God is at work in the small west Texas town of Spur. Several years ago Pastor Rory Mosely led his church members to participate in a month of stillness before the Lord.
Most church activities were suspended. Only Sunday worship was retained. Church members were challenged to cut out television and as many extra-curricular activities as possible. They were urged to spend more time reading God’s Word, praying and listening for God’s instructions.
At the end of the month, church members began to share what God had been speaking to them during the last few weeks. One member told Pastor Mosely, “God told me He wants me to go on a mission trip to Africa.” “I was not expecting that”, recalls Pastor Mosely. Then two other members spoke up that they also felt called to go to Africa. Next a lady said she felt called to go to China, while others mentioned Israel, Lebanon, and South America. Pastor Mosely was totally blown away by what God was saying to his church members. “I had never even been on a mission trip! How was I to lead my church to become so involved in missions around the world?”
Even though he did not know where to begin and was overwhelmed by the financial challenge his small rural church would face, he started asking questions. He gained helpful information, advice, and encouragement from others who had participated in mission trips. As Pastor Rory and his church members began to pray about how to proceed, God began to open doors of invitation to be involved with world missions.
A volunteer team headed to Zimbabwe had 5 places they needed to fill on their team. There were exactly 5 people from Spur who wanted to go!
Those feeling called to China were also matched with a team headed there. A personal connection with missionaries in Guatemala provided a ministry opportunity for members from Spur. Teams headed to Israel and Lebanon also included members from Spur.
Pastor Mosely recalls, “Even more miraculous than each person feeling called to go was able to be matched to a team was watching how God provided financially for the means to go. It often came from unexpected resources: people in our community not belonging to our church, and people passing through feeling led to stop and give. Most of it arrived just in time as deadlines approached.”
Since those days of stillness, this small church had continued to be personally involved in local, state, and overseas missions. To date about 80% of their members have been on a mission trip of some kind. Zimbabwe has been blessed twice by their work, and look forward to their third trip later this summer where they will be working at Sanyati as part of the makeover of the hospital and ministry to the community around the hospital.
One small church, taking the time to “Be still and know that I am God”, listening to God’s heart, heard Him clearly say, “Go Ye Therefore”, AND THEY DID!
