In a "Ribbit" What "GLP" Means...

In a "ribbit," what is the Gospel Lilypad Project?

It is part of a four-phase philosophy:

Phase 1: Revolutionize the way our independent, fundamental Baptist churches partake in Missions.
                     For more information, visit Need to Reevaluate Missions
Phase 2: Ready our churches to become Biblically, effectively involved in international outreach.
Phase 3: Reinforce already-existing foreign-field works by investment of our resources and by allowing                       them to provide support and training to newly arriving missionaries in that area.
Phase 4: Reproduce with another church, functioning later as another "lilypad" for future missions
                      work.

The Gospel Lilypad Project at this time is raising money to reinforce one such "lilypad" in Kharkov, Ukraine. The scope of this project will affect two future missionary couples in addition to two existing missionary couples. Our goal is $40,000 to reach current missions objectives and possibly complete secondary objectives (such as helping with necessary surgery for one of the missionaries).
We will need many volunteers to give of their talents in many areas: web design, video production, marketing, solicitation of donations, recruitment of new volunteers, prayer, and more. 

When we are successful, we will do this again probably in a different part of the world.
(Your recommendations and prayers as to where would be appreciated.)

To Volunteer, please send an email to: ForWordMissions@gmail.com

Eager but waiting...

I'm biting at the bit to get this all started, but I'd like to first have our project logo. It has to be original artwork - otherwise there would be the danger of copyright infringement. I want to do this project 100% above-board in every area and facet of what we are working toward. I've even thought of taking up acrylic painting again just to get it done!
Praise the Lord that I had a good conversation with my hiking partner named Bob. He's a winter visitor to Arizona here and is from Washington State where I am originally from. He expressed his willingness to help be one of the 100 callers we need to help fundraise and spread the word about the project. That was encouraging.

I've been making sketches of what I'd like to see take place amongst our fundamental Baptist churches today. Every church needs to be the epicenter of its members' lives. I was talking with my wife Katrina about how churches grow so fast their first couple of years but then slow down and agonizingly increase from then on. What's different? Usually, in the early days, a church family will fellowship together in so many more ways than 1-2 church services. Potlucks, softball games, picnics, family activities, etc all encourage more people to visit and join that church community. That's just what churches should continue to do - fellowship as brothers and sisters in Christ and give their lost friends something to desire to belong to. Of course, this should not exclude the importance of daily witnessing. I believe that it should also be a church function (after all it is the church's mission). The second thing churches need to do is save money for the future of their young people. What if God calls them to a Bible college and/or to be a missionary: will the church be able to help that young man or woman with their training? Will that church be financially able to send that young person to the mission field or did you think to plan for that?

I believe it wise that we protect our investment. That's why the Gospel Lilypad Project exists. Surely, we will build places for your young people to serve on the foreign field and receive further overseas assistance. With only a very few making it longer than 3 years these days, something has to be done.

The Need to Re-evaluate Missions

I don’t know about you, but are we really getting the job done in respect to Missions?

      In 1950, there were over 100,000 missionaries spreading the Gospel worldwide – that’s Baptist missionaries. That number is now down to approximately 29,000 worldwide. That’s an attrition rate of 1,000 missionaries per year. Of those remaining on the field, there are only 5,000 independent Baptist missionaries serving the Lord on foreign fields.

Why is this happening? Seemingly, all of the ground that was gained by the blood, sweat, and tears of missionary families in the years before us is now running like sand through our fingertips. We cannot hold on.

      Looking at statistics, we can easily feel disheartened and unless we fix something, the problem will continue until only America will only be reaching America with the Gospel.

      I believe the problem exists in three parts: Seeing, Sending, and Supporting.

1. At the get-go, on average only 1% of students attending Bible colleges today ever seriously consider the need for missionaries. (That’s not 1% being called – that’s one 1% only considering it.) Only a percentage of 1% of all highly-trained men and women surrendering to be missionaries would explain in large part why there is no workforce overseas; barely anyone caught the vision. They did not look upon the fields white already unto harvest – the fields that missionaries years earlier have sown and prepared people for God’s working in their lives. More people need to see the need!  
2. Second, 43% of the people who surrender, complete their training, and commit to God’s purposes for them never complete deputation. Nowhere in Scripture can it be found that deputation is a Biblical process, but it has been used in the past to provide a means of acquiring financial support. Something must be wrong though if nearly half of missionaries never even make it to the field. The lack of churches’ ability around the country to send off the chosen is appalling. You would think that we could sacrifice a little more as comfy Americans than that. 
3. Lastly, would be the issue of support. I know that your mind goes directly to financial support, but money existing in the bank account of the well-supported few will not keep those few on the field. As statistics show, 75% of first-term missionaries quit and never return to the foreign field to complete that four years. Not only is there something missing from how we support missionaries, there is something wrong with the way we view the area of support.

      Something, we must admit, is seriously wrong with the way most independent, fundamental Baptist churches partake in Missions. If we truly care about the Gospel reaching across the oceans to other peoples speaking different languages, we’re gonna have to change.

       Change is not easy – nor is it appreciated most times amongst fundamental Baptist circles, but obviously it is necessary. Whether you are a pastor considering what God will do in the lives of the young people in your church, or a college student considering God’s calling in your life, or a senior ready to graduate and wondering if your home church is ready, capable, and willing to take part in God’s purposes for you, or a church member who has realized that there is more to what needs to be done than giving your tithe from an 8-5 job, pray and to be ready do something Biblically different...

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