Joining the Gang

11 July 2010

Dear Phyllis,

There are two Christian houses in this muban (housing area) where I live for university students. The head of one of these houses is a very fine 25 year old Thai boy. James has been coming over to talk to me for several weeks, but last week he said that the organization that is funding these houses has to draw in their belt and is releasing two of their staff. James finds himself out on the street, and asked my opinion as to what to do.

I told him, “Go on.” I see no reason why he should pull back in his desire to serve the Lord. He apparently has the gifts and an intense desire to work full time serving Christ. It looks to me like everything is in place except finances. He wants to continue doing evangelism and run a Christian home for boys like he is doing now. But I warned him, “There are two ways of doing things – man’s way and God’s way. They both work. Ninety five percent of Christian work is done man’s way.” 

God’s way is the George Mueller – Hudson Taylor type of faith. Man’s way is the way every cotton-picking TV evangelist in America operates – plead for money. The tin cup approach.

 Two days later he came back with a very nice promotional flyer that he had developed. It really was very well done. It was done in color with interesting pictures. The title of his new organization was at the top with excellent scripture to express his basic focus – evangelism / discipleship. He had written this in English and then had an American friend rewrite it to put more of an American flavor to it. He asked me what I thought of it, or any suggestion I had how he could improve it. I told him that I thought it was done in extremely good taste and there was nothing I would suggest to change or add. The only thing I saw wrong was that he had just joined the gang and was launching out in life with his shinny new tin cup soliciting funds. I told him. “Lot’s of luck. You’ll need it.” He is on his own rowing his little boat and hoping God will bless it. There is a vast difference between rowing your own boat or allow God to row it. But the way of faith is unpopular.

I have worked with “faith missionaries” for 50 years and the vast majority are the tin cup people. The line is, “We are going out by faith. Our greatest need is prayer. Would you please pray with us about our need of $15,000 for a new car and ask God what He would have you do to help us buy it.” That ain’t too subtle.  That is a very thin veil over a pleading tin cup. The problem with most of this is that it gives God a very bad name.

There was (is) an outstanding radio ministry in Japan, PBA (Pacific Broadcasting Association). I knew all their missionaries. They were all top-flight men. Their ministry was excellent. The only problem was that every month they put out a news letter proving that God was broke or there was a serious depression heaven. If people didn’t come forward to help God out, then their radio ministry was going off the air. God was always short of funds. This is disgusting, but there are extremely few Christian organizations that don’t operate by the tin cup method.

The argument against the George Mueller don’t-talk-about-it faith position is; “How is God going to be able to provide your needs if you don’t tell people?” That question is stupid and insulting to God. The question is; who are you looking to for support – God or people? If you are looking to God, I’m sure He can figure out some way to meet those needs without your help with your cup. If you are looking to men, why involve God? There are hundreds of non-Christian organizations that raise funds exactly the same way; only they don’t claim God as a co-sponsor. Both systems work.

I told James about two outstanding men of God that I knew. Both were rejected by men.  One was Izawa.  I told you about him. He was the man born 100 years ago a horrible freak. Nobody wanted a freak liked that in their organization so he went out and stood on a street corner preaching the Gospel by himself. He wound up a major man of God.

The other man is a dear friend who I feel is one of the top men in Cambodia today. Timothy was saved as a high school lad and went to Bible school straight out of high school. He is very shy and unimpressive. After four years of training and graduating from Bible school, no body wanted him. He had nothing to do, so he stayed on for one more year of Bible school. During that time he married one fantastic sister. Sang Lai is a real dynamo. When no denomination or organization wanted Timothy and Sang Lai he said, “All right, I will go out by myself and preach Christ in Seam Reap.” He had no support or organizational backing, so he started teaching English. He had a couple of failures, but kept going and was able to start a small church.

Five years ago I was in Seam Reap visiting the famous Angkor Wat. The children selling trinket there wound up stealing my heart. I said I must come back here to reach these children for Christ. Three month later I went back to Seam Reap for the expressed purpose of telling those children about Jesus. I knew of no missionary or pastor in that city, but through the most miraculous means the Lord led me to Timothy. The next day Timothy and Sang Lai and I went out to the Angkor Wat to have a childrens meeting. It was tremendous. I was impressed. I came back to Chiang Mai and told Mark, “I have found one of the finest pastors I have ever met.” I took Mark back there to introduce him to Timothy. Mark had some funds and started supporting him. Through that and other contacts his ministry began to flourish.

 He has started at least six churches and has a small fleet of vehicles to transport children to and from church. He is the director for Gideon’s International in that part of Cambodia. He has excellent contact with high government officials, and when someone wants to do something Timothy is the one to go through to get permission.

 Today Timothy is easily the number one pastor from the Bible school where he is from. I doubt that you could take all the other students combined and their outreach for Jesus would equal what Timothy is accomplishing. The difference is that the other students were selected and ordained by men. Timothy was rejected by men, but God laid His hand on him. He didn’t get to where he is today but handing out flyers promoting himself and asking for funds. To the best of my knowledge Timothy has never asked for funds but the Lord has blessed him like very few men in know in Cambodia.

 I told James, “The day will come when you will thank God that you were dumped by AI. That is the best thing that ever happened to you.” He has the opportunity now of walking alone with God with no organizational support. How far he goes, I don’t know. I was heart-sick when I saw his beautiful flyer he had made advertising his new organization. He calls himself, Youth Evangelism Ministries (YEM). He hopes to get that off the ground so he can have home for boys and support for his dendo (evangelism) ministry. God bless his heart – he is doing the only thing he knows. The only problem is that he has launched himself in trying to serve God man’s way and raise funds with his tin cup.

 Regardless of what means he uses for support, I sternly pleaded with James, KNOW GOD! I told him that was the most important thing I could say to him and the most important thing he will ever hear. There are very few Christian workers who know God. Very few pastors and missionaries know God. I have met very few men in my life that impressed me that they knew God. I told you about Louie Ishi. He was a man who certainly knew God. JB Friends of South Africa was a rare man who knew God. Tozer wrote a small booklet about Tom Haire, The Praying Plumber from Lisbon. What a man! He knew God. These men are unique. They are much different from the rank and file of average Christian workers. A man may have spiritual gifts; he may have organizational skill, and a strong personality; and be highly successful without a deep personal relationship with God.

 James is at the starting point of Christian service. If he makes God his goal and devotes himself to this one great pursuit of knowing God, there is no limit on how far God could use him. But if he makes his ministry his main focus and seriously engages in fund raising, he will just be another worker with an outstretched hand. His limit then will be just how successful he is in collecting coins.

As I was talking to James I was much challenged by my own advice to him. What is the difference between those rare men who walk with God and those who are simply Christian workers? If there is one fundamental common denominator with those who are friends of God is TIME. I believe it is basic to all that they spend a great deal of time alone in secrete with God.

Operational policies and organizational affiliations all are factors, but I believe it is impossible to have much of a relationship with God without spending a great deal of time with Him in the closet. And for those who are busy, this is one of the greatest challenges. Jesus is able to lead His sheep where He wants them. And He is highly capable to see that they are fed. But there is a rare quality about those who make Jesus everything and allow Him to worry about the rest. It will be interesting to see what happens to our dear brother.

  If you see Jesus this week you might remind him that there is another poor man in Chiang Mai who has a great desire to know Him better.

Arigato (thank you),   bill