God has given us the answer that the world needs—the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But what do we do with this treasure? How do we steward the Gospel? How can we get this truth into all the world?

Acts 13:1–4 provides the answer by example.

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

God uses local churches.

Notice that all of this took place in the context of a local church. Biblical missions is the work of local churches getting behind others to plant local churches.

I’m thankful for every soul that is brought to Christ, even when there is no local church in that part of the world. But, every newly-saved person needs a local church to grow and bear fruit as a Christian. Thus, missionary efforts must have church planting at their heart. (more…)

This past Monday evening, during our Missions Conference, our church had the privilege of ordaining Brother Enoch Kim to the Gospel ministry. Brother Kim is a graduate of West Coast Baptist College and has served on our staff, developing our Korean ministry, for the past couple of years. He and his wife Grace are faithful servants with a testimony of committed love to Christ.

This night was particularly significant as Brother Kim’s salvation and call to ministry is the product of missions. And the evening was particularly memorable as the Lord allowed several of those key players who have had a tremendous influence in Brother Kim’s life to attend.

A few of the special guests attending this occasion were Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Kim, Brother Enoch’s in laws; Dr. and Mrs. Jack Baskins, the American missionaries who led Dr. Kim to Christ; Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Baik, faithful servants of the Lord in Dr. Kim’s church; and Mrs. Esther Yu, a pianist in Dr. Kim’s church for many years. It was through the Baskins’ faithfulness over fifty years ago that Dr. Kim was saved, and it was through Dr. Kim’s church that Enoch was reached with the Gospel as a Korean teenager in a Buddhist home. Later, he married Dr. Kim’s daughter, Grace. (more…)

If you were a football player, you would think the most precious possession during a game was the football. Should you have the opportunity to receive or intercept a pass, you would run with everything you had toward the goal line, while protecting the ball from the other team.

God has entrusted to our care a truth far more valuable than a football. It is the Gospel.

Paul understood this trust like few of us do today. Notice his personal ownership of the Gospel.

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19)

God has specifically committed the Gospel to our trust, and He has commanded us to take it to the world. Yet, like the football player in the clip below, many Christians today are fumbling in this commission. (more…)

One of the greatest highlights of the year at Lancaster Baptist Church is our annual Missions Conference. It is a privilege for our church to partner with missionaries in reaching “the uttermost part of the earth” with the Gospel (Acts 1:8).

Each year, we hear from missionaries we have already been supporting as well as new missionaries on deputation. I always enjoy the opportunity to fellowship with missionaries, hear their testimonies, and get to know them.

This year, our entire church family can know the missionaries on a personal level. Rather than beginning the conference on Sunday, as we have in the past, we will begin on Saturday evening with a home-style opportunity to get acquainted with each of the missionaries who will be with us for the week. We’ll have our platform set up as a living room where we can interview and get to know our missionaries. I’m really looking forward to this special time of testimony and fellowship. (more…)

One hundred seventy years ago this month David Livingstone sailed for the continent of Africa. As I read the biography of Livingston this summer, I was struck by the appropriateness of the book’s subtitle: One who followed Christ. As a missionary-explorer, Livingstone’s life was spent carrying the Gospel into the deep interior of the dark continent of Africa.

Livingstone preached the Gospel in hundreds of African villages, and he saw some fruit from his labor. He couldn’t have known, however, of the fruit that would come in the generations to follow. The missionaries on African soil today are there largely because of the sacrifices Livingstone made to follow Christ through unknown paths, staggering on through fever, loneliness, and even abandonment. (more…)