Exploring Truth Ministries

As we approach the end of this month a new chapter will start in the lives of some of my best friends.  Josh and Stacy Leigh Hutchens will return to Moldova to complete their 2 year appointment as missionaries.  As they arrive they will be working with young pastors in Moldova training them in New Testament Studies through the Eurasian Baptist Mission.   As I have contemplated their mission and prayed for them I am reminded of a hymn written by Albert Simpson (1904) that I love to sing:

To the regions beyond I must go, I must go
Where the story has never been told;
To the millions that never have heard of His love,
I must tell the sweet story of old.

To the hardest of places He calls me to go,
Never thinking of comfort or ease;
The world may pronounce me a dreamer, a fool,
Enough if the Master I please.

Oh, you that are spending your leisure and powers
In those pleasures so foolish and fond;
Awake from your selfishness, folly and sin,
And go to the regions beyond.

There are other “lost sheep” that the Master must bring,
And to them must the message be told;
He sends me to gather them out of all lands,
And welcome them back to His fold.

(Chorus) To the regions beyond I must go, I must go,
Till the world, all the world,
His salvation shall know.

It is an incredible thing that God is allowing Josh to teach New Testament to young church planters and pastors in a former communist country.  The vision of the school is amazing.  Not only are they training pastors for Moldovan churches but they are preparing missionaries to reach their neighboring countries.

Moldova is surrounded by the ’stan countries of the former Soviet Union.  Countries that are closed to missionaries and the Gospel.  Americans cannot penetrate their borders with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  However, a Moldovan national can pass through these borders freely and spread the Gospel as he goes.  Through sending trained church planters and pastors to unreached areas Josh and those who work beside him, are reaching people groups that were impossible to reach just a few years ago.

As Josh spends his day training new pastors, Stacy Leigh will spend her time raising their son and working with the staff at a camp for young people.  Over the years many young Moldovans have come to know Christ through the ministry of this camp.  Most of the pastors that are trained in the school in which Josh teaches are products of the camp in which Stacy Leigh will be working.  With each new generation of campers comes the opportunity for God to raise up more Christians and Church leaders.

Please pray for my friends as I have these past several months.  Pray that God would save more people in Moldova.  Pray that God will provide for my friends.  Pray that God will use them to send out more people to the dark and dying lands that surround the country in which they serve.

You can learn more about their ministry and how to support it at www.gospellife.org

Tags: Gospellife, Josh Hutchens, Missionary, Missions, Moldova

Issue

Recently, while standing in the middle of a cornfield conversing with a farmer whom has been a committed Christian, Southern Baptist and a deeply spiritual man for nearly 20 years, the subject of general revelation came up.  “I just think if that tribe in Africa doesn’t have a chance to hear the Gospel then God will honor anyone of them who looks at creation, puts his faith in the fact that something out there is bigger than Him.  Yeah, God will let those people in heaven.” 

It is my proposal to prove that the general revelation given by God in nature and conscience is not enough to warrant salvation to individuals.  Furthermore, I intend to demonstrate that the proclamation of the Gospel is necessary for salvation. 

It has been my experience, on multiple occasions, to discover that many Southern Baptist church members have a very shallow and unorthodox view of the nature of general revelation, its purpose and abilities.  It is my hope that this paper can be used to defend the position that the proclamation of the Gospel is necessary in order for people to be converted, no matter their geographical, socio-economical or socio-religious situations.

Continue Reading »

After a long wait I have finally gotten the Mexico mission trip pictures up on the web.  You can view them in the slide show below or download them here.

Tags: Mexico, Missions, Playa Del Carmen

I have for the last several months been preaching itinerantly across several states.  I love meeting new people and sharing the Word of God with different congregations.  In my recent travels I have come to some conclusions about itinerant preaching, both pro’s and con’s.

Let’s start with the pro’s first.  This type of ministry is good because it supplies a need to congregations who may not have the means to hire multiple staff members.  If a church has staff, generally in the absence of a pastor the staff would fill in.  A lot of SBC churches simply can’t afford this luxury.

It is also a good thing for congregations to be able to get a different perspective on the word of God.  Pastors, just like everyone else, can get in ruts and they have their own hobby horses and soap boxes.  This can, sometimes, lead to apathy in hearing on the part of the congregation.  Even the best pastor, who is very passionate, communicates very well in his own style and is very dedicated to Godly service can sometimes become dull.  It’s good to get a different perspective on the word in a different style.  It can stir the congregation and bring a breath of freshness into the church.  It’s always encouraging being used of God in this way. Continue Reading »

Today we are doing more church construction.  I did not post yesterday because I was sick.  I had a 101.2 temperature last night and did not feel well all day.  Needless to say I was not much help on the construction site.  However, today I feel a bit better and have been able to at least help dig a hole.

I had the privilege of preaching the main service for Pastor Jose on Sunday.  The church was full and people were standing outside the gates that open out from  the sanctuary to the sidewalk listening intently to the Gospel.

I am amazed at the joy of the people in Mexico.  They have been very gracious and welcoming.  They worship with much joy and love in their hearts for God.

How you can pray.

• There have been a few of us who have been sick.  The weather is hot in the day and cools down considerably at night.  Please, pray that God will give us much grace in our health.
• Pray for the people of Playa Del Carmen.  Thousands of Mexicans per week are flooding into this city looking for work in resorts that can afford them a better life.  The mission field here is ripe.
• Pray for Antonio, our translator, he left his wife and children with his mother to come to Playa for work.  He desperately wants them to move here but is lacking the funds to make that work.

Here are a few pictures to share with you what we have been doing the last few days.

A  concrete form for columns that will support the roof of the church.

Pastor Jose’s office.  The rebar sticking out of the hole will be the corner support.

Stephen and myself digging the other hole for the the second corner pillar.  Stephen did more of the work but I had the most fun.

The top part is stadium seating.  You can see the concrete form that will eventually support the roof.  To fill the forms with concrete they mix it on the ground by hand and pack it to the forms in 5 gallon buckets. They have church under that during the meantime.  You can see the pews under the structure.

The salvation of my trip.  I was really starting to be a bit overwhelmed by tacos and mystery food.  This was a good choice for supper last night.

Hope you have enjoyed.  God is working here.