International Ministries

What is an International Ministry?

What is an International Ministry anyway? It could mean a lot of things, but for Assemblies of God World Missions it has a specific meaning related to how we serve our missionaries, nationals and those who need the Lord. 

A military person once told me that it takes about eleven services to fully equip a soldier for active duty. If you can visualize a fully dressed sergeant on the front lines of battle, think about all the gear he would have—the boots and uniform, the helmet, the belt with all the bullets, grenades, the water canteen, flashlight, utility instrument, GPS, communications piece and the gun. Well, I’ve probably missed some, but that gives an idea of all that goes into making sure that this person has all that he or she needs to be effective on the front line of battle.

I think this analogy fits well for the services offered by the International Ministries of AGWM. HealthCare Ministries, the Center for Ministry to Muslims, Life Publishers, Global Teen Challenge, Global University, International Media Ministries, Royal Rangers International, and Network211 are examples of these ministries. Other more specialized ministries are Global AIDS Partnership, Pediatric Rehabilitation for Children with Disabilities, Collegians in Third Culture Transitions, Sustainable Community Development, and partner ministries like Convoy of Hope and OneHope.

All of these ministries offer to come alongside our missionaries, national churches and nationals to equip them where they may need assistance—compassion ministries outreach, evangelism through media or Internet, discipleship training, theological training, drug rehabilitation, campus ministries, children’s ministries and training to equip the church to reach the Muslim world.

None of us possess all the tools, gifts and talents needed to touch the world for Christ and to minister with complete effectiveness. With International Ministries being ready to assist, we don’t have to do it all on our own. As a team, putting hands and hearts together, the world can more effectively be won for Christ.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Giving up my small ambitions

I sat and watched young people streaming to the altar during the recent World Mission’s Summit* in Cincinnati, committing to give a year of their lives to missions, and I couldn’t keep the tears from flowing down my cheeks. Funny how, after all these years of being a missionary, I am always moved to tears when I see someone respond just as I did so many years ago…. “Yes, Lord! I’ll go. I’ll give up my own ambitions and lay everything on the altar to follow You.”   

That’s what I thought I was saying, anyway—but, really, what does that mean? Laying down my ambitions? When I answer that question now, my one and only ambition is to be what He wants me to be.   

I am single and, yes, the idea of a husband might have been an ambition… but would it have been a profitable one if it were “my ambition” and not His? I might have preferred to be a city girl and not live those many years in the jungles of northeast Congo, but the irony is that I thrived there; I learned so much that I never could have if I’d not been out of my comfort zone.   

Laying it all down isn’t sacrifice; it is, in fact, gain.  It is the only secure place to be.  It is where joy and fulfillment are found.  I am so glad that I followed my Lord and His plan rather than taking some self-idealized journey that never could have perfectly suited for me. How well He knows me! 

While in Cincinnati I looked at those young lives, so full of energy and passion, with so many dreams and so much potential… and all I could say was, “Thank you Jesus!”  Just as He knew what I needed for my life and had a roadmap laid out in front of me, the Psalmist say He began that for each of them while they were still in the womb.   

Wow. Over 800 young lives ready to impact the world for the Kingdom…and I say, “Look out, lost world…. Here they come! The darkness and demons should be trembling!”

*Check it out: http://worldmissions.ag.org/details3.cfm     http://theworldmissionssummit.ag.org/media.cfm 

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Christmas…for those who have not heard

I was sitting at a traffic light the other night, admiring the Christmas decorations on the old court house in our town, and I thought of the far-reaching effects Christ’s birth and resurrection on my life–spiritually, emotionally, physically, politically, and socially.  I remembered witnessing God’s amazing impact on a life while recently teaching in the war-torn Republic of Congo; there I saw that, through the pain, heartache and struggle of all of these horrible years, the believers’ faith and hope in God sustains and strengthens them, and His joy is evident in their lives.

Reflecting on the love, grace and strength that knowing Christ can bring, I have to wonder what insights, creativity, and Holy Spirit-led direction we will possess in the coming year,  allowing us to reach those who have never even heard the name of Jesus. Knowing what I do about His amazing ability to affect every aspect of my life, I really want that for “everyone… everywhere.”

With over 3 billion who have not yet received an adequate witness of the Gospel, it will take some wide-open thinking, Spirit-led strategies and pioneer volunteers who are willing to lay it all down.

I believe the year ahead will be the most exciting yet as God takes us to a new level in reaching the world for Him, seeing His far-reaching impact on more men, women and children.  Hey, if you want to be a part, give us a call! 

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »