My dear readers,

1. Biblical Principles in Missions

Missions outreach comes best from a heart "on fire" for the Lord, simply because "…the love of Christ constraineth us…" (2 Cor 5:14) and out of compelling necessity, "… woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel" (1 Cor 9:16), and with urgency, as repaying a gospel debt (Rom 1:14). The establishing of gospel missions, preaching stations, and churches, is like sowing: "… he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully" (2 Cor 9:6). We must be prepared to give liberally in God’s work.

In missions, we regard the infant church as a daughter, to be tenderly nurtured and supported until independence is achieved. This is our objective. At the same time, the Mother Church should instil in the Daughter Church the biblical principle of returning thanks to God in meaningful giving of tithes, love gifts, etc, so that "missions giving" may also become a blessing to the daughter, which in turn will repeat the "reproductive cycle."

2. Of Missions and Prayer

The Commission - The church of today lacks its focus on missions. All too often she attempts to fulfil the unbiblical role as a charity club doling out funds for the poor and needy or doubling up as a social organization, seeking to address the ever mounting social ills. The more biblical churches do better, through preaching the Word, fellowship and discipling. While these are commendable spiritual activities they still fall short of the primary goal given in the great commission (Matt 28:19-20), that of evangelism.

The Contrast - Sadly the church has lagged far behind fulfilling the role carved out for her. We witness the prophetic words of our Lord in Matthew 9:37 unfolding before our eyes, with an acute dearth of God’s labourers in an ever ripening harvest fields! The inertia of God’s people largely accounts for the lamentable state of affairs. Too many prefer to stay in the comfort of their own locality, within the hearing of the church bell. It is convenient for us to be oblivious to the contrast between our home ground and that of the dark heathen lands.

On home ground we have ready access to Bibles, with churches abounding and the gospel of Jesus Christ given free rein. The same is not true in some dark heathen land, where the Bible is spat upon and scarcely available, churches driven underground and gospel rally a taboo.

Such a contrast must provoke us to question the apparent inequality of gospel opportunities. Why are some allowed to hear the gospel twice, when others have not even heard it once? Is this not enough reason to constrain us to bring the gospel to the doorsteps of those who genuinely hunger and thirst after righteousness?

The Call for accelerated missions –How shall these people believe in Him of whom they have not heard unless a missionary preacher is sent to them? Souls are perishing and many are within the clutches of a Christless eternity. The gravity of the situation calls for accelerated missions.

In emphasizing its urgency, CT Studd is quoted to have said that he would rather run his rescue station within a yard of hell than to live within the hearing of the Church’s bell.

Calling unto the Lord - In spite of these provoking truths, many Christians still prefer to be grounded. Perhaps some are genuinely unable to go; then the least we can do is to uphold in prayer those who, unheard and unsung, are working feverishly at a number of these rescue stations, within a yard of hell.

Our intercession before the throne of grace is not in vain. It is not just a pious act whereby the mind is exercised. This confidence we have in prayer leads us to call on Him.

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not" (Jer 33:3).

Confidence in Him – Just on that promise we can rest our case because He is faithful that promised and also He is able that promised. Do we need to doubt? Has God not the power to deliver? Is the Lord’s hand shortened that it cannot save or His ear heavy that it cannot hear the cries of His people? I believe not.

Cries for succor –When we pledged to pray for our missionaries, we were inundated with prayer requests from throughout the four corners of the globe. Their afflictions were many. Their needs great. Their cries impassioned.

The charge to pray – But we have an omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent God, who is able to succor them that are tempted and make all grace abound toward them. His ears are open unto their cries. Many are their afflictions but He delivers them from them all and He supplies all their need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19).

Our God is not without resources. He will succor the heaven and the earth and ferret very nook and cranny to feed His people. He will recruit every angelic being to deliver them and will invent new ways to make smooth the rough ways they encounter, so that all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

It is our belief that our rescue missions workers having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. Meanwhile, all He asks of us is to call on Him. We may bargain with Him but He cannot ask less of us.

Pray then valiantly on, prayer warriors, that the Word of the Lord may have free course. As long as the Lord tarries, we must not be weary in well doing. We must speed the gospel to the dark heathen lands, near and far, before the age of conflict closes in on us. If we cannot go, then we must pray. Amen.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor