Blog

Your Missionary Support Letter

The famous preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, “Every Christian here is either a missionary or an impostor.”

These are powerful and strong words.  Are we really missionaries, regardless of profession, skill, time or depth as a Christian?  What does the Bible say?

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8) 

The “you” is you – the church are his witnesses.  In other words, you are either a missionary or an imposter…like Spurgeon said.  That is the very simple version, but this has massive implications for us as individuals and as a church.  It changes how we see everything.  Maybe a helpful way to think about it is this way: what would be in my support letter if I had to write one?  What could I share?  Of all the things I have learned in helping launch WRCC-Hamilton North, one of the greatest insights is the benefit and blessing that comes by thinking about oneself as a missionary.  In a real way, those who were sent by WRCC to launch our Hamilton North location have that experience, and it has not come and gone without challenges.  God has worked and used this group to do some amazing things. 

In this spirit, I thought I would write a “support letter” to everyone at WRCC, so you can hear what God is doing if you do not already know.  What would make us even more excited is that if everyone, regardless of their location at WRCC would think like a missionary every day.

_____

 Dear ministry partners,

Thank you for your continued support in connecting every life to Jesus.  We care deeply about all people: those in Noblesville, northern Hamilton County and to the ends of the earth.  God has been up to some amazing things since we have launched the Hamilton North location in September 2017.  Here are some highlights:

• 10 baptisms
• 13 small groups with 130 members (adult, young adult, men, women, or youth)
• On an average Sunday, 55 are serving in a ministry role
• We engage about 200 each weekend at our 9:30am Sunday service at HHHS

These are just numbers.  What is more important are the many, many stories of lives changed or deepened due to the commitment of our church to multiply beyond the walls in Noblesville.  I can think of dozens of people who were previously not connected to any church that now are because of our presence.  I can think of at least three adult men who have been Christians for decades but are just now serving in the church for the very first time.  God is working as we have sent people and released resources to further connect people to Jesus.  Would you continue to pray for wisdom as we seek to be missionaries in northern Hamilton County in our daily lives?

In His Grace,

Andrew Smiley

Hamilton North Pastor

In no way am I the poster-child missionary or the greatest campus pastor.  I hope to highlight what God is doing through His people and this church.  There are so many who have had a hand in the good work, and many who have faithfully and sacrificially worked to play a role in this (unloading trailers, playing guitar, teaching children, praying faithfully, hosting a group, welcoming guests, or making coffee).  May God continue to multiply his church in his timing!

The Great Physician failed anatomy class

Of all the “terrible advice” of Jesus we have looked at this month – this has to be toward the top of the list.  For one who is supposedly the “great” physician, one would think He would at least know how the body works.  Evaluate this advice (Matthew 15:19-20):

“For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.” 

In an age obsessed with weight, appearance, diet, and health, Jesus suggests something I have never heard from a doctor – worry more about your thoughts than what goes into your body.  That is just the beginning of why this advice is so terrible.  He also suggests our evil thoughts don’t begin in our minds but in our hearts!  Am I crazy to think that I think thoughts in my head? 

Jesus seems to have two strikes:

• Aren’t we are supposed to be hyper-conscious of our bodies and what we consume?
• Don’t our thoughts come from our minds?

These are obvious contradictions to our modern culture, values, and way of thinking.

Jesus challenges not only our culture, but he challenges us.  Do we believe what happens on the inside of us matters more than the outside?  Are evil, negative or sinful thoughts something I can just “stop thinking” in my mind?

Jesus is never content to let his followers stay comfortable.  He wants us to move toward Him and grow in holiness.  This is His goal, and His “terrible advice” is only terrible if one does not want to be like Him. 

Jesus may have failed anatomy 101, but he is correct on this.  Of course, we think thoughts in our heads, but the desires and impulses that drive us come from our hearts.  The good and evil, the wise and unwise – we are driven by the desires of our hearts and our minds simply follow suit.  If that is scary, join the club.  Where is your heart today?  What thoughts are flowing from it?  Whatever is happening inside of it does not scare the great physician.  He is the only physician who can successfully perform open heart surgery without an operating room or a scalpel. 

As we turn to Jesus and seek to follow His ways and His advice, we will need new hearts.  New hearts lead to new minds and new minds give us eyes to see His ways among a culture that is constantly screaming at us to do the opposite of what Jesus wants.

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”

Ezekiel 36:26