Acts 13:2-4 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

The Church of Antioch was a busy church serving the Lord. The members were actively ministering to the Lord. This church cared about reaching the lost, not only in their community, but reaching out to the world. God put it on their hearts to send out Barnabas and Saul (Paul) as missionaries. In Acts 13 and 14 we read of how God blessed their ministry and protected them from danger (The people threw a pile of rocks upon Paul at Lystra, but he survived). They established several new churches. They then reported back to the church in Antioch Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

This is a blueprint for us to follow today:

·        God often gives greater ministry to those who are already serving Him.

·        God puts it in the heart of others to support such men and women.

·        Missions is a ministry of the local church.

·        The Church of Antioch sent out Barnabas and Paul, and I believe also that they provided them with provisions for their journey.

·        Barnabas and Paul reported back to the church. They were accountable to God and the church that sent them.

The missionaries that our church supports have a sending church that recommends them to us for our support. The missionary presents the field of ministry to us. If our church supports the missionary financially, then we receive letters from the missionary that we may know how to best pray for him/her. About every four or five years the missionary family will return to report back to the churches that support them – to “rehearse all that God had done with them.”
 
God is using our missionaries to build churches around the world. They deserve your support. What will you do ‘by faith?’



Ron Cox – Director of HOPE Ministry