Daily Topic for May 04, 2009
This verse is very similar to James 1:22, which states, But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. Missionary conferences, mission weekends at churches, and mission emphasis weeks at Bible colleges are wonderful in raising awareness of missions. However, some Christians seem to think that if they attend these special meetings, they have fulfilled their duty. Not so! Each Christian needs to play some active part in the Great Commission, whether through giving, praying faithfully, going as missionaries themselves, or sending others.
Pray that the Father will make us doers of His Word, not hearers only.
“We’re not hiring,” the man said, although a “Help Wanted” sign still hung in the window. Asmarom was not surprised. He had moved to Toronto hoping to find greater acceptance in the big city, but found it was still difficult. As an immigrant of an Ethiopian people group, Asmarom had two difficulties. Because of all the violent upheaval he experienced, Asmarom didn’t trust other Ethiopians. Secondly, the Canadians seemed very foreign to him. Thus loneliness bothered him almost as much as being unemployed.
Oromiffa, his heart language, had been outlawed by Ethiopian authorities, so his school years were marked with a struggle to become educated in a foreign language. When his family immigrated to Canada, he found English an even harder language to deal with, and no one wanted to hire a foreigner with an accent as thick as his.
Of the estimated 11,000 Ethiopians living in Canada, between 2,500-5,000 are from the unreached Muslim Oromo group. In missions, there are great difficulties in preparing, training and sending a missionary team. But if thousands of these people live in our own back yard, nothing should hinder the effort. Unfortunately, most Westerners, even mission-minded ones, ignore the unreached peoples who live nearby in favor of going on costly short-term trips to Christianized people groups.
Learn more at joshuaproject.netPray that God will raise up Canadian believers to reach out to the Oromo people in Canada to create a viable fellowship of Christ followers, sensitive to the multi-cultural issues of this people group.-MB
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