Missions

A Week on Mission

We’re back in Georgia after a wonderful trip to Solola, Guatemala. At the outset however, we were a little concerned. We were a small group getting smaller as a couple of our folks needed to drop out of the trip. We were also looking at COVID health issues and restrictions, not to mention the impending hurricane Iota. The weather forecast for the week was bleak. But as with any mission trip, we were ready to be flexible whatever came up. 

The purpose of our trip was to encourage the pastor and his family along with the rest of the congregation, hand out food and witness to the unchurched in the area. One of the first things we did once we got to the church was to make food bags. We put together 50 bags containing bags of rice, black beans, sugar, oil, flour, and other items. Throughout the week we made approximately 100 bags, each weighing about 25 lbs. 

We then split into teams carrying the bags to different families in the community. We walked over 15 VERY steep miles during the trip with the bags in our arms or backpacks. It was worth every step. Pastor Walter shared with us that there were about 35 evangelical churches in the area but they were one of the very few who were actually going out and visiting people in their homes and helping to take care of their needs. We were able to share the love of Christ, encourage them and pray with them. Each afternoon we came together as a group and shared what God had allowed us to experience. There are too many wonderful stories to share here, but one example is of a woman and her children. She said that a few nights earlier she had dreamt that the pastor’s wife, Ingrid, had come to her house with help. She had tears in her eyes as she thanked those of us in the room (Ingrid included) for the food that we brought, as well as the encouragement and prayer. It was a sweet visit and only one of many. 

On Sunday we had a wonderful time of worship at the church. It was the second week that they had worshipped together in person. We sang together in two languages but with one voice. It was powerfully moving. Macon preached an encouraging gospel message. And we met a woman and her daughter who had just joined the church and had taken the bus an hour and a half to get there. 

Several people accepted Christ during our visit. Some were reconnected with a caring church after being away for years. And some who had been faithful received encouragement from their brothers and sisters from the United States. We had a great time working with Pastor Walter and his family and with the E3 trip coordinators and translators. We were the only church group to come down to the area since COVID began, so people were so thankful. 

With all that could have gone wrong on this trip, it turned out better than we could have imagined. The weather was beautiful, our accommodations and food were not your typical “mission trip experience,”  everyone remained well and we even had a pleasant flight back home – arriving early, zipping through customs and getting our bags before we were even expected to land!

It was an incredible experience and it was evident throughout the trip that God was with us preparing, protecting and providing. It was an opportunity to represent the Kingdom by living and loving like Jesus. Thank you Belmont community for your prayers and for investing in missions in the community and around the world. 


















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“But Lord…” – Luke 10:1-2

Luke 10:1-2

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

I write this as I am preparing for my first mission out of the country. The Bible tells us it’s important,  imperative even. But how does this happen on a personal level? The idea of going on a mission trip and making disciples has intimidated and scared me – yet gnawed at me for a long time. Opportunities have come up in the past, but the “human“ in me has talked myself out of them every time. 

“I have a family to take care of.”
“I have a business I can’t be away from.”
“Our calendar is too busy during that time.”
“I’ve only been a Christian a short while and I won’t know what to say.”

These excuses are still valid today, but why am I going now? Why this time? Prayer is why! In the passage above, the Lord appointed 72 to go. When I prayed about my constant desire to go on mission, the Lord gave me the clarity I needed. The Lord helped me put aside these excuses when I saw how he could grow my faith through it. 

When COVID canceled our original trip, I was sad. But when we were told we were rescheduling for November, all the human thoughts and double guessing went back into overdrive. I prayed “earnestly to the Lord” as verse 2 commands, in order for the clarity to come again. He answered every excuse I had.

“But Lord, I have a family to take care of.” — “Your wife is more than capable of taking care of the family while you’re gone. And she also supports missions.” 

“I have a business I can’t be away from.” — “Your staff is trained and the business will be OK.” 

“But my busy schedule – November is basketball season! I will have both a high schooler and middle schooler playing basketball and I will be coaching my son’s team and…” — “There is never a good time according to YOUR schedule. Your experience from this trip will help you in your local mission field on your return.” 

Luke 10 says that the “harvest is plentiful.” This isn’t talking about corn or wheat, but people – spreading God’s word and leading people to Christ. But just how plentiful are we talking? How many are ignorant of Jesus’s love and forgiveness? If the internet is correct (I checked several sources) about 31% of the worlds population claim to be Christian. With the world’s population estimated at 7 1/2 billion people, that means about 5.25 billion are not Christians. That is indeed a very plentiful harvest!!! So we just need to keep witnessing to others and spreading the word to everyone who doesn’t know him. We need to keep on and on and on. 

With all this knowledge, why are the laborers few?!?! For me, as it may be for many, it was because of my listening to myself and not the Lord. It was making excuses as to “why not” instead of praying to the Lord about His will. Again we are all different and I know not all are ready to go on a mission in another country but the only way to know for sure is to pray about it. 

As members of Belmont we all support missions when we support our church. Look at our budget. We give money to missions both near and far from Calhoun. We recite the great commission each Sunday at the end of each service to remind ourselves of the need to disciple and reach others. And we know there are many local missions as well as foreign missions we can support when the Lord is guiding us.

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:  
  • What does Jesus say about the harvest? About the laborers?
  • What excuses typically pop up for you when faced with the opportunity to do something for God’s Kingdom? 
  • What role does prayer have in terms of becoming a laborer?
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond? 

A big thanks to Jeff Viktora (on mission this week in Solola, Guatemala) for today’s devotional thought! 

 Photo by David Becker on Unsplash



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“Signs of the End of the Age” – Matthew 24:14

Matthew 24:14

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

The title of this passage in my Bible in Matthew 24 is called “Signs of the End of the Age.” The disciples came to Jesus asking what the world will look like when the end is approaching. In verses 5-12, Jesus said that they would know his second coming was near when nations would rise against each other, famines and earthquakes would take place, believers face hatred, false prophets rise, and lawlessness be rampant. Sounds awful, right? How could we possibly be encouraged by this? 

In Matthew 24:14, at the end of the passage, Jesus states that the gospel will be proclaimed throughout the world before the end comes. He doesn’t state that everyone will be accepting of the message, just that it will be proclaimed until the end. As Christians, we should press on to share Jesus to the world even with the hope that just one soul is to be saved. The verse is a promise that the gospel will be preached through whatever means, no matter what. I don’t know about you, but that is something I want to be a part of! 

Jesus paints a dark picture around what is to come, yet he ends with a statement that brings hope for us. Jesus wants us to understand that God is still sovereign. Matthew 24:14 shows that God is not giving up on us. He doesn’t stop pursuing. He doesn’t stop being faithful. God doesn’t stop offering His love even to the very last millisecond, at the very end. 

I pray that my heart is in alignment with His will, that I am guided by Him, and that I am usable by Him to complete His work.  

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:  
  • Many are quick to point out the signs of the times today, but are we doing our part by proclaiming the message? 
  • Who can you share the good news with and provide hope in dark days? 
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond? 

A big thanks to Elise Jones (on mission this week in Solola, Guatemala) for today’s devotional thought! 

Photo by Duncan Kidd on Unsplash



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“WE, the How” – Romans 10:13-14


Romans 10:13-14

“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”

Like a lot of people who grew up going to church (with my mother’s loving “encouragement” as a youth, and now with a grateful heart), I assumed everyone was pretty aware of Romans 10:13. Just call on the Lord and be saved, right? Simple. In fact, with a church on every corner, I thought everyone had the same opportunity that I had. Well……. not exactly.

As I grew older I was in for a rude awakening. I found out there is a big world out there. A world full of people who not only don’t know Jesus, but have never even heard of Him. A world full of people that aren’t “saved.” A world full of people lost, living without hope, and unfortunately dying without hope.

This truly hit home when I took my first trip to Guatemala in 2018. On this trip we met people who had never heard of Jesus. People who didn’t know to call on His name to be saved. People who not only didn’t have a local church to attend, but who barely had a roof over their heads. These people would walk to and from town with the hopes that they might have enough to make ends meet. They had not only deep physical needs, but even deeper spiritual needs. It was truly an eye opening experience! And to quote the boxer Mike Tyson, “Everyone has a plan ’til they get punched in the mouth.” That day, spiritually speaking, I got punched in the mouth. I got punched hard!

What made my heart ache most was the look of hopelessness in their eyes – spiritual hopelessness. It’s one thing to have it tough in life, but without spiritual hope of Jesus, it’s an entirely different ballgame. Which is likely why the suicide rate is extremely high there as well.

So what did we do about it? We spent the next week loving on those people, by serving them, and simply sharing life with them! The people we ministered to are a beautiful people. They just needed someone willing to be the answer to the questions in Romans 10:14. We were able to give them a hope in Jesus, no matter the circumstances. We told them of a better life after this one for those who believe. And we showed them that no matter where we are from, what we have, or what we lack, we are all His children. They just needed people to love them like He loves us.

So as believers, no matter where we are, WE are to be those people. WE are to be the answers to the questions in Romans 10:14. WE are to be examples of what it looks like to believe in Jesus, and share His good news so they may believe. WE are to love and encourage with our words and our actions. WE are to live out the Great Commission that we recite as a congregation each week.

So no matter if it’s a trip across the world or a trip across the street, WE need to be the “how” to the hurting, the struggling, and those without hope. WE need to show them just what it means to Live and Love like Jesus! Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:  
  • What are some ways that you can be the ‘how’ to someone to needs to hear the good news? 
  • Has there been a time when God pierced your heart over the spiritual hopelessness of others? 
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond? 

A big thanks to Dylan Owens, one of our Guatemala coordinators, for today’s devotional thought! Due to a COVID diagnosis, Dylan wasn’t able to be with us on this trip. But he was with us in spirit (and texts). 

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“The Rewards of the Spirit” – Acts 13:2-3

Acts 13:2-3

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”

If you are anything like me, you have probably read passages like this and thought something like, “I don’t know how God could use me like He did Barnabas and Saul.” Barnabas was a man full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a key member of the early church. And Saul (Paul) once converted, wrote most of the New Testament and gave his life to spread the Gospel.

God created each one of us for a purpose. If you feel like you aren’t doing the work God has called you to do, look again at verse 2. What were the apostles doing before the Holy Spirit showed up? They were worshiping the Lord and fasting. They were spending time in the presence of the Lord and waiting for instruction. They were present when the Holy Spirit spoke. With all the busyness in our lives, it’s easy to miss the Holy Spirit when He speaks to us. Take a few minutes each day to spend some quiet, uninterrupted time with the Lord, seeking his call for your life. It might not happen the first time, but rest in the promise that He rewards those who seek Him.

Whether it’s telling a co-worker about Jesus, or traveling across the world to a remote village to share the Gospel with strangers, we all have a job to do.

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:  
  • How do you prepare to hear from the Spirit?  
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond? 

A big thanks to Brice Alumbaugh, on mission this week in Solola, Guatemala, for his devotional thought!

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash


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“Declare” – Psalm 96:1-3

Psalm 96:1-3

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!”

When the ark was being moved, this was the psalm, a song of praise, recognizing three important aspects; the greatness, power and mercy of God.
 
The psalmist praises God, and the Christian should likewise, for we should be moved by all that God has done in our lives. He has called us, redeemed us, forgiven us, and given us eternal life, and this the world must know.
 
When we reflect on the majesty of God and his goodness to us, we can’t help but want to tell other people about God. Now we must speak several truths:
  • Who has to praise? All the earth, all nations. 
  • Who has to submit to God? All, for He has authority over all. 
That is why in verse 5 and afterwards the message speaks and emphasizes the dignity of the one who has to be praised. If our hearts are filled with gratitude, if we call ourselves Christians, if Jehovah reigns in our lives then we must praise Him!
 
Witnessing about Him will be natural. A great truth is that God “chose” us. If you who read these words have been called by God, then you have been called to announce “his glorious works among the nations.”
You know, creation overflows with praise for our great God, and the wonders of his salvation must also overflow from our lips.
 
Are you talking to others about the greatness of God? There is no road, mountain, sea, sky, language, or custom that prevents a child of God from testifying of His great power and compassion. 
Jehovah reigns!!! this is the powerful and fundamental message that God’s people must proclaim to the world. Amen.

A big thanks to Pastor Walter Barrios for today’s devotional thought! Pastor Walter is the pastor of Iglesia Bautista la Verdad in Solola, Guatemala. 



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