The Grateful Heart: Superheroes and Missions Conference

"Go... and make disciples." Matthew 28:19 nasb

My friend, Missy Lunceford, gave me these beautiful hands, and they've served to remind me of the providing Hand of God, the sacrificing Hands of Christ on the cross, and the praying hands of supplication. 

Today, they are a reminder of the serving hands of the body of Christ. 

The Global Outreach International Mission Conference is today. It's being held at Hope Church and it starts at 2 pm. We'll be there until about 9 pm tonight. Global missionaries from around the world will gather and share their stories. They'll set up booths, tell anyone who will listen about the people groups they serve and the work they are doing. They'll probably invite those who are willing to come alongside them and serve in short-term missions.

The public is invited. In case you're wondering, that means you and me. We'll learn and worship and, of course, have a finger-food meal together this evening. You don't have to be there for the entire conference. Come when you can. Stay as long as you can. It's free. 

This conference is different from what Global has done before. It's more comprehensive. It's deeper. It's bigger. 

There will be great workshops this afternoon. I wish I could attend every one of them. Look at these terrific topics and consider which one you should attend:

 - Pursuing Business as Mission for the Glory of God

- Short Term Trip, Long Term Fruit

- From Passionate to Proficient

- Living the Story of the Bible
- The Mission Mindset

- Artists and the Modern Mission Movement

- Resilience in Mission

- Storytelling and the Modern Mission Movement
- Finishing Strong: Missions for Retirees and Second Careers

- Syrian Refugees: Unprecedented Tragedy, Unprecedented Opportunity

- Engage, a Ministry of AFA

- Eternal Promises Upholding Modern Missionaries

- Orphan Care

- Pastors' Role in Missions

There will be a prayer room and anyone who'd like to have someone pray with them is welcome. If you'd just like to pray alone, the room will be open. Drop off a prayer request. Pray for the missionaries. Join us at the feet of our Lord.

There was a time when I expected to be on the foreign mission field. That's not how my life turned out, for a variety of reasons that are best left to another time. Instead of going, I've sent the words God has given me literally around the world. I've lost track of the number of countries where Lines from Leanna is read, but every one of those countries is precious to me. Every one represents people hungry for the Word of God and the Hope of a Savior.  They aren't looking for entertainment. They're looking for hope. For truth. 

If you're tempted to tell me I'm a missionary, please don't waste your breath. I'm not. 

It is the ones who have left their homes and their families and the comfortable life in the United States who are missionaries. They've sacrificed in ways we can't begin to understand. Their lives are not easy. They are not so comfortable as we'd like to believe. They are heroes in the faith.

These superhero missionaries are sacrificing for our Savior. As one who is home, I'm deeply grateful for their work and their sacrifice. They are doing what we are not, and, as the body of Christ, we must be willing to support them by listening, by praying, by going to help when we can, by giving. 

I hope you'll come today. It's going to be a great conference. There'll be lots of blessings for those who want them, so join us, even if it's just for a little while. 

It will be worth it.

I look forward to seeing you there.

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In case you missed any of the past week's posts, here are the links: Maggie: Being Light, The Grateful Heart: Predawn Stillness, The Grateful Heart: Orchestration of God, The Grateful Heart: Avoiding Distraction, Maggie: Eye Protection, and Maggie: Wanting Eye Drops.

The most read posts of the past week: (for the first time ever there's a tie) Maggie:Forgiving and Forgetting and Maggie: Being Light.

Here's the link to The Clay Papers, (a collection of stories about pottery class and becoming what the potter intends) available as an e-book for personal use or to send as a gift for only 99 cents. 

Here's the link for The Road to Bethlehem: An Advent Prayer and Devotional Guide, available on Amazon for 99 cents e-book. Paperback $6.00 (Also available to send as an e-gift)

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#globaloutreach #missionconference #missionaries #disciple #JesusChrist

Sending the Seventy

Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (Luke 10:1-2 NASB)

Just as Jesus sent the disciples out in ministry pairs, now we see Him sending seventy other followers. They were to go to all the cities and places where Jesus was headed and preach and heal. Just imagine it! Two followers would go into a village and share the good news of Jesus. "The Messiah has come!" they would tell the people. They probably offered to pray for the sick, knowing that God already planned to heal them. Of course, people would be excited about the healing and the pair of disciples would say, "You think this is good? You haven't seen anything yet! Jesus is coming soon!"

These people were sent to prepare the way and introduce Jesus. Jesus described it as a harvest that was plentiful. He explained that there are many people who will come to Him if they hear the good news about Him, but they can't believe if they don't hear. Jesus understood how hard it is to leave home and go to a foreign place where everyone is a stranger. He understood because He left the best place of all to come to a world that would reject and kill Him. 

There is a big harvest of souls available, Jesus explained, but not enough workers to get the harvest in. More workers are urgently needed. ALL of us are responsible for bringing in the harvest. Every single follower of Christ is responsible for the harvest. It is shameful to leave a harvest of grain in the field. It is even worse to leave a harvest of souls not gathered. 

We fall into one of two areas of responsibility about the harvest. Either we are the one who goes into the field to get the harvest in or we are the one who prays for more workers. We do not have the option to disregard the harvest. A quick "Bless the missionaries" prayer is not what our Lord had in mind here. The one who stays and prays is to approach the harvest with all the fervor and commitment of the one who goes to the field. That's a strong statement, isn't it? Read what Jesus said once more. There are two jobs. Going and praying. Both are vital. Both must be done with enthusiasm, committment, and perseverance.  

There is a harvest of souls waiting to hear the good news of Jesus and God's love. It's our job, mine and yours, to make sure they hear. Are you called to go or to pray? Let's be sure we are doing our part to bring light and hope to a dark and lonely world that will perish without the grace and mercy of God. 

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Link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/12/staying-close-to-herd.htmlhttp://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/12/staying-close-to-herd.html

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The new book, The Waiting: When the Answer to Your Prayer is Delayed and Your Hope is Gone, as well as The Clay Papers and The Road to Bethlehem (an advent devotional guide) are now available at http://www.leannahollis.com/online-store/ Get your copy today.