RAISING DISCIPLES FOR WORLD OUTREACH

The Sacrifices That Produce Great Harvest "Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I hav...

Appointing a Church Leader "Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure." (1 Timothy 5:22) The belief that we should use the available, not just the anointed, and that when a dog is not available, we make use of a sheep to hunt, is the downfall of today's church. Churches are expanding and spreading their influence in cities and villages. However, there is a shortage of qualified leaders to handle this growth. The harvest is indeed plentiful, but there are few laborers. The lack of faithful laborers has led to the appointment of individuals without considering their character and lifestyle. I have witnessed pastors who have no experience and have never served as church workers being appointed. They do not have stable homes, lack a public testimony, and their wives prefer to worship in other branches of the church because they do not see them as pastors but impostors. I know of a brother who was appointed to ...