Evangelizing WITH New Americans

According to the Pew Research Center, “Christians remain by far the largest religious group among legal U.S. immigrants, though their estimated share has decreased from 68% in 1992 to 61% in 2012.

http://www.pewforum.org/2013/05/17/the-religious-affiliation-of-us-immigrants/

Now, I don’t know how many U.S. immigrant are evangelicals, but I do know that there is a good number of us who have immigrated here as individuals and families having already put our trust in Christ alone as our personal Savior.

As immigrants and New Americans, many of us come from community-based cultures and part of our culture shock experience is getting adjusted to the high individualism found in the U.S. With this in mind, it’s important to realize that immigrants long to have a “community” in which they may belong. Most often, we find these communities among the ethnic groups with which we relate.

But, what about finding a local community of Christ-followers who live out love and grow together as his witnesses in this world?

One of my favorite passages in scripture is John 17:22-23: “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” Over the years, this has given me a growing passion to see the Body of Christ come together in evangelism so that the world would know why God sent his one and only Son. So, as we see more of the world coming to the U.S., what a wonderful opportunity our Lord has afforded us to be united in sharing the gospel!

As I’m sitting here at the coffee shop, typing away, I overhear a conversation between a couple business guys where one says, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way!”  But, how about if we were to turn this saying around a little bit and say, “Go in God's way and serve!”

In other words, one of the lessons God must continually teach and re-teach me is to humbly serve others and see the beauty in the international Body of Christ when I include my ideas with others’, but in a mode of continuously learning from each other.

What if, when given the burden to reach out to a particular people group, we were to find out first if there is an ethnic church or group of believers related to those people with whom we may serve? 

Let us evangelize together with a mind to learn and a heart to serve. Let’s become proactive in learning together and serving alongside the growing number of international believers around us. Let us evangelize together “so that the world may know.”

[This article was originally posted for Evangel-Vision: http://www.evangel-vision.com/2013/09/evangelizing-with-new-americans.html]

On My Heart: Amazing Grace

"Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone."

As I go through my class on Soteriology this week, "grace" keeps coming up in my mind and on my heart. Then I came to realize that if our STM team is to truly have a "Heart for Honduras" we need to be reminded of how AMAZING God's grace truly is!

QUESTION: What does "grace" mean to you?
(I'm asking myself this same question)

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Amazing Grace

John Newton (1725-1807)
Stanza 6 anon.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Heart for the Lost

This is a pretty intense week for me as I take my last course at DTS (at least, for now). This course is on Soteriology (the study of the doctrine of salvation). It may (or may not) be obvious to you, but this is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart (which can give me ideas for a whole set of postings that could last the whole year).

One passage that we covered in class is from Romans 9:1-5...

I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying!), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit - I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed - cut off from Christ - for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen, who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.

My home church (Biblical Community Church in Richardson) is mobilizing its first short-term missions team ever. This team is made up of a family of four, a married couple, a single lady, and me--all going to Honduras on June 27 - July 6. At some point, the team decided to name itself "Team Heart for Honduras". I appreciate this name because I originally called it "Team Honduras", but the team eventually wanted to emphasize the "Heart" aspect of our short-term missions opportunity.

Today, I was reminded once again of why "heart" is important. Look at what Paul is saying above in Romans 9:1-5. Look at Paul's heart. This is a man of great COMPASSION! He wishes that he could be sent to hell in order to save others. Paul has told us in other passages to imitate him.

QUESTION: In missions (and in life), am I (and are you) willing to be cut off from Christ for the sake of the lost?

"The manner of God's work on the soul, sometimes especially, is very mysterious; and it is with the kingdom of God as to its manifestation in the heart of a convert."

First Things First

Gotta take advantage of the 'power source' that has been given to us!
(Acts 1:8)

1

1=100%=COMPLETE

Flying

A successful flight
is what I call a journey
when the landing's right.

-a haiku by Voltaire

Okay... I realize that it's been a while, but thanks to Dave, I decided to get back into posting my "inspirational" thoughts. ;-)

It's also been a while since I've written a haiku (I think the last one I wrote was in 4th grade). But, since our recent BCC Family Camp, a Board Meeting that we had this past Saturday, and some coffee time afterwards talking about flying, I've gotten motivated again.

Well, Shockwave, this haiku was written because of you! Just remember that part of teaching people how to fly is being able to bring them back down to earth...

"I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."
John 17:14-18

Accomplishments (part I) - Evidence of the Flesh

We often think of accomplishments in the positive sense. But, an accomplishment is essentially anything that is fulfilled or achieved. There is a result!

Galatians 5:19-21
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:
immorality, impurity, sensuality,
idolatry, sorcery,
enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying,
drunkenness, carousing,
and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

The word 'evident' means: plain or clear to the sight or understanding. But, although some things are plain or clear in our lives, how willing are we to completely submit it all to Jesus?

What are some results in your life?