For $10,000…
What is the main goal of the COC
Darwin?
A. To work with Christians only. B.
To give crazy Americans like us a place to stay.
C. To work with Aboriginal people. D.
To raise money for missions.
If you answered D, you’re CORRECT!
For the second consecutive month team
LPP has not been in much
contact with non-believers. Honestly, at first we may have been a
little sad to find out we wouldn’t be spreading Christ’s love to
those who don’t know Him. While the COC Darwin does
work on evangelism (they are currently in the beginning stages of
home churches where the focus is bringing in unchurched people, among
other outreach efforts), their main goal is to raise money to support
churches and missionaries around the globe.
One
of the workers here, Mark, said it best when he said, “At the COC
we aren’t the
vision, we’re accommodating the vision.” The vision Mark is
speaking of is spreading Christ’s love and message to the unreached,
unloved, and unwanted. So we are having contact with non-believers…just in an unconventional way.
For $100,000…
Roughly how much money does the COC raise annually for international
missions?
A. $1 million B. $500,000
C. $2 million D. $100,000
If you answered A, you’re INCORRECT!
The correct answer is C, $2 million!
Wow, $2 million a year going 100% to support pastors, growing
churches, and missionaries around the world. Pretty crazy. Imagine
how many meals, chairs, beds, Bibles, etc. that much money can
buy…especially when a lot of it is being sent to places like Africa
and Asia where things are a LOT cheaper than in America and
Australia!
Unfortunately, sometimes it costs money to reach people. And that
goes for anything – it doesn’t matter if you’re trying to reach
people for Jesus, for food (I’m currently sitting in a McDonalds),
for alcohol (how many ads do you see for that every day?), or
whatever – it costs money. The other unfortunate thing is that so
many people who have great ideas and passions for reaching the
unreached don’t have the materials, transportation, or accommodations
to do so. That’s where the COC steps in. Pastor Merv explained that
the people they partner with aren’t “under” the COC and the COC
doesn’t ask them to be a sister organization or anything. These
workers at the COC simply want to help people to help people. They
use their God-given talents and skills every day to raise funds so
that the vision can come to life.
For $1 million…
Who can make a difference in the lives of people around the world who
don’t know Christ?
A. The COC staff. B. Missionaries.
C. World Racers. D. Anyone.
The obvious answer is D!
This is NOT me trying to preach to anyone – promise. It’s actually
a lesson that God has been teaching me all month. It seems
simple…kind of a church answer if you will. How many times have I
heard about using whatever job I’m at to reach people for the Lord?
But seeing it in action is something totally different. And seeing
how the COC workers have all chosen a life of simplicity is humbling.
Most of them could be or once were making “heaps” of money in
their respective professions – mechanics, farmers, etc. But instead of being millionaires they
have chosen to live in modest homes, some of them owing no car,
earning very little money, and they are all so joyful to be working
for the Lord instead of for themselves.
Definitely gives me something to think about when we get back home
and look for ways to serve. Why not serve with my life and my job
rather than in addition to my life and my job?
much love.
-erin
