Newsletter no. 62 October 2019

Newsletter no. 62 October 2019

Newsletter Steef and Tineke van 't Slot

Dear friends,
 
Our love and greetings to you. Three weeks ago we arrived in South Africa. It is Springtime! We are enjoying the sunny weather, the flowers and the masked weavers that build their nests right before our window...  Just praying for rain... weird thing to pray for rain, as Dutch people have learned to dislike the rain, because we usually have too much of it... but here nature is crying out for some water, as are the farmers. 

Article 2020-12 Become a Sender!

Chapter 64: Become a Sender!

Introduction

Missionaries cannot send themselves; that is the church’s task, but they function best when they use a sending agency. Churches and agencies need to colaborate, not compete.

Scripture reference

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love … I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chaines … I am sending him … back to you. I would have like to keep him with me … but I did not want to do anything without your consent(Philem. :8-10,12-14)

The story

Paul’s letter to his friend Philemon contains an important message for the church. The issue of Onesimus presents us with a case-study that we should take seriously. Philemon was probably a business man who had personnel, including slaves from before he knew Christ. He may have led one of the Colossian house churches. His slave Onesimus ran away and went to Rome, where he met Paul who led him to Jesus. He became a great help to Paul, but Philemon owned him. This placed Paul and Philemon in a predicament that Paul tried to solve. As usual, there’s more to this letter than just the situation at hand.