God gave the vision in 1929: you can read the story of Weinhardt’s famous vision on the facing page. God sowed the vision in 1932: Weinhardt and his family arrived in Minneapolis, planting the vision wherever they could. God blessed the vision with significant fruit in 1937: at the end of the year, Weinhardt and John Carlsen departed for Bolivia.
In 2012, we celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of that first sending. We will trace our history throughout the year, with a look back and a look ahead every month. This month, we begin with a fresh look at Weinhardt’s original vision. It consists of twelve statements, as you have seen. Let me summarize all twelve… in three.
Founded on the Word
This was a vision founded on the Word of God.
Weinhardt and friends did not wonder who might be speaking through this Word: in the Scriptures, they heard the very voice of God. They did not doubt who might be addressed: God’s Word was directed to them, personally and powerfully. And they did not wonder if this Word applied, or which portions might apply, or which promises and provisions could be trusted. They received God’s Word as whole cloth. The commands of God addressed them; the mission of God enlisted them; and the promises of God upheld them completely.
The rest followed directly, as a wagon must follow its driver. From the very beginning we have been committed to community, simplicity, obedience, and missionary adventure. From our earliest days, we have inherited a sense of spiritual surrender, radical discipleship, and engagement in the world. Yet all of these characteristics are based on a simple, underlying foundation. Weinhardt and company heard the Word of God and believed it. So do we.
Focused on the world
This was a vision focused on the world.
Weinhardt’s vision aimed at “the yet unreached territories in the hearts of three continents.” And it knew what must be done in “territories” like these: the vision aimed at “praying for the outpouring of [God’s] Holy Spirit upon their peoples unto the conviction of sin and conversion.”
Our founders were focused precisely on the frontier between faith and unbelief. They did not wonder if the gospel of Jesus Christ were relevant for all the peoples of the world. They did not doubt the need of every man and woman to hear it. They understood the power of the gospel to convict of sin and lead to faith – and believed themselves called to proclaim it everywhere.
It has become fashionable nowadays to suppose that all religions are pretty much the same: it is good to have one, maybe, but the particulars are unimportant. From our very earliest days, we have understood – when it comes to faith, particulars matter. We are focused on the world. And we remain convinced that the world needs Jesus.
Fueled by God’s faithfulness
Finally, this is a vision that is fueled by trust in the wonderful faithfulness of God.
In the Word of God, Weinhardt and friends found something to believe in. In the needy world, they found a home and a place of service. And in God’s dependable faithfulness, they found a Captain who would not fail them, a Master who would uphold them, a Savior who would provide for them and make their lives new – the Faithful One. This is the One who makes missionary obedience possible.
Let me conclude with a hymn that we have sung since our earliest days. We sing it often to this very day – especially as we gather to send a fellow worker into service somewhere in the world. It is a hymn by Joseph Hart (1712-1768) that celebrates the faithfulness of God.
How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful unchangeable Friend!
Whose love is as great as his power,
And knows neither measure nor end!‘Tis Jesus, the First and the Last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home.
We’ll praise him for all that is past,
And trust him for all that’s to come.
Founded on the Word, focused on the world, fueled by the faithfulness of God. If you can’t remember the twelve points of Weinhardt’s vision, remember these three. They describe where we have been – and our calling into the future.