CPC’s Haiti missions team arrived back in Chattanooga last Friday afternoon worn but well. In the almost twenty years that I have been going to Haiti, this most recent trip may have been the best. Clearly, the Lord had gone before us and ordered our way. From early financial support, to team composition, to safe travel, to good health, to wonderful ministry opportunities, to the deepening of old friendships, to eye-opening and life-changing experiences . . . the Lord blessed abundantly!
Please join us in the Sunday evening service on November 23 for a full report. If you’d like a preview, check out HAFF missionary Connie Curilla’s blog site at www.connieinhaiti.blogspot.com for pictures and comments about our team’s work.
Speaking of missions, here’s another plug for our annual missions conference coming up this weekend. Join us Friday night for the international dinner which kicks off the conference. Bring an “international” dish to share, and please arrive early so that we can begin promptly at 6:30 PM. Around 7:15 PM the evening program begins in Schum Fellowship Hall. Children, age 3 through fifth grade, will be dismissed for the “far destinations” program in the Perseverer’s classroom at that time as well.
One more thing with regard to missions . . . get involved. There are many ways and this list is certainly not exhaustive:
(1) Pray. Pray that God would continue to build His church, that He would be pleased to save multitudes from every tribe, and every tongue and every nation. Pray that He would raise up laborers to go into those fields that are ready for harvest. Pray that God would encourage and strengthen all who labor for the cause of Christ domestically and internationally.
(2) Get informed. Use Operation Worldas a day-by-day guide to praying intelligently for the world. The children’s and family-friendly version is Window on the World . . . a great resource for family devotions. Both books are available at Amazon. Use CPC’s Prayer Calendar (available at the Welcome Center in the church lobby) to pray for all CPC’s ministries and missionaries.
(3) Serve. There are many ways you can serve the cause of missions in this local church. Help with the missions conference, host visiting missionaries, serve on the missions committee, communicate encouragement and support to our missionaries.
(4) Contribute. I’m reminded of that stanza from the great missions hymn, O Zion, Haste, Thy Mission High Fulfilling, which says, “give of your sons to bear the message glorious; give of your wealth to speed them on their way; pour out your soul for them in prayer victorious; and all your spending Jesus will repay.”
Give your time, your talent, your treasures. We also collect old cell phones, used stamps and unused hotel/motel soaps and lotions — all used to promote and further missions.
(5) Participate. Consider going on one of CPC’s regularly sponsored short-term missions trips. There are few things that will aid one’s understanding of missions, and prompt you to pray more diligently for missions, and stretch you in new and unusual ways than participating in a short-term cross-cultural, out-of-your comfort zone, mission trip.
In every way that God may be pleased to do so, may He help us all to further His Kingdom in this world.
Pastor Mullinax