tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23191203.post7101683775359582378..comments2023-09-25T04:24:45.407-05:00Comments on The M Blog: What is your church's commitment to international missions?J. Guy Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17751691713410311094noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23191203.post-65069114633220739872008-11-21T10:48:00.000-05:002008-11-21T10:48:00.000-05:00Travis,Couldn't agree with you more. Well said. Bu...Travis,<BR/><BR/>Couldn't agree with you more. Well said. But to practice giving in the way you describe would overturn the cart of the current way churches operate and would upset a lot of people. We have been practicing this pattern for several years now and giving the NT way is so much more fun!J. Guy Musehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17751691713410311094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23191203.post-89241316014857740542008-11-20T21:34:00.000-05:002008-11-20T21:34:00.000-05:00Our house church is exploring what the NT says abo...Our house church is exploring what the NT says about giving. From what I find in Scriptures the early believers first and foremost took care of the needs of the saints. The tendency seems to see this as inward focused, but I disagree as the sharing with other believers is an incredible witness to the world...and vice versa, when believers look the other way to the needs of the saints, the witness is diminished if not ruined. <BR/><BR/>I also see giving to the poor and needy, regardless of their citizenship in the Kingdom.<BR/><BR/>I also see the principle of supporting Apostolic work or missionaries...this is what I believe you're talking about. I agree with Ukraine guy that their is a disconnect between the sent ones and the senders in regard to the IMB...there is little to relationship. <BR/><BR/>Another interesting giving principle, in my opinion, is the principle of taking care of our parents when they get older. No one speaks of this one, but I believe that believers are to take care of their parents which always necessitates finances. Once again, this is an incredible witness to the world, especially in North American culture. <BR/><BR/>Anyways, those are a few of my initial thoughts on giving<BR/><BR/>TravisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23191203.post-37209822246695855842008-11-20T14:23:00.000-05:002008-11-20T14:23:00.000-05:00Les,Thanks for stopping by, and especially for pos...Les,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by, and especially for posting this material on your blog. I think it is a wake-up call for all S. Bapt. churches. We look forward to your upcoming trip to our part of the world.J. Guy Musehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17751691713410311094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23191203.post-12926398307276827602008-11-20T14:21:00.000-05:002008-11-20T14:21:00.000-05:00Scott,Thanks for the comment and the link to newch...Scott,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the comment and the link to newchurchreport.com. Indeed we need to be careful with how we allocate our limited resources. This will be even more crucial in these days of economic downturn.J. Guy Musehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17751691713410311094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23191203.post-40772662251120290362008-11-20T11:56:00.000-05:002008-11-20T11:56:00.000-05:00again, insightful in terms of how churches functio...again, insightful in terms of how churches function and makes us re-assess how we spend our resources...<BR/><BR/>...linked it to http://www.newchurchreport.com - thanks, again!!Scott Linklaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11780756125777258333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23191203.post-65749808787039532512008-11-19T23:37:00.000-05:002008-11-19T23:37:00.000-05:00Guy, My church was thrilled with your visit. I'm l...Guy, <BR/><BR/>My church was thrilled with your visit. I'm looking forward to going on a vision trip in the near future to Ecuador. <BR/><BR/>Blessings, <BR/><BR/>LesWriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07212653606124739664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23191203.post-46604678896187421372008-11-19T18:29:00.000-05:002008-11-19T18:29:00.000-05:00Ministry...Ukraine,Good points. Thanks for sharing...Ministry...Ukraine,<BR/><BR/>Good points. Thanks for sharing. I too think we need to be doing a better job at making the personal contacts with churches/supporters. I suspect this will be more of a priority matter in the months ahead with the economic slowdown. The IMB at any one time has hundreds of potential "PR" people as M's come to the States for Stateside Assignment. A lot more could be done, but probably won't until some clear expectations are made known.J. Guy Musehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17751691713410311094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23191203.post-59038749663008928152008-11-19T18:14:00.000-05:002008-11-19T18:14:00.000-05:00Hi, I'm a semi-frequent blog stalker. I too am a ...Hi, I'm a semi-frequent blog stalker. I too am a little surprised that half of SBC churches have no involvement with IMB/Missions. I think it's a trend that will continue though. I think there's a major disconnect between IMB/Missionaries and local churches. I feel like the IMB needs to borrow from all the faith supported missionaries that do a much better job of maintaining relationships with churches/supporters. It's an out-of-sight, out-of-mind thing: I think the average SB Church Member doesn't even know an IMB missionary. These days no one wants to give to an anonymous entity.Ministry Happens in Ukrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03577335058533614463noreply@blogger.com