Getting ready to go takes TIME and PRAYER. The longer the trip, the more prep time and prayer. Fail to plan and pray means a failed trip. If your not into doing it properly, just don’t make the trip or postpone until you (and family) are ready.
One preacher student met my dad as he spoke to the student body, and said he and his wife and children were going to ‘Africa’ in a few months. He was graduating soon and was ‘ready to go.’ Dad listened patiently and then asked about his preparation… He revealed they didn’t have any support yet, but they were “going on faith.” He looked at his wife, she was nervous. So dad asked, “Well why don’t you just go on faith alone?”
They postponed their move and made the necessary preparations, wife relieved.
A tough part of this preparation is raising funds and supporters. Prepare well all information to be presented. Print out nice color handouts which contains bullet points, goals, some personal info, etc… Make a list of everyone and contact info… Write out you basics of your phone call… and start calling. Understand the importance to be well versed in your mission. Your call should be as cordial and to the point as possible since all you are wanting in an appointment to come and speak to the leadership and members.
One thing which will help in this process is if YOU personally go to scout out the place where you are planning to go for 3-5 years with option to stay longer. WHY? Because this adds EVERYTHING to your presentation, including CONFIDENCE, and IN-DEPTH FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE. You will meet the people, sit and eat with the people, listen to them and understand the situation much better.
YOUR SUCCESS RATE GOES UP TREMENDOUSLY IF YOU PLAN TO GO AS A PART OF A TEAM. (Your family won’t feel as lonely and ‘stuck’ if you do this.) When mom and dad went to Belfast in 1964, dad had spent six months in prep time, and gathered a team of four families. All equally committed to GO to Northern Ireland. PREPARE yourself, PREPARE your family, PREPARE your team! Go with God and confidence! Another thing is to contact other (if any) local missionaries and get information on culture and customs, things to avoid etc… PREPARE WELL your presentation so video and story goes smoothly. DON’T EVER SACRIFICE YOUR FAMILY ON THE CHURCH ALTAR.. IT AIN’T WORTH IT!. You need solid financial commitment. DON’T LAUNCH WITHOUT IT! You have to live. DON’T SHY AWAY FROM TALKING ABOUT THIS. DON’T FEEL LIKE A BEGGAR OR ASHAMED OF THE IDEA THAT YOU NEED MONEY. Part of the preparation and presentation then must include a realistic outline of needed financial support. Sit and talk with your wife and team, and LISTEN! Understand the dollar exchange, and cost of living where you are going. How much is rent, clothing, food, utilities, a house if you plan on buying, transportation, schools, classes on learning the language, emergency trips home, hospital costs, doctors, dentists…
Still interested? Count the cost. PREPARE!
Once you have the solid financial support you need… THE LAUNCH COUNT-DOWN BEGINS.
Now the serious planning to make the move starts. Up till now you can cancel or postpone (like launching the space shuttle). Anything that comes up that is a critical issue to a launch MUST BE CONSIDERED AND DEALT WITH before hand. (Remember, all of this goes in THE NOTEBOOK.)
These are a few things that I leave with you to consider and hopefully make your mission a successful one. By the way, the work in Belfast is still going now.
Loves prayers…
Category Archives: Mission Indonesia
Exum’s “Mission (to) Indonesia” 2016
INDONESIA… is the fourth largest country in the world, with about 13,000 Islands, and a population of 252,000,000.
Wiwik and I are excited about this opportunity that the Lord has opened for us. Lord willing, we plan on moving there August of 2016… The “harvest is indeed white unto harvest” all over the world.
There are only a few missionaries in Indonesia from the body of Christ. While other attempts have been made, Winston Bolt has made the most progress. Winston is a 27 year veteran missionary to Indonesia, and as was written about in the June 2015 “Christian Chronicle,” he established the Batam Bible College on Batam Island (a short ferry ride from Singapore). Praise the Lord, that through the work of Winston, and graduates from this college, over 62 indigenous congregations have been established throughout Indonesia. Presently there are over 2,000 Christians, and this number is growing.
Lord willing, this is the country where my wife and I are going to live and serve. Why? 1.) “We want what the Lord wants, and He wants Indonesia to hear the Gospel.” 2.) We have been looking for the Lord to open a door which BOTH my wife and I are excited about devoting our lives to. 3.) My wife is from Semarang, Central Java, and knows the customs and the language which will help tremendously in our adapting and work. 4.) We will be working as part of an established, successful mission program, with an Indonesian mission team of three men… WE WON’T BE ALONE. This is a tremendous help! 5.) We will be “hitting the ground running” by teaching English thru Bible, using the World English Institute (WEI) materials.
Our focus will be on the Island of JAVA! The Island which is the most populated Island out of the 13,000 which make up Indonesia. Specifically, we will be working with the congregation in Salatiga, Central Java, and hope to expand our work into Semarang and Yogyokarta.
The Solo congregation, located some 30 minutes from Salatiga is our sponsor there, however they cannot support us financially. David is the local evangelist in Salatiga and we will be working directly with him to EMPOWER and ENCOURAGE and BRING THE LOST TO JESUS! Radius and Timotius are the mission team from Solo, and they will be working with us as well. (Timotius, David and Radius are on the front row in the picture above.)
We are excited about this work also because we will not be alone, and will be in direct contact with the Batam Bible College, and with Winston Bolt! Mission work is difficult and this mission field is not an easy one, but being part of “Mission Indonesia” is a real blessing, and we will be working as part of the team whose mission is to take Indonesia for Christ!
We would love to COME PERSONALLY AND SHARE THIS MISSION OPPORTUNITY WITH YOU.
WHAT WE NEED:
1.) A sponsoring congregation to be our contact in the States, and administrate the support funds received.
2.) Financial support for this mission.
If you wish to have us come and share our presentation, or wish to receive more information you can reach us at Home: 386-758-2431 or by Cell phone: 386-623-7438.
We will speak to any and everyone who may be interested!
New Christians