by Adebola | Jan 1, 2021 | President's Desk |
We grew up singing the song, “For this God is our God; forever and ever. He will be our guide from now even unto the end.” (Ps. 48:14) We have no doubt experienced the power of that song over the years. God has continued to prove Himself in our lives as we continue with that powerful declaration.
He kept us through the highs and lows of 2020 in spite of all the challenges because of His faithfulness to be our God and guide unto the end. He remembered us favorably, shielding us from being victims of the enemy’s ferocious attacks and establishing us as victors. All glory to Him indeed.
We are now in 2021. Hallelujah! We do not know what the New Year holds but we know the One who holds the year and the entire universe in the palm of His hand. He is the One that we have entrusted with our lives and know He is faithful to take us through with His gracious hand like He did for Ezra and the contingent of returnees from exile, to whom He assigned a great task that required a great backing – His Gracious Hand. The task ahead of us in 2021 may be great, as a ministry, as families and as individuals; but we should not fret because the gracious hand of our God is on us (Ezra 8:18). He will raise up the people who will join forces with us, favour us and be used by Him to establish us as victors in all ramifications of life.
Welcome to your season of God’s gracious hand.
by Adebola | Apr 16, 2020 | Completed Projects |
Water borehole construction for The Evangelical School of Neguani and Sama Community, Burkina Faso
Sama Community students say thank you to PHGMi …
by Adebola | Nov 2, 2019 | Past Events Archive |
Celebrating 10 years of partnership with indigenous missions and missionaries in Africa.
by Adebola | Oct 13, 2019 | President's Desk |
Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money… to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord by applying it to any other purpose? (John Wesley)
It was highlighted in the last edition that the three prongs of missions, namely; GOING, GROANING and GIVING are indispensable and inextricably symbiotic. It is not possible to sincerely engage in any of these without first having the burden to see a change in the present deteriorating conditions of missions and missionaries. The big challenge is; how sincerely burdened this generation of believers is for this all-important kingdom agenda.
Another reality that the Body of Christ needs to confront is the continuous systematic deprivation of missions and missionaries with requisite resources needed for sustainable missions reach.Nehemiah realized that the task ahead would be impossible without adequate support and sufficient access to material resources. He then requested for a letter from the king that would be given to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, “that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted the request. (Neh. 2:8)
The Godhead remains our perfect model of missions.He clearly demonstrates that there can be no missions without giving. Missions started with the giving of the only begotten Son of God who laid down His life willingly that we may not perish (John 3:16). It can only be sustained by giving in all its ramifications. That is,the sacrificial release and dispatch of human, financial and material resources to mission fields.
God created and owns every resource on earth in all of its fullness (Ps. 24:1) from which man makes wealth. The symboliccattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 50:11) are only a little fraction of it. In His sovereignty, He chooses to distribute them to men and women as He deems fit, believers and unbelievers alike (Matt. 5:45). You then wonder how on earth the unbeliever uses the same wealth to fight against Him like Saul of Tarsus or execute rebellious agenda in kind.
The thought being shared here is not about why God would do that. It is about why He gives believers the power to make wealth. Paul unfolded it in I Cor. 9:11 -12: “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us [missionaries in this case] will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” This is the purpose of the resources at the disposal of the believer! It is therefore not about ownership on our part, but stewardship of those resources for which we are accountable to the Owner – God.
Missions communities need decent water, educational facilities, health care assistance and church buildings. Missionaries need upkeep support, funding for children’s education and means of mobility to navigate the unbearable rural terrains and road network. These can only be met when believers give sincerely and sacrificially. Missions and missionaries need our support and not sabotage.
Unfortunately, it is not only the likes of Sanballat, Tobiah and the Arabs in the days of Nehemiah, but many Christian individuals, families, and church leaders, that are sabotaging God’s agenda in missions today. You are either supporting or sabotaging missions with your action or inaction. It is time to confront this reality. Where do you stand?
Pst. Isaiah Okanlawon
Isaiah.okanlawon@praiseofhisglory.ca
