I try to ask myself hard questions like WHY do I go here and WHAT fruit do we have to show for our labor and WHERE can we make changes to be more effective and faithful. Has my purpose changed? Is my focus clear? Are there things that are hindering me from fully following the leadership of the Lord in my life?

All of these questions have been going through my mind this week as I am working in Haiti. I am first and foremost a preacher, called by God to plant churches and raise up leaders. So this week as I have been working on our ORPHANAGE here in Haiti it is natural for me to run through all these questions for myself. I always want good, biblical reasons to do what I do. I always want fruit that will remain. One way to see this kind of fruit is to start young and to put all we can into rescuing, helping, nurturing and training these at risk young lives for the glory of Christ. When we train them up – they will remain.

Another thing I am sure of is that we need LABORERS! I would like to write more about this subject right now, but it is getting late and I’m tired and I want to share some things about the need for laborers in another post real soon.  Pray for us! BaptistEvangelism.org

We are looking for 2012 to be a great year of blessings for Baptist Evangelism / Carelink and other ministries we partner with in Guatemala like Hands of Compassion International with Brothers Chris Tolley and Tim Webb from Virginia. Not only is our work in the central highlands progressing but we are planning expansion this year to work with another one of our men sent out from our Florida church, Edmundo Diaz, who is ministering in Tzisbaj, several hours to the north.

Guatemala is the place where it is said that corn was first cultivated, where gods made the first men from corn dough, where Maya languages developed and where the Maya’s greatest cities flourished.  In Guatemala, the Maya live on, speaking languages that have endured for thousands of years, keeping their faithful count of days in the Cholq’ij calendar, and tilling ground that has provided sustenance for innumerable generations. Historically, culturally, archeologically, Guatemala is the center of the Maya universe and the heart of the Maya world.

As we minister in Guatemala we still find those faithful to their ancient Mayan beliefs and traditions. We also find a host of religions that have basically reconciled and fused their beliefs with the traditional beliefs. (This is called Syncretism) This of course is not Biblical Christianity and for this reason we go there to preach and teach Christ.

Many have been caught up with interest in the Mayan calendar and how it ends in December of 2012. I am not working on, nor worrying about the Mayan calendar. One thing I do know is that Jesus could come back in 2012 and therefore I want to remain faithful doing what He has commissioned us to do until the shout! Join with our teams who will be working in the Mayan world this year to reach souls for Christ.  See the schedule of our teams or schedule your own trip for your church group by contacting me.

RonMaggard@gmail.com or 561-818-4937

The Spirit Also Helpeth

In Romans 8:26 and 27 we read these words: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  ²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

I have read, quoted and preached on these verses many times but because the Word of God is LIVING and POWERFUL there is always something new, helpful and useful for the one who will make the effort to partake from it. Several things I note here:

First, this promise of the help of the Spirit in this context presupposes the fact that I am actually praying. Oh how we MUST be praying. Jesus answer to the need for laborers for his harvest was and I believe still is PRAYER. So I put this in these terms because I am painfully aware that not only do many not read the Bible in a profitable way, but also MANY are derelict in the necessity, the responsibility and the privilege of prayer. So I think we could say, the Spirit helps us to pray, what to pray and how to pray. I read somewhere that prayer is the breath of a believer or something like that. My question is this: Am I breathing?

I think we could also consider that this text gives the idea that we may be deficient in some ways in our PRAYER ABILITY. I know, I know, no one wants to consider something negative like that but the truth is we DO need help.

Think about it. When was the last time you really poured out your heart to God? When was the last prayer you prayed that surged with the pure emotion and energy to boldly bring your petitions before the throne of grace? Yes, we pray short little wholesale prayers and hope for retail answers. We throw up our little blessings before meals. We pray a brief prayer in the morning or at night. We pray as well framed a prayer as possible when called upon to pray publicly. But is that ALL? Is that enough?

When was the last time that the Searcher of hearts saw such intensity and emotion in your prayer that by means of the Spirit’s groanings He helps us plead for things that are God’s will for us, for others and God’s work in the world. Though we are so impotent the Holy Spirit intercedes to help us to pray as we ought.

I was convicted when I read again those precious words of Scripture. I asked myself when was the last time I had really wrestled and agonized in prayer. I recall some times when I was greatly burdened about something but the TRUTH that gripped me was that I do not often pray in a way that the Spirit would even need to be involved. If I am not pleading does He? If I am not striving in prayer, is He?

This year, with all the work before us to do His will, to follow His word, to do His work I want to determine to pray in such a manner that the Spirit ALSO will help, searching my heart, leading and guiding me to pray according to the will of God. If you are praying like this … PRAY FOR ME and for our work. If you are not, determine with me that you will endeavor to pray in such a way that the Spirit also helpeth!

BaptistEvangelism.org

 

EVANGELISM TEAMS: Several teams will be working in Xejeyup, Panacanal Dos, Pochol and in other surrounding villages to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to these hard to reach and forgotten indigenous Guatemalans. They will be working with hundreds of village children, their families and local towns people.

MEDICAL TEAM: Lead by our good friend Mike Funk, who has worked with us in CARELINK International for years, we will offer daily clinics to hundreds of villagers that do not have adequate medical care. As these villagers wait to be seen by our clinicians they will be introduced to the Great Physician, Jesus Christ through the witness of our team members working together with local Pastor Salomon, our local Bible Institute students and church members.

CONSTRUCTION TEAM: A number of men will be working together to put the final touches on the dormitories and kitchen of our High Road Ministry Center. This part of our center is being prepared to service future mission teams and groups visiting to bring the Gospel of Christ to the Guatemalans. They will also be breaking ground and putting in the foundation for the MISSION HOUSE, our newest project on the High Road property.

Please pray for all our teams! Pray for BaptistEvangelism.org!

Good Shepherd Orphanage Project

Santos, Haiti

The Good Shepherd Orphanage project is one of Baptist Evangelism‘s boldest undertakings, but having seen God move so wonderfully in our High Road Ministry Center Project in Xejeyup, Guatemala over the last two years, we are stepping out to trust God to help these needy children in Haiti.

You can have a great part in this project by taking part in monthly giving, a one time offering or hands-on serving in Haiti on a mission trip. (To give or to go click here, go to our site, and then click on DONATE.)

The first thing that all of us can do is PRAY!

Will you?

Maybe this will help you like it helped me on those many occasions when I just could not seem to get into the spirit of the Christmas season. I begin to find that elusive spirit as I began to GIVE. Sometimes I did not have the resources to give much, so I gave the little gifts that I could give. In giving I wasn’t thinking about what I might receive or not receive. Gifts of kindness, gifts of sacrifice, gifts to friends and to family begin to make the SCROOGE in me move to the background. We all know the Bible says it is more blessed to give than receive, but have you ever read these verses?

⁶Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  ¹⁷But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  ¹⁸My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  ¹⁹And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. (1 John 3:16-19)

At Christmas, possibly more than at other times, we can think about the love of God in sending His Son Jesus, by way of a virgin womb, a Bethlehem stable and into a troubled and sinful world. His purpose in that was so that Jesus would lay down his life, die a cruel death upon the cross to satisfy the just demands of a Holy God and to satisfy the sin debt of those who believe upon Him. And so John in his epistle says we should surely learn a lesson from God who so beneficently loved and we should also love. But IF we have a selfish and Scrooge sized heart, and see those in need and will not give, our selfishness will weaken the evidence of our conversion, we will feel condemned and lack confidence of our relationship with God.

We must learn this good lesson, that no amount of Christmas sights, sounds and smells will really bring us that Spirit that filled heaven and earth on that first Christmas like GIVING! “Let us not love in word and tongue; but in deed and truth.” In other words, like God, by GIVING, especially to those who have needs. When you do, the Holy Spirit will inform your conscience, and our hearts will be assured before God. What happens when we give like this? Instant Christmas Spirit! Scrooge – gone!

This year we are encouraging others to “open their bowels of compassion” and give all they can to help our orphans at the Good Shepherd Orphanage in Haiti. For more about these needy kids or to GIVE, go to our website and click on donate. And please pray for our ministry throughout the Caribbean basin.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

www.baptistevangelism.org

1.    Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

2.    Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail the’ incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

3.    Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

4.  Come, desire of nations, come
Fix in us thy humble home
Oh, to all thyself impart
Formed in each believing heart
Hark! The Herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Hark! The Herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king

This beautiful song, written as a Christmas hymn by Charles Wesley and first published in 1739 (later altered by George Whitefield) is a wonderful addition to the Christmas music of the many who love Christmas. I love it because rather than simple little  jingles of snowmen, reindeer and Santa this is a carol that reminds us of Jesus, “the Reason for the Season”.  Wesley, by his hymn has helped all succeeding generations learn of the “Desire of all nations,” the “newborn King”, the “Prince of Peace,” the “Sun of Righteousness, the “Everlasting Lord”, the “Incarnate Deity” and “Emmanuel,” “God with us.” So every time we sing it or hear it we are rehearsing these great and majestic truths of our Redeemer Who came to earth by way of a virgin womb, laid in a manger, and on His way to the cross. No wonder the message of the coming Savior stirred heaven and earth! That first advent continues to be such a monumental event and still is as we look for the second advent of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Let it speak to your heart at this Christmas time.

Engineer’s Plans for Good Shepherd Orphanage 

What a blessing! We have been realizing the need for a home for our orphans for some months now. The temporary place that was rented to house them is not a good place for them to do as well as we hope for them. Land was made available for us in Santos which is on the outskirts of Port Au Prince and now we have the opportunity to build. When this happened we had NO $money in hand. By faith we moved ahead to draw up the plans, get a building permit and arrange for a construction team to come to Haiti. As soon as we moved forward in faith, God, as He ALWAYS does, begin to touch hearts to give to this project. We now have the money to get the permit, prep the land, dig the foundation and for the team (scheduled for January 23, 2012) to begin raising the walls for Good Shepherd Orphanage.

Please pray about participating in this orphanage project. If you would like to donate you may go to www.BaptistEvangelism.org and click on donate or you can send an offering to Baptist Evangelism or Carelink at 11611 Indiantown Road, Jupiter, Florida 33478.

We BELIEVE! Just two years ago I stood on land we had purchased for our ministry in Xejeyup, Guatemala. I had NO $money for the project. But we scheduled a team to come (Hands of Compassion International) on a mission trip from Virginia to Guatemala. The group raised some money and we were able to begin the building of our High Road Ministry Center. When the team left that first week in January with just two levels of blocks out of the ground, I honestly looked out on the work that was done and wondered HOW LONG it would take to get the building completed. But because we moved forward in FAITH, the following January we opened the doors for the first services in our new building. Since then we have been working on dormitories, a kitchen and plan to began on another building phase (pastor’s house) next month. I STAND AMAZED at how God worked in Guatemala. Little by little God met each need through donations by individuals and churches. Not all at once, but as it was needed the work was completed by these teams from churches in Virginia, Florida and other areas.

High Road Ministry Center, Xejeyup, Guatemala

I BELIEVE that Good Shepherd Orphanage will grow up by the same steps of FAITH! Please pray for us! And if you would like to schedule a mission trip for your church, youth group or college group call me at 561-818-4937 or email at RonMaggard@gmail.com.

In Luke chapter one we read the well-known Christmas story of long ago. Here is part of it:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  ⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  ¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  ¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  ¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  ¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” (Luke 1:8-18)

What a great and familiar story! Shepherds watching their flocks by night. The appearance of the angels. The heavenly message that caused them to leave their flocks to find this child they heard about. THEN they saw Him! They saw JESUS! But to them it was not just the viewing of spectacular heavenly light show, a great angelic cantata, or a live manger scene. They had SEEN Jesus! And seeing this ONE who had been prophesied about for so many years, seeing the ONE who came to save, to redeem and to eventually reign as King, did something in these shepherds. They did not just return home for a cup of hot chocolate and go to bed. They did not head back to the job to finish their shepherding shift. They made known far and wide what they had SEEN and heard. And evidently the story of their experiences caused wonder to those who heard their message.

Yes, something happened when they saw Jesus. So friend, at this time of year with all the visual reminders what do we think about? Sure there is much commercialization. But there are many, many reminders of that first Advent of Jesus. Think about what and more importantly WHO the shepherds saw.

What difference has looking made? So will you …

                          or

“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” Luke chapter 1, verse 34.

1. It is a miracle because it is the culmination of thousands of years of prophecy and expectation of a coming Messiah. (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6)

2. It is a miracle because Mary was a virgin. (Luke 1:27-32)

3. It is a miracle because the formation of every babe in the womb, and the entrance of the spirit of life into it, is a miracle and a mystery. (Ecclesiastes 11:9; Psalms 139:14-15)

4. It is a miracle because the child she conceived was “that holy thing” and was called the Son of God. He was perfectly human and perfectly divine.

5. It is a miracle because when He was born she called his Name Jesus. He came to seek and to save the lost. (Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10)