Dr. George Murray on Hope

Hope—“a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.”  I love people of hope. They inspire me.  I love to hang around people whose relationship with God and experience in this world birth hope.   They are often people of great faith and courage.  One of those people was C.T. Studd.  He was a man of relentless hope and courage.  He once said,  “"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell."  You can’t help but be encouraged when you are around people of hope.  They give you a bigger view of God.  They see obstacles as opportunities.  They inspire you.  This weekend at Priority One we are going to have one of those hope-filled men with us.  Dr. George Murray has a big view of God.  He has traveled the world and when he speaks you will come away not discouraged, but ready to charge the gates of hell.  I asked Dr. Murray what gives him hope today.  Here is his answer.  If you want more hope, be sure to attend Priority One (www.fbcsalem.org).  I have hope because: 1. We are living in the most unprecedented time of spiritual harvesting the world has ever known.  More people are coming to personal faith in Jesus Christ right now than any other time in the history of mankind. 2. The church in the majority world has caught the vision for world missions and is sending out missionaries in increasing numbers. 3. Technology is enabling us to reach more people than ever before via computers and cell phones. 4. The three biggest Christian radio networks in the world (HCJB, Trans World Radio, and Far Eastern Broadcasting Company) have formed a partnership that is enabling them to reach more people, and more rapidly, than ever before. 5. The "Jesus Film" (produced by Cru) is being rapidly translated into all the world's written and spoken languages and is being seen by billions of people. 6. Technology is enabling Bible translators to reduce unwritten languages to writing and to translate the Bible into those languages so much faster than ever before. Plus, Bible translation teams (where each member has a particular area of expertise) are cutting in half (or less) the time it takes to get the Bible into a particular language. 7. Missionary aviation is enabling missionaries to get quickly to spots where otherwise they could not go (including places like Afghanistan). 8. The Orality movement is growing worldwide, putting the message of the Bible and the gospel into oral form that is reaching millions of people who cannot read or write. 9. The migration of the world's peoples is relocating many unreached people in places where there is a strong Christian presence, and where those unreached peoples are more open to the gospel than they would be in their homeland. 10. Jesus said "I will build my Church" and He always keeps His promises! Written by George Murray   First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org twitter@markwhanke

Peru or Bust

On October 25-27 we will be setting our attention on the world as we ask God to make His Name great in our hearts so that we can make His Name great in the world.  In preparation for our weekend our focus stories are highlighting Priority One topics.  Today the Hollingsworth’s share their top ten reasons to ‘Go’ to Arequipa, Peru.  Eat your heart out Mr. Letterman. 
“It has been a huge blessing to be ‘home’ here in Salem and to enjoy the incredible friendships the Lord has placed in our lives.  We began our journey with you, our SFB church family, seventeen years ago and continue to recognize God at work ‘across the street and around the world’!  We saw Him do some great things through our family as camp directors in Jujuy, Argentina and are excited to see the ministry move forward under the leadership of our national brothers. Now God is leading us to Arequipa, Peru.  Our passion is high because God has given us a vision that we want to share with you.  Here is our top ten list of “Why ‘Go’ to Arequipa?”

1. To make His Name great - Psalm 46:10 - Arequipa is fertile ground to cultivate Christ followers who worship God and make His name great.
2. To make disciples and mentor young adults - Matt. 28:19-20 - In the outskirts of Arequipa exists a community of people challenged by life but ready to learn to be Christ followers.
3. To share the Gospel and develop a community of believers - 1 Peter 2:9 - God desires that all men believe on His Son and become a people of His very own.
4. To care for the ‘whole person’ in partnership with ‘Serving Alto Cayma’ - 1 Thess. 5:23 -  The people in the outskirts of Arequipa have deep spiritual, physical, emotional and relational needs and we are dedicated to bring Christ’s healing and restoration to the whole person.
5. The ever expanding population of ‘marginalized peoples’ – Jer. 22:3 - As families continually arrive from the remote villages of the Andes Mountains they find themselves ‘pushed to the margins’ of society. We desire to show them the love of Christ and promote justice in their lives.
6. To provide pastoral care to the orphan and widow - James 1:27 - Among the marginalized people live a significant population of abandoned wives, widows, elderly, orphans and abused individuals.
7. The people are hungry for and open to the Word – Amos 8:11 - Previous interaction with the people of Alto Cayma confirm their desire to know more of God and His Word. (The people are culturally Roman Catholic and lack the tools to study Scripture on their own.)
8. To break the cycle of family dysfunction and abuse – Rom. 1:29-30 - There is deep brokenness in the lives of many that can only be overcome by Christ.
9. To impact culture through multiplication (sphere of influence) – Mark 5:19 - As young people are trained and equipped through our ministry our goal is that they engage new segments of society with the Truth.
10. To provide Biblical counsel for relational transformation – 2 Tim. 3:16-17 - God’s Word is powerful and capable of bringing life transformation.” 

In addition to the Hollingsworth’s involvement in Priority One You’re invited to the Sunday evening service, November 10 to hear about their work in Argentina and the opportunity God has ahead of them in Arequipa, Peru!

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

twitter@markwhanke