I have been thinking lately of the prophet Zechariah. I return to this older brother from time to time. Zechariah was a servant of mission, filled with passion and conviction, vision and power. His passion and vision encourage me. Zechariah … (read more)
A few weeks ago, on a lovely Saturday morning, I sat down in the kitchen to read the newspaper with a second cup of coffee. It was a fine way, I reckoned, to unwind after a very busy week. But … (read more)
The payroll calculations for the month of June are complete. During the month we fell short of the necessary amount to pay full allowances, however this month we were only $16,450 short. It is still a significant amount but it … (read more)
Our General Fund is a catch all. It is used to pay for purely administrative costs ? postage stamps and light bills and the like. But it is also used to supplement individual missionary allowances, housing, and insurance and pension … (read more)
I am learning something about persistence – and in particular, persistence in prayer. An interesting New Testament word stands behind the concept. Proskartereo may be translated “to persist,” or sometimes “to be devoted to” or “to focus on.” We find … (read more)
During the month of May we fell $42,400 short of what was needed to pay full allowances to everyone. We transferred $25,735 from estate funds to bring the minimum allowance up to 65%. Thirty-two missionary units received 65% of targeted … (read more)
I would like to take a moment this month to remind you of WMPL’s participation in Thrivent’s GivingPlus program. Giving Plus GivingPlus gives Thrivent members the opportunity to supplement their donations to the Prayer League. Here is how the program works. When … (read more)
Not long ago, a pastor announced to one of our missionaries: “The age of Christian missions is past.” When I heard of the encounter, I almost dropped my jaw. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fairness, our pastor … (read more)
As I mentioned last month, I have been reading 2 Corinthians once again recently. (Actually, we have been reading the book together at our headquarters in Minneapolis.) In a single verse in chapter nine, I came upon an edgy description … (read more)
I have been reading 2 Corinthians once again. In chapter nine, I came across a verse that seems to encapsulate, in a strange way, one of the great and most significant challenges before the modern church. I am thinking of … (read more)