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Watch out for little boys named Samuel. Little Samuel had his hand raised, and he was poised to answer the question. My wife, Jamie, and I were in Sheridan, Wyoming for a weekend of meetings. One was a local Christian school's morning chapel service. As we talked to the kids about Taiwan, I watched Samuel's eyes light up with what I thought was normal excitement about the exotic and far away places, but now I think that there was something more.
In February word came that Russell would be arriving from Manokwari. My excitement was without bounds, but why Manokwari, a village on the north coast of New Guinea? When the steamer eased into port at Macassar, I was nearly bursting with excitement. Positioned at the front of those gathered to greet disembarking passengers, I was totally dismayed when I saw a gaunt, wasted stranger with Walter Post.
We are world Christians. We put God's love for all people first. No race is superior to another; no government is more loved than another; no country dearer than another. We don't put our nation's economy before God's economy. He tells us to seek first His Kingdom. He will meet our needs. We are driven to action daily with the knowledge that three billion people do not know our Savior. Our passion in life, our unquenchable desire, is to take God's love to them.
Do you see, do you see all the people sinking down?
Don’t you care, don’t you care?
Are you gonna let them drown?
How can you be so numb not to care if they come?
You close your eyes and pretend the job’s done.
"Oh bless me, Lord, bless me Lord."
You know it’s all I ever hear.
No one aches, no one hurts.
No one even sheds one tear.
But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds,
and He cares for your needs.
And you just lay back and keep soaking it in.
Since 1949, itinerant evangelists have become crucial to the vitality and growth of the Christan community in China.
Independent itinerant evangelists are law breakers on at least two counts: The constitution states that evangelism must occur only within designated religous premises, and preachers must be accredited by the local Protestant Threee-Self oganization.
The Life of an itinerant evangelist in China is hectic, sacrificial and dangerous. The following story is a weekend in the life of one of these evangelists.
You will be appalled by the story I am about to relate to you. Appalled, that is, if you have any kind of social conscience.
I was trying to find insurance for a vehicle I was considering buying. One company had been recom-mended to me as having the best rates, so naturally I thought I would check them out. Their rates were excellent, and while the saleswoman was taking down all the pertinent information about me, she asked me my occupation. I told her that I was a missionary speaker. She responded, "Oh no. I am so sorry Mr. Zumwalt, but our company does not insure circus performers or missionaries."
There is only one man in the Bible who is called a "man after God’s own heart." What was it about this shepherd boy that became king that would give him such honor? What set apart the life of this music playin’, giant slayin’, spear dodgin’, cave hidin’, psalm writin’ youngest son of Jesse? Charles Swindoll, in his Bible study on David, states that this title is such that "we might think of him as some kind of spiritual Superman in a world without a trace of kryptonite. But he wasn’t studded with superhuman qualities.
LIVING CONDITIONS
“Our three villages are near each other. None of the villages have electricity or running water. My village doesn’t have filtered water, so Nick gave me the water filter. If you think of what most people consider the typical African village, that’s what I live in. The houses are small and are built with mud bricks which they cover in concrete. The roofs are made of grass which turns brown. My room is fairly small and I have a roommate. He is my family brother, Assane.”
What constitutes a Call? Is there any way of knowing the will of God? How can one be sure?
I think there is. In fact, I am certain. God would not leave His servants in darkness.
But let me give you James Gilmour’s experience. It is well worth quoting. How was he called, and why did he go to the Mongols? This is how he puts it:
“Why is it that the true Church of Christ is doing so little, comparatively speaking, toward getting the gospel to the unreached tribes in the dark and needy areas of the earth? Is it not because we lack the compulsion of divine love? This is the one essential, underlying motive that must be present in the Christian’s heart and in the Church in order to accomplish the evangelization of the world.”