An Evening with Governor Mike Huckabee

Big Life Ministries is pleased to welcome Mike Huckabee as our featured guest speaker for the Third Annual Big Life Fundraising Event. Governor Huckabee is also host of the syndicated radio show, “The Huckabee Report,” Fox News Channel’s weekly “Huckabee” show, and author of the New York Times best seller Do the Right Thing.

There is no charge to attend; however, seating is limited and reservations are required (now taking reservations for the overflow in the Chapel). Please register online at http://www.biglifeonline.org/, or visit the Missions Kiosk in the Commons following all three services this weekend.

What is Big Life? Big Life is a Church Planting Ministry that empowers, equips, and encourages believers overseas, to reach their own people for Jesus Christ. Our people don’t build buildings, they establish churches. As a result, 30,000 former Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists have come to faith in Christ since 2003 and now attend weekly worship.

With the Lord leading the way, we expect to expand to 5,000 churches with over 100,000 believers worshipping weekly in 2009! Come prepared to hear a powerful message from Governor Huckabee, and find out how you can partner with this dynamic church planting ministry.

Thursday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Worship Center

http://www.biglifeonline.org/ or 247-5602

Tickets will be mailed in the weeks preceding the event. We regret that we will not be able to accommodate children or students under the age of 16.


Come visit us at the Missions Kiosk
in the Commons this weekend!

Can you handle the truth?

We, as Christians, believe in truth...actually THE Truth; however, we live in a society and culture where truth is not held in as high of esteem. Nevertheless, truth is still needed and demanded in our society (i.e. when testifying in court, you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth). With a Christian belief system built so strongly on truth, I wonder...can we really handle the truth? Or, in other words, do we want to know the truth? Please allow me to explain. Excerpts from a recent prayer request from Big Life Ministries is below:

"On Wednesday, we are going to the home of a recently converted family. They have decided to destroy their idols that have been in the family for generations. Keith* has told them that the idols need to be totally destroyed rather than sold (some of them are valuable since they are antiques). We are going to pray over the home (to bind the strongman), then the Westerners will leave so that it does not come across to others that this is taking place due to coercion. Later Wednesday evening they will be throwing them into the nearby river. "

This is great news! To see a recent convert ready to destroy their idols and take a stand for Christ is an exciting event in any missionaries life. However, the truth is there is another part to this prayer request that came the following day.

"We received word from India that prayer is urgently needed for the family who bagged up their Hindu idols and cast them into the local river a couple of days ago (as previously reported). The village is now in an absolute uproar and is trying to throw them out of their home and village as we are composing this email. We have learned that the family consists of 36 year old Judy* along with her 9 year old son.

Judy* came to the Lord a few days ago and was immediately obedient to forsake her previous Hindu idols. We are told that her home contained so many idols that it resembled a Hindu temple. Please begin lifting Judy* and her son up in prayer to the Lord. Pray for their protection and peace that only our Lord can supply during these kinds of trials. Pray for the Lord to subdue the anger living in the hearts of these villagers and ultimately for the Lord to use Judy's* testimony to bring these lost people into a personal relationship with their Creator. "

The truth is that many believers, all over the world, are suffering immensely for their faith. This is something that the majority of us have never experienced and probably never will experience! Please be in prayer for this request and be attentive to how God may be opening your eyes and ears to the truth of suffering Christians all over the world. To find out more on *Judy and other ministry opportunities, please visit Big Life representatives in the Mission Kiosk this weekend or go to their website at http://biglifeonline.org/home.

Or, to learn more about this topic, visit The Voice of the Martyrs at http://www.persecution.com/

* Names changed for protection

Putting Feet to your Faith!!!

Is God tugging at you to get involved in what He is doing in the world? Do you want to do something, but don't know who to ask or where to go?

Well, an opportunity is on the horizon and God is giving you a chance to get involved! How you may ask?

Awestruck Ministries is preparing to take their annual trip to help the Foundation For His Ministry Orphanage in Vicente Guerrero, Baja California, Mexico (http://www.ffhm.org/) May 10-16, 2009. This will be a ministry/work trip in order to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of orphaned children and migrant workers.

The trip is limited to 15 people, but there are some spaces left; so, ....don't delay! The cost is $1,250 and a $250 deposit is requested at sign up and due by March 1, 2009. Contact either Byron Cobb at byronhc37@aol.com or Michael Barnes at carribeanjoe67@gmail.com. You can also learn more at the Missions Kiosk in the Commons Area.

The opportunity is now, so don't wait another day to be obedient to what God is telling you!


Introduction to Baja Mission of Foundation For His Ministry

10-4?

John 1:1-2, 11-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (11) He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. (12) But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (13) who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

In law enforcement, there is a specific code used to make sure that the message communicated was received and understood: 10-4. If the message is not understood, then it is of little to no value. The same can be said of the gospel; i.e., if the gospel isn't understood in the way it is communicated, then it is of little to no value. We see in this passage how God overcame this obstacle of understanding.

When God decided to redeem fallen man, He sent someone to communicate this message of redemption: Himself. In other words, He didn't leave that message to be communicated and possibly distorted by someone else. Instead, He came Himself. In ministering to any people group, anywhere in the world, it is of utmost importance to communicate the gospel in the heart language of the people you desire to minister to. The heart language of a person is the language that they grew up speaking. For example, in Paraguay, where we just finished our first missionary term, their are 2 official languages: Spanish and Guarani. Even though we can do most everything in Spanish, the majority of the population grew up speaking Guarani; therefore, their heart language is Guarani. Even though they understand the Spanish, to get to their heart of hearts, you need to use Guarani. Here's the question: How will they understand if no one goes to tell them? Read Romans 10:13-15.

So how did God do this? He lived AMONG us! He, in a manner of speaking, was the first missionary. He came to a culture He didn't know (because what fellowship does Light have with darkness?) and lived among us to show us the way and make sure the message was understood. As Phillipians 2:4-8, vividly portrays, Jesus WILLINGLY came to live in this sinful world just to save us. Are you willing to follow Christ WHEREVER He tells you? It may only be to go on a F.A.I.T.H. visit or it may be around the world...but the question is are you willing to follow Him in radical obedience?

That is what God wants of us, to follow Him in radical obedience. However, you must expect resistance. Christ experienced resistance, as we see in John 1:10-11. So if He had it, we can expect no less. However, you are not in this battle alone. It is all of our responsibilities to help by praying, giving and going. As we read in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, it is when we work together that we are our strongest.

If God is calling you to something, anything...just say, "yes". Don't worry about how, when or where...just give him your "yes", and He'll take care of the rest. May God bless you as you follow hard after Him in radical obedience!

David George