April 27, 2008
"As you Go make disciples"
Dear Brethren, Family and Friends
Si Na Bula (Good Morning) from Fiji
Many of will note that in my newsletters since we have been here I mention
golf and the playing of such (if you call it that) on a regular basis. I am
not good at it and the Lord has certainly shown me that I will never make a
living at it. The recreation options are very very limited here and forget about
socializing after dark. It seems that maybe some of you might have taken this
to mean that playing golf is all I do over here and that while you are slaving
away making a living I am asking you to support me for a life of recreation.
This was a (constructive) comment I received which brought this to my attention:
"I think your continual mention of the golf games is a negative to, perhaps,
many of your present and would-be supporters. I think they view it as they would
here in the USA as being a fairly expensive recreational activity for someone
who is always asking for more money.I refrained from mentioning this, but after
one of our own leaders made such a remark to me I thought that perhaps the time
had come to mention it to you." I am sorry if some of you have come to
that conclusion.
We do not have golf country clubs here and the courses are close to farm fields
to playing surface. In Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and now here in Fiji our
playing golf opened and opens up doors into a wider spectrum of people to which
we can share the Good News of Jesus. It costs all of $100 to be a member here
and the contacts with the Indo-Fijian business elements are priceless. Most,
if not all, of the previous outreach work in the Western area of Fiji has to
the village level (blue collar) people. They have been shown to be the more
receptive. However we are finding that the business class and more educated
are now searching for answers. It was Jesus who said in Matthew 28: "As
you go.....make disciples " The captain of the golf club is a Indo-Fijian
(Indian decent) who owns an electrical supply company and has already expressed
his dissatisfaction of the way "Christian" churches operate here in
Fiji. Most Indo-Fijians are Hinduor Muslim in belief. We have talked and he
is interested in the concept of New Testament Christianity and has invited me
at a later date to talk with the "Christian" group that he meets with.
He has personally introduced me to a number of people who we are trying to befriend
(bankers, printers, etc). Many of these contacts will also be of great use when
we finally get the funds to enable us to build a permanent Bible Training facility.
We have been here less than one year and history and experience have shown
that on the average it takes up to 2 years of association with people to get
them to trust you enough to let you into their trust and inner thoughts. Our
objective is to be-friend and to ultimately share the saving grace of Jesus
with them. Our prayer is that the foundation that we lay in our association
with people here will lead to a converting change in their lives and a strong
base for the Lord's church in years to come. May our God grant us the patience
and strength to put in the time and efforts which this dream will require. Referring
back to what Jesus said in Matthew 28 he said, "As you go.....make disciples
". Making disciples is much more than just getting people wet and then
leaving them to grow on their own.
Thank you for your prayers and for those of you who provide the support which allows us to be here,THANK YOU SO MUCHandmay the Lord bless you richly in this life and the life to come.
In Christian Service and because of the Cross of Jesus Christ
Tobey & Kathy