Steve’s Testimony : Imagine a self-centered, rebellious Eastern mystic with no Christian upbringing getting blown out of an exploding building at age 19. Now imagine that same conceited philosophy-lover,convicted of Christ’s resurrection, praying, “Well,Lord, I guess this is it; I want you to be my Savior.” Taken from CMML Missions Magazine
Author Kent Nerburn once wrote, “It is much easier to become a father than to be one.” As Father’s Day approaches, I’m ever mindful of my shortcomings as a dad. Thankfully, God hasn’t left us to figure things out for ourselves; the Scriptures are ripe with wonderful (and not so wonderful) fatherly examples. Whether or not one has actually fathered children, godly men can be fatherly examples to the assembly. Joseph, the adoptive father of the Lord Jesus, is a wonderful example to all Christian fathers and would-be fathers. Although not a word of dialogue is recorded of Joseph, his [...]
For generations, missionaries heading to Africa required training in hunting and how to combat witchcraft and prevent tribal warfare. Along with their Bibles, missionaries brought guns to protect themselves and compasses to explore the uncharted inland. Maybe some of this is still needed, but Africa is changing with the advent of a globalizing economy and post-independence. Taken from CMML Missions Magazine
The scene is the garden of Gethsemane the evening before Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus prays alone, sweating great drops of blood. He returns to His disciples and finds them sleeping. He admonishes Peter, “What, could you not watch with me an hour? Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(Matthew 26:40) What could you not watch with me one hour? What a piercing indictment! Weakness in Prayer Often I am like Peter. In my self-confidence, I’m not against praying, but I also don’t comprehend what is at stake nor the extent [...]
We never expected this! My wife and I served as missionaries in Iran in the 1970s. But everything changed when the Islamic Revolution broke out in late 1978. The Shah of Iran was overthrown. A harsh Islamic government took power. The name of the country changed to the “Islamic Republic of Iran.” Missionary work stopped as we and other missionaries were forced to leave the country. Then, in the early 1980s, God began a work in Iran that had never before been seen. Hungry to know about Jesus, Muslims flocked to the few churches that existed. A growing number became Christians even though they knew it could [...]
I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Talent is a funny thing. There are people loaded with it who don’t succeed, and the opposite is also true. Thomas Edison once quipped, “ Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” That might be how it worked out for him, but what about all those who perspire and expire [...]
Personally, I have been in fellowship at the same assembly for 22 years and counting. I came there as a new believer at age 20 where I was greeted with firm handshakes and warm smiles. I didn’t know anything about church doctrine at the time. It was only love that kept me coming. Over the years, I have learned the doctrine, and over the years I have never found reasons to leave. In an attempt to simplify things, I will suggest there are really only three reasons to leave a church and join another. Doctrinal error The first and foremost [...]
Hello, my name is Ruth Elizabeth Tucker but most of my friends and family call me Ruthie! The oldest of five siblings, I grew up with the blessing of Christian parents. My parents were commended to Turkey when I was about a year and a half, and we lived there until I was eight years old. Once we moved back to the States we lived in Kentucky, and it was there that I trusted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. Taken from CMML Missions Magazine
At my home assembly, I serve as a high school youth group leader with several other young adults. As the other leaders and I build relationships with our kids, we’ve noticed the impact of being authentic while mentoring them. When sharing the lessons we’ve learned when we were younger, the youth respond by opening up about their own life challenges. The Lord has used this to create great relationships where we encourage the youth to follow Jesus Christ. Authenticity is a vital component for any healthy relationship. When we sense that someone is secretive or insincere, our trust and intimacy [...]
The first year on the mission field is exciting. It can also be overwhelming.We often hear first-year reports but they are written in hindsight, softening the trials and possibly forgetting the daily joys. So, when Melinda Dilione, and her husband, Mike, left for the mission field in January 2016, we took this as an opportunity to create an article that viewed the first year as it happened. Taken from CMML Missions Magazine
