“Prayer is not a passive, calm, quiet practice.” - Tim Keller

FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Mobilization

Last weekend I had the chance to attend the Northwest Baptist Church (OKC) Global Impact Conference 2015. This year’s theme was “Give an Answer,” taken from 1 Peter 3:15 — "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

More than thirty missionaries and mission organizations were at the GIC, and it was a beautiful time on two fronts: 1) praising God for all He has done, and 2) asking God to do even more. So many gray-haired missionaries — and young missionaries, too — shared eloquently and passionately about all the things they have seen God do, in Asia and the Middle East and Mexico and dozens of other locations. They shared, too, about the lessons learned while following Jesus, whether in urban Denver or remote Papua New Guinea — He is faithful, He sustains us, He deserves much glory. But to a person, these missionaries will tell you that the work is far from done! Jesus is still bringing people to Himself, showing His patience and "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

The thing about missions is that we are all called to it — across the street, throughout our country, or around the world. So many organizations represented this spectrum at the GIC Global Expo: Hope Pregnancy Center reaches women and men in OKC; the North American Mission Board has a campaign called Send>North America, Denver; One on One with God does discipleship training in dozens of countries; and groups like our very own focus on the unreached all around the globe. God continues to raise up servants in this current generation, and with our friend Google it has never been easier to find a missions organization that matches your personality, preferences, and passions. Music? Language? Business? Medicine? Sports? God can and does use all gifts, all abilities, and all interests to send His people to reach the lost.

At Uttermost, we talk about four ways to get involved: 1. Pray 2. Give 3. Go 4. Advocate. And like the featured speaker at Sunday’s worship service, I would like to ask a question: What is God calling you to do? He has called the Church to missions … what is your part? Whether across the street or across the globe, we are called to be salt and light … and always be ready to give a reason for the hope we have. It really might be as simple as that!

For the Win[dow],

Erin Meek, DOM

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
 

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia, officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,[d] is the largest Arab state in Western Asia by land area (approximately 2,150,000 km2 (830,000 sq mi), constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula), and the second-largest in the Arab world after Algeria. It is bordered by Jordan and Iraq to the north, Kuwait to the northeast, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to the east, Oman to the southeast, and Yemen in the south. It is the only nation with both a Red Sea coast and a Persian Gulf coast and much of its terrain consists of inhospitable desert.

The area of modern-day Saudi Arabia formerly consisted of four distinct regions: Hejaz, Najd and parts of Eastern Arabia(Al-Hasa) and Southern Arabia ('Asir).[10] The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 by Ibn Saud. He united the four regions into a single state through a series of conquests beginning in 1902 with the capture of Riyadh, the ancestral home of his family, the House of Saud. The country has since been an absolute monarchy governed along Islamic lines, namely under the influence of Wahhabism.[11] Saudi Arabia is sometimes called "the Land of the Two Holy Mosques" in reference toAl-Masjid al-Haram (in Mecca), and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (in Medina), the two holiest places in Islam. The Kingdom has a total population of 28.7 million; 20 million Saudi nationals and 8 million foreigners.[12][13][14]

Saudi Arabia is the world's dominant oil producer and exporter while it controls the world's second largest hydrocarbon reserves.[14] Backed by the energy reserves, the kingdom is categorized as a high income economy and is the only Arab country to be part of the G-20 major economies. Saudi Arabia has a high Human Development Index (HDI).[18] Saudi Arabia is ruled by an "authoritarian regime"[19] and is ranked as "Not Free" by Freedom House.[20] It also has the fourth highest military expenditure in the world.[21][22] It is an active member of Gulf Cooperation Council, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and OPEC. (Wikipedia)

http://joshuaproject.net/countries/SA   |    http://prayercast.com/saudi-arabia.html

PRAYER REQUESTS:

  • Pray for the Lord Jesus to miraculously demolish the stronghold of Islam in this nation.
  • Pray for massive Islamic missionary efforts to be thwarted.
  • Pray for true religious freedom and the curbing of heinous human rights abuses.
  • Pray for Uttermost reps around the world.
  • Pray for the Uttermost US office.