MISSION TIDINGS

GIFTS RECEIVED FOR MISSIONS IN OCTOBER 1982

CLASSIS EAST SOURCE AMOUNT

Friend in St. Thomas Books $ 15.63

Friend in Michigan Gift 150.00

St. Catharines Collection 575.00

Hamilton Collection 2,008.00

Friend in Michigan Gift 350.00

Friend in Michigan Gift 150.00

CLASSIS WEST

Waupun Ladies Aid Gift 267.72

CLASSIS FAR WEST

Timothy Chr. School Gift 700.00

TOTAL: $4,216.35

Dear friends:

Herewith we take the opportunity to express our appreciation for the gifts and collections that were received for the support of the Mission.

Psalm 90 says that the best of this life is labor and sorrow. That is not only true at home but also upon the Mission fields.

We are glad to report that Meta Moerdyk, who is recuperating in the Netherlands, is feeling somewhat better. We hope the Lord will give a further blessing of recovery. May the ways of affliction be sanctified. As a family may they soon be reunited, because Tom is still working on the Mission field in Izi. He hopes to come home in the forepart of December for an early furlough, due to the circumstances of Meta.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert VanBeek and daughter, Vicki, are at the present time visiting their children, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Meuwse in New Guinea. We hope that the Lord may give them a pleasant and a blessed time together.

It’s a great blessing when parents and children can meet after weeks, months, due to separation of distance.

We hope they may have a safe journey back home at the appointed time. It was for Mike and Carol a very pleasant occasion after months of lonesome-ness.

May the Lord give prayer for those who are sacrificing so much to bring the Word of God to the back corners of the earth.

We can see in the gifts that there is still love to support those who are laboring for the Mission in the far off lonely areas of the world, but also for those who labor closer at home. It’s a very great work and only the Lord can give the blessing.

Job 9:2b says, “How should man be just with God?” There is much in this for all of us to meditate upon at home and abroad.

American General Mission Fund Netherlands Reformed Congregations of United States and Canada

John Spaans, Treasurer

R.R. No. 1, Box 212

Rock Valley, Iowa 51247

MISSION-WORK

Matthew 28:19 (first part): “Go ye therefore and teach all nations “.

The word “Grace” is a Biblical word. It is the free gift of forgiveness and life offered by God through Jesus Christ to rebellious, dying, and undeserving people. Grace is the highest gift. Without grace we cannot be saved. This offer of God’s righteousness in Christ is the only way to salvation.

Grace is very costly. It is costly because God the Son paid for this gift of setting free poor and helpless sinners by offering His own life. They are bought, not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. Alas, from many we can see that they have a form of godliness but they deny the power of God to teach a poor begging sinner that in Christ alone a fallen child of Adam can receive the grace earned on the Cross of Golgotha.

If we, by grace have learned how great a price was paid by Christ to save sinners, how great our desire should be to go into the world and teach the Gospel of Free Grace! But how is it in reality? Many don’t care. Many think, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” But this great commission is given to God’s Church on earth: “Go ye therefore and teach all nations”. It is great because it includes not just the twelve apostles but all who may learn to follow Christ. It means everyone who is dependent on Jesus Christ for salvation.

Before King Jesus left this world to go to the house of His Father, He plainly told His disciples what their task would be in this world. A few examples: For the Norwegian missionary, Hans Egede, it meant to go to the Eskimo’s; For John Williams it meant to go to South America. King Jesus is the Living Word yet today and He still commands: “Go ye, make disciples of all nations… Go to India, China, West Irian, South Africa, Nigeria, Haiti”. It is His holy command: “Go!”

If the Lord gives us the grace, then we can help the mission in two ways. First: by prayer, second: by offerings and gifts. “Brethren, pray for us”, is the continual request of our missionaries. Jesus said: “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest”. The Bible also tells us, “The prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. Speaking to men for God is a great thing but speaking to God for men is the first thing. No reformation, no revival, no mission ever came without the first step being prayer. Secondly, we may help with our gifts. The goal has to be to keep mission work well supported that it may grow. How serious it is that men are killed in bloody wars, but how horrible it is in mission work when home support fails!

Further, we can read in God’s Word that God’s chosen people dedicated their first-born child unto the Lord. Remember the story of Hannah who gave Samuel, her first born son, to the Lord. Part of her own flesh and blood lived in the tabernacle of God and later judged Israel. Samuel’s dedication at a young age was an expression of the faith of his mother, Hannah. Oh, that God would give us more “Hannahs” today—mothers and fathers who might learn to pray for the conversion of their children, and at the same time begging the Lord if He would use them in His service. Yea, that they might be useful in the upbuilding of God’s kingdom. We have to add to this: there is a great need for missionaries, but also for faithful teachers, ministers, and officebearers. Oh, was there more a felt need in the hearts of parents that the Lord would use their children in His service.

Many times we are not thinking about this worthy cause because we are not interested. With a shrug of our shoulders we might even say: “Who cares?” Let us ask ourselves: When was the last time that I had a desire to pray for the WELFARE AND THE EXTENSION of God’s Holy Kingdom?

Six times after His resurrection the Lord Jesus made reference to the cause of missions. He truly cared for the salvation of others, and because He cared, they who receive grace have also to care for the welfare of their fellow traveler to the never ending eternity. The Saviour, who has power on earth to forgive sins, who healed the sick, and raised the dead, Who called disciples to Himself and gave them the commission to go to the Gentiles, has given them much fruit on their labours.

May the message sound in our ears: “Go ye therefore and teach all nations!” Oh, that it might be our need to receive personal conversion and to seek the welfare of other people, also. Then there will come a time, as our life draws to a close, that God’s people from all over the world, may hear out of heaven: “Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Let us never forget: Mission work is very necessary, but personal conversion unto God is also a necessity for us and our children, shall it be well in that great day when the Lord Jesus comes again upon the clouds of heaven. Amen.

Chilliwack

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