the area follows-up on those who made decisions for Christ.
What can you do? Partnership missions gives you an opportunity to become personally involved in what God is doing around the world.Pray that our Honduran staff will be led by the Holy Spirit to the locations where God is at work, and that Team Captains will be alert to the leading of the Holy Spirit for their teams.
Support a mission team or missionary couple financially. This is a faith ministry and each missionary, volunteer and mission team depends upon the Lord to provide the financial needs for medicine, food, shipping, translators for doctors, nurses and preachers, etc.
Go on a medical-dental-evangelism team.
Interested in joining a mission team for a week or more?