“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9–10). These verses come to mind as I just opened an email from our partner in S. E. Asia. What strikes me as being so important about this ministry there is that they are doing everything possible to makes these students successful in handling the Word of God and learning how to apply it to their lives in their culture. Here is part of the email I received: “We thank you for praying for us during the training in the Southern region of VN. We need to help our brothers and sisters complete the lessons in the GPHD manual. To do this, we spend more time helping them with the questions, the Scriptures, and their answers. We help the older students complete their assignments before graduation so they will be able to assist the younger students. Tim will join us for the graduation in late October.” Please pray for both the trainers and the students that God will raise up a host of faithful witnesses who fearlessly impact their generation with the gospel.
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The last few days have been very busy for Tim. After three days in Nepal, he returned to New Delhi, India, to introduce God’s Plan for His Disciples (GPHD) in Oriya, the first time this resource has been available in the Oriya language. After three days in New Delhi, this is the message I received from Tim. “We have just finished introducing and training 110 leaders who represent hundreds of pastors and thousands of disciples. They are charged up and heading back to Orissa (Odisha) State where God is at work. This state is where there is much poverty and persecution, but we are so thankful that God has given us a material that thrives in those environments. To God be the Glory!” Pray for these leaders as they return home to multiply what they have learned. We just received some wonderful news from a partner in Myanmar. This comes as we also receive news of increased persecution in this country. Forty young people gathered to start their study of Scripture through our resource, God’s Plan for Young Disciples (GPYD). They completed the first three lessons:
Just these three lessons stimulated a desire with them to come back at the earliest opportunity to continue their studies. Please pray for these young people that God will build in them a strong faith that will eventually result in new leaders in their generation. These words from Asaph in Psalm 74 are amazing. His description of God’s “foes” are as insightful and accurate for today, as they were then. One point that stands out as applicable in every age is that people “set up their own signs for signs” (4), meaning that they establish their own standards of right and wrong, truth and error.
This problem has influenced the Church more than most realize. The authority of God in Scripture has been replaced by the authority of man. Definitions that are clear in Scripture are being replaced by definitions created by the current culture. Every made-up excuse is used to justify arguments that the Bible is no longer relevant in our day. Asaph found the answer to this problem when he said, “God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth” (12). Until we accept the supreme authority of God and Christ as Head of the Church, we will continue to set up our own “signs” as authority for life and godliness. Consider these references as they apply to these and other current issues. “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace” (Hebrews 13:8–9). Most of us are familiar with Peter’s experience at Joppa in Acts 10 that led him to the house of Cornelius where he presented the gospel of grace through Jesus Christ. As this event unfolds, “the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word” (44).
Before I get to my “great question” in this blog, I wonder why we are not more sensitive to the work of the Spirit in persons whom He is regenerating? Either we do not expect Him to work through presenting the gospel or we are not relying on Him to manifest His work to us. As Peter and those with him are realizing what God is doing, “Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (47). Based on what God was doing with Cornelius and his household, Peter did not want to hinder their obedience to Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19. In what way have we allowed our church traditions to stand in the way of the Spirit’s work and immediate obedience? I fully believe that this issue has a direct impact on the spiritual growth of believers (new and old). In church planting and church renewal, the question is often asked about when baptism of new believers should be done? Based on the traditions of most churches and the biblical examples, this is a good question. Most churches schedule a “Baptism Class” which, depending on the size of the church, can be quarterly, every six months, or even yearly.
I would also like to ask another question. Is baptism for the believer or for the church? If it is just for the church, I can understand scheduling baptisms for the sake of convenience. If baptism is to benefit the person who has put their faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ, why would we delay the baptism of anyone for the sake of our convenience. The root of my question is whether we are giving proper consideration to the spiritual health and growth of the new believer or are we more concerned about our convenience? The Early Church was led by the Spirit from Pentecost on to consider first for what God was doing through regeneration in persons. Hence, the Spirit’s powerful preaching through Peter caused an immediate response in those who were saved. “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41). Further down in verse 47 Luke says, “the Lord added to their number day by day.” This in not the work of man, but God! Should we be more in tune with what the Spirit is doing in persons than our convenience? From October 7th to the 11th, Don and Tim will be traveling to India to introduce God’s Plan for His Disciples (GPHD) in the Oriya language to about 100 leaders from Orissa State. Orissa State is one of the most persecuted states in India, but where the Lord is doing a powerful work. The Lord has provided funds for printing 10,000 Oriya copies of GPHD. They will diligently and seriously work through these books and more importantly, they will apply the Word of God personally and then pass the training on to others in Orissa State.
This will be a very different experience than when Randy and I were in Orissa in 2015. We only had God’s Plan for His Church (GPHC) in the Hindi language. Many of the 110 pastors could only speak Oriya which made this training very ineffective. Now that we have GPHD in their native tongue, we are expecting a very different outcome. I know it is hard for us to imagine but when they receive one of these books, it is like us receiving an iPad or laptop. They will diligently and seriously work through these books and, more importantly, they will apply the Word of God personally and pass this training on to others. Please be in prayer for a mighty movement of God through this event. With a history of unrest, Sudan has been challenging for the Church in these difficult circumstances. In the face of unrest and many fleeing the north, God is at work. Randy will be there from October 6th to the 8thtraining in Torit, South Sudan. He will enter South Sudan by land at Nimule (see map above), then travel a few hours north to Torit where they will have a graduation of God’s Plan for His Disciples students.
On October 9th to the 12th, training will move to Juba, South Sudan. Randy travels to the capital for two trainings in different parts of the city. Rogers and Charles have prepared the leaders for a GPHD graduation. Please pray for the launching of God’s Plan for His Church in this unstable country. May the Spirit bring the “BOOM” factor by His power! Let us praise God for the great work He is doing through indigenous leaders like Bishop Charles, a native of South Sudan. He and Rogers have faithfully, at their own expense, traveled to this city and trained many. Please pray for these courageous leaders, and as you pray, consider these statistics:
There is much work to be done! It is always exciting when we see God using our material and working in hearts right here at home. It reminds me of the Lord’s word to the man He healed of an unclean spirit who begged to go with Jesus. “He did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.”” (Mark 5:19).
A local pastor has started an online discipleship training class using the GPHD manuals on Thursday nights at 9:00 p.m. with almost 20 men. They are really excited about the study. He wants to ask them to recruit someone else to go through the manual with them after they complete the training. This is what we encourage in every other country and what Paul instructed Timothy; “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). Some in the church are afraid to use the material because of their church traditions. Pointing people back to the authority and sufficiency of Scripture and the Holy Spirit has a way of interfering with traditions and inspiring change. Pray for this church and Pastor David. His son had health issues that could not be resolved, and he had passed away. Please pray for David as the family prepares for the funeral. From October 3rd to the 5th, Randy will be in Bweyale, Uganda and Gulu which is about 1 hour and 40 minutes north. One year ago, God sparked a fire for disciple-making in Bweyale, and now Randy goes to encourage and equip them in their faith journey. Please pray for Rogers, the key leader in Uganda, who is leading the charge that has multiplied all over the northern part of the country. In Gulu, the center like Ephesus in Asia Minor for expansive work, he will work with a church that seeks to plant churches in 10 different countries in Africa. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will empower His people for His mission. This is part of a growing movement of God in Africa, and we feel very privileged to be part of what He is doing. |
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