lack of money and opportunities

I received an email today with a link to a missions video. It was not the usual God breaking through the darkness and crashing through cultural barriers and people coming to Christ in far off places video. It started with scripture which is usually encouraging, romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" The narrative continued to say that instead of sending missionaries, they were having to bring missionaries home due to lack of funding. Instead of being sent to preach the gospel and tell the good news, they are being called home.

Many thoughts came to mind, I'll share a couple. The first obvious thought is the one the makers of the clip want you to have: "Thats sad that missionaries are having to come off the field, how will the gospel progress in those areas?" This was immediately followed by "Well, God is sovereign and the progression of the gospel is bigger than lack of funding." This is not to say that we shouldn't give and send, we should; its a clear command in scripture. Who knows what seeds have already been planted in areas where missionaries are having to withdraw? Seeds of seeking in the hearts of unbelievers, seeds of vision and creative access in missionaries, and seeds of the passion of evangelism in the lives of national believers. God calls us to efficiently use our resources for the Kingdom. When the most obvious of those resources-money- run out, its not the end of the mission. The mission continues wherever you are. I won't exhaust this point, but if the money just isn't there, then it shouldn't be looked at as a failure. It should be viewed as an opportunity to serve elsewhere--indefinitely until He calls you elsewhere.

Secondly, and the more pervading thought I had was what an opportunity for a different sort of missionary to step up to the plate and take over the reigns. An opportunity that will still cost money, but instead of and endless drain of money, an investment in something self-sustaining, reproducible, and an investment that has temporary as well as eternal return. When a church suffers financially due to a downturn in the economy, there are still people (at home and overseas) that need jobs. What if a church took a portion of their mission budget and financed a businessman that was not only a good businessman but a man of God with a passion to see the lost come to Christ; a visionary that could see an opportunity, start a business and employ non-believers in an area where there are not many believers! What if in the course of employing these non-believers--interacting with them daily--this businessman was able to lead one, or two of these nationals to Christ! The ball starts rolling and the implications are endless! This is my vision and what I believe God has called me to do in the near future. I don't want to misconstrue my point and make anyone think I disapprove of or think that the traditional model is bad. God gives each member of the body different gifts, that's what makes us the body! If everyone went to Asia to start businesses and lead one or two people to Christ, who would disciple or pastor or perform all the other functions of the body? This is just one gift that God uses.

Here is the video that I was emaild: http://give3.ccci.org/frontlines/home?m=WX8860
I encourage believers to first pray. Ask the Father what your role in the kingdom is. It may be serving where you are and giving sacrificially to enable others to go. Your role may be to take your skills and resources elsewhere--going overseas where the church is less concentrated. These are really our only two options (barring disobedience) that we have as believers. Matthew 18 tells us to make disciples. That is whether we are at "home" or elsewhere.

Grow in Christ my friends! Drink deep of the fountain of Scripture and let Him change your mind and your heart and give it all to Him!