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For 30 years, Christian leader and spiritual adviser Billy Graham has been offering advice to the thousands of readers who share their problems ...
Read more about By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services.
For 30 years, Christian leader and spiritual adviser Billy Graham has been offering advice to the thousands of readers who share their problems ...
Read more about By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services.
Why Can't People Build Their Own Church?
By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services
Q: Our daughter participated in a mission project with our church this
summer, helping construct a church in another country. She had a great
time, and we don't want to throw cold water on her experience, but
couldn't those people have built their own church without a bunch of
unskilled teenagers from America trying to do it? -- Mrs. L.McW.
A: I don't know if they could have done it by themselves or not; quite possibly they didn't have the skills or resources to do it alone. We sometimes forget that most people in the world have very little; it takes all their energy just to keep their families alive.
But I have no doubt this little group of Christians was greatly encouraged by your church's efforts -- and that alone made their trip worthwhile. Elsewhere in your letter, you mention that this village had no church building before this, and the new structure will enable them to reach out to their neighbors with the message of Christ. Only eternity will reveal the full spiritual impact of this project.
Mission projects like this are valuable for another reason: They can help young people from our country realize the needs of others, and lift their vision for God's work in other parts of the world. Your daughter will never be the same, and neither will the others on this trip.
Never forget: Jesus Christ died to save people from even the most remote corners of the world -- people we may never know during our lifetimes, but who will be with us in heaven forever. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son ..." (John 3:16). God's plan is universal; no tribe, no language group, no nation is beyond the scope of His love.
========
Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.
(c)2008 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
This news arrived on: 10/07/2008
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Posted Comments:
10-08-2008 05:20
Chinyerenma Nwakanma wrote:
why can't people build their own church
As Christians we are called to help one another. In the book of Acts we read the account of how the disciples of our Lord did everything together. The world has taught us selfishness but it is time to teach our children the selfless love of Christ. Our Lord could have let everyone pay for their sins yet he left His comfortable abode in heaven and came don to this earth to give His life.
The children will also have a sense of accomplishment that is so necessary for their self esteem and I believe in the course of building , their own lives would be built up spiritually and they will be motivated to do more for the Lord.
Helping to build the church was not just abuse(for that is what I think they feel) but it is an outward expression of the love they have for the Lord.How wonderful that our children can have practical lessons on the nature of God instead of silly gatherings where they learn nothing but carnality!
The children will also have a sense of accomplishment that is so necessary for their self esteem and I believe in the course of building , their own lives would be built up spiritually and they will be motivated to do more for the Lord.
Helping to build the church was not just abuse(for that is what I think they feel) but it is an outward expression of the love they have for the Lord.How wonderful that our children can have practical lessons on the nature of God instead of silly gatherings where they learn nothing but carnality!
10-07-2008 08:48
THANKS FOR HELPING US wrote:
THANKS FOR HELPING US
THANKS FOR HELPING US BUILD OUR CHURCH IT IS PAID FOR AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS HELPED ON THE WHOLE CHURCH YOUNG PEOPLE DID MISSION WORK AND WE HAVE A CHURCH.... THANKS LORD FOR OUR HOME MISSIONARYS IN THE USA.....WE LOVE YOU ALL...
10-07-2008 01:12
Kay Akharume wrote:
Why Can't People Build Their Own Church
First reason maybe for lack of funds, especially in Africa where the standard of living is so poor due to greed and selfish rulers, so they need all the help they can get from their Christian Brethren from all over the world.
The Bible says that if we withhold help when we can give it, amounts to sin and we Christians are taught to share what we have and show love to our fellow men.
In the new testament, Apostle Paul was a Roman, but God sent him to build Churches in other countries before his own country, this is sure indication that God intended for us to help build one another. Remember that God said that when we lend or invest in the less priviledged we lend unto Him and God is a Rewarder.
The Bible says that if we withhold help when we can give it, amounts to sin and we Christians are taught to share what we have and show love to our fellow men.
In the new testament, Apostle Paul was a Roman, but God sent him to build Churches in other countries before his own country, this is sure indication that God intended for us to help build one another. Remember that God said that when we lend or invest in the less priviledged we lend unto Him and God is a Rewarder.
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