Thursday, January 31, 2008

Ministry Multiplication

Just a few years ago there was only one significant ministry within the ABA, and that was Macedonian Missionary Service. It struggled to get started but persistently plodded ahead and impacted our entire associated work. While I was with Macedonian I saw several new ministries spin off from her. Mine (XSTREAM) was one of them. This is Ministry multiplication. In just the last ten years we have seen even more ministry become established and by God's grace there will be much more in the years to come.

This might be perceived as a threat to local church ministry but in fact all of these ministries are local church sponsored. They need our support.

Ministry directors are often undersupported, used and abused. It is not unusual for these leaders of ministries to have been invited to churches to present their work and not be given an offering, not even for their expenses. Somehow it is being assumed that someone is paying their expenses. In most cases these men pay their own way and incur debt trying to minister to churches. I thank God for the churches that recognize the validity of these ministries and give generously to these ministries and missionaries.

As Ministry mulitiplies within our fellowship, we will see more and more the need to support these ministries. Just think of what would happen if these ministries all shut down? There wouldn't be any shipping of containors overseas, no missionary training, no church planter training, no literature for overseas works, no VBS teams going across the country, no funds being raised for building churches, no mission builders, no Olympic Bible Teams, no summer missions teams, no Spanish literature, no medical teams, no special projects achieved for missionaries, no ABAnews, etc.

So let's multiply ministry!
David

3 comments:

Unknown said...

I don't know about Aba mathedonian situation. I am apriated that your xstream mission is now standing strongly,even separated from Aba suport.I am trying to attend your mission trip and seeking to start from Japan.I pray for you and mission. thanks.

Anonymous said...

Why don't you guys join the boy scouts?!

David P Smith said...

Anonymous, you have some issues that I would love to discuss. Are you in a frame of mind that would allow for a gentlemanly discussion?
David