Category: From Our President

by John O’Malley

I am learning about living with a high view of God.

Considering this idea, I began an indefinite series for my monthly articles for Headquarter Happenings. This series began when I read what John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30.

To write this series, I took the sense from John the Baptist’s word ‘must’ as it is necessary. I must make room for God in every area of my living.

When I write of making room for God, I equate this with holding a high view of God. When I decrease, I am making room for Him. I make room for His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence.

How do we get to the place where we hold a high view of God? I think we must begin with John the Baptist’s parents. John the Baptist’s mother walked with the Lord. Zacharias, John’s father, prophesied:

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. Luke 1:76–80

God embedded in Zacharias’ prophecy the four truths for living with a high view of God. A high view of God means we:

• • • Point to Him – prepare his ways
    • Speak of Him – give knowledge of salvation
    • Shine for Him – give light to the world
    • Guide people to Him – guide our feet

John knew Christ had to increase; it was John’s philosophy. I am here to point to Jesus. I am here to speak of Jesus. I am here to shine for Jesus. I am here to guide people to Jesus.

The influence of our living will set the context of how our children, spouses, and ministries will see Jesus.

Do the people around you see you have a high view of God?

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley

by Cody Carden

Sometimes, it seems like I am at a place in life where everything is constantly changing. Within a four-year span, I will have graduated high school, been through a family tragedy, married off my sister, and soon to graduate from college. These are just a few recent major events, but if I stop to think of more, there are plenty. Everything seems so temporary at times. The unknown future is so vast yet imminent.

I can remember being so overwhelmed at times and just wanting to have a mental breakdown. That would be so easy, wouldn’t it? Sit in silence and weep over the constantly moving parts in your life and let the uncertainty and doubt overtake you.

It was in these moments I clung to Psalm 46.

“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:
God shall help her, and that right early.” – Psalm 46:1-5

When things that are planned and thought through ahead of time change, or things that you thought you had control over suddenly become out of reach and above you, know that God is in control. The comfort of knowing God is unchanging and always present is priceless. No matter the circumstance, God’s unchanging character needs to be the source of our strength; He needs to be our place of rest, our place of recovery, and our place of replenishment. He gives the peace that passes all understanding, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart or constantly changing.

This is a simple truth and testimony, but life-changing.

Cody Carden is completing a missions internship with John O’Malley this summer. If this was an encouragement to you, please click here to let him know.

by Cody Carden

Have you ever run a marathon? Well, whether you have or have not, from what I have been told, running a marathon requires a mindset of every step counting. That finish line is seemingly impossible to reach, and at any given moment, you might feel like you could just collapse, but you still only get to the end by taking one step at a time. In Matthew 14, Peter took a few steps of his own that mark great significance and symbolism for us today.

“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.” – Matthew 14:24-32

The first step Peter took was a step of faith. Peter had enough faith in Jesus’ power to take that first step out of the boat. While Peter had already seen Jesus perform miracles, it still took him a whole sentence before stepping out. Sometimes in our life, it is hard to take that first step of faith. There is an obstacle in your path, and there is seemingly no way around it except to take a risk larger than you expected. It is so easy to get caught up in the “I’ll just stay in the boat” mentality. It is easy to stay where it is safe and where you know you will at least be around familiar faces and/or circumstances. However, like Peter, we do not immediately think of how God has protected us thus far. Regardless, Peter still got out of the boat and took that first step.

Secondly, Peter took the step of trust. This step comes only after the first step of faith and with no lightheartedness. He had his eyes fixed on Jesus until his circumstances became unbearable. We may know that God has the power and the authority to intervene in any situation that may come up, but that does not exempt us from being broken people. Interestingly enough, when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and started sinking into the sea, there was no indication of how far away he was from Jesus. Nevertheless, Jesus was immediately there to stretch out his hand and catch him with no hindrances or delays but immediately. He is there for us just the same, but sometimes it is hard to put this concept into practice. Understanding that after I take a risk, though blinded by uncertainty, I can still put total trust in God to lead me as far as He wants.

There is no need to waste time, for the Lord has already revealed Himself to us. A pastor once told me, “It takes more of you to find more of God,” meaning that each step we take from the boat will lead us closer to Christ. So let this be an encouragement to make every step count.

Cody Carden is completing a missions internship with John O’Malley this summer. If this was an encouragement to you, please click here to let him know.

by John O’Malley

The call of John 3:30 is a call to make room for Him. He is an all-powerful, everywhere-present, and all-knowing God.

“How much space does God take up?”

I found this: God will fill as much space as we yield to Him. How much room can He take up?

• • • He will fill as much space as I make for Him.
    • He will fill as much space as I yield.
    • He will sit on the throne of my life when I get off of the throne of my life.
    • He will rule my spirit when I yield my responses, reactions, and thoughts.

Have you made room for an omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God? In John 3:30, “must” means “it is necessary.” Therefore, it is necessary to make room for Christ.

These words were the last of his words recorded before John asked questions in prison, shortly before he was beheaded. John drifted from fame and popularity as the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, arrived on the scene. Jesus, the Dayspring from on High, is the Sunrise on the Horizon of God.

John the Baptist’s life was about Jesus, not himself. What if your life was only about Jesus? What if the message of your life was about Jesus?

John the Baptist was not sad; his very calling was this moment. Jesus was here. John would now step aside. John the Baptist identified himself as the friend of the Bride. John said Jesus is the Bridegroom. The sunset of my ministry begins today. I will be in obscurity; He will come to Light.

When we read, “He must increase, and I must decrease,” we see the divine “musts” in our life. God intended our lives to be less and less of ourselves and for Him to grow more and more in our life.

• • • I must make room for His Person.
    • I must make room for His Presence.
    • I must make room for His Promises.
    • I must make room for His Power.
    • I must make room for His Plans.
    • I must make room for His Priorities.
    • I must make room for His Purpose.

Have you made room for Him in your life? How much room does He have? Have you moved into the closet of your life and let Him have the whole house? Who sits on the throne of your life?

You see the mission of God of reaching the Lost, sending missionaries, and giving to missions; all of it stems from what John spoke. “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

When I make room for Him, I am saying, “He is everything; I am nothing.”

• • • I want the spotlight on Him; I am the shadows.
    • I want His presence more than anyone else’s presence.
    • I will only have confidence in His promises.
    • I will depend solely on His power, not my power.
    • I will submit to His plans, not make my plans.
    • I will follow His purpose, not my purpose.
    • I will live out His purpose, not my purpose.

I do not want a life where all I got was what I did in my power, bought with my money, relied on my intellect to obtain, or gained in my effort.

How about you?

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley

Sermons

This year’s Family Week theme focused on Hope. God reminds us in Scripture of our hope in Him, in the Gospel, in the Faith, and in His return. The men who preached during the week explored various facets of hope. Click on the name below to hear the specific message.

Groaning in Hope: Danny Whetstone
The Psalmist’s Hope: Gene Krachenfels
Jeremiah’s Hope: Barry Goodman
Don’t Lose Hope in God’s Unseen Plan: Jeremy Lockhart
The Scripture’s Hope: David Fulp
The Call of Hope: Dalton Heath
The Gospel’s Hope: Tim Daniel
The Finisher’s Hope: Chad Estep
The Door of Hope: John O’Malley

Testimonies

An important aspect of Family Fellowship Week is the fellowship. The week provides an opportunity to share the blessings and burdens of others within our World Wide family. Our theme this year was Hope. Men and ladies shared testimonies of how they never lost hope when facing a challenging season, a hardship, a trial, or a setback in their ministry. Click on the name below to hear a specific testimony.  Note: Some cannot be widely published due to the sensitive location of their ministries.

Fred Daniel, Jr.
Elwood Hurst
Edgar Feghaly
Adrian Hendricks
Colton Lee
Barbara O’Malley
Josh Wagar and Sarah Wagar
Tim Stalcup

Click here to view all recordings from Family Fellowship Week.

Quotable Quotes

Paul had hope, mingled with faith, that what he faced was nothing compared to what he would see. – Danny Whetstone

Courage is fear holding on one minute longer. – George Patton

It is not what we want that gets us in trouble, but what we insist on having beyond the will of God. – unknown

There is always hope in the wilderness because our older Brother (Jesus Christ) has been there before us. – Fred Daniel, Jr.

True hope fixes the heart on thoughts of God instead of on self, failures, dreams, and misery. – Barry Goodman

God already knows how many storms you will face, and what He calls you to He will carry you through. – Elwood Hurst

When you can’t seem to find God, don’t lose hope in His unseen plan. – Jeremy Lockhart

God’s methods are men. – Eric Franks

It is in the ordinary that God shows Himself faithful. – Adrian Hendricks

God sees down the road where today will fit into His plan for you. – Colton Lee

The devil doesn’t mind taking time with you because he knows that over time he can wear you down. – Frank Camp

It is always too soon to quit! – unknown

Christ renews our hope daily, but it is up to us to choose to walk in that hope. – Josh Wagar

Allow Christ to work in you. Even when it seems He isn’t, He is. – Tim Daniel

Photos

Click here to view photos from the week! If you have photos to share, you may do so by uploading to https://wwntbm.com/upload, or by sharing on social media with the hashtag #WWNTBM23.

by John O’Malley

Do you hold space for God in your life?

If so, how much room or space do you allow God?

Does He only have room on your days of public worship or ministry?

How much room does He have on the other days of the week when you are less needy?

Do you only give Him space in the hour of your greatest need?

Do you take up the room you do not allow Him on the days when you have less demand, and your work is more perfunctory?

How much room do you have for God?

January is our church’s annual missions Sunday for the Faith Promise giving year. Our church’s theme, More of Him and Less of Me, led me to speak from John 3:30. I see John’s testimony of him making room for God’s presence, plan, and power.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

I read this verse and began a quest to understand how much room I make for God.

John the Baptist’s life was only about Jesus. In other words, John made room for Jesus.

I asked myself, “Who reigns every moment of the day on the throne of my life?” I think I reign on the little stuff, then I “let” God sit on the throne of my life to allow Him to reign on the big stuff. Unfortunately, this is not a good plan.

Thus far today, who reigned on the throne of your life, and who made all the decisions today? Who reacted today, you or God? Whom did your spouse see on the throne of your life?

I want to evict myself from the throne of my life permanently.

How about you?

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley

by John O’Malley

“And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house” (Ruth 2:7).

The servant shared with Boaz:

• • • Ruth’s devotion to the harvest.
    • Ruth’s desire to harvest.
    • Ruth’s determination in the harvest.
    • Ruth’s dedication to the harvest.

The servant was impressed with her declarations to him and her duty to his boss. At the end of his testimony of Ruth’s demeanor, he mentioned an interesting point for the believer to ponder.

The servant set over the reapers said Ruth had “continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.” Notice with me his last eight words: “that she tarried a little in the house.” It is apparent that Ruth was a good harvester for Boaz. The servant pointed out to Boaz that Ruth had tarried only a “little” in the house.

The servant set over the reapers had a place where all in his charge could come and seek refreshment and rest. Service in the field requires rest and refreshing. After a period of work, the reapers would come to the house and gather for fellowship. The resting house was also a place of rejoicing when the harvest was completed.

The thought of a house in which to rest from our labors brings two concerns to mind in light of this present generation. The first concern is that of God’s laborers ignoring times of needed rest. Many times, in the service of our Eternal Boaz, we pride ourselves in our work and brag that we never take a break or a time to rest. Ruth was a diligent worker, both in her reaping and her resting.

The second concern is one that is far too common among twenty-first-century believers. This is the danger of all rest and no labor. Many today have made a ministry of staying in the house and never going to the fields.

It is clear that it could be said of those like this, “They have tarried too long and labored too little for our Eternal Boaz.” You can always spot those in this way; they are the spiritual hogs of the church. They linger long at the trough and do little but grunt if they cannot feed their bellies.

It should be overwhelmingly apparent that the believer working in the field should make regular trips to the house of God. We should go to the house of our Eternal Boaz for rest from the noonday sun after we have labored for Him.

We should get to the house of our Eternal Boaz; it is there we will meet other harvesters, and we can fellowship over our labors. We should get to the house of our Eternal Boaz and listen to His words of encouragement for our needed refreshment. We should get to the house of our Eternal Boaz for times of rejoicing over the harvest.

Temporary rest is vital; full-time rest is for when we leave this earth for the eternal house of our Boaz. “Let us therefore labor to enter into that rest” (Hebrews 4:11).

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley

by John O’Malley

While preparing a message from Malachi’s book, the Lord illuminated Malachi 2:17. “Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?”

I pondered; the Omnipotent God said our words wearied Him.

How? How is it, He who bears every care, He who wipes tears and records them, He who watches sparrows, and He who knows the hairs of our head (my head included) said the words of His people wearied Him?

I never considered I could weary God. Do you weary God?

Scripture teaches God wearies with five things. He wearies with:

• • • • our wrongdoing
      • our spiritless worship
      • our sin-filled hearts
      • our resistance to His Spirit
      • our silly objections

I do not want to weary Him. Do you?

1. God wearies with our iniquities. (Iniquities are when I do wrong according to God’s righteousness.)
“Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.” Isaiah 43:24

2. God wearies with our formal Godless worship.
“Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.” Isaiah 1:14

3. God wearies with our sin-filled hearts and ignorance of God’s way.
“Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:” Psalm 95:10

4. God wearies with our resistance to his Spirit.
“But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.” Isaiah 63:10

5. God wearies with our silly whining, objections, and rebellions.
“Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” Malachi 2:17

Did you weary God yesterday? Are you wearying Him today? Last Sunday, did you bring spiritless and lifeless worship? Did you use silly words whining about why God had not moved in a matter critical to you?

Let us seek His word and ways. Let us evict a spiritless form of worship from our lives. When His Spirit leads, follow. When the heathen prosper, don’t whine; remember, God is always working out His plan.

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley

by Gene Krachenfels

We all learn as we go and I am sure each of us have benefited from life lessons worth passing on to others. Many years ago, I had the privilege of serving under the leadership of Dr. James W. Crumpton while with the West Side Baptist Church and Maranatha Baptist Mission in Natchez, Mississippi. One of the most helpful things I learned from him was his description of a New Testament Church. This article is intended to summarize what the Bible says about this subject.

There are many religious organizations calling themselves a church but what does the Bible have to say about this matter? Dr. Crumpton used the following definition to answer the question, “What is a New Testament Church?”
“A church is a body of saved, baptized believers, voluntarily banded together for the purpose of worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ, propagating the Gospel, and edifying the Saints.”

This definition is made up of three phrases with each phrase containing three parts.

1. A Church Is A Body Of Saved, Baptized Believers.

Body of Believers. A person’s idea of a church may be based upon a number of viewpoints. Some believe a church to be little more than a religious entity. Others see a church as a building or place where religious services are conducted. While another group may expect a church to be a social or political organization responsible for the community in which it is located.

However, God’s description of a church involves much more than this. Scripture gives us a three-fold description of the Lord’s relationship between Himself and His Church.

• • • Christ is the Head and the Church His Body.
    • Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church is His Bride.
    • Christ is the Chief Cornerstone and Foundation and the Church is the Building.

This depicts the Church’s unbreakable relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. For the sake of this topic we are only considering the first of the three. The church, among other things, is a body, a living organism.

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

This concept is not new to us because we often use the word body to describe a group of persons with a unifying common interest or purpose such as a legislative or student body. A New Testament church is not a dead organization but is alive in Christ, dependent upon Him, and inseparable from Him.

Saved Believers. This phrase, on the surface may seem to be redundant however, the concept of belief, who or what someone believes in, and the extent to which they believe vary greatly. However, the Bible indicates a New Testament church is comprised of born again believers. This distinguishes a church from every other public or private organization in the world. One does not obtain membership in a church simply because it appeals to them or because they like the minister, congregation, location, or some other reason. No, God’s church is for God’s people. When someone is saved, born again, washed in the blood, redeemed, or made a new creature in Christ they become a part of the family of God and He expects His children to unite with the only institution He has ordained for the purpose of their gathering together.

Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Baptized Believers. New Testament church membership is not only a privilege for the redeemed but is limited to those who have obediently followed the Lord in Believer’s Baptism. There are numerous views as to which is the correct mode of baptism but we believe the Scripture clearly indicates immersion to be God’s choice as it depicts the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the believer’s new life in Him.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

2. A Church Is Voluntarily Banded Together.

A Voluntary Collection of Believers. While the gift of salvation is available to “whosoever will” it cannot be forced upon anyone. Nor should someone be coerced to join a New Testament church no matter how sincere the intent. Throughout the ages, God has freely offered His message of hope and forgiveness to anyone willing to accept His gracious invitation. Just as a sinner willing accepts Christ as his or her Savior, so that saint willing chooses to unite with the local church of God’s leading.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

A Strong Collection of Believers. When Christians band together as fellow members of a New Testament church they form a bond which is foreign to the world because it is based solely upon love. This bond begins with God’s love for the world, is manifest through Christ’s love for us, and is demonstrated by our love for one another.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

This collection of saints crosses all national, ethnic, social, economic, and educational boundaries. It is accomplished through the formation of a unique family of believers void of any bias that would hinder the unity God expects to exist in His assembly. It is not uncommon to find the ties between such church members stronger than the familial ties of one’s birth family. This truth is also evident when the fellowship of believers from New Testament churches in different communities or even different countries, upon meeting for the first time, can exist as though they have known each other for years. We are both brethren and co-laborers within the same heavenly family.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

A United Collection of Believers. It is God’s plan for every local assembly to reflect our future home in Heaven. For this to occur, God’s children must learn to commune, work, and worship together as the family He intends us to be. As one body in Christ, a unified group of saints can and should experience a prelude to “Heaven on earth.”

I Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

This unity is the direct result of a congregation comprised of likeminded believers who share not only a common faith but a common goal. Harmony such as this is the outgrowth of sound, Biblical preaching and teaching as to the role and responsibility of church members and their proper response to Holy Writ. God makes no allowance for division and disharmony in a New Testament church and demands it be eliminated from the ranks of the church’s membership.

Romans 15:5, 6 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

3. For The Purpose Of Worshipping The Lord Jesus Christ, Propagating The Gospel, And Edifying The Saints.

Believers Who Worship. New Testament churches, like any organization, have a specific purpose for existing. What makes a church so unique is the basis of our gathering is to worship God. A local assembly meeting for any purpose other than to worship God fails in their primary obligation to Him.

John 4:23, 24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

As believers, we exist because of Him. He is our light, our life, our strength, and much more. We can never repay the debt of love He paid on our behalf but we can give our lives in devotion to Him. This begins with our daily worship of Him throughout our private lives and continues with our weekly public worship with those of like precious faith.

Romans 12:1, 2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Believers Who Witness. One of the greatest commands the Lord gave us is what we call “The Great Commission.” This is the task of getting the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people throughout the world. This command wasn’t given to Bible Colleges, Mission Agencies, Evangelistic Associations, Hospitals, Orphanages, Christian Businessmen’s Organizations, or any other group apart from the local church. The acceptance of the responsibility associated with this task is a telltale mark of a New Testament church. The primary role of a believer is to glorify God and a close second is to make the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ known to others. This endeavor is to be undertaken, without exception, by every New Testament church; large or small, rich or poor and it is to be accomplished both at home and abroad simultaneously. That we may know how to go about doing so, the resurrected Christ issued a different aspect of The Great Commission in each of the gospels and in the Book of Acts.

The Model John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
The Messengers Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
The Message Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
The Method Matthew 28:19, 20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The Means Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Believers Who Work. Another mark of a New Testament church is the work accomplished in and applied to the hearts and lives of every person who is a part of its membership. It would be of little use to attend church week after week and not benefit from the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. A good pastor and faithful undershepherd of the Lord Jesus Christ will give himself to prayer and study of the Word that he might be right with God and well prepared to break the bread of life to his congregation. Thus the cycle of growth is set in motion; God directs the pastor, the pastor delivers the Lord’s message to the congregation, each saint upon hearing the Word applies it to his or her life, and in turn pass what they have learned on to others that each one may grow thereby.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
II Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

It is our firm conviction putting the word “Church” on a building doesn’t make it one. Nor do we believe linking the word “Church” with a denomination, association, organization, or individual assembly void of what the Scripture describes constitutes a New Testament church. By His design, God has always intended a New Testament church be different from every other organization on the face of the planet. Any entity calling itself a church yet failing to satisfy God’s qualifications for one is fraudulent in its claim and will, in His time, be exposed as such.

Much more could be added to further explain what a church is but we trust this brief overview has been of help to you.

“A church is a body of saved, baptized believers, voluntarily banded together for the purpose of worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ, propagating the Gospel, and edifying the Saints.”

by John O’Malley

“Twenty-five cents, plus all the promises of God!” – Hudson Taylor

Recently I read Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret. Brother Taylor wrote many letters. His words encouraged me, and I believe they will encourage you.

In a letter to a friend:

“Never has our work entailed such real trial or so much exercise of faith. The sickness of our beloved friend, Miss Blatchley, and her strong desire to see me; the needs of our dear children; the state of funds; the changes required in the work to admit of some going home, others coming out, and of further expansion, and many other things not easily expressed in writing, would be crushing burdens if we were to bear them. But the Lord bears us and them too, and makes our hearts so very glad in Himself—not Himself plus a bank balance—that I have never known greater freedom from care and anxiety.

The other week, when I reached Shanghai, we were in great and immediate need. The mails were both in, but no remittance! And the folios showed no balance at home. I cast the burden on the Lord. Next morning on waking I felt inclined to trouble, but the Lord gave me a word—“I know their sorrows, and am come down to deliver”; “Certainly I will be with thee”—and before 6 a.m. I was as sure that help was at hand as when, near noon, I received a letter from Mr. Mueller which had been to Ningpo and was thus delayed in reaching me, and which contained more than three hundred pounds.

My need now is great and urgent, but God is greater and more near. And because He is and is what He is, all must be, all is, all will be well. Oh, my dear brother, the joy of knowing the living God, of seeing the living God, of resting on the living God in our very special and peculiar circumstances! I am but His agent. He will look after His own honour, provide for His own servants, and supply all our need according to His own riches, you helping by your prayers and work of faith and labour of love.”

In a letter to his wife:
“The balance in hand yesterday was eighty-seven cents. The Lord reigns; herein is our joy and rest!”

In a letter to Mr. Baller:
“Twenty-five cents, plus all the promises of God! Why, one felt as rich as Croesus, and sang:”
“I would not change my blest estate
For all the earth holds good or great;
And while my faith can keep its hold,
I envy not the sinner’s gold.”

Fellow missionary and friend, no matter your financial estate today, your “twenty-five cents, plus all the promises of God” are enough. “The Lord reigns. Herein is our joy and rest.”

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley