"CELEBRATING MISSIONS"

A warm welcome in Kathmandu

As we conclude this series on missions, preparing for this week’s sermon has caused me to stop and reflect on past mission trips we have taken. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think the Lord would use us and Sierra Vista in the way that He has by sending us to places that previously we hadn't even heard of!
     

I thought back to one of those very places: Nepal. God brought a Nepali family, Jit and Tara Baral, to NMSU and into our lives. A deep friendship was formed and they accepted Christ and became a part of our church family. They invited us, as their American family, to join them for a trip “back home” to meet their Nepali family. After much prayer, God made a way for us to go in 2007. Of course, Gayla and I were excited to meet their family.  However, God had already impressed upon our hearts to go to Nepal with open eyes to see how we could have Sierra Vista partner in reaching that part of the world for Christ that we had already grown to love through the Barals and several other Nepali friends.
     

We arrived in Kathmandu for our month long visit, warmly greeted by Jit and Tara’s family and friends as they placed wreaths of fresh marigolds and silk scarfs around our necks while bowing and saying “namaskar”. The following day, Tara's brother took us to the world’s most famous Buddest temple at Swayanabath (“Monkey Temple”) and to the Nepal National Museum to share with us the history, the culture and the religion of Nepal. This is an ancient culture, steeped in much war and conflict and religion! As we glanced in all directions, we saw religious icons permeating everywhere!  Gayla and I soon began to experience sensory overload and sadness.
     

This is exactly how Paul must have felt when he walked into Athens, (Acts 17:16) [ESV] “Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.” This is exactly what we were feeling!  The Holy Spirit was telling us to pray that the one true God, Jesus Christ, would be made known to these people who worship either Budda or the 330 million Hindu gods.
     

Paul also made another statement that hits home with us in Acts 17:22-23 [ESV] “So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said to them “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: 'To the unknown god.'”   

That’s also describing the Nepali Hindu's who, in their effort to find “the one true God”, worship many gods eliminating the possibility of leaving one out. We also learned these people are actually not opposed to “adding” one more god to their deity list...just in case!  But, this poses a problem!
     

Paul addressed this same dilemma with the Athenians in (Acts 17:23-28) “... this I proclaim to you: The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us, for 'In Him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are indeed His offspring.'”
     

From reading the scriptures above, we can learn from Paul’s example:

1. Be tactful. (v. 22)
2. Build a case for the one true God, by using examples and language they understand. (v. 23)
3. Establish common ground by emphasizing what you do agree on about God. (vv. 24-29)
4. Move them toward a decision about Jesus (vv. 30-31) Offer them a chance to respond.

Here are some questions to stimulate your own personal growth:

• What distresses you spiritually about the area in which you live? What specific needs do you see? What do you feel God is personally calling you to do about it?
• Who do you know who has very little, or no background, in the Gospel? Could you share the Gospel with someone without quoting Bible verses? Why or why not?
• Paul uses culture, history and religion in the form of idols and poetry as points of contact  with these people. What could you use as a point of contact and commonality with people  in your circle of influence in efforts to relate the Gospel with them today?

*(Romans 1:16) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” “Gospel” is the English word used to translate the Greek word for “good news.” We, as Christians, use the word to designate the message and story of God's saving activity through the life, ministry, death & resurrection of God's son, Jesus.

The "Monkey Temple"

A resident from the Temple.