Surprise!

It seems like just a week ago I was all depressed because the Missions Conference was over. No more field updates for another year, no more personal interaction with missionaries for another year, and no more international flair to our auditorium decor. But, alas, God had one more missionary in store for us! Bruce and Natalie Tuttle (missionaries in Ukraine) were traveling back to PA from Virginia, and were able to share with us their ministry, and their ministry in surrounding areas. It was such a treat!

Our church family has been praying for pastor "River" who has faced much persecution in an Islamic country. This missionary shares the gospel under such extreme conditions that his family and co-laborers in the ministry live under the understanding that it is not if they go to jail for preaching the gospel, but when they are going to be jailed, and how much persecution they will be facing. These are men dedicated to the gospel in a level that we can't comprehend. What a challenge to me as a church leader to share what I've got in this community!

So, I pass that challenge to you - when your conversation turns to spiritual things, and you begin to feel uneasy, and your armpits and palms get all sweaty, and your throat gets dry (maybe it's just me?), start off with a story that goes something like this:

"We just had an update in our church of a man overseas who has been jailed, persecuted, threatened and arrested for what I'm about to tell you. Can you handle it?"

This will gather interest in the gospel like a snowball rolling down a snowy hill. Let's use every tool we can to expand the kingdom today!