Dear Friends,

I’m going to devote the majority of this months’ Pastor’s Points to highlighting the needs of our International Missions Department as reported in several communications we have received in recent days.

Several factors have contributed to the situation that our IMB is facing at this time. First and foremost, currency exchange rates over the last two years have been brutal. Contributions from our donors come to the IMB in dollars while overseas expenses have to be paid in Euros, yen, rupees and other currency inflating ongoing “fixed” expenses. Our IMB has no control over this issue. Second, donor income has also fallen off due in large part to the recessionary pressure that all of us are facing. Donor income is down 8% as of November compared with the same time last year.

What has the IMB done to address this need? They have taken several steps to maintain the financial integrity of our Mission. After freezing salaries in 2009, the IMB made a 5% across the board reduction of base salaries in both stateside staff and field personnel for 2010. They have eliminated several stateside staff positions. The 75^th Anniversary celebration scheduled for Oklahoma City has been drastically scaled back. Programs and special projects have also been suspended or placed on the “back burner” indefinitely. I want to commend the IMB for making these tough decisions. I know it was difficult.

The question for all of us is, “What can we do at this point to help?” Obviously the most important thing any of us can do is to pray for the Mission. Saturate this need with prayer. We serve a great big God who has unlimited resources. He will provide. But, we must also move beyond our petitions to the giving of our possessions. We can do this individually with coins banks and personal gifts to the Mission and corporately through special offerings and budgeted giving through our local church. The need is great but our God is greater. We have received a “Great Commission” from our Lord and we cannot, we must not fail, and by the grace of God we will not fail!

I would like to issue a challenge to every church and individual to do something now to help our Mission. Write a check, give a gift, or fill up a coin bank and send it to the IMB as soon as possible. Our Mission needs to hear from all of us.

In closing, let me say that we appreciate all of the positive feedback we receive from those of you who read the Evangel. If you would like to help with this ministry you can send a love gift to FFWBC or use E-Giving at ffwbdothan.org. God bless and keep you all.

I’ll BCNU.

What do you think of when you think of the month of January, colder weather, a return to school or work after the holidays, taking down Christmas decorations, (the BCS championship game with the Crimson Tide playing the Horns)? When I think of this time of the year I think about the opportunities that we have for a new beginning, a fresh start, the opportunity to launch out in a new direction. New opportunities bring their own set of challenges. Paul spoke of the “open doors” that were available but he also mention “adversaries” as well in 1 Corinthians 16:9. Progress is never easy and never has been so you and I should not be surprised to find out that with every opportunity there is also an obstacle! One old cliché is very applicable, “No pain, no gain!” How is progress achieved? Let me share some thoughts with you about the “pain” necessary for “gain.”

First, there is the need for wisdom, God’s wisdom that is. I say God’s wisdom because there are two kinds mentioned in the Bible. There is human wisdom which is “earthly, sensual and devilish,” and there is Godly wisdom that is “pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated etc.” To make genuine spiritual progress we must use the wisdom that comes from above and God has promised to give this kind of wisdom to those who ask.

Next, there is the need for what someone describe as “want to!” You have to have a real desire to make progress. I suspect that this is the intangible that makes the difference between success and failure. I can’t quantify it but I know you have got to have some to make progress.

Third, there is the need for waiting. This may be the most difficult aspect of this process. We know what the Bible says about those “who wait upon the Lord.” There is a payday for those who are willing to wait on God’s timing. The difference between a successful running back and one who is not is often the runner’s willingness to let the play develop, to wait on his blockers.
Finally, there is the work. Plain old hard work is absolutely essential to forward progress. There are many tasks that I have done over the years that required plain old “elbow grease!” You can plan your work and we should, but we must also work our plan. A strong work ethic will go a long way towards making us fruitful in the work of the Lord.

None of us enjoys “pain,” but we all like the “gain!” Progress requires that we have wisdom, desire, patience and strong work ethic. God help us to apply these principles and make 2010 the most fruitful year of our lives!

I’ll BCNU.