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Trent Cornwell’s update from India

October 1, 2011 in Cross-Cultural Evangelism, Culture, Missions Travel with 0 Comments

Trent and Stephanie are leading a team in India right now. They are helping our friends the Roberts find out what it is like where they will be living in just a few months. God is at work. I am very thankful for Trent and the ministry that God has given him.

I believe that God is going to greatly use Jim Roberts and family. I only wish I were young again and had the ability to go to all these places and work that are in so much need of the gospel!

I do not have much time but would like to give you a quick update about our trip. I do not know where to start except by saying you must make it a priority in your life to “come and see” this incredible country.

My words will do very little in helping you understand how unique, bizarre, horrific, wonderful, and amazing what we have seen and experienced. One man said in trying to explain what he was seeing in India as if he was a deaf man watching someone very caught up in playing the piano. You would know it made sense to them but would be very confusing to you.

There are so many things happening every moment of the day (even now as I am watching 2 men in rickshaws are arguing outside the window) that I do not have a clue about. Even more so as we see the endless amount of time being spent in adoration of false gods.

Our team is coming down to the lobby in a few minutes and we are headed to do some field study of an area in the south west part of the city so I offer you these scattered thoughts.

1. Learning the language (Hindustan – Hindi). Yes, many in the middle class speak English. Many people are here from south India and speak more English. In a few cases English is their heart language but very often it is just not functional.

2. Hindusim is very hard to understand. It never tried to be a united religion. Millions of people across the country worshiped gods of their village and got categorized as Hindus. To know what a person believes you must ask them and listen. No book can tell you about a particular person.

3. There is incredible diversity in living conditions. A slum area can be right beside a fairly nice middle class home. The diversity is without exception. It is always in eye sight. You can hardly get to a place of means where you do not see poverty right in front of you. You are not often around poverty where you cannot see some signs of better conditions in the distance.

4. There are very, very few Kingdom workers here for the population. We have heard of about 100 but are certain there are many, many, more. From the 100 we have heard about only about 10% are working directly with the people of New Delhi. Others serve in logistical roles of supportive ministries for the greater north India area. This has reconfirmed are commitment to urban, church planting.

5. This is by far the most “spiritual” place I have ever been. Religion molds every facet of their lives and effects their economy greatly. The Gospel would not only have radical effects on the individual but on the entire country. Many of the things that hold back this nation from developing and moving forward is their captivity to tradition.

Well, I have to run. The team and bus are ready to go. Thank you all for holding the ropes. In the land filled of idols the Gospel seems sweeter. God is unchanged even when He is not worshiped. God is doing wonderful things in this country. Please, pray for our brothers and sisters here. Please, pray about being one of the 8 families we are asking God to provide for the launch team. We will give more information about this later but we need people in linguistics, Muslim evangelism, writing, media, and all must be in love with Jesus and committed to teaching God Word!

Love you all.

Game to help you learn geography

July 2, 2011 in Current Events, Ministry Tools, Missions Travel, Mobilization with 0 Comments

As Christians we should know our geography better than anyone! I am often embarrassed about how hard it is for me to find a country on the world map. Since I am part of a church that is responsible for getting the gospel to the world maybe I should study the world. What about you?

Go here and play games on line that will help you learn about the locations of different countries. Play with your children and friends. It will be fun! Click here to play!

Check out bcwe.org

Area Study

June 19, 2011 in Helpful Material, Ministry Tools, Missions Travel, Reading Notes with 0 Comments

When a missionary is heading to another field they need to know all they can about their country. I have always tried to teach how to study another country. I want to challenge you to read this article which gives great questions to ask!

I suggest you print out the questions. Put them in a notebook that you can take with you. Then carry the notebook on your survey trip and write down the answers you get from everyone you can ask.

Never ask just one person. Get as many opinions as possible from as many different people as possible. Try to get a consensus of opinions.

Print out these questions and save them!

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The Ganges River

February 13, 2011 in Missions Travel with 1 Comment

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Constant danger. Safe return doubtful.

December 5, 2010 in Africa, Ministry Updates, Missions News, Missions Travel, Muslim Missions, Muslim World, Prayer Requests with 5 Comments

Last night here in Derry, Northern Ireland one of the men read the following in the World Evangelism Conference. I wonder what God is doing in your heart today. As you read this article I want you to prepare to hear about what men and women are doing to get the gospel to the world and it is often unappreciated!

In 1915, twenty-eight men were alone, trapped in the ice-covered waters of Antarctica’s treacherous seas. “Frozen,” as one man put it, “like an almond in the middle of a chocolate bar.” These were the men of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition in the coldest climate on earth. They suffered frostbite, gangrene, hysteria, starvation, all for the glory of being the first ones to cross the Antarctic continent from sea to sea, the greatest polar journey ever attempted to date. The leader of the expedition, Sir Ernest Shackleton, had put an ad in the newspaper that read:

“Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success. Ernest Shackleton.”

And 5000 people applied.

Why?

They wanted some great purpose and passion in their lives. Samuel Zwemer, missionary to the Muslims said that “so many young people’s minds and hearts are occupied by weak things, by inconsequential things. Their eyes have never been illumined by a great vision, their mind has never been gripped by unselfish thoughts, their hearts have never been thrilled with the passion for the lost, their hands have never grown weary and strong in the lifting of a great burden.”

If you want to be gripped by a cause greater than yourself…I present you with the cause of the Christless millions and the call to leave houses and lands and family and friends…and find some pocket of people who haven’t heard the Gospel, like gypsie nomads, urban businessmen, or isolated mountaineers.

Would you give up your life? Would you go?

This week three of our men went where few men are willing to go and did what nearly no man is willing to do. They were giving out Bibles in a Muslim country where it was against the law. They go blindly into towns looking for people who have asked for a Bible over the Internet. They always know that they might encounter danger. Someone, a spy, the police, could be watching and arrest them.

Just this week three men were in a remote village in Northern Africa. They were meeting a man that had asked for a copy of the Bible. Two of the men were Americans, one was a northern African believer. The man came to the bus station. He met the North African believer and preacher at the bus. Turns out that he was a policeman.

His son had requested a Bible. One of the Americans and the North African were arrested. The American was held for about 10 hours. We were praying all over the world concerned about what was going to happen. After 10 hours our American friend was freed.

Not only was he freed but all the incriminating evidence was turned over to him. The police didn’t even look at it. They had many Bibles, a computer, a video camera with them. It would have been horrible if the police had looked but God closed their eyes.

Still for over another 12 hours the North African preacher was held in custody. He is an unbelievable man. He is one of my heroes. He didn’t not back down. He didn’t try to deny who he was or what he was doing.

He went through the plan of salvation at least two times starting with Adam. He told them why he loved Jesus.

I just want you to know that God is still at work. Great and wonderful God things are still happening everyday. God is being magnified. He is still protecting His people and answering prayer.

Some of my friends think that you will criticize this effort or maybe it will make you afraid to serve God. My answer to them and you is that you have yet to grasp the importance of what God is doing in the world. You have not yet realized the power of a life totally surrendered to God.

Maybe no one today will recognize what happened. Maybe no one will honor them but our God does.
I am just thankful that I know men of God like these today.

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