Missions Archives - Ethnos360 Bible Institute Where Bible Education and Missions are One Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:52:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://e360bible.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-Ethnos360-Original-Full-Globe-Only-32x32.png Missions Archives - Ethnos360 Bible Institute 32 32 The Need for Workers in Africa: Bring Light to their Darkness https://e360bible.org/blog/the-need-for-workers-in-africa-bring-light-to-their-darkness/ Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:52:27 +0000 https://e360bible.org/?p=13117

A Slower-paced Life

A few years back I had the privilege of living with a family working in Africa. I spent six months teaching their children so they could focus more on learning the language. We lived in a small village where dirt roads connected clusters of houses. Where the electricity often went out. Where the cutest baby goats ran free through the village. I loved it. I appreciated things about the village and its culture that differed from America. They live a slower-paced and more community-focused life. Most of them don’t have cars so they’re not zipping around like us Americans. They walk everywhere they go and stop to visit neighbors along the way. Even though neighbors live in homes with dirt floors and barely have enough food for themselves they’re so hospitable. If they’re eating, they offer some of their food or if it’s mid-afternoon they may offer tea. The whole community celebrates weddings and births joyfully. The extrovert in me was thriving there and the simplicity of life was something I found I had been craving. But as I spent more time there, I got to know another layer of their daily life. I saw the darkness they lived in because of their spirit worship. I saw the fear that held them captive and their need for the gospel.

Fear and Darkness

Fear and darkness are normal parts of their existence. The religion in the village was a mix of Islam and animism. Many people groups mix animism with other religions such as Hinduism or Catholicism. Missions magazine says, “Practically all indigenous cultures found within the 54 countries on the continent of Africa are based on animism or animistic belief of some kind.” This is why the need for workers in Africa is so high.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary defines animism as, “The belief that inanimate objects, plants, and animals all possess souls.” Practically, this affected daily life in many ways. There was a tree in the village that they couldn’t eat fruit from or touch because an evil spirit inhabited it. One of my friends is terrified of chameleons because of the spirits in them and what they could do. As I walked through the village, I saw little houses built for spirits. They would try to manipulate the spirits to get things they wanted or protection. If someone got a common sickness such as a cold, it was said to be because they had made the spirits angry. If a woman struggled with infertility people prayed to the spirits. In one case there was a woman who was able to get pregnant that was accredited to some spiritual guy in a red hairy costume who would walk around the village swinging a machete and shrieking. It felt as though the people in the village walked around on tiptoes afraid that they may break some unspoken rule. They feared they could have hardship come upon them as a result. The idea of making the spirits angry scared them. This feeds into why there’s a need for workers there.

The Gospel Brings Light

The gospel brings light into dark places. It replaces fear with trust. Unlike the spirits my village friends feared, our God is loving. He’s not waiting for us to trip up so He can bring hardship on us. He knew we’d trip up. He knew we’d sin. That’s why before we were even born, He created a rescue plan. He knew we couldn’t save ourselves. He sent Jesus Christ, His son, to take our punishment once and for all. We don’t have to live afraid that we’re going to step across some line and not be allowed into heaven or have to earn our way back in. That’s the beauty of the gospel. It’s not about us and our performance. It’s about Christ and what He already accomplished. This is the truth that I so badly want my village friends to know. This is why there’s a need for workers in Africa and everywhere else where people are held captive by fear. The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible says, “Jesus Christ, by his atoning death, resurrection, and heavenly intercession for believers, is the unique liberator from fear.” Even in the Old Testament, we see this. Psalm 112:7 says,

“He will not be afraid of evil tidings;

His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

Just like the village people we were once in darkness (see Ephesians 5:8). The Bible Knowledge Commentary says of the Ephesians, “They have been rescued out of darkness (Col. 1:13). Now, being ‘in the Lord,’ who is the Light (John 8:12), they too are lights.” It also says, “The light in believers’ lives is the knowledge of God’s salvation, a glory issuing from and seen in the face of Christ and reflected by Paul (cf. 3:18).”

Interested in being part of this work that needs to be done?

Being someone who knows the gospel and has experienced it you have the greatest light in you. How will you spread light in the darkness?  In some places, like this village in Africa, the darkness and fear are clearer. This village I talked about is one of many waiting to hear the gospel. There’s work to be done in your own neighborhood as well. Unbelievers in America can look like they have good and successful lives, but without Christ, they’re still in darkness. As children of light, we’re called to be light in a dark world. What role do you play in that? Is it joining in a work overseas, witnessing to your coworkers, raising your children to love the Lord, or something else?

Whatever your role may be, or even if you don’t know where you fit in yet, Ethnos360 Bible Institute can give you the Biblical foundation you need. The two years of in-depth Bible training can better equip you to share God’s word wherever you are. If you do choose to go overseas, our program is the first phase of Ethnos360’s training. Click below to request a free information packet.

]]> Ethnos360 Bible Institute What Is The Purpose Of The Church? https://e360bible.org/blog/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-church/ Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:50:44 +0000 https://e360bible.org/?p=12785

What Is The Church?

The term church comes from the Greek word, ekklesia. Ekklesia in a literal sense means, “A called-out assembly.” The Church is made up of a body of believers in Jesus Christ. Lewis Sperry Chafer writes, “The deeper spiritual use of the word church refers to a company of saved people who are by their salvation called out from the world into living, organic union with Christ to form His mystical body over which He is the Head (Chafer, p. 127).” The church has nothing to do with what kind of building people meet in, however; it has everything to do with the assembly of people and Christ in whom they have placed their Faith (Romans 16:5).

Why does the Church exist?

As believers, we want to be a part of a church that seeks the glory of God and follows after His Word. A good church must be faithful to God`s Word. A good church is focused on Christ as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2), teaches Scripture faithfully, confronts sin and error, and eagerly awaits His return. There are three major functions or purposes of the church. The church is to bring glory to God, to train believers in understanding God`s Word, and to fulfill the Great Commission.

The Purpose Of The Church: Glorifying God

God`s has a primary purpose in history and that is to bring glory to Himself. (Eph. 1:6;12;14). He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and His majesty transcends anything that our finite minds could ever imagine. He alone is worthy of ALL praise, honor, and glory. The Church exists to bring glory to God by staying true to His Word. What could this practically look like? It could look like worshipping Him in song and speech, serving one another by acts of kindness, or standing up for what is true, etc.

Ephesians 3:21: “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

The Purpose Of The Church: Faithful In Teaching Scripture

Believers, hear this, do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). Do not let anyone tell you that church is unimportant or that it is “not essential.” A good church is vital to a believer’s walk and growth in their relationship with the Lord. God communicates with us through His Word. The world system is full of unbiblical ideologies and worldviews that go against what God says is true and right (Ephesians 6:12). We combat those satanic views by knowing and using God`s Word correctly in the face of evil (Matthew 4:1-11). We go to church to be equipped to go out into the world, live according to God`s word, and tell others about who God is along the way (Psalm 119:105; John 17:17; Isaiah 40:8; Col. 3:16; 1 Peter 2:2; Ephesians 6:17). Church is where believers grow, it`s where they have accountability, and it`s where they have fellowship with their brothers and sisters in Christ.

“To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:11-16

The Purpose Of The Church: Fulfilling The Great Commission

Jesus gave His followers a commandment in Matthew 28 to go unto all nations and make disciples. God`s desire is for people to know Him (Luke 19:10; 2 Peter 3:9)! He is our supreme authority, and He gave us the responsibility of sharing the Gospel with those who do not know Him. Christ is the Son of God and the head of the church. He has paid a great price for us, and we belong to Him. We should be faithful to follow Him and His command as we watch and wait for His return (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

The Purpose Of The Church: Reaching The Nations

Here at Ethnos360, we desire for people from all over the world to know Jesus as their Savior. We want to see a thriving church for every people! Take time to prayerfully consider coming to Ethnos360 Bible Institute where you learn about God`s plan and see His heartbeat for the Nations. Request your free information packet today!

Sources:

https://www.spiritandtruth.org/teaching/Ecclesiology_by_Andy_Woods/018_The_Purpose_of_the_Church_1/20180401_018_ecclesiology_transcript.html?x=x

https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-the-church.html

https://youtu.be/HblDVFgkrsw?si=0ptTirkLdgg3hZBk

Systematic Theology: Vol. VII Doctrinal Summarization by Lewis Sperry Chafer. P. 127.

]]> Ethnos360 Bible Institute How To Become A Missionary https://e360bible.org/blog/how-to-become-a-missionary/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 01:22:01 +0000 https://e360bible.org/?p=12661

How To Become A Missionary? A Firm Foundation

Are you a believer who has a desire to learn more about missions? Many questions arise for someone who is looking to be a missionary, but we can and should rely on God`s word to give us the answers to many of the questions we face.

Questions such as:

  1. “How do I become a Missionary?”
  2. “What does life on the mission field look like?”
  3. “In what capacity can I serve?”
  4. “What are some needs that could be met through the skillsets that the Lord has given me?”
  5. “Where do I start when it comes to being involved in missions?”
  6. “What does it mean to be a missionary?”
  7. “What is the Mission of the Church?”

 

  1. The mission of the church is to bring glory to God (“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:11-14).
  2. The mission of the Church is to make disciples. (“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20).

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells a parable of the man who builds his house on a rock and compares him to a man who builds his house on the sand. The house built on the rock withstood the storm whereas the house built on the sand collapsed. Which man would you want to be?

“And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:26-27

Jesus said that the man who built his house on the rock was wise and the man who built his house on the sand He called foolish. Jesus was making the point that the only lasting foundation for life is adhering to His word and abiding in Him.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

Adhering to God`s word will give you a solid foundation that will withstand the storms and trials of life. God has given us His word as a guide, and we can respond to any situation that arises because we have His promises to stand upon. 1 Corinthians 3:11 says, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

How To Become A Missionary? Studying And Understanding God`s Word Is A Crucial Step

A deep understanding of God`s Word is crucial in a life of ministry. Although the Lord can use a university degree or training in a specific trade… that`s not the most important aspect of ministry, the foundation of ministry is your relationship with the Lord through an understanding of His word.

Picture this: You receive a letter from someone who loves and cares for you more than anyone in the world… do you pick a piece of the letter and throw the rest of the letter out or do you read it all the way through? Most would choose to carefully read all of it with the intent to understand it well. Our Creator wants us to know Him, so He wrote a letter to us. We should never neglect to study God`s word from start to finish so that we can understand the big picture. The Bible is God`s love letter to us and He intended for us to read it from beginning to end. As we read Scripture and journey through the biblical narrative, we begin to understand God`s mission and are better equipped to become a part of it.

The first step to becoming a missionary is to know God`s word which holds the key to eternal life. Throughout Scripture, we see that God reveals who He is. His goodness and faithfulness are very evident as well as His other characteristics. His Word is true, and we can trust Him over our feelings. It makes sense that we want to deeply know God`s love letter to us before going and telling others about who God is. Walking with the Lord is important when it comes to ministry. Christ and His word are essential when it comes to a life of ministry and missions. From start to finish, God`s word reveals who He is and how we can trust Him and His perfect plan. As we study God`s word and watch His story unfold, we have a better understanding of what God`s mission is and how we best fit into His plan.

John 6:66-69 “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God”

Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Isaiah 40:8: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Psalm 119:130, “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”

Psalm 18:30, “This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”

Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and Earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.”

 

How To Become a Missionary: Filled with the Knowledge of the Glory of the Lord!

Scripture tells us, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14. The Lord desires to have a relationship with people and He wants us to tell others about how great He is! It`s truly a joy and a privilege that the Lord has asked us to join Him in making His name known among the nations!

Next Steps: Come To Ethnos360 Bible Institute!

At Ethnos 360 Bible Institute, we desire to be a part of God`s plan to bring the Gospel to all people. The first step in training with Ethnos360 is two years of chronological Bible teaching. You won`t regret spending two years of your life going through Scripture deepening your relationship with the Lord and starting new relationships with other believers! At EBI, we value having a firm foundation in understanding the Bible and building solid relationships with those around us. Sign up for a Campus Visit weekend today and get a glimpse of what campus life is like!

]]> Ethnos360 Bible Institute Church History: Who Was John Huss? https://e360bible.org/blog/church-history-who-was-john-huss/ Sun, 26 Mar 2023 21:55:48 +0000 https://e360bible.org/?p=12190

John Huss And The Reformation Era

The Reformations that took place throughout the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries changed the course of history. God brought men to the forefront of the world stage to proclaim the truth with boldness and sincerity. Many times, the courage displayed by the reformers cost them their lives. When any church moves away from God`s word as its primary authority, it leads them down a road of certain destruction. The primary cause of the Reformations derives from a return to the authority of Scripture, with the theological groundwork laid by men like John Wycliffe and John Huss; it began even before Martin Luther stepped onto the scene in Germany. Wycliffe and Huss should be remembered because they made sacrifices for the sake of the truth. Many stories from history tell us of men and women who stood up for the authority of God`s Word. When one thinks of the Reformation period, many automatically turn their minds to Martin Luther. Although Luther played a crucial role in the Reformation, many came before him who held the same views when it came to the authority of the Bible.

Who Was John Huss?

John Huss is an important figure to recognize simply because he stood up for the authoritative word of God and fought against the heresies that were certainly evident within Catholicism. He was a Czech reformer in Bohemia.

John Huss: His Educational Background

When he reached the proper age, his mother enrolled him at the University in Prague. He received a Bachelor of Arts in 1393, a Bachelor of Theology in 1394, and a Master of Arts in 1396. Two years after he received his Master of Arts, he began giving lectures at the University and taught at the Church. Early on in his studies, he was an ardent believer in the Papacy and the Roman Catholic Church. (Wylie, p. 140) The Chapel of Bethlehem was established to lead a reforming movement intended to stand against the immorality of the laity and the clergy, and Huss was appointed to preach there in 1402 (Wylie, History of Protestantism, p. 140).

John Huss: His Encounter With Wycliffe

While he was preaching there, he engaged in a deeper study of Scripture. Huss encountered the works of John Wycliffe while in Bohemia. In 1383, Queen Anne of Bohemia married King Richard II of England (Shelly, p. 240). Wycliffe`s writings were brought over by the two nations’ union ten years after Huss’s birth. “By this time he had become acquainted with the theological works of Wycliffe, which he earnestly studied, and learned to admire the piety of their author, and to be not wholly opposed to the scheme of reform he had promulgated.” (Wylie, p. 141). Huss became one of the most famous preachers in Prague after preaching at the Chapel of Bethlehem. William Durant writes about Huss saying, “Many figures high in the court were among his listeners, and Queen Sophia made him her chaplain (Durant, History of Civilization, 162). In 1404, Huss had Wycliffe`s writings in Prague (Wylie, History of Protestantism, p. 142). He saw that Wycliffe had denied the hierarchical authority of the church and advocated simply teaching from the word of God. Huss had reached the point where he realized that the Bible should be recognized as the supreme authority, even over the papacy. When he came to that realization, and whether he liked it or not, he was at war with one of the most powerful institutions of the Medieval era. Huss continued to study Wycliffe and his writings even after the administrative clergy of the cathedral had prohibited Wycliffe`s work from the University of Prague. The clergy, “Submitted to the university masters forty-five excerpts from the writings of Wycliffe, and asked should these doctrines be barred from the university (Durant, p. 162).” Most of the masters declared that the professors at the university should neither adhere to Wycliffe`s teachings nor defend them (Durant, p. 164). Huss and a few others disagreed with the verdict and went on teaching.

John Huss: His Complaints

Eventually, Huss was excommunicated by the Archbishop of Prague. Huss agitated the matter when he attacked the sale of indulgences. The Pope had issued a special indulgence to raise funds for his quest against the region of Naples. Huss adamantly condemned the action of the Pope; he called him out for selling indulgences to make money for his agenda. In 1409, after further use of Wycliffe`s works, Huss and his associates disregarded the archbishop`s commands. After the archbishop complained to the Pope, he issued an interdict upon the city of Prague. By order of the Pope, “The Archbishop of Prague ordered all writings of Wycliffe that could be found in Bohemia to be surrendered to him; 200 manuscripts were brought to him; he burned them in the courtyard of his palace.” (Durant, p. 164). When Huss was summoned to appear in the papal court by Pope John XXIII, Huss refused to appear at the court in Rome. During Huss`s period of exile in southern Bohemia, he further studied Wycliffe and wrote, On the Church (Shelley, p. 240). In his work, he asserted that “A pope, `through ignorance and love of money can make many mistakes, and that to rebel against an erring pope is to obey Christ.’” (Galli, p. 271) The Council of Constance was approaching quickly, and Huss would agree to appear; little did he know that he would soon face death for what he believed. Huss wanted a chance to present his views in front of the authorities. He “Had hopes of presenting his views to the assembled authorities, but upon his arrival, he found himself instead a victim of the Inquisition.” (Shelley, p. 240).

John Huss: His Last Breath

The way of the Inquisition was adopted from ancient Roman law and aimed to investigate cases of persons suspected of heresy (Holder, p. 205). Huss was arrested and ordered to renounce his faith or be burned as a heretic. Like Luther, Huss was even willing to conform to the teaching of the Church if they could only show him that there was a scriptural basis for their theology. He refused to recant and held fast to the teaching of Scripture. Later, he was imprisoned in Constance for eight months and during this period he wrote letters that speak to his steadfast faithfulness to the cause of Christ. On July 6, 1415, both Wycliffe and Huss were condemned at the cathedral of Constance. The council ordered that Huss`s writings be burned. Durant writes, “The council condemned both Wycliffe and Huss, ordered Huss`s writings be burned, and delivered him to the secular arm.” (Durant, p. 166).  Huss sang songs of praise as he was engulfed in the flames that took his life.

Electives Taught at Ethnos360 Bible Institute

Here at Ethnos 360 Bible Institute, we offer electives every semester in addition to two years of chronological Bible study. One of these electives is called, “The Rise and Fall of Denominations.” This course will take you through Church History. In just a few weeks, you will get a bird’s eye view of events such as the Reformation Era. This class includes stories of major historical figures like John Huss and Martin Luther. Sign up for a Campus Visit Weekend and request your free information packet today!

 

References:

Durant, Will. The Story of Civilization: The Reformation. Simon and Schuster.

Galli, Mark, and Ted Olsen. 131 Christians Everyone Should Know. Nashville, TN: Broadman &
Holman, 2000.

Holder, R. Ward. Crisis and Renewal: the Era of the Reformations. Louisville, KY: Westminster. John Knox Press, 2009.

Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2013.

Wylie, J. A. The History of Protestantism. Vol. 1, Pella, IA: Inheritance Publications, 2018.

]]> Ethnos360 Bible Institute Do I Have A Missions Calling? https://e360bible.org/blog/do-i-have-a-missions-calling/ Tue, 17 May 2022 15:38:00 +0000 https://e360bible.org/?p=11477 Often, when believers hear about someone devoting their life to missions, they associate it with a specific and special calling that God has placed on the missionary’s life. We look at their lives in comparison with ours and think things such as “they are called to do missions, I am not.” This is dangerous thinking that we, as believers, must be willing to allow the Lord to shift so that we may be compelled by His heart and desire for our lives.  

What if we are all called to, even commanded to, missions? How would this shape our living, our understanding of obedience? Can we allow this to change our perspective on purpose? If we cannot be the ones to physically go overseas, how can we live out this calling? Let us ponder these questions as we consider a mission calling.  

The Mandate For Missions

Scripture is full of God’s declared desire for all the nations to be reached with the message of salvation. The pinnacle of this desire is expressed in the Great Commission of Matthew 28. This Commission was not just for a select few, but for every person who has placed their trust in Christ. If we ever should question whether we have been called to spreading the Gospel among the nations, we may look to God’s heart expressed through this passage and know that we are to live in a way that mirrors His desire.  

Christ-followers are beckoned into a beautiful invitation from the Lord. We have been asked to join Him to share His glory and salvation among the nations. When we choose to ignore this invitation in our own lives, we miss a significant part of God’s heart and the relationship He desires to have with us. How remarkable is it, that the God of the universe has chosen to invite us into a relationship with Him that partners with him to see His plan fulfilled? If you are someone who has never considered your responsibility to missions, this should not be condemning, it should spur hope in you! There is infinitely more of God’s heart for us to learn, and by valuing missions we may grow in that learning. 

The Facets Of Missions

It would be naive to believe that every follower of Christ can go to the unreached to preach the Gospel among them. This is the goal of missions, yes. We live for the spread of the Gospel among every nation and language. But this is not the whole of missions. For missionaries to be sent and the Gospel to be spread, the Church needs people willing to step into distinct roles. For missions to be successful, there must be individuals willing to invest their finances into sending missionaries, their skills in supporting missionaries, their knowledge in mobilizing missionaries, and their prayers for upholding missionaries. As the body of Christ, we all have a part to play in building the church across the nations. Because of this, we can confidently say that we each have a mission calling placed on our lives. As William Carey famously says, “I will go down into the pit if you will hold the ropes.” As you evaluate the mission calling you have by being a follower of Christ, ask yourselves, “If I cannot go, how can I hold the ropes?” 

The Job We Have In Missions

The end of God’s grand narrative is that people from every nation and language both know and enjoy His glory. Therefore, this is the goal of missions. As those who have been called into a life on mission, we have been given the gift of sharing the gift we have freely received. This is our job, one that we can do with the utmost joy because it simply entails responding to the desires and love of the Lord. We cannot ignore the mandate to either go or to send. But the response to this mandate must overflow from a place of worship for the One who came to earth and bore our brokenness that we may have life in the Father, now and for eternity.  

We have all been called to God’s great mission and we will all be equipped by Him to respond. We have been created to live for the glory of God, and when we do, we will find ourselves experiencing deep joy and abundance. He has invited us in, allowing us to feel the weight of His commission and learn how we can partake in it. Draw near to the Lord and allow Him to lead you into a response that brings His salvation to the lost and His glory to the world! 

At Ethnos360 Bible Institute, we take time to learn about God’s mission and our role in it. Want to learn more about how you can be involved in reaching the nations? Request your free information packet today!

]]> Ethnos360 Bible Institute Let The World Rejoice: Prayers For The Nations https://e360bible.org/blog/let-the-world-rejoice-prayers-for-the-nations/ Wed, 27 Apr 2022 17:01:00 +0000 https://e360bible.org/?p=11474

As believers, we are faced daily with the questions of how we are to respond to a world hungry for redemption, reconciliation, and peace.  

We know that God’s deepest desire is for His glory to be known among every nation. He promises to work through the events unfolding before us to lead more people and nations to Him. As we live in Him, we know that He makes the desires of our hearts echo His and then calls us to respond out of those longings.  

Every person who is united with God through Christ and who has God’s Spirit dwelling within them lives for the spreading of His glory through every event of the world. Because this is the mission we are on, it should be a significant aspect of our prayers.  

How do we practice these prayers, making them a part of our daily communication with the Lord?  

Jesus graciously revealed specific ways we can pray throughout His ministry on earth. By His teaching, we can intentionally and effectively grow in our means of praying for the nations.  

Pray For Laborers Among The Nations

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.

Matthew 9.37-38

To reach the unreached, people need to be sent. We can pray each day for the Lord to raise up laborers in every nation who will go and share the Gospel. In addition to praying for laborers, we can pray for their ministry: for protection, reception, and the joy of living radically for Christ and His Kingdom! 

Pray For The Unreached Among The Nations

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Luke 15.4

Pray that the Lord would graciously work through the laborers to reach the unreached with His Word of salvation. Pray for entire communities to be transformed by the Gospel, and for a thriving church to be established everywhere it is not yet. Pray for individuals, families, communities, and nations to be reached and to receive. We have been commissioned to be the disciple-makers of every nation and the foundation of this is prayer. Daily, we should be going before the Lord to pray for those who have not yet heard of the salvation that He yearns for them to know.  

Pray For The Persecuted And Oppressed Among The Nations

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Matthew 5.10-12

We must be diligent in prayer for the poor and persecuted among the nations, asking for the Lord to draw them near to Him in their present circumstances. He is the God of all comfort, and we can pray earnestly for His comfort to strengthen and provide for those who need to be reached by it. Pray that through their suffering, they draw near to the Lord and can glorify Him, building up the church and reaching those around them as they witness the Lord strengthening and faithfully walking with every suffering individual! 

Pray For The Poor And Forgotten Among The Nations

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21.4

For those who are poor and forgotten, we can pray that they know God as the One who sees and provides for every need: both physical and spiritual. Pray for their tangible needs to be met in a way that points to the provision and sufficiency of the Lord. Pray that in the lack, their faith is strengthened, and they know the abundance which comes from Christ. Pray also that we may come alongside those who are poor and forgotten, humbly learning from what it means to depend not on our physical possessions but on Christ alone.  

Pray For God’s Glory To Be Spread Among The Nations

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 

Revelation 7.9-10

For this reason, we have been created. As children of God, living vessels of His Holy Spirit, we yearn for His glory to be known and enjoyed throughout all the earth. God has graciously given us a glimpse of the end when every nation knows His glory, and we should be diligent in prayer now for that to come to completion. Pray for His glory to be spread in every circumstance that the nations face, whether it arises out of tragic or triumphant events. Pray for the idols of the world to fall away as every nation comes to acknowledge God as the One worthy of all our praise and devotion. And pray that the believers within every nation will have boldness and desire to fearlessly make known the Gospel of salvation to those around them!  

We have been made for so much more than simply praying for the things that are a part of our lives. We have been invited into a beautiful, ever-present communication with the Creator and King of all the earth. We should be so compelled to learn His heart cries and echoes them in our prayers. There is so much joy that comes from partnering with God to daily pray for the nations He desires to draw to Him. Let us rejoice in and be moved by His invitation to us! 

At Ethnos360 Bible Institute, we desire to partner with God in reaching the nations for His glory. Want to learn more about how can be involved? Request your free information packet today!

]]> Ethnos360 Bible Institute Not Overlooked: How God Is Preparing You For Ministry When You Feel Left Behind https://e360bible.org/blog/not-overlooked-how-god-is-preparing-you-for-ministry-when-you-feel-left-behind/ Wed, 27 Apr 2022 16:08:00 +0000 https://e360bible.org/?p=11469 Young Eagle’s feathers have grown in, but he’s still in the nest. He watches his mother and father soar over trees, swooping low and high. He wants to vault into the sky, too. But he settles back into the nest. Someday. Then one day, Mother Eagle gouges the nest’s twigs with her beak and drops the broken pieces in the nest. She scratches and tears and the nest fills with debris. Young Eagle is crowded out, and he moves to the edge of the nest. Just what Mother Eagle intended.  

Young Eagle falls. 

And falls.  

Before the ground rushes up to meet him, Mother Eagle dives below Young Eagle, slows her descent, and he settles gently on her back. She rises up, up, not to the safety of the uncomfortable nest but deep into the uncompromising sky. She turns with her wing dipped low and drops Young Eagle.  

He falls.  

He beats the sky with his unwieldy wings. He harnesses the wind for a moment, but it’s quickly torn away. He falls. Mother Eagle’s sharp eyes watch him flap and stretch until the last moment. She catches him, and they rise together.  

She drops him.  

He falls.  

Until he doesn’t. 

He flies. 

As followers of Jesus, we can easily feel like the young eagle who is ready to serve God, but we haven’t been called out of the nest. We’re fully grown followers, having moved on from the early days of being fed with milk and now filled with the solid food of God’s Word (1 Corinthians 3:2). We’re raised and ready to fly. The time for being served has grown into the time to serve. We’re ready.  

And waiting.  

And waiting. 

Why isn’t God using me? 

Why is she moving from Bible school to the mission field while I’m still living at home? 

Why is he publishing his second book and I can’t come up with one good idea for an article? 

Why does he have hundreds of listeners for his ministry call and I can’t get 20 people to sign up for my email list? 

Why did God answer her prayers for a spouse and I’m still alone? 

Why is the Holy Spirit asking me to wait? Why is God saying, “not yet”? 

What does he/she/they have that I don’t? 

God’s Word answers us when we’re feeling overlooked and under-utilized.  

In Matthew 10:29 Jesus reassured a crowd that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from God’s knowledge. If God knows about the sparrow, then He sees you. You are not overlooked. Jesus advised His disciples to pray that God would send workers into His harvest because many souls needed God but there were few workers to tell people about His salvation. God wants workers (Luke 10:2). You are not underutilized. 

So why are you still waiting? Where is your work in the harvest? Let this truth assure you: 

Mother Eagle isn’t pushing Young Eagle aside; she’s preparing him to fly. 

God isn’t pushing you aside; He’s preparing you. 

Jesus, too, prepared His fledgling disciples for the great work of harvesting souls. He didn’t send out the disciples untested and untrained to preach after Jesus returned to heaven. Instead, He made them practice. All four gospels record the sending of either the twelve disciples or the seventy disciples. This was the disciples’ preparation phase.  

Suggested reading: Luke 10: 1-12 & 17-20; Matthew 10:1-15 

We can learn the same ministry preparation lessons that Jesus taught the disciples when He sent them out to preach and heal on the dusty roads of Israel. 

Here is what followers of Jesus, then and now, must learn before they’re ready to serve Jesus in a larger capacity: 

Be With Him So We Can Be Like Him

Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach…

Mark 3.14

Before we are sent out, we are called to be with Him, and learn His heart and His ways so we can become like Him. Before Jesus sent out the twelve or seventy disciples, they needed to follow Him from town to town, listen to His sermons, pick through His parables, observe how He treated sinners, or responded to desperate pleas for healing. Working for Him begins by being with Him.  

Our Job Is To Prepare Lost People To Recieve Their Savior

So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Luke 9.6

Jesus sent the disciples ahead of Him to the towns where He would preach. Prepare the way, He instructed. We, too, are sent to the lost sheep to prepare them to receive their Savior and Shepherd. The disciples’ tasks weren’t the point; Jesus was. Our specific ministry work isn’t the point, Jesus is. We could easily be distracted by the tasks Jesus assigns us: preaching, hosting dinner for neighbors, writing books, talking about God on podcasts or on a park bench, and raising children. Jesus asks us to lift our heads from the tasks and focus on Him and what He is doing to save the lost. Tasks are important only when they fulfill the one mission all servants of Christ share: prepare lost souls to receive Jesus. 

All Power, Talent, And Skill We Use For God Comes From God

He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

Luke 9.1

Our abilities come from Him and are for His service. Since they are gifts, we don’t work for them, and we shouldn’t be anxious about receiving or retaining them. He who calls you equips you. Our job is to be faithful to what God has called us to do at the moment. God will give us the words and the power to reach the lost and serve others as we need them. 

Our Gifts From God Point Others To God

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Matthew 10.8

Use the gifts you are given to serve others in a way that points them to God’s love. These gifts are a sign of His authority, commissioning, and presence. When we use God’s gifts to serve others, we draw attention to the source of those gifts. Power and miracles drew people to Jesus, but what they truly needed were healed souls more than healed bodies. We don’t need a sign from God or a special commission to use the gifts He’s given us. Opportunities abound in the most ordinary places. Use the evidence of His love to point the way to Jesus.  

God Provides For Us When We Are Serving Him, And We Learn To Trust Him In The Process

Provide neither gold not silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

Matthew 10.9-10

God provides for those He sends. Our trust in God emboldens our ministry and encourages unbelievers to trust Him, too. When the mother eagle let the young eagle fall, the young eagle probably wasn’t encouraged to trust her. Until she caught him. Until he learned to fly. Then he understood that in her desire to prepare him to fly, she allowed him to suffer fear just long enough to trust her. Long enough to learn to fly. God will ask us to do scary things in His service. Allowing God opportunities to build trust by providing for us during our training phase will build the wings of trust that help us fly with confidence when God increases our ministry opportunities. 

Our Job Is To Faithfully Obey God And Let God Be Responsible For The Results

And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

Matthew 10.14

We are not responsible for the results; God is. When our kindness is rejected, when the church membership dwindles, when they unsubscribe from the email list, when they no longer need our services, we naturally turn inward and wonder what we’ve done wrong. But the apostle Paul wrote that one plants, one waters, but God gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). If we believe that people are saved by our efforts, then we are giving ourselves far too much credit. Remain faithful and leave the increase to God. 

Focus On The Vine Before Rejoicing In The Fruit

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” … “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10.17-20

Focus on what matters most: Repentance, faith, and eternal life through a relationship with Jesus Christ. The visible fruits are not more important than the source of those fruits. Jesus’ miracles drew fanfare and followers far and wide. But when He died on a cross, defeating the power of sin forever, even His own disciples considered His ministry a failure. A rising church membership, a hundred new subscribers, a promotion, a thousand gospel tracts handed out. Fruits may be evidence of a thriving ministry. They are not, however, the vine. Those fruits, lovely and ripe, cannot survive without the source of life, and that is Christ. Don’t let fruit convince you that everything is going well, but don’t let a lack of fruit lead you to believe that God isn’t working. Focus on the cross – preaching it, writing it, loving it, serving it, living its message of salvation. 

When the disciples returned from preaching and healing and casting out demons, rejoicing in their success, they still weren’t ready to go out permanently and spread the gospel. The disciples still lacked one thing… 

The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ Must Transform Us Before We Can Carry The Message To The World. 

“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel” … “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Luke 24.21a & Acts 2.36

The message of the cross and the empty tomb is the message that transforms the world. After Jesus’ crucifixion, two discouraged disciples walked along the road to Emmaus. Jesus, disguised from the disciples’ eyes, approached. Why are you sad? To these disciples, the Man who fed thousands from a few loaves of bread and a handful of fish, who raised the dead, who walked on water, had failed. He had not overthrown the oppressive Roman government and returned sovereignty to a weary Israel. Jesus had failed. They would wait for someone else. But after Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to His followers, after He returned to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples, the disciples preached a single message: This Jesus who was crucified and rose again is Lord and Christ. The resurrection transformed the disciples. 

Before we are ready to serve God, the message of the cross that transforms the world must transform us, too. The disciples’ transformation from discouraged and downtrodden people to joyful and fearless evangelists is among the most convincing evidence that they had, indeed, seen the risen Christ. 

Our transformation from sin-sick slaves of death to forgiven, whole, and utterly changed followers of Jesus is our greatest evangelism tool. Let the changes Christ made in you show that world that you have, indeed, met the risen Christ. 

Now that Young Eagle can soar, he is ready to go forth into the sky. To build a nest of his own and to create new eagles like himself. To go forth into God’s harvest and make disciples in His name. Your time is coming. Until then, let Jesus teach you how to fly. 

At Ethnos360 Bible Institute, our heart is to equip followers of Christ for a life spent serving the Lord. Want more information on how you can be involved? Request your free information packet today!

]]> Ethnos360 Bible Institute The Living Word: Why Translating The Bible Is Essential To Christian Missions https://e360bible.org/blog/the-living-word-why-translating-the-bible-is-essential-to-christian-missions/ Wed, 09 Feb 2022 17:01:00 +0000 https://e360bible.org/?p=11453 There are over 500 hundred Bible translations today. As the American Church, we have access to these translations in an instant as even our phones can switch from one translation of the Word to another. With so much accessibility, it is easy to forget the wonder and necessity of having the written Word. We are blessed with an abundance of Biblical access, yet there are so many who are not.  

Imagine life without God’s Word. To be without it is to be without the knowledge and hope of His promises, the revelation of His character, and the truths which root us in Christ. The translation of Scripture into native languages is an essential aspect of Christian Missions. As the Church, we must be compelled to see this part of missions fulfilled. 

The Necessity Of Bible Translation

Translating the Bible is not just one part of Christian missions, it is vital to all Christian Missions. Romans 10.17 emphasizes this, as Paul says, “faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ.” To live out the Great Commission of “making disciples of every nation,” we must make it our aim to bring the Word to those who do not have it that they may grow in faith. Scripture translated is essential for people to understand the Word of Jesus which cultivates faith and brings salvation.  

Around 2,000 languages do not have one word of Scripture in their tongue. There is a great imbalance between the languages that have an abundance of translations and languages that have none. Because we have access to that which was translated for us hundreds of years ago, it is our responsibility to bring that to the people who do not yet know the Word of God.  

As we the church read and respond to the Great Commission of Matthew 28, we need to understand that a crucial aspect of “making disciples of every nation” is bringing Scripture to them in their tongue that they may read and understand every word and declaration of the Lord.  

When we read the Word, we are compelled into a heart of worship. This is the ultimate purpose of our existence, as we have been created to worship the Lord. Revelation 5:7 and 7:9 shows us that one day people from every tribe, tongue, and nation will stand before the throne and worship the Lord. We are invited into God’s plan to bring all peoples before Him in praise. To do this, we must bring the written Word, which compels us to Him, to all people in every language.  

How To Join The Mission Of Bible Translation

Not everyone can or desires to be the ones physically translating Scripture, yet everyone can play a part in seeing the Word translated in every tongue.  

Here are ways that you can respond to the need and mission.  

  1. Find cross-cultural missionaries to partner with in prayer and financial support. To go, missionaries need to be sent. There is so much significance in someone’s devotion to supporting missionaries that they are equipped to share the Gospel and bring the Word across the nations.  
  1. Pray for every tribe, tongue, and nation to receive the Word of God in their native language that they may know salvation. We are invited by the Lord to partner with Him in prayer. If the deepest desire of God is for all people to come to worship Him by knowing His Word, this should be our deepest desire. If this is our desire, we should aim to be in prayer for it to be fulfilled.  
  1. Read and Respond to Scripture. We have the gift of possessing the Word. Let us never take for granted our ability to know the Lord through Scripture in ever increasing ways. We may be filled with His Word so that we can go and share with the world.  
  1. Share the need. There is a great lack of knowledge about the need for Bible translation. Because Scripture is so easily accessible for us, we can fail to recognize that it is not that way for others. By sharing about this need we may be actively mobilizing others to respond! 

The Joy Of Bible Translation

To be able to bring the Word across the nations is an honor and joy! When people encounter the Word of God, their lives and hearts are transformed. If you are a follower of Christ, you have experienced and are experiencing this very thing through the Word coming into your heart and mind. Just as we have received Scripture, we must count it as an honor to share it. There is immense importance in people of every tongue knowing the Word in their language, and we have been given the gift of partnering with God to bring it. As we read, study, and hear the Word, let us consider how we can partake in sharing that which brings life to those who are longing for it.   

Ethnos360 Bible Institute is a college wholly devoted to teaching through Scripture with an emphasis on cross- cultural missions and bringing the Word to every language group. Want to learn more? Request your free information packet today!

]]> Ethnos360 Bible Institute What Is The Great Commission And Why Does It Matter? https://e360bible.org/blog/what-is-the-great-commission-and-why-does-it-matter/ Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:53:08 +0000 https://e360bible.org/?p=10458

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”

Matthew 28:18-20

From front to back, the Bible is filled with the evidence of God’s deepest desire: that He would be known and enjoyed by every nation and people. This is His end goal, and He has revealed it to us in every act of His grace and sovereignty. 

When Jesus spoke the commissioning words of Matthew 28:18-20 to His disciples, He spoke words of importance to those who heard them then, and to all of us who read them now. 

When the disciples heard these words from the mouth of Jesus, they understood something that we believers often fail to understand. The Great Commission was not, and is not, simply an invitation for Christians to participate in global missions. 

No, it is so much greater than that.  

The Great Commission Matters Because Of Who Gave It

The importance of making disciples for Jesus stands on the words “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”. 

Jesus, as God the Son, has existed for all eternity. John 1:1-4 tells us this when it says, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the Word was God. He was at the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

The Son had all authority from the beginning, but Jesus the Son of God as the man had not yet come and died for sinners. Satan’s rule had not yet been overcome by the cross. When Jesus Christ, the Son of God as the man was crucified and resurrected, He triumphed over Satan. After Jesus’s death and resurrection, God exalted Him as the redeemer, the risen-one, seated at the right hand of God. The authority of salvation has been placed into the hands of Jesus, who dwelt as a man to redeem the sins of the world. 

This authority given to Jesus is not partial, nor is it exclusive. All authority is given to Him, meaning all flesh and all affairs are subject to His sovereignty. The mission of the church, to make known the Gospel of salvation, is under the authority of Jesus. Every breath and act of humans are under the authority of Jesus. Even the sin of man is now under the redemptive authority of Jesus. 

So, when Jesus gave this Great Commission, we can know that He gave it with all power, enabling believers to live out the message of the Gospel in a way that is entirely subject to He who has made salvation possible. 

The mission cannot fail because the authority of Christ cannot fail. This is hope-spurning to every believer who participates in the Great Commission. We are invited to join in on doing the victorious work which only God can do: Making disciples for the One who holds all authority. 

The Great Commission Matters Because Of What Was Said

Jesus was not suggesting how believers could live. He was giving a command. The life of Jesus was an example of how to make disciples of every nation, and it was time for all those who had learned from Him to follow in His footsteps. 

We must look at these words and remember that Jesus was not simply commanding world-evangelism, but He was commanding that disciples be made. To make a disciple is to teach a Christian what their new identity in Christ means, and how they are to live in it. Jesus made disciples by years of teaching His followers how to live in Him. 

There are two parts to this, which Jesus tells believers to lead others into (1) public proclamation of faith, baptism, and (2) teaching the new believers all that He taught. 

This is for every nation, every tribe, every tongue, every individual. There is not one person whom the Lord does not want to be made known to, and there is no one place where a believer should not go and aim to make disciples. 

This is not something men can do on their own accord, which is why Jesus says: “I am with you always.” The Great Commission, the command for believers, is not left without a promise. What God has purposed will be accomplished, He will be “exalted among the nations” (Psalm 46). Because He is unfailing and His mission is unfailing, and because He promises to be with us as we live out His mission, why would we hold back in joining Him? 

The Great Commission Matters Because Of When It Was Given

The Great Commission is not only important because of its content. It is also important because of its timing in Biblical history. 

The entire narrative of Scripture is building to point to the coming Messiah. Jesus’s life is building to point to His death, burial, and resurrection. Over Jesus’ ministry, he talked about many things to teach believers about living a faithful life. 

Just as His messages before the resurrection are intentional, the focus of His message after the resurrection is intentional. Over his life, he had taught his followers how to be disciples, and now he is instructing them what to do as His disciples.

This is a pinnacle point in Biblical history, as Jesus commissions His disciples and all believers to take on His ministry on earth. By this, the church age had begun leading to the spreading of the Gospel to every nation. 

The Great Commission Matters Because Of How The Disciples Responded

When Jesus gave this commission, the disciples responded in ways that reflected the power behind His words.

The disciples knew Jesus. They had spent years following Him and partaking in His ministry. They watched as He lived out the heart of God. They were changed by His radical expressions of love and desire for people to come to know Him. They witnessed the devastation of His death and the victory of His resurrection. They knew Jesus. 

Because of the disciple’s relationship with Jesus, their response to this Great Commission was absolute obedience. He told them to go, and they went, living radically for this calling. 

Most of the disciples were persecuted and martyred for their response, yet this did not hinder the spread of the Gospel. 

The obedience of the disciples should be an example to all of us as we read the words they heard. Just as they knew Jesus, we know Jesus. Just as the disciples responded- taking on the Great Commission as their mission, as should we. 

Response

As we consider what the Great Commission is and why it matters, we must ask ourselves: does it matter if someone hears the Gospel in their lifetime? 

If the Gospel is how eternal salvation is received and we are given the call to share this salvation should the Great Commission matter to us? How should we respond? 

The hope for the lost individual, whether next door or in the most remote part of the earth is acceptance of the Gospel. Jesus entrusts the spreading of this hope to us. 

God’s ultimate plan is revealed in Revelation 7:9 which says, “After this, I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands“. 

One day, we will stand before God, praising His name with all of the nations. What a privilege it will be to know that each of us played a small role in hearing His name exalted in new languages, tribes, and people.

Are you interested in learning more about God’s commission for missions and how we are to respond? Request your free information packet here:

]]> Ethnos360 Bible Institute My Experience Growing Up on the Mission Field https://e360bible.org/blog/experience-growing-mission-field/ Wed, 31 Jan 2018 01:21:38 +0000 https://e360bible.org/?p=6700

Leaving your home to move somewhere new isn’t easy for anyone. But what about moving to a place where the people don’t speak the same language as you? Or what about moving to a place where the people live completely different lives than North America?

Moving to a foreign field comes with great challenges. Many potential missionaries wrestle with how their family will fare on the mission field, and more specifically, how their children will handle growing in a completely new culture.

As a missionary kid (MK) myself, I hope to shed some light on this particular topic from firsthand experience. I grew up in the mountains of the Philippines and spent the first fifteen years of my life in a remote village. As a result, I faced various trials that I wish to share with you.

My experiences certainly aren’t absolutes; the experience of other MKs will most likely differ from mine. But my experiences allowed me to see God’s work in my life amidst all the barriers that came as a result of growing up on the mission field.

 

Living with Cultural and Linguistic Barriers

One of the most important parts of childhood are the friendships you build and the relational skills you learn from them. For a missionary kid these friendships are different. There are barriers that put extra difficulty and strain upon these friendships. These barriers are called culture and language. As missionary kids are learning how to build friendships, they’re also learning a brand new language and culture in the process.

Despite being a full-blooded Filipino, I was brought up as an Australian, so my mother tongue is English. My way of thinking and worldview are polar opposite to those in the tribe whom I grew up with. Certain life necessities, like safety, esteem, and self-actualization, were difficult to access because of the difference in culture and language.

Something as simple as the concept of education showed the difference in our thought. I held to the classic Western child’s viewpoint that school was simply a hinderance, so I took my education for granted. However, to the tribal people whom I lived with, education was highly valued because not everyone was able to go to school.

Another barrier that I mentioned was language. Growing up in a tribal setting allowed me to pick up some of the language but I never became extremely fluent. This hindered my ability to connect with my peers on a deeper, more intimate level.

As I moved into adolescence, my soul began to crave relationships outside of my family that went deeper than the surface. I suffered greatly from this and even though I had some great friends and still do to this day, almost every day was filled with an overwhelming sense of loneliness.

I had a great desire to connect with someone my own age, who understood the way I thought and could comprehend my dreams. I wanted someone I could just simply talk to without struggling to express myself.

 

Living in a Dangerous Place

One of the greatest fears of potential missionaries is the aspect of danger on the field and what it would mean for their children. I grew up in what was known as “The Place with Most Blood Shed,” where the sound of gun shots was the norm and the death of people you knew happened regularly; the feeling of danger always loomed close by. As a result, I was regulated to stay within the confines of the mission complex. This had a massive impact on the way I related to others and presented an obstacle that I had to overcome as a missionary kid.

One day I was getting ready for school, and all of a sudden I heard multiple gun shots in the distance. This was the start of a clan war that lasted all day. I hid in a room downstairs which was situated a little below ground so no stray bullets could come my way. My parents were outside tending to people who were coming to our house for shelter and I just sat there with earplugs sheltering me from the sound; yet they didn’t stop me from feeling the vibration of the military grade weapons.

I remember the first few weeks back in Australia, my parents and I were sitting down for a meal when I heard multiple bangs. For a second, my heart stopped as a sense of danger kicked in as I thought I heard gunshots. They were merely fire crackers.

Being regulated to the confines of the mission compound gave me an overwhelming sense of loneliness. I couldn’t visit my friends, so my days were filled with school in my house. My parents were always there, but their work kept them busy. I had to keep my own company and learn to entertain myself. To this day, I often prefer to do things by myself and I close myself off to the world. It was only when we were in Australia a few years later that I began to truly relate to people and find a freedom to be vulnerable.

 

God Meeting Me in the Midst of the Challenges

Moving to the tribal village where I grew up brought many trials. However, I don’t regret my hardships; in fact I count them as blessings. Without these, I wouldn’t have such a close relationship with my mother. She filled that void and now I consider her not only a parent but also my closest friend.

When I stopped focusing on myself and began focusing on Jesus, I began to see what a privilege it was to grow up with these people in the Philippines, and to be able to show them His love and care for them. I grew to love them not just for what they could give me, but for who they were.
Even as I’ve experienced much loneliness, seen many dead bodies, and been in close proximity to violence, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I count it as a great blessing to be able to have lived on the front lines of missions and to have seen God work greatly! I’ve even witnessed many murderers come to know Christ as their Savior.

We have to put things in perspective. Underneath the facade of safety we have in North America, danger is just as close here as it is on the mission field. My parents have been on the field for almost thirty years now and, despite living in a very dangerous place, nothing has happened to them. God has protected them.

That’s not to say that God won’t allow things to happen to you. In fact, there are many instances where missionaries have been taken advantage of, robbed, and even martyred. However, we’ve got to see that in this world we live in, there is no place that is truly safe.

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

If you’re going to be in danger, then why not be in danger for furthering the reach of the Gospel and for saving people’s souls from an eternity of separation from God?

 

 

Interested in studying the whole Bible in two years? Get your free information packet from Ethnos360 Bible Institute (founded in 1955 as New Tribes Bible Institute) by following the button below.

 

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