Rich Ring from Ohio shared : “ I was just an ordinary church-going farmer when I accepted the challenge to go to Colombia in 1971 with Men for Missions ( MFM ). We saw God use our simple testimony to draw people to himself . It changed our lives . I couldn ’ t stop talking about it and challenging others to get involved by going , doing , and giving whatever God asks . We began an MFM group in our area , which has been instrumental in sending many missionaries . I have returned to South America four times . My wife and I also served as coordinators for the annual mission conferences in our local church until 1995 when we heard God ’ s call to go with CoMission to Russia for one year , which turned out to be 12 years !”
One team member joined an evangelism team in Colombia . When he shared how God had rescued him from his drug and alcohol addiction , a man listening started weeping and asked , “ How did he know my story ?” He struggled with the same addiction , and that day , he accepted Christ and received new hope for his life .
Other short-term volunteers have said , “ If you say so , I will ,” and God revealed a need to them and showed them how they could fill it . One member repaired a generator for a medical clinic in Haiti . Another helped an OMS field with accounting issues . Still others have helped build or repair camps used for personal retreats , bringing families together and restoring marriages . And many have helped build homes for those who lost theirs in an earthquake in Haiti .
Acts 4:13 ( NIV ) says , “ When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled , ordinary men , they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus .”
Just as God used ordinary people throughout the Bible , he still uses us today . God uses short-term missions to stir individual disciples and entire congregations to become passionate about long-term missions . So … will you say yes when God asks ? Can you answer , “ If you say so , I will ?”
photos , page 10-11 : God has used hundreds of volunteers in short-term missions throughout the years .
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