Our Blog

Spiritual Development - June

Why Japan?

Not too long ago, my wife, Melissa, had an interaction with someone who asked where we were wanting to be missionaries. She told them that we felt led to go to Japan. The man then responded, "Japan?! They're a civilized country. Do you mean that my missions giving is going to missionaries living in civilized countries?" With this response Melissa politely informed him of the great spiritual need that exist in Japan despite the fact that it is so "civilized." Visit https://omf.org/asia/japan/ to find out how great the need actually is in Japan.

Mission is not about "civilizing" or converting people to another culture or societal structure. John Piper states in his book Let the Nations be Glad, "Missions exists because worship does not." We are going to Japan to tell people of the good news that Jesus has accomplished through his life, death, and resurrection. We hope to make disciples and worshipers of the one true, living God. In that regard, there is much work to be done because there is much spiritual darkness still in Japan. We pray everyday that God would be gracious to allow us in some way to help advance the gospel and see numerous people come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord in Japan.

Women on Mission - June

Make Holes in Their Darkness
By: Dianne Swaim
A story is told of British author Robert Louis Stevenson when he was five years old.  According to the story, his nanny was putting him to bed, but he slipped over to the window when he knew it was time for the lamplighter.  As he watched the lamplighter light each street light individually, he excitedly called, “Come quick, Nanny! That man is making holes in the  darkness.”

That story has impacted me for years as I have traveled to several third world countries and viewed hunger and poverty for myself.  In Zimbabwe, I held a 10 trillion dollar bill in my hands, worth only 50 cents in the United States.  Meanwhile, there was no food on the grocery store shelves, hospitals and schools were shut down, and there was a cholera outbreak.

The darkness of hunger hovers over almost 1 billion people in the world.  As they always have, Southern Baptist keep a global eye on hurting people and develop programs, raise funds, and send people to meet their physical and spiritual needs.

Organized to Serve

Global Hunger Relief seeks to put structure to the vast resources possible when God’s people give.  Seven Southern    Baptist entities collaborate to observe Global Hunger Sunday.  These partners include WMU, the International Mission Board, and the North American Mission Board.

Every dollar goes directly toward meeting hunger needs.  The Cooperative Program covers all administrative costs.  Eighty percent of funds are directed toward International causes and 20 percent focus on North America.  In 2017, 14 million meals were provided in North America, and nearly $4.5 million helped feed more than 600,000 people across the world.

These numbers certainly indicate the work has been successful.  However, until every person across the world has enough food, we dare not claim success.  Our church’s involvement will make a hole in someone's darkness of hunger.

Women on Mission will not meet during the month of June.