allhourschurch

Sprouting Missionaries

Did you know that the average cost of a seminary education is $35,000 to $50,000? That's according to ChristianPost.com. And did you know that is approximately seven times as much as the cost of building an average sized church in Africa? What if we could reduce the cost of seminary education by 95% or more? What if local churches of every denomination worked together to provide resources and facilities to prepare missionaries and seminarians to preach and plant missions around the world? What if this preparation cost less than a tenth of what it now does? Imagine a church that overcame historical differences and worked together in the love of Jesus Christ. Imagine a church that removed cost as an obstacle for the preparation of missionaries, preachers and new ministries and churches? That time is here and now and the All Hours Church vision is to make this a reality in the coming year.

Just imagine. If churches working separately and independently and at great cost have produced many missionaries and ministries, imagine how many there would be if we were all working together to support them? And if the cost of preparation is now $50,000, imagine how many ministries could be supported if the cost was reduced almost completely!

My brothers and sisters, we aren't just commissioned to make disciples of all nations. We are called - no not just called - commanded, to love one another even as we were first loved. With God all things are possible. By sharing a facility in an ongoing act of unity among the churches, books and resources necessary for spiritual preparation, and classes and prayer and worship, being constant, are empowered by such unity to prepare more missions, more ministries and prepare them more quickly.

A church that never closes is one that refines, answers questions, provides guidance, reinforces, builds up and doesn't stop building until those who come are fully equipped for ministry. A church that provides a place for many ministries simultaneously, is like a fire built with many twigs and logs, rather than just one. It ignites faster. It burns more brightly.

Ministries will sprout in an environment like the All Hours Church because the fire is strong, properly kindled, ever burning. Those who are prepared to go out, will not be burdened with debt and they will be sent with a vision for ministry that is informed by the fellowship and wisdom of many others they've met and known and loved in the midst. When they are called out to their missions they leave room for others to fill their place and the volume and warmth of it will usher grace forth like a pressure hose in the power of the Lord Almighty.