Honoring our Heroes of the Faith
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| Personnel & Family Life Director Richard Johnson addressing the missionaries with Pastor Ted Cederblom |
By Richard Bennett
Life360 Church in Springfield,
Missouri, under the direction of Pastor Ted Cederblom, has built into the
culture of the church the belief that missionaries are heroes of the faith, a
belief that has resulted in tremendous growth in the congregation’s support of
missions, both abroad and at home.
On June 17, 2011, the church
invited all the newly appointed AGWM missionaries to be part of a special
service, just one more way the church has found to show its passion for
missions.
They were invited to speak in
Sunday School classes to the children, youth, and adults. They shared how they
had been called by the Lord into missions, something about the fields they were
going to, and ways the class could pray for them. Class members expressed how
much it meant for them to get a chance to know the missionaries personally, if
only in that brief window.
After Sunday School, the
missionaries entered into the sanctuary to find it decorated with missions
banners and flags. Also, they couldn’t miss the rows of brightly wrapped
packages lining the front of the platform. After worship, the missionaries took
part in a “parade” to the platform, during which the congregation stood and
applauded them. All the missionaries introduced themselves and their families
and announced where they would be serving.
GIFT SHOWER FOR ALL ADULTS AND
MKS
Following this, there was a gift
shower. They had drawings for the adults. Among the gifts were laptop
computers, mobile DVD players, luggage, video cameras, computer printers,
department store gift cards, and more. Every adult received a gift.
The children, who had waited
patiently watching their parents getting gifts, finally had their turn. When
each child had received his or her gift, gift wrapping flew as the new MKs tore
open their packages. The teens, who were not present because they had started
their MK camp, received gift cards. All the missionaries also received banners
displaying their names and mission fields to use during itineration.
Following the service, the
missionaries were treated to a banquet hosted by the pastors and other church
leaders. This time of fellowship provided a wonderful opportunity for even
stronger bonds to form between those in the church and those who were going to
the field.
So many of the missionaries
commented on how humbling it was to receive such special treatment. One
missionary said that he appreciated how special the church had made them feel,
but he knows that Jesus really is the Hero.
One missionary couple expressed
appreciation for all that was done for them by the church and felt they had
been “spoiled.”
NEW LUGGAGE GIVEN TO REPLACE OLD
DUCT TAPED SUITCASE
A missionary who received
luggage mentioned she had come to Springfield with her suitcase held together
with duct tape. “God used you guys,” she said, “to remind me how much God loves
me, and how He cares about the little things.”
It was touching to hear another
missionary comment that her infant son had not yet really become attached to
any toy, but that he seemed to quickly take to the stuffed animal he had
received during that service. She expressed how this little thing confirmed to
her the Lord’s care for and call on her family.
It was obvious that these new
missionaries have a deep passion to serve the Lord and reach the lost in the
places God has called them to. They are aware of the great challenges ahead —
scheduling services, miles of travel, learning a new language, moving their
families into unfamiliar settings. But they also exhibited a strong faith that
the Lord who had called them would help them overcome every challenge so they
could reach lost people around the world.
One couple wrote: “You all oozed
love on us from the moment we arrived. You will never know the impact and
encouragement you have been. More than the gifts, you have given us a push to
rise to the challenges that God has placed ahead of us.”
Pastor Cederblom and the
congregation of Life360 church are praying that all the missionaries left the
campus that day with the same sense of encouragement, love, and support.
Click here to find our which new missionaries are in your district.
See more photos on Assemblies of God Facebook.
Richard Bennett is the adult editor for
Radiant Life Curriculum.
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