When The Boxscore Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

A certain friend, who shall remain anonymous, is a big football fan. Well, he thinks he is. The truth is, he never watches any games. He doesn't have the patience for it. Instead, when the game is over, he takes a quick glance at the box score. When his team wins, he's happy. Otherwise... well, I just don't call him then.

In contrast, I love watching the game. The box score means little to me apart from the game itself. Why? Because the box score never tells the whole story. Some of the best things about football just don't appear. There's just nothing like watching the game (especially up close and in person) to know what really went on.

The same can be said of ministry on the Rez. Southern Baptists (for whom I am a proud missionary) are especially adept at keeping score. We keep score of baptisms, salvation decisions, attendance, among other things. It's all important data, helping us to assess the reach of our ministries. But it doesn't tell the whole story.

Such is the case with the recent simultaneous revival efforts (see previous post). Fifty-one teams from Louisiana recently led intentional evangelistic efforts at a variety of Native American sites in New Mexico and Arizona. Sixteen of the teams served in my area. The official scorecard shows that, with 29 of 51 teams reporting, 81 persons trusted Christ as Lord and Savior, more than 150 rededicated their lives to Christ, and 24 teams have entered ongoing partnerships with the churches they served. But so many wonderful things are happening as a result of these events that just do not fit our score keeping.

For example, God is continuing to draw people into Gateway Baptist Church, Window Rock, though the revival meetings ended weeks ago. As Pastor Doyle Hales said, "Many Navajo will not step forward in church to make decisions in front of everyone, let alone submit themselves to a membership vote. Instead, they will wait until the service is over and come to the pastor for prayer." And so it was that, last Sunday, Doyle prayed with all nine members of one family. Only one of the nine had attended the revival. But she later gathered her entire family, bringing them to church Sunday. According to Doyle, they are not saved yet. But they intend to keep coming. The best part: they drive 70 miles one-way for church. When they come to Christ they will be among the first Christians in their community. Pastor Doyle says something similar has happened two other times since the revival. And no one would know if we only read the box score.

I can tell you many stories like this. Some of the greatest works of God here just do not fit our traditional means for score keeping. But that's OK. We know He's working.

Please keep Gateway Baptist, Window Rock, in your prayers. Pray also for our ministry partners, that even if the results are not great according to our traditional scorecards, they will see how the Lord is using them to expand His kingdom. Finally, keep Karen and me in your prayers as we help our churches. May the day come when all the planting and watering finally bears fruit.

To His Glory!

Jim

Taking Time to Work the Field

As I write, we are in the midest of the silmultaneous revival effort with our Native American congregations. Fifty-one churches from Louisiana have come to assist Indian churches in New Mexico with intentional evangelistic efforts. As of the close of Wednesday's activities, there have been 21 professions of faith. With most revivals running through Thursday, and several teams working through next weekend, I trust that the final report will have even more to rejoice about.

But what excites me most are the long-term partnerships emerging between churches. Congregations are partnering for more than this week. Many of the Louisiana churches are committing to return, with some committing to three or more years of joint ministry. This is an answer to prayer.

Why are these partnerships so crucial? Because this mission field is not as ripe a field as others. There are some places where the foundation of the gospel has been laid, and groups will work to see many come to faith. But out here this is not often the case. Oh, the gospel has been present for more than 100 years. And we have reached a share of the population so that they are serving our Lord through many congregations. Still, the best estimate from the Baptist Convention of New Mexico is that 95% of the persons in the four counties I serve are lost. And most of them are absolutely committed to their present way of life.

Our team from First Baptist Church, Sulfur, Louisiana, discovered this reality first hand. Last week, while serving in Nahodishgish (see previous posts), they were well received by members of the church I am starting. In fact, they were well received by the entire community. Even the Chapter Coordinator gave them an open door for ministry. But he also spoke clearly about how he preferrs his traditional beliefs. As he explained, his mother was a Christian, and he supports the community having a healthy church; but, as for himself, he will not turn his back on the traditional Navajo beliefs of his father.

I can't tell you how many Navajo I have met who feel as he does. They know the gospel, and they like what it teaches; but, in the end, they reject it. This is the prevalent mindset in most of the Navajo communities we serve.

Can our Lord soften such hearts? Absolutely! But my observation is that it takes time. Before a great harvest is seen, we must invest years in building relationships, earning trust, and demonstrating Christ-like love through service. Many don't have the patience for such. They want to come, reap whatever harvest is ready, and move out. But for genuine revival and awakening to take place out here, we must take the time to work the field.

I personally believe this to be true across the country, not just in Indian country (I'll save that rant for another post). Everyone loves the harvest, but many have grown impatient with sowing and watering. And don't get me wrong. I long for days of great harvest. But, as I read scripture, I see that the harvest is promised to those who persevere in preparing for it: "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up," (Gal. 6:9).

So, while I rejoice in the fruit born this week, I am especially grateful for those who have given themselves to sowing, watering, and everything else. With you I eagerly anticipate the harvest yet to come through our faithfulness.

To His Glory!
Bro. Jim

Behind the Walls

Greetings all, and forgive the long absence from the blogosphere. Suffice it to say, there's been a lot going on out west. As always, there is the joyful task of helping our churches to reach out and the less-than-joyful but necessary work of problem solving. Through all of it, our Lord has continued to reveal Himself. Thanks for your prayers.

When people consider the mission field in which the Turnbos serve, most focus on our Native American works. This makes sense, given that half of the churches in the Mountain and Western Baptist Associations are Native American. But there is a significant area of ministry that also needs your prayers. It involves ministry to those in prison.

I bring this up because today is a special day. In First Baptist Church of Grants, where Karen, the kids, and I are members, we will be commissioning Linda Rosingus as a chaplain for the women's prison here. Linda, recently endorsed by the North American Mission Board as an Institutional Chaplain, serves as our missionary behind walls. Many of the women she serves have one last opportunity to redeem their lives before their release back into society. Others with whom she works will never again see life outside of the prison fence. As her associational missionary, I am most proud of the work Linda is doing. I look forward to seeing how the Lord works through her, and how our association may partner with her.

But Linda's work represents only one aspect this vast area of ministry. The Grants / Milan community is home to two other prisons: a state men's facility and a federal institution. Aside from Linda, we have Carlos Tapia leading Bible study in the men's unit and Paul and Trudy Crumb with their ministry, Unfailing Love, providing pre-release support and mentoring to women. Together these individuals are working to share God's wonderful grace with persons most others have given up on.

Please pray for our prison ministries, and for Linda, Carlos, Paul and Trudy. Pray that the Lord would work through them to reveal himself as Lord, even behind prison walls. And pray for our association, as we partner with them. My vision would be for ministries that raise up leaders from among the prison population, saved inmates ministering to others in the love of Christ. And who knows? Maybe even a church plant within the prison is a possibility. It's something to pray about.

To His Glory!
Bro. Jim

Celebrating Small Victories

If you follow this blog, then you know of the ministry in the Navajo community of Nahodishgish (if you are not, you may want to review my previous entries). God is clearly at work, but as I learned last night He is working at his own pace - not mine.

God has answered every prayer for this ministry, from raising up a team to serve there to the great harvest we experienced during their visit. He has even answered our prayer for the old church building. We have free access for as long as we want! And he brought a good number of people for our first two worship services. It's been amazing.

Then came last night... a storm the likes of which I have not seen in New Mexico (not that I've been here long)... and only three children and two youth coming out for the service. This on a night when I had brought some friends from our home church whom I had hoped might sign on to help us. Wanting to show my friends just how the Lord was working, I was disappointed with the rain and light attendance. I guess I thought that the Lord wasn't with us this night.

But then, as we took our seats for Bible study, God revealed himself in a rather subtle way. As I called out the text to be read, one of the teenagers with us left the building. Before I could wonder where she went, she returned... with her Bible. Knowing it was time to study God's word, she wanted to be ready. And so we proceeded with our study, with this young lady intently following everything I said.

As I pondered this girl's actions, God made His point perfectly clear. With the quick and near miraculous response to our efforts that we had seen to date, I had expected that we would launch this new church on short order and with little effort. But genuine church planting is never quick nor easy. God is blessing our efforts, but it is going to take time for this ministry to get off the ground and grow into a healthy Navajo church. It will happen in His time, not mine.

In the mean time, we are to praise Him for even the small victories. And really, what better sign that God is blessing our ministry here than seeing a young girl develop a love for His word. In many ways, this small victory means more than all the others put together.

To His Glory!
Bro. Jim

Family Matters

One of the best things about our present ministry is how involved our family is in it. Not that they haven't been in the past. Karen, Lizz (I still call her Elizabeth, but she prefers the other), Lydia, and James have always been involved with the churches I've served. And it's harder for Lizz to be real involved, given that she is off to college. Still, I praise God that our work in New Mexico is truly a family affair.

Karen, for you who may not know, serves as my ministry assistant. Aside from that, she feels a special call to encourage our pastors' wives. Last Saturday she held what should be the first of many ministers' wives events designed to encourage and uplift them as they serve beside their husbands.

Lizz, though not with us, is our number one prayer partner. We hope to bring her down for a few weeks this summer. We miss her, but she is at an age where we must send her off to follow the Lord's plan for her life. Her mom and I are very proud of her. We look forward with great anticipation to see how God uses her.

Lydia and James are both very involved in our work. They both joined me in supporting our team at Nahodishgish. Lydia did some marvelous ministry. And even though he's only 9 years old, James too has become quite the missionary (ask him about dog duty). Lydia accompanied me last week for the first Bible study in what we hope is a new church start at Nahodishgish. Many kids get to help with VBS and other mission projects; but, how many 14 year old church planters do you know? Well, that's what she's doing. She has committed to teach children while I work with adults as we plant this new work.

I am so grateful for the family God has blessed me with. Please keep us all in your prayers as we work in a most diverse and unique mission field. Pray that our Lord would hold Lizz close to Him as she starts college at University of Wyoming. Pray that Lydia would continue to grow in her service to the Lord as she transitions from Middle to High School. Pray for James that His love for the Lord grow and that his parents would be able to keep up with him. And pray for Karen, that the Lord would continue to lead her in her work with ministers' wives. Finally, please pray that all we do would bring a smile to the Savior's face and glory to His name.

To His Glory!

Bro. Jim

It Keeps Getting Better

What a wonderful God we serve. Just when you think you've seen it all, He does something even greater.

So what's up? Well, as I write I am catching my breath from three consecutive weeks working with incoming mission teams. The first brought 107 persons to work at eleven Navajo sites. The next week, beside World Changers in Gallup, we had the long awaited team working at Nahodishgish. And finally, we had the team from First Southern Baptist, Hutchinson, Kansas, working with Bro. Aaron Jim at Tohatchi. Add to these the teams working with Bro. Mark Chandler at 1st Indian in Gallup or Jack Foster at Wingate, and you can see there has been a lot going on. And summer's just begun.

I have yet to receive complete reports on these projects, other than that some great ministry was done in the name of Christ. I cannot wait to bear testimony to it all as reports come in.

But I can report on the work at Nahodishgish. I've shared in previous posts how God has been moving there. This is a community hungry for the gospel. Well, I worked closely with the team from Trinity Baptist Church, Dayton, Texas, ministering there last week. By the end of the week 28 persons came to faith in Jesus Christ! And better yet, we have an open door for a new church start - an answer to our prayers.

The independent group holding the lease on the church building there restarted their work three weeks prior to our arrival, but last Sunday no one showed up to lead worship. I've offered their missionary my support and promised to do nothing that might interfere with his work. But he admits that some of his parishioners will not accept those reached through our efforts (let's just say that there are various "clan issues").

In meeting with some of the Navajo at Nahodishgish, we decided that we would have our worship on Sunday evenings. Besides avoiding any conflict with my independent brothers and sisters, this will preserve my availability on Sunday mornings for the 24 other churches I serve. I hope to involve a couple of families from my home church, First Baptist, Grants, to assist. Anyway, a Navajo community that four weeks ago lacked any gospel witness now has two. It just keeps getting better.

Please pray for the new work at Nahodishgish, that God would mold them together as a church family. Pray that our Lord would grant me wisdom as I work with them. And pray that He would raise up a leader to whom I can pass primary responsibility in due time. And continue your prayers for the various ministries going on in Western New Mexico through the remainder of the summer. Your prayers really do make a difference.

To His Glory!
Bro. Jim

Praise God!

Greetings all!

In a couple of previous posts I shared about the Navajo community of Nahodishgish, which is actively seeking a new church. There is a church building there, closed at the time. I've been praying that God would deliver this building to us for our new work.

Well, it isn't ours yet; but, the people who hold the lease on the property have given it to me for the week of June 13-19. Then a team from Dayton, Texas, will lead VBS and conduct some community service projects. This is the first obstacle that had to be overcome. But praise the Lord! He did it.

Please pray now that, as our team serves, we will cultivate some relationships leading to a core group for our church plant. And continue to pray that God would give us the building for the new church. Pray also that He would raise up someone to lead this new work.

Thanks for your prayers. They really do make a difference.

To His Glory!
Bro. Jim

Christ arose... and So Has Virginia

As I write, it's Easter - Resurrection Sunday! I love to preach any time, any place. But there's something special about presenting the gospel on Easter.

Which is why Bro. Mark Chandler didn't have to twist my arm too hard in getting me to preach for him as he and his family took some vacation. I quickly accepted his invitation, agreeing to spend the day in Gallup, with First Indian Baptist Church.

Worship was great! Karen, the kids, and I even learned a couple of new hymns in Navajo. You'd have to ask the congregation what they thought of the message, but the invitation was wonderful. Several people came forward for prayer: three for their family as they grieve the death of a brother; two confessing sin, rededicating their lives to the Lord. God was clearly at work as people expressed needs and others prayed for them.

As we closed the invitation, I made one final gospel appeal. "We may be closing the service," I said, "but this doesn't mean your opportunity to receive Christ is over. We're about to pray, then share a meal together. So, if at anytime you want to speak about trusting your life to Jesus Christ, just come to me and say, 'Jim, I need Jesus.'"

Well, after the potluck, just as I was saying goodbye, Virginia approached me. "Jim, I need Jesus." That's all she needed to say. I called one of the women from the church to join me. We found a corner. And I shared the gospel with Virginia. Right then and there she trusted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior.

So this Easter we commemorate two resurrrections: Christ's, through whom we have salvation, and Virginia, who placed her faith in Him, thus gaining hers.

Pray for Virginia as she begins her new life in Christ. Pray for Beverly, Renee, and the women of First Indian as they minister to her. Pray for Pastor Mark Chandler as he leads the church. And pray for me, as I seek to encourage and resource them, that Christ would be glorified among the Navajo people in Gallup.

To His Glory!

Bro. Jim

Update on Crownpoint Area and Nahodishgish

In a previous post I mentioned an area where God is opening the door for ministry, just west of Crownpoint. The community is Nahodishgish, in the Navajo Nation. God is moving there in such a way that the people are asking for a church.

I knew when I began this assignment that church planting would be a priority, but I was thinking of places where we saw the need. In most of these places, people aren’t lining up asking us to come in. But at Nahodishgish, this is what’s happening.

It began as I was following up with a family to whom I was introduced back in November. A relationship with them led to an invitation to a chapter meeting, where I sought approval to bring in a summer mission team. Well, when the people voted on my request they went far beyind granting approval. They asked if we could open the abandoned church building in the chapter. As is stands now, they intend on approaching the current leaseholder about reopening the church. If they cannot do it, then the people want the chapter to reclaim the property and make it available to our association.

Nothing is guaranteed yet, but God is clearly at work here. We will know more after the team's work this summer. Still, pray for this community. Pray that God would deliver this church building to us for a new church start. Pray also for Him to raise up someone to sheperd this new congregation in His name.

To His Glory!
Jim

Homegrown Leadership

Last night Karen and I attended revival services at Gateway Community Church, in Window Rock. Gateway is a growing church whose mission field includes the capitol of the Navajo Nation.

The service was wonderful, but what blessed me most was the preacher. Evangelist Chris Boyd was saved and discipled through the ministry of Gateway. After sensing God's call to ministry, he and his wife moved to Ft. Worth, Texas, where they are students at Southwestern Seminary. Their intent after graduation is to return home and lead healthy, reproducing churches, to the glory of Jesus Christ.

What an answer to prayer! Even though I am an outsider, I have long believed that the key to reaching Native Americans for Christ is discipling and engaging them in ministry. I may reach a few, but when those I reach go out in His name... well, this is when whole communities will come to Christ.

Please pray for Chris and his wife as they complete their seminary studies. May our Lord raise him into a powerful communicator of the gospel. Pray for his pastor, Doyle Hales, that Chris will be one of many who through his ministry become missionaries. And pray for me, as I cast a vision for developing homegrown leaders across the Mountain and Western Baptist Associations.

To His Glory!
Bro. Jim

Diverse People... One Lord

Of all the places within our mission field, Socorro best represents its diversity. Karen, the kids, and I worshipped with First Baptist Socorro last Sunday. Pastor Bob Farmer, his wife Jenny, and the entire church family are always a blessing. This weekend was no exception.

But back to the diversity: Socorro sits at the heart of the old Spanish territory of New Mexico, right along El Camino Real. Many residents here are of Castillian heritage, tracing their ancestry to the conquistadors. They are the most unreached people group in New Mexico.

Then we have persons of Mexican background -- some of whose families have been in the area for generations; others who are new arrivals.

With the Alamo Navajo reservation to the west, many Native Americans call Socorro home. Add to that descendants of Anglo settlers and others, and you have quite a mix.

But it doesn't end there. Socorro is home to the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, aka New Mexico Tech. Let me just say that Tech is a community of very smart people: mechanical engineers, nuclear physicists and the like. As operation center for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (the Very Large Array, itself located 50 miles west) Tech hosts its share of astronomers and astrophysicists too. This group as a whole tends to be hard to reach with the gospel. Still First Baptist is quite active with the campus ministry. Many members of the NMT community call First Baptist their church home.

And then there are the Chinese. Chinese students make up the largest group of international students at NMT. Under the leadership of missionary Anna Tai, new students are drawn by the hospitality shown by their Christian colleagues. One result: our thriving Chinese Bible study is growing into a new church plant (you can read about Grace Chinese Fellowship in a previous post).

A community of about 9000, Socorro is illustrative of the diversity found across the Mountain & Western Baptist Associations, and for that matter across New Mexico. Such diversity presents a great challenge as we seek to communicate the gospel with each group. As different as they may be, they all need Jesus Christ. On the other hand, there is great joy in serving such a diverse mission field. It reminds me of what heaven will be like: people of different races and cultures, bound together in love and surrender to the same Lord. I can't wait for that day! "For we are all one in Christ Jesus," (Gal. 3:28b).

Join me in prayer for the staff and members of FBC, Socorro. Pray for the Lord to direct their ministries and empower them with His Spirit. And pray for Karen and I as we serve them, that the Lord would show us how to penetrate each of these people groups with His gospel.

To His Glory!

Bro. Jim

The More Things Change....

... the more they stay the same. I cannot shake this thought since returning from a recent meeting. During one particular session, the presenter noted how the models for helping churches have changed. He said that we've moved from talking about church growth to church health, and now to the missional church.

Now I've read the books and understand what he was saying. And there are certainly differences in emphasis among the models. But there is also a sense in which the better books on these models have really said the same thing. Church growth books spoke of engaging the unbelieving culture around us in order to present the gospel. Authors writing on church health described how healthy congregations do just that. Ditto now for proponents of the missional church. So I'm just wondering if we've merely been saying the same thing in different ways, even as our actual outreach diminishes. Are we giving so much effort to how we describe ministry that it's taking from our effort to do ministry?

Regardless of which model is used in describing a ministry (growing, healthy, missional, or whatever comes next), it seems to me that we're really describing a simple process. God's people must engage and build intentional relationships with unbelievers. They must then present the gospel. And those who respond must be connected with the local, New Testament church for discipleship and for engagement in Christian life and ministry. I concede that how we do this among diverse cultures in a changing world is a challenge. But the principles are no different than they were 20 years ago, or for that matter 2000 years ago.

It's just a thought.

May God grant us His wisdom and power for doing these things wherever we may serve.

To His Glory!
Bro. Jim