Learn from 8 students as they seek to "rightly train" to speed up the coming of Jesus
I have been fired up by this quote for many years and it still moves me to think and act. Take a moment to consider your part in speeding up Jesus’ return.
“With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world! (Education, 271).
What does it mean to "rightly train?" Are you trained for your part? Are you training young people for theirs? We can learn so much by looking at how Jesus worked with His disciples. These principles are applied to more modern settings powerfully in Ellen White’s writings. I want to urge you my fellow Great Commission finishers to further equip yourselves.
Read on to hear our recent experience with one training school which is trying to follow this pattern. Jump ahead to visit our growing list of Training Programs with various combinations of discipleship, evangelism, agriculture, medical missionary skills, and more.
Julie and I just returned from enjoying teaching 8 students who are moving solidly through Streams of Light’s Comprehensive Evangelism Course. They spend 5 months studying personal, public, medical, and media evangelism plus leadership and Christian living. During those studies they are also actively involved in learning skills by doing agriculture, construction, and office work. They are also very active in ministry, going on mission trips and weekly reaching out in the nearby city of Grand Rapids.
We spent 4 days in the classroom with these students teaching the Reach the World Next Door cross-cultural mission principles. They discovered which unreached people groups have moved to Michigan from countries like Bosnia and Nepal. They meditated on what life would be like if they’d never known Jesus.
We led them through the refugee loss simulation watching it dramatically affect their understanding and concern for those who’ve been through so much. We learned a simple method for sharing our faith with Buddhists, Muslims, and others. We dug deep to see how the gospel and discipleship can redeem individuals in various cultures. (Click here to see how you can go through this curriculum in a small group with your family, friends, or at church).
Then we headed out on Friday to meet people from around the world. Within just three hours we had gotten acquainted with people from 18 languages! The students excitedly shared MLML.org cards with each person. They exchanged contacts so they could return and further befriend them.
With the students we led the Sabbath church service at two local churches. The students prepared to motivate the members to make friends with the thousands of unreached people in their own city. More than 40 were inspired enough to return in the afternoon for a training seminar. On Saturday night we celebrated with the students what God had done and prayed for each other for what missions might be ahead for them. You can feel the benefit of this week and their commitment in what they shared:
Charlene said, “Studying more about how Jesus Himself was a cross-culture missionary motivates me to do more research and make greater efforts to connect with people of different religions and cultures."
Noah added, “I had never seen how great of a mission of importance it is to be friends with those from all different cultures here in America. I may be the only Christian light they will see. I learned so much about how to befriend and witness to Muslims and Buddhists.”
Seth was really impacted as he learned about and felt the pain that refugees have gone through. He realized it was similar to the trials he’s experienced. He said, “It was painful at times to consider my own life, but then as I zoom out and aim to move onward, I find myself even more motivated to help these people….It was a huge blessing even if a turbulent one and I encourage others to take the opportunity to be educated on the local needs and ways to help the refugee settle in.”
Willow said, The Lord has taught me so much and helped me see a different perspective on the people groups surrounding us…. Time is short, and I want to use my time to serve Him. This class encourages me to do just that!”
The local director of the training program, Pastor Daniel Perrin said, “My heart was touched, prodded, and squeezed through every session, and my convictions were challenged to do something real with my life to help the least reached and most needy people who Jesus loves.”
So now it’s your turn. For many of you, the opportunity lies very close. Look for a youth or young adult who would like to be mentored in ministry. Have him or her help you and meet once a week to encourage his or her spiritual growth. God can use all of us to speed up Jesus’ return. Discover more ways.
On the other hand, consider if God is calling you to train in any of these important areas for further service. This is the link to Streams of Light’s training.
I will be teaching Cross-Cultural Missions and Righteousness by Faith at Hartland Institute’s 10-week Summer Outreach School. Maybe you could join us. Here are many more Training Programs.
Thank you to those whose financial gifts and prayers equip us to travel to train and to do the local ministry of Home for All Nations.
