By Gary D. Myers
NEW ORLEANS - What does it mean to be committed to missions?
According to Gordon Fort, vice president of global strategy at the International Mission Board, it means making an open-ended commitment to go wherever God calls, whenever God calls.
"I'm asking you to lay your 'yes' on the altar," Fort said. "In other words (say), ‘God, anytime, anywhere, any place you want to use me for the sake of your kingdom. Before You ask me, I just want You to know, I've already decided that whatever it is, my answer is yes.'"
Fort's challenge was addressed to the students, professors and staff members at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Nov. 4 during Global Missions Week. His words fit well with the goals of the seminary week-long emphasis on world missions.
"The goal of Global Missions Week is to give our seminary family an opportunity to examine how they can be involved in international missions," said Philip Pinckard, missions professor and director of the Global Mission Center at NOBTS. "The chapel speakers, breakout conferences, missionaries sharing in classes, and interaction with missionaries at their displays all point to each individual saying: ‘Lord, I'm available, what do you want me to do to reach the unreached with the gospel?'"
Drawing his sermon from Romans 1:14-16, Fort stated that Christians are under an obligation to share the gospel because of the grace and mercy they have been given. Paul expressed this sense of obligation or debt in verse 14. The obligation to spread the gospel became a driving force in Paul's life.
Fort, who grew up in Zimbabwe where his parents were missionaries, shared a childhood story about motivation.
When Fort was a young boy, workers dug a ditch to bring running water to his family's home. Fort watched as his older brother jumped the ditch. Then his brother challenged him to jump over the ditch and beat the longest jump.
Fort accepted the challenge. As he ran toward the ditch on his attempt, Fort noticed cobra slithering out of the ditch. Scared, Fort jumped higher and further than he thought was possible.
"Not only did I beat him, I beat him by three inches," Fort said. "What was the difference? Motivation."
"We do exactly what we are motivated to do," Fort said. "We can make excuses for not doing what we know we should do, but the truth is, we do what we are motivated to do."
The Apostle Paul knew what it meant to be lost and to be an enemy of the gospel, Fort said. The memory of his lostness and the grace he received from God compelled Paul to take the message to the lost.
All believers share in this debt Fort said. This shared obligation should motivate Christians to share to gospel throughout the world - to every nation and people.
Fort shared about an experience he had while serving in Botswana. As he and an African friend walked through the bush to visit a tribal leader, Fort noticed a woman milking a cow in a muddy pen. Fort wanted to share the gospel with the woman, but his friend hesitated. The friend gave several reasons for not stopping including his thought that the woman was an uneducated peasant who would not understand the gospel.
The two men continued on their way and again Fort felt prompted to share with the woman. Again his friend protested and once again they continued on the road to visit the tribal leader. Again Fort was compelled to stop and share. This time, he convinced his friend.
The men approached the cow pen and began to share the gospel in native languages. To their surprise the woman understood and accepted the gospel. After she prayed to receive Christ, she spoke to Fort in fluent English.
The woman explained that she was the chief instructor at the local teacher's training college and had earned a master's degree from an American university. She told Fort that she knew he and his friend would think she was a peasant. She knew that the men had something important to say when they took time to talk with her.
"That lady became a leading worker in our Baptist work in the country of Botswana," Fort said.
Fort said that believers do not get to decide who is and is not worthy to hear the gospel. He reminded the audience that no one is "owed" the gospel.
"Is there something in your heart that leads you to believe that God owed you the gospel?" Fort asked. "That because of your talents, because of your intellect, because of your ability, because of your family background, because of your education that God is so lucky to have you on His team?"
"There is nothing about me that meant God owed me the gospel," Fort said. "You will never convince me that I don't share this debt with Apostle Paul."
Fort said all believers share this debt. Because of the debt, he said, Christian should lay their "yes" on the altar. Fort encouraged anyone who is serious about putting their "yes" on the altar to get a passport and put it in a prominent place.
"Put it where you see it every day and let it be a symbolic expression in your life that you are ready to go at any time, any place if God says there is an opportunity for you," Fort said.
Earlier in the week, Brad Bessent, pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Hopkins, S.C., shared how his church transformed from a mission-minded church to a mission-going church. Bessent led his small church, which averages 150 each Sunday, to adopt an unreached people group in Mali.
Beulah Baptist Church now sends mission teams to Mali every six weeks. During the past two years, the church has taken 12 mission trips and has seen 100 Bambara people accept Christ.
Bessent said that the experience on the mission field in Mali has helped his church learn to reach more people in Hopkins, S.C.
The church is profiled in "Touch you world and reach the world," a DVD resource available from the International Mission Board. The DVD includes a video about Beulah's work in Mali and information on how churches can partner with IMB in reaching a people group. Visit resources.imb.org or call (800) 999-3113 to obtain a copy.
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