Since 1976 Seedtime and Harvest Ministries has primarily focused on missions in Mexico. There have been many changes in these passing years. For example, newsletters such as this were run off on mimeographs or written by hand. Black and white copies with streaks through them were standard. Today every missionary has to have a computer and color printer just for mail outs although there is now a shift to e-mail instead of print outs. The challenge of presenting an unchanging God to a rapidly changing world is humongous.
In presenting our unchanging God we need to differentiate between God's laws and man’s interpretations of those laws. Clothing and hairstyles have changed. Work habits and travel have changed. We can even go as far to say that our culture has changed. Missionaries used to be sent to minister to lost tribes of the world but now outreach to closed countries is also a missions focus.
There are countries in the world where Caucasian people cannot minister. Our ministry this year will focus on training Latin (Mexican) missionaries to reach out to people in these countries. It is a change of mentality. We can’t send missionaries out on offerings of $5 and $10 a month while we spend ten times that on incidentals during the week. We need to equip our missionaries doctrinally, culturally and financially. For the Mexican Christian church to change from being a receiving church to a sending church is a challenge in itself. The need for seasoned missionaries to stand behind this job is essential.
In 2009 we will be taking our first trip into Pakistan to open doors for missionaries from our churches to minister there. To be able to orchestrate this change we need to strengthen the local churches and shift the focus from ourselves to the needs of the world. Many in our present society consider Christianity a Sunday activity rather than a way of life. As we push our churches toward a "vision for missions" we try to bring Christianity into all aspects of our lives. We continue to work with Christian schools, sports projects, youth activities and more. We also work to get businesses and other organizations involved in our outreaches and activities. The finances of the world are needed in these times of change. The Bible promises us this:
For God gives to a man what is good in His sight: wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner He gives travail to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. Eccl. 2:26
Our job is to be a channel of these funds.
Church planting, teaching, instructing and confirming the saints are jobs that we will continue doing as long as we are here on the earth. Being a holy nation and a peculiar people is essential and we will continue to teach these principles.
Please stand with us with your finances and your prayers as we walk with the church family in these times of change.
Philip, Lucy, Simri & Vanessa Tolman
January-February 2009
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