The Command to Missions…

This past week, I was finishing up some college assignments, and one assignment focused on a missionary named Nik Ripken, and how he became a missionary. The reason I was tasked with studying Nik Ripken is because he did not have a “personal calling” to the foreign mission field. Nik Ripken simply referenced Matthew 28:19-20.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” For Nik Ripken, the command in Scripture to go into all the world was enough of a calling.  

Now, to be fair, we do see God specifically call certain individuals in Scripture. The 12 apostles, Peter, and Barnabas are all personally called by God for a specific mission. However, we also see men like Timothy, Mark, and Silas who do not receive a calling from God, yet they obey the command of God by serving in foreign missions. Ultimately, we see God can work through specific calling in individuals, but God also works through men and women who simply obey the clear commands found in Scripture.  

As I read Nik’s story, I reflected on my own thoughts toward missions. I realized that I have consistently assumed that God would specifically call people to go into foreign fields. I had never really considered God’s command in Scripture as enough of a “calling.” This shift in my thought process required me to consider if I should go into foreign missions, and it required me to consider how I am obeying God’s command to evangelize all nations.  

• Am I following the mission of God locally, where I am?  

• Am I supporting the mission of God in foreign fields, financially, and through prayer?

• Could God use me in a foreign field?  

• Am I willing to go to a foreign field, even if I do not receive some “personal calling” from God?

While I do not believe that every Christian should go into foreign missions, I believe every Christian should struggle through the decision to go into foreign missions. The fact that God has not called each of us to a specific field does not disqualify us from obeying the command of Christ to spread the gospel to all nations. During this Missions Month perhaps it is a good time for us to consider how can each of us be involved in the mission of God, locally and globally?

Serving Together,

Tyler Boggess

The complacency of 2.5%

As we head into missions month, let’s broach a topic that I am sure will be uncomfortable at first — the money talk. It’s a conversation that needs to happen within churches, but often gets a negative sentiment attached to it. Sadly, I think the negative sentiment is often attached to our own selfishness and consumerism here in the US. American Christians, while being the most affluent, sadly give at very underwhelming amounts. 

Here are some stats to give some perspective. Based on a recent study in 2021, it was found that the average American Christian gives roughly 2.58% of their income to gospel endeavors through their church. Beyond that, the same study found that roughly 25% of American Christians surveyed gave nothing that year. Let that sink in for a minute. We live in the most affluent country in one of the most affluent times with the ability to make the most impact globally, and 25% are giving nothing to gospel endeavors. 

Based on their recent stats, the SBC, which is the largest US evangelical denomination, gave $200,000,000 to domestic and foreign missions. We would all look at that figure and go, “wow, that’s a ton of money!” I would agree it is a large figure, but let me give you some perspective. The SBC has roughly 13,000,000 members, which would mean that the average amount given to missions per member is 15 dollars…for the entire year. In our affluence, 15 dollars in a year for gospel efforts is an embarrassing lack of grace in our lives, and the evidence of a temporal worldview. 

Why do I mention this? The heart behind this article is not to guilt trip you into giving to missions. However, it should bring thought and consideration about what we are doing in our lives financially for the gospel. Through the early church, you see a pattern of churches giving so that the gospel efforts can continue through church planting and evangelism. You see proactivity within the church leadership of calling the brothers and sisters to grace-fueled sacrificial giving. Giving is not something that a believer must be forced into…giving should be a natural byproduct of the spirits working in our lives. 

Last week, we shared the revamp of our missions giving here at Faith. The goal is to increase our personal investment in ministering to our missions partnerships, and to deepen our heart for being used by God to further the Gospel. How are you stewarding God’s funds for eternal purposes? In what ways are you growing in grace to give sacrificially towards missions efforts? 

Are you in the 25% percent of American Christians who give nothing to the gospel mission? Christ has freed you to more, and provided the finances in your life to steward for Him. If you are giving, how can you take a step forward to continue to grow in grace about Gospel efforts?

Begin praying now, as we prepare for Missions Month about how God might use you to make an impact in gospel endeavors around the world. Visit includefaith.org/missions and take the step of committing to financial partnership with our missionaries and church planters globally. It is easy in our culture to find reasons we can’t give. Maybe this is an opportunity to ask, what is the focus of my life financially? Am I living temporally, or am I seeking to make the most eternal impact I can with what I have been blessed to steward? 

Serving Together, 

Pastor Derek

Hey Jerry, do you know how many kids this guy has?!"

It has been a regular occurrence in my life for almost four years now.  If we are out in public with our entire family, inevitably some stranger will stop us to ask how many kids we have.
I get it...we are a walking spectacle as a family of eight.  Sometimes I wonder if they have trouble counting and they need me to confirm it? 
Sometimes I enjoy saying that my wife has been forgiving of my past transgressions.  
Sometimes I say that these are only the ones we take out in public. 
I figure if they are going to interrupt my plans it entitles me to a bit of fun at their expense.

Such a moment occurred on my day off this week. We were going to build some raised garden beds and needed to go to a home improvement store.  As we were discussing what we needed in one of the aisles, an employee stopped, stared in disbelief, and asked the inevitable question.  
He has four daughters and so we laughed about "girl dad life".  After a few minutes, we were back to picking up supplies and he was helping someone else.
Everyone left in one vehicle while Eve and I stayed to have some lumber cut so that it would fit in the Purple Toaster.

Then it happened...we both got sucked into a time blackhole.  The girl dad employee saw us and came over to the employee cutting the boards to inform him of our obscene family size.  "Hey Jerry, guess how many kids this guy has?!"
So the talk began...he saw another  employee and called him over, "Hey Jim, come here and hear this!"
The talk recycled...time just disappeared...like a church member when it is time to sign up for the nursery.
I did all I could to wrap it up.  I was trying to "land that plane" as fast as a pastor who needs to get to the conclusion of his message because he forgot to go to the bathroom before service...no luck.
The chat eventually ended and we went towards the front to pay.  I saw him around one of the registers and there were employees there who did NOT know I was that guy with half a country's population in my household, so we quickly diverted ourselves down an aisle to get to a different register and not stay overnight in the store talking.

Eve and I laughed about the whole thing the rest of the day.  While it was funny and somewhat frustrating to lose that much time, we connected with the employees and got to speak about God's blessings in our lives. 
What also struck me was how enthusiastic this dude was over something as simple as meeting another girl dad.

I confess, the Spirit convicted me about how complicated I make telling others about Christ (Who is way better in comparison to the "girl dad" subject). 
I complicate it.  
I am "too busy" for it.  
I am wrapped up in my own schedule.  
I let failure to do so previously stop me in the present. 

While I get that is an abrasive and more intrusive message than talking fatherhood with another person, it is easier than I make it out to be and of far greater significance.
Is it daunting because we are confronting someone's worldview with their need of repentance? Yes. 
Is it worth any amount of spectacle or embarrassment that may occur? Yes.

May God help the fruit of our lives to be so "unusual" that others take notice and are compelled to ask.  
May God also help us create the opportunity and have the enthusiasm to direct others to Christ in a manner greater than a random, talkative stranger gawking in a hardware store. 

Serving together,

Pastor Paul