Missions: The Calling of the Church

Alpha Goombi

We had the privilege of hosting Alpha Goombi on Sunday evening. Alpha and her family serve Native Americans with the North American Mission Board of the SBC and are based in Omaha, Nebraska. Alpha has a powerful testimony of how Jesus Christ radically changed her life. Her heart for God and for people is evident.

Our giving through the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions makes it possible for servants of God like Alpha and her family to do their work. It is very helpful for the local church to connect with missionaries and see not only how God is working, but also how we can be involved.

Please pray for the ongoing mission work among Native Americans. In the words of the Apostle John in Revelation 7:9 "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb." It will all be for the glory of God and for His praise!

Baptism at Cross Lanes Baptist Church

I had the privilege of baptizing six in the late morning service today. Baptism is a clear symbol of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the believer's identification with Him- buried to the old way of life, raised to walk in the newness of Christ!!

Of special blessing to me personally was the fact that I was able to baptize my oldest daughter, Sophia. That makes two out my three children who have been born again and baptized in believer's baptism. My youngest daughter will not be far behind, Lord willing.

My prayer is, "Holy God, glorify yourself as you draw men and women and boys and girls to Jesus Christ! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of what You are doing in Your kingdom! In Jesus' name."

Praying in Faith

Prayer is essential to the Christian life. It is simple, yet profound. The believer has the privilege of entering into the Throne Room of the Universe in the presence of God as a child approaching his or her Father through the blood of Jesus.

The modern church in the United States has large facilities, and significant budgets and ministries, but where is the power? There are ministry emphases for just about everything. But where are the advocates for prayer and devotion to God? Of course we talk of it, and speak of its importance, but how many churches truly emphasize it? Therein lies the answer to the lack of power in the church. We have been relying on ourselves for far too long and we have the results we deserve. Empty religion always has the outward trappings and formalities, without the spiritual power.

Jesus said in Matthew 21:22 Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. To ask of God seems so fundamental that we would not need to be reminded of it. Yet prayer at its heart is asking. We can ask knowing that God hears our request. We can ask knowing that God has the authority to answer our request. If we are going to see the hand of God move in prayer we must learn the heart of God and ask Him to move on our behalf!

Not only are we to ask, we are to ask believing. Faith that moves God, believes God. It is faith that is absent of doubt. It is faith that is humble and persistent. It is faith that is obedient while awaiting the answer to the request. Real faith keeps your heart and mind in perfect peace because you are depending on God.

When we ask, believing, we can expect to receive from God. Nothing will energize your prayer life like answered prayer, receiving what you have asked for. Answered prayers are the only clear assurance that you have prayed rightly. Answered prayer brings glory to God. If you ask, and do not expect to receive, it takes the heart out of your prayer. Pray expecting to receive, but be sure you are praying according to the will of God. How does a person pray according to the will of God?

• You must pray with a clean heart.
  
• Your will must be surrendered to God's will.


• You must understand God's Word.


• You must rely on the Holy Spirit.
  

Jesus said in Matthew 21:13 My house shall be called a house of prayer. That is our goal at CLBC, to be a house of prayer. We are increasingly meeting for significant prayer meetings corporately, and God is raising up people in the church who have a passion and heart for prayer.

One of the most telling passages in the Bible about faith is found in Hebrews 11. There is story after story of people who believed God. V39 tells us they "obtained a good report through faith." That is my desire, that we would be known as praying people, who obtained a good report through faith!

Jamaica Mission 2008

Rev. Crosbert Smith

This past week, a team of 19 from Cross Lanes Baptist Church journeyed to the hills of Jamaica to do mission work. This was our fifth year in a row working in the same area. Rev. Crosbert Smith and his wife Joan serve the Bamboo Circuit of Churches in St. Ann's Parish. The churches are Lilyfield Baptist, Mt. Zion Baptist, Sturgetown Baptist, and Philadelphia Baptist. We have been blessed to be in all four churches at one time or the other.

This particular trip took us to an area that was new to us, Shawberry. There is a work there that is a Baptist Study House that was started by the Sturgetown Baptist Church, and is now beginning to really take shape. People have been meeting there once per month but there are plans for there to be regular Worship and Sunday School. The church that is taking shape will be called Ingram's Memorial Baptist Church. Our team conducted Vacation Bible School there and we also held evening services.

We returned again this year to Sturgetown Baptist and held Vacation Bible School for 180 children as well as evening services. The week concluded with my preaching in a joint worship service of all of the circuit churches on Sunday morning at Mt. Zion.

There are great needs in Jamaica, both physical and spiritual. Our hearts have been blessed to make the connection with the people there and have opportunity to partner with them on an ongoing basis to take the Gospel to those who need to hear it. We are thankful to God for the many decisions that were made for Christ during the week.

As I reflect on the week, several thoughts come to mind related to missions:

1) Participation in mission work expands your worldwide vision for what God is doing. God is at work all around us and He is at work to the ends of the earth. What a privilege it is to be a part of what God is doing in His Kingdom!

2) You always gain more than you give when you participate in mission work. We were so blessed by the people last week and our opportunity to serve them. As you give of yourself and your resources, God leads you to give more. You absolutely cannot outgive God.

3) God changes your heart through mission work- If a person can go do mission work and return home unchanged, something is desperately wrong spiritually.

I would ask for your prayers for the people of Jamaica. Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to bless Pastor Smith and the work there. Pray that a spiritual revival would come to the island. Pray that God's glory would be known among the peoples!