Dear Friends,
We have just renewed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Reach Ministries International (RMI) and our parter organization in the Philippines, Reach, Inc. It is a continuation of an initiative that began over five years ago to send workers to Indochina from the Philippines through Reach, Inc.
Although the process has included its fair amount of ‘two steps forward and one step backward’ – or another way to put it, a steep learning curve – the Lord continues to lead us into opportunities to implement a ministry model that focuses on discipleship, indigenous leadership development while also addressing economic needs.
Part of this process includes building and expanding capacities in the Philippines to support the required financial and human resources. Indochina Mission Partnership director Dr. Paul Pasicolan initiated the formation of care and resource teams within individual ministry areas for the specific purpose of supporting the workers. This has worked well and continues to develop. Also, providing opportunities to attend the Kairos Course has raised awareness and stirred hearts toward sharing the Gospel in cross cultural contexts. Kairos is a course developed in the early 1990s which looks at Scripture through a missional lens siimlar to the ‘Perspectives on the World Christian Movement’ course. (c.f., http://www.kairoscourse.org).
We are commanded to pass on the Good News which we have heard and embraced:
“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.‘” Matthew 28:18-20
Along with the Indochina initiative, we have many donors who continue to support the discipleship ministry within the Philippines. There are over a dozen ministry areas within the Philippines. These local ministries, often located on college campuses, provide healthy environments for students to study Scripture and to build authentic community. These fellowships are also involved in outreach activities to their local communities and have been instrumental in providing relief in the aftermath of typhoons and the resulting flooding and destruction of homes and livelihoods.
One notable effort has been spear-headed by Cliff and Jeannie Peters. They arranged the logistisics and funded the sending of over 100 water filter systems to the Philippines. They coordinated with Reach, Inc.’s corporate office in Quezon City for their distribution through local Reach ministries. Many volunteers were involved. This act of compassion blessed and benefited many families who prior to these filters had no clean water to drink with many losing potable water sources destroyed by flooding.
This is an example of Christians working together to make a difference in the lives of others. I was at a gathering a few years ago where Denver Seminary president, Mark Young, was speaking. In his remarks he said that he is often asked what he wants to accomplish in life – his vision. He responded, “I just want my life to make a difference. It’s that simple.”
That has really stuck with me. If our lives don’t make a positive difference in the lives of others, then what are we doing? As sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, moms and dads, friends, mentors, colleagues, neighbors…indeed as part of the world community, we need to care for one another. And, that care means challenging each other to view life from an eternal perspective. And, if we have heard and have embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must share and reflect that reality in our thoughts, words and deeds.
“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!‘” Romans 10:14-15
Beautiful feet indeed and lives that make a difference.
Thank you for your continued support of this ministry.
Cal Milnes
CEO/President
Reach Ministries International
P.O. Box 2060
Orange, California 92859
Reach Ministries International Board of Directors
Dwight Carlson, M.D. (Chair), Guy Chiattello, Ph.D.
Cathyrnn Frederick, George Caudle, Ph.D.
Cal Milnes
Dear Friends,
As we usher in the New Year, we often take a deep breath and are thankful ‘we made it through’ (actually the Lord got us through) the previous year and we have high hopes for the possibilities the New Year brings.
New Year’s resolutions often center on healthier living. Eating less and weighing less is probably at the top of many lists. Also, for many Christians, developing a more disciplined Bible reading and a more consistent prayer life frequently make the list. Some folks simply resolve to find a more satisfactory job, get out of debt, get married, take a vacation or watch less television.
At Reach Ministries International we resolve to continue to expand our ministry presence in Indochina relying on the Lord’s direction and resources. Our ministry model includes developing indigenous leaders so they may ‘go and make disciples’ in their cities, towns and villages. An important aspect of developing these leaders is building bridges of trust by helping provide resources (human, financial and intellectual) which will address economic needs as well as spiritual needs. We focus on cultural contextualization so the presentation of the Gospel transcends political, economic and ethnic boundaries.
In many of the cultures where we serve, people are spiritually aware. However, we want to share our belief and conviction that God is reconciling the world to Himself through Jesus Christ. We resolve to tell the Good News that Jesus Christ has provided the way for forgiveness of sins and eternal life….“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever will believe in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NASB)
Scripture clearly teaches the preeminence of Jesus Christ. When the Apostle Peter spoke before the Sanhedrin he declared speaking of Jesus Christ….“and there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NASB).
And, the Apostle Paul explains and reminds us in Colossians 1:15-20:
“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme overall creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the kingdoms, rulers and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So, he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” Colossians 1:15-20 (NLT)
Along with any resolutions you may make about your eating, spending or relational lives, we ask you to resolve to pray regularly for this ministry. Also, pray for the board of directors of Reach Ministries International so that we may “run with endurance the race that God has set before us” – Hebrews 12:1b (NLT).
Thank you and Blessings!
Cal Milnes
CEO/President
Reach Ministries International
P.O. Box 2060
Orange, California 92859
Reach Ministries International Board of Directors
Dwight Carlson, M.D. (Chair), Guy Chiattello, Ph.D.
Cathyrnn Frederick, George Caudle, Ph.D.
Cal Milnes
The Reluctant Servant
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Jonah the prophet. I am uncertain as to why I am drawn to this story. However, it may have to do with Jonah’s attitude about who he was and Who God is.
Many of you remember the story where God called Jonah, who was a Hebrew, to go to the city of Nineveh and tell them to repent of their wickedness or perish by the judgment of God. Well, Jonah had other things in mind. First, he didn’t really like the people of Nineveh because they were enemies of the Hebrew people. He may have thought if he went to this large city that his life would be in danger if he just showed up, let alone prophesying about the destruction of the city by the God of the Hebrews.
So, Jonah decides to skip town and buys a boat ticket to Tarshish. Now this is all kind of amusing as I think about it now. At the time, I am sure that Jonah felt he had an absolute right and good reason to refuse God’s calling. After all, it would mean traveling to a city full of unclean and wicked people and risking his life to do it. The Lord certainly must be mistaken. Of course the Lord was not mistaken and Jonah could not ‘hide’ from the Lord by taking a boat to Tarshish.
Like many of us, Jonah needed a little more spiritual illumination. So the Lord demonstrated His sovereignty not only in human affairs, but in all affairs, including natural law. He caused a storm which would have sunk the boat had not Jonah jumped overboard. The Lord spared the boat and the seaman and had a great fish swallow Jonah. This had to be a harrowing experience for this reluctant servant. But in reality, it saved his life and allowed him to meditate on God’s calling and the consequences of disobedience.
Jonah finally yielded to God’s call, was spit up on the shore by the fish and traveled to Nineveh, the capital of the ancient Assyrian Empire. He spoke to the people the Word the Lord had given him, saying the city would be destroyed unless the people repented of their wickedness and violence.
Well, this has to be one of the greatest revivals ever. With the speaking of the Lord’s Word from Jonah, the people repented including the king. They all sought the mercy of the Lord, praying that God might relent and withdraw His anger. Over 120,000 persons were spared.
“When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.” Jonah 3:10 (NASB)
Well, because Jonah hated the Ninevites and he was angry and disappointed that God had shown so much mercy, he left the city, sat down, sulked and asked the Lord to take his life from him. The Lord appointed a plant to grow over Jonah to provide shade. Scripture records “Jonah was very happy about the plant”. Then the Lord appointed a worm to attack the plant causing it to whither. The heat was almost unbearable. Jonah became so uncomfortable that again he told the Lord death was preferable and that he had good reason to be angry and wanting to die.
The Lord, showing compassion to His reluctant servant asks him to consider the following:
Then the Lord said, “You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals.” Jonah 4:10-11 (NASB)
The account ends rather abruptly here. But, the significant points have been driven home. We can learn many things about our human nature and its tendency in this story as well as much about the character of God, His sovereignty and His provision.
Aren’t we so much like this stubborn prophet – intent upon seeking out our own goals, our own comforts, our own plans, while God is calling us to share His Good News to people who are in desperate need of this message and a messenger?
Do we, even as believers, students of Scripture and beneficiaries of the favor the Lord has showered on our lives and the lives of those we love – do we harbor a deep resistance to sharing this simple message of life and life eternal with those who have not heard? Do we want to keep this treasure, this light, under a bushel basket? Are we disobedient like Jonah and rationalize our disobedience to the point of death?
These are questions I ask myself often.
The well-known Scottish essayist and thinker, Thomas Carlisle, said it well in his poem You Jonah:
And Jonah stalked
to his shaded seat
and waited for God
to come around
to his way of thinking.
And God is still waiting for a host of Jonahs
in their comfortable houses
to come around
to his way of loving.
Lord, we ask that our hearts may align with your heart, our lives with the purposes you have for our lives. Give us the understanding, the courage and the passion to extend the mercy and grace you have extended to us.
Blessings,
Cal Milnes
CEO/President
Reach Ministries International