Running in a different direction…
Recently, I was reminded of a photo taken in New York on the infamous 9/11. You probably remember it. In it sooty-faced men and women run terrified from the fiery Twin Towers as smoke billows through every door and window. Their faces show the anguish of their burning, horrifying world. They are fleeing for their lives, leaving everything else behind. The whole feeling is one of terror and fear.
But in the background running in the opposite direction is a firefighter, decked out in all the equipment necessary to protect him as he resolutely goes about his job of rescuing those trapped inside. These guys are on a mission!
Our world is reeling from rising gas prices, a looming economic recession, falling real estate values at home and a crumbling dollar abroad. The United States is involved in two real on-going death-causing wars. And cyclones, tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis seem to devastate somewhere almost monthly.
USA Today recently reported that in the near future crude oil will rise to $200 per barrel. Delta Airlines is raising airfares by 15-20% to keep up with rising fuel prices; one third of their total budget is now spent on fuel. Delta also reported a $6 Billion loss the first quarter of 2008. Most airlines are reducing the number of routes they fly and implementing other drastic cost-saving measures. They’re not talking about profits anymore. They are talking about survival.
Like in the photo, they’re running from the building!
Businesses across the country are also scrambling to find ways to save money by lowering fuel consumption. One news commentator recently declared: “Take your money out of savings and buy food.” He was serious. He wasn’t talking about food shortages, but about food prices. These days, with such low interest rates and soaring prices, buying food is a better savings plan than putting your money in the bank!
So here’s one reason why this sits so heavy in my mind and heart…
Missionaries, like firefighters are those who run – not away from the flames and the danger and the difficulties, but toward them.
Their life, their goal, their focus is not on safety, security or comfort, but on taking the Good News of
Jesus to a world aflame!
The assignment God has given Phyllis and me for all these years is to prepare and equip men and women – not to run from danger and difficulties, but to run toward them! Not to seek comfort, success and ease, but to listen to the voice of God, understand His Great Mission and to run to the place He wants you!
In the next few days, we will once again graduate around twenty people from Globe’s Institute for Global Ministry (IGM). They will be better prepared to take the Gospel of the Kingdom to a hurting world! They will understand the biblical mandate to take the Gospel to the hard places. Places where there are no churches. Places where the governments are antagonistic. Places where the dominant religion is radically opposed to Jesus and the Gospel of the Kingdom.
These graduates will better appreciate the biblical understanding of “people groups,” tribes and cultural boundaries. They will understand biblical story-telling to non-literate learners. They will better understand the great Mission of God to change lives, reverse misfortunes, see His great Name glorified and worshipped by all men and women everywhere.
This season in our life is spent mostly in America with Americans. It is one of preparing, encouraging, mentoring and assisting them to explore God’s purpose and plan for their lives. A little different, but yet the same. And it’s a pretty big task – it seems. Everything in the world seems to be falling apart and the natural tendency is to disengage – run away. Flee where it’s safe and warm. But the men and women we’re training aren’t looking for the easy way.
Thanks for standing with us – in prayer and by giving – in our assignment to train and equip another generation to run toward the fire, not away.
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Tags: missions, missionaries, Globe International, IGM,
