Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Pastoral Missions Trips

Yesterday, our Catalyst group had the privilege of hosting Christopher Alam, a long-time missionary evangelist who has planted over 1000 new churches and has seen millions of converts in Africa and Asia. Just last week he was received into the Penn-Del District of the Assemblies of God (his close friend, Reinhard Bonnke, was received into the Peninsular Florida district this month as well).

One of the group members asked Christopher what an American pastor should do to keep their faith level high that God can/will do the same kind of miracles here that are happening in many other places of the world.

I was struck by Christopher's answer.

He said, "I would recommend that every pastor in the U.S. minister on a missions trip once a year to sustain his/her level of faith."

What do you think? Has that approach been effective for anyone?

3 comments:

Gerry Stoltzfoos said...

I'm with you Paul. I certainly have benefited enormously from doing several missions trips a year, and would highly recommend it to any Pastor of any size church.

Anonymous said...

I have learned so much from the passion and dedication of the Nationals with whom I have worked on Missions Trips. I always return home with a renewed vigor for my own community.

Richard Earl said...

There's no doubt that leaving the safe and comfortable environs for unreached fields spurs faith and renews passion for Christ and the work.