Where Do We Go From Here?
At
WMF Day, 2012, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota we were blessed to remember the
work the Lord has done for us and through us as we considered our theme,
“Thus
far has the Lord helped us.”
I
Samuel 7:12c.
We
were blessed to look back to the vision of the women who started the WMF of the
AFLC back in 1962. In those beginning
years, the concerns of their hearts were that women would have good Lutheran
Bible studies to study together in their individual groups and to support the
missionaries serving on the mission field.
It
was wonderful to be able to recognize the past officers of the WMF as well as
the missionaries who have served on the mission fields. We thank God for the vision that He gave them
as they answered His calling on their lives.
As
the women of the Women’s Missionary Federation of the AFLC in 2012 and beyond, where do
we go from here? In some respects,
we must continue with what the vision was of the founding women. We shall have good Lutheran Bible studies for
women to study together in their WMF meetings.
We shall continue to promote the projects that the WMF women so dearly
love to support – World Missions; Home Missions; Christian Education - Parish
Education, Association Free Lutheran Bible School, the Association Free
Lutheran Theological Seminary, and Cradle Roll; and the General Fund of the
WMF. Without your support of ALL of
these projects, our WMF will not fulfill the vision of helping to reach the
world for Christ. May God continue to
help us by igniting in us the desire to be faithful to do this.
In
John 4 we see Jesus visiting Sychar, a city of Samaria. He goes to the well to rest after a long
journey. He was obviously thirsty
because when the woman of Samaria came to draw water He asked her for a drink
of water. Here this woman was just doing
her ordinary work that had to be done when Jesus asked her for a drink of
water. He did not use any prescribed
method of evangelism to talk with this woman.
He met her in her everyday activities and spoke with her. Do you talk to your neighbors, friends, and
relatives about their work, their hobbies, and their families? As you befriend them they will get to know
you and you them. If you continue to get to know them, there will be
opportunities for you to share with them what Jesus means to you. There will be opportunities for you to invite
them to WMF or other activities where Jesus is presented to them. You don’t need to be shy about this. God will give you the courage you need.
There
are several scripture verses that address this issue of courage. One is Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV) – “Be strong
and courageous . . . . for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.” Another is Psalm 27:14 (NKJV) – “Wait on the
Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. . . .
Another
exhortation that is specifically for women is this: “Older
women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor
enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that
they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their
children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home,
kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be
dishonored.” Titus 2: 3-5 (NASB)
So
God has given us specific work to do. He
has given us the tools with which to do that work. He has given us the strength and courage to
complete that work. So where do
we go from here? I believe it is
imperative that we dig deeper into the Word of God together using the WMF Bible
studies. It is imperative that we
continue to support the projects of the WMF so we can assist in the work of
reaching the world for Christ. It is
imperative that we mentor and encourage one another. It is imperative that we reach out to those
outside our “comfort zone” so that we can bring them to Christ.
Lord,
lay some soul upon my heart
And love that soul
through me
And may I always do my
part
To win that soul for
Thee.
