Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year!


It is self-assessment time here at Asia International Mission as we start off the New Year. Honestly answer the following questions:

My cell phone is never off or out of reach                                                     Yes or No

My radio is always on whenever I am driving.                                              Yes or No

When I am home, the TV is on most of my waking hours.                             Yes or No

My personal internet time exceeds 2 hours a day.                                         Yes or No

I have a Facebook page or Twitter acct that I check more than once daily.     Yes or No

If you answered Yes to at least 3 of the questions, perhaps you need to think seriously about “shutting out the noise” of your life for 2013. What are some common causes of your personal noise?

Obviously our advanced technology is a major culprit. These time-saving devices seem to work the opposite way. While no one is suggesting a return to the dark ages (before cell phones) and the minimizing of useful technology, there is a need to make time for self-reflection and live (as opposed to virtual) relationships.

Honestly, many of us pride ourselves in our busyness and sacrificing our free time. Sadly, many of our churches add to the busyness with constant activities. Maybe some of us are avoiding the quiet. The constant “roar of the noise” gives us a good excuse for not examining our inner life and taking stock of where we are with the Lord.

What are some helps in “shutting out the noise”?:
Turn off the Radio, TV, Computer, cell phone, or I Pad. (At least for a short time).

Slow it down. Reduce the pace of life. Caution, this may cost you a few $$, but the spiritual, emotional, and mental rewards will be worth it.

Prioritize life. Don’t buy into the “quality time” myth with your friends and family. Love is spelling
Q-U-A-N-T-I-T-Y. Avoid the nonstop vacations that you return from exhausted.

Screen the news. Certainly stay informed of the hard news, but Pop Culture? Do we really need daily updates on the lives and ordeals of Brittney and Paris? Get away for a silent retreat. It might be for a weekend, a day, or a half day and take only your Bible and journal, and listen to God alone.

The world is trying its very best to conform us Christians into the secular mold of worshipping technology and busyness. As we say no to this pressure, we’ll see how God begins to transform us into His likeness.

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2)

--Russ Sharrock


 



Asia International Mission is an IRS approved 501(c) (3) non-profit ministry.
                          All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used as designated


Monday, December 24, 2012

Warm Wishes this Christmas Season!



I want to personally thank you for your friendship to Asia International Mission as we seek to share the gospel throughout India.

May peace, blessings, good health and happiness be yours this Christmas Season and throughout the New Year. And may you and your loved ones experience the same joy and fulfillment that you bring to so many needy children through your kindness and generosity.



We believe God is going to do great things through us in 2013, and we are asking you to partner with us in impacting the world for Christ in the New Year ahead.

Please click here to DONATE NOW or you may send a check to:
                                                                
                                                                        AIM
                                                                        PO Box 1597
                                                                        Stillwater, OK 74076









Asia International Mission is an IRS approved 501(c) (3) non-profit ministry. 
All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used as designated



 

Friday, December 21, 2012

Seeing the Potential in Others



“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Matthew 9:38)

When a job facing us is too big for any one person, we have a choice to make. Either we will jump in and try to do it ourselves or we'll focus our efforts on getting others to join us. For most of us, we feel more comfortable doing it ourselves. Not only do we get a great sense of accomplishment, but we have more control over the outcome. 

Jesus spent time directly in ministry for sure, but a huge amount of His time was spent seeking out, investing in, and training new workers that would be the foundation of the Church. In human terms, this effort looked silly and insignificant, but as we look back over the past two millennium we see the true power of sending others out. 

Jesus prepared His disciples and a larger group that would form the nucleus of the Church through very regular activities. But it’s clear that He was always acting with this goal in mind. As you serve in your community, do you have that same perspective? Are you seeking opportunities to raise others up for service? Are you looking for those that might be powerful witnesses in your community and engaging them? 

What would your outreach look like if this was a main objective every day? You might be a mentor to someone. Maybe you would seek to serve on a team rather than by yourself. Who knows, the key is to make investing in others part of your life of service.



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Save Your Quarters

We need many people to save their quarters to feed hungry children through the Nile Project. Twenty-five cents (.25) will feed a child a nutritious meal. Invite your Sunday school or church to get involved in reaching out to the world in a very tangible way.

Click here to DONATE NOW to the Nile Project on our secure web page. Or you can send a check to: 
                                                            AIM
                                                           PO Box 1597
                                                           Stillwater, OK 74076

Be sure to write "For the Nile Project" on the memo line. Thank You.







                                                                      













Asia International Mission is an IRS approved 501(c) (3) non-profit ministry. 
All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used as designated


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Are You Anxious?



“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?...Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-27, 34)


What is overwhelming thoughts are in your mind these days? What is it that you are fearful that He may not provide? You say, “I am just being cautious.” Are you? What does your heart reveal? Are you having a problem trusting?

Some people are so fearful, so anxious that they never go anywhere or do anything. Others are constantly on the move because they are fearful of staying still, fearful that they might miss something. You would think that those who have decided to go on a mission trip would be people of faith and would not anxious. But let me share something with you; the groups that I have led and been a part of are usually divided in equal parts: half filled with faith and half that are filled with fear. Which would best describe you?

If you are of the faith group then strengthen those that are weak. If you are of the fearful group then get close to those who are strong and listen to the words of the One who is constantly saying “Fear not!”

The fact that God is often saying “Fear not” means that He doesn’t discard the fearful, and He won’t let them down. Instead He calls them to go deeper and farther with Him. He invites them to join Him in a journey that He knows is fearful to them. He doesn’t tell them to stay home, but invites them to come along. Walking with Him in a journey like this has a way of turning people that are generally anxious and fearful into people of faith.

May this be said of you. May it be evident in your life today.
 

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What to Give This Christmas


Give a Bible, clothing, food, or safe water. Whatever gift you choose to give, I’m grateful for your continued and generous support, because you’re  transforming the lives of the people of India. In Mark 1:41 Jesus healed a man with leprosy. He touched him and said, “Be healed!” Jesus showed us we should love and care for people who are suffering. Follow His example. This Christmas, give compassion.

Click HERE to make a year-end tax-exempt donation on our secure server. Thank you and God bless! 


                                                                    












Asia International Mission is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry. 
All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used as designated
 
 

Monday, December 17, 2012

13 Reasons for Missions




Sometimes I wonder, just like anyone, "Is my work necessary?" As someone whose job is to motivate people into getting involved in world evangelization, I find myself reflecting and learning and adapting to many different audiences, needs, and perspectives – whether it's one person or a thousand. Specifically with missions, there are many motivations that God uses to spark interest in people and move them into some kind of involvement.

Here are thirteen motivations:
1) The Promise (Gen 12:1-3) – Because God has promised to bless all nations (or people groups) on the earth. What better motivation and encouragement can we have than the understanding that missions (blessing the nations with the Gospel) is in the plan of God.

2) The Purchase (Rev 5:9) – Because Jesus has already purchased people from every tribe and nation with His blood.

3) Because the Harvest is plentiful (Matt 9:37) – Now this is for all the numbers gurus out there who are motivated by sheer statistics. Today, out of the 6.5 billion people on the planet, over 4 billion are without a saving relationship with Christ. The majority of these people are located in the area of the world known as the 10/40 Window. The harvest is plentiful!

4) Because the Laborers are few (Matt 9:37) – This is probably what runs through my head the majority of the times I get up to speak. Only one in every 20,000 believers will ever take the gospel to those who are out of reach of the church, and of all the cross-cultural missionaries in the world only 2.5% of all the 306,000 missionaries are working in the 10/40 Window. More laborers are needed.

5) Because of the Destiny of the Lost (Rom 1; John 3:18; John 14:6) – I believer the Bible gives us no means by which a person can be saved other than through Christ's work, and by exercising faith in His name. The Scripture leaves no loopholes for those living in ignorance. All are born in sin, the Cross has real meaning for salvation, and the Great Commission is necessary for people to hear and be saved. If this shocks you, you may have been influenced by the universalism that is gossiped among church goers. This makes missions not only important, but urgent.

6) Logically Necessary for Hearing the Gospel Message (Rom 10:14-15, Acts 8 (Philip) and 10 (Cornelius)) – This goes along with the last one. Every time someone comes to Christ in Scripture there is a human messenger involved. It would be great to think that God would draw people to Himself in the world apart from someone going. He is able, but this is not the means He has chosen to use. The Church is the means. The Ethiopian eunuch was reading Isaiah (the OT Bible!) and still God miraculously transported Philip, a human messenger to explain Christ to him. An angel appears to Cornelius, a god-fearer. But still Peter must be summoned and travel all the way to Cornelius' house to explain the gospel to him before he could be saved. Why didn't the angel just tell Cornelius? It would have saved a lot of time and gas money for Peter – but God used a human messenger. Missions and evangelism are necessary. I hope we are speaking the message around us as well – they must hear.

7) The Example of the Church (Acts 1:8, 10, 15, Rom 15:20) – The early church has given us a model to follow. They went out, sent out their own missionaries like Paul and Barnabas, and evangelized the Gentiles beyond the reach of the gospel in their world.

8) Because We Will be Held Accountable (Ezek 33) – Here is a passage that will cause you to re-evaluate life. The people of God, meant to be a blessing to the world, were held accountable for not warning others of the danger coming, and I believe believers today will be held accountable for their obedience to the Great Commission?

9) Because To Whom Much is Given Much is Required (Luke 12:47-48) – Here is Jesus' measuring standard. Our accountability may be based on our resources, our understanding, or our ability – more given equals more expected.

10) Because the Church is the Means (Rom 1:5, Gal 3:14-15, 2 Cor 5:17-20) – You are God's ordained means for the blessing of Christ reaching to all the nations, just like He promised (Gen 12). Jesus has purchased them (Rev 5:9) and commissioned us with the task of gathering them in for God's glory.

11) Because History Awaits the Fulfillment of the Promise (Matt 24:14) – Not sure how it's all going to play out, but if God has promised that all nations are reached and Jesus says here that the gospel will be preached to all nations…then the end will come – it just seems logical. That is exciting!

12) Because the Glory of God is Yet to be Known (Hab 2:14; Ps 72:19, 86; Isa 11:9) – There are actually about a dozen times that Bible talks of God's glory "filling the earth as the waters cover the sea." God has created people to worship Him and that worship is being given to other lesser things right now. Missions is spreading the worship and enjoyment of God to those who are not currently worshippers, because God's glory is increased by the increase of His church in the world. As John Piper says it, "Missions exists because worship doesn't." Where passion for God is weak, enthusiasm for missions will be weak."

13) The Commands of Jesus (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8, 13:47; John 20:21) – And last of all – because Jesus commanded it. Just as Jesus says in John 14:21, "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me," or 1 John 3:24, "The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him."

I hope we can all stand before him in the end and hear him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." 



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We have posted our next Mission trip to India on our website. Click HERE to learn more about joining the team and download the application. 


                                                               


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This Christmas, help provide hope for someone in need in India. Our vision is an India rich in hope, justice and the compassion of Christ. Asia International Mission works alongside groups of national Christian grassroots ministries in India focused on alleviating poverty, and bringing the hope of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying country. We seek support from others who share our passion to empower change.
Please click Here to make a donation on our secure server, or send your check to:
                                                                                           AIM
                                                                                           PO Box 1597
                                                                                           Stillwater, OK 74076





Pray for the Unreached Barwala, Muslim of India 
Population: 1,900
World Popl: 537,000
Main Language: Dogri
Main Religion: Islam
Bible: New Testament
Status: Least-Reached
Christ-Followers: Few, less than 2%







Asia International Mission is an IRS approved 501(c) (3) non-profit ministry. 
All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used as designated