It is always a blessing to spend a Sunday morning in one of the great churches of the Assemblies of God…Jack Fork Assembly in southeastern Oklahoma. You’ve never heard of this mega church?

Actually, I’m not sure you will ever see it listed as a Top 100 church in anything. But ‘percentage of the community’ in Sunday morning attendance would have it easily in the Top 10. You see, Jack Fork Assembly of God is eighteen miles from the nearest business, a Sonic Drive-In. In Oklahoma, any building that is 18 miles from a Sonic is unheard of. Homes around this church are separated by miles, not just fences. The surrounding area is so sparsely populated, I am not sure anyone has ever attempted to project a number. My description of the community is not meant to be denigrating, but quite the opposite.

Last Sunday, I preached to about thirty people with half of them younger than 21. In relation to the size of the community, that is huge. In hopes for its future, the median age is exciting. In terms of apples to apples, we could only pray that every AG church mirrored this operation. Long before Convoy of Hope, this church was involved in compassion ministry by feeding and clothing many local citizens. Bus ministry? That old van travels the many miles every Sunday and Wednesday along mountain roads. Missions has been a priority while many such works would have never gotten beyond seeing themselves as the should-be missions recipient.

Perhaps you have heard me tell the Jack Fork story as I have challenged others across the nation to dream big for missions. In the more than twenty years I have known Pastor Ruth Deskin and her husband Doyle, I am conservatively guessing that this ‘little church in the Jack Fork valley’ has given more than $150,000 to Speed the Light, in addition to other needs. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as Pastor Deskin expressed deep regrets that hard times had limited them to give “only $6,000 this year” to STL.

As I drove away on that rocky, dusty road from Jack Fork, I was encouraged more than I can say. You see, churches like this across America are among the best in the Assemblies of God. These are the faithful leaders that are willing to work out of the spotlight where only the Lord knows they are there.

It sure was an honor to speak in one of the mega churches of our movement…Jack Fork Assembly of God.

Recent days have been a time of fear for many in America. The dark
reports of our nation’s economy have threatened the security of so
many. For the child of God, we must not forget that our provision is
not in the bailout of Wall Street but the blessing of our Father’s
plan of economy.

Among the many conversations and controversies, the one that stood out
to me was the suggestion of a European economist that the only way to
avoid a worldwide collapse was to merge our many financial
institutions into one world system. This offering of advice frightened
me and excited me at the same time.

My friend Dwain Jones has warned us many times, “We are not running
out of money, we are running out of time.”

In my mind, it has never been more obvious. The command of the Great
Commission has never been more pressing. What we do, we must do quickly.

Anyone who knows me understands that I am totally committed to missions. It seems that I have spent the vast majority of my ministry life in challenging teens to give to Speed the Light, men to Light for the Lost, and the local church to a passion for missions. It has been my honor to travel several million miles in an attempt to fulfill the Great Commission by sending and equipping missionaries and ministries.

As much as I enjoy missions trips, I am convinced that my calling is that of the sender. In an attempt to fulfill that call, I have told and retold many stories of the faith and faithfulness of students, adults and their gifts to missions. There was Amber in Georgia, Sarah in Montana, Grant in Oklahoma and countless others. But none of these stories compare to the one I heard on Mother’s Day…Clare of Missouri.

I was there the evening that Pastor Don opened his wallet and gave six year old Clare a crisp five dollar bill. As you can imagine, her eyes grew large at the prospects of all that money and the possibilities. However, by the time she got home, the first thing she looked for was her BGMC Buddy Barrel. The next step was to deposit the entire five spot in Buddy’s head. As I heard the story, I informed Clare that the good pastor’s intent was that she spend the money on herself. She quickly corrected me with the words, “But Jesus put it in my head to give it to put it in my barrel.”

I may have endless stories of greater faith and much larger amounts, but none are as good as this one. You see, Clare just happens to be my oldest granddaughter. And it sure is exciting to see the family tradition passed on to the next generation.

Last week while on the Light for the Lost tour in the Potomac District, I made a new friend. My host and banquet emcee was Johnny Green. Johnny pastors a great church in Jessup, Maryland and serves as the LFTL rep for the northern half of the district at the invitation of District Men’s Director Bobby Basham.

Johnny and I covered more than 1,300 miles and six banquets together in one week. In those few days, you either become great friends or tolerant team members. We became great friends that discovered we had more in common than a last name, even though he spells his incorrectly.

I am not sure I ever met a man that had more distinct chapters in his life story and yet each of them were obviously part God’s great plan. He grew up as part of a large family in Georgia, served in the Air Force for twenty years and has pastored for the past five years. Johnny is a prime example of a man who has experienced diverse careers while remaining in God’s will during each.

One of my favorite Sundays ever was in church with Pastor Johnny, his wife Alice and their amazing congregation. People don’t get any better than this. As we say back home, ‘they about preached me to death’. And the best part… they are my new friends.

The last few days of any year are committed to a review of God’s blessings and anticipation of what the new year will bring. One of the most amazing gifts of any year is the many pastors and leaders that honor me with the invitation of ministry to their congregation or event. There were very few weekends this year that I did not have such an opportunity. It started in January with ministry from Florida to Minnesota and finished this month at one of my favorite destinations…Jack Fork Assembly of God in southeastern Oklahoma.Many of you have heard my story of Jack Fork or viewed the video documentary of their commitment to Speed the Light (STL).

It was more than twenty years ago that Pam and I, along with our then two small children, first made our way along the asphalt, gravel and dirt roads to a handmade block building eighteen miles from the nearest business. My passion for missions has never been the same.As District Youth Director, I challenged leaders across my home state that any AG church could give at least $1000 to STL. This small church of a few actually believed me. That first goal and gift led to even greater vision. Jack Fork continues to give multiple thousands to missions, based upon the words of the founding pastor, Eva Lois Harris, “People may not even know where our little church is, but it does not excuse us from our part in the Great Commission”. Her daughter and successor, Ruth Deskin, along with her husband Doyle, remain faithful to that commitment.

And once again, Pam and I pulled away from the church and travelled the muddy road with a renewed conviction that we have no excuse in doing ‘our part in the Great Commission’.Thanks to many of you for allowing me to participate in your ‘part in the Great Commission’. As much as I enjoy the Christmas season, it is always a thrill to move on to what God has planned in the coming year. Thank you Lord for allowing us the honor of being in on what You are up to!