~Missionary Stephen Nix Speaks...

5 November 2011

Louisiana Men on a Mission ....

You guys are AWESOME!

Bro. Alan and Bro. Eric have spoken so eloquently, I think they've used up all the available words ... so what can I say? LOL

I do know that you have made a HUGE difference in the progress of our Bible School construction -- one that will never be forgotten! Just how huge wasn't so apparent until this week. After the entire week of work with just our local crew, I reviewed the week's progress and thought ... you mean that's ALL they did this entire week? Then it hit me ... you men weren't just the run-of-the-mill workers ... you were Men on a Mission! What you did was simply awesome, breathtakingly amazing, incredibly inspiring. You humbled me with your focused dedication, your willingness to sacrifice yourselves under such heat and humidity, and the single-mindedness with which you set about to accomplish your goals...and accomplish them you certainly did!

What wonderful camaraderie there was ... and now I'm missing you all greatly already! Know that you will always occupy a very special place in my heart specifically, and in the hearts of all of us here in Nicaragua. Every time I walk through the hallway, climb the stairs, meander among the many walls upstairs, my mind is flooded with memories of all your cheerful work, and I will cherish them for the rest of my days! You have profoundly impacted my life, and my prayer is that the Lord will multiply His blessings upon each of you.

Stay tuned as we continue to post pictures on FaceBook (Stephen Nix) of our progress. God bless you abundantly!

Bro. Steve Nix

Missionary Supervisor, Nicaragua

PS. Please keep Nicaragua in your prayers tomorrow (Sunday) and Monday, that our national presidential elections will go smoothly, that there won't be massive fraud, and that peace will prevail in the country, regardless of the outcome.

~The Lord of the Harvest/Plan for World Evangelism #2

*************************************************************

He was moved with compassion: He felt what they felt. He had a deep awareness of their suffering. He was interconnected with them. He took action to help. His bowels yearned. His compassion was birthed deep within. I want to feel compassion for the lost in two ways: from His point-of-view and from theirs. How long has it been since you put yourself in their place? Imagine the feelings of being lost, hopeless, or drowning. Surely, such compassion will lead to incite, inspire, and invigorate an enthusiastic, whole-hearted, genuine, lively, fiery, deep, passion. It’s okay to get emotional about hurled, hungry humanity.

Note what Jesus said once he saw their state, was moved by the masses, heart-broken at their helplessness, and was compassionate about their calamity. It spoke to His “disciples.” That is a general term used for the twelve that followed Him. But, it is more than that. We are called to make disciples and to be disciples. Disciples are learners. Jesus wanted to teach students something. If you are following the scenario patiently and perceptively you will quickly unveil that the Seeking Savior was endeavoring to give His followers a game plan or a strategy of world evangelism. He has a game plan for winning; winning souls that is. Let’s check it out.

“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few” (Matthew 9:37

We’ve heard that dozens of times. The harvest is plenteous. The laborers are few. Contained in those words is a gigantic opportunity: the big harvest. The problem is He needs workers. Because there are lots of lost and only a few seekers a strategy for world evangelism is paramount. Therefore, here is what you do:

Pray:

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38). 

~The Lord of the Harvest/Plan for World Evangelism - by Jim Poitras

*******************************************************
The Lord of the Harvest’s Plan for World Evangelism

My morning devotional study found me pondering Luke 19:10 how Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. I’d been to that verse many times before and could easily quote it by heart. This particular break of day I needed to be reminded of the reason for my existence. The words articulated it so well. It’s all about seeking the lost and training the found. A side note in my Bible titled Jesus as the “Seeking Savior” and sent me fumbling through the pages to a reference in Matthew 9:36:

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

The journey in writing this lesson starts in this verse and fuels my trip with the same passion, burden, and vision that gripped my Seeking Savior. He saw the multitudes generally and individual faces specifically. As they scurried about their daily duties, disguised with smiles and happy-go-lucky attitudes, He saw through all of that, to the very heart of the matter. He peered deep into their souls. They were confused, scattered, troubled, tired, distressed, aimless, hurting, helpless, hopeless, perishing, loaded-down, lost sheep needing a shepherd; someone to guide them into the protective fold. The verse closes with sad, convicting words: “having no shepherd.”

He saw: He considered their plight. He had a vision for their destiny. I want to see souls as Jesus sees them. He readily identified the spiritual needs of those He encountered.

He was moved: I want to be moved, stirred, and captivated by the very things that move, stir, and captivate the heart and mind of God.

His heart broke: I want my heart to be broken with the things that break the heart of God. Sounds simple but it is inevitably heart-wrenching.

~continued - there will be seven more posts in the next week to ten days to complete this lesson.

~Louisiana Men on Missions, Masaya - Visit to the Market Place

*************************************************************
The Market Place

The Market Place - Masaya, Nicaragua

Several of these came back to the USA (legally, I might add)

If you are buying there are many choices

Ready to leave...does Bro. Nix look concerned?

Leaving the Market Place parking lot

~'We Seek, He Saves,' by Jim Poitras - Director of Education/AIM

*************************************************************

We Seek, He Saves!

The slowly revolving illuminated globe provides the backdrop as I sit at my desk, my mind restlessly spinning, and my spirit groping for direction from the Lord. I’ve been captivated today by one of the expressed purposes in the Word coming to earth, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). We serve a seeking Savior.

Going back to the basics of our very existence is the reminder that our purpose in being here is exactly the same as His purpose in coming here. We are to seek/save the lost and train/disciple the found. No greater purpose. No higher calling. Robert K. Rodenbush had it right when he wrote, “Since it is not granted us to live long on this earth, it is logical to give our best and our most to something that will last eternally…reaching sinners and training saints.”

People from all walks of life boarded the Titanic in 1912. There were millionaires, celebrities, middle income earners, and even a few poor people. A few hours after the disaster, there were only two categories: lost and saved. It all comes down to that—lost or found.

Much has been written in recent years about seeker-sensitive services. I suppose there is merit in that; designing services with the seeking sinner in mind. But, it goes much further than that. Seeker-sensitive churches ought to be churches that train and mobilize members to be seekers of sinners in our lost world. The soul-winner should be wise and sensitive. You find the lost only one way: by looking for them! We need to be seeker-sensitive Christians and ministers bringing sinners to Jesus and to the foot of the cross.

Purpose-driven churches should be Gospel-driven churches. It is the Gospel that saves lives and redirects purposes. Acts 2:38 really works if you work Acts 2:38. The purpose-driven Christian is a Gospel-driven Christian.

I love the promise expressed in “seek and to save that which WAS lost.” It is interesting to use the past tense here. We call those things that are not as if they already are (Romans 4:17). Soul-winning and soul-seeking are acts of faith. We walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). We witness by faith. God does the work as He chips away at stony hearts. We seek. He saves!

*Note! Italics, Bold, Text Color and Underlining not part of original article but has been included here for emphasis.

~Louisiana Men on Missions, Managua - Visit to Masaya Volcano

Volcan Masaya - Nicaragua

Masaya Volcano National Park, one of Nicaragua's most interesting and beatiful natural phenomena. Established in 1979 as the country's first national park, it comprises an area of 54 km2 with more than 20 km of scenic roads and trails, leading to and around the two impressive volcanos and five formidable craters.

The Masaya Volcano, also known as POPOGATEPE meaning the "MOUNTAIN THAT BURNS" in the language of the indigenous Chorotega tribe One of its craters, Santiago, currently displays gaseous activity and incadescent lava in its interior.

During the pre-Columbian age, Masaya Volcano was on object of veneration by the indigenous people. They believed the eruptions were signs of anger from the Gods and to appease them they offered sacrifices, which ofter included small children and maidens. During the Conquest, the Spaniards baptized the active Volcano "LA BOCA DEL INFIERNO" or "THE MOUTH OF HELL". They then planted a cross, "LA CRUZ DE BOBADILLA" (named after Father Francisco Bobadilla). It was placed on the crater lip in the 16th century in order to exorcise the Devil.

The Volcano was visited by a number of Spaniard in search of "THE GOLD OF THE VOLCANO". Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo in 1529 and Friar

In 1670, the Nindiri Volcano made its last eruption followed by the Masaya Volcano in 1772. The lava formed by this later eruption advanced like a river of fire to the area now known as "PIEDRA QUEMADA" or burnt rock. In 1852, a new crater Santiago, was formed between the two existing volcanoes.

It's not a good idea to climb to the top and breathe the fumes

If you have asthma (I learned from experience) but I am glad 

I made the trek

Bro. Eric Descant on the way to the top...did he go all the way?

Looking over the lava field at Lake Nicaragua

Lava field

~William H. Dean Bible College/Administration Building, Nicaragua - Last Day of Work

*************************************************************
Day Six - the last day of work before our departure

Road from main highway leading to the W. H. Dean Bible College

The road to the property...

Ready to cross the bridge

Entering the property (property line extends to trees in background)

Devotion and prayer (we did this each morning before work)

The stacks of building material are now walls

Walls are ready for top coat and texture 

Entrance way to upstairs being finished

Missionary Stephen Nix with a couple Nicaraguan brethren

Ready to leave on the last day of work

Farewells to the Nicaragua brethren (they were great to work with

- Next post will feature the Masaya Volcano that we toured for a couple of hours late on Saturday afternoon. Sis. Nix felt that we should get to see a little bit more of Nicaragua before leaving the country. Thank you Sis. Nix...we enjoyed the tour and the opportunity to purchase a few items from the market place.