monthly focus ~ thank God I'm on prefield

THANK GOD, I'M ON PREFIELD

"Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to Your name."  (Psalm 18:49)

David was thankful--He didn't have to raise support! He only fought lions, bears, giants, and wicked kings! 

PreField is the period of time when new missionary appointees raise the required support for the international ministry work that God has led them to do. Having to do PreField is the obstacle that often causes individuals from pursuing God’s calling to missions.  PreField is a testing time that can be seen as a hardship or a great blessing and time of ministry.

When individuals are accepted as missionary candidates with EBM, they are required to attend EBM's Missions Training Institute I.  During this time, they learn the value and blessing of Pre-Field and come to understand that PreField is as much a time of ministry as support raising.   EBM missionaries share with the candidates lessons which they have learned through PreField:

1. Raising support  in PreField continues God's development of trusting Him alone in the missionaries' lives.  It prepares them for the challenges of faith that lie ahead of them on the field. 

2.  PreField provides opportunities to minister in multiple local churches and expand the vision of what God is doing in the world.  While in churches, they often have time to interact and encourage those whom God is moving to missionary service.  They also have the benefit of seeing how others do the work of ministry.

3. Believing something has value doesn't always cause missionaries to be thankful as they pass through the hard, difficult things of life.  Appointees on PreField often wonder, “How does God expect me to feel thankful for stressful expectations He brings into my life, my own personal weaknesses, and the circumstances that are preventing me from doing now what I believe is His clear leading?”

The answer rests in the fact that thankfulness is not an emotion but a decision.  It is a decision that is based on several very clear commands of God.  It is not being hypocritical to thank God for what is happening even if “we don't feel thankful.”  Biblical thankfulness happens when one agrees that God is doing the right thing or allowing the right thing to happen in his life, even if his emotions disagree.  Paul said it this way “...in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  Often emotions are based on one’s personal beliefs about what is happening to him and not a determination to obey God.  There are four major benefits that come from thankfulness:

1.  Thankfulness recognizes what God has done and is doing in us! Paul was thankful that God took him, a sinner, and was using him (I Timothy 1:12-16).  Paul was thankful even in personal weakness (II Corinthians 12:7-10).

2.  Thankfulness recognizes what God has done for others and is doing in others!  Paul expressed thankfulness for how God was blessing the Corinthian believers with His grace (I Corinthians 1:4) and how God was using the Thessalonica Christians (II Thessalonians 1:2-3).  The first group was unruly and the second group was doctrinally confused.  Paul still believed that God was working, and he sought to support what the Lord was doing in their lives.  He stood against the wrong, but he did so with a thankful trust that God was in control.

3.  Thankfulness creates confidence in God and His program!  Jesus was confident that the Father was acting correctly (Luke 10:21).  Paul was confident that God will always cause us to triumph in Christ (II Corinthians 2:14) - even death is not beyond the control of God (I Corinthians 15:55-57).  Paul was also confident that God would complete His work (Philippians 1:3-6).  There was no fear of God's failure in the lives of the Philippians!

4.  Thankfulness prevents bitterness and despair!  Bitterness is the frustration and anger  felt when one believes he is being denied what he wants or needs. When one believes that someone else could do something about a situation, but refuses, bitterness grows. Ultimately, bitterness finds its way toward God, because He is ultimately the One who could do something buts chooses not to do what a person  thinks He should do.  When Paul dealt with bitterness, he linked forgiveness and ultimately thankfulness as part of the solution (Ephesians 4:31-32;5:19-20).  Paul further indicated that thankfulness was the cure for despair and anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7).

Thankfulness that God is doing right always brings glory to God and an assurance that God is doing the correct action in each one’s life (II Corinthians 4:15)! 

PreField is a tremendous time for conscious and applied thankfulness, despite the circumstances and emotions that missionary appointees experience.  Truly PreField is a great opportunity to glorify God. Thank God for Pre-Field!