Surge

This week I took a moment to count the number of airplanes I have been on in the past year since our launch as Surge in October of 2010. If I counted correctly, I found I have been on 46 different flights all over the world in the last 12 months!

And yet, despite all my busy traveling — despite all our busy activity — there are still so many lost people in the world! Here we are, approaching the end of the year 2011, the earth’s population having just reached 7 billion souls. Yet there are hundreds of people groups who have never heard the name of Jesus, and millions of souls without access to a local church.

In August I was in Lebanon, where I was meeting with some of the top Christian leaders in the Middle East. These are dedicated men who have been hazarding their lives to win the lost. It was beyond troubling to learn from them that there are only 160 known pastors in all of the Arabic-speaking world! Imagine 300 million people — the same population as the United States — and yet there are only 160 pastors reaching out to that population. This should burden us!

One Arab pastor told me that he was trying to form a committee of full-gospel pastors in his country. The government requirement to have a recognized committee was 10 people. He could not find 10 spirit filled pastors his entire region to form a committee! Meanwhile here in the West, we seem to be tripping over each other with so many churches so close together. All too often, we look like salesmen more concerned with other ministries encroaching on our territory than we are simply burdened about the lost in our cities.

If only we would take a moment to step out of our busy lives — to look past our weekly grind of work, church, and taking the kids to tee ball practice. If we could look objectively, if we could “zoom out” to the Lord’s point of view, we would see the seven billion people He sees. O that our hearts would yearn for those in China — for those in Africa, Vietnam, and India! That we would be burdened to see them come to have the advantages we have. Not merely the advantages of electricity, or a well-developed political system, but the advantage of the gospel — the advantage of being able to receive Jesus, to make a decision for Him and enter into freedom!

I pray that you take a moment this week, as I did, and allow the Lord to align your heart with His.

Consider the story of the homeowner who took in bids to have his house painted. The chosen painter showed up on the appointed day and began to unload his painting equipment. Since he was lacking a tall ladder to reach the second floor, he got a few two-by-fours and, nailing them together, made a crude ladder. He was about to begin when he noticed that the picket fence was missing several slats. He reasoned to himself that he might as well nail those on while he had the hammer handy.

After nearly an hour, he was again ready to embark on the task for which he had been hired. But instead, he noticed how the garden was in such a mess and began weeding. That was a big job in itself. He thought he might as well cut the grass too so it would look finished and better complement the garden. He was half done mowing when the homeowner arrived and was surprised to hear the lawnmower. He was even more surprised to see the painter mowing his lawn! What also caught his attention was that no painting had taken place on his house.

You can imagine the conversation that took place next. The painter, expecting to be thanked for all of his hard work, was instead reprimanded for not getting any paint on the sides of the house. You might think, “what a good worker the painter was!” Although helped out in many ways, the house remains unpainted! I wonder at times how the Lord of the harvest is going to react at the end of time when He sees how little paint most of us have gotten on the sides of the house. After all, He commanded us to go into all the world. Amazingly, that is still unaccomplished after 2000 years. We have mended a lot of fences, but what about the task of discipling the nations that we were left in charge of? Some parts of the Father’s vineyard are immaculate while other tracts have not even been brought under cultivation yet. And those who are calling attention to the neglected fields are often unheeded by those who refuse to leave the garden. Missions needs to be a team effort. A global task for a global church.

Unfortunately the bulk of the mission work in the world is not being done in the unreached areas. Instead, it is going on in already Christian areas and only 2-3% of missionaries work among the unreached people groups. That means that 2-3% of the missionaries are working with the 2 billion people that make up the unreached peoples on planet earth. They are getting by on only 1% of the funding being spent with gospel monies! I hope these are the most dedicated and talented people alive! They certainly have their work cut out for them. It is when you and I join forces that the enemy trembles at the gleam in our eye! A united people can evangelize the world, one church plant at a time.

Image Courtesy Simon Howden

Let me explain why I am convinced that the native missionary is better equipped than the westerner sent over to work in a foreign country. First of all, they are a much better bet as far as longevity is concerned. They do not struggle to merely exist in the mission field environment. After all, it is their home. They readily adapt to other cultures within their own borders much more easily than an American family could.

I have hiked mountain trails with 70 and 80 year old men, all the while trying to keep up with them. They are merely amused that we struggle with the physical aspects of sleeping on the ground or eating local foods. Hiking in 100 degree heat or surviving jungle like living conditions comes natural to them. Desert conditions? No big deal. What, dizzying altitudes with bizarre menus? No problem. The capabilities of the locals never ceases to amaze me. I have found myself agonizing under unbearable conditions, only to have the national at my side comment on how much fun this was. One time, a native leader named Hilario told me that the week’s events of one of our outreaches was like a vacation from his normal schedule. I didn’t respond. I was merely looking forward to going back to my mission base where I lived with my family. I was thinking of indoor plumbing and a bed to sleep in, while Bro. Hilario was coasting through the week dreading getting back to his more difficult existence. Any work that is still in the hands of westerners is still fragile.

Another time I was working in South America evangelizing mountain tribes. We were working in very high altitudes with remote people groups. The work was very difficult. It involved a lot of hiking and was in a culturally delicate area as well. I remember the plane landing at 13,000 feet above sea level. They gave me oxygen upon arrival. We then proceeded to travel for weeks in the thin mountain air, teaching and preaching and praying for the sick. We spent hour after hour hiking or riding in the back of ancient vehicles. At one time my hand-held altimeter read 18,000 feet above sea level. I was so light headed and nauseous that it was all I could do at times to continue on. I kept repeating the Psalms in my mind to stay lucid. It was quite amusing to the native workers who thought the whole affair was a great adventure. They were not suffering from the altitude or the food; I, on the other hand, was barely able to gag down some of the meals. Never have I seen the resiliency of the Indian workers more apparent than during those outreaches in the Andes.

I have hiked into mountain villages to show the Jesus film with a team of nationals many times. They often just put all the heavy equipment on their heads and begin hiking. They grab your backpack and later offer to carry you as well. It is a mind-boggling experience that has to be seen to be appreciated. The likelihood of the westerner holding up in such conditions over the long haul is slim; most gravitate to a more hospitable working environment, whether the work is benefited or not.

What takes place is often detrimental to the work, but mandated by the comfort zone of the missionary. I once lived in a city that boasted 100 missionaries! The surrounding towns and villages were unevangelized, but that took a back seat to the living conditions of the missionary. Face it, we are soft compared to them! The comfort zone of a western family is light-years away from what can be regularly tolerated by a national. Who would you put your money on? I will invest in the native every time.

Would you as an individual or a group from your church like to experience the mission field first-hand and even provide help in the planting of a church?

Surge missions trips are unique in that we do not simply entertain your group and give you a tour of already-established work. Instead, the team plays a direct and critical role in evangelizing a community alongside a local pastor who will either launch a new Surge church plant with those who accept Christ or consolidate them into his existing church.

After a Surge missions trip, not only will you return home with a life-changing experience, but also you will have ministered directly to many lives and can rest assured that the seed you have sown will grow into a lasting legacy as it is nurtured in the new church plant for years after you have gone.

2011 TRIP DATES

June 6-11: Puerto Rico – $1,100
July 25-30: Honduras – $1,200
October 17-22: Caribbean – $1,500 (Details TBA)

What You Pay:

The total cost listed above includes your airfare, meals, accommodations, and all activities and materials.
You may wish to bring cash for snacks, souvenirs, gifts, etc. Currency exchange is available at the airport.

What To Expect:

- Door to door evangelism and prayer
- Community-wide evangelistic events
- Children’s ministry
- Helping to launch or support Surge church plants
- “Fun day” or “fun half-day”, may be a visit to a volcano, beach, or other tourist attraction

What You’ll Need:

- Passport
- Comfortable clothes and shoes
- Testimony to share
- All toiletries and medication
- Optional: Small gifts (small toys, candy, stickers, etc.) for children

The Next Steps:

1. A deposit of $100.00 will be due at time of registration
2. 2 months before scheduled trip departure $600.00 is due to purchase tickets
3. The final balance must be paid within 2 weeks of departure to ensure all funds and in country costs will be covered.
4. One week prior to departure there will be a meeting with the group and trip leader to finalize all details, cast vision for the trip, and answer any remaining questions. If you cannot attend the meeting, contact us and you can be adequately informed by phone.

For More Information or To Register Today:

Call the Surge office at (225) 774-2000 or email info@surgechurches.com with your name, location, church affiliation, contact information, and desired trip.

You will be officially registered when we receive your $100 non-refundable registration deposit check, which can be made out to Surge and mailed to our office at 13855 Plank Rd Baker, LA 70874.

When new construction is underway, you will often see scaffolding going up around the building. It is a very necessary part of making the building. Sometimes you will see enormous projects with many stories of scaffolding surrounding the structure. It is impressive! Who in their right mind would have the nerve to be way up there swinging a hammer or using a welding torch? But the various stages of construction finally get completed and the finishing touches are then put on our new building. When the last piece of trim is installed and the last can of paint is put away, then the scaffolding is next to be dismantled. No construction company would leave their scaffolding up long after the building is complete. Can you image driving past the White House and seeing scaffolding still up? Of course not.

Missions work is like scaffolding. It should be in place during the construction process only. Why should we be hovering over a three story office building as if at any moment it could collapse? We shouldn’t! Sow and move on. Plant and move on. Water and move on. The Lord Jesus said that the gospel was like a mustard seed. It grew nonstop until the birds were lounging around in its shade. We need to trust the natives to carry on with the work once it is a self-producing entity. Why have all these missionaries still around when their abilities are so needed elsewhere?

People are dying and going to hell. One every second!

I once read of a missionary who was very dedicated. He was laboring in a difficult region in Africa. After four years, his mission board directed him to go on furlough as was the practice in that organization. He was reluctant to step aside and let the native brothers take hold of the work. He was in charge of everything from the preaching to the construction projects. He had not learned yet the principle of delegating authority. He reasoned with his mission board to extend his furlough until the coming year giving him more time to “firm up the work.” They were unsympathetic to his request and instructed him to return home promptly. He did and got some much needed rest. A year later he returned to the mission in Africa only to find the work there flourishing. The native believers had taken on the responsibilities that he had reluctantly given each of them. All of the buildings had received a facelift and the grounds were immaculate. The men who were in charge of the preaching and the music had been carrying on with zeal. New villages had been evangelized as a result of the various outreaches set up by the locals. The missionary was pleasantly surprised. He thought he was irreplaceable. He assumed that his contribution was so vital, yet he may have been holding the work back because he was in fact doing everything.

I know of another group of missionaries that were deported from the country that they were working in. The gospel had not been very popular and it resulted in several of these missionaries getting kicked out of the country. The work they had been building was not anywhere ready to stand alone in their opinion. They too reluctantly left the work wondering what might become of it. Years later when it became possible for these missionaries to return, they were all astonished at the growth of the work. Instead of collapsing, as they feared, it had expanded and was in complete control by the native Christians. Remember, the Lord described his Kingdom as a small mustard seed that would later provide housing for the birds. Sometimes the best thing for the mission project may be to have the scaffolding yanked away almost violently. Many places in the world where the gospel is so strong and vibrant is only a result of persecution. Compare a region of the world where there is tolerance to the gospel with a region where it is forbidden. Many times you will notice that the persecuted region is demonstrating tremendous growth while the tolerant region seems stagnant in comparison.

Imagine the triage unit of a major hospital or mash unit. Stretchers are being brought in a hurry. People are scurrying about. Doctors are diagnosing patients giving orders, this stat, that stat. Overhead loudspeakers are announcing the arrival of more wounded. There is at least one doctor whose job it is to assign to each patient a level of emergency known as status. There are three categories that determine where you go in the hospital according to how bad you have been wounded. Fatal is designated for those who cannot be saved no matter how much resources are allotted to help them. They are beyond help. Everybody knows it. Just keep the morphine flowing for these and try to ease their passing. Don’t put doctors with this group. Save them for those who can be saved.

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Missions is such a vital part of the body of Christ. It has for centuries added to the church its pioneer flavor to trail blaze in order to bring about a greater good. Early missionaries set sail from their homes, never expecting to return. Others were buried in foreign soil having met with disease or wild animals. Some even suffered at the hands of men and paid the ultimate price under agonizing torture and death.

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