Into All the World: Volume 2, Issue 11

Come Now

By Dr. Richard Vick, BIO President Emeritus

Photo of Dr. and Mrs. VickWhen Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy he pleaded for him to come quickly. Paul knew that his time was short and the work must go on. In view of the urgency of the hour in which he lived he needed assistance. He didn’t ask for finances, equipment, or even new clothing; the old would do. In view of the fact that he was soon going to be departing this life, those things meant nothing to him. The urgency required something far more important than money, or even new clothing. The work needed manpower!

Paul needed help; in 2 Timothy 4:9 he pleaded, “Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me.” In 4:21 he emphatically expresses his desire for Timothy to come before winter, “Do thy diligence to come before winter.” Paul the missionary is about to be martyred and there is much to be done.

Missionary Highlight
Victor and Robin Rouse

Photo of Mr. and Mrs. Rouse

Victor and Robin Rouse

Please pray for Victor and Robin Rouse. Brother Rouse serves with Fires of Evangelism (Fuegos de Evangelismo). Victor is involved in conference work across Latin America.Latin American national believers are challenged and mentored to reach the world from Latin America through this conference ministry. This is a strategic ministry meeting an acute need.

The Rouse’s urgent need is support. Please invite the Rouse family to your church and consider them for support.

Please also pray for safety as Brother Rouse travels extensively.

Check out their ministry video.


Missionary Quote

“Not, how much of my money will I give to God, but how much of God’s money will I keep for myself.”
—John Wesley

There are three things that demand our attention in Paul’s plea for Timothy to come to him. These three things are just as needful today as they were on that autumn day when Paul wrote to his dearest earthly friends – the need, the opportunity and winter is coming! The development of an acronym from these three points spell out NOW (Need, Opportunity, Winter). What Paul is trying to say is come now for spring will be too late.

If we truly believe that Jesus is coming soon we must realize the urgency of the hour! Missiologists tell us that two-thirds of earth’s population is yet to be reached with the gospel. When we consider that in just two countries alone, China and India where over two billion people live, we can see clearly how this is probably true.

The majority of the vast populations of the great cities have yet to be reached. The tribal people of the jungles and forests for the most part haven’t been reached. The people of the frozen north lands, the Muslim nations, Western Europe and other many populated areas of our own country have yet to be evangelized. Indeed it is possible and probable that two-thirds of the world has been neglected. There is a need today just as there was in Paul’s day!

Paul is in prison, and is about to die. He is alone, and he needs help for the work. Demas has forsaken him because of his love for the world. Crescens is now working in Galatia. Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Because of the great need, Paul has sent Tychicus to Ephesus. Only Dr. Luke is with him and he needs help! Today, things aren’t much better. As in Paul’s day missionaries are leaving the field and returning home. Statisticians tell us there are more missionaries leaving their fields of service than there are replacements.

What is the remedy for our dilemma? The Lord Jesus gives us the answer in Mark 9:37-39. “The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.” Please pray the Lord will give us the personnel needed for the many countries and locations where we need assistance or where we have had missionaries leave. Would the Lord have you to come and assist us in reaping the harvest for Him?

Editor’s Note: We are currently praying for missionaries to Botswana and to Bali. Please pray for Dr. Vick and Florine. They are in Ethiopia accompanying a young missionary on his survey trip. They will return shortly before Christmas.


Missionary Humor

A man went to his dentist because he has a strange feeling in his mouth. The dentist examines him and says, “That new upper plate I put in for you six months ago is eroding. What have you been eating?”

The man replies, “All I can think of is that about four months ago my wife made some asparagus and put some stuff on it that was delicious…Hollandaise sauce. I loved it so much I now put it on everything – meat, toast, fish, vegetables, everything.”

“Well,” says the dentist, “That’s probably the problem. Hollandaise sauce is made with lots of lemon juice, which is highly corrosive. It has eaten away your upper plate. I’ll make you a new plate, and this time use chrome.”

“Why chrome?” asks the patient. To which the dentist replies, “It’s simple. Everyone knows that there’s no plate like chrome for the Hollandaise!”

This entry was posted in Into All The World. Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.