Benny’s Blog

WHAT IF THERE WAS NO CHRISTMAS

Christmas is a big deal! Sherri always makes it so very special at the
Ferguson household. Our home is always decorated beautifully and the Christmas lights are aglow. And it is special now with our children AND grandchildren coming home for the holidays.

But why is Christmas Christmas? Not because of lights, or decorations, or even presents. It is because of that greatest gift of all. “For God so loved the world He GAVE…” Jesus is the reason there is a real Christmas!

But here is a question to ponder. What if there was no Christmas? For those who have never heard of God’s gift to humanity, in the form of His son Jesus, there will be no Christmas this year. In all of our celebrating during this joyous season, let’s not forget those for whom there is no Christmas.

In 2009 what will you be doing to be sure that those in waiting wait no more? Let us make sure there is celebrating, not only in our homes, but also in heaven.  “There is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”  Luke 15:10 (NLT)

This, friends, is really why Christmas is a big deal!

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Meet Peggy Lamb

Today’s economic climate in the U.S. has hit some missionaries hard. Budgets have been difficult to raise. Also, prices around the world have escalated, making even harder. Peggy Lamb, missionary to the Philippines, was struggling. She was desperately needed on the field but couldn’t leave until her budget was met. I met her earlier this year after I was asked if Missions Awareness Team could help her. Since she is from the Penn-Del District, I contacted John Flower, our Northeast Region team member.

Let Russ Turney, Asia Pacific regional director, tell you what happened: “Peggy was replacing a missionary who was to begin itineration soon and she needed to be in Manila at least a week before the missionary left so she could learn office responsibilities. John helped Peggy reach her budget within a few weeks, and she arrived in Manila on schedule. Since then she has been filling a vital role at the Assemblies of God Missionary Fellowship office for all Philippine missionaries. I saw her at a retreat in June, and she was so thankful to have arrived on schedule. We commend John for his excellent service to our missionary personnel in the Northeast Region. You have a great team and the Asia Pacific Region greatly appreciates what you are doing.”

Helping missionaries is a big part of the day-to-day activities of the Missions Awareness Team. All of us work together to see God’s Word proclaimed throughout the world and His kingdom advanced.

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The Missions Awareness Team at Work

The annual fall meeting of the Missions Awareness Team just concluded here in Springfield. These days of refreshing and planning are a vital part of fulfilling the task of the team. Author James Sherman wrote, “Plan Your Work/Work Your Plan.” The team spent two days planning for their work in the Master’s harvest. There is a team member assigned and living in each of the eight AG geographical regions.

One of the assignments of this team is to work with candidate and new missionaries to help them develop a strategy and plan for their itineration. These dedicated men are working hard to help these harvesters get into the fields as quickly as possible. Each one spends time coaching, encouraging, and mentoring each class of newly appointed missionaries.

One new missionary contacted me recently seeking guidance. She doesn’t have as much time left as she would like to get to the field as there are deadlines in places that cannot be altered. When I returned her call we discussed several options for her. Early into the conversation she said, “I wish I had contacted you months ago.”

During our days together the Missions Awareness Team shared ideas and planned how we can better serve this great core of laborers. Will you pray for these men and women as they faithfully service our missionaries?

John 9:4 - “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” (NKJV)

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MEET THE TWINS

About two years ago my wife’s youngest sister and her husband opened their home to two amazing young ladies. In their early years they had suffered much abuse and hardships. Now for the first time in their young lives they have been given a taste of a real home.

Also, for the first time in their lives they gained an understanding of what a real father could be. Isn’t this the way it is for those in waiting? Are they not also yearning in their souls to know our heavenly Father? This wonderful Christian couple showed the twins unconditional love. They now know what it is to be “safe” at home.
 
Last year Sherri and I were visiting in their home and I had opportunity to visit with the girls. They were talking about a “gift” their birth father had given them and then how he had hurt them through this “gift.” One of them said to me, “Uncle Benny, all we wanted was a real relationship with our father.”
 
Later as I meditated on her comments I realized those who have never heard the gospel are crying out in their spirits for a real relationship with the One we know as our heavenly Father. The one who has loved us with an unconditional and eternal love.
 
Sherri and I have worked hard to make these two beautiful young ladies feel loved and accepted, as has all of their “new” family. Thinking on this, shouldn’t we as born again believers work extra hard to help those who wait experience the love of a real Father?
 
Think about it!

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Welcoming New Family Members

During this same week every October, Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) welcomes a new class of candidate missionaries. This week a total of 48 men and women are here in Springfield involved with candidate orientation. Some are couples, and some are singles. They come from many varied backgrounds. After they are approved by the World Missions Board, they will be welcomed as the newest members of the World Missions family.

These men and women have expressed a call that God has placed on their lives to go to various parts of the world. They have heard the voice of God saying, “Go!”

Every believer has an obligation to be part of the harvest Jesus spoke of when He said to His disciples: “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest?’ I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35, NIV). The Master of the harvest has not called all of us to go to another country. But He has called us all to send those who are called to go.

It has been fun for me this week to rub shoulders with future heroes. It is thrilling to see their enthusiasm and anxiousness to get to the field of their calling. Their work and ministry will be as varied as their backgrounds. They have many things in common, but maybe the most noticeable one is that they will be reaching out to the “members in waiting.” I am referring to those who are not yet members of the greatest family of all.

Hear, and then let’s obey what the harvest Master said. Then he (Jesus) said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38, NIV).

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Going Back Home

Going Back Home

Last weekend I was in Denton, Texas where I preached at First Assembly. Sherri and I pastored just outside of Denton in the early 1970’s so Denton County was home to us for several years. I saw several acquaintances that I had not seen for over 35 years. Even more importantly, I made new friends that will last for a lifetime. Pastor Kevin and Dalia Lough were delightful hosts.

The question has often been asked, “can we really go back home?” But let me pose a different question. “What about those who have never had a “home?” I don’t mean a place where they call home. My question is what about those who have no eternal home? The Assemblies of God bylaws state, “The priority reason-for-being of the Assemblies of God is to be an agency of God for evangelizing the world…” Our missionaries are committed to that evangelization of our world.

The Missions Awareness Team is committed to reinforcing our missionaries and their labors in His harvest. We are especially committed to our new missionaries and making sure they are able to successfully complete their itineration process.

Jesus said in John 14:2-4: “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. Verse 3-And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. Verse 4-You know the way to the place where I am going.”

On our way home, let’s be sure we take as many with us as we possibly can.

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Gone Fishin’

As a boy, I grew up on a farm in northeast Texas. There were not a lot of entertainment options. So, a part of my boyhood entertainment was to go fishing. The only place I had to fish was in some local ponds. On hot summer days the fish didn’t always bite the way an impatient boy thought they should. So I learned the more hooks I put in the water the more chances I had of catching fish. 

This week I am fishing. I am putting a lot of hooks in the water. This past Sunday morning I preached a missions convention in Richland Hills,
Texas. At the conclusion of the faith promise service the church’s commitments were doubled their missions goal and more than five times its previous average monthly income for missions.  Monday night I preached the first of three Light for the Lost banquets for the North Texas District.  This sectional banquet exceeded the previous year’s giving by a substantial amount. Also, nine new Light for the Lost councilmen enrolled. 

Some might ask, why are these things so important? The generous giving of the people of God help make it possible for our missionaries to reap the harvest. Jesus said to some of the disciples “go and be fishers of men.” That is what this fishing trip is really all about. 

The Missions Awareness Team, of which I am a part, is all about fishing. This team of missionaries is heavily involved in developing those who are “fishing for men.” These men and women spend a great deal of time coaching and helping our new missionaries as they are preparing to go into the Lord’s harvest. As my dad baited my hook for fishing when I was young, so is this teaming helping “bait the hook” of our young missionaries. 

I’ll see you at the next “fishin’ hole! 

Benny

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ONLY TWO MISSIONARIES

I grew up in church. Some would say that’s not so unusual…which is true. But in my growing up years I only remember for sure two missionaries visiting our church. So, I cannot tell you exactly where my passion for missions came from.

But because of this passion and burden for missions I want as many people as possible to be exposed to what I believe is the very heart of God. As one writer said, “God had only one son and he became a missionary.” As a pastor I would ask our visiting missionaries to go to each of our Sunday school classes and talk to the children at the age-appropriate level. I often asked them to get down on the floor with the smaller children, and said to them it’s okay to preach in the morning worship with your hair messed up. I wanted the children where I pastored to have met and touched a real live missionary. This fire for missions has burned in my spirit from the time I became a pastor at the age of 21. These years later I am now a part of what I believe to be the greatest missions’ organization in the world. You and I call it Assemblies of God World Missions.

I am privileged to serve as the “facilitator” for the Missions Awareness Team. This team is led by David Lee who is also the director of U.S. Relations, which is a part of AGWM. In future writings I will introduce you to the work of the Missions Awareness Team, and its members.

I hope you will travel with me on this journey as we explore many areas of missions, and the workings of the Holy Spirit all around the world.

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