Message Magazine Online - Vol. 55, No. 01, Spring 2007

In This Issue

• Editorials
• Canadian Editorial
  David W. Smith
• Vision Greater Than Our Memories
  Dr. Michael G. Loftis
• Going On: Fran Weddle
• Message Headlines
• Nothing Wasted: The Story of Paul and Helen Miller
  Jim Ruff
• My Way of Escape
  Shoko
• Looking Back: God's Faithfulness. Looking Ahead: God's Provision
  Spencer Jackson
• Prisoners Set Free
  Angela Shuff
• Sharing the Mission
  Dr. Bill Commons
• Between Here and There: Partnering in Ecuador
  Geoff Williams
• Pray for the Unreached
• ABWE and FBFA Announce Historic Partnership
• Children's Corner
  Sadie Busse
• Congratulations ABWE on 80 Years of Ministry
  
• Our Rearview Mirror
  Dr. Wendell Kempton

Editorials

In the anniversary spirit, this issue of the Message gives a glimpse of the past, present, and future. We celebrate unsung heroes, praise God for lives being changed, and look to the future with fresh vision. The lives of Paul and Helen Miller and Fran Weddle are just three examples of many ABWE missionaries who have given their lives in service to Christ. Shoko’s testimony from Japan and the hundreds of prisoners that have come to Christ in the Philippines show us that God is still radically changing lives. Then, we look ahead to the future, as Dr. Loftis encourages us that our vision for the future must be bigger than our view of the past. We are excited about a new vision and partnership forming in Ecuador, ABWE’s newest field. Bill Commons writes powerfully on “Sharing the Mission” as the key to starting missions movements around the globe. And lest we become comfortable in what has already been accomplished, profiles of unreached people groups remind us that there is much work left to do.

Celebrate with us as we give thanks to God for the past. And pray with us as we press on.

Angela Shuff
Editor

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Our purpose in publishing this monthly Message is to furnish our constituency with missionary news, with the intent of keeping fresh before your minds the work of Christ in the [world] where He has called us to labor. Let every issue be a call to prayer. This Association was conceived in prayer, born of the Holy Spirit in response to prayer, and has been carried on for eight years through a remarkable growth and continued series of blessing only by continued and unceasing prayer. We believe the Scripture which says, “Not by might nor by power, but by MY SPIRIT, saith the Lord.”

Our sufficiency is entirely in Him. This is His work, not ours. May we be simply vessels meet for the Master’s use. Channels of blessing through which His life-giving power may flow for cleaning and salvation to many who have waited so long for the gospel.

Dr. Harold T. Commons
(From his first editorial in the Message when he became president of ABWE in 1935. ABWE was then eight years old.)