The harvest is great, but the workers are few
Eric: I just thought I should share what God has been doing lately over here. Today (Saturday) we had a weekly Bible study with some people at the base of the mountains. Dwayne gave the study and Wendy translated for him. There are some very honest seekers there that want to learn more about the Bible.
Dwayne talked about the beginning of the world and creation and how sin came into the world. It went well and when Wendy showed a picture of "creation," (it was actually one of Heaven with kids talking to Jesus), they really were intent. They thoroughly enjoy pictures.
Anyway, since that Bible study has started, there is another group further into the mountains that would like to have a Bible study going also. Thankfully there is an Adventist church nearby and the members come and help out. They agreed that a few of them would go to the other place and have another Bible study with those people. I am excited to see how open people are to the gospel.
There is a great need for people to reach out and spread God’s word. It may seem like it's only in foreign mission fields that people are so responsive. But there is also a great need in the United States. Have you seen the news about all the "sightings" of Jesus or the Virgin Mary in random objects? There are people that see Mary in a grease stain, or Jesus in an ultrasound and that's only a few of them.
In one there was an angel that was seen in a window at night (it's not a great one but if you use your imagination you can see it) that people flock to. The gas station across the street was so tired of all the vehicles plugging up his parking lot that he shut the outside lights off (which amazingly made the angel across the street disappear). Even after that people were pleading with the store owner to turn the light back on so they could come and pray there where the angel was on the window. This story just shows how desperate people are to have something to believe in.
One thing that I have seen here is that members of churches will get tired of coming to church or it's too expensive to get there so nobody goes out to visit them and encourage them. Some people are not as strong as others and may give up on church and God. (James 5:19 and Galatians 6:1-2) But those of us to continue going to church need to be encouraging these "weaker" people.
It seems to me that the Adventist church ought to start going out and visiting people who are members and don't come to church (every church has some). All people need here is for someone to lead out and start the ball rolling. These Bible studies that have started just needed the missionaries to get things rolling and the church members are happy to keep things going (of course it helps to have the spectacle of white people visiting them).
I'm sure some of you are thinking "well I witness by example…" that's all fine and dandy (I used to think that) but I'm not sure it's enough. If you don't have a desire to share the gospel with others I think it is safe to say that your relationship with God isn't as strong as it should be. If we really love God, would we not want to show others what they are missing by not having a relationship with God? If you are married to someone and don't want to admit to any of your friend that she or he is your spouse, then you must not care about your spouse much. I'm not one to go out and share God’s message to people I don't know, but with God's help I can.
Look at Moses (Ex. 4:10-11) he didn't like the idea of going and speaking to the people of Israel or Egypt, but God worked through him and gave him abilities. When he continued to show reluctance, God pretty much said "fine, if you don't want to talk, I will let Aaron talk for you."
Jeremiah also thought that he wasn't qualified or able to tell people what God wanted him to tell them (Jeremiah 1:6-8). But God helped him with his task and made it clear that he would enable him to follow through with his commission.
Mark 16:15-20 tells us of our job to go out and preach to the entire world. Notice it doesn't say go out and make Adventist. We need to tell people of Jesus and his love and sacrifice for us (1 Cor 1:23, & 2:1-2). Let the Holy Spirit lead them to be Adventist. All I am saying is don't just burst out and say "you need to worship on Sabbath and many of your beliefs are contrary to the Bible". Of course many Americans know of Jesus, but also many of them have hardly ever opened a Bible to read it. Start with the Bible and not EGW.
We are at a time in this world that shows the end is fast approaching. If you have noticed any of the news lately and tried to keep updated on what is going on, you have already seen this. Being over here in the Philippines allows me to see things from an impartial viewpoint. There have been floods in Washington and Oregon, drought in China, fires and flood in Australia, and civil unrest in the whole world due to economics.
The pope is telling different religions that unity is possible. Russian orthodox leaders are saying they need to work with Catholics to help with the problems. The prime minister of Britain talked with the pope about the "values" that people need to have during this crisis. The president of the USA made a speech about how all the different religions need to work together to help with the problems of this world. The pope also stated how important a part the unions have in solving the crisis (I always figured them for more of the cause of the problem).
There are riots happening in different areas (Greece and China). Things are happening just like the Bible speaks of (Matt. 24 and Luke 21:11). If this isn't a time to get serious with reaching out to members of the church that aren't active and members of other churches, then what time is?
Time is nearing the end and soon it will be much more difficult to do outreach. I just hope that each of you will start reaching out to others and teaching people of the Bible. I know it is a difficult task (especially for introverted people like me) but as hard as it is, I am working on it and know that it is possible. We just need to put our faith in God that He will be with us and help us to do what He has asked.
Pray for the things that are happening over here because there is so much work to do.
(What you just read was written by [Dwayne’s] brother who has been helping us here since October.)
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