OG Summit Invitation

The Missions-Centered Winter Retreat

 January 1-3, 2009

  

Ezekiel 22:30

“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before my for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

  

Stand in the Gap  The Our Generation Summit is an annual gathering in Gatlinburg, TN, of Christians with a heart for world missions. Pastors and missionaries, teachers and students, businessmen and families join for three days to address the needs of a world waiting for the Gospel.    Located once again at the beautiful Music Road Hotel in the center of action-packed Pigeon Forge, the OG Summit provides a fantastic venue for any church or youth group seeking an easy-to-organize winter retreat filled with excitement and passion for Christ.      Speakers:
You will hear from one of the greatest speaker on missions of today, Austin Gardner, as he presents the need for missionaries to take the gospel to the world.  Also your hearts will be challenged by the preaching of Trent Cornwell, Tony Howeth, and Charles Blackstock.     There will be missionaries flying in from their fields all over the world for this special event to challenge you to allow God to use your life for the cause of missions.  You will hear from Jacob Taube from China, Kevin Hall from South Africa and many more!   The OG Summit is proud to introduce some of the most exciting mission projects and missionary speakers in the world.		Location: Music Road Hotel  303 Henderson Chapel Road Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 Dates: January 1 – 3, 2009 Cost and Registration: $50 Registration/Conference Fee- children 12 and under are free. $50 Room fee for per person in a shared room $200 Room fee for married couple.    Register Now!

 

All Ireland Tract Outreach

Yesterday, I travelled about 4 hours down to Lucan, Ireland (just outside Dublin) to meet with 13 other missionaries/pastors about a gospel mailout to every one of the 1.7 million homes in the Republic of Ireland.

Some of these men have been working on this for 4 years raising the money and putting together the plans.  It was exciting to meet up with like-minded men who have a heart for God and for souls.  The following men were at the meeting and I am sure others would have come if they could have:

• Dan Canavan (Dundrum)
• Stephen Finley (Athlone)
• Less Hill (Lucan)
• Gen McKinley (Mullingar)
• Oriel O’Gorman (Arklow)
• David O’Gorman (Dublin)
• Derry O’Sullivan (Blanchardstown)
• Dan Pero (Bray)
• Lionel Smith (Cork)
• Tom Wallace (Drogheda)
• Bob Zemeski (Leixlip)

It was exciting to see the good spirit of co0peration in the meeting.  Basically what is planned is to mail a gospel brochure to every home in the Republic in April 2009, using the Irish Post for rural areas and a special delivery company for urban areas.  On the brochure is an invitation to receive a John and Romans and to start a free correspondence Bible study.  Each person who wants more information will be directed to the pastor in their area and that pastor/church will be responsible to follow up with them.

Ways that you can get involved in this outreach event:

• Pray.  If you or your church would like to sign up to fast and pray for this outreach one day in one of the first 13 weeks of the year leading up to April, let me know what week you will be fasting and praying in by commenting on this blog or emailing me at tsnode@gmail.com.  If you like, I can email you a brochure on specific things to pray for in regards this tract outreach.
• Give.  Nearly 150,000 Euros has already been given to this outreach, but we are trying to raise another 40,000 Euros to advertise it and create buzz about the brochures that will be coming to homes.  If you would like to give, just make your check out to “Macedonia World Baptist Missions” and send your check to Macedonia World Baptist Mission, P.O. Box 519, Braselton, GA 30517. (Be sure to mark it “Travis Snode – All Ireland Outreach”.)
• Come.  If you would like to come on a short mission trip to help us follow up on the contacts, then please let me know and we will get you plugged in to come visit and help us.

Below is a picture of our meeting on yesterday.

Please Pray for Ann Shepherd

Ann Shepher is the wife of Plato Shepherd, the pastor of  one of the churches that supports us.  Below is an update that Bro. Shepherd sent out:

Dear Friends,
First, my apologies for not giving an update sooner. I have spent most of
my time at the hospital and coming home to fall exhausted into bed. Since
I do not know who knows the latest and who doesn’t please bear with me.
About an hour into the surgery on Thursday Ann’s doctor came out and told
us that they had found what he described as a crusty mass outside the
bladder. They froze it, which is a way of determining whether it is
cancerous or not. The test showed it to be cancerous. He apologized for
not preparing us for this possibility saying that he himself was not
prepared for this to happen. He had been sure the cancer was still
contained inside the bladder.
As a result of finding the mass outside the bladder we made the decision
to not continue removing the bladder since they had no way of knowing how
invasive the cancer was. They reattached everything, did biopsies on some
lymph glands, and closed her up. The idea being that since the cancer was
already outside the bladder, removing the bladder would not help. She
needed to start Kemo and radiation treatments as soon as possible.
The doctor told us they would send the biopsies to a Pathology Lab for
tests, and that it would take several days before he got the results
back. Next day, Friday, he came rushing into the room about 11:00 AM. He
said, “The Pathologist just called me, and the mass nor the Lymph Nodes
show any cancer. Our quick test was wrong.” I say, Hallelujah, Glory to
God!!!
I do not know whether God removed the cancer after the initial test, or
whether the test was wrong and there was never any outside the bladder. I
do know God is Almighty and He can do whatever He chooses and He never
makes any mistakes.
As a result of all this Ann is again scheduled for surgery this
Wednesday, DEC 10th, to have her bladder removed. After only one day with
solid food since Tuesday, tomorrow she goes back to clear liquids in
preparation for the surgery. One special concern is with the added
antibiotics comes the risk of her getting a fungus in her system that
could be fatal.
In the midst of all the anxiety and uncertainty God has been especially
close. I have sensed His presence in a very real way. Thanks to all who
have prayed for us, sent cards, called, stopped by for a visit, or in
some other way showed your concern. I have heard of churches,
individuals, and even radio stations across the country that are putting
out prayer requests for us during this time.
Thank you for taking time to read this lengthy post. Please keep praying!

Resting In Jesus and His Word,

Plato  Shepherd,  ThD
Church Planters in America’s Midwest
803 West A St
Hillsboro, KS 67063
(785) 826-6397

Advice to Young Men Preparing to Be Missionaries

I got an email from a lady at one of our supporting churches in Texas who is preparing a booklet for young men who desire to be missionaries.  She wanted me to send her some advice for them to include in the booklet, so here is the advice that I gave them.  Let me know what you think in the comments section.

• The will of God is not so much a place or an event but rather a daily obedience to the Word of God.  People sometimes may the will of God so intangible and emotional that it becomes hard to define.  Don’t make it more than it is.  Seek the Lord in His Word every day, surrender your heart to the Lord, be willing to do whatever He asks you to do, and he will direct you. Ps 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
• Fall in love with the Lord and He will give you His desires.  God will change your desires and give you what you should want. Ps 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
• Study about the world.  Learn as much as you can about world geography, where missionaries are and aren’t, where the areas of greatest need are.  Write missionaries in the country were you are going.  Learn as much as you can.  Be careful to not lock God in a box about the where.  Just stay open to the Lord’s leading and let Him open doors and lead you each step of the way.  
• Take a mission trip.  Let me encourage you to visit the mission field.  Speak to your pastor and let him help you prepare, but visiting the mission field and even living on the mission field for an extended period of time with a good missionary prior to actually going yourself will be invaluable.  
• Learn as much as you can in your home church.  Spend time with your pastor and teachers.  Learn all you can.  Ask them questions.  Get around other men of God.  It is caught more than taught.
• Be faithful in the little things so that God will bless you with more opportunity.  Be faithful to church.  Get there early.  Listen and take notes in church.  Invite your friends.  Help clean up the church.  Pray for your pastor.  Read your Bible every day.  Go on visitation and soul-winning.  Serve in the church.  Get as much experience as you can.  Win souls and disciple others.  Lu 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.