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feature

Over the past eighteen months, I have read and re-read some challenging books. Among them are “When Missions Shapes the Mission” by David Horner, “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan,

“Radical” and “Radical Together both by David Platt and “Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Each of these, in one fashion or another, confronts readers (for the most part Christians due to the nature of these works) with a challenge to something greater. The fact that these books were authored over a period of seventy-five years from the perspective of two different continents and distinctly different cultural periods implies that settling for the status quo, or settling for something less than the best, is a rather timeless trait of humanity.

Settling for the status quo, something less than the best, is really a constant theme in Scripture. Cain became angry with God and killed Abel because he was willing to settle for much less than devotion to God. God sent prophet after prophet to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah to awaken them from the slumber of their spiritual laziness. Amos cried, “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria” (Amos 6:1). The writer of Hebrews warned, “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1 emphasis added).

Since missing the mark (see December 2011 HORIZONS editorial) continues to be a problem the question arises, “How can we prevent missing the mark?” The cover photo of this issue is the 17th green at the Tournament Players Championship Golf Course at Sawgrass near Jacksonville, Florida. It is very clear what the point of this shot is, and everyone can readily see the dangers of missing the mark on this green.

Making Sure We“Hit” the Mark

If we are to escape the human trait of missing the point, we must avoid focusing on ourselves. Is it a fair statement that the American church, as generous as it is, is actually inwardly focused? When disasters strike, it is true that the American church is almost always the first to respond and generously as well. However, deeper study of how church funds are allocated reveals that the vast majority of church offerings are spent on the internal needs of the various individual congregations. As demands increase for buildings, staff resources and programs within individual congregations focusing on those who do not know of and reflect the glory of God becomes increasingly difficult.

To be sure, missions is not “the point” of the church, but if we are committed to the glory of God, world evangelism will have a place of prominence David Horner, in his 2011 book “When Missions Shapes the Mission,” makes a detailed assessment of where the emphasis on world missions stands within the Southern Baptist Convention. “If we are honest...like most Christian organizations, bureaucratic growth re-sulted in a diminishing focus and diluted emphasis on the priority of missions.” (Chapter 1, page 32) Horner then follows with a sobering conclusion, “For all the times we get goose bumps and lumps in our throats when we hear amazing stories of God’s grace at work overseas...the record shows that we actually have little practical interest in meaningful engagement in reaching the world beyond our own church walls.” (Chapter 1, page 34) If the vast majority of offerings are devoted upon those who are already Christian, have we missed the point of the gospel?

Becoming absorbed with ourselves is not limited to “American Christians.” David Platt shared a disturbing insight in the fifth chapter of his 2011 book “Radical Together.” One of the blessings of Platt’s ministry has been to spend time with people of various world cultures. The largest, least evangelized island in the world has a population of __________________________________________________________________________________8 / HORIZONS

If we are to escape the

human traitof missingthe point,

we must avoidfocusing on

ourselves.

__________________________________________________________________________________ JANUARY 2012 / 9

forty-five million, most of whom have never heard the gospel. However, there is a significant Christian community on the island. Unfortunately, most of this community of faith has chosen not to share the gospel at all with others because of the virulent persecution of Christians there. These believers have built large church buildings, conduct large denominational conventions and have built nearly thirty theological seminaries. However, they have systematically withdrawn from contact with others. Living among millions of Muslims who believe eating pork is unclean, these believers have refused to take even this small step to open the opportunity to share God’s glory. In fact, one believer stated, “I would rather a Muslim go to hell than for me to have to stop eating pork.” (Chapter 5 page 73) Without doubt, if Christians from any part of the world are to avoid missing the point of the gospel, we must avoid focusing upon ourselves.

If we are to escape the human trait of missing the point, we must remember to extend grace to others. One of the uglier traits of hu-man nature is the desire to denigrate or cast aspersions upon the ac-tions of another, in so doing attempting to justify or diminish one’s own shortcomings. Ugly though it may be, this negative form of prejudice is easily identified throughout history and across cultural divides. It manifests itself both individually and collectively. Satan crafted this trap with great skill indeed.

If our lives are to reflect the glory of God to a world in desperate need of purpose and direction, our actions need to follow an opposite course. The Apostle Paul wrote often about valuing others more highly than ourselves and how that is demonstrated in life. In his first letter to the church at Corinth, he wrote, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” (1 Cor. 9:22) Paul valued others so highly that he was willing to adapt his personal preferences and lifestyle so there would be no barrier for them to see God’s glory. He

If we are to escape the

human traitof missingthe point,

we mustremember toextend grace

to others.

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did so because he focused upon having the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5-9) rather than allow Satan entrap him with the flaws of human nature. Likewise, our single focus must be on the point of glorifying God in all we do, and we will not miss the point!

If we are to escape the human trait of missing the point, we must be a devoted follower of Jesus. If there has ever been a case of overstating the obvious, it would seem that the writer is guilty. However, most of us will confess that we are far too often casual followers of Jesus and seldom devoted followers. This point is particularly true now, because we live in an age where everyone is following someone. Take the examples of twitter and facebook, two enormously popular elements of social media unheard and unthought of not long ago. Everyone seems to be following someone! Being new to the world of twitter, I thought I would see how many people are following others. One friend follows 208 others. Another follows 2,001. John Piper, Baptist minister and author is followed by 247,366! On facebook, the number of connections we all have seems unbelievable. People are also following the comments of others on blogs and message boards. Additionally, individuals are followed as commentators (radio, television and the internet), editors and contributors to periodicals, and authors of book. It is easy to see how we might drift ever so slightly, being led by the well intentioned opinions of others, with the result being that we miss the point altogether.

Against this mass of popularity, we must maintain our focus upon the one through whom God revealed His glory to mankind. Paul wrote this about Jesus, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,

If we are to escape the

human traitof missingthe point,we must be

a devotedfollower of Jesus.

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Dolly and Leah were chosen as joint Alumni of the Year by Pacific Chris-tian College in 1964. In 1984 she and Dolly received the PCC Alumni Award for Distinguished Christian Service. In 1987 she and Dolly were honored by the North American Christian Convention as co-recipients of the Honored Servant of the Year Award. In 1993 Pacific Christian College bestowed honor-ary doctorate degrees upon both Leah and Dolly. On May 21, 2000 Leah also received the James A. Garfield Award for Noteworthy Service to the Church from Emmanuel School of Religion. In 2006 she was honored by the Trained Nurses Association of India with the Florence Nightingale Life Time Achieve-ment Award for Distinguished Services as Women Activist and Educator.

Leah Moshier arrived in India with Dolly Chitwood on May 10, 1946. They were both recruited by Marion Schaefer whose family was serving as missionaries in Bilaspur, Madhya Pradesh. The British official to whom they presented themselves advised them with these words, “Young ladies, go home! This is no place for you to be.” They went for a three-year mis-sion’s trip to see if they wanted to be Christian missionaries. They remained for the rest of their lives. In January, 1948, a six pound, eight-month-old girl was brought to the mission gates. She was addicted to opium, which she had been fed to keep her from crying from hunger. Her name was Sosun. She was the first Kulpahar Kid. So, as Dolly later said, “We got in the baby business.” These ladies had no large organizations on which to rely, no consultants, no technical support, no engineers or architects. They just relied on the Lord, and through Him, they built buildings . . . hostels, hospital, school buildings. Leah’s technical support in architecture and engineering was the magazine Poplar Mechanics. The school that Dolly founded, and which is now under the care and direction of Sharon Cunningham, has the highest accreditation from the Indian government at the junior college level.

During one of my father’s visits to the mission, as he and Dolly walked down the road between the compounds, she turned to my father and said, “After all of these years, I still ask myself what in the world am I doing in this place? But then I look at the children and I know.” And so there they spent their lives in the service of the Lord, and for the sake of a child. Leah re-mained there faithfully in the service of the Lord for 65 years.

Leah Moshier passed away Thursday morning, November 3rd, at 9:30 a.m., surrounded by her children and loved ones, at the Kulpahar Church of Christ Mission. There was a viewing for the remainder of the day, attended by many from the village. She was laid to rest that afternoon at 5:00 p.m. in the church cemetery, beside the grave of Dolly Chitwood. MacLawrence Lal, senior minister of the Kulpahar Church of Christ, conducted the memorial

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service for Leah, along with Jolly Herbert and others. I am sure that there were many tears, both bitter and sweet, grief and joy mingling, as when any Saint departs and goes to be with Christ. The doctor who attended Leah until her death was one of her children. She came home to take care of her Aun-tie. Hundreds of her children have come home to say goodbye to their Chotie Auntie. They continue to come, day after day, a few more arriving in twos and threes, coming home to share their grief with their family, coming home to share their thankfulness, coming home to remember this great lady who raised them -- who saved them.

I grew up hearing the story of the Kulpahar Mission and we have long supported this great work, but it took a trip to Kulpahar for me to really understand what this place is all about. It’s a kid’s home. It’s a prestigious school. It’s a church. It’s an industry . . . farm, food production, tailor shop, laundry, power plant, hospital . . . 35 acres spread over three compounds, tens of thousands of square feet of buildings, most of them designed and con-structed by Leah Moshier. All of these things are part of the Kulpahar Church of Christ Mission, but none of these things defines what it is. When you go there, you realize what it is. It’s a home. It’s a refuge. It’s a family. It’s a fam-ily in every way, in all of its splendor, in its functions and dysfunctions, in all of its harmony, and chaos, in the constant opening and closing of the front door of that main bungalow, as an endless stream of kids come and go with their needs met, their tears soothed, praise or discipline received, a thousand little victories, a thousand little failures, in the lives of these children, both handled with competence and caring love. Sound familiar?

It’s a real home. A real Christian home . . . on a very grand scale. Over 850 children have been raised by Dolly and Leah and Linda and Sharon. Hundreds more will be raised and educated as boarding students.

Thousands have been brought to Christ, as this family extends beyond generations and spreads across India and the world.

Thousands of new Christian families have been born, countless new Christian churches established, all of these branches reaching back to Kul-pahar Kids’ Home, and to that first little baby girl who was laid at the feet of Dolly and Leah. What wonderful works God has accomplished through the faithfulness of these ladies. What good hands those babies were placed in by God. Thank God for the faithfulness of Leah Moshier and through the lives of the ladies of Kulpahar Church of Christ Mission.

For more information on Kulpahar Kids’ Home & School, you may visit their website: http://kulpaharkidshome-school.org.

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!Thank You!

MSA is extremely appreciative of our donors who have given special “end of the year” gifts to our “We have joined the choir” appeal. Many of you sent notes of encouragement with your gifts and those have helped to boost our spirits as we con-tinue to serve missions and ministries worldwide.

As of January 17th, $17,746 (just over 93% of our $19,000 goal) has been received from 174 donors. Donations are still coming in and we are praying that we will be able to reach our goal very soon. By doing so, we will be able to finish paying for all repaired/replaced equipment and replenish our nominal “emergency fund” savings account.

Abbeyville Road CC Missions Commit-tee, Lancaster, PA

Adkisson, Don & KayAntioch CC, Marion, IAAvant, M/M TedBailey, RoseBarnes, M/M Larry R.Barnett, M/M FrankBarricklow, Carolyn R.Barton, Frances W.Barton, Marilyn E.Bauer, Norma JeanBeamer, M/M David L.Beard, J. HaroldBedinger, LorainBenedict, SharonBennett, DavidBerndt, HelenBonner, Dr. Patricia J.Bossingham, Roger &

SandyBourne, M/M Glenn H.Bourne, PeggyBragg, M/M J. May-

nardBreuer, M/M George

M.Bright CC, Lawrence-

burg, INBrunson, Darlene M.Bunn, Leonard &

Marilyn

Campbellsville CC, KYCarter, Douglas F.Casebeer, BettyCentral CC, Newton,

ILChristian Women’s

Circle, Texhoma, OK

Christ’s Church at Mason, OH

Cozad CC, Ladies Missionary Society, NE

Clark, Duane H.Clites, Louise G.Coe, BettyCole, Eleanor L.Community CC, St.

Joseph, MOCotton, M/M Knute E.Cousin, M/M FrankDavis, Dean & JudyDay, M/M Robert L.De Pauw, ErmaDoeden, PhyllisE. 10th Street CofC,

New York, NYElliott, RS & MargaretEngland, JaneeceEubanks, D/M David

L.Eubanks, M/M Philip

A.

Eunson, Dorothy J.Faber, Ernest & NevaFaith CofC, Burlington,

INFarthing, M/M RodFife, M/M TomFirst CC, Christian

Women’s Fellow-ship, Buckner, MO

First CC, Greeneville, TN

First CC, Morristown, TN

First CC, Sullivan, INGarden City Cof C,

Missions Commit-tee, Columbus, IN

Gearhardt, Charles & Louise

Gibbs, M/M HaroldGibson, BobGill, M/M Harry R.Gingerich, M/M MerleGlentzer, Mrs. JoeGossett, M/M William

C. Gregory, M/M JamesGrimstead, CareyHampton, Ruby E.Haney, M/M HenryHarkness, DonnaHarpster, DoloresHathaway, Charles &

MarieHawks, InezHerbsleb, Darlene J.Herriford, M/M GregHoll, Robert A.Hopper, Evelyn J.Horn, R. GenelleHowell, Don & NormaHughes, Warren &

Mary LouHundley, M/M William

R.Hurley, Virgil L.Huron, M/M RodIbarra, Virgilio &

BlancheIllman, Dr. Dwain C.Jeffrey, M/M James Jordan, M/M LyndallKemp, Helen D.Koster, Raymond P.Kruse, EileenLareau, M/M VerlinLester, M/M U.S.Littell, M/M CharlesLongwell, Nancy R.Lowe, Carolyn E.Lowry, M/M Roland D.Malinnag, M/M AndresMcClure, M/M Stevan

T.McCoy, RosalieMcFarland, M/M Jon

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