The goal of every Christian parent, regardless of where they lived around the globe, is exactly the same: For their child to be conformed to the image of Christ.

Paul writes in Romans 13:14,

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

And C.S. Lewis stated in Mere Christianity,

“’Putting on Christ’…is not one among many jobs a Christian has to do; and it is not a sort of special exercise for the top class. It is the whole of Christianity. Christianity offers nothing else at all.”

Recently we had the privilege of having Madelines and Raydel Riquelme teach a Sunday school class in Washington, D.C. for parents of small children, where we discussed Jesus’ childhood.

One initial question we discussed was, Why did Jesus need to live all those years, instead of simply coming to earth, dying as a substitute for sin, rising from the dead, and ascending back to heaven?

Answer: He had to live a perfectly righteous life and “fulfill all righteousness”, and thus prove to be the perfect sacrifice to take the place of sinners.

-Matthew 3:13-15 – Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

-1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.”

Jesus lived a perfectly righteous life from childhood through adulthood, so that His righteous life could be imputed to believers.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Luke 2:52 states, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

Luke indicates that Jesus grew (1) intellectually (wisdom), (2) physically (stature), (3) spiritually (favor with God), and (4) socially (and man).

And this is our goal for the Genesis Family Life Program, that EA could assist churches in equipping parents to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, in order that, like Jesus, they “would grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

“All roads lead to Rome!”

This saying finds its origin in the fact that in the early days of the Roman Empire all the empire’s roads emanated from the capital city, Rome. Like the spokes of a wheel, the entire transportation system radiated from the capital.

In a similar manner I feel as though EA’s poverty alleviation efforts find their origin in an understanding of Sin and The Fall, with all roads leading to Genesis Chapter 3. As I listened this week to a sermon by John MacArthur entitled “The Breadth and Depth of Sin,” I was reminded of the power and perspective available exclusively through Scripture.

Pastor MacArthur states,

“The impact of that Fall has touched every part of the universe. It is accurate to say that absolutely everything wrong in our world is because of sin…

And people who don’t believe in sin and don’t understand the Fall cannot diagnose properly the human dilemma. It is impossible to understand the world. It is impossible to understand the cosmos, the ordered world of creation. It is impossible to understand man. It is impossible to understand the disintegration of matter. It is impossible to understand the collapsing world and universe. It is impossible to understand man’s behavior if you do not understand that it is all a product of sin. And all sin in the world is a result of what happened in Genesis 3.

So, Genesis 3 as a point of origin is absolutely critical. In fact, it is arguably the most important chapter in the Bible because it explains why the rest of the Bible tells the story of redemption.”

So whether the issue at hand is racism, pornography, natural disasters or EA’s church-based poverty alleviation efforts, our methodologies must find their origins in the theology of Genesis 3, both its diagnosis of sin, leading to death, and remedy of life abundant, found exclusively in Christ Jesus.

Describing Genesis chapter 3, the late theologian A.W. Pink states,

“Here is given the divine explanation of the present debased and ruined condition of the world. Here we are shown how sin entered the world, together with its present effects and dire consequences. Here are revealed to us the subtle devices of our great enemy the devil. We are shown how we permit him to gain an advantage over us. On the other hand, it is a most blessed chapter, for it reveals the grace and mercy of God, and assures us that the head of serpent will yet be crushed by the victorious Seed of the woman (Rom. 16:20), telling us that His redeemed will also participate in Christ’s glorious triumph. Thus we see that in wrath our God from the commencement ‘remembered mercy!’”

Danger exists when ministries fail to maintain the critical balance of faithful conviction to their beliefs and ambition in their ministry behavior.

It was William Carey who encouraged us to avoid complacency in ministry, by “Expecting great things FROM God; attempting great things FOR God.”

And yet equally devastating is when our ambition for ministry breadth leads us to abandon our core convictions of doctrinal depth.

As these two stalwarts of the faith caution,

“There are hours when the Church must say NO to those who should ask communion with her, in the doing of her work, upon the basis of compromise.”
– G. Campbell Morgan

“We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum.”
– A. W. Tozer

Please pray for the leadership of Empowering Action, in order that we might maintain this critical balance of being both faithful to our beliefs yet ambitious in our behavior.

And that we might embody this appeal of the Apostle Paul to the Church in Philippi,

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:27)

Today a group of Empowering Action team members headed to Kenya for a site visit with a ministry that is in the midst of a pilot program of the Abundant Life Program.

Reflecting on this historic event, my thoughts turned to George Muller and David Livingstone.

George Muller, an amazing man of God who cared for 10,000 orphans in 1800’s, was asked at the end of his life if, when he first began the work, he had any idea how it would grow. His response was, “I only knew that God was in it and was leading His child into untried and untrodden paths. The assurance of His presence was my stay.”

Those of us who have been with the Empowering Action from the beginning echo those words of Muller, particularly in light of our inaugural efforts in Africa.

And it is impossible to visit Africa without reflecting on the life of David Livingstone.

David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary, doctor and explorer who helped open the heart of Africa to missions. His travels covered one-third of the continent, from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. As a child, David’s father used to place him on his knee, and read to him the stories of great missionary men and women. In response, as a young man, David Livingstone prayed,

“Send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever any ties but the ties that bind me to your service and your heart.”

David Livingstone ministered in Africa for thirty-three years, traveling twenty-nine thousand miles and resulting in two million people hearing the Gospel. But at last there came the day when he could not walk, stand, or even be moved. A hut was quickly prepared for him in a small village in the heart of Africa. David Livingstone would be found dead the next morning not in his bed but on his knees. Livingstone, with great agony, had moved himself and rolled off of his cot onto his knees, as was his custom and folded his hands in prayer.

It has been said of David Livingstone that “He died exactly as he had lived: in the presence of His Lord.”

I pray that regardless of what the future holds for the staff of Empowering Action that we live, as individuals and an organization, as David Livingstone did – “in the presence of the Lord.”

Matthew 16:13-17 states,

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

As Pastor John MacArthur notes his work One Perfect Life: The Complete Story of the Lord Jesus,

“God had opened Peter’s heart to this deeper knowledge of Christ by faith. Peter was not merely expressing an academic opinion about the identity of Christ; this was a confession of Peter’s personal faith, made possible by a divinely regenerated heart.”

With the current culmination of the college and professional football leagues the emphasis is, as always, on seeing the ball cross the goal line.

For Empowering Action personal confessions of faith in Jesus Christ, as a result of a divinely regenerate heart, are the ultimate goal, and grounds for celebration.

Beyond alleviating the transient effects of physical poverty, our ultimate ambition is serving as ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18) to address the eternal ramifications of spiritual poverty.

As I reflect on the 5th anniversary of the launch of Empowering Action this month, it would be difficult to communicate the impact McLean Bible Church had on my life during my 8 years on staff, as it was there that the Lord cultivated:

1. A Heart for missions: reaching the physically and spiritual poor with the Gospel
2. A Passion for the Word of God and Church of Jesus

5 years ago those two things inspired members of MBC to launch Empowering Action, a ministry:

• To combat physical and spiritual poverty in partnership with the local church
• To transform impoverished communities by empowering and equipping the body of Christ
• To build capacity within the local church to both declare and demonstrate the gospel
• Where our methodology would be grounded in our theology – as poverty being a result of sin, and brokenness from The Fall in Genesis 3.

Over the past 5 years, by the grace of God and support of churches and individual, who have truly been a “partner in the gospel from the first day until now” (Phil. 1:5), God has condescended, as George Muller used to say, to use EA in the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti and Kenya by developing a virtual toolbox of:

• External Partnerships
• 4 In-house Programs

to yearly minister to over 33,000 individuals by serving over 3,000 leaders.

As we stop and reflect on God’s provision, notably our four core 4 competencies below, we are humbled and grateful for what the Lord has done within and through the EA family these past 5 years:

• 242 Discipleship Program for Church Leaders
• Genesis Ministry to develop healthy families
• Abundant Life 16-week Poverty Alleviation Program
• Church-based Savings Groups

Recently I was asked to clearly and concisely in 3-5 minutes share the motivation and methodology of Empowering Action to leaders of other Christian nonprofit economic development organizations. The request was quite last minute so I quickly assembled the bullet points below, which I pass along to you for your encouragement and edification:

 Empowering Action exists to combat physical and spiritual poverty in partnership with the local church

We want to serve the local church. We want to build capacity within the local church to both declare and demonstrate the gospel.

“It is simply impossible to alleviate poverty – in its fullest sense – apart from the local church.” – Church in Hard Places, 9Marks.org

We do so by facilitating growth of pastors and lay leaders in three areas:

1. Personal Character (Be)
2. Theological Competency (Know)
3. Ministry Capacity (Do)

We find MOTIVATION for our mission in the passages such as these below:

“Keep watch over yourselves [personal character/theological competency] and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God [ministry capacity], which He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28)

 “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart (character); with skillful hands (competency/capacity) he led them.” (Psalm 78:72)

Our METHODOLOGY to accomplish our mission focuses on 4 Core Competencies (In-house initiatives):

1. Acts 242 – A Systematic Leadership Discipleship Process for members of our church network
2. Abundant Life – Church-based 16-week Poverty Alleviation Program
3. Genesis – Church-based Family Life Initiative, training churches to equip parents to raise a generation that both knows the Lord and the things he has done (Judges 2:10)
4. Church-based Savings and Credit Associations (Implementation 2018) – While Abundant Life addresses finances at an individual/family level (the theology of work, household budgeting, small business practices and personal savings), Savings Groups will facilitate ministry at a corporate church (and community) level

Strength of our Approach:

Theology is global. Theology dictates our methodology, so while contextualization of practices is necessary, biblical principles are universal applicable.

Threats to be Avoided:

Without prioritizing ministry regarding character and theological competency, we can actually inadvertently affirm negative behavior and bad theology, by helping a ministry to grow numerically. (Prosperity gospel)

As we prepare for tomorrow’s visit from members of our in-country team, our prayer for the week, as they share what God has graciously been accomplishing for His Kingdom through Empowering Action, is for the following three things to occur:

1. God to be glorified

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” (Psalm 115:1)

2. Supporters to be encouraged

“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (Romans 1:11-12)

3. Empowering Action to be sustained

“And the people came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.” (Exodus 35:20-21)

George Muller has provided me inspiration over the past 5 years, regarding personal purity, ministerial motivation, as well as Divine dependency, remembering the words of Psalm 24:4-5,

“He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

We find inspiration in Muller’s words below,

“Let it be especially observed by the Godly reader, that not only does this work continue to exist, after more than 22 years, carried on solely through the power of prayer and faith in the Living God; but also year by year its operations have been extended. Unbelief is thus put to shame. It is plainly proved that the work of God can be carried on simply by trust in God.

If our work is indeed the work of God, faith and prayer will be found efficient agents; and if they are not efficient, we may well question, whether we do indeed make use of them; or, if we do, whether the work, in which we are occupied, is truly the work of God.”

– A Narrative of some of the Lord’s Dealings with George Muller Volume IV

I was reminded of the wonderful verse below this morning, as I read a portion of George Muller’s journal.

The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy,

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

At that time someone could be referred to as “young” until they were forty years old.  Timothy had joined Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1), and the book of 1 Timothy was written fourteen years later. If, as many believe, Timothy was sixteen years old when Paul first worked with him, then he would have been at least thirty at this point, yet older men may have looked down on his comparative “youth.”

Still, I believe the principle can be applied to even young children, who can exemplify and inspire with an example of faith to adults, as evidenced by Jesus’ words in Matthew 18,

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 18:1-4)

This portion of George Muller’s journal below also demonstrates a child’s ability to grasp the need for faithful stewardship and an eternal perspective.

“This morning we received a parcel with clothes and some money for the Orphans, from a sister at a distance. Among the donations in money was a little legacy, amounting to 6s. 6 1/2d. from a dear boy, the nephew of the sister who sent the things, who died in the faith. This dear child had had given to him, in his last illness, some new shillings, sixpences, and other smaller silver coins, amounting to the above-mentioned little sum. Shortly before he fell asleep, he requested that this his little treasure might be sent to the Orphans. This precious little legacy is the first we have had.”

Legacy.

The Puritan Richard Baxter wrote,

“It will be an unspeakable comfort to look back on a life well spent. And to be able to say, ‘My time was not cast away…It was spent on doing good to men’s souls and bodies.’”

Possessions.

Far too often, we, as adults, struggle with our possessions possessing us, as opposed to viewing ourselves rightly as stewards of God’s resources on loan to us.

Opportunity.

As South African pastor Andrew Murray wrote,

“What a wonderful religion Christianity is. It takes money, the very embodiment of the power of sense of this world, with its self-interest, its covetousness, and its pride, and it changes it into an instrument for God’s service and glory.”

Legacy. Possessions. Opportunity.

Heavenly Father, today we pray that you provide to our ministry, as well as all faithful, Christ-honoring ministries across the globe, individuals, organizations and institutions, who like this young child, possess a biblical view of legacy, possessions and opportunity, and, accordingly, are moved, through financial support, to serve as an instrument for Your service and glory. Amen. 

The Apostle Paul, wrote to the church in Rome,

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (Romans 1:10-11)

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak for the first time to the board of directors of a ministry with which we have a close partnership.  Similar to the verse above, I wanted it to be a time of mutual encouragement, as I heartened them with my perception of the development and impact that I had seen God graciously provide their organization, as well as updated them on our ministries continued maturity.

Four and a half years into Empowering Action, I communicated three things that I was grateful for the Lord’s provision: Clarity, Competency and Capacity.

CLARITY – God has brought into focus our mission, vision, targeted clients and strategy

Mission: To combat physical and spiritual poverty by mobilizing expertise and resources in partnership with the local church

Vision: Church-facilitated sustainable transformation of impoverished communities

Clients: We serve the Church…who serves individuals.

EA serves the shepherds…who serve their sheep.

“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28)

Strategy: Church Network Development

There are 3 Drawers in our “Toolbox:”  Character, Theological Competency, Ministry Capability

Our methodology is dictated by our theology

We believe in the unique calling and qualifications of the Church

“There is one institution on earth with the capacity, the presence, the credibility, the endurance, and the passion to perform the ultimate act of caring for the poor. It is the Church, the body of Christ.”- Scott Todd

Poverty is the effect of the 4 Broken Relationships in Genesis 3: God, Self, Others, Creation

“It is simply impossible to alleviate poverty – in its fullest sense – apart from the local church.” – Church in Hard Places by 9 Marks

COMPETENCY – We are pleased with the Lord’s provision of a team that, like David (Psalm 78:70-72), will shepherd with integrity of heart (character) and skillful hands (competency), particularly these most recent additions:

– Raydel Riquelme – to oversee Church Network Development
– Madeline Riquelme – to facilitate a new Church Children’s Ministry Initiative (amoprogram.com)
– Ken and Mary Anne O’Malley – to coordinate our Construction and Special Needs Ministry efforts

CAPACITY – As the chart below indicates in 2017 we are projecting that we will serve 3,025 church leaders representing 33,375 community members. This year we anticipate ministry not only within the Dominican Republic and Cuba, but also Haiti, Kenya and Costa Rica.

 ESTIMATED INDIVIDUALS SERVED

INITIATIVE	INDIVIDUALS SERVED ANNUALLY	NOTES
Church Network Development	2,500 leaders representing 22,500 church members	Through various yearly initiatives EA is training 2,500 pastors and church leaders, representative of 150 churches, averaging 150 members in attendance. (Total: 150 x 150 = 22,500 people)
AMO Program (year one)	75 leaders representing 1,875 children	In year one of the AMO program we look to train 25 churches with 3 trainers per church for a total of 75. We anticipate that they will launch Amo programs with an average attendance of 25 children. (Total: 75 x 25 = 1,875)
Abundant Life Program	450 leaders representing 9,000 community members	EA will train 6 leaders at 50 churches in 2017. Additionally, through follow-up with leaders of previous Abundant Life programs, we estimate we will train an additional 150 people (30 churches of 5 people). Each of the 50 programs impacts 36 individuals representing an average 5-member family. (Total: 50 x 36 x 5 = 9,000)
TOTAL	3,025 leaders representing 33,375 community members served annually