Thursday – March 17 in Seoul, Korea

This was the last day of the 2016 Global Meeting of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International (BBFI) in Seoul, Korea. The theme for the day is Look Forward!

If anybody knows me, they know I love missions and missionaries. But this meeting is like nothing else I’ve experienced. This was like a mixture of missions conference and national pastor’s meeting. But it was so much more. Typically in a missions conference you hear American missionaries in an American church. But we heard from many nonAmerican missionaries on a mission field (Korea). In a national pastor’s meeting, usually the missionaries are in the minority. But this time the pastors are in the minority. Because of this meeting, I am more committed to help get missionaries on the field. Everyone needs a chance to hear about Jesus.

Okay, now to those who spoke today…

Look Forward Despite Success or Opposition.

Fernando Perez is a pastor in Ecuador. He shared some thoughts about ‘looking forward’ from Paul’s experiences in Acts 14. (1) Look forward despite success. Paul’s ministry was successful. But he didn’t let success hurt his ministry. (2) Look forward despite opposition. How did Paul face opposition? (1) He kept working (Acts 14:3-4), (2) he left danger, not ministry (Acts 14:5-7), (3) He was ready to die for Christ (Acts 14:19), (4) He was convinced and committed to the Gospel and believers (Acts 14:20-21), (5) He protected believers (Acts 14:22-23). He used his suffering to encourage others.

Many Have Never Heard.

Yu Tokoro is a pastor in Japan. BBFI missionary Laverne Rodgers took the Gospel to Japan in 1950 and Bro. Tokoro was saved. Now, his two children are missionaries. The Gospel needs to be taken to people who don’t know. If 10 people represented the 7+ billion people in the world, and we asked them ‘Who is Jesus?’, this would be the answer: Two would say ‘He’s my Lord and Savior.’ Two more would say ‘He’s a nice teacher but I want to live my own life.’ Four would say ‘Jesus? No Thank You.’ And three would say, ‘Who is that?’ Many in the final category have no access to the Gospel and have the least missionaries trying to reach them. In 1974 there were 32 countries that banned the Gospel. In 2000, there were 77 that banned the Gospel. Doors are closing, but God will open doors (Revelation 3:8). More need to go to people who have never heard.

In Japan, many like to fly kites. Mission work is like flying a kite. The kite represents the missionary going into the world. Churches are the kite flyers. The string is the prayers and offerings. The more prayers and offerings the further and higher the kite can go. But if the wind doesn’t blow, kits won’t fly. God is the wind.

A Fire and a Soldier.

Dr. Daniel Kim is has been the pastor of BulKwang Baptist Church in Seoul for 55 years, South Korea. He was saved under the ministry of BBFI missionary Jack Baskin. In 1959, his family home burned. The only one to show help was Jack Baskin. He brought clothes, blankets, shoes, etc. Dr. Kim’s mother sent him to the missionary to say thanks. It was a Sunday night, he heard the Gospel preached, and trusted Christ as Savior. In 1952 the US government sent Jack Baskin to Korea as a soldier. But in 1959 God sent him back as a soldier of the cross (Romans 10:14) and thousands of lives were saved. Dr. Kim challenged us all to take the Gospel to every person in every place.

The Most Dangerous Job in the World.

Restricted Access Missionaries. In addition, we had two missionaries in Restricted Access Nations share about their ministries. I can’t give you any details. But I can say God is doing some miraculous stuff. The problems of the world are not a disaster but an opportunity. Muslims are coming to Christ. Love, prayer and relationships are the key! There is no need to fear Muslims. God has granted them a new opportunity – it is their day of salvation. They are even at our doorsteps. We are all missionaries.

The message of the cross is vital to the world. 60% of the unreached people groups of the world live in areas where mission work is banned. Though difficult and dangerous, many are going to these areas. God calls us to go to the harvest. And God always gets to the field before we do. Success is finding what God wants you to do and get it done.

Two Longtime Friends and Missionaries.

I had the opportunity to meet two wonderful missionaries. I’d heard of them, but never met them. Jack Baskin was a missionary in Korea. He served for many years and was publicly honored by Dr. Daniel Kim for bringing the Gospel to Korea.

I also met Laverne Rodgers. He was a missionary in Japan before the BBFI was formed in 1950. And this May he will have served for 66 years in Japan. His first and second wife have passed away and are buried on the slopes of Mount Fuji. He is coming to the U.S. soon for his first furlough in 30 years. I’m hoping he can stop by our church before he returns. His plan is to start his 13th church and work on the camp ministry in Japan. The BBFI also honored Mike & Jill Ivey for 30 years of ministry in Korea.

The Far East Broadcasting Company Children’s Choir performed many traditional songs and dances of Korea tonight. They will be performing in Carnagie Hall (New York) in June.

I am kinda sad to see the conference end. It’s been inspiring. But my next step in my ‘Asia Adventure‘ is Cambodia. Follow my journey as I continue.

You can read daily blogs of my missions trip to Korea and Cambodia at: Asia Adventure – My Missions Trip 2016