“On the Road with the Gospel”
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Tammy and I are in California as I write these words. I am grateful that she can travel with me most of the time now, and the Lord is good to allow us to serve together. The last three months have been extremely busy with 95 services in 12 states. Many of those meetings have been with pastors and groups from several other states. We live in a very mobile society and I still marvel at the means at our disposal to be in so many places in a short time. Paul traveling by foot and circuit riding preachers on horseback would be amazed! When the Lord led us into evangelism, I prayed a strange prayer. I asked the Lord to deliver me from merely traveling and preaching sermons. While those two things are indispensable ingredients to itinerant ministry, my passion is to do more than simply go a lot of places and speak to a lot of people. I long to place the emphasis that God wants placed and be part of something He is doing in this world. Evangelism is not about location; it is about vocation. Philip was called “the evangelist” while he was stationary in Caesarea, and after his broader itinerant work was finished (Acts 21:8). Passports do not make a missionary and miles do not make an evangelist. The real issue: is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ being advanced? I am grateful for everywhere the Lord opens doors and every faithful pastor and church with whom we are allowed to co-labor. Traveling grows wearying at times, but there is a theology even to travel. The omnipresent God is at work in every place! Charles Spurgeon did a fair amount of travel within the United Kingdom, and he had church members who traveled the world. Recently I came across something he wrote on traveling that I thought was particularly helpful: |
Where there is a true heart, the horse that bears it is a consecrated one. Let our goings out be in the Lord's sight. We are lights: if the light is moved, it should be to illuminate other places. We are salt: if the salt be scattered, it should be that the conserving influence should be felt the more widely. Do not go from home unless you feel that you can take your Master with you; and when you are from home, ever seek to be doing something for your Master, that when you are gone, you may leave a fragrance behind you. How much good might some do who are called to travel continually! There are some few in this Church, for instance, who travel as commercial gentlemen; I know one or two of them who scarcely ever go into a town without preaching the Word there; and I know others of them who, in the commercial room where they meet with some who despise the religion of Christ, speak boldly for the truth as it is in Jesus, and are as useful in their daily journeyings as any Christian men could be who filled up a place in the Sabbath-school, or officiated as deacons in the Church at home. Let your journeyings, then, always be with the ringing of these bells, "Holiness unto the Lord!” |
The Traveler’s Prayer It is wonderful to know that wherever we may be, God is there and God is listening to the prayers of His servants. I pray as I go - and I would encourage you to do the same! Frequently someone will ask how they can pray for us specifically. This is my prayer and one that you can make your own… Lord, we are content to be travelers as long as you go before us, stay with us, and work after us. Guard us from any evil, guide our every step, give us strength for each day and govern all of the details. Make divine appointments for us and help us not to miss one of them. Be pleased and be praised in every place, for Jesus sake, Amen. In All Places On one of George Whitfield’s many ocean crossings from England to America he commented upon arrival, “As here’s the same sun, so here’s the same God in America as England. I bless God all places are equal to me.” Now, to be sure, each place is unique and every place has its peculiarities. But the things that matter and the God who is greater is always the same! From my own travels I can testify to this truth. In all places there are souls who need Christ. Cultures, languages and accents, food, and a thousand other things may vary, but people are people. Sinners are broken everywhere and hearts are searching for truth. In all places the Scriptures are powerful. The Gospel is still the power of God to salvation and the Word of God is still the hammer that breaks the rock in pieces. The sufficiency of God is revealed in His all-sufficient Book. In all places the Spirit is with me. How thrilling to get off an airplane halfway around the world where you may know no one, and realize that your closest Companion has made the trip with you! The Counselor and the Comforter lives within wherever we may be visiting for a time. In all places the saints fellowship is precious. God’s people are wonderful and the church is marching forward. In some places churches are thriving. In others, there is but a remnant, but the Lord always has His people and there is nothing in any town as sweet as the fellowship with God’s family.
People sometimes ask if I love travel. Like everything, there are things we enjoy and things we learn to navigate. Accentuate the positive and minimize the negative. But what I do enjoy is what I get to do when I get where I am going, and watching the Lord work along the way. To the glory of God, 123 precious souls have made professions of faith in Christ this past quarter and 137 young people have surrendered their lives to Christian ministry. Some things cannot be measured in miles! Only eternity will reveal the results but we are praying for fruit that remains. Many of you support Enjoying the Journey each month and pray faithfully for our team. Thank you for helping us “forward on (the) journey” for the gospel (3 John 6). It would be a joy to see you soon. May the Lord bless and use you wherever your travels take you in the closing months of this year. Grateful to be on the road with the gospel, |
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Recently, members of our team met with a film crew in Atlanta, Georgia. The goal of this effort was to create a professional and comprehensive gospel presentation that will be used on every video platform available through The Gospel Advance. Scott Pauley recorded in English, and the same message was filmed in Spanish by our friend, David Mora. We have been praying, writing, planning, preparing, and now finalizing this project several months. Will you pray for the hand of God to be upon this work and for the Spirit of God to use this film in a mighty way? These are challenging days to serve God; yet, they are thrilling. God is at work. The enemy is attacking. The gospel is advancing. Our Redeemer is faithful |
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