Mission Possible

I feel like it was just yesterday when Sandy Adams approached me outside Pershing Junior High (where Gateway was meeting in 1997), and asked if her friends, Gary and Kathy Opfer, could come and speak to our members about their ministry.  Of course, I said yes.  The Opfers were serving with Triple Cord Ministries in Kosovo and Bosnia, the last place on earth I wanted to go, yet they loved it and wanted to partner with us in a music ministry reaching Muslims in this war torn area. 

The timing was perfect, as I had just arrived as pastor of Gateway and expressed my vision to go, support, and send missionaries all over.  The Ophers are now back in the United States and will be here February 2nd for our Builders' Wednesday at 10:00 meeting to share about their work.  Everyone is more than welcome to attend. Since the day the Opfers shared about their ministry, the vision of going, supporting, and sending is still a top priority.  Consider February alone: 

1.  The Builders of Gateway alongside BREAK college students will take our sixth mission trip to San Felipe to minister to the Iglesia Bautista church there.  What a joy to see the labor of love paying dividends in this church of Baja California.

2.  You may recall that Chris Leeper, leader of Mission One Million spoke during our morning worship services on January 9th.  He shared of his burden to reach orphans in India with the Gospel of Jesus.  I will be traveling with Chris to India on February 20th. During my visit there, I will be preaching to approximately 5,000 people in a Bible conference crusade and ministering to the many children, hungry to hear of the hope that Jesus brings.  Thank you for interceding on our behalf.    

3.  Tammy Harrell is heading back to Siberia with Campus Crusade for Christ.  In hearing her testimony, I found it hard to imagine a desire for going there.  Siberia is 99 out of 100 on my list (right below Kosovo). Yet, as with God’s call, comes God’s love, and Tammy has it for this vast wasteland (both spiritual and geographical). 

4.  In addition, this year our church is contributing more to the Southern Baptist Convention, the Gomez family in Mexico City, the Tisdales in Thailand, the Morales family pastoring in Cuba, and the Hindalongs in Moscow.   I, for one, praise God that we are able to do so much.  Because of your stewardship, a dream is now a reality because our church is making a difference for the kingdom of God.  

There is also plenty left to do.  Anna Powell will be working in medical clinics of India for the summer, Pamela Tarrango will be planting gardens in Swaziland, Africa in August, and other members of Gateway will be traveling to Costa Rica and Nicaragua to minister there.  The cost will be approximately $1,000.  We will work at a church in Costa Rica and minister to an orphanage in Nicaragua. 

Be a part, go, support, and send so we can hear at the end of our time, “Well done, they good and faithful servant.”  Yes, one church can make a difference. Let's keep it up! Check out our missions page for more info.