Office of the President
Eternal Impact
An African leader expressed, “Evangelicals talk much but act little.” I realized there was
truth in his words. We have many meetings, conferences, and planning sessions with con-
versations about the mission of Christ. But what impact are we having in carrying out that
mission?
We are called to be like the wise man who built his house upon the rock. He not only
heard Jesus’ words but put them into practice, leading to impact. Reflecting on this same
idea, James wrote, “Do not merely listen to the word . . . do what it says” (James 1:22, NIV).
In obedience, we are to move from hearing to doing, from understanding truth to action in
living out that truth. This must lead to impact.
At One Mission Society, we pray and work diligently to gain understanding of what God
desires us to be and to do. Then, with his empowerment, we do it. While not perfect in this,
it is the passionate desire of our hearts. When all is said and done, we dare to believe God
can use fully committed believers to have an impact disproportionate to who we are but
not disproportionate to who he is.
OMS’ cofounder Charles Cowman wrote this prayer in the flyleaf of his Bible on his first
journey to Japan, February 23, 1901, (coincidentally, the same day I write this article 118
years later):
“The world is waiting yet to see what God can do through a consecrated soul. Not
the world alone, but God himself is waiting for one who would be more devoted to
him than any who have ever lived; who will be willing to be nothing that Christ may
be all; who will grasp God’s own purposes; and taking his humility and his faith, his
love and his power, will, without hindering, continue to let God do exploits. There is
no limit to what God can do with a man providing he does not touch the glory.”
Eternal impact was Cowman’s driving desire. May it be true for us today!
Bob Fetherlin
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