One Man's Mission Adventure
"Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance," Ps. 2:8a.

In a recent column, I invited readers to experiment with mission promises and
inform me of the results. Here is a report from Dan Gilbert, co-pastor at
Cross Lutheran Church, Yorkville, Ill.

"At a pastoral conference in October 1995, Phil Bickel introduced us to
mission promises. Awareness of this biblical concept changed our preaching
and teaching. We frequently refer to the Lord's promises that His mission
will be accomplished. We no longer quote the Great Commission without
including its pre-promise and post-promise (Mt. 28:18 and 20b).

He continues, "In 1998, my wife, Jan, and I were invited on a mission trip to Peru and
Argentina. Years earlier, we had needed several fund-raising activities for
my associate pastor and his wife to take a similar trip. This time, I mailed
our members one letter, and in a couple weeks the expenses were covered. No
fund-raisers. No bells and whistles. A single letter and--Boom!

"Best of all, their prayer support exceeded their offerings. Jan and I left
on that trip bolstered by their prayers and by God's mission promises. And
the Lord surely came through. Since I happened to be the only person in our
group with a minimal knowledge of Spanish, I was designated our spokesman and
translator. Although I felt thoroughly inadequate for this task, the Holy
Spirit placed on my lips Spanish words I had long forgotten.

"During four return trips to Peru, the Lord has built a bond of trust between
myself and Marko Damjanovic, the director of a Christian orphanage, in Lima.
As a result, the Lord has transformed me into a world pastor and my
congregation into a world church. In particular, He has caused my heart to
burn with zeal for Peru and also for Cuba, to which I have been invited but
haven't yet visited.

"One promise in particular has grown in significance to me. Ps. 2:8 reads:
'Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the
earth your possession.' I realize these words are spoken by God the Father to
His Son. But as Christ's disciple, here is how I apply this promise to my own
situation: Meditating on Ps. 2:8 and gazing at the maps of Central and South
America hanging on my study wall, I pray, 'Father, I ask You, make the
inhabitants of Peru and Cuba Your Son's inheritance. May the ends of the
earth called Peru and Cuba fully become His possession.'

My adventure of trusting in God's mission promises is far from over. It may
lead to more short-term trips. It may lead to extensive ministry in Cuba. It
may lead to pastoring a Hispanic church in the United States. Only one thing is sure:
The Lord will more than likely do something utterly amazing, utterly
surprising (Hab.1:5)--just as He has done so far."

1. Review the stages and surprises in Dan's adventure.
2. Which word best describes your mission story?
   a. comedy
   b. tragedy
   c. adventure
   d. soap opera
   e. other: ____________
3. What difference did God's mission promises make in Dan's adventure? What
   difference might they make in yours?

• View a map or globe while you pray. Ask the Father to make the nations that are
  closest to your heart part of Christ's inheritance.
• Utilize the resources on the LCMS World Mission web site to learn more about countries and people groups around the world: www.lcmsworldmission.org.