SOUTH ASIA – Even heroes need encouraging.
The prophet Elijah performed mighty acts in the power of the Lord. He was able to do so because he abided in the Lord; he spent time with God.
Yet, Elijah was human and sometimes he grew discouraged. He became afraid, ran for his life, and even prayed that he might die.
Mike Hamlet told Southern Baptist missionaries who serve in South Asia, “You are heroes, but at the same time you are ordinary people, and ordinary things impact you.”
Missionaries face struggles every day as they leave family in the states, try to stay healthy on the field, seek to educate their children, and try to plow hard ground in Satan’s territory.
Hamlet, senior pastor of First Baptist North Spartanburg in Spartanburg, S.C., preached six sermons from 1 Kings 17-19 chronicling the faith journey of Elijah, to missionaries who were facing major changes as the International Mission Board restructured to focus its church-planting strategies less on geographical boundaries and more on affinity groups. In the middle of the sermon series, on July 1, the South Asia Region ceased and the Affinity of South Asian Peoples was launched.
South Asian peoples come from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Missionaries trying to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with these 1.5 billion people sometimes focus on people groups that number in the millions.
“There are certain places in my life where, man, I have no ceiling with my faith,” Hamlet said. “But there are other places in my life where I’ve got a ceiling that is about 4 ? feet, and I’m bumping my head all of the time.
“The same God who has given you that vision so that you can look and say, ‘Yeah, there’s 42 million (lost people) out there,’ and you don’t even miss a beat ? the same God who called you to that ? is the same God who is over every system that impacts your life – and we have to look at Him with the same area of trust,” he said.
In your life, you have to decide, “Am I going to lean on the past, or am I going to look to the future?”
“The leadership of the Holy Spirit of God and the structure that He’s put you in will help you do that,” Hamlet said.
“We must have a vision for the future. – It’s not an option. It’s not a good idea. It’s not just a suggestion. It’s got to be what God lays on our heart,” he said. “And when I feel like running away – I don’t want to forget who I am working for.”
The vision for the new Affinity of South Asian Peoples is a vast multitude from every South Asian nation, tribe, people, and language knowing and worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ. The task is to make disciples of all South Asian peoples in fulfillment of the Great Commission. The plan to accomplish this is to:
abide in Christ through prayer and the Word,
seek the lost through entry and evangelism,
apply God’s Word through discipleship and leadership training,
and plant reproducing churches through modeling and equipping.
God has such great things in store for South Asia. Like Elijah, “run with His power,” Hamlet urged.
“I am honored to know you,” he said. “I am encouraged by your faith. – God has used you in my life.
“Whether you know it or not, you’re encouraging those around you. -You’re touching churches, and you’re touching pastors, and you’re touching spiritual leaders around the world ? and you have the capability of doing that in the power of the Holy Spirit of God.”
Hamlet then further buoyed the missionaries by lifting them up before the Lord.
“Elijah had to be tired. The emotional stress had to be just incredible, but he walked by faith. – He’s under incredible pressure, and then he really doesn’t know whether it’s going to come through; he walks by faith. – It’s only Your power and strength, and he was a man just like us. So God, I pray for these men and women here, for these who have done so much and will do so much more,” Hamlet prayed. “We are just amazed, but we look at wonder at what You are going to do. – We are going to keep our eyes on You, and we’re going to share the message that’s worth sharing. (South Asians) need that opportunity to hear the name of Jesus. God, start something here that all of us with remember the rest of our lives. – We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
*Name changed. Goldie Frances is a Southern Baptist missionary serving as a writer in South Asia.
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