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missions 101
by Larry Hampton
Visit www.randallhouse.com to find additional books and resources about the importance of personal involvement in International Missions. |
Carol Gritton wrote a somewhat confusing introduction to missions. "Mission-Harry? At least that’s what I thought the preacher was saying! I couldn’t help wondering why everyone was so concerned about ‘Harry’ and his mission! And just what was his mission anyway?” She added, “Although my word-interpretation as a child kept me from understanding the full meaning of the word missionary—I wonder if we wouldn’t be a little closer to the true meaning of missionary if we replaced Mission-‘Harry’s’ name with our own—Mission-Jason, Mission-Sarah, Mission-me!”
Perhaps no organization has contributed more to changing the emphasis from “Mission Harry” to Mission–me” than Sunday School. For generations, Sunday School has taught students the biblical basis of missions. Countless boys and girls have memorized the Great Commission in Sunday School. Men and women have been challenged by faithful teachers to take the gospel to those who have never heard it. CLEAR curriculum regularly includes mission lessons, stressing the missionary character of the entire Bible.
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Sunday School not only develops the case for missions but also gives students an opportunity to be involved in missions. Inviting the unchurched to attend your Sunday School is missions. Holding a service at a homeless shelter is missions. A teen from your Sunday School seeking to Reach that Guy during the National Youth Conference is missions. A junior high student joining in the GPS-Xperience is missions. A high school student spending two weeks on a North American or international field is missions. A college student serving as an E-TEAM Intern or an Overseas Apprentice is missions.
An adult engaging in a short-term assignment abroad is missions.
The presence of millions of people from other lands in our country makes it possible for you to be involved in international missions without leaving your hometown. Now’s the time for your Sunday School class to identify those of other ethnic groups in your com-munity. Pray and plan to reach them with the gospel.
GIVE
The Sunday School is also a source of support for missions. For example, the Women’s Class at Woodbine FWB Church in Nashville, Tennessee, supports the David Outlaw family, recent appointees to a creative access country. Individually, members of the class also give regularly to other home and international missionaries.
Every Sunday School class in every church can take part in the World Missions Offering by filling “ Change the World Banks.” Members of the teen classes can take part in the Buck a Week program sponsored by the Student and Children’s Ministries of Randall House Publications.
PRAY
Prayer is vital to the missionary task. Sunday School is positioned to increase prayer for our missionaries. The entire class can intercede for specific missionaries and requests each Sunday when they meet. Between Sundays, members can pray for existing missionaries, while asking God to call out new missionaries from their church.
Are you a missions-hearted Christian? If so, you probably attend Sunday School regularly. That’s where you learned the church has been commissioned to win the lost. Are you involved in missions? Thank your Sunday School teacher. Sunday-by-Sunday, he or she has challenged you to pray for missionaries, to support missionaries, and to become a missionary. Do you share your faith consistently? Thank God for your Sunday School teacher. Week in and week out, he or she has strived to equip you to share the gospel with your friends and relatives.
About the Writer: Larry Hampton is the editor of CLEAR curriculum for adults at Randall House Publications.
WANT TO TAKE A MISSIONS TRIP YOURSELF?
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To schedule a short-term mission trip to a mission field in our country or on the other side of the world for you and your entire Sunday School class, contact Home Missions at (877) 767-7674 or International Missions (877) 767-7736.
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For information about Reach That Guy, contact Danny Conn, director of Student and Children’s Ministries, at danny.conn@randallhouse.com.
GIVE TO EXISTING MINISTRIES
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For more information about the Buck a Week campaign, visit www.NYCbuckAweek.com or call
(800) 877-7030.
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For information about Change the World Banks, visit www.fwbgo.com or call (877) 767-7736.
PRAY STRATEGICALLY FOR INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS
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Up-to-date prayer requests are available from International Missions on the Hotline. To receive Hotline requests each week email cheri@fwbgo.com. Individual missionaries (home and international) also send out newsletters.
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Prayer cards for home and international missionaries are free upon request. To request prayer cards or news letters contact Home Missions (877-767-7674) or International Missions (877) 767-7736.
TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR ROLE IN REACHING THE WORLD
From Akebu to Zapotec
A Book of Bibleless Peoples
by June Hathersmith;
illustrated by Alice Roder
(paperback, $8.99)
This book encourages a heart for missions by introducing children one letter of the alphabet at a time, to a people group that does not have the Bible in its own language.
The unique stories and illustrations in this book give children a desire to know more about other cultures and lands. It will inspire them to pray for the people they meet in the book and will illustrate how God can even use children to spread His Word. Even before they learn to read, children can learn the value and power of God’s Word.
This book can be purchased from Randall House. Call (800) 877-7030 or visit www.randallhouse.com.
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