The World Is Waiting

By Wendy Tatro

I have a dream! I realize this is not an original thought, but I do have a dream. It’s a dream of IFC being a church on fire for the world!

Don’t get me wrong; I think IFC is the best church anywhere. I really do! As great as IFC is, though, I think we can grow in our passion for the world. That’s why I was thrilled when Pastor Jonathan challenged us to sow a seed of $5.00 weekly into missions.

Why a weekly seed? Our daily activities can be all consuming. It’s easy to become self-centered and forget there are millions of people who still need Jesus. Sowing a seed weekly is a reminder that the world needs our attention.

What can $5.00 really accomplish? The answer to that question is in the beauty of multiplication. Hundreds of us giving $5.00 each week, week after week, adds up to a substantial contribution to world missions.

What if I want to give more than $5.00? This should be our goal. For most of us giving $5.00 means giving up a treat or a fast food meal once a week. We should challenge ourselves to make sacrifices for the Gospel.

What do you mean by “sacrifice”? If we would daily consider the true sacrifice of missionaries and persecuted Christians, we’d be motivated to give and do more. Our own missionaries to Turkey live in a region where radical Muslims murdered Christian workers a few months ago. Physical attacks against Christians are common there. Ten of our missionary families have endured wars in the nations in which they serve. Nine of our missionary families live in one of the world’s poorest nations, where limited electricity and running water is commonplace.

What is a “persecuted Christian”? These are our brothers and sisters in Christ in over 30 nations who suffer abuse for their faith or are restricted in expressing their faith. The secular media covers very little of the abuse Christians face in nations such as North Korea, Iran, China, Sudan, and India.

What can I do for persecuted Christians? Be informed, pray and seek justice. Websites such as persecution.org, opendoorsusa.org, and persecution.com offer information, petitions you can sign, and samples of letters you can write to US Congressmen and embassies in persecuting nations.

What else can I do? Pray for our missionaries! Use the IFC Prayer Passport (available on the Information Table) and daily pray for a missionary. Read the missionary’s description and the stats of their nation and pray in the Spirit. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as you pray for provision, protection and open doors for our special forces who are serving on the front lines of world evangelism.

Anything else? Yes! Give some time. Attend the Missions Prayer Life Group, serve on the IFC Missions Team, go on a mission trip, attend and help with the Touching Lives Conference.

Choose to be a World Christian! Stand against the selfishness of the typical American lifestyle and thoughts that your little part really doesn’t matter. If we all give, pray and serve, we can reach those who have not heard, aid those suffering persecution and honor our champions who sacrifice so much to represent us in the harvest fields of the world!