Words of Encouragement

The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. Psalm 18:20-30

As believers in Christ, we have some days were we feel low in our spirits or we are feeling defeated. And there are times when we feel our situations are getting the best of us or that we just can't go on. There are times when the enemy is beating you up and you really feel like you are going to lose this battle. That's the time when God's word is there to encourage us and to give us the strength that we need to keep going.

This scripture reminds me that yes, even as I continue to do all that God would have me to do, that I can still feel burdened. But since I am being obedient to God, He will uphold me. God will care for the afflictions of His people. God will light your candle, so that your darkness will be illuminated.

Think about coming into a dark room. You can't see anything, and you don't know where to go, to keep from getting hurt by running into furniture or obstacles in the path. When you turn on the light, or light a candle, you are able to see better the situation before you. That's how God is to His people. He will guide you and He will never leave you alone. He will help you to see clearly what's ahead of you, so that you can side step the pitfalls.

So how do we take advantage of these promises? We have to do as the Psalmist said, we must make sure that we are keeping God's ways. We must not depart from Him to do wickedness. We have the assurance that God's word is tried, it is true. His world will never end, and it will never let us down. He is more than able to handle whatever the situation is.

Family situations, work situations, physical situations. What ever you are facing, God is able to keep you and bring you through the situation. Just as He brought the Psalmist through the troop, He can bring you through the battle. And He can bring you over the wall to safety.

So I'm praying today for our encouragement, joy and peace in the Lord.

The Week in Review

Opposing Viewpoints
Jewel D. Williams

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15). This is what Josh McDowell does when asked questions regarding God. The question, “Why Does God allow evil to exist?” is one such opportunity for Josh to give an answer of the hope he has inside.

Josh McDowell states that the question regarding evil is sometimes given in a complex question to the Christian (1). People ask if God is good, why does he allow evil? Others question God’s power and think maybe he is not powerful enough to stop wrongdoing. The scriptures however, make it plain that God is not the creator of evil. This is a result of man’s selfishness.

McDowell goes on to state that the word of God tells of God’s goodness and of his love for man (1). God created man and gave him freedom of choice. McDowell states that true love cannot exist unless it is freely given (1). When Adam and Even disobeyed God, they brought evil into the world. Nick Pollard, the writer of Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult, states it this way, “The Bible is explicit that suffering is not God’s original will for us…I believe that what the Bible says is this: Suffering has come into the world because the world and everything in it has become mucked up” (133). McDowell is also stating that the world became mucked up when man sinned. The world is now abnormal because of sin.

Although evil is in the world, it is temporary. Evil will be destroyed in God’s time. God will right every wrong and put away evil. Christians have to stand in this time for what is right. McDowell states, that believers do not condone what is wrong and stand up for the right (1). This is because God is righteous and he hates evil. When the believer identifies with Jesus he has a duty to bring truth to things that are wrong and speak out when evil is trying to overtake good.

Pollard states, “The good news of Jesus is that he provides us a complete solution to our suffering. We can’t. My appeal to people is not to put off accepting God’s solution until they have a full explanation – because they never will” (132). McDowell also states that people are still bothered that God even allows evil in the first place (1). People question the wisdom of God in giving man a choice in matters. This is when one has to realize that God’s purposes are sometimes above man’s understanding. This is the reason God tells man not to lean to his own understanding.

The Bible informs man how and why evil came about, it does not tell why God allowed it to happen. One must trust that God is all wise and all knowing and his reasons for allowing things is beyond one’s comprehension. Pollard adds this encouragement with this statement, “God doesn’t provide a complete explanation of suffering, but he does provide a complete solution for it” (131).

What is the solution God provides? Pollard gives two such solutions: an ultimate one and a meanwhile one. The ultimate solution is as mentioned by McDowell, God will conquer all evil. There will be no more suffering or evil. God is delaying the time of this for his purpose of allowing others to come to a saving relationship with him.
The other solution to suffering “in the meanwhile” states, God gives his people the strength to go through. Prayer is one tool that believers have that helps them. When one prays for others, the belief is God will answer. We do not know if he will answer now or in that ultimate time, yet we can have hope in his answer.

How can evil or suffering bring about any benefits? I believe this may also be a question on the minds of people when they ask why God allows evil. One cannot always see evil or suffering bringing anything but pain and hardship. Pollard however states differently when he tells the story of a seventeen year old that said her life was falling apart. “How could anything good ever come out of this? I was tempted to answer her question by suggesting possible ways. But that wouldn’t have been right. I could listen, but only God could answer that for her. Two days later she became a Christian, and God began that transformation process” (140).

That is the one addition that I would make to Josh McDowell’s answer. One may not understand the evil and suffering that goes on in the world, but God does. He did not create it, but he is allowing it until the time he has appointed to bring it to an end. In the meantime, in his wisdom he is using it to draw people. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). One may not understand how God does it, but if an individual puts their trust in God, he is able to keep them. Suffering and evil will not disappear, but God is sufficient through it. There are times when suffering or evil happens in the world and draws one to question, God are you there? It is in those times that if one allows, God can use that time of suffering or evil, to show himself real to the seeker.

The Week in Review

A Preaching Plan –
What are the Benefits?

It was discussed that the preacher needs to have disciplines in his or her life. One discipline that can be beneficial to the preacher is having a preaching plan. What is a preaching plan and what are the benefits? The author, Donald E. Demaray (2006) in the book, Introduction to Homiletics gives the benefits as well as what a preaching plan entails.

A preaching plan is basically the preacher mapping out what he will preach for a given amount of time. The plan may be three months or what works best for the minister, thus saving him time. However, Demaray says that it does much more when he states, “But mapping a preaching program does more: It relieves the mind of the burden – a big burden – of deciding on text and theme every week.” (p. 86). The first benefit of a preaching plan is to help the minister to be a better steward of her time. If she is preparing a preaching program she not only saves time but also the stress of trying to find the many themes needed each week.

The second benefit of a preaching program is that it becomes a guide to the parishioners. Demaray adds his insight on this one point when he states:
“Preaching through a book of the Bible, or part of a book, feeds both pastor and people with food prepared by a special chef – Paul in the case of Ephesians, Luke in Acts, John in 1 John, etc., each coming up with their own recipes” (p. 87)

The preacher or pastor that uses the preaching program is able to plan a well-rounded meal for his parishioners. He is able to plan messages around a theme or what he feels is needed for the people. This way the people are able to eat the meal as Demaray states.

Presenting to the church a balance of the scriptures helps to prevent the body of believers from becoming prey to cults because of lack of teaching.
“A preaching diet accounts in no small measure for communicating truth or error, moral integrity or laissez faire behavior, spiritual health or inadequate health maintenance. God’s people receive thorough grounding and nurture if they hear the full scope of Bible truth. Programmed preaching helps the pastor set an adequate table Sunday after Sunday. Do you suppose cults come on the scene in part because preachers ignore certain Bible teachings?” (Demaray, p. 87-88)

In summary, the preaching plan or program helps the pastor to prepare what he will present to his congregation. In doing so, he is able to save time as well as ensure that a balanced program is presented to the people. One benefit is people are helped, encouraged and fed a complete “diet” as well as a pastor that is strengthened as well. The example of being fed is a good analogy. If a mother were to plan a meal for her family, she would not serve the same foods for seven days. She would balance the meal out between different foods. She would do this to make sure her family has received the nutrients they need and can only receive from different foods. She would do this also to help keep her family interested in what is being presented to them. This is what the preacher does when he prepares his preaching program. The preacher is presenting to his family a different meal at each sitting so they will receive the nutrients they need that will come from the different dishes presented to them. This is how the preacher protects and cares for the family. He uses the tools available to keep the family safe.

Words of Encouragement

"I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, My strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies." Psalm 18:1-3

God's Attributes. My rock, my fortress, hightower and my deliver. David is telling of how he loves the Lord and what God has been to him as he protected him from Saul.

"A rock" - is solid and strong. God is a firm foundation, one that we can depend on
and one that we can trust in. He is strong. There is no one who is stronger than He. Our troubles are not stronger than our God. While we go through some difficulties, they are not stronger than the solid God we trust in.

"Fortress" Can you imagine an army coming at you, but you are inside of this large walled fortress. So even when the enemy comes from any side, you are protected from them. Well that is how God is. He will protect us from every thing that the enemy tries to throw our way. It doesn't matter what side the enemy tries to come on, God has it covered. Today as I write this lesson, I need to be reminded myself that God is my fortress. So many things are coming against me, illness, family situations, etc. and they feel like they are going to overcome me and take me out. Yet, I know that God has me surrounded and I am protected from the fiery darts of the enemy. I like David can say, God is my fortress.

"Deliverer" When you are in bondage, or in captivity, you need someone to take you out of that place you are at. You need someone stronger, bigger and better than that which has you captive. Well that's God. He is a mighty warrior. He has all the strength and the know how to bring us out of bondage. He is the only one that has the ability to do so. This God that can deliver us from the hold of sin, is also the one that can deliver us from the tricks of the enemy.

"Hightower" That's the look out, the place were you can see everything coming
from a distance. Well God knows everything, and He is able to direct us in the ways we should go, so that we are on the right path. I cannot see clearly the path and when I try, I often make a mess of it. The joy is knowing that God is that hightower and he directs me where to go, even if I cannot see the way ahead, I know he is directing me rightly.

Today we can rejoice in the Lord. He is our strength. He can keep us safe from all that the enemy tries to throw our way. For we know that the enemy comes for to kill and destroy. If he can't kill your physical body, he will try to kill your name, or destroy the work you do for the Lord. But we have someone mightier than he. We can trust in the Lord to direct us, to keep us, and to protect us. He is worthy of our praises.

Let's remember today, whatever we are going through, that God is mighty, He is able to keep us and we will be victorious in Him. Praying for us today, to lean and depend on God.

The Week in Review

Interview of The Grace Place pastor, Patrice Turner

                                                                                                                                  I interviewed Pastor Patrice Turner, the lead pastor of The Grace Place. You can also visit her online at http://graceplacecog.net I want to share with you her thoughts.


How did you know you were supposed to plant this church?

God told me to. I fought it hard and was pretty certain that I was hearing God wrong. But His call was clear and His confirmation was compelling. When I first knew what I was hearing Him say, I spoke to one of my mentors about it and said an emphatic, "No!" He encouraged me to pray about it and for a long time I refused to do so. My reasoning? As long as I didn't ask God a direct question, He wouldn't give me a direct answer and I was running from this responsibility big time.


Was this a difficult choice to make?

Yes and no. Yes - Because I had worked so closely with pastors I knew firsthand the full scope of their call. It was very hard for me to believe and then to accept that God would call me (this little Muslim girl from the West Side of Chicago) to this monumental and awesome task.

No, because once I did pray about it and knew with certainty that this was what God had for my life, the decision was no longer mine. His Will always has its way.


We all know when we desire to do the things of God, the devil gets busy to try and discourage us, or stop us, how did you handle any difficulties?

Let me tell you, when I finally said yes the devil got BUSY! Men and women who have known me and worked with me and prayed with me and praised me all of my saved life, all of my ministry suddenly either wouldn't speak to me at all or said cruel things about me and my ministry. Some, who knew and were in prayerful agreement with the church plant, quickly changed their tunes when others began to speak against the church. Worse still, some praised me to my face and rip me and the church to shreds behind my back.

I knew it was coming and I purposed in my mind early on that (1) God had not made a mistake in His purpose for me - Period. (2) I would handle all opposition, all demeaning comments, all roadblocks, all the moves of the enemies with grace and class. (3) I never, ever let anyone see me sweat.


What steps did you have to take to get the church opened? And how long was the process?

The process was about two years long from hearing God's voice to the opening service.

I am a huge proponent of reading. Books are the most economical, most easily accessible form of education available. I read every book I could get my hands on about God's will, church planting, leadership, church growth and prayer.

I set up a network of coaches. These men and women (some local, some all over the country) have been an unbelievable source of strength and advice. All are Senior Pastors, some are monumental in the COG Movement, and some are former church planters. Together they supply me with a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that is invaluable. Every church planter should have a team of coaches and support.

I attended conferences specifically for church planters and surrounded myself with people who have successfully planted churches.

I shared my vision and built my team carefully using discretion and prayer. I searched for and selected a facility. I prayed a lot.


Who helped you or inspired you in this endeavor?

God. The coaches mentioned above. My Senior Pastor. My family (husband and four children). CMA - the Church Multiplication Association. Dr. Ron Fowler. Bishop C Milton Grannum. Far too many people to list.

Now that the church has been open for a while, what things have you seen that encourages you about the work? What do you hope to accomplish?

The genuine interest in a different way of doing church. God's Word is unchanging, but the methodology that we use to reach His people does have to change with the times. The slow but steady acceptance of The Grace Place has been very encouraging. My family (mother and siblings) acceptance of the church is an amazing source of encouragement to me. The most encouraging thing, hands down, is the look of the face of someone in the congregation when the Word 'clicks' for them. Way cool.


What is it that the body of Christ can do to help you in this mission?

The extended Body of Christ can help me in this mission in simple ways. Be accepting of my role as Lead Pastor. Be accepting of my congregation. Be willing to share resources. If none of those things are possible, the next best thing to do is to just let us be - just let us be whom God called us to be and pray for us that His Will be done - that's my prayer for the Body of Christ worldwide. Period.

We often think of missions as going over seas, but what would you tell someone about reaching the lost "in their own backyard" or the mission being where God plants them?

I firmly believe that the church does have to be missional, but, yes, I think that has to start at 'home'. Look around you and see what needs there are in your community. Meet the real, day-to-day felt needs of God's people rather than giving them what you think they need. If you ask people, they'll tell you and if you pay attention to them, they'll show you.

Be original too but don't reinvent the wheel. For instance when we do our back to school drive, rather than handing out a back pack with all purpose school supplies, The Grace Place will invite parents and students to bring in their school supply list and then we'll purchase the items on that list. We'll also extend back to school time to our local community college and buy college text books for selected students. Often that added cost is prohibitive for many. Also, we might not cut grass but we will paint trim, or install new windows or give a single mom a day off from mommy-ing, or a married couple a chance to have a date night.


You mention that reading was a key instrument that you used to help you, what books would you recommend for someone interested in church planting? As well as what books would you recommend to use even to help one in their devotional life? We know the Bible is key, so what other books would you recommend?

Whew! I'd recommend any and every thing written by John Maxwell but especially Talent Is Never Enough, The 360 Degree Leader and The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

Any and every thing by Chuck Swindoll. Brilliant!
Any and every thing by Steve Sjogren. Good. good stuff.
The Big Idea by Dave Ferguson. Simply wonderful. Common sense on paper.
Unchristian by Dave Kinnaman. A good look at what the past and current generation thinks about church and how we can help shape that view and best meet those needs.

Planting Fast Growing Churches by Stephen Gray.
Transforming Church by Kevin Ford. Courageous reading for courageous pastros.
Shaped by God's Heart by Milfred Manitrea. Good reading about the mission of the church.
Did I Get Out Of Bed For This? by Dave Edwards. Encouraging and humorous.
Ten Most Common Mistakes Made By New Church Starts by Griffith & Easum. I'm a firm believer in learning from other peoples mistake, so as not to repeat them.


You mentioned that your family has accepted the Grace Place and that has been encouraging for you, what specifically do you think drew your family to the church?

I think they came to support me and in the process of that, are opening up to the Word of God and its effect on their lives. The reason anyone comes to church is not as important to me as the fact that they come and that they keep coming and let God lead them to change their lives.

You mentioned that the body of Christ can help in several ways, sharing resources, acceptance of the body of believers there at Grace Place and your role as her pastor. As a minister what resources specifically could I lend to you to help your work at Grace Place? What about a lay leader, or a believer that simply wants to see you succeed in this mission, what specific things can we do to help?

Pray, pray, pray! Then visit, encourage and invite others to visit, sow a seed.


I love your ideas regarding meeting the needs of people, such as filling the children's list for back to school. This shows a clear look at where people are, why do you think this is important for a pastor and/or church to understand?

Decide whether its more important for you to help than it is for someone to be helped. Too often churches and even people in every day life help in ways that don't really help. Rather than give people what you perceive their need to be, ask them, or better yet pay attention to them, and give them what they actually need.

As a new church, what are some of your methods to developing leaders, ministers, etc.? And do you think it is important to develop and train leaders?

One of the most asked questions in the world is, what on earth am I here for? People are looking for ways to serve. It's important that we develop leaders in two directions. Leading out - finding what the Body of Christ needs and being willing to meet that need. and Leading in - finding out what God's purpose is for you and taking the lead in getting the training needed to fulfill that purpose.


You mentioned one of the most important things is to see when the word clicks for someone, why do you feel this is so important?

A sermon is just a lecture until it moves in someone's soul. When the message reverberates in a person for the first time and moves them to change their lives - there is no more important moment in life for that individual or for that pastor or leader who lead them to see the absolute need for Christ.

While we cannot predict where we will be in the next year or two, what is your vision for The Grace Place for the next year or two?

I pray that God will lead us right to where He wants us to be. That might be in a 2,000 seat church ministering all around the world. It might be in a 100 seat rented facility meeting the needs of our community. In two years I hope we are meeting needs physically, emotionally, spiritually, even financially as needed in the live of God's people. In two years I want the GP to be a felt presence and a place where real people encounter a very real God.


I forgot to ask this first, but what did you chose the name the Grace Place for the church?

I wanted people to understand that this new church is a place of acceptance and compassion. None of us are perfect or worthy or deserving of the favor of God but we're all recipients of His love and grace. I chose the name The Grace Place because all of us are hanging on by the grace of God. "There but for the grace of God, goes I."


In closing, I am thankful for Pastor Turner's time and my prayers are that God continues to bless.

The Week in Review

A Paper of Reflection of God’s Mission

God is the originator of mission. God brings men and women into his plan to take their place in missions. Believers are not able to successfully carry out God’s mission without the understanding, training and equipping for missions. When believers do not have the right motives or prepare properly for missions, there can be problems. Author, Bruce Wilkinson’s experienced problems in Africa and returned feeling defeated. The pitfalls of his trip will be discussed using the mission material covered.

God continually seeks to draw fallen men and women back to a right relationship. God’s plan for redemption was in place even before man walked upon the face of the earth. “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Ephesians 1:4).

The question is, who is the originator of mission? Author Gailyn Van Rheenen, in his book, Biblical Foundations & Contemporary Strategies: Missions states, “God the originator of the mission of deliverance, then sought a person to carry out his mission” (15). In this example, Moses has been given the assignment to be God’s missionary of deliverance to the Israelites (Ex. 3:10). Moses looks at himself and finds faults in himself that would prevent the mission from being completed. Moses complains that he would not know what to tell the people and that his speech is not good enough. Moses has the wrong idea about missions. This is the problem with many believers today. Believers think it is in their power they will accomplish the task. God was telling Moses it is not in self, but in God that the mission is accomplished.

Rheenen states it this way, “At least five specific applications of the ‘Mission of God’ can be made: First, if mission flows from the character and nature of God, it cannot be neglected by the church…Second, since the mission is of God, God will equip people for the task…Third, the ‘Mission of God’ enables Christian missionaries to understand themselves under God’s sovereignty…Fourth, the ‘Mission of God’ implies sacrifice…Finally, this perspective enables the Christian communicator to recognize that because the mission is God’s it will succeed” (19).

An important step for a believer to take in becoming successful on the mission field is to understand how Jesus accomplished the mission. Robert E. Coleman, in his book, The Master Plan of Evangelism states, “ Not for one moment did Jesus lose sight of his goal. That is why it is so important to observe the way Jesus maneuvered to achieve his objective. The Master disclosed God’s strategy of world conquest. He had confidence in the future precisely because he lived according to that plan in the present” (24). If a believer is to fulfill the mission of God, he must like Jesus, never lose sight of the goal. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Paul speaks of having Christ as your goal and pressing toward that goal. Everything else is a secondary or defective goal. It is the same with missions. The primary goal should be out of the love for God and his purpose. Secondary motives, which are based on preaching Christ for humanitarian or personal reasons, are not correct motives but they do not have to stop one from being effective for the Lord (Rheenen, 42).

Jesus called men to him and set about showing them by his actions and his words how to live for God. “Hence, Jesus did not urge his disciples to commit their lives to a doctrine, but to a person who was the doctrine, and only as they continued in his Word could they know the truth” (Coleman, 56).

Coleman explains the process Jesus used to prepare his disciples for the mission of evangelizing the world. Jesus selected his disciples, not based on background but on willingness to follow. He then associated with them and allowed them to see him living out the mission. Jesus then equipped them (consecrated and imparted to them) with what they needed to achieve the mission. He also demonstrated to them how to do it. He prayed and gave them an example of what prayer looked like. He next gave the disciples an assignment to go out two by two. He gave them the instruction to follow on the mission. Jesus supervised them with the purpose of reproducing himself within their hearts and actions.

This is still the process that one can use today to equip others to understand the truth of the Bible and prepare them for missions. When presenting the message, one must be willing to meet an individual where they are. This is how Jesus spoke to the people. He gave them models that they could understand. He used the things they were familiar with and explained the deeper things of God. He took time with them and in love showed them the truth of God. In the book, Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult, the author Nick Pollard states, “I shall always remember a student telling me how he had become a Christian in one of my missions. He said that it was the open debates which had made the difference for him. But it turned out that it wasn’t any clever answers to the difficult questions that helped him especially. Rather, he said it was the loving and gracious way in which I had treated the aggressive questioners who where trying to have a go at me” (25).

Recently, I read an article about the Prayer of Jabez author Bruce Wilkinson. The article was in Christianity Today regarding his leaving Africa. I want to first state this is not a condemnation of Bruce Wilkinson or his vision only an observation of what pitfalls he encountered because of a lack of preparation.

In an article in Christianity Today titled Mr. Jabez Goes to Africa, the author Timothy C. Morgan, talks about Bruce Wilkinson’s decision to go to Africa. Wilkinson describes how he felt God’s call on him to go into missions. He immediately organized a company, CoMission to educate ministry in Russia (5). He set about creating the finish line (his goal), which was to train 120,000 Bible teachers to influence the top 2 percent of the world population (5-6). By the end of 2002, WorldTeach had 33,374 Bible teachers in 82 nations. WorldTeach was a bottom-up strategy. Strategy as defined by Rheenen is “the practical working out of the will of God within a cultural context. Missionaries ask, ‘How does God desire that we minister within this context?’ Seeking God’s will for the culture, they work with national leaders to develop creative, God-centered, biblically critiqued strategies with well-defined goals” (140).

When one looks at the numbers, this seems to be a great success and the future looks good. However, Bruce Wilkinson leaves Africa in 2005 because he is discouraged, and spiritually broken from the ordeal. What are some of the things that went wrong? Again, this is not a criticism of his method but simply an observation of the methodology he uses.

After his launch of WorldTeach, he began to move towards the next project, which was in Africa. He said God gave him a heart for the children of AIDS/HIV parents of Africa and he wanted to do something about it. In Christianity Today, the article, Jabez Author Quits Africa, Timothy C. Morgan writes, “The center would house, educate, and feed children whose parents had died of AIDS. It would also have a golf course and other tourist attractions. Swaziland, located between Mozambique and South Africa, is one of Africa’s smallest nations and has one of the world’s highest HIV/AIDS rates. Dream for Africa had hoped to house 10,000 children on a 32,500-acre complex by the end of 2005” (1).

While this seems like a great project there are flaws within the planning of this endeavor. First, Bruce Wilkinson’s motives were not the fundamental motives needed for missions. The fundamental motive needs to reflect the will of God (Rheenen, 38). Wilkinson’s motive was to help people’s physical needs. Even though this is an admirable undertaking, this motive is a secondary motive. Rheenen states, “Westerners are frequently touched by the poverty of the world in comparison to their own wealth. They are drawn to missions as a response to human poverty. They desire to use their medical, technical, and teaching skills to upgrade the physical and socioeconomic conditions of people…sometimes, however, this response is no different from that of philanthropists who desire to improve the world” (42).

Youth Inspiration Night