Following Jesus

At our prayer meeting on Tuesday night we reflected on the work that a church does to help other people to follow Jesus. There is so much that a church does. What a church can do is 'lead a horse to water.' Of course we know that it 'can't make it drink.'

A church can encourage people to open their Bibles and read to listen to God. It can encourage people to talk to God and rely on God. An amazing lady from our church is has undergone a life saving operation, and may need some more treatment. For us to walk with her, she has been an inspiration in depending on God, even in the face of a valley of the shadow of death. She has known the rod and staff of comfort of the Good Shepherd.

Through the disciplines of reading her Bible and prayer, she has intimacy with Jesus. She has a peace that is felt and deep. It's a peace that I pray as the pastor of a church that others would experience as they face their challenges and difficulties.

This Sunday in John 7 we will be looking at the dangers of relying on a tradition when it comes to follow Jesus. Robotic routines and cold religion are dangerous. The object of our affection deserves the efforts of our energies as we listen to Him and grow closer to Him. As said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" What satisfaction there is to be found when we follow Jesus.

The COST of Missions

We are sorting out our clinical records! When you have moved a little when the kids were little, not only do you have 2 languages to wade through looking for translations of different injections that the older kids have had, never mind making sure that we have the dates for these, there are other little injections that have been thrown in cross culturally, things that are important in Mexico that kids in our country would never have needed to have been given.

So we went to a great place called Healthlink 360, where we went before as missionaries with OMS to see what we need. Great place btw. They had a look through what the kids have had, what we have had and in trying to save us some money, have sent us off to our own GP to get the ones we should be able to get on the NHS.

So our poor kids have to have injections that they wouldn't normally need, only that we are heading to a country where they could be at risk of some life threatening illnesses. We forgot about that part as we were praying about going. So, none today, but they are coming!!!!

The little talked about but large (in the eyes of children) COST of missions.

WHY Missions?

Christian missionaries head to their communities, and to other communities, even in other lands, to tell people the amazing story of God entering a world to save people. Even in that little phrase, there is a story of death, or impending judgement, but a rescue mission of love. At the heart of the 'telling' is the Son of God, Jesus. Without mentioning His name and His work, His words and His offer to humanity, there is no mission.

Who does Jesus think He is to be so important? We're studying John 6 at the moment in our church, and Jesus' words are striking. "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever." (verse 51) His claim isn't to be a guide, or a great moral teacher, but to be MUCH more than that. He offers life after death. To get that life, you need Jesus. 

Why is belief in Jesus so important? Again, the words of Jesus, in verse 40. "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." Missions happen because people need to know about and follow Jesus. To believe in Jesus is learn from Him, believe what He says is true, and do what He says. Then they will have a life with Him after death.

Where else can you go? Following Jesus is hard. People can think you mad for living your life according to a man who lived so long ago, but if Jesus is who He claims to be, God the Son, then that changes everything. When God enters our world to save people, we need to listen to find out why we are in danger and what needs to be done, how we can escape the danger. That's when Missions happen. That's why Jesus is central to Missions. He is the bread of missions. 

The Body of OMS

We learned about One Mission Society while we first visited Mexico in 2001, having been married for only 6 months as we went to visit some missionaries who worked there. The processes started for OMS to partner with and then to oversee the work with street kids there, now called MEFI.

It was wonderful to have a day on Saturday to meet with other OMS supporters and workers to think about the whole work of the Mission from a UK perspective. There are people who represent OMS as trustees, helping the organisation comply with the laws of the land. There are the staff who work to represent the Mission to churches, and care for missionaries. There are volunteers to meet to do practical work, there is MFM, prayer groups, supporters and of course the missionaries themselves.

So often we forget the people who work in our behalf. People who don't always get the thanks that they deserve, people who enjoy anonymity.  One of the best things about the OMS gathering on Saturday was being with people who prayed for us and supported us while we were in Mexico, people we had lost contact with.

1 Corinthians 12 talks about how the work we do in church and missions is like a body. Many different elements of the body that do their part and work together. It really felt like that on Saturday with OMS.

Just a 'proud dad' moment to share, we brought along our 2 youngest to the day. Loaded with books and pencils and iPads, we were ready to keep them occupied. Oscar, born in Mexico of course, was really captivated by the day. He wants to be a missionary one day with OMS. Could there be any more encouragement from a day like that but that a young boy would feel like a part of the body, and want to help too?

Tired of conflict...

Conflicts. Feels like everyone in our country is fighting at the moment. As a Northern Irishman, there was plenty of fighting in our country, something which seems to have simmered away all this time. Here in Scotland, the fighting over control continues as our policitians seek a new Independence Referendum, never mind living in the Brexit reality. I'm tired of conflict, and yet people are only getting warmed up here in the UK.

Then there is my community, where historical conflict continues after Miners' strikes. Where neighbours fight, parents fight against our school, our community fights against vandals, and we have a police report giving us the numbers of reported incidents in our community. Will things get any better?

Then I turn to a passage in John chapter 6 which I'm preaching on this Sunday. Here is again another conflict. 2 agendas clashing. The people's agenda to get what they can from Jesus, and force Him to be their King against the Roman occupants of the country; against God's agenda to break into their selfish proud world, get their attention and help them to see that He is at work, and can give them life. The people think life is about their comfort, God knows that this world can never give them the comfort they crave. God wants to give them a life that this world cannot match.

2 agendas, but a very uneven conflict. We will only have peace when we submit to God's agenda. We will only have life when we stop depending on the comforts of this one; politicians, to flags, to economic trade relations. Meaning and hope find their fulfilment in Jesus. There's the only comforting truth.

What can you do in 100 days?

What can you do in 100 days? Apparently it is a good time to get fit, or analyse a presidency according to Google. My wonderful wife has just told me that one of our most amazing friends, a missionary to Mexico called Margaret Neff, and an OMS stalwart, has posted in Facebook that in 100 days we will be arriving there. That's quite sobering. 100 days. It's not a long period of time really. That reminds me, we still need to check out what injections we need to get or refresh...

Over the last week we have been contacted by some friends in Mexico who haven't known about our plans to visit, and it has been wonderful to let them know that we can see them soon. Above all, we are so excited to be able to serve with the MEFI team.

In the meantime, we have the OMS Scotland conference this Saturday and a little presentation about being able to re-visit a work that we support and pray for. Maybe we'll see you there. 100 days...and counting...

Learning a language with children

Like all kids, our kids love to play games...(and love to win of course), and as we travel, we have been looking at games that they will be able to play while we are away with other Mexican kids. This one has been perfect for learning not just colours, but parts of the face. "Do they have brown eyes?" This was a favourite of my own growing up, and it hasn't lost its magic. Still so much to help them to learn, but still time to keep up the enjoyment of speaking another language.

1 Thessalonians has such a terrific way of putting the desire to communicate the love of God. Chapter 2 verse 8 puts it like this, "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us." READY. Paul and his team were ready to share, they had prepared well. They knew that the most important message they needed to share was the gospel, the amazing news about Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. They were ready to share, and they were so authentic with their love that it spilled over into normal day to day life, not just ministry time. I wonder if it might have allowed for playing a few games?

We'll be ready too...

OMS re-connection

We have served with this wonderful missions organisation in the past in Mexico, and it is our joy to be returning under its banner again this year to visit the OMS Mexico field and missionaries. OMS UK Scotland will be having a conference on 18th April in Kilsyth Community Church  to hear updates about the work of missions and how to be involved. As returning short term missionaries this time it is a joy to share about what it is like to leave a work but stay involved in prayer, and why we want to go back to visit the work again.

If you'd like to join us, click the link for OMS UK Scotland above for details.

This year's focus

As a church we are regaining the focus of discipleship. It's a dying art according to some (for example see Mark Dever of 9 Marks, Discipleship), and something that churches need to capture again. 

We've decided this year as a church that we will not stumble into Discipleship, but we must be INTENTIONAL about developing it. We want not just to turn up to any of our gatherings or wake up each day just stumbling into following Jesus, but striving to follow Him. Examining 2 Timothy 3:10, Paul has invited Timothy into his life to examine him, learn from him, watch him, and so Timothy knows that Paul is full of integrity. In helping Timothy to follow Jesus, Paul has been intentional about helping Timothy to follow Jesus. 

We've also decided that the reason for our intentionality in Discipleship must be to produce CONFIDENT Christians. Back to 2 Timothy 3:14-15,  Paul wants Timothy to be firm in his beliefs and wisdom. From church history we know that Timothy was a young pastor in a large collection of churches in Ephesus. Confident in a world where there is much scepticism towards Christianity, and confident to share their faith coherently. 

Lastly we want to produce USEFUL Christians. In 2 Timothy 3:16 we find Paul urging Timothy to go to the Bible and learn, grow and use, so that he would be equipped for every good work. As a church here outside Edinburgh, we want to encourage our folks to serve, develop their Spiritual gifts, and talents, and if they move away, or help to plant more churches, they will be useful when they go.

And for our own children? It needs to be the same. As we prepare for Mexico, our aim must not change. Intentional about preparing them, so that they would be confident in Jesus and useful when they are living their lives in our own community as well as in Mexico this summer. 

Ministry will not be the same again

Honestly, life is so different with these three. Carol and I started our full time missions experience as a couple, and went for a year's experience to work with Street Kids in Mexico. We felt called to return and came back to have our amazing eldest in Northern Ireland. Then we went out again as career missionaries to lead the street kid work. Then we had our middle child in Mexico. Life changed again with the additions of new ministries and cutting back others. We were called to leave the field and return to the UK to lead a church planting work and had our littlest one in Scotland. Outnumbered! New opportunities, new friends, new beginnings for ministry as a family. Our home and our work were intertwined, our children grew to love visitors and a family working close by. They have taught us so much about our own relationship to our Heavenly Father, and remind us to be humble, never mind to enjoy people. Taking them all to Mexico for the summer will show us the challenges of ministry as a family, so we are glad to have a number of months to work on language and ideas to serve together. Do pray with us as we expose our kids to our old life as well as the joys of overseas missions.

We were reminded recently from John 4:42 that Jesus is the Saviour of the World!!!! Looking forward to helping our little ones see that in action.

Visiting Mexico

We have been saving for a while and now that the kids are older, we have decided to ask for permission from MEFI and OMS Mexico to visit the work again this summer. If you used to pray for us and followed the work that we did, please let us know in the comments section below and we will be doing our best to do updates on the Street Kid ministry when we arrive at the end of June. 

By the time we arrive it will have been over 7 years since we were last there, and we know that many things will have changed and developed. We look forward to catching up with our friends and colleagues there as well as seeing how we can continue to be of help, albeit from a distance. 

May God bless you,

The Agnews