----- Original Message -----
From: kanzurem@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2010 08:05
Subject: Fwd: laugh Very funny
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are some of the funniest statements I've read in ages, and I think you'll each agree with me! ENJOY!!!
How Fights Start
My wife sat down on the settee next to me as I was flipping channels. She asked, 'What's on TV?'
I said, 'Dust.'
And then the fight started...
******************************************
My wife and I were watching "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" while we were in bed. I turned to her and said, "Do you want to have sex?"
"No," she answered.
I then said, "Is that your final answer?"
She didn't even look at me this time, simply saying, "Yes."
So I said, "Then I'd like to phone a friend."
And then the fight started.....
******************************************
Saturday morning I got up early, quietly dressed, made my lunch, and slipped quietly into the garage. I hooked up the boat up to the van, and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour. The wind was blowing 50 mph, so I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad all day.
I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed. I cuddled up to my wife's back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, "The weather out there is terrible."
My loving wife of 5 years replied, "Can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?"
And that's how the fight started....
******************************************
I rear-ended a car this morning. So, there we were alongside the road and slowly the other driver got out of his car. You know how sometimes you just get soooo stressed and little things just seem funny? Yeah, well I couldn't believe it.... He was a DWARF!!! He stormed over to my car, looked up at me, and shouted, "I AM NOT HAPPY!!!"
So, I looked down at him and said, "Well, then which one are you?"
And then the fight started.....
*****************************************
My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary. She said, 'I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds..'
I bought her a bathroom scale.
And then the fight started....
******************************************
When I got home last night, my wife demanded that I take her some place expensive... so, I took her to a gas station.
And then the fight started...
******************************************
After retiring, I went to the Canada Pension Plan office to apply for my CPP. The woman behind the counter asked me for my Driver's License to verify my age. I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home. I told the woman that I was very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later.
The woman said, 'Unbutton your shirt'. So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair. She said, 'That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me' and she processed my application.
When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the CPP office.
She said, 'You should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten disability, too.'
And then the fight started...
******************************************
My wife and I were sitting at a table at my school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.
My wife asked, 'Do you know her?'
'Yes,' I sighed, 'She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since.'
'My God!' says my wife, 'who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?'
And then the fight started....
******************************************
I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason took my order first. "I'll have the steak, medium rare, please."
He said, "Aren't you worried about the mad cow?""
Nah, she can order for herself."
And then the fight started...
******************************************
A woman was standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror. She was not happy with what she saw and said to her husband, "I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.'
The husband replied, 'Your eyesight's damn near perfect.'
And then the fight started
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 5117 (20100515) __________
The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
http://www.eset.com
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Misssionaries- Wikipedia
The Call for Participation for Wikimania 2010 has been released. Submit your presentations before May 20. [Hide]
[Help us with translations!]
Notice something different? We've made a few improvements to Wikipedia. Learn more!
Missionary
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to:navigation, search
For other uses, see Missionary (disambiguation).
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve the article or discuss these issues on the talk page.
Its neutrality is disputed. Tagged since August 2009.
It is written like an advertisement and needs to be rewritten from a neutral point of view. Tagged since August 2009.
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to carry on ministries of the word]] and literacy, or ministries of service, such as education, social justice, health care and economic development.[1][2] The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin missionem (nom. missio), meaning "act of sending" or mittere, meaning "to send".[3]
In Christian cultures the term is most commonly used for Christian missions, but it applies equally to any creed or ideology. Buddhism launched 'the first large-scale missionary effort in the history of the world's religions' in the 3rd century BC.[4]
Contents [hide]
1 Christian missions
1.1 Biblical mandate
1.2 Catholic missions
1.3 Orthodox missions
1.4 First Protestant missions
1.5 Evangelical Church missions
1.6 The British Missionary Societies
1.7 Jehovah's Witnesses missionaries
1.8 Latter-day Saint missionaries
2 Islamic missions
3 Missionaries and Judaism
4 Eastern religions
4.1 Buddhist missions
5 See also
6 References
7 Sources and references
8 External links
[edit] Christian missions
Main articles: Mission (Christian) and List of Christian Missionaries
A Christian missionary can be defined as "one who is sent to witness across cultures."[2] The Lausanne Congress of 1974, defined the term, related to Christian mission as, "to form a viable indigenous church-planting movement." Recognizing justice as being at the heart of the Gospels, some modern missionaries now promote the development of western government[citation needed], education[5] and economic structure[citation needed] in the place of pre-existing local systems and tradition. Missionaries can be found in many countries around the world.
[edit] Biblical mandate
Jesus instructed the apostles to make disciples of all nations(Matthew 28:19-20). This reference is understood by Christian missionaries as the Great Commission to engage in missionary work.
[edit] Catholic missions
Main article: Catholic missions
See also: Roman Catholic Church and Colonialism, Jesuit China missions, Spanish Missions of California, Missionary Society of St Thomas, and List of Roman Catholic Missionaries
The New Testament missionary outreach of the Christian church from the time of St Paul was extensive throughout the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages the Christian monasteries and missionaries such as Saint Patrick, and Adalbert of Prague propagated learning and religion beyond the boundaries of the old Roman Empire. In the 7th century Gregory the Great sent missionaries including Augustine of Canterbury into England. During the Age of Discovery, the Roman Catholic Church established a number of Missions in the Americas and other colonies through the Augustinians, Franciscans and Dominicans in order to spread Christianity in the New World and to convert the Native Americans and other indigenous people. At the same time, missionaries such as Francis Xavier as well as other Jesuits, Augustinians, Franciscans and Dominicans were moving into Asia and the far East. The Portuguese sent missions into Africa. These are some of the most well-known missions in history. While some of these missions were associated with imperialism and oppression, others (notably Matteo Ricci's Jesuit mission to China) were relatively peaceful and focused on integration rather than cultural imperialism.
Much contemporary Catholic missionary work has undergone profound change since the Second Vatican Council, and has become explicitly conscious of Social Justice issues and the dangers of cultural imperialism or economic exploitation disguised as religious conversion. Contemporary Christian missionaries argue that working for justice is a constitutive part of preaching the Gospel, and observe the principles of inculturation in their missionary work.
As the church normally organizes itself along territorial lines, and because they had the human and material resources, religious orders—some even specializing in it—undertook most missionary work, especially in the early phases. Over time a normalised church structure was gradually established in the mission area, often starting with special jurisdictions known as apostolic prefectures and apostolic vicariates. These developing churches eventually intended 'graduating' to regular diocesan status with a local episcopacy appointed, especially after decolonization, as the church structures often reflect the political-administrative reality.
[edit] Orthodox missions
The Eastern Orthodox Church, under the Orthodox Church of Constantinople was vigorous in its missionary outreach under the Roman Empire and continuing Byzantine Empire, and its missionary outreach had lasting effect, either founding, influencing or establishing formal relations with some 16 Orthodox national churches including the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (both said to have been founded by the missionary Apostle Andrew), the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (said to have been founded by the missionary Apostle Paul). The two ninth century saints Cyril and Methodius had extensive missionary success in Eastern Europe. The Byzantines e19th century. The Russian Orthodox Church also sent missionaries to Alaska beginning in the 18th century, including Saint Herman of Alaska, to minister to the Native Americans. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia continued missionary work outside Russia after the 1917 Russian Revolution, resulting in the establishment of many new dioceses in the diaspora, from which numerous converts have been made in Eastern Europe, North America and Oceania.
[edit] First Protestant missions
Among the first Protestant missionaries were John Eliot (missionary) and contemporary ministers including John Cotton and Richard Bourne, who ministered to the Algonquin natives who lived in lands claimed by representatives of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century. Quaker "publishers of truth" visited Boston and other mid-17th century colonies but were not always well-received.[6]
The Danish government included Lutheran missionaries among the colonists in many of its colonies, Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg in Tranquebar India in the late 17th century. But the first organized Protestant mission work was carried out beginning in 1732 by the Moravian Brethren of Herrnhut in Saxony Germany(die evangelische Brüdergemeine). While on a visit in 1732 to Copenhagen for the coronation of his cousin King Christian VI the Moravian Church's patron, Nicolas Ludwig, Count von Zinzendorf got to know a slave from the Danish colony in the West Indies. When he returned to Herrnhut with the slave, he inspired the inhabitants of the village—it was fewer than 30 houses then---to send out "messengers" to the slaves in the West Indies. The first missionaries landed in St. Thomas in December, 1732. Work soon was started in another Danish colony, Greenland. Within 30 years there were Moravian missionaries active on every continent, and this at a time when there were fewer than 300 people in Herrnhut. They are famous for their selfless work, living as slaves among the slaves and together with the native Americans, the Delaware (i.e. Lenni Lenape) and Cherokee Indian tribes. Today the work in the former mission provinces of the worldwide Moravian Church is carried on by native workers. The fastest growing area of the work in Tanzania in Eastern Africa. The Moravian work in South Africa inspired William Carey and the founders of the British Baptist missions. Today 7 of every 10 Moravians are in a former mission field and belong to a race other than Caucasian. Like other missionary denominations, Protestant missionaries have been accused of cultural imperialism and have often been associated with a colonial power. (See Americanization (of Native Americans).)
[edit] Evangelical Church missions
With a dramatic increase in efforts since the 1900s, and a strong push since the Lausanne I: The International Congress on World Evangelization in Switzerland in 1974, [1] evangelical groups have focused efforts on sending missionaries to every ethnic group in the world. While this effort has not been completed, increased attention has brought larger numbers of people distributing Bibles, Jesus videos, and establishing evangelical churches in more remote, less Christianized areas.
Internationally, the focus for many years in the later 20th century was on reaching every "people group" with Christianity by the year 2000. Bill Bright's leadership with Campus Crusade, the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, The Joshua Project, and others brought about the need to know who these "unreached people groups" are and how those wanting to tell about the Christian God and share a Christian Bible could reach them. The focus for these organizations transitioned from a "country focus" to a "people group focus." (From "What is a People Group?" by Dr. Orville Boyd Jenkins: A "people group" is an ethnolinguistic group with a common self-identity that is shared by the various members. There are two parts to that word: ethno and linguistic. Language is a primary and dominant identifying factor of a people group. But there are other factors that determine or are associated with ethnicity.)
What can be viewed as a success by those inside and outside the church from this focus is a higher level of cooperation and friendliness among churches and denominations. It is very common for those working on international fields to not only cooperate in efforts to share their gospel message but view the work of their groups in a similar light. Also, with the increased study and awareness of different people groups, western mission efforts have become far more sensitive to the cultural nuances of those they are going to and those they are working with in the effort.
Over the years, as indigenous churches have matured, the church of the "Global South" (Africa, Asia and Latin America) has become the driving force in missions. Korean and African missionaries can now be found all over the world. These missionaries represent a major shift in Church history.
Brazil, Nigeria, and other countries have had large numbers of their Christian adherents go to other countries and start churches. These non-western missionaries often have unparalleled success because they need few western resources and comforts to sustain their livelihood while doing the work they have chosen among a new culture and people.
[edit] The British Missionary Societies
Main articles: Baptist Missionary Society, London Missionary Society, Church Missionary Society, China Inland Mission, and Church's Ministry Among Jewish People
The London Missionary Society was an extensive Anglican and Nonconformist missionary society formed in England in 1795 with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa. It now forms part of the Council for World Mission. The Anglican Church Missionary Society was also founded in England in 1799, and continues its work today. In 1809 the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews was founded, which pioneered mission amongst the Jewish people. It continues today as the Church's Ministry Among Jewish People. All these organisations spread through the extensive 18th and 19th century colonial British Empire, establishing the network of churches that largely became the modern Anglican Communion.
[edit] Jehovah's Witnesses missionaries
See also: Organizational structure of Jehovah's Witnesses
Typically, all adult Witnesses are expected to spend time every week "witnessing" in their area. Depending on the civil law in the respective country, this may take the form of proselytizing door to door, distribution of magazines and other literature such as The Watchtower and Awake! or responding to the questions of passersby. They also conduct home Bible studies with interested persons.While all baptized Jehovah's Witnesses engage in missionary work, the branch office of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, will appoint fulltime missionaries. Regular Pioneers are appointed to serve in a local congregation and spend an average of 70 hours a month preaching. Special pioneers are appointed to serve in isolated areas where preaching might be limited. Foreign missionaries are appointed to serve in another country after they have completed a 5 month course at the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead in Patterson, New York. They devote an average of 130 hours a month. They consider this activity as obedience to the teachings of Jesus Christ in (Matthew 28:19-20)
[edit] Latter-day Saint missionaries
Main articles: Missionary (LDS Church) and Mission (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an active missionary program. Young men between the ages of 19 and 25 (usually beginning at the age of 19) are encouraged to prepare themselves to serve a two-year, partially self-funded (the LDS Church pays for transportation, health and dental care, the MTC stay, leadership, etc. the missionary pays a monthly amount), full-time proselytizing mission. Young women and retired couples may serve missions as well. Young women who desire to serve as missionaries serve at an older age, 21 or older, and often for only one and a half years. Missionaries typically spend one to three months in a Missionary Training Center where they study the scriptures, learn new languages, and otherwise prepare themselves to teach the Gospel and understand the culture in which and the people among whom they will be living. The LDS Church has about 53,000 missionaries worldwide.[7]
[edit] Islamic missions
Main article: Islamic Missionary Activity
Islamic Dawah Center in Houston, TexasDawah means to "invite" (in Arabic, literally "calling") to Islam, estimated to be the second largest religion next to Christianity. From the 7th century it spread rapidly from the Arabian Peninsula to the rest of the world through the initial Muslim conquests, and subsequently with traders and explorers after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
Initially, the spread of Islam came through the dawah efforts of Muhammad and those who followed him. After his death in 632 CE, much of the expansion of the empire came through conquest, such as that of North Africa and later Spain (Al-Andalus), and the Islamic conquest of Persia putting an end to the Sassanid Empire and spreading the reach of Islam to as far East as Khorasan, which would later become the cradle of Islamic civilization during the Islamic Golden Age and a stepping-stone towards the introduction of Islam to the Turkic tribes living in and bordering the area.
The missionary movements peaked during the Islamic Golden Age, with the expansion of foreign trade routes, primarily into the Indo-Pacific and as far South as the isle of Zanzibar and the South-Eastern shores of Africa.
With the coming about of the tradition of Sufism, Islamic missionary activities increased considerably. The mystical nature of the tradition had an all-encompassing aspect, a property many societies in Asia could relate to. Later, with the conquest of Anatolia by the Seljuk Turks, missionaries would find easier passage to the lands then formerly belonging to the Byzantine Empire. In the earlier stages of the Ottoman Empire, a Turkic form of Shamanism was still widely practiced in Anatolia, which soon started to give in to the mysticism offered by Sufism. The teachings of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, who migrated from Khorasan to Anatolia, are good examples to the mystical aspect of Sufism.
During the Ottoman presence in the Balkans, missionary movements were also taken up by people from aristocratic families hailing from the region, who had been educated in Constantinople or any other major city within the Empire, in famed madrassahs and kulliyes. Most of the time, such individuals were sent back to the place of their origin, being appointed important positions in the local governing body. This approach often resulted in the building of mosques and local kulliyes for future generations to benefit from, as well as spreading the teachings of Islam.
The spread of Islam towards Central and West Africa has been prominent but slow, until the early 19th century. Previously, the only connection was through Transsaharan trade, of which the Mali Empire, consisting predominantly of African and Berber tribes, stands as a strong proof of the early Islamization of the Sub-Saharan region. The gateways prominently expanded to include the aforementioned trade routes through the Eastern shores of the African continent. With the European colonization of Africa, missionaries were almost in competition with the European Christian missionaries operating in the colonies.
The Muslim population of the US has increased greatly in the last one hundred years, with much of the growth driven by widespread conversion.[8] Up to one-third of American Muslims are African Americans who have converted to Islam during the last seventy years. Conversion to Islam in prisons,[9] and in large urban areas[10] has also contributed to its growth over the years.
An estimated US$45 billion has been spent by the Saudi Arabian government financing mosques and Islamic schools in foreign countries. Ain al-Yaqeen, a Saudi newspaper, reported in 2002 that Saudi funds may have contributed to building as many as 1,500 mosques and 2,000 other Islamic centers[11]
[edit] Missionaries and Judaism
Despite some inter-Testamental Jewish missionary activity, contemporary Judaism states clearly that missionary activities are not a priority.
Modern Jewish teachers repudiate proselytization of Gentiles in order to convert them. The reason for this is that Gentiles already have a complete relationship with God via the Noahidic covenant (See Noahide Laws); there is therefore no need for them to become Jewish, which requires more work of them. In addition, Judaism espouses a concept of "quality" not "quantity". It is more important in the eyes of Jews to have converts who are completely committed to observing Jewish law, than to have converts who will violate the Abrahamic covenant into which they have been initiated.
Jewish religious groups encourage "Outreach" to Jews The outreach or "kiruv" movements encourage Jews to become more knowledgeable and observant of Jewish religious law. People who become more observant are known as baalei teshuva. "Outreach" is done worldwide, by organizations such as Chabad Lubavitch, Aish Hatorah, Ohr Somayach, and Partners In Torah. There are also many such organizations in the USA.
Members of the American Reform movement began a program to convert to Judaism the non-Jewish spouses of its intermarried members and non-Jews who have an interest in Judaism. Their rationale is that so many Jews were lost during the Holocaust that newcomers must be sought out and welcomed. This approach has been repudiated by Orthodox and Conservative Jews as unrealistic and posing a danger. They say that these efforts make Judaism seem an easy religion to join and observe when in reality being Jewish involves many difficulties and sacrifices.
[edit] Eastern religions
The first missions were sent by the Indian religions, in particular Buddhism.
[edit] Buddhist missions
Buddhist proselytism at the time of king Ashoka (260-218 BCE), according to his Edicts.See also: Buddhism in the West
The first Buddhist missionaries were called "Dharma Bhanaks". The Emperor Ashoka was a significant early Buddhist missioner. In the 3rd century BCE, Dharmaraksita - among others - was sent out by emperor Ashoka to proselytize[citation needed] the Buddhist tradition through the Indian Maurya Empire, but also into the Mediterranean as far as Greece. Buddhism was spread among the Turkic people during the 2nd and 3rd centuries BCE into modern-day Pakistan, Kashmir, Afghanistan, eastern and coastal Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. It was also taken into China brought by An Shigao in the 2nd century BCE.
The use of missions, formation of councils and monastic institutions influenced the emergence of Christian missions and organizations which had similar structures formed in places which were formerly Buddhist missions.[citation needed]
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Western intellectuals such as Schopenhauer, Henry David Thoreau, Max Müller and esoteric societies such as the Theosophical Society of H.P. Blavatsky and the Buddhist Society, London spread interest in Buddhism. Writers such as Hermann Hesse and Jack Kerouac, in the West, and the hippie generation of the late 1960s and early 1970s led to a re-discovery of Buddhism. During the 20th and 21st centuries Buddhism has again been propagated by missionaries[citation needed] into the West such as the Dalai Lama and monks including Lama Surya Das (Tibetan Buddhism). Tibetan Buddhism has been significantly active and successful in the West since the Chinese takeover of Tibet in 1959.
[edit] See also
Timeline of Christian missions
Short-term missions
Evangelism
Missiology
Proselytism
Missionary order
Missionary Society of St Thomas
The Roman Catholic Church and Colonialism
Indigenous church mission theory
Spanish Missions of California
Religious conversion
[edit] References
1.^ http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/missionary
2.^ a b Thomas Hale 'On Being a Missionary' 2003, William Carey Library Pub, ISBN 0878082557
3.^ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mission
4.^ Foltz, R.C.; Religions of the silk road; 1999; p.37
5.^ Robert Woodberry- the Social Impact of Missionary Higher Education
6.^ Selleck, D., discussed throughout Chapter 1, Quakers in Boston: 1656-1964, Fleming & Son, Somerville, 1980.
7.^ LDS Newsroom - Statistical Information
8.^ A NATION CHALLENGED: AMERICAN MUSLIMS; Islam Attracts Converts By the Thousand, Drawn Before and After Attacks
9.^ http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=960&wit_id=2719
10.^ Ranks of Latinos Turning to Islam Are Increasing; Many in City Were Catholics Seeking Old Muslim Roots
11.^ Kaplan, David E. (2003-12-15). "The Saudi Connection". U.S. News and World Report. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/031215/15terror.htm. Retrieved 2006-04-17.
[edit] Sources and references
Project on Religion and Economic Change, Protestant Mission Stations
LFM. Social sciences & Missions
Henry Martyn Centre for the study of mission & world Christianity
Sociology of Missions Project
William Carey Library, Mission Resources
Hiney, Thomas: On the Missionary Trail, New York: Atlantic Monthly Press (2000), p5-22.
EtymologyOnLine (word history)
Robinson, David Muslim Societies in African History (The Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK 2004) ISBN 0-521-53366-X
[edit] External links
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Missionaries
[hide]v • d • eReligion topics
Major groups Abrahamic Bahá'í Faith · Christianity · Gnosticism · Islam · Judaism · Rastafari · Samaritanism
Indian Ayyavazhi · Buddhism · Hinduism · Jainism · Sikhism
Iranian Ahl-e Haqq · Manichaeism · Mazdak · Yazidi · Zoroastrianism
East Asian Confucianism · Taoism
Recent Cao Dai · Cheondoism · Discordianism · I-Kuan Tao · Neopaganism · New Age · Seicho-No-Ie · Tenrikyo · Unitarian Universalism
Folk African · Afro-American · Indigenous Australian · Chinese · Javanese · Malagasy · Native American · Philippine · Polynesian · Shinto · Vodou
Ancient religions Prehistoric Paleolithic
Near East Egyptian · Semitic · Mesopotamian
Indo-European Celtic · Germanic · Illyro-thracian · Greek (Gnosticism · Neoplatonism) · Mithraism · Roman · Slavic · Vedic Hinduism
Theism Animism · Monotheism · Panentheism · Pantheism · Nontheism · Polytheism
Religious studies Anthropology · Comparison · Development · History · Origin · Philosophy · Psychology · Sociology · Theology · Theories · Timeline
Religion and
society Demographics · Education · Clergy (Monasticism · Ordination) · Fanaticism · Fundamentalism · Growth · Minorities · National church · Neo-Fascism · Conversion (Proselytism · Evangelism · Missionary) · Religious freedom (Toleration · Pluralism · Syncretism · Universalism) · Religion and politics · Religion and homosexuality · Religion and science · Schism · State religion · Theocracy · Violence (persecution · terrorism · war)
Secularism and
non-religion Atheism · Criticism of religion · Deconstruction · Irreligion · Secular theology · Secularization · Separation of church and state
Lists Topics (basic topics) · Religions and Spiritual Traditions · Deities · Deification · Founders · Mass gatherings · New religious movements · Scholars · Organizations
Religion portal
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionary"
Categories: Missionaries
Religious behaviour and experience
Religious occupations
Christian terms
Hidden categories: NPOV disputes from August 2009
Articles with a promotional tone from August 2009
All articles with a promotional tone
All articles with unsourced statements
Articles with unsourced statements from November 2009
Articles with unsourced statements from November 2007
Articles with unsourced statements from March 2009Personal tools
New featuresLog in / create accountNamespaces
ArticleDiscussionVariantsViews
ReadEditView historyActions
Search
SearchNavigation
Main pageContentsFeatured contentCurrent eventsRandom articleInteraction
About WikipediaCommunity portalRecent changesContact WikipediaDonate to WikipediaHelpToolbox
What links hereRelated changesUpload fileSpecial pagesPermanent linkCite this page
Print/export
Create a bookDownload as PDFPrintable version
Languages
AlemannischBân-lâm-gúБългарскиČeskyDanskDeutschEspañolFrançaisFrysk한국어ItalianoLatinaLëtzebuergeschMagyarBahasa MelayuNederlands日本語Norsk (bokmål)PolskiPortuguêsРусскийSlovenčinaSlovenščinaSvenskaไทยTürkçeУкраїнська中文This page was last modified on 14 May 2010 at 23:49.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
[Help us with translations!]
Notice something different? We've made a few improvements to Wikipedia. Learn more!
Missionary
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to:navigation, search
For other uses, see Missionary (disambiguation).
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve the article or discuss these issues on the talk page.
Its neutrality is disputed. Tagged since August 2009.
It is written like an advertisement and needs to be rewritten from a neutral point of view. Tagged since August 2009.
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to carry on ministries of the word]] and literacy, or ministries of service, such as education, social justice, health care and economic development.[1][2] The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin missionem (nom. missio), meaning "act of sending" or mittere, meaning "to send".[3]
In Christian cultures the term is most commonly used for Christian missions, but it applies equally to any creed or ideology. Buddhism launched 'the first large-scale missionary effort in the history of the world's religions' in the 3rd century BC.[4]
Contents [hide]
1 Christian missions
1.1 Biblical mandate
1.2 Catholic missions
1.3 Orthodox missions
1.4 First Protestant missions
1.5 Evangelical Church missions
1.6 The British Missionary Societies
1.7 Jehovah's Witnesses missionaries
1.8 Latter-day Saint missionaries
2 Islamic missions
3 Missionaries and Judaism
4 Eastern religions
4.1 Buddhist missions
5 See also
6 References
7 Sources and references
8 External links
[edit] Christian missions
Main articles: Mission (Christian) and List of Christian Missionaries
A Christian missionary can be defined as "one who is sent to witness across cultures."[2] The Lausanne Congress of 1974, defined the term, related to Christian mission as, "to form a viable indigenous church-planting movement." Recognizing justice as being at the heart of the Gospels, some modern missionaries now promote the development of western government[citation needed], education[5] and economic structure[citation needed] in the place of pre-existing local systems and tradition. Missionaries can be found in many countries around the world.
[edit] Biblical mandate
Jesus instructed the apostles to make disciples of all nations(Matthew 28:19-20). This reference is understood by Christian missionaries as the Great Commission to engage in missionary work.
[edit] Catholic missions
Main article: Catholic missions
See also: Roman Catholic Church and Colonialism, Jesuit China missions, Spanish Missions of California, Missionary Society of St Thomas, and List of Roman Catholic Missionaries
The New Testament missionary outreach of the Christian church from the time of St Paul was extensive throughout the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages the Christian monasteries and missionaries such as Saint Patrick, and Adalbert of Prague propagated learning and religion beyond the boundaries of the old Roman Empire. In the 7th century Gregory the Great sent missionaries including Augustine of Canterbury into England. During the Age of Discovery, the Roman Catholic Church established a number of Missions in the Americas and other colonies through the Augustinians, Franciscans and Dominicans in order to spread Christianity in the New World and to convert the Native Americans and other indigenous people. At the same time, missionaries such as Francis Xavier as well as other Jesuits, Augustinians, Franciscans and Dominicans were moving into Asia and the far East. The Portuguese sent missions into Africa. These are some of the most well-known missions in history. While some of these missions were associated with imperialism and oppression, others (notably Matteo Ricci's Jesuit mission to China) were relatively peaceful and focused on integration rather than cultural imperialism.
Much contemporary Catholic missionary work has undergone profound change since the Second Vatican Council, and has become explicitly conscious of Social Justice issues and the dangers of cultural imperialism or economic exploitation disguised as religious conversion. Contemporary Christian missionaries argue that working for justice is a constitutive part of preaching the Gospel, and observe the principles of inculturation in their missionary work.
As the church normally organizes itself along territorial lines, and because they had the human and material resources, religious orders—some even specializing in it—undertook most missionary work, especially in the early phases. Over time a normalised church structure was gradually established in the mission area, often starting with special jurisdictions known as apostolic prefectures and apostolic vicariates. These developing churches eventually intended 'graduating' to regular diocesan status with a local episcopacy appointed, especially after decolonization, as the church structures often reflect the political-administrative reality.
[edit] Orthodox missions
The Eastern Orthodox Church, under the Orthodox Church of Constantinople was vigorous in its missionary outreach under the Roman Empire and continuing Byzantine Empire, and its missionary outreach had lasting effect, either founding, influencing or establishing formal relations with some 16 Orthodox national churches including the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (both said to have been founded by the missionary Apostle Andrew), the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (said to have been founded by the missionary Apostle Paul). The two ninth century saints Cyril and Methodius had extensive missionary success in Eastern Europe. The Byzantines e19th century. The Russian Orthodox Church also sent missionaries to Alaska beginning in the 18th century, including Saint Herman of Alaska, to minister to the Native Americans. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia continued missionary work outside Russia after the 1917 Russian Revolution, resulting in the establishment of many new dioceses in the diaspora, from which numerous converts have been made in Eastern Europe, North America and Oceania.
[edit] First Protestant missions
Among the first Protestant missionaries were John Eliot (missionary) and contemporary ministers including John Cotton and Richard Bourne, who ministered to the Algonquin natives who lived in lands claimed by representatives of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century. Quaker "publishers of truth" visited Boston and other mid-17th century colonies but were not always well-received.[6]
The Danish government included Lutheran missionaries among the colonists in many of its colonies, Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg in Tranquebar India in the late 17th century. But the first organized Protestant mission work was carried out beginning in 1732 by the Moravian Brethren of Herrnhut in Saxony Germany(die evangelische Brüdergemeine). While on a visit in 1732 to Copenhagen for the coronation of his cousin King Christian VI the Moravian Church's patron, Nicolas Ludwig, Count von Zinzendorf got to know a slave from the Danish colony in the West Indies. When he returned to Herrnhut with the slave, he inspired the inhabitants of the village—it was fewer than 30 houses then---to send out "messengers" to the slaves in the West Indies. The first missionaries landed in St. Thomas in December, 1732. Work soon was started in another Danish colony, Greenland. Within 30 years there were Moravian missionaries active on every continent, and this at a time when there were fewer than 300 people in Herrnhut. They are famous for their selfless work, living as slaves among the slaves and together with the native Americans, the Delaware (i.e. Lenni Lenape) and Cherokee Indian tribes. Today the work in the former mission provinces of the worldwide Moravian Church is carried on by native workers. The fastest growing area of the work in Tanzania in Eastern Africa. The Moravian work in South Africa inspired William Carey and the founders of the British Baptist missions. Today 7 of every 10 Moravians are in a former mission field and belong to a race other than Caucasian. Like other missionary denominations, Protestant missionaries have been accused of cultural imperialism and have often been associated with a colonial power. (See Americanization (of Native Americans).)
[edit] Evangelical Church missions
With a dramatic increase in efforts since the 1900s, and a strong push since the Lausanne I: The International Congress on World Evangelization in Switzerland in 1974, [1] evangelical groups have focused efforts on sending missionaries to every ethnic group in the world. While this effort has not been completed, increased attention has brought larger numbers of people distributing Bibles, Jesus videos, and establishing evangelical churches in more remote, less Christianized areas.
Internationally, the focus for many years in the later 20th century was on reaching every "people group" with Christianity by the year 2000. Bill Bright's leadership with Campus Crusade, the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, The Joshua Project, and others brought about the need to know who these "unreached people groups" are and how those wanting to tell about the Christian God and share a Christian Bible could reach them. The focus for these organizations transitioned from a "country focus" to a "people group focus." (From "What is a People Group?" by Dr. Orville Boyd Jenkins: A "people group" is an ethnolinguistic group with a common self-identity that is shared by the various members. There are two parts to that word: ethno and linguistic. Language is a primary and dominant identifying factor of a people group. But there are other factors that determine or are associated with ethnicity.)
What can be viewed as a success by those inside and outside the church from this focus is a higher level of cooperation and friendliness among churches and denominations. It is very common for those working on international fields to not only cooperate in efforts to share their gospel message but view the work of their groups in a similar light. Also, with the increased study and awareness of different people groups, western mission efforts have become far more sensitive to the cultural nuances of those they are going to and those they are working with in the effort.
Over the years, as indigenous churches have matured, the church of the "Global South" (Africa, Asia and Latin America) has become the driving force in missions. Korean and African missionaries can now be found all over the world. These missionaries represent a major shift in Church history.
Brazil, Nigeria, and other countries have had large numbers of their Christian adherents go to other countries and start churches. These non-western missionaries often have unparalleled success because they need few western resources and comforts to sustain their livelihood while doing the work they have chosen among a new culture and people.
[edit] The British Missionary Societies
Main articles: Baptist Missionary Society, London Missionary Society, Church Missionary Society, China Inland Mission, and Church's Ministry Among Jewish People
The London Missionary Society was an extensive Anglican and Nonconformist missionary society formed in England in 1795 with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa. It now forms part of the Council for World Mission. The Anglican Church Missionary Society was also founded in England in 1799, and continues its work today. In 1809 the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews was founded, which pioneered mission amongst the Jewish people. It continues today as the Church's Ministry Among Jewish People. All these organisations spread through the extensive 18th and 19th century colonial British Empire, establishing the network of churches that largely became the modern Anglican Communion.
[edit] Jehovah's Witnesses missionaries
See also: Organizational structure of Jehovah's Witnesses
Typically, all adult Witnesses are expected to spend time every week "witnessing" in their area. Depending on the civil law in the respective country, this may take the form of proselytizing door to door, distribution of magazines and other literature such as The Watchtower and Awake! or responding to the questions of passersby. They also conduct home Bible studies with interested persons.While all baptized Jehovah's Witnesses engage in missionary work, the branch office of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, will appoint fulltime missionaries. Regular Pioneers are appointed to serve in a local congregation and spend an average of 70 hours a month preaching. Special pioneers are appointed to serve in isolated areas where preaching might be limited. Foreign missionaries are appointed to serve in another country after they have completed a 5 month course at the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead in Patterson, New York. They devote an average of 130 hours a month. They consider this activity as obedience to the teachings of Jesus Christ in (Matthew 28:19-20)
[edit] Latter-day Saint missionaries
Main articles: Missionary (LDS Church) and Mission (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an active missionary program. Young men between the ages of 19 and 25 (usually beginning at the age of 19) are encouraged to prepare themselves to serve a two-year, partially self-funded (the LDS Church pays for transportation, health and dental care, the MTC stay, leadership, etc. the missionary pays a monthly amount), full-time proselytizing mission. Young women and retired couples may serve missions as well. Young women who desire to serve as missionaries serve at an older age, 21 or older, and often for only one and a half years. Missionaries typically spend one to three months in a Missionary Training Center where they study the scriptures, learn new languages, and otherwise prepare themselves to teach the Gospel and understand the culture in which and the people among whom they will be living. The LDS Church has about 53,000 missionaries worldwide.[7]
[edit] Islamic missions
Main article: Islamic Missionary Activity
Islamic Dawah Center in Houston, TexasDawah means to "invite" (in Arabic, literally "calling") to Islam, estimated to be the second largest religion next to Christianity. From the 7th century it spread rapidly from the Arabian Peninsula to the rest of the world through the initial Muslim conquests, and subsequently with traders and explorers after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
Initially, the spread of Islam came through the dawah efforts of Muhammad and those who followed him. After his death in 632 CE, much of the expansion of the empire came through conquest, such as that of North Africa and later Spain (Al-Andalus), and the Islamic conquest of Persia putting an end to the Sassanid Empire and spreading the reach of Islam to as far East as Khorasan, which would later become the cradle of Islamic civilization during the Islamic Golden Age and a stepping-stone towards the introduction of Islam to the Turkic tribes living in and bordering the area.
The missionary movements peaked during the Islamic Golden Age, with the expansion of foreign trade routes, primarily into the Indo-Pacific and as far South as the isle of Zanzibar and the South-Eastern shores of Africa.
With the coming about of the tradition of Sufism, Islamic missionary activities increased considerably. The mystical nature of the tradition had an all-encompassing aspect, a property many societies in Asia could relate to. Later, with the conquest of Anatolia by the Seljuk Turks, missionaries would find easier passage to the lands then formerly belonging to the Byzantine Empire. In the earlier stages of the Ottoman Empire, a Turkic form of Shamanism was still widely practiced in Anatolia, which soon started to give in to the mysticism offered by Sufism. The teachings of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, who migrated from Khorasan to Anatolia, are good examples to the mystical aspect of Sufism.
During the Ottoman presence in the Balkans, missionary movements were also taken up by people from aristocratic families hailing from the region, who had been educated in Constantinople or any other major city within the Empire, in famed madrassahs and kulliyes. Most of the time, such individuals were sent back to the place of their origin, being appointed important positions in the local governing body. This approach often resulted in the building of mosques and local kulliyes for future generations to benefit from, as well as spreading the teachings of Islam.
The spread of Islam towards Central and West Africa has been prominent but slow, until the early 19th century. Previously, the only connection was through Transsaharan trade, of which the Mali Empire, consisting predominantly of African and Berber tribes, stands as a strong proof of the early Islamization of the Sub-Saharan region. The gateways prominently expanded to include the aforementioned trade routes through the Eastern shores of the African continent. With the European colonization of Africa, missionaries were almost in competition with the European Christian missionaries operating in the colonies.
The Muslim population of the US has increased greatly in the last one hundred years, with much of the growth driven by widespread conversion.[8] Up to one-third of American Muslims are African Americans who have converted to Islam during the last seventy years. Conversion to Islam in prisons,[9] and in large urban areas[10] has also contributed to its growth over the years.
An estimated US$45 billion has been spent by the Saudi Arabian government financing mosques and Islamic schools in foreign countries. Ain al-Yaqeen, a Saudi newspaper, reported in 2002 that Saudi funds may have contributed to building as many as 1,500 mosques and 2,000 other Islamic centers[11]
[edit] Missionaries and Judaism
Despite some inter-Testamental Jewish missionary activity, contemporary Judaism states clearly that missionary activities are not a priority.
Modern Jewish teachers repudiate proselytization of Gentiles in order to convert them. The reason for this is that Gentiles already have a complete relationship with God via the Noahidic covenant (See Noahide Laws); there is therefore no need for them to become Jewish, which requires more work of them. In addition, Judaism espouses a concept of "quality" not "quantity". It is more important in the eyes of Jews to have converts who are completely committed to observing Jewish law, than to have converts who will violate the Abrahamic covenant into which they have been initiated.
Jewish religious groups encourage "Outreach" to Jews The outreach or "kiruv" movements encourage Jews to become more knowledgeable and observant of Jewish religious law. People who become more observant are known as baalei teshuva. "Outreach" is done worldwide, by organizations such as Chabad Lubavitch, Aish Hatorah, Ohr Somayach, and Partners In Torah. There are also many such organizations in the USA.
Members of the American Reform movement began a program to convert to Judaism the non-Jewish spouses of its intermarried members and non-Jews who have an interest in Judaism. Their rationale is that so many Jews were lost during the Holocaust that newcomers must be sought out and welcomed. This approach has been repudiated by Orthodox and Conservative Jews as unrealistic and posing a danger. They say that these efforts make Judaism seem an easy religion to join and observe when in reality being Jewish involves many difficulties and sacrifices.
[edit] Eastern religions
The first missions were sent by the Indian religions, in particular Buddhism.
[edit] Buddhist missions
Buddhist proselytism at the time of king Ashoka (260-218 BCE), according to his Edicts.See also: Buddhism in the West
The first Buddhist missionaries were called "Dharma Bhanaks". The Emperor Ashoka was a significant early Buddhist missioner. In the 3rd century BCE, Dharmaraksita - among others - was sent out by emperor Ashoka to proselytize[citation needed] the Buddhist tradition through the Indian Maurya Empire, but also into the Mediterranean as far as Greece. Buddhism was spread among the Turkic people during the 2nd and 3rd centuries BCE into modern-day Pakistan, Kashmir, Afghanistan, eastern and coastal Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. It was also taken into China brought by An Shigao in the 2nd century BCE.
The use of missions, formation of councils and monastic institutions influenced the emergence of Christian missions and organizations which had similar structures formed in places which were formerly Buddhist missions.[citation needed]
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Western intellectuals such as Schopenhauer, Henry David Thoreau, Max Müller and esoteric societies such as the Theosophical Society of H.P. Blavatsky and the Buddhist Society, London spread interest in Buddhism. Writers such as Hermann Hesse and Jack Kerouac, in the West, and the hippie generation of the late 1960s and early 1970s led to a re-discovery of Buddhism. During the 20th and 21st centuries Buddhism has again been propagated by missionaries[citation needed] into the West such as the Dalai Lama and monks including Lama Surya Das (Tibetan Buddhism). Tibetan Buddhism has been significantly active and successful in the West since the Chinese takeover of Tibet in 1959.
[edit] See also
Timeline of Christian missions
Short-term missions
Evangelism
Missiology
Proselytism
Missionary order
Missionary Society of St Thomas
The Roman Catholic Church and Colonialism
Indigenous church mission theory
Spanish Missions of California
Religious conversion
[edit] References
1.^ http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/missionary
2.^ a b Thomas Hale 'On Being a Missionary' 2003, William Carey Library Pub, ISBN 0878082557
3.^ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mission
4.^ Foltz, R.C.; Religions of the silk road; 1999; p.37
5.^ Robert Woodberry- the Social Impact of Missionary Higher Education
6.^ Selleck, D., discussed throughout Chapter 1, Quakers in Boston: 1656-1964, Fleming & Son, Somerville, 1980.
7.^ LDS Newsroom - Statistical Information
8.^ A NATION CHALLENGED: AMERICAN MUSLIMS; Islam Attracts Converts By the Thousand, Drawn Before and After Attacks
9.^ http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=960&wit_id=2719
10.^ Ranks of Latinos Turning to Islam Are Increasing; Many in City Were Catholics Seeking Old Muslim Roots
11.^ Kaplan, David E. (2003-12-15). "The Saudi Connection". U.S. News and World Report. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/031215/15terror.htm. Retrieved 2006-04-17.
[edit] Sources and references
Project on Religion and Economic Change, Protestant Mission Stations
LFM. Social sciences & Missions
Henry Martyn Centre for the study of mission & world Christianity
Sociology of Missions Project
William Carey Library, Mission Resources
Hiney, Thomas: On the Missionary Trail, New York: Atlantic Monthly Press (2000), p5-22.
EtymologyOnLine (word history)
Robinson, David Muslim Societies in African History (The Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK 2004) ISBN 0-521-53366-X
[edit] External links
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Missionaries
[hide]v • d • eReligion topics
Major groups Abrahamic Bahá'í Faith · Christianity · Gnosticism · Islam · Judaism · Rastafari · Samaritanism
Indian Ayyavazhi · Buddhism · Hinduism · Jainism · Sikhism
Iranian Ahl-e Haqq · Manichaeism · Mazdak · Yazidi · Zoroastrianism
East Asian Confucianism · Taoism
Recent Cao Dai · Cheondoism · Discordianism · I-Kuan Tao · Neopaganism · New Age · Seicho-No-Ie · Tenrikyo · Unitarian Universalism
Folk African · Afro-American · Indigenous Australian · Chinese · Javanese · Malagasy · Native American · Philippine · Polynesian · Shinto · Vodou
Ancient religions Prehistoric Paleolithic
Near East Egyptian · Semitic · Mesopotamian
Indo-European Celtic · Germanic · Illyro-thracian · Greek (Gnosticism · Neoplatonism) · Mithraism · Roman · Slavic · Vedic Hinduism
Theism Animism · Monotheism · Panentheism · Pantheism · Nontheism · Polytheism
Religious studies Anthropology · Comparison · Development · History · Origin · Philosophy · Psychology · Sociology · Theology · Theories · Timeline
Religion and
society Demographics · Education · Clergy (Monasticism · Ordination) · Fanaticism · Fundamentalism · Growth · Minorities · National church · Neo-Fascism · Conversion (Proselytism · Evangelism · Missionary) · Religious freedom (Toleration · Pluralism · Syncretism · Universalism) · Religion and politics · Religion and homosexuality · Religion and science · Schism · State religion · Theocracy · Violence (persecution · terrorism · war)
Secularism and
non-religion Atheism · Criticism of religion · Deconstruction · Irreligion · Secular theology · Secularization · Separation of church and state
Lists Topics (basic topics) · Religions and Spiritual Traditions · Deities · Deification · Founders · Mass gatherings · New religious movements · Scholars · Organizations
Religion portal
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionary"
Categories: Missionaries
Religious behaviour and experience
Religious occupations
Christian terms
Hidden categories: NPOV disputes from August 2009
Articles with a promotional tone from August 2009
All articles with a promotional tone
All articles with unsourced statements
Articles with unsourced statements from November 2009
Articles with unsourced statements from November 2007
Articles with unsourced statements from March 2009Personal tools
New featuresLog in / create accountNamespaces
ArticleDiscussionVariantsViews
ReadEditView historyActions
Search
SearchNavigation
Main pageContentsFeatured contentCurrent eventsRandom articleInteraction
About WikipediaCommunity portalRecent changesContact WikipediaDonate to WikipediaHelpToolbox
What links hereRelated changesUpload fileSpecial pagesPermanent linkCite this page
Print/export
Create a bookDownload as PDFPrintable version
Languages
AlemannischBân-lâm-gúБългарскиČeskyDanskDeutschEspañolFrançaisFrysk한국어ItalianoLatinaLëtzebuergeschMagyarBahasa MelayuNederlands日本語Norsk (bokmål)PolskiPortuguêsРусскийSlovenčinaSlovenščinaSvenskaไทยTürkçeУкраїнська中文This page was last modified on 14 May 2010 at 23:49.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
God's 26 Guards- Email from clay Vice
Thanks Clay!
This is a credible story to Christians who continue to pray to God.
Sam
----- Original Message -----
From: Clay Vice
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2010 05:35
Subject: Fw: God's 26 Guards
God's 26 Guards
Here's a message that will bring you chills.
Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and
Then just put it on a list and said, 'I'll pray for them later'?
Or has anyone ever called you and said,
'I need you to pray for me, I have this need?'
Read the following story that was sent to me and
May it change the way that you may think about prayer
and also the way you pray. You will be blessed by this....
A missionary on furlough told this true story while
Visiting his home church in Michigan .
While serving at a small field hospital in Africa ,
Every two weeks I traveled by bicycle
Through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies..
This was a journey of two days and
Required camping overnight at the halfway point.
On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city
Where I planned to collect money from a bank,
Purchase medicine, and supplies, and then begin
My two-day journey back to the field hospital.
Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting,
One of whom had been seriously injured.
I treated him for his injuries and at the same time
Talked to him about the Lord.
I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and
Arrived home without incident....
Two weeks later I repeated my journey
Upon arriving in the city,
I was approached by the young man I had treated.
He told me that he had known I carried
Money and medicines.
He said, 'Some friends and I followed you in to the jungle,
Knowing you would camp overnight.
We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs..
But just as we were about to move into your camp,
We saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.
At this, I laughed and said that I was
Certainly all alone in that jungle campsite..
The young man pressed the point, however, and said,
'No, sir, I was not the only person to see the guards,
My friends also saw them, and we all counted them.
It was because of those guards that
We were afraid and left you alone.'
At this point in the sermon,
One of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and
interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the
exact day this happened.. The missionary told the congregation
the date, and The man who interrupted told him this story:
'On the night of your incident in Africa ,
It was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf.
I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you.
In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong,
I called men in this church to meet with me here
In the sanctuary to pray for you.
Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?'
The men who had met together to pray that day stood up.
The missionary wasn't concerned with whom they were,
He was too busy counting how many men he saw.
There were 26.
This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lord
moves in behalf of those who love Him.
If you ever feel such prodding to pray, go along with it,
you don't know what it can mean to that person..
Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.
I encourage you to forward this to as many people as you know.
If we all take it to heart,
We can turn this world toward God once again.
As the above true story clearly illustrates,
'With God all things are possible'.
More importantly, how God hears and
Answers the prayers of the faithful.
After you read this, please pass it on and
Give God thanks for the beautiful gift of your faith,
For the powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles
He works in your own daily life... And then pass it on.
Who says God does not move on the earth today?
I ask the Lord to bless you as I pray for you today.
To guide you and protect you as you go along your way.
His love is always with you, His promises are true,
and when we give Him our cares you know
He will see us through.
So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best,
Just remember I'm here praying, and
God will do the rest.
Pass this on to those whom you want God to bless
I Can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Just think .... You have only ONE LIFE .... it will soon be passed!
ONLY what's done FOR CHRIST will last!
__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 5115 (20100514) __________
The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
http://www.eset.com
This is a credible story to Christians who continue to pray to God.
Sam
----- Original Message -----
From: Clay Vice
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2010 05:35
Subject: Fw: God's 26 Guards
God's 26 Guards
Here's a message that will bring you chills.
Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and
Then just put it on a list and said, 'I'll pray for them later'?
Or has anyone ever called you and said,
'I need you to pray for me, I have this need?'
Read the following story that was sent to me and
May it change the way that you may think about prayer
and also the way you pray. You will be blessed by this....
A missionary on furlough told this true story while
Visiting his home church in Michigan .
While serving at a small field hospital in Africa ,
Every two weeks I traveled by bicycle
Through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies..
This was a journey of two days and
Required camping overnight at the halfway point.
On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city
Where I planned to collect money from a bank,
Purchase medicine, and supplies, and then begin
My two-day journey back to the field hospital.
Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting,
One of whom had been seriously injured.
I treated him for his injuries and at the same time
Talked to him about the Lord.
I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and
Arrived home without incident....
Two weeks later I repeated my journey
Upon arriving in the city,
I was approached by the young man I had treated.
He told me that he had known I carried
Money and medicines.
He said, 'Some friends and I followed you in to the jungle,
Knowing you would camp overnight.
We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs..
But just as we were about to move into your camp,
We saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.
At this, I laughed and said that I was
Certainly all alone in that jungle campsite..
The young man pressed the point, however, and said,
'No, sir, I was not the only person to see the guards,
My friends also saw them, and we all counted them.
It was because of those guards that
We were afraid and left you alone.'
At this point in the sermon,
One of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and
interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the
exact day this happened.. The missionary told the congregation
the date, and The man who interrupted told him this story:
'On the night of your incident in Africa ,
It was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf.
I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you.
In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong,
I called men in this church to meet with me here
In the sanctuary to pray for you.
Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?'
The men who had met together to pray that day stood up.
The missionary wasn't concerned with whom they were,
He was too busy counting how many men he saw.
There were 26.
This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lord
moves in behalf of those who love Him.
If you ever feel such prodding to pray, go along with it,
you don't know what it can mean to that person..
Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.
I encourage you to forward this to as many people as you know.
If we all take it to heart,
We can turn this world toward God once again.
As the above true story clearly illustrates,
'With God all things are possible'.
More importantly, how God hears and
Answers the prayers of the faithful.
After you read this, please pass it on and
Give God thanks for the beautiful gift of your faith,
For the powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles
He works in your own daily life... And then pass it on.
Who says God does not move on the earth today?
I ask the Lord to bless you as I pray for you today.
To guide you and protect you as you go along your way.
His love is always with you, His promises are true,
and when we give Him our cares you know
He will see us through.
So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best,
Just remember I'm here praying, and
God will do the rest.
Pass this on to those whom you want God to bless
I Can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Just think .... You have only ONE LIFE .... it will soon be passed!
ONLY what's done FOR CHRIST will last!
__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 5115 (20100514) __________
The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
http://www.eset.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)