Blog Diyiin Bi

In the Minister’s Conference worship service on Thursday night, evangelist Dan Hughes preached a great message. His text was 2 Timothy 3:1. He also read portions of Ezekial 22 and Romans 12, as well as other scripture. The theme of the Conference was “The Pursuit of Excellence,” and Rev. Hughes’ sermon set the tone for the remainder of the Minister’s Conference.

To illustrate what it takes to really pursue excellence, he used the inspiring article, “The Fellowship Committed to Doing Whatever it Takes.” After the worship service, I asked him for a copy of it. I have since found this, or variations of it, on about a dozen or so websites. (I went to Google and used part of the title as the search term.) I was trying to find out who the missionary was, but the best I could find was that the unnamed missionary was in western Africa for 20 years. Most of the websites that posted this article or portions of it used the attribution “author unknown.”

Here it is:

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Upon the death of a missionary who had spent 20 years in Africa digging out a work for God, tacked on the wall of his mud hut was this note:

I’m a part of the fellowship committed to doing whatever it takes. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has already been cast. I’ve stepped over the line. I’m out of the comfort zone. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, or back away. My past is Redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is Secure.

I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarf goals. I’m a part of the fellowship committed to doing whatever it takes.

I no longer need pre-eminence.
I no longer need position.
I no longer need promotions.
I no longer need popularity.
I don’t have to be Right!
I don’t have to be First!
I don’t have to be Tops!
I don’t have to be Recognized, Praised, Regarded, or Rewarded.

I’m a part of the fellowship committed to doing whatever it takes. I now live by presence. I lead by faith. I love by patience. I lift by prayer. I labor by power. I’m a part of the fellowship committed to doing whatever it takes. My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road is narrow. My way is rough. My companions are few, but my guide is reliable. My mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, or lured away.

I cannot be turned back or diluted. I will not be delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, or hesitate in the face of the adversary, or negotiate at the table of my enemies. I will not ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze called mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, or burn up until I’ve preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of the Jesus Christ. I’m a part of the fellowship committed to doing whatever it takes.

I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He comes. I must give until I drop. I must preach until all know. I must work until God stops and when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me, because I’ve dedicated my life to being a part of the fellowship committed to doing whatever it takes.

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“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

A Hindu said to a native missionary, “I am sure if I lead a good life and do what is right, giving up my bad habits, God will be pleased with me and receive me into heaven.”

“That is the way most people reason today,” replied the missionary. “You know the babul tree (a tree with long, sharp thorns). Now, suppose you break off from its branches a hundred or more of the nasty thorns, then will the tree cease to be a babool tree?”

“Certainly not.”

“Suppose you should apparently stop one or another or even many of your evil ways and habits, you would still remain the same like the babool tree. You must have an entirely new nature, must become a new man, in order to please God. Only Christ can give you a new heart.”

The missionary’s reply was sound and scriptural. The message of Christ, His first and only message to sinful man, is his need of repentance.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)

Pastor Marv

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The campus is quiet today. For the past week, we had over 100 of our Baptist brothers and sisters from Eastern Tennessee visiting us. They left this morning. They came to the mission field work, and wow! did they ever work!

In addition to other projects, the Thoreau Church of God now has a new porch and handicap ramp on the fellowship hall and the covered porch for the church itself is now finished. Several Navajo grandmothers had repairs and additions made to their hogans. The Waterflow Church of God has a new porch for the church, and the parsonage ceiling is now sheetrocked. And there are many other construction projects our friends from Tennessee worked on. I don’t know of even half of them!

But the most important thing that happened this week was the changed lives. At least four Navajos are now born-again Christians, and many others had their lives touched by the love and kindness shown by our new missionary friends, the Baptists of Eastern Tennessee. They held Vacation Bible Schools in several churches, including Thoreau Church of God.

1 John 2:10 says, “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.” Our Baptist brothers and sisters were abiding in the light all week. May God richly bless them and give them a safe trip home.

Thank you, my new friends! Please come back soon. You are loved by your Church of God brothers and sisters.

in His service,
Pastor Marv

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