Four years ago, the Lord opened a door for me to serve as a trustee from Oklahoma for the International Mission Board (IMB).
Right now, our cooperative efforts are deploying more than 3,600 full-time, fully-supported, fully-prepared, Gospel-focused leaders all over the world. I am proud of our continued support of the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon giving.
Oklahoma Baptists must remain faithful to generously give, helping our mission work thrive. At the same time, we must all consider the open doors around the world. Right now, we have mission jobs that remain unfilled. Would you stop reading this article and ask the Lord if you are called to fill one of the international spots currently open around the world?
Serving with our incredible leaders from the IMB has brought both conviction and direction to my heart. First, God has convicted me about the lack of prayer for missionaries in my life and our church.
I repented of this, and now our church has an hour of prayer every week centering on our call to missions “HERE, THERE, and EVERYWHERE.” As we have prayed, God has been faithful to open our eyes to “THE MISSION LIFE” right here in the great state of Oklahoma.
You realize that all of us have a call to the mission field. All of us have been given a “spiritual harvest field.” The question we need to ask the Lord is not IF we are called to the MISSION LIFE. The question is “WHERE are we called to MISSION LIFE?”
In Matt. 9:35-38, Jesus very passionately helped His disciples open their eyes to “THE MISSION LIFE.” Jesus started by pointing to the crowds all around them. So often, we struggle to see what Jesus sees. So often, we struggle to notice the crowds. Notice the crowd that surrounds you. Also, notice how Jesus moved His disciples to both see and act.
The Son of God articulately said in Matt. 9:37-38, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field.”
I can only imagine the prayer time that followed that request from Jesus. I would have loved to have heard what came out of the disciples’ heart and mouths as they voiced prayers for the workers that would one day get to work spreading the news about Christ.
Right now, pick up your phone. Don’t open it but take a moment to gaze into your unopened screen. If you look closely at that screen, you will see the reflection of one of those “prayed for harvest field workers.”
That’s right, you are the answer to the prayer time we read about in Matthew 9. For more than 2,000 years, the Master of this entire place has strategically prepared a “harvest field” for His people to work.
If you sense a call to the nations, reach out to your pastor, reach out to me at Owasso, First, or call the office of Oklahoma Baptists. A pathway is open right now for you to live “THE MISSION LIFE.” All of us have a mission field right here, right now. You have a “MISSION LIFE” to live in your family, your circle of friends, your job, your EVERYDAY.
My friends, for more than 2,000 years, Jesus has been telling us that it is “HARVEST TIME.” Take a moment and read the Prov. 10:5, warning while you consider the calling God has placed on your life.
As I pray through the responsibility and opportunity to serve as the pastor of Owasso, First and as the president of Oklahoma Baptists, let’s join together embracing this #gospeladventure by living “THE MISSION LIFE.”
Let’s get to work!
