MEATY: It’s Harvest Time!

THE WHOLE ESTATE – A Classic Missions Challenge, by Oswald J. Smith:

“Here is an estate. The master tells his servants that he is leaving, but that he will be returning. And while he is gone, they are to bring the entire estate under cultivation . . . ”

Learn more about the mission vision of HARVEST MINISTRY
and this month’s Harvest Outreach to KAGADI, Uganda.

The Whole Estate

A Classic Missions Challenge
–By Oswald J. Smith, Missionary Evangelist

Here is an estate. The master tells his servants that he is leaving, but that he will be returning. And while he is gone, they are to bring the entire estate under cultivation.

They begin working around the house. They beautify the gardens and flowerbeds. Next year the weeds grow and again they go to work, keeping the lawns in perfect condition.

Presently one of them remembers his master’s orders. “I must go,” he explains. “Our master told us to bring the entire estate under cultivation.” And he prepares to leave. “But,” they cry, “we cannot spare you. See how fast the weeds grow. We need you here.” In spite of their protests, however, he leaves and begins working in a far corner of the estate.

Later on, two others remember their Lord’s orders and in spite of objections they too, go and cultivate another part of the estate.

At last their master returns. He is pleased as he looks at the flowerbeds and gardens and the lawns around his house. But before rewarding his servants, he decides to explore the rest of the estate and as he does so, his heart sinks for he sees nothing but wilderness and marsh, and he realizes that there has not even been an attempt to cultivate.

Finally he comes to the one man working all by himself in a distant part of the estate and he rewards him richly. He discovers the two in still another part and likewise rewards them. Then he returns to headquarters where his servants are waiting and expecting a reward, but his face indicates displeasure.

“Have we not been faithful?” they explain. “Look at these flowerbeds and gardens. Look at these lawns. Are they not beautiful? And have not we worked hard?”

“Yes,” he replies, “you have done your best. You have been faithful. You have labored diligently.”

“Well then,” they cry, “why are you disappointed? Are we not entitled to a reward?”

“There is one thing you have forgotten,” he replied. “You have forsaken my orders. I did not tell you to work the same gardens and lawns again and again, year after year. I told you to bring the entire estate under cultivation, to cultivate it, and when your companions insisted upon going and doing their part, you objected. No, there is no reward.”

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Matthew 9:37-38 NKJV

More verses about reaping God’s harvest of souls:

Proverbs 10:5
He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

John 4:35
Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

Luke 10:2
And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

SOURCE: Smith, Oswald J., A Passion for Souls, (Toronto, Ontario: People’s Church). Excerpted from an article found in The Harvest Call, by T.L. Osborn, (Tulsa, OK: The Voice of Faith, Inc. 1953), pp. 180-181. Used by permission of People’s Church and the family of Oswald J. Smith. Written email letter of permission for TMMC dated 2004.

Money & Missions

How we spend our money is a direct reflection of where our heart is focused.

How your family views money and possessions is intrinsically connected with how you view God’s priorities in life. As Christians, we should have the perspective that everything belongs to God: all of our time, all of our talents, all of our life decisions, and yes, all of our money.

I believe it’s important to teach our children about God’s principle of tithing (giving 10 percent of our income to Him), but even more importantly, we need to instill in our family that 100 percent of everything in our lives belongs to God. This principle is much easier caught—by our example—than taught by our words.

Even if your family never lives in a foreign country, you’re still called to be fulltime mission-minded followers, and to participate in expanding God’s kingdom—both locally, and throughout the world.

As Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary to China, often said,
“The Great Commission is not an option to consider,
but a command to obey.”

There are many ways your family could raise extra money to support international mission projects. Here is a list of activities commonly used by children’s churches, youth groups, and short-term mission teams.

The time will come, however, as your mission-commitment grows, when “occassional” fundraising efforts won’t be enough.

 A true mission-minded family simply needs to earn and save money, step out in faith and trust, and manage (or “steward”) those resources according to what’s most important . . . for God’s kingdom-purposes, and for eternity.

Easy Ideas to Rai$e Money for Missions

• Have your children decorate a special container, perhaps with a photo, and begin saving coins for a specific mission project.
• Make a “thermometer” to chart a specific family mission goal, and put it on your refrigerator.
• Have a yard sale with all proceeds going for a specific mission project.
• Have each family member offer to do work for relatives or friends (such as housecleaning, laundry, child care, or yard work) in exchange for people donating toward a special mission project.
• Collect newspapers for recycling.
• Recycle aluminum (and go around neighborhoods to get even more).
• Organize a car wash; rather than charging a set amount, receive donations.
• Make and sell something, like a craft project or a baked item.
• Receive mission donations for after-church lattes and espressos.
• Have a “multiply your talents” project. Give each family member a certain amount of money with the mission-minded purpose of using this money, along with his or her talents, abilities, and creativity, for a specified length of time (perhaps two weeks, or one month) to raise money for a specific mission project. A child could use the money to buy gas for a lawn mower, to buy lemonade to sell on the corner, or to buy ingredients for a neighborhood bake sale. At the end of the designated time have each family member return the original money, along with the surplus he or she raised, and give it toward the mission project.

Remember, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”

A great way to “earn money” for missions is simply to SAVE MONEY for MISSIONS. Instead of window-shopping through the malls, or overspending on too many Christmas gifts, stay away from the stores and be on-the-lookout for international mission needs and local benevolence projects.

Equipping Your Family for Harvest (mp3)

How does your family choose to “handle” October 31st?

In this month’s mission-minded family audio, Ann Dunagan teaches from a personal, historical, and biblical perspective. Your family will be encouraged to focus on what matters, as you remember the Lord and the lost.

“This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!”

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Harvest, Halloween, and Your Family

Equipping Your Family for Harvest (a mission-minded teaching)

FREE mp3 audio. (19 minutes) < < < click here
(link to Family Leadership Online – a media outreach of Harvest Ministry)

 

 

 

LOVING ORPHANS: God’s provision for BEDS!!!

For several years, we have been praying for this HUGE need for 700 BEDS at Harvest Ministry’s Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center in Mbarara, Uganda, East Africa.

God has provided and the beds have arrived. Hallelujah!

We are so thankful to the Lord for meeting this need and for every person who gave to help these precious orphan children. Our next need is for additional dormitory space.

Step-by-step we’re making progress. Oh, God is good!

Thank you for praying and partnering with us . . . as we’re LOVING ORPHANS.

A Glimpse of Josh & Anna’s Adventures in Asia!!!

Joshua & Anna Dunagan have only been married four months, yet they’ve already had many adventures of a lifetime: preaching in remote unreached villages, launching an orphan ministry  – “Aasha (Hope) Children’s Home,” ministering with wonderful national pastors in isolated churches, and experiencing the JOY of evangelism.

Here’s just a glimpse . . .

ABOVE: Josh & Anna with NETS Minister, Paul Sundersinghbabu & his wife Krishna, who worked very hard, and prayed even harder for this mission outreach to be so productive for God’s Kingdom. GOD BLESS YOU, Paul & Krishna!

 

BELOW: See the 10 children at Gospel Projects International new “Aasha (Hope) Children’s Home”

For more about Josh & Anna’s vision, see Gospel Projects International

The Challenge: DAY 30 – Giving to God! #5

GENEROSITY

Welcome to DAY 30 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

Giving to world missions can be an exciting adventure of faith. When God calls you to give, don’t be moved by fear. Instead, be moved by faith . . . and give with generosity!

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources:
  Daring to Live on the Edge – The Adventure of Faith and Finances – by Loren Cunningham, Friend Raising – Building a Missionary Support Team that Lasts, by Betty Barnett
• Today’s Mission Quote: “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” – Amy Carmichael
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA,
• Memory Verse: II Cor. 9:7
• Today’s 5-minute online video

The Challenge: DAY 29 – Giving to God! #4

HOSPITALITY

Welcome to DAY 29 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

Today’s challenge focuses on supporting and caring for Christian missionaries, specifically through mission-minded family hospitality – honoring international ministers and missionaries, and inviting them into your home. This act of love and support will be a blessing – both to the missionaries, and to your family!

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources:
  Serving as Senders – by Neal Pirolo
• Today’s Mission Quote:
  “Never pity missionaries. Envy them . . . ” – Robert C. Shannon
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA,
• Memory Verse: Romans 12:9-13
• Today’s 5-minute online video

The Challenge: DAY 28 – Giving to God! #3

CREATIVITY

Welcome to DAY 28 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

If your family has a desire to support world missions, God can give you creative ideas to raise extra money. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. Even something simple can make a huge impact!

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources:
  The Mission-Minded Child, The Mission-Minded Family
• Today’s Mission Quote: Hudson Taylor, Missionary to China
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA,
• Memory Verse: Matthew 6:33
• Today’s 5-minute online video

The Challenge: DAY 27 – Giving to God! #2

SACRIFICE

Welcome to DAY 27 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

As we consider our commitment to mission-minded giving, we’re going to look at the sacrifices of full-time foreign missionaries and Christian martyrs. Are you really obeying and following the Lord? If your family is called to support the Great Commission through your GIVING, then give with sacrifice!

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources:
  Foxes Book of Martyrs, Jesus Freaks
• Today’s Mission Quote: Jim Elliot
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA,
• Memory Verses: Luke 18:22-23
• Today’s 5-minute online video

The Challenge: DAY 26 – Giving to God! #1

STEWARDSHIP

Welcome to DAY 26 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

Today’s focus is giving to God, financial stewardship, and surrendering everything to Him! In your family, what do you value? Are you honoring the Lord with all of your possessions?

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources:
  Money, Possessions, & Eternity – By Randy Alcorn
• Today’s Mission Quote: Nate Saint (order a FREE copy of the book, Jungle Pilot, by MAF – Missionary Aviation Fellowship)
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: CENTRAL AMERICA – CARIBBEAN,
• Memory Verses: Prov. 3:9, John 18:36
• Today’s 5-minute online video

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