Support and participate
DECEMBER 3, 2007 (MONDAY) – At our church, the First Baptist Church of Rockport, Texas, we heard Orman Gwynn yesterday. He spoke at both morning services and truly inspired all of us to commit ourselves to the mission work of Christ. His sermon, illustrated throughout with synchronized power point displays, was a masterful presentation. His wife, Elizabeth, was at the tables just outside the worship center, giving people much helpful and interesting information about mission work.
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Edwards were medical missionaries in Colombia and worked with the Gwynns, who spent the last 8 years of their mission career in an area of the Caribbean that included Colombia. The Edwards led the church to invite the Gwynns for this special mission emphasis.
Our church has set a goal of $10,000 for our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Once upon a time this would have been an overwhelming goal for our church, but not today. I shall be very surprised if the church does not exceed the goal. The generosity and concern for God’s work in this congregation have combined to create a strong program of outreach here. Recent mission projects have resulted in a heightened interest in support of worldwide witness.
The old hymn, “O Zion Haste,” (1868) comes to mind:
O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
To tell to all the world that God is light,
That He who made all nations is not willing
One soul should perish, lost in shades of night.
Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace;
Tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.
(Hint to new Believers: “Zion” is another name for “Jerusalem,” which symbolizes God’s people. It has often been used poetically to represent the Church).