Reflections from Bro. Rudy –
February 3, 2010

Who is a Missionary?

This morning in Chapel, I asked the children, “What is a Missionary?” A Kindergartener raised her hand and gave this answer, “Someone who tells others about God.” I couldn’t have given a better answer. A missionary is essentially a witness for Christ.

Today we kick off our Global Impact Celebration. When we first began the annual Celebration I imagine that many of us thought of missionaries as persons who accept God’s call to go somewhere else in the world to bear witness to Christ. I believe that understanding is changing. We are all called to be missionaries where we are. In fact, in Jesus’ marching orders He told us to begin bearing witness in our Jerusalem, which is the place where we are.

The signs at the exits to our campus, remind us that the mission field begins right here in the North Jefferson area. We are to be missionaries in our neighborhoods, our civic clubs, our place of work, our schools, even our homes. Remember what a missionary is – “Someone who tells others about God.”

Tonight, Wednesday, February 03, 2010, we will hear a powerful message from one who has a real vision for missions, The Rev. Paul E. Smith, from Mandeville, La. Under his leadership, Life Church has been instrumental in starting over 50 churches throughout North, Central and South America. It is going to be a great night of worship.

On Friday, February 5, 2010, we will have most of the missionaries we support here to share about what God is doing in their place of ministry. We will also have some additional missionaries, as we hope to add one or two other connections through our Faith Promise Offering. I hope you will be here Friday night for the “Taste of the World” event. You will have the opportunity to meet all of these missionaries. Even if you did not have the opportunity to sign up for an event, come on. Don’t miss out.

God is up to something. As He said through the Prophet Isaiah, even “now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19; NRSV) Let’s be a part of what God is doing.

Here is a schedule for this weekend:
Friday – 2/5/10
12:00 Noon Senior Luncheon
6:30 PM Taste of the World
Saturday – 2/6/10
7:00 AM Men’s Breakfast
9:00 AM Family Project
12:30 PM Women’s Luncheon
6:00 PM Sunday School Socials
Sunday
The Rev. Richard Adams will be our preacher at each of the morning services.
Missionaries will be in most of our Sunday School Classes.

Sunday morning we will be making our Faith Promise commitments to missions. In Paul’s writing we find several places where he mentions this kind of second mile, beyond the tithe offering for missions. As the title suggest, this is a Promise you make in faith, trust God to provide. Our Faith Promise giving provides the support for all of our missions beyond our Conference and District commitments. If all of our over 600 giving families were to commit $500 to Faith Promise that would be $300,000.00 to missions. If 250 families would commit $500, that would surpass our $100,000 goal this year. Gina and I will be trusting God for more than $500 and I know others will be doing the same.

This Sunday night we will celebrate Holy Communion as part of our Healing and Wholeness Service. This morning’s Upper Room Devotional Scriptures was the healing that Peter and John offered the lame man at the Temple gate (Acts 3). God is still doing mighty acts of healing. This is a good time to bring persons who need God’s people to lay hands on them in prayer, according to James 5.

As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.