Austin Gardner

Psalm 103:21 Amos 7:14-15

“‘Not called!’ did you say? ‘Not heard the call,’ I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father’s house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face — whose mercy you have professed to obey — and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world.”
– William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

Jim Elliot once said, “We do not need a call to get involved in world missions – we need a good swift kick in the pants.”

“It will not do to say that you have no special call to go to China. With these facts before you and with the command of the Lord Jesus to go and preach the gospel to every creature, you need rather to ascertain whether you have a special call to stay at home.”– J. Hudson Taylor

Preparations: Step one is to get a tender heart with and before God

Surrender your will, your life and your future to God

Desire Him, His word, and His will for your life

Ask yourself some questions

Why did He save you

What is His purpose for your life

When you are totally sold out what desires rumble around in your heart

What abilities did God give you that you might use for His honor and glory

Place: Step two get in the right place to see God do something with your life.

Be faithful to your church

Seek a place of service in your church

Open your eyes and begin to see the needs of people around you

Read the right books

Get around men of God and missionaries

Go to the mission field and see the need

Purpose: Step three decide to use your life in every way to bring honor and glory to God

Not all will go to the mission field but all will have the same mission

There are no special Christians called out to do something greater than others—all are to fulfill His will

Realize that when you are right with God He will place desires and abilities in your heart to do something for Him.

Understand that the commands of the Word of God for all of us.

How will you do your part

“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed” — Hudson Taylor

“Christ’s last command should be our first concern”

“If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn’t it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death.”– Dave Davidson

Mark 16:15. We are to take the gospel to Every Creature. That means that we will have to reach more than 6,300,000,000 people with the gospel message.

Luke 24:46-49. We are to take the gospel (repentance and remission of sins in His name) to All Nations. Nations refers to people groups and not entire countries. We have the Cherokee nation in the nation of the USA. There are approximately 12,862 peoples groups according to Avery T. Willis, Jr. in his article “The Unfinished Task” found in Missiology, An Introduction to the Foundations, History, and Strategies of World Missions.

Matthew 28:19-20. Teaching all nations. Since we already have the command to go to all nations let us consider this word teach, baptize, teaching. The word teach or teaching means (according to Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary Unabridged Second Addition, 1976) to show how to do something, to give instructions to, to train, give lessons to (a student or pupil), to guide the study of, to instruct, to hold classes in, to provide with knowledge, insight. Synonyms: impart, direct, instruct, informer, counsel, admonish, educate, inculcate, enlighten, advise, indoctrinate, and train. The word teach makes it clear that I must disciple or train all nations. It is not enough to get them to pray a prayer. They must be taught enough to be saved, then baptized, then trained to live the gospel.

Acts 1:8. Gives us the geographical context. We are to go to the uttermost. Every country is to hear the gospel.

John 20:21. We are sent as He was sent. This is the incarnation. This is becoming one of them to reach them in the context of where they live and the language they speak.

Avery T. Willis, Jr. sums it up in the following manner: “The unfinished task is to evangelize all individuals, to proclaim the gospel to all peoples in all the geographical regions of the world and to disciple them.”

Omega Baptist Church in Arequipa, Peru will be organized on April 20, 2010, Lord willing. Several of us are planning on making the trip to preach at this very special service. John and Sandy Pearson, Joe Gibby, Wade Williams, and Betty and I will be traveling. Trent Cornwell will already be there in the country on a preaching tour.

We are very excited since Omega will be our first daughter church here at Vision. I hope you will pray for them. I hope you will pray for this special day.

I have been part of organizing many churches but this one will be special as we organize our first out of Vision. I hope we are able to organize many, many more in the days to come.

On February 14, 2010 Vision Baptist Church has invited Pastor Brian Rhodes and Lakeland Baptist Church to be with us. Pastor Rhodes and I will be preaching.

This is to be special night of fellowship, friendship, and encouragement. The service will start at 6 pm as always. Several should be with us from Lakeland Baptist Church in Buford.

I just want our church to encourage Pastor Rhodes and Lakeland. There should be a special friendship between the people of God and different churches, not competition.

We will have special prayer for Pastor Rhodes and their church. Mark your calendar and come be with us!

Acts 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

Stephen’s preaching was more than they could stand. He was bold. He knew God and the truth. He stood and preached.

They felt that if they could silence him that the problem would go away. They killed him. They thought that they had won a great victory but from that blood shed that day the greatest missionary ever was raised up.

When Satan wins an apparent victory it is only a matter of time before God shows His power and wins in what seems to be the darkest hour.

It has happened time and again through out history. Think of the death of John the Baptist, Jim Eliot, this man Stephen and many others.

Our God is a great God and His work will not be stopped. We just have to be willing to be sacrificed for His cause and His glory.

Get involved in the discussion

Amy Coffey had a big 30 birthday party this week but today is her birthday.

Amy is one of the most godly young women that Betty and I have ever known. Betty says she is one of the best Bible teachers that she has ever heard.

We have literally watched Amy grow up from a baby. She is a great wife to Mark, a great mother, a wonderful servant to the Lord Jesus.

Literally I do not think that I could find enough good words to say about her.

Amy, Betty and I love you very much. Vision loves you.

We hope you have a very wonderful birthday!

Ronald and Asunta  have been living and working in the USA now for over 4 years. They have not seen their parents in 4 years. Their parents have not even met Tabatha, the youngest daughter.

Jonathan and Allison Clapp have taken it on themselves to try and get them to Peru for a month visit. Several of us have decided to help.

So far we have $1,605 raised of the necessary $3,000. You can give any amount you feel the Lord would have you to give. We have had gifts from $600, $100, and $5.

We have to buy the tickets soon before the prices change. If you want to get involved please let me know.

Missionary Jeremy Hall in Arequipa, Peru just had his motorcycle stolen from outside the church. They do not have a car. The motorcycle was more like a scooter. It was enough to get him around town and do much of his ministry.

Tonight they were working at the church getting ready for a big day tomorrow. Their prayer is to have 200 in attendance. They have never had 100 so it is going to be a real big attempt any way.

As they prepared for the service the thieves took off with the motorcycle. Please pray for the Halls.

They are great missionaries with a tremendous heart for God and His work!

You can give them a special offering to be able to buy another moto by sending it to

Jeremy Hall
Macedonia World Baptist Missions
P.O. Box 519
Braselton, GA 30517

The bike is valued at $1500. It would even be better to help them get a car to carry the twins around with!