| What can I Do? This is a question that is asked often by people that
have a burden do something to help spread the gospel to other lands. There is no magical answer, but there is a divine will that God has for
your life. There are things that you can do if you truly have a
consecrated purpose to allow God to use you in the furtherance of His
spiritual kingdom. It is unnecessary for anyone to be unemployed in
God's church. However great or however small, God has a place for
you to fill in missionary efforts whether at home or abroad.
Consider what you could
do for the Lord with respect to the Africa Mission efforts:
Pray
Give
Go
Pray: Something that is
not glamorous and does not bring recognition from man, but one of the most
powerful tools in the arsenal of a true Christian. Prayer gets God's
attention, and it makes a lasting difference. Make a purpose to pray every
day for the work of God in Africa and pray for specific ministers
and specific mission efforts. Most importantly, pray specifically
for the lost that
the sinner might be drawn to the love and holiness of Jesus Christ. Pray that the power and influence of Satan would be broken in the hearts
and lives of people. Pray that the clouds of religious confusion would
break so that people would obtain a vision and an experience of God's true
church. Prayer will benefit those for whom you are praying and it
will also bring you into closer communion with the Lord.
"The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much." James 6:16b
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Give: There are always
financial needs of one kind or another in the work of the Lord. In Africa
the needs are very great due in part to the widespread poverty. One-time offerings of monetary support are always appreciated, but there is
also a need for ongoing, continual support for spiritual and humanitarian
projects. If you would like to make a
financial contribution or offering for the needs in Africa,
donations can be sent for the Africa Mission work to the Church of
God. If you
have a specific area that you would like to support, specify that
and your donation will be distributed as designated. Upon request, a tax-deductible receipt
will be sent.
Church of God
c/o Michael Smith
605 Bishops Ct.
Nixa, MO 65714
Listed below are a number of areas that need
ongoing support.
NATIVE MINISTERS: There is minimal money sent monthly to a few native
ministers in Africa to help support them while they spread the
gospel. There are ministers that would be able to do more in the
gospel work with greater financial support. A monthly offering of
$50 would meet the basic needs for one minister and his family.
MISSIONARIES:
Qualified labors are worthy of their hire. Those that give their
lives to the spread of the gospel are worthy of support. They have
expenses at home in addition to traveling costs. The cost is very
great for travel to and within Africa. A discounted airplane
ticket generally costs $1200-$1800.
BIBLES: There
is a great need for Bibles and hymnals in Malawi and Mozambique. These Bibles are purchased in Africa in the native language of the
people. There are also numerous requests from Africa, especially
from Nigeria, from people desiring gospel literature. Due to the
cost of books and the high cost of postage, many of these requests
go unfulfilled.
CHAPELS: The
congregation in Port Harcourt, Nigeria has been working on a chapel
for years, but due to a lack of funds, it is still incomplete. In
addition, there are numerous needs for chapels to be built in Ghana,
Malawi, and Mozambique. A simple chapel can be built at a minimum of
$10,000.
TRANSPORTATION:
The native ministers have ongoing traveling expenses. Transportation
can be very expensive in some parts of Africa. There are also
continual needs for more bicycles for ministers in Malawi and
Mozambique.
BLANKETS:
Mozambique is one the poorest countries in the world. During
the winter months it gets quite cold in the mountains. Most of the
children have inadequate clothing and many of them have no blankets
or bedding. A blanket fund has been established. An offering of $5
can help keep one of these children warm.
EDUCATION: The
saints in Ghana have started a school for the younger children. There is a need for a school building and more school supplies. Two young men in Malawi, one of whom serves as a
translator to missionaries from the United States, are
continuing their education as funds are provided.
"Freely ye have received, freely give."
Matthew 10:8b
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Go: There is a great need
for qualified, Holy Spirit-filled individuals to listen to and obey the
divine call of God to 'go.' Although the Word and the Spirit
are sufficient to bring mankind to Christ, there is a commission
that God has given to His people. The Lord uses individuals to teach
and to preach that the seed might be sown. Religious confusion
and ignorance abound throughout the world. The Lord is looking
down on His people asking "Whom shall I send, and who will go for
us?" Do you hear the voice of God calling? Make the consecration and
respond, "Here am I; send me."
It is imperative before someone makes a
missionary trip that they are solely motivated and prompted by the
call and purpose of the Holy Spirit. This goes beyond an interest or
concern. A mission trip should not be viewed as a vacation or as
just an opportunity to travel abroad. Mission trips are made in the
interest of the souls of mankind and for the furtherance of the
gospel. There are serious health risks associated with travel
to Africa, which makes it all the more imperative that an individual
is responding to the call of God. God
calls individuals to active gospel work who are examples of truth
and holiness. Great damage can be done on the mission field by
people 'going' whose lives are not in conformity to the Word. Young
and old people alike should not be on the mission field who are
not fervent and zealous in their pursuit of God. Sadly, there have
been times that the mission work has suffered due to unqualified
people on the mission field giving an unclear message by the conduct
of their lives. On the other hand, a qualified missionary group can
be a real blessing and inspiration.
"For whosever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom
they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom
they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? as it is
written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel
of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things." Romans
10:13-15
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