Sermon

Thinking Like A Missionary

by Andy Minch

Wycliffe Bible Translators

NFBC Missions Emphasis Month

October 20, 2002

It’s nice to be here. I mean it is really nice. Otherwise I would be in an Amanab church in the tropical rainforest of Papua New Guinea.  It is nice to be here because it smells nicer and there are no obnoxious noises like when a pig walked into a service.  The great missionary to India Amy Carmichael once said, “A missionary needs two things: a good sense of humor and no sense of smell”.  Amanab is different than here with many interesting experiences such as when we introduced ice and candles to the community.

I am pleased to introduce you to the world’s greatest missionary the Amanab New Testament.  Cameron Townsend the founder of Wycliffe Bible translators once said, “The greatest missionary is the Bible in the mother tongue.  It never takes a furlough and is never considered a foreigner.”

This book is significant in the history of Amanab.  At the dedication I mentioned this book joins the Amanab culture like the stone ax and the kundu drum because it is truly Amanab since it is their alphabet and language. 

The motivation for the Amanab Scriptures and indeed the work of Wycliffe Bible Translators was started by the statement of a little girl who asked Cameron Townsend, “If your God is so great why does he not speak my language?”  There are 6,809 languages in the world and 3,000 languages that still have no Scriptures.  The task is immense and Wycliffe has a vision to see a translation project started in every language that needs one by the year 2025.  It is a God sized task that will take teamwork of churches, organizations and many people.  There is a TREMENDOUS need right now for teachers, accountants, medical personnel, administrators, and hundreds of other jobs that can help support the work of Bible translation.  It will take ordinary people who think like a missionary to help complete the task.  Let me share with you three men from the Bible who had the attitudes that we need today.

Abraham – had the right Priorities Heb. 11:8-10

            He was very rich and could have built a nice comfortable house and yet even at 100 years old he chose to live in tents because he was looking for a city without foundations.  He did not want to be tied down to this world.  He wanted to be able to go wherever God told him to go.  Our priorities should be to have our treasures in heaven.  Heaven is real but not relevant – You may know of Papua New Guinea but an earthquake, volcano, or tsunami in Papua New Guinea would not be relevant to you but it would be to me because that is where my home and friends are.

            This world is not my home – Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.  Where is your treasure?  Where are your priorities?

Caleb – had the right Perspective  Josh. 14:10-12

At 85 years old he wanted to conquer the fortified cities of the hill country.  These are the hardest battles.  Caleb wanted to see God handle his most difficult obstacles. 

Bill Borden was wealthy and well educated but decided to be a missionary.  On his way to China he got sick and died.  Under his pillow written in a weak hand he wrote, “No reserve, no retreat, no regrets.”

At a time I wanted to quit my co-translator Penei put me to shame because he wanted to continue on even when he was convince that sorcery opposing the translation was the cause of his child’s death.

Nehemiah – had the right Concern Neh. 2:1-5

            He made the concern and heartache of people far away his concern and heartache.  We can care for and pray for Bibleless peoples.

The proper motivation is in John 21.

In Amanab we use two phrases for love one means to like a lot the other means to ‘hang your thoughts on the person’.  In John 21 we followed the Greek rendering using these phrases for ‘agape’ and ‘phileo’.  We see Peter using to like a lot and Jesus asking Peter do you hang your thoughts on me.  If we hang our thoughts on Jesus it will lead us to having the right perspective, priorities, and concerns.

For those who prayed, gave and encouraged us this Bible is a bouquet you have helped to give to Jesus to say I love you.