The last major shift I mentioned was a combination of large numbers of people born and reborn into the world since the Jesus Movement. These facts, along with the radical changes in Christian life and understanding, form a foundation that has never been seen before. Just think, huge numbers of born again Christians, living for a very long time and eager to unleash their knowledge, experience, spiritual gifts and talents into the world. It boggles the mind.
At this time, there are some 125,000,000 persons in America who are over 50 years of age. If only 30% of the group, some 40,000,000 people, was filled with the Holy Spirit and eager to share God's love, truth and power with others, the impact would be phenomenal. I am thrilled to imagine forty million Spirit filled Christians serving Christ and their fellow citizens with joy and fervor.
The next shift is in education, transportation and mobility. It is one that allows us to think creatively about the kinds of services that such people could offer. If the First Reformation was unable to consider all the members as ministers it was because so few of the members could read, write or travel outside the village. However, the fact that churches are still organized as though the people in the pews are ignorant and stuck in a country village is to cripple our creativity and keep God's love from reaching most of the world.
We now live in the era of short term missions when tens of thousands of ordinary men and women have spent time over seas in ministry. As Seasoned Believers her God's call to minister many of them will find their dream fulfilled in an expanded or full time ministry.
How many of you readers have been on a short term ministry:
National:_____ Where?
International: _________ Where?
4 comments:
Hi Gary,
Interesting stuff...I am on the YOUNG END of the boomers...just turning 50. ACK! How time flies...
I have been on MANY national missions jaunts...to Indian Reservations, Appalachia, inner city/urban areas, and 5 trips to the formerly devastated New Orleans area post hurricane Katrina. In each of these events, I had with me a team...made up of adults (mostly boomers...a few younger) and teenagers. Wow! What a dynamic combo! SO much zeal to do Kingdom work! And so much HEART! Bud was along for several of the trips...and he LOVED doing home repairs, feeding the hungry, etc. etc. We still don't know what Bud's "dream job" looks like, but we know it's somehow missions related and "helps" related.
Internationally, I've gone to the West Indies to minister as a counselor. I've gone to England with a college group and hope to make a pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy (as every good Franciscan should) next summer!
Wow! You and so many more took the Great Commission to heart and then took the good news to other places around the USA and the world. Those trips changed you and changed the people you loved in the Name of Jesus.
I grew up, like you, in a small town and yet covered the world with my interests and spiritual gifts. The seeds we planted will produce fruit among tribes and nations that former generations never even heard about. Are we blessed or what!!
I am so proud of you and Bud and know God is using you wonderfully.
Wow! You and so many more took the Great Commission to heart and then took the good news to other places around the USA and the world. Those trips changed you and changed the people you loved in the Name of Jesus.
I grew up, like you, in a small town and yet covered the world with my interests and spiritual gifts. The seeds we planted will produce fruit among tribes and nations that former generations never even heard about. Are we blessed or what!!
I am so proud of you and Bud and know God is using you wonderfully.
I hit it twice in my excitement.
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