Quote(s) of the day – William Carey

Today we have a humorous quote from our good friend William Carey and his book that shaped the world of Protestant missions:

“It is well known to require no very extraordinary talents to learn, in the space of a year, or two at most, the language of any people upon the earth, so much of it at least, as to be able to convey any sentiments we wish to their understandings.”

If you believe that I have about 1000 ESL folks I would like to introduce you to. It is well known that they slip back into their native tongue when they have something really sentimental to convey. Perhaps people were just that much more talented back then!

And now for a bonus quote – “If congregations were to open subscriptions of one penny, or more per week, according to their circumstances and deposit it as a fund for the propagation of the Gospel, much might be raised this way” or at least enough for a small coffee every three years.

2 Chronicles 4-6

Chapter 4 describes the temple’s furnishings. Not surprisingly, the gold King David had collected is put to use making an altar, tables, lampstands, and other assorted items (4:19-22). In chapter five the ark is brought successfully into the temple and placed in the holy of holies. All the leaders of Israel are present and the sheep and cattle sacrificed are uncountable. The blood flowed freely in Jerusalem that day. They sang praises to the Lord: “He is good; his love endures forever” and the temple was filled with the cloud of the Lord which is his glory.

Chapter six provides us with the record of Solomon’s temple dedication speech and prayer. It is important to note that he proclaimed this as not just a temple for Israel but for all the nations, requesting of God: “…Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name” (vv32-33). Indeed, may all the peoples of earth know the Lord our God.

Mouk People of Papua New Guinea

I was introduced to a video about the Mouk people of Papua New Guinea during the Perspectives Course. The video is called Ee-Taow! which means “It is True!” This people group was reached by four western missionaries: Mark & Gloria Zook who appear in the video and David & Diann Yunker who were absent at that time. They spent months teaching the Mouk about their place in the world and the history of God’s work in the world beginning with creation. It was two months before they reached the narrative about Jesus’ coming and death. The video I have linked to is twenty minutes long and well worth watching. At the end of the story about Jesus sacrifice for us they all began to chant “Ee-Taow!” and celebrated for 2.5 hours!

International Student Outreach Seminar

Next Saturday, October 3, 2009 there will be a special speaker at Surrey Alliance Church. Douglas Shaw will be speaking on reaching out to international students who have come to Canada to study. It looks like a good opportunity to learn about this type of ministry and it is free, which is best of all!

For more information surf on over to the Surrey Alliance website.

The Gospel of the Kingdom by George Eldon Ladd

Tonight I finished reading The Gospel of the Kingdom. The last chapter is “When will the kingdom come?” I was interested in Ladd’s presentation because A. B. Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, advocated that by engaging in missions we would hasten the return of Christ. Not everyone agrees with that idea but it has long been a popular one among missiologists and missions promoters, although it would be even more so if everyone agreed on it. Ladd is quite a proponent of this idea as these two quotes demonstrate:

I do know this: When the Church has finished its task of evangelizing the world, Christ will come again. The Word of God says it [Mt 24:14]. Why did he not come in A.D. 500? Because the Church had not evangelized the world. Why did he not return in A.D. 1000? Because the Church had not finished its task of world-wide evangelization. Is He coming soon? He is — if we, God’s people, are obedient to the command of the Lord to take the Gospel into all the world (135).

If God’s people in the English speaking world alone took this task seriously and responded to its challenge, we could finish the task of world-wide evangelization in our own generation and witness the Lord’s return (136).

I’m not sure why this idea has fallen out of favour among the general Evangelical church. Perhaps “expectancy fatigue” has set in. This book was first published in 1959 and Simpson had already been preaching this message 80 years earlier so several generations have come and gone without seeing world evangelisation completed. We are closer than ever although the goal has moved. Ladd talks about the Bible being available in 1100 languages. That has more than doubled but we are now aiming at more than 5000 languages. Let us persevere in the race set before us and remain faithful until the end so that we might find ourselves labeled “good and faithful.” Maranatha!

Video on Ralph D. Winter

For those of you who know who Ralph D. Winter is you might be interested in viewing this video in which numerous pastors and missiologists reflect on his life and ministry.  If you don’t know who he is then be doubly sure to get on over there! He was instrumental in producing TEE material and founded the US Center for World Mission in 1976.

Dr. Winter passed away to his reward on May 20, 2009. You can read the official obituary here.

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement — Reader 4th ed

I just found out today that a fourth edition of the enormous Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Reader was released in January. I was required to read 300 pages of this as part of my ordination requirements and wouldn’t you know it – as soon as I finished I discover a new edition has been published. You can read the details about the updated content here. I don’t feel too bad though because they say that they have shortened many of the articles in order to include a greater quantity and variety. I can say I read the longer, fuller version . If you’re eager to get your hands on a copy surf over to the William Carey Library.

Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorn, eds. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader. 4th ed. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009. 9780878083909.

Nigeria’s Untouchables and the Power of the Gospel

The BBC has an article today about the Osu people of Nigeria who have long been ostracised from their communities. The influence of the Gospel has meant that they are able to live freely and marry who they want because in Christ, and thankfully in the local Church, it does not matter who your ancestors were.
Praise the Lord!

BAC Mexico STM trip promo video online

Hey Everyone!

For those of you who enjoyed our Mexico Short Term Missions trip video so much you want to see it again Joe has posted it on YouTube.

We are going from July 25 – August 1, 2009. For more information come to our information session this coming Sunday, March 29 from 1-2pm in the choir room. Also be sure to check out the Stoney Creek Expeditions website.

See you there!

British atheist truly believes Africa needs God

Matthew Parris, writing in the Times Online, comments on his travels in Africa. Although he is an atheist he has noticed the great differences between Christian Africans and non-Christian Africans. Given his non belief in God and the power of Jesus to change lives he can only comment on the cultural and sociological effects that Christianity has had on these Christian Africans but he has certainly noticed that there is a difference in both thought and lifestyle. Hopefully he will come to recognise that this occurred because God is real and Jesus sent his Spirit to indwell Christians that they might live in Him. Then he can write “Great Britain truly needs God”!