Dr. Duff’s Missionary Appeal for India

“My friend, will you go? Has God spoken to you? Have you heard His Call? Will you not answer, ‘Lord, here am I, send me’? And if you cannot go, will you not send a substitute? – Oswald J. Smith

Let’s stir up a heart for INDIA!

Lately, the nation of India has been in our thoughts and in our prayers, especially the need to support remote national ministers and evangelists.

There are many spiritual needs in this vast country, and so many people who need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here are some links to help you to focus your prayers:

• India at WorldMap.org
• Pray for India – Operation World
• People Groups in India

Dr. Duff’s Appeal

An excerpt from A Challenge to Missions

By Oswald J. Smith

Dr. Alexander Duff, that great veteran missionary to India, returned to Scotland to die, and as he stood before the general assembly . . . he made his appeal, but there was no response.

In the midst of his appeal he fainted and was carried off the platform.

The doctor bent over him and examined his heart.

Presently he opened his eyes. “Where am I?” he cried. “Where am I?”

“Lie still,” said the doctor. “You have had a heart attack. Lie still.”

“But,” exclaimed Dr. Duff, “I haven’t finished my appeal. Take me back. Take me back. I must finish my appeal.”

“Lie still,” said the doctor again. “You will go back at the peril of you life.”

But, in spite of the protests of the physician, the old warrior struggled to his feet, and, with the doctor on one side and the moderator of the assembly of the other side, he again mounted the steps of the pulpit platform, and, as he did so, the entire assembly rose to do him honor. Then, when they were seated, he continued his appeal.

And this is what he said:

“When Queen Victoria calls for volunteers for India, hundreds of young men respond; but, when King Jesus calls, no one goes.”

Then he paused. There was silence.

Again he spoke: “Very well,” he concluded, “then, aged though I am, I’ll go back to India. I can lie down on the banks of the Ganges and I can die and thereby I can let the people of India know that there was one man in Scotland who loved them enough to give his life for them.”

In a moment, young men all over the assembly sprang to their feet, crying, “I’ll go! I’ll go!”

And after the old white-haired warrior had been laid to rest, these young men, having graduated, found their way to dark benighted India, there to labor as his substitutes for the Lord Jesus Christ.

My friend, will you go? Has God spoken to you? Have you heard His Call? Will you not answer, “Lord, here am I, send me”? And if you cannot go, will you not send a substitute?

It is for you to decide.

Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice before everyone has heard it once?

Seeking PEACE: a place for PRAYER

As you’re decorating for the Christmas season, and finding a special PLACE for your garland and lights and nativity scene, I encourage you to make a PLACE for PRAYER. If you want to find peace during this busy, crazy time, you need to enter the presence of the Lord, and allow His peace to fill your heart.

Make a PLACE for PRAYER

Recently, I have been thinking about the importance of personal prayer within families . . . behind the public front door of each home and behind the public “image” each family displays.

How can we follow Jesus, and know His will for our lives and for our families, without taking time to be with Him? How can we minister God’s life-changing presence to our own children . . . and to our extended families and our local communities . . . and to our world, unless we take time to know Him?

As Christians, we have been given a tremendous honor and an amazing invitation to spend time with God every day. At the beginning, a new lifestyle of daily prayer will require consistent personal desire and discipline; but eventually (by God’s grace, not merely self-effort) your time with the Lord can become the delight of your day and the greatest strength of your family life and your ministry to others.

Eternally effective families consist of people who consistently pray.

In a spiritually-healthy God-loving family, a lifestyle of prayer includes praying with others at church, praying together as a family, and praying (or “interceding”) for the needs of others and for the needs of the world; yet, nothing is more spiritually beneficial for families than a lifestyle of personal private prayer. Eternally effective families consist of people who consistently pray.

Do your kids “see” you spending time with God?

As God-loving and Bible-believing families, we all know that prayer is important.

As Christians, we tell our kids that it’s good to pray (or our pastor mentions the fact often enough for our kids to get the message . . . and for us as parents to feel a bit guilty). Perhaps we pray before mealtime (during those special yet unfortunately dwindling occasions when our far-too-busy family can actually gather our hands around a sit-down dinner). Perhaps we pray for our kids at night (during those special times when we remember to tuck our little ones in bed before they fall asleep).

Yet how many of us, as moms and dads, are a bit lacking (or majorly deficient) in our own daily personal prayer lives? As each dad, and mom, and child and/or teenager develops his or her own personal relationship with God through a regular quiet time with the Lord, the effect is powerful.

Be a spiritual example to your kids . . . by having a regular time and place for prayer

As parents, one of the greatest ways to instill in your kids the foundation of life-impacting faith is for your kids to actually “see” you reading your Bible, (on a regular everyday basis, not just at church), and for your kids to “see” you taking time to pray by yourself.

Establish a PLACE for PRAYER

I believe it’s helpful to establish a regular “PLACE” to meet with the Lord each day:

• perhaps a comfy chair in a spare bedroom
• perhaps in your home office
• perhaps on the couch in your living room
• perhaps on a trail outside your house or a quiet walk around your neighborhood

“Round-up” a few items to help establish a consistent time with God

If you decided to establish a new habit of physical exercise, such beginning to start jogging a bit each day, you would probably take a few minutes to “round up” some running shoes and perhaps dig through the back of your closets to find some sweats or shorts. If you wanted to add some meals to your cooking, you would need to “round up” some new menu ingredients, or search for some new recipe idea. The same idea holds true for establishing a new habit of spiritual discipline and daily prayer. If you haven’t been taking the time to consistently pray on a regular basis, it’s helpful to “round up” a few quiet-time accessories or “spiritual” items and to have them set aside and waiting for you in your designated new quiet-time place.

Here are a few suggestions for helpful “QUIET TIME” items:

• your own Bible (with a marker to remember where you are reading)
• a daily Bible-reading chart
• a journal or notebook, with a pen and a highlighter
• a devotional or “meaty” spiritual book (to challenge your walk with Christ)
• a world map, and missionary newsletters
• a CD with quiet worship music
• possibly even items for holy communion (with wafers, a cup, and grape juice) for a personal communion time (see I Corinthians 11) perhaps on a daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis, to remember the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice

Remember to be flexible . . . and walk with God throughout each day!

Along with consistency in prayer, it’s important to be flexible. In the life of every family, there will be different seasons and changing schedules. What works today may not work tomorrow; yet even so, we need to faithfully guard our time with God. If what you’re doing right now, concerning your personal daily prayer life, is working, by all means keep it up; but if it’s not working, please ask for God’s help and His grace (along with His unlimited creative ideas) to make a change!

Living a life of prayer is simply walking and talking with God. It’s vital to acknowledge God’s presence right beside you and with you all throughout each day.

As individuals, and as families, we can welcome the presence of God’s Spirit into every dimension of our lives. God cares about everything (whether little or big, silly or significant, everyday or eternal), and we can welcome His presence into every decision and every activity. In our families and in our daily communication with God, there should not be a barrier between what is “holy” and what is “common”; instead, God desires for every dimension of our lives (at home, at school, at church, at work, and even at play) to be lived in constant fellowship with Him.

See related article — Seeking PEACE: a time for PRAYER
More family articles about how to have a Mission-Minded Christmas!!!

Seeking PEACE: a time for PRAYER

Instead of being directed by the overwhelming needs of the moment, Jesus took time to pray and to seek the Heavenly Father’s perfect direction for each day, and did exactly (and only) what needed to be done . . .

The will of God —
nothing less, nothing more, nothing else.”
— F. E. Marsh

How to find peace . . . in a busy season

Writing Christmas cards. Decorating the house. Buying and wrapping presents. Cooking. Baking. Preparing for parties and hospitality. Getting ready for church events. Just thinking about all these things we “need” to do can be exhausting.

‘Tis the season to be jolly . . . yet often overly busy.

As we’re heading into the Christmas season, a time to celebrate God’s PEACE and joy, let’s make sure to seek God for what should be done (and what activities could be eliminated to bring more of God’s presence into our homes and family). Let’s remember to take TIME for prayer, and to keep everything in balance.

(Photo: a time of prayer during the East Africa H.M.F.I. conference in Uganda – Nov. 2011)

Think of everything Jesus needed to do!!!

Jesus only lived 33 years on earth and spent just 3 short years in ministry.

In this short time period, Jesus had more on His “to-do” list than any of of could ever comprehend.

• He was responsible for providing God’s only way of salvation for all humanity.
• He had to establish a brand-new worldwide training program (through scriptural teaching and personal example) to explain God’s eternal kingdom.
• He had to equip His ground-level leaders (in deep theology and practical life skills) for future global impact.
• And on top of all that, He couldn’t sin or make a mistake . . . not even once!

Even with such a limited time allotment, an eternally important job, and such spiritual “pressure” (from our point of view), Jesus was never rushed or stressed-out. In spite of all He needed to do (and because of all He needed to do), Jesus always took time to pray.

God’s perspective is so much different than ours.

During his 33 years on earth, Jesus took 30 years to live as a simple carpenter and to simply “be” with His Heavenly Father. Jesus was totally perfect and totally God-in-the-Flesh, yet throughout His life He took time to seek God’s direction and guidance. Even when everyone else was busy and multitudes had pressing needs, Jesus took time to be quiet and to get away, and to pray.

Mark 1:35-38 says, “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He [Jesus] went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for you.”

But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”

Finding PEACE . . . through PRAYER!

If you haven’t been praying regularly, it’s a good idea to begin by setting aside a particular new “MEETING TIME” with God:

• perhaps set your morning alarm a bit earlier
• perhaps establish a habit of reading God’s Good News (the Bible) as you’re sipping your morning coffee
• perhaps take time for the Lord during your noontime lunch hour
• perhaps before bed in the evening
  

Instead of being directed by the overwhelming needs of the moment, Jesus took time to pray in a solitary place (and He didn’t even tell His disciples where He was going). After this personal prayer time, Jesus knew the heavenly Father’s perfect direction for that day, and He did exactly what needed to be done.

If prayer was that important to Jesus, it should be important to us!

May God bless you with PEACE this Christmas season . . . as you take time to seek Him in the quiet place, in a time of prayer.

Blessings to you!
Jon & Ann

A few helpful links about PRAYER & BALANCE:
Daily Bible Reading Chart
More articles about PRAYER
More articles about BALANCE

Good Friday: God’s Passion . . . for Harvest!

On the cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ displayed His deepest passion, and there He fulfilled His ultimate purpose on earth — to provide the ONLY way for us, and for all people, to be saved from our sins and reconciled to God.

In Hebrews 12:2, the Bible tells us to look unto Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith, Who for the JOY that was set before Him endured the cross.”

How could there be any JOY in such a brutal cross?

How can we refer to that day as “GOOD” Friday?

It’s because we know how the story ends! 

Through Christ’s atoning cross (meaning, His death “atoned” or “paid for” the penalty of our sins) and His glorious resurrection, our Lord destroyed the power-hold of sin and death in our lives, and He opened the door for us to receive God’s salvation.

It’s because He died, that we can live!

As Christians, we need to be challenged and “moved” by the cross. We need to remember all that Jesus endured, and continually remind ourselves of the purpose for His willing obedience.

Your Passion for Harvest

A Song of Prayer

Your passion for harvest, O Lord Your love for the lost

For the JOY set before You, O Lord You took Your cross

Now Your love compels me, for You died to save me

May I live only for You, and . . .

Your passion for harvest, I need Your love for the lost

For the JOY set before me, O Lord, I’ll take my cross

For Your love compels me, for You died to save me

May I live only for You, for You.

Jesus Christ willingly surrendered everything, and took up His cross; but it wasn’t only for us. Our Lord’s precious blood was shed for the entire world. Yet even now, 2,000 years later, over 1.6 BILLION people have still never heard of Him. As Christians, we must be willing to surrender . . . everything . . . to take up our cross (God’s desire and will for our lives). We need to pray. We need to give. And we need to open our mouth and share our faith with others. We need God’s love and His passion for the harvest.

“I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ that lives in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galations 2:20).

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1:18).

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV).

This year, as we remember our Lord Jesus’ death and resurrection, may we all be filled with more of His purpose and more of His tremendous love.

In His Harvest,
Jon & Ann

GUMA NA YESU Children “Keep with Jesus!”

The need and the vision . . .

In Southern Uganda – our dear longtime friends, Naboth and Alice, have been helping over 700 needy orphan children. This African couple haven’t had much to work with, but they’ve been doing everything possible to extend the love of Jesus. Because of this need, and our long-time ministry relationship with Naboth and Alice, Harvest Ministry has decided to focus orphan efforts towards these precious kids at GUMA NA YESU Children’s Center.

A few Guma Na Yesu children:

DID YOU KNOW?

1 Startling Orphan Statistic:
Every 2.2 seconds, another orphan ages out of an international orphan facility, with no family and no home. Older orphans are vulnerable . . . to abuse, suicide, prostitution, slavery, becoming child soldiers, and immorality (and as a result, they become most vulnerable to AIDS and disease). Yet, as orphans are rescued, saved by Jesus Christ, and brought into God’s Kingdom, the enemy’s plans are thwarted: instead, these older orphans can live happy, productive, lives and help to advance God’s cause and mission purposes.

1 Special Highlight @ GUMA NA YESU Children’s Center:
At Guma, each of the children and teenagers are connected with a caring Christian family and a local church (who they live with during holidays). The children are educated in academics, and they are trained in the Word of God, with daily worship, fervent prayer, and opportunities for ministry (including dance performance, special music, preaching, and prayer for others). Over the years, we have had opportunities to spend time with Jennifer, and she growing into a beautiful young woman with such a heart of service to the Lord. Please do keep her and all the children at Guma in your prayers.

To remember this African word (from the Runyankole language), just think of the word “GUM” . . . and imagine chewing a sweet, delicious, sticky wad of GUM . . . and to keep chewing it for a long, long time. The name of this new orphanage project is Guma Na Yesu (pronounced “Goom-uh nuh Yay-soo”) – which means “Keep with Jesus!”

The long-term vision is to care for hundreds of orphan children through the support network of a strong Christian church and caring Ugandan families.

The vision is to build a Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center – with a free orphan school, basic provisions (of food, clothing, and educational supplies), and a family support base – to enable hundreds of orphans to be adopted into Christian families. Our prayer is for each of these orphan children to “keep” with Jesus for their entire lives! The heart of this orphan project is to train children to be mighty in God’s Word and to experience a life of knowing God personally – so they can fulfill God’s purpose. These children experience the presence of God daily – through prayer, child-led preaching, and through fervent worship and dancing. These children love Jesus, and their heavenly Father loves them.

Who we are . . .

N.E.T.S. Ministers, Naboth & Alice
Directors of Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center

The Lord is just begining to give a new vision for Guma Na Yesu and through His wisdom and direction, He’s showing us how the needs of these children can be met. This orphan ministry is founded and directed by African ministers, Naboth and Alice of Southern Uganda, and now supported and overseen by Jon & Ann Dunagan of Harvest Ministry. The vision for Guma Na Yesu is for it to be nationally-led by Ugandan ministers, teachers, and church families — under the blessing and direction of JESUS and the authority of God’s Word.

Where we’re located . . .

This African orphan ministry is being built in Mbarara, Uganda. It’s a needy area, with many orphans. Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center is currently under construction – on a hilltop property near one of Naboth’s new church facilities – directly above a Ugandan military base.

Prayer Focus: Please pray with us for God’s abundant provision for the orphan children of Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center. And if you want to help, do let us know. Also, we would really appreciate your prayers for God’s wisdom concerning the future of this orphan project, and what Harvest Ministry’s long-term involvement should be.

Praying Together as a Mission-Minded Family

We all know, at least in our heads, that prayer is important. Yet how many of us honestly believe that our prayers, and the simple prayers of our far-from-perfect family, can really make a difference? If we could comprehend, deep down in our spirits, the true power of prayer, we would all pray more-and the difference would radically impact our lives and the lives of everyone around us.

James 5:16 tells us, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” We want our prayers to be effective, but what does it mean to stand “righteous” before God

As a family, we’re very aware of our differences and our faults. We’ve all sinned, and we need to acknowledge that no one of earth can stand blameless before our perfect, holy, and awesome God. No matter how good we try to be, our own works are nothing but filthy rags in His sight (see Isaiah 64:6). To pray effectively as a family, we need to grasp the importance of the “fear of the Lord.” We don’t need to be “afraid” of God in a fearful sense of the word, but we need to realize how powerful and mighty He is.

Four Mission-Minded Family Prayer Projects

• Take a Prayer-Walk: As you walk around your neighborhood, take time to quietly praying for each neighbor, and seek God for ideas on how your family can be a light for Jesus.
• Make a Poster: Have your children make a “Ten Most Wanted” list or poster. Have them think of ten people who need Jesus. These can be relatives, neighbors, famous people, or the man who works at the convenience store. Use this list or poster to remind you to pray for these people to come to know the Lord.
• Use a Map: Put a small world map on your refrigerator, and use this area to display newsletters from missionaries you support, along with current international news updates. Pray regularly as a family, perhaps around the dinner table, for specific world needs and for people you know who need the Lord.
• Teach Your Kids about Prayer with Filthy Rags: The next time you come across an extremely dirty rag in your house, use it an opportunity to share an important lesson with your kids. We may think our own self-efforts help us earn “Brownie points” with God. But, to Him, our human works are as worthless as stinky rags. If we try to earn favor with God-instead of trusting in Jesus-it’s like collecting yucky rags. The more they pile up, the more they stink and mildew.

In prayer, each of us must come to God in an attitude of total surrender and humility, keeping our hearts clean and open before Him. Through the cleansing sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, every mom and dad, and boy and girl, can pray as a “righteous man” before God. Because of Christ’s forgiveness and righteousness, even your family can come before God with boldness and authority to effectively intercede on behalf of others.

Click here for more Mission-Minded Family articles about PRAYER.

 

This article by Ann Dunagan, is an excerpt from her newest book, The Mission-Minded Family – Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny (Authentic Media, 2008). It is also a featured article on The Christian Post’s “Better Parenting – Better Families” blog.

MEATY SIDE: A Timeless Passion for SOULS

It was over one hundred years ago, when a man earnestly poured out his heart to the Lord, in a prayer and a song, asking for more of God’s perspective and passion for the lost.

It’s really quite remarkable. Through one man, Herbert G. Tovey, and his prayers way-back in 1888, a fervency for the lost can actually penetrate into our thoughts and prayers TODAY (right now in 2010), to impact our focus.

Do you know how this can happen?
It’s because God’s perspective is timeless; and His passion is eternal.

Don’t you long for more of God’s eternal perspective about the Lord, and LIFE, and the lost . . . for more of God’s heart for people, and for more of His view of those who need His salvation? We need that eternal-God-perspective-for-souls to reach beyond our self-centerdness. We need God’s love to penetrate deeply into the hearts of others (both to people who need Jesus, and to Christians who need to share). The Lord wants people to know that He loves them and that He’s already provided for their salvation through His ultimate passion on the cross. The Lord cares so much. And we care too; but we we need to care more.

Hudson Taylor once said, “I feel I cannot go on living unless I do something for China.” Taylor knew that his life-purpose on earth reached far beyond his own desires. He was focused on eternity with God’s passion.

And that’s what we want.

A PASSION FOR SOULS

A missions poem and hymn – By Herbert G. Tovey, 1888

Give me a passion for souls, dear Lord,

A passion to save the lost;

O that Thy love were by all adored,

And welcomed at any cost.

Jesus I long, I long to be winning

Men who are lost, and constantly sinning;

O may this hour become of beginning

The story of pardon to tell . . .

How shall this passion for souls be mine?

Lord, make Thou the answer clear;

Help me to throw out the old life line

To those who are struggling near.

The Challenge: DAY 38 – God’s MISSION! #3

His LOVE

Welcome to DAY 38 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

Our focus today is God’s personal LOVE for us. To live joyfully as a mission-minded believers, we should not focus on merely “doing” mission-minded things for God; rather, our focus should be “knowing” God and growing deeper in our personal relationship with Him.

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources: Planet WORD Bible
• Today’s Mission Quote: “Lord, I give up all my plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life…” – Betty Scott Stam
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: SOUTH AMERICA,
• Memory Verse – Luke 10:20
• Today’s online video

MISSION to LWAKHAKHA!

August 2009 – Harvest Ministry conducted a city-wide missions outreach in LWAKHAHA, Uganda. This Uganda/Kenya border town has been rampant with prostitution and AIDS. People there have been desperately in need of Jesus. Jon Dunagan preached and ministered together with all of Harvest Ministry’s African N.E.T.S. ministers.

PLEASE PRAY!

Please be interceding with us for God’s Holy Spirit to be moving and stirring in the hearts of the people in Lwakhakha. We’re believing for many people to come face-to-face with the reality of God, and to be moved to repentance from their sin. May God be glorified in all that we do.

Specific prayer needs:

• Pray for the local pastors and Christian leaders as they are preparing for the outreach
• Pray for God’s provision for Jon’s airfare & traveling expenses to Uganda
• Pray for effective outreach advertising (flyers, word of mouth, and promotion)
• Pray for effective advance work (led by N.E.T.S. minister, Paul Kintu – coordinating prayer, ushers, follow-up – and Geoffry – coordinating local music and worship)
• Pray for safe transportation of the ministry equipment and team to Lwakhakha
• Pray for provision for food and lodging for the whole team throughout the outreach
• Pray for support and wisdom for the technician team, as they take care of details

Jon Dunagan will also be ministering at Harvest Ministry’s orphanage, and they look forward to the time together with our wonderful extended “family” on the island. Please be praying with us for this entire mission outreach, for all of these people, and for these needs!

The Challenge: DAY 15 – Prayer #5

Families who PRAY!

Welcome to DAY 15 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

Today’s video will challenge you to pray together as a family – real and honest before God – relying on His righteousness and grace, not your own works.

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resource: Brokenness, Surrender, Holiness
• Missionary Quote by Nancy Leigh DeMoss – of Revive our Hearts and Martin Luther
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AFRICA and joshuaproject.net
• Memory Verse: James 5:16, II Cor. 5:21, Isaiah 64:6
• Today’s 5 minute video

A question for feedback:What are your thoughts about praying together as a family? Has this been a challenge for you, or has it been easy? Have you found any keys – or answers – that could help or encourage other families to pray together?

COMING NEXT WEEK: The BEATITUDES – with a Mission-Minded Focus!

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