Harvest Notes "The word of God increased and multiplied" (Acts 12: 24 ESV).
Raising Missionaries by Anna Louise Schultz
A few decades ago, a study revealed that the Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches sent out more missionaries per capita than any other church group in North America. Tat was a thrilling statistic! And FEBC churches have continued to send out missionaries. However, the need for more missionaries is so great that we must find ways to increase our missionary force. We need to learn from and stimulate one another. Let us look at one church to see what we can learn from what they are doing. Salem Church is located in the small town of Waldheim, Sas-
katchewan (pop. 1,300). Currently 11 missionaries from Salem are serving the Lord on foreign soil, and two more are preparing to go. In addition, a number of members go out each year on short-term assignments. How does the culture of Salem continue to stimulate a missionary vision? We know that missions thrive when the church is spiritually
healthy. Tis was vividly demonstrated in Salem’s history when the church experienced several revivals as people concerned about their young people began fervently praying for them. During the first revival, two individuals found the Lord and later became Salem’s first foreign missionary couple. Several years later another spiritual awakening led to a renewed commitment to the Lord with many more people going into full time ministry including missions. God uses concerned people to pray for more workers (Luke
10:2). Tere came a time when the number of Salem missionaries was waning. In answer to prayer there was a new surge of missionaries. Many children growing up in Salem church have had the
unique advantage of knowing missionaries personally. Mission- aries from Salem Church are their parents’ friends, and these friends get invited into homes. Salem children get to know them, listen to their stories, and yes, become friends with their children.
Other missionaries interact with Salem children and youth as they participate in the annual community-wide Waldheim Missions Conference. So young people go into missions knowing what lies ahead. Young people know in their hearts that their families will release them if God calls them. Te Salem congregation generously supports their missionaries.
Being able to raise enough financial support to go to the field is a huge hurdle for those desiring to go out. Tis year each outgoing missionary is assured of $570.00 a month from the church budget. In addition, individuals make their own additional pledges of sup- port. Salem just came through a big building project which required a huge financial commitment. In spite of that, missionary giving has increased significantly. And during that same period tens of thou- sands of dollars were given for short-term missionary projects. People in Salem Church continue to maintain close relation-
ships with their missionaries on the field. Tough far away and in a foreign culture, the missionary knows that he is not alone in the work. Others are standing with him and praying for him. So what encourages young people to become missionaries? A
healthy church. A praying church. A friendly, hospitable church. A generous and committed church. A connected church. As each church in our Fellowship pursues the “Antioch model” (Acts 11:19ff; 13:1ff; 14:24ff ), we’ll find ourselves raising missionaries.
Anna Louise Schultz was a missionary in France for 25 years alongside her husband, Harvey. She has been an active member at Salem Church since 1991. Anna Louise was a member of the FEBC Commission on Education for multiple terms. She is now a member of the Commission on Missions.
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