I know that this is an odd subject to write about. Not that the Gospel would be odd for me to talk about but the fact I am talking about a piece of paper on a blog. I have always been intrigued by the Gospel tract. In the small church I grew up attending we had a rack of tracts called Chick Tracts. I am certain of two things about my childhood. I watched every episode of Saved by the Bell and I read every tract Chick Publications put out. I would read the tracts when I considered the happenings in the front of the room to not be entertaining enough to merit my attention. I would often read them during a missionaries presentation. Which is ironic on many levels.

Throughout the years. I have had an off and on relationship with the Gospel Tract. At times I have given out hundreds during a month and other times I have given out a few to zero. As I know that I should have never been reading tracts during church I also know I should not go a month without sharing a Gospel tract. It does not change the fact that both have happened.

This medium of sharing the Gospel grabbed my attention today. Robert Canfield, the Childrens Pastor at my church, had handed a lady from India a Gospel tract (like the one seen in the above picture) when I walked into the room. Upon seeing the lady I blurted out, as if my mouth had no connection to my brain, “so have you heard I went to India?”. Even though it is true I have been to India and it is something that I would bring up in  a conversation with a lady from India, it was weird of me to ask it in the “have you heard” fashion. As if it was local news or India would call her and give her monthly updates.

As I tried to regain my normal level of “only slightly awkward” the lady began to ask me questions about the church. Are you a pastor? Do you teach here? Did the church send you to India? Which led to answers that to many answers. During the conversation I explained to this nice lady about all the families from our church living overseas. After talking about the church, missions, and my trip to India I could see the ever so come expression on her face that said “why?’.

God sent this lady all the way from India, into our area, introduced her to a lady in our church who taught piano, walked her into a room, gave me a chance to talk to her and the answer to “why” is the same answer to the question of “why” that her face was asking. The Gospel. The answer to these questions was being firmly gripped in her hand in the form of a Gospel tract. Why do we do what we do? The Gospel.

Please, pray for this lady. Please, pray for me. In that moment my appreciation of the Gospel tract was brought to where it should be. It is not just some information printed on a glossy piece of paper that is a good thing for those us in the church to hand out. It is God answering why through His Word to all the “whys” of life!  I do not want my heart to become indifferent to this renewed knowledge of this simple truth.

Rather it is through little pieces of glossy paper (tracts), videos, conversations with friends, conversation with strangers, graffiti, books, status updates, songs, or a blog let’s use all tools available to get the Gospel to every person in this world. By the way.. why don’t you take a second a read this What is the Gospel?

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In Tim Tebow’s autobiography, “Through My Eyes,”For as long as I can remember, this was instilled in me: to have fun, love Jesus and others, and tell them about Him.” If you have given Tebow a moment of your attention you will see that he is living up to these principles in his life. He is having a blast and pointing people to Jesus on and off the field.

You do not have to be a Broncos fan to be a Tebow fan nor would you have to be a follower of Jesus to appreciate Tim Tebow’s work ethic. His contribution as starting quarterback cannot be argued. His dedication to Jesus may not be cared for by some but He is consistent.

For example, former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer told KGME-AM in Phoenix this week: “I think he’s a winner and I respect that about him. I think that when he accepts the fact that we know that he loves Jesus Christ, then I think I’ll like him a little better. I don’t hate him because of that. I just would rather not have to hear that every time he takes a good snap or makes a good hand-off.”

To which Tebow replies, “a man needn’t express his love for his wife only on their wedding day, but all the time. That’s the way he feels about his relationship with his Lord…That’s the thing about my faith: It’s not just something that happens when you’re at church or happens when you’re praying or reading the Scripture. It’s a part of who you are, as a person, as a player, in your life and everything, and it should be who you are because you’re not just a Christian or a believer at church. That’s who you are everywhere and it shouldn’t matter what situation or what setting you are in. Hopefully, you’re the same guy everywhere.”

There are many books, articles, and websites that can tell you more about the the person, player, and passion of Tim Tebow. I would like to draw your attention to something that is common to all of us. You and I are may not (and I mean by that are not) be NFL football players. We may not have daily tv interviews. We may not have people buying our autobiographies but we do have influence.

Our influence may come in various doses but never the less all of us have some measure of it. How are you using the platform of your God given influence that is given to you? Could it be said of you that people hear of Jesus in the dynamic equivalent of you every “snap and hand off”?

Tim Tebow has given his life over to Jesus which means that in every situation He is looking to draw attention to our Him. Think about this tomorrow when there is a lull in conversation in the break room, when you have the opportunity to respond to the boss in front of your colleagues, and when you have a choose to make an easy choice and the right choice.

All of us have different platforms. Some seat higher than others with a larger audience but all of them as Christians should be given to Christ to use for His glory.

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This morning as a consumed my daily dose of information from the blogosphere I see that most people I read after are happy and thankful. They did not leave me much to say but I will take my turn. It is good for us to express thanks because silent gratitude is not much use to anyone.

This morning I have a loving family, wonderful church, awesome friends, more than needed in housing, ridiculous ease in access to food, and I have not pent one moment of my life without any of those things. I will eat a meal today that would be the best and largest meal that the vast majority of the world would consider they have ever had. I live in a generation that has more conveniences than any king one hundred years ago. I could not imagine how I could be any more fortunate by being born into this family, in this county, and in this time in history.

Today I want to say “thank You” with the “You” being my gracious God! All the things I listed in the previous paragraph were not provided to me solely by any person. All anyone in my life could ever be is an instrument of God’s goodness upon my life. For a moment I would like to challenge you as you consider for what you are thankful to first stop and consider to whom are you thankful.

THANKFUL. 1. : conscious of benefit received <for what we are about to receive make us truly thankful>. 2. : expressive of thanks.

President Abraham Lincoln understood this when he officially set aside the last Thursday of November, in 1863, “as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father.” Thankfulness is only possible when we realize what we have received has been giving to us by choose in our lives and not by chance by an all knowing, loving God.

My friend Chris Gardner expressed it very clearly on Tuesday night when he shared the story of the 10 lepers. They all had the same circumstances of being healed from leprosy but on one CHOSE to express his thankfulness. When we look past what we receive and look to the giver do we find our greatest ability to be thankful.

I am amazed this morning when I think about how the Giver of all good things gave Himself. The God of Heaven took on a robe of flesh and died the death of a criminal on earth to give me an everlasting life free from the eternal penalty of sin. I have some many things to be thankful today and so do you regardless of your current state. Some of you may be going through the darkest season of your life. Could I challenge you to look back the “what” this morning and to the “Whom”. Do not believe for a moment that the God who died in your place desire to harm you. He is doing a wondrous work that we cannot understand. To the unbeliever He is drawing you to Him. To the believer He is conforming you into the image of Christ. Both of these things are acts of gracious love.

Today when you sit down with you family and make mention of all you are thankful for take a adequate time for all those present to realize first of all to Whom we are thankful. Use this day for its designated purpose “as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father.”

Today as you express you gratitude for Jesus who died in your place would you consider helping other people in other places know He died in their place as well. Here is a link that you help you learn how you can help the spread of the Gospel in China by seeing a church planted.  http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=fc91195352c523053aee88497&id=a62091c321

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The following was in this weeks reading for the students in the Our Generation Training Center. I thought it was a wonderful challenge to all of us desiring to be servants. This does not only apply to missionaries but to all of us serving the King.

Missionaries should value achieving a spirit of servanthood as a high ideal and goal. Paul often presented himself as an apostle to clarify the authority with which he treated difficult moral matters in his letters. He also considered himself a servant even in those contexts (1 Cor. 1:1, 3, 5; 4:1–21). Paul illustrated from his own life how he humbled himself to more effectively convince the Corinthians of the rightness of his attitude and actions (2 Cor. 12:14–21). A brief outline of this passage underscores six principles of missionary servanthood:

1. The missionary must serve for the good of the people and not for his or her own designs (2 Cor. 12:14).

2. He or she must serve even though it is not recognized and appreciated (2 Cor. 12:15).

3. The missionary should serve to edify others and not to make personal claims (2 Cor. 12:16–19).

4. He or she should serve believing that God is conscious of what is being done, whether other people are conscious of it or not (2 Cor. 12:19).

5. The missionary must serve although the results are not what he or she had hoped for (2 Cor. 12:20).

6. The missionary must serve with a spirit of humility (2 Cor. 12:21).

Terry, J. M., Smith, E. C., & Anderson, J. (1998). Missiology : An introduction to the foundations, history, and strategies of world missions (342–343). Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Text book used in the Missiology Courses at the O.G.T.C. to receive more information go to bcwe.org

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Don’t Forget My People

Published Aug 26, 2011

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—–____tireless servant   –  powerful preacher  -  loving husband  -  caring father

Today I have the great honor of being part of the ordination service for my friend and co-laborer Robert Canfield. Today through the use of ceremony, laying on of hands, and a special service we will be showing our acknowledgement of a truth that has become very evident to our church family. God has His hand on Robert and is, has been, and will continue to equip him for service.

As seen in the pictures above, Robert is a tireless servant, powerful preacher, loving husband, and caring father. I count it an honor today to be part of Vision Baptist Church and to let Robert and all who are watching know we believe in this man of God. I have the privilege to work with Robert on a daily basis and can tell you he is a true man of integrity, compassion, and dedication to God and His Word. Any ministry would be blessed to have a servant of this caliber.

Robert had his heart stirred when a young missionary, David Gardner, came by his church almost 5 years ago. Robert knew from hearing this young man preach and watching him live out a God given dream that he must make a radical change in his life and get to a place of training for ministry. As a student in the Our Generation Training Center he took his academics very seriously and was always found at the church serving in some capacity or another. He currently serves as the assistant to our Pastor, as the Children’s Pastor, over sees much of the administration of the O.G.T.C., teaches Baptist History (one of his favorite subjects), and is involved in countless other areas of ministry. [As seen in the above picture he is always at our Pastor's side ready to assist him as an armor bearer]

Dozens of missionaries and pastors will join us this afternoon for a wonderful time of counsel and encouragement. As I have previously stated I am honored to be in this number. It has been a joy to serve with my friend, Robert. I pray that God will give us a lifetime of service together. Rather it be side by side or holding the rope for one or the other I pray that God allows us to end this life on the firing line together.

My brother, Robert, if you read this today know that not only I but the entire church family of Vision Baptist Church, your family, and dozens of missionaries around the world appreciate you and believe in you. We look forward to seeing all God has in store for you and your wonderful family. I am delighted to be able to offer some words of encouragement that could not be said to everyone. Continue “doing more of the same and with the same heart”!

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The Our Generation Summit is a premier event for us PIONEER SENDERS! You will have the opportunity to spend time with missionaries around the world. Not “spend time” like you might get the few minutes before and after they present at your church. I am talking about some real, quality time hanging out in Gatlinburg, TN together!

This years theme is “The King’s Command”. We will, as we always do, take a look at the Great Commission as a command to be obeyed and not an option to be considered! We have an emphasis on the Giver of the command which is our King Jesus! I hope you will join us!

If you have questions about the event please call me at 770.853.8148 or email me at TrentCornwell@gmail.com. Make sure you check out www.bcwe.org. It has all the info I will give you when you call – but will still be glad to talk with you if you have time.

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Conn3ct is the young couples ministry of our church, Vision Baptist Church. Conn3ct was reorganized from another class in our church in February of this year. During our team of planing, praying, and talking about how we could reach our community we chose to be called Conn3ct. It is a constant reminder of our desire to be “Couples Connected in Christ”. We desire to be unified in our marriage through Christ and the greatest factor that holds our class together is a love for Christ.

I know I typically write about things that seem more “missionly” (can’t you make anything an adverb by adding a ‘ly’?). There is nothing more true of missions than the local church! While in India are we often stood almost frozen at the overwhelming need. One of the things that God used to take our time in India and create an excitement in our heart in how He could use our lives to make a difference was knowing the awesome group of great couples to which we would be returning.

Over the last 6 months God has sent 8 couples to join the 6-7 couples who met together to form Conn3ct. As we have been using our talents and energy for the furtherance of the Gospel it has been amazing to see God send more couples with different talents to join our team. The needs around the world and the desire of our church to meet these needs creates an overwhelming heart of gratitude when I think upon these things.

Our class, Conn3ct, is meeting and discussing what more we can do to reach our community and the world. I pray and hope all of you out there will find or have found a wonderful church family to serve in this wonderful mission together.

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Equality is fairly easy for me to spell, slightly difficult to define, and extremely difficult for me to decide what it should look like lived out in my life. According to Webster (the dictionary editor not the character Emmanuel Lewis played in the 80s) equality is the quality or state of being equal. Pretty straight definition with emphasis on “quality” and “equal” the two words joined together to bring us “equality“.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:13,14 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

I know I normally try to suggest answers or at least my opinion of the needed answer to questions in the life of a Pioneer Sender. With my first post since returning from India I would like offer some questions with which I am currently wrestling. I hope to find, suggest, and give opportunity to live out the answers over the next few months.

Here are some of the questions I have concerning what I saw in India based upon obedience to the above Scriptures.

• How as a Sender can there be better equality between me and the Missionary Goer? Life in India is difficult. Life in America can be easy. Will I be eased as they are burdened?
• As a believer in America how can there be equality in my abundance of theological resources with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ around the world?
• As an American citizen who has been exposed to the Gospel my entire life how can there be an equality between me and the man who is yet to hear?
• As a member of a 1st world country with an abundance of food what will I do with the thousands of people I saw that will be going to sleep hungry every night this week.

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Our team is coming dow to the lobby in a few minutes and we are headed to do some field study of an area in the south west part of the city so I offer you these scattered thoughts.

1. Learning the language (Hindustan – Hindi). Yes, many in the middle class speak english. Many people are here from south India and speak more english. In few cases is in the language of the heart and very often it is just not functional.

2. Hindusim is very hard to understand. It never tried to be a united religion.  Millions of people across the country worshiped gods of their village and got categorized as Hindus. To know what a person believes you must ask them and listen. No book can tell you about a particular person.

3. There is incredible diversity in living conditions. I a slum area can be right beside a fairly nice middle class home. The diversity is without exception. It is always in eye sight. You can hardly get to a place of means where you do not see poverty right in front of you. You are not often around poverty where you can not see some signs of better conditions in the distance.

4. There are very, very few Kingdom workers here for the population. We have heard of about 100 but are certain there are many many more. From the 100 we have heard about only about 10% are working directly with the people of New Delhi. Others serve in logistical roles of supportive ministries for the greater north India area. This has reconfirmed are commitment to urban, church planting.

5. This is by far the most “spiritual” place I have ever been. Religion molds every facet of their lives and effects their economy greatly. The Gospel would not only have radical effects on the individual but on the entire country. Many of the things that hold back this nation from developing and moving forward is their captivity to tradition.

Well, I have to run. The team and bus are ready to go. Thank you all for holding the ropes. In the land filled of idols the Gospel seems sweeter. God is unchanged even when He is not worshiped. God is doing wonderful things in this country. Please, pray for our brothers and sisters here. Please, pray about being one of the 8 families we are asking God to provide for the launch team. We will give more information about this later but we need people in linguistics, Muslim evangelism, writing, media, and all must be in love with Jesus and committed to teaching God Word!

Love you all.

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