The material in this article is written from a lecture that BIMI Missionary Bob McKeever would give as he taught in church planting schools around the country. Although Bob is with the Lord, his work lives on. Two years ago he gave me his notes and asked me if I would continue to teach this material in church planting schools and churches across America. Dr. Bob McKeever knew church planting and he was involved in church planting ministries for years. He was a blessing and a great encouragement to churches and church planters in the US. The following contains the thoughts from the heart of Missionary Bob Mckeever and we are happy to publish these thoughts as a tribute to him.
Bob Larson, Assistant Director USA MISSIONS - BIMI

In Acts 1:8 the Bible states, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." If we are going to be involved in starting New Testament churches, we must understand what a New Testament church is. A simple definition would be that the New Testament Church is an organized body of saved and baptized believers united together for the main purpose of carrying out the great commission. The Great Commission is stated five times in the New Testament­­—Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:45-47, John 20:21 and Acts 1:8.

When one studies these verses, it is plain to see that the church is under orders today to go with the Gospel. The church today must understand that the Great Commission is not the great suggestion or the great option nor is it a choice. It is a direct command from our Lord and Saviour. Every New Testament church has been commissioned to go into all the world with the Gospel. This is not something on which the local church would have to vote. This is a command that the local church must obey.

Every member of the local New Testament church is to be a missionary who takes the Gospel to a lost world. Let me point out that the word missionary is not a Bible word, but it is a concept taught in the Bible. Just like the word rapture is not a Bible word yet the scripture teaches us that there will come a day when those that are alive and know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (I Thes. 4:17). Another example would be the word Trinity. You will not find this word in scripture, but the Word of God teaches that our God is a triune being and this concept can be found throughout the Bible. Consider three very descriptive New Testament words that would help us to understand who a missionary is and what he does. The first word would be apostle. The definition of an apostle would be a sent one. It comes from the Latin word missio. The Bible states in John 20:21, "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." The second word that describes what a missionary is would be the word ambassador. An ambassador is one who represents a sovereign to another country. In II Corinthians 5:20 we find this verse, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ…." The third Bible word that describes what a missionary is and does would be the word witness. A witness is one who tells the truth—"Speaking the truth in love" Eph. 4:15.

In Acts 1:8, the church was instructed by the Lord Jesus Christ as to where they were to witness. The Lord told the church to go to Jerusalem. This was where they lived and functioned on a daily basis. They were also told to go to Judea. Judea was the area that encompassed Jerusalem. It was made up of cities and towns that were close at hand such as Bethlehem, Jericho and Damascus. Our Lord also included Samaria. Keep in mind that to reach Samaria, the church would have to reach out cross culturally to people who did not have the same ethnic background as they possessed. They were also instructed to witness to the uttermost part of the earth.

There are three key words found in Acts 1:8 that help us to better understand the Great Commission. Power would be one key word to consider when studying this passage. It’s not always easy to serve the Lord, but it is impossible to serve Him without Holy Spirit power. We must have God’s power upon our lives. There can be no lasting results without the power of God: no lasting salvation decisions, no revival, no victory and no effective witness. Jesus stated in John 15:5, "For without Me ye can do nothing." Witness can also be considered as a key word in understanding this passage. A witness is one who bears witness with his life and is willing to die to get the message out. It certainly involves sacrifice. Then there is the little word both. This word both is what we could call the forgotten word in missions today. The Lord was not giving the church a progressive plan in Acts 1:8. It was a simultaneous plan. Every area mentioned was to be evangelized at the same time. No area was to be excluded. In other words, we don’t evangelize one area to the exclusion of the other. Therefore, the main mission of the local New Testament church is missions and our mission field is the world. It is not a method but rather it is the method! To quote James Weber, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." All of us will one day give an account before God concerning what we have done with the Great Commission.

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Coy & Nancy Shaw — Astoria, NY — (Portuguese) — One of our men, Egnaldo, had been witnessing to one of his employees and inviting him to church. Silvestre was interested in what Egnaldo told him and began coming to church where he listened to the Bible lessons and messages with great interest. In order to have a better opportunity to talk with Silvestre we invited him along with Egnaldo and family to our home for dinner. After dinner I was able to lead Silvestre to accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. AMEN! Pray for Silvestre to grow in the Lord.

Bill & Lisa Behrends — Rapid City, SD — Summer brought numerous visitors to our church and most folks from our local area. James, a young freshman at School of Mines & Technology and from Oklahoma is attending faithfully every Sunday. He knows the Lord and is anxious to get actively involved in our church. A lady, Karen is visiting us also and been faithful & also knows the Lord. Two families have had an interest in joining our church. Pray for all of the above to become faithful and serve the Lord with us.

Rick & Shannon Dove (Hispanic) — Monroe, NC — We are encouraged with our teens in the church. Angel & Rebekah continue to work with us in our teen ministry. They are doing a good job as they continue to train for the ministry. Two of our teens, Eliel & Liz have both been baptized and continuing to grow in the Lord. Marcos is another young man in our youth group from Guatemala & was saved in our church. He is facing many temptations but is trying to stay right – please pray for him. We have seen growth in the church over the last couple of months. We had an Argentinean couple visiting for quite sometime – they came from California to NC and were told about our church from some friends of theirs.

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Planting a Church in Surprise, Arizona

My family and I have had the privilege of being associated with Baptist International Missions, Inc., since 1998—first serving outside of the USA and now serving within our country’s borders. When we moved to the "foreign" field, having full support was not an option; it was absolutely required. Like most countries, Canada would not allow us to come and hold a job outside the church. But laying the laws of foreign countries aside, most will agree that the fully supported missionary can be more effective because he can focus all his attention and energies on the church plant.

As we returned to the States, I found that this same line of thought is not necessarily held when dealing with church planters in the United States. When the Lord directed us to church planting in the Metro-Phoenix Valley of Arizona, some asked if I would give up our support and take a secular job since we were back in our own country. While I had anticipated the question, I do not understand the reasoning behind it. Is church planting easier in the USA than outside its borders? I can say from experience it is not. Does church planting in the USA require less energy or attention from the church planter than on the "foreign field"? Again, I am certain it does not.

I have a great deal of respect and admiration for those who have held a secular job and planted a church at the same time. But as I have spoken with those that have done that, I have found most did so because when they started, that was "just the way it was done." I find it interesting though, that these men I have spoken with are unanimous in their agreement that if they would have had the privilege of financial support, they believe they could have been more effective and the new church would have been better served. The Church of God should never settle for "that’s just the way it’s done" if there is a better and more effective means—especially when eternal souls lie in the balance!

I certainly am thankful that the Lord is giving churches across America a "new vision" in regards to the need right here inside our borders and that the vast majority of our supporting churches have determined to continue to stand by us as co-laborers. I am convinced that in the year’s time we have been in the north-west corner of the Phoenix Valley, we have been able to accomplish far more for the cause of Christ than we would have, had I been required to work a secular job as we planted the Mountain Side Baptist Church.

I praise the Lord that He is raising up the ministry of RESEEDING AMERICA, not only because as Church Planters it has helped us in accomplishing the work to which the Lord has called us but also, as a pastor, it is an effective ministry I can confidently present to our church so that we might be more effectively involved in the Great Commission. It allows our church to both give financially and yet have the opportunity to physically participate in other new church plants where a RESEEDING AMERICA team will be assisting the local church in reproducing itself. My Dear Friend and College Missions Professor, Dr. Bob McKeever often said: "The best way to increase our missions’ force is to increase our missions’ source." It seems to me that this is one of the primary goals of RESEEDING AMERICA. I thank the Lord that He has given me the opportunity to be a part of such a ministry—both as a Missionary Church Planter and as a Pastor.

Because He Lives,
Tony Bulawa
Missionary/Pastor
Mountain Side Baptist Church
Surprise, Arizona

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Scot C & Katie Daku -  AMERICAN SAMOA
Paul J & Wendy Daku Jr -  FIJI ISLANDS
James & Dawn Daley -  INDONESIA