Tag: gospel

MISSION TRIP 2017

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

“If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God!”

These are very intriguing, and even somewhat stirring words of D.L. Moody … originally a shoe salesman/trader and Sunday School teacher who grew his Chicago-based North Market Hall Sunday School to a membership of 1500 in 1863.  While Moody became primarily known throughout America and the United Kingdom as an evangelist, publisher (Moody publishers), and the founder of what is now the Moody Church (originally Chicago Avenue Church) as well as Moody Bible Institute (Chicago Bible Institute), his clearly stated desire to reach children with Christ’s gospel and educate them in the scriptures is often overlooked.

Every year, West Oaks Fellowship facilitates and underwrites a youth and young adult led outreach to all the children of Willacy County, Texas, which is one of the poorest counties in our state, aka MISSION TRIP.       

The primary objective of each year’s youth mission trip ministry is relatively  simple … introduce others to Jesus Christ (His Love, Grace, Forgiveness, and Salvation) through our Extreme ABC VBS ministry (which is not relatively simple).                      

Nonetheless, the first step in obeying Christ’s imperative command of Matthew 28:19-20 (“make disciples”) is introducing Jesus Christ and the message of His gospel to those who haven’t heard it, and/or those who haven’t fully believed!

Needless to say, I Timothy 2:3-4 provides motivation for our mission and offers continued encouragement for all those who participate in this sacrificial endeavor:

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

In addition, there are several other meaningful and spiritually significant purposes and goals of our annual mission trips to south Texas as well. 

  • Provide opportunities for youth and young adults from various ministries (not only from WOF) to participate in a meaningful, life-changing, genuine ministry experience.

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

I Timothy 4:12

  • Assist in the establishment of a New Testament church ministry in this relatively unreached community where no evangelical outreach ministry or church currently exists.
  • Provide a unique opportunity for youth and young adults to serve and minister along-side youth / young adults from other churches/ministries.

Charles Spurgeon, British Baptist Pastor/Author stated:

Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in, since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation.

  • See the purposes of the Lord, Jesus Christ, accomplished as both youth, young adults, and adult believers work side–by–side … together in unity.

Missionary, author, and holocaust survivor, Corrie ten Boon put it this way, “Be united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks is not good. The bricks must be cemented together.”

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!  It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing — life forever.

Psalm 113:1-3

Pastor, Author, Seminary President, Dr. John Walvoord proposed:            

The only way it is possible to have one mind is to have the mind of God derived from the unity of the Spirit of God, a unity which comes only when believers find the will of God and give themselves unselfishly and unstintingly to its fulfillment.

Now, Mission Trip 2017 is upon us!  We need the Lord’s protection, guidance, wisdom, and strength, as well as your participation, unrelenting intercessory prayer, and financial contributions (you can even help us raise additional funds by selling some raffle tickets to those outside the church too) in order to accomplish all these objectives. (We’ve enclosed some Mission Trip 2017 info along with an offering envelope as well).  

In John 17:21-23, Jesus said:

The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

Please ask the Lord how you should be part of this ministry — His & Yours, PF

MISSION TRIP 2018

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I’m writing a personal letter this month in order to reveal my heart concerning the ministry of our church Mission Trips and particularly that of Mission Trip 2018.  Last Sunday, April 22, 2018, I shared some uncoached statements our youth and young adults voluntarily made concerning the dynamic, life-transforming, spiritual impact our mission trips have created in their lives. (You can watch the teaching on YouTube, West Oaks Fellowship, “Our Purpose For Mission Trip 2018” or on our church website westoaksfellowship.com, click on Worship Service Videos)

Why, as a minister of Christ’s gospel and the Lead Pastor of West Oaks Fellowship, am I “all-in” on our short-term missionary-type evangelical outreaches in the South Texas Valley?

One of the greatest things about the way WOF does mission trips is that they are consistently and uncompromisingly about our Mission Trip participants having a direct, literal — hands-on opportunity — to express the grace, acceptance, and love of Jesus Christ to children of all ages.  Unless one has actually personally witnessed our ministry teams in action (unconditional kindness and care relentlessly demonstrated to every VBS participant), it is almost unexplainable and unbelievable.  Yes, when 500-600 children are divided up into small groups of 10-15 in each crew and they swarm (no kidding) around our youth crew leaders (who are responsible for their daily activities) and they just keep on loving the children moment by moment, tears come to my eyes.  When I observe our adults and young adults sacrifice income, vacation time, sleep, and funds, along with no telling what else, to faithfully support our young people in their ministries, again it evokes emotions from deep within.  Sometimes I just go hide so no one sees the tears running down my face; other times, I just sit down, which doesn’t happen often throughout any given day, and celebrate in gratitude to my Lord for all that is going on (in His name and for His glory). 

See, I know exactly what it’s like to take youth on mission trips who don’t really want to do the mission at hand.  I’ve put roofs on pastors’ homes, repaired church buildings, cleaned and painted facilities, cut down and chopped up huge trees, dug ditches and buried water lines for baptistries, built walls, installed a/c units, doors, hardware, windows, lights, plugs, switches and even run electrical circuits.  I’m confident that all this work was needed, but I’m not sure it was overwhelmingly life-changing for any of those mission trip participants … including me.  While in most cases the church and church leaders were generally grateful for our efforts, I am not confident that those trips directly resulted in the youth and young people who participated sharing the truth/gospel and straightforwardly demonstrating Christ’s love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

As a result, way back in 1980, I became determined to never participate in mission trips that were primarily service oriented – not that they are wrong, (sometimes we engage in these type of activities) – but if it is a mission trip, then the mission should be simply, basically, and clearly sharing the Gospel of Christ and being servants of our Lord, working to build His kingdom.

While there are many opportunities to participate in what I would call real or authentic mission trips, the Lord has continually opened doors for us in the South Texas Valley.  I have been working in this region, actually on both sides of the border (even though we don’t cross the border with our young people anymore), for 38 years.  I guess that’s called commitment, and I’m hereby inviting you to make a sacrificial (that which has great value) commitment right now to join Mission Trip 2018.  Make (in today’s lingo “strongly encourage”) your teenager(s) join the team … young adults, take off work and rise up in ministry and leadership … adults, just come (I know it’s hard, but you’ll bless others and you’ll be blessed), help us prepare, support financially, and pray.  In fact, ask yourself … Why not all the above! 

FYI – That’s your personal invitation to participate!

Now, will you be so brave as to listen honestly and sincerely to the Lord, and then openly respond to (obey) His leading, rather than entertaining all the reasons and excuses that will flood your mind telling you why not to participate? 

I fully trust that the Lord will work powerfully in and through each of us as we fully embrace Mission Trip 2018 as our ministry, and let it all happen … for His glory and purpose(s)! 

That’s my heart … His and yours, PF