Missions

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Indian Springs First Baptist Church

3375 Cahaba Valley Road

Indian Springs, Alabama 35124

Phone 205-988-3662

Fax 205-987-9923

E-mail: Pastor Buddy McGohon isfbcpastor@bellsouth.net

E-mail: Music Minister

E-mail: Youth Pastor

E-Mail: Children’s Minister

E-mail: Church Office

For comments to or problems with the website, send an e-mail to: Webmaster

Link to Wikipedia: Where is Guangzhou?

Link to: 12-18-09 Update from the Rabenaus Family

2-9-12

From Richard Rabenau

Missions Pastor

Christians need to be Third Culture people. Expats, businessmen that live abroad, are considered third culture people. They are not living in their own culture, and they do not belong to the culture they are temporarily residing. Coming from a different culture, Expats are not able to fully assimilate to the local culture.

Expats, and their families, make friends with other Expats. What tends to happen is the expat lives in a third culture. In the past, we used to call children of missionaries, missionary kids. Now, they are more correctly called Third Culture Kids.

Even though expats are not part of their host culture, they still have to function and perform their jobs. The medium through which they work or communicate is culture. The Expat, in many instances, tries many ways to communicate the ideas, processes, or functions that need to be done. They rarely are transmitted on the first attempt. Think about it, how many times do spouses or coworkers from the same culture miscommunicate? Effective communication requires trying different methods, patience, and practice.

As Christians, we are also Third Culture Kids. We are adopted children of God. Our home culture is heaven, as described in Scripture. However, we live and work temporarily in a foreign culture. We are not to live as the world lives. We are not to as-similate, but are called to be holy – separate and distinct. Like Expats, we have a job to do in this world. It is not easy to com-municate the gospel. Yet, we keep trying to communicate, through various means, to share the love and life in Christ.

We have an opportunity on February 11 to continue touching and making connections with families in our community, through Indian Springs’ Parents Night Out. We are intentionally reaching out to families, sharing Christ and our lives with them. Please share the event with families in your community. Fliers can be picked up at the church. Thank You.

12-1-11

From Richard Rabenau

Missions Pastor

For a moment, think about being transferred to Cambodia. You would be leaving the wonderful worship of praise the church choir leads, leaving the Pastor’s encouraging words of God, and leaving the friendship of your Sunday School class. You would be leaving all that you know and leaving the family that you love. While you are there, who would encourage you, where would you worship, how would you manage day-to-day living not knowing the language? I would imagine that before you left the U.S., you would ask people to pray for you.

Prayers, in the name of Jesus, are vital to missionaries and to us. We need them to help get through the day. They are our lifeline. Jesus tells us to pray and bring our petitions before him. Yester-day, I heard a man tell his minister to pray for him. The minister replied, “Why don’t you pray yourself? He hears your prayers as well as mine.” This man began praying, and it changed his life. In the name of Jesus, this man was released from drug addiction.

We are approaching our Week of Prayer. Though it is in connection with Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, prayer will change your life and those we pray for. They are our lifeline to our Father in heaven. Join me this week and pray every chance you get, whether in the car, in your room, or in the grocery store. Lift up in prayer everyone that God brings into your mind. Pray for our church, choir, Pastor, children’s ministry team, media team, kitchen ministry team, and staff. Let’s join together in one accord with prayers for each other, as well as our IMB missionaries who have left family, friends, and church body to follow Christ wherever He leads. Here are a few missionaries to pray for:

David and Amanda – East Asia

Rick and Shanna – Eastern Europe

Clem and Linda – South America

Blessings in the name of Jesus,

Richard F. Rabenau

11-10-11

From Richard Rabenau

Missions Pastor

Hello Indian Springs,

Peace be with you!

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, and his family, needs our prayers. Pastor Nadarkhani is an Iranian who has committed his life to following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He is currently jailed for breaking Iran’s penal code, article 225, for apostasy.

Punishment is death. Please join me in prayer for our brother Youcef Nadarkhani and his family. Most of us were introduced to Christ in a loving home by family or friends. Moreover, we are able to practice our faith free from persecution. What if this situation changes? Would you continue to

stand firm in your faith in Jesus Christ no matter what the costs?

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (I recommend reading all the passage in context in which Jesus speaks these words. John 14: 1-31).

Jesus loves us. He has not left us as orphans. He has given us his Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus gives us his peace that passes all understanding. Open our hearts to Christ, spend time with Him, and follow where He leads.

Another prayerful consideration:

I am preparing a mission trip to China and Thailand. One purpose of our trip is to visit orphanages.

The trip will probably be in March. If you can take some vacation, we would love for you to join us. It will be a blessing to you and those we serve. More information will be coming as details get ironed out.

MISSION MOMENT (7-7-11)

The Gelao are one of the least known of China's official ethnic minorities. Today, most Gelao are culturally indistinguishable from the Chinese. The Gelao were once head-hunters and cannibals. Among the Yaya (Tooth) Gelao, the custom of breaking the front tooth of a bride was observed until recently. The Gelao are primarily ancestor worshipers. They also worship the gods of giant trees, of mountains, of sky and earth, cows, etc.

Ministry Obstacles:

Communicating the Gospel clearly to people with an animistic worldview is difficult, but far from impossible.

Outreach Ideas:

Christian workers need to minister to the physical and material needs of the Gelao community, building bridges of friendship.

Pray for the followers of Christ:

Pray the followers of Christ among the Gelao people will hunger to search the Scriptures and learn of the Lord and His ways.

Pray they will be joyful always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances.

Pray for the entire people group

Pray the Gelao will be set free from the bondage of serving created things, instead of the Creator.

Scripture Focus:

"Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised."

1 Chronicles 16:24-25

MISSION MOMENT (1-6-11)

Nunu of China Few people have ever heard of the Nunu even though they possess their own culture, history, language, and ethnicity. Nunu his-tory is shrouded in stories of past migrations and armed conflict with other people groups. Because of pressure from the Han and the Zhuang, the Nunu were driven from their land and forced into the remote mountains. Nunu men have traditionally been great hunters, but today their yields are limited to wild pigs and small game. Pan Hu is worshiped by the Nunu. The Nunu are trapped in complete spiritual darkness. The Nunu are a childlike people.

Ministry Obstacles The Nunu may be wary of outsiders, and may be quite closed to foreign ways of thinking.

Outreach Ideas Christian workers need to win the trust and friendship of the Nunu people. Helping them with their material needs can help with this objective.

Pray for the followers of Christ Even though there may be no followers of Jesus among the Nunu people today, pray for those that Christ will soon call to Him-self. Pray their faith will be carefully nurtured and protected, and that no one will take advantage of their trusting spirit.

Pray for the entire people group Pray for the very poor Nunu people to find ways to improve their lot in life. Pray they will see the need to send their children to school, and that good schools will be available.

Scripture Focus "He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And the lives of the needy He will save." Psalm 72:13