Go Therefore and Make Disciples

This week at First Baptist – Emery, Chuck Hiatt (former pastor at FBC) will be bringing the word of God from Psalm 90.  The title of his message is “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life.”  Pray for him as he brings the truth of the Gospel to ears that will hear.

The reason for Chuck preaching this week is due to my joining a group from Emery and Virginia heading to Pine Ridge, South Dakota to lead a Vacation Bible School, build relationships, and help the local church with any needs.  This trip has taken place for at least the past fifteen years and hopefully will continue for the next eighty (at least).

This begs the question, why do we go back to Pine Ridge every year, with seemingly very little “progress” or “success” in the realm of spiritual growth (Pine Ridge is made up of around 1% believers/disciples of Christ)?  To answer this question we need to look beyond what we can see.  Yes, there seems to be very little “progress” of the Gospel to our own eyes, but God is calling disciples of Christ from South Dakota, Virginia, and across the country to Pine Ridge to continue the work of fulfilling the Great Commission.  We are called to go and make disciples.  So, we go and each year we wait to see what God is going to do.  As long as he calls us to Pine Ridge we will continue to go.  We are disciples of Christ who desire to see revival in the hearts of those at Pine Ridge.  We cannot overcome the historical, current, and future road blocks of the Gospel message.  But God can.  And will.

One final question for you: What are you doing to fulfill the Great Commission?  Perhaps it is in another country or in your own neighborhood, but God is calling all of his children to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

Please pray for the team heading to Pine Ridge this week from July 13-20.  Do not let your first prayer be safety (as Pine Ridge can be a very dangerous area), but let your first and most fervent prayer be for the Gospel Message to make its way to the hearts of those whose ears hear.  May we come back from Pine Ridge this year with stories of revival and repentance of those at Pine Ridge.  May we come back changed ourselves, more reliant upon Christ, and renewed in our own faith.