From the Director

From the Director
by Jon Foote

I open the cupboard full of food. I search through the fridge, pushing things out of the way as I look for something to eat. I close the door and announce, "There's nothing to eat." I look at the clock on the wall. It's 8:35 PM. I start to complain. Our one grocery store closed five minutes ago. Now I have two things to complain about - nothing to eat, and the store being closed. I'm hungry with nothing to eat! Lori starts to give me suggestions as to what to eat. There're all kinds of leftovers, plus canned veggies in the cupboard. Now I have three things to complain about. With a new resolve, I set out to find something to eat. It dawns on me that the convenience store was open. Everything is over priced but I can finally get something to eat. Forty minutes and fifteen dollars later I return home. I now have something to eat.

It's 9:15 PM. I'm eating and watching the images roll past on the TV, when it dawns on me. We truly live in the land of convenience. Fast food, no payments until July, 0% APR with approved credit; an instant gratification society where we can have 852 pounds of food in the house and yet say, "There's nothing to eat." Actually, it is more likely to be classified as a selfish society. I want the songs we sing at church to be the ones I like, and if they're not I'll complain. If they aren't sung the way I like them with the good drummer or organist, I'll let everyone know.

We must realize that God is not a God of convenience or selfishness. He is a God of Faithfulness. Sadly I see our society's mindset carry over into missions. I see it in the individual who desires to be a missionary and yet is unwilling or unable to follow through with his/her preparation, if that preparation is anything but enjoyable and easy. I see it in the missionaries who are faithfully serving the Lord, struggling with a lack of finances, a lack of prayer support, or just needing someone to encourage rather than criticize them. I see the discouragement first hand through our staff and students that this creates. It seems that missionaries are prayed for when it's convenient to pray. When I find the time, I'll pray. I wish that I had more time to really pray, but life is so busy. I'll add the missionaries to the end of my mealtime prayer, saying, "God, thanks for this food and be with Fred and Ethel." It's sad when I can find the time to watch Monday Night Football or Survivor but I can't "find" the time to pray. Quantity and quality time to pray for those whom I have committed to lift up to the Lord in prayer is what God expects of me and is what your missionaries desire.

James was arrested and put to death by the sword. When Herod saw that it pleased the people he arrested Peter. Peter was spared miraculously - why? "Earnest or fervent prayer" according to Acts 12:5. As with King David recorded in 2 Samuel 24:24, "I will not offer sacrifice to the Lord my God that which costs me nothing." God desires us to follow through even when it costs us. When you decide to pray and support a missionary financially, is the amount what God desires you to give or is it what you can give without noticing the loss of funds? I don't know of a single missionary who doesn't desire more "earnest or fervent prayer," who would be so much more effective in their ministry if they had more funds, or would love for someone to come along side of them, roll up the sleeves and labor beside them.

I want to challenge everyone reading this to give your best to the Master whether it's praying, giving money, or going yourself. Let no man prevent you from following your calling. Even to the point of it costing you. Turn the TV off or disconnect from the Internet, and pray. Don't buy that new DVD or order that pizza, and give. Don't visit Disneyland or the Grand Canyon, and go on a mission trip. There are hundreds of missionaries out there who are trusting the Lord for their needs, and the Lord will use people like you to fulfill those needs. Will you do your part and become a member of God's team to reach this world for Christ?

Jon Foote

Missionaire International
PO Box 335
Tompkinsville, Kentucky 42167
Phone : 270-407-9816
308-235-7466 (Jon's Cell)
308-235-7331 (Lori's Cell)

E-mail: serve@missionaire.org