missions | Craig T. Owens

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O Me Of Little Faith

January 30, 2010 — Craig T. Owens

Last night I took some of my youth group leaders to a Speed The Light banquet. For those of you who don’t know, STL is missions giving from youth, with the funds going to help missionaries speed the light of the Gospel. Many times STL funds go for items like 4-wheel-drive vehicles, sound systems, video production equipment, and the like.

Understand that up until a month or so ago our group had never really been exposed to STL. Our grand total to STL last year was $0. That’s right, nothing.

So I took them to this banquet to help them get a better understanding of what STL is. I’m a huge fan, so I wanted them to catch the vision for STL too.

Knowing that we were going to be asked to make a faith promise for 2010, I had a dollar figure in mind. I figured this amount would be doable, but a stretch, for a youth group that hadn’t given anything to STL yet.

Our District Youth Director Jeff Kennedy asked us to huddle as a team to talk about our faith promise amount. He said, “Remember: if it’s truly a faith promise, your amount will make you sweat.”

So I asked my team, “What amount do you think we can do?” And they totally blew me away! They came up with an amount three times LARGER than I had been thinking.

I joyfully wrote in that larger amount on our faith promise card. As I did, I heard the Holy Spirit chide me a bit, “O you of little faith.”

Thanks, team, for dreaming big—bigger than me. Thanks for having such big faith. Thanks for stretching my faith too.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Calvary Assembly of God, commitment, dream, faith, Impact! youth group, missionary, missions, money, promise, Speed The Light. 1 Comment »

Your Mission Field

September 1, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

Be honest: when you think of “mission field” what are the first images that come to your mind? Africa? India? Primitive living conditions? Non-English speaking people? I think that’s what most people think of. To tell the truth, that’s what I used to envision.

But notice what Jesus said to His followers just before He ascended into heaven:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

The first mission field Jesus directed His followers to was Jerusalem. This was their “home town.” Maybe not the city they grew up in, but it was where Jesus conducted much of His public ministry; a place that His followers were intimately familiar with; the city where they currently lived.

They knew the language.
They knew the customs.
They knew the layout of the city.
They knew the elected officials.
They knew the religious officials.
They knew the local merchants.
They knew where the synagogues and schools were.
They knew this town.

Jesus didn’t call them first to someplace totally outside of their comfort zone. He called them to begin in their immediate surroundings.

Ponder this: you live in your “Jerusalem” and Jesus has called you to look at your city as your mission field. Your job … your school … your neighborhood … your barbershop … your local restaurants … these are all your mission field.

Don’t misunderstand: Missions is a worldwide endeavor, but don’t miss the point that your hometown is just as much a mission field as the other side of the globe is.

Strive to always be missionary-minded. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you, and then go be an effective missionary in your Jerusalem first, and then allow God to expand your missions involvement to the ends of the earth.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Book of Acts, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, missional, missionary, missions. 2 Comments »

Land Of Angels

March 19, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

My cousin ministers in Sudan—a country and a people ravaged by war and persecution. But there is hope for hopeless people! For when we pray, hope is boundless! This poem was recently written by my cousin:

Three angels stood before the throne
Two together, one alone
Each in turn petitions brought
Each a favor meekly sought

The first was young, was fair, was bright
With little hands, with gentle light
This angel pled for child and wife
Who bore the brunt of Darfur strife

The second angel, scarred but brave
Represented knight and knave
Who in Darfur did Gospel tell
Who gave out food, who dug up well

The third before the throne stood grim
Yet, O what love there was for him
He cried for rapist, victor, thug
He asked for them Mercy above

All angels knelt, all angels paused
All three had answers kindly caused
All three sped back with burning story
All of Darfur shall fill with glory

Please pray with me for God’s glory and God’s grace to flood Darfur and the devastated people there.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: encouragement, glory, grace, missions, persecution, poem, poetry, prayer. 5 Comments »

Still Poppin’ Out

November 27, 2008 — Craig T. Owens

In an earlier post I wrote that my 8-year-old son, Brandon, was challenged by his children’s pastor to “Pop Out For Missions.” All of the kids in The Rock were challenged to give up pop, and get adults to sponsor them in raising money for missions. Brandon was reluctant to try this, as he loves his pop, but I offered to pop out with him, and we made it to Thanksgiving. In the process, Brandon raised $75 for missions!

Samantha, my 11-year-old daughter, took the same challenge. She could have been done today as well… and then Grandma & Grandpa upped the ante. My Mom & Dad offered to take their pledge from $10 to $25 if Samantha could continue to pop out until Christmas. Samantha was about to say, “One month was enough for me,” when I offered to continue popping out with her. Samantha agreed, so we’re continuing on for the sake of our missionaries.

Samantha has already raised over $100 in pledges. As she and I continue through Christmas, will you consider sponsoring us? All of the money we raise goes to BGMC (Boys & Girls Missionary Challenge) to buy teaching materials for our overseas Assembly of God missionaries. If you are willing to sponsor us, please comment below. Thanks!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: A/G, Assembly of God, BGMC, missions. 4 Comments »

I’m Going To “Pop Out” For Missions

November 12, 2008 — Craig T. Owens

My 8-year-old son, Brandon, was challenged by Jessica Czerny (our children’s pastor) to give up pop (or “soda” for those of you on the West Coast, or “coke” for those of you in Texas) until Thanksgiving. The idea was for the kids to get family and friends to sponsor them for giving up pop and give the money that would have been spent on pop to missionaries.

Brandon finds it VERY challenging to give up pop, but would really like to help support our missionaries. So to give him moral support, I am going to join him in this and “Pop Out” myself until Thanksgiving. Will you consider sponsoring Brandon and I? You can pledge a certain amount per day or just a flat amount if he and I make it until Thanksgiving. I promise that 100% of the money pledged will go to help missionaries buy teaching supplies for other children.

If you are available to sponsor us, please just comment below with the amount of your pledge. I’ll give any of our sponsors an update after Thanksgiving to let you know how we did. Thank you for helping us help our missionaries!