A Bold Blog

Missionaries are always asking for something and I want to stay true to my calling. I want to ask you for something.

Don't worry, I'm not asking this only for myself, I'm also asking it for you.

 

Frankly, I think I have a decent amount of authority backing me up on my request. No, it's not because I'm a missionary or anything as ridiculous as that. My authority is based on the fact that whenever someone shares something from the Bible there is an inevitable request - or demand - made.

 

In fact, if someone shares something from the Bible and there is no demand made on you, well, then I'd have to question the sensitiveness of your heart or the authority of what was just shared.

 

Every time God communicates He is making demands of us. Maybe that's why missionaries also get a pass on asking you for a thing or two.

 

Right now, my demand is based not only on Scripture but on the testimony of Paul, one of the biggest missionaries of all time. Here is what he says in Ephesians 6:19-20

 

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

 

You ready? Here it is. My request is that you pray for boldness. We need to stand boldly for the person and the truths of Jesus Christ.

 

When I was younger (17 or 18) I had a job at an amusement park. It was a pretty sweet job. I enjoyed working there. While I worked there, I often got to speak in Spanish to the visitors who passed through. One day a co-worker asked me how come I spoke Spanish so well. Seeing as how she was kinda pretty (as in gorgeous), I fumbled about trying to come up with a non-dorky answer. Something impressive to show just how James Bondsy I could be.

 

I told her that I was born in Uruguay.  I told her I grew up speaking Spanish.  That was all true. I told her it was because my parents were diplomats; that was a lie. My parents were actually missionaries; but that was embarrassing. It was totally not the James Bond effect I was going for.

 

She seemed impressed, but at the same time she wasn't too impressed since she never really spoke to me again during the rest of the summer. Meanwhile I felt horrible.

 

I was ashamed of the Gospel. The complete opposite of Romans 1:16, a verse I'd had to memorize for Sunday school while I was growing up.

 

Clearly, just memorizing a verse that told me not to be ashamed of the Gospel was not enough. Being a Missionary Kid (MK) didn't cut it either. Growing up and becoming a full-fledged missionary wouldn't really cut it either.

Here's a little secret. I can't do it alone. Yeah, memorizing Scripture is great. Growing up in a Christian home with role-model parents is a bonus. And choosing to follow the Lord into missions is one of the best decisions of my life. But those things in and of themselves won't make me bold.

I can't depend on myself for boldness. That kind of contradicts the whole point. Like Paul, I need to go to God. I do that by prayer. Secondly, I need to go to you. God's people praying on my behalf for boldness will not only encourage me but it will also serve to spur me on.

If Paul needed others to pray for him to be bold, who am I to think I've got what it take on my own?

So here it is. Here is my request (authorized by Scripture): Please pray for me to be bold.

Pray for our boldness and ask the Lord how you can be bold in furthering the Gospel with us.

 

Missions Challenge

Philemon is a short little book that not many people pay attention to. Thankfully our pastor did, this past Sunday he finished up a 3-message series on the book. That’s when I realized Philemon is an incredible “missionary” book.

As a Sunday school book, it’s all about a crook who “got religion.” Paul probably got his evangelistic hooks into Onesimus (the crook) when they were in jail. Now, Paul is sending Onesimus back to Philemon, probably the person Onesimus had robbed  earlier.

As a Theology book, it’s all about “imputation.” Imputation is an accountability term, it has to do with transferring or in-putting/imputing something onto someone else’s account. Adam’s sins were imputed to us. Then they were imputed to Christ. Lastly, as a believer, God’s righteousness or justice has been imputed to us (Romans 5:12).

As a Missionary book, it’s all about “missions.” Paul, as a great missionary, is commissioning a new believer (Onesimus) and he is challenging the church that was in Philemon’s home. The book of Philemon is Paul’s prayer letter. Missionaries write prayer letters for a lot of reasons but mostly because they need your prayers. Without your prayers, support, and encouragement we could not do what we do. You are part of our team. I want to focus on verses 20, 21, and 22.

Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say. At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you. (Philemon 20-22)

1) Paul was unashamed in seeking benefit from his supporters. Sometimes as missionaries we are cowardly and don’t dare think to ask for any sort of benefit. But Paul was unashamed because it wasn’t a self-centered thing. It was a benefit from the Lord. Your generosity is a reflection of God’s generosity. Someone once said that you are never more like God than when you are giving.

2) Missionaries need to be refreshed in Christ. Your encouragement keeps us going. It cheers us up whenever we get feedback from you about our letters, our ministries, etc.

3) Missionaries need to trust the Church. After all, it is God’s vehicle for impacting the world through evangelism and the discipleship of believers. We need to trust that you, as the Church, have our backs. That you pray. That you give. That you visit. That you help. That you read. That you respond. Like Paul, we need to trust that you will do even more. The Church can go above and beyond for what is asked or needed.

4) We need to count on your prayers. They help keep us on the field. They help us get home. They give us the rest we need. They give us the courage we need. We earnestly count on your prayers and need to count on them seriously.  Paul asked for “lodging” (accommodations) even before his release from prison because he took their prayers seriously. That’s faith. When we pray, we need to pray with faith.

The benefit we need from you in the Lord, the refreshment we need in Christ. Our Christmas Wish this year is 5 dollars. Twice a year we host a 5 Dollar Challenge. Our winter challenge is really simple. All we are asking you to do is forfeit a cup of coffee, sacrifice a snack, to invest 5 dollars to help keep us on the field. We trust that you, the Church, will give 5 dollars to help our ministry.

This year we have added a new element to our 5 Dollar Challenge. We’ve never done this before, but this year we set a goal. Our goal is to raise 500 US Dollars. Our deadline is December 31^st. We think you can help us meet our goal. Please share this challenge with others in your Church. With your gift and serious (faith-filled) prayers, we can meet this goal. If you would like to donate, please go to: https://scoresponsor.org/missionaries-staff/shop/carter-charles-ashley/

Us with one of the children at Pasitos de Jesus Orphanage, Rosemery

Our GAP students of 2013-14