Description of local us missions
We live in the land of opportunity, but we often miss the most important ones.
Think
about your daily routine. You start your day at the gym, surrounded by
people. Do you put on headphones and distance yourself from everyone?
It’s
time to cook dinner but your cupboards are bare. You head to the
supermarket and, again, find yourself surrounded by people. Do you rush
through the store, brushing past everyone to get in and out in five
minutes?
When we’re out in public, we expect to see people … and we
do what it takes to avoid eye contact. But avoiding eye contact is
avoiding an opportunity.
We are called and mandated by God to spread
the message of the gospel. And to ensure our success, he has filled us
with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Of course, God doesn’t expect you
to lead every person you meet through the salvation prayer and to the
baptism in the Holy Spirit. Rather, we each contribute an element,
according to God’s direction, to bring that person to Christ. One
plants the seed, another waters it and God increases it. This requires
no special skill or training. God will use each of us where we are,
utilizing the gifts He has already placed in us. And He will make
something out of our efforts.
Now imagine the possibilities. Knowing
God is in control, we can share the gospel without the fear of failure.
Suddenly, we’re drawn to the same people we used to ignore because we
know we have something they need. We are free to be purpose-driven and
focused on our task to reach every soul in America with the gospel.
Don’t let another day of missed opportunities pass you by.
Zollie L. Smith, Jr.
Executive Director
U.S. Missions
What's Happening in U.S. Missions
RECORD-BREAKING CROWD CELEBRATES TEEN CHALLENGE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Nearly
1,600 people from approximately 30 countries convened in New York City
for Teen Challenge's 50th anniversary celebration. The June 25-27 event
was a time to praise God for the countless miracles he's already done
and the miracles yet to come.
"All of the services, from the
worship time to the talks and the testimonies, just celebrated what God
has done in the ministry as a whole and in individual lives," says
George Thomas, Teen Challenge USA business manager.
Thomas
reports that one of the most powerful moments of the celebration was
seeing so many people who were significantly involved in the ministry's
early years, together again in one place. Among those in attendance
were Teen Challenge founder David Wilkerson, Nicky Cruz, Israel Narvaez
and Sonny Arguinzoni.
"The 50th Teen Challenge celebration lived
up to its slogan, 'Celebrating 50 Years of Miracles,'" says Mike
Hodges, president of Teen Challenge USA. "To experience the opening
rally was awesome, there will never be another time in the history of
Teen Challenge when three of the first converts and David Wilkerson
will share the same stage."
The celebration services were held
at Times Square Church, which Wilkerson established in 1987. To
accommodate a greater number of attendees, the final service was
located at Brooklyn Tabernacle. Those who weren't able to come to New
York could still participate in the celebration, as the services were
streamed live on the Teen Challenge USA Web site.
In the months
leading up to the celebration, registration quickly exceeded
expectations, making it necessary to provide overflow seating. Thomas
reports that prior to this event, the largest attendance at a
conference hosted by Teen Challenge USA was just over 400. The
celebration's large turnout is indicative of just how many lives have
been powerfully transformed through the ministry.
"Every time we
met together we heard testimonies of those who had been strung out on
drugs, alcoholics — at the end of their rope but when they cried out to
God, He heard them, delivered them and turned their lives around," said
Kevin Tyler, Global Teen Challenge Eurasia Representative. "We had
constant cause to rejoice! We also heard testimonies of what God is
doing in 82 countries around the world and were challenged upon hearing
that 46 other nations are
requesting help in establishing Teen Challenge programs."
Although
Teen Challenge founder David Wilkerson was unable to speak as scheduled
at Friday night's service, he delivered the message he had prepared
Sunday morning at Times Square Church. Wilkerson's sermon, entitled
"The High Cost of Mercy," is available at
http://www.tscnyc.org/sermons.php/.
All of the celebration
services were recorded and are available for sale in an eight DVD set.
In addition, the 50th Anniversary coffee table book and historical DVD
are also available on the Teen Challenge Web site,
http://www.teenchallengeusa.com/.
-- Kara Chase
US Missions Resources
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Church “Adopts” Military Chaplain
Assemblies of God military chaplains go through extensive schooling and training to prepare for their duties. They are men and women of strong faith and great courage. -
Cornell University Clears Chi Alpha
The Chi Alpha group ministering to students at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, recently had its funding temporarily suspended by Cornell's Student Assembly Finance Commission (SAFC) while it investigated the forced resignation of one of the Chi Alpha student leaders.
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Couple Wrap Up 39 Years of Prison Ministry
A lot has changed in the 39 years since Lloyd and Nita Colbaugh began volunteering at the United States Medical Center, a federal prison hospital in Springfield, Missouri.
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Surprise Home Makeover Results in Tears and Cheers
Several years ago, Ed and Leah Bass purchased a home in Alvarado, Texas. It was a fixer-upper, but the couple was determined to turn the desperately needy house into their dream home. Step by step, they started to repair and rebuild the house. Last July, the couple went to pick out new paint colors and items for the house, dreaming of what was to be.
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New Chi Alpha Scholarship Awarded by Regent
Regent University School of Law recently announced that Leanne Watrous, a member of the University of Virginia Chi Alpha ministry, has been awarded the first Regent Law Chi Alpha Scholarship.
