Monday Thoughts from Pastor Tim - April 14

Dear Church Family –

I was deeply saddened this morning to read that an American missionary to South Africa has been taken hostage at gunpoint during a church service Thursday in South Africa.

Josh Sullivan is a missionary from Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, serving as a church planting pastor in Motherwell, South Africa.  Apparently, four armed men came into the church during the service, robbed church-goers at gunpoint, and then took the pastor away in his own vehicle.  His wife and children were present in the service.

Jesus was clear that “in the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:13), and that “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).  We know that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”  We know that even here in the United States churches and Christians are sometimes attacked.  Still, it’s troubling anytime a missionary, and a church, is harmed for preaching Christ.

Would you join me in prayer today?

For Josh Sullivan’s safe return

For his witness to his captors

For his faith to be strong and his spirits encouraged

For his wife and children’s faith to be strong

For his wife and children to be encouraged in the Lord

For them to not fear

For the church members to not be fearful but be prayerful

For church members faith to be strengthened and the church to grow

For law enforcement and church leaders working to find and return Josh

For justice to be done to deter future kidnappings

For our own missionaries to be safe and well and successful in building Christ’s church

For Christ’s church to prosper and grow

Here at the beginning of the week when we remember Jesus’ death and resurrection, we’re reminded that the Lord Jesus Himself was oppressed and hated and abused and cruelly mistreated.

“The smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me, they slandered me without ceasing. Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed at me with their teeth. Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my only life from the lions. I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng. Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; nor let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously.” (Psalm 35:15-19)

Thanks for your prayers and support for missionaries around the world.  You give strength to God’s people!  - Pastor Tim