I am very excited to play out this new year of 2012. I believe it holds blessings for the church and of course those blessings will overflow to the nation in which we live and on to the nations beyond. The apostle Paul talked about going to the regions beyond, and the church must be the carrier and the catalyst to flesh this out.
I just wrote an article about revival, which the church today knows little about. In the article I talked about during times of old fashioned Holy Ghost revival the church is interrupted by Heaven. God causes Heaven to bend low and kiss the earth and we get caught right in the middle of the smack! I’m looking for and expecting that interruption. The book of Acts is a book of interruptions; Peter was interrupted, Paul was interrupted and Phillip was interrupted. In all the great revivals of history the church was interrupted. Let us pray that God interrupt us this year!
Jackie and I are eternally thankful and indebted to our faithful partners. We have taken your love prayers and offerings literally around the world.
Last year I ministered on six continents and already this year we are gearing up for the nations.
Let me share with you a new quick way to donate to the ministry that I am excited about that just happened this month. For many years people have told me that when they think of missions they think “Terry Mize,” well now when you think of missions you can take your cell phone and text the word “MISSIONS” to 501501 and that will donate $10.00 to our missionary ministry. The ten dollars will then show up on your cellular phone bill at the end of the month. Many years ago, and some of you will remember this, I started teaching the church that every believer, man woman and teenager could and should believe for, set their faith for at least $10.00 a month for missions. In those days so many churches of say one hundred people were only giving $100.00 or less to missions, yet under this plan and understanding if each person gave ten dollars then that same church could give $1,000.00 per month without hurting anyone. That revolutionized the church’s missions giving. Of course in later years with inflation etc... I raised it to twenty five dollars per month. Remember, it is a faith project not just stretching your budget. If all the books, tapes, cd’s and seminars on faith we have all had really work, and they do, then we can certainly use our faith to give to missions, the only cause that counts.
You may give a larger amount if you like or even begin a monthly pledge. All you do is text the letters “TMM” to 91011 and that will cause you to receive a call from our office to accommodate and complete your giving. Obviously before now you have been able to give by credit card or give automatically as many do; this is much the same just with new technology focused on simplifying the process.
We also invite you to connect with us! Text “MISSIONS” to 91011 for periodic news and updates. The upcoming launch of our new website, with its great new features, has us very excited! We want to make sure you stay in the loop.
The Bible tells us in Matt 14:35,36 and when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
I never ceased to be amazed by these scriptures. Can you just imagine the workings of these scriptures? Once they received knowledge of Jesus….they became proactive, they did something, and it cost them time and money. Just think no television, no radio, no mail, no internet, and no telephone….no texts, no e-mail, no twitter or face book…No mass or media communication at all. No cars, busses, trains, planes or mass transit or mechanized transportation. Everything was by word of mouth and by walking or horseback. Now, with that in mind those scriptures become huge. “They sent out into all that country round about,” (that is a lot of real estate) and brought to him “all” not some but all that were diseased. How would they do that? They would literally have to leave their jobs and homes and go to the surrounding area and knock on doors and physically bring the diseased. Then they interceded for the sick and besought Jesus that the sick could simply touch the hem of his clothes. Imagine that scenario.
I once used these scriptures to challenge a church’s men’s group to get behind their pastor in their missions program. I issued the challenge to each man to believe God and use his faith to give $1,000.00 over the year’s time to missions. Either a lump sum or spread out in monthly gifts over the year, at $84.00 per month. They took that challenge and their church began to soar in areas of missions.
Of course many of you, our friends and partners are giving that much and more, but let me issue this challenge to many others who have not thought of it or even thought it was possible; especially to pastors and heads of ministries. Set your faith and we will agree with you as you set your missions giving for this year. Let us see what great things the Lord will do in this year.
I leave for Mexico this coming week, the land of our first love. My dear friend and missionary mentor, Wayne Myers is celebrating being in Mexico 65 years! I will attend that celebration and then minister in that great land where violence has claimed 50,000 people in the last few years. It must stop, and revival must come to Mexico.
Write to us, we love you and pray for you daily, send us your prayer requests and praise reports. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to interrupt us.
