New Time

With winter in the rear view mirror now, many of us are getting outside. It's garden time, walks in the park and cutting grass. It is also baseball season. Many of us have played the game on school teams, little league or just on the sand lot. Wherever your diamond was located; all have one thing in common...only way you can get a hit is to swing at the ball. This is the same as when we chose to follow Christ.

One has to get in the "game", so participate and make an effort to spread the gospel. Need a reason to get on the field? I suggest calling on the memory of our Good Friday service and / or the Easter Sunday service. What an uplifting time of praise and worship! We need to get involved with our God's calling for His mission field for ALL of us. 

There are countless ways to get on the field and take part. Pray, first of all, for our Jamaican team in July/August. We have several field missionaries from GBC (Lee Nall, Nancy Myer, and Chris Anderson in Romania). You can call or write them with encouragement. 

As well, how about choosing a particular missionary or region of the world? GBC has well over 60 field missionaries in almost every corner of the world. Please see me for contact information if their individual situation will allow.

But you say... "I can’t hit...or throw... or even run..." interpret this as;  "I can't do anything well for God... I am too old or too young... I am physically unable". Be willing and God will guide. For we see a God who uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways: and He will use us too...as long as we make ourselves available.

It's a long season (life) but the innings are drawing down (Jesus soon returns). Soon it will be over. Let God show you on to the playing field before the final out. Joshua 1:9,...  "Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest". Yes! to God be the glory!

                                                                                                                     Bob Idacavage, Missions Director

Lots To Do

The NFL sport's world is preparing for a new season with trades, rumors and draft days. It's the "off season" where there is no action on the field; so let's compare the season of the year our missionaries are in.

For you see, there is no "off season" for any one of them. Sure they go on furlough; brief respites from their chosen field of work. For they are never out of work or totally unavailable to their fields of ministry. Actually, the same goes for all of us.

The Bible refers to nations (Matthew 24:14); this means people groups as there are around 1700.¹  Missionaries sent from the West took the gospel around the world. Men such as Ad Judson, Hudson Taylor and the late Daryl Champlin, took up the challenge and went. We are not all called to Burma, China or the Amazon rainforest. But we are all called to minister right here... right now. Whether that be Greensboro, NC or Jamaica, we have a mission. That is to support, encourage our missionaries; and to introduce others to the love of the Almighty God who saw it fit to die for us.

Some quick family updates:  

1- Bret Anderson (Tanzania, Africa): The newest member of our GBC mission family is now at the 70% level of support. April 2020 is their estimated time to start in Tanzania. 

2- Chris M'wala (Kenya- Word of Life): He reports progress being made with his children's schooling. As well, he request prayers for them as they seek career guidance 

3- GBC Jamaica Mission team: Remember our mission team heading to the island in July/ August. Consider supporting them and definitely pray for them and the people they will be ministering to.

4- Danny Ingram (Alaska): The church planted by Danny and Jan in Alaska reaped a double harvest this year. The congregation built a greenhouse to raise vegetables. The project produced plenty to give away to unchurched neighbors resulting in hearts being softened and visits to their church.²

There is a lot coming up for GBC. There will be many opportunities to put on your mission shoes and follow God's order to evangelize. Our motive for ministry must be the people. Ministries are just a tool God uses to reach people. Our field missionaries have a willingness to love others and so should we. Anything short of that is unacceptable.

My beloved Eagles will soon be starting practice and their games. They are relaxing now... we can't relax, as time is running out. Soon Jesus will return as the days grow ever the more evil. Let us work while we can and forever give God all the Glory!

Mission Fact: The year 2000 saw the mission board of "Advancing Native Missions"(ANM) join up with a man from Tanzania, Africa. This man had single handedly started 14 churches in his native country. Today there are 250 churches planted and the number is growing.³ Our church supports ANM and a missionary to a closed country.

¹Advancing Native Missions newsletter.   Spring, 2019.  Pg. 2

²Advance - 2018 In Review.  Baptist Mid-Missions.   Pg. 10

³Advancing Native Missions.  "A Native Missions Story" Spring, 2019

                                                                                                                           Bob Idacavage, Missions Director