“It’s beautiful . . . so beautiful!”
Aisha looked at me over the table, her eyes moist with joy, an inner peace radiating across her face. Before her was an open Bible. She had just read Romans 5:8. “But God proves His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us” (NRSV). She paused and then repeated, “So beautiful!”
Why give? This is why! Because there are so many millions of unreached Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, animist and atheist hearts that have yet to find the beauty and joy Aisha discovered in the salvation of Christ Jesus. AFM exists for unreached people, and we invite you to join us in our joy as we go to the farthest reaches of the earth to reveal the beauty of our Lord to them.
Annexes New Territories for God
“The missionary spirit needs to be revived in our churches. Every member of the church should study how to help forward the work of God, both in home missions and in foreign countries. Scarcely a thousandth part of the work is being done that ought to be done in missionary fields. God calls upon His workers to annex new territory for Him. There are rich fields of toil waiting for the faithful worker. And ministering angels will co-operate with every member of the church who will labor unselfishly for the Master” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol.6, p. 29).
Builds Faith
You will experience first-hand the promise of Luke 6:38. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Multiplies your Involvement and Efforts
While you work for souls where you live, you can also have someone working for souls in other time zones, thus covering the day with your influence for Christ and multiplying your efforts.
“An American businessman who was an earnest Christian, in conversation with a fellow worker remarked that he himself worked for Christ twenty-four hours of the day. ‘In all my business relations,’ he said, ‘I try to represent my Master. As I have opportunity, I try to win others to Him. All day I am working for Christ. And at night, while I sleep, I have a man working for Him in China.’
“In explanation he added: ‘In my youth I determined to go as a missionary to the heathen. But on the death of my father I had to take up his business in order to provide for the family. Now, instead of going myself, I support a missionary. In such a town of such a province of China, my worker is stationed. And so, even while I sleep, I am, through my representative, still working for Christ’” (Ibid., pp. 29, 30).
Increases the Work in your Home Church
Did you realize that by supporting foreign missions, the work in your local church will grow?
“Our brethren have not discerned that in helping to advance the work in foreign fields they would be helping the work at home. That which is given to start the work in one field will result in strengthening the work in other places…. The home missionary work will be farther advanced in every way when a more liberal, self-denying, self-sacrificing spirit is manifested for the prosperity of foreign missions; for the prosperity of the home work depends largely, under God, upon the reflex influence of the evangelical work done in countries afar off. It is in working actively to supply the necessities of the cause of God that we bring our souls in touch with the Source of all power” (Ibid., p. 27).
Helps Fulfill the Gospel Commission
“The church of Christ on earth was organized for missionary purposes, and the Lord desires to see the entire church devising ways and means whereby high and low, rich and poor, may hear the message of truth. Not all are called to personal labor in foreign fields, but all can do something by their prayers and their gifts to aid the missionary work” (Ibid., p. 29).
Gets us Home Sooner
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt. 24:14).
Promotes Teamwork in Service
“Why should not the members of a church, or several small churches, unite to sustain a missionary in foreign fields? If they will deny themselves, they can do this. My brethren and sisters, will you not help in this great work? I beseech you to do something for Christ, and do it now” (Gospel Workers, p. 455).
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?
Erin White, AFM’s director of development, is available to provide you with more information on specific projects in need of your support and to answer your giving questions. You may reach her at 1-800-937-4236 or ewhite@afmonline.org.
